The inkblot issue 5 volume 14 by Andi Mulshine

Page 10

Take a trip to Trader Joe’s

SPORTS

Page 8 Boost sex ed in schools

ARTS

Page 4 Weber ﬁnds home at CHS

OPINION

Page 2 Fashion show rakes in money

F E AT U R E S

NEWS

May 18, 2016 Page 12

Should NCAA pay athletes?

INSIDE: FATE OR FICTION? We take a look at the psychic industry on pages 6 and 7. BLOT ART BY SALLY BONIECKI

Communications High School, Wall, New Jersey

Volume 15, Issue 5

www.THEINKBLOTNEWS.com

Students hone skills at annual Teen Arts Fest

By MADELYN CURTIS Thirty-eight writers and visual artists alike ventured to Brookdale Community College on March 17 and 18 for the 12th annual Teen Arts Festival. The workshops allowed students from high schools across Monmouth County to admire and critique others’ artistic pieces, students said. Junior Daniela Delgado of Hazlet said she enjoyed the trip. “It was a fun learning experience. I got to see other students’ amazing artwork and get my work critiqued, so that I could improve in the future,” she said. Students were able to attend different sessions and workshops independently, where they presented their own works, received feedback and participated in discussions to give other attendees advice. Visual Communications teacher Ryan Weber attended the workshop for the ﬁrst time this year. “I felt the day went really well,” Weber said. “The students seemed to be engaged in the critique that Visual Arts had, and we had a couple of winners, which seemed like a great sign.” The event also featured various performances and presentations for students to attend, including a dance routine, an open mic and a seminar. “During the open mic, there was one student who performed this really cool poem, and his performance really struck me. “Also, there was this one incredible self portrait that I noticed. It was super photo realistic and made in charcoal pencil,” Delgado said. Senior Darcy Darbin of Middletown attended the event for the second time, but she said that this year’s event was better overall. “Last year, the woman who critiqued our stuff wasn’t as thorough, and there wasn’t a lot to do. “This year, there were plenty of really fun workshops, and the critique was more in-depth. Overall, it was a lot more fun, and I took something away from it,” Darbin said.

BLOT PHOTO BY MEAGAN McDOWELL

Senior and Mr. CHS winner Nick Brennan of Middletown performed a dramatic reading of “It’s Tricky” by RunDMC for the talent portion of the competition. He was joined by senior Eric Harris of Middletown, who did not compete in the male beauty pageant.

It’s not ‘tricky’ – Brennan snags Mr. CHS crown By GRACE BADGER After a year-long hiatus, the SGAhosted Mr. CHS is once again under the spotlights and on the stage. Senior Nick Brennan of Middletown was named this year’s Mr. CHS. Originally, the event wasn’t even going to happen, junior and SGA member Rebecca Madeira of Howell said. Last year, Mr. CHS was rescheduled due to poor weather, but then the rescheduled event was ultimately canceled when many of the contestants then dropped out. This year, in a change of tradition, the event marked the end of Spirit Week and played a major role in securing a win for the seniors. Sophomore Ebbie Shim of Spring Lake Heights said that she was excited for this year’s Mr. CHS. “Not going last year was a bummer. I was so excited for this, because it’s a CHS tradition,” she said. “When I heard the event was happening this year, I wanted to come see what it was like.” SGA adviser and chemistry teacher Erin Wheeler said that the SGA needed to ﬁnd a way to make Mr. CHS proﬁtable. “The SGA wanted the event to be a success and felt the only to do that was to

attach it to Spirit Week. Contestants could gain points for their class but also lose points if they dropped out of the competition. By making Mr. CHS part of the Spirit Week competition we ensured that guys would participate and try their best,” Wheeler said. The night began with the contestants and their escorts walking, or in some cases, dancing, to the stage. Once on stage, each contestant then had to explain why they were the “dressed to impress,” which was the theme of the night. The contestants then each participated in a question-and-answer session, where they were asked things ranging from “What decade would you want to live in?” to “If you could listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?” The session was followed by a brief intermission, which boasted food and drink, and then the talent portion. Freshman James Krall of Middletown performed “All Star” on the kazoo, while sophomore Cameron Destefano of Middletown performed magic tricks. Brennan performed a dramatic reading of “It’s Tricky” with senior Eric Harris, also of Middletown, among other talents.

Junior Rachel Fenniman of Ocean particularly enjoyed this portion of the event. “I thought the talents were interesting and varied, but I preferred the funnier ones,” Fenniman said. Sophomore Marcos Guevara of Aberdeen said he particularly loved the dramatic reading. “‘It’s Tricky’ was my favorite part of the night. [Brennan] is hilarious,” he said. Ultimately, Cameron Destefano won “People’s Choice” and “Best Talent,” with junior Mark DiSpigna of Lincroft taking “Best Answer” and “Best Dressed,” the latter of which in a combined effort with junior Annie Ruoff of Monmouth Beach. As for Brennan, his dramatic reading earned him “Funniest” and and helped him to become this year’s Mr. CHS. Senior and SGA president Lauryn Masciana of Middletown said she sees a bright future for Mr. CHS. “I am so happy with how everything played out in the end. Being that I am graduating, it’s up to next year’s council to decide if the event will still be part of Spirit Week. However, I think it was an added bonus to the event as a whole,” Masciana said.

CCC Festival raises over $3,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital

BLOT PHOTO BY MEAGAN McDOWELL

Senior Sarah Takash of Brielle performed a dance to “Don Quixote” at the annual CCC festival on April 8.

By KHUSHI KADAKIA and ERICA SAMMARCO Greece takes bronze. Portugal takes silver. And Iceland wins the gold medal. Only, these aren’t results from the Olympics. These are the winners of the annual Cultural Communications Festival. The event, which raised over $3,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, was held on Friday, April 8, and it featured 23 countries, ranging from Fiji to Austria, said CCC Vice President and junior Mark DiSpigna of Middletown. Groups of students transformed locker pods and hallways into exotic countries, complete with hand-made backdrops, authentic food and even photo booths. Six judges then selected the three winning countries and each group was awarded a prize. The theme of this year’s festival was “It’s a Giving World for St. Jude’s,” and DiSpigna said the theme embodies the event’s purpose. “The ‘It’s a Small World’ theme immediately came to

mind when the council was discussing ideas, because the festival is about bringing the whole world into one small place: CHS,” DiSpigna said. “We incorporated this theme by altering the phrase slightly and encouraging students and their families to come together for a good cause.” In addition to the cultural displays, the event featured student performances, and CCC President and senior Sam Dellis of Spring Lake hosted this portion of the night. Junior Catherine Escueta of Eatontown performed a dance routine with junior Anna Soltys of Holmdel, sophomore Shao Peterson of Rumson and seniors Lauryn Masciana of Middletown and Sarah Takash of Brielle. “It was fun to perform with my friends from dance in school and be able to show my classmates what I do everyday,” Escueta said. “And, of course, it’s really cool to see all the other wonderful talents that CHS students have to offer.” [See CCC Festival, page 2]

the inkblot may 18, 2016

Annual fashion show brings students, teachers to runway Junior Mark DiSpigna of Lincroft was in charge of providing food for the event, which was entirely donation-based. Since task required months of preparation, DiSpigna started contacting local bakeries back in December, including Cupcake Magician, Broad Street Dough Co. and the Macaroon Shop, he said. “It was stressful at times, especially having to keep in contact with all the businesses, but it ended up being really rewarding, and I’m deﬁnitely planning on heading the Food Committee again next year,” DiSpigna said. Among her crew of volunteers, juniors Julia Pardee of Freehold and Allie Kuo of Tinton Falls assisted Haas in the organizing and planning of the event. Next year, Pardee and Kuo will lead the event, and Haas said she has faith in their abilities. “There are always challenges throughout the process. The Fashion Show itself is one big challenge, but I know Julia and Allie will succeed no matter how many challenges they have to face,” Haas said. Biology teacher Jeanine Gomez walked the runway with her three children

Should students be held accountable in class for what they post online?

BLOT PHOTO BY MEAGAN MCDOWELL

Biology teacher Jeanine Gomez walked the runway alongside her three children on March 4.

and considered the event both fun and successful. “It was great to see the students all dressed up, excited and in a different realm,” Gomez said. Junior Matt Miller of Wall was more familiar with the runway experience, hav-

ing participated in the fashion show the past two years. “Like always, the show came together really well. Whether it was models or tech people, everyone worked really hard on the event, and Sallie pulled together another great fashion show,” Miller said.

