Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 January 2002 — Page 9

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2002 ■ PAGE A9 asiirfialfcni aj MM Seminars II

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Families need to stick together

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Kids fighting at school — it’s not worth it

If that person wants to get in trouble, let them when you can be the bigger person to leave it alone or walk away. Most kids these days are instigators or troublemakers who like to try or keep stuff going. Hang out with the kids that do right not wrong. Have friends who care about what you do and don't want you to fight It’s better to be the good person not the bad person. If you choose to be the good

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By Kristen Russell Cold Springs Academy

Recorder Intern

Many kids get into fights because of something said that’s of-

fensive to them.

You can walk away or ignore them. Don’t fight them over petty stuff it is not worth it. You can be the bigger person and leave it alone. If you fight you are most likely to get in guidance learning center, suspension, in-school suspension, go to juvenile, go to jail or get expelled. It’s just not worth it Kids need to worry about their education instead of people saying something about their mother or them.

By Kristin Roundtree North Central High School Recorder Intern How often do you speak to your family members? How often do you tell someone you love them? We are living in a world where families really need to stick together. On September 11 th, the whole nation suffered and mourned for those who had lost their lives. Those who lost loved ones would have never imagined something this random would destroy their

families.

Many people lost mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles and aunts. This is an example of how life is just too short

and that everyone needs to live their life to the fullest. Love everyone and have a close relationship

with your family.

Nakia Kendell, a 28 year-old, said, “I try to call everyone in my family to see how they’re are doing. No one really calls me. I do believe if families will communicate more that families will work out and be stronger. The closer the family the better." Instead of tearing each other down, maybe we can bring each otherup. Maybe if we would show love, then everything would.be all right. Maybe we could live in a world problem free. Just maybe. Let’s encourage one another.

Be an inspiration and make an impact on a person’s life. Shaday Jones, a sophomore at Cardinal Ritter High School said, “I kan say that my family is strong and we do stick together when times get really rough. Our family could really be stronger if we would just show more love amongst each

other.”

“I live with just my mother and my two sisters. That is all we have. I am thankful for them and they are truly my inspiration. They encourage me to do the unbelievable. Ido love them," Bridget Smith, a senior at Arlington High School said. “My family is very messed up. I live with my auntie because my

mother is sick and unsuitable to take care of me. My father is in prison and I will never see him again. I am lonely, and I have no one that shows me love and no one to encourage me to do good so I have to help myself. I do want to go to college, and I do not know how that will be possible,” a high school junior who would like to

remain anonymous.

The main reasons why families break up and people are on drugs and are akhdfidi is because there is simply rid* cneiigh love shown in the family. In most cases, situations like these can be prevented, maybe even settled, if there was

just enough love.

person you probably won’t get in #

Diverse group of committed teens

up where you don’t to be. So don’t ^ ^ ^ fight even if you are in school or OH D tODSICCO

not Remember, don’t fight!

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What is JAWSt The Recorder’s JAWS section (Journalism and Writing Seminars) is a nonprofit instructional program established through The Recorder Charities to provide students of color (interns) hands on training and exposure to the field of journalism. The goal is to encourage participants to pursue careers in journalism.

Special to The Recorder Recently, a coalition of 25 Hoosier teens stood up, joined forces and collectively decided to no longer stand by idly while their lives and the lives of their friends were being scoped out by Big Tobacco for tobacco use. Making young people in Indiana aware of the tactics used by tobacco companies to entice youth to become tobacco users in one way or another is what the Youth Advisory Board of Indiana Tobacco Prevention & Cessation has set out to do. And they’ve got a state agency and a funded multimedia awareness campaign to back them up. Picked through an application process, the teens on the ITPC Youth Advisory Board came together in September of2001. They are a diverse group from across the state that has put aside their differences in race, religion, gender and social status for a common goal - taking on tobacco companies who are trying to get them

hooked on nicotine.

This past fall, the young board members took issue when they found out that the makers of bestselling Kool cigarettes, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company, headquartered in Kentucky, was test marketing a new cigarette in Indianapolis. The company says the cigarette, named Advance, is designed to be “less toxic” and is a “step in the right direction.” These are the positioning statements that led the group to fire off a letter to B&W heads, protesting the use of Indiana citizens as “guinea pigs” and asking for a press conference to discuss ft. BAW rejected the offer, saying that the product is not being targeted to teenagers. YAB saw the refusal as evidence of

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BAWs lack of commitment to health concerns. When asked how she thought tobacco companies were marketing toward youth, one YAB member, Courtney Moore, a sixteenyear old from Indianapolis, noted “I went to the national TRUTH summit and they told us about an executive who said they [the tobacco company] were targeting to the young, black and stupid, (said 'what!? I’m young. I'm black, but I'm certainly not stupid.” Fifteen-year old African American YAB member, Cara Wood, from West Lafayette, Ind. says. “A lot of ads appeal to feelings and sex...that’s what teens are interesteo in. Along with BAW and the me-

dia, the YAB also invited tobacco prevention advocate, and former BAW researcher Dr. Jeffrey Wigand to the December press conference. Wigand’s personal fight against Big Tobacco was depicted in the movie, “The Insider,” with Russell Crowe portraying the scientist and teacher. Using razor blades to dissect cigarettes and drawing diagrams on the conference tablecloths, Wigand took the opportunity to rip apart dawns made in BAW*s ads for Advance. “The tobacco industry isn’t using science to show an wnprovement.. .ft’s using ft to manipulate, create addietkx).” In adam on, wigana uso noteo tnat tn€ “intent of a cigarette la to make addiction easy. This leopard hasn't

changed its spots.” Another YAB youth, Joe Chavez, bom in Peru and now an Indianapolis resident, says, “I know people are scared of What they don’t know. I want to get information before, to know what tobacco does, what do tobacco companies gain, how propaganda effects kids...” Made up of young people from across the state and from different cultures and backgrounds, the Youth Advisory Board of the ITPC appears to be enjoying the camaraderie of their shared commitment They are refreshingly strong in their convictions, with a contagious enthusiasm that just may be enough to gain a hearing among their peers. Then they can ted them the truth about the tobacco industry. “I want to show [my] peers what this can do. It’s better to get them before they get hooked. My goal isn’t to preach and ted them they can’t smoke...only to educate so they can make a better decision,” says Chavez. Nearly 40 percent of Indiana high school seniors smoke, according to a recent SmokeFree Indiana survey. That figure is compared with the national average of 31 percent If the trend persists, health officials believe 140,000 Hoosier youths currently younger than 18 will die from smokingrelated illnesses, wrtn statistics like these the YAB has its work cut out for ft. No wonder these young people are attacking Big Tobacco with fud vengeance. To find out more information about the Youth Advisory Board and how you can get involved, log

tion A Cessation website: