Corona del Sol High School | Tempe, AZ | cdssunrise.com

October 2012Vol. 35 No. 2

When teens drink, they are gambling with their futures

Story by Devika Sharan | Photo by Matt O’Donnell | Story on page 2...

Corona del Sol

CdS Sunrise • October 20122 • News

“I won’t be as shy if I drink,” “I can become popular,” “It’ll only be one drink,” “If everyone’s doing it then it’s OK,” “It gets rid of all my stress,” “I can do it without getting caught.” These are just some excuses teenagers tell themselves and others to justify underage drinking. Not only is drinking illegal for a person under the age of 21, but also it’s harmful to a person’s development.

“I think it’s a social thing. Even though they know they shouldn’t, they do it because society does it,” Principal Brent Brown said.

Peer pressure is a big factor in why teenagers drink. If everyone else is doing it, then they don’t want to be left out.

“If they just wanted to do it, they would do it by themselves, but most people don’t,” Brown said.

Peer pressure isn’t the only factor causing teenagers to drink. A lot of it has to do with the fact that they’re told not to and most people know that if you tell someone not to do something, they will likely go out and do it.

“It’s a time of risk taking and kids are told that everyone drinks, so they think they can do it too,” nurse Sandra Young said.

Alcohol, even when consumed by adults, much less teenagers, is extremely harmful in various ways. It can damage many imperative parts of the body.

“It affects the brain, liver and a vital organ,” psychology teacher Joseph Maisel said. “Any of it is not good for the system.”

Not only are there the long-term effects of alcohol but there are also the immediate short-term effects. Some of these include slow refl exes, poor decision-making skills, slower brain activity and poor concentration.

“Most of the time people have alcohol, and it is like a foreign agent in their body,” Maisel said. “What happens is they can’t see the ramifi cations and behavior changes so they’ll make poor decisions.”

Alcohol can also negatively affect the mind itself, causing someone to act in a way that they normally wouldn’t under different circumstances.

“It promotes abuse, abuse for the individual, abuse of alcohol, abuse of behavior for the self, abuse of behavior to others, and that’s just not healthy,” Maisel said.

Some consequences that come with drinking are health problems, becoming an alcoholic and doing things you may regret.

“A lot of things can happen when you are under the infl uence of alcohol,” Assistant Principal Jim Bell said.

One of the immediate ramifi cations of drinking is driving under the infl uence,

which is becoming increasingly common. Along with driving while drunk comes the potential threat of a DUI charge, as well as the possibility of injury and/or death of both the drinker and the innocent victim(s).

“They (drunk drivers) endanger the lives of others and themselves,” Maisel said. “To take someone’s life, that’s permanent.”

One of the major challenges faced with alcohol is the fear of becoming addicted to it and with that addiction comes many problems.

“It (alcoholism) can consume a person and they won’t have any personal awareness for themselves and others around them,” Maisel said.

Symptoms of teen alcoholism include sleep problems, depression, blackouts and withdrawing from others. Some of these signs can be obvious, while others may be harder to see, especially if the teen is able to hide his or her addiction.

According to Alcohol Screening, an organization that helps individuals assess their own alcohol consumption, “teenagers who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to become alcoholics than those who begin at age 21.”

With any addiction, it is obviously hard to quit and withdrawal symptoms can often be worse than the addiction itself.

“Anytime you quit anything in your system, your brain will go through psychological withdrawal or craving, as well as your body,” Maisel said. “So

sometimes they can substitute something for it. They can drink lemonade or water.”

When quitting an addiction, especially an alcohol addiction, it can be hard to quit cold turkey. But not only that, it can be harmful. That’s why an alcoholic needs to fi nd alternatives to drinking.

“People that are addicted to it (alcohol), when they stop taking it, it can cause their body to go into shock and they can go into seizures and die from stopping alcohol,” Young said.

Even though there are some possible dangers with quitting alcohol, there are many more risk factors in the continuation. Alcoholism is considered a disease and as with any disease people need to get treatment.

According to the Mayo Clinic web site, “Treatment for alcoholism may begin with a program of detoxifi cation, which generally takes two to seven days. You may need to take sedating medications to prevent shaking, confusion or hallucinations or other withdrawal symptoms.”

About 3 million teenagers from the age of 14 to 17 are problem drinkers in the U.S. Even though they are underage, these teenagers seem to have no problem getting alcohol.

Teen drinking has short-, long-term effects DEVIKA SHARANLife & Times Editor

Yes; 43% 

No; 57% 

Freshmen 

Yes 

No  Yes; 57% 

No; 43% 

Sophomores 

Yes 

No 

Yes; 68% 

No; 32% 

Juniors 

Yes 

No 

Yes; 73% 

No; 27% 

Seniors 

Yes 

No 

The use of alcohol with teenagers is increasing and if caught there will always be a penalty, especially if caught with it on campus.

“Whether you’re doing it or not isn’t important,” Assistant Principal Dan Nero said. “You can be disciplined if you even have them (drugs or alcohol) in your possession.”

Consequences can include long-term or short-term suspension, expulsion, mandatory counseling, or even arrest if the act is illegal, but the intensity of it depends on the circumstances.

“There’s possession, shared use and distribution,” Nero said. “With those are all different levels of discipline.”

There are different variables that factor into how a student is punished. It can be quantity, if the student is actually intoxicated or how many previous

offenses he or she has had in previous years.“How much you do, what you do. Basically it’s your history,” Principal

Brent Brown said. “If you get suspended for fi ve days for fi ghting with no previous offenses, it stays at fi ve days. If you have previous discipline that fi ve days can go to eight; it can go to 10.”

Sometimes the student can get time off early for good behavior.“If it (the alcohol) is in your possession, we usually do a long-term suspension,

but it’s reduced to 10 days if you do counseling,” Brown said.Drinking alcohol under age is a very serious offense and will be treated as

such by the Corona community. “We consider them very serious (offenses), for the safety of the kid and the

safety of all the other kids in the school and the community,” Nero said.

