Eastside: January 2012

www.eastside-online.org

Vol. 46 No. 4

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

January 2012

Handprint by Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor Photo illustration by Hailey Edelstein (‘12)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief

Inside This Issue

East student creates iPod and iPhone applications

Should students have a say in excess school funding?

East alumnus is allaround musician

News/Features, Pg. 5

Opinions, Pg. 9

Entertainment, Pg. 14

NEWS/FEATURES Page 2

EASTSIDE

January 2012

Maniscalco blogs, breathes, runs and teaches using the popular hits of today T h e Board has focused on two key issues so far this school year: the Lily Campbell charter (‘12) school and Board of the new Education Representative high school schedules.

The Cherry Hill School District has filed a notice of intent to appeal the approval of the Regis Academy Charter School.

Superintendent Dr. Maureen Reusche and the Superintendents of Voorhees and Somerdale wrote an op-ed piece for The Courier Post on charter school funding. The article has been posted on the district website (www.chclc.org).

On October 27, Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt and Senator Jim Beach met with Dr. Reusche, BOE President Seth Klukoff, BOE Vice President Kathy Judge, and student representatives to discuss the charter school issue.

On November 22, on NJ 101.5’s “Ask the Governor” radio show, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie responded to a question asking why charter schools are being approved in successful school districts. He responded that while the charter school law allows for the approval of charter schools throughout the state, his preference would be that charter schools be approved only in failing districts.

In regards to the second key issue the Board has discussed, the new high school schedule will be implemented at East, West and the alternative high school next school year. Supporters of this schedule note that the schedule includes a unit lunch period, which means that everyone in the school will have a lunch period. This gives students the opportunity to take eight classes in addition to lunch.

Critics of the new high school schedule note that the instructional class time will decrease by about 11 percent and that it would be a logistical problem for seniors to leave school early or arrive late. Additionally, students will only see their teachers on four out of every six school days, so if a teacher or student is absent, it may be difficult to make up work. Those with questions regarding the new high school schedule should ask Jackie Susuni or me for information. You may also find samples of new schedules on the district website.

Attend a Board meeting to voice your opinion. Also feel free to e-mail us at eastboe@yahoo.com.

■ By Danielle Fox (‘13)

avidly reading Billboard Magazine.

He said, “I would spend my entire four hours Sunday morning listening [to] and writing down every song. It got to the point where if I went on vacation, someone would do it for me. That’s how intense it was.”

Now, his blog has expanded to a Twitter and Facebook page, where he routinely posts songs that he believes will soon rise to the top of the charts.

Widely regarded for his accurate predictions, Maniscalco insists that the

Eastside Entertainment Editor

Whether running with headphones during cross country and track season or teaching his English students a vocabulary lesson with the next hit song, English teacher Mr. Anthony Maniscalco pulls music into every aspect of his life.

In 2009, after assigning his English students to create blogs about their summer readings, Maniscalco was inspired by the aesthetic appeal of one of the students’ creations and

Mr. Anthony Maniscalco decided to make a blog of his own, Chart Breakers, where he updates his predictions for the month’s upcoming Billboard hits in the United States and the United Kingdom.

“The blog reminds me not to stray too far away from what I’m really interested in,” said Maniscalco.

Growing up, Maniscalco spent hours listening to the radio’s latest hits and

incorporates his musical “Some days I might knowledge to spice up a receive fifty-something conventional English lessongs and I try to make a son. He uses the lyrics of point to go through each the latest pop-culture hits one,” Maniscalco said. to analyze alluIn addition to offering sions and inspiring songs to his Maniscalco’s motifs students via interChartBreaking i n net, Maniscalco predictions for February: the also makes a “Turn Me On” - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj point to burn “Wild Ones” - Flo Rida ft. Sia CDs featur“Back Home” - Gym Class Heroes ft. Neon Hitch ing the “Beekeeper’s Daughter” - All-American Rejects b l o g ’ s “Middle” - Cobra Starship ft. Mac Miller monthly “Naked” - Dev ft. Enrique Iglesias predicted “What Makes You Beautiful” - One Direction hit songs “Stronger” - Kelly Clarkson for his “Glad You Came” - The Wanted students; “Give Your Heart A Break” - Demi Lovato he cur“Antidote” - Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party “Sorry For Party Rocking” - LMFAO “She Doesn’t Mind” - Sean Paul “Better Than I Know Myself” - Adam Lambert Singles from new album “Skyhigh” e Mike Posner rentt u

ly has a pool of about sixteen takers.

Regarding sharing his music with East students, he joked, “The number of kids is growing exponentially [so] that it actually takes hours to put the CDs t o g e t h e r, ” but continued, “it’s one of the