Cougar Crier June 2017

Volume L Issue III

June 2017

John F. Kennedy High School

Letters from the Editor

By Alixandra Wilens Editor-In-Chief …To Ms. Seigneuray, You have been a fantastic advisor throughout this past year! The Cougar Crier staff has been lucky to have you. Your newly designed masthead has looked beautiful on our Volume L issues. I have been so proud to have your name above the writers’ and editors’ names each issue. Nobody knew what to expect with a new advisor, but you took on every challenge we faced like it was your personal mission. You have raised our standards and kept us on deadline (as much as anybody wrangling over 25 journalists could).

Thanks to you, we now have a Twitter account (@CougarCrierJFK), we are online (https://issuu.com/cougarcrier), and we have a much stronger inschool media campaign to promote our papers when they are released.

You never let the fact that this was your first year in our school slow you down.

Every meeting you hit the ground running, and our papers have been better than ever as a result. I feel confident leaving this publication knowing that you will be guiding the future Cougar Crier forward.

Thanks for an amazing year, Alixandra

…To the Cougar Crier staff,

…To John F. Kennedy High School,

I am constantly amazed by the dedication that you show to both this club and this publication. To anyone who has ever submitted something to our paper, thank you for your submission and your support. To the editors of this paper, you earn the title of editor every single meeting. To my fellow Editor-in-Chief, Melissa, thanks for a great four years (and for managing the Remind thread). To the photographers and artists, your creativity brings our paper to life. Finally, to our wonderful writers, you are the lifeblood of our publication. Your voices on the subjects that you deem important are vital to this school. I sincerely hope that all of you continue to support our paper next year because this school deserves to hear what you all have to say.

What can I say other than thank you?

You have given me an unforgettable four years. I have had so many wonderful opportunities throughout my time here, and running this paper during this past year has been one of my favorites. I have met teachers that have changed the way I think and perceive the world, and I have forged friendships that will endure even after my last year here has ended. I have been pushed beyond my original academic limits in ways that I know will help me as I continue into college and beyond.

I am a proud second-generation Kennedy student. After four years, I understand why families choose to return to this community and this school. The Cougar Nation is an entity unlike any other, and I believe that it will continue to thrive for another fifty years.

Proudly your fellow writer and editor, Alixandra

A Cougar until the end, Alixandra

…To the Class of 2017, We did it. If you need proof, see the College Map. See the friends we made.

See the standardized tests we conquered. See the teachers we’ll never forget. See the school of which we get the honor of being the 50th graduating class.

See you at graduation!

Alixandra

Robbie’s Run By. Adam Bernstein

The Robbie’s Run is a 5K race and family-fun day hosted every April to raise money for AEDs (Automated Defibrillators) all over the world. The Levine family hosts the fundraiser every year since 2006 in honor of their son, Robbie. Robbie passed away in 2005 during a baseball practice. While running the bases, Robbie suffered from a heart failure, and he sadly passed away at the age of nine. Today, the foundation, run by the Levine family, is called the Forever 9 Foundation. This year marked the 12th annual commencement of the 5K race which honors Robbie. The event took place on Sunday, April 30th, 2017 at Levy-Lakeside Elementary School.

The money collected is donated and invested in placing AEDs in all schools, baseball fields, gyms, and other public facilities all over the world. According to the National Safety Council, AEDs could save 40,000 lives worldwide across the globe. The Levine Family has also made sure that in physical education classes across Long Island, CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is taught and known as Fitness for Life.

This is to educate students of training in CPR and make sure they knew what to do during an emergency and how to perform the life-savingprocedure.

Every year, the Bellmore-Merrick community participates in a series of three runs which are the Fun Run, 1 Mile Run, and the 5K run. Along with the races, the Robbie’s Run includes entertainment, such as live music, games, and raffle prizes. The Robbie’s Run includes food and beverages donated by local restaurants who support the Foundation. The family-fun day is an enjoyable time for kids of all ages.

This cause has been supported for the past twelve years and will continue to be a successful event which everyone enjoys. The Forever 9 Foundation is successful every year in donating AEDs all over the world which save thousands of lives. The event will continue to run for a long time and support this wonderful cause which saves lives.

(Photo by Jennifer Rakhimov, courtesy of Yearbook Club) Above: Seniors proudly display their college choices. See pages 8 through 11 for more college decisions!

The Lives of Manchester Page 7

College Map Pages 8-11

Bulldogs Hockey Page 15

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COUGAR NEWS By: Arielle Pasternack and Jada Spindler This February, Kennedy continued its annual tradition of holding Class Night. Each grade showed their spirit by creating a catchy theme and dressing up to go along with that theme.

The freshmen were “Flying High,” the sophomores were driving at their “Sophomore Speedway,” the juniors were the “Junior Mints,” and the seniors theme was influenced by the 90s because they are the last graduating class at Kennedy born in the 1990s.

There were many events during Class Night, including tug-of-war, relay races, and “Guess That Song.” Each team was full of spirit and expressed this by cheering for their team.

At first, our school showed profound spirit as each team created an unique dance number. Each class showed their dance that they had been working on for the past few weeks. For some classes, the songs used correlated to the themes each class had. In this event, the sophomores took the

Class Night

win and showed how spirited they are.

Next, the classes participated in a relay race with various events including taking off shoes, finding them in the center and putting them back on, as well as a dizzy bat. The dodgeball battle ended with a lot of yelling from the stands as the students found it very entertaining. At the end of the night, the crowd was stunned after the juniors took home the win over the seniors in a landslide.

As students at Kennedy High School, we feel this event is a great way to spend time with our peers. The environment is very upbeat, and everybody is cheering and having a great time. Coming together as a team brings unity amongst all the students, and the sense of community established by this night not only shows how we come together as a class, but also demonstrates our willingness to work together to achieve a goal.

Class night was a success!

Above: Junior Mints celebrating their victory at Class Night. Below, left: Freshmen competing in their first class night, and seniors at their last. Below, right: Sophomores in the stands, and a sea of green as the winners are announced. (Photos courtesy of The Cougar Crier)

Kennedy gets “fairly” healthy

By: Mikayla Gorelin and Ana Fernandez Have you ever considered a career in science or health? Have you ever wondered about the responsibilities of the careers in these departments?

On March 23, a significant event took place at John F. Kennedy High School that benefitted many young minds across the district. The Health and Career Fair encouraged myriad students to learn and explore different careers in the health and science fields.

Students had the opportunity to ask questions and discover whether or not their interest fell under categories such

as medicine and genetics.

The night started off with the Medical Scrabble Tournament. Students in grades nine through twelve all participated in this game of Scrabble, in which bonus points were awarded for playing a medical term. In order to play in the tournament, each pair of competitors gave five dollars, which was later donated to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Mr. Schleith was the Emcee for this interesting event. Each team of two players went against an opposing team in fifteen minute rounds, followed by a short break. The losing

teams were eliminated each round until ultimately a winner was chosen.

The tournament was intense, but the results were immensely surprising. By the end of the night, freshmen Jonathan Ivers and Liam Orr managed to baffle the judges and participants and secure the victory with their wordplay.

The presenters who were engaged in the fair worked in various degrees of the medical and scientific world. They ranged from orthodontists and paramedics to genetic counselors and microbiologists. Students were provided with the ability to interview those with

the profession of their choice. They were able to learn about what their daily responsibilities were, what they had to do to begin their job, and why they chose their profession.

It can be said that the fair was a definite success. Students were overall astounded by the positive response and passion the staff members displayed.

Students were able to grasp the different obligations people carry out in their daily jobs, and the professionals who made that happen expressed the joy one can have if one decides to work their way up in pursuit of each career.

COUGAR NEWS JFK Drama has “magic to do!”

