December 2006

2

News

Vending Profits Taken Away

By Greg Lyons Web Team

$2,700. That’s the amount that was earned by the Oswego High School Student Council last year by the vending machines that they operated. The majority of the money went to scholarships for students who excelled in the classroom and extracurricular activities like Jake Pagano, Vanessa Schrader and Emily Draper. This year, however, the money that supported those scholarships in past years has been cut off.

Last year, the district decided it needed to control the profits that the vending machines generated after some of the funds were allegedly embezzled by an OCSD employee. In a closed-door meeting, they decided that the district would directly control the funds, which would then be divided between various student groups that previously had vending rights. So far, however, none of the money has been given to the student accounts. Student Council adviser Michele Lloyd said, “So far, we’ve received nothing at all.”

Lloyd called the district in late September to discuss the new vending procedures, but now, over two months later, she still hasn’t been contacted.

Buccaneer Bulletin

Neither she nor any of the other ad- resentative of the Board of Education visers affected were invited to attend commented that it would be difficult to the meetings to determine the fate of fund all of the scholarships if the monthe machines. “It ey never arrives, would have been but also said, “I nice to be includunderstand where ed,” Lloyd said. (the district is) The money would coming from.” have helped with The Student events like the seCouncil is not nior parking perthe only group mits, which has affected by the cost the group loss of funds. The $400 to date, and Baseball Club and their upcoming coach John Finch Christmas givewere responsible away. However, for one of the they don’t know if vending machines, they need to find which netted the alternative ways of team several huncoming up with exdred dollars over tra funds, or if the the course of a Photo by Emily mclaughlin year. The money district will give them a portion of OHS vending machines formerly was used to help the money from operated by the Student Council. purchase special the vending maitems for the team chines profits. “We need to know how that weren’t covered by the school much we’re getting to see if we need budget like pitching machines for the to create new fundraisers,” Lloyd said. batting cages and other big-ticket items.

Junior Gabrielle Rumrill of the While the equipment doesn’t need conStudent Council and the student rep- stant replacement, the money would have helped to maintain the machines.

“Every little bit helps,” said Finch. Like Lloyd and the Student Council, he also hasn’t heard anything about this year’s funds either. “I heard the district would be giving us some of the profits… I was never contacted.” While several of the players did not know that the vending machines supplemented their budget, they have noticed a difference this year. Junior Steve Kolenda said, “We’ve been doing a few new fundraisers… I’d like the (vending machine) money to go to baseball.”

The district claims that it fully intends to pay the groups what they’ve earned in the past, but just haven’t gotten to it yet. Director of Food Services Dennis Jerome said, “(The district) only has assumed the responsibility of the funds.” The money will not be redirected to any new organizations, the district merely wanted to ensure that they would have no future problems with how the money was handled.

Rumrill said, “I’ve talked to them (the district) and the money should be arriving soon.”

Buccaneer Bulletin Oswego High School’s Student Voice Editor-in-Chief Kevin Kearns Managing Editors Ashley Johnston, Chrissy King Entertainment Editor Katie DiVita Alumni Editor M.Waruguru Gichane Layout Editor Mallory Kelly Clublicity Editor Sophie Rosenbaum Desktop Publishers Sarah Dehm Web Team Pat Dougherty, Greg Lyons, Lindsay Marsh, Lindsay Usherwood Sports Editor Zach Grulich Sportswriters Kailyn Gray, Kathryn Lazarski Art Director Fred Maxon Art Staff Amanda Bingham Morgan Goodwin Chief Photographer Abby Martin Photographers Alyscia Clohecy Emily Mclaughlin Alyssa Holland Business Manager Casey Morley Ad Representatives Samuel Austin, Jim Gunn Ad Designers Mary Mulcahey Reporters Colin Etherington, Morgan McNamara, Sophie Rosenbaum, Lauren Dimarco, Genevieve Hall, Chelsea Waters 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 Palladium-Times. Opinions expressed are those of the students and do not necessarily reflect those of the administration or the advisers.

On the cover . . .

Sophomores Kevin O’Connor and Katie Flannigan enjoy a moment at the Christmas semi-formal.

December 2006

News

3

Dumb About Facts; Pop Culture Geniuses Waruguru Gichane Alumni Editor

Walking down the halls of Oswego High School you’ll most likely pick up bits of conversation pertaining to hot new bands, recent celebrity break-ups, and what happened on the latest episode of “Grey’s Anatomy. What you won’t hear is students discussing Rumsfeld’s retirement, violence in Darfur or the Democrats’ take over of both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

To some, this information might lead to the assumption that high school students are dumb and do not care about the “important” things. This is not true.

Dr. Robert Thompson, director of the center for television and pop culture at Syracuse University states that, “I don’t think it’s saying we’re a nation of idiots.

It’s saying we’re a nation of pop culture geniuses.”

In a Buccaneer Bulletin survey taken at Oswego High School, ninety-one percent of students could name two dwarfs from the Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but only sixteen percent knew that Condolezza Rice is the Secretary of State. Eightysix percent of students were able to identify Justin Timberlake as the musician responsible for the hits, “Sexyback” and “My Love,” yet only twenty-two percent could name Elliot Spitzer as New York’s new governor. Looking on the bright side just over half of students could name the three branches of government, classify Baghdad as the capital of Iraq and recognize Dick Cheney as Vice President of the US. These statistics show that an overwhelming percentage of students are more knowledgeable about pop culture than in their own government. Research-

ers are linking students’ lack of familiarity with the government to the staggering influence of the media.

Music, television, and the internet are constantly bombarding Americans with the latest in pop culture. The constant repetition of Hollywood’s latest stories often lead to the retention of the information given, often times leaving little room for much else. Thompson, the nationally renowned television expert, stated, “These results are not about how ‘dumb’ Americans are, but about how much more effectively popular culture information is communicated and retained by citizens than many of the messages that come from government, educational institutions and the media.”

Similar surveys have been conducted across the United States and the results are similar to those here. A national survey taken by the National Constitution Center(NCC) showed that seventy-five percent of students knew that Beverly Hills has the zip code ‘90210’ while only twenty-five percent could name the city in which the Constitution was written. The survey also showed that only a meager one out of every five students of students knew how many senators there are in the United States.

Mr. Joshua DeLorenzo, a Global History teacher here at OHS, commented, “Kids aren’t dumber than their parents’ generation; they’re just smart in different ways.” Although the average student cannot name a Supreme Court Justice, he/she can definitely teach you how to operate a computer, or program a DVD player. Something the baby boomer generation just hasn’t quite yet mastered.

So what is the solution to this growing problem?

Some would suggest targeting young people with

shows that are packed with history, and government.

But to be honest, T.V. ratings wouldn’t exactly be sky high for programs like Punk’d: Supreme Court Edition, CSI: D.C., Desperate Congressmen or America’s Next Top Dignitary. The only probable solution is to find more interesting ways to teach civics. Mr. Joseph Torsella President of the NCC stated, “The results tell us that when teens feel something is interesting and relevant to their lives, they are open and ready to learn.”

Mom of OHS Student on TV’s Millionaire Katie DiVita

Entertainment Editor

Ever dreamed of being on a television game show but thought you didn’t have a chance to get on? That’s what OHS student Keely Richardson thought before her mother, Mrs. Sweety Richardson, was chosen to be a contestant on the hit game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

The episode was taped in New York City on July 28 and aired on Monday, November 6 at 7:00 pm on ABC. Keely, a member of the Class of ‘07, was surprised to learn that her mother was given such an incredible opportunity. She didn’t want to get her hopes up in fear of being disappointed, and with good reason.

According to the official website of the game show, there is a very slim chance of getting chosen to be in the

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contestant pool, and an even slimmer fifty-to-one chance of actually getting selected to be on the show. Keely said, “I was so thrilled to learn that my mom got picked. It was all she talked about. Everyone in our house was so

to come to New York City to take the multiple choice test and audition. She traveled there with just her husband and stayed in a hotel in Manhattan.

The qualifying test included a thirty question multiple choice test, which

“I always watched it on TV and thought, ‘Hey, I could do that.’ Plus, I really wanted to meet [the host,] Meredith [Vieira]!”

Sweetie Richardson Millionaire Contestant

excited!”

Mrs. Richardson said that the grueling application and interviewing process was the worst. First, she had to fill out a long preliminary application online. Then, she received an e-mail stating that she was eligible

had to be completed in ten minutes.

Not many hopeful applicants were able to answer enough correctly. After that, Richardson was interviewed by producers of the show. She said, “After the interview, they sent me a postcard that said I was in the contestant pool.

Ten days later I received a phone call that said I was on!”

Richardson said that she has always been a big fan of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and watches it often. She said, “I always watched it on TV and thought, ‘Hey, I could do that.’ Plus, I really wanted to meet [the host,] Meredith [Vieira]!”

Keely said she loved the show too, but not as much as her mom. “I watched it occasionally,” she said, “but really got into it when my mom decided to try out.”

Sweety has always loved trivia and became very good at it throughout the years. With nothing to lose, she decided to take a chance on the ultimate game of trivia for a million dollars.

Blinding lights, an intense adrenaline rush, and difficult continued on page

9

December 2006

Columns

3

African American Stereotypes Dispelled

In light of Black History Month, I’d like to dispel a few stereotypes that have been bestowed upon black people. The network BET, occasional programs on VH1 and MTV have furthered these stereotypes. The labels been around for years, yet no one has ever had the courage to come out and confirm or deny them. Here are the top five myths you may have been led to believe about black people due to the influence of the media.

• We all are amazing dancers. Unfortunately, this not true. It’s hard to believe, I will admit.

Ladies like Janet Jackson flounce across the stage effortlessly and make it seem so easy. But to be honest, it’s yet another rumor. Look at MC Hammer for example; those are dance moves I definitely wouldn’t want to be copying. When you see guys like Usher tearing up the dance floor, keep in mind that he has several choreographers and personal trainers. On a recent episode of ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio,’ Will Smith admitted to having two left feet.

He said that practice was the key to good dancing, not skin color.

