Females take risks in sports, too
May 6, 2008
By: Stephanie Hodgin <shodgin@hilite.org>
As she packs up her equipment, sophomore Jamelynn “Jaymo” Callahan remembers that day’s practice. Practice not for gymnastics, volleyball, or even cheerleading, but for football. Currently she is the varsity football manager and said she believes that even girls can become a part of the football family here. She even wants to try out for the football team her senior year and hopes to play if her coaches let her.
“I was welcomed instantly as a freshman girl being a part of the team,” she said about becoming manager. She also said she believes that girls can take risks in sports as well, and that if is not just a masculine trait. According to the Web site oxfordjournal.org, females take just as many risks in sports as males do, the only difference being females asses risk in sports more accurately.
According to the site, “girls may be more accurate than boys in assessing risk in sport. Additionally, it may be socially desirable to perceive less risk in sport, in accordance with the prevailing masculine stereotype for boys in sports.”
The web site also states that another reason for this difference could be because of how females grow up learning to play sports. “Parents and coaches have traditionally socialized female sport participants away from the aggressiveness, physical contact and risks that are considered necessary in contact sports,” it states.
Callahan said she believes that all players form any sports should take risks if the need arises.
“Yeah, definitely they should (take risks) because your whole team is out there for you and putting in their whole effort for you. You should do the same for them,” Callahan said.
Megan Renninger, tennis player and junior, said that she believes that risk-taking is understandable for the most part.
“Risk-taking is understandable to an extent because all athletes want to help their team, but you also don’t want to ruin your career (with an injury),” Renninger said.
Callahan said one risk females take is choosing to play more masculine sports, such as football.
“(The players) accept you really fast with open arms. I started (being a part of the team) freshman year and I was welcome instantly,” she said.
She said that it didn’t matter that she was a girl, either.
“I love everything about the sport now, from the bonds made to being part of a team and feeling like you’re meant for something,” Callahan said.
Renninger said that she believes that girls can play the sports that they are able to play.
“Girls can play all sports if they are physically capable to competing with either gender in that sport,” Renninger said. Some people have criticized IndyCar driver Danica Patrick of this up until her first win at the Indy 300 Japan race. But according to cbssports.org article by National Sports Columnist Mike Freeman, Patrick believes that racers are racers, no matter their gender.
“What you really need is endurance. And some tests have shown that women have more endurance than men. But that’s not the point. I’m not trying to establish the superiority of one sex over another. I’m a good driver, but I’m no superwoman. What I’m trying to emphasize is that a driver is primarily a person, not a man or a woman, and that is a great deal of driving is mental,” Patrick said according to the article.
According to a 2006 ABC News article titled “You Go, Girl–to Football Camp” by Blair Soden, more and more females are deciding to take that risk and play football. According to this Web site, women have been playing organized football since the 1950s. The Independent Women’s Football League currently boasts a roster of 35 all-female teams.
Callahan said, “(Football is a masculine sport) because they think that guys can hit a whole lot harder than girls can. If I am a guy I can prove how tough I am by hitting a person as hard as I can. If a girl wants to play, it should be her decision.”
Going, Going, Gone…
May 6, 2008
By: Tommy Sneider <tsneider@hilite.org>
How did you start go-carting?
My dad is an IndyCar engineer and he’s with Andretti Green Racing.
Have you been in any competitions?
Yeah, I had a competition two Sundays ago. It was my first Senior Class race, and Thomas Scheckter was in that race and he qualified third, and I qualified second so that was pretty cool.
Have you placed in the races.
That was my first race of the 2008 season, but last year I went to Daytona and I qualified 14th and finished 12th.
What kinds of awards have you won from racing?
In 2006 I got my first win in TAG Junior Class. All you have to do is touch the car and it starts. In 2007 I won the Yamaha Junior Can. I won two races at Newcastle and Motor Sports Park and that’s where I do most of my racing. In 2007 I came in third place out of 24 in my class, so that was pretty big.
What’s the most challenging part about the sport?
