December 2011

BuccaneerBulletin Oswego High School’s Student Voice

PHOto by makenzie oatman PHOTO Illustration by Chloe Martin

December 2011

Volume 15 Number 3

‘Tis the Giving Season --Pages 8 & 9

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Editorial

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Drawing Board

Buccaneer Bulletin Oswego High School’s Student Voice www.buccaneerbulletin.wordpress.com Editor-in-Chief Mackenzie Oatman Managing Editor Madison Rhoades Layout Editor & Webmaster Chloe Martin Chief Photographer Patrick Baer Art Staff Keegan Taylor Paige Daniels Alexis Daniels Business Manager Taylor Falls Senior Writer Justin Peterson Ad Representative Casey Caroccio Sports Writer Carlie Morley Reporters Kara Collins Lauren Daniels Catti-Brie Hoyt Alanna Maldonado Adrienne McDougal Gabrielle Sacco Advisers Bill Reeser Mike McCrobie

The Buccaneer Bulletin, a member of the Empire State School Press Association, and The Quill and Scroll, is published periodically by the students of the Oswego High School, 2 Buccaneer Blvd.; Oswego, New York 13126; (315) 341-2200.

It is intended as a vehicle to inform, educate, and entertain the student body.

Printing services are provided by The PalladiumTimes. Opinions expressed are those of the students and do not necessarily reflect those of the administration or the advisers.

Cartoon by alexis and Paige Daniels

. . . to the increased use of the electronic sign on Utica Street. It’s great to see students’ names and the upcoming events publicized on this state-of-the-art message board. . . . to Stefan Mazuroski, who was named Teenager of the Month for November by the Oswego Elks Lodge #271. . . . to OHS alumnus MacKenzie Gabriel, a production assistant in Hollywood for Chuck Lorrie.

Gabriel provided the WBUC studio with personalized, autographed photos from the shows she works on: Mike and Molly, The Big Bang Theory, and Two and a Half Men. . . . to all of the charitable efforts from students and faculty alike during this holiday season.

(See pages 8-9). Not only were there gifts and money contributed, but also greeting cards and good wishes to lift people’s spirits for the holidays. . . . to the new, strict enforcement of short day privileges that states “no senior short day” if a student is failing a class. We seniors just wish we were notified about it instead of just hearing it in conversation from teachers.

On the Cover:

Santa Claus isn’t the only bearded man doing nice things this time of the year.

Many OHS students and a dozen teachers (pictured on page 1) participated in NoShave November. This campaign was spearheaded by senior Trent Yule and raised $200 for the Friends of Oswego County Hospice and prostate cancer.

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. . . the new blue floor mats on the ramps. They might look great, but they smelled terrible when they were first installed and they’re so thick, students and teachers are stumbling on them. . . . the new Pepsi machines in the OCSD. The deal might have been good for the school district, but the prices have increase for us. www.buccaneerbulletin.wordpress.com

December 2011

Editorial In Our View . . .

In the 21st Century, Everyone’s a Journalist!

As journalists, we thought our jobs were important. It is said that journalists write the rough draft of history. Without news reporters for TV, radio, and newspapers who would you turn to to find out what you need to know?

Nowadays, you would turn to each other. The internet was in diapers around the same time we were, and has grown significantly, as we have. The combination of easily accessible news online and the state of the economy in the U.S, newspapers across the country have too few readers.

The internet provides an inexpensive, spacious terrain on which to work. It’s a new home for papers that can no longer sell enough newsprint copies. It also gives bloggers, writers who write primarily for the internet, a forum on which to publish their work for free, get recognized, and maybe even paid.

As web journalism evolves, it’s apparent that bloggers and online newspapers aren’t the only kids on the block. A small voice from within the dark folds of social networking is growing louder via Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, YouTube, Myspace, Flickr, and Reddit. The internet is limitless, and so is its list of social websites. Each one gives anyone with an internet connection a place to publish personal news, thoughts, and opinions Individuals often develop an internet persona with pictures, posts, and content that portrays the special, interesting individual that they are. Real journalists (including the staff of The Buccaneer Bulletin) are getting pretty upset. We’ve spent multiple semesters learning about the ins and outs of journalism, but your Facebook post still has more “likes” than our monthly newspaper has readers.

We go above and beyond to make the content of our paper something that appeals to our peers, but how can we compete with the content

on these websites. First-hand information and statements that come from your friends and family are updated every hour of every day. They have information that is telling of all things that affect you in your personal environment.

• There are weather men: “39% chance of snow tomorrow. If OHS doesn’t have a snow day I’m dropping out.”

• The opinionated columnists: “Okay? I guess we can’t have a snow day when literally every town around us gets to stay home?”

• Classified updates: “Selling my old snowboard, best offer.”

• The worldly traveler: “It’s 93 degrees in Bermuda! I’m going to the beach!”

• The timely news reporters: “Holy crap, huge accident on Route 104. I can’t even get to my house! I’m posting this from my smart phone in my car because I want to make sure that everyone knows about this right away because I’m a timely social network news reporter!”

• The events calendar: “You’re invited to go sledding at the country club at 4:00, accept invite by clicking here.”

• The lighthearted go-getters: “LOL. Look at this pic of my dog in the snow! Hahaha!”

We’re writing about ourselves for ourselves.

This is personalized news, for personalized people in a personalized place. No need to even turn on the TV anymore, because anything of interest has already been read and translated into 160 characters to be posted on your online newsfeed.

It’s perfect. It’s revolutionary. It’s illegitimate sometimes, but no one cares. It’s making the staff of The Buccaneer Bulletin cry, but no one cares.

If you can’t beat them join them. Read our paper online at www.buccaneerbulletin.wordpress.com.

Charity Begins at Home School The holiday season is defined, in part, by a common desire to come together and help out those in need.

The students at OHS have gone above and beyond this year, organizing charities, many of which are featured in this issue on pages 8-9. For a school that doesn’t really have a history of philanthropy, this new generation of students that is creative, multifaceted, and enthusiastic has some people asking what’s so different about current OHS students?

William Deresiewicz wrote a column for the New York Times in which he gives the generation born between the late ‘70s and early ‘90s the name “Generation Sell.” Dersiewicz stated, “Here’s what I see around me, in the city and the culture: young entrepreneurs, with friendly personalities, doing worthwhile things.”

We were all born after or during the “dot-com boom.” We’ve watched the growth of the internet bring people closer together. If you want to be heard, you can be heard. If you want to sell, you can sell. If you want to help, you can help. If you want to be someone, you can be someone.

Deresiewicz is right; we do have a tendency to be little entrepreneurs, but even bigger than that, we all have the tendency to be leaders. The world’s at our finger tips and that gives us confidence in our ability to reach out to others.

To the students at OHS who have already made an example of this, good for you, don’t stop when the holidays are over. Continue to be a positive force in the school, the community, and the world.

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What’s Your Opinion?

“Does checking/updating your social media ever feel like a job to you or is it just a hobby?”

Jhannine Verceles Sophomore

“Often it seems like a job, because it feels like you have to get on in order to see everyone’s updates and figure out what is going on in the world.”

Hayley Adams Junior

“Just a hobby, because you choose to get on, rather than HAVE to.”

Drazen Schrecengost Sophomore

“A hobby, because I don’t feel like I need to update on a daily basis. ”

Liz Babcock Junior

“Hobby, because you don’t get paid to do it. You just do it for fun.”

December 2011

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Column

Could You Kick Your Media Addiction For Five Days?

Are your parents threatening to surgically remove the headphones from your ears and your phone from your hand? Or perhaps you find yourself late to dinner once again because you’re too busy updating your Facebook status: “Dinnertime w/the fam.”

Here’s an easy solution: just take a break for five days. No iPod, no cell phones (texting or calling), no computer, and no television; simple right? Not nearly as simple in this day and age as some people seem to think. But I tried it out to experiment how difficult going “cold turkey” from technology would be. After all, it was less than a full week…how hard could it possibly be?

Even on day one of my selfimposed sentence, I faced some difficulties and some perks, which only seemed to increase as the days progressed. I am often what’s known as a “textaholic,” sending an average of about four to five hundred messages per day, so getting used to not checking my phone constantly was a shock in itself.

