In years past, Arlingtonian has financed each issue by supplementing our regular ad sales with subscription fees and bake sales. Yet, the state’s recent elimination of bake sales and the staff’s decision to provide free issues to all students has left the publication struggling to finance each issue. However, I am happy to share with you that Arlingtonian recently received a generous grant from the Upper Arlington Education Foundation, equating to $2000 worth of funding. While their grant helped the fund this 32-page issue you are now reading, they played no role in the editorial selection of its content, and do not endorse any of the positions taken by the Arlingtonian staff.

In response to this generous grant, I would like to educate our readers about the significance of such organizations in the community. The UAEF is an endowment supported by community sponsors, donors and beneficiaries. Each year on the Sunday evening of Labor Day weekend, they host the Golden Bear Bash, which allows interested benefactors to fund raise for the current school year. In 2010 alone, the foundation accumulated nearly $70,000 to support various school programs and equipment, and it awarded over $20,000 in scholarships to seniors during May’s honors assembly. In the past, the UAEF has partnered with other high school booster groups and helped financed the lighting in the auditorium, provided T-shirts for Club Sudan and, most recently, purchased TI-Nspire calculators for the math department to test, helping the teachers decide whether or not they wanted to incorporate them into the department’s curriculum.

According to UAEF director Joanie Igel Dugger, the foundation’s role in the school community has expanded due to the downfall in the economy. In order for the foundation to sustain its development, it is vital that all readers comprehend how important the UAEF is to the high school. Their work touches all students, funding programs and equipment that enrich both scholastic and extracurricular opportunities at the high school.

The staff of Arlingtonian would like to sincerely thank the UAEF for its extremely generous support for not only our publication, but the many other student-run co-curricular organizations which it has funded as well. If you are interested in learning more about the foundation, or you wish to apply for a grant, please visit www.uaeducationfoundation.com or e-mail director Joanie Igel Dugger at bearalums@aol.com.

Happy reading!

Victoria Slater

By Michael O’Reily-Birtcher

I’m Michael O’Reily-Birtcher and this is my story. When I was four-years-old I was sent into foster care because my mother was not only a drug addict, but also an alcoholic and found unable to support a child by the state of Oregon. I stayed in foster care until I was six-years-old. By the time I was eight-years-old I wasn’t sure what to think anymore, until I heard that Thomas O’Reilly and Harold Birtcher, my current parents, wanted to adopt me the first time they saw my picture. I wasn’t sure what to think about this because by this time I had heard kids talking about “gay people” and how they were not like everyone else.

The adoption process could not be done through Ohio, so they did the adoption through Oregon where it was legal for two males to be listed as my parents. This process took from March 2002 to May 2005, because I also had to get my name changed from Bubba Miles to Michael O’Reilly-Birtcher. Even after everything was finalized, we still had to drive from Columbus, Ohio to Dayton, Ohio every two weeks to see how everything was going and to ensure that Thomas and Harold were suitable parents. As my story of how I was legally adopted by two gay men got out, the media decided that it needed to be covered and sent a lot of different reporters to our house to interview my parents and I. I would often be pulled out of class at school to be asked by the principal how things were going, if there were any problems, however all of my friends supported me 100 percent.

Today at UAHS things are starting to cool down and there has been a lot of support from my teachers and staff at the high school. During middle school there were a few incidents with people saying that because my parents were gay I was gay, and that students were saying it’s not right, and God hates who we are. However, I soon found out why other kids started saying all those mean things, and that it wasn’t because they hated who my parents were, it was more that they didn’t know how else to react because it’s something different and something new, which they aren’t used to. That goes for everything new, you instinctively use caution around it until you know what it is. In this case people didn’t want to find out more about gay people because in their minds they have already deemed it as wrong. Overall I’m very happy with how my life has tuned out, and I’m honored to have two dads, because it feels like I get to start something new and unique.

In September 2010, five homosexual teens committed suicide within just three weeks, according to an Oct. 3, 2010 New York Times article by Jessie McKinley. Among these deaths included Tyler Clementi, a former freshman at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey who jumped off the George Washington Bridge on Sept. 22, 2010. His suicide was in response to a viral upload of a video of him having sex with another man in his dorm room.

It is devastating stories like Clementi’s that brought the problem of harrassment at school to the forefront of American culture. Suicide prevention has been further promoted by featuring stories on the nightly news, inviting speakers to come in and speak at schools, and even creating national campaigns.

One campaign in particular is the “It Gets Better Project,” which was created by Dan Savage. Savage said he first started his campaign because he was saddened by the frequent stories of gay teens committing suicide after being taunted in school and helplessly wishing he could have told these kids that he, a successful gay man, was living proof that it does get better, according to an interview with MTV News on Sept. 30, 2010. Savage and his partner, Terry Miller later posted a video on Youtube, informing young LGBT teens who struggled with harrassment and coming to terms with their sexuality their own story of hope.

