Eastside: May 2023

www.eastside-online.org

Vol. 55 No. 6

Cherry Hill High School East: 1750 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

May 2023

Meloche looks back on 46 years in Cherry Hill ■ By Vivian Rong (‘23)

Eastside Online Editor-in-Chief

After almost eight years of serving as superintendent of Cherry Hill Public Schools, Dr. Joe Meloche is moving on from the Cherry Hill Public School District as he retires from his current position and plans to start in a new position as the superintendent of Rose Tree Media School District in Pennsylvania.

Meloche, the first Cherry Hill school district alumnus to serve as district superintendent, moved to Cherry Hill with his family from Detroit in March of 1977.

After joining the Cherry Hill community, Meloche attended Kingston Elementary School with his siblings. The family had made the move after his father left his job, where he had been working in a factory to build engines for trucks, to take up a job in sales on the East coast. The Meloches chose Cherry Hill as their new home as their mother was originally from Wilmington, Delaware, and was looking for somewhere close to her hometown. Meloche’s parents chose Cherry Hill as their new home primarily for the reputation of the Cherry Hill school system.

After attending Kingston up until sixth grade, Meloche then attended

Braynard Junior High School, now Carusi Middle School, and Cherry Hill High School West, graduating in 1989.

“I’ve had some great experiences as a student in Cherry Hill,” said Meloche.

“I can fondly remember teachers at every level who had a positive impact on me as a student. Getting a good education and working hard, having a strong work ethic, were things that my parents demanded and things that they modeled for us.”

After graduating from Cherry Hill West, it was Meloche’s goal to one day become a teacher.

“I was certain at that point, that was what I wanted to do with my career,” said Meloche. “It seems like it was literally a lifetime ago.”

Today, Meloche lives with his family in the same neighborhood where he grew up, about three blocks away from his childhood home. In fact, he still sees some of the same people he saw as a child growing up in Kingston.

Throughout his 46 years living here, Meloche has seen a lot of change throughout Cherry Hill.

“It’s a better place now than it was then,” said Meloche.

Melcohe describes how,

in the last 28 years, the diversity of Cherry Hill has grown in every sense, ranging from race, family structures and languages spoken at home to religion, ethnicity and orientation. He believes Cherry Hill today is a more beautiful place than it ever has been.

Prior to working in Cherry Hill, Meloche started his teaching career in Willingboro Memorial Junior High School, teaching eighth grade. He then went to Maple Shade and taught seventh and eighth graders social studies and English.

He then became a principal of an elementary school in the Maple Shade School District before returning to the Cherry Hill school district in 2003, working as the principal of Kingston and later as the principal of Carusi Middle School.

“The job was open.

Kingston was the elementary school I went to, the neighborhood I lived in, [and] my daughter was going into first grade there, so I applied for a job. It was incredibly exciting to be able to come back and to live and to work in the community that had meant so much to me,” said Meloche.

Meloche is looking forward to the new opportunities he has at the Rose Tree Media School District and awaits the challenge of

making the transition.

“There will always be a piece of Cherry Hill with me,” said Meloche.

Meloche believes he has grown up and matured as an educational administrator and a human being during his 20 years working in the Cherry Hill Public School Courtesy of Cherry Hill Public Schools District. He Dr. Joe Meloche bids farewell to the has enjoyed Cherry Hill school district. his time at Cherry Hill nity. He believes that in professionally, but he also order for things to improve, believes that his 20 years in there needs to be a healthy Cherry Hill have been some level of change and that of his hardest. new voices are beneficial “I feel fortunate that I for change to happen. continue to get to watch the “I leave here with some growth and development life-long friends that I’ve of the school district from made, people who began as a distance. I think that my colleagues. We’ve literchange is always healthy,” ally raised our children tosaid Meloche. gether,” said Meloche.

Meloche is looking forFor Meloche, one of the ward to seeing what the best parts of working in new superintendent does Cherry Hill is getting to and how they work with know many families and the staff and the commutheir journeys.

first and last name is truly one in millions. Yet, this is exactly the case for East’s two Emily Feketes, Emily Marie Fekete (‘23) and Emily Rose Fekete (‘23).

“I thought it was funny honestly, because I had never met anyone with my last name,” said Emily R. Fekete. “It’s not super common.”

To add on to the coincidence of it all, not only do the girls share the same first and last name, but their fathers share the same first and last name as well. And despite having been at East together for three years, the two didn’t truly meet until senior year, when they were in the same Financial Literacy class.

Though sharing

the same name has caused some confusion over the years, both girls don’t seem to mind, instead finding these mix-ups amusing.

“Sometimes our teacher would hand us each other’s work or accidentally mix up the grades in Genesis, but it was always an easy fix and I don’t think it ever bothered either of us,” said Emily R. Fekete.

In addition, according to Emily M., when SAT scores were released, there had been an incident where her CollegeBoard portal had shown both her own SAT score as well as the other Emily’s.

Emily M. recalls that one time, her mom, who works at Cherry Hill West, had been congratulated by her co-workers when Emily R. had won an award for swimming.

“[My mom’s co-workers] were like ‘We didn’t know that your daughter was a swimmer, congratulations to her!’” said Emily M. about the mix-up.

Other times, people who have never met the Emilys mistake one of them for the other, which is especially confusing since Emily M. is blond while Emily R. is brunette.

“They’re like, ‘Oh, did you dye your hair?’” said Emily M., laughing.

Beyond their shared name, the two Emily Feketes lead very different lives in and out of East. On one hand, Emily R.’s passion lies in swimming, and she has been involved in the sport ever since she was young and is committed to competing

East’s two Emily Feketes reflect on sharing the same name ■ By Sophia Liu (‘24) Eastside Features Editor

In the United States alone, there are over 5,000 different first names and over 151,000 different last names in use — making over 755 million different possible first and last name combin a tions.

Thus, the chance of being able to say you’ve met someone who shares your

for the University of South Carolina’s Division I Swim and Dive team. At East, she’s a dedicated member of the Girls’ Swim Team and helps organize Blood Drive. Meanwhile, Emily M. gravitates towards the arts, with hobbies such as calligraphy, crocheting and playing the piano.

Though identical in a glance at the attendance sheet, Emily M. and Emily R. have carved unique paths in life, with their own ex p erie n c e s , passions, dreams a n d hopes.

Courtesy of Emily R. Fekete (‘23) (pictured left) and Emily M. Fekete (‘23) (pictured right)

The Emily Feketes pose for their senior portraits.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Local teacher Reggie Wu revives ‘80s band Features, Pg. 4

Am I cultured enough?

Opinions, Pg. 8-9

East alum Ed Foley coaches to success Sports, Pg. 15

NEWS

Page 2

EASTSIDE

May 2023

District tightens up on final exams this spring ■ By Ella Hampton (‘24)

Eastside Online News Editor

The Cherry Hill Public School District has decided to continue largely project-based finals for the high schools. Similar to last year, finals will follow a five-day structure, with four days designated for testing or presentations and the fifth for remakes.

Finals will start Friday, June 9, and will continue until Thursday, June 15, the official make-up day.

The five core classes – English, math, social studies, science and world language – are all required to have a final, differing in each course and class. These finals will be project-based,

focusing on the display of knowledge in specific standards from that particular course. These projects will give students the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned during the year. Math, however, will return to the traditional diagnostic exam, testing students on material from throughout the year.

The state publishes standards – what students are expected to learn – for each course. Every district can format its exams differently, as long as students are able to display their knowledge in the standards.

By targeting certain standards, finals become more transparent and authentic. Students are able

to show their comprehension without having to prepare for an exam that tests students on a variety of topics. Instead, students are prepared beforehand, knowing exactly what standards they are expected to demonstrate through their final project.

Both high schools in the district will follow the fiveday final structure formatted by the building-level administrators and districtlevel supervisors, who are responsible for overseeing the content of certain academic subject departments.

“They form committees of East and West teachers that come together and create the final assessment,” said Cherry Hill High

School East Principal Dr. Dennis Perry.

While the five core classes are required to have a final, teachers from all courses are expected to have their students in class during the five days to do a culminating activity.

Prior to COVID-19, the five core classes were expected to take a formal final. These tests were an hour and a half to two hours, with answers recorded on bubble sheets. COVID-19, however, changed finals, making them projects instead – something that the district has carried on for the past few years.

During COVID-19, finals were not required; instead, they were an optional way

for students to raise their grades.

“Over the COVID time, the finals were more on a portfolio basis. It was much looser. So I think we’ve tightened it up and added some rigor to it this year,” said Perry.

While the administration has begun enforcing more strictness and rigor in finals again, they do not expect to return to full sitdown exams any time soon.

“I think moving forward they’ll be predominantly project-based, which would allow students to demonstrate what they’ve learned that year with respect to the standards that they were supposed to learn,” said Perry.

on the cohort of students in each grade.

“Since we are only looking at the top 10% of the juniors and top 20% of the seniors, the actual GPAs used to make those cutoffs aren’t relevant to our work,” said Mr. Bill Semus, who, alongside Mrs. Susan Melograna, runs Cherry Hill East’s Cum Laude Society.

While the number of people who get into Cum Laude each year does typically remain consistent, in recent years the typical GPA needed to get into Cum Laude has increased significantly.

For example, in 2013, 47 students had 6.4 or higher GPAs, earning them a spot

in the top 10% of the class.

In 2023, 108 students have 6 . 4 GPAs, so not all of these

students who would have been in the top 10% of their class ten years ago are even in the top 20%. Additionally, the 2022 class had 14 valedictorians and the class of 2023 is also projected to have a similar or even higher number of valedictorians. This sharp increase in higher GPAs can be connected to post-COVID-19 grade inflation.

Similarly, some students with unweighted 4.0 GPAs are not in the top 20% of their class, despite receiving all A’s for all four years. This is due to weighted GPA, which could penalize even students with a 4.0 for not taking all Honors and AP

classes, being used to determine class rank. Comparatively, to get into the National Honor Society, which East does not participate in, students need to have a 3.65 unweighted GPA. It appears that in order to be recognized for their academic achievements, students need to take almost all Honors and AP classes and get A’s in those classes for all four years.

Students who do get into Cum Laude are required to tutor other students on a monthly basis after school and help hold the Cum Laude rose sale for Valentine’s Day every February.

The new inductees will begin participating in the activities of Cum Laude soon.

many of our East students when they needed mental health support. We are happy to give back,” said Lausi.

With the donations coming from the $10 admission fee, money raised from the bake sale and extra donations, Oaks Integrated Health Care will be able to help more individuals in need.

This year’s Coffeehouse featured 29 performances out of the 50 who auditioned. These auditions took place about two weeks before the weekend of the show, held by seniors Madeline Reddy (‘23) and Brooke Warren (‘23).

The two students worked with Lausi for hours to select the perfect range of performances that would excite the audience.

Many people within the choir program performed.

However, not all of their acts involve singing.

“I wanted to audition for Coffeehouse to show off a side of me that I am not able to usually showcase in choir… I also just wanted to get involved in such a fun show,” said Joey Lieberson (‘26), a Coffeehouse performer.

To prepare, Lieberson, along with many other performers, practiced their acts to make sure they were perfected for the big night.

Singers fine-tuned their songs to make sure each note was correct, dancers practiced to make sure

they hit every position, and everyone put in their best effort to create a detailed costume that represented them and their act.

Despite the street-flooding rain that began only minutes before the start, the 2023 Coffeehouse was definitely one to remember.

The show began at roughly 7:10 p.m. with Elizabeth Linker (‘25) singing while playing the guitar.

Then, East Singers performed while being conducted by Lausi, and the entire show progressed from there.

Each act was introduced

by Chris Korneyev (‘23), as well as by a message shown on the projector screen with both the name of the cur-

rent performer or performers and the next performer or performers.

At Coffeehouse, audience members could expect any type of performance.

These acts were made up of students singing, dancing, reading poetry, acting and performing many more entertaining skits that left students on the edge of their seats.