Bad choices come with school, life consequences

story continued on page 3....

Have you ever consumed alcohol without parental knowledge?

Informal, random survey of students during 4th lunch.

October 2012 • CdS Sunrise News • 3

Aztecs prepare to perform with special choir

This year, four Corona students were accepted into the prestigious All-State Jazz and Show Choir. All-State Jazz involves singing the correct solos and scales while the Show Choir requires students to be able to sing and dance at the same time.

“The music assigned in the Jazz Choir is more challenging and I’m a better singer than I am a dancer,” Senior Jeff Mortensen said regarding his selection of Jazz over Show.

Mortensen placed third in both choirs as a tenor, but due to a conflict in performances he chose Jazz over Show. This is also the second time that he has had the honor of being asked to join both, but his third time in the program.

“I was very honored to place third in state for both and I’m glad to have the privilege of taking part in the festival for my third year in a row,” Mortensen said.

“The music assigned in the Jazz Choir is more challenging and I’m a better singer than I am a dancer,” Mortensen said regarding his selection of Jazz over Show.

Senior Katie Wilkinson is partaking in her third year in the Show Choir as second in state overall for sopranos. As a dancer herself, Wilkinson’s place in

Show Choir seems to be a good fit. This will be the third year that Wilkinson will be participating in the program. She has served as the second alternative soprano and first chair soprano in the past.

From her previous years, she describes it as “lots of hard work but tons of fun.”

Junior Marty Rickert was accepted for the first time into the All-State Jazz Choir where he is second in the state for overall basses. Sophomore Tanner Wilson is participating in Show Choir this year for his second time in the program as seventh in state over all for basses.

Mr. Hebert, the choir teacher at Corona, is proud of his students for their acceptance into the All-State Jazz and Show Choir.

“It’s a really big honor for them to make it because they had to compete with 2000 other kids,” Herbert said. ®

NATALIE CRAWFORDStaff Writer

“It’s easily available in today’s society,” Bell said. “If they really wanted to get alcohol they could get it.”

Alcohol is sold in everyday grocery stores such as Fry’s and Wal-Mart. Not only that, but it is seen advertised in commercials and billboards.

“It’s really promoted in our society,” Maisel said. “Just watch any sporting event, drive down any freeway.”

A big controversy about alcohol is the drinking age. Since teenagers can vote and join the military at 18, people believe the drinking age should also be lowered to 18.

“Treatment for alcoholism may begin with a program of detoxification, which generally takes two to seven days. You may need to take sedating medications to prevent shaking, confusion or hallucinations or other withdrawal symptoms,” Mayo Clinic said.

About 3 million teenagers from the age of 14 to 17 are problem drinkers in the U.S. Even though they are underage, these teenagers seem to have no problem getting alcohol.

“It’s easily available in today’s society,” Bell said. “If they really wanted to get alcohol they could get it.”

Alcohol is sold in everyday grocery stores such as Fry’s and Wal-Mart. Not only that, but it is seen advertised in commercials and billboards.

“It’s really promoted in our society,” Maisel said. “Just watch any sporting event, drive down any freeway.”

A big controversy about alcohol is the drinking age. Since teenagers can vote and join the military at 18, people believe the drinking age should also be lowered to 18.

“As a teenager you’re still growing,” Young said. “It (alcohol) affects your brain, how you function and your memory.”

Studies have shown that the human brain does not fully develop until 21 to 25

years of age.“Just because you’re 18 and technically an adult, most 18-year olds live at

home and they are still developing, but by the time you’re 21, you’re at your prime, you have enough experience to make clear decisions,” Brown said.

Because different parts of the brain develop at different rates, alcohol consumption under the age of 21 can have deterimental effects.

“Even as a teenager your brain is still growing and the alcohol can cause damage to your brain,” Young said.

Studies have also shown that alcoholism and alcohol problems can be hereditary. Children of alcohol addicts may have a higher chance of developing alcoholism as well.

“You have to look at the genetic predisposition,” Maisel said. “There is an alcoholic gene. There are some groups of individuals and you can see that.”

But even for kids without an inclination towards alcohol, saying “no” can be hard because of all the factors that play into it. An important thing to remember is how harmful it is to the drinker and to others around them.

“They (the drinker) minimize their own opportunities in life, the ones that they’re not aware of. They will be focused on that behavior. So it’s a very selfish type of act,” Maisel said.

The best way to safeguard yourself from the pressures of alcohol is to have friends who won’t pressure you to drink, to engage in positive activities and to think about the people you may be hurting by drinking.

“Think about your friends and who you hang out with,” Maisel said. “Avoid putting yourself in physical positions where there’s a lot of drinking around you.”

As Young points out, some decisions can have life-long effects.“We want young people to have fun; we want you to have a good time. But

we don’t want you to make decisions about things that are going to permanently damage you,” Young said. “Some risks are safer than others, and alcohol is really not safe for young people at all.” ®

WILKINSON

Drinking can lead to addiction, brain damage

RICKERT

MORTENSEN

continued from page 2

CdS Sunrise • October 20124 • News

For a vast number of Corona students, the dream of one day attending an out-of-state university is a goal that exists only in their wildest dreams, their most far-fetched fantasies or their most whimsical visions of the future. Whether this impossibility is a result of requirements, distance, or, as most students, the increasingly devastating demands attending an out-of-state institution makes on one’s wallet, many students fi nd their hopes shattered as a result. Fortunately for them however, there exists a glimmer of hope in the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program (WUE) through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. This program not only offers these students the possibility of immense fi nancial aid, but also may allow them to simultaneously attend the out-of-state university of their dreams.