• We all celebrate Kwanzaa. I can’t tell you how many times I have been told “Happy Kwanzaa.”

To be honest, I don’t know a single person who celebrates the holiday. A very small percentage of black people actually celebrate Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa

is a celebration of family, community and African culture. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, during the Civil Rights Movement. The word Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits.”

Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday that is celebrated in place of Christmas and Hanukkah. Instead, it is more like a period of remembrance and unity that should not be restricted to a single race.

• We only listen to rap and hip-hop. If you look at my playlist, it consists of more than the Ying Yang Twins and Mike Jones. I have a bit of Coldplay, some Jack Johnson, and my share of Regina Spektor. Don’t get me wrong, I do like rap and hip-hop, but it is not all that I listen to. Rap and Hip-Hop are incredibly limiting. Race should not dictate music choice. Creating boundaries based on music choice just leads to conflict. I do not assume that you listen to rock just because you are white, or country just because you live in Scriba, so please don’t assume the same about me.

• We are all related and look alike. I’ve had people start in-depth conversations with me assuming I was someone else. The only similarity I share with the person they think I am is skin color.

I always find it amusing when I break the news that I am not the person they were looking for. I’ve been mistaken for professors, other students, and siblings of people I’ve never heard of.

Similarly, I take issue with the fact that I am always being bombarded with questions about relatives. Once I tell someone

I am from Africa, their reflex is to name off every African person they’ve ever met and ask if I know them or am related to them. Just because someone else is black does not mean that I am his sister, cousin, or girlfriend. It doesn’t work that way. I don’t ask you if you are related to someone else in the school just because you are both redheads with freckles. If I did, the question would come off as stupid and ignorant. Get the hint?

• Our diet consists solely of fried chicken, collard greens, barbequed ribs and corn bread. Soul Food is the proper term for this array of delicacies.

I have had my share of Soul Food, and I won’t lie, it was quite satisfying, but I did not discover it until I was around ten years old. I just recently discovered what chitterlings [pronounced “chitlins”] and grits were. If you are wondering, chitterlings are fried pig intestines and grits are a type of corn-based porridge. Soul Food is generally fried, and if someone was to eat it every single day they would be in a hospital due to heart failure before they hit their twenties. The assumption that it’s the only thing black people eat is quite unrealistic. I would not assume that an Italian person only eats spaghetti and pizza everyday and Irish people only eat potatoes and cabbage.

So please, go apologize to the black people you have stereotyped, and try some Soul Food for yourself. A whole culture has been ignored and it’s time we took a closer look.

Celebrity Look-A-Likes

Bartholomew or Kreuk?

Bartholomew or Kreuk?

If you know of anyone at OHS that has a celebrity look-alike, contact Katie DiVita at cdivita@oswego.org. Above, freshman Kristen Bartholomew (left) is compared to actress Kristin Kreuk from the WB’s Smallville (right).

Buccaneer Bulletin

February 2007

4

Walking the Plank

Fultz Gets Big & Rich with The Buc Bulletin Editors Note: This month’s Walking the Plank feature was compiled by Mallory Kelly. If you know of an OHS personality you would like to see “Walk the Plank,” contact Editor-in-Chief Kevin Kearns at kkearns@oswego.org.

BB: What is your full name?

DF: David Joseph Fultz BB: Why do you think you are so well known here at the OHS? DF: Well, I’m a nice guy, I’m friends with a lot of people, and if people are nice to me, I’m nice to them back.

BB: How do you find so much humor in life?

DF: (Laughs) Well if you only have one life, you might as well enjoy yourself, because if you spend the whole time miserable, you’re just wasting your time.

BB: Is there any one comedian you would compare yourself to?

DF: I don’t think so, I’m not aspiring to be a comedian, but without a doubt my favorite comic is Ron White, because he tells stories that are real and I think he’s hilarious.

BB: What do your hobbies include?

DF: You’re probably not going to believe me when I say this, but I go running a lot. I love video games, and I work a lot. Oh and the Tennessee Titans, which I bleed Tennessee blue.

BB: If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

DF: Excitable, Enthusiastic, and uhh, bright. Haha, that was a joke. Put “bright” anyways though.

BB: If you could have dinner with any 3 people whom would they be and why?

DF: Titans head Coach Jeff Fischer, we’d talk strategy ideas. Steve McNair to thank him for everything he’s done for our organization and it’d be really cool to have dinner with John Madden himself.

BB: If you were stranded on a deserted island but could only bring three things what would they be?

DF: Can I say a boat to get off the island?

Buccaneer Bulletin

BB: Sure.

DF: Well then, a boat to get off the island! I don’t think I need two more if I’m going home, maybe a bag of chips for the ride home.

BB: You’re a big fan of the Tennessee Titans, how did this begin?

DF: I followed Keith Bulluck when he played for SU, and that was right around the time I started watching football. I saw him get drafted to Tennessee and it just kind of took off from there.

BB: So how do you think Vince Young is doing?

DF: Vince Young is playing as a good rookie. He’s still playing like a rookie, but a good one. He’s got a lot of room to develop and is going to be a great QB one day.

BB: Got a pick for the Super Bowl?

DF: I’d love to say my Tennessee Titans and probably the Dallas Cowboys. They’re doing a lot of good things right now.

BB: If you had to pick any other football team besides the Titans to be your favorite, what would it be?

DF: Redskins are my NFC team; I like what they’re doing.

BB: What kind of music do you like?

DF: I like country music, Big & Rich without a doubt. I like Toby Keith, Joe Nichols, and Brad Paisley’s up there too.

BB: Have you ever been to any concerts?

DF: Yeah, my favorite concerts are Big and Rich, I’ve seen them twice.

BB: Are there any words that you live by?

DF: You can live in the past or you can flourish in the present. This was said by Coach Jeff Fischer in 2003, after a wildcard playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. We won by three.

BB: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up in the morning?

DF: Well, this morning was ‘I LOVE Rob Bironas.’

(Kicker for the Titans, whose game-winning field goal recently defeated the Colts) BB: What are your plans after high school?

DF: I’m going to college, hopefully to major in TV production or broadcasting. I want to make a big buck doing something somewhere.

BB: Next year, if a teacher is talking about you, what would you want him to say?

DF: I’ll never forget David Fultz. Whether it’s in a positive or negative way I don’t care, as long as they remember me.

BB: What makes you laugh?

DF: Stand up comedy really gets me going. To be honest with you, people getting hurt in a comical situation. Not someone getting beaten up, that’s not funny but say someone falling down a flight of stairs. That always gets me.

BB: Is there anyone you look up to?

DF: I look up to my dad. I look up to our former WBUC teacher William Bellow as well.

BB: What’s your best memory of high school?

DF: A lot of amazing things have happened in high school, but being in Hansoff definitely shaped my high school career.

BB: Which performance was better, prom or the pep rally?

DF: Uhm, prom had better sound, you know the way the music came out. Our voices were more on key at prom. I would say the pep rally, but we announced our “retirement” at the end, and the BSB once said we’re never gone. So, I’m going to go with the prom for sure.

BB: What is your funniest memory that you’ve had with friends?

DF: My funniest moment, truthfully, was in Jim Gunn’s basement when Oezer Sahin tried to physically fight me and Jim at the same time, because we were trying to listen to a country song, and he’d rather listen to DMX. I’ve never laughed harder in my entire life.

December 2006

Clublicity

4

After-School Activities Not Always Cancelled

Class of ‘08

The Junior Variety Show auditions will be held on Wednesday, February 28 at 3:00 p.m. in the theatre. Students in any grade interested in performing in the show are encouraged to participate.

Junior Class advisers Mrs. Jennifer Dempsey and Mrs. Heidi Sweeney hope that the student involvement in the Junior Variety Show will increase this year. Bands who would like to perform must give their audition tapes to either Junior Class adviser

by Friday, February 16. The show is scheduled for April 20 and 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Faust Theatre.

The first Prom Committee meeting was held on February 7 after school in room 240. Members debated primarily about colors, themes, and music. Any juniors who would like to have a say in these prom decisions should join the Prom Committee and come to the second meeting, even if they didn’t come to the first. The date has not been scheduled yet, but Dempsey plans to talk to the DJ, chose favors, and design the tickets.

The Prom Project, founded in 2004, will be making a comeback thanks to Bethany Hinckley, Christie Batchelor, Kristin Rinoldo, and Gabrielle Rumrill. The Prom Project is an organization that seeks donations to help those in need attend the Prom. Dresses, jewelry, dress shirts, tuxedo rental gift certificates, and all other Prom-related items can be dropped off at Mary Jean’s at 122 West Second Street, P & C grocery store, Paul’s Big M, or the OHS nurse’s office from now until February 23. Any student wishing to take advantage of this organization should come to Mary Jean’s after February 23.

Drama Club

Although Drama Club was quiet this winter, mid-February marks the beginning of its next show.

Director Ms. Mali Dorsey will be holding auditions for the Michael Harms Theater Festival. This is a competitive showcase of acting and technical talent in Upstate New York. It is held in Syracuse and often yields an assortment of plays. Participants are eligible for numerous scholarships. Awards are given in several categories including acting, stage managing and technical achievement. Harms Fest is held March 31 and April 1. Dorsey is yet to announce audition dates.

National Honor Society

There will be a mandatory meeting for all students in grades 10-11 who would like to join National Honor Society on March 7 at 2:35 in room 235. Applications for new members will be due on Wednesday, April 4. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Mary Beth Fierro or Mrs. Tami Palmitesso.

The members of NHS will be competing in a volleyball benefit tournament at Mexico High School with all other NHS members in the county. The money will be going towards a scholarship given out every year by Mexico High School in memory of a student who passed away. The date is still to be announced.

Buccaneer Bulletin

Photo by Abby Martin

Oswego High School musical students were exposed to a tremendous talent on Tuesday January 30 when Broadway and international stage star Craig Schulman visited to conduct a day-long workshop. Schulman is the only performer in the world to have performed three of the most extraordinary musical theatre characters ever written--the title roles of Jekyll & Hyde, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, and Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.