Throughout the night, the audience was encouraged to visit the cafeteria for concessions and even more entertainment.

Not only were there sweets, snacks, popcorn and bottled drinks, but, of course, there was also coffee.

Out of all the events

that the music department holds each school year, Coffeehouse is always a fan-favorite, especially for Lausi.

“I love to see the creativity that comes from the student body coming together for a cause. And it is just a really fun night that everyone looks forward to,” said Lausi.

Coffeehouse is a great way for the school to come together and celebrate each student’s special talents while, at the same time, highlighting an important foundation in the community and encouraging students to support the cause.

All in all, Coffeehouse 2023 was a special night that will go down in East history.

Cum Laude Society inducts an increasingly competitive class ■ By Lauren Winslow (‘23)

Eastside Online Editor-in-Chief

This year’s Cum Laude Society induction ceremony took place on May 9, recognizing the academic excellence of the top 10% of the junior class and the top 20% of the senior class.

For juniors, five semesters of their high school career are used to calculate the top 10%, while seven semesters are considered for the top 20% of the senior class.

Unlike with the National Honor Society, another organization that recognizes high school scholars for their dedication, Cum Laude Society does not have a set grade point average (GPA) needed to be admitted. Instead, it is based

Art by Marlee Petkov (‘24) / Eastside Staff

Students show their talent at East’s Coffeehouse ■ By Alexis Rovner (‘26)

Eastside Staff

In 2006, East music teacher Mrs. Laurie Lausi created East’s annual talent show, known as Coffeehouse. This event allows students to share their talents with the East community and benefit the community.

Each year, the profits from this event are donated to a selected cause and awareness is raised on the topic. The 2023 Starry Night-themed Coffeehouse show enforced the importance of mental health through the Oaks Integrated Health Care Foundation.

Oaks Integrated Health Care’s website explains how the foundation “offers caring, compassionate programs for adults, children and families living with a mental illness.”

The site continues to describe how “[its] programs throughout New Jersey give individuals the opportunity to make healthy choices, stabilize symptoms of illness and eventually reach [their] full potential.”

Sometimes, students look at their peers and may only see the side that they wear on the outside. They may not stop to ask themselves if someone is struggling on the inside.

“We always choose a charity that directly benefits our East community.

Oaks has been there for so

Alexis Rovner (‘26) / Eastside Staff

Shia Snyder (‘26), Julia Terry (‘26), Gracie Martinez (‘26) and Reagan Daddis (‘26) sing at Coffeehouse as one of over 20 acts.

NEWS

May 2023

EASTSIDE

Page 3

East says a bittersweet goodbye to six retirees ■ By Jillian Koenig (‘24)

Eastside News Editor

Mrs. Cajigas After 31 years of teaching math and 17 years of teaching math at Cherry Hill East, students and faculty will say goodbye to Mrs. Emily Cajigas.

Cajigas will enter retirement this year and will begin her retirement with a relaxing trip to Italy.

Shortly after, Cajigas will start her new job in Chinatown, Philadelphia, which has a focus on mindfulness and culture.

As a former organizer of Multicultural Day at East, she is excited to enter a school that highly focuses on culture. Although she is moving on to a different school, Cajigas will miss the students and faculty but will most miss the Multicultural Day event at East.

Cajigas has always wanted to be a teacher and wanted to make math easier and fun for her students. As she leaves East, she wants to leave an important message to the students: “Work hard, do the best you can and enjoy life and all of the great opportunities that will be presented to you.”

Mr. Console As the year concludes, East says a big “Adios” to Mr. Frank Console. After 24 total years of teaching and 19 of those years at East, Console prepares for the next phase of his life.

Console’s career did not begin with teaching. Prior to becoming a teacher, Console worked as a carpeter and worked for Habitat for Humanity in West Philadelphia.

Console’s college degree was in Spanish and he had no interest in teaching when he graduated. Later on, while working for Habitat for Humanity, Console had the opportunity to lead various school groups that came to visit.

“I got to meet some of the teachers, and one of the teachers said, ‘You should be a teacher,’” Console said.

At first, Console thought this teacher was ridiculous.

The teacher then complimented the way that Console talked to the kids, his patience and his ability to explain things to the students. Console decided to take his advice and, 24 years later, Console can look back on his passion for teaching Spanish. He is also still close friends with that teacher.

The principal at the time that Console came to East was Dr. John O’Breza.

O’Breza noticed Console’s background of working for Habitat for Humanity and convinced him to start a Habitat for Humanity chapter at East. Console started the chapter in 2004, and has been a dedicated adviser ever since. “[O’Breza] wanted me to continue that passion that I had for Habitat here at East, so he was really behind me starting the Habi-

tat chapter. That has been my greatest joy here, being able to bring so many students to different parts of the country,” Console said.

This summer, once his retirement begins, Console will move to Spain. Console looks forward to returning to Spain, as he lived there as a young man and always knew that he wanted to retire there.

As Console leaves East, he wants all of his students to know that the possibility is in them to give back, to appreciate what they have and to realize that they can

for was in Cherry Hill. He was given a job teaching art at Beck Middle School, where he taught for three years.

“Then, [the district] basically approached me and asked me to start the photography program at Cherry Hill East,” Kovnat said. “That’s when I came to East, and they gave me a wonderful budget and I could design the dark room -- I basically designed the whole [program] with the department chairman and it was a wonderful experience.”

hopes that what they’ve learned in his class will be taken with them wherever they go in the future.

Mr. Papa

Mr. Lou Papa has been working in the Cherry Hill district for the past 22 years. Of those 22 years, he has spent the past six as an assistant principal at East.

He worked at West prior to coming to East.

Before working in education, Papa worked as an accountant, and later on, a chemical and environmental engineer for his father’s company.

While P a p a worked as an E P A project m a n ager, he had to travel all over the place.

All of t h i s traveling was Lucas Tang (‘23)/ Eastside Photo Editor w h a t c o n East says a farewell to the six retiring teachers. Pictured from the top vinced left corner, then moving clockwise, is Console, Papa, Walton, Cajigas, Papa to Troutman and Kovnat. pursue a help others.

In 1983, at 30 years old, new job in education “If you help one other Kovnat lost his job at East “I did a lot of traveling... person in this world, you’ve due to a reduction in staff.

At best it would be six weeks made the world a better Without a job, Kovnat had away, two weeks home. So, place and your life becomes to figure out what his next with family, it made more that much more fulfilled,” plans would be. Through sense to have a job where Console said. the father of one of his forI could come home every mer students, Kovnat and night,” Papa said.

Mr. Kovnat the father joined together Papa said that he will and created Krassan and miss working with all of Mr. Bill Kovnat has Kovnat Photography. the kids at East when he taught in Cherry Hill for 34 The business has been retires. years and has been teachrunning since 1985. Today, As his retirement nears ing at East for 31 of the 34 the business is named Stucloser, Papa already has years. Starting out as an dio K Photography and is plans for how he will spend art teacher at Beck Middle run by Kovnat and his wife, his time.

School and later bringing Chrissy.

He plans to golf and the photography program “In 1997, one of my colspend a lot of time learnto East, Kovnat has taught leagues called me up three ing to play various instruhundreds of students weeks before school started ments. throughout his career. in September and invited Papa looks forward to While teaching has been me to come in for a job inthis new phase of his life a main focus of Kovnat’s caterview to get my old job and reminds East students reer, he didn’t always know back,” Kovnat said. to learn how to be effective he wanted to go into educaOriginally, Kovnat recommunicators. tion. He attended Universijected the idea, but his colty of the Arts and majored league convinced him to Mr. Troutman in graphic design. The sumjust come in for a talk and mer after his sophomore some coffee.

After 46 years of teachyear of college, Kovnat “Before I knew it, they ing science in Cherry Hill, worked at a summer camp twisted my arm and said Mr. William Troutman will where he discovered his ‘Come on back, we want enter retirement. Troutpassion for teaching. you to teach your old subman taught at Cherry Hill “What got me interject again,’” Kovnat said.

West his first year, and has ested in teaching was that Kovnat returned to East been at East ever since.

I worked at [Golden Slipin the fall of 1997, and the Throughout his time at per Camp] in the Poconos. rest is history. Since his reEast, Troutman has taught It was my sophomore year turn to East, Kovnat has a variety of science classes. at college and I discovered been working two full-time In earlier years, East ofthat I, all of a sudden, went jobs at once: teaching and fered many semester-long from being an introvert the photography studio. science courses that Troutto an extrovert within one Kovnat has loved his man had the opportunity to summer. I realized that I time teaching at East and teach. Some of those courshad this ability to connect will miss the friends that es included horticulture, with young people,” Kovnat he has made and the stugreenhouse management, said. dents with whom he has lab techniques, field biology Kovnat worked at Goldmade connections. Kovnat and museum techniques. en Slipper Camp for the decided to retire this year Troutman has always next six summers. During because he feels that his loved science. However, it these years, he graduated time has come to “graduwasn’t until later on in colfrom University of the Arts ate” high school, adding lege that he decided to purwith a Bachelor of Fine that he wants to see what sue education. He entered Arts in graphic design and is out there for him.

Lafayette College studying decided he wanted to beAs he gets ready to walk engineering, but eventually come a teacher. out of the doors of East one decided to change his major Following his time at last time, Kovnat wants all to biology.

Kutztown University to atof his students to know that “I don’t think I am very tain an additional degree, he had a great time getting adept at math as much as the first job Kovnat applied to know everyone and he I would have needed to be

at that time, but I always loved the sciences,” Troutman said.

Troutman always had a love for science, especially biology. For a short period of time, he considered going to medical school. He was about to start a job at a hospital, which he had worked at for two summers, but decided that it wasn’t the right job for him. Troutman started calling around at other jobs instead.

“One of the teachers at West had resigned 20 minutes before I had called, and I was invited to come in and interview now. It seemed like it must have been the right thing,” Troutman said.

The assistant principal who interviewed Troutman used to teach at his high school, so he knew who he was right away and had him come back for a followup interview. Forty-six years later, and the rest is history.

Troutman said he will miss interacting with his colleagues and students the most. The final message he leaves with his students is for them to understand that there are so many possibilities in the world and they need to take advantage of the opportunities offered at East so that they have a good foundation for the future.

Mrs. Walton Mrs. Gia Walton has been a dedicated leader of the music department at East for the past 18 years.

Prior to coming to East, Walton worked as a music teacher at Stockton Elementary School, Horace Mann Elementary School, Camden Catholic High School and Bishop Eustace Preparatory School.

Without hesitation, Walton said that she will miss her students most when she leaves. She’s loved making memories with her students and creating an East music family.

Walton did not always know that she wanted to be a teacher. In fact, right out of college she just wanted to be a performer. Walton’s main instruments are the clarinet, saxophone and flute. For many years, she was a performer and taught private lessons in her spare time.

In 2000, her friend who worked at Camden Catholic approached her and asked her to help teach music there. From there, she was introduced to teaching music in schools.

After retiring from teaching, Walton plans to spend time in Rangeley, Maine, with her husband during the summers. Her motive for retiring this year was to spend more time with him in Maine since they are currently building a house there.

“My husband’s been there most of the time, so now it’s getting kind of lonely,” Walton said.

Walton would like her music students to remember to continue having the passion they have for music along with all of the academic things they do.

FEATURES Page 4

EASTSIDE

May 2023

Local teacher Reggie Wu revives ‘80s band ■ By Emily Boyle (‘23)

Eastside Features Editor

On April 22, East Singers hosted their annual Coffee House event. Students filed into the theater, enjoying a relaxed display of teenage artistry and musicianship. Coffee House is undoubtedly a staple of East culture, and has been for a number of years. But for Reggie Wu (‘80), the annual variety show was a night of chaos, excitement and rock and roll.

“We were loud. We were obnoxious,” said Wu. “It didn’t make for a good night for the school.”

Starting in 8th grade, Wu joined a handful of bands. While he wasn’t involved with the East music department, he took any opportunity he could to play in talent shows or at variety shows.This passion garnered him regional acclaim, which turned into undeniable success.