Established in the 1950s by Western states seeking to facilitate the fl ow of ideas and resources among universities in that region, WUE offers a wealth of opportunities in the way of fi nancial aid. The program operates by exchanging selected students from the 150 participating universities and allowing these students to attend out-of-state schools at 150 percent of that school’s in-state tuition. This means

that if a student wanted to attend California State University in Sacramento, whose out-of-state tuition is normally estimated at $16,632 (as of 2011-12), through WUE that same student would only need to pay $8,208, thus saving them $8,424. The WUE program includes 150 schools, both two year and four year, and the participating states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

However, students interested in utilizing the benefi ts of the WUE program must also be aware that certain restrictions do apply. For instance, not all institutions in each of the aforementioned states participate in the program, and students should see the WUE website for further details. Also, eligibility for this opportunity carries its own set of requirements. First, the student must be a resident of one of the participating states, and many of the specifi c schools the program offers have their own SAT/ACT and GPA requirements. Even then, however, the WUE program does not necessarily offer guaranteed acceptance since many universities limit the number of WUE awards each year. Nevertheless, the benefi ts of this program are still apparent to many students who have been accepted into this program, especially in the case of Corona graduate Frankie DiCesare.

“We heard about it (WUE) through the guidance

counselor’s offi ce,” said English teacher Margie DiCesare about her daughter, who is attending California’s Humboldt University as a Marine Fisheries Major. “We didn’t know Humboldt was one of the WUE schools. Not all the programs are under WUE, and we didn’t know she would qualify. It was a nice surprise.”

While her daughter has been granted the opportunity of receiving the education she needs at the school of her dreams, DiCesare herself has also reaped the rewards of this program.

“My pocket book has benefi ted,” she said. “She would have gone to that school no matter what because it’s a great fi t for her, but the cut in cost has really helped.”

Once again, students who are interested in utilizing the immense advantages WUE offers must understand that eligibility does not guarantee acceptance, and that space is limited. For more information regarding the WUE program, students can contact the school guidance offi ce or visit ww.wiche.edu for more details. In any case, however, the discounts this program affords for students and parents alike is a fact that everyone seeking to attend an out-of-state university should be aware of.

“It saves money,” guidance counselor Debbie More said. “And with the economy the way it is, it’s a good opportunity.”

JOSH AMBREOnline Managing Editor

Freshmen, if you are currently failing any of your classes, you may want to consider talking with your teacher about going to the Academic Lab available after school in room E052. It is currently up and running and it will give you a great chance to bring up your grade.

“This lab is for freshmen who are falling behind in their studies and failing at least one class,” Principal Brent Brown said. “The teacher initiates a form which is sent to Mr. Scott Centanni or Mrs. Jayelee Dorris, the lab coordinators. The student is referred based on their letter grade and lack of progress in the classroom.”

Teachers will get an email from Centanni or Dorris indicating the days students need to attend and the work they’ll need for the day. Centanni and Dorris will

return all completed assignments to the teachers’ mailbox within the next week. Most students may only be required to attend Ac-Lab for three days, a couple weeks, or until their grade improves.

“I’ve been attending Ac-Lab for about a week-and-a-half and my grade has already gone up to a ‘D’ when I’ve had an ‘F’ before,” freshman Kailey Whitaker said. “I was absent for a week and I missed a lot of work; it just makes life easier.”

It is not required by students to attend Ac-Lab, but it would be wise to go if you are recommended by your teacher. Ac-Lab gives students the opportunity to complete homework and all other work assigned by the teacher.

“I’ve been in Ac-Lab for two weeks,” freshman Noah Holiday said. “I haven’t checked my grade yet, but I feel like I’m doing a better job. Tutors come in every day and help you if you need it. I would recommend coming here because you get a lot of help.”

Mandatory Ac-Lab proves beneficial for freshmenJULIANA EDWARDS

Staff Writer

In-state tuition for out-of-state colleges through WUE

Am I eligible?Students who are residents of WICHE states are eligible to request a reduced tuiti on rate of 150% of resident tuiti on at parti cipati ng two- and four-year college programs outside of their home state.How do I apply to get the reduced tuiti on rate?Apply for admission directly to the WUE insti tuti on(s) of your choice. There is no general WUE applicati on. If the insti tuti on that you are applying to uses a hard copy applicati on, mark prominently on the form that you seek admission at the WUE rate. For online applicati ons, check the WUE box and if there is not one provided, contact the school admissions offi ce on how to apply for the WUE discounted rate.

There are 150 insti tuti ons that parti cipate in the WUE. Here is a parti al list:

University of Alaska (Anchorage/Fairbanks)Cal State University (Bakers� eld/Chico/Sacramento/San Bernardino)Colorado State UniversityUniversity of Hawaii (Hilo/Manoa/Maui College)Boise State UniversityIdaho State UniversityUniversity of IdahoUniversity of Nevada Las VegasPortland State UniversityUniversity of UtahUtah State UniversityWeber State UniversityWashington State UniversityUniversity of Wyominghttp://www.wiche.edu/wue

October 2012 • CdS Sunrise News • 5

As Corona fundraising policies undergo changes, students and teachers are feeling the effects of limited fundraising on campus. Now certain types of food products cannot be sold on campus.

“We’re not allowed to sell anything during class-time or lunchtime,” ex-PAWS and current Environmental Club sponsor Lorena Bader said.

In previous years, Bader sold Cup of Noodles to students throughout the school day as a method of fundraising for PAWS, a club that provided aid for local animals. A combination of fundraisers throughout the year raised over $2,000 dollars for PAWS, but Cup of Noodles sales contributed largely to this total.

“They (Cup of Noodles) were extremely popular,” Bader said. “There’s no other fundraiser that can raise that amount of money.”

In addition to affecting club revenues, these changes have elicited a negative response from students who used to frequently purchase lunch from teachers.

“I hate it (the changes),” junior Anna Lee said. “You can only eat pizza so much. If I only had a dollar, I knew I would at least be filled with something during lunch.”

Food sold by teachers proved to be an affordable lunch option for many students. A slice of pizza from the cafeteria, for example, costs $2.25, whereas Cup Noodles would usually be sold for $1.