Student journalists learn tips and tricks on Columbia trip

By LINDA BADARACCO It’s college decision time, and students across the country are entering school gates for tours. Ten CHS juniors recently walked onto an Ivy League campus, but it was for a different reason: the 92nd annual Columbia Scholastic Press Association Spring Convention. The convention, held this year from March 16-18, provided 45-minute sessions on various topics, arranged in seven sequences: newspaper, yearbook, magazine, online media, video/broadcasting, law and ethics and advisers. It offered 338 sessions that ran from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., according to the CSPA pamphlet. In attendance were juniors Julie Alter of Freehold, Linda Badaracco of Lincroft, Shannon Bradley of Keyport, Kat Holtz of Hazlet, Allie Kuo of Tinton Falls, Kylie Lamb of Howell, Cat La Roche of Ocean, Sarah Lynch of Interlaken, Julia Pardee of Freehold and Abby Silva of Neptune. The students attended the conference with journalism teacher Andi Mulshine. After spending two nights at The Hotel at Times Square in New York City and three days at Columbia University to hone their journalistic skills, the group successfully carried on a 10-year tradition, Mulshine said. She called the trip a “great experience” for the attendees. “It’s next-level. We have some interesting sessions and some that are a little bit more tech and utilitarian, and at Columbia you have professional speakers who are work-

Schools take on social media use

ing at it every day, and they’re excited about what they do,” Mulshine said. Holtz sat in on a session about proper speaking and

BLOT PHOTO BY ALLIE KUO

Juniors Sarah Lynch of Interlaken, left, and Julie Alter of Freehold take a reading break during the Columbia trip.

self-presentation. “The session that made me laugh the most ... was ‘You Sound, Like, Um... Stupid? Ya Know?’ The speaker, Jacob Palenske, was phenomenal and really knew how to relate to a room full of high school students,” Holtz said. “He spoke about how our generation’s ‘disease’ was our

speech.” Bradley said she enjoyed the trip. “The conference was extremely professional but wasn’t stuffy. It really exempliﬁed what a learning experience should be: fun and interactive,” Bradley said. This year’s group of delegates was all-female, which Mulshine recalled as uncommon or unprecedented. “It was a coincidence that our 10 best staff members happened to be women, but it sure is fun. We could do some things that we would not have done had we had a mixed group, so fun-wise, it was an advantage,” Mulshine said. Kuo said the group being all-female did not affect the trip signiﬁcantly. “It would’ve been as much fun with guys and girls as it was with our group of gals. Although I must say, it was like a girls’ week out, which was pretty awesome,” Kuo said. “I’m sure we wouldn’t have spent as much time in Topshop if there had been some guys along with us.” Mulshine said the trip compared favorably to previous trips. “I think the team we had can’t be beat. It was 10 really, really dedicated, excited delegates. I think the sessions were all … great, which hardly ever happens.” Mulshine said. “You’ll have one or two across the three days that are ‘eh,’ but this time I just was so lucky, or it was so much better.”

[CCC Festival, from page 1] Although all the displays were completed before the event began, several participants, including sophomore Emily Brzozowski of Brielle, said these two hours of preparation were stressful. “It always seems like you have a lot of time, but then you don’t, so it all gets really crazy,” Brzozowski

said. Despite the preparation stress, Spanish teacher and CCC adviser Sabina Campbell said the event exceeded expectations she’d conceived prior. “It’s always better than what I expect just, because every year it gets bigger,” Campbell said. “It’s better. It just gets better.”

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By SAMANTHA HOGAN and CATHERINE LIANG Your best friend making mac and cheese, highlights from last night’s political debate and an embarrassing picture from that party three days ago. All these things can be found in one place: social media. While social media is a place to share things with friends, CHS students are split on whether school and work authorities should also be allowed to see their accounts. In a March 17 Inkblot survey, 86 percent of students said that schools shouldn’t monitor what students post on social media. Three percent of students said online activity should be monitored, while 11 percent were unsure.

Junior Evelyn Gallagher of Manasquan uses social media every day, and her favorite is Instagram. She said it should be allowed in the workplace. “It’s smart because [employers] have to make sure the people they are hiring have good reputations and aren’t going to give them a bad name,” Gallagher said. “But at the same time I think it can be a little bit invasive … things that happen outside of school, should stay outside of school.” Junior Isaiah Drake of Spring Lake Heights, who has active accounts on both Instagram and Snapchat, agreed. “If it’s out of school, it’s your personal stuff, just you and your family,” he

said. Sophomore Nora Thompson of Middletown said she doesn’t use social media at all, because she doesn’t like looking at photos of herself. She also said school authorities shouldn’t look at social media accounts. “I don’t think it’s fair, because it’s not an in-school thing,” she said. Freshman Ryan Alberti of Howell uses Tumblr and “a little bit of Instagram” about once a day and said social media should be addressed in school if there’s a serious issue at hand. Alberti has experience outside of CHS when it comes to students’ mean posts that receive no repercussions. “My friend just had this problem, and [the ad-

ministration] refused to look at the Instagram account that was posting all these terrible things,” Alberti said. While students disagree on whether authorities should be able to see their social media accounts, senior Josh Ehling of Freehold said the accounts’ owners are ultimately responsible for what they post. “If you’re applying for the job, you have to expect that they are going to look through you. You have to be willing to put on anything you’re not going to be ashamed of, so don’t put up thirty pictures of you at that crazy party last weekend. Instead, put up pictures of you at an event, helping out somebody,” he said.

Exit sales bring in steady income for clubs By ELIZABETH KLEMM At the end of every school day, CHS students rush out of classrooms to their buses… or maybe to the front table for exit sales. This year, a different club or class holds exit sales each day. CCC takes the table Monday, the classes of 2017 and 2018 claim Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, SGA takes Thursday and SkillsUSA sell Friday. Senior Christina Noll of Hazlet, who is the president of SkillsUSA and a council member for CCC, said that exit sales provide a good way to make proﬁt. “They’re an easier way to make money. You don’t make that much, but if you need a little bit of

cash, they’re a good way to boost your account,” Noll said. Class of 2017 adviser Ginny Clevenger said that the sales are a successful method for raising funds. “The product that they’re selling is donated. It’s pure proﬁt,” Clevenger said. Quality of food has been a key to success for club or class exit sales, too. Sophomore Christina Alfano of Middletown said the Class of 2018’s proﬁts often depend on the taste of the food. “If someone makes Oreo balls or really good brownies, we usually get a good amount of money from it,” Alfano said. But Alfano, a class of 2018 council member, said she believes earnings

BLOT PHOTO BY SYDNEY FOO SIAM

Senior Julia Rongo of Middletown, left, grabs a cookie from juniors Sarah Lang of Monmouth Beach, center and Cate Escueta of Eatontown during a junior class exit sale.

have been adversely affected because of the frequency of sales throughout the week. Junior Mark DiSpigna of Middletown, a member of the CCC council and SGA, agrees. “Most students have a certain amount of money they are willing to spend on exit sales

REPORTER

ROVING

By SARAH LYNCH and ABIGAIL SILVA Models strutted the runway at the annual CHS Fashion Show on March 4. The models wore clothes from a variety of Monmouth County stores, including Inlet Outlet, Spellbinders, The Bee, Dresses and More, Tuxedo Den, Gordon’s Surf Shop, D. Monaco Designs and Lucki Clover, as well as a line of clothing designed by science and health teacher Leah Morgan. Senior Sallie Haas of Deal coordinated the event for the last time after ﬁrst initiating it in 2014. The proceeds from the Fashion Show will go towards the 2016 prom. Senior class council member Johnny Callaghan of Wall said the event raised about $1,500 for prom, and the money will help fund the DJ, venue and photobooth. Haas led the event with the help of many student volunteers who helped organize and set up the event the day of the show. Haas said these volunteers helped make the show possible. “They helped put together a night I will never forget, and I will never be able to thank them enough for that,” Haas said.

the inkblot may 18, 2016

Freshman Alexandra Weitzman of Marlboro “I would eat strawberry Special K cereal because it’s good and nutritious.”

each week, and having the sales every day forces them to choose to support one club over another,” DiSpigna said. But Clevenger said she didn’t think so. “That gives every class or every club an opportunity to raise a little bit of money, and if we

make $20 a week, that’s somebody’s senior class dinner.” Sophomore Anika Pepsin of Middletown said she doesn’t care what club her money is supporting, as long as the treats look appetizing. “For me, It is sort of like, ‘I’m hungry. That looks good,’” Pepsin said.

1 in 300

BLOT PHOTO BY SARAH TAKASH

Freshman Caroline Monaghan of Middletown founded Jersey Shore for a Cure in April 2015.

Monaghan makes a difference in Monmouth County

By CAYLA HARRIS Freshman Caroline Monaghan of Middletown is waiting. It’s only a matter of time before her charity, Jersey Shore for a Cure, becomes a government-recognized, tax-deductible nonproﬁt organization – they’re a pending 501(c)(3). Once approved, Monaghan will be the CEO and founder of JSFC, an organization that began last April right out of her own home and that has blossomed with the help of friends and family. “I’ve always felt sympathy for kids that aren’t as fortunate as I am,” she said. Upon founding JSFC, Monaghan said the organization, which provides outreach to sick children and takes on different projects to spread happiness along the shore, became very “goal-oriented.” Their current project, a book drive for Bridge of Books in Rumson, aims to give at least 300 books to kids who don’t have access to them. CHS students can donate books between May 16 and 20. The book drive follows the JSFC’s ﬁrst project, a letter-writing campaign, which donated over 200 handwritten letters to hospital-bound children in long-term care in March 2016. The organization’s motto is “kids helping kids,” and JSFC currently has 58 members, ages 6 to 18, their website says. “My goal is to have people that don’t know me, know what JFSC is and what we do,” Monaghan said. Monaghan said she expects JSFC’s 501(c)(3) status to be approved by autumn of 2016. Hopefully, then, the organization will be able to take on more projects, some of them perhaps involving monetary donations, she said. For more information about JSFC and its projects, visit them online at www.jerseyshoreforacure.org.