But that was only the beginning. Friday sixth period, I walked into photography to find out we were being given time to work on a research project to make a presentation on powerpoint. I faced a decision: do I cut corners on my media limitations or do I go all in?

All or nothing. Before I could change my mind, I clicked my monitor back off and filled out my pass book to the library. Time to do some research old school! With the help of the librarians, I got my arms loaded down with books and fumbled trying to carry everything, remembering why we use Google in the first place. So, while everyone else was back in class Googling, listening to music, and having a jolly time, I was doing “old school” research in the library leafing through book after book trying to find the right ones.

During this time of tedious pageturning, I realized how impatient we’ve gotten because of modern media.

Information has become just a click away, giving us all the more reason to expect more--and expect it NOW.

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Saturdays are just so wonderful for sleeping in, but there are always those dreaded morning people who insist on texting you at stupid-o’clock. Well, day two came around and that was one thing I sure didn’t miss. Once I was up and ready for the day, I went to work joint-compounding my bedroom walls (my family and I have been working on completely remodeling my room) with no distractions and no messiness all over my phone! A few hours after that and some other chores, I was on my way to the Veterans’ Hospital in Syracuse to volunteer.

It was the first time in a long while I had gone anywhere without at least one cell phone with me (I have two, making it even stranger to be carrying none) for “just in case” moments. After a great time helping the nursing staff and visiting with some residents, I was faced with one of those moments, the one time I wasn’t ready for it.

I went outside to wait for my ride right on time6:30 pm. Unfortunately, they were not that yet. So I flopped on a bench to relax for while and read a book I had brought. After a little while, I started to wonder where my mom and stepdad could be.

I went inside to check the time…almost 7:00.

I went back outside until my stomach began rumbling in protest. As I went back inside to the vending machines, I glanced one last time at the clock: 7:16. Snack in hand, I walked out to my parents to hear them apologize and explain that their church service had run late. Had I been able to use my phone for them to call and notify me, I could’ve been volunteering almost another hour.

I’d already realized I was missing out on “media perks” like keeping up with friends at my old school I had moved away from or getting a hold of people in case of emergencies.

Day three I was starting to get a tad anxious, but I refused to give into the temptation of turning anything back on.

At 10:45 am, my stepdad suggested I go to a nearby church since we weren’t

going to our usual, Northside Baptist in Liverpool, because he and my mother had just been there the night prior. So 15 minutes later (after some serious rushing) I was walking in with my sister to the church service. A few times during the service, I could’ve sworn I felt my phone buzz, but as I patted my pocket, I remembered I had no distractions to worry about because it was turned off at home.

Texting has relaxed communication so much that instead of calling and leaving a message that day, my

father had texted me asking about an event the upcoming weekend.

Unaware of my cut-off from media (I had forgotten to tell him…) there was a misunderstanding due to the delay, and he was slightly offended.

Misunderstanding due to phones seems to be becoming more and more common.

I was recently talking with someone about this very thing in a different context and they explained it simply. Communication is broken into three parts: the words of course, but also tone and body language. With calling someone you can only really hear two out of every three words, and with text you hear only every third word.

As my day continued, I went to a birthday party for my mom’s friend’s

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5-year old. Whereas I got to meet someone new instead of texting or watching TV, I couldn’t look at the TV in the room, even when my mom’s friend’s 3-year old kept asking me to. Saying no to something so simple was not easy to say the least. I enjoy watching movies to relax, especially with my family, so going almost a week of not being able to just curl up next to my parents was very frustrating.

On the first day my mom had misunderstood when I was starting and when I told her I already had, she and I were both saddened as she told me, “but I was going to rent movies tonight…” so losing that comforting part of family time was one of the least enjoyable experiences of this experiment.

On day four, my mother and I found a new way to spend time together…painting my room! Hours of splatters and random conversations spanned from the personal to the paint color. Later, we were covered in bright green and looking around at an awesome job. Other than a break that I took to help wash the car so my sister and stepdad could detail it, I got to work the entire day doing something I loved, without worrying about missing some silly text I would’ve surely paused to read.

On my last media-free day, school was a lovely break from having to find other means of occupying my time, so it was mainly uneventful.

Not only did I get a break from five-minute conversations and headaches from music turned up too loud (just can’t help myself sometimes), but I had some valuable insight into how much our lives have been rearranged due to media and how much it influences our lives.

Now I’m not saying you should go six months, or even five days, but maybe push all those electronics aside and grab a book and take a break from all the screens. Go out, enjoy life, and live it instead of reading on Facebook about other peoples’ lives. It’s a refreshing break you might just enjoy.

December 2011

News

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Oswego’s OCAY Team is OK in Recent Competition

By Casey Caroccio Ad Representative

OCAY, Oswego County Academic Youth League, is an academic competition for high schoolers. This is not considered a club, but more of an activity. Students from freshmen to senior are involved in this activity.

OCAY was founded in 1997 by former principal Dave Cowell, who based OCAY on the league SCIL; Sullivan County Interacademic League. Cowell introduced the activity to adviser Mr. Josh Delorenzo, who has been the “coach” for 15 years.

League competitions are coordinated through the Oswego County BOCES. The location for the events changes every time. Some places include the H. Lee White Marine Museum, Cayuga Community College, our very own nuclear power plant, and public places like supermarkets.

The students are hand-selected by teachers for each event. Some events require artistic students, while other competitions call for students who know a lot about history. At the most recent competition, Oswego High School students took third place in the first event and first in the third event. The competition’s theme was to devise an urban planning event plan for a refurbished waterfront in Fulton. Lake Neatahwanta was what the students had to plan for.

The project had various little jobs that fit into the overall plan. Aerial maps were a big thing for the students to examine. These views from above the lake, helped students plan for the waterfront easier.

Next, one student had to give an oral presentation that had to include the plan for the waterfront and how they planned to revamp everything. This presentation was used to sell the plan. Advertisements had to be created to persuade people to come enjoy the waterfront and make the community interested in the work that’s going to be happening.

Lastly, students wrote a proposal. “The proposal is the make-or-break,” according to Delorenzo. Most businessmen use proposals to show other companies

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OCAY members in front (left to right) Megan Mahaney, Naomi Greco, Chrissy Abare, Shannon McCann.

Standing, Mr. Josh Delorezo, Jeff Wallace, Ali Al-Salemeh, Danielle Holland, Tori Jaskula, and Ashley Pitters.

why they should buy their goods. Just like them, the students put together a unique plan hoping they would approve their waterfront plan. The time they took for each detail led them to a victory. Oswego took home first place overall.

Teams go into the competition with nothing. They are only allowed to use the materials given to them

the day of the event. They don’t know what the topic is going to be until they get there.

Delorenzo’s future plan for OCAY is to move it towards a club. He wants more students to be involved. Most people may have not heard of the team or OCAY, but if it was a club, more people might join and the activity might become more popular.

OHS Chapter of GSA Now the ‘Acceptance Coalition’

By Kara Collins Reporter

Change attitudes.

Change behaviors.

Change courses.

Change directions.

Change lives.

Change minds.

Change polices.

Change voices Be an ally. Be the change.

As you walk around Oswego High School, you may notice the posters stating these philosophies, hanging in the hallways. These posters have become a huge part of our school and the way people think about others.

This organization wants people of

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all denominations to be apart of the club to come up with new ideas to alter people’s views about bisexuals, homosexuals, heterosexuals, and transsexuals.

Last spring members of the GSA club went to the first annual picnic, where kids from similar organizations got together to collaborate. Most schools had alternative names for their clubs; these names included Pride Alliance, Rainbow Alliance, and Acceptance Coalition. After this GSA event, Oswego High School GSA members considered

the name change.

They discussed that the mission statement of the GSA is to get the truth out, to let people know that being part of this organization does not mean you’re gay. Freshman Carrie Yurkon noted, “I think the name would be better because it’s not so straight forward, it lets people feel more accepted to whatever position you may be in.”