This was the first video of many, which later caught the eyes of celebrities and was popularized by contributors ranging from Perez Hilton to President Obama. This inspired both gay and straight teens as well as adults to share their own stories of how “It Gets Better,” and creating a place where thousands of people in the LGBT community could post their videos of hope to help struggling teens.

Along with a published book of many LGBT’s inspiring stories, Savage created a benefactor site called “The Trevor Project” which is a 24/7 hotline to help struggling members of the LGBT community. According to their website, “The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning youth.”

For immediate assistance in dealing with bullying and questioning sexuality, call the toll-free Trevor hotline: 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386).

To share inspiring stories with other LGBT members, please visit the It Gets Better Website: http://www.itgetsbetter.org/

As competitive riding culture increases at UAHS, two students explore their fascination with the growing sport

By Victoria Slater, ‘12

Her heart racing in time with the echoing hoof beats, junior Caroline Robinson directs her horse, Wittle, through precise Western reining movements. He glides into a sliding stop, a signature—yet difficult—reining motion and the surrounding crowd erupts in cheer. As horse and rider canter to the finish line, Robinson beams in both relief and elation. Wittle’s patterned movements were flawless, and they were sure to bring home the win.

Robinson and senior Megan DeMott are competitive horseback riders at UAHS. Both contribute extensive time, money and skill to their passion. The riders’ recent victories at local competitions, such as Robinson’s at the Central Ohio Reining Horse Association this past summer, are a result of many years worth of riding experience.

“I’ve been riding for about 11 years,” Robinson said. “I started riding after my oldest sister did an after-school enrichment program offered by Barrington Elementary. She rode and fell in love with it, then I tried it too and also fell in love.”

After six years of learning the art of Western equestrianism, Robinson began competing in various reining contests throughout Ohio. According to Robinson, Western riders must guide their horses through a series of rigorous patterns during reining competitions, including circles, spins and stops.

“At horse shows I’m required to go into the arena by myself and perform a pattern with different maneuvers to show off my riding abilities and my horse’s abilities, as well,” she said.

While DeMott also participates in competitive riding with her horse, Freddie, she prefers the classic English riding style, which includes show jumping, over Western reining.

“I fell in love with my first horse named Cash; he was a small paint horse that did both Western and English disciplines,” she said. “Yet, I preferred the English jumper discipline, because I wanted to jump over fences.”

While Demott’s style of riding differs from Robinson’s, her goal at competitions is the same: to demonstrate her horsemanship skills, which she has acquired from intense weekly training and comprehensive lessons.

“I go to the barn five-to-six times a week and have three lessons within the week,” she said. “A lesson consists of a 15 minute flat (without-jumps) portion and then 15 minutes of jumping courses and doing what you need to work on. My lessons can be hard; we have to work on my leg strength and core control so the horse stays balanced and so he responds to the slightest movements.”

While some may question if competitive horseback riding qualifies as a sport, Robinson elaborated on the substantial amount of time and athleticism the activity requires.

“In my opinion it’s definitely a sport,” she said. “People go to horse shows every weekend and dedicate their lives to horses and competing,” she said. “I spend at least five days a week riding my horse and working on different things to try and make all the maneuvers I do in competitions perfect.”

In addition to difficult skills, the sport of riding requires many other challenging factors, such as time and expense.

“The biggest challenge with riding is definitely how time consuming it is and how much it costs,” Robinson said. “It’s very expensive to maintain a horse. If you don’t have your own barn to keep your horse, you have to pay for boarding and buy grain and hay for them. You must devote a lot of time to caring for your horse.”

DeMott agreed that the process of maintaining her horse’s health and fitness is a significant aspect of her riding responsibilities. However, she explained that the journey to become a talented rider, itself, presents the most challenges. Falling off a horse is the leading cause of riding injuries, according to the American Medical Equestrian Association. DeMott explained that falling is a hurdle amateur riders must inevitably face.

“The saying in the horse world is that you have to fall off 100 times to be a great rider,” she said. “I have been bucked off, and my first horse fell at a show… I have had numerous falls, but I am lucky and have had no serious injuries and most of the time if a horse is sassy I just stay on and ride it out.”

While horses demand extensive time, money and attention, and can prove dangerous, Robinson admitted that the bond she shares with her horse, is one of the most rewarding parts of the sport.

“My favorite part of riding is being able to connect with my horse,” she said. “It’s really cool to have a horse recognize you by your voice and respond to you.”

DeMott also elaborated on how her relationship with her horse, enhances her riding.