Probably just staying consistent and getting the cart set up right. The track is always changing and you have to adapt to the track. Since there’s sprint races, it’s pretty important to qualify really well. You want to qualify in the front row to have a chance to win.
Do you have your own cart?
Yeah, I actually have two. I use one for the TAG class, and I have another class called the HPV cart and that’s just so I can get on the track.
How do you help in maintaining and keeping it running to its potential?
We send our engine to an engine builder, so you just bolt it in and go. For the cart, there’s a lot of grease involved, so after everyone season you have to clean off the cart. Also, between races you have to make changes to the cart. The way the cart is altered makes a big change.
When was your first race?
My first national race was in South Bend, but it was more of a regional race. My first big national race was in Daytona. I also raced at Charlotte, but I do most of the racing at Newcastle Motorsports Park. It’s one of the best in the U.S. You’ll see a lot of IndyCar racers out there. There’s a lot of top-notch competition.
What is your favorite place where you competed?
Probably Shawano, WI, just because the track has so many different elevation changes and it’s a big track with a lot of fast runs.
Have you had any bad crashes or injuries from racing?
I broke my thumb. What happened was there was a cart spun out in front of me and I T-bonded him and I got my finger stuck in the steering wheel and I fractured it. Another time I got loose and another cart drove over the side of my body.
What do you want to achieve in your racing career?
I just want to keep going as long as I can. Just see what opens up ahead. I would love to do some open wheel.
Describe your most exciting moment.
Probably my first big race a day after my birthday. It was a great feeling of accomplishment finally getting my first win and fighting for the next one.
What kinds of speed do you race at?
In the TAG cart you can get up to 70 plus miles per hour, and that’s about as fast as you’ll find me on any track. In the year before this, it was 65.
What racer do you idolize and why?
Marco Andretti just because he’s accomplished so much and he’s only 21 years old. He races flat out, no matter how the cart handles, he just drives.
How do you balance school and practicing for races?
The races are normally on weekends, and we’ll go occasionally to the track to practice. There’s a lot of down time on the track, so when other classes are racing I’ll do my homework then.
What do your practices usually consist of?
We test to see how the cart feels based on the changes we make to the cart. We’ll just test different components of the chassis, and we’ll test a qualifying run and try to cut down time making little changes. A race is only 12 laps, so sometimes we do 12-lap runs to see if the cart continually handles right.
What’s the most difficult part while racing?
Probably staying focused and making sure you do every corner completely right and hit your apex completely right and get on the gas completely right. Also, knowing what is going on around you.
Do you think you’ll continue racing later on in life?
Yeah, I would really love to. But if it’s not an option, then no; I just want to see how far it will take me and go through the different formulas and hopefully reach IndyCar open wheel or NASCAR, whatever presents itself.
(Exclusively Online) Sudoku Solution for 05/01/08
May 6, 2008
Second time’s the charm
May 6, 2008
By: Erin Lowe <elowe@hilite.org>
It’s prom season again which means it’s time to make hair appointments and find a date. But, like senior Kara Palmer, think people sometimes go too far.
“People sometimes make it get out of hand when they go all out,” she said. If they keep it simple it’s okay. I think it’s become a big deal. The biggest deal isn’t even the dance itself.”
Palmer has more experience than others with proms since last year as a junior she went to two. Her first prom was at Zionsville with her boyfriend Peter and then she went to this school’s prom. She plans to attend this year’s prom here.
“To make the prom’s different we went to different places and had completely different plans for each,” Palmer said.
Palmer said that each prom is different, but she said that she enjoyed Zionsville’s prom more than the one held by this school “For Zionsville’s we went to the Eagle’s Nest downtown for dinner. The prom was at the Marriott Hotel downtown and there was even an after party at the school. They had decorated the school and it was awesome,” Palmer said.
This school’s prom is coming up on Saturday at The Fountains. It lasts from 8 p.m. to midnight. Some other proms on Saturday are Hamilton Heights and Fishers.
To prepare for her prom here, Palmer went with the norm and had her hair done and nails done, but to change things up she used a different method when preparing for Zionsville’s prom.
