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AVON HIGH SCHOOL / 7575 EAST 150 SOUTH / AVON, INDIANA

Dubstep gains popularity in today’s music scenePAGE 17

AVON VOTES NOAvon voters choose not to

approve education referendum PAGE 3

INDIANAPOLIS 500 Indy 500 celebrates 100th

anniversary of race PAGE 8

POWER OF PHYSICSHaiducu brings Power of Physics

show back to Avon studentsPAGE 13

VIDEO GAMINGSome in society classify video

games as art rather than hobbyPAGE 16

Check us out on the web:www.avonecho.com

DUBSTEP SCENE EMERGES IN AVON

2 ECHO · MAY 2011

NEWSStudents support Japan tsunami victimsAvon students of Japanese descent describe aftermath, conditions in Japan for survivorsBY TASHA ROLLINGS

A 9.0 earthquake caused a tsunami that hit the coast of Japan on March 11. Thousands were killed and injured, and thousands more have lost their homes. According to CNN, the death toll is 14,000, and another 14,030 are missing. Junior Maki Obara has family in Sendai, a location that was hit directly by the tsunami.

“My aunt who lives in Sendai had the hardest time,” Obara said. “Her husband is a doctor, so he had to go help the injured people [while] she had to take care of the house. She had to carry both her children down ten stories of stairs, go buy necessities that were five kilometers away from their home and come back carrying all of that. Now, she lives with my grandmother in Kitakami, Iwate prefecture, and is a lot better off now.”

Obara’s uncle, like many citizens of Japan, has had to live without essentials.

“My uncle that lives in Tokyo was out of food a week or two after the tsunami hit,” Obara said. “All the supplies and necessities were sent to the north, so there weren’t enough for Tokyo. Currently, [there is not enough bottled water to buy] because everyone is afraid that the radiation is in the normal tap water.”

Freshman Nathan Sherman has grandparents and cousins in Nagoya, Japan. They lost their business to the tsunami.

“They own a fish market,” Sherman said, “and their fishing industries up north were swept away and destroyed.”

Sherman is concerned about the future of Japan.“I feel sorry for all those who have lost so much,”

Sherman said. “I’m worried about how they’re doing now and how Japan will do in the future.”

The tsunami also destroyed some power plants and released radiation into the air around Japan. According to CNN, U.S.-built robots measured radiation dose rates at a level of 57 millisieverts per hour inside the housing

for one of the reactors; emergency workers in the plant have been given emergency standard limits of 250 millisieverts per year for their annual dose. The average radiation that a person in Japan lives with naturally is about three millisieverts per year. For comparison, a CT scan produces about seven millisieverts, and a chest X-ray gives a dose of .5 millisieverts at one time.

Former Ball State University physics professor David Ober is working to identify levels of radiation detected on air filters taken on the Ball State campus. The students are studying the radiation levels in Muncie, Ind., that are releases from the plant in Fukushima.

“I am working with several faculty members at Ball State, one in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management and two colleagues in the Physics and Astronomy Department, to detect radiation releases from the nuclear power plants in Fukushima, Japan,” Ober said.

Ober first worked with students during the reactor accident in Chernobyl in 1986. Ober said there are similarities between Chernobyl and Fukushima in the isotopes detected.

“I worked with several students detecting the releases of radiation in Muncie that eventually reached Indiana from Chernobyl,” Ober said. “We analyzed filters from high volume air samplers by detecting gamma rays from the radioactive isotopes collected in the filters. We are using similar equipment and techniques in detecting releases from Fukushima.”

According to Ober, there are high volume air samplers located on the Ball State campus for the students planning on going into the environmental sciences. The samplers have an eight inch by 10 inch filter inside. The sampler pulls air through the filter, and as it does so, the filter collects particle matter. The filters are analyzed approximately every 24 hours for their radiation content. When the students noticed small changes in

the levels, specifically in the iodine-131, they continued making measurements over about four weeks.

“There is an eight by 10 filter that pulls so much air through the filter,” Ober said. “[The students] would collect air for 24 hours, weigh the filter, go back to collect more air and then weigh it again. They would find that there was an increase in iodine levels and would take it from there.”

The students are comparing the radiation levels to those of the Chernobyl accident.

“[According to Japanese officials, the level of radiation from Chernobyl] is ten times that of what the Fukushima plant was,” Ober said, “so Chernobyl was a much more serious accident.”

Ober has found that the levels of radiation from Fukushima are much lower than radiation levels of Radon that we live with every day and that there will be no significant impact on our lives.

In addition to the power plants, the citizens of Japan must rebuild their lives. The Japanese Club raised money for Japan by collecting donations. They gave Japanese-themed prizes to the class with the largest donations. They raised $444.17, and the freshmen class won the competition by donating $200.24.

Obara is thankful for the donations to Japan and said it is hard for her to think about the reality.

“There are at least 50 orphans in Japan currently,” Obara said. “Some people died not because of the radiation or tsunami but because they froze to death. The area where the tsunami hit is still in winter. Some people commit suicide because they can’t take the reality. On YouTube, there are videos of people sending messages to their family members that they can’t get in contact with. If you understand what they are saying, it is really depressing and makes you want to cry. Some are so traumatized by the event that they can’t sleep at all. [These are] just some of the things going on.”

SOURCE: “BBC” ONLINE, “CNN” ONLINE, “NPC” ONLINE BELLE LEBEAU

14,000reported deaths

14,030people still missing

9.0magnitude quake

5,302people injured

136,000people without homes

125,000buildings damaged

$309billion to rebuild Japan

7thlargest earthquake

JAPAN’S EARTHQUAKE By the numbers

津波Japanese Club raises money for tsunami relief

$141.10 $14.99

Freshman Mark Bode won the top prize, a case of Ramen noodles.

All donations will go to Japan earthquake and tsunami relief.

The freshmen class raised the most money. Prizes went to 20 different freshmen.

Prizes included Japanese items such as umbrellas, fans, posters and candy.

Freshmen

Members organize raffle ticket sale to raise funds for charity

$200.24 $87.84

SeniorsJuniorsSophomoresTASHA ROLLINGSSOURCE: INTERVIEW, APRIL 2011

3PAGE DESIGNER: MIRIAM THOMASECHO · MAY 2011

NEWSAvon school referendum fails to passBY MIRIAM THOMAS

Community votes no to property tax increase; corporation to make changes for 2011-2012 school year

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On May 3, Avon voters rejected the proposed Avon Community School Corporation (ACSC) property tax increase by a two-thirds majority vote. This referendum called for a 17.05 cent tax increase on every $100 of assessed property value.

Opposition to the referendum was largely funded by the Committee for No More Avon Taxes, who, like the Support Avon Children campaign members, distributed flyers, created a website and displayed signs throughout Avon in order to encourage Avon voters to participate in the referendum.

Senior Kyle Travis voted no in the election because he believes the corporation “has enough money but has not allocated it to the right areas, such as in the overpaying of administrators.”

Junior Anja Miller also disagreed with the referendum. “I didn’t think it should be passed because I feel like

Avon High School has been spending excessively,” Miller said. “They should not spend money on trivial things. Someone in the administration should be smart enough to budget wisely.”

According to Miller, these “trivial things” include new decorations on the walls in the AALC and new floors in the gymnasium.

ACSC Director of Finance and Operations, Brock Bowsher, said that Avon’s past spending should not have been a concern because Avon has been making “good financial decisions all along.”

“I would actually argue that it’s been good management [of funds] that has enabled the school corporation to put off the referendum until it was necessary,” Bowsher said.

Avon Calculus teacher Anthony Record believes ACSC leaders have been making “smart fiscal decisions.”

“With all the building, we could be in a mess, but we’re not,” Record said. “That alone should tell the public we’ve got people making the right decisions. Almost every dollar spent on equipment has been a great investment and an integral part of instruction.”

Avon Government teacher David Ball believes the community voted “no” because of “the current political climate.”

“I was disappointed that [the community] didn’t vote in favor of the referendum,” Ball said, “but with the federal government overspending, there is an anti-spending, anti-tax mood in our country.”

According to Record, the “most obvious fear” now that the referendum failed is the potential for increased class sizes.

