News Section EditorJames Tang

News Design EditorLanier Sullivan

Seniors Section EditorLauren Tomczak

Seniors Design EditorMargot Murray

Online EditorNate Harris

Copy EditorsColby Hesseltine

Listya Munthe

Staff PhotographersAlexis Goldstein,

Mandy King, Jorge Ruiz

The Speculator: VOICE is a student run publication produced four times throughout the school year. The Speculator and Imaginarium staffs work to produce the newsmagazine (both print and digital formats) and the online edition.DISCLAIMER: All opinions and ideas expressed in the print, digital and online editions of The Speculator reflect those of the individual reporter or writer, not of the school ot The Speculator as a whole. Students, faculty, and administrators are

encouraged to write in with letters to the editor or with any comments concerning articles. Chattahoochee High School 5230 Taylor Road • Johns Creek, Georgia 30022 • 770-521-7600 • www.chattcougar.com/speculatorvision

Editors-In-ChiefRachel Grace

Erica Petz

Creative DirectorFront Cover Design

Katie Trainer

Volume 24 Issue 2

Sports Section EditorDanny Caplan

Sports Design EditorHannah Mills

Features Section EditorsKristian Sandoval

Features Design EditorJenny Rim

Reviews Design EditorCassie Langmann

Editorials Section EditorShivangi Medhekar

Photo EditorsKylie Barber

Natalie Robinson

Hooch Ad DesignKylie Barber

Staff DesignersCarlos Bak

Brynn Finney Mackenzie Gaillard

Paul Hansa Rylie HookeJulia Jagmin

Walker McNeely Lauren Mueller

Cailin Olver

Staff ReportersSungmin An

Amelia Beaudry Sara Edwards Heather Ford Rachel Levin Aubrey Loria Niko Maheras

Zoya Mahmood Bill Rettig

Dallas Shook Neel Swamy

Editorials Design EditorHelena Denis

SponsorsKylie DaytonDavid White

Contents

13

610

16

4

1820

212429

NEWS FLASH04 New School Governance Council May Introduce

Changes at Chattahoochee05 Stetson and Marinelli Win Teacher and

Professional of the Year06 Georgia Drops Common Core Assessment

FEATURES08 Behind the Scenes of “Grease”

10 Turn Off Spring Break Blues and Turn On Spring Break Rock

VERBATIM11 Which Decade Should You Live In?

COMMENTARY13 The “Evolution” Of Dance

14 Which Is Better: Old or New Music?16 Cleaning Up Your Life: A Dummies Guide

17 Teachers Deserve More Respect Than They Get17 Debate and Quiz Bowl, Watch Out!

TRENDS & TUNES18 Tenacious Tunes of Time

IN FOCUS20 Gatsby Has Done It Again22 #TBT High School Dances

TRENDS & TUNES23 Fashion Flashback

GAME TIME24 Is Authenticity In Sports Deteriorating?

25 ROAR26 Spring Sports Hoping for Continued Success

28 Player Profile: Riley Pinion29 The Changing Seasons of Chattahoochee Lacrosse

SENIORS31 Seniors Pass On Advice To Juniors

32 Moving Up and Moving Out32 8 In 8: If You Could Go on Spring Break To Any Place In

Any Decade, When and Where Would You Go?33 Senior Lounge Problems

34 Senior Spots: Suryabratta Dutta and Alexis Goldstein

TECH WATCH35 Phone Rumors of 2014

36 Pixel By Pixel

RETROSPECT37 The Good: “No Country For Old Men”

37 The Bad: “Superman Returns”37 The Ugly: “Baby Geniuses 2”

UNDERSCORE38 Hooch Through the Decades

39 Hooch Sports Spring Into Action

3234

Designed by Lauren Mueller. The Speculator: Voice | 03

I never laugh until I’ve had my coffee.

– Clark Gabel In addition to recently becoming a charter system, Chatta-

hoochee is enacting a school governance council. This concept is

relatively new; Northview and Centennial both adopted councils

last year.

“The school council is still pretty new to me, and we’re

still learning about everything it’s going to be capable of doing,”

says Principal Duncan. “One of the powers the council is going

to have is creating waivers that may allow the school to exempt

some state laws.” For instance, Northview has proposed a waiver

to class size restrictions, allowing them to hold AP Psychology

classes in the auditorium with upwards of a hundred students in

one class. Centennial has similarly proposed a waiver regarding

the state requirement of Personal Fitness credits, suggesting that

student athletes that compete in sports can earn credit through

the sport, freeing their schedules to let them take more AP classes

if they wish.

Principal Duncan has similar proposals he would like to

submit. “We have a lot of office aids, using up a class they don’t

really need just to fill the requirement that they be here all day.

It’s a little unfair that only those students with internships are

allowed to leave campus early. I would like to see that open up

for all students. If you’re finished with your classes, you can leave

and pursue an internship or a job to prepare yourself for college,

either financially or experience-wise.”

The council is still in training; the members consist of par-

ents, teachers, community members, the principal (a non-voting

member), and starting next year, two students (also non-voting),

who will listen to students and speak for their peers. Principal

Duncan says that the council will be looking for students who

are leaders of organizations such as class council, Beta Club or

National Honors Society.

With the new council, changes may occur at Chattahooch-

ee in the fall. Says Principal Duncan, “We’re looking at how we

can open up opportunities for our students.”

New School Governance Council May Introduce Changes at ChattahoocheeNATEHARRISOnline Editor

Chattahoochee’s Teacher

of the Year and Professional

of the Year awards were

announced the week of

February 3 with the 2014

Teacher of the Year being

Mr. Stetson and the Pro-

fessional of the Year being

awarded to Ms. Marinelli.

Out of the several teachers

and other faculty members

at CHS, these two members

of the staff stood out with

exemplary performances

and truly embody what it

means to be a part of the

Hooch Family.

This is Mr. Stetson’s

first time receiving the

title of Teacher of the Year.

When Mr. Stetson’s name

was called for the award he

was shocked. “There are so

many good teachers here at Chattahoochee. I almost feel undeserving. It is

just such a great honor.” Students know Mr. Stetson for his fun, entertain-

ment-filled Spanish class. One of his students, Allison Edwards (FR), de-

scribes Mr. Stetson as “an enjoyable and engaging teacher. He is known for

how much he cares about the students. Mr. Stetson is the kind of teacher

that can mix work and play in a way that his students love.”

The Professional of the Year title was awarded to Ms. Marinelli, who

felt excitement and surprise when she was announced as the recipient. Ms.

Marinelli explained, “There was a lot of good competition, so when my

name was announced not only was I in shock, I was extremely honored.”

Ms. Marinelli is the woman behind the curtain at Chattahoochee. She

is the bookkeeper, the handler of textbook ordering and the one in charge

of money for athletics. Students may not know who she is, but the money

for the athletic department and the textbooks have to be organized and

distributed by someone.

If you see either Mr. Stetson or Ms. Marinelli around school, make

sure to congratulate them and thank them for all they do at Chattahooch-

ee. This award is difficult to obtain; it takes a hard-working individual to

accomplish such an achievement. Both Mr. Stetson and Ms. Marinelli are

on their way to compete for Teacher and Professional of the County, and

they have proven themselves deserving of their titles.

STETSON AND MARINELLI WIN TEACHER AND PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

SARAEDWARDS and AMELIABEAUDRYStaff Reporters

NEWS FLASH |

Designed by Lanier Sullivan . The Speculator: Voice | 05

Georgia Drops Common Core Assessment

| NEWS FLASH

Although each state has the right to set its own educational standards,

actions like the Common Core State Standards Initiative aim to unify

state education systems. Their goal is to provide each state with uniform

standards and standardized assessments to more effectively compare states

on education. However, in July of 2013, Georgia decided to drop out of

the program, citing that the standardized tests were too expensive.

In 2010, the Common Core Initiative was warmly received by 45

states, including Georgia. Starting in the 2014-15 year, the initiative’s stan-

dardized tests will be distributed across the country in order to assess and

compare the status of state education systems. The tests will cost $29.50 per

student, which is considerably higher than Georgia’s current expenditure of

$14 per student. In an official statement, Governor Nathan Deal pro-

claimed, “Georgia can create an equally rigorous measurement without the

high costs associated with this particular test.”

Chattahoochee students have mixed reactions to the decision. Oppo-

nents like Alice Zhou (SO) think that the Common Core exposes “the

ineffectiveness of our state’s education system.”

