NEWS

The American Muslim community still faces discrimination, continuing almost a decade after the 9/11 terrorist attacks

JUST BLENDING IN: Freshman Samreen Uzzama goes throughout her day wearing her hijab, a head covering typically worn by Muslim women. Uzzama says she faces some religious discrimination, but ridicule has lessened since she enrolled at CHS. ARJUNA CAPULONG / PHOTO

By Victor Xu
<vxu@hilite.org>

After freshman Samreen Uzzama began wearing her hijab in seventh grade to further her Islamic faith, she said discrimination toward her suddenly intensified. “Terrorist,” students called. “Do you have a bomb?” others asked. Even outside school she said she was the subject of harsh language from older people.

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SPORTS

By Andrew Browning
<abrowning@hilite.org>

At 5 feet, 6 inches and 130 pounds, there’s little question that senior Nicky Ramakrishnan is too small to play football and isn’t tall enough to make the basketball team. But he has been very much involved in those two sports every year of high school. Ramakrishnan has been a member of the Fantasy Sports Club ever since his freshman year, and this year he became co-president.

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FEATURE

Despite the overwhelming popularity of the iPod, some students opt for a non-Apple mp3 player for the price and uniqueness

MP3 MADNESS: Junior Michelle Steele works on her homework in the hallway while listening to her non-iPod mp3 player. Steele said she doesn’t have an iPod, but that her mp3 player is just as good in terms of function and costs less than an iPod. SHOKHI GOEL / PHOTO

By Katie Walstrom and Meredith Boyd
<kwalstrom@hilite.org> <mboyd@hilite.org>

Instead of the common iPod, junior Michelle Steele owns a YP-Z5 Flash Player, an mp3 player made by Samsung. “It was a gift from my parents. I’d never had anything like it; I thought it was better than an iPod from the start,” Steele said.

In these times of financial distress, luxuries like mp3 players are out of reach for some students. But for others, like Steele, if they’re willing to look beyond the status appeal of the iPod, they find suitable alternatives in other products, minus the big iPod price tag. Read more »

ENTERTAINMENT

2010 will be a year of remakes and sequels, but nonetheless are sure to not disappoint

Compiled by Audrey Bailey

Eclipse

Release Date: June 30
Directed by: David Slade
Starring: Kristen Stewart (Bella), Robert Pattinson (Edward) and Taylor Lautner (Jacob)

Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) will be appearing yet again in the new 2010 year. Eclipse, part of the famous Twilight series, is expected to have just as much success in the box office as the previous two releases. Starting where “New Moon” left off, Bella is forced to choose between the love she instills for Edward or the friendship she has made with Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Along with this conflict, the fight between vampires and werewolves still lives. Bella and Edward are forced to worry about Victoria, the vampire seeking revenge for her beloved James.

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OP/ED

By Hilite Staff

Last year, this school, with around 900 dancers, raised nearly $160,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis during Carmel Dance Marathon (CDM), a staggering number that, according to the Riley Web site, represents the largest high school dance marathon in the country with numbers expected to rise again with this year’s event on Feb. 20.

With over one quarter of the student body here participating in CDM in some way, the term “For the Kids” has gained a new meaning for this group of teenagers and the donors that support them.

In these trying economic times, however, people are more conscious than ever as to where their money ends up once the dancing has ceased and the Freshman Cafeteria floor has been mopped free of scratches and spills from the celebratory evening of giving.

With many charities experiencing a drastic decline in donations due to the recession, it is clear that finding an organization in need requires little work. Upon digging deeper, however, the “need” of Riley Children’s Hospital may be less than that of other potential beneficiaries. Read more »