By: Dylan Torres

Pippin is a classic musical comedy from the early 1970s, created by playwrights Roger O. Hirson and Ben Fosse. This musical depicts the life of Pippin, King Charlemagne’s first-born son, during the time of the Holy Roman Empire. As he struggles to find his purpose in life, he tries everything until he’s finally satisfied. The original play starred a cast of Ben Vereen, Christopher Chadman, John Rubinstein, and Eric Berry, just to name a few. In 2013, the musical was recreated and put on Broadway, featuring a brand new cast of players, including Patina Miller, Matthew James Thomas, Terrence Mann, Charlotte d’Amboise, Andrea

Martin, and Rachel Bay Jones. Recently, the JFK Drama Club decided the classic tale of Pippin’s life should be retold for the school musical, and they did a fantastic job.

The director of the club, Mr. Daniel Sheffield, was responsible for preparing the cast for their grand presentation of “Pippin.” On the other hand, Mrs. Lois Schiavetta was responsible for the choreography and dance routines, as well as helping the actors with Mr. Sheffield. Music Director Chris Rosselli helped the cast by playing the original pieces on piano while also helping to refine the actors’ work. In addition, Mr. Avellaneda’s band played most of the original pieces from the soundtrack, only removing

songs from scenes cut for time purposes. The ensemble did an outstanding job at recreating the soundtrack in all of its “glory.”

The set was built by the JFK Stage Crew, headed by Dan Casazza. While the builders focused on the staircases and platforms reaching 6 feet high, the painters designed everything ranging from the platforms to a gigantic map depicting the geography of a battle location. Every player in JFK’s presentation of Pippin should be commended for their hard work and spectacular performances. The most notable performers were the stars of the show, also referred to as the leads or principals. Eddie Grimes, who took the role of “Leading Player” served as

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the narrator to the story of Pippin’s journey, as well as a charismatic player trying to give the audience a show to truly remember. Steven Alexander, who played Pippin himself, did a phenomenal job in all of his musical numbers and scenes. Other notable principal players include Nicolas Torres as King Charlemagne, Deanna DeMarco as the widow Catherine, Ben Krochmal as Pippin’s half-brother Lewis, Jillian Rossi as Pippin’s untrustworthy stepmother Fastrada, and both Molly Katz and Julia Zeltman as Pippin’s witty grandmother Berthe.

Concert Choir takes Disney By: Emma Gold Kennedy High School’s Concert Choir embarked on an unforgettable trip to “The Most Magical Place on Earth”: Disney World! With months of meticulous planning and organizing by class officers and exuberant choral teacher Mrs. Pincus, they were able to transform this enchanted fairytale of a thought into a dream come true.

Some of the highlights of the Disney trip included visiting parks such as Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. In addition, the choir enthusiasts participated

By: Jada Spindler and Arielle Pasternak Have you ever had a funny experience on vacation or had the desire to go on the vacation of your dreams?

We surveyed our teachers here at Kennedy about their past vacation memories and desired destinations, and their responses are guaranteed make you laugh. Keep reading to learn about some of their most memorable experiences and dream locales.

Ms. Maxworthy Dream Vacation: Paris Travel Tale: “Once in Mexico, we didn’t leave a large enough tip, and the waiters all came running out of the restaurant and stopped our cab and hustled us for more money.”

Ms. Jaklitsch Dream Vacation: Australia Travel Tale: “The first trip I went on, I filled a whole suitcase with high heels to wear at a beach resort—what was I thinking!”

in choir workshops and performed in Disney Springs. One piece included in their musical repertoire was “Magical Kingdom Medley,” which was a very fitting choice for Disney World. Choral director Mrs. Pincus raved about the trip when she commented, “JFK Concert Choir’s Spring trip to Disney World was so magical because of my amazing students. They made the trip so easy, helped me immeasurably planning, doing paperwork, and fundraising. They made new social connections and looked after each other.

They performed beautifully in Disney Springs. Another highlight was recre-

ating scenes from Tangled and seeing and hearing themselves as cartoon characters! What a successful trip with a wonderful group of kids!” In addition, several choir members had the opportunity to recap their exhilarating experience. Concert Choir members Lindsay Feldherr and Tian Colby spoke highly of the trip to Disney World when she commented, “My favorite part was talking to everyone on the trip even if I had never spoken to them in class before. We all became such good friends and I had an amazing time.” Tian commented, I made unbelievable connections with

Aloha, Kennedy!

Mr. Avellanda Dream Vacation: Italy Travel Tale: “I travel with the band program—plenty of great and funny moments are part of the experience!”

Ms. DeFilippo Dream Vacation: Kenya, Africa Travel Tale: “While in Tahiti, we forgot to turn the lights off in the car, and the battery died. Since everyone on the island spoke French, it was nearly impossible to get someone to help us. We were also woken up every morning by a rooster.”

Mr. DeMartinis Dream Vacation: Greece Travel Tale: “I once mistakenly ordered TWO whole lightly grilled octopus at a beach side cafe in Costa Del Sol, Spain because I thought I could read the menu. I could not read the menu. It was a unique experience, taking a whole octopus to-go in a doggy bag.”

Mrs. Damato Dream Vacation: Anywhere in Italy Travel Tale: “In a tiny small town in Italy, in a tiny little candy shop, I struck up a conversation with a friend of the owner. During our conversation, we realized that we had a mutual friend in America! Six degrees of separation!”

Mrs. Miller Dream Vacation: Thailand Travel Tale: “I was nearly stung by a scorpion in Costa Rica. It was in my gear for a zip lining excursion and crawled out of my glove seconds before I stuck my hand inside.... funny now.”

Ms. Schiavetta Dream Vacation: Puerto Rico Travel Tale: “I used to work for the airlines, so there are far too many bad and funny stories. One really scary one was en route to Japan when we experienced such severe turbulence that so many people were screaming, crying, or throwing up.”

my peers. I found myself with laughters and went on a roller coaster for the first time. This trip was worth it!”

The Disney trip truly shed light on the fact that the Concert Choir is not just a bunch of students who have to sing together for 41 minutes a day, but rather a loving family that is invigorated by its passion for making music.

This exhilarating opportunity created a foundation for growing relationships and will leave an indelible mark on the choir members’ high school careers.

Ms. DiFranco Dream Vacation: African Safari Travel Tale: “A severe winter storm delayed my flight out of JFK. Meanwhile, the cruise I’d booked (Royal Caribbean) left port in Florida. I had to fly to Jamaica and wait for the boat to catch up to me. Meanwhile, my sister spent half the trip alone on the boat, not sure if she’d ever see me. Fortunately, Jamaica made up for it. I was able to ride a horse in the ocean and go full throttle on a banana boat ride.”

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COUGAR NEWS

Congratulations, Alix!

By: Mrs. DiGennaro In her essay “How Far We’ve Come, How Far We’ll Go,” Alix Wilens states that “history does not tell every story.

Sometimes, pieces of the past get left in the dust as the world turns toward tomorrow,” and those words, for me, encapsulate the significance of what it means to be a writer, of the necessity and urgency of putting pen to paper, finger to key and writing the truth about the world around us lest it be forgotten. And while this particular essay is not about the craft of writing, Alix’s idea that historical accuracy is at times limited and fleeting is the reason why we need writers and essayists and poets; it is why we need Alix’s voice.

The Scholastic Art & Writing

Awards, the nation’s most prestigious and longest running competition for middle and high school students, offer students an opportunity to enter their art and writing into various creative categories.

This year, over 330,000 students from across the nation submitted work to the 30 plus categories that the competition offers. Alix was one of those students.

In early February, Alix was notified that her portfolio “The Power of a Story,” was awarded the Gold Key;

additionally, she was awarded three Silver Keys and three Honorable Mentions for individual pieces within her portfolio. Alix’s awards in this first round put her in place to have her work assessed for a Gold Medal, Scholastic’s highest accolade. In March, Alix received a phone call letting her know that she was one of sixteen students nationwide to earn the Gold Medal in Writing which includes a $10,000 scholarship.