Bowsher said that it is “difficult to say” how exactly class sizes will change, especially at the high school, where class sizes are dependent on how many students sign up for classes. In addition to potentially larger classes, the school corporation will have to extend the life of equipment, like computers, in the school corporation.

Another possible effect of budget cuts, the threat of losing teachers in the corporation, turned the referendum into a clash of values.

Record said it was his duty as an Avon resident to support the referendum.

“I support the referendum, not because I’m a teacher at Avon, not because I have children at Avon and not because I want to

uphold the value of my property in a fine school district,” Record said. “I support it because it’s the right thing to do. You always want to invest in the nation’s most valuable resource.”

Ball said that though he is not an Avon resident and cannot vote in Avon, he would have voted yes on the referendum.

“I generally don’t like taxes,” Ball said, “but this is one tax where you would know exactly where the money is going. Most taxes get put into a general fund, and state legislatures decide how [the money] is spent.”

However, some Avon residents were against the referendum because it would not have an impact on their own lives. Record said that some households were “empty-nesters who don’t have a stake in what is going on.”

Miller said, “I’m only going to be here for one more year, so it doesn’t really affect my family and me.”

Bowsher believes that the school district should be important to members of the community who do not have children in Avon schools.

“It takes a community investment to see success,” Bowsher said. “To remain competitive, we need to invest in the school community. It’s not just [the investment of] students, teachers and staff.”

Ball agreed that the school system should be a bigger priority for Avon residents.

“I hope the community sees the impact of the decision in fewer programs so that they feel the effect of their decision since they decided not to spend,” Ball said.

With the lack of funding next year, Bowsher said that the corporation will have to “tighten its belt.”

“Avon schools will undoubtedly be successful,” Bowsher said. “We respect the community’s decision for us to live within our current funding levels, and we will do the best with what we have.”

Finish strong.Have a great

summer.SOURCE: “INDYSTAR” ONLINE

VOTING RESULTSReferendum Results

32% voted yes68% voted noAvon property taxes are not being raised

Primary ResultsTreasurer: Sharon HowellTown Council: Dave Cox, Michael Reddick, Marcus Turner, Gregory ZusanTown Judge: Maureen Owen

SOURCE: “INDYSTAR” ONLINE BELLE LEBEAU

4 ECHO · MAY 2011

NEWSAvon to keep community service hour requirementStudent Government requires students to complete four hours of service to participate in school-sponsored clubsBY ELLIE PRICE

This school year, Avon High School’s Student Government implemented a four hour community service requirement for all official club members and plans to keep the requirement for next year.

“The policy that we ended up going with at the beginning of the year was that we wanted to include some sort of community service aspect to the clubs, some way to make sure [clubs were involved], but to keep it a small enough requirement so that it didn’t seem like a burden to try to accomplish these things,” teacher and Student Government advisor Adam Poliskie said. “[It is important to] make our presence to the community. We ask for a lot of donations from these different companies and organizations to help us, and I think it is really good that we pay that back somehow.”

Each member’s four hours of community service can be applied to all of the student’s clubs.

“If you look at the 180-day school calendar, four hours along the way really isn’t that much,” Poliskie

said. “I think a lot of the clubs fought back at first against this, especially the ones that aren’t service-oriented, because it wasn’t a part of their program, but it really is easy to just complete four hours.”

At the last Senate and House of Representative meeting on May 18, club presidents were required to turn in a form listing their official members and the number of completed service hours.

“We haven’t had anyone whose membership was denied [based on not completing the service hour requirement],” Poliskie said. “If there is a club that did nothing or had a large number of people that did nothing, we would look at talking with that president. It’s not something where I as a Student Government leader would want to get rid of a club. If they are not meeting that requirement, I’ll probably sit down and talk with them to find a way to make it work for everyone.”

Interact Club, the high school’s version of Rotary Club, changed its service hour policy this school

year. Members of this service-oriented club began requiring two extra volunteer hours in addition to the four hours.

“I think it helped a lot because we have a lot more people getting involved,” senior and Interact Club member Shelby Thomas said. “Not only are they all getting involved with the club, but they are also getting involved with the community. By requiring students to have a certain amount of hours, it makes Avon more involved in the community.”

According to senior and president of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Lindsey Layton, FCCLA “did not have many issues with the service hour requirement” because of the club’s focus on service projects.

“We have met the requirements,” Layton said, “and I feel it was very reasonable. Avon High School is blessed to have several upstanding students that are willing to give back to their community. It is very important for clubs to get involved with this and to provide these students with the opportunity to lend a helping hand. Students are willing to help, especially if they are with their club and people who share a common interest.”

Some students, like sophomore Cindy Stanton, have earned the majority of their service hours through events outside school. As a Girl Scout, Stanton earned over 100 hours while receiving her Gold Award, the equivalent to Boy Scouts’ Eagle Award. The project must fulfill a need in the local or global community and create change.

“I saw my community needed literacy,” Stanton said. “The children just aren’t that excited about reading in an age of video games, phones and TV.”

After receiving a $900 grant from Youth as Resources, Stanton wrote and published three children’s books with illustrations by sophomore Noelle Sercer and her father over winter break. She has donated 80 total copies to Sheltering Wings, Riley Children’s Hospital, Avon elementary schools, Avon intermediate schools and a German elementary school in Munich, Germany. Stanton will be recognized as one of approximately 25 girls in Indiana receiving their Gold Award at the Girls of Distinction ceremony in downtown Indianapolis this summer.

“It has taught me to further my leadership skills, learn to take initiative, be responsible and learn to care about others more than myself,” Stanton said.

In addition to her involvement in Girl Scouts, Stanton is the vice president of the sophomore class in the House of Representatives and will be treasurer of the junior class next year. The Executive Board met with Stanton and other class officers to confirm the volunteer hour policy at the beginning of the school year.

“Requiring community service is important because while clubs might do that anyway, making community service a requirement makes it more widespread,” Stanton said. “It’s good for all the clubs to be active in the community, spot needs and figure out ways to address them.”

Next year’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Gabi Borges, junior, agreed: “I do support the service hour requirement. Students have a tendency to think that volunteering is exhausting, but the truth is that community service takes up little time and can have a big impact. Hopefully, students learn that through the service hour requirement.”

WHAT YOU SAYStudents reveal thoughts on service requirement for clubs

“I think it is great because it shows you’re committed to your community as well as to your club.”

JAMES LOMAX, 11

“[Volunteering] looks good on college applications, and it feels good to help other people.”

JENNA JONES, 10

“I think it is a great idea. The school clubs represent us, and we need to show the best effort.”

TYLER MCCORMICK, 9SOURCE: INTERVIEWS, APRIL 2011 GRACE KELLY

Sophomore Austin Merrill straightens shirts to sell for the Kenya Club on April 27. The money from the shirts will be donated to Kenyan children so that they are able to attend school. “Community service is easy,” Merrill said, “and everybody should do it.”

MEGAN MEDELLIN

5 PAGE DESIGNERS: BELLE LEBEAU & ELLIE PRICEECHO · MAY 2011

NEWSTeacher begins after-school military support groupWhyde invites students with family in military service to share stories during counseling sessionBY JORDAN COFFMAN “It’s hard at first,” Ricketts said, “but with today’s

technology, it’s not as bad. [My family] uses Skype to connect with my brother, and we call him every week or two. It’s sad. I love my brother very much, but I know he’s doing something he loves.”

Ricketts is enlisted in the Air Force, and will be leaving for basic training in July.

“Even though I have wanted to be in the military since freshman year, long before my brother joined, I look up to him for so much,” Ricketts said. “He is so strong and is an inspiration to me.”

Whyde has advice for students entering the military.“I think kids going into the military need to be

prepared for major changes,” Whyde said. “There’s a realization that it wasn’t so bad at home after all....Have faith that you’re going to be a stronger individual, very well-trained and doing a huge service for our country. People who aren’t serving can’t repay that.”

Science teacher Cynthia Whyde and sophomore Janay Palmieri-Sample started a support group for students with parents and siblings in the military. The first meeting was on April 19, and the group has met every Tuesday since.