As the guitarist and keyboardist of Heavens Edge, Wu signed to Columbia Records in 1990.

Wu’s mother, a classical piano teacher, emphasized the importance of music from an early age.

“It was like the law. Age three or four, you had to start the classical piano, and then pick up a second instrument,” said Wu. Despite this, he was left unsatisfied by the classical genre. As a 7th grade student at Beck Middle School, Wu recalls watching Philip Swift (‘79), the mind behind the multi-billion dollar company Flex Seal, perform “Purple Rain” at a talent show.

“It just blew my mind,” said Wu. “I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do the rest of my life.’”

Rock legends like Eddie Van Halen and Ritchie Blackmore continued to inspire Wu’s work. He was so invested in his musical endeavors that throughout high school, he would purposely try to get himself suspended; more time at home simply meant more

time to practice guitar. His situation ultimately landed him an expulsion his senior year, and Wu was placed in an alternative high school.

“They’re probably all gone, all my teachers, but I just want to apologize for

gone through the best of times together, we’ve gone through the worst of times together,” said Wu. Through hard work and continued dedication, it became clear that a record deal was approaching. In

Edge, newly signed, was left without a bassist. Columbia urged them to find a replacement, but the band refused.

“I would do it again in a second,” said Wu. “In that time, our window for suc-

Courtesy of heavensedge.net

Heavens Edge original members in 1990 include (left to right) Steve Parry, Dave Rath, Mark Evans, George Guidotti and Reggie Wu (‘80). being such a jerk,” he said.

After graduation, Wu immersed himself in the Philadelphia music scene.

Through trial and error, he earned himself a reputation as one of the leading musicians of the northeast.

It was with this reputation, paired with that of his bandmates, that truly set them up for success.

Heavens Edge formed in 1987, and there was no doubt to Wu that they would be a hit. With a following from his previous band White Fox, as well as Mark Evans notoriety from Network, they had an audience from the very beginning. When Evans, Wu, Dave Rath, Steve Parry and George Guidotti got together, there was instant chemistry.

“We are like brothers.

We are like family. We’ve

the meantime, in order to keep his office job at RCA, Wu put on a hairnet and wig every morning rather than cut his long rockstar hair.

“I looked like a little Dutch boy with my short wig. But I had to grow it out. Back in the ‘80s it was all about the hair,” said Wu. “It’s ridiculous, when you think about it now.”

Wu describes his band’s sound as melodic hard-rock, with its original influences stemming from the hair metal genre. Throughout the ‘80s this genre reached its peak, and their signing with Columbia Records was a testament to this.

At an event celebrating their record deal, a gunman entered the Empire Rock Club. Wielding a sawed-off shotgun, Guidotti was shot with 170 pellets. Heavens

cess had passed.”

As Heavens Edge faced delays, American culture surged onward. The onset of the ‘90s brought with it the rise of grunge. Bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were placed at the forefront of this movement, leaving the hair metal genre to slowly die.

“We were signed to Columbia, and we had our posters all over the building,” said Wu. “One day we came in and they were all replaced with a band called Alice in Chains.”

Wu recalls hating their music. In retrospect, he admits this was probably out of jealousy, and currently views Alice in Chains as one of his favorite bands.

But at the time of this career hit, his dreams of becoming a famous rockstar

began to dwindle.

In a panic, Wu published an ad in the Trading Times as a local guitar and piano teacher. Without a college education, Wu fell back on his time in high school, helping his mother with her music instruction. With just that first ad, he gained 17 students. Ever since, Wu has taught private lessons in the Voorhees and Cherry Hill area, cultivating his love of music for the last 30 years.

During COVID-19 lockdown, Wu received a lifechanging phone call. Frontier Records wanted to sign Heavens Edge to their label, reviving the band lost in time. In 2023, it became official.

“I’m 60 now. I’m ready to wind it down, and have life be easier. All of a sudden this has come up and here I am, my life is back to the grind,” said Wu. The band has returned to new music production, and with nearly all original members (short of Guidotti, who passed of cancer in 2019). Their upcoming album “Get It Right” dropped May 12, and they aim to play live shows again.

“The best part of it now is we’re not expecting anything. We know we’re not going to be rock stars. We know we’re not going to be rich and famous,” said Wu. “Right now we just want to have fun.”

Wu looks back on his life with fulfillment, but urges student musicians not to discount the importance of education.

“Approach your music with every ounce that you have in your body, but at the same time make sure you have a backup plan,” he said.

With an unwavering commitment to the arts, Wu has chased his love of music from the halls of Beck Middle School, to the mayhem of the East Cafeteria, and finally to sold-out festivals of 15,000 people. The community waits with eager anticipation for where it takes him next.

Two students have been diagnosed with leukimia at CHE. Eastside reached out to hear their stories. Here is Hayden’s.

East student battles leukemia diagnosis ■ By Gia Gupta (‘24)

Eastside Community Editor

Some people consider November 11 the luckiest day of the year. Whether it’s 11:11 or 11/11, people close their eyes and wish, believing in synchronicity, a force of fate aligning with reality for a single day.

On that very date last year, amongst the wishes murmuring into the night, Hayden Laufgraben (‘24) heard news that would change the course of his life.

He had leukemia, and the battle had just begun.

Laufgraben came to school the day before, a regular Thursday — a completely normal day.

No symptoms, just a normal day. On those types of days, he would typically get home from school, maybe take a nap, eat dinner, go to

the gym, get ready for bed, check his work for the next day and go to sleep. There was comfort in routine, but change came quickly, and he could have no idea what the next day would bring.

“They brought me out of the room and told my parents first, and when I saw them crying I knew whatever I had wasn’t good,” he said.

That night, he told his grandparents and the next day, his friends. At the same time that they were grappling with shock and belief, the unexpectancy gripped him too.

“I was just kind of in shock and didn’t know what to do with myself…

I thought about just the amount of stuff I would miss, like looking at colleges and junior prom,” he said.

Now, on days post diag-

nosis, he wakes up in the morning and takes some medication. At some point in the day he gets chemotherapy treatment, occasionally accompanied by nausea and vomiting, walks around the floor and eventually takes nighttime medication. Then, when he gets tired, he falls asleep for the night.

Many of the things he had been looking forward to — Thanksgiving, getting his drivers license, prom, other events with friends — went on without him, but the people never did.

“They all check in on me often. Some people have gotten to come visit me while others I’ve FaceTimed with. Everyone always checks in via text to see how I’m doing and I really appreciate everyone who’s done that,” he said.

For instance, as Laufgra-

ben was once part of the basketball team, teammates and coaches joined another team: Team Hayden. They came together in solidarity carrying a message of support on their backs with customized shirts. Additionally, his camp friends created a fundraiser where all the profits went to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in selling bracelets with the “#Hayden’sArmy” title, ultimately raising over $10,000.

Through his battle with leukemia, he has learned how to grapple with change faster than most. Teenagers are going through one of the most transformative periods of their life, but coupled with a cancer diagnosis, Laufgraben learned perseverance, growth and a new outlook on life centered on gratitude.

“I think it just showed to

cherish the little things because you never know when it might be the last one,” he said.

Now as part of an early discharge program, Laufgraben is able to spend his days post chemotherapy at home instead of the hospital. In the daily fight, he finds perseverance from the want to get better, the push one day at a time.

“Think positive thoughts… and just be as happy as possible. You’re going to have rough days, but don’t let them outweigh the good ones,” he said.

Now, after months of battling, Laufgraben has his own wish: that he will persevere. But he also wishes that nobody else will have to go through what he went through.

And in solidarity, we close our eyes and wish along with him.

May 2023

■ By Enis Ercan (‘24)

COMMUNITY EASTSIDE

Totaliarinism, injustice and a refugee: the story of Omer

Eastside Online Global Commentary Editor

Amidst the innumerable conflicts, atrocities, disasters and injustices occurring around the world, the town of Cherry Hill may seem like it is far from it all.

And while grievances may exist regarding this town and this country’s institutions, America, and Cherry Hill, are safe havens for thousands of people from a turbulent homeland.

These people are part of Cherry Hill’s local Turkish population. Unlike other emigres or diasporas of Turkish descent, what sets these people apart is that they are here not for economic reasons, but rather, to flee from political and social repression in their home country of Turkey.

This repression finds its source in the regime of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s President since 2014 and leader of its nationalist AK party (Justice and Development Party). Since his early days, including his tenure as Turkish Prime Minister, Erdogan has displayed a controversial touch on politics. Since 2013, the politician has been under investigation from multiple international and local government and activist agencies and organizations for corruption. And, starting in 2014, Erdogan was accused of interfering with Turkey’s judicial processes via illutilized executive power.

However, after a 2016 coup attempt by the Turkish military on his government, Erdogan’s true colors slowly came to light.

Erdogan accused Fetullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric and preacher residing currently in the United States, as the mastermind behind the coup. According to Fetullah Gulen’s own website, his movement is “active globally in education, media, inter-religious dialogue, finance, and relief work.”

Though the movement has been accused of being a terrorist organization by the Turkish government, it has been found to have no such designation by European and American officials.

Regardless, the President of Turkey declared a state of emergency in the aftermath of the coup attempt. The state of emergency increased the scope of executive power in Turkey, and additionally allowed for the suspension of certain judicial rights among the population. During this time period, the Turkish government engaged in an outright purge of Turkish society, arresting tens of thousands of journalists, judiciary officials, lawyers, activists, military members and citizens from all walks of life, accusing them of being tied to the Gulen movement. Many newspaper offices were stormed and closed down under allegations of legitimizing the coup attempt. In fact, Turkey has been found to be the fourth most prolific jailer of journalists on a world-

wide scale as of December, 2022, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists — many of these arrests made without proper parliamentary or judicial review. Alarmingly, the Turkish government also engaged in a suppression of ideas and free speech, banning Wikipedia and various other online outlets for years in the aftermath of the coup. Still more, mere possession of certain books written by or related to Gulen was declared enough justification to warrant imprisonment.

Erdogan’s crackdown on Turkish citizenry placed hundreds of thousands in prisons, blacklists or under immense pressure by the government. As a result, many found their refuge in fleeing the country. Europe, Africa and, of course, the United States have become hotspots of immigration by those whom the Turkish government has accused or threatened. Coming to a new world across the ocean, many of the Turkish diaspora in the United States have faced struggles. Omer Turanoglu*, one such member of the diaspora, shared his story with Eastside.

Omer Turanoglu, 43, was born in 1979, in the Turkish city of Erzurum.

Through hard work and dedication in his education, Omer managed to secure a lucrative job working at a major IT firm in Turkey.

“I was at what could be called the peak of my career as an IT manager at a major corporation,” Omer said.

With his wife and kids, Omer was looking forward to a bright life ahead of him.

But unfortunately for him, the 2016 coup attempt was right around the corner.

“On the night of the coup, I was alone, working at home.” Omer said. “When I heard the flyby sounds of military jets, I took cover in between the doorframe of my apartment... I didn’t even know what was going on, let alone being a member of the coup.”

Unfortunately for Omer, this scare was hardly the beginning. Within three days, Omer was blacklisted from his job. An official Turkish government mandate meant that he was also banned from taking up new jobs in his occupation field.

Out of options, Omer began working at a nearby rubber plant owned by a friend.

But, far worse was the social repression that Omer and his family received.

Neighbors began to threaten them at worst, and ignore them at best.

“Think about it,” said Omer. “These neighbors have drunk my tea and my coffee, sat down with me and my family for hours, and now, they do not even look upon our faces.”

Around April of 2017, Omer got a call from his parents. Police had searched their apartment in search of Omer, who had officially registered their residence as his home, despite living with his in-laws

(a purposeful maneuver to avoid potential arbitrary arrest). Omer had no choice but to go into hiding.

“Before I hid myself away, I called my wife and told her to hide our passports,” said Omer. “The government would confiscate passports at the time, preventing people from leaving the country. My choice turned out to be a life saver.”