The Gold Medal in Writing is awarded to graduating seniors who

Alix’s idea that historical accuracy is at times limited and fleeting is the reason why we need writers and essayists and poets; it is why we need Alix’s voice.

Picture Perfect

Seniors pose together at the Senior Fashion Show, an annual event organized by the senior class government.

produce a portfolio worthy of distinction. Alumni of the Awards have gone on to become leaders in their fields, including Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Philip Pearlstein, and Sylvia Plath. More recently, Stephen King, Richard Linklater, Zac Posen, and Lena Dunham received Scholastic Art & Writing Awards as teens.

Writing is a difficult craft to master.

To create worlds that are new, to develop characters that are multi-dimensional and alive, to deliver a story with intent and purpose is difficult; to do it well is seemingly impossible, yet, Alix thrives and creates and writes, and by doing so, she keeps pieces of yesterday relevant for all of our tomorrows.

(Photos by Mikayla Gorelin)

60-Second Hot Seat By: Scott Fingeroth The Cougar Crier sat down with two of Kennedy’s finest for an intense, grueling, 60-second gauntlet. The questions were rapid; there was no time to deliberate. Here, the product of those sessions.

Mr. Papach Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate Favorite sports teams? Cougars Did you always want to be a teacher? Since 10th grade Hometown? Wantagh First job? Usher at Loew’s Movie Theater Favorite season? Fall Batman or Superman? Superman Are you wearing matching socks?

Always Most interesting college class?

Chemistry Teacher bestie? DeGaetano Coke or Pepsi? Coke

Sports in high school and college?

Football, lacrosse in high school, lacrosse in college College? SUNY Cortland Mr. Lella Are you wearing matching socks?

Yes Most interesting college class?

Physics of Life Teacher bestie? Schleith Coke or Pepsi? Coke Sports in college? None College? Oswego Hardest part of schedule? 6 classes a day If you were a zombie, which teacher would you go after first? Del’Ollio College roommate? Yes Is a hot dog a sandwich? No Describe 2016 in one word. Epic If you had a superpower, what would it be? Power to Fly

(Photo courtesy of The Cougar Crier) Mr. Papach ruling on a tense pie-eating contest, undoubtedly wearing matching socks.

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COUGAR NEWS

Retirements By: Alexis Krayevsky and Sean Cohen

Mrs. Mary Ann Goetz After fifteen years at John F. Kennedy High School, Mrs. Mary Ann Goetz will be retiring at the end of this school year. Mrs. Goetz is currently the special education chairperson, but her “absolute favorite part of working at Kennedy was teaching.” In the earlier days of her job, department chairs also had teaching assignments, but although this is no longer the case, Mrs. Goetz enjoys visits from students in her office, and she also visits classes.

She says, “Watching students learn, is and always will be, my favorite part of my job.”

Ms. Goetz described the Kennedy staff as wonderful, professional, and hardworking, and she “enjoy[s] coming to work each day seeing everyone and discussing the best educational plans for students. We all work hard for each and every student that walks through our doors.”

She will miss seeing everyone’s smiles every day, but will make the most of her time in retirement. Some of her plans include traveling the world, seeing places such as “Cuba, Ireland, Luxembourg and American Samoa over the next year.” She will also be volunteering at the Riverhead Aquarium and local animal shelters, helping rescue animals.

The Cougar Crier would like to extend our thanks to Mrs. Goetz for all she has done to make the Kennedy learning community what it is, and we wish her all the best in her retirement!

Mr. Robert Steiner As the end of this year approaches, we will not only say goodbye to our graduating seniors; we are also saying

goodbye to one of our staff members: Robert Steiner. Robert, better known as “Bobby,” was a part of the custodial team here at Kennedy High School.

Bobby has been part of the Kennedy staff since 1999, and is retiring this year, in 2017. The Cougar Crier interviewed Bobby prior to his retirement in order to get an idea of what it was like to work here at Kennedy-- as well to get better insight into his life during the time he spent here, and what his future plans after retirement entail.

ships and memories I’ll cherish the rest of my life.” Bobby explained that he loved working here and helping out with all the activities, both outside of school and at nighttime events. He loved taking care of and helping anyone he encountered. His time spent here at Kennedy was a great experience for not only him, but for us as well. Kennedy High School was lucky to have Bobby caring for the students and helping them have a safer education.

At the closing of the year, Kennedy High school will have to say goodbye to Bobby after 18 years of his service.

He held a big role at Kennedy and the lives of the students and staff a part of it. Before leaving, Bobby left a message to the staff and students of Kennedy. He said, “It was an honor and my pleasure to work with you all at JFK.” He appreciates the respect that he received from the staff and students during his time here.

Mrs. Eileen Tomala Mrs. Eileen Tomala, who has been the secretary for Principal Lorraine Poppe for the past ten years, is retiring this June. At Kennedy, she experienced working in a school for the first time and realized the effort running a school takes. Asked to reflect on her favorite parts of Kennedy, Mrs. Tomala reported that she loves “working with the students, parents, teachers and staff in all aspects, whether it is answering the phone, assisting in the main office at the counter, typing letters and reports, doing projects or helping with mailings. There never seems to be a dull moment.”

(Photo courtesy of The Cougar Crier) Mr. Bobby Steiner retires after eighteen years of dedication to Kennedy.

We asked Bobby what his favorite part of working here at Kennedy was, to which he responded, “Working at Kennedy high school was more than just a job. [It was] more like a second family.” He also mentioned how close the staff was to him by saying that “the staff and faculty really mean a lot to me… I met a lot of wonderful people through the years [and made] friend-

We also asked Bobby what some of his future plans are; he replied, “to spend time and travel with his family.”

Additionally, he said that he hopes to rekindle his passion for old hobbies, such as “playing guitar with [his] band… astronomy, fishing, and golf.”

He is excited for what the future holds for him and ready to spend more time with his family.

Mrs. Tomala plans to enjoy her retirement with her husband, stating that she will “tackle all the little projects neglected over the years.” On her list she mentioned traveling as important to her post-career life. We here at The Cougar Crier certainly wish her good luck and good times in her retirement!

In Memoriam: A tribute to Mrs. Cimmno By: Laszlo Goch The Bellmore-Merrick community was shaken on January 6th, 2016 after the loss of Mrs. Jessica Cimmino, a home and careers teacher at Merrick Avenue Middle School.

Mrs. Cimmino was in a car accident on the Meadowbrook State Parkway on her way to school. Although nobody else was injured in the accident, Mrs. Cimmino passed away at the scene.

Mrs. Cimmino will be greatly

missed here in the Bellmore-Merrick community as well as in Staten Island, where she lived with her husband Ralph and her two children Gabriella and Ralphie. The PTA at PS-36, where her daughter attends kindergarten, is collecting gift cards for her family, and a GoFundMe page has been posted online to raise money for the college funds of her children.

Mrs. Sarah Norton, one of Mrs. Cimmino’s Family and Consumer Sciences colleagues, says that she always

loved the way Mrs. Cimmino was thoughtful of others and that she was a great mother. She also had a “knack for cooking” and enjoyed making cakes. She will be remembered for her kind gestures and her passion for what she taught.

Our hearts go out to her family and all those whose lives she’s touched.

If you would like to support the Cimmino family by contributing to Ralphie and Gabby’s college fund, visit www.gofundme.

com/ralphie-and-gabby or scan the QR code below.

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NATIONAL NEWS Confirmation of Supreme Court Justice and divide in the nation By: Azaria Vargas On Friday, April 7, Neil M. Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate to succeed Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Scalia, a firm conservative and textualist, died February 13, 2016, but his position has not been filled until now. The Senate refused to confirm any of President Barack Obama’s nominations, but they have finally come to a conclusion with Gorsuch.