“My oldest son is in the Navy and recently returned from a six-month deployment in Afghanistan,” Whyde said. “When my son was scheduled to be deployed, I realized how difficult it was to cope with the emotion. I had an opportunity to talk to another teacher in the building, who has a daughter that is a surgical nurse in the Air Force, also in Afghanistan. Just by talking to her for a short time, I realized the benefit in having other people who are going through a similar experience.”

Whyde is a student in the school of counseling at Butler University.

“Part of [the counseling program] requires us to work with kids,” Whyde said. “I found one of the best ways to do that is to do support groups.”

Palmieri-Sample had reasons for starting the group.“My mother is now in her 23rd year [of service],”

Palmieri-Sample said. “It has affected me greatly because [having a parent overseas] has made me move in with another parent….It is very helpful to talk with people who understand.”

Four students showed up to the first meeting, and Whyde predicts more will show up as the year continues. She wants to continue the group into next year.

“I don’t see the issue of deployed families going away,” Whyde said. “I think that when talking to kids, they really need to spend the group time talking, but I want

to add a service aspect as well. Around the holidays, we’ll probably take on more of a service role.”

The meetings always take place after school and last as long as necessary.

“The way the group operates, you have some rules that you follow,” Whyde said. “We also talk about confidentiality, as what you talk about in the group stays in the group. Usually we have a sort of ice breaker, just to get to know everyone. Then, you can have it be an open format, or you can have a more organized feel, like a certain discussion topic.”

Some students with family in the military, such as senior Ashley Ricketts, decided not to go to the support group.

Ricketts has an older brother overseas, plus two cousins, an aunt, an uncle and other members.

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6 ECHO · MAY 2011

SPORTS

Students set mental, physical goals in rock climbingRitorto, Harnish describe what makes rock climbing both sport, hobby to them BY KENTON HIPSHER

Some students at Avon High School participate in rock climbing as both a sport and a hobby. Senior Clay Ritorto climbs because he “loves the freedom that comes with climbing.”

“You can look at any rock wall and say, ‘I want to climb that,’” Ritorto said. “It’s one of the greatest feelings ever when you complete a climb.”

To junior Mike Harnish, rock climbing is an addiction that came about “accidentally.”

“I went with a friend one day just as something to do and fell in love with the sport,” Harnish said.

Though it is not an Olympic event, rock climbing is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as an official sport. There are events and competitions on a local, regional, national and global level.

“Last year, I competed in my most recent rock climbing competition,” Ritorto said. “I made it to regionals. I think [rock climbing] isn’t forgotten, but people don’t realize how big of a sport it really is.”

Different styles of rock climbing are aid, traditional, bouldering, deep-water soloing, ice climbing and sport climbing. Ritorto’s prefers sport climbing, a form where the climber relies on permanent anchors used to reach the crescent of the rock formation.

“I prefer sport climbing because it is the safest and because it makes it easier to go climbing with less experienced climbers,” Ritorto said.

Some additional types of climbing are free, free soloing, solo aid, traverse, scrambling, simul, top-roping and ice climbing. Free climbing is climbing a rock formation using only the person’s physical strength. Free soloing is free climbing, but climbing alone. Solo aid climbing is free solo climbing, but with limited gear. Traverse climbing is rock climbing horizontally. Scrambling is the use of hands and feet to climb. Simul climbing is when two climbers climb at the same time. Top-roping is climbing with a rope already suspended at the top of a rock formation. The rope aids the climber in ascending to the top of the rock formation. Ice climbing is climbing a frozen water fall or ice gully.

Without anchors or some type of support for each climb, climbers could fall and injure themselves at certain heights.

“Rock climbing is a very dangerous sport, so each step or grab could be fatal,” Harnish said. “Rock climbing is one of those fearless sports; you kind of have to just do it!”

Ritorto and Harnish both climb at the Crag, an indoor rock climbing gym in Brownsburg, Ind. However, that is not the only place they climb. Ritorto uses his summer

vacation to enjoy rock climbing in different areas for lengths of time.

“Over the summer, I go on weeklong trips to different outdoor climbing spots,” Ritorto said. “Last year, I went

on a climb in Red River Gorge, Ky. At Red River Gorge, there are tons of rock climbing routes for various skill levels, so it’s perfect for a climber of any level.”

Climbers have no set limit they can climb; they may climb until they feel like they want to stop.

“Climbing sessions are however long you want them to be,” Harnish said. “Some people stay for an hour; some stay all day.”

Since climbing has “no limits,” according to Ritorto, any mountain or rock formation can be

climbed. Some climbers have certain places they want to climb as goals for themselves. Harnish wants to travel all over the world to rock climb.

“I want to climb in Yosemite, Moab and maybe one day in the Alps,” Harnish said.

Climbers also set goals to increase their climbing skills. Ritorto has set both mental and physical goals for himself to overcome in the future.

“My goal is to improve my climbing skills, get stronger and climb harder routes,” Ritorto said. “Rock climbing is growing to new heights, and I’m proud to be a part of it!”

I want to climb in Yosemite, Moab and maybe one day in the Alps.Clay Ritorto, 12

Junior Mike Harnish climbs a wall at The Crag, a rock climbing gymnasium in Brownsburg, Ind., on April 27. Harnish has been climbing for three years and has been working at The Crag for two years. “Climbing is like a different kind of sport,” Harnish said. “It really defines you. A lot of people say ‘I play soccer’ or ‘I play football,’ but with climbing, you don’t say, ‘I climb.’ You say, ‘I’m a climber.’ It’s what we do and who we are.”

MEGAN MEDELLIN

Senior Clay Ritorto climbs at The Crag. Ritorto began his climbing career the beginning of his sophomore year at Avon. “I climb for the rush of knowing that one wrong move could be my last,” Ritorto said.

PHOTO PROVIDED

7PAGE DESIGNERS: KENTON HIPSHER &TASHA ROLLINGS ECHO · MAY 2011

SPORTS

Students experiment with parkourAvon students, alumni explain obstacles of parkourBY KRYSTAL ANDRY

While parkour is not a sport, students around Hendricks County are practicing it.

Senior Raymond Gaye clarified the differences between free-running and parkour.

“Free-running is the movement from ‘here’ to ‘there’ with unnecessary movement, like flips, spins, tricks and pretty much anything that would slow you down if you were running for your life,” Gaye said. “Parkour is the movement using different techniques to get from point A to point B with a little creativity.”

Gaye explained how other people view parkour and what he thinks it is.

“I think other people who haven’t seen [parkour] before think it’s wild, dangerous behavior,” Gaye said. “I see it as running but with cooler moves and more creativity, just expressing ourselves through movement.”

Avon alumni Casey Cole and Nick Blatnik have been doing parkour together for six years. Blatnik explained how he injured himself when he jumped from a building to a generator and then to the ground.

“[It was] a 20 foot drop,” Blatnik said. “I split my left talis, a bone in [the] ankle, [which] takes 200 times its weight in pressure, in half. I sprained my right ankle so badly that I couldn’t put weight on it for months.”

Cole said he has never injured himself while performing tricks or flips.

“I know my body and its limitations,” Cole said. “I am also well-equipped to handle the situation if it goes wrong.”

Like Blatnik, senior Mike Chung has also hurt himself while practicing parkour. Chung was injured while attempting a flip off a wall.

“I had confidence to do it but got over-rotated by my spotter, landed on my head and got a concussion,” Chung said. “It made me stop for awhile, but I will soon overcome my fear.”

Gaye takes his injuries as a “learning experience.” “So far the worst injury I’ve had doing parkour is a

knee injury after I hit it off a high jump,” Gaye said. “[I] split it open a little bit.”

Gaye has been doing parkour for three years now, although he was first interested about four years ago.

“I really started practicing it once I moved to Avon,” Gaye said. “I saw videos online one day and said, ‘You know what? I’m going to really try this.’ Then, [I] went to my backyard [and began practicing].”

Chung said Gaye and other traceurs (people who do parkour) inspired him to begin parkour.

“It became a hobby,” Chung said, “but [I] still train to overcome my fears and obstacles.”

Gaye talked about what he thinks is the most challenging thing about parkour.

“The fear aspect [is challenging] for me and people I teach,” Gaye said.