Also, she worries that “having a different test style from the rest of the

country may be infuriating since we would have to learn to prepare differ-

ently.” However, other students favor dropping Common Core assessment.

According to Max Shapiro (JR), “at this point, we need to lower the

standards enough so that students can strive and exceed their expectations.”

Since Georgia’s education system is consistently ranked lower than those of

other states, some students believe we should focus on improving our own

education before joining a national standardized testing service.

Georgia is not alone in its decision to drop Common Core; several

other states from Florida to Utah have made similar decisions because of

high costs or apparent federal encroachment on states’ education. Cur-

rently, Georgia is in a transition period between standardized tests, so next

year might be an experimental year. Although Georgia has dropped the

Common Core test, it still uses the Common Core standards, so the new

test may be similar to the Common Core one without the extra cost.

Have adoptedCommon Core standards

Have not adoptedCommon Core standards

JAMES TANGStaff Reporter

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Behind the Scenes of

NATEHARRISOnline Editor

Nothing is impossinle the

word itself says I m possible

Audrey Hepburn

,, ,,

~

,.

March 9 was the closing night of Chattahoochee’s 2014 musical production “Grease.” For those who did not get a chance to see it, they missed out on a fantastic show. But behind each performance, months of hard work and dedication for the cast and crew were required to produce the final product. “It was really fun. We got really far ahead in advance. It was a hard show, but a lot of hard work from the cast and crew allowed us to get ahead early,” says Brian Wittenberg (JR), who played Doody in the show. Getting ahead early proved advantageous, since the snowstorms suspended rehearsals for two weeks, forcing the cast to play catch-up when school got back in session. Despite the momentary setback, the cast was able to pull through and finish the musical before opening night rolled around. “It was a smaller cast, but everyone was very professional, so we got it done, and it was a lot of fun,” says Ian Prost (SR), who starred in the lead role of Danny Zuko. Neema Tavakolian (SR), who played Sonny, shared in the relief. “I’m really glad the show came together, and I’m really proud about how we worked together, and how everyone brought their character to life, no matter how small.” The show itself dazzled the stage, as the cast was able to bring elements of both the Broadway production and the famous movie into one amazing performance. With complex song lyrics and choreography, the actors and musicians brought the musical to life. After “Chicago” in 2011, “Sweeny Todd” in 2012 and “Beauty and the Beast” last year, it was a struggle to top their previous productions, though many feel that the cast did just that. “Of the past three years that I’ve been in the musical, this was the best performance ever at Chattahoochee,” says Jake MacCracken (SR), who played Jerry. “‘Grease’ was the best musical Chattahoochee has ever seen. This was our year and we had an all-star cast,” says Lucy Brooks (JR), who starred as Frenchy. For many in the cast, the show was an amazing experience. “I usually don’t do this type of thing, but I had fun doing it,” says Brandon Smith (SR), who played the radio announcer Vince Fontaine. “I really enjoyed being able to interact with people I didn’t know and learn so many new things,” says Melody Page (JR), who showed off her vocal abilities as Marty. As for senior Paula Ruiz, who starred opposite Ian Prost as Sandy, the show was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I was really excited. It was my dream role.” Everyone on the cast shined on stage, as that dream of an amazing show became a reality.

artwork by Vivian Truong

photos by Kylie Barber, Photo Editor and Kylie Dayton

Designed by Brynn Finney . The Speculator: Voice | 09

| FEATURES

RACHELLEVINStaff Reporter

The date is April 6. Tomorrow is the day—spring break. The bell can’t ring quickly enough, and you are about to explode with that anticipation that’s been getting you through this last semester. Actually, let me correct myself; the antici-pation will be real for those who actually have plans. I know there are those who relish the thought of getting a week to sleep till 2 p.m. and watch Netflix all day, but the rest of you sigh and spend April 6 wishing you could have a memorable break. If this is you, don’t worry; your spring break isn’t doomed. Below are some suggestions for spring break adventures that aren’t costly and won’t require a year in advance reservation—you’re welcome.

When rushing to find last minute plans, it can be hard to broaden the spec-trum and go places a bit unorthodox. Popular destinations will have their hotels, condos, resorts, etc., already filled, and unless you want to stay in a Motel 6, I suggest dropping that idea. There are great beaches along the East coast, including Savannah, Cape Cod, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Martha’s Vineyard and Jackson-ville that will give you the opportunity to tan and explore a new, interesting place without being overwhelmed by hundreds of obnoxious spring breakers. If you enjoy that type of beach experience, though, go ahead and try for last-minute deals at the popular locations. Look at sites like Priceline or Last Minute; they allow you to find reduced hotels, car rentals and airfare. Smartertravel.com offers great packages, airfare deals, and more.

These next ideas are for those of you willing to put the “ugh, but I won’t get to tan!” idea aside and get adventurous. Scheduling some college tours is always an option, but if you aren’t interested in taking a long drive or flight, what can be simpler than being a tourist in your own town? Atlanta is full of rich culture and heritage, so grab a few friends and explore your city from the eyes of a tourist. Check in at a local tourist office to map out some spots. Hitting the great out-doors is another great break option. We live in an area with a mountain region within two hours driving distance, so finding a campsite in northern Georgia or North Carolina won’t be hard at all. Get a group of friends together, go to REI for camping supplies and get ready for a fun few days with you, your closest friends, some s’mores and Mother Nature. Your spring break fate doesn’t have to include Netflix and scrolling through a timeline full of tweets and pictures of awesome spring break endeavors. You, too, can be the one anticipating your break on April 6, waiting for the bell to ring and bragging on Twitter about your plans. It’s your break, so make it memorable.

TURN OFF SPRING BREAK

TURN ON SPRING BREAK

Rock

10 | Designed by Julia Jagman . March 2014

,revlO niliaC yb sotohp

HEATHERFORD

Designed by Cailin Olver . The Speculator: Voice | 11

VERBATIM |

B. Jack Peterson (9): “The 20’s because the people such as Henry

Ford and the creator of Mickey Mouse were so influential.”

A. Caroline Tomczak (9): “The current decade

because of all the advancements in technology.”

B.

C. Shane Burke (10): “The 90’s because of all the

awesome leather jackets that everyone wore.”

C.

D. Carly Schorr (10): “The 50’s because nobody was

addicted to their electronics and the economy was remarkable.”

D.

E. Bianca Russo (11): “The 60’s because of the

music, especially the Beatles and Woodstock.”

E.

F. Jack Bui (11): “The 70’s because it was the real start to

the technology age; First apple computer was built.”

G. Tayna Viscardi (12): “The 80’s because that’s when my favorite movie, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’ came out!”

F.

G.

H. Isiah Burgess (12): “The 80’s because the music was spectacular and the parties were good.”

H.

I. Mr. Corrigan: “The 80’s because of the fantastic music such as U2, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston,

Bon Jovi, etc. Also, because I met my wife then and the rest is history!”

I.

J. Mr. Sharp: “The 60’s because the music scene would’ve been awesome.”

J.

Which decade would you live in and why?

Don’t take life too seriously

and always remember it is

just a passing fad.

~Mick Jagger

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Thinking outside of the box.

“EVOLUTION”OF DANCE

THE

Like all social norms, the popular idea of dance is dynamic. Each decade created its own style of dance: waltz, swing, disco... but what would you name our generation’s dance? Our signature dance moves—if you can even call them that—don’t produce a style that inspires respect, unless you find grind trains classy. This “evolution” of dance facilitates major issues in our generation. Once frequent social events, dances provided young people with opportunities of pure fun. Recently my father inquired, “How come your generation never has dances?” When I reminded him of homecoming and prom, he shook his head. “As teens, we had community dances all the time, a great way to meet dates.” Night clubs are this generation’s rendition of these dances. Ah, the common night club... a stuffy, sweaty room reeking of alcohol (often drugs, too) and blaring with techno music. This atmosphere is nothing like what my dad described. Here, girls come scantily clad, wearing mini-dresses or merely their bras with shorts or a skirt. Instead of asking a girl to dance, a guy just grinds on her. How are young women supposed to be dignified when they are shown such disrespectful behavior? If my father’s dances were so instrumental in dating, imagine how today’s “raves” impact the relationship world. At these parties, there is minimum communication since the music is so loud. The experience is intimate only in the physical sense, without emotional connection. We are reducing dance to its ancient purpose: a mating ritual. Since we don’t know how to dance modestly for the social fun of it, we need to learn. I’d like to go to prom and not be disturbed by copulation on the dance floor. It’d be even nicer if everyone could actually dance. However, the only attempt at teaching true dancing I’ve seen is cotillion, a Southern tradition of dance-and-manners lessons, forcing a roomful of socially awkward middle school children to dance together. Everyone acted allergic to each other and mocked the lessons, which wasn’t difficult since our middle-aged women instructors wore minks and taught us a 70s line dance that went “Chicken, 2, 3, 4...” It’s like they expected us to bust out these moves at prom one day. In school, we have several electives, and dance should be one of them, a required credit. It should be taught as early as late elementary school, before all the awkwardness of puberty happens. By teaching clean, fun dancing at a young age, we would be teaching the next generation of boys and girls respect for each other and themselves. Bringing back real dancing could reduce the hyper-sexuality of our society, and maybe we’ll raise fewer Miley’s.