Neil M. Gorsuch, a native of Denver, is the son of Anne Gorsuch Burford, the first female Administrator of United States Environmental Protection Agency, appointed by President Ronald Reagan. Gorsuch received his undergraduate from Columbia University in Political Science, then attended Harvard Law School where he graduated cum laude, and finally

By: Sean Cohen President Donald Trump and his administration took office on January 20 of this year, and each minute since, the Trump Administration has been talked about regarding new policies and stances. The work of the President can be seen through his executive orders and policy changes taken in the first month of his presidency. Without a doubt, President Trump has put forth continuous effort to make change -- both popular and unpopular.

The first month of Trump’s presidency was filled with not only action Executive Orders through February 9th (via whitehouse.gov) Jan. 20th - Minimizing Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Pending Repeal Effect - Repeal of Obamacare.

Goal - To allow affordable healthcare in individual states by allowing free and flexible markets to give citizens the best option for health programs.

Jan. 24th - Expediting Environmental Reviews and Approvals For High Priority Infrastructure Projects Effect - Deadline for environmental reviews, governor of the state in question and the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality will decide whether the project is deemed “high priority”.

Goal - To allow infrastructure projects, which help our economy by providing jobs, increasing wages, and reduce costs of goods and services, to be sanctioned in a quicker fashion.

received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in law from University College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford. 49-years-old, he was previously a member of the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. As a conservative, like Scalia before him, the balance of the Supreme Court is likely to stay the same.

Gorsuch is strict supporter of originalism and textualism, believing that the Constitution should be interpreted the same as the time of its creation and statutes should be interpreted literally without considering outside factors.

He favors states’ rights, is extremely opposed to assisted suicide, is a firm supporter of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and supports renewable energy standards.

So what does Gorsuch’s nomination and confirmation mean for America?

Much controversy has already surrounded his confirmation, for many

Democrats refused to accept him as a Supreme Court Justice, but Republicans managed to alter Senate rules to confirm him. Many worry that a negative precedent is being set, however. The issue lies within the altering of Senate rules, for this sends the message that anytime one party feels strongly about an issue that the other is firmly against, they can evoke rules in their favor. This takes away the beauty of democracy since its foundation is based upon the principle that individuals must come to compromises and cooperate to achieve success and maintain the law. With hyper-partisanship running rampant throughout the nation, it is not shocking that such divides are being made, and the two parties are finding it difficult to work together in the setting of the Senate--or in any legislative body for that matter.

Since the Supreme Court has another judge inclined to make conserva-

tive decisions, such can be expected to be seen within upcoming court cases.

This has made many fearful that topics of abortion, gay marriage, gun control, and birth control may be fiercely debated. However, the greater fear should be stemming from the increasing divide that is becoming apparent within the United States government.

The two major parties should be cooperating more than ever in the face of terrorism, gang violence, and drug smuggling, but they are as distant as ever. Decisions like the confirmation of Gorsuch have accentuated the rising issue and the steaming tensions being felt throughout the nation. If America wants to continue to pursue success and prosperity in the modern world, its two major parties must learn to work together and compromise rather than fight.

but controversy. Many administration officials were accused of being in cooperation with the Russian Federation.

Amidst publicity some top officials resigned.

Looking towards the future, the Trump Administration plans to address today’s issues at home and abroad. Under President Trump the United States has taken military action in Syria against the Assad Regime and its backed coalition in its ongoing civil war. The Russian government has wavered in its relationship with the Trump Administration. First seeking friendship during hard times, the Rus-

sian government has since described its relationship with Trump as being “at its lowest point.” President Trump has also confirmed America’s hostility forwards North Korea and its Communist Dictatorship, calling for nuclear protection of Japan and South Korea, fellow democratic allies threatened by North Korea’s growing nuclear program. Concerning the Middle East, Trump reaffirmed an American-Israeli friendship, confirming that the United States will build and embassy in Israel’s “eternal capital,” Jerusalem.

Internally, Trump seeks to lower taxes and repeal Obamacare, policies

that have been sought by house republicans since Obama’s presidency. The future and legacy of Donald Trump’s administration is yet to be determined.

Time will tell how the actions of his office will fare.

No matter which party you identify with, it is important to know what our president is doing. See the box below for a breakdown of executive orders signed by President Trump during his first month in office.

Jan. 25th - Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States Effect - Enforcement of U.S. immigration laws against illegal immigrants, end federal funding to Sanctuary Cities.

Goal - To protect the United States from criminal aliens and to prevent illegal immigration.

those who believe in acts of violence against women, homosexuals, and people of over religions. Suspension of Visa Issuance of people from “countries of concern (Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia)” for 90 days. Foreign governments must provide information on those seeking visas.

Goal - Protect Americans from terrorism by ensuring those who enter the United States bid no harm to the public.

The first month

Jan. 25th - Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements Effect - Immediate construction of a border wall between the United States and Mexico. End “catch and release” practice. Employment of 5,000 new Border Patrol agents.

Goal - To limit illegal immigration to secure the United States from any unwarranted violence; drug cartel disturbance and domestic terrorism.

Jan. 27th - Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States Effect - Be vigilant during the visa issuance process. Forbid entry of

Jan. 28th - Ethics Commitments By Executive Branch Appointments Effect - Enact restrictions on lobbying and accepting gifts for executive branch officials.

Goal - Stop possible corruption in the executive branch.

Jan. 30th - Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs Effect - Two regulations must be terminated for every one regulation passed.

Goal - Promote economic growth by

ending regulation.

Feb. 3rd - Core Principles for Regulating the United States Financial System Effect - Administer “core principles (making regulation properly tailored, prevent government bailouts, and promote competitiveness between U.S. and foreign companies)”.

Goal - Further American economic interests at home and abroad.

Feb. 9th - Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety Effect - Establish a task force to end violence, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.

Goal - Make America safe for all Americans

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WORLD NEWS The first month Lives.

By: Gustave Gottlieb

2017 has been a big year for international dilemmas—whether it involves North Korean missile threats, Britain’s exit from the European Union, or the dropping of the largest non-nuclear bomb onto a tunnel in Afghanistan.

Currently, the greatest source of European strife is coming from elections. Specifically, the results of the election in France could determine the fate of this country for generations to come.

Similar to the United States 2016 presidential election, France has multiple political parties that go against each other in order to gain control over the presidency.

Unlike the US election, which happens very quickly within one day once, the French election takes, also one day, but twice.

This year, the first round, as they call it, took place on April 23, and the next round was May 7.

The first round chooses which two candidates, out of five head frontrunners, will go to the second round—then whoever wins the second takes the cake and is now President.

For the first round, the five candidates differed dramatically in political views. One of the most known names right now in the election is Marine Le Pen, frontrunner for the National

Front (NF). Her ideology is radical right wing policies regarding immigration/refugees, strong law enforcement, traditional conservative French values, and many more right-winged beliefs.

The next frontrunner is named Emmanuel Macron of the En Marche! (EM !) party, which he made himself. Although proclaimed as a centrist and independent (even though he started as a Socialist), his party follows social-liberal beliefs, such as topics the same as Le Pen; however, the ideals are the complete opposite in the sense that he prefers high immigration and refugee intake and low traditional values in the name of “progress.” Thirdly, we have François Fillon, a part of the Republican party. Le Pen and Fillion, although different parties, propose similar ideas due to them both being of similar ideologies; however, his are less extreme than Le Pen’s are—which some consider to be better or worse than Le Pen. Finally, we have Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a communist of the Untamed French/ La France Insoumise party, and Benoît Hamon, a socialist of the Parti Socialiste, who were mostly the underdogs of the five.

Mélenchon is an anti-capitalist, environmentalist, eco-socialist candidate that wanted to work on

altering the type of economy of France and was also a complete surprise to have gotten this far.