“The best part about riding is my relationship with my horse, [and] the trust and understanding that you each must have to become one in a balancing act of trot, canter and moving through a course of jumps,” she said. “[Freddie] is brave and he can jump anything you put in front of him—big, small or scary.”

Robinson added that Wittle’s ability to comply with her direction and control plays one of the most important roles in her success as a rider.

“It’s especially important to establish control with a horse otherwise they may not listen and do whatever they want,” she said. “If your horse is doing something wrong or maybe refusing to do something, you need to know how to get the horse to understand what you need it to do.”

Robinson hopes that she will be able to rely on her success with Wittle in the future and pursue her passion for riding in college.

“Riding is definitely a lifelong sport,” she said. “Once you get into it you’ll never want to stop. I plan on doing it in college. Specifically I’m looking at Texas Christian University, Texas A&M and Auburn because they have great equestrian teams and I think it would be a great way to better my riding skills.”

DeMott, however, is unsure whether or not she will ride competitively once she graduates.

“I haven’t really thought about college and horse-riding,” she said. “ It’s a tough decision, financially [as well as] the amount of commitment needed for the equestrian sport.”

In the meantime, Robinson and DeMott plan to display their riding abilities at local riding competitions with hopes of victory. After all, Robinson said, winning gives the trials and tribulations of riding much more worth.

“When I win… it feels like all the hard work and time that I’ve put into riding has finally paid off,” she said.

Demott added her successes make every aspect of riding—no matter how challenging—fall into place.

“When you’re jumping your horse, it is the closest you will ever be to flying,” she said. “It is the best feeling after you just put down a perfect trip—everything comes together and you win a class, it’s the reward for all the hard work.”

Current events spanning the globe show the political developments of the times.

RUSSIA

-Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin announced in late September, 2011 that he would be running for the presidency again after formerly holding the position for eight consecutive years.

-As a result of Putin’s decision to run in the presidential election, civil unrest has erupted due to public suspicions of election fraud.

-Putin’s United Russia Party suffered great losses in the parliamentary elections in early December, 2011, barely reaching a 50 percent majority.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

-Mitt Romney is in the top spot for the Republican Presidential candidacy after the most recent primary in New Hampshire (at press time) on Jan. 10.

-Other Republican candidates (at press time) include Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Perry & Rick Santorum.

NORTH KOREA

-Dictator Kim Jong Il passed away on Dec. 17, 2011.

-His son,Kim Jong-un, was proclaimed his successor.

CZECH REPUBLIC

-Vaclav Havel, the former President of the Czech Republic, passed away on

Dec. 18, 2011.

-He was the first post-Communism Czechoslovakian president of the Czech Republic.

BELGIUM

-A new government was sworn in on Dec. 6, 2011.

-Elio de Rupo was elected as Prime Minister.

-He is the second openly gay leader of a country.

South Sudan

-Southern Sudan seceded from Sudan July 9, 2011.

-The secession preceded the decision to rename the country the Republic of South Sudan.

-Conflict in the area began in 1983.

-Violence continues between the two nations.

With more teens coming out during high school, three UAHS students describe their experiences and acceptance within the UA community

By Kate Magill, ‘13 and Abby Godard, ‘13

“Because I’m gay!”

The words fly out of Will Todd’s mouth before he can stop them. They are the words he’s been waiting to say to his mother, and now they are finally out in the open. Storming out of the room, Will takes a walk to clear his head and cool off from the heated fight that led to his outburst.

As a sophomore, Will had already come out to other people in his life, including close friends, but up until now he had not felt ready to share the truth with his parents. But as he walks back into the room to face his mother, Will knows he has made the right decision. His mother welcomes this revelation with open arms.

“When I got home she said,  ‘You could have always told me that. I don’t care [that you’re gay],’” Will said.

As a high school student who has experienced coming out, Will understands the mixed emotions that can come with opening up to others, something that can often be nerve-wracking as students grow up and begin to discover who they are.

Facing The Truth

Unlike their heterosexual classmates, gay students often undergo a more complicated process of embracing their sexual identities. However, more and more students are coming out during their high school years, and many are finding the experience to be much more positive, according to the Feb. 7, 2007 article “Gay teens coming out earlier to peers and family,” by Marilyn Elias of USA Today. This can be seen in the rising number of Gay Straight Alliances across the United States. In the mid-’90s there were a few dozen alliances nationwide, but as of 2007, there were 3,200 Gay Straight Alliances registered at schools throughout the country, according to the article.

Students in Upper Arlington, including senior Hannah Schreiber, are joining the movement by coming out during their time in high school. Although she had a more formal coming out process with her friends and classmates by officially telling them she was a lesbian, Schreiber said she has always known she is gay.