ERICAPETZEditor-in-Chief

EACH DECADE CREATED ITS OWN STYLE OF DANCE: WALTZ, SWING, DISCO...

But what would you name our generation’s dance?

PROVE YOUR GENERATION CAN DANCE

SATURDAY APRIL 26TH 2014 CHATTAHOOCHEE PROM

Once a new generation grows into cultural relevance, the older generation’s usual first order of business is to decry their changes. This conflict is nothing new; generations have been fighting over issues for a while now, some of which are more important than others (see: slavery). Presently, cultural debates often center on musical style. Ask a member of the previous generation and they’re liable to say that quality music ended around 1986. This disease has even spread to our generation, with scores of 18-year -old children eager to declare that the 1990s are the pinnocle of human cultural achievement. Basically, their argument boils down to a single statement: Music today sucks. This is false. Modern music, as a whole, is no worse than it was in any preceding era. Poor music is literally timeless; it’s not subject to the present. There has always been poor music, but it’s been forgotten because it’s bad. Take the year 1969. The Rolling Stones had just released “Let It Bleed” and the Beatles were one year removed from “Abbey Road,” but the year’s number one song was “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies. Here are the song’s opening lines: “Sugar, ah honey honey You are my candy girl And you’ve got me wanting you. Honey, ah sugar sugar You are my candy girl” Not the style we expect to see from the era, but it was still the most successful song of its time. Similarly, 1976 saw the release of Pink Floyd’s “Animals,” but what was on top of the charts? “Afternoon Delight” by the Starlight Vocal Band, a song you only know because “Anchorman” exists. If you would take the time to look for new, good music, you’d find out that the past 10 years have seen an explosion in creativity. Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys, Florence + the Machine, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Radiohead, Cage the Elephant, Tame Impala, The Flaming Lips, Mute Math, The Roots, Gnarls Barkley, Danger Mouse, Modest Mouse –the list goes on. You ignore the present–a dangerous task–when you say that music sucks now.

COLBYHESSELTINECopy Editer

| COMMENTARY

Which Is Better:

The wide-scale, concerted effort to save what is historically important to the culture of modern society has produced an all mighty super-encyclopedia: the Interwebs. This electric entity, which has rendered every moment of music ever recorded accessible to the masses, can make anyone into a star (or a stooge) in an internet-minute. With the recent surge of excess music production, the question of whether old music is better than new music can finally be answered definitively. While not all music produced in this decade is the vapid exhaust expelled from the back-end of a century of musical decadence, it would be optimistic to regard the majority of it as anything better than the sad, brittle skeleton of a generation past. Unfortunately, I am not an optimist. The on-going debate to determine the ideal musical time period is often studded with references to the Internet because of the nature of digital music-sharing; anyone can publish anything they want without having to get approval from a music producer, recorder or even their high school band teacher. People like Rebecca Black can pick up a camera and a laptop, sing a few insipid lines, and, just like that, they go viral. This is an opportunity that is entirely original to this generation, and, while it has provided new flavors of sound that never would have been made public otherwise, it has also allowed auto-tuned, talentless shrugs to get their fifteen minutes in the spotlight with a song written entirely for its marketability. The real evidence in support of the superiority of old music, however, is the music’s life-span. When was the last time you listened to a song that you loved four years ago? Do you even remember what was on the “Top 40” back then? If you can, that you either have an incredible memory or your ability to keep up with the times is questionable. Therefore, if you believe that good music is worth listening to (and worth listening to for decades after it is published) then it is obvious that the new just cannot compare to the old.

AUBREYLORIAStaff Reporter

Old Music or New Music

Clean up clean up, everybody everywhere, clean up clean up, everybody do your share! Oh no. The rhyme is back. Unfortunately, spring cleaning is upon us once again, and don’t deny it because the Johns Creek soccer moms have already stocked up on trash bags and disinfectant. This year, however, instead of cleaning your rooms, let’s try cleaning our lives. I’m talking happiness, success and health—not dust bunnies or cobwebs. If you find changing your life a little difficult though, you’ll be pleased to know I’ve concocted a Spring Self-Clean up Guide for Dummies, just for you. Chapter one: friends. They can be the messiest, drama-filled aspect of your life. Ask yourself: are they positive influences that help me succeed? If the answer was no, you have some cleaning to do. Friends who are positive, responsible and accepting are closer than you think; you just need the courage and self-responsibility to realize you are in an unhealthy environment and get out of it. Are you happy? It’s a simple yes or no question. So simple, in fact, we have a pretty hard time finding the answer. We can try though, right here, right now. Step one: if you don’t think you’re happy, find the aspects of life that bring you down and get rid of them. Step two: if it brings you joy, hold on to it. Fix broken

16 | Designed by Helena Denis. March 2014

RACHELLEVINStaff Reporter

| COMMENTARY

relationships and get rid of angry baggage; if you don’t forgivehow can you ever forget? Get ready, this next one’s a golden rule: stop caring about meaningless things. Gossip and drama won’t matter in five years, so why should it now? Chapter two: living in the moment has become the motto for our generation; the proof is in the hundreds of cliché Tumblr posts. While it’s a fun saying, it can also dangerously affect your future. It’s time to start implementing cause and effect. Caution, this may sound like a cliché high school counselor: If I do/ participate in ____, what will come of it? As “We’re the Millers” showed us, living with “No ragrets” can be contradictory when you’re getting your stomach pumped or battling an arrest. Next, get a job. Stop relying on your parents’ money to buy your precious Polo or Michael Kors paraphernalia. Learn how to budget and spend appropriately. These suggestions are simple; you just have to be willing to try them. Set some short and long term goals, but this time, stick to them, unlike the ones written in your sixth grade health class. Be smart about your choices. Get rid of that baggage: it’s not worth it. Everybody must clean up and do their share if we ever want to live happy, successful, healthy lives, so let’s get cleaning!

Cleaning Up Your Life: A Guide For Dummiesartw

ork courtesy of gentlyfierce.com

Cleaning Up Your Life: A Guide For Dummies

Debate and Quiz Bowl, Watch Out!

Respect for teachers is almost non-existent in today’s society. When our parents got a bad grade in a class, they were held responsible. Somewhere along the line, teachers became the target of blame whenever a student did not do well. Now, websites like Rate My Teacher only make it easier for students to badmouth an educator. The issue with the rating system is that it draws mostly those frustrated with a teacher, so most ratings and comments are mean-spirited. “How does it help me when someone vents, but I can’t help them specifically? I would like to help them if they need it,” says Mr. Mihordea, regarding the anonymity of the reviews. “It’s a broken system.” Mr. Mihordea has never gone on the website.

Ms. Paxton argues that most reviewers are actually judging their teacher’s personality. She says that Rate My Teacher allows students to “personally insult [their teacher] by insulting their profession.” Ms. Paxton has been on the site, and understands that most reviewers are simply vent-ing, though “[the comments] still hurt.” Mr. Mihordea points out that the website can damage a teacher’s career. “Say you had a rough first year; people get mad, and then you have a reputation that you can’t live down.”

Principal Duncan feels that the site is fortunately underused. He feels that the newly-implemented Student Surveys are similar to the website, but provide a more accurate assessment. “It’s like Rate My Teacher, but less biased because you’re getting feedback from everyone, not just the students upset with the teacher.”

When a student fails because they were texting instead of paying attention, it is not the teacher’s fault. Your teachers work hard to prepare us for the real world, and just as you would not talk badly about your boss, your teachers deserve the same amount of respect.