Q: If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Sophomore Robert Denny of Keyport “I would choose chocolate, because I’m always in the mood for it, and it goes well with everything.”

Senior Tanner Richardett Junior Caroline Wilser of Tinton Falls of Wall “I would eat tacos, because you get “Chocolate cheesecake, because it’s all the basic food groups, like meat, a good sadness food but also a good happy food to eat for celebrations.” cheese and vegetables.”

INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY ALLIE KUO

the inkblot may 18, 2016

Weber replaces Fallon as Visual Communications teacher

By ISABELLA CAVAZZONI It’s rare that the tight-knit CHS community sees a new face in the middle of the year, but when Visual Communications teacher Laura Fallon left for maternity leave in February, Ryan Weber became the newest addition to Communications. Weber has taken over for Fallon, teaching Visual Communications and Advanced Visual Communications until her return next school year. Weber, previously a substitute teacher in the East Brunswick Public School District, graduated from The College of New Jersey with a double major in Art Education and Fine Arts. He then pursued a Master’s Degree from The School of Visual Art in visual

narratives. Weber went on to participate in a student-teaching program and taught art classes to middle school students in Gilmore J. Fischer Middle School in Ewing, NJ. “When I switched and picked up a double major in college, I decided I wanted to teach part-time or full-time and then be working as an artist on the side,” Weber said. Split between teaching and his own artistic endeavors, Weber said he tries to budget his time, picking up small design jobs. “I have something in the works … for a logo for someone,” Weber said. “I’m trying not to take on too much, because I’m still in new-teacher survival mode.”

Weber said he gets his artistic inspiration from his love of comic books. With pieces like books and even his own comics in his artistic repertoire, his narrative artistic style emulates his hobby as a comic book enthusiast. “I’ve even sold stuff at the Small Press Expo in D.C.,” Weber said. “I’m also going to the San Diego Comic Con this year.” Weber hopes his experience as a high school art teacher will provide a stepping stone to teaching at the college level, a goal he has set for his future after CHS. “Even if I’m teaching [high school] during the day and then jump to [college] at night, that’s my main goal,” Weber said. Whereas Weber previously focused on disciplining students

BLOT PHOTO BY JULIA HARVEY

Ryan Weber graduated from The College of New Jersey before becoming an art teacher and freelance designer.

at his previous job, he said he enjoys being able to “actually teach” material at CHS. “It’s really exciting to be able to teach concepts and projects

where, even if the students aren’t fully into art … they’re still connecting to it as a means of maybe executing an infographic for the topic they’re interested in.”

Gender neutral bathrooms making strides in school

By JULIA DWIGHT With the newest millennial force driving the LGBTQIA+ movement, there has been a push for better accommodation and representation of all people in public areas, including the creation of gender-neutral bathrooms. This idea is becoming more widespread and accepted as well. After lawmakers in North Carolina passed a law that requires all people to use the restroom that matched their biological sex, musicians like Bruce Springsteen,

Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas have canceled shows in the state in protest, according to CNN. Many educational institutions have already adopted the gender-neutral bathroom idea. Over 150 colleges and universities across the United States already have these restrooms, according to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The proposal is spreading to elementary, middle and high schools. Freshman Gia Caruso of Howell said

that gender-neutral bathrooms can be an important step for equality. “It’s a good idea. People should always be able to feel comfortable in public spaces,” Caruso said. But the push for gender-neutrality has made some uneasy. Lawmakers in Kansas have introduced a bill that would allow students to sue their schools for $2,500 if they see someone use a bathroom that does not match their assigned gender. The legislation, known as the Student

Physical Privacy Act, states that it protects students who may feel uncomfortable with the idea of neutral restrooms and using the same facilities as one of another gender, according to the Kansas State Legislature. Sophomore Katrina Eggleston said she believes that gender-neutral bathrooms can be a successful endeavor at CHS, but they should have some necessary limitations. “Only the people who need it should be able to use it, maybe with the nurse’s permission,” Eggleston said.

CHS students find festive ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day By ALEXIS COLUCCI St. Patrick’s Day brought parade marches, hours of work in a crowded Irish pub and a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner for students this year. Those of both of Irish and other ethnic descents got ready weeks before their march down Fifth Avenue for the yearly New York parade. Senior Sally Boniecki has marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the past five years as a member of Middletown High School South’s Screaming Eagle Marching Band. When Boniecki joined the band in eighth grade playing the baritone saxophone, she discovered there was more to the parade than meets the eye. “I found the parade much longer than it looked from the sidewalks. It takes us about an hour every year to finish the route,” she said. Sophomore Christina Alfano of Middletown plays the tenor saxophone and also marches in the Middletown High School South’s Screaming Eagle Marching Band.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA BONIECKI

Senior Sally Boniecki marches annually in the New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Middletown Marching Band.

“The parade itself is so much fun. It’s a straight

In with the old, in with the new: Netflix rounds out show selection By REBECCA RIPPON With the variety of television and movie selections Netflix offers, students sometimes find themselves reaching the double digits in hours spent binging a favorite TV show or movie. Netflix offers older and newer shows, along with more popular movies, and a number of CHS students have taken an interest in them. Sophomore Brigid Garrett of Wall said she likes both older and newer shows but tends to be partial towards the older ones, like “Friends” and “Full House.” “They’re easier to binge watch without waiting for a new episode,” Garrett said. Freshman Luca Montana of Holmdel said he watches newer shows. He also said that a show on Netflix still airing on TV affects how quickly he finishes a series. “A lot of the time, [if] a show is still airing, it will end up coming out in segments at a time, so I can’t just binge an entire series,” Montana said. Freshman Grace McCaffrey of Middletown prefers to watch TV on Netflix but occasionally watches movies as well.

“I watch movies once a month or so,” McCaffrey said. “I usually watch movies that came out sort of recently but not super recently.” Although Netflix hosts many different genres and types of TV shows and movies, some students said they would have discovered their favorite TV shows and movies without the streaming site as a search tool. “When I watch movies on Netflix, they are usually movies I have already seen and I just want to rewatch them,” McCaffrey said. Garrett also uses Netflix to watch shows that she had previously seen on TV. “Before I had Netflix, I used to stay up late or wake up early to watch reruns of some of my favorite shows of the time, so I probably would have known about them,” she said. Others felt that without Netflix, they would be deprived of their favorite shows. “My favorite show, Daredevil, is a Netflix exclusive, so it might not even exist without Netflix,” Montana said. Freshman Kevin Clark of Spring Lake also said that Netflix introduced him to his favorite

route with no turns, so the marching itself is easy,” she said. “It’s just amazing to be a part of something so big like the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade.” Freshman Connor Martin of Spring Lake Heights is Irish, and his dad owns a small Irish pub in Long Branch called The Celtic Cottage. “The majority of my St. Patrick’s Day was spent there to help out. It’s deﬁnitely the busiest day of the year there, so I pick up trash, restock inventory, help in the kitchen or any other odd job that needs to be done,” he said. Junior Anthony Quattrocchi of Aberdeen isn’t Irish but partakes in some traditions. “I’m not Irish, so I don’t really celebrate, but my parents usually buy corned beef and cabbage, and we eat Irish food,” he said. Senior Johnny Callaghan of Wall is Irish and celebrates St. Patrick’s Day annually. “Although its original holiday meaning has lost importance over the years, for me, St. Patrick’s Day is a great way to celebrate my heritage,” Callaghan said.

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the inkblot may 18, 2016

Lit Mag offers timed writing competitions

Drama Club performs spring show at JSAC

By KAROLINE WINZER Pens scribbled eagerly across papers as the minute hand of the clock inched towards 11 a.m. The sneakers and sandals of students tapped tensely on the carpet floor. Eight pairs of nervous eyes glanced back and forth between their papers and the minute hand. One second later, a voice rang through room 143. “Time’s up!” The Literary Magazine’s timed writing competition had come to a close. Head editor and senior Darcy Darbin of Middletown said that the Lit Mag created the competition “to encourage people to come to meetings.” “Also, it’s sometimes become difficult to involve the student body with Lit Mag, so this event gave the members something to do,” Darbin said. The competition was scheduled for Monday, Feb. 29 and the following Monday, March 7. The eight competing students were given the first half of lunch on each day to respond to the prompt, ‘Ship of Theseus.’ The Ship of Theseus, also known as the Theseus Paradox, is a philosophical theory that poses a question of identity, according to the University of Washington. The primary question that the paradox asks is, if an object is changed, is still the same object? This prompt and the competition gave competitors food for thought, as the prize was a $20 gift card to Fin’s restaurant. In addition to the gift card, the first, second and third place winners, junior Leo Ross of Fair Haven, senior Nick Hessian of Hazlet and freshman Phoebe Drummond of Little Silver, respectively, had their writing published in this year’s last Lit Mag issue, which was sold after spring break. “I think the competition went well. People were interested and we got good participation,” Darbin said. “I hope the competition continues next year, definitely.”