“Basically I’ve just always known,” she said. “In elementary school I was a huge tomboy, I had the short haircut and everything. Freshman year I came out as bisexual as I was testing the waters. Then later freshman and sophomore year, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m gay.’ The thing with me is I’ve always just been completely open about it.”

While Schreiber did officially come out at school, she said there was no need to formally come out to her parents.

“My family has always been really open and accepting about that kind of thing. I was really lucky with that,” she said. “Ever since I was little my mom knew, and I didn’t have to come out to my parents. My mom has always said to me, ‘If you’re gay, that’s fine. We’re always going to love and accept you for who you are.’ And they’ve always been really supportive.”

Like Schreiber, senior Joe Todd also found an accepting environment after coming out. Joe went through this process during his freshman year and said it was an easy transition.

“Coming out was actually extremely easy because it just happened naturally,” Joe said. “My mom actually asked me if I was gay instead of me going to her and letting her know, which made it a lot easier. I’m pretty sure all of my close friends and family already knew I was gay, so when it was clarified it really didn’t change anything, except I became more open with them about it.”

While Joe and Will both endured the coming out process, Joe said his journey differed from that of his twin brother’s.

“I was somewhat surprised to learn that my brother was gay just because I thought if he was, he never would have come out in high school,” Joe said.  “I probably fit the gay stereotype better than he does, so I thought if he was gay, he wouldn’t make it known until later. It was actually surprising [to me] that he came out to my friends before I did. It was also pretty surprising for me because I heard about it through my friends, because we hang out with a lot of the same people.”

Will also said that while he and his brother did not initially bond over coming out and being homosexual students in high school, it is now something that has brought them closer together.

Most importantly though, Joe stressed the acceptance he felt from his family and friends.

“Everyone was extremely supportive, and I didn’t experience any bad feedback from anyone,” he said. “I never really flat out told [my friends and family] that I was gay, but they accepted it. Today, we can openly have conversations about my sexuality and it doesn’t change anything.”

An Accepting Environment

When speaking about their coming out process, Schreiber, Joe and Will focused on one aspect the most: acceptance. At UAHS all three seniors said they have found the acceptance level to be high, and that they have experienced limited problems with bullying.

Joe said that he has received positive recognition for his decision to come out, and that it has affirmed his belief that UAHS is an open environment to students of all backgrounds.

“I’ve actually had teachers and other students come up to me and tell me they respect me for it, which is nice,” he said. “Students should also know that the acceptance level at UAHS is surprisingly high for a community that lacks homosexual diversity.”

While all three students said that they have not experienced any direct bullying, Schreiber said she does feel hurt by the gay slurs she often hears used. Schreiber said she isn’t offended when friends jokingly use phrases such as “That’s so gay,” because she is comfortable with them and knows it is meant to be lighthearted. She said she is less comfortable when people use derogatory terms, especially when used by those she doesn’t know.

“It’s a lot of times with my friends that they’ll say ‘That’s gay’ every once in a while, and they know that I’m gay and they’re just joking around, so it really doesn’t bother me,” Schreiber said. “But when people say stuff like ‘faggot’ or ‘dyke,’ then it bothers me. When people are clearly being offensive, it bothers me.”

Will said that while he has never experienced outright bullying at UAHS, he has found in himself in uncomfortable situations with those that do not agree with his sexuality.

“I’ve definitely been in situations where people were talking about how gays were against their religion or the way they were brought up. Which is kind of like being the elephant in the room… It’s really awkward in those situations because you can’t be yourself,” he said.

Although Schreiber, Joe and Will all agree that UAHS has been an overall accepting environment for homosexual students, Schreiber said she did experience one difficult situation with a permanent substitute last year.

While writing an essay that was in favor of legalizing gay marriage, Schreiber’s substitute teacher tried to alter her thesis statement and veer her opinion away from being in favor of legalizing gay marriage for all citizens across America, and change it to state that homosexuals should be permitted to be married specifically in a church.

Later in the semester, she said he then used gay slurs to prove a point in front of the class.

“He was like, ‘Pretend we’re at the World AIDS Conference,’” she said. “Then he began speaking in a stereotypical gay man’s voice, ‘OK, hello, I’m here with my partner, and I’m here to talk about AIDS.’ Why do I have credibility?”

Schreiber said that as the teacher continued, her class grew increasingly uncomfortable with what had been displayed in their classroom.

“I was in the back of the room just fuming; I was so angry,” she said.  “And he was just like, ‘You guys can just say it. Why am I credible? I’m gay! You know, gay guy… AIDS.’”
Distraught, Schreiber left class and went to talk with her counselor. The administration later talked with Schreiber’s substitute, where he was persistent in saying that he had done nothing wrong.  After the conference, the substitute was no longer seen subbing in the district. For this, Schreiber was often blamed and criticized.