Unfortunately for clubs that relied heavily on selling food products during the school day,

particularly during lunch, enforcement of fundraising policies at Corona will be stricter this year in order to comply with district policies.

“At times we’ve been found to be in competition with food services at the district,” Principal Brent Brown said. “It’s a conflict of interest for us to be selling food items without permission from the district.”

These changes are also intended to regulate food in classrooms and eliminate distractions caused by in-class fundraising.

“I know people used to leave my class to go get a cup of noodles,” Student Council adviser Ben Forbes said.

In addition to limited club fundraising, clubs are required to receive approval by the Activities Office as well as Student Council in order to sell items that do not compete with the cafeteria, such as candy bars and snacks. Although this measure has existed in previous years, it will be further enforced this year with the hopes of eliminating inter-club competition.

“We don’t want five groups selling cookies at the same time,” Forbes said.

Overall, these changes are to improve the organization of club fundraising.

“People were selling whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted,” Brown said. “We lost the ability to even know who was selling what.”

Corona’s fundraising policies are still in the process of being tweaked, but the changes will hopefully create a more efficient fundraising process for the future.

“Right now it’s still nebulous,” Forbes said. ®

Former Corona del Sol student Austin Sanders, 17, wanted to get a jump start on his college education, but he hadn’t yet finished high school. The solution: obtain his GED (General Equivalency Diploma).

Sanders left Corona at the end of last year as a junior.

“The first time I thought about getting a GED was when I realized Corona wasn’t the school for me,” Sanders said. “It was putting negative effects on my life and exposing me to things I otherwise wouldn’t have experienced. I also just wanted to start college.”

For students who don’t enjoy the high school experience or who are anxious to get started with college, there are other options. One option is early graduation. Students can graduate early from Corona by meeting graduation requirements by the end of their junior year or after first semester of senior year. This option, however, takes planning as credit requirements must still be met.

The other option is to begin taking college courses while still in high school. More than 30 dual enrollment courses are available on campus.

Sanders, however, decided the GED

was for him and has inspired other students, including sophomore Chris Easley, to consider this option.

“Right now I am thinking about getting my GED when I turn 16,” Easely said. “High school can be a lot of pressure.”

More than 700,000 people a year take the GED test, including some adults who

dropped out of high school years before. More than 50 percent pass the test.

“The GED test was easy with the right preparation and coaching.” Sanders said.

Students can study for the test in many ways. Countless preparation books, websites, practice tests and classes are devoted to helping those in

need of a diploma.The test runs for $70 to $90 in Arizona

depending on testing location and is split into different sections: math, reading, writing, social studies and science. To pass the test, students need a minimum score of 410 on each section with a section average of 450. If you fail the test you can retake all the sections you missed to get a better average.

With a GED you have the same benefits as a high school graduate. Like Sanders, you can even enroll in college.

“I am currently enrolled in Rio Salado,” Sanders said. “I have since already earned two credits.” ®

Fundraising policies change

GED offers graduation alternativeGRADY DOUGLAS

News Editor

SAPNA DARYANANIStaff Writer

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Reasons: Eliminate distractions, support nutrition guidelines

SANDERS

6 • Special Feature CdS Sunrise • October 2012

LAST MINUTE HALLOWEEN COSTUMESELIZABETH CHENEY

Online Photo Editor“Wait. It’s Halloween tonight?”If this was the fi rst thought in your mind this morning, you’re not alone. Despite the fact that Oct. 31 is a diffi cult day to miss, it’s understandable. The stress of

school, after school sports or activities and just the daily trials and tribulations of being a teenager can add up and sooner or later forgetfulness is bound to set in. “Wait. There’s a costume party tonight?”Now that’s a problem. But have no fear; you can be ready for your party with an impressive costume and plenty of time to spare.Not every idea takes months to prepare, so if tonight’s all you’ve got, then take a chance with one of these costume ideas.

Ghost: This is probably one of the simplest costumes possible. However, it remains a classic. Simply take a white sheet and drape it over your head, cutting out two eyeholes so vision is still possible.

Cowboy/Cowgirl: If the Wild West is more your crowd, then go for this classic look. Simply wear a fl annel shirt, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. Yeehaw!

Lifeguard: If you’d rather spend the night saving lives, then a lifeguard is the look for you. Wear a one-piece swimsuit, or board shorts for guys and a fanny pack. Pair this with a white shirt with a red cross. Don’t forget the nose covered in white sunscreen and swim goggles if you really wish to complete the look.

Cereal Killer: If killing actual people

is a little too gory for your own personal tastes, then being a “cereal” killer is the perfect costume for you. To complete this look, all you need is a box of cereal, fake blood and a plastic knife. Get creative with it.

Special Feature • 7October 2012 • CdS Sunrise

See? There’s hope after all. It is in fact possible to produce a costume the night of Halloween and successfully pull it off. Have a safe and happy Halloween, Corona.®

Photos by Patrick buck

High School Stereotype: Whether it’s a nerd, goth, jock or cheerleader, this costume is an easy solution

for the last minute costume hunter. For a nerd, simply wear thick black glasses, suspenders, a collared shirt, and pants that are slightly too short for your figure. For a goth, rock a completely black outfit. Black lipstick and even a black wig can help seal in your “dark side.” If you’d rather be a jock, then

dress in a letterman jacket. Or be a cheerleader, with the uniform and pom pons. Whatever you choose, this category is easily a hit.

iTunes Gift card:

If you music is your thing,

then this is definitely the

ideal costume for you. Simply dress

completely in black, with white

accents: white belt, earrings, necklaces, etc.

Don’t forget the headphones and

iPod. In addition, pair a neon poster

behind you to act as the actual gift card.

Bam! You’re now an iTunes gift card.

Take a trip up to Olympus and dust off your toga if you’re feeling like royalty tonight. For this look, all you need is a white sheet

wrapped around the body to look like a toga. Com-bine this with lots of gold jewelry and a crown of

flowers around the head. Fake flowers can be

found in any local dollar store.