Freshman

BY MARISSA HO At a freshmen class council meeting during the week of May 10, the council handed out petitions for the next year’s elections. Primaries will be held before the ﬁnal election. In addition to election information, the council also discussed a book drive for the charity Jersey Shore for a Cure. Afterwards, the possibility of a foosball tournament was also discussed.

By ANGELINA CHENG The Drama Club performed the play “Somewhere, Nowhere” on April 29 and 30 at the Jersey Shore Arts Center. The leads included junior Mark Dispigna of Middletown as Pete Quinn, junior Kat Holtz of Hazlet as Brittney Poole, freshman Gia Caruso of Howell as Echo Moss, sophomore Marcos Guevara of Matawan as Jim Hill, sophomore Samantha LaRochelle of Middletown as Trina Tews, sophomore Jonathan Slovak of Spring Lake Heights as Tyler Tews, junior Rebecca Madeira of Howell as Ms. Bright and sophomore Lara Graney of Belmar as Josie McDaniel. The show is a contemporary comedy that takes place in four scenes, each a different season of the year. High school students from a town called Brayton develop relationships with each other and the town as they discover their life’s path. Before the show, junior and Assistant Director Annie Ruoff of Monmouth Beach said the audience could look

Digital Video By MARISSA HO DV Club members participated a March Madness of Film, “where every day a prompt is given and members have to try to film something every day,” said senior and club member Jane Maloney of Middletown. Two of the prompts were “hello” and “breathe.” Additionally, many films have been accepted to film festivals such as the Artists Alike Film Festival and the Fargo film festival in North Dakota. The Artists Alike Film Festival was on March 18.

BLOT PHOTO BY SARAH TAKASH

The Drama Club netted a proﬁt from “Somewhere, Nowhere” ticket sales, director and senior Olivia Keavey of Shrewsbury said.

forward to “falling in love with the characters and hopefully ﬁnd themselves relating to one or more of them.”

dren’s Hospital on March 13. Also, the club had a successful senior breakfast at the Howell Senior Center on March 31, which featured performances from junior Rebecca Madeira of Howell and freshman Alyssa Rasp of Hazlet. The theme of the 2016 Cultural Festival wass “It’s a Giving World for St. Jude’s,” based on the popular Disney attraction, “It’s a Small World.” The festival was April 8; proceeds of over $3,000 went to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, adviser and Spanish teacher Sabina Campbell said. Council elections will take place in May.

NHS

CCC By SAMANTHA DELLIS The Cultural Communications Club raised over $500 at its Zumbathon in Howell for St. Jude Chil-

By SARAH LYNCH The club elected its new council for the 2016-17 school year. Elected were juniors Sarah Lang on Mon-

Class Councils

Sophomore

By KYLE GALVIN Sophomore council met in April to discuss strategies for different events that occurred during Spirit Week, such as Lip Sync and the clothing drive. The logistics for a sophomore event, Battle of the Bands, were discussed. The event was later canceled before its scheduled date of April 20. The meeting closed by ﬁnalizing the plan for deciding a design for sophomore class t-shirts, which the council will purchase.

Junior

By SARAH LYNCH The junior class council took a trip on March 23 to look at a few potential locations for the 2017 prom. The council took suggestions from students and teachers and has successfully narrowed down their options to about ﬁve potential places. The council also made preparations for spring spirit week, for which the class later placed third.

mouth Beach as president, Rishi Karthikeyan of Manalapan as vice president, Abby Silva of Neptune as secretary and Courtney Rademacher of Wall as treasurer. NHS completed its annual blood drive on March 1. Math teacher and NHS adviser Justine Lane said 73 people signed up and a record number of 61 donated blood. The NHS beautiﬁcation committee begins work on the garden this spring.

Instructional Council By JULIA PARDEE At the March meeting, Instructional Council approved the updated CHS website, which Advanced Web Design students developed last semester. Summer reading book choices are also being ﬁnalized.

Senior

By CAYLA HARRIS The senior council began selling prom bids in April for $60. Bids were half off for CHS seniors. The prom, themed James Bond (007), will be held on May 20. Senior council has also been preparing for the last few events of the year, including the senior dinner, slated for June 1, and the class picnic/canoe trip, which will be held on June 10.

the inkblot may 18, 2016

FATE FICTION? OR

Avon psychic relies on spirit guides, other tools By MATT MILLER Samantha’s Psychic Readings sits on Main Street in Avon, awaiting those who wish to know their future. Inside the store, Samantha waits with her deck of tarot cards, exotic crystals glittering beside her. The smell of frankincense lingers in the air. She is ready to provide her customers with a glimpse of their future. Samantha is one of 45,700 certified psychics, mediums and healers in the United States and Europe, according to the American Federation of Certified Psychics and Mediums. All readings can be classified as either structured or unstructured, according to the Psychic Library. Structured readings involve one or a combination of psychic

tools, like tea leaves or rune stones, while in an unstructured reading, the psychic relies on his or her gifts to reveal information. Structured readings range from palmistry, reading one’s palms to discern elements of the future, and tarot cards, using a specialized deck of cards to show potential events, to tea leaf, using the remnants of leaves from a cup of tea to symbolize future events, and astrology readings. These all provide information from someone’s past, present and future according to the Psychic Library. Senior Allie Wheeler of Wall has never been to a psychic but said she would one day like to have her fortune told. “I think palm readings are the most

interesting, because they seem more personal than something like crystal balls and tarot cards,” Wheeler said. “Everybody has unique lines on their palms, and I think it’s cool how you can read someone’s fortune by how their lines curve and intersect.” Samantha relies on spirit guides, non physical beings assigned by our higher selves to guide us through life, to divine certain aspects of a person’s future. Samantha performs full and half deck tarot card readings, as well as single and double palm readings. She said that tarot card readings are her favorite because she believes they provide the most accurate sense of somebody’s future. “I can meet somebody and just know

things about them that wouldn’t be obvious otherwise,” Samantha said. She has always been aware of her supernatural ability but really began to understand it at age nine. Junior Kierin Rogers of Keansburg is skeptical that psychics have magical powers, but she said she believes in their abilities of intuition. “I definitely think that some people just have a natural ability to truly understand humans on a greater intellectual and emotional level,” Rogers said. “And they can help us learn about ourselves and the lives we could potentially live.”

Media exposure bolsters the popularity of psychic industry, creates fanbase following By PHOEBE DRUMMOND and MIA GALLO Medium Theresa Caputo is infatuating audiences with not only her larger-than-life hair but also her larger-than-life ability to communicate with those who have passed away. The 2013 mid-season premiere of her show “Long Island Medium” had 2.6 million viewers, according to Deadline Hollywood, a website that covers the film industry. The psychic industry currently has an annual revenue of $2 billion, with 85,004 people currently employed. The industry continues to grow at about 2.4 percent each year, too, according to IBISWorld, a market researcher. Television shows featuring mediums and psychics have contributed to this growth. The extreme popularity of “Long Island Medium” has sparked the creation of more supernatural shows. “Psych,” a fiction program about a psychic who helps

police solve crimes, spiked in popularity while it ran on USA Network from 2006 to 2014.“Psych”’s last season had just over 5 million views, according to Deadline Hollywood. Another show that has drawn attention to psychics is “Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry,” airing on the E! Network. This show is centered around medium Tyler Henry, who reads celebrities, rather than everyday people. Henry told FOX411 in January that his most interesting celebrity reading to date was with Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, a former “Jersey Shore” star. Freshman Greer Shanley of Fair Haven said that shows like these make the industry as a whole more popular. “For a lot of people who have lost a loved one, seeing that someone famous can do this special thing for so many people makes them want to experience it,” Shanley said.

the inkblot may 18, 2016

Students uncertain if psychics are authentic

By JULIA PARDEE About three in four Americans profess at least one paranormal belief, according to a recent Gallup survey. The most popular is extrasensory perception (ESP), mentioned by 41 percent, followed closely by belief in haunted houses (37 percent). About 25 percent believe in astrology. Here, 28 percent of students believe that psychics have powers, a March survey showed. That leaves 72 percent who, like junior Samantha Hogan of Ocean, are skeptical of clairvoyants. Hogan is one of 61 students surveyed who have visited a psychic. Her inaccurate palm-reading experience in Seaside Heights reinforced her distrust. She credits psychics’ popularity to the excitement of the moment. “There were moments while