“A bunch of people ended up thinking I got him fired or something, which isn’t true. I was just trying to stand up for myself,” Schreiber said. “And a bunch of people said, ‘Oh you must not be comfortable with yourself.’ And I was like, ‘No I was just trying to get the idea out there that it’s not OK to have those stereotypes.’”

A Broader Debate

As one of the most influential aspects of today’s society, the media has also greatly impacted the debate over gay rights by including homosexual relationships in the story lines of popular TV shows, including Glee and Modern Family. Some celebrities have also become icons for the gay community because of their open sexuality, such as talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

Joe said he believes that the media has given members of the LGBT community a voice and has helped people everywhere understand that gays aren’t much different from everyone else.

“I think the media has had a positive influence on the acceptance of homosexuality in the U.S., because Ellen and characters on Glee are admired and liked for who they are, regardless of their sexuality. In fact, a lot of people are attracted to them because they’re gay. I think characters like them in the media help portray gays as people who aren’t so different from the rest of the world,” he said.

Unlike his brother, Will said that while the media has definitely helped, he feels that shows such as Glee oftentimes portray gays in a stereotypical way, which does not give a clear depiction of gay people as a whole.

Senior Matt Pesavento, who is more conservative on issues concerning gay rights, agreed with Will. (Pesavento’s full interview can be found here.)

“I have avoided Glee, since the show has, in my opinion, morphed into a documentary of the struggle through which gays must go,” Pesavento said. “I think the show portrays gays as stereotypes, which is inaccurate. Not all gays manifest in such a flamboyant way.”

Although shows such as Glee have displayed such stereotypes, Will and Pesavento both agreed that shows such as this have brought the debate over gay rights to the forefront of Americans’ minds.

Another issue that is at the front of the debate over gay rights is the question of gay marriage and its potential legalization. This is a topic that students such as Schreiber will have to face directly, as she currently cannot be legally married in her home state. Schreiber said that on this controversial topic, while she respects the opinions of those who do not feel gay marriage is right, she disagrees with them.

“I think if you don’t like it, then don’t have a gay marriage,” she said. “People are free to decide. There are lots of things in society that I don’t necessarily agree with, but people have the right to do what they need to do.”

Will agreed with these ideas, explaining that while he respects the opinions of others and doesn’t judge those who have opposing views from him, he doesn’t necessarily understand why others argue against gay marriage.

“I just think it’s really wrong to say who can marry whom and who can’t marry whom, because if you love someone than you should be able to marry them,” he said. “But I’m not going to look down on you for having views other than my own. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.”

Schreiber and Will are among the growing trend of acceptance of gay marriage among Americans. The percentage of Americans who believe gay marriage should be legalized is the highest in the nation’s history at 53 percent, according to a May 2011 survey by the research institute, Gallup.

The idea of respecting differing opinions is one shared not only by those who support gay marriage, but also by those who do not. Junior Stephanie Small does not agree with gay marriage; however, she too upholds the opinions of others.

“Personally, I am very conservative and I wish our country was run the way it was back when our forefathers founded this land,” she said. “Marriage has always been defined as the union of a man and a woman. In marriage, two people become a family and create a family.”

Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, a prominent religious institution in the area, also does not condone homosexuality, but does not persecute it either. Senior Pastor Paul Ulring said that while UALC does have specific beliefs against homosexuality, it is not something about which the church spends time preaching.

“We believe all sexual intimacy outside of heterosexual marriage is not God’s will and best for us,” Ulring said. “This is not an anti-gay church at all, though a few people have tried to cast us as such over the years,” Ulring said. “Our ‘position’ on the issue is not a front burner deal for us in any way. It might be for specific members in their own lives, but not as a congregation in terms of emphasis and program.”

The “We Believe” statement of the church, which includes the beliefs on which UALC is based, further expands on Ulring’s thinking. In it, the church states that all sexual activity outside of a monogamous, heterosexual marriage, whether it be heterosexual or homosexual intimacy, is sin. It also says that those who have committed this sin can turn to the grace of God and be forgiven. Ulring also said that while this is the belief of UALC, which includes the prohibition of gay wedding ceremonies, it does not divide the church, and that they do in fact have members who are lesbian and gay.

Another issue that is often considered controversial in the discussion of gay rights is gay adoption. Joe said that he feels that gay couples should be able to adopt in order to give children a much needed loving home. In his opinion, when children seeking adoption are denied a possible new family because the couple is gay, the government is denying them the chance of having a loving and supportive family.

Schreiber said she is also in favor of gay adoption and believes that a gay couple could provide a child with a home just as well as a heterosexual couple.

“If a gay couple is going to go through all the steps they need to take in order to be able to adopt a child, they’re going to make sure they provide a good environment for that kid,” she said.