Chung said the most rewarding thing about parkour is the achievement of clearing a new obstacle.

Gaye agreed: “The most rewarding thing is learning the moves and techniques, setting goals, and, most of all, for me, learning that no matter the obstacle in life, there is always a way around it.”

Gaye said that those interested in starting parkour should not give up.

“Take everything as a learning experience,” Gaye said, “and most of all, be safe. In parkour, you make your own limits. It’s only as dangerous as you make it to be.”

Brownsburg alumnus Nick Watts and sophomore Kyle Archer jump over a wooden fence at Blastoff Playground at a Brownsburg park. Archer practices parkour regularly and often joins friends in trying new techniques. “[Parkour] is a lifestyle,” Archer said. “It allows you to test your mental and physical strength. It can make you a better athlete all around.”

MANDY PACKNETT

”“[Parkour] is almost like a martial art in a way, which I like a lot.

CASEY COLE, AVON ALUMNUSMANDY PACKNETT

City, race fans celebrate centennial Indy 500

8 ECHO · MAY 2011

SPORTSBY DAVID ALLSPAW

Race fans, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Director of Public Relations discuss this year’s month of May

With an entire century of Indy car racing history to celebrate, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is gearing up for the “biggest” month of May yet, according to IMS Director of Public Relations Doug Boles. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, and it is making race fans like junior Sean Hilton “excited” for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” as the race is commonly known.

“[The Indianapolis 500] has been around for a long time,” Hilton said, “but it’s still one of the most prestigious races of all time.”

Boles discussed why the race’s 100th anniversary is worth cherishing.

“It’s a hundred years of tradition, stories and personalities,” Boles said. “There is no other race track that has the history and tradition of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”

The speedway itself has hardly changed since its inception in 1909. In fact, the track has the same layout as it had when it was envisioned by American entrepreneur Carl Fisher over a century ago. However, the first competitive event held at the world-renowned facility did not consist of drivers, tires or even engines. The “Indiana Motor Parkway,” as the speedway was called at the time, played host to the U.S. National Balloon Championships on June 5, 1909, before construction of the 2.5-mile track was even completed, according to “IMS” Online. On Sept. 6, 1910, after previous motorcycle and automobile races proved to be successful, local newspapers revealed that IMS management was considering a “single major racing event for 1911,” featuring a purse of $30,000, which was

to be held on Memorial Day. The inaugural Indianapolis 500 mile race took place on May 30, 1911, and was won by Ray Harroun at an average speed of about 74 mph.

Boles described the impact of the race on the city’s economy.

“After working for the city of Indianapolis under [former] mayor [Stephen] Goldsmith, I can tell you that the Indianapolis 500 is a very important asset to the community,” Boles said. “It [presents] a great tourist opportunity, and it generates as much if not more money than the Super Bowl.”

The on-track action is not limited to Memorial Day weekend. In fact, the Indianapolis 500 is unique because its practices and qualification sessions span over a period of two weeks. The track opens for practice on May 14, launching a week of six consecutive practice sessions for the drivers.

The first qualification session, often called Pole Day, takes place on May 21 and determines the top starting position in the race. Two other qualifying days follow before the entire starting field is announced. The Friday before the race is historically known as Carburetion Day, or “Carb Day,” and is popular among teenagers for its live concerts and festivities. This year, the band “Staind” will perform along with special guest “Papa Roach” at the annual “Carb Day” concert.

Junior Michael Olson listed the days at the track that he prefers to attend during the month of May.

“[I enjoy going to] ‘Carb Day’ because I like the bands that play,” Olson said, “and I [like going to] Pole Day because I get to see the lineup for the race.”

Boles said that IMS will focus more on the race’s history than ever before during this year’s centennial month of May.

“We will spend a lot of time celebrating both our history and our past,” Boles said. “Our museum is completely focused on 67 (of the 90) winning cars, which is over double than [the museum’s normal number of winning cars on-site]. The Marmon Wasp (1911 Indianapolis 500 champion Ray Harroun’s winning car) will run on race day for the first time since 1961, and 100 to 150 (of the 269) living participants of the Indianapolis 500 will be sitting in the stands on the day of the race.”

2011 Indy 500 ScheduleFast Friday

Practice

May 20 May 21 May 27May 22Indianapolis 500 Pole Day

QualifyingDetermines first 24

grid spots

Indianapolis 500 Bump Day

Determines final racing spots

Carb DayIndianapolis 500 Final Practice,

Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge,

Carb Day Concert May 29

100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race

MALLORY MANKINSOURCE: “INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY” ONLINE

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum displays the winning car of 2000 Indianapolis 500 champion Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya’s Indy car is one of 67 winning cars that are on display in light of the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500.

DAVID ALLSPAW

Boys’ Swimming

SCOREBOARDORIOLE UPDATE

May 19: Girls’ Tennis @ SectionalsMay 19: Boys’ Track and Field @ SectionalsMy 19: Softball v. Perry MeridianMay 20: Baseball v. ZionsvilleMay 21: Girls’ Tennis @ SectionalsMay 23: Boys’ Golf v. Lafayette Jeff, ZionsvilleMay 23: Softball @ SectionalsMay 25: Baseball @ SectionalsMay 26: Baseball @ Sectionals June 1: Boys’ Golf @ County

SPORTS

9PAGE DESIGNER: DAVID ALLSPAWECHO · MAY 2011

ATHLETES OF THE ISSUEShelby Hoke, 11What is the most challenging thing about lacrosse?It is an uncommon sport that is just now being introduced into schools. It’s not like playing basketball; you have to learn everything.

What is your favorite thing about lacrosse? My favorite thing about lacrosse is the people I play with. I really like the sport; it is different.

Brandon Vu, 9

What inspired you to do track?I started doing track, not knowing if I’d like it. When I was on varsity in middle school, I still didn’t take it that seriously. I knew running was going to be my life during my freshman cross country year.

What is your favorite thing to do in track?My favorite thing to do is to beat [sophomore] Ashar Hussain, whether it’s in racing, ultimate frisbee or basketball.

KRYSTAL ANDRY

ELLIE PRICE

RACHEL FISCHER

SPORTS SCENESELLIE PRICE

RACHEL FISCHER

17-5Baseball

Softball

16-6

1st

Girls’ Tennis

Boys’ Golf

7-6

at Center Grove

Girls’ Track and Field

16-9

Boys’ Track and Field

13-4

UPCOMING GAMES

FEATURE

ECHO · MAY 2011

BY MALLORY MANKIN Art teachers also nominated several students to display their art in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference (HCC) Art Show. The HCC Art Show displayed its gallery online for the first time ever this year, launching April 17. Eighteen students from Avon displayed their artwork at this conference and online.

“I looked at the artwork online,” Southwood said. “It was awesome to see my own artwork in the midst of the work of other talented artists across the state.”

The projects entered took Southwood “anywhere from two to three weeks.”

“The drawing didn’t have much planning because I drew a picture that I had already taken,” Southwood said. “The photos, however, took me a few days to develop an idea and execute them.”

Senior Keenan Morrison displayed her painting “Under the Sea” at ArtScape, the only fundraiser held by the Avon-Washington Township Public Library’s guild. The library hosted the event this April for the sixth year. Its collection includes work from six professional artists and Avon students.

“I made [the piece] for my Painting I class first semester,” Morrison said. “It is an oil painting made in ‘Impressionism’ style. I made it for a family friend. There are still a few things I wouldn’t mind going back and changing, but I really like all the colors I put in it.”

Students such as Southwood hope to continue art in the future.

“I had intended to minor in photography or fine arts with my music major,” Southwood said. “I hope I’m able to. If not, I will definitely continue to create on my own as a hobby.”

From Feb. 15 to March 20, selected winners of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards exhibited their art in Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University. This event is part of a national scholarship competition for art, writing and video game design.

Art teacher Dustin Allison nominated several students for this event.

“I nominated the students because their work was outstanding and showed creativity,” Allison said.

Senior Sara Southwood received two Gold keys, two Silver Keys and an honorable mention; juniors Krystal Andry and Emily Young each received a Silver Key and an honorable mention; seniors Stephanie Hunter and Olivia Ober each received a Silver Key; and senior Aleya Lanteigne and sophomore Ashlee Rexroth each received an honorable mention.