As a club, they had a hard time with the name changing ideas. Some members did not think that the name needed fixing,

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but after debating, they decided that the Acceptance Coalition was the name that the club would use to represent them and that a greater good would come out of the changed name. Zach DelBrocco a 10th grader here at OHS stated, “I liked the old name better because I actually knew what is, was compared to the new name which people may not understand.”

Mrs. Heather Robillard the schoolsocial worker and also one of advisers of the Acceptance Coalition at Oswego High School agreed. Mrs. Robillard stated, “The main purpose for the name change is to allow the school community to look past the name and see our true mission goals and what we are really about.”

December 2011

Feature

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Humane Society’s Mission: Find Pets Loving Homes Alanna Maldonado Reporter

The holidays are times when people come together to enjoy their families and make new memories.

Holiday traditions that fill most homes, and are well known and expected as the snow begins to fall, are unknown to many stray pets throughout the country. Many pet owners accept their pets as part of the family. “They’re like my children, I love them,” stated one pet owner.

The problem of stray animals is one that hits close to home. Most people can think of the stray cat that frequents the neighborhood, or the many overlooked animals that don’t have a place to call home, but in Oswego County, working to fix this problem is the Oswego County Humane Society, which works in conjunction with foster families throughout the county to place stray pets in homes.

The mission of the Oswego County Humane Society is to provide a loving home for animals in need. They accomplish this by temporarily placing the animals in a home, a “foster” home, until the pet is permanently adopted. The hard part is finding homes for these animals. Simply placing a pet in a home is not that easy, ensuring proper placement is the tricky part. Since the goal is to provide homes for pets, the Humane Society

must make sure the pet will not be abandoned yet again, but will be taken care of and have a loving home.

Many people are willing to purchase a pet from a pet store, dishing out hundreds of dollars for the “perfect” pet, but what people fail to realize is the benefits of adopting a pet. Many people are even unaware of the Oswego County Humane Society, and this is one of the biggest problems they face.

To address this, the Humane Society hosts numerous events throughout the year to bring awareness to the program. One of the largest is the “Home for the Howlidays” event which was held recently. This event showcases the pets eligible for adoption by allowing people from the community to see the animals, as well as bring attention to the programs they support, such as the Greyhound Rescue Project.

The “Home for the Howlidays” is more than just a chance to bring in adoptions, but to raise money for the organization that is based solely on donations and volunteers. They raise money by hosting bake sales, and selling used books.

The success of the program is based on support from the community, and willingness of people to step up and volunteer, adopt, and make a difference. Even

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Kittens and pets in need of a home are always available at local animal shelters, but experts warn that if you are giving a pet for the holidays, be sure it is to a home and a family that will welcome and take care of it.

if adopting a pet is not an option, the Oswego County Humane Society is always accepting donations, of time, money and supplies. If you’re interested in

any of these, contact the Humane Society and make a difference, because as the holidays set in, the gift on top of every pets list, is a home.

Long Distance Friendships Difficult to Maintain

In a long distance friendship, instant messages, letters, text messages, phone calls, e-mails, and video chatting become far too common as communication methods replace the typical in-person visit. Long distance friendships are one of the hardest things to deal with and keep up with especially in this day and age, where everyone seems to be so busy with just everyday life. This is something I experience firsthand.

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Moving around a lot, state to state, city to city, and attending seven different schools to date, I’ve had chances to make multiple friends in different places. After moving schools for about the third time, it made me put up somewhat of a wall to block people out and made me reconsider becoming too close to people too soon, in fear of having to leave them and losing touch with them after the next move.

Today, I have friends in two different states, New York (upstate and downstate), as well as Florida. After making such good friends in every place I’ve lived, it makes it more than difficult to leave them, and even harder to regularly keep in touch. I have a few friends in particular that I’ve known for fifteen years and still struggle to keep in touch with at all.

I’ve become accustomed to what I refer to as www.buccaneerbulletin.wordpress.com

‘Skype dates,’ where I do my best to see my old friends who I rarely see in person, via Skype.

Although these act as very helpful tools to keep in touch and “see” my friends, these sessions also can become a burden and sometimes hurt more emotionally, rather than making me feel good. I’ve found that it’s often hard to schedule these Skype dates around both people’s busy schedules, even though it should be such a simple task.

Emotionally, of course, it’s better than not being able to see the friend at all, but it more often than not leaves what seems to be an empty feeling inside after it’s over. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to ‘see’ the person and talk to them, but it isn’t even close to being the same thing as seeing them in person, and actually going do things together.

December 2011

Walking the Plank

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Getting to Know Kaleigh on ‘The Plank’ Buccaneer Bulletin: What is your full name?

Kaleigh Fitzsimmons: Kaleigh Joyce Fitzsimmons

and success stories. Overall, it was a great experience and I gained many skills from the conference and met a lot of great friends.

BB: How old are you?

KF: 17

BB: In ten years, where do you see yourself?

KF: That’s a hard one. I definitely want to finish school and earn a Master’s Degree.

I’ve changed my mind a few times about exactly what I want to do, but I hope to be very successful in the criminal justice field.

BB: What grade are you in?

KF: I’m a senior.

BB: What is your favorite thing about being a senior?

KF: Definitely having short day.

BB: Do you participate in any sports?

KF: I don’t anymore because I injured my foot as a sophomore.

BB: Why have you decided on the criminal justice field?

KF: I have always wanted to work with people and make a positive impact. I want to focus on the criminology/sociology aspect of the field and learn why people do the things they do.

BB: What did you used to play?

KF: I played softball since I was 7 and I started volleyball in 8th grade. I also played hockey last year as a junior.

BB: What other school activities have you been involved in or are you currently involved in?

KF: I was Student Council secretary for my freshman year and I am currently president of Interact Club. I’m also part of the WBUC team and do the morning announcements.

BB: What is your favorite high school memory?

KF: Being on the varsity girls’ hockey team last year. We were all really close and acted more like a family.

Photo by PAtrick Baer

BB: Can you tell me a little about what you do in Interact Club?

KF: Interact Club is basically a community service club. We work alongside the Rotary Club, District 7150. Two of our biggest projects are making blankets for the babies in the maternity ward at Oswego Hospital and the International Water Project. We sponsored a coat drive for Christmas and will be doing many more projects as the year continues.

BB: What made you decide to join Interact Club?

KF: I first found out about the club last year and I have always wanted to make a positive impact on the people and in the community.

BB: How long have you been in the club?

KF: I was just a member last year and in order for me to be president this year I had to attend leadership training over the summer at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.

BB: Can you tell us a little bit about what the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards?

KF: Over the summer, I stayed the weekend at Cazenovia College. We participated in teambuilding activities, such as building shelves that were donated to the battered women’s home in Syracuse and we designed and carried out a pool game. We also sat in on lectures that gave us insight on real leadership

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BB: What is your favorite school subject and who is your favorite teacher?

KF: I honestly couldn’t name just one for either of those questions. My favorite subjects change from English to Spanish to TV and photography.

It just depends on the year. I’m pretty close with most of my teachers, but I would definitely have to say Mr. Whitney, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Cass are the teachers who have made the most impact on me.

BB: If you could change one thing about OHS what would it be?

KF: Definitely the way people treat one another.

Everyone complains about how much they hate high school. If everyone took a step back and started caring about each other, then the atmosphere at OHS would be a lot more positive.

BB: What is your biggest pet peeve?

KF: I’d have to say the way people walk in the hallways. It’s so crowded and everyone is inconsiderate.

BB: What is your biggest fear?

KF: I believe that everything happens for a reason, but my biggest fear is not recognizing or taking advantage of a good opportunity as it comes my way.

The many faces of Kaleigh Fitzsimmons; top, a break at WBUC; middle, as Interact Club president; and bottom, with mom on parent turnabout day in the TV studio. www.buccaneerbulletin.wordpress.com

Editor’s note: “Walking the Plank” is a regular question-and-answer feature of The Buccaneer Bulletin. If you know someone who you would like to see walk the plank, contact Mackenzie Oatman at moatman@student.oswego.org.

This edition of “Walking the Plank” was written

by Chloe Martin.