“I did my own hair and nails when I went to Zionsville. I didn’t want to spend so much money since I was going to two proms,” Palmer said.
This year for prom, planning will be about the same. Many people have already made appointments for hair and nails, and some have already made dinner reservations.
“I think planning ahead is good and helps people to feel less stressed about anything,” Palmer said.
For people who have never been to prom before, the event can be quite exciting.
“The most exciting part of prom for me was probably the day of, just getting ready with my friends. When Peter and I first saw each other was pretty exciting too,” Palmer said.
One of the biggest parts of prom for a girl is getting the dress. Palmer can empathize with the girls who want to look like a princess for a night but doesn’t think they should go overboard.
“I wore two different dresses. For Zionsville I wore a dress that I bought for Homecoming but didn’t end up wearing and for Carmel I wore a new dress that I had just gotten. The Zionsville dress was bright green with a criss-cross in the back and beading down the front with a train in the back. The Carmel dress was hot pink and strapless with a skirt that swirled out at the bottom. I loved both of them,” Palmer said.
As for ideas for an after party Palmer said there are better ways to celebrate than having a party or going to a party right after the dance ends.
“I think it’s fun to do something the next day. This year I’m actually going to King’s Island with my friends the next day. I think it’s better to do something fun, relaxing and simple the next day rather than have a really late night,” Palmer said.
As some people may not know the prom theme this year is Arabian Nights. Palmer said that the first thing that comes to mind when approached with this theme may be Aladdin, and planning an outfit to go along with this theme could be hard. “I don’t really go with themes, I just enjoy myself and wear what I like.”
When asked if she had any advice for first time prom goers Palmer said, “Enjoy every minute of it because you won’t ever get to do it again. Also, don’t get so caught up in planning it.”
A Little Something Extra
May 6, 2008
By: Beverly Jenkins <bjenkins@hilite.org>
It can be a night to remember, and people like junior Mikayla Mandell hope that this year’s prom will be spectacular. “I want to see the whole room lit up and decorated, and I want to see a fun atmosphere,” Mandell said. “Last year’s theme was really great with flowers and the huge fountain and the grand entrance. It will be hard to top last year’s (prom).”
The prom committee is made up of about 15 juniors, and they are hard at work to make Mandell’s and the rest of the school’s hopes and expectations come true. The committee is using profits from the magazine fund-raiser the Class of 2008 raised during their freshman year. This year’s theme is Arabian Nights, and, according to Maureen Borto, sponsor of the prom committee and AP Block and American Literature teacher, a theme is extremely imporant.
“A theme really sets the stage for a dance,” Borto said. “A theme makes sure that every year is different and gives a distinctive feeling to prom. Without a theme, it’s just random. Having a theme gives it a little something extra.”
Elizabeth “Izzy” Landis, member of the prom committee and junior, also thinks that having a theme is an essential to prom. “(A theme) doesn’t really ever make or break a prom,” she said, “but it adds a unique aspect to (the dance). Otherwise, it’d be like Homecoming with school colors (for decorations), and that’s not what prom is about.”
As far as students who are planing to attend prom are concerned, Borto said that they don’t need to do anything differently to prepare for an Arabian night.
“There will be a song that the king and queen will dance to and decorations that go with the theme, but otherwise, it’s still same old prom,” she said. Last year’s prom king and queen song was Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” but according to Borto, there wasn’t another similar sounding song played again.
Landis said that the committee has played around with a lot of ideas for this year’s theme, including a Las Vegas theme and a masquerade theme. The theme is one of the first things decided on, since it determines most, if not all, of aesthetic aspects, such as decorations, tickets, prom court, and some songs that will be played at the dance.
“(The committee) decides on the theme, decorations, party favors, and we sell tickets too,” Landis said. “We decided on (Arabina Nights) during a brainstorming session. We were looking through magazines and catalogs that had decorations we could order from, and we based possible themes around what kind of decorations we could get and how far we could take (the theme).”