As for Hamon, he is, too, a type of socialist who worked for social democracy and socialism.

When the first round ended and the two main heads appeared to go on to the second round, the two were Macron (EM) with approximately 8,656,346 votes, with 24.01% votes of all votes given, and Le Pen (NF) with approximately 7,678,491 adn 21.30% votes of all votes. This meant that the other three frontrunners were given the boot, and we now say “Au Revoir” to them and their supporters.

After the second round, Macron came out victorious with a total of 66.1% (20,753,797) of votes. Le Pen, however, came only with 33.9% (10,644,118) of votes. Similar to our election, one of the two candidates needed to get over 50% of votes to win.

Now that Macron holds the hands to France, what will happen next to France? Will refugees take over and turn over parts of France, like what’s happening in Sweden? Or will Macron figure out a way to keep the baddies out and keep France safe for now?

Only time can tell, so let us hope that Macron does the right thing.

In spite of the darkness that has shrouded war-torn countries like Syria, a small flicker of light has emerged. One man, Mohammad Alaa Jaleel, has been risking his life every day to save helpless cats and dogs from the onslaught and brutality of the war. As millions flee crumbling Aleppo, Jaleel has stayed behind to care for his animals and provide aid to Syrian children who are unable to leave.

Jaleel, now dubbed the “Cat Man of Aleppo,” started taking in abandoned and stray creatures around two years ago. According to The Dodo, “He started out with about 20 cats. After a year, there were over 100—and Alaa officially started the sanctuary.”

It was named the “House of Cats Ernesto” after Jaleel’s very own cat. Over the next few months, the rescue grew, becoming a beacon of hope in the rubble of decimated Aleppo. Children came

to play with the animals, and a playground was even established within the sanctuary. For once, these kids were able to experience some sense of normalcy in their lives.

Tragically, the sanctuary was bombed in November of 2016.

Jaleel was unable to remain in the city with his family and headed for Turkey, fearing for their lives.

When he returned, he found his sanctuary in shambles; many of the animals had perished and there was no possibility of rebuilding. Jaleel was determined to not let this setback hinder his devotion. He eventually found a spot for a new rescue, naming it “Ernesto’s Paradise.”

He also was able to mobilize a “cat ambulance” that provided veterinary care to animals around Aleppo and distributed sweets to the children. Once more, another tragic event struck: the ambulance was hit by a bomb during a massacre on April 15. Dozens

When life is lost, when innocent blood is spilt, when beautiful souls are snuffed out, nothing else matters.

On May 22, 2017, someone chose to commit such a horrific act in front of Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, where Ariana Grande was playing. Her audience typically ranges in ages from pre-teens to young adults, those who are only just starting to understand the world. Our hearts are with these families. What follows is the only relevant information when such a tragedy occurs. Ink on paper cannot bring these people back, but strength in the memory of their life might just push back the shadows of the darkest of humanity.

These are not just names. These are lives.

Megan Hurley. 15.

Courtney Boyle and Philip Tron. 18 and 32. Daughter and Step-Father.

Wendy Fawell. 50.

Elaine McIver. 43.

Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry. 17 and 19. Together.

Eilidh MacLeod. 14.

Sorrell Leczkowski. 14.

Nell Jones. 14.

Martyn Hett. 29.

Michelle Kiss. 45.

The animal angel of Aleppo By: Analisa Coppa

By: Alixandra Wilens

of innocent children who he was aiding lost their lives in this cruel attack; however, Jaleel still remains in Syria and continues his work, despite the horror and inhumanity he has seen.

On a more positive note, the new sanctuary is expanding as more animals come seeking food, warmth, and love. Jaleel works tirelessly to create and maintain this safe haven and has even undertaken a massive effort to save the wildlife of an abandoned Syrian Zoo. He has inspired countless across the globe with his heroism and selflessness for both his people and the animals of Aleppo. This man is a reminder to all of us to always be thankful and to be kind to those in need.

To follow his story (and for very cute pictures of puppies), visit: https://twitter.com/theAleppoCatman

Jane Tweddle-Taylor. 50.

Marcin and Angelika Klis. 42 and 40.

Married.

Kelly Brewster. 32.

Olivia Campbell. 15.

John Atkinson. 26.

Alison Howe and Lisa Lees. 45 and 47.

Mothers.

Georgina Callander. 18.

Saffie-Rose Roussos. 8.

If you would like to support relief efforts by contributing to the Manchester Emergency Fund, please visit https://beta.redcross. org.uk/appeal/manchester-emergency-fund-concert or scan the QR code below.

Page 8

: 7 1 0 2 P A M S E E T G A E L U L D A CO R G E T A T S N I

SUNY Stony Brook

Ian Rose Hamlet

SUNY Geneseo Nicholas Blouin Sean Nanos

SUNY Potsdam Chynna Tomastyk

Kevin Diebold Christopher Lau Daniel Oszust Jennifer Rakhimov Ryan Rodriguez Zachary Stone Perri Zilberman

Rochester Institute of Technology William Sasson

SUNY Maritime Trevor Zampetti

SUNY New Paltz Stephen Harris

SUNY Albany Jason Gerand

Lauren Levy

Fordham University

Nikki Surkis

34

Paige Caleca

SUNY Delhi Michael Kavanagh Cole Sciandra

New York Institute of Technology Daniel Casazza

Syracuse University Jasmine Hyman Nikki Indelicato Gianna Leavey

Page 9

SUNY Buffalo D’Andre Cabrera Ryan Cummings Keth Dickes Jacob Giller Lauren Gochman Garrett Krassner Robert Oginsky Eric Platt Connor Schmidt Mariah Simone

SUNY Oneonta Joseph Bernstien Eric Brach Anthony Citarelli Maggie Freed Nicole Kurzweil Lauren Miksits Raphael Palladino Katie Stevens Katie Zuckerman

Nassau Community College Breena Ambroselli Joseph Bagnasco Christian Barr Brandon Basile Owen Bradley Nicole Canizzaro Emily Cotter Anthony DelGiudice James Delsignore Meghan Dorn Oscar Edwards Andrew Gallagher Julian Hecker Timothy Herlihy Alyssa Kassim Benjamin Krochmal Alessandro Leo Dylan Mittleberg Matthew Muscarella Zachary Ostroff Valeria Paz Arthur Pope James Rand Mary Scott Thomas Stoerger Jessie Vanore Riley Williams

Fashion Institute of Technology 9

Candice Collins Julia Zeltmann

Hofstra University

SUNY Farmingdale Giancarlo Firriolo Salim Kaileh Rebecca Koumourdas Jordan Lambert Anthony Passarella Taylor Stefandel

Samantha Adams Deanna DeMarco Gabriella Furman Dennis Jones Mathew Raber Samantha Schwartz Samantha Stracher Asli Yetim

1

Gurkamal Dadra Jared Dans Rebecca Epstien Andrei Forman Matthew Marziliano Nicholas Pandolfi

Mercy College Lauren Trentham

Five Towns College Jason Lerner Bailey Rosen

Ithaca College David Aiello Skylar Berkley (School of Music) Sydney Kay

Institute of Culinary Education Khaleel Tribble

Cornell University

Manhattan College Edward Grimes

LIU Post

SUNY Binghamton Jake Abrams Brandon Desatnik Erica Heffez Abagail Jellinek Sarita Lavehim Brendan Malin Marisa Pellegrino Victoria Sallows Allison Schuster Nicholas Tiongson Sarah Zuckerman

United States Military Academy at West Point Matthew Montera

Hannah Choset Melissa Himelfarb Joshua R. Levine Alex Penchuk Jacob Shapiro

St. John’s University Vanessa Rodriguez

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Mount Saint Mary College Katelyn McCormick