December 2011

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Feat

Charitable Holiday Projects Abound for Osw

The Yules Helping Souls by Providing ‘Soles’

Lauren Daniels Reporter

You’ve probably seen the donations boxes for it or heard about it on the morning announcements.

It’s called “Soles 4 Souls.”

Allie and Trent Yule, both seniors at Oswego High School, brought the international charitable organization to Oswego as a project for the National Honor Society.

“It’s an organization that collects new and gently-used shoes and distributes them to people in need.

I’m actually sending some with Mr. Phil Mooney to Ghana,” said Allison Yule.

“I wanted to do something for National Honor Society that made a difference to people and my mom told me about this. I thought it sounded cool,” she stated.

There were donation boxes at Oswego High School, Oswego Middle School, Leighton Elementary, Riley Elementary, and Kingsford Park Elementary from November 14

to December 14.

Soles4Souls has a simple concept: they procure shoes and get them to those in need.

In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls® Inc., felt compelled to do something, but he did not know what to do. He was at home one night, watching TV and he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That triggered a few calls to some other executives in the footwear industry and the subsequent donation of a quarter of a million shoes to victims in the devastated countries.

A few months later when Hurricane Katrina hit, Elsey called the same group of friends, and through their support, Soles4Souls sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by the hurricane. One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created.

It has been that simple: changing the world one pair at a time.

No-Shave November Sends Important Message

By Taylor Falls

Business Manager

The no-shave look is all the rage with celebrities and movie stars like Patrick Dempsey and Johnny Depp. But, all the “men of OHS” sporting scruffy, caveman-like facial hair last month, were not just trying out this new look, they were actually contributing to a greater cause. As November quickly wrapped up and we moved into December, it was hard to not hear about the “No-Shave November” campaign that many males at OHS contributed to.

Trent Yule, a senior at OHS, teamed up with the National Honor Society and encouraged our school to take part in the international campaign. “Noshave November” or “Movember” as its name originated from (conjoining the words moustache and November), started with men raising money by not shaving at all in the whole month of November. “It raises awareness for a variety of men’s cancers, mainly prostate cancer,” Yule stated.

Our teachers’ participation educated students on the seriousness of the cause. Everyone who participated seemed to enjoy helping raise the money.

“I did it because it was for a great cause, and it’s important to get awareness out about prostate cancer,” stated, Mr. Steve Cass, a technology teacher at OHS. Thankfully the cave man look was only a fad in November and was shaved away as of December 1, but not before donors and participants raised $200 for cancer research in this season of giving.

To see the results of No-Shave November see the teachers’ photos on page 1.

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PHOTO BY PAT BAER

Students Dylan Morgia, Cortnie Purce, and Bri Favata ringing in donations.

Bell Ringing Tradition Adopted by OHS Clubs

By Catti Hoyt Reporter

Standing out the in dark, on a cold December night hoping, for some spare change is not just the plight of the homeless, but the duty of Salvation Army bell ringers around the world— including many of our own Oswego High School students.

On Saturday November 26, a group of OHS students volunteered to stand outside of Wal-Mart, donating their time to help the needy through the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign.

OHS National Honor Society member, Dylan Morgia planned this event. He stated, “I volunteered and got other members involved because it was something different and it was for a good cause.”

Shifts ranged from 2 to 4 hours all day long. Senior Abby Haessig stated, “While I was working, we got a lot of donations. I’d say more than half of the people entering/leaving Wal-Mart made donations, and one donor even put in a $10 bill.”

Jonah Restuccio stated, “I had a lot

of fun that day and it was completely worth it. I would definitely do it again.

I got the experience of knowing that I helped out the community during the holiday season. For some people, the holidays are really tough.”

Many of the students stated that they felt like they were getting into the Christmas spirit by volunteering.

It wasn’t just all about getting community service hours to these students. Restuccio stated, “I always see older people doing it, or families, and I think it is one of the most fun ways to help out the community.”

Morgia stated, “It would be nice if the NHS or OHS students would start a tradition.”

Haessig commented, “I think more students at OHS should get involved with their community in any way possible! I think people would have a lot of fun with it.”

OHS Key Club adviser Mrs. Kathleen Audlin agreed completely.

She stated, “It’s a great way to help out the community and it’s for a great cause.”

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tures

wego High Individuals, Clubs, Organizations

By Chloe Martin

9

‘Polar Plunge’ Events Raise Money for Special Olympics Statewide

Layout Editor

“You’re crazy,” is a phrase that has been directed towards me at least 100 times in the past few weeks, usually after telling someone about how I chose to participate in the polar plunge. The polar plunge is a fundraiser that my sister participates in annually, and this year she forced me to join her. The plunge raises money for the Special Olympics.

New York State has over 50,000 athletes who train and compete in 22 different Olympic-style sports. It costs about $400 to support training and competition for one athlete for one Olympic season, but the athletes and their caregivers are never charged. The goal of the polar plunge is to raise $400, but any amount you are able to raise whether it is higher or lower is appreciated.

The plunge was on December 3, at Woodland State Park, right outside of Buffalo. It was a chilly day, around 40 degrees, but we were lucky there wasn’t any snow. The water in Lake Erie was 45 degrees, a little warmer than the air. The night before the plunge I was really nervous, and the whole way to the park I was regretting my decision. There were thousands of people at the park and several teams dressed in costumes. A team of State Troopers wore Super Trooper costumes with mustaches and capes. Another team dressed up as Santa and all of his elves.

Before the plunge started, over a thousand of us “plungers” had to gather in a huge tent. First, a parade

of different people marched by. It was called “the torch run.” Different soldiers from the army, marines, and navy marched by, along with every type of law enforcer and firefighter. An athlete from the Special Olympics carried the “Olympic torch.” Seeing the smile on that athlete’s face as everyone cheered for him, was definitely a good reminder of why I was taking the plunge.

As I walked down to the beach, surrounded by a thousand other plungers, I was in complete denial. Was I really about to do this? As soon as the beach was in view, I was caught up in a wave of plungers rushing to the water.

It was like a battle scene from the movie Troy, with everyone screaming and charging towards the water in one mass of humanity.

The water was a complete shock.

I knew it was going to be cold, but CSEA PHOTO I didn’t think it would be that cold.

OCSD maintenance worker Jim Jackson (r) at the Polar Plunge.

I only let the water get to my knees before I splashed as fast as I could out I honestly can’t wait to do it again. It was, surprisingly, of there. I was probably only in the water for about 30 a lot of fun. The energy and support from the crowd seconds. When I got out, I couldn’t feel my legs and I was amazing, and knowing it was all for the best cause, may have been in shock. I remember asking someone made it worth freezing. Next year, I hope to stay in the if my legs were still attached. But as crazy as it sounds, water for a full minute, at least.

Oswego Inc. Students Assist the Needy with Hat and Mitten Collection Drive at OHS

By Chloe Martin Layout Editor

The holiday season is a time for family, food, and presents, but OHS Inc. knows there is much more to it. This year, the classes are getting into the true spirit of Christmas by giving back to their community through a hat and mitten drive.

The hats and mittens collected will be donated to The Salvation Army.

According to OHS Inc. teacher Mr. Ben Richardson, the idea for a hat and mitten drive was developed three years ago by the first president of OHS Inc., Vanessa Sheffield, in an effort to help the needy during the holidays.

Richardson said, “This is an excellent way for the class to work on organization,

teamwork, and management skills, and also to improve the profile of OHS Inc. Our reasoning is similar to that followed by an actual corporation looking to give back to their community.”

Senior Elijah Singleton, an organizer of the drive this year for Oswego, Inc. stated, “The mitten drive teaches me to appreciate what I have more. It’s not always about having the newest iPhone or the best clothes; some people don’t even have clothes to wear in the winter time.”

To help their cause, you can give your mittens or hats to Josh Cooley or Elijah Singleton. Though Christmas is here, we know that Oswego winters extend into April, so feel free to continue your donations over the next few months.

Messages Sent to Servicemen and Women Overseas

By Madison Rhoades

PHOTO BY PAT BAER

Managing Editor

A soldier receives a holiday card far from home.