I was getting my palms read where I was like ‘Wow! I feel like she knows me so well,’ but then, I think it’s just the excitement of being in that situation. Once you get out of it, and walk away for it a minute, you realize that a lot of it is just stuff someone could have easily assumed about you from just looking at you,” Hogan said. Count sophomore Emily Brzozowski of Brielle among the anti-psychics. “So many things influence the future ... I was at a party once and there was a psychic and she was completely wrong about the future,” she said. Patty Miller of Point Pleasant, 59, a friend of a faculty member, is on the side of psychic powers. She dreamt her father’s death as it happened. She dreamt about her own skiing accident when she was 17. She calls two psychics, one from Louisiana and one from Florida, one to two times

a month. She doesn’t take their word for complete fact, she said. She believes the fortune tellers are the real deal. “It may not be 100 percent correct, but it’s pretty close to 90 percent correct … psychics are not God. Psychics can’t predict 100 percent, because they can’t,” Miller said. Sophomore Cole Raymond of Middletown said he believes psychics do have powers and that people visit psychics either to have fun or to get out of a bad situation. “I do believe psychics have powers. I’m not that religious, but it says they’re real in the Bible,” Raymond said. Miller said she calls her psychics to reassure her judgment. “I don’t use [psychics] as Bible,” Miller said. “I don’t use them as a guide ... if I didn’t have my own intuition and my

SEÑORA CAMPBELL BLOT ART BY ANNA ROBINSON

own feelings, I don’t know if I would go to them. I would think it’s a bunch of hocus pocus and a bunch of crazy people.” Junior Kierin Rogers of Keansburg said her experience going to a psychic was not incredibly accurate, but it was still impactful. “I’m a little skeptical, but some of the things they had to say were really interesting, even though it might not be accurate. I think that they are very insightful, and you can learn a lot about yourself,” Rogers said. Sophomore Veronica Yaron of Little Silver said she believes there are real people out there who can predict the future and are truly in tune to a higher power. “My only reasoning is the fact that there are stories of people who have predicted the future accurately and clearly,” she said.

Psychics, readings are illegal in some states By CASSIE PASSANTINO You come home from school one afternoon to find that your house has been broken into. The thief took over $200,000 from your family. The police have launched an investigation to identify the criminal, as expected. And yet, when a psychic scams you out of the same amount of money, the lines become blurred. With a career as subjective as a psychic, the laws surrounding the practice are not always clear. Various legal matters pertaining to the field are often brought into question. There are very minimal regulations regarding psychic practices in America. New York State considers psychic practices a penal law misdemeanor. The law states that one cannot claim to have power over fate, according to a 2011 New Y o r k Times article b y

Michael Wilson. There are also regulations in Maryland, Massachusetts and Michigan, in which most jurisdictions having a fortune telling license and performing background checks. The strictest psychic regulation in the U.S. is in Warren, MI. Psychics must be fingerprinted and pay $150 each year to keep their fortune-telling license. Additionally, psychics are required to pay taxes in all states, according to HG.org, an online law and government information site. Former New York Police Department officer Bob Nygaard became famous in 2007 as a licensed private investigator for crimes including psychic scandals. An average shop will bring in $350,000 per year, he said. Psychic shops that he has investigated were normally family-run businesses. The men will frequently pickpocket or burglarize. Women perform sweetheart scandals, in which they force lovers BLOT PHOTO BY SARAH TAKASH to go against their beSpansh teacher Sabina Campbell reads liefs. the palms of senior Kelly Hooper of Howell. Psychic cons are easy to get away with because of the minimal regulations surround-

THE CLAIRVOYANT

BLOT INFOGRAPHIC BY SALLY BONIECKI

Survey of 247 on March 17, 2016

ing the occupation, according to HG.org. Nygaard said he believes that the issue stems from the criminal justice system not being aware of how to apply the law to scandals involving psychics and their practice, as it is difficult to prove a psychic’s validity. There is also the question of whether or not psychics can aid in criminal investigations. Despite false rumors of psychics, such as Noreen Renier and Carla Baron, becoming involved in criminal investigations, no known cases have been closed due to utilizing a psychic according to Nygaard. Psychics, though, are allowed to testify in a court of law but cannot be considered as an expert witness since there is no scientific proof supporting their practice, Nygaard said. The detective also stated that it is possible to sue a psychic, but this is almost worthless because psychics have no money or belongings in their name. “Anybody can claim to be psychic. But the bottom line is that, since the beginning of time, nobody has ever been able to definitively prove that psychic ability does or does not exist,” Nygaard said. Not all psychics focus their practice around conning the public, but those who do are often not charged. “There’s good and bad in every group,” Nygaard said.

Starting in her teens, Spanish teacher Sabina Campbell taught herself to read palms, which she says tell her about a person’s life and personality. She also took up graphology, which gave her insight on a person through their handwriting. “I think it’s fun and a little mysterious. Everybody likes it,” Campbell said. Campbell doesn’t read palms often anymore, because she said people bombard her with requests when they discover her skills. “I like to sit with a person who’s kind and willing, and kind of observe the person, and, you know, take time with them,” Campbell said.

the inkblot may 18, 2016

Students face more stress than most realize

By JULIA DWIGHT Older generations often wonder why teenagers seem so tired all the time, or why they complain so much about the heavy workload they face on a daily base. Why, if they were able to ﬂoat their way through high school and extracurriculars so easily, do kids these days feel as though they have the right to do nothing but whine and sleep all day? However, what those over the age of 30 often fail to realize is just how much adolescents have to do in order to accomplish what used to be basic goals of getting into college, ﬁnding a job and leading a stable life. More homework is being given out consistently, and teenagers are being expected to do increasingly more

Gender-neutral bathrooms would bring acceptance In December 2015, one of Cherry Hill East High School’s faculty bathrooms got some new signage. The school, in Cherry Hill, was the first in its district to implement a gender-neutral bathroom, according to the Courier Post’s Matt Flowers. It’s not a new concept. Rutgers University has gender-neutral bathrooms at all three of its campuses in New Brunswick, Newark and Camden, according to the school’s website. Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Ithaca College, New York University and the University of Pennsylvania are just a few more colleges that give students access to these types of bathrooms, the College Equality Index reports. CHS should be the next school on the growing list of educational facilities with gender-neutral bathrooms. As an accepting and ever-changing community, and with far more girls in the school than boys, it would be a positive change for the administration to make the boys’ bathroom outside Room 101 into a gender-neutral bathroom. As the name implies, gender-neutral bathrooms are not specified for “boys” or “girls,” “men” or “women.” News of transgender bathroom rights have made controversial headlines recently, most notably with Target’s bathroom policy welcoming transgender shoppers and employees to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. The Obama administration “issued guidance” on May 13 for all public schools to allow transgender students to have this ability as well. While we at The Inkblot applaud these progressive efforts, these policies still embrace the existence of only two genders. We are making strides in the transgender community, but we still fail to acknowledge our siblings who don’t fall under the umbrella of “boy” or “girl.” We’re forgetting those who are agender, genderfluid, gender neutral or, really, anyone who has any non-binary identity. But on the same note, gender-neutral bathrooms don’t just apply to these non-binary students. Gender-neutral bathrooms apply to literally everyone, and that’s what makes them a great idea. This would, of course, come at the cost of a single boys’ bathroom, which currently has one stall and one urinal. This school year, CHS has 234 girls and 85 boys enrolled, according to school data, which means that girls comprise nearly three-quarters of the school. Changing the bathroom outside Room 101 takes nothing away from the two boys who can use that bathroom at a time; it just welcomes all – girls, transgender students, non-binary students – to use it. And if that still makes you a bit uncomfortable, then here’s a challenge. Think of your typical family bathroom at any restaurant or retailer. There’s a sign on the front that says “family,” there are maybe one or two stalls and anyone walks in and out as they please. Now, replace the word “family” with “gender-neutral,” and you’ve really got the same concept. The only change needed in the boys’ bathroom is the removal of a urinal and the possible installation of a second stall. By highest estimates, the cost of installing a second bathroom stall is only about $2,000, according to Homewyse, an online house and home reference. After that, a unisex bathroom sign at Lowes costs $9.98. Surely, this isn’t pocket change, but it’s nothing the school couldn’t handle with a mere fundraiser or two. The CCC raked in over $3,000 just this year at its annual festival. We at The Inkblot implore the administration to research and discuss the possibility of changing the boys’ bathroom outside Room 101 into a gender-neutral restroom. We are an accepting community and a diverse student body of several gender identities, and a gender-neutral bathroom would reaffirm this fact.

the inkblot may 18, 2016

amounts of extracurricular activities in order to make a good impression on college applications. With students’ mental health declining, schools need to take a step back and lighten the expectations placed on their pupils in order for them to be successful. Ever since the 1950s, teenagers have experienced a sharp increase in stress related to school. A recent study from the National Institute of Mental Health showed that 8 percent of United States teens suffer from a diagnosed anxiety disorder, which it deﬁnes as a persistent sense of worry that worsens over time and interferes with daily activities. Studies have also shown that this stress over grades has actually contributed to scores going down.

A survey from The Washington Post of 1,018 teenagers showed that, with 83 percent of students feeling that school was a “somewhat or signiﬁcant source of stress,” 10 percent believed that it had a negative impact on their grades. In order to decrease teenagers’ anxiety and make them more focused, improve their moods and increase grades at the same time, education systems need to get to the root of the problem. A lighter workload and less emphasis on needing to be involved in every little activity will allow students to be able to concentrate on the things they really care about and excel at them, and maybe get them down to a more normal amount of sleep.