Parsons School of Design Meriel Pitarka

SUNY Cortland Sarah Baio Joslyn Barrera Taylor Niola Nicolina Torciha

SUNY Oswego Noah Jacobs Evan Penchuk

Adelphi University

Thomas Danza Juliana Deeb Jessica Ench Burak Kanbir Joshua L. Levine Anthony Maffucci Alexander Triantis

Nicole Gibson

Hunter College: Macaulay Honors College

Northeastern University at Midtown Manhattan Joshua Bigman

Christopher Ham

Vassar College

Molloy College Matthew Kreuder Nicolette Kosowski Diego Palacios Jack Ryan

Stephanie Kaplan

Pace University Nicole Esposito

New York University School of Visual Arts

Brianna Gomez

Ruth Bergman Samantha Lobel Nicole Rezak

17

St. John’s University Gabby Albertina Adele Covelli Ashley Rizzo Vanessa Rodriguez

SUNY Old Westbury Francis Bruno Nicholas Suarez

Page 10

COLLEGE MAP 2017: OUT West Virginia University of Wisconsin West Virginia University Tyler Boyer Jess Broder Michael Corrao Ryder Lampert Michael Papillo Krisitin Raider Alexandra Savas

Ally Serota Sara Friedman

Virginia James Madison University Cayla Conley University of Virginia Julia Abrams Jordan Sternbach

Texas University of Texas at Austin Emily Fenton

Tennessee Vanderbilt University Evan Rothchild

North Carolina High Point University Lauren Auersperg University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Maximilian Basil University of North Carolina Wilmington Jake Lamonsoff Morgan Satcowitz

Ohio The Ohio State University Alexa Greenberg Brian Needle Jake Piskin Evan Ross Michael Rubinfeld Noah Tepper Maggie Zaretz

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State University Liana Chait Matthew Chait Allison Goldstein Zoe Hiller Nicole Levine Maddy Lido Sydney Press Kristin Scheel Allison Singer Lehigh University Jillian Wolfson University of Pittsburgh Rachel Wolk Villanova University

Massachusetts Berklee College of Music Jillian Rossi Northeastern University Emily Herrera University of Massachusetts, Amherst Jordan Gerand Jennifer Scharfman

Anthony Ammerman Vincent Maltese Bucknell University Stephanie Person Muhlenberg College Jack Jones Brianna Plass

Michigan Michigan State University Jordan Deutsch

Maryland

University of Michigan

Loyola University Maryland

Alex Buchbinder Arin Forstadt Amanda Rudolf Nolan Slovinsky Michael Sternbach Jacqueline Yackow Brian Zharov

Domenico Maffei Megan O’Reilly University of Maryland Peyton Fishman Jessica Graber Stephanie Hanna Lauren Lentini Cory Seisser Washington College Joseph LaRocca IV Andrew Smith Towson University Ben Jacobs

5 Page 11

OUT-OF STATE GRADUATES

T-OF-STATE GRADUATES Wisconsin University of Wisconsin at Madison

England

Alabama

Bournemouth University

University of Alabama

Chloe Davis

Gabriella Vargas

California University of Southern California Alix Negrin

Amanda Nossen

Israel Ohr Sameach

Conneticut

Max Fiegelman Gap Year

Western Conneticut State University

Chloe Abramovich

Dom Brocco University of Connecticut Justin Orenstein Jade Beauhuarnais Quinnipiac University Jillian Goldhirsch University of Hartford Catie Fuschillo University of New Haven Elliott Korgood Southern Connecticut State University Alina Tucker

Washington D.C. American University Sydney Weltman Georgetown University Rebecca Stekol

New Jersey

Delaware University of Delaware Josh Goldberg Robert Romeo Danielle Schwartz Lauren Levit

Farleigh Dickinson University Dan Gavigan

Florida

Rider University Amanda Borell

Illinois

Louisiana

Loyola University Chicago

Universtiy of Florida

Melanie Gaynor

Breanna Sullivan

Josh Eisner Jeffrey Lowell Casey Feigeles Brittany Rothblut Chase LaMagna Shelby Siegel

Rhode Island

University of New England

University of Rhode Island

David Geistrikh

Rebecca Banilover Sydney Root

Bates University Claire Kelly

Johnson and Wales University Alexa Cohen Danielle Raskin

South Carolina University of South Carolina

Arizona

Hunter Scheinkopf

University of Arizona

MCRD Parris Island

Brett Horn Seth Manger Gabrielle Rabinowitz

Brendan Hondema Brandon Moore

Alec Deane Hayley Tesser Justin Jung Ran Lampert Steven Alexander

Tulane University

Northwestern University

Maine

University of Miami

Jack Lido

Indiana

Florida Atlantic University Sam Miller

Indiana University Phallan Grossman Sophia Katz Erica LoGuidice Kelly Seidman Butler University Damion Stein

Georgia University of Georgia Vincent Pedone

Daytona State College Toi McAree University of Tampa Michael Chertock Jesse Eplan Russell Waltuch Nova Southeastern University Noah Atsidakos

Page 12

ENTERTAINMENT

Still rocking

By: Gustave Gottlieb

On November 18th, 2016, Metallica released its newest album, Hardwired… To Self Destruct after eight years of not releasing an original album. Metallica, a heavy-metal band that formed in the early 80s, was one of the pioneers to modern day rock and metal. They formed in Los Angeles, California, with the founding members James Hetfield (vocals), Lars Ulrich (drums), Ron McGovney (bass), and Dave Mustaine (guitar), where Hetfield agreed with Ulrich to start a band after seeing his advertisement in a newspaper, and soon Hetfield brought along his friend and housemate to join on in—and the rest is history.

The band’s biggest hit was on the self-titled album in 1991, also known as The Black Album for the album be-

ing almost completely blackened. The song was called “Enter Sandman,” which was the first on the album.

Overall, the album made one million dollars. It was such a hit, the album was remixed three times by the band themselves. Other songs on the album included “The Unforgiven” and “Through the Never.”

Hardwired… To Self Destruct starts with the album-titled song that jolts you into a high-tempo old school sound of metal, bringing it back from the “Master of Puppets” days. Then, the album goes into a slower, yet still fast paced, song called “Atlas, Rise!.”

Other songs included “Moth into Flame” and “Spit Out the Bone.”

The new album overall had mixed reviews, with some saying it is not comparable to Metallica’s finest works and will be immediately forgotten after their promotions are done. However,

others say it is the best album that’s been made in 25 years.

Furthermore, the album sounds very similar to their recent albums, which have not been the greatest hits for Metallica. If you want to hear their album fully, it’s available virtually anywhere for your enjoyment.

Lion: A roaring success By: Rachel Pulewitz and Brianna Tiegel Academy Award nominated for Best Motion Picture, Lion is a must-see. Lion is a true story about a boy in India named Saroo who becomes separated from his family and is determined to find his way back home. After being by himself for many months on the street, he is taken into an

orphanage and is later adopted by an Australian family. Living a normal life with his new family, he attends school and plays sports as any typical child would. It is not until he reaches college and is reminded of his past in India, that he becomes curious about his first five years of life. Then his search truly begins.

Lion is an emotional story, and the cast did a great job portraying what it must have been like for both Saroo

and his family. We found that the acting of Dev Patel, who played old Saroo Brierley, and Sunny Pawar, who played young Saroo Brierley, exemplified the emotions and the courage that Saroo Brierley had throughout his journey. If you have not seen this film already, we recommend seeing it as soon as possible, preferably with tissues on standby.

(Image courtesy of redbox.com)

By: Dylan Torres Video game companies have always made clever innovations to their products to attract potential buyers. Nintendo is no stranger to this concept; they have made countless new strides to ensure consumers have fun playing their games. Some of their most influential innovations included the three dimensional, 64-bit graphic capabilities of the Nintendo 64 and the motion-control gaming of the Nintendo Wii in 2006. Now, the Nintendo Switch hopes to add to the list of strides in new directions. Released March 3rd, this new console is a completely new take on gaming as we know it. Gamers everywhere, without a doubt, will be having fun throughout the summer.