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This holiday season here at OHS, many people are doing their part in helping others. The helping hand goes beyond helping those in our local community. During December, a collection box was set up so students could send Christmas cards to soldiers, part of the Holiday Mail for Heroes Program.

This program is for soldiers who might not normally receive cards during the holiday season.

Whether it be a soldier in Afghanistan or a recovering veteran here in the states. Either way, just receiving a card and seeing that someone cares can

put a smile on their face and warmth in their hearts.

The cards are going through the National Honor Society at school, but the operation was set up by NHS member Jake Getman. “I thought it was a nice idea, and I know a lot of veterans,” said Getman.

There were hundreds of cards collected from classes such as Mr. Stephen Cass’ TV production to NHS members and families. Athletic Teams from SUNY Oswego also chipped in dozens of cards. Getman has contributed around twenty five himself.

Along with Christmas cards, it would be great to send other messages of encouragement throughout the year to the men and women defending our country throughout the world.

December 2011

10

Columns

Santa Gets Letters From All (Stereo)types

By Gabrielle Sacco

et s o p le a s e g s, a m t is r h rC t ing , s I wa nt fo Gh o st H u n de r e x lu e D e a r Sa nta a re ma ny c o o l th ing D l o p e r co A ls o u n T he re t me th is s u au s e it’s tota lly c o o l. e g

r te t e wa c ky b e be c ll . Yo u o me c o o l, s o d me the m a u nt gh o st s a ll the t im to e it us e d 2 in w h nh me ra b e c a a a iP C le m p il p F A t K it, s o I c a an In sta n li k e a li k e to s e e ax M in i 7S o meth ing awe s o me ( st In my t re e I’d lm fi ji u le ss s d a ne w F r c o o l w ire ing to s e e e o p g u s e ’r a u t o stuff. I ne e n y ls o wa Ro le k no w w h e n re of it . I a imu s Pr ime tu t p ic p O s a yo u ne ve r r e e k m r Tra n sfo e e d to ta !

U FO) a n d n n ga me b ette r, a n d a e ne s fro m the mo v ie c a s c e I it e r, y favo r mo u s e s o a n d p ro s p re c re ate m g n to lo t e e iv lm L e e rd” Play H “T he Sy Fy N

se a s c au t m t s i g if Chr n t fo r s t, I w an t a ! a w I t hin gs i s ye ar! Fir Ke d s s h o e s s n t a, a w S e f r a h a De are go o d t o w n p air of my s upp li e y l l Th e re a n

c ep ti o o c re at e my e t o k e ep a l l Kit s o I x e n e I’v e b e azz l e.c o m t l B o x & To t e n Pr in tin g l s o lik e a a oo re oZ c ar d t an t a n e w T e a Yu du Sc t s . I w o u l d Id e a B o o k r l k i w i o l h I a l s o e d . I’d a l s o s ig n s o n t-s An dy Warh h o p e t o s e e iz n de an d n t a, o rgan e l Se t, . Th an k s Sa r i s tm a s . my o w s t a n i E r c an p l o r Pain t & c e s flo w in g re e t hi s Ch s, t i co Th an k Wat e r y c re ativ e j u d un d e r my t” m r app e “Ar ti s w t o ge t s t if se g a l l th e

Dear Santa,

Hey, I’ve been exce love if you could get me th ptionally good this year, especially in school, so I’d definitely want portable tre couple things I’m going to ask you for. To start, I and just jam. You can get mavel speakers so I can plug my music in anywhere Drum Set so I can bang so e a Roland-V–Tour Series 10- Piece Electronic you can get me are a Numarme hot beats in my free time. A few more things photo guitar picks, and Gu k iDJ Live DJ software controller, personalized so much man, I’ll be looking itar Hero: Aerosmith with Wireless Guitar. Thanks they’ll really help me with forward to seeing all these gifts under my tree, music career and obsession

!

Sincerely, “Musician”

Dear Santa, I want some tools to help me I’m such a good student and

up dent. I’d like a Kindle to keep stu od go a ch su ng bei ue tin con nt ble, and easy to use. I also wa with my reading, since it’s porta rything that’s heard and written eve a new pen scanner. It captures e dryinformation. I also want som and provides easy access to the n write all my upcoming and I ca erase wall calendar decals so are a last things: I’d enjoy greatly hies due assignments on them. Two sop ilo as well as a Brilliant Ph ok Bo e vic Ad vvy Sa d an t ar Sm ngs anks so much Santa, these thi for Expanding Minds book. Th will help me out so much!

Sincerely, “Over Achiever”

Dear S anta,

D want f ude, there ’s or Chr istmas so much s sports I weet s , o and sin and I’m ar a s al w ay s. S p ye A is c th r ct e p m fe er r o p I r e ’ Dear San ta, ur tee ve bee orts equipm li ke tty su a p ai en t be an y w ll I ta s. to a so s r tm e is n ent th ’v e to wo these doing I’ll get Wel l, I I’d li ke fo r Chr e a gift card to li ke

at r gs s k in s th ic of o o t st k h u li e w le t Beats v m all. li tt ell in a I in. Sp music b I e ll ha v e ju st a sh or t ey’r e li ke th e la te st fa sh io n . I’d lo st cl ot he s, an d on e y wa w aking o m th te track m hen I hit the Dr. Dre so f work nt some Un y of UG Gs be ca u se it ch or P in k to ge t so m e of th e cu t. I co u ld al so u se I in d c g y g er an get F le sports workout w ym. I also pumpe out, I want A be rc ro m bi e & ge t a n e w p er fe ct ly pr in te d w ri st e to ha v e to o m any. w h il a f ie e n d t ld I run lis the Nik ,I bl to daily d e+ Sp tening to to Vera Bra dl ey ou ture bag to o, be ca u se it’s im p os si T if fany. I’d tota lly ose o want the Sp . For when or f C I a Coa ch or Jui cy m brac el et to o; yo u can ge t th at fr om a rh in es to n e iPho n e out, so I’ll as sports. Durin orts League ’m not kickin tband to e, g M ar Hoop. k g I’d li ke a n e w ch Ju st in Bie be r “Som ed ay” p er fum sh ad ow Pal et te .

Then I for is an Ele the off sea onopoly se it on the t ye dude, w s can sh c ap pr ec ia te th e n e ot le a st, th e Sepho ra Col le ct io n E v er y singl e it em on can’t oot ho tronic Over on, I still ne to get my w e n

g ed to t o a n t bu ei he Do it for a ps, ev w ca se, an d la st, g fo r w ar d to se o in e ok ll r lo n be m B o ’ll I y a , n ta sketba ork

stuff! rainy d ll T han ks m u ch San ee! ays to y tr o. Tha Too dl es , nks th is li st un de r m P e a c e l” , “Pre p p y Gir “The J ock”

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December 2011

Point/Counterpoint

There are No Secrets in This Fashion Show Why is This a TV Special?

By Gabrielle Sacco Reporter

The world-famous Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show that men and women all over the world viewed this month should change its name to Victoria’s Dirty Secret Fashion Show. Although the show is filled with a lot of glitz and glam, it’s just a bad idea.

The show does no good for anybody involved, except for the models and the Victoria’s Secret franchise.

Victoria’s Secret would say that the show is used for marketing and to promote the upcoming holiday sales.

If you truly analyzed the show and what the models were wearing, you’d notice that none of their outfits are going to be actually flying off the shelves, because you can’t even find them in the stores to begin with.

Some of the most basic aspects of the outfits are available to customers, but people rarely observe these. The show’s attire is completely over the top, and often leaves the consumer forgetting about the specific garment that was worn, only to remember the “giant, silver, over-sized, metal crown-looking item resembling wings.

The show tricks young girls, and older women into believing that wearing Victoria’s Secret product will make them look like an “Angel,” as well. This is good for Victoria’s Secret sales, but completely unrealistic. It seems that the show is better known for showcasing the beautiful, “perfect,” models and convincing the youth that that’s the ideal body image of a woman.

This is the exact type of show that helps lower self-esteem in young females. Images like this do nothing but give people ideas of what the ‘ideal body type’ is like, when in reality, only an extremely small percentage of females have this build.