The closing ceremony on March 20 honored these students.

“I honestly wasn’t expecting to be recognized in any way,” Southwood said. “I only went to the end of the ceremony, but it was surprising to see so many people and know that I was still given any award in the midst of hundreds of talented artists.”

Southwood took two drawing classes and two photography classes at Avon.

“I’ve enjoyed art my entire life,” Southwood said. “I’m not really ‘trained;’ I just do it for the fun.”

Artwork ranked with Gold Keys, the highest level of achievement at the regional level, were sent to Carnegie Hall in New York City and judged on a national level in May.

Art shows honor award winners, showcase their works in exhibitsAvon students display their artwork

12

Ashley Gudat, 12

Hoosier Crossroads Conference Art ShowStudents’ artwork submitted into Indiana-based art competition

MANDY PACKNETT

Megan Locke, 11 Megan Schaefer, 12

SOURCES: INTERVIEWS, APRIL 2011; STUDENT ARTWORK

“[The fire hydrant] was a different color, so I thought I would take an abstract photo of it.”

“I tried to look for the beauty in things, and the blending colors of the water stood out to me. The lighting was perfect, and the environment inspired the photo.”

“It wasn’t really the subject of the art that inspired me, but it was more the emotion that did. The painting has a sense of mystery.”

Semir Karic

Senior Semir Karic’s video won the Learning4Life In My School Library Student Video Contest, earning the prizes of a Flip Video camera and $500 for the library. Karic also entered the Make Your Mark contest with a $10,000 scholarship prize.

What sparked your interest in video editing?

Briefly describe the process of editing.

What are your future plans?

What is your favorite part about the field?

SAL RUSSOSOURCE: INTERVIEW, APRIL 2011

Video editors are like storytellers. How we put the video together expresses the story that we try to present to the viewer.

After I take all of my video, I import them into a program called Adobe AfterEffects. That’s where I organize and make most of the animation show in the video.

My future plans are to finish college and hopefully move to a bigger city where the movie market is bigger than here in Indianapolis.

My favorite part about video is that I can take simple clips and make them into a story. [I also enjoy] using all of the equipment in the broadcasting studio.

Haiducu hosts annual educational production for Avon

STUDENT & STAFF OF THE ISSUE

13PAGE DESIGNER: KRYSTAL ANDRYECHO · MAY 2011

FEATUREBY DAVID ALLSPAW

If you could rate this school year on a scale of one to ten, what would you give it?I would rate the school year with a seven because it’s fun.

Was high school everything you thought it would be?Not really—I thought there would be a lot more drama because that is what high school is made out to be.

Physics teacher, students prepare to do ‘Power of Physics’ show later this school year

Jerico Christensen, 9

shopping for different materials that we need to build all of the demos, coming up with the idea for the show and rehearsing.”

Cochran said that Haiducu came up with the demonstrations and script for the show; he and two other students helped Haiducu to carry out the experiments in last year’s show. Cochran described his favorite aspect of helping to put on the show.

“[I like] playing a part in all of the experiments and sharing physics with other people,” Cochran said.

Cochran also discussed the after-school preparations that went into the “Power of Physics” show.

“We had to practice several times after school,” Cochran said. “We also put on a pre-show [for a large group of students at] Avon Middle School North.”

The show is not simply a random set of physics-related demonstrations and experiments.

Rather, the show is based on one central idea, or storyline, and each of the demonstrations is “placed” along the storyline. However, this year’s storyline is “not fully in place yet,” according to Haiducu.

Chemistry teacher Laura Jones-Archer took her two children, who are four and six years old, to last year’s “Power of Physics” show, and they “loved” it. She said she enjoyed when Haiducu showed off a tool that can unwind a roll of toilet paper in a matter of seconds.

Jones-Archer said she “enjoyed” Haiducu’s show.

Physics teacher Paul Haiducu hosted his inaugural “Power of Physics” show last year in the Avon auxiliary gym. Over 200 students, parents and faculty members showed up to watch Haiducu and his group of three students, which included seniors Logan Cochran and Nusrat Khan, perform physics-related demonstrations.

This year’s show is currently scheduled to take place in the auxiliary gym. However, Haiducu is hoping to move it to the auditorium in order to accommodate a larger audience. He hopes to increase attendance to the event through commercials on the “Early Bird,” posters around the school and an announcement in the Avon Chronicle.

Haiducu said he was inspired to start the show at Avon after he watched similar physics shows at college campuses.

“I witnessed a few of these shows,” Haiducu said. “I actually saw the first show put on by Purdue University. Then, I saw a different show in Bloomington [put on by the] Indiana University Department of Physics, and I saw the Purdue show again. I also went to Wisconsin and saw a show that was presented at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”

Haiducu listed the preparations that are being made for this year’s show.

“It’s hard to estimate the time [that I have spent preparing for the show] since I am thinking so much about [the show] and researching all the time,” Haiducu said. “[My preparations have consisted of] manufacturing most of my demos, which is quite labor-intensive, researching online for different ideas,

“Watching [natural] forces at work is very impressive,” Jones-Archer said.

Haiducu explained why he thinks it is “important” for people to understand physics.

“I believe physics is one of the basic sciences of which we should have a fundamental understanding,” Haiducu said. “I believe that knowing physics would allow you to understand many other sciences and other things that you would encounter later on in your education, in formal courses or anything else. You would be able to understand the natural phenomena that surround us and that we are exposed to all the time. You can understand nature [by understanding physics].”

Cochran also described how physics is ever-present in the natural world.

“[Physics] is the basic principle of life,” Cochran said. In addition to Avon High School, Haiducu and his

group of students performed last year’s show at Avon Middle School (AMS) North and St. Susanna Catholic School in Plainfield, Ind. Haiducu made arrangements with Avon math teacher Tonda Luckey, former head of the AMS North science department, to bring the show to the middle school. Brad Bernhardt of St. Susanna Catholic School, who used to work for Avon schools, invited Haiducu to present the show to the elementary school.

Haiducu described why he “enjoys” putting on the show.

“I think [putting on the show] is quite rewarding when it comes to seeing the reaction of the public and hearing the reactions after the show, especially,” Haiducu said. “[I also like] knowing that people enjoyed it, [hearing them] speak about it afterwards and realizing that [the attendees] became interested in [physics], too.”

MEGAN MEDELLIN

Michelle Hammons,Science teacher

[I will be teaching] until I die and the forensic students use my body as part of their research project on bugs and human decomposition, or until the snapping turtle kills me.

How long do you think you will be teaching?

Why not? I’m actually trained to create a mini zoo, so I can charge admission to class if the animals ever start copulating. I’m also planning on creating a mini army of animals to take over the planet.

Why do you keep so many animals in your classroom?

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you this year?I made friends with [freshman] Curtis Reck. I think the name explains everything.

[I like] playing a part in all of the experiments and sharing physics with other people.LOGAN COCHRAN, 12

14 ECHO ·MAY 2011

FEATUREAaron Santiago

Avon sophomore awarded merit scholarship to Bard College at Simon’s Rock, an early admittance college in Great Barrington, Mass.What was your or your family’s initial reaction to being awarded the merit scholarship to Bard College?

How has your perception of high school changed since concrete college plans have been presented to you?

What element(s) of your academic career so far do you think played the largest part in your winningthe scholarship?

SAL RUSSOSOURCE: INTERVIEW, APRIL 2011

My father was the first to read the letter and the first to know about the acceptance. Perhaps in a rush to leave for work, he misread the letter and mistakenly thought the $10,000 scholarship was an entrance fee. My mother didn’t have a good day that day.

What plans are you currently considering for your professional future?

Like most other sophomores, I have no idea.

My perception hasn’t changed at all, which is why I was extremely quick to apply to Bard. My attitude toward high school, however, has changed drastically. The addition of “senioritis” as a sophomore is an interesting experience, at least.

My grades aren’t wonderful, and the only “academic” achievement I really have is having skipped Pre-Algebra, causing myself to be one year ahead of most of the students in math. What I feel played the largest part in winning the scholarship was my passion for being a percussionist, which I made sure to convey to my admissions counselor, along with a computer game I had written from scratch that I sent with my application.