SADD

Over the next few months SADD Club will be working on the Post Prom Party. They will be hosting a dinner and silent auction to raise money for the event, and hope to purchase a car to give away at the party. On March 16, SADD will be holding a school dance to help fund the Post Prom Party.

If you wish to help contribute to the cause, a continuous can and bottle drive is going on at Camelot Can and Bottle return shop. Anyone wishing to donate should simply mention that they would like the return money to go towards the SADD Club.

Ski Club

Unlike other years, Ski Club started a little late this year due to the lack of snow on Labrador Mountain. So this year, Ski Club’s first trip was on January 17. Also this year, there are approximately ninety students going to Labrador. These students travel to Labrador Mountain on a total of three busses, accompanied volunteer and faculty chaperones. Although there are a lot of students, there have been no injuries among them so far.

Foreign Exchange

The Foreign Student Club has experienced a lot in the past month. A holiday party with secret Santa gift giving, discussions of customs in foreign students’ native countries, and farewell parties for two Brazilian students who were here on a one-semester programs were all crammed into the holiday months. The bevy of recent events has given members of the club plenty of knowledge about each other.

Ms. Janet Bernreuther, adviser of the club has several plans for the coming months. Plans of another bowling trip, discussions of differences between education systems in other countries and the US, and hearing foreign students’ opinions on their experiences so far, all await members of the club. The Foreign Student Club offers the opportunity for students from different nations to discuss and learn about different cultures. Anyone interested in Foreign Student Club can contact Ms. Bernreuther in the Media Center.

Clublicity was compiled by Katie DiVita, Amanda Bingham, Morgan McNamera, Waruguru Gichane, Pat Dougherty, and Sam Austin. Anyone wanting to post a clublicity announcement should contact Sophie Rosenbaum at: srosenba@oswego.org

February 2007

Alumni

5

OHS Grad Making a Name in Comedy Mr. Paul Muench. Muench fondly remembers having Benjamin as Alumni Editor both a student and a player. He said, As you look around your classroom, you can prob- “Owen is proof that nothing great is ably pick out the class clown. You know, the kid who ever achieved without enthusiasm.” can make anyone laugh, including the teacher who After graduating from OHS, just doesn’t have much of a sense of humor. Mr. Owen Benjamin did not immediately book Smith (now under the stage name “Owen Benjamin”), a flight to Los Angeles; he attended OHS class of ’98, is making a career out of being the SUNY Plattsburgh where he majored class clown. He currently resides in Los Angles where in history and minored in communicahe performs alongside the biggest names in comedy. tions. Benjamin did a bit of comedy Comedy has been a part of Benjamin’s life since during his college years, but it wasn’t he was young. When he was fourteen he went to his main focus. However, he admitsee Adam Sandler ted that he just perform at Oswego “Always be passionate; if you wasn’t cut out State, and after that for academia. he was hooked. Ben- love it enough someone will His heart just jamin said, “At that recognize it” wasn’t in it. moment I knew I was Benjamin in love with comknew that edy. I didn’t think Mr. Owen Benjamin his true callI wanted to be one ing was in (comedian), but I performance. knew I wanted to be close to it.” Benjamin’s fondest Benjamin’s first stop after leaving memories of his adolescence were when he watched Plattsburgh was in Key West, Florida.

SNL with his father. WBUC was where Benjamin He found a job working as a piano first got to display his comedic genius. He fondly player. That wasn’t exactly the kind remembers the days he spent goofing off in the studio. of performance he was looking for.

Comedy wasn’t Benjamin’s only strength while he He was looking for a slightly younger attended Oswego High School. Athletics also played audience. Knowing that there was no a major role in his life. He was part of the football way to advance his career in Florida; and lacrosse teams. In fact, Benjamin’s greatest in- Benjamin took a leap and moved to LA. spiration during high school was his football coach, When Benjamin first moved to LA he had to pay his dues, like all struggling performers. He spent Courtesy of Owen Benjamin many nights bussing tables to earn What’s in a Name? his keep. It didn’t take long until he OHS alum Owen Smith is now known as Owen Benjamin.

Now imagine one of your first said, “Being directed by Sandler for ten hours was noticed. He did a lot of perforperformances on stage. You’re feeling mances in comedy clubs and made a name for himself. was surreal. Not because he’s a huge movie jittery, your hands are shaking, and you The producers from MTV’s Punk’d, Anthony Clark star, but because he was my hero growing up.” can’t quite get the butterflies out of your Benjamin appears regularly in many of LA’s hotof ‘Yes Dear’, Nick Swardson of Benchwarmers, stomach. After what seems like hours, and Adam Sandler all noticed Benjamin for his test comedy clubs. They include, Hollywood Improv, your name is finally called. When you comedic style. Clark, Swartz and Sandler all asked Dublin’s and the Knitting Factory. He often shares the get up to go on stage, you see someone Benjamin to open for them during their comedy per- bill with Hollywood’s biggest names in comedy. Jeff else walking to the stage as well. This formances. In the presence of such comedic greats, Richards of Saturday Night Live, Brody Stevens of the person kind of looks like you, talks like one would think that he’d be nervous. Benjamin Craig Kilbourn show and Jimmy Fallon are a few of the you and even has the same name as describes the feeling as “first-kiss nervous.” It’s names that he’s shared the stage with. Benjamin is no you. This exact situation happened to more of excitement and anticipation than anxiety. longer star struck by famous celebrities. He has simply Mr. Owen Smith, Class of ’98, when he Benjamin has made several television appear- earned a deep respect for the performers and their craft. first moved to Los Angeles, California.

Benjamin is truly living his dream. He said, “A ances. He teamed up with Ashton Kutcher on MTV’s When he recounted the story, Smith Punk’d, played a small role on the television show year ago I was a busboy, today I get to do something said, “I felt like that kid in the Never ‘Yes Dear’, and is a regular on Comedy Central. I never thought I could. Maybe in a year I’ll be a Ending Story who had to look at his Benjamin also just recently finished shooting a busboy again, who knows, who cares. But I’m really reflection for the first time, turns out I’m NIKE commercial. In the commercial he flew to happy.” Benjamin has no solid plans for the future. a black man.” Smith had to adopt the twelve locations across the United States and met He just wants to enjoy life and take things as they stage name “Owen Benjamin” after this several top distance runners. One of the perks of come. Benjamin’s advice to any high schooler looksituation occurred. He wanted to avoid the gig was twelve free pairs of NIKE sneakers. ing to get into the business is, “Always be passionate; the confusion in the future.

Benjamin will play a role in Adam Sandler’s if you love it enough someone will recognize it.”

If you’d like to checkout Owen Benjamin for yournext movie, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. He recently shot scenes with Sandler, and self, visit his official website at www.owenbenjamin.com.

By Waruguru Gichane

Buccaneer Bulletin

December 2006

Columns

6

Swearing: The Latest American Addiction Fiddlesticks, oh fudge, what the frig; they are all watered down versions of “the Queen-mother of all dirty words - the F-bomb.”

Since the release of the 1983 movie A Christmas Story, “dirty words” became more and more accepted. Until now it has penetrated the lives of all of us. In school and out, swearing has become an epidemic.

From freshman to seniors swearing has become commonplace. Teachers try to stop it in their classes; so the swearing goes out of the classrooms and into the halls for everyone to hear.

How much you hear the F-bomb on any given day differs from person to person. It usually depends on who you hang out with, what hallway your locker is in, or which lunch period you have.

Reactions to the F-bomb are varied as well, “I don’t even notice

it when it is said, so it doesn’t really represents ignorance.” However when it again!” Despite the teachers’ best bother me,” said Amara Ercums, he hears it in the halls, right then and efforts stopping profanity in school, it senior. The same response was there the student gets written up. is just a drop-in-the-bucket, because received from Ismael Perez Jr., a When asked what she does as soon as the students walk out the freshman. Perez also thinks that it when one of her students drops the front door, they are assaulted with might have something vulgarity from the very to do with the fact that culture of the planet. he says it a lot too, so From television to newly“When you’re hearing it is no big released movies, it’s young and you deal. Katie VanWert, ridiculously hard to find a a sophomore, says show or movie (unless it’s swear it makes “Excuse you or watch a Disney, G-rated classic), you think you’re your language,” when that prohibits profane older. When she hears profanity. language in the script.

There really is Since the shock-value you’re older no way to get rid of the foulest language and you swear, of it entirely, when has decreased so much it represents teachers can they put from where it used to be, a stop to it, if only the only people outside ignorance.” for a while. Coach of school who still find it Brian Parrotte tries repulsive are the elderly, - Coach Brian Parrotte not only to stop the religious groups, and foul language, but parents protecting their explain why not Courtesy of M.G.M. Studios young child’s ears. The to swear. Parrotte F-bomb seems to be the stated, “When you’re young and you F-bomb, Physical Education Teacher latest addiction in our culture swear it makes you think you’re older. Debra Kasmer said, “I say, that’s The F-bomb seems to be the new When you’re older and you swear, it inappropriate and I don’t want to hear addiction.

Teen ‘Drama’ is Out of Control at OHS

Oswego High School? Ha, more like Oswego Middle School, no actually, it’s like the elementary school next door.

At OHS, immaturity is a bigger annoyance than a PDA, which is an unpleasant issue all of its own. I have two younger brothers and a sister in elementary school and I hear, “Well, she did it first,” more in school than I do at home. OK, I get it, it’s never your fault; you are perfect. Come on people; be bigger than the other person please.

Drama is in the foundation of Oswego High School and I get that it’s always been that way. But does it have to be this bad? I mean we have a fight for each of the four lunch periods, which is obviously so entertaining. Yeah, I actually enjoy watching two people beat on each other because one called the other a name. Hmm, probable cause I must say.

Everyone is a victim of bullying, whether it’s your friends, the school bully, or a kid you have never met, but you know, you are the one who has to grow

Buccaneer Bulletin

up. Obviously if you wear last season’s sweater or the wrong shoes someone has to say something negative, that’s the way high school is. Teenagers are mean and once you get to high school the golden rule doesn’t apply anymore. The lesson learned: get over it.