Chattahoochee boasts of having one of the better Debate and Quiz Bowl teams in the nation, and we consistently hear of their vic-tories. Meanwhile, other clubs are more or less ignored by the school. However, there is a new dog in town that may achieve the same level of success as Debate and Quiz Bowl in the upcoming years: the Science Olympiad team.

The Science Olympi-ad team saw its greatest victory at the First Yale Undergraduate Science Olympiad Tournament on January 18. Chattahoochee High School was the only school that represented the South, so it was a surprise to everyone at the competition that we placed fourth. Overall, the team won nine medals, but of these successes, most notable were Alex (SO) and Kalen (FR) Patton’s first place victory in Mission Possible and team pres-idents Siddu Duddikunta (SR) and Surya Dutta’s (SR) second place win in Compound Machines. Siddu attributed this success to the effort, cooperation and dedication of the team members: “We are like a family. We work hard and work together.”

But the success at Yale was not a shock to the team members since the Science Olympiad team has consistently placed within the top three at state competitions every year. In order for the team to reach its full po-tential, however, our school must give more attention and support to the team. Meanwhile, the team has been gradually increasing its fame both in and out of state, so Siddu is not worried about its future. “We just need some minor improvements, then we’ll be ready to compete at nationals.”

NATEHARRISStaff Reporter

SUNGMINANStaff Reporter

COMMENTARY |

Designed by Helena Denis . The Speculator: Voice | 17

Tenacious TUNES OF TIMESince the first beat was conceived, music has left a massive and everlasting imprint in history, starting particularly in the 1950s. Each subsequent decade has its own story to tell in regards to music. Rock n’ Roll was revolutionized in the 50s by musicians such as Bill Haley and Little Richard. Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock and Roll,” was the man to lead the rock movement in the 1950s. His suc-cess helped form the model for plenty of artists and continues to do so. The 1960s engendered two of music’s greatest icons: Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles. Hendrix reinvented and mastered the guitar and The Beatles released the quintessential rock album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Both will go down as legends in music history. Two words sum up the 70s: disco and classic rock. Chic and Earth, Wind and Fire ruled the disco and dance scene, while power-house groups like Kiss and Led Zeppelin shifted 60s rock into overdrive to create a huge sound and stage act. These rock bands would heavily

influence the 80s. The 1980s did not have a definitive style of music until metal bands like Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard and Van Halen gained popularity. Eddie Van Halen perfected the guitar to redefine what the instrument could do. MTV was also huge in promoting new artists, and often made them famous. Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album changed things up in the 1990s, and ended the metal scene. Their hit song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was an instant phenomenon and transformed the mood of music. Bands like Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam followed suit and made grunge the popular genre. Since the 90s, there has yet to be a musician to accomplish what The Beatles, Kiss or Nirvana did. Regardless, music will continue to shape each decade just as much as worldwide events do.

18 | Designed by Mackenzie Gaillard . March 2014

| TRENDS & TUNES

NIKOMAHERAS, Staff Reporter

Tenacious TUNES OF TIME

AIN’T NO PARTY LIKE A GATSBY PARTY

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

Charlie Chaplin~

RACHELGRACEEditor-in-Chief

20 | Designed by Jenny Rim. March 2014

Ah, the 1920s, a time in the United States defined by its prosperity and transition into modern day culture. It was also a time full of rhythmic swing dancing, overused ashtrays and floozy women trying to find their independence through short dresses and bad haircuts. Whatever you know it by, the decade has always been marked as one of the most festive and colorful time periods in United States history, as well as the turning point for our country as it became a powerhouse. The culture of this era was so popular that its trends and revolutionary ideas transferred over generations and generations, until it finally reached us, the epoch of recycling. We recycle a lot of things nowadays—most of which being compost materials—but there is also a sufficient lack of originality in what we wear, what we watch, and what we pretend to be. Now, there is an incredible amount of individuality and genius ideas pioneered in this age, but with the newest overbearing social niche of “hipsters,” modern day culture just seems to be repeating the past. These “hipsters” are essentially wannabes who try so hard to be unique, that they end up being just like each other. There is a group of hipsters for every time period, the 90s, the 80s, the 70s, the 60s, and so on. All the groups, for a while were equally obnoxiously copied, until the recent event—the revamped obsession with “The Great Gatsby.” 'The Great Gatsby,” a prodigious novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is set in the summer of 1922 and truly embodies all the extravagant, lavished, and ambrosia-filled life of a 1920s aristocrat. The book has been studied for years, I even remember my grandmother (a former English professor) raving about it years before I read it, and according to my dad, years before that. The book is a classic, to say the least. Its enticing characters, engaging diction and captivating storyline are only a few reasons the novel has not only survived, but thrived all these years. The way the story portrays the culture of the post-WWI era mesmerized all who read the novel (or the spark notes, which I am certain some of you have). There are plenty of true lovers of Gatsby, but there are equally as many who just attempt to pass their savvy reading of Shmoop as a true appreciation for the book. With the recent release of the modern day “The Great Gatsby” movie, 1920s lovin’ is at an all-time high, and this is most evident in people changing their Facebook/Twitter banners to movie quotes, dressing up as cliché flapper girls (which is essentially just gluing a feather onto a headband and wearing a revealing dress and fishnets), and, oh yes, prom themes. Chattahoochee, Johns Creek and Northview high school, all within a 5-10-mile radius of each other, decided on a “Gatsby/1920 but mostly Gatsby” inspired prom theme. And that is only in our zip code, I cannot even imagine how many other high schools, or even middle schools are choosing it as their inspiration for decoration.

Of course, there is absolutely no shame in having this as our prom theme; the 1920s were a great time period, though, I will admit that it is a bit stressful that we are all so easy to conform to popular trends—but hey, popular is not bad. Admittedly, I would have loved to see a creative twist on it, maybe “Zombie Gatsby” or “Waffle House Gatsby,” I do not really know, I am just spit-balling ideas here, people (honestly I am a really weird person, so if Daisy did jazz hands while wearing a waffle house uniform at my prom, I would be the happiest girl on the planet). Regardless, Gatsby is an amazing theme and student council always wows Chattahoochee with their dance set ups, so I do not think this year will be an exception. What I am really looking forward to this year at prom is the embodiment of the 1920s fashion in some of the dresses. Typically prom dresses are all sort of traditional in their looks, but with the Gatsby obsession stirred in with the prom theme, I trust the young men and women of Chattahoochee will get just a little bit more creative. Maybe we will see velvet tuxes or fringed dresses laced with glitter, maybe instead of limos, Chattahoochee’s prom attendees will roll up in a Ford Model T, or maybe the dance floor will break out into the Charleston on the drop of Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse.” I think it could be cool, but what do I know. One thing people tend to ignore about “The Great Gatsby” and the 1920s in general, are the abject things that hap-pened during this era. The 1920s immediately followed WWI, and it was a sort of boom in America’s culture and industry, but with the banning of alcohol, the origins of organized crime, or gangs became evident. There were speakeasies and bootleggers, providing a loophole for prohibition; this underground revolt against the ban created a group of somewhat immature adults, mirroring the same sort of attitude as teenagers. Another form of organized crime that was born in this epoch was the KKK, one of America’s most infamous and shameful terror groups that attempted to belittle the growing diversity in America. By 1929, the beautiful, festive, and haughty age of the 1920s became the desolate wasteland of the Great Depression, leaving only yearnful memories of a better time. Though there were copious negative elements about the 1920s, we shall always primarily remember them as a time of celebration, revolution, and prosperity, and that is why it is a surely fitting theme for our prom this year. And though our era seems to enjoy reusing ideas and trends, recycling is not all that bad; after all, it is why “The Great Gatsby” is still famous, and without that timeless novel, the green light at the end of our dock might just be a little bit dimmer.

#TBT High School Dances

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Can you guess which teachers are featured?

A. Engelberth B. Batchelor C. Baloga D. Pair E. Colangelo F. Dayton G. Pilkey H. Rattray I. Boudreaux J. Smith K. Hunt L. Hicks

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22 | Designed by Natalie Robinson . March 2014

Fashion Flashback

ZOYAMAHMOOD, Staff Reporter

Believe it or not, a good number of the trends that you see in stores today are not actually as new and exciting as you perceive them to be. Thinking back to distinctive eras of fashion, one can see that some of the most current styles are actually decades-old looks recycled and updated for a modern edge. Here are the origins of some of the most popular trends of today, by decade:

THE ROARING TWENTIES:Jewel embellishing became popular during the ‘20s, particularly on “flapper girl” dresses and headbands. Currently, the ‘20s influence is evident in everything from embellished sweaters and handbags to sequined dresses and shoes.