What advice do you have for your classmates in achieving a similar level of success?

Success? I simply saw an opportunity and seized it. I’m sure a good portion of the school got postcards from Bard, but I know I’m the only student in Avon to apply. It just goes to show that there’s a lot out there for you if you’re willing to find it.

What students should do now to prepare for post-graduation

SOURCE: “COLLEGE BOARD” ONLINE ELLIE PRICE

Apply for scholarships and grants• Study for final exams• Take placement exams after admittance• Attend orientation sessions• Look for a summer job, internship or volunteer position• Save money for textbooks• Purchase things for dormitory (sheets, storage bins, • laundry detergent, quarters for washer and dryer, dishes, room decorations)Prepare student budget•

Unde

rcla

ssm

en

College preparation checklist

Seni

ors

Franklin College

Register for college preparatory classes• Study for final exams• Be involved in clubs and other extracurricular activities• Look for a summer job, internship or volunteer position• Take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or • American College Test (ACT)Research postsecondary schools• Visit college campuses• Schedule interviews with admissions officers• Request applications from colleges and universities•

Miami University

15PAGE DESIGNER: BEN BROWNECHO · MAY 2011

FEATURE

BY ASHLEY HANCOCK

Swank shares history as educator, explains how he became Avon administrator

ASHLEY HANCOCK

Michael Swank

while he workswhistles

AALC principal

Avon Advanced Learning Center (AALC) administrator, Michael Swank, taught for 30 years in various Ohio school corporations, coached high school sports teams, became an administrator and retired before coming to Avon. Swank’s responsibilities at Avon High School include overseeing the AALC and its staff, managing the Advanced Placement program at Avon, leading the history department and deciding discipline for seniors.

“My favorite part so far has been the kids,” Swank said. “I love the relationships. I love getting to interact with them, finding out where they’re going to college and working with them as they struggle through making their life choices. I love the engagement and the opportunity to be there for the students.”

Senior Lauren Cramer said she “enjoys the atmosphere that Mr. Swank brings to the AALC.”

“Seeing him smiling in the hallway and saying hello...can really brighten your day,” Cramer said.

Before the 2010-2011 school year began, Swank assembled a team of incoming seniors to aid in the decision-making process of the appearance of the AALC.

“I created the Student Advisory Board to help us stay centered,” Swank said. “We didn’t want to become adult-focused instead of student-focused. If we want the students to become self-advocates, then we need to give them the opportunity to do that. We brought our ideas to the Student Advisory Board and asked them how they felt about things. ”

Senior Robin Gerboth participated in the Student Advisory Board and spent time in meetings with Swank before the construction of the AALC.

“I met Mr. Swank when I began working with him and other administrators after joining the Student Advisory Board,” Gerboth said. “He was always prepared with plans for every meeting, and there was always something new and exciting to talk about and vote on.”

While fulfilling the role of athletic director in Sidney, Ohio, Swank was able to learn beside the administrator, Robert Grueser, and took lessons from his experience that he would incorporate when he became associate principal at Avon.

“I was very fortunate to be able to work with the high school principal,” Swank said. “He was the one who really taught me how to be an administrator and helped me understand my roles and responsibilities in the school and what’s best for the kids. It’s so easy in this career to get caught up in adult issues and allow

those adult issues to be more important than what’s best for kids. He did a really good job of engraining in me that I needed to be careful not to get caught up in that malarkey.”

Gerboth said Swank “sincerely takes an interest in all his students.”

“He knows us all by name and takes the time to catch up with us in the hallways,” Gerboth said. “He’s always upbeat, and I really like the whistling that students will randomly hear as he walks down the hallways during class. His energy is infectious.”

Before Swank arrived at Avon, he spent the majority of his teaching career in Ohio and retired before moving to Indiana.

“The reason I retired is because I got married,” Swank said. “My wife is from Indianapolis, so for the first two years of our marriage, she lived in Indianapolis, and I lived in the Cleveland area, where I was principal. It just so happened that I could retire after 30 years in Ohio, so I retired and moved to Indiana, and, as a part of that process, I applied for the associate principal job at Avon. I was fortunate enough to get it.”

Despite his previous retirement, Swank does not intend to retire from Avon in the near future.

“I can’t even foresee myself retiring,” Swank said. “I love my job too much.”

A&E

16 ECHO · MAY 2011

Video game designer James Portnow elaborates on ‘ludus florentis’Gaming becomes art form BY JORDAN COFFMAN

At the Game Developer’s Conference in early March, a new term gained popularity: “ludus florentis,” meaning “the flowering of games.” It describes video games’ transition from a pastime to an art, and game designer James Portnow is a proponent of the idea.

Portnow runs a game design consulting firm in Seattle, Rainmaker Games. He has worked on a number of games, ranging from the “Call of Duty” series to “Farmville.” He holds a professorship at Digipen Institute and a master’s degree in entertainment technology from Carnegie Mellon University and has been published in major gaming industry publications.

“[Because of ‘ludus florentis’], consumers can expect to see games that aren’t targeted at just adolescent males,” Portnow said. “Over the last few years, we’ve had a game about Randian Objectivism, a digital poem and a piece that simply asks ‘What does it feel like to be a flower in the breeze?’. . .Year by year, more titles expand beyond the purview of what have traditionally been considered games and deliver experience with real value, value we can retain when we shut the machine off and get off the couch.”

According to the Entertainment Software Association, the “average gamer” is 30 years old and has been playing games for 9.5 years, and 43 percent of all video game players are women.

“‘Gamer’ is both a derogatory term and a culture now,” Portnow said, “and many people believe that if we lose the term, we’ll also lose the culture. I don’t think this is the case. I think, down the line, when everyone has played digital games. . .the derogatory term will disappear. We’ll still refer to the ‘gamer’ culture with regards to hardcore players and people who let games have a serious and meaningful impact on their lives.”

Shifting demographics and other causes have started to create new genres of games.

“I think we’ll see genres we can’t even imagine now—genres which can’t exist in television or film,” Portnow said. “I think we’ll open up new ways to explore the human experience through a medium which is uniquely interactive—a medium where the audience isn’t merely audient, but participatory. The viewer is also the artist, and people can tell their own stories and explore their own views.”

Freshman Luke Brown believes the growth of gaming techonology contributes to “ludus florentis.”

“As software and hardware grows, we can create better games that pull the players into an incredible virtual world,” Brown said. “Many games now have excellent levels of realism, and all we can do is get better at making realistic virtual realms.”

Critics of video games say that, since games by definition must be won, the drive to win takes away from the artistic value of the medium.

“People need to realize that games aren’t always just about how fun it is,” freshman Nate Briggs, who is going into game design, said. “Sometimes it’s about how well the point of the game gets across and how realistic it is. Sometimes it’s about how deep the story is and how well it drags the player into the world in which they’re playing. It’s kind of like an interactive painting or book.”

Portnow has advice for the industry and for gamers.“We simply need to embrace the idea that the medium

is legitimate,” Portnow said. “We need to stop hiding behind the idea that we’re just making games and stop pandering to the lowest common denominator. . .There is great good we can do here if we’re simply willing to embrace it.”

Go to avonecho.com for a full interview with Portnow.

Student Art Gallery

Senior Aubrey Quackenbush photographed an umbrella in motion for her Digital Photography project. “I really like the movement in the umbrella,” teacher Dustin Allison said. “Aubrey always has a unique point of view with her photos.”

Junior Abby Sidor created a dish in the shape of a pie for her functional food project in Ceramics II. “The project was to make a functional object that resembled any type of food,” teacher Sarah Fowler said. “I like the realistic quality of the project.”

Sophomore Jared Sanford drew a self- portrait for his Drawing II class. “He did an excellent job drawing himself,” teacher Lindsay Frey said. “I have had Jared in several classes, and he is always challenging himself to improve his artistic skills.”