Ok, definition of high school: “High” as in older, typically more intelligent, and above all vastly more mature than elementary and middle school (well supposed to be), and “school” as in the place where kids come to improve their intelligence, not to make fun of the kid who watches anime or the girl who dresses a little differently.

I’d like to reiterate what Mr. Myles said, “If you are not here to learn, go home.” We come to learn about how Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and how great of a playwright Shakespeare was, not how to point out the flaws in every person we see.

I understand that being in high school, which isn’t where we want to be to begin with, and being in a room with a person who you don’t like can get frustrating, but if you don’t like them, then just don’t talk to them. If you avoid talking about how ugly his or her clothes are then you can avoid a fight. .

Things like school shootings and bombings happen as a result of bullying. I don’t want to come to school with the fear of being shot, and I’m sure most people don’t. Before you bully or make fun of someone

try putting that fact on your conscience.

Disrespect is also a gigantic problem at OHS. When we were all in elementary school we all learned to respect our elders, it’s kind of an unwritten law.

Well there are some people who think that they are above that law. The teachers at OHS come to school to educate us students, to benefit us, and I think I can speak for them when I say that they don’t come to participate in the high school drama.

Honestly, teachers probably care if you like them, most people don’t enjoy being hated, but it’s not their number one goal. They deserve to be treated respectfully; they do not need to be talked to as if they were one of you friends or even worse, one of your enemies. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.

High school is overrated. These are supposed to be “the best years of our lives,” but most students find themselves not wanting to come to school at all, not because of the workload, but because of the pointless drama. It’s offensive, useless, and typical. We’ve created our own little Laguna Beach haven’t we?

This is a message to the upperclassmen, they need it. This is also a message to the sophomores and freshman: the drama that you brought with you from middle school needs to be thrown out the window Let’s all grow up and respect our elders, our peers, and ourselves.

December 2006

Columns

7

It’s Chrismukkah in Our OC

begging to go downstairs and take a sneak peak at the presents. Greedily, we went down the stairs and suddenly our mouths became ajar. Wall to wall, oversized boxes flooded Whitney’s living room. We quickly woke Whitney’s parents up and convinced them that four o’clock in the morning was a perfect time to open Christmas presents.

Hannukah, Hanukah, Chanuka, Chanukah – all The stockings were the first plan of action for different spellings, all the same meaning. It is also the Vroomans. Surprisingly, there was a stocking known as the “Festival of Lights.” hanging for me, also. Stocking stuffers including Because I am Jewish, I had never experienced lip gloss, socks, candy, and more were stuffed the true joys of Christmas, but I’m not into everyone’s stockings. Then, everyone went complaining. Many of my friends have over to the tree. Suddenly, wrapping paper was helped to educate me about Christmas flying left and right along with gasps full of by allowing me to become a part of their excitement when gifts that were desired were families during Christmas. unwrapped. The Vroomans’ Christmas was Kathryn Lazarski was the first fun to take part in and I can’t wait to continue person to ever invite me to her house the tradition with Whitney and her family. on Christmas. For several years, I went I see myself as the lucky one in this to her house on Christmas Eve and holiday situation because I always stayed the night. It was the closest wind up celebrating TWO holidays; thing I had ever had to a Christmas Christmas and Hannukah! After I tradition. Before we went to bed spend Christmas with my friends, on Christmas Eve, we would put out I get to come home to celebrate a plate with cookies and carrots Hannukah with my own family. and a glass of milk. The cookies The aroma of fresh, homemade and milk were for Santa to eat apple sauce and potato latkes is a when he came to the house and dead giveaway that it’s Hannukah the carrots were for his reindeer. in the Rosenbaum household. At On Christmas Day, we would my house, we light candles wake up quite early and at sundown for each of the run downstairs to see how eight nights of Hannukah and many presents Santa brought. exchange a gift on most nights.

Usually, the tree was This is a relatively new twist on overflowing with presents. this very old holiday that is After everyone woke up, probably a reflection and Kathryn’s family took turns integration of Christmas opening presents until traditions. My parents there were no more left. tell me that when they Even I got presents from were children, a single Santa! Later on in the present for Hanukah was day, we would eat Christmas the norm. The first night of dinner. The Lazarski menu Hannukah, we light one candle and consisted of ham, turkey, twice-baked light another candle each night until we potatoes, and the best spinach reach the eighth day. The candle ever. holder is called a Menorah. The The last Christmas I shared middle candle, called the shamus, with a friend was at Whitney is used to light the others and Graphic by Fred Maxon is not counted among the eight.

Vrooman’s household. Whitney was in the final stages of moving into her new Some Jews are more traditional than others, and house during Christmas time that year. It was the like Christianity, there are variations in the level of Vrooman’s first Christmas in their new house, as religious traditions practiced in different families. well as my first Christmas with the Vroomans!

Generally speaking, the most traditional Jews On Christmas Eve, Whitney, her two younger are called “orthodox” and the least traditional are brothers, and I put the final decorations on her called “reformed”—which is what my family is. huge Christmas tree. Soon after, we all went to bed Lights, gifts, happy moments with the family so we could get up at the crack of dawn to see all and friends, and great food ; all the same traditions, the presents Santa had brought. At 4 o’clock the two different holidays. Merry Christmas and next morning, Whitney’s little brothers sneakily Happy Hannukah - or better yet - Happy Holidays came into Whitney’s room and woke us up, to all!

Buccaneer Bulletin

Faiths are Intertwined Contrary to popular belief, Hannukah is not the “Jewish Christmas.” Although both holidays fall in the same month, Hannukah is a relatively minor Jewish holiday compared to Christmas. In the Jewish faith, the early fall High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the day of atonement) are the two Jewish holidays that have the a similar level of spiritual and religious importance to Jews that Christmas and Easter have for Christians.

Interestingly, the “last supper” is a Passover dinner, when Jews celebrate their suffering and eventual victory over the Egyptian Pharaohs for their religious freedom …but that is another story for another column. What this should remind you of, is that the Christian and Jewish faiths are very intertwined.

For example the Old Testament is the Jewish Bible.

The study of religions is fascinating and an increasingly important area of study for everyone in our global and multi-ethnic society where we regularly are exposed to people of different faiths such as Islam, Buddhism, Shinto to name just a few along with the more familiar religions. How are we to understand world news if we do not understand the religious issues in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, and Lebanon? World peace and political solutions to many current and future international crises will require more people to be knowledgeable, mindful and respectful of others’ religious background, ideologies and heartfelt beliefs.

The Hannukah lights of the Menorah are not Christmas lights, rather they are the lights which symbolize a small amount of oil lasting for eight nights instead of one. This was known as the “Jewish miracle” and is the origin of Hannukah. I hope to learn more about Christmas and other beliefs and traditions. I believe if we all took the time to understand each other more, many conflicts would be resolved and there would be more possibilities for peace. Let the commonalities of our differences bring us together during this holiday season. PEACE out.

December 2006

Clublicity

8

Clubs in Full Stride for the Holidays Honors Biology Editor’s note: Clublicity is a monthly feature of The Buccaneer Bulletin. To submit news contact Sophie Rosenbaum at srosenba@oswego.org.

National Honor Society

Members of the NHS are conducting a coat drive that will wrap up at the end of the day today. Any coat of any size in good condition can be brought to room 235.

If you are holding an event and need volunteers, contact Mrs. Mary Beth Fierro and she will be willing to help you find NHS members to contribute.

Don’t forget that there will be a mandatory meeting for all students interested in applying in mid- March. Applications to join will be available online in late March. Make sure to keep your grades in the 90’s and have a minimum of twenty hours of community service completed and documented to be eligible to apply.

Pep Band

What would the varsity hockey games be without all that lively music from our OHS Pep Band?

The band is student run, with about 30 members this season. Jennifer Cigler, Bryan Thompson, and Stephen Bosco are the club organizers. They rehearse about once or twice a week.

Normally the members only play at the boys’ varsity hockey games whose season started December 1, but Cigler says, “We’re going to try to make it to the girls’ hockey games also, and possibly the basketball games too.”

Pe p ba nd doe s not com pete. Cigler states, “We mainly do it just to show our school spirit.”

Some songs you’ll be sure to hear while you’re rooting for Oswego include; “Land of 1,000 Dances”, “the Indiana Jones Theme Song”, and “Jump On It”.

Mr. Mike Darwin Yerky, Ph.D from Cornell University came to Oswego High School on Tuesday, November 28 to perform a DNA profiling lab for Mrs. Catherine Celeste’s Honors Living Environment students. This has become an annual project Celeste requires her honors students to take part in. Throughout the day, the students perform a lab in which they cut DNA using restriction enzymes to figure out the result of two separate paternity tests.

The students are given different sets of DNA: a mother, a baby, and a suspect.

By the end of the day, the results of these tests are determined by the gel electrophoresis gels that the students constructed. Celeste’s students have the opportunity to experience this lab and Cornell’s equipment because Celeste was a former member of the Cornell Institute For Biology Teachers (CIBT).

Foreign Student Club

The Foreign Student Club organized and attended a bowling event at Lighthouse Lanes last month. Twenty OHS students, both foreign and local, bowled, some for the first time, and ate pizza. Recent meetings of the club have been focused on the planning of this month’s activities. Some suggestions included holiday-themed activities such as caroling and secretSanta gift giving. Another possible future activity is a dinner, wherein the foreign exchange students will bring a dish, native to their home country.

Foreign Student Club is a club which allows students of OHS to meet exchange students from foreign countries.

If you are interested in the club or its activities, you can contact the club adviser, Ms. Bernreuther in the media center.

Photo BY Samuel graem austin

Tyler Spicer (left) and Alexis Ranous (right) test DNA in high-tech bio lab.

Chess Club

The Oswego High School Chess Club has been around for many years; however it has a new adviser this year, Mr. Lee Laurion. Even though this is his first year advising the club, Laurion has been playing chess since he was ten years old.

Chess Club is a great way to meet new people and play chess. You don’t have to any previous experience with the game. The club helps students learn the rules of chess and have fun playing it with other high school students.