For one week, Omer lived in a random home, inhabited by other victims of the purge. These homes were common at the time, provided by individuals who seeked to protect victims, with the address being unaffiliated with anyone under suspicion. It was the holy month of Ramadan, traditionally spent with family and friends, but Omer could not interact with either for fear of being caught. However, the going was tremendously difficult on Omer’s aging father and mother. Hearing of their heartbreak after his plight, Omer proposed that he come out of hiding for one night to enjoy a dinner with his family. At the dinner, Omer’s father explained how he had consulted a lawyer, who had told him that Omer faced no charges in the Turkish justice system.

Hearing this, Omer and his family agreed that it would be safe to end Omer’s exile.

But this was untrue, and Omer’s father had been deceived.

In Ankara, Omer was brought to face a criminal judge.

“The judge asked me a question which he was not supposed to,” said Omer.

“He said publicly, ‘Omer, I see you have three kids.

Give me some names (of those involved in the coup), and I will let you free.’ I told him I knew no one. ‘Very well then, you’re to be imprisoned. Think about this in prison.’ said the judge.”

Omer was taken to Sincan Prison. He was not permitted to bring anything with him, not even an extra pair of socks, except for a rosary, which he begged and pleaded for. Throughout the interview, Omer touted the very same small rosary in his hand.

“My symbol is this rosary. I bought it after the coup. This was the only thing that stayed with me in prison.”

Omer was not given food for the first two days of his imprisonment. He, along with many others, were strip searched and put under what he described as “psychological pressure”.

The conditions did not get much better later on. In cells designed to hold at maximum seven people, dozens of prisoners were kept, according to Omer: “If someone had to use the restroom in the night, they had no choice but to trod on other prisoners, the floor was so packed.”

But the inmates, often imprisoned for similar arbitrary, unsupported accusations, helped one another.

“When I arrived, I had nothing,” said Omer.

“Someone immediately brought me slippers, another gave me a change of clothes. In fact, at first the guards were crass towards us, but later on, they realized what kind of people we really were, and began to treat us well.”

Despite this, conditions remained cruel. Hot water was allowed to the prisoners for only two hours a week, while family visits were allowed to take place for forty minutes every two months. These visits were highly regulated.

“The guards would inspect even the underwear of children and babies before letting visitors in the prison. My two-year-old daughter was crying when she visited me - they had searched her diaper.” said Omer.

And, when prisoners were released into the courtyard, Omer could see signs of torture on some, including marks of cigarette extinguishing on skin. In the courtyard, Omer would walk with fellow prisoners.

One such fellow was an exLieutenant in the Turkish military.

“I said to him, ‘I would not wish this prison on anyone, not even my worst enemy,’” said Omer. “He replied ‘Omer, you have a heart of yufka (thin Turkish pastry bread). Upstairs in my cell, I have a notebook. Nineteen pages of this notebook are filled with descriptions of the torture I have been inflicted with.

You would not be able to take it if I showed you. I used to doubt the existence of hell. Not anymore. Hell is not unnecessary.’”

The tribulations of prison eventually gave way for hope for Omer. Six months into his imprisonment, Omer was called to court to argue an appeal to a judge’s council. Omer’s eightyeight year old grandfather had come to his appeal.

“I saw that the judge’s council was not listening to my defense or my testimony,” said Omer. “So I turned around and pointed at my grandfather, and said, ‘Honorable judge’s council! My grandfather is eighty-eight years old and sickly. How could such a man bring himself to travel all the way from Erzurum to Ankara to attend court, if he did not believe in his grandsons’ innocence!’ I upset the council’s chemistry.”

Omer’s appeal was successful, and he was released on parole.

Celebrations among the prisoners ensued every time one returned with news of a successful appeal. Such was the case for Omer.

“There was a bittersweet tone in the air,” Omer said.

“Everyone is happy, but everyone is sad at the separation, and it was hard to leave everyone else behind. One of my friends, another ex-Lieutenant said to me, ‘Abi, when you walk out of prison, turn around and wave once more to me

Page 5

through this window.’”

In a further series of court appearances, Omer managed to defend his innocence.

“My lawyer desperately argued finally that there was no chance that I would flee — I had my business here, my family here, and I had complied hereto with all judicial proceedings.

The chief judge, he was one of the better of the evils, declared a break from the session... The decision was changed at the last minute.”

In the end, Omer’s sentence was reduced to eight years of parole, with the condition that he be present to sign an official document indicating his presence in the country every two days.

But Omer had no intention to comply with this.

While his father-in-law drove his kids across the Turkish border via car, Omer and his wife contacted smugglers off the Aegean coast. They were boated in secret across the Aegean Sea, into Greek territory. After trekking through the coastal hills of Greece, Omer and his wife, along with another group of fleeing individuals, reached safety, seeking asylum in Greece.

From there, the family, via passports and visas, traveled to Germany. At the German airport, they were interrogated by German authorities before being allowed to fly to the United States. In 2020, Omer and his family landed in New York City, before settling in Newark, New Jersey. In 2022, due to a job opportunity, the family moved to Cherry Hill. Now, Omer works at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital as an IT assistant, returning to his old profession. He and his family live together in a townhome.

Though political and social freedom is worth uprooting their lives and fleeing across the ocean in the eyes of the local Turkish diaspora, their experiences and struggles are far from easy.

Those in the United States bear the burden of both their lives in their new country as well as their memories and relations in their old country. The Erdogan regime has not remained still, and even as of this week have arrested over a hundred additional activists, journalists and lawyers under allegations of being terrorist sympathizers. Numerous official requests have been made toward the United States to extradite Fetullah Gulen and his followers back to Turkey to face trial.

In the words of Turanoglu, still handling his rosary during the interview: “Someone needs to record all of this. We cannot let the future generations forget.

People need to know.”

May this article be one of many steps along the way. *Name changed to protect identity.

Page 6

GLOBAL COMMENTARY EASTSIDE

May 2023

El Salvador unveils radical plan to end gang violence ■ By Matt Rentezelas (‘24)

Eastside Global Commentary Editor

After gang factions murdered 87 people in a three day period in March of 2022, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador strove to decrease the prevalence of gang violence in the Central American nation. After instituting a harsh antigang policy, the number of homicides in El Salvador dropped by nearly 60 percent from 2021 to 2022. The only problem? The Bukele administration’s solution involves suspected injustices and human rights abuses.

From 1979 to 1992, a civil war raged on in El Salvador due to a host of various social, economic, and political issues. In the years following the civil war, reforms spurred by the El Salvadoran government managed to reduce levels of income inequality and improve social conditions.

Despite the progress, one key problem plagued El Salvador throughout the 21st century: gang violence. El Salvador has held one of the highest homicide rates of any nation for many years, and gang activities contribute to high rates of many other crimi-

nal activities such as drug smuggling, kidnapping and extortion.

From the late 1990s to the early 2010s, past administrations attempted to enforce “La Mano Dura” (The Firm Hand), a set of tough-on-crime policies that targeted gangs. These policies saw little success, however, as prison populations increased greatly, while homicide rates largely remained stagnant.

When President Bukele took office in

people murdered. Bukele reacted by rapidly scaling up anti-gang policy. He declared a state of emergency that has been renewed repeatedly, deployed greater military presence, stripped detainees of constitutional rights, and oversaw the unveiling of new supermax

85%. Other Central and South American leaders have praised Bukele, even going as far as to structure their own anti-gang policies around Bukele’s policies. Others in the global community haven’t been so fond of the new approach.

One primary concern re-

2019, he promised to clear the streets of gang members and make El Salvador safer for civilians. His “Territorial Control Plan” oversaw a vast increase of police and military presence in high crime areas and better equipped these forces. The next few years saw promising decreases in homicide rates, up until the aforementioned crisis in March 2022 which saw 87

prisons designed specifically to hold the nation’s increasing prison population.

As of April 13, 2023, over 67,000 suspected gang members have been detained. Surveys have found that the new policies have been received favorably inside El Salvador.

Bukele currently holds an approval rating of around

lates to prison crowding in El Salvador. With detainment numbers increasing by tens of thousands, prison conditions have become increasingly inhumane.

Gang violence also poses a threat inside prison, as rival gangs are often jailed together in close quarters, leading to brawls and riots.

Additionally, many hu-

place to protect people. How can we really represent the “land of the free” if we are trapped in a constant state of worry about our safety, even in places as innocent as schools?

On March 27, there was another school shooting at an elementary school in Tennessee. Six people were

while some of these politicians may have started out as leaders, over time, they have turned into politicians, and there is a grand difference.

People have proposed solutions that include: banning guns altogether, placing stricter mental health background checks on those

to even attempt such an effort. In a lot of ways, it could cause controversy, especially concerning the second amendment, which gives people the right to keep and bear arms.

Moreover, even if the country was to ban guns, laws would not stop an illegal trade of firearms from

Ilana Bernstein (‘25)/ Eastside Staff

man rights organizations have criticized the extent of the crack-down. These organizations claim that government forces have detained a large number of innocent individuals who merely found themselves in targeted areas.

Innocent detainees have little opportunity to find freedom from the system because many of their constitutional rights have been stripped away. The actions of the government, while possibly effective at decreasing homicide rates, have resulted in human rights abuses that should not be permitted in any democratic system.

Possible corruption marks another factor to consider while examining the state of anti-gang policy in El Salvador.

In late 2021, the United States Department of the Treasury accused Bukele’s administration of negotiating with gang organizations to lower the number of murders in El Salvador.

If true, the decreases in murder rates before the incident in March 2022 could have merely been due to shady agreements between the government and gang organizations, rather than any true or moral progress.

Progress against gun violence stagnates in the United States ■ By Brielle Lampf (‘23) Eastside Editor-in-Chief

Gun violence is destroying lives. There is simply no other way to put it.

People have been killed for pulling into the wrong driveway, knocking on the wrong person’s door or even just going to school.

A couple years ago, there were stories all over the news of road rage incidents that led to gun shots. Ridiculously small disagreements on the road escalated to the level of hospitalizations and murder.

Nowadays, everyone and their mother seems to have a gun. While guns can be used for recreational purposes like hunting and competetive shooting, it seems that all over the country, guns are being used for more sinister purposes — like murder.

According to CNN, 2022 had one of the highest numbers of mass murders in the United States, and it is hard to believe that this number will ever go down when each nightly news session covers a new story about innocent citizens, sometimes even children, being shot.

Kids go to school to learn, but find themselves worrying about school shootings.

Adults go to their offices almost every day to work, and need to worry about the mere act of walking to their cars.

People go to church to pray, and have to be on guard when they are in a place of worship.

The United States has some of the loosest laws concerning guns in the world, and while America is known as the land of the free, it is getting harder and harder to understand why more laws aren’t in

Kaylee Yoon (‘26)/ Eastside Staff

killed, three of which were children. Following the attack, activists protested for what feels like the millionth time to Congress, to try to get something done.

Politicians say they are listening, but are they truly “hearing” what these activists have to say?

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is funding most of the politicians who staunchly stand against higher restrictions, and

who have guns, instituting stricter gun laws that make it more difficult to purchase guns, and more.

Each comes with its own set of complex consequences. For one, if the U.S. were to ban guns altogether, there would be a riot. While absolute gun bans exist in some smaller nations around the world, gun culture is so engrained into American culture that it seems ultimately futile

occurring.

For example, during the prohibition era, even though alcohol was banned, the illegal trade and manufacturing (then known as bootlegging) of alcohol thrived and continued to give the public access to the banned goods.

Still, for many people, it seems like the safest option, especially when looking at places like the UK, which arguably has some

of the strictest gun laws in the world and has had a considerably lower amount of mass shootings in comparison to the US. In the past year, gun laws have been passed in America that ensure more background checks, which are supposed to help stop people who pose possible danger from accessing guns, but it does not seem to be enough, especially in the eyes of the general public.