ASHLEY HANCOCKSTUDENTS WERE NOMINATED FOR EXCEPTIONAL ART PROJECTS SOURCE: “ENCYCLOPEDIA” ONLINE MIRIAM THOMAS

The evolution of video games1952

First computer game, Tic-Tac-Toe, invented

at Cambridge

X

XO

1972Atari releases arcade

version of Pong

1982Pac-Man attracts

women and families to gaming

1988Nintendo introduces first portable gaming device, the GameBoy, in Japan

with Tetris

1996Nintendo 64 includes

3-D graphics

B A

2006Nintendo releases the Wii,

marks advent of motion controlled gaming

Wii

2011Nintendo creates 3DS and expands art and design in gaming industry

NINTENDO 3DS

NINTENDO 3DS

17PAGE DESIGNER: JORDAN COFFMANECHO · MAY 2011

A&EDubstep music gains popularity

Dubstep, though only created in the 2000s, has gained popularity in recent years, especially with famous artists such as Rihanna and Snoop Dogg using dubstep in songs, but there are artists who focus entirely on dubstep as well, such as Datsik and deadmau5.

Though dubstep is more popular now than it was when it was first created, according to senior Blaise Bartlett, “most” dubstep producers are in Europe and are not very “mainstream.” He said it is becoming more common, especially in the United States. Junior Daniel Hoover also said that the music is “underground” but that “mainstream” artists are using dubstep more.

“A lot of disc jockeys (DJs) are not as mainstream as you think,” Hoover said. “It’s really underground, but a lot of artists are bringing it to the table, like deadmau5 and Bassnectar, even Britney Spears.”

According to “Soundhead” Online, dubstep is a musical genre born in the 2000s in London’s “garage scene” and is musically characterized by its two-step rhythm. The difference between dubstep and other musical genres is the sound. Musicians use musical instruments such as guitars to create sounds, while dubstep producers use computer programs and sound boards to synthetically create sounds for their tracks. This sound is what is described as “electronic music.” Hoover gave his own definition of dubstep.

“Dubstep is a type of electronic music,” Hoover said. “It uses a series of deep wobble bases and fast bass beats integrated into electronic music.”

Hoover said the name “dubstep” originated from the techniques early producers used to create the music.

“When dubstep first originated, local garage producers dubbed over regular tracks and remixed them with deep drum, bass z-step and fast break beats,” Hoover said.

BY BEN BROWN

New music genre gathers following at Avon; students find creative outlet producing dubstep musicBartlett, a dubstep producer, said dubstep was

“nothing” when it was first created, but it is more popular now. Across the country and the world there are many dubstep shows, competitions and raves. Bartlett said this is where he became interested in dubstep and in becoming a dubstep producer.

“[I got into dubstep] after going to parties and shows and watching dubstep DJs,” Bartlett said. “[I] listened to their music and learned. I also want to go to college [to learn how to] DJ and produce music.”

Bartlett’s ambitions of learning to produce dubstep are evidence of its recognition as a musical genre.

Bartlett said he produces dubstep because he likes the feeling he gets when he completes a track.

“After I produce a track, it feels pretty good to have something I did,” Bartlett said, “and the compliments from people make me feel good.”

Senior Nick Disher is a fan of dubstep and said his favorite part of the music is the way producers recreate “old” music by remixing it into entirely new tracks. He said this is why he became a fan of the music.

“I like the way they change songs and make them completely different,” Disher said.

Hoover, a dubstep DJ, said he was a fan of electronic music but got into dubstep after a friend introduced him to the music. Hoover also said he likes dubstep because of its creativity. He said he DJs dubstep as a creative outlet.

“Dubstep is a great way to pull out that creativity in you and mix some of your favorite [music] into something better,” Hoover said.

Hoover said he likes to listen to and DJ the music because of its energy. He said he likes how “it gets people moving.”

“Dubstep is just a new form of techno,” Hoover said. “It’s just great party music; everybody can get into it.”

Senior Blaise Bartlett uses his laptop and a soundboard to create dubstep at a dance party. Bartlett has been a disc jockey at parties and created dubstep at Avon’s talent show earlier this year. “I enjoy making dubstep because it’s an interesting genre of music to listen to,” Bartlett said. “I find it an easy genre of music to mix and produce.”

MANDY PACKNETT

Senior Nick Disher listens to a dubstep song in theater teacher Lori Riley’s room after school on May 2. “I just really like dubstep because it sounds awesome,” Disher said.

MANDY PACKNETT

SENIORS, We will miss you all so much! You all have made this year one of the best years ever, and the newspaper looks fantastic. Thank you all so much for a wonderful year. You have a successful life in front of you!

Love, Fellow Echo-ites

On a fateful Friday night in late April, I went to see Jukebox the Ghost perform at Earth House downtown. I had heard before that Earth House was just another adorable coffee shop in the city, and I wondered how a café could serve as a concert venue. However, I ended up very impressed with both the venue and the performance. I found myself looking at a nineteenth-century Methodist church rather than a typical coffee shop. Later, I learned that in 2008, a group of citizens from the city renovated the old church and made it the Earth House it is today, according to “Hello Indianapolis” Online. Inside, the hodgepodge of tables, lounges and chairs created a cozy coffee shop atmosphere on the main floor. The layout of the Earth House is a little tricky to navigate at first, but the church foyer was an excellent gathering place. I have never been to a concert in such a relaxed atmosphere. Before the show even started, the band members were simply scattered among the concertgoers. At first, I did not even realize that it was a member of Jukebox the Ghost who sold me my t-shirt at the merchandise table because everyone there was so friendly. I have never had this sort of concert experience before, and I loved having the ability to personally meet the bands. Before the show, I had time to check the upcoming events at Earth House. I was astounded by how much Earth House did in the community. Events such as church services, yoga classes, chess clubs, art shows, film festivals and community meetings happen almost daily. Jukebox the Ghost put on a fantastic show, along with the opening bands, Wakey!Wakey! and Pretty & Nice. Even though the city does not allow loud music after 11p.m., Earth House allowed Ben Thornewill of Jukebox the Ghost to drag a piano into the foyer well after the concert had ended and play us a final acoustic set that everyone enjoyed. Earth House is not just a coffee shop; it is a community. That is why it will remain an important part of Indy’s culture, art and music scene for years to come.

Turning 18 entails receiving the rights and responsibilities of adulthood, such as the right to vote, marry, join the military, sign contracts, serve on juries and be tried as an adult in court. However, 18-year-olds do not possess the right to purchase and consume alcohol. At the age of 18, a person is an adult and can make adult decisions. If that is true, then why is the drinking age 21? If 18-year-olds can make responsible decisions, then they should be allowed to choose if they want to drink or not.

According to professor Ruth C. Engs of applied health sciences at Indiana University, the drinking age should be lowered for young adults so they can drink in controlled environments to better understand responsible drinking. Lowering the drinking age would help young adults better control their urge to drink because they would be able to drink when they choose to do so. Society needs to understand that age does not define a person’s level of responsibility.

According to “Drinking Age” Online, keeping the legal drinking age at 21 is also expensive because of all the money being spent for cops to monitor parties and patrol neighborhoods. It is inefficient because underaged citizens are still going to find a way to drink if they want. American taxpayers annually spend approximately $69.1 billion on attempts to keep younger citizens away from alcohol, according to “CNN” Online.

America should look at the successes that other countries have made due to the younger drinking ages in their country. According to the “National Youth Rights Association” (NYRA) Online, all but 10 countries have drinking ages of 18 or under. There have been few drinking-related problems with the younger generations in other countries, according to “NYRA” Online. Fewer drinking-related problems would help lower the crime rate as well.

If America recognizes 18-year-olds as adults in the sense of voting, serving on a jury and doing various activities, then they should be able to make an adult decision on whether or not to drink. As legal adults, 18-year-olds should be able to drink responsibly.

I am never going to be as direct as this ever again: buy this game. Even if you have never played a game before, find someone who owns “Portal 2” and ask to come over and play it. Those of you who already have the game, agree to this demand because this is a game that needs to be shared and also because it is hilarious to watch non-gamers stumble through the puzzles and still manage to solve them with a lack of grace akin to a three-legged elephant.

“Portal 2” takes place in a massive underground testing facility named Aperture Laboratories. It has been centuries since the events of “Portal,” and nature has reclaimed most of the labs. You are forced into a series of tests, trying to find a way to escape and kill the insane computer running the whole place. What truly makes the story, however, is the dark humor delivered throughout, from doublespeak like calling a sphere an “edgeless safety cube” to sarcasm, such as the computer stating she has “been really busy being dead.”