There are currently eight members, with newcomers always welcome. If anyone is interested in joining Chess Club, they meet every Monday in Laurion’s room, C3. Check this out!

Poetry Club

“We will spend the month of January getting ready for our Valentine’s Day fundraiser. We will be writing our Valentine’s Day poetry so that we can start creating Valentine’s Day cards,” stated Mrs. Carrie Patane, adviser of the Poetry Club. The cards will be available during Carnation Sale just before Valentine’s Day. The cost for a carnation and a card is only $1. There is also a delivery service available.

For an additional $1, the carnation(s) and the card can be delivered during homeroom on Valentine’s Day!

Buccaneer Bulletin

Drama Club

Members of the Drama Club will take part in a Shakespeare competition next month. Participants will memorize a passage from one of Shakespeare’s plays and perform it in front of an adjudicator. This competition is open to all students, regardless of whether or not they are members of Drama Club.

Although you might have missed the first Drama Club meeting and show, it’s not too late to join. Arylle Caruso, a new member of the club said, “It’s Drama Club a great experience; you make a lot of friends and have fun doing it.”

To get information about Drama Club’s upcoming events, visit their blog at www.ohsdramaclub.livejournal.com.

Ski Club

Ski Club is every Wednesday (that there is school). Ski Club will be leaving OHS at 3:00 and head to the Labrador Mountain Ski Resort in Truxton, NY. The club isn’t just for skiers and snowboarders. The students will have approximately four hours to enjoy the slopes each Wednesday. By that time, arrival back at OHS should be around 9:00. Ms. Tami Palmitesso, adviser for Ski Club for the past three years, and other volunteer chaperones will accompany the students on their trips.

December 2006

News/Columns

9

Mom Sucessful on Game Show Continued from page 3

questions that require the recollection of facts learned long ago were only a few negative aspects of the experience Sweety said went along with the chance of winning a million dollars. However, there had to be some demanding part of the task, or she believed contestants wouldn’t get so much money for enduring it! “It was pretty nerve-racking under the lights and everything,” Sweety said, “but Meredith makes you feel very comfortable.” As a contestant, she explained that she was assigned a personal assistant throughout the duration of the show. This person let her know where she needed to be and got her food, water, anything she wanted.

Sweety advises future “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Contestants to pay attention to little facts they learn throughout their whole lives and to be active readers. Reading everything she can get her hands on, she has a wide vocabulary and knows a multitude of diverse facts. She advises all students to pay attention in high school, especially in biology and history class. She said, “Stay in school. It will pay off whether by means of a highpaying job or a high pressure trivia game show!”

Richardson made it all the way to the $100,000 question, but was tripped up in the last third of the game. The question involved politics, and since she believed this was not her strong point, she decided to use her “switch the question”

lifeline. She had already used her “ask the audience” lifeline and called her sister for the “phone-a-friend.” Unfortunately, Richardson did not know the new history question that asked which tribe Sacagawea was from. “I was pretty sure that the answer was Shoshone,” she said, “but definitely not sure enough to risk losing $15,000.”

It was. Richardson walked away at the $50,000 mark, but only received about $35,000 after tax deductions. She said she was still happy with the substantial amount of money and is grateful for the experience. The check was mailed to her home and she received it on December 7.

With the money, Sweetie Richardson paid some bills and plans to take her family on photo by abby martin a vacation to New York City Keely and her mom Sweetie, happy to be holding the $50,000! over the summer. Keely and her mother went on a shopping spree said, “but she’s fortunate for the experience and together hopes that she will get I’m very proud of her.” a car soon with the help of her mother. “My mom

said she didn’t do as well as she hoped,” Keely

Let’s Try a Service Punishment You’re forced to sit in a room during and/or after school with numerous other students who have been apprehended for their wrongdoings. Students are given after school detentions, in-school suspensions, and even out-of-school suspensions in order to learn a lesson; but is anything really learned?

These punishments are commonly viewed as quiet study halls or a vacation from the drudgery of school life. The consequences in effect at Oswego High School for certain actions seem to be less than adequate, so how about a different punishment?

Buccaneer Bulletin

Imagine receiving a predetermined number of “school service” hours in which you have to work alongside a custodian or a specific task that you must complete as a result of misbehavior. A student could learn from a punishment such as this because they might not look forward to cleaning a toilet or sweeping the floor after school the way they look forward to serving time in detention. It’s much like the policy of community service; a mandatory punishment where one who has misbehaved must work as a volunteer for a charitable organization; in this case, the school.

Mr. John Finch, teacher of Physical Education, stated, “I’m all for it. I believe if someone does something destructive to the school they should have to clean it up, but I’m not too sure I would put the problem with the custodian to baby

sit.”

Having been employed by the school district for nineteen years, current custodian Jerry Grulich, “I agree with the idea of school service one hundred percent; I like it a lot.

Most would rather have the inschools or suspensions as a vacation, but if you make them work, it’ll prevent them from doing things to get in trouble.”

Students seemed to agree that school service would benefit those who got in trouble, but on the other hand, they were against the idea because they didn’t want to find themselves in such a position. This response alone shows that school service would be a deterrent to repeated infractions in our school.

Our current discipline policy is not taken very seriously by many of the students and is seen merely as a “slap on the wrist.” A freshman who

wished to stay anonymous stated, “I was supposed to get an in-school for what I did, but I never got it. I didn’t learn anything because I didn’t get in trouble.” If the students don’t learn anything from their punishments or don’t even receive one, then what’s the use?

Although the legalities for a student to complete a form of school service are uncertain, new repercussions for misbehavior may need to be instated. One of our weaknesses is the disciplinary policy or lack thereof. The discipline policy of Oswego High School seems to need revision of some sort and a school service punishment might be just the ticket. If you want a positive response and want to correct negative behavior, you have to exert a sense of authority, not dole out extra study halls and vacation days.

December 2006

Editorial

10

Drawing Board

Do you think that grade inflation is a problem in American high schools, including Oswego High?

Mrs. Rogers “Yes, because (teachers) are too afraid of having their class averages or test scores be the lowest.”

Faculty

Sean Delaney cartoon by Morgan Goodwin

“A 100 is truly inaccurate for anyone to receive because that indicates complete competency, and nobody is perfect.”

Class of 2007

Mr. Burt “Yes. It’s rampant.

You can’t even get a small coffee at Starbucks. Society has accepted downgrading by lowering the standards.”

Faculty

. . . To Greg Reynolds, Nicholas Bartholomew, and Aaron Nosky who all received scholarships for their performances during the fall season for the Marching Buccaneers.

Reynolds received the Marching Buccaneers Outstanding Leadership Scholarship while Nosky and Bartholomew received the New York State Field Band Conference Scholarships.

. . . To our administrators for obtaining the GONE4EVER exhibit the last month. It is a great idea for our students to be able to view something this moving, which in turn could prevent some of our own students from making choices which could put their lives in danger. . . . To the students of Key Club who organized Cell Phones for Soldiers which gives them a way to stay in touch with their families without the high price of calling cards. It is a great idea and an extremely creative way to support our troops and make their lives, as well as the lives of their families easier. . . . To Millie Brown (string orchestra), Adam Dristle (symphonic band), David Artz (mixed chorus) and Michael Herring (symphony orchestra), who all were chosen to participate in the New York State School Music Association Conference for their solo performances. . . . To Tyler Spicer and Mrs. Carrie Patane who won Student of the Month, and Staff Member of the Month respectively for December.

James Bates

“It makes too many people think that they’re producing better work than they actually are.”

Class of 2007

Buccaneer Bulletin

. . . To club advisers who are listed as advisers, yet have no club members or meetings.

We were able to get the funding back for clubs this year, so teachers should not accept the responsibility (or pay check) for being an adviser when there's no club to advise!

. . . The idea of having an alma-mater banner in the school is a great idea, but there has to be a better place to put it. Considering how few students walk down near the theater, wouldn’t it be better to have it in a high-visibility place like Leighton where many of our varsity sports are played?

December 2006

Editorial

11

In Our View . . .

Grade Inflation Out of Control

It’s that time of year again, when seniors We have what other students will say is a are finishing up their college applications and crazy opinion. Grade inflation needs to be stopped praying to get into their “dream school.” Normally before it gets even more out of hand. Allowing any student with a GPA in the high 3’s shouldn’t kids to achieve grades that they don’t deserve helps have to worry too much over being accepted, but them get into the college they want, but in the long because of grade inflation, some students don’t run, it will only hurt them because they will not look as impressive as they should. be able to handle the workload. If grade inflation When does continue, We have what other students will say then colleges will colleges look at two kids who to find out yet is a crazy opinion. Grade inflation have both achieved a another way of how needs to be stopped before it gets to measure two kids GPA like 3.9 they should both look against each other. It even more out of hand. very similar and isn’t fair for one kid have a great shot to get into a college at acceptance. But because of ways schools have over another just because he attended a much inflated grades (intentionally and unintentionally) easier school and his grades were inflated. Many such as weighted classes, parental lobbying, people bash the SAT for many reasons including and teachers giving extra credit, more and more lower results because of “test anxiety.” There are students every year achieve higher marks than valid reasons, but the SAT does give everyone the their predecessors. According to a study done by same opportunity to succeed.

UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute, There will always be some high schools the percentage of college freshmen in 2005 who and teachers who make it easier for to a student achieved an A during high school had doubled to achieve high marks, while others provide much since 1975. Unfortunately, this is not because we’re more difficulty. Which college someone attends has smarter than our parents’ generation. The result is a major effect on how far they will go in life. For more and more freshmen struggling to barely get that reason alone, something needs to be done to by in college. provide each student with the same chance.

Do you think that grade inflation is a problem in American high schools including Oswego High?

Mr. Frawley “Grade inflation is a problem because it takes out the middle of the grade range. If everyone gets great grades or is failing miserably, how do you distinguish what type of student they are?”

Faculty

Audra Gehan “I’ve never had a teacher that I felt has inflated a grade. If they are, then it’s not fair because I work hard for my grades.”