Although we know we aren’t meant to look like Victoria’s Secret models it’s almost impossible not to make comparisons, and consequently, feel bad about the size of our own, normal waist, hips and thighs.

Viewers of the annual “Victoria’s

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Secret Fashion Show” stare at about twenty of the most beautiful, barelyhuman women walking around in nextto-nothing for an hour.

The main aim of the Victoria’s Secret models’ diet is to avoid processed food; instead they pamper themselves with lots of vegetables and fruits. Organic food, in the form of salads, is very important to offer hydration to both skin and the whole body. But in reality, what average person can actually afford the high cost of an everyday organic food diet to become Victoria’s Secret model-thin?

It is also said that some of the models add cayenne peppers to many of their meals to boost their metabolism.

The peppers start by causing the body temperature to rise. When the body temperature rises, it needs to be cooled, and thus burning more calories when the body is forced to go through a cooling process. As you become more accustomed to spicy foods, it may take more spice to raise your body temperature.

Victoria’s Secret also has an embarrassing history of promoting unhealthy body stereotypes by using only the leanest models and then ‘slimming’ them even further through photo retouching. When girls see the models in a Victoria’s Secret commercial and in the fashion show, they think only one thing: “Why can’t I look like that?” When girls think this about themselves, their self-esteem is lowered and their confidence is lost.

The female emotion surrounding the show is not only felt by viewers, but also by the models as well. It may be a coincidence, but the newest addition to the Victoria’s Secret “Angels” was clearly the thinnest girl on the runway at this past show.

The show sends negative emotion into a segment of society that is already swamped with self-consciousness and images presenting unrealistic principles. All the money spent putting it on, including this year’s, $2.6 million bra is nowhere near worth the cost of girls’ self-esteem and emotional stability.

11

Don’t Bash Good Marketing

By Madison Rhoades

Managing Editor

While walking around the mall, you can spot many girls and women carrying around those famous pink bags, and everyone knows where they are from: Victoria’s Secret. Along with the store, and its sister store Pink, everyone knows of the “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.”

The show is a bunch of “Angels” showing off the latest fashion line of Victoria’s Secret.

These models are called Angels for a reason, just look at them.

They have gorgeous bodies and they aren’t afraid to show them. They aren’t just wearing the simple bra and panties though, because what’s an angel without its wings?

Almost every female and just about every male too, waits and is eager to see what the Angels are sporting. Some think these models are exploitive, and give girls the wrong idea of what a woman should look like. Does that mean it’s wrong to be skinny? It’s wrong to feel pretty? It’s wrong to have enough confidence to walk the runway in front of millions of viewers? Santa doesn’t deliver these hot bods to the Angels in a little box with a pretty bow on it on Christmas Eve. They work for their bodies.

These models aren’t forced to starve themselves to be as tiny as possible. They like their women with curvy figures, not twigs. Some Angels modeled in the show when they had just recently had a baby.

“It’s true, a number of our models have come back from having a baby more beautiful than ever,” said Ed Razek, chief marketing officer for Victoria’s Secret parent Limited Brands. Most women in the world can wait to lose the weight they gained during their pregnancy, but the Angels hope their bodies never go back to how they were pre-baby.

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Some Angels model the famous Victoria’s Secret push-up bras.

When you have a bigger chest, it makes your stomach appear smaller.

So some of these may look sickly skinny, but they’re not. Not every girl is blessed with a chest, so they get a little help from Victoria.

What’s wrong with that? Sometimes a little boost in the chest can give your confidence a little boost too.

A former Angel who most people know is Tyra Banks. Have you seen what this woman does?

She has a show where she helps young women accomplish their dreams of becoming a model.

Tyra is healthy and an extremely accomplished woman.

When watching the fashion show, young girls see these Angels, and some even aspire to be them. They can work hard, eat right, and become an Angel. They can walk down the runway, showing off the body that they earned and work hard every day to keep and have girls look up to them. Maybe they can inspire other girls to do the same thing they did that is, make it to the top of their profession. That sounds like a pretty good deal.

Everyone complains about how women are exploited and that shows like this have a negative effect on society, but they still tune in. When they complain about it on their Facebook, Twitter, or blog, they’re just bringing more attention to it. If someone at work or school hears you complaining, “That girl was way too skinny! That’s wrong!” they are most likely going to go look it up to see for themselves.

If you don’t want to see it, don’t look at it or don’t talk about it. Try to be a little more open minded. Recognize the work that those women put into those bodies and work that goes into that show, maybe then you’ll see it’s not so bad.

Editor’s note: “Point/Counterpoint” is a regular debate feature of The Buccaneer Bulletin. If you have a topic worth debating here, contact Mackenzie Oatman at moatman@student.oswego.org.

December 2011

12

Entertainment

iPhone: Must-Have Technology of Our Generation

By Patrick Baer

Chief Photographer

iPhone, iPhone, did you hear about the new iPhone? There’s a new iPhone?

Didn’t a new one just come out? Isn’t that all you hear nowadays?

People are crazed about the newest and latest iPhone products.

The rapid evolution of the iPhone shows how quickly technology changes. To start out, the iPhone has been around for less than 5 years. The first iPhone came out on June 29, 2007 and has been growing and changing ever since. The iPhone and Blackberry were among the first “smart phones.” The iPhone became very popular very quickly due to everyone’s familiarity with the Apple brand. People enjoyed the iPhone’s easy-to-use platform and its many features. iPhone 2G was a good start for Apple, and consumers, but it was not good enough for them.

The company announced a new generation of iPhone called the iPhone 3G in July 2008. This next generation

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consisted of many new features including a better camera, nicer looking displays, voice controls and longer battery life. The main reason it was called the 3G was due to the fact that it had a new networking system and that was called 3G, hence the name iPhone 3G. That did not last for long. Apple wanted to once again improve the iPhone’s platform.

The next iPhone came out on June 19, 2009. It did not exactly change the world like Apple had anticipated.

This new iPhone did not have any noticeable new features except the video capture mode on the camera.

Many consumers did not feel that this feature warranted an upgrade Next in line was the most popular iPhone, the iPhone 4. This new device was released on June 24, 2010. iPhone 4 has made the iPhone name even more profoundly known.

After the release of the iPhone 4,

Apple products made them even bigger in the marketplace. It has been the most sold iPhone yet. An entire redesign look of the phone made it more popular. The phone went from a curved back to a complete flat glass front and back to give it that sleek look. “I love it and I love how it does everything I want,” stated junior Mackenzie King.

The iPhone 4 was the longest that Apple had gone without an upgrade to the phone. The latest iPhone that recently came out is called the iPhone 4S. It has the same upgrade feature ideas as the 3G to the 3GS had as well. The iPhone 4S has no physical changes to it; it is all on the inside. It starts with an A5 processer to make the phone’s speed and graphics much better.

Next, is the camera. It is now one of the mostused cameras in the world, at 8 mega pixels. One of the best, if not the best, cell phone camera out there. When the iPhone 4S went on for preorder, they were

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sold out within days. It was the most successful launch of a device for Apple yet.

One of the co-founders and of the country’s most well known men, Steve Jobs was sick with cancer and passed away the day after the iPhone 4S was released. Some say it was a coincidence, Applemania blog says that “4S” stands for “For Steve.”

Either way, it was a huge loss for Apple and they are working hard to manage the company as they did when Jobs was still among them.

The Apple iPhone is the number one sold Smartphone in the United States. Along with its sales of 20 million iPhones world wide, it makes it the most sold Smartphone in the world. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Apple iPhone is popular. Ten percent of Americans have one, and that number just keeps growing. What will that number be a year from now? Five years from now? Will it double, or even triple?

December 2011

Column

13

A Trip to the Movies ‘Just Ain’t What it Used to Be’ pictures, from which everyone but teenage girls walks out of with a bad taste in his mouth (if they even sit through the entire film).