THE NIFTY FIFTIES:Floral print reached a peak in popularity during the ‘50s. Modern floral print is updated in more vivid color and design, but the roots are still obvious. Cat eye glasses were also fashionable during this time and have returned as a current trend thanks to the growing popularity of vintage wear.

THE SWINGIN’ SIXTIES:The ‘60s are responsible for Peter Pan collars as well as saddle shoes. Peter Pan collars remain popular even

now, and are useful for adding a touch of formality to casual outfits. Saddle shoes have made a comeback recently in updated two-toned designs and prints.

THE DISCO ERA:The ‘70s saw the growing popularity of platform shoes, now a staple in the present-day

fashion world. Some adventurous modern designers have even added platforms to uncharacteristic shoes like sneakers and flats.

THE GREEDY EIGHTIES:Oversized sweaters and sweatshirts made their debut as a fashion statement in the ‘80s, when Benetton and Esprit sweatshirts were all the rage. Today, oversized tops are a fashion essential for any girl, especially with the current leggings craze.

Clearly, creative inspiration often has its roots in the past, and that is certainly the case when it comes to fashion.

TRENDS & TUNES |

Designed by Mackenzie Gaillard . The Speculator: Voice | 23

Although change inevitably occurs in all aspects of society, sports is

one category in which changes have become detrimental. Originally,

sports focused on the athletes and the game. Times have changed and

so have the games, which are now dominated by cameras and advertise-

ments. Not much that is “real” is left in big name sports anymore.

American football is a prime example of how the “rawness” of the

game has diminished. Several new rules have been implemented to keep

players safe, preventing them from being as aggressive as those who

played in the 1970s. Isn’t American football supposed to be a rough and

intense game? If safety is a concern, then the players that are not able to

handle powerful hits should not play.

In the 1999 NFL season, coaches were allowed two challenges per

game. Challenging takes time, energy, and momentum out of a game

in order to correct a single play. Both professional and college football

are no longer judged solely by referees, but by cameras as well. FIFA,

MLB and the NHL are perhaps the only remaining sporting organiza-

tions that let the athletes play and rely mostly on human discernment to

regulate the games.

Another noticeable trend, especially in American sports, is

advertising. The Super Bowl is the biggest marketing and advertising

event in the entire country. Fans watching at home anticipate a Pepsi

commercial more than the outcome of the game. Football games

include at least 20 commercial breaks which account for a third of the

180 minute ordeal. Add to that 75 minutes of players, coaches and fans

standing around, then 17 minutes of replay footage, and the remaining

11 minutes or so is all that is spent on actual game play. Not only does

this slow down the tempo, but the enthusiasm and atmosphere fades.

Football fans are being tricked into a grand marketing scheme instead of

enjoying a sporting event.

As of today, the overused camera and replay work have not yet

reached high school sports like their collegiate or professional counter-

parts. Even better, there are no commercial advertisements to stall and

slow down the tempo of a game. The action is quick, to the point and

full of energy and emotion. High school sports are still authentic and

raw, the way the game was meant to be played.

NIKOMAHERAS Staff Reporter

When I was in school,they

asked me what I wanted

to be when I grew up. I

told them “happy”.

~John Lennon

AuthenticityDeteriorating?Is

in Sports

What’s the funniest moment you’ve had with this team? My friend ran straight into a goal post once.

Do you have any weird skills or tricks you do? No.

What’s your favorite part about your team?

I like the varsity team because they’re all hilarious.

Which decade do you think you’d fit

into best? The 1980s just

because.

What’s the funniest moment you’ve had with this team? I hit a homerun, and I was trying to act cool, and then

I tripped over third base.Do you have any weird skills or tricks you do?

I throw the ball with both hands.What’s your favorite part about your team?

We love to hangout outside of baseball. We call it the “Bond Of Brothers”.

Which decade do you think you’d fit into best?

1950s because that’s when my boy Jackie Robinson played.

He’s my idol.

What’s the funniest

moment you’ve had with this team?

When Coach Mac backed into my teammate’s car.

Do you have any weird skills or tricks you do?

I do not sorry.What’s your favorite part about

your team? My favorite part about the team is Tanya Viscardi.

Which decade do you think you’d fit into best? I would fit into the 1980’s because I’m very sassy.

What’s the funniest moment you’ve had with this team? I cut my head open in the locker room once.

It was pretty funny.Do you have any weird skills or tricks you do?

I can snap my fingers with my eyes closed. What’s your favorite part about your team? The pre-game meals. We just sit and mess

around. I love it.Which decade do you think

you’d fit into best? The 1840s because I am a

cowboy at heart.

ROA RDALLASSHOOK, Staff Reporter

Noah Ebitino

Maddie Yashinsky

Maddie Hagan

Tony Dibrell

Freshman, Soccer

Junior, Lacrosse

Senior, Baseball

Sophomore, Lacrosse

Designed by Hannah Mills . The Speculator: Voice | 25

SPRING SPORTS HOPING FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS

Chattahoochee ended the last school year with a bang in the sports world. Now, with the Cougars entering their second spring season in 6A, they aim to improve with an even more impressive season. Whether it is in lacrosse or track and field, the Chattahoochee spring teams plan to have a remarkable year. Chattahoochee’s spring sports success starts on the tennis court. Two years ago, the men’s tennis team made it all the way to the state finals, and last year the Cougars lost a heartbreaker at Brookwood High School. Led by seniors Andrew Lockerbie and David Zheng alongside juniors Alvaro Godoy and Aydrian Salazaar, the team has large shoes to fill after talented graduates Harrison Huynh and Mike Newell took the next step in their life. Experienced Coach Bennett again leads the men’s ten-nis team. On the other side of the court is the very talented girls team, led by seniors Lauren Mueller and Hannah Sharpe. Head coach Milosovich hopes for her team to return to the playoffs after a much-needed return.

DANNYCAPLANSports Editor

26 | Designed by Hannah Mills . March 2014

Next to the court stands the baseball diamond, and this year’s baseball team is sure to be a pow-erful force in the region. Led by star pitcher and Kennesaw State commit Tony Dibrell [SR], opposing teams will most certainly have trouble getting on base this season. Expect great performances from Kyle Witt [SR], Zach Huet [JR] and Griffin Kern [JR]. The baseball team had some trouble getting big wins last year, and the losses of key graduates Jeff Mullavey, Mitch Koch and Tyler Ohnemus will definitely

make it tough to do well this year, but the Cougars are up for the challenge to win state. The team is again provided outstanding leadership by Coaches Lemons and Jones.

One of the strong suits for the Cougars’ 2014 sports campaign is the Hooch Lacrosse program. The girls’ team is again going to be led by Coach McIlvain. Last year, the

girls team finished on the top end of the region and capped off the season with a trip to the playoffs, but they lost to the defending state champion, Milton. This year, achieving the same results will be a challenge especially with the departure of such graduates like Kim Barco, Madison Rudnick, Katie Mahoney and Zoe Condon. However, the team will be led by University of Richmond commit Katie Trainer [SR]. There are also other key returning starters all around the field, starting with goalie Lauren Frantz [SR], Kayla Kloes [JR], Rachel Grace [SR], Maddie Hagan [JR], Carly Rudnick [JR] and Tayna Viscardi [SR]. The Lady Cougars are up for the challenge and plan to take home the state title. The boys lacrosse team provided an immense amount of excitement to all Chattahoochee fans, advancing into the second round of the playoffs in 2013. Last year, graduates Shane Zaunbrecher, Quentin Johnson, Clayton Maike, Grayson West, Harry Kirch, Chris Kastner and Lucas Sparks led the Cougars.