Gimme a ‘C’ Class of 2007

Mrs. Phillips “It’s despicable and we unintentionally do it all the time. It promotes mediocrity.”

Faculty

Mrs. Fierro “I’m not convinced it’s a big problem. However, the grades have steadily gone up, over the past twenty years, since I have been here teaching.”

PHOTO BY ABBY MARTIN

This is not Photoshop or trick photography. We really are missing the letter ‘C’ from the lettering on the Buccaneer Boulevard side of OHS. Maybe Santa will bring us a ‘C’ for Christmas.

Buccaneer Bulletin

Faculty

December 2006

Features

12

Gone4Ever Display an Emotional Experience Editor’s Note: Chief Photographer Abby Martin was assigned to cover the Gone4Ever display brought to OHS last month and assembled by the Dewitt Police and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department. Instead of just a photo essay or a column, Abby was moved to write the following poem.

By Abby Martin Chief Photographer My breaths are getting shorter, So please, hurry.. I’m right here.

Tonight is the night, And out of the corner of my eye, That I’ve been waiting for.

I feel a single falling tear.

First, it’s my senior prom, Then, my life I must explore.

And why is it me that has to pay?

After all, I did no wrong.

I stand up in my room, It’s too late for any of that, Into the mirror I stare.

I guess I don’t have very long…

Everything is perfect, The shoes, the dress, my hair.

So why do people drink and drive, I walk down the stairs, Knowing that they’re To meet all my best friends. taking lives?

“You look gorgeous,” But the pain grows more intense, they all say, As I toss this in my mind.

As I pray this night never ends.

All I wanted was to live.

The pictures are taken, To grow up, and grow old, And all our smiles seem to glow.

Have kids, and fall in love.

Then I kiss my parents goodbye, Now it’s broken, and I’m so cold. photo by Abby Martin And it’s out the door I go.

Lexi Deming and Nikki Pritchard reflect on the Gone4Ever display.

But if I had just one wish, The dance was amazing, It wouldn’t even be for me. just been a dream…

I’m wet and lying in a puddle, So beautiful and bright.

I’d wish this would I’m driving down the road, But I don’t recall any rain.

As the final song came to an end, never happen again, And much to my surprise, All the kids drove out of sight.

But why cannot this be?

I’m hit head on, and hard.

It’s a little while later.

Sudden darkness in my eyes.

I can hear the siren’s blare.

I climb back into the car, It’s clear my time is running out, Yet they seem so far away, Off to the next big scene.

Yet I’m so unprepared to die.

Now I’m lying in the street, Doesn’t anybody care?

Never knowing, never wishing, But tonight was the night, My head, throbbing in the pain.

This should’ve all I was forced to say goodbye…

Virus Can Potentially Lead to Deadly Cervical Cancer Women and men are equally at risk of catching the virus, although men have a slightly lower chance Web Team STDs. Everybody knows the risks and of actually developing symptoms. Individuals in consequences, but what many people don’t their early twenties tend to be the most at risk of understand is that one sexually-transmitted contracting the virus. However, because HPV disease—HPV or Human Papillomavirus, is is so common, you do not need to have a lot of caused by an everyday virus, and can have partners to come into contact with the virus. deadly results.

According “I never heard about to The the HPV virus until I “I never heard about the HPV virus American had an abnormal pap Cancer until I had an abnormal pap smear. It Society, in smear. It was scary because they said it was scary because they said it could the year 2006, could be cancerous,” about 9,710 be cancerous.” stated Andrea Marsh, a women in the

Andrea Marsh United States former OHS student.

HPV is one of the Former OHS Student will develop most common sexuallycervical transmitted infections. Eight out of ten women cancer and about 3,700 will die from it. will contract the Human Papilloma Virus by the Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second-mosttime they are fifty. It is also the leading cause of common type of cancer that strikes women, cervical cancer. HPV is spread through skin-tojust short of breast cancer. Through testing, the skin contact during sexual activity so this virus number of cervical cancer deaths has largely may be contracted even when using condoms. decreased (down seventy-five percent in the

By Lindsay Marsh

Buccaneer Bulletin

past fifty years) according to HPV Test online, though many women are still contracting and dying from this cancerous virus. It’s estimated that in the world, one in every one-hundred and twenty three women will develop cervical cancer, without haven taken the HPV test. Numbers can be changed with the HPV test (for women ages thirty or older) or if you have an abnormal pap smear, along with the HPV vaccine (for women ages nine to twenty six). The Paps test, which is an alternative, may detect any abnormalities and may help many women to prevent cancerous cells from forming, if they haven’t already.

Since the HPV is a new virus that most people are just learning about, there isn’t much information students or faculty can receive about it here at OHS. School Nurse Mrs. Christina Chamberlain said that a lot of information is not currently available, but healthcare professionals are learning more everyday. She did say, “The vaccine is a huge breakthrough, It’s a cancer prevention vaccine!”

To get more information contact a physician or the Oswego Health Department at 349-3547.

December 2006

Entertainment

Is There Really a Santa Claus?

Santa’s not real; and I’ll convince you as to why. Let’s look at this point logically. I took a gander at my chimney and I’ll tell you, an eighty-five pound anorexic freshman couldn’t fit down that tin can. So, you mean to tell me all 300 plus pounds of jolly old Saint Nick is going to slide down there? I don’t think so! Next, let’s think about the capacity of Santa’s sleigh. There are hundreds of millions of kids in this world and let’s say they each get four presents from Santa. Unless he is flying a four hundred foot long cargo ship, there is no way he can carry that many presents on his tiny sleigh.

I’m sure most of you have heard of the champion eater Takeru Kobayashi. Kobayashi has won the Nathan’s Hotdog Eating Contest six years and counting, and has maxed out at an impressive 53 ¾ dogs. I would have to say it’s safe to consider him one of the top eaters in the world. Notice how I said “one” of the top eaters in the world. Kobayashi still has to deal with top competitor, Santa. Santa can apparently down four to five cookies and a glass of milk from every household with kids in the entire world. Give me a break!

Finally, to settle the issue of Santa not being real, I wanted to prove that Santa couldn’t logistically make it to every single house in the world between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, so I turned to OHS physics teacher Mrs. Carol Naron for help.

According to Naron, “If the Earth contains 6.6 billion people with roughly six people per household, then there would be 1.1 billion households. If Santa spent one second at each house, it would take 1,283 days for Santa to stop at each house, which would be 3.6 years. Christmas happens in one day, not 3.6 years!”

One thing associated with Santa is real though, and that is reindeer. However, reindeer can’t fly. I don’t even see any wings on them! You can’t honestly believe that a reindeer can fly by just kicking its legs at a rapid pace. Hold on, this is not exactly true, there are reported stories of deer flying, but they are all from hunters who decided to bring along a twelve pack on their hunting trips or flying deer that are struck by cars on Route 104 traveling 65 mph.

Hopefully, I didn’t crush anyone’s Christmas spirit, but until an airplane pilot radios to air traffic control about a fat guy flying around on a sleigh with eight reindeer, then you don’t have a believer in me.

Is there a hot topic here at Oswego High School that you would like to see debated in this Point/Counterpoint forum? If so, e-mail Editor-in-Chief Kevin Kearns at kkearns@ oswego.org and we’ll consider it.

Buccaneer Bulletin

13

I just don’t understand the rumors that are flying around about the existence of Santa Claus. Is he real, yes or no? No one has to ask the Magic Eight Ball to see that all signs point to yes. There is so much proof of St. Nick’s being, that these disbelievers are just kidding themselves. I know that every time I go to the mall during the month of December, Santa is always sitting in his chair, talking to potentially good children, in the midst of all the shoppers. Do you think parents would willingly let their kids sit on the lap of some strange guy in a red suit? I don’t think so.

Let’s think about this sensibly. Thanks to the different time zones and rotations of the Earth, Santa actually has 31 hours to work with on Christmas Eve, so I don’t want to hear about Santa not having enough time to fly across the world. He’s got time; 75 million miles is nothing for Kris Kringle. It’s simply dedication. Plus, I think one all-nighter isn’t much to ask, seeing as he’s got 364 days of vacation to rest up. Now, I understand that everyone leaves cookies for Santa, and I guess it is a stretch to think that one person can consume that much food in one night, assuming all two billion kids leave him something. But you cannot deny that all that travel’s got to work up an appetite.

When I asked some of my fellow students what they thought about the topic, the answers I received were exactly what I expected. Austin Paulhardt stated, “Uh, obviously he’s real.

Where do you think all of my presents come from? I mean, come on I’ve seen the movie Elf, Santa Claus is, without a doubt, real.”

As if Austin’s confidence in Santa isn’t enough, senior Dave Fultz is another believer.

“Either he’s real or we’ve all fallen victim to the biggest hoax ever known to mankind. Santa Claus is real. I mean, I’ve seen him,” Fultz stated. This is true; I myself have been accused of being a tad photo by abby martin gullible from time to time, but the whole world?

It’s not likely for all of Earth’s population to fall for such a scandal.

I suppose those who don’t believe in Santa don’t believe he lives at the North Pole either. Oh really? If there is no North Pole then where do all of our letters go? I put stamps on mine, so they went somewhere. The US postal service carriers aren’t liars. They say do their job and if that means they need to get our Santa-bound letters to him, then the North Pole is where they’ll be. Yeah, you can doubt all you want that this is where our letters end up, and yes you can deny that reindeer fly, let alone are responsible for carrying around Claus.

So go ahead and argue the fact that Santa is real, but if that is the case, then let’s see you walk up to Mr. Thomas Frawley and tell him he’s wrong. Good luck with that. When I asked Frawley what he thought, he confidently said, “I can explain everything but where the cookies go, so I guess that means there is a Santa.” And let me tell you, there is nothing Mr. Frawley can’t explain. Those cookies go somewhere, and that somewhere is Kringle’s mouth. Therefore, until someone can show me and Mr. Frawley where those cookies disappear to on Christmas Eve, I will remain a full-out believer of Santa Claus.