A film should get the viewer thinking, not have them screaming when a good looking actor takes his shirt off. Movies seem to be all about style over substance now, taking a sloppy plot line and simply filling in the gaps with popular actors, special effects, and pointless dialogue attempting to get the average viewer somewhat invested in the movie. When I leave a theater, I want to be thinking about the movie for days to come, like Drive, trying to see behind the obvious and think about the true meaning of what happened in the film. Unfortunately, I can only

great nation doing dumb things that apparently people find amusing. Our generation is known for texting constantly and being obnoxious already, so why are people doing even worse things, put on television for millions to watch every week?

We, as young people, need to start thinking instead of expecting to be spoon-fed information with everything we do. Expanding one’s mind is what a movie should do, but it seems that when a movie I feel like modern cinema sucks my soul from tries to do such a thing today, people either say they my body, leaving me an empty husk of nothing but hated it because they secretly didn’t understand it, or memories of tan Italians from Jersey and vampirethey pretend to know the back story or symbolism. werewolf love triangles. Gone are the days of greats It’s sickening talking to my friends about Quentin like Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, Tarantino’s incredible movie, Reservoir Dogs, and American Beauty, and The others asking what Godfather. The directors and even talking It’s appalling to see that significant movies like Clint Eastwood’s I’m actors of movies like these about. no longer get credit, and are The people who recent J. Edgar, are overshadowed at the box office by these overshadowed by terrible make cinematic terrible pictures, from which everyone but teenage girls walks art aretrue actors making the big bucks no longer out of with a bad taste in his mouth (if they even sit through the appreciated in by taking their shirts off and having fangs. modern times. Even entire film).

What I can’t understand when they win an is how people can’t enjoy Oscar, it doesn’t anything that doesn’t matter because involve the teen viewer legends like Taylor Lautner find this feeling at my house watching old DVDs, people will probably be on the internet watching or Kristen Stewart. Just because they’re “hot” doesn’t because everything in the theater is tailor-made to a re-runs of Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s mean that they should rake in millions with their stiff demographic that no longer wants to think about what speech after winning an MTV award. acting and poor script choices. The Twilight movies happens, they just want a happy ending where the You can call me cynical, you can call me a are awful, and difficult to sit through. Apparently, pretty boy and girl fall in love. critic, but the fact is that if you can only watch acting nowadays is just spewing cringe-worthy Blaming modern media for this change in movies with Robert Pattinson headlining or Justin lines of never-ending love. It’s appalling to see that viewership seems to be necessary, with MTV Beiber making a cameo, you will never know what significant movies like Clint Eastwood’s, J. Edgar, reigning supreme with “The Jersey Shore” and “The a good movie is. are overshadowed at the box office by these terrible Real World.” These shows show simpletons of our

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December 2011

14

Artist of the Month

Actress Moreau’s Dreams Take Center Stage competitive setting. “If there is a role I want, I will fight for it,” she said.

During her sophomore year, Moreau had her heart set on the role of Queen Tatiana in the Drama Club’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. During auditions, the director, who already knew that Moreau wanted the role (she had told her a million times), asked if any other girls wanted to audition for the part.

When five other girls raised their hands, Moreau said she thought to herself, “Oh crap, I’ve got to do this!”

She went on stage to audition and blew everyone away.

actors and actresses say they felt like the odd one in the group. Even Natalie Portman has admitted to that.

The Drama Club’s production of The Philadelphia It’s finding other oddballs and creating that land of Story in November featured senior Raquelle Moreau misfitness,”Moreau stated. as main character, Tracy Lord. “Redhead, isn’t she in As this year’s president of the Drama Club, Moreau the pink, though! You don’t look old enough to marry acts as a role model and mentor for younger members. anyone, even for the first time--you never did!” Tracy’s She agreed to coach freshman Taylor Hamer on the ex fiancé addressed her during one of the first scenes of monologue she’s performing at the Annual Shakespeare the show.

Competition in January, an event that Moreau won Moreau wore all kinds of fancy clothes as the lead locally in past years. She’s also working more with in The Philadelphia Story, but it was her bright orange the tech crew, a part of theater that Moreau has a lot of tuft of hair sticking out from the layers of respect for. an all-black tech crew uniform that got her “The Tech Crew does so much amazing recognized by a fan a few weeks later. work, and the Drama Club is just the fluffy “You’re the Katharine Hepburn of the stuff on top,” she said.

21st century!” the fan told Moreau, referring Moreau approaches every production with to the actress who played Tracy in the 1939 the same awe and passion. Thinking back to film adaptation of The Philadelphia Story. the moment before she goes onstage, Moreau Moreau still sports her short red hair that said, “I look around at everyone doing their helped define her role as Tracy, a wealthy jobs and getting ready for the show and I think young girl on the brink of her second ‘this is what I want to do for the rest of my marriage. Moreau’s performance in The life.’”

Philadelphia Story was one of her favorite When she brings up the fact that she wants roles so far. The Philadelphia Story is set in to be an actress, Moreau is not always met the 1930s, which marked the beginning of an with encouragment. Becoming a successful era of cinema and film that has young actress actress can seem like a long shot for some, but Moreau wrapped around its finger.

Moreau said “you really have to believe you “Movies in that era weren’t based are good at what you do. Let those people be as much on the action or special effects,” the motivation you need, and then prove them Moreau stated. Before the invention of this wrong.” technology, movies relied on acting alone. “I Moreau mentioned that she has an aunt love the talent, the beauty and the intimacy,” who has played supporting roles in popular she said.

TV shows such as “Friends,” “Monk,”“Las Moreau mimics the styles of her favorite Vegas,” and even in the movie Mission actors; Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Impossible. “She’s proof that it can be done,” Gregory Peck, and Katharine Hepburn.

Moreau said, then added, “If you want “I always remember one quote that something, or want to be something, then you Katharine Hepburn said to Anthony Hopkins just have to go out and do it, there’s nothing when they acted together in The Lion in else to do.”

Photo By Mackenzie Oatman Winter. Hopkins was going overboard and Moreau’s plans for her future are vibrant.

Hepburn said, ‘Don’t act, just say the lines.’”

Moreau and her co-star, Eve Simmonds, apply makeup behind-the- Right now she watches as her older sister Moreau recited the quote that puts words to makes plans to move to New York City and scenes, preparing to hit the stage in The Philadelphia Story. her desire to preserve natural simplicity on anticipates the day she will do the same. New stage. “There should be no gaudiness, no rehearsing, as “You come back and you’re like ‘Did I just do all that?’” York City, London, and Los Angeles are all places she natural as I am talking to you right now,” Moreau said.

The director went on to ask who else wanted to audition, can see herself. She plans to go to school at UCLA, When one is acting, they are becoming someone and no one raised their hand. “I’ll always remember CUNY, Brooklyn, or The American Regents College of else, and reciting memorized lines. Pretending to be that,” Moreau laughed.

London. someone you’re not and saying words that someone else Moreau’s first experiences with theater date back Acting on Broadway is in Moreau’s line of vision, wrote may sound like the most unnatural thing in the her days at Guajome Park Academy, her childhood but film also has an impact on her life. Her first world to us, but reciting lines is something Moreau has school in Vista, California where she and her family experience with movie acting was this past September been doing since she was a young child. used to live. She took mandatory drama classes and when she acted in a short film for the 48 hour panic film She and her father would play a game where one of recalls learning about Shakespeare and the Theater of festival at SUNY Oswego. “I want to make a name for them would say a line from a movie and the other one the Absurd. It was during her time there that Moreau myself in film, but then return to my roots in theater,” would have to guess the movie. It was something she first realized acting was something she liked and wanted she said. loved to do and was good at, but Moreau said she will to do.

Some may doubt Moreau, or say she’s crazy, but still read her script so many times that it becomes a part Moreau brought her passion with her to Oswego Moreau knows crazy is not a bad thing. “I would love of her. “The most times I’ve ever read a script is 248 when she moved in 2007. She’s found a new home in to play Grace Sick if they ever made a movie about The times,” she said. “I get completely lost in the role,” she the Faust Theater at OHS which she said is like “the Jefferson Airplanes,” said Moreau referring to a singer added.