On YouTube, there have been videos of people showing how to turn simple guns into more aggressive ones like those used in military combat.

As a general rule and even solution, military combat weapons should never, ever be allowed in the hands of everyday citizens, no matter their background. Those weapons belong in the military and should stay there. There is no reason why someone should own an assault weapon for recreational purposes.

Another solution could include outlawing the gun show loophole.

At gun shows, anyone can sell their gun to anyone right then and there, without any sort of background check at all.

Gun violence is becoming more and more prevalent in America, and more and more people are being injured and killed every day.

It should not be the norm for children to have nightmares about going to school, and it should not be the norm for adults and parents to memorize the clothes on their children’s backs before leaving the house.

It all must end, and together, people have to unite to end gun violence.

May 2023

GLOBAL COMMENTARY EASTSIDE

Page 7

French citizens push back against pension reforms ■ By Batul El Barouki (‘23)

Eastside Global Commentary Editor

La Place de la Concorde is the largest public square in Paris. It occupies almost 19 acres of land and is situated at the end of the picturesque Champs-Elysées. The word “Concorde” was not chosen randomly in the 18th century; it means “agreement.” Ironically, La Place de la Concorde demonstrates anything but agreement as it has become the main area of rioting and protesting in Paris, France.

On April 6th, citizens of the nation riled up against president Emmanuel Macron for his new pension reforms which will raise the retirement age from 62 years to 64 years.

Vehicle traffic was disrupted, coffee stores were looted, and a few police officers were harmed after the riots prompted violence from around 400,000 civilians. On Thursday, April 6, the Interior Ministry deployed over 11,000 police officers to quiet the scene in the city of Lyon by tear gassing desperate individuals who do not feel heard by the government. Macron expects the issue to “blow itself out” as this riot was the 11th strike on the nation which consisted of peaceful protesters marching in Marseille, Bordeaux, Lyon, and the at the Eiffel Tower as well. Even farmers in the western city of Nantes joined the protest to demonstrate how disconnected Macron and his government are from the nation and its people.

On March 28, more protests broke out against Macron’s executive power. In Paris and Nantes, protesters peacefully chanted for pension changes but some men in masks were caught and arrested by the police. Many were dressed in black, covered their faces, and looted and burned down stores in the city.

The police forces responded forcibly with tear gas and water cannons as buses were being burned and fires were ablaze. Unions in Paris have

vowed to keep these massive riots alive as long as Macron refuses to abandon the pension reform.

Not only were the strikes affect-

ing tourism and money generated from European travel, but also the strikes affected transportation, and not for the reasons many would think.

In Nantes, there was severe blockage of roads, but there was also a 15% decrease in petrol in many of the service stations in France because of horrible strikes at the refinery, according to former activist and school teacher Yves.

Schools and universities are being barricaded and the Eiffel Tower was completely closed. A truly chaotic scene continues to erupt in Paris as young activists shout that “the streets must be listened to too.”

The Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said that over 5,000 police officers are continuing to be deployed in the city of Paris as the social safety of the city slowly diminishes.

Not only are the riots continuing at full force, but citizens are angry with the arbitrary arrests during crowd control and the use of force to detain many masked civilians.

The west of France is now dealing with the impact of water storage facilities on crops which introduces a new environmental outrage along with the impromptu protests in Paris as French Intelligence Services anticipate that many more young people will take part in this outrage. This is due to the fact that the government “bypassed parliament” despite the pension changes not having any real effect on the younger people currently.

As Macron summons prime minister Élisabeth Borne for a crisis meeting, he still remains unsure of how many more days of protest he is willing to put up with. In the meantime say “au revoir” to any hope of traveling to Paris in the next few months.

Katherine Li (‘23)/ Eastside Art Director

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Page 8

Amplifying Asian voices ■ By Rachna Mohan (‘25)

Eastside STEM Editor

According to the United States Census Bureau, 24 million people in the United States identify as Asian alone or in combination, establishing a prevalent Asian-identifying population in America.

As Asian-American voices continue to grow throughout American industries, from politics to entertainment, we must acknowledge and recognize the importance of the Asian perspective in America.

While the Asian diaspora and sub-continents are diverse in nature, ethnically, physiographically and racially, we must recognize the contribution of Asian voices in the United States. Asia as a continent comprises of North

Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Western Asia. The continent of Asia has historically been marginalized, ravaged

by European colonialism, and extracted for spices, stones and teas. As immigration became a sociocultural phenomenon in the late 19th century, the influx of Asian immigrants increased. Immigration has shaped modern America, influencing the country socially, economically and politically; the expression “America is a melting pot of culture” emerged.

Eastside has looked at Asian-identifying persons at Cherry Hill High School East and asked them to reflect on the expression, “America is a melting pot of culture; am I cultured enough?”

The artistry of alpona ■ By Manar Hadi (‘25)

Eastside Opinions Editor

Little three-year-old me stood, observing the aunties gossiping and laughing while stooped over with vibrant chalks illustrating geometric patterns and floral designs all over the walkway. With the piquant aromas of cumin and sizzling onions gliding through the air and the boisterous conversation of my uncles discussing the latest politics, it was the first time I truly felt a sense of belonging for my culture. Watching the intricacies of the folk art, alpona, inspired little me to go home a n d sketch my own designs.

Alpona is a kind of folk art origin a t ing in South Asia. It is customarily performed by women and entails utilizing paints that are typi cally made from rice flour to create color-intricate designs, patterns and symbols on floors and walls. Growing up, I’ve viewed the practice at joyful occasions such as weddings.

Events like these were when I felt the most intertwined with my culture.

Although celebrations connecting me to my Bangladeshi heritage remain a large aspect of my life, growing up I often feel an ostracization with my connection to my culture.

At home, my parents speak to me in Bangla yet I respond in English. When talking to my relatives, I respond awkwardly with a mixture of fragmented Bangla and English.

How could I think of myself as Bangladeshi if I can’t even speak the language that my country fought in wars for?

This barrier between myself and my cultural identity continues further on even with my friends. My South Asian friends jokingly make fun of me for my inability to pronounce “brown” names.

While I laugh at their jokes and my poor attempts, a gnawing sense of alienation forms in me.

When they discuss Bollywood movies and songs, I nod and smile, acting like I know

about the famous movie stars they gush over. I tell myself that maybe if I forced myself to speak Bangla or listen to Bollywood music, I would not feel this way now. In reality, there’s so much more. These feelings of chagrin and guilt brought me to enter a constant cycle. I shied away from my “brownness” out of selfpreservation because I didn’t feel particularly connected to my cultural identity. Through this, I believed that I didn’t have a right to claim my Bangladeshi identity.

Yet, the other day, something shifted. After a day of exhaustion, I sat quietly in a vacant room,

grabbed a piece of paper and a marker, and plugged in my A i r Pods. With all the stress from the day, I had to let it all out somehow. I wanted to journal, but instead of writing, I found myself drawing elaborate designs of sun-like flowers with sharp petals and billowing stems.

Suddenly, drawing my own alpona carried me back to the empty, quiet afternoons in my old house, where threeyear-old me would etch colorful symmetrical lotuses filled with jagged lines.

Instantaneously, the memories of long car rides where my parents would play Rabindranath Tagore songs on a scratchy CD, assisting my grandmother with rolling out the dough for paratha and dancing at Bangladeshi festivals wearing embellished panjabis rushed into my mind.

These memories serve as undeniable proof of my identity. They remind me that the sense of belonging will always coexist with my growth as a person. I am Bangladeshi in a way that no one else is and I am proud of it.

As I grow, the security I feel will come to me when I accept that my ability to identify within my culture can only be defined by me, not anyone else.

Art by Manar Hadi (‘25)/ Eastside Opinions Editor

EASTSIDE

May 2023

OPINIONS

May 2023

EASTSIDE

Page 9

Am I cultured enough?

My existence is resistance I can’t call myself Chinese Facing the ambiguity ■ By Rachna Mohan (‘25) Eastside STEM Editor

Hi. My name is Rachna.

1 word, three syllables, and nothing more.

“Kanna, don’t go in the sun; you will darken,” said Ammamma.

In what was meant as a gesture of protection from the Indian diaspora, my Ammamma looked at me with her watchful eyes, daring me not to disobey her suggestion.

How could my Ammamma, with her rose-water scent, fair skin and kind soul, say that to me? I was eight.

What came in snippets of awkward suggestions posed by a sweet old lady was a mechanism to protect me from the existing divide between the Indian diaspora.

One that is concealed under the false words of the family; “beta, aunty, uncle, kanna” – which is nothing but a coverup of the underlying issues of colorism, casteism and bias.

I grew up in an uncharacteristic Indian household – my father, a strict man, always pushed me to be the best – my mother, an unconventional woman of her time. Both individuals sacrificed their souls to give me a life they never had. So, when I found myself surrounded by the people of Motswana, I was happy – I connected with them, far from the issues the Indian population experienced. I was one of the few Asian people in my school; at that point in time, I had a certain cultural connection to India – I was better than that. I had escaped the poverty, the biases, the awkward conversations with the aunties, and the languages: Tamil and Kannada. I was six.

So, when I moved to England with my mother and my father stayed behind, I was

quite literally thrust into an abyss where I was the only one standing. It was in England where the color of my skin mattered; my African accent protruded against the smoothness of the colonial tongue – where questions like “Do you speak English?” were a common phenomenon. Yet, even my own people were divided by regional differences stemming from India. North Indians never associated with South Indians, and Brahmins neglected the other castes; yet, the mix of Modern India with Western ideals shaped the idea of “Indianness.”

I define “Indianness” as the symbiosis of the Indian diaspora, where the South Asian people coexist with perfect unity, healed from the generational trauma perpetuated by colonial ideology.

So, culture is defined by “Indianness” – the perfect harmonic tunes weaved into one another, where North and South can exist so that one day the Carnatic rhythms of Bharatanatyam live in amity with the Kathak tablas.

Until then, no, I am not cultured. How can I be when so many regional differences exist? Shouldn’t the Indian diaspora be one? Celebrating the victories of all Indians? Until this symbiosis occurs between the Indian population across all facets – religion, color, and caste – no “culture” exists. Because what is the point when our own people are instigators of trauma?

Regardless of whether my Ammamma meant to protect me from the hard-hitting reality of colorism, I know that history d e signed her to use

coloristic mechanisms in Modern India.

Whether I am dark or fair, North Indian or South Indian, Brahmin or not – my testimonials are surviving remarks that have overcome famines, wars, and sectional divides.

My existence is resistance.

■ By Matthew Wang (‘25) Eastside Staff

There’s a saying, ,one of the most important sayings among my culture.

(Bai shànxiào wèi xiān): filial piety first.

Standing in the middle of a birthday party for my cousin, I remember all my relatives gathering around the birthday boy. Red envelopes would flood his hands, every single kid playing or messing around in the middle of a busy Chinese restaurant. It was time to gather around for pictures.

Everybody gathered around, kids in the front row, parents in the back. Everyone except me.

Minutes beforehand, my grandparents had told me to get more food. I was as “skinny as a stick,” they said, and young me told them I didn’t want any more. Defying your grandparents was like defying your parents — the wrath is the same. How could I reject the food they worked hard to give me? To reject what they could not have when they were my age, living in poverty in rural villages in China?

But I did. The argument that unfolded turned everyone against me, disappointed in the fact that I defied my parents. I did not enter the family photo that day.

“The time your grandparents lived in was a time of turmoil,” my parents would tell me.

“We didn’t have as much as you have; we spoiled y o u with e v ery-

thing,” they would say.

We would gather bowls of rice and start eating, everyone picking pieces of food up with their chopsticks. Then there was me, who stabbed his food with a fork and scooped his rice with a spoon.

I grew up foreign, going to school with white kids who would ask whether I enjoyed eating dogs or smoking opium, or whether I loved eating raw fish because “Chinese is

the same thing as Japanese.”

I was told by my sixth grade teacher that Chinese people and Japanese people were genetically “no different,” and chopsticks were banned from my school because they were “weapons.”