December 2006

Entertainment

14

New Music Worth Discovering Online

By Fred Maxon Art Director

With the holiday season upon us, many may be getting the feeling of déjà vu from 24 hour Christmas radio stations and from the annual Christmas specials being played on the TV ad nauseam. Are you in desperate need of some new tunes to get “Jingle Bells” or the latest pop jingle out of your head? Do you need an easy New Year’s resolution that you can guarantee a success? Try these artists on the rise and you won’t be left unsatisfied.

Twenty-six year old musician Regina Spektor was born in Moscow, Russia. When the period of perestroika, (economic reforms) then-leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced to Soviet Russia, allowed her family of Jewish citizens to emigrate, they traveled from Russia to Austria and Italy before finally settling down in the Bronx. She discovered her song-writing abilities while she was on a trip to Israel as a teenager. She helped to entertain the other children on a hiking trip via impromptu songs and this helped inspire her to follow the career path of a professional singer-songwriter.

An anti-folk singer on the rise, her piano odes accompanied with lyrics seasoned with punk rock tones have given her numerous spots on late night TV. Anti-folk, a subgenre of punk rock, springs from New York’s east side and is gaining fame due to anti-folk artist Beck. Anti-folk is best described as the sound of Joni Mitchell mixed with the politically-charged lyrics of The Clash.

Her first album, 11:11, was released on July 9, 2001, and was followed by her second, simply titled Songs, released February 25, 2002. Soviet Kitsch, her third album, was released along with an alternate version which included a DVD containing a short film she made, titled “The Survival Guide to Soviet Kitsch.” She then released a compilation album called Mary Ann and the Grave Diggers and Other Short Stories. Then, on June 13, 2006 she released Begin To Hope.

Spektor uses her unique voice techniques and talent at playing piano to create one-of-akind songs drawing inspirations from classical music, famed operas, classic rock and modern contemporaries. To listen to her music online, check out her website at reginaspektor.com.

New York, as well as Philadelphia, is also called home to the indie rock band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Alec Ounsworth, Robbie Guertin, Lee and Tyler Sargent, and Sean Greenhalgh are behind the songs that have given the band the ability to rise through the charts in a short period of time. Their fame has been achieved via internet blogs and by means of a favorable review by Pitchfork Media, a website dedicated to music reviews. Since they became active in 2005, they’ve released one album, which has received rave reviews from the blogs. Their selftitled album is being sold out of Tyler Sargent’s apartment, and has sold over 200,000 copies.

On television, their music has been used in the hit show “The Office” and is mentioned on the MySpace of Claire Bennet, a fictional character on the show “Heroes.”

Some people may wonder about how to find their own unique bands online. There are three websites that’ll help you find musicians looking for listeners. First, there is the obvious, MySpace.

Myspace, the insanely popular website that calls itself “a place for friends,” is also home to many musicians. The music section of MySpace allows you to search for music by genre and location, then sort the results into three categories based on their type of record label: unsigned, indie, and major.

Also, PureVolume can be helpful for your musical search. It contains over 270,000 artists, and they are searchable by an extensive checklist style search which allows the user to search through multiple genres at once for faster, easier, searching. For music reviews, I suggest taking a look at Pitchfork Media.

They review music with genres ranging from techno to jazz, and from hip-hop to folk.

So this Christmas break, between downing glasses of eggnog and visiting relatives, give yourself a present and visit Regina Spektor, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and the numerous music-searching sites. You’ll be sure to find a sound that suits you.

Celebrity Look-alikes

Parrotte or Garcia?

Parrotte or Garcia?

Has anyone ever told you that you look like someone famous? In this issue of The Buccaneer Bulletin, we begin a monthly feature called Celebrity Look-alike. If you know of anyone at OHS that has a celebrity look-alike, contact Katie DiVita at cdivita@oswego.org. Above, PE teacher Mr. Brian Parrotte (left) is compared to pro golfer Sergio Garcia (right).

Buccaneer Bulletin

December 2006

Entertainment

15

Over 100 Choices; No Need to ‘Wing It’ In a previous column, I complained about a lack of things to do in Oswego, and true, there may not be much to do in Oswego, but there are definitely a lot of places to eat. Ruby Tuesdays, Canale’s, and a new addition to the slew of local restaurants called Wing It! This restaurant is located near The Post Office on West First Street.

Wing It! has the ambiance of a sports bar, yet still has the comfortable aspects of an upscale restaurant. Inside, there is a bar with many stools and a big-screen TV where people can go to watch their favorite teams play while enjoying some classic “football food.” Patrons can also enjoy the classic rock music that is played throughout the restaurant. There are many tables and big windows that show a large deck that overlooks the Oswego River. The deck is perfect for the summer time in Oswego when people can enjoy not only the good food, but a good view as well.

The most important thing about a restaurant, of course, is food quality, and Wing It! does not disappoint. There is a large variety of food that is offered (including a kid’s menu).

There is everything from salads to burgers and sandwiches. Obviously, from the restaurant’s

name, its house specialty is chicken wings. There are 100 different varieties of wings that are offered at Wing It! that will satisfy even the most discriminating pallets.

The wings are split up into categories that include garlic addiction, onion overkill, and “for the love of parm.” Under these categories are the average plain, mild, medium, and hot wings along with a bit more unique flavors such as Jamaican jerk, mud puddle, Photo by Emily Mclaughlin Canadian cowboy, and The choices at Wing It!, Oswego’s newest restaurant are unbelievable-and the peanut butter and tasty too! jelly chicken wing. restaurant. The only thing that I can say negative about The best part of the entire trip to Wing It! is the it is that there isn’t a big neon sign out front that would food is extremely reasonable prices. A 10-count let more people know that it is there. of chicken wings only costs $5.99. Wet wipes are So I would advise everyone that the next time also served with every order of wings, just in case you’re hungry, don’t just order pizza or Chinese, go things get a little messy. The service is also very quick try Wing It! it is definitely worth the time and the at Wing It! and the waitresses are very pleasant. money.

Overall, Wing It! is a very cool and different new

‘Bobby’ Campaign Visited Oswego in 1964 The movie Bobby opened last month to rave reviews from critics and a star-studded cast including Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore and Martin Sheen. The film covers the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 6, 1968.

It centers around twentytwo people who were at the Ambassador Hotel where he was killed.

Only a few old-time Oswegonians would remember that Kennedy visited Oswego (see Buc Bulletin archive photo at left) on Thursday, September 10, 1964 when he was a candidate for Senator.

Buccaneer Bulletin

December 2006

16

Entertainment

Great Gifts for a Grumpy Grinch to Give Everyone can relate to the feeling of excitement that one feels upon waking up on Christmas morning ready to open gifts and enjoy the festivities that Christmas brings. Unfortunately, most people can also relate to the feeling of disappointment when you receive a bad Christmas gift, which is then followed by the feeling of shame for being disappointed. No one wants to feel like this on such a special day as Christmas, so with this list, I will hopefully be shedding some light on some items that should never ever be purchased for Christmas or any other holiday for that matter.

5 Gym Memberships. Gym memberships are really just a bad idea as a Christmas gift. First of all, most people work out on their own or with a friend, so therefore, they either already own a gym membership or they go outside to exercise. Therefore, there would be no sense in buying that person a gym membership.

Secondly, for some people, weight is a touchy subject and the recipient may not look kindly upon someone close to them buying them a gym membership, or in other words telling them to get their lazy butts up and work out. It is better for your own personal well-being not to buy a loved one a gym membership.

4 Technology Gadgets and Hair Accessories as seen on infomercials. It is almost a given that anything you see on TV is not going to work the way the advertisers say it is going to work. Things such as the Hair Origami, The Magic Bullet, and The Finishing

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Touch often times are disappointments when you get them out of the box and try to use them. For one reason, when things are advertised on TV, the infomercials are often pre-taped and have been edited to look like the product is the best thing to come out for the Christmas season.

Also, sometimes these products do work, but there are some drawbacks to them that the advertiser has hidden on the infomercials. Also, on top of the risks of buying such a gift, you have to pay for the actual product, shipping and handling, and then once it comes, you have to supply your own batteries. Also, the risks that go along with buying products of TV outweigh however “cool” the product may seem. Therefore, when it comes to the holiday season TV products are something to steer clear of.

3 CD’s and Clothes. Most of the time when you are shopping for someone you don’t have a list of what they want and what they already own, therefore, buying CD’s for someone without such a list can be iffy. Many times, you might see a CD and think that the person you’re shopping for will love it, so you buy it. But come to find out, they either already have it or absolutely hate the CD. A better idea than spending twenty dollars on a CD is to burn a mixed CD for a loved one. Not only can you put a variety of music on it, but you can also put your own personal touches on it to make the gift really from the heart.

Another iffy gift idea is clothes. First of all, you’re never exactly sure you have the correct size, because many brands either run a little small or a little big. Also, you might think that you could see the person in the outfit you’re picking out, but in actuality they would

never be caught dead wearing it. Then the recipient of the gift feels like he/she has to wear the ensemble around you and that can be stifling.

2 Ties. I bet that just about everyone has bought a tie for his or her father at one point or another. True, a tie may seem like the perfect gift, easy to find, cheap, and every man needs another tie right? Wrong. A guy can only wear so many ties, and if you get someone a tie for every single Christmas, it can be a little monotonous.

Although fathers and other grown men wear ties, I’m sure they have other hobbies that could spark ideas for much better and more interesting gifts than the overdone necktie.

1 Kitchen Appliances and Cleaning Supplies.

As most people know, a lot of moms (or whoever it is in your family who does the daily cooking and cleaning) feel under-appreciated because no one thanks them for cooking, cleaning and taking care of the house.

Therefore, why would you want to bring attention to something like cooking and cleaning when both things are obviously chores? We wouldn’t like it if our parents bought us a special cart to take the garbage out or something that had to do with our daily chores, so why would we buy something that would be used for theirs? Kitchen appliances and cleaning supplies are very unoriginal gift ideas to begin with and would most likely get you into some trouble for buying them. Therefore, when you’re at the mall and you pass the home appliance section and you see the stacks of blenders, electric can openers, and toasters, just turn your head and walk the other way.

