feature story rough draft

The sudden rush hits your body as you realize you have the urge and need to go to the restroom. It looms across to you from the restaurant and the first sign of panic arises in your chest as you think about venturing out to it alone. You attempt to alleviate some stress by turning to a friend and asking her to accompany you to the bathroom, and she grabs her stuff without a second thought. You feel safer knowing she’s behind you as you walk towards the door and as soon as it closes, that’s where most people get lost on what’s really going on behind that women’s restroom sign.

So why is it that girls have to go in groups to the bathroom? Does it really provide for a buffer from the staring eyes of everyone as you walk past on the way, or is just because we want to use the restroom for more than just the norm of relieving ourselves? Either way, it’s hard to for women to explain, and even harder for men to understand.

“I don’t get it,” freshman Chad Downing said, “what are they doing in there that they have to do it in groups?”

Well to a woman, going to the restroom requires more than the act of just using it. “When I say I have to go to the bathroom it actually means I’m probably going to fix my make-up and still make sure my outfit looks as good as it did when I left,” sophomore Steph Sodders said.

So as the restroom doubles for a dressing room and make-up studio, the question still arises as to why woman have to do it in pairs. “I may get the checking yourself out part,” Chad said, “but why can’t girls do that alone? Why must they have their friends with them at all times?”

“It’s weird going by yourself,” Danville High School senior Taylor Reyes said, “why go by yourself when you can easily go with your friends.” Why though? Is it really due to the fear of walking across the restaurant with numerous pairs of eyes only on you, or is more related to just wanting to have someone with you?

“I like to talk to my friends in the bathroom,” Steph said, “it gives me a chance to tell them things I wouldn’t want to say at the table or in front of others.” So now the ladies have turned the restroom into a gab session instead of using it for the intended purpose. It makes one wonder though, what could they really have to talk about in the bathroom that you couldn’t other places?

“Everything!” Taylor said, “Especially if it’s about a boy who may be back at the table. Being able to go to the bathroom with my friends gives me a chance to talk about how much or how little I may like that certain guy.”

“That makes me nervous,” Chad said upon being told these findings, “now every time a group of girls goes to the bathroom that I’m with I’m going to be wondering if they’ll be talking about me.”

It’s not just boys though as Taylor said, it’s everything. From what they’re wearing, to what they’re going to do later, girls see restrooms as a place for the whole lot. And consequently enough, their last thoughts are to actually use it as a bathroom.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ‘gone to the bathroom’, without really going,” Steph says, “I really do see it as not only a restroom, but a physical and emotional check-up as well.”

 

Loney Rough Draft

             Chief Carl Loney, more regularly known as the “e-mail man,” claims “not all education takes place in the classroom.” Is this why he usually turns a blind eye when the tradition of streaking takes place in Wittenberg’s hollow? Or is it because he wants to also be seen as more of a heroic figure than just a police officer. I guess it all depends on whom you ask.

Loney had been in the force for over 30 years, and abashedly follows in the footsteps of his family who were all members of a police force. You can tell by the way he controls the classroom conversation and the way he eagerly proclaims, “Wittenberg has 13 officers,” which is much more than a regular force that he’s proud of who and what he has produced.

Loney, who is more than willing to offer up how alcohol infractions have gone down (20 from past years), and liquor referrals down by 101, but when asked about the current McMurray’s situation he shies away from the matter.

            It makes one wonder if Loney only wants his force to be recognized in a positive light. “We don’t want it to be an us [Wittenberg Police], against them [Witt Students] kind of thing,” he says looking over his notes, “and we are concerned about the students.”

            His, and the other officers work has paid off though. The infractions and referrals have noticeably gone down, and they do abide by the Clarity Act, which forces the university to keep all records available. They handle 80-90 % of crime cases that come through campus, and are constantly patrolling Wittenberg streets making sure the students are safe.

              “It’s not about me,” he continuously says, making it a point that he actually does care about the students. He even recalls a story of how he bought a student a notebook because they couldn’t afford one.

            When asked about the tradition of going streaking in the hollow Loney chuckles and says, “It’s not a robbery in my book.”

Classmate Interview

Just like the flavor of her favorite ice cream, mint chocolate chip, Katherine Elizabeth Wenger is a refreshing break from the average teenage girl. At first she may seem a little typical with her favorite color pink and her love of masculine and athletic boys, but after talking with her for just a few minutes you get the feeling that she’s actually very down to earth and extremely sensitive.

Born in the small town of Granville, Ohio, Katie still traces back to those roots everyday. “I love being at school because of the friends I’ve made, but I miss my family and home more and more everyday.” Sharing a close-knit relationship with her family does make it hard for her to be away, especially since she’s away from her mom, who she sees as her inspiration and role model.

After talking with her about her home life, you get the sense that she’s a very passionate person, and Katie’s biggest fear is losing someone she loves. “I’m afraid that someone I care about is just going to slip away too soon, sometimes with certain people you just don’t get enough time.” 

Her fervor for the things she loves has clearly paid off because during her senior year of high school she won the coveted prize of Cheerleaders of Cheerleaders, which she had been striving for since becoming a cheerleader at the young age of 4.  “I do regret quitting dance though,” she sighs, which is another thing she was very passionate about, “but cheerleading is still one of the biggest parts of my life.”

Even though she’s extremely passionate and loving, Katie also prides herself on being outgoing and unusually optimistic, but she does say one of her biggest characteristic flaws is her hunger for victory. “I would never want a twin sister because I know I would be so competitive with her. I wouldn’t want someone that I’d constantly have to compete with.”

Something else you wouldn’t guess about Katie’s personality from just looking at her girly blonde hair and burgundy painted fingernails is that she’s actually very adventurous and has some pretty big aspirations for herself. “The craziest thing I’ve ever done is going cliff jumping in Barbados,” she smiles at the memory, “and if I could have one thing in life it would be to be a news broadcaster, like the next Katie Couric.”

She starts to stray back to the normal teenage girl when discussing how her favorite movie is Pearl Harbor, the first thing she would do with a million dollars is buy a car, and her dream husband is Justin Timberlake, but when I ask her what’s her biggest life lesson she throws me off by saying “you can’t let the past ruin your future.” She seems so calm when saying it, but you can tell she’s been through some rough patches that have shaped her into the mature women she is becoming today. 

Katie’s surprises don’t stop there, for when I ask her the final question of what always makes her smile, her answer is no where near the normal things you would expect to hear. “Knowing that I’m loved is what always keeps me going,” she grins, “I like knowing the people I love care for me back.”