Schreiber also mentioned that she does not agree with the notion that a child adopted by a gay couple lacks the influences of both female and male role models.

“You can have male and female influences without them being your parents,” Schreiber said. “Obviously my parents are my biggest influences, but there are plenty of people I look up to that are not my parents. So that argument just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Unlike Schreiber, Pesavento believes a lack of both female and male influences is one of the pivotal reasons why gay couples should not be permitted to adopt children. He believes that an environment with a traditional family structure of a mother and a father is the most beneficial for children and will provide them with the most appropriate home. However, he said he does think that children in abusive situations who are in need of a home, especially if a traditional family structure is not available, should be permitted to live with a gay couple in order to give the child a safer environment.

Small also does not condone gay couples adopting children, because she feels it could alter their growth.

“Children are in the heart of their development stage and they learn many things from their parents. I believe all children need to have a father and mother,” she said. “I believe if a kid grows up with same sex parents, it can hinder their development and their learning about life.”

A Feeling of Hope

As students continue to develop into adults, acceptance and understanding of those different from themselves is important not only in regards to those in the LGBT community, but for all people. Schreiber noted that it is important to be aware of others, and that factors such as sexuality do not change the character of a person, which is what really matters.

Joe and Will also said that the most important part of a person does not lie in his or her sexuality, and that it is important to look past these differences and stereotypes.

The idea to look past stereotypes is an idea held by those on both sides of the debate, including Pesavento. He said he feels that just because an individual does not believe in ideas such as gay marriage, does not mean they are not caring towards others.

“Conservatives are often the scapegoat, when there is objection to definition of human right, as they appear less compassionate towards individuals than liberals do,” Pesavento said.

As a part of this belief in defying assumptions, Small said that aggression between opposing groups should be avoided.

“People should be able to have a debate or an argument without aggression towards one another. No solution will be made if the two groups can’t even cooperate, even if they disagree,” Small said.

Having now successfully opened up about his sexuality to others, Will said he can appreciate the bravery it takes to share something so intimate about oneself with others. However, he encourages others to open up to those around them.

“I was really nervous that no one would be accepting, but it just shows that if you’re fearless people actually respect you more,” Will said. “I actually had people say, ‘Good job. You were one of the first gays to come out in our grade, and I just really respect you for it because I could never do that.’”

Joe felt the same way, saying that he also believes that opening up to others helps a person to feel more comfortable in his or her own skin. After coming out, Joe said he was able to strengthen his relationship with others, because he was able to be more honest with them. He explained that without such a big secret looming over a relationship, people can become closer. Most importantly, he said that opening up about whom you are leads to a more confident, happy person.

“After coming out, students become a lot more comfortable in their own skin and become an all around happier person,” he said.  “You become more confident and proud of who you are, which makes others proud of you.”

Two of Mad River’s main attractions are its terrain parks: Capital Park and Momentum Park which both include a variety of jumps and rails. Both parks regularly hold events and trick competitions for snowboarders and skiers.

UAHS skiers and snowboarders enjoy winter season by taking trips to nearby ski resort

By Emma Klebe, ‘13

The metal edges of senior Tom Raphael’s snowboard dig into the takeoff of Capital Park’s Big Air Ramp at Mad River Mountain. As he soars through the air he grabs his board and lands a five forty spin. Raphael is one of many students who will visit this winter oasis throughout the season.

Although Ohio’s mountainless terrain and flat farmlands aren’t known for skiing or snowboarding, students take advantage of one of the few ski resorts: Mad River Mountain. Located only 45 minutes northwest from Columbus in Bellefountaine, Ohio, Mad River offers a different hangout for students.

According to the Mad River website, the 24 slopes and two terrain parks span 144 acres, making Mad River the largest ski resort in Ohio. Along with a range of slopes, the resort also offers tubing, ski/snowboard lessons, equipment rental, and lodging which includes restaurants.

Freshman ski and snowboarder Anna Murphy said the often pricey tickets are worth the expense. She compared Mad River to other resorts in the U.S. Murphy said that because of Ohio’s flat terrain, the mountains here don’t measure up to Rocky Mountain resorts out west, but are still enjoyable.

“Compared to ski resorts out west, Mad River isn’t as good, but for Ohio it is the best place to go,” she explained.

One of the main attractions at Mad River is the terrain area, Capital Park. According to Madriver’s website, OnTheSnow.com chose Capital Park as “the best in the Midwest Terrain Park category in the 2011 Visitors Choice Awards” because of its ever-changing features.

Freshman trick-skiers Liam Campbell is one of many students who take advantage of the award-winning park. Campbell has been skiing since he was 7-years old and has experienced a variety of ski resorts.