Zombie: The key to this look is the makeup. Find a variety of ratty looking clothing and then splatter fake blood across your body. Complete the look with a pale, bloodless looking face and blood dripping from the mouth. Take a second to practice your “zombie look” in the mirror and make sure to keep up a healthy appetite of brains.

Superman: The key to every woman’s heart is a superhero. So men, take note. Look nice, with khaki pants, a collared shirt and black-rimmed glasses. Then complete the look with a superman shirt underneath a collared shirt with the buttons ripped open. You’ll be sure to be stealing hearts all night.

Decades: Ever feel like you don’t belong in the 21st century? Then take a trip back in time. Dress like a ‘80s work out girl, or a ‘70s hippie. Or go even farther back and be a ‘50s girl with a poodle skirt or a boy with jet-black jelled hair and a leather jacket. Maybe even step back into the ‘20s and be a flapper.

More ideas....

Pictured: Dave Sharan, Stephanie Dayton, Josh Ambre, Manali Chavan, Elizabeth Cheney and Jacqui Marzocca

Self Portrait:

This costume requires one thing and one thing only, an empty picture frame. Simply carry it around and call yourself a “self portrait.”

Ancient Greek God/Goddess:

CdS Sunrise • October 20128 • News

bus · bike · walk · rail

When you ride the bus or light rail instead of driving to school, not only will you fi nd yourself with extra cash (saving gas money, genius) but with extra free time too. On the way to school you can catch a few z’s, text with friends, tweet and, if you have to, even fi nish your homework. It’s like a study hall on wheels, except we’ll let you LOL with your friends. OMG.

Kids who live in Tempe can ride transit for free. To get a youth transit pass, stop by the Tempe Transit Store at 200 E. Fifth St. with your parents. And to fi nd bus routes, bikeways and light rail stops all around Tempe, visit tempe.gov/tim or call 858-2350.

TIM gives you more time to tweet.

Being 16 means a lot of things for a student; becoming closer to graduating, throwing a sweet 16 party, but mostly, the ability to get a driver’s license. Most kids who have the chance to get a license do, however, some students choose not to follow their friends and choose to go on with a life without a license.

Most kids at Corona do have a license and most kids have it for multiple reasons. For example, a major reason is that you can leave whenever you want from your house.

“I got my license mainly for the new freedom that comes with it,” junior Jacob Riddell said.

Some kids use their cars to hang out with their loved ones.“I got it so I can drive my lady, Ashlyn Treese, around,” junior Donnivin

Moraca said.Some sophomores and juniors choose to go during school to get their licenses.“I got it as soon as possible so I can be able to go places with my friends on my

birthday,” sophomore Tanner Wilson said. While it’s common that kids have licenses; it’s uncommon that students

wouldn’t have their license.There are multiple reasons for kids not having a license, some are just waiting

for their time to get it.“I’m getting my license the day of my birthday,” junior TJ Cuellar said. One

of the major downfalls of getting a license is that the price of insurance goes up, which is one reason some students choose not to get a license.

Some students’ parents have made the decision for them.“My mom says that I need to earn my license before she’ll allow me to get it,”

junior Dustin Nelson said.Some students just choose to wait it out and get their license and just get rides

from friends. Others are just simply too lazy to get their license and can’t find the time to go to the DMV.

“I know I can get a ride from one of my friends if I need to,” said junior Jarrett Givens.

With a couple students, it’s simply because they moved so much that they can’t get the required time to get their license.

“I’ve been moving so much that I have to start over with my permit,” senior Shelby Steed said.

Steed is one of the few seniors at Corona who don’t have their license, but unlike most teens, she has a different perspective of getting a license.

“I really don’t care that I don’t have it,” Steed said. While there is a mix of kids who don’t have a license, they’ll eventually join

the group of kids who do.“I think that with some kids it’s just because they can get rides with their

friends or parents, but most kids will get soon get their license once they’re a senior or a freshmen in college,” Cuellar said.®

Omar SOuSSi Assistant Sports Editor

Corona’s 16-year olds choose not to get licenseReasons vary from money to moving states

Courtney BALDeneGroStudents prepare to head home by bike and car.

Recently, senior Katie Wilkinson participated in the Distinguished Young Women Scholarship and came back bearing the state title. A total of 49 girls participated and were judged in the following categories: scholastic, interview, self-expression, fitness and talent.

Wilkinson was judged on her scholastic (SAT or ACT scores), a 10-minute interview, a question asked of self-expression in front of the crowd, a choreographed fitness routine and singing as her talent.

Wilkinson is thrilled she managed to earn state title.

“Last year I went and saw the program as a junior and thought ‘oh I could

do that’ and looked into it,” Wilkinson said, “I never expected to win but it’s a great experience.”

She’s not the only one proud of herself.

“She is incredible,” dance teacher Aaron Gilbert said, “She is an amazing young woman. She’s very dedicated and works hard. She deserves it.”

Not only did Wilkinson win $6800 in scholarship money, she is going to participate in Nationals in Mobile, Ala. The girls will be judged just as they were at the state competitions. While in Mobile, she will be doing community service as well as getting ready to compete for Arizona. ®

Life & Times • 9October 2012 • CdS Sunrise

Arthur and the Aliens lands on mainstage

Wilkinson wins scholarshipALISA RODRIQUEZ

Copy Editor

Among all the undiscovered planets, fiery comets and nebulous galaxies that together form the patchwork of this complex design we call the universe, the one aspect that remains constant is the vast amount of empty space. Athough this darkness may at times appear endless, if one takes the time to look, it is easy to see thousands upon thousands of shining stars breaking up the monotony. In a similar fashion, Corona del Sol’s most recent play, Arthur and the Aliens, managed to maintain its audience’s interest more by the brilliance of its stars than its otherwise shadowy storyline.