This season, the Cougars are led by Lehnoir Rhyne University commit Ben Cor-rigan. The team’s other star seniors include Hunter Fusco, Jack Cioffi, Tommy

Stanton, Juan Castilla and Thomas Cohen. Returning as head coach this season is Coach Sopko, who “wants to see his team as a whole improve day-to-day.” After beating

the defending state champs Centennial in the fall, the Cougars hope that they can not only win the region but also the state championship. Another sport that is sure to add excitement this season is soccer. On the boys

side, this year’s senior class is the grand group of players that still have state rings from the prolific 2011 campaign. These seniors include Jonathon Luppino, Jorge Ruiz, Adam

Abdellaoui, Kristian Sandoval, George Hanna, Daniel Rowland, Samuel Sung and Khalid Smith. With most of the seniors returning, Coach Meenan hopes to improve on

what some call a disappointing 2013 season. The girls team also hopes to make a deep run in the playoffs as well. The Lady Cougars are led by seniors Logan Lindy and

Vanessa Chambers who provide the necessary leadership for on and off the field. Some other stars on this year’s squad include Sonia Field [JR], Riley Pinion [SO]

and Kelly Hart [SO]. There is no doubt that head coach Vincent Strine has high hopes for his squad as they have had great success in

recent years. Every year at Chattahooch-

ee, the success of the sports program can be heard

throughout the hallways, and the spring

sports are a large contributor to that success. Whether it is on the baseball diamond or the hard top, expect an exciting year for Chattahooch-ee’s spring sports campaign.

GAME TIME |

Q: What are you most excited about this year?A: I’m excited for our team to become better as a whole. It looks like we will be better than we were last year, and we have a really good chance of mak-ing it to the playoffs.Q: How and when did you first get into soccer?A: I just started playing in first grade for fun, but now it has become more of a competitive thing and a bigger part of my life as well as a bigger commitment.Q: In soccer, who is your role model?A: I think Alex Morgan is a good role model. She is an extremely talented and amazing soccer player and she is fun to watch.Q: Do you think your role on the team has

increased due to the new youth on the team?A: My role will increase because I’m no longer

the youngest player on the team. We lost a lot of our leaders last year and I

really think I can step up and fill these roles that have

opened up.

NEELSWAMYStaff Reporter

| GAME TIME

Riley Pinion[SO] has high hopes for her second year on the soccer team. Riley’s club team ranks among the best in the state and her talent can easily be spotted on the soccer field. She played a tre-mendous role on the team as a freshman and is look-ing to have another rewarding season.Q: What do you like most about school soccer op-posed to club soccer?A: I really enjoy hanging out and playing with different people that go to this school. It is also a lot more relaxed compared to club soccer.Q: Is it hard to balance school and soccer, and do you think you do a satisfying job in managing your time?A: Soccer definitely makes it hard to balance the work-load I get from school. I think I handle it well, and I enjoy the challenge of it.Q: What was your favorite memory from last year?A: Last year, we had a really fun team sleepover, and all of the team bonding experiences were a lot of fun.

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play

erphoto by Jorge Ruiz, Staff Photographer

28 | Designed by Hannah Mills . March 2014

The Chattahoochee Lacrosse team has become one of Hooch’s most highly regarded athletic programs, but it hasn’t always been so success-ful. Just a couple seasons ago Chatta-hoochee was considered to be one of the worst teams in the region, but the team has had quite a makeover. This year the Cougars are considered to be a true contender for the state championship. During the fall league, the Cou-gars won the “Fall Ball” tournament by beating last year’s state champions Centennial High School. Boys la-crosse also participated in a compe-tition called “The Turkey Shootout,” in which one of their key victories in the tournament was over state runner up for 5A Northview High School. These examples show how the team is displaying signs of success and this is a lacrosse team who, just three seasons ago, had a 10-8 record and is now making major improvements and progress that will lead them to success. Last year, the Cougars made it two rounds into the playoffs and are looking to be even better this season.

Back in 2011 the Hooch lacrosse team was coached under Coach Linsley; not only did he lead the Chattahoochee lacrosse team a winning record, he also took his team to the playoffs. The following year, Linsley had another successful season but he and Chattahoochee chose to part ways. He left for McCallie High School in Tennessee and now Hooch is under the leadership of Coach Sop-ko who has proven himself to be a worthy successor to Linsley by taking Chattahoochee to the playoffs in his first year as head coach. Although Hooch lost a couple valuable players from the Class of 2013, there is a very strong senior class including Zack Hathaway, Tommy Stanton, Ben Corrigan, Thomas Cohen, Nick Zackucia and Jack Cioffi. Needless to say, Hooch lacrosse has a very bright season and future ahead of them. Each goal, assist, and win will not only bring the team closer to the playoffs, but support the idea of excellence that Chattahoochee High School represents. Make sure to go out and support our Cougars in their quest for another prosperous season.

Neel SwamyStaff Reporter

Designed by Walker McNeely . The Speculator: Voice | 29

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GAME TIME |

It’s not about what people

think of me, but what I

learned along the way...

~Cyndi Lauper

Admissions | 312.629.6100 | ugadmiss@saic.edu

Discuss your work in-depth with our admissions counselors,who are also working artists, designers, and visual scholars

Tour our state-of-the-art facilities and incomparable residence halls

Explore Chicago, our urban campus

For more information and to reserve your space, visit saic.edu/tour

AmericA’s most influentiAl Art And design school invites you to tour our cAmpus!

Designed by Kylie Dayotn . The Speculator: Voice | 31

SENIORS |

seniors pass on

adviceto junio

rs

COLBY HESSELTINE:The best advice I could give is to do the work. As a senior it is easy to completely forget all of your responsibilities. You may think that you’re smarter than the material, or that you learned enough in class as it is; you’re not, and you haven’t. Just do the work -- it’s really not that hard.

HEATHER FORD:Do not stop caring about school and everything else senior year. Senior year is full of great events, but when nobody cares, it loses the spark. Most seniors just want to leave and go off to college; that’s all they worry about, and it causes senior year to become boring. If I were you, I would make the most of all the games, pep rallies, time with your friends, etc. because you are only a senior in high school once. Live it up the best you can.

ZOYA MAHMOOD:Senior year is a lot of things but easy is not one of them. Try not to succumb to the seniori-tis, because you will probably have to submit first semester grades to most colleges that you apply to. It would have been fun to tell you that you get to be lazy during your senior year, but if you do that you’ll be out of practice for freshman year. Good luck!

LYSTIA MUNTHE:Start the Common App as soon as it comes out. You should have the Common App done by the end of August, even if you aren’t sure where you are applying. Many of the schools you apply to are on the Common App, and this will save you a lot of time later, especially if you’re applying to a school early.

KRISTIAN SANDOVAL:You’re a senior now. That means the eyes of the underclassmen are on you. Many of the things you do and say around freshmen and sophomores will carry a significant impact to them. Make sure you maintain a positive image so that the younger students can look up to you.

LAUREN TOMCZAK:Senioritis is a deadly and lethal disease...trust me, you will get it. By the time second semester comes around, you will be looking at your grades ask-ing yourself why you put in zero effort. If you get deferred from a school or apply regular, many schools will ask for your first semester senior grades. This will make or break you. Don’t give up. Well, at least not until second semester. Syfi.

LAURENTOMCZAK, EditorIt’s not about what people

think of me, but what I

learned along the way...

~Cyndi Lauper

Admissions | 312.629.6100 | ugadmiss@saic.edu

Discuss your work in-depth with our admissions counselors,who are also working artists, designers, and visual scholars

Tour our state-of-the-art facilities and incomparable residence halls

Explore Chicago, our urban campus

For more information and to reserve your space, visit saic.edu/tour

AmericA’s most influentiAl Art And design school invites you to tour our cAmpus!

34 | Designer by Margot Murray . December 2013

| SENIORS

For some people, Georgia has it all—the full package—brisk winters, warm summers, southern blue-bell

charm and a variety of hubs and unique cities that are easy to adapt and live in. But for others, that is not enough. The winters are murky and desolate

without snow (with the exception of this year’s snowpacolypse), the summers are too hot, and southern charm does not sit well with their northern prep. So for some, going out of state, or even out of the country are the only suitable options for a nonpareil university experience. New York, though a bit frothy in the winter months (which happen to range from September to late April), is a popular choice due to its completely inverse cli-mate to Georgia. Cole Christensen (SR) applied to university of Syracuse, located in upstate New York, in hopes of pursuing a degree in architecture. When asked

why he chose the school Cole answered that, “I am going to major in architecture which is a very specialized field, and northern schools tend to have much more devel-

oped programs.” For Monika Naik (SR), cold weather and pine trees were not exactly a huge selling point,

she prefers the sultry sands of the west coast—California. Monika is particularly interested in UCLA and Berkley, and though she claimed that, “it would be hard not to have the luxury of visiting

home whenever I please,” her brother attends Berkley and she has family members in San Francisco, meaning she is not at all alone so far away. The established streets of London have a unique and vintage feel to them, something that Helena Denis (SR) admires very much in a city. Helena was recently admitted into the University of Greenwich, a popular English college located in the heart of the bustling city. The Chatta-hoochee senior is most excited about moving to this new location because of her innate love for travel; she moved around frequently as a child, and although it was amazing to see so many unique locations and cultures, Helena is happy to finally choose where she wants to live. A 24-hour plane ride will not stop Amelia Brown (SR) from reaching her dream school, Australian National University. Amelia’s parents blessed her with being able to go to any school she desired—so long as it was not in Georgia; with this one minor criterion, Amelia decided to revert back to the quintessence of her roots, and attend school in her birth place, Australia. Amelia is “excited about meeting cool new people and dating Australian guys.”