For starters, the Switch is no

Ready for a switch

ordinary console. Nintendo developers had the ingenious idea to make the Switch an amalgamation of a console and a handheld. This means gamers can play anywhere, not just at home. While the Nintendo Wii U could possibly be played on the tablet controller, the short battery life span would mean that the fun would die too fast. Plus, the signal could be lost if standing too far away, and the tablet screen could temporarily lag and freeze.

Now, players don’t have to worry about laggy screens, losing the signal with the console, and especially not a dying controller. Developers at Nintendo have estimated the battery life will last from two and a half hours to six hours, but this may vary depending on how advanced the graphics are for each game. While this range is broad, it’s

still crazy to think a handheld has the capability to last for six hours at maximum!

Most of the games shown off during the Switch presentation in Japan appear graphically marvelous while excitingly fun when it comes to game-play. One game shown off and the highlight of the presentation was the previously speculated new title, “Super Mario Odyssey.” This game features locations inspired from the real world, great graphics, and new changes to old characters. For example, players can throw Mario’s hat to pull off platforming feats never seen before in the series. This game is set to be released during the holidays this year, and looks to be one of the most anticipated games in 2017.

One of the most infamous titles on the Switch also happens to be its

first launch title. The game “1, 2, Switch!” was released alongside the console and is a party game for two players. Each player grabs a JoyCon, or the controller for the system, and perform all sorts of wacky activities. From milking a cow, to running towards a flag, to even battling as wizards, there’s a mini game for almost anyone in store.

Other previously speculated titles including “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” and “Splatoon,” as well as its revealed sequel, “Splatoon 2,” are all available on the Switch.

While many old titles are resurfacing on new hardware, new games and add-ons are also coming to the console. “Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers”

Page 13

ENTERTAINMENT

All about the Grammys

By: Gabe Cohen

On February 12, 2017, the Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony was held, recognizing the top music and albums from the fall of 2015 to the fall of 2016. This years Grammy Awards was held in the Staples Center in Los Angeles and was hosted by James Corden. During this large window of time many new faces made it big in the world of music, including Chance the Rapper, The Chainsmokers, Twenty One Pilots, and more. Many longtime musicians, including Rihanna, Beyonce, Kanye West, and Drake received many nominations as well.

The night was filled with joy and excitement as everyone watched their favorite artists being honored for their music in the past year. A few musicians, however, were notably missing from this prestigious event. Drake was unable to attend due to a tour conflict, and Justin Bieber and Kanye West chose to forego the ceremony in protest of the awards.

Record Of The Year:

Nominees: “Formation” — Beyoncé “7 Years” — Lukas Graham “Work” — Rihanna Featuring Drake “Stressed Out” — Twenty One Pilots WINNER: “Hello” — Adele Song Of The Year: Nominees: “Formation” — Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Beyoncé Knowles & Michael L. Williams II, songwriters (Beyoncé) “I Took A Pill In Ibiza” — Mike Posner, songwriter (Mike Posner) “Love Yourself ” — Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin & Ed Sheeran, songwriters (Justin Bieber) “7 Years” — Lukas Forchhammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard & Morten Ristorp, songwriters (Lukas Graham) WINNER: “Hello” — Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Adele)

Without further ado, here are Best New Artist: this year’s most notable nominees Nominees: and winners!

Kelsea Ballerini Album Of The Year: The Chainsmokers Nominees: Maren Morris Lemonade — Beyoncé Anderson .Paak Purpose — Justin Bieber WINNER: Chance The Rapper Views — Drake A Sailor’s Guide To Earth — Sturgill Best Pop Vocal Album: Simpson Nominees: WINNER: 25 — Adele Purpose — Justin Bieber

Dangerous Woman — Ariana Grande Bowie Confident — Demi Lovato Best Rap Album: This Is Acting — Sia WINNER: 25 — Adele Nominees: And the Anonymous Nobody — De La Best Dance/Electronic AlSoul bum: Major Key — DJ Khaled Nominees: Views — Drake Electronica 1: The Time Machine — Blank Face LP — ScHoolboy Q Jean-Michel Jarre The Life of Pablo — Kanye West Epoch — Tycho WINNER: Coloring Book — Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Chance The Rapper Future — Underworld Best Country Song: Louie Vega Starring…XXVIII — Louie Vega Nominees: WINNER: Skin — Flume “Blue Ain’t Your Color” — Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey & SteBest Rock Song: ven Lee Olsen, songwriters (Keith Nominees: Urban) “Burn the Witch” —Radiohead, “Die A Happy Man” — Sean Dougsongwriters (Radiohead) las, Thomas Rhett & Joe Spargur, “Hardwired” — James Hetfield & songwriters (Thomas Rhett) Lars Ulrich, songwriters (Metallica) “My Church” — busbee & Maren “Heathens” — Tyler Joseph, song- Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris) writer (Twenty One Pilots) “Vice” — Miranda Lambert, “My Name Is Human” — Rich Shane McAnally & Josh Osborne, Meyer, Ryan Meyer & Johnny Ste- songwriters (Miranda Lambert) vens, songwriters (Highly Suspect) WINNER: “Humble and Kind” WINNER: “Blackstar” — David — Lori McKenna, songwriter Bowie, songwriter (David Bow- (Tim McGraw) ie) Best Alternative Music Album: Nominees: 22, A Million — Bon Iver The Hope Six Demolition Project — PJ Harvey Post Pop Depression — Iggy Pop A Moon Shaped Pool — Radiohead WINNER: Blackstar — David

How two boys in their underwear made history By: Mikayla Gorelin Ten years ago, two teens—one depressed and struggling with suicidal thoughts, the other with an extreme anxiety disorder—decided to start playing music. Tyler Joseph started the band Twenty One Pilots in 2009, and in 2011, Josh Dun joined and completed the duo. On Sunday, February 12th, these two men won their first Grammy. But they didn’t just win it; they won it in their underwear. Their win for Best Pop Duo or Group was a huge milestone in their careers and the band’s history.

Joseph and Dun of Twenty One Pilots might have published their first official studio album, Vessel, in 2013, but became well known in 2015, with their release of Blurryface. Including songs such as their

hit singles “Stressed Out” and “Ride,” the album deals with the fictional character of “Blurryface,” who represents insecurities and anxieties. From the beginning of his music career, Tyler Joseph has channeled his depression, fear, and emotions into his songwriting, and that is why so many people easily connect to the songs in their own personal ways. Their fanbase, commonly referred to as the Skeleton Clique, is so diverse and unique, and each person finds an emotional connection to their lyrics and music.

The reason that Joseph and Dun wore no pants to the most prestigious award in American music was to combat the limits of whether or not they would be allowed to.

In their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, before they could even make

money off of their music, they sat and watched the Grammys. In their acceptance speech, Tyler Joseph recalls, “As we were watching, we noticed every single one of us was in our underwear. And seriously, Josh turned to me—and we were no one at that time—and he said, ‘If we ever go to the Grammys, if we ever win a Grammy, we should receive it just like this.’” And they followed up on their promise. As Nick Jonas called their name for their win, they stood up and took off their pants.

Joseph’s wife, Jenna, commented on their clothing (or lack thereof) at the Warner Music Grammy After Party: “I didn’t know until I heard Tyler start unbuckling his belt while they were making the nominees.”

This is the story of how a small band from Ohio that made it to the Grammys’ stage continues to

inspire the people who know their story. After winning two American Music Awards and an MTV Video Music Award, they won their first Grammy. Joseph wrapped up his speech with a quote that can and will inspire individuals: “Anyone from anywhere can do anything.

And this is that.” Now, whether this is an inspiration to accept an award in their underwear or not, is up to each person’s interpretation.