Island of Misfit Toys,” a sanctuary for people who who was in a rock band in 1939. “I love who she is Her ability to immerse herself in a role helps her don’t fit in at school. “When you’re here, you don’t and her craziness. She’s crazy, but she’s not dumb. She on stage, where she never gets stage fright, even in a feel alone, you don’t feel like the odd ball, and a lot of knows what she’s doing.”

Mackenzie Oatman Editor-in-Chief

Buccaneer Bulletin

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December 2011

Sports

15

Harry Potter’s Game Becomes Popular U.S. Sport

By Carlie Morley Sports Editor

Just an average, boring day in Middlebury, Vermont brought about the fastest growing and easily most creative sporting event around the world.

Quidditch. Yes that’s right, the fictional, magical sport played by wizards in the Harry Potter series.

Two Middlebury college students were bored one day and decided to bring this phenomenon into the real world.

Thirteen years have passed since J.K. Rowling first introduced the world to the new and exciting life of the famous character Harry Potter. Fan or not, everyone knows who Harry Potter is and have most likely heard the term ‘Quidditch’ at one point or another.

In the original interpretation of Quidditch by J.K. Rowling, a game of Quidditch consists of seven players from each team on a field at one time, and the goal is to catch the Golden Snitch. Although the game is not necessarily easy to play, the logistics are simple to understand. Of the seven players on the field, three are called chasers. The chasers use a ball called a quaffle, which is passed between them to make it to the other end of the field and get it through one of the three standing hoops, similar to the game of basketball. One person on the team takes the position of the keeper, who flies around the hoops in attempt to keep the chasers from scoring; this would be most similar to a goalie in soccer.

The next two players are called beaters. The beaters’ jobs are to keep the bludgers away from their team members. The bludgers are two balls that soar through the air along with the players trying to knock them off of their brooms. The beaters use a small club, much like a baseball bat, but shorter, to hit the bludgers away from their teammates and knock them toward the other team. The seventh and final player on the field is called the seeker. The seeker’s one and only job is to catch the golden snitch, a small gold ball that flies swiftly through the air, away from those who are trying to catch it. The seeker is the most valued player on the team because the act of catching the snitch is worth one hundred and fifty points and almost always wins them the game. This can cause game to go on for quite some time because it does not end until the snitch is caught.

When J.K. Rowling opened up the world of witchcraft and wizardry, surely she had no idea that the things portrayed her books would be brought to life in such a real way. The new fad in collegiate, and some high school, athletics is a modified version of the Quidditch that originated from the Harry Potter books, referred to as Muggle Quidditch. “Muggle” refers to a non-magical person. Muggle Quidditch has the same guidelines as J.K Rowling’s original interpretation of Quidditch described above, minus the magical aspects of course.

Some modifications were made in order to make this activity more realistic and bring it to life. Mainly, there are no flying broomsticks, but it is mandatory that all players hold a broomstick between their legs at all times; if it is dropped, the player may

Buccaneer Bulletin

Anatomy of a Quidditch Player

not continue play until it is back in the proper position. Another difference is that the snitch is not a small ball, but a person dressed in yellow with a sock tucked into the waist of his pants, like a tail, who runs around trying not to get caught.

To capture the snitch, the seeker must grab the sock from the back of his pants.

Helmet When you hear the word Quidditch, surely athleticism is not the first thing that comes to Eye mind. Rather it is most likely something along the Protection lines of nerdy or dorky. On the contrary however, the majority of Quidditch players are very athletic individuals. For example, the person who acts as the snitch must be fast and have a high endurance Snitch because he needs to be able to go a long while without being caught, so this person is generally a cross country runner.

When broken down, Quidditch takes on aspects from multiple sports and combines them into one which plays a big part in its appeal.

People who partake in Muggle Quidditch have said that it takes features from rugby, handball, soccer, dodge ball, basketball, wrestling, and cross country and combines them into an intricate and interesting new game. Participants in the activity have said they enjoy it so much because it’s rough, wild, and different from anything they Knee pads have taken part in before. The game of Muggle Quidditch, much like the game in the books, actually does not have many rules. Full contact is permitted (encouraged actually) with certain restrictions like you can’t tackle someone from behind.

After they realized what a big hit it was, the photo Middlebury team came up with the International illustration of Quidditch Association, or the IQA. This got Ernesto cedillo by carlie morley word out to more colleges and high schools and broadened the flock of students already eager to participate. The IQA has established the official rules, mission statement, online store, and is the official host of the Muggle Quidditch World Cup, which was won by Middlebury College in 2011. If you’d like to see this on video go to internationalquidditch. org.

The game of Quidditch has developed extensively since it originated in 2005. It may not be considered a sport by some people’s standards, but the intensity and passion that the players have toward the activity certainly show that it may be worth a shot. www.buccaneerbulletin.wordpress.com

Wand

Broomstick

Bludgers Quaffle

Ultimate Quidditch Players Guide to Success

December 2011

Buccaneer Bulletin Sports Volume 15 Number 3

Oswego High School’s Student Voice

December 2011

Athlete of the Month

photo by CARLIE MORLEY

jade nelson

Since her fist pony ride when she expensive and time-consuming sport, was just 5 years old, senior Jade Nelson and it is harder than many people and her horses have been inseparable. think,” commented Nelson. “It’s not Nelson has been competing in horse like another sport where you get done shows since she was ten and she is with practice and leave. You’re dealing now on an Interscholastic Equestrian with animals and you have to take care Association (IEA) team. This team of them.” focuses on preparing riders for college Nelson has sacrificed a lot to and allows them to win scholarships. pursue her passion for horseback Nelson would like to attend either riding. “I’ve given up a lot, I used Cazenovia or Morrisville State College to play volleyball and lacrosse and and major in business and management. I danced. My horses just take up so She absolutely will continue to ride much time because I have to be here (at through college and hopes to manage the barn) every day.” a barn and still be involved with these Nelson practices every day, usually beautiful animals in her future. one hour on each horse. “You know Nelson currently owns two horses, what their needs are and you ride Leo and Tuxedo. Leo was her first, according to them,” she explained. and favorite, horse. “I got Leo for Most of her practicing is dedicated to Christmas when I was ten. He’s my the horse’s needs, rather than her own. baby; I’ve had him forever and I could She goes to the barn for at least an hour never get rid of him,” she said. and a half if she doesn’t ride, but about She may not have bonded with three hours on days she does ride.

Tuxedo as much yet, but she did save Nelson is appreciative of the the horse’s life, “I just got Tuxedo two opportunities that she has been given years ago. She was a race horse and when it comes to riding and she has I saved her off the track,” explained made many new friends through her Nelson. If no one ended up buying the IEA team. One particular memory that horse, she would have ended up going Nelson is fond of is when she went to to a slaughter house. a big horse show near New York City “I saved her and she knew nothing over the summer. “It was a really good of how to ride English when I got her. experience because it was such a high I retrained her the past two years and level of competition.” she’s come a long way.” Tuxedo was a Nelson’s team is in the midst of steal; Nelson only had to pay one dollar preparing for regionals and nationals in to save her! “Yeah, they said just give the spring. The team has successfully us a dollar and you can take her, so I qualified for regionals and the pressure agreed,” she said. is on for Nelson to qualify for nationals Despite the massive size of horses, in this, her senior year. Nelson goes Nelson says that they don’t make her to horse shows almost every other nervous and she isn’t afraid of getting weekend in the summer and about once hurt. She has never been injured by a month during the school year. She has one and claims that she isn’t worried been preparing for a shot at nationals about it, though she has seen fellowfor a long time. riders injured. “It doesn’t make me Nelson has truly shown her love more nervous, it just makes me realize and commitment to horseback riding how much strength they have and how and does not regret one bit the things big they are. You never know what she has had to do to get where she is they’re going to do, as much as you today. might think that you’re in control,” she “I don’t know what my life would admitted. be like without them,” she stated.

Nelson does not participate in any Sports editor Carlie Morley writes the feature activities at OHS because taking care Athlete of the Month. If you would like to suggest of her horses occupies so much of her an OHS athlete for recognition, contact Morely by email at cmorley3@student.oswego.org time. “Horseback riding is a really

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