Amy Neal“1950s because I look cute in poodle skirts”

Caroline Elliott“Now, because you cannot

live life in the past”

Sidney Chae“I would go to Greece in

the present.” LAURENTOMZACK Senior Editor

LAURENTOMZACK Senior Editor

Josh Taylor“Matt King’s house; love that

kid so much.”

Emily Plauche“1920s New York to party

with Jay Gatsby”

Trey Hillman“In the 60s because the civil

rights movement”

Over the last year, students have discussed the ongoing problem with the senior lounge. The senior lounge has always been a fun place to hang out for the seniors; it is an area to be with only your grade and nobody else. It may not have the cleanest furniture or much to do there, but the stu-dents make it fun by being with all their friends and watching funny shows on television. The senior lounge is something everyone looks forward to having, so that they can have the privilege of being allowed in there when students from other grades are not permitted. This year, the students are not allowed to use the senior lounge during school hours, so the students have begun questioning why not. According to administration, the senior lounge is only permitted for use before school and after school, but not at all allowed during school hours. Every student wants the chance to be able to go to the student lounge to chill in between classes or during the never ending lunch period and not run the risk of getting in trouble. The administration believes that under-classmen have been entering the senior lounge, but that has not happened and will not be the case. Another issue has been that students will go missing from classes and teachers won’t know where they are, or they are too loud when they are there in the lunch periods. If that is the issue, we should invest in a scanner to sign them in so teachers could see what time they go in and where they are in case they are needed. If students did have the chance to go in there at any hours but had to be quiet, I truly believe that they would because nobody wants to lose the privilege of having the “slounge” to go to. We should not have it taken from us during the school hours. Having the senior lounge is pointless if the students don’t have the permission to be in there during lunch periods when the majority of seniors want to use it. Students should have the ability to go in there whenever they please to have a nice place to relax, study, and hang out with other fellow seniors.

HEATHERFORDStaff Reporter

photos by Mandy King, Staff Photographer

photos by Natalie Robinson, Photo Editor

Suryabratta DuttaSuryabratta Dutta, Surya for short, has a reputation for being incredibly intelligent, yet genuinely modest. Surya has taken 14 AP classes and is an intern with the City of Roswell’s Commu-nity Development, but he still has time to be heavily involved in clubs such as Engineering, Science Olympiad and Chess.

Q: How did it feel to be at Yale for the Science Olympiad Tournament right before you found out you were accepted?Our trip to Yale for Science Olympiad was phenomenal, a memory I will always cherish because of our amazing team. When I received the call from Yale, I thought they were just calling to thank our team for coming up there!

Q: Since you’re interested in robotics, what would you build if you could build anything?I would have to say space and planetary explorers would be ex-tremely interesting to work with because there is a lot of potential knowledge to be gained.

Q: You’ve played chess since the age of three. What motivates you to continue playing?In the beginning it was probably competitive play, tournaments and the thrill of winning that drew me to the game, but over the years, I’ve kind of grown an appreciation for the game itself. I know it’s somewhat cheesy, but the game itself is extremely fun to play, especially speed chess!

Q: Your classmates know you’re incredibly smart and genu-inely nice, but what else you would you like to be known for in high school?I’d like to be known for making an impact in some way. I would love to see the two clubs I started – Technology Student Association and Chess – continue and grow stronger in the many years to come, and I definitely want the Science Olympiad team to stay strong and become even better.

Alexis GoldsteinIn her four years at Chattahoochee, Alexis Goldstein has undeniably left her mark. You may know her for her outstand-ing photography, talent that has colleges fighting over her. However, you may also know her for effervescent spirit, one which procured her “class daredevil” by the senior class. Either way, Alexis has proved time and time again that she is not only creative and driven, but that she also has a vivacious spirit.

Q: What is it like to have your first gallery show in high school?It’s scary and intimidating. I don’t want to disappoint anyone.

Q: What is your gallery show about?Most of my artwork is from my AP Portfolio with the addition of some extra pieces. I work a lot with people so most of my pieces are portrait photography. The theme of my gallery show is the contrast between the organic (natural) shapes and the geometric (drawn) shapes found in the human body.

Q: How did your passion for photography start?I got my first point-and-shoot camera in eighth grade. I realized I wanted to pursue photography when I submitted a photo for the Reflections contest that year and it went all the way to state.

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?When it comes to my artwork, Sally Mann. In general, my art teacher and the photographers around me who have enabled me to expand my ideas.

Q: You won “class daredevil.” What is the craziest thing you have ever done?I wouldn’t say I’ve done anything crazy, but the coolest thing I’ve done was when I went caving and slept in the cave.

After graduation, Alexis is pursuing art in college.With her cre-ativity, confidence and ambition, we will see great things from her in the future.

SHIVANGIMEDHEKAREditorial/Reviews Editor

LISTYAMUNTHENews Editor

34 | Designed by Margot Murray . March 2014

photo by Jorge Ruiz, Staff Photographer

Designed by Cassie Langmann. The Speculator: Voice | 35

TECH WATCH |

Phone Rumorsof 2014

The beginning of the year marks a new slate for the tech compa-nies—phone companies especially. For them, the new year means a new opportunity to wow consumers with a device containing all of the latest hardware. The iPhone is always a popular choice and Apple will undoubtedly make improvements on the next rendition of the phone. Apple will make an effort to improve on the design of the device, but the compa-ny could also focus more on its operating system. Either way, the next iPhone should be slated with at least an announcement at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10-14. Samsung is the next dominating phone company. Up first for a 2014 revision is the Galaxy S series. Rumors have been spreading about the next phone, the Galaxy S5, having a purported 2K display and fingerprint sensor, but leaked benchmarks of the phone with a 1080p resolution have since shot down one of these rumors. The company’s “Unpacked 5” event on February 24 will reveal at least the Galaxy S5. Since the year has only just begun, these companies have yet to disclose full information regarding their 2014 flagship devices, but the hype is already building up with rumors concerning the popular phone manufacturers.

People are often

afraid of things that

sound new.

– Daft Punk

KRISTIANSANDOVAL Features Editor

36 | Designed by Cassie Langmann . March 2014

| TECH WATCH

Pixel by Pixel: Evolution of the Video Game

“Brown Box,” a late 1960s videogame invention, replaced board games and cards, altering the landscape for entertainment. When the Magnavox Odyssey took over the concept with the renowned generation of pong games (A type of virtual, 2D tennis), the videogame era took off.

Of course, other companies soon cloned the idea, producing about 70 varia-tions of pong consoles: Telstar, Odyssey, Fairchild Channel F, RCA Studio, Won-der Wizard Model 7702, etc., offering a variety of pixel colors and controllers.

A leap in technological advancement then led to the racing and shooting game generation. Nintendo Color TV Game Series, the Atari Stunt Cycle, Coleco Tristar Arcade, Coleco Telstar Sportsman and the Coleco Telstar Marksman highlighted the home entertainment series of the late 1970s.

Three major companies soon took the video game to a whole new level: Atari, Nintendo and Sega. The but-ton-mashing, cartridge-and-controller game console was born; along with it would come generation upon generation of adventure, racing, fighting and strategy games.

Console wars spanned through the late 90s to the early 2000s, generating an enjoyable repertoire of gaming systems. Now classics, the Nintendo 64, Playstation 1 and Sega Genesis began to showcase these major platforming companies’ potential. Since then, videogame consoles have evolved through the decades into our modern sys-tems like the Wii, Xbox and Playstation.