The committee is still discussing which decorations will go where and what songs will be played.
Although the committee is still putting the finishing touches on the event, Mandell said that the one thing she would have changed would be to anounce or post what the theme was to the school, since not a lot of people knew what this year’s theme was.
“I think (the Arabian Nights theme) is really great, and it’s one of the more distinctive themes that we’ve had,” she said, “but I feel like (the theme) should have been better stated.”
According to Landis, the committee does not publically announce or advertise the theme to the school, not because it is supposed to be a surprise, but because the theme is for the design of the dance floor, decorations and a few song choices; the theme should not influence in any way students attending should prepare for prom. She said that students should be more concerned with having a good time, not changing their dresses and suits in order to match the theme. “Besides,” Landis said, “eventually (the theme) gets around to most everyone.”
Because so many students were not aware of what this year’s theme was, Borto said that it is sometimes hard to tell just how much students acknowledge or even care about the aesthetic part of prom.
“Kids will hear (about the theme) and create their own opinions, but I imagine that most of the kids will go just to have a good time and hope that (the dance floor) looks nice.”
As for Landis, she said that the prom will be special no matter the theme. “I’m excited for prom,” she said, “and hopefully it will turn out the way we want it to, and we will have done a good job.”
“We have had a lot of very different themes,” Borto said. “In the past, there have been themes such as Twilight in Central Park, Jazz Quartet, and Red Carpet.”
She said that each prom theme gives an elegant, but distinctly different, feeling to prom. “When you compare those themes to something like Mardi Gras, you see why a theme is necessary.”
International Film Festival previews lesser know reels
May 6, 2008
By: Sam Watermeier <swatermeier@gmail.com>
Film buffs beware: The Indianapolis International Film Festival at the Keystone Art Cinema is ending two days from now. If you really rush, you can catch today’s 3:30 showing of “May the Best Man Win” after school. In “May the Best Man Win,” a man hires a director to document his wedding. Then things go awry when the man cannot decide on his best man. So the director devises an intense, no-holds-barred contest between the man’s friends to determine the best man and the comedy ensues.
The big film in the festival however is “Mongol,” an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. This is not the only film directed by Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov that was nominated for an Academy Award. His 1996 film “Prisoner of the Mountains” was also nominated. “Mongol” tells the story of Genghis Khan, the famous conqueror of Mongolia. According to Variety magazine, this film is “Russia’s largest-scale co-production with Asia to date.” More importantly, the film has garnered controversy over its depiction of Khan. The same Variety magazine article states that Mongolians are offended by the lack of historical accuracy in “Mongol” and feel that it is humiliating to their national pride.
Bodrov explains, “For us, Genghis Khan lived 800 years ago, and he’s an extraordinary historical figure. For Mongolians, he is a living person — even today, he’s important and critical. They see him as the father of their nation.” Bodrov said he is not interested in offending anyone. He is just concerned with telling this story the best way he possibly can. Bodrov said, “We have found an extraordinary story — about love, about Genghis Khan, about a boy who was an orphan and then went on to conquer half the world, more than Alexander and all the other conquerors.” The article states that he is hoping the film will match the success of other Asian films like Jet Li’s “Hero” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
“Mongol” is playing tomorrow at 7 p.m. The closing night party and awards ceremony are after the film at 9. Tickets to these ceremonies are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For the films before these events, individual tickets are $10 per show but are limited due to All-Access Passports and 10 ticket bundles. 10 ticket bundles allow you to get 10 tickets for $75, saving 25 percent off the standard price. Unlike All-Access Passports, bundles are transferable. If you have not purchased tickets yet, you are behind the eight ball and are basically out of luck. Also, as the web site for the festival warns, “You MUST arrive 10 minutes before the show time to guarantee a seat.”
On Sunday, award-winning short films from Indiana high school and college students are showing. They will start at noon and end in the evening at 8:45. Some of the highlights are the “Grand Jury Prize” winners for Documentary, World Cinema and American Spectrum. The last film shown is the Audience Award winner for Best Narrative Feature.
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