By and large, the plot was relatively interesting, detailing the transformation of Arthur, a geeky earthling who is constantly underestimated by everyone, including his grandparents, into a key leader in preventing the destruction of an alien race, known as the Belroyans, by a jealous empress from a distant planet. This central plot line was intermixed with a wide variety of comedic moments and antics, some more humorous than others.

The main issues I found with the performance were plot related, especially the ending. Even after enduring countless extraterrestrial encounters, many of which nearly cost him his life, the play ended abruptly with Arthur and Mika, the

Belroyan king’s daughter, walking off into the distance without any explanation of whether Arthur will return home.

Though his home life was clearly less than desirable, consisting mainly of his grandparents poking fun at his lack of courage, I found the ending a bit rushed. I assumed he would at the very least return to Earth to tell his grandparents about his intergalactic adventures and prove them they were wrong, but there was no

mention of them throughout the entire play. In addition to this, some of the earlier scenes with the Empress were a bit bizarre and difficult to follow.

Other than these minor flaws, however, the play was highly entertaining and certainly created an energetic vibe throughout the theater and left the majority of the audience on their feet.

As I mentioned before, the true strength of this play was in the colorful characters and acting. A few of the most captivating stars included senior Luke Bennet as Arthur, junior Sam Pope as the Belroyan king, junior Daniel Karbon as Melvin and senior Aidan Schatzki-Lumpkin as the court jester. All of these cast members provided a large amount of the play’s comic relief. Arthur entertained the audience with his chaotic journey through the cosmos, the king with his vain attempts at escaping his problems, Melvin with his sheer lunacy, and the jester with his many witticisms and hidden insights.

While these were the stars that shone most brightly of all, there was not a single cast member among them that did not impress. Even the two castle servants, played by Nate Cortes and Angelica Rojas, never ceased to entertain me with their ridiculous attempts to appease their king. From beginning to end, the quality of the acting never once diminished, and the extraordinary amount of effort the cast put into their performance was obvious.

Theatrically speaking, all the elements came together seamlessly on stage, with smooth set changes, no noticeable mistakes and an excellent portrayal of the characters throughout. The costumes were interesting to look at and were extremely effective at setting the scene, while the sets themselves were designed with a staggering amount of detail.

As a whole, the performance was filled with laughs, and I have no doubt that Arthur and the Aliens will always have its own seat among the stars of Corona del Sol’s theater productions.®

JOSH AMBREOnline Managing Editor

Actors from Arthur and the Aliens act out a group scene. The humorous play left the audience laughing.

A scene from the recent show, Arthur and the Aliens, exhibits two of Corona’s drama members. Arthur and the Aliens was shown on Oct. 19, 20.

BECCA BENZER

BECCA BENZER

Wilkinson stands with some of the girls that she competed against. She competed against 49 other girls.

Photos courtesy of ChERiE WilkiNsoN

In an age where the freedoms of education, speech and equal opportunity are prized above all else, I find it incredibly ironic that our society has become enslaved. But contrary to what history tells us about the crime of human bondage, the sort of captivity in which we live does not stem from some oppressive nation across the sea, nor does it originate from any private organization bent on the collection of human souls. The enemy that continually threatens us is much nearer at hand. It is an enemy that dwells in every room of every home, an enemy that has entered every frontier both real and imaginary, an enemy that most likely sleeps in the pocket of every Corona student: Technology.

But before I continue with this article, I must emphasize that to convince you that the wealth of gadgets and apps our society has to offer will one day be the bane of our existence is not my intent. To argue in such a narrow-minded manner would be to argue that the invention of the wheel was mankind’s greatest downfall merely because millions of people have died in car accidents. The aspect of this recent technological gold rush that disturbs me the most is not the question of “what are the effects of these advances?” but rather “how are they being used?”

Each and every day I walk down the halls, turn on the television, or simply step outside my front door, the ways in which technology is being used and abused never ceases to at once amaze and horrify me. Whether it’s an innocent text to a friend across campus, an embarrassing picture from the last dance, or a hurtful message posted on Facebook for all to see, the fact that technology is shaping the character of our culture is undeniable. Yet the stronger technology’s influence on our daily lives grows, the more and more I begin to wonder what sort

of shape our society is taking. Every day it seems that our dependency on our phones increases, to the point where at every spare moment we instantly seek refuge behind the mask of the Internet, constantly posting, uploading and downloading every detail of our lives for all to see. It seems as though the size of the world around us, at once larger and greater in scope than anything we could have ever conceived, is now determined by the screen size of the latest iPhone. How long are we going to let the resolution on our computer screens

dictate the clarity of our outlook on life? The time we devote to polishing the image of our Internet personas, rotting in front of the television screen and killing zombies on Call of Duty is staggering, and, quite frankly, it frightens me. If our society lacks the self control to balance our use of technological devices with real life pursuits, how

can anyone be surprised at the frequency at which extreme crimes such as shootings and acts of terrorism are being committed? When we live in a world wedged in between reality and fantasy, distinguishing between the two is becoming increasingly difficult. Without this essential sense of balance we are doomed to repeat these radical patterns, and with the direction in which our world seems to be heading, this may lead to dire consequences.