BILLRETTIG Staff Reporter

Cinema of the past 14 years has often been derided as inferior to that of preceding eras. As with its music the Aught’s are remembered for their flops over their successes. However, our little moment in time has produced just as many triumphs – if not more – as its predecessors. Among those triumphs is a film called “No Country For Old Men.” Directed and written by the Coen Brothers (the minds behind “The Big Lebowski,” another favorite), “Country” was released in 2007 to crit-ical acclaim, eventually winning Best Picture at that year’s Academy Awards. Centered on a man who finds two million dollars in a drug deal gone wrong and the hitman sent to find him, the film features uncharacteristically sparse dialog and minimal music, keeping in tune with the themes of the novel. Josh Brolin leads as our man in dan-ger, Javier Bardem plays the most bone-chilling villain I’ve seen and Tommy Lee Jones appears as a very competent but altogether bad police chief (Seriously. The chief knows his stuff, but the plot moves forward based on his many, many mistakes). Everything about this film is just… right. Casting, acting, cinematography, location, writ-ing – it’s all brilliant in every aspect. “Country” is not only the best film of our present millennium – it’s the best film I’ve ever seen.

As we have seen in recent years, the modern film industry has developed a fetish for the super-hero genre. Niche movies are nothing new, after all; if you weren’t an action film in the late 1980s, no one cared. However, superhero films have seen a meteoric rise in both investments from studios and viewership from audiences. “Super-man Returns,” fortunately, saw neither. Superman movies are notoriously bad. The Christopher Reeves Superman films of the late 70s are overwhelmingly mediocre, while 2013’s “Man of Steel” actually offended audiences with its excessive stupidity. “Returns” adds to the Fortress of Sadness by exacerbating the failures of other Superman films while making sure you don’t care about anything plot-related. Super-man, returning home after five years of search-ing for the remains of Krypton, finds that Lex Luthor is up to his old tricks, stealing kryptonite to build his own supercontinent (forgetting com-pletely that this makes no sense). Lois Lane, in the meantime, has received both a Pulitzer and a child, but the kid doesn’t seem healthy – in fact, he reacts badly to, what else, kryptonite, imply-ing that Lois and Clark did the literally physically impossible deed – but I digress. Yada yada yada, Superman disposes of said kryptonite-continent, Luthor goes to jail and Superkid is promptly forgotten. You would be wise to do the same with “Returns.”

There are movies that physically hurt you to watch. They may involve scenes with excessive pain (“Saw”), they may be revolting to look upon (“Human Centipede”), they may just make you fall out of your chair because you’ve fallen asleep (“Saw III”). “Superbabies” is one of them, but somehow worse, belonging to that section of cinema you’d burn even if you’re not freezing to death. Ranked 12 on IMDB’s Worst Movies list – worse than movie-only-known-for-being-bad “The Room” – “Superbabies” is the Vietnam of cinema: unnecessary, unlikeable and unforgiving. In its repertoire of worthless titles, “Superb-abies” holds the record for fulfilling Godwin’s Law the quickest, referencing Hitler in its first five minutes. I would say it goes downhill from here, but that implies it has a peak at some point. If you saw “Superbabies” predecessor “Baby Ge-niuses,” (you didn’t) you’d know why these babies are indeed geniuses: some adult wanted to know if babies could talk. Tax dollars were spent, and, lo and behold, they can talk (You’ve now seen “Baby Geniuses”. Sorry.). In the sequel, other talking babies rally around a legendary Super-Ba-by – a WWII vet, no less – and fight crime. Also, poop jokes, but really, that’s all. I could say more horrible things about this horrible, horrible movie, but I have a word count, so I’ll summarize “Superbabies” thusly: No.

RETROSPECT |

Designed by Cassie Langmann. The Speculator: Voice | 37

COLBYHESSELTINE, Copy Editor

The Good:No Country for Old Men

The Bad:Superman Returns

The Ugly:Superbabies: Baby Geniuses

Hooch Sports Spring into Action

| UNDERSCORE

Hooch Through the Decades

ERICAPETZEditor-in-Chief

1991 marks the opening of CHS, built on a mere dirt version of the Taylor Road

we know today, according to Duncan. Only six years later

in 1997 is CHS named a Georgia School

of Excellence.

In 2000, CHS is recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, a

rare and prestigious award; today we are “still one of

the few,” Mr. Duncan proudly states.

CHS earns significant national praise in 2011, ranked #136 in Newsweek Magazine’s

“Top 500 High Schools in the USA.” That same year we

celebrate Hooch’s 20-year anni-versary with what Mr. Duncan

dubs the “giant cake.”

The CT (Career Tech) Hall is completed in 1994,

adding rooms for Healthcare Science, Graphics and several

other subjects.

In 2005, the new weight room is built for

our athletes.

CHS expands notably within recent years, adding the science wing in 2010

and the new, more accommodating band

room in 2012.

For a whole year, CHS was stadium-less. Our beloved “Friday night

lights” sanctuary, The Arena, is built

in 1993.

The ARCH outdoor classroom becomes a vital asset to CHS when it is

completed in 2004.

In 2008 we update our look with the stone

entry sign and arch. One year later in 2009, the

Alumni Pavilion is built.

In 1997, the girls’ tennis team becomes AAAA state champions, bringing homethe first of Chattahoochee’s

several state titles. Their reign continues in 1998 with an

undefeated record.

Inspired by the Northview Courtyard, the administration

brings outside eating to CHS in 2003.

The new science wing opened up space for luxuries

in 2010, including the sofas in the D Hall and the Senior Lounge, commonly

called the “Slounge,” in the H Hall.

1991-1998 1999-2006 2007-2014

Milestones

Indoor

Additions

Outdoor

Additions

Other

Changes

Over the past 24 years, Chattahoochee has evolved from being the only local high school to one of the most renowned high schools in North Fulton, Georgia and even the United States, promoting a “tradition of excellence,” as Principal Duncan likes to say. Imagine how different your daily life would be without all of the changes that have transformed Hooch:

38 | Designed by Paul Hansa . March 2014

Designed by Paul Hansa. The Speculator | 39

UNDERSCORE |

2012 and 2013 were the Lacrosse team’s most successful seasons since

2005. The Cougars finished with an

impressive 14-6 record last year.

Hunter Fusco (SR) has been playing on

Varsity since sophomore year. His leadership

will be key to the success of this talented Hooch team.

After an impressive season and a strong

playoff run, the Hooch boys look to keep up

their great improvement and contend for a

region title.

Hunter wants to leave it all on the field, “I just

hope our team can accomplish all our goals

for the year.”

Hooch Sports Spring into Action

DALLASSHOOKStaff Reporter

The girl’s lacrosse team has been a power

house in the region since 2007. Last year’s team finished with a

14-4 record.

Katie Trainer (SR) has been one of Hooch’s standout athletes for the

past four years. In her final year before going to

the University of Richmond for lacrosse, she wants to

win it all.

The girls look to make it to the playoffs yet

again and assert their dominance in the region.

Nothing but the best is expected from this experienced team.

“We’re looking forward to no ‘ragrets’

this year. We are excited about the potential

progress we shall make,” Katie stated.

Hooch’s tennis team has established themselves as one of the best teams in

6A over the past years.

Andrew Lockerbie (SR) has been playing tennis

for Hooch since freshman year. His senior year has the potential to be a huge

year for him.

Chattahoochee wants to build off their momentum

after losing late in the playoffs to Brookwood.

“I don’t want to end on a bad note.” Andrew

stated. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have great

teammates every year, and I want to return the favor

this year.”

Last year was great, and we have a lot to be

proud of,” Jami declared, “but we can definitely

improve and be the best team in the region

this year.”

Hooch has experienced a tremendous amount of success in track over the past few years; and

with several returning players this year looks to

be no different.

After being a major part of the team’s success

as a freshman, Jami Suebert (SO) expects the team to

build off their momentum from last year.

Chattahoochee’s distance team has been one of the best in the

region. Hooch has managed to improve a lot

over the past years.

A Look Back

Athlete

Boys’

Lacrosse

Tennis

Track

Girls’

Lacrosse

A Look Ahead

Quote

Chattahoochee sports thrive in the spring. Last year, both lacrosse teams finished with winnings records yet again. Hooch’s track team was full of young athletes with tons of potential, and the tennis team was one of the best in the region. This year, not much has changed, and all the teams expect to improve on already impressive seasons.

Hooch Through the Decades