Hollywood must diversify life on the big screen

BLOT CARTOON BY KATIE GIBSON

Schools must offer adequate sex education By COURTNEY KUSHNIR Let’s talk about sex. To some, the topic may seem taboo or even off-limits, but sex education is a crucial part of a student’s career. Teens who are informed and conﬁdent in their knowledge about sex are more likely to be safe when the time comes, and that should truly be the ultimate goal. A person’s sex life should be like the clothes they wear; they should know what works for them and respect the choices of their peers. But they won’t know what they’re comfortable with if they don’t know their options. It is imperative that sex education be taught, in full, as early as possible in schools. If it isn’t taught in a formal setting, teens will turn to the Internet for answers, and online sources often have inaccurate information, according to a 2010 study by The Journal of Adolescent Health. It should be a priority that all students get useful and correct information about their bodies. Knowledge is power, and teens should feel empowered when it comes to making decisions about their health, not helpless or uninformed. Students who know about sex are less likely to have unsafe sex and less likely to have complications like sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy. Teens with a comprehensive sex education are even less likely to engage in sexual activities at a young age, according to research by Pro-Choice Wisconsin, which politically advocates for women’s reproductive rights.

Having sex has consequences, but it also has mental and physical benefits, which is a point that I rarely hear addressed. I mean, when have you ever heard your mom, dad, or teacher say, “Sex is a fun way to burn calories”? Instead, many schools use fear and shame as tools to scare teens away from premarital sex. This fear and shame comes from abstinence-only philosophies. Abstinence-only education, while still technically an accepted form of sex ed in public schools in the United States, teaches that not having sex until marriage is the only acceptable contraceptive. This is simply not true. Other forms of contraception exist and can be more practical for a sexually active teen. Condoms, for example, are one of the most reliable forms of protection against pregnancy and STIs, according to the CDC. Abstinence might very well be the best option for some people, and is a completely valid choice, but that’s the thing; there should be that ability for teens to freely choose. Sure, having to learn about sex surrounded by your friends and classmates can be uncomfortable, but in the long run, being educated trumps the squeamish feeling you may get when the time for the classic condom-on-a-banana demonstration rolls around. With a good sex education, teens can go into the world feeling more confident and more knowledgeable about the consequences and benefits of sex.

TAKEN FROM WHITEHOUSE.GOV

With great power comes great stress By KELLY KAY When asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, children often answer with “astronaut,” “ballerina” or “pop star.” But perhaps the most interesting answer is “the president.” The idea of having what seems to be endless power, international fame and historical prominence is appealing to anyone of any age. But being president is arguably the worst job in the world. The responsibilities, danger, lack of privacy and subjection to universal scrutiny is way too much for most of the population to handle. Being commander-in-chief means making decisions about wars and having nuclear weapons at your ﬁngertips. The president is accompanied at all times by an aide with a nuclear ‘football’ that contains a list of nuclear weapons and an index card of authentication codes, according to the Smithsonian. The president must make tough decisions quickly, while both allies and enemies of the United States watch closely. He or she, quite literally, has the world in their hands.

The president also faces the threat of personal attack or attempt at assassination. Four presidents have been assassinated in ofﬁce, but over a dozen have faced assassination attempts in the last 200 years, according to a 2012 timeline by the staff of the Los Angeles Times. President Obama was placed under Secret Service protection nine months before the Democratic primaries for the 2008 election – the earliest a candidate has ever been issued security detail, according to a 2007 article by New York Times journalist Jeff Zeleny. Historical immortality is also another beneﬁt to being president, but being remembered forever may not always be for good reasons. Consider Richard Nixon, whose name alone has a negative connotation. He will always be known for the Watergate scandal, even though his presidency had some positive outcomes, such as advancements in environmental preservation and women’s rights, according to a PBS article about Nixon’s domestic politics. While having the title of President of the United States is an incredible resume-booster, the negatives outweigh the positives by far.

Breitbart wrongly abandoned reporter By MARIA MAROKO During a rally in Florida on March 8, Donald Trump approached each of the reporters attending to answer questions. When he approached Michelle Fields, a reporter for the conservative news site Breitbart, she asked him his views on affirmative action. Before Trump had time to reply, Fields was assaulted by a man who another reporter identified as Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s campaign manager, according to an article by the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman and Michael M. Grynbaum. But Lewandowski denied ever touching her and denounced her as an “attention seeker” on his official Twitter account. Later, Breitbart also published a story which stated that “it was unlikely that Lewandowski caused her injuries.” Breitbart questioned the testimony of one of their reporters and also did not take a firm stance on the issue at hand, which is a breach of ethics and a disservice to their responsibilities to protect employees. The editor of Breitbart, Joe Pollak, ordered his reporters to stop defending Fields and to stop speculating about the story entirely until further notice, according to a 2016 Buzzfeed news article by Rosie Gray. Breitbart’s unwillingness to take a stand disgusted many of its reporters, six of whom have quit in response.

An ex-staff member, Jordan Schachtel, said the site was “...something resembling an unafﬁliated media Super PAC for the Trump campaign,” according to a March 2016 article by Mashable’s Jason Abbruzzese. One may attempt to defend Breitbart – they are known as a far-right site and are very supportive of Trump. After all, they have supported Trump in numerous articles such as “Tea Party Founder: Why I Support Donald Trump For President,” “5 Reasons Why Trump Would Be a Better President Than You Think” and “20 Reasons Why It Should Be Donald Trump in 2016.” They may have wanted to wait until Fields’ allegations were proven entirely true, lest they end up making a false accusation. But despite the personal views of Breitbart, the administration has a responsibility to stand up for and believe one of their employees. By stating meekly that Fields may have misidentiﬁed him and ignoring her claims, Breitbart choose politics over professionalism. It was right of the employees to quit Breitbart. Breitbart’s refusal to stand strongly with Fields was an ethical breach, and it was one that should not have been ignored by the reporters. In this situation, Breitbart is clearly in the wrong, and the reporters are taking the more moral route by refusing to be involved in an organization they believe was corrupt.

By LARA GRANEY With just 140 characters, Hollywood was torn apart. People took to Twitter and other medias this past month to voice their opinions on the highly-criticized Academy Awards ceremony, due to the nominees’ lack of diversity. This is the second year in row in which no people of color were nominated, according to the Los Angeles Times. Films are an art form that attempt to display emotion and relationships. No matter what the subject matter is, where or when the movie is set, all movies revolve around one thing: life. Films, then, should mimic life and represent people of all ethnicities and backgrounds – and not just with stereotypical white leads, black sidekicks and Asian nerds. But the Academy is not alone in their exclusion: Hollywood itself produces a shocking amount of movies with all-white leads. In 2014, 73 percent of characters in top-grossing films were white, with Hispanics being the least represented group at 4 percent, according to PBS. But in real-life America, Hispanics and Latinos make up the largest ethnic minority at about 17 percent, according to the United States Census Bureau in 2014. African-Americans only made up 13 percent of Hollywood characters in 2014, and Asians made up a mere 5 percent. The United States, actually, has housed an all-time low of the non-Hispanic white population in the past few years. The actual number of American whites is points lower than their representation in film, the latter of which being 63 percent, according to the Daily News. This means that there are more white people on screen than in America and less of some of the other large ethnic groups, such as Hispanics. Films should be a creative representation of life, so it does not make sense that the average American could go to the movies and see maybe one or two racial minorities but look around the theater and see America as it truly is: multi-ethnic and multi-racial. While there are some popular films with roles for people of color made in the last couple of years, many of these films were forced by history to feature non-white actors. For example, “12 Years A Slave,” a highly-acclaimed film that won “Best Picture” in 2013, featured African-American actors. But “12 Years a Slave” was about slavery in America. If the slaves were not black, this film would be blatantly inaccurate. The same is true for movies like “Selma,” “42” and “Django Unchained.” The makers of historic films are almost always forced to cast the correct races in the name of historical accuracy – almost. Some filmmakers have somehow succeeded, per se, in casting white actors as characters who, historically, were people of color: Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra in 1963, Jim Caviezel as Jesus in 2004 and Angelina Jolie as an Afro-Cuban journalist in 2007, just to name a few. In a list of the top-grossing films of 2015 published on IMDb, only four out of the top 10 films starred a nonwhite actor. These films were not real or a part of history like “12 Years a Slave.” There’s something getting in the way of hiring minorities unless history demands it. And the numbers say that Hollywood isn’t diversifying. Filmmakers, from 2007 to 2014, have made essentially zero progress in creating more diverse characters, according to PBS. The bottom line is that the people of America, the famous melting pot, should be able to see an accurate representation of themselves on screen. And, based on the lack of diversity at the box office and the Academy Awards, the producers, writers and directors of Hollywood are failing.