Although I hold no grand aspirations that this simple article can compete with the infinite allure of cyberspace, I hope that at the very least it will not go unnoticed. Though it may not inspire you to abuse technology by posting negative comments or texting while behind the wheel of a car, or even persuade you to put down your phone for once and pick up a book, I hope that it will at least encourage you to strive for balance in your use of technology; for this is the one aspect of our life that we can never afford to lose.®

CdS Sunrise • October 201210 • Opinion

Editor in Chief | Jacqui Marzocca Online Editor in Chief | Mason KulurisManaging Editor | Stephanie Dayton Online Managing Editor | Josh Ambre

Sunrise Staff1001 E. Knox Road • Tempe, AZ • 85284

The Sunrise is an open forum for student expression and welcomes letters on all matters. The staff reserves the right to edit as required. All materials submitted for publication must be signed. Views and opinions contained herein are those of the author and

not considered to be the opinions of the staff, adviser, administration or the Tempe Union High School District. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the editorial board. Some material courtesy of

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

www.cdssunrise.com

Front page design by Jacqui Marzocca Front Page photo by Matt O’Donnell

News Editor Grady DouglasLife & Times Editor Devika SharanOpinions Editor Asatta NjugunaSports Editor Lilly BerkleyAssistant Sports Editor Omar SoussiPhoto Editor Patrick BuckOnline Photo Editor Elizabeth CheneyGraphics Editor Matthew O’DonnellCopy Editor Alisa Rodriquez

Calendar Editor Aashini ChoksiBusiness Manager Cassidy KamermanCartoonist Cassidy KamermanStaff Courtney Baldenegro, Becca Benzer, Jordan Blitz, Manali Chavan, Natalie Crawford, Sapna Daryanani, Juliana Edwards, Luke Frampton, Kassi Martin, Sam Rosendahl and Johnny WaddellAdviser Kris Urban

Technology takes toll on Americans

It seems like one of the major debate going on in our state are the laws of immigration. The government is trying to figure out a proper way to deal with illegal immigrants, as well as people who are trying to become citizens. It’s obvious that there are some people who shouldn’t be allowed to become citizens for various reasons. But the people who have been investing in making our country a better one should be given the opportunity to become citizens, not deported.

There are many reasons people, specifically from Mexico, come illegally to the United States, whether it’s money, government or family. The adults who made these difficult decisions are now affecting their children. The children affected by this had no say in the decision to immigrate to the United States, and are now having to take the responsibility for their parents’ decisions.

I can understand the concern of the people who don’t support immigration because of the drug cartels and the worry that people will abuse the privilege of becoming a US citizen, or that because they’re here illegally they shouldn’t be given the opportunity because they didn’t come here properly. Or another concern could be that the people who are trying to get their citizenship legally won’t be the first priority. But if we are a country that is based off of new immigrants (the people who basically put our country on its feet), why should we make becoming a citizen extremely difficult? What disappoints me about our country, specifically Arizona, is that if a police officer believes someone is an illegal immigrant, he or she is able to ask for proof of citizenship. However, there are many loopholes in these new laws and for that I think the government should try to rewrite the immigrations laws.

The process of becoming a citizen should be revised. The American government has made this process very difficult. It takes years and a large sum of money to finally become a citizen. It appears as though the American government only wants to have immigrants who can afford to go through the process of becoming a citizen. Instead of the people who do the jobs people usually don’t prefer and work hard for what they have. I believe that if this process was revised and people were given the chance to become a citizen it would also help us with the unemployment and economic state America is in.

Children who had no say in becoming an illegal immigrant should be given amnesty. As for the adults who were in control of the decision, that they need to have proof they’ve been working. If they have been employed, they have the option of fighting for our country to gain citizenship. As well as making the process of getting a citizenship easier for those outside of the country so that we don’t have to dealing with the problem of illegal immigrants. When improvements become more obvious it’ll make and unite our country for the better. ®

LILLY BERKLEYSports Editor

JOSH AMBREOnline Managing Editor

CASSIDY KAMERMAN

Give opportunities to immigrants

What happens after high school? That’s the question that’s been enveloping students’ minds since day one. Jenny Chapko is a Corona alumna who, only several years ago, was in the same position. Where is she now? Well, today she’s a professional dancer for the Phoenix Suns.

“I feel blessed to be a chosen member of the Phoenix Suns Dancers,” Chapko said. “I am so ecstatic to have this opportunity and cannot wait for the season to start.”

Many can only dream of the possibility of being in the public eye. Chapko, however, is already living that dream. She didn’t simply just walk into this; she had to undergo a long application process to achieve her success.

“There was a long and rigorous audition process,” Chapko said. “It lasted about a week and a half. I made it through four cuts that involved dancing, interview, photo shoots and workouts. It was extremely nerve racking but I took it one day at a time.”

Chapko attended Corona from 2007-2011. During those years she was an avid participant in CdS dance.

“In high school I was highly involved in dance,” Chapko said. “I was a member of the Corona del Sol Dance Company all four years I was there. As well as I was on the varsity pom line my sophomore through senior years.”

The shift from high school dancing to professional dancing is monumental; it becomes a complete game changer.

“I have been dancing for most of my life, but being on the Suns team is going to be way different,” Chapko said.

While the style of dance may never change, there are multiple factors that can alter the experience entirely.

“I have never been on a team that performs in front of thousands of people in such a big arena, as well as the interaction with the fans,” Chapko said. “Everyone at the game knows who we are and we always have eyes watching us. I am so excited to interact with the fans and to represent the Phoenix Suns.”

Dancing is a major aspect of Chapko’s life. However, her life involves more than just dancing. As a sophomore at Grand Canyon University, she has big plans for her life.

“I am a nursing major and plan to enter the nursing program this summer,” Chapko said. “I believe in the future I see myself completing my BSN at GCU and getting a job as a nurse in the ER. One of my biggest goals in life is to be successful at all that I do. (All the while) I hope to find a way to incorporate dance into my life as I continue to further in my education.”

In addition to dance and her nursing career, Chapko is also involved in a scholarship program at GCU called the “Servant Scholars.”

“The student scholar program is a faith-based scholarship in which our purpose is to intentionally relate to others on campus,” Chapko said. “(We work) to set examples for others and love everyone.”

Being a member of this Servant Scholar program at GCU allows students to engage in

fulfilling their college dream while at the same time working with several of the nation’s top ministries.

“We each partner up with an off-campus ministry and dedicate four hours a week to volunteering at that ministry,” Chapko said. “Last year, and again this year, I am paired with the Phoenix Dream Center.”

The Phoenix Dream Center is an organization completely volunteer based that aims to assist people that are homeless, low-income or otherwise struggling and their accompanying families. They work to enable these people to realize the possibility of achieving their dream of living a self-sustaining life.