The titular portal gun is the center of the puzzles. The concept is simple—with one button, you can shoot a blue portal, and with a second button, an orange one.

Whatever goes in the blue portal comes out the orange and vice-versa. The puzzles are based around this idea, going from simple tasks like crossing a gap to more complex problems like redirecting a laser through three receptacles. When you look back at whatever convoluted chain of logic brought you through the test chamber, you cannot help but think, ‘Hey! I am not as dumb as people tell me!’ This innate satisfaction is present through every level, like a stream of candy bars leading you deeper and deeper into the fun and interesting world of science. There is also a co-op campaign, with both players having portal guns to play with.

I really cannot stress enough how much this game needs to be played. I do not care if you have never played a game before. I watched someone who has never picked up an Xbox controller laugh through the game, having just as much fun falling into infinite pits of doom as actually solving the puzzle. This is truly the game for everyone.

Upon embarking on this writing quest, I struggled to decide what would be best to review. Maybe a movie or a book, I thought to myself. Then, I had an epiphany of sorts. Why not write about God’s gift to man? Fan fiction.

Fan fiction is a type of story in which an amateur writer takes characters, settings or a plot from a previously written story and makes it his or her own. There are thousands of websites and stories from which to choose.

I recently had the pleasure of reading “Married to You,” by Anna Kayson, a fan fiction on “FanFiction” Online. I really would recommend this story. It is a post-war “Harry Potter” story that deals with relationships and Ministry of Magic mandated marriages.

None of the characters end up having a relationship with whom the reader would expect, but personalities of the characters in the parody hold true to the original work. The story is basically a new take on the epilogue of the last book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

I honestly think that I prefer this version to the original. It was a very well-written story that I would gladly reread. The story jumps between different characters’ points of view, which can confuse the reader, but, overall, I give it two thumbs up.

Fan fiction is a creative outlet for unpublished writers. Therefore, readers may run into fan fiction that makes them want to jump off a cliff or cry. Those types of stories will ruin fan fiction forever. The secret is to be specific when searching for a story.

One good site for searching fan fiction is “FanFiction” Online. This site has everything from “Harry Potter” to “Pride and Prejudice” for the reader’s pleasure. There are thousands of titles for the reader to choose from, allowing them to read their favorite stories.

If the reader is looking for stories with specific characters, he or she can search for them specifically on this site. Searches may also be completed by word count and theme.

Everyone should give the amazing world of fan fiction a chance; it may lead to the discovery of something unexpected.

OPINION

18 ECHO · MAY 2011

BREAKING NEWS

MUSEWORTHY GAMERS’ ASYLUM

ROTATING REVIEW WITH RACHEL FISCHER

WITH JORDAN COFFMAN

WITH SARAH KENNEDY

WITH OLIVIA OBER

EarthHouse

Drinking Age

Portal 2Review

What is fan fiction?

19PAGE DESIGNERS: GRACE KELLY & MEGAN MEDELLINECHO · MAY 2011

ECHOE D I T O R I A LCorporation must protect arts programsBudget cuts threaten quality of fine arts education around nation

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFEllie Price

COPY EDITOROlivia Ober

The Echo exists as an open forum through which its readers can express concern and gain insight into local, national and international issues as they relate to Avon High School students or teens in general. The Echo holds the viewpoint that no subject is too sensitive to discuss if done so in a responsible manner. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. The Echo recognizes that with this freedom comes responsibility. Journalistically, this means accurate, fair and objective coverage.A.) The purpose of the Echo is to inform, to entertain, to create interest and to evaluate.B.) The Echo does not express the views of the administration, faculty members, or the like, except in quotations or letters to the editor. The views of the Echo are not necessarily those of Avon High School students, parents, administrators or staff.C.) The Echo does not condone censorship or any policy of prior review.D.) The Echo will respond to complaints about accuracy, fairness and completeness of copy. When a report is found to be wrong or misleading, a correction will appear in the next issue of the Echo.E.) Letters to the editor are welcome provided they are signed. Under special circumstances, the Echo will withhold the names. However, the Echo will not protect the identity of the writer should a lawsuit occur. The Echo reserves the right to edit letters for libel and defamation, obscenity and copyright. The editor may also edit for length and correction of expression.F.) The Echo will be distributed in a manner to be determined by the editorial team. The Echo student subscription price will be included in book rental. G.) In the occurrence of a death of a student, faculty member or school staff personnel, a standard size obituary will run. It will be a short feature and include a photograph, if one is available. Cause of death will not be reported.

ABOUT THE ECHO

EDITORIAL STAFFADVISER

Susan Hoffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFSal Russo

DESIGN / ADS EDITORBelle LeBeau

PHOTO / COPY EDITORRachel Fischer

David Allspaw, Krystal Andry, Ben Brown, Jordan Coffman, Ashley Hancock,

Kenton Hipsher, Grace Kelly,Sarah Kennedy, Mallory Mankin,

Megan Medellin, Mandy Packnett,Tasha Rollings, Miriam Thomas

STAFF MEMBERS

OPINION

Avon High School has a high reputation for providing quality performing and visual arts programs to its students. These programs enrich both the school and community and provide students with a much-needed creative outlet alongside the usual academic activities. However, school corporations around the nation are being forced to make budget cuts, and reputable arts programs could be highly at risk. Avon citizens voted against the referendum, causing budget cuts to education in our own hometown. The Avon Community School Corporation, as well as the Avon community, should take action to ensure these art programs are protected from the cuts and have room for future growth if art funding is decreased as a result of the budget cuts.

According to the Art Education Association of Indiana Incorporated, students involved in creative arts are statistically more engaged in their schoolwork. Creative arts activities stimulate both the analytical and creative hemispheres of the brain and boost memory abilities. A study by the National Endowment for the Arts also showed that readers and arts participants are more than twice as likely to volunteer in their community. Arts programs are key in creating motivated, well-rounded students.

Furthermore, creative arts programs are crucial to the careers of some students. Arts programs should not be treated as expendable

electives if certain students wish to pursue careers such as animation, graphic design, painting, fashion, et cetera. The addition of Advanced Placement (AP) Art Portfolio and the new Digital Photography classes was a step in the right direction to ensure college-bound artists are able to begin building their skills before they move on to their next level of education. Avon should continue to build upon the idea of educating artists for the future and should consider adding more art electives and an AP Studio Art class when possible.

It is a harsh reality that arts programs similar to the great programs at Avon are facing layoffs and budget cuts all around the nation. The solution is protecting Avon’s programs ahead of time. Writing a letter to state legislators and even our Congressmen is a great way to speak out. Avon should also consider setting up an “art booster” program similar to the band and choir boosters so that students and parents can fundraise for Avon’s art programs. Avon could host art shows and sales to raise funds for and to showcase the benefits of creative arts simultaneously. Awareness, fundraising and support of the arts from the community will become more and more important as funding decreases. Avon has maintained a strong creative arts department, and our school corporation needs to secure the resources to keep the arts program strong in the future.

BEHIND THE SCENES

”“I like being around

the kids; they’re like extended grandkids.

PHOTOS: MIRIAM THOMASOR PASS ME TO A FRIEND

Buses provide students with transportation to and from school every day. Bus riding is provided free to students who need a ride to school.

A bus driver’s job is to provide safe transportation for students. Some bus drivers like Melanie Whitley connect with their passengers.

“One of my favorite parts of bus driving is listening to all my elementary school students’ stories and experiences,” Whitley said.

BUS DRIVERS

RODNEY RUMRILL, BUS DRIVER

PAGE DESIGN: RACHEL FISCHER & MANDY PACKNETT

STORY: GRACE KELLY

With every bus ride, the passengers’ lives are in the hands of bus drivers.

“[The hardest part of my job is the] bad weather conditions,” Whiltley said. “I have to drive safely.”

Though some Avon students drive to school, 2,425 students of the Avon population ride the bus, according to the Avon Transportation Center.

“Riding the bus is relaxing,” sophomore Antwoine Moses said. “You’re never late to school.”

RECYCLE ME