arts

the inkblot may 18, 2016

Munch on enticing treats from Trader Joe’s

By ALLIE KUO With all the listicles and photo slideshows of the “(insert number here) Best Products From Trader Joe’s” floating around the Internet, I decided it was time to compile my own lineup of some Trader Joe’s foods I can’t live without. For those of you who have never been (gasp!), Trader Joe’s is a lovely nautical-tropical themed grocery store that carries your typical supermarket finds, only better. Most of their products are privately labeled, which means they’re “Trader Joe’s” brand, and they don’t contain artificial trans fats, flavors, preservatives or GMO ingredients, according to the supermarket’s website. And if you need any more convincing that Trader Joe’s is worth visiting, perhaps your

stomach will tell you more after reading on about my favorite snacks and foods from Trader Joe’s. Their frozen croissants, either plain, chocolate or almond, might be the best croissants I’ve ever had. You leave the frozen dough at room temperature overnight, and when you see them again in the morning, the croissants are double their size. Pop them in the oven and you’ll find yourself with fresh croissants for breakfast, more flaky and buttery than any you’ve ever had. The Edamame Hummus uses edamame rather than chickpeas as the base and has just the right amount of tanginess and flavor from the sesame tahini, lemon juice and garlic. It’s the perfect dip for their Reduced Guilt Pita Chips, which are lightly salt-

ed, and you can’t even tell that they’re “guilt-free.” Thick, kettle-cooked chips smothered in milk chocolate are about as excessive as snacks get, but don’t let that stop you from eating an entire bag of their Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips in one sitting. For all those pasta lovers out there who are also trying to eat healthy, the Spinach and Chive Linguine is a win-win carb. All this linguine needs is some sea salt, olive oil and freshly grated Parmesan, and having “spinach” in the name gives you a reason to eat more pasta. Lastly, Mango and Cream Bars are a necessity in the summer. Mango ice on one side and smooth, icy cream on the other, these stickless popsicles are the perfect size for a quick indul-

“The Graduate,” one of the most acclaimed ﬁlms of all time, was nominated for multiple Academy Awards after its release in 1967. It tells the story of a young man seduced by a much older woman, Mrs. Robinson. But Anne Bancroft, the actress who played Robinson, was only six years older than Dustin Hoffman, the graduate, according to IMDb. The fact that Robinson was older than the graduate was a central part of the plot, and yet production hired actors that were not very far apart in age. This could easily be a coincidence, or an anomaly, but it is not. The older person was the woman in this case. And that seems to scream “cougar movie.” But in movies where cross-generational dating is not mentioned, let alone the focus, men seem to be allowed to be older than the women, and the audience is not supposed to question it. For example, Steve Carell is almost 20 years older than Anne Hathaway, but their love story in the 2008 remake of “Get

SPRING SPIRIT WEEK 2016 1. Seniors: 875 points 2. Sophomores: 667 points 3. Juniors: 345 points 4. Freshmen: 310 points

BLOT PHOTO BY ALLIE KUO

A shopper picks up a box of croissants at her local Trader Joe’s. The supermarket ﬁrst opened its doors in Pasendena, Calif. in 1967, according to its website.

gence. I love that the fruit and dairy balance each other out, and it’s light enough that, chances are, you’ll ﬁnd yourself reaching for another bar.

So if you ever feel that your snack rotation is becoming a little dull, a quick stroll up and down Trader Joe’s aisles should be enough to liven up your pantry.

Actor Twinkie effect plagues women in ﬁlm

By LARA GRANEY Hollywood has a long history of sexism in film – just watch five minutes of a James Bond movie. And there are many aspects of sexism in these films. In recent years there has been much talk about the pay gap, for example, when Jennifer Lawrence spoke out against it. Men still dominate when it comes to lead roles, females receiving only 12 percent of them in 2014, according to Variety. com. But perhaps one of the biggest yet underrated injustices in Hollywood is that actresses struggle to find work when they become middle-aged. They often cannot be the lead or the love interest past the age of forty, but men can. The age gap often creates the odd fantasy of men working with much younger woman, but pretending they are the same age. In 2014, the number of women over the age of 45 in a lead or co-lead role was zero, according to a study done by the Media, Diversity, & Social Change Initiative.

the inkblot may 18, 2016

Smart” never hints at this age disparity. The same thing happened with “The Gangster Squad.” The then-26-year old Emma Stone had a relationship with Sean Penn’s character, who was 52 at the time, according to Forbes. And these are not rarities. The list goes on and on. Of course, in real-life, cross-generational dating does happen. But it is not so much the theory of age-gap dating as it is women needing to have no wrinkles. The result is simple: older women do not get the same opportunities as older men when it comes to acting. Actresses are organic produce. Actors are Twinkies. The shelf life on screen is outrageously unbalanced. The consequence of this is not only an unjust Hollywood, but the age gap also affects the oversexualization of women in America; women need to be beautiful and young to be desirable by a man. This is obviously ludicrous; women are as varied and complicated as men and should be allowed to be. How relationships are displayed on screen still keep Hollywood a sexist.

And the age gap does not only exist in romantic relationships. Angelina Jolie played the mother of Colin Farrell’s character in 2004’s “Alexander.” Jolie is one year older than Farrell. Several performers have recently voiced their opinions about the age gap. For example, Amy Schumer brought actresses Tina Fey, Patricia Arquette, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus to ﬁlm a sketch on her Comedy Central show “Inside Amy Schumer.” The actresses pretended to celebrate Louis-Dreyfus’ last day where she was considered young enough to be a romantic interest in a ﬁlm. Actress Charlize Theron expressed her frustration with the age gap in an interview with GQ Magazine. “It would be a lie to say there is less worry for women as they get older than there is for men. It feels there’s this unrealistic standard of what a woman is supposed to look like when she’s over 40,” she said. Hollywood executives need to learn that people want to see real people on screen: real relationships, real conversation, and real women.

BLOT PHOTO BY MEAGAN McDOWELL

Senior Lauryn Masciana of Middletown performed in “Fabulous” from Disney’s “High School Musical 2” with seniors Clay Paley and Matt Morton of Howell.

BLOT PHOTO BY MEAGAN McDOWELL

Junior Anna Vernick of Ocean and the class of 2017 constructed a cupcake display that featured each of the four parks in Disney World.

BLOT PHOTO BY MEAGAN McDOWELL

Senior Sally Boniecki of Middletown battles freshman Kail Ying of Manalapan in Tuesday’s balloon pop competition. The seniors later lost the competition to the class of 2018.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Theme: Pajama Day

Theme: Preppy Day

Theme: Twin Day

Theme: Disney Day

Theme: Retro Day

Activity: Egg Relay

Activity: Balloon Pop

Activity:

Rock Paper Scissors

Cupcake Wars

Lip Sync

From screen to stage Local bands bring all

Your favorite movies take Broadway By ARIELLE HUTCHINSON Broadway musicals based off Hollywood movies are a gift to both theater and film lovers. Screen-tostage adaptations are better than their movie counterparts because of the seamless synthesis of Hollywood and Broadway influences. The best aspect of musical adaptations is their playful yet extremely innovative approach; movies use cinematic devices, such as close-ups or slow-motion, whereas musicals simplify the same complicated scene into a series of theatrical moments or songs. The storyline literally comes to life before the audience’s very eyes. Each scene becomes more intense as actors, actresses and musicians perform a couple feet away from theatergoers. The live portrayal of emotion and passion goes beyond what any film could.

Most importantly, movie-turned-musicals cater to all crowds. Lia Vollack, who oversees Sony’s theater department and acts as the president of Sony’s music division, said she believes the best screento-stage productions are not limited to a certain genre. “We’re looking through our 4,000 movies for the stories with the strongest emotional resonance – for stories that feel like they want to be sung onstage,” Vollack said in a 2013 New York Times article. “And I wouldn’t rule out any genre, though a horror musical could be challenging.” Popular movies such as “Bring It On,” “Legally Blonde” or “Hairspray” were converted into iconic musicals, but the true success stories arise from relatively obscure ﬁlms that became Broadway hits. Sophomore Ebbie Shim said she thinks mov-

ies-turned-musicals are a great way to get something new out of an old storyline. “I love how they spice things up with songs,” she said. “It’s an entirely new experience, even though you’ve already watched the movie.” British Indie film “Kinky Boots” finished poorly at the American Box office, according to Playbill. The plot follows Charlie Price, who partners up with a drag queen, Lola, to save his failing shoe business. Composer Cyndi Lauper collaborated with director Jerry Mitchell to create the vivaciously uplifting “Kinky Boots: The Musical.” Unlike the film, the musical was successful, winning six Tony awards, including Best Musical and Best Score. Whether popular or obscure, all musicals-turned-movies bring the emotion, acting and passion to the next level.

the bang for less buck By SALLY BONIEKI Emo bands from the early 2000s have hit it big in the past few years, scoring movie soundtrack deals and topping the Billboard Hot 100, but where does that leave the young concert-goer’s wallet? High school kids have to choose whether to see Fall Out Boy or Panic! At The Disco, because both bands’ tickets can creep over $600 resale. But New Jersey hosts many smaller bands that are reminiscent of the old days and don’t cost an arm and a leg to see. Plus, the shows are more intimate, and the crowd is friendlier. This Good Robot, an alternative rock band from Long Island, rocked the main stage of The Bamboozle Festival in

2012. The band’s distinctive vocals and sci-fi influences set them apart from any sound currently on the air waves. This Good Robot’s live shows are worth attending for the performance alone – not to mention a great cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Recommended song: “Call the Police.” Estimated cost: $10 to $25. Only 8 percent of CHS students have heard of the New Brunswick post-hardcore band Thursday, who rose in popularity with their friends in My Chemical Romance in the early 2000s and declared an end to their five-year hiatus on March 22, the third anniversary of MCR’s breakup. Lead vocalist Geoff Rickly played solo and with other bands in various styles through-

out the split. Recommended song: “Standing on the Edge of Summer.” Estimated cost: $15 to $35. Saves The Day is the survivor of the scene. Formed in 1994 and hailing from Princeton, this chameleonic band has produced a discography that ranges from borderline ska punk to power pop. They also maintain a very close relationship with their fanbase, and I can personally attest to how nice they are at their meet and greets. Recommended song: “In My Waking Life.” Estimated cost: $20 to $40. The more concert-goers support small bands, the more often they can play inexpensive shows. So, keep your concert cravings satisﬁed, and have a fun night while you’re at it.