I grew up not knowing my culture. I was not allowed to be near my culture because it was “foreign.”

I couldn’t call myself Chinese because I was not “foreign.” I couldn’t call myself Chinese because I had no idea how to talk to the elders when walking through Chinatown.

I couldn’t call myself Chinese, because I couldn’t speak with my dad. He only knew Mandarin, and I spoke it poorly and broken. I couldn’t call myself Chinese, because I didn’t understand the extent of the sacrifices my parents made. I couldn’t call myself Chinese, because I wasn’t.

Years later, now in the present day, I have seen that person in my brain force myself to learn Mandarin, to learn how to speak, write and read. I have seen that person learn filial piety and learn, through stories, the plight o f

■ By Ryder Hopkins (‘25)

For Eastside

“You know that I’m half Chinese, right?”

It’s a constant remark I’ve had to make throughout my life. It’s frequently met with astonishment and surprised faces. And it makes complete sense. It’s hard to imagine someone with the last name “Hopkins” having any Asian ancestry.

A quick glance at me could suggest that I’m white with my brown hair and fair complexion, even though in reality, I am both white and Asian.

Whenever I have to clarify to someone that I am half Chinese, their perception of me changes.

Being met with the perpetual “but, you don’t really look that Asian” or hearing the “you’re pretty

Art by Melissa Vital (‘23) and Barbara Armstrong (‘25)/ Eastside Art Director and Eastside Staff

Searching for the balance ■ By Rachna Mohan (‘25)

white-

his parents. I have seen that person take on a Chinese shell to cover up what he truly was inside. But that kid was still “Americanized,” mocked for his “American” accent and pale skin by friends who are more Chinese than he is.

But, putting on my headphones that day, walking home from school, the rain pouring down, I realized my goal of calling myself “Chinese” was useless.

I will never understand the plight of my parents and my elders; I will never understand the “true” Chinese language and culture. I will never understand how to talk to people in Chinatown. I will never understand how to call myself Chinese because I am not.

I am Chinese-American.

group.

If I had fit in, I’d be normal. But because I was so young, my definition of normal was so distorted because of my little

washed” leaves me with a persistent exasperation.

Why did I have to look Asian to be Asian? Who are you to decide what I have to look like or not? How am I whitewashed just because I’m half Chinese? These questions fill my mind, but I never let it get to me.

It’s not worth it to remain in a state of skepticism – especially over my race. At times, I even take the shocked expressions as a joke.

My Asian background exists as an essential component of who I am. However, from a young age I always struggled with viewing it as a vital part of my identity.

In elementary school, I often forced myself to be around Asian people just to validate myself. There was this underlying fear that if I wasn’t around other Asians, I couldn’t call myself Asian.

As I grew up, I realized how stupid this sounded. There was nobody who could take away my identity. I had created this false reality where I had to fit in with a certain

experience in the world.

There’s this feeling of belonging – a sense of pride and security you feel within yourself in a group. I’ve felt it in other places throughout my life. However, it’s always lacked in my cultural individuality.

Although my middle name (Wong) indicates otherwise, I experience this invisible wall between the Chinese side of my family and me.

When around my Chinese family, I enter this new world full of unfamiliar foods, expectations and languages. I’m well aware of most of the traditional values in the Chinese culture.

While growing up I’ve questioned my Chinese mother about the story of my grandparents’ immigration to the United States and about cultural customs. Yet, there exists a lack of knowledge of my Chinese identity.

As much as I’d like to extend my knowledge, thousands of miles between myself and my Chinese family separate me. Maybe sometime in the future, I’ll be able to connect with them and my cultural identity.

While the journey between my cultural individuality continues, I am certain in my racial identity. A stranger’s push to determining my race is not a conclusion to what I am.

Dealing with the uncertainty and ambiguity has opened my eyes to a wider view of the world. It has expanded the way I interact with others and motivates me to experience different things.

As I grow, I am discovering the balance between two different worlds, but more significantly, I am discovering a world where I belong.

Eastside STEM Editor

Every year, Abby Aquino (‘24) and her family send balikbayan boxes to her extended family back in the Philippines – a taste of American life for the Aquino family. Every year, Aquino visits the Philippines to spend weeks with her grandma.

Every year, Aquino looks to Asian representation to feel more aligned with her Filipino history and identity.

Culture is an extensive topic in conversation and in ideology. For Aquino, Asian representation in media allows her to feel more cultured amongst the onslaught of Western ideology constantly thrown in her direction; for Aquino, seeing people who look like her take roles in American shows and movies bridges the gap between her Filipino heritage and her American life, connecting her to her identity.

Aquino identifies herself as a South East Asian; growing up in Cherry Hill, she has been surrounded by her Filipino heritage through her family’s involvement with the Filipino community here. At Cherry Hill High School East, Aquino is the secretary-treasurer for the Filipino Cultural Society (FCS); having been surrounded by Filipinos for a few weeks every year allows Aquino to feel more in tune with the younger Filipino generation in school, similar to herself.

“I love our little community in school, speaking the language and sharing the stories; it is a new way for all the club members to connect,” said Aquino.

Despite Aquino’s love for her heritage and the effort to continually discover her culture, she finds it hard to balance her current views with traditional Filipino notions.

“Sometimes, my family and I disagree on how to live

life, [such] [as] the traditional idea of a nuclear family,” said Aquino.

Disagreeing with the older generation is tricky because there is a fine line between standing up for your beliefs and completely refuting an older person’s cemented ideology; that is why for Aquino, representation is such an important piece that connects her to her culture.

If one sees their beliefs and values accepted as the norm, they are more likely to adapt and change their view; it is generally known that once representation is given, an idea, person or even a whole race can somehow be accepted into spaces they were never previously welcomed.

Aquino has faced the same infuriating question every Asian person has: “Do you eat dogs?”

Like many other Asian Americans, Aquino has had to endure the unfair stereotypes used, when in actuality many people in Asia look to such animals to sustain themselves.

Aquino says there is nothing to be ashamed of when people make rude comments, as it stems from a lack of education. Aquino says that now she is proud of Asian resilience.

“It is hard; in the Philippines, you are not truly Filipino because you are American, but here you are not American because you are Filipino,” said Aquino.

It is hard to balance so many identities while being under the umbrella term of Asian American because you are both Asian and American, but you are also so much more.

Aquino truly believes that despite the adversity the Filipino community has faced in the hard colonial battle with Spain, the modern idea of a Filipino trumps everything.

“To be a Filipino-American is to be resilient [in] [the] [face] [of] adversity,” said Aquino.

Additional art by Manar Hadi (‘25)/ Eastside Opinions Editor

EDITORIAL

Page 10

EASTSIDE

May 2023

Editorials represent the views and opinions of the Eastside Editorial Board.

Meloche’s service deserves appreciation On March 20, current Superintendent Dr. Joseph Meloche announced his retirement from the Cherry Hill Public School District.

While many were quick to associate some controversy with Meloche’s tenure as superintendent, Eastside would like to recognize the positive, and even overlooked, efforts and work done by Meloche to improve and bring progress to our school system.

Serving as a superintendent is often a difficult job, one where the person in charge faces more negativity than positivity. More often than not, people are quick to point out issues within the district, rather than focusing on its successes. Meloche has spent many hours getting to know

the community, through staff, student and community town halls. The job of superintendent is a taxing one to begin with, and by implementing these town halls, Meloche showed the community that he did care about the district despite the challenges that faced him.

In addition, Meloche has been recognized for his work not only in the Cherry Hill community, but also elsewhere. He won the award for 2021 New Jersey Association of School Administrators State Superintendent of the Year.

He also had his account of efforts to improve school security recognized by the American Association of School Superintendents.

Moreover, Meloche won

an award for his support of school libraries, which plays into his appreciation for the arts and media. He has had multiple displays of student artwork in which he has invited students to share art in his office and have a reception. His focus has remained steadfast in prioritizing the students of the district, including through the arts.

Another way in which Meloche supported students of the district was through his support of Eastside. Despite the fact that oftentimes, Eastside published material that may have been critical towards him and the district, Meloche always valued the rights granted by freedom of the press and never attempted to bar

Eastside’s efforts. He also often retweeted stories and Eastside content, showing support.

No matter what criticism faced Meloche, he remained true to doing what he thought was best for the district. There is no argument that community members often shared their opinions, positive or negative, based on how Meloche handled issues within the community. Despite it all, Meloche wanted what was best for the district in which he attended school, worked as a teacher, served as principal and, ultimately, became superintendent.

It is now time to thank Meloche for his long tenure and his devotion to the district over the past seven years as superintendent.

Spring calendar presents new challenges The Cherry Hill Public Schools 2023-2024 calendar has been released, sparking community concerns over its delegated days for spring break which will be broken up across multiple weeks. While Eastside recognizes the efforts the district has made to recognize different religious observances, it also acknowledges the complications that next year’s spring break may pose for students’ and families’ schedules and would like to shed light on possible alternatives.

The days that will be closed for spring break are March 29, April 1, 22, 23 and 24. In addition, school will be closed on April 10 in recognition of Eid al-Fitr. The reasoning behind the atypical schedule changes in next year’s break is due to the large separation in timing between the Easter and Passover holiday. This typically occurs every eight or nine years.

The 2023-2024 calendar was originally adopted back in 2021. Calendar proposals are initially discussed in the Policy and Legislation Committee, a subcommittee of the Board of Education (BOE), where they are then voted

on by the full board. Recent additions to the 2023-2024 calendar include having schools be closed on April 24 to lengthen the duration of spring break. “[Next year’s calendar changes] was the decision that the board made… and the intention from the board is trying to recognize and honor… as many of the major holidays as they are able to for different religions,” said Meloche.

While it is important to recognize different religious observances, it is also important to note that spring break is typically a time for students to recharge. In a time when there is heightened awareness of the importance of mental health breaks, the notion that the district doesn’t see the purpose in this week-long period, instead taking off for religious observances which are not breaks for a significant number of students, seems hypocritical.

“This is not going to be the Goldilocks year for everybody because it’s not going to be just right for everybody,” said Meloche.

Next year’s spring break may pose difficulties for those who opt to travel

during it. Many students may simply choose not to attend school on April 25 and 26 because of plans that extend beyond the dates of the shortened break.

One possible alternative would be to extend spring break to a full week by closing schools on April 27 and April 28. The Cherry Hill Public Schools have 182 student-contact days, whereas most districts have 180. By extending the break two days, spring break would be a typical week long, and Cherry Hill Public Schools would still be in compliance with the 180-day state requirement. If the 182 student-contact days guideline for the district remains, spring break can still be a full week. As the 2023-2024 school year officially ends on June 13, school can simply be extended two days later.

This new end date will regardless be earlier than this school year’s last day of school, which is June 21.

Eastside hopes that the Board of Education will speedily resolve the concerns with the 2023-2024 calendar for the ease of students and the community alike.

Cherry Hill High School East 1750 Kresson Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 Phone: (856) 4242222, ext. 2087

Eastside Online www.eastsideonline.org

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Letters to the Editor Submit signed letters to F087.

Eastside 2022-2023 Editorial Board Managing Editor: Abby Yu Editors-in-Chief: Brielle Lampf, Aiden Rood, Alena Zhang Online Editors-in-Chief: Vivian Rong, Lauren Winslow Adviser: Mr. Greg Gagliardi News Editors Jillian Koenig Izzy Sobel

Sports Editors Shayna Oppen Julia Sitnick

Features Editors Emily Boyle Sophie Liu

Opinions Editors Isabelle Berger Manar Hadi

Culture Editors Michelle Bookbinder Julia Rosten

Global Commentary Editors Batul El Barouki Matthew Rentezelas

Community Editors Gia Gupta, Ellie Noh Art Directors Katherine Li Melissa Vital

Media Directors Natalie Finkelstein Karina Gupta

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Online Opinions Editor Asher Boiskin

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Photo Editors Jiwoo Lee Lucas Tang

Online Global Commentary Editor Enis Ercan Online STEM Edtior Rachna Mohan

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CULTURE

Page 12

EASTSIDE

May 2023

Disney’s live-action remakes: thoughtful films or cash-grabs ■ By Ella Goodstadt (‘24)

Online Culture Editor

“ C i n derella.”