Page 14

SPORTS NHL Playoffs Update: Predators, Penguins vying for Stanley Cup glory By: Benji Ferraro Only two teams remain in the NHL playoffs: the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

These two teams are vying for the Stanley Cup this June. The Penguins conquered the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Washington Capitals, and the Ottawa Senators to make it to the finals. Meanwhile, the Predators, behind their raucous crowd at Bridgestone Arena, went from the last seed in the Western Conference playoffs to defeating the Chicago Blackhawks, the St. Louis Blues and the Anaheim Ducks.

Nashville is backed by stellar goaltending from Pekka Rinne, and its defense is anchored by Roman Josi and P.K Subban. On offense, Filip Forsberg is relied on to carry Nashville to game-winners.

The Penguins have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and goaltender Matt Murray trying to defend last year’s triumph over the San Jose Sharks. Overall, it should be a fun series, but unfortunately for an Islanders fan like myself, I predict the Pens will win in seven games.

Enjoy the Finals, fans!

JV Cheerleaders practicing a pyramid at Disney’s All-Star Sports (Photo courtesy of Ms. Leonardo)

Award-Winning Cheer By: Rachel Katz Many sports in John F. Kennedy High School have had highly praised and recognized achievements, but one went too unnoticed for its high level of accomplishment. This year, the Junior Varsity cheerleading team competed in the UCA Cheer Nationals in Florida from February ninth to thirteenth.

After an insane amount of effort, they placed twelfth! They had “one of [the] best experiences of [their] lives!” as cheerleader Morgan Mass enthusiastically exclaimed.

There were many steps taken to get to their seats on that flight down to Florida, and I’m not just talking about the snowy ride to the airport. In order to qualify to compete in nationals you must get a “bid.” These bids are

not easy to obtain, as there are many necessary conditions that must be met.

One of these conditions is attending a UCA cheerleading camp in the summer. All of the girls attended and worked their hardest. They spent their time and effort acquiring the bid to get to nationals, but this was only half the battle.

The next step was creating and perfecting a routine. This was created by the JV coach, Ms. Linda Leonardo. They spent months practicing the dance, cheer, and stunts. They never quit and practiced until it was in their heads so much that they were doing it in the halls.

Once their routine was ready, it was time to purchase the tickets and head to Disney World, Florida. They

settled in and continued to practice.

The whole weekend wasn’t only for practicing; they had so much fun on top of competing. They got to visit the parks and enjoy the “magic” of Disney World. One park that was a favorite was Hollywood Studios because of its attractions, such as the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. They spent the weekend performing at and exploring Disney World, the place “Where Dreams Come True.”

This trip was a huge bonding experience for the team. According to Morgan, they all “got really close” in the three days they spent together. To her it was “one of the best weekends of [her] life.” Congratulations to the JV cheerleading team!

On your marks... get set… COUGAR INVITE! By: Emma Gold Kennedy High School’s very own Track and Field team has done it yet again, having hosted the sixth annual Cougar Invitational track meet this spring. New York athletes from near and far traveled to Kennedy High School and piled in the bleachers, and there was an aura of competition floating in the air. Also floating in the air was the delicious smell of barbecue, macaroni and cheese, bagels, brownies, and other treats being sold.

Thanks to the parents helping out with the food and selling high demand Cougar Invite t-shirts, the event was able to “run” very smoothly. The bleachers were decked out in green, silver, and gold balloons, and music was pumping throughout the entire outdoors. Many athletes were awarded with medals, and even a few earned trophies! The hustle and bustle of athletes, coaches, parents, and friends gave an energetic vibe to the meet.

This mammoth event could not have been a success without head coor-

dinator and track coach Coach Chris Mammone, who ran the extra mile to ensure that things fell in place for the Cougar Invite. Coach Mammone commented, “The Cougar Invite is our annual Invitational that attracts teams from Long Island, Westchester, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens.

We feature an elimination race where the last place person gets kicked off the track after each lap. That’s our special race and no other meet does it!” The unique elimination race is also known as the “Cougar 3K,” and it is one of

the highlights of the meet. Nine athletes participate in the event, and each athlete has a witty introduction that sets the mood. At the end of each 400-meter lap, the last person to get across the line is eliminated, and the rest of the pack continues running in hopes of staying in the race for each successive lap. The Cougar 3K is the race that has everyone standing on his or her feet -- it’s better than anything on TV! What a rush -- the Cougar Invitational was the place to be!

Page 15

SPORTS

A band of Bulldog brothers By: Scott Fingeroth The Bellmore-Merrick Varsity Bulldogs finished off another outstanding campaign during the 2016-17 season with a record of 13-2-1, finishing with a victorious last game, despite a disappointing loss in states due to tiebreaker complications. Following the season, I had a chance to catch up with senior Eric Platt, who was kind enough to speak to me about the season and the Bulldogs’ hockey program.

When I asked him about being a Bulldog during his senior season, he responded, “Being a Bulldog is something that some kids dream of and never get a chance to do. I personally

was lucky enough to play on varsity for three years. Being a senior is very bittersweet. The fans in the stands are all of your friends and people that you grew up knowing, and they are standing there watching you play the sport that you love to play. The part that really isn’t fun is knowing that you only have a guaranteed 16-20 [more] games to wear that jersey and play for your school. The senior season was pretty cool also because you were able to be a mentor to all of the underclassmen and show them what it means to be a Bulldog.”

He also described the success of the varsity team throughout the past two

seasons, commenting, “The reason this team over the past two seasons has been so successful is that this team becomes a family. From the first time you step onto the Mepham track for off-ice tryouts to the first shot you take on the goalie, everyone is a brother. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like someone outside of the room because you have some “social” differences. When you are doing anything for the ‘Dogs, you love him as if he was your own brother. The theme of our season was sacrifice. At the beginning of the year, our coach gave every player a red bracelet that said Bellmore-Merrick Bulldogs Sacrifice. The idea of knowing that

every person in that room would give their blood, sweat, and tears for the team was just one way that we became a family.”

Eric said that there are eleven seniors graduating this year, and it will be a battle for those spots on the team and in the family. He also said that fans should expect the team to work as hard as possible to win another championship for the district next year.

I would like to thank Eric for his time and I would also like to congratulate the Varsity team on their great run this season!

The Bellmore-Merrick Bulldogs facing off in their final game of the season. (Photo courtesy of The Cougar Crier )

The Cougar Crier Editorial Staff Editors-in-Chief Alixandra Wilens Melissa Himelfarb Jenn Scharfman Advisor Ms. Kaitlyn Seigneuray Principal Ms. Lorraine Poppe Assistant Principals Mr. Jon LaRochester Mr. Gerard Owenburg Mr. Vincent Pisano

Editors Adam Bernstein, Sean Cohen, Scott Fingeroth, Gustave Gottlieb, Alexis Krayevsky, Azaria Vargas Staff Jennifer Avezov, Ayla Berkowitz, Adam Bernstein, Gabriel Cohen, Sean Cohen, Analisa Coppa, Benji Ferraro, Mason Ferraro, Scott Fingeroth, Laszlo Goch, Emma Gold, Mikayla Gorelin, Gustave Gottlieb, Melissa Himelfarb, Alexis Krayevsky, Arielle Pasternack, Brianna Plass, Jennifer Scharfman, Marlee Seifer, Jada Spindler, Dylan Torres, Azaria Vargas, Alixandra Wilens Contributors Rachel Katz, Rachel Pulewitz, Brianna Tiegel

Celebrating 50 years of JFK!

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John F. Kennedy High School opened its doors fifty years ago, at the start of the 1966-1967 school year. Changing times, changing dress codes, and changing sports and course offerings have all contributed to the school community we know and love today. What has not changed is that Kennedy is made up of people -- students, faculty, staff, parents, and more -- committed to continued success and excellence. Happy Golden Anniversary, JFK!