BLOT PHOTO BY ALLIE KUO

Sophomore Megan Stalisowski of Wall was one of four members of the Class of 2018 to compete in the newly-added egg relay.

BLOT PHOTO BY ALLIE KUO

The Class of 2017 earned 20 points for their first place finish in Wednesday’s rock paper scissors tournament.

Lip Sync

Clothing Drive

2. Juniors 3. Freshmen 4. Seniors

2. Sophomores: 186 bags 3. Juniors: 115 bags 4. Freshmen: 90 bags

BLOT PHOTO BY SARAH TAKASH

Mr. CHS judges included science teacher Leah Morgan, substitute teacher Melissa Bradley and art teacher Shelley Ortner.

1. Sophomores 1. Seniors: 265 bags

Mr CHS

Best Answer: Mark Dispigna Best Dressed pair: Mark Dispigna and Annie Ruoff Best Talent: Cameron DeStefano Funniest/Most Entertaining: Nick Brennan People’s Choice: Cameron DeStefano

Mr. CHS: Nick Brennan

BLOT PHOTO BY CATHERINE ESCUETA

Seniors Mithu Sankar of Manalapan and Johnny Callaghan of Wall drag trash bags of clothing to their designated area of the cafeteria for the spring spirit week clothing drive.

12 Basketball plays into seniors’ college decisions the inkblot may 18, 2016

By NICK HESSION Seniors are finally deciding on a college after months of filling out countless applications, pouring their hearts into a myriad of essays and travelling across the country to visit possible schools. The May 1 decision deadline comes just in time for the most important event of the year in college sports: March Madness. Senior Peter Hjelm of Atlantic Highlands applied to Michigan State University, University of Colorado Boulder and the University of South Carolina. This year, Michigan State was a second seed in the tournament, and Colorado and South Carolina were both eight seeds, according to ESPN. Hjelm said he considered a good basketball program “reasonably important” when choosing a school. He ultimately committed to the University of South Carolina. “I was more into hockey and football, but I think it would be interesting to go to a school with a really good basketball team,” he said. Senior Meagan McDowell of Neptune City also applied to Seton Hall and Fairleigh-Dickinson University, which lost the tournament’s play-in game. “[Basketball] was definitely a factor,” McDowell said. Basketball is the only sport McDowell follows, and she said that Seton Hall will hold a special place in her heart, even though she recently committed to The College of New Jersey. “I’m so invested in Seton Hall that no matter where I go, they’ll always be my team,” she said. Some didn’t count this factor as heavily. Senior Allie Wheeler of Wall applied to Villanova, a two seed, and the University of Virginia, a one seed, with minimal consideration for the basketball program. “I was looking for schools with some kind of big sports team, but it wasn’t a deciding factor,” she said. “I was watching some games during March Madness, but I don’t watch any other time of year.” Despite her current disinterest, Wheeler said she

BLOT INFOGRAPHIC BY MITHU SANKAR Survey of 247 students on March 17, 2016.

wouldn’t rule out becoming a fan. “If it’s one of the major sports where I end up, I’ll definitely get more involved. It’s a lot more fun to see those games live and when it’s your team playing,” she said. Wheeler committed to Boston College. March Madness fans can also fill out tournament brackets predicting who will win each game. Hjelm filled out such a bracket and said that his college decisions affected who he chose to win games. “I have Michigan State winning, and one of the big factors was that I applied and got in,” he said.

He also had University of Colorado Boulder winning their first game, even though both lost in their first game. Michigan State was beaten by 15 seed Middle Tennessee. “I was disappointed that it ruined my bracket,” he said. Despite their disheartening defeat, Hjelm said that Middle Tennessee’s improbable victory was “pretty cool.” Wheeler also said she was happy that some of the schools she applied to did well in the tournament, particularly this year’s winner, Villanova. “It’s definitely an honor to be accepted to the school that won the tournament,” Wheeler said.

College athletes cheated out of hard-earned money By EMME LEONG Throw some college basketball and gambling into a single month, and you’ve got yourself the craziness that is March Madness. The National Collegiate Athletic Association hosted its annual basketball tournament this year from March 17 to April 4 to showcase the nation’s top 68 college teams in win-or-gohome battles. These teams compete for the nation’s attention and the title of a champion – and, let’s not forget, the money that comes along with it. Ranging from advertisements and apparel to tickets and sponsors, the NCAA raked in $989 million during the 2014 season, according to NBC. The basketball tournament holds the weight for the company, as it accounts for about 90 percent of the total revenue made in a single season. The controversy lies in where this money goes – or perhaps doesn’t. You’ve heard the names: Duke, UNC, Louisville and many more popular colleges in sports. But not all schools can proﬁt. About one-third of the participating schools’ athletic programs either lost money or remained static during the March Madness tournament, according to ESPN. As for coaches, Money Nation’s go-to ﬁnancial expert Tom Gerencer calculates that a coach’s salary averages $1.64 million, totaling around 17 percent of the NCAA’s income. But the big question remains: what about the players? They’re the performers on the court that carry the fate of their colleges in their

BLOT PHOTO BY SARAH TAKASH

Senior Matthew Morton of Howell hurdles over senior Clay Paley, also of Howell, to dunk a baskeball as a part of his second place Mr. CHS talent performance on April 22. hands. But they will have to sit out on the sidelines for this one – the NCAA doesn’t give them a cent. The average college basketball player typically spends 40 to 50 hours a week solely practicing the game they love the most, according to CNN. It doesn’t sound like your typical 9-to-5 shift, but the numbers deﬁnitely add up like it. These athletes are essentially students who happen to be athletes as well, not employees. Therefore, they’re not protected under the NCAA’s employee guarantee in regards to health insurance, academic support and ﬁnancial needs. Sophomore Emmanuella Macri of Freehold is an athlete

and said she was unaware of this debate in college basketball. “I think they should be paid, because they’re dedicating their time when they could be at risk for injury,” Macri said. In addition, many can’t afford the luxuries of life without other jobs to suffice their families’ financial struggles. Eightysix percent of all college players live below the poverty line, according to senior sportswriter Matt Hayes of Sporting News. Despite these absences, there are many benefits to being a college athlete. Jeffrey Dorfman is a critic for Forbes and analyzes existing issues in policies of the modern world, including the controversy of college sports pay.

“Student athletes also receive free professional coaching, strength and ﬁtness training and support from athletic trainers and physical therapists,” Dorfman said. “[Professional] basketball players pay $2,000 to $3,000 per week for similar training.” This doesn’t even include the educational advantages and reduced living expenses they are provided. Student athletes often receive scholarships. Dorfman said those on full scholarships receive between $50,000 to $125,000 every year to fund education, room, board and training, depending on the sport and school they attend. Former college athlete and current math teacher Ellen

Judge said that the reward for players could be the primary focus for high schoolers, not the passion for the sport itself. “If they’re going the college route, guess what – they’re going to get a degree at the end of it, if they stick with it,” Judge said. “I don’t think you should blur the line between amateur and professional,” she said. The solution for many athletes seeking money is simply to reach for the professionals. But this reach is almost out of grasp – 1.2 percent of all college athletes move on to the professional level, according to the NCAA’s website. But the organization said that reaching the professionals isn’t the most important factor in college sports. “A college education is the most rewarding beneﬁt of the student-athlete experience,” the NCAA’s website said. But fans won’t take this for an answer, especially the young who aspire to play basketball in college. Sierra Strong, a junior at Freehold Borough High School, has played on the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team for the past three years. She was picked for the Shore Conference’s All-Star A-North Team during the postseason. On her way to her ﬁnal year of high school, her expectations for college basketball have been met with disappointment. “I think that it is very unfair. The players do about 80 percent of the physical and mental part of the game. They deserve something,” Strong said. “I think that a lot of high school players would agree with me on this.”