“Mad River is a great resort as far as the Midwest goes,” he said. “They have an awesome terrain park with a really good setup and maintained features.”

During the winter, Campbell goes to Mad River three to four times a week and competes regularly in trick competitions.

Raphael also enjoys snowboarding and practicing tricks at Capital Park. He has been snowboarding for nine years and goes to Mad River four to five times a week. Such dedication is time-consuming, but Raphael said that skiing or snowboarding are great activities that get him out of the house.

“Mad River is a great place to go in the winter because you will always have a good time,” he said. “It’s better than sitting at home.”

Although Campbell, Murphy and Raphael aren’t involved in the high school ski club, the Ski and Snowboard Club at UAHS organizes trips up to Mad River several times during the season.

The club offers four organized night trips throughout the winter. Since January 11 (the club’s first trip), the group has left for Mad River after school on Wendesday by charter buses and returned to the high school at 10 p.m.

Whether it’s through Ski and Snowboard Club or with friends, Mad River mountain includes a variety of events and activities for high school students.

Columnist reflects on Valentines day

by Aly Gordon ‘13

Ouch!”

You feel i­t, that sudden yet oh-so-familiar prick, stinging the back of your neck with a burning intensity. Fuming, you turn around, though the feeling fast subsides as you lock eyes with a random stranger. In this very moment, the birds begin their ebullient chirp, an orchestra plays its a tune, and everything somehow smells of roses: You’ve been hit.

Cupid, armed with his famous golden arrow and rather revealing ensemble, is out on the prowl, targeting you and me, and the entire student body, for that matter. Though certainly brimming with good intent, his goal­—to aid the high school’s hopeless romantics in their quest for love— has gone awry: students have begun to take Cupid’s work one notch too far, subjecting innocent bystanders to what is commonly referred to as “PDA.”

For all the hermitlike folks out there, PDA stands for Public Displays of Affection, ranging from the subtle holding-of-hands to full-on hallway make out sessions. Because of this variability, a line must be drawn: What is appropriate for school and what is not?

You see them all the time­­—those adorable yet envy-inducing couples, happily strolling with hands clasped, eyes full of a tender lightheartedness. This variant of PDA is generally accepted, but is often overshadowed by another, far more extreme form of PDA—a form which often puts average students in sticky situations.

For example: With textbook in hand and backpack at the ready, you plan on quickly swapping binders between third and fourth period, an ordinarily simple task. However, you soon find that your locker is a hub of activity. A pair of canoodlers are somehow—whether it be by some bizarre gravitational pull or by your own bad luck—drawn to your locker, unaware of your presence. We’ve all been there, done that, forced to choose between two equally-awkward options: You must either maneuver around the couple, inconspicuously squeezing around their compressed bodies, or utter a polite yet assertive “excuse me,” hoping they get the picture.

Don’t get me wrong. I love those cheesy, yet oh-so-addictive ’80s romance flicks as much as the next gal; however, I often wonder if our school’s oblivious couples are trapped in one such dream world, unaware that they are not, in fact, characters in a Jon Hughes movie. Sure, I understand that he or she is the apple of your eye, the peanut butter to your jelly, the Rogaine to your Nicolas Cage. That’s simple. What I don’t understand, though, is why this infatuation cannot wait until after school or when you go home. Would you not agree that any other venue, whether it be a quiet Italian restaurant or a quaint coffee shop­, is much more charming than the loud, crowded hallways? But hey, what do I know— maybe some see fluorescent lights, staphylococcus bacteria and linoleum floors as romantic.

Renee Ogaki

Current Job: Showroom Coordinator, Giorgio Armani

College: New York University

Resides: New York City, NY

Arlingtonian Position: Editor-in-chief ‘06-’07

Renee Ogaki is currently working as the Showroom Coordinator at Giorgio Armani in New York City, which is the staging area for the products and merchandise at one of the leading luxury fashion retailers in America.

“[My experience at Arlingtonian gave] me technical skills like how to use Photoshop. It taught me to pay attention to small details, developed my writing and communication skills, showed me the importance of hard work and long hours and helped me learn how to work as part of a team,” Ogaki said.

Another part of Ogaki’s job is her fashion blog, styluste.com, which she runs with colleague and friend Rebecca Lay.

Ogaki credits Arlingtonian for the creation of her website.

“My experience at Arlingtonian helped inspire me to write a fashion blog called STYLUSTE,” Ogaki said. “I’m making layouts and writing stories on a daily basis and I learned how to do both things at Arlingtonian.”

At Giorgi Armani, she helps arrange new products in an aesthetically pleasing way for the buyers, the press and stylists that attend the events. Ogaki finds great pleasure in her work and its outcome.

“I love seeing my work come to life.… It’s very satisfying to be able to see how your work made something successful,” she said.