“Beauty and the Beast.”

“The Lion K i n g . ” These are just a handful of the liveaction movies that The Walt Disney Studios has released in recent years.

Since the 2010s, the Disney company has been thriving off of the success of live-action versions of their iconic animated films.

However, these live-action movies have spurred controversy among devoted Disney fans. It seems as though a Disney classic live-action remake is announced by the week.

Many argue that Disney is losing its original charm and nostalgia that has captured the hearts of viewers for decades. Between poor casting, alterations in the music and changes in the storyline, fans argue that this era of Disney films needs to come to an end.

Despite the critics, I firmly believe that these live-action remakes live up to their preceding films.

During my childhood, watching animated Disney films was practically a daily occurrence. Whether it was a princess movie like “The Little Mermaid” or a funfilled adventure like “The Jungle Book,” watching these feature films created so many childhood memories, and the live-action remakes help capture that feeling. The reimagined movies hold a deep amount of nostalgia for those who grew up watching the original movies, and they introduce younger audiences to the magical world of Disney.

Take 2015’s “Cinderella,” for example. Although it is not a musical, the liveaction stays true to the plot of 1950’s “Cinderella.”

Disney succeeded in expert casting with Lily James as Cinderella, Richard Madden as Prince Charming and Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine. James perfectly embodies the princess with her elegance and grace, and the film itself is stunning.

Between the aesthetic set of the French countryside farmhouse, the gilded castle and the dazzling costumes, the live-action film perfectly captures the essence of the classic tale of “Cinderella.”

Disney’s 2017 “Beauty and the Beast” live-action remake starring Emma

Watson and Dan Steven is honestly the quintessential example of a well-done Disney live-action film. The enchanting music and setting properly pay homage to the original film, and the powerful acting leaves viewers filled with emotion.

The film company has even been successful in bringing films about animals to life. In 2019, Disney released live-action versions of “The Lion King” and “Lady and the Tramp.”

These films bring animated films to life in a captivating way that has never been seen before. Disney’s excellent use of computergenerated imagery, commonly known simply as CGI, made the animals in each movie seem so real and full of character.

These reimaginations of animal films simply do not receive enough credit. Although many viewers have criticized 2019’s “The Lion King,” the quality of the film is rather unbelievable, and it helped The Walt Disney Studios experiment with an entirely new tier of CGI. Disney’s live-action films also bring more diversity to the big screen. On May 26, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” will be released, starring Halle Bailey. The actress is breaking boundaries as the first African American woman to play the role of Ariel. This casting decision has brought joy to young girls who now have the chance to see themselves represented onscreen.

Disney also recently announced its plans for a liveaction remake of the 2016 animated film “Moana,” which will shine a light on Polynesian culture. There are also plans in motion for a “Lilo & Stitch” remake, and this movie will highlight Hawaiian culture.

Although critics argue that Disney live-action remakes are “overdone” and poor quality, they are simply the opposite. The Walt Disney Studios has succeeded in fulfilling the nostalgia of older audiences and in introducing younger generations to the magic of Disney.

They have increased the amount of diversity on the big screen, and they have successfully added new twists to classic films while staying true to their original roots.

Although the era will eventually come to an end, The Walt Disney Studios should continue to produce outstanding live-action remakes of their classic films.

■ By Matthew Rentezelas (‘24)

Global Commentary Editor

Art by Katherine Li (‘23)/ Eastside Art Director

This October 16, The Walt D i s n e y Company will officially turn 100 years old. It started as a company renowned for its ingenuity and status as a pioneer in the field of animation. Today, however, the corporate greed of The Walt Disney Company has led to the release of an abundance of bland, unoriginal content that fails to push any artistic or technological boundaries.

I should preface by acknowledging that many deeply passionate artists work in The Walt Disney Company, and that it is unfair to label every individual at the company passionless. Recent movies such as “Soul” (2020) and “Encanto” (2021) have reached critical acclaim for their portrayals of more complex themes and characters. Sadly, Disney films with that level of creativity and passion are becoming increasingly rare.

Instead, Disney has preferred to spend its time calling for live-action remake after live-action remake of films from its animated catalog. While live-action remakes aren’t entirely new to the Disney Company (the first acknowledged example is the 1994 version of The Jungle Book), Disney’s increasing reliance on these movies is simply pathetic.

Between 1994 and 2009, only four Disney live-action remakes were released.

Since 2010, Disney has released 17 live-action adaptations; by the end of 2024 that number will likely have increased to 20.

So what exactly kickstarted this remake obsession? While the answer has some complexity, most critics point to Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” (2010). The live-action adaptation grossed over $1 billion worldwide, despite the fact that it received a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 53% score on Metacritic.

The overwhelming commercial success proved that parents who grew up watching classic Walt Disney animated films such as “Alice in Wonderland” (1951) would go out of their way to see remakes, bringing their families along as well in the hopes that the live-action movies could be nostalgic for the next generation of kids. That fact

has remained true for the remakes released after “Alice in Wonderland.” In total, Disney live-action remakes have grossed over $9 billion worldwide at the box office.

That number does not take into account the money made off merchandise sold for live-action remakes, meaning that Disney likely makes a far greater profit than previously thought.

Unfortunately, these live-action remakes probably won’t hold the same nostalgic status as the original animated movies. For one, the mere concept of adapting an animated movie into a live-action movie carries serious drawbacks.

Original Disney animated movies are renowned for their unique color palettes, fantastical elements and character designs. Even with the use of computergenerated imagery (CGI), it’s very difficult to translate these iconic images and concepts into live-action.

Another issue comes with the idea of suspension of disbelief. When a studio uses animation to tell a story, the minds of the audience find it easier to accept absurd concepts such as animals singing and dancing, household objects possessed by human souls, and a living doll being swallowed whole by a sea monster.

Now, you may be wondering, is there any real harm done by the prevalence of Disney remakes?

Many members of the film community argue yes. Because of its contract with theaters, Disney can force theaters to play live-action remakes at the threat of removing the theater’s ability to screen popular movies in franchises like Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Movie theaters, especially in the age of streaming, need the profit from these blockbusters, so they will often screen poorlyrated remakes in order to sustain their businesses with other Disney films.

The over-abundance of films produced by studios like Disney then forces out smaller-scale, independent movies with limited runs in theaters.

Through this process, studios like Disney develop extreme control over theater content and create a market that values quantity over quality. Audiences need to question whether a movie is worth seeing solely for the sake of nostalgia. If audiences don’t, movie content will continue to become more and more repetetive.

Infographic by Julia Rosten (‘24)/ Eastside Culture Editor

CULTURE

May 2023

EASTSIDE

Page 13

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” brings awareness to anti-drag laws ■ By Michelle Bookbinder (‘24) Eastside Culture Editor

Most drag queens and lovers of drag regard Sasha Colby as a legend. She has been doing drag for 20 years and, in 2012, she won Chicago’s Miss Continental Pageant. Her list of accomplishments only grew as RuPaul crowned her “America’s Next Drag Superstar” and winner of season 15 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Every Friday since January 6, when season 15 premiered, Colby dominated the competition, having four challenge wins under her belt. The season finale aired on April 14, showing Colby battled it out with Anetra, Luxx Noir London and Mistress Isabelle Brooks in a series of individual performances. After a final lip sync between Colby and Anetra, RuPaul announced Colby’s victory and awarded her a prize of $200,000.

Throughout the season, Colby brought Polynesian and transgender representation to the main stage of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She wore her Hawaiian culture proudly on the runway, using orchids to portray her background while also educating viewers on traditions in Hawaii.

Colby shared the role of māhū in her culture, explaining how they are people of the third gender possessing both

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masculine and feminine qualities. As a transgender woman, Colby also proudly lifted up other transgender individuals.

“This goes to every trans person past, present, and future because we are not going anywhere,” she said during her crowning.

In light of recent legislation, the finale encouraged audiences to donate to the ACLU Drag Def e n s e Fund.

M a n y rightw i n g conservatives accuse all drag queens of being sexual predators and trying to indoctrinate children.

They especially demonstrate opposition to events such as Drag Story Hour where drag queens read books to children, believing that this allows drag queens to “groom” minors. Many states including Arizona, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia have taken these ideas into action,

constructing bills that limit drag shows and prevent minors from seeing performances.

Tennessee is the first state in the country to pass a law restricting drag shows, doing so with support from Governor Bill

Lee. This l a w prohibits drag performances in public places where minors might watch. However, this law has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge due to a lack of clarity.

As more states promote anti-drag legislation, there has also been an increase

in attacks against drag queens and LGBTQ+ safe spaces.

On November 19, 2022, there was a mass shooting in Colorado Springs at an LGBTQ+ nightclub, Club Q, killing five individuals and injuring 25.

Additionally, a doughnut shop in Oklahoma was firebombed on October 31, 2022, after hosting a drag event.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 15 recognized these drag restrictions in episode 12, when the queens acted in “Wigloose: The Rusical,” a parody of “Footloose.”

“Wigloose: The Rusical” tells the story of the fight for self-expression and drag in a small town, paralleling present-day events.

“It’s such a hard place to be ‘cause you really wanna be yourself and you really wanna celebrate who you are, but sometimes, you have to be forced to be quiet for pure safety,” Colby said in a confessional when discussing drag restrictions.

As drag shifts into mainstream entertainment through “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and political discussions, the future of drag becomes more and more uncertain.

Colby continues to speak out for the right to self-expression as the show’s newly reigning queen, inspiring others to live authentically.

Art by Katie Sullivan (‘25)/ Eastside Staff

High School Athletes

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SPECIAL EASTSIDE

Chopped

May 2023

Faculty

During Chopped, a faculty event on April 21, organized and hosted by Ms. Fehder and Mr. Vann, 17 teams of three had less than an hour to create a dish that incoroporated one of four mystery ingredients: potatoes, mangoes, jalepeno peppers or apples. Three guest judges, along with forms filled out by East staff members, chose winners for each time slot as well as the top three overall. Congrats to All Bite, No Bark, art department members Mrs. Calnon-Buote, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Morgan, for winning first place with their chicken saltimbocca dish. The Spice Girls and Their Dishwasher, Mr. Davis, Mrs. DiStefano and Ms. Shine, came in second place. The Krauted Kitchen, Mrs. Cox, Mr. Graff and Mrs. Rogers, came in third.

1st

2nd

3rd

SPORTS

May 2023

EASTSIDE

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East alum Ed Foley coaches his way to success ■ By Adam Borenstein(‘23)

Eastside Sports Editor

When Ed Foley graduated from Cherry Hill High School East in 1985, he had no idea where his football journey was going to take him. After being a threeyear starter at Bucknell University, Foley knew he immediately wanted to get into coaching and make it his life-long career. From being a Division I head coach to becoming a twotime interim head coach in bowl games, a pit stop in the NFL, and now being back in college football as a coach in the BIG 10, Foley has certainly seen it all in his 34 years of coaching.

Foley’s first coaching job was at the young age of 22 when he was hired as the offensive line coach for the University at Albany. He then had stops at Penn, Williams College and Jacksonville University until landing with Fordham University in 1999 to be the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. In 2004, Fordham Head Coach Dave Clawson left for Richmond and Foley was promoted to be the team’s next coach.

In just two seasons, Foley compiled a 7-17 record and was fired.

“It was a great experience,” Foley said. “I don’t think I was fully prepared for [being a head coach] at that age and that time. It didn’t work out for me or the team, but it was a great learning experience.”

After Fordham, Foley spent the next two seasons at Hofstra University before landing with Temple University, the school he would call home for the next 11 years. He had a wide variety of positions during those years, including offensive line coach and tight ends coach, but was most known for his work as special teams coach.