Hopefully this list will help save some of you from making a horrible gift-giving blunder this Christmas. So

December 2006

Sports

17

Varied Activities Can Cut Repetitive Stress Injuries

By Kailyn Gray Sportswriter

Athletes: that recurring injury you’ve been battling may be the result of repetitive stress, a relatively new affliction which leads to injuries caused by repeating the same activities or motions over and over again.

Repetitive stress injuries can include (but are not limited to) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, shin splints, tendonitis, and stress fractures. Not only do these types of sports injuries seem to be increasing nationwide, but OHS athletic trainer Michelle Wink said that these types of sports injuries are becoming more common here at Oswego High School also. Wink says that on average, she sees about two to three athletes a week with repetitive injuries.

Usually there is no difference in the number of repetitive stress related injuries in different sports, but soccer, hockey and lacrosse here at OHS certainly do seem to have many injured players. The athletes that seem to be the ones suffering the most from repetitive stress-type injuries are the athletes who play a specific sport all year-round, and athletes that play a school sport for two to three hours every day, then go play the same sport in an out-of-school organization for an additional two to three hours.

Realizing that you may be over-doing a sport is a big part of solving the problem. No one wants to be told he has to sit out on the sidelines due to an injury,

and no one wants to have to tell an athlete that he can’t play. “I’ll never tell an athlete not to participate,” stated Win k. “That’s not what I’m here for, but in the same right, I’ve got to let them know and educate them that they might get these t y pes of injuries.”

Sophomore Tammy Guzman, a three year wrestler and almost life-long athlete, understands repetitive stress injuries. In Photo By alyscia clohecy relation to wrestling, Varsity basketball player Tim Hilton gets an ice treatment in the training room prior to a recent practice. Trainer Michelle Wink treats many OHS she states, “I cracked athletes who suffer from repetitive stress injuries. my rib last season, and so far I’ve only To prevent these types of season-ruining insprained my ankle.” Guzman feels that even though juries, Michelle Wink strongly persuades athletes her practices are hard, she hasn’t been overdoto get plenty of sleep, watch what they eat, and ing it. She sometimes alternates her wrestling make sure they don’t put too much strain on themseason with hockey. In addition to wrestling and selves.

“Decrease the intensity, and do it [exercises] hockey, Guzman played on the high school’s 2006 at the proper rate and time,” Wink encourages.

JV football team, plays softball, and runs track.

Martin Accepts Division I Softball Scholarship

By Kathryn Lazarski Sportswriter

Oswego High School’s senior softball pitcher Abby Martin will be soon be throwing for the NCAA Monmouth Hawks softball team. Martin signed a national letter of intent last month to attend New Jersey’s Monmouth campus next year to play Division 1 softball and to major in English education.

Martin said the she was instantly attracted to Monmouth when she visited this September, stating that the campus is very clean cut and well groomed, with nice kids, great majors to choose from, and a great softball program.

Next school year Martin will be playing in the majority, if not all of the games, for the Hawks. If she isn’t pitching, Martin will still be hitting toward the middle of the lineup as a power hitter, or playing in the outfield. Monmouth head coach, Carol Sullivan, stated that she hopes Martin will have an immediate impact on the Hawk’s team. Martin also added that the girls already on the team and she get along, so the ’07-‘08 season

Buccaneer Bulletin

is in the “top ten” of the best players he has coached in his eighteen years at OHS. He commented that all of her natural ability is just what college coaches look for and her passion for the game is another positive attribute.

McCrobie also said that Martin has the ability to change a game offensively and defensively. “She’s an impact player in the circle and at the plate,” he said.

As far as the upcoming high school softball season goes, Martin hopes to win Sectionals and defeat the rival team at Cicero-North Syracuse.

Martin stated that all of the returning players will be key to the team’s success, and with so many returning players the team chemistry will be great.

McCrobie agreed with Martin, Photo By Alyssa Holland stating that he hopes the ’07 team can accomplish all of its goals. He Varsity softball standout Abby Martin signs her National Letter of Intent at stated that with so many returning a ceremony recently as her mom Lisa (right) and dad Troy (left) proudly players, this year’s team should go look on. Standing is coach Mike McCrobie. far. McCrobie said, “Abby should be for the Hawks should be a good one. said that with good training routines, able to, figuratively, put the team on Oswego High School Coach Mi- Martin will become better and be able her back and carry them this season.” chael McCrobie stated that Martin to develop her raw athletic ability. should excel at the college level. He McCrobie went on to say that Martin

December 2006

18

Sports

Gym All-Stars are not Benefitting from PE Class a sport in their lives. It may be good for the students who aren’t as athletic to be in a gym class with athletic students, but what about the athletes?

Are they benefitting at all? One of the main reasons gym is required is to enhance your physical well-being, but how can I do that when I’m not being challenged to my highest potential?

I think our school should provide some kind of gym class for athletes. Not only would it be more challenging, but it would also be more fun for the kids who actually

Ever since I was a little kid, I have always been told to challenge myself and do everything to my highest potential, whether it be in school or in sports. Many kids enroll themselves in honors classes to be with other kids of the same ability, while others “One thing I don’t like about gym class partake is that the non-athletes are not up to in club the ability of the athletic people.” sports to face harder

Andrew Lazzaro competition

Varsity Athlete and test their ability. So why should gym classes be want to play. “I think it’s a great idea because if you had all the athletic different? people in one class, it’d be more fun Throughout my school career, I and competitive. Usually all the nonhave always enjoyed gym class. I’m athletes are not prepared, so there are a very competitive person and have been participating in sports my whole fewer people to contribute in games,” stated junior Jeremy Cahill. life. When I got into high school, I It would also make fewer athletes was hoping to be in an older, more opt out of gym. Many athletes opt competitive gym class, though that out to have another study hall or wasn’t the case. It seems every year I free period, but I think it also has get stuck in gym classes that are not to do with a “bad” gym class. Even competitive. These classes are filled if I did want another study hall, if I with people that have never played

Buccaneer Bulletin

Photo by Morgan Mcnamara

Students not participating in PE class have an impact on those who do participate and want to have competitive games.

had a gym class worth being in, I wouldn’t drop it. “One thing I don’t like about gym class is that the nonathletes are not up to the ability of the athletic people,” stated varsity athlete Andrew Lazzaro. With a new gym class, I think athletes will benefit better with other athletic kids and I also think the non-athletes would feel more comfortable with kids with the same ability as them.

Even though I feel strongly about having a gym class for athletes, I can see how it would be difficult to make it work. Trying to schedule a certain gym class for every athlete would impossible. PE teacher, Mr. John Finch, also added that it’s not always a bad thing to have a diverse group

of people in a gym class. It makes a game more challenging working with students who have different (positive and negative) attributes. Also, if we make classes with all athletic people in them, it would decrease the chance of non athletic students to be challenged.

I still believe we should have a gym class or even a PE elective for athletes. I think both athletes and non athletes would benefit. Athletes would be up against even competition and I think the non athletes would feel more comfortable with kids of the same ability. Something should be done about the level of ability in a gym class, so everyone can benefit.

December 2006

Sports

19

Team Shooting for Section III Crown

By Kevin Kearns Editor-in-Chief

Losing in a championship game always has a harsh impact on a team. Some teams will become determined and stronger than before; others will crash and burn with the thoughts of what-could-havebeen. Last year, the girls’ varsity basketball team fell short in its efforts to be Section III champs by losing to powerhouse Rome. Even though Rome came in heavily favored, it still had an effect on the team to lose such a close game. After losing only two players from last year, this year’s squad is determined to forget the past and surpass last year’s accomplishments.

“Our number one goal has always been to improve as much as we can from the first day of the season to the last,” said coach Phillip Reed, “Now having said that, we have higher expectations than we normally have had in the past…because this year’s squad doesn’t want to go through what happened last year; they want to win.”

Whenever a team returns nine out of eleven players who took the team so close to a title, there is bound to be high expectations and additional pressure. The Post-Standard even went as far as calling Oswego the top team in Section III, over tough teams like Christian Brothers Academy and Liverpool. “We definitely feel pressure this year, but (winning the title) is something we really want, so we can’t let it affect us. We just have to play our game,” said junior forward Nikki Carroll.

Not only is the team returning nine players, but three of them are sophomores. Cari Reed, Christian Scaccia, and Lauren Hunt, played pivotal roles last year and undoubtedly will be called upon this year. Scaccia believes that they will be able to fill whatever role the team needs because of how much they all learned

last year, which gives them a huge edge this year.

“Last year when we had seven freshman and sophomores on the team; we were very young and lacking in experience,” said Reed, “this year, though, by returning all of them, when it’s time for practice they know what we want to do and how we want to do, so with that experience the beginning to this season has been a lot smoother then last year which we can build upon.” “(The sophomores) know what they are doing because of last year and I think our team has strengths and weaknesses and they are one of our strengths,” said Carroll.

Most would agree that everything is pretty well put into place for a title run this year, but Scaccia sees a problem that could come up during the season and hurt the Lady Bucs chances. “We probably could have some problems with things like team chemistry,” said Scaccia, “because we have a lot of different views on how things should be done. A huge key to our success this year will end up being if we can play as a team and not individuals.”

Coach Reed sees leadership as the key to avoiding bad team chemistry. This is why for the first couple weeks of practice coach Reed will carry around a book which covers most aspects of being a leader. “We are doing as much as possible right now to stop any problems (like team chemistry) from happening. So I really

don’t think anything like that will happen,” Reed added.

The team certainly knows each other well.

They grew up playing together on youth basketball teams around Central New York, and even now the girls play together in two leagues in Syracuse during the off-season. Both Carroll and Scaccia believe that working together over the off-season will really benefit them when sectionals come around.

“I think that last year the team knew that it probably wasn’t our year,” said Carroll, “but this year it is, and we are going to win it all!”

photo by Abby martin

Corrin Conroy, Nikki Carroll, Cari Reed ring in the holiday season.

Buccaneer Bulletin

December 2006