Andie Diemer

Current Job: Photo Assistant at Self Magazine

College: Elon University, NC

Resides: New York City, NY

Arlingtonian Position: News editor ‘05-’06

Andie Diemer began her career in journalism and media immediately following high school.

“I worked for The Pendulum, Elon’s student newspaper,” Diemer said. “The paper was in pretty rough shape then, but I was confident in the skill sets that I had developed during high school.”

Diemer attributes much of her success to her experience on Arlingtonian. She enjoys the rigor of the journalism and media world and is happy with her career choice.

“When I was contemplating what I wanted to do in college/career/life, I knew that I wanted to wake up and look forward to going to my job everyday,” Diemer said. “To me, having a job I really enjoy and am passionate about is way more important to me than how much my salary is worth… Though it’s a tough time, I love what I do [and] I have a job a million girls would kill for.”

Currently Diemer is involved in the details necessary for creating a successful photo shoot at the well-known magazine Self, but one day her hope is to lead in the photo shoot productions. She has helped to assemble photos such as on the magazines selection shown below.

During her two years of journalism coursework at UAHS, Diemer acquired knowledge she feels benefitted her greatly in the long run.

“Working for Arlingtonian made me want to be a journalist,” Diemer said. “It taught me how to get to know your audience, pitch story ideas, collaborate and work with other editors, clearly communicate and build an idea with the art team,” Diemer said. “[It helped me to] learn how to interview all different types of personalities and transcribe lengthy conversations, balance multiple stories and projects at once, in addition to learning AP [writing] style and InDesign [page design software].”

Diemer enjoys the writing process and the skills she gained from her time at Arlingtonian. One of her favorite things is when a project is finally complete

“I love the different aspects that are needed to pull a publication together and the final, concrete product you can hold in your hands that you know you created through determination and teamwork.”

By Victoria Slater, ‘12

Cold and flus are as rampant as the wind and rain in early spring. Yet, for psychology teacher and girls’ basketball coach Chris Savage, a persistent sore throat lasting weeks hinted at something more serious than a common springtime virus.

“My voice last year was coming and going a lot. I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what,” Savage said.

After visiting an Ear Nose and Throat specialist at Riverside Hospital, Savage’s concern proved true.

“I saw an ENT that took CAT scans and X-rays,” Savage said. “I saw a big white mass on the first CAT scan. After more CAT scans and MRIs, the doctors finally determined that it was a tumor.”

After further tests were conducted, Savage’s doctors discerned the exact location of the tumor: the vagus nerve. According to the Mayo Clinic, the vagus nerve controls various tongue movements, such as the ones involved in the ability to speak.

“The tumor had grown onto the vagus nerve, which … controls speaking and swallowing,” Savage said. “The tumor had grown to the point that it had killed the nerve completely. And it also had stretched out the nerves to my tongue and my left shoulder.”

Doctors determined that, with surgery, Savage’s prognosis was good. The tumor was benign, or noncancerous. However, since the vagus nerve had been compromised due to the tumor, Savage would have to adapt to restricted use of his vocal chords and tongue, among other limitations.

“When the doctor went in to get the tumor, they made an incision from my ear to below my chin,” Savage said. “Now I have limited use of my left shoulder and my tongue, and I still struggle with speaking and swallowing properly.”

Savage’s initial surgery left his voice hoarse and virtually impossible to hear, a problem that was marginally improved by a second procedure. Yet even six months after both operations, Savage is still adjusting to the repercussions of his severed vagus nerve.

“I wasn’t able to talk really for about a month after the first surgery. Then I had a second surgery, to put in a cortex implant into my vocal chords so people would be able to hear me,” Savage said. “I really think about what I say now. Should I talk now or just keep my mouth shut?”

Savage admits the surgery has had an impact on his professional life. Teaching and coaching require a steady, audible voice. A passion for education, support from both the faculty and student body and the purchase of microphones to amplify his voice have aided Savage’s adaptation to teaching without a voice.

“I really love teaching and coaching. It was never a question whether or not I teach,” Savage said. “I love it and I don’t know what I’d do without it.”

Senior Emily Prebihalo, who has enjoyed IB Psychology with Savage for over a year, was glad to see his return to the classroom.said that students should look to Savage as a source of inspiration.

“I think Mr. Savage’s situation shows us that we really can do anything,” she said. “He’s really inspiring students by persevering in the face of adversity and teaching us that it is possible to do what we love no matter what.”

As a result of this life-changing experience, Savage remains humbled and thankful each day for his health. What little voice he has to left to use, he cherishes. What others take for granted, Savage greatly appreciates.

“I really value my family and my life a lot more,” he said. “ I realize I may have taken the ability to talk and be heard for granted. So now I value speaking much more than I ever had before.”