For a young college student to have already achieved so much, it is truly remarkable.

“It honestly feels incredible,” Chapko said. “I have dreamed of continuing dance in my future and the possibility to do so with a professional team is remarkable. I am so excited for this season to start. I don’t think it has hit me yet, the reality of being a Suns dancer. But I know when we are on the court for intros (during) that first game, there will be no words to describe the feeling I will have as we perform for the first time.”

After the first pre-season game, Chapko was overwhelmed with both excitement as well as emotion.

“We have had practice for about two months now and we just had our first pre-season game last Friday (Oct. 12),” Chapko said. “It was such an amazing experience.”

Chapko’s season and career has only yet begun, but she looks forward to a lifetime full of opportunities.®

October 2012 • CdS Sunrise Sports • 11

ELIZABETH CHENEYOnline Photo Editor

Former Corona dancer now shines for the Suns

CdS Sunrise • October 201212 • Sports

It’s rare to find a student who attends the same high school as his parent; it’s also infrequent to share an extreme passion with a parent. What’s even more out of the ordinary is to be one of the exceptional athletes who breaks various school records. It’s safe to say that junior Nathan Rodriguez is a very rare individual.

Rodriguez begun running competitively in sixth grade. His interest in running stemmed from his father, Corona alumni and cross-country coach, Ari Rodriguez. One of Nathan Rodriguez’s main goals is to break his father’s last standing record. Ari Rodriguez currently holds the Corona record for the 1600m, which stands at 4:10:10.

“His (Ari Rodriguez’s) record is what brought me to Corona,” the young Rodriguez said. “Since attending, I am within 10 seconds and have already broken his teammate’s record in the 800m. I have made it a goal to break both his teammate’s records also (800m and 3200m).”

Breaking any record at all is a huge achievement, but to break the record of a parent that hasn’t been touched in nearly two decades is almost unheard of.

“I couldn’t be prouder,” Ari Rodriguez said. “Everyone likes having records, but for my own son to break my record would really be something special.”

As one of Corona’s top runners, Nathan Rodriguez’s goals stretch further than just breaking school records.

“I’ve got big goals, like making it to the 2016 Olympics in Rio,” the young Rodriguez said. “I hope to receive a scholarship to run in college and compete post-college.”

Ari Rodriguez fully supports Nathan’s dreams for the sport they both love.“I truly believe if you add a lot of hard work to a little talent, you can accomplish

your goals,” Ari Rodriguez said. “He has told me he wants to be in the Olympics some day. My response was, keep working hard and stay patient and you’ll get there.”

Ari and Nathan have a very strong bond as father and son, in addition to their coach-and-athlete relationship.

“My relationship with my dad is very strong, not just because he has always been my coach for running, but that has always been our ‘thing,’ if you will,” Nathan Rodriguez said.

Nathan Rodriguez says his biggest accomplishments so far are “the top finishes and personal bests I’ve been able to perform. Also, my team’s great effort and all the fun times we’ve had at meets. Or in the words of Coach (Tim) Kelly, my greatest accomplishment is walking.”

Nathan Rodriguez is thinking about a couple places for college, including Arizona State University, University of California Los Angeles and Florida State University. ®

JACQUI MARZOCCAEditor-in-Chief

Junior aims for Rio

You may have noticed some students dressed up in costumes dancing with the band; they are Corona del Sol’s colorguard. Not many people know exactly what colorguard is: well, it is an activity that students can join that goes along with marching band. The dancers dance among the band with music, choreography, flags. This year’s theme is Way of the Warrior, which means they also perform with sabers.

“I joined colorguard after marching a few years with Marching Band,” senior Ashleigh Trimble said. “Malissa Butwin had switched in before me and after doing Winterguard for a few years, she kept telling me how much fun it was to perform during a marching show.”

The colorguard seasons starts with the Marching Band and they have multiple rehearsals throughout the summer to make sure everyone has the same skills for performing. Colorguard also ends with band, but then Winterguard starts. However, colorguard can be expensive. They have to pay for band expenses and uniforms. There is a plus side to all the money they spend though. They get to keep all of the uniforms and go on band’s California trip.

This year colorguard is honored to have a male student, Keegan Moss, join the team. Moss is a senior who has been involved with band for years before joining. He joined after a friend, junior Kaleigh Huckey, encouraged him to. He admits that it has

been a challenge, but in the end it’s all worth it. “As for being the only guy in colorguard, I’ll be

honest,” Moss said. “People have tried to insult me and make fun of me, but their attempts at bringing me down have only pushed me more to do a better

job.”Moss loves being in colorguard and enjoys

friendships with the girls he has gotten to know and

spend time with. He thinks of his fellow cologuard members as sisters and feels like he’s completely part of the group even though he’s the only guy.

“ K e e g a n respects all of us and we get along.” senior Grace Erhart said. “It’s actually not weird at all to have just one guy with a group of 12 girls.”

Moss is considering continuing colorguard and winter guard (he hopes to attend ASU) in college but he isn’t sure. The director for Corona’s is also ASU’s program director.

Colorguard performs at half time when the band plays and helps give you a visual interpretation of the music you’re hearing. Don’t miss out on such a unique show.

Colorguard isn’t the only group that performs with the band, but in the winter when marching band season is over winter guard starts. It’s pretty much the same concept as colorguard except with different choreography, and they also compete in competitions around the state with other high schools. It’s indoors and they perform without the band, the shows are shorter and more difficult.®

STPEHANIE DAYTONManaging Editor

Colorguard shapes Corona student’s life

Junior Nathan Rodriguez and his father, Ari Rodriguez, both have broken Corona cross-country records. Ari Rodriguez is one of the cross-country coaches.

Second-generation runner, Nathan Rodriguez, strives to set his own legacy

BECCA BENZER

LUKE FRAMPTONSenior Keegan Moss shows his technique and enjoyment for this Colorguard. Moss plans to continue in Winterguard.

MOSS