During his tenure as the special teams coordinator, Temple ranked top-five nationally in blocked kicks four times, were top-25 in punt defense three times and, in 2018, scored six special teams touchdowns

en route to a top-25 finish in punt and kick returns defense. Foley was also known for his creative and successful fake punts that Temple would frequently run during the season. He also helped develop Isaiah Wright into one of the best kick and punt returners in the country while he was at Temple. Wright went on to play in the NFL and CFL and is currently an NFL free agent. He scored five touchdowns on special teams in his collegiate career and averaged 13.1 yards per punt return in his junior year.

Foley’s love and passion for Temple showed when he continued to stay on Broad Street despite five head coaches leaving during his tenure, including now-former Carolina Panthers Head Ccoach Matt Rhule. He mentioned how Temple was the perfect situation for him with the school being so close to his hometown and the people at Temple.

“Temple is a very special place to me,” Foley said. “It was aligned perfectly from the president, the teachers, the students, the football team, it was just like a family. Everyone was pulling for everyone and it was just a great fit.”

Foley had the opportunity to be the interim head coach twice during his time at Temple. In 2016, Rhule left to take the head coaching position at Baylor after Temple won the American Athletic Conference Championship. However, Temple still had one more game to play, so athletic director Pat Kraft tabbed Foley to be the interim head coach in the Military Bowl vs Wake Forest. In 2018, a similar situation happened when Head Coach Geoff Collins left to become the head coach at Georgia Tech, so Foley was once again chosen to be the interim head coach for their bowl game against Duke.

While Temple didn’t win either game, Kraft choosing Foley over other top assistants showed Temple’s confidence in him and the impact that he had on the

studentathletes there.

T h e 2 0 1 8 b o w l g a m e w a s the last t i m e Foley would don the cherry a n d white, a s Temple hired R o d Carey to be the next h e a d coach for the 2 0 1 9 season.

Carey decided to bring in his own assistants and deCourtesy of Hail Varsity moted Ed Foley does a press interview while working for Nebraska football.

Foley to an son at Baylor until Rhule his job and Foley was let go off-the-field position. Folgot hired as the head coach the same day. A few weeks ey knew that this was the of the Carolina Panthers. later, Rhule was hired as time to move on and reunitRhule brought Foley with the new head coach at the ed with Rhule at Baylor. him to Carolina to be his asUniversity of Nebraska for While he didn’t necessarily sistant special teams coorthe upcoming season. Foley want to leave, Foley knew dinator. While it was never joined him once again to be that this was the best decia dream or goal for Foley to the special teams coordision for his coaching career. be an NFL coach, he said it nator, now the fourth time “It was time,” Foley said. was still an amazing expethat he has worked under “Temple had run its course, rience that he enjoyed evRhule. we had done a lot of great ery moment of. Despite the When looking back on his things there, and Rod was excitement of working with time at East, Foley cherishlooking in another direcPro-Bowl players like Cam es his time as a four-year tion. It was a great opporNewton and Christian Mcfootball player under Head tunity for me to go and join Caffrey, Foley said the best Coach Bo Wood. He said Matt.” part of the job was reunitthat what stood out to him He continued, “When ing with the many Temple the most from his time with you stay at one place too and Baylor players that he the Cougars was the paslong in our profession, it coached that were on the sion that all of his coaches sometimes works against Panthers. had, and that made him a you. One of my buddies “It’s so humbling to have better coach. He still stays called me up and said I a guy in college that you in touch with a lot of his stopped calling you because had for four years that you classmates from East and I thought you would never built a relationship with,” has built lifelong relationleave Temple. If I knew you Foley said. “My most lastships. were going to leave, I would ing memories from the NFL While it is unclear where have offered you a job a lot will be working with the Foley’s next stop will take sooner. A lot of times when Temple guys and the Bayhim, it is sure that he has a you stay too long, people aslor guys and all of the sucstrong passion for coaching. sume that you’re never gocess we had together.”

He continues to touch the ing to leave and you don’t Midway through his lives of student-athletes want that.” third season with the Paneveryday and that will conFoley spent just one seathers, Rhule was fired from tinue for a long time.

Adam Borenstein (‘23)/ Eastside Online Sports Editor

SPORTS

May 2023

EASTSIDE

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Bowman recieves Divison 1 football offers as sophomore “I want to play someis a Bowman famwhere where I know I ily tradition, as Bowhave a good relationship man’s father played with coaches as well as football for Saint teammates so I know Francis University.

I can have the great Bowman views his college football experidad as his biggest inence,” said Bowman. spiration to succeed As a versatile playin the game. er who excels as both “My dad, he is the a tight end and a deone who got me into fensive lineman, Bowfootball. He is the man is looking to build one who has pushed on the success of his me to be great besophomore year. Nocause that is what tably, he completed at I told him I wanted least 1 reception in evto do. He has really ery game, including 4 helped get me here,” touchdowns, and had 32 said Bowman. tackles with 2 sacks. He During the footenjoys all aspects of the ball off-season, Bowgame and appreciates man plays lacrosse the knowledge that he for East. His schedgains by training, learnule is always full, as ing strategy and playing regular training and in games. lifting are required “I love how much of a to stay in shape. mental game as well as a Bowman has learned Lucas Tang (‘23) Eastside Photo Editor physical game it is. How Bowman makes a catch in an East to use his study hall to much thinking goes into football game this past fall. get his homework done the actual game. I love so that he has time for having to think as well practices and games. hard of a game it is,” said as it being so physically Being a member of the Bowman. demanding. I just love how East football team has been Playing college football

a key part of Bowman’s high school experience because of the friendships that he has formed with his teammates.

Since Bowman is known to college football recruiters, there is a lot of pressure on him to perform at a high level. Bowman uses the pressure to make himself train even harder and stay mentally focused. He wants to live up to the high expectations placed on him.

While Bowman continues to be recruited, some may forget that he is more than two years away from graduation. East football fans can look forward to two more full seasons of watching Bowman play for East. He is determined to continue to develop as a player, build on his success and prepare for his FBS college football career.

“I’ve learned to stay strong and no matter how hard or how beat up you get to just keep going, because in the end, it will all be worth it,” said Bowman.

with her new team this year.

She said that it is a young team full of talented underclassmen, so they seem eager to learn. She discussed how it was a lot of the kids’ first years trying track, and her goal is to “support both improved performance, confidence when it comes to learning new skills and preparedness heading into competition.”

Since Bryant graduated from East not too long ago, she said that she was

“unsure of how much had changed, including the coaches and teachers.”

Bryant experienced some nostalgia walking through the East halls, especially when she saw pictures of her and her old teammates by the locker rooms. When Bryant attended East, she was a short sprinter as well as a jumper.

Bryant was inspired to get into jumping by her older brother, who was a senior on the East track team when she was entering

high school. He taught her a lot, and she was inspired to follow in his footsteps.

“Jumping is underrated. A lot of people think it’s easier than sprinting because you don’t have to run as far. But it also requires a different kind of explosiveness, discipline and thought than sprinting does,” Bryant said.

Bryant made a big decision to coach after college instead of continuing her career. Bryant was volunteer coaching at her college

at first, when East’s Coach Ms. Yanell Joseph reached out. They wanted to work together to redirect the program.

Bryant compared the feeling of being a good jumper to that of flying.

She wants her students to be just as passionate about jumping as she is, and said it’s a skill that takes a lot of hard work and practice, but is so worth it in the end.

Bryant wants to help lead the track team to a successful season.

lost the year before. West’s lacrosse program has a long history of success and The suspense and thrill has been a notable team of cross-town rivalries is in the South Jersey area. unmatched. Every Cherry The West Lions are known Hill High School East vs for their excellent abilities, Cherry Hill High School teamwork and competitiveWest showdown is met with ness. The East Cougars a ton of excitement and nerhave also had success on vousness from both sides, the lacrosse field while regardless of the competimaintaining strength and tion. resilience along the way.

As the 2023 East-West East Girls’ Lacrosse Lacrosse Day approached player Ryan Melnick (‘24) on May 6, East was ready to said, “In order to perform come in with a bang. East successfully on the field, we lacrosse players eagerly push ourselves throughout awaited playing in one of practices to work as hard their favorite games of the as we can. As a result, our season, which comes with a team bonding and culture load of mixed emotions. is growing stronger every While the East Boys’ Laday.” crosse team has won the Through dinners, psych past two years, the girls’ parties and other team game against West was bonding events, the East canceled last year and they Girls’ Lacrosse program is doing a terrific job of encouraging sisterhood among its teammates.

The camaraderie among the players is what allows players to come into practice with a positive mindset every day.

“It’s going to be a Lucas Tang (‘23) Eastside Photo Editor big day, considering our East Girls’ Lacrosse plays a game.

game was canceled last year, there’s a lot of anticipation. Everyone is excited and looking forward to giving it our all,” said Lindsay Parkhill (‘24) before the game.

To encourage their teams, East and West students, alumni, parents and other fans typically turn out in large numbers while repping the colors of their schools. The enthusiasm in the stands spreads around rapidly, and the players seek motivation from that energy. Currently the East girls’ lacrosse team has a 1-5 record, but the team is full of hard-working girls who come into each game with their best foot forward.

“Both of our teams are very competitive, and it’s always so fun to play against familiar opponents,” said Melnick.

One of the key factors that makes East-West Day so enjoyable is that many kids from the two schools either play with each other on an outside team or grew up playing the sport together. The chemistry between the two high schools creates a different playing atmosphere than any other game throughout the season.

“We try to take our prep and conversations game by game. Once East-West Day gets closer, that’s when we will focus on their strengths and best players,” said

Parkhill.

T h e Girls’ Lacrosse team has not been surrounding its season by strictly focusing on this game.

The team approaches each game on its own, and as the g a m e ’ s week approached, more disLucas Tang (‘23)/ Eastside Photo Editor cussion ocEast Boys’ Lacrosse plays a game. cured.

T h e The team studied West’s Boys’ Laplaying strategies as well crosse team is currently as made sure all teammates holding a record of 1-4 and were ready to enter the players have been focusgame in the best head space ing on themselves and the possible. During practices, team’s development rather the boys’ team gave it their than focusing on one single all and walked back to the game against West. They locker room with no other are striving for a confermentality than “tomorrow ence victory and, like the we are gonna get even betgirls’ team, have their eyes ter.” set out on each upcoming The Cherry Hill East Lagame. crosse program is working “When the time comes every day to improve skills, to lock in for Cherry Hill gain strength and uphold West, we will be prepared positive mindsets. On May mentally, physically and 6, students came out to fundamentally. We will watch a day of competition pick apart every aspect of between the town rivals West’s in-game strategy from West. . and will go into the game In the end, the East boys confident and humbled” lost to West 9-4. The girls said Colin Inman (‘24) belost 17-4. forehand,

■ By Julia Sitnick (‘25)

Eastside Sports Editor

Jaxson Bowman (‘25) is in a unique position because he is currently being recruited by multiple NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) colleges. The FBS is made up of the most elite football schools in the country and consists of the teams that are eligible to play in the prestigious end-of-season Bowl games. FBS recruitment is highly selective and is limited to the top high school football players in the country. Bowman’s recruitment is even more impressive when you consider that he is just a sophomore.

After receiving verbal offers from Boston College and the University of Connecticut, Bowman is continuing to talk to and visit with several colleges.

Bowman is seeking out a football program where the chemistry of the team and coaching staff feel like the right fit.

East graduate Jessica Bryant returns jumping to victory ■ By Shayna Oppen (‘24)

Eastside Sports Editor

In a track and field season that is already going well, Cherry Hill High School East’s team will have the opportunity to now excel even more with its new jumping coach, Jessica Bryant (‘16).

Bryant graduated from East in 2016, then moved on to La Salle University’s team as a triple jumper.

Bryant said that she “expects to see a lot of growth”

East lacrosse teams prepares for cross-town rivals ■ By Ava Richman(‘24)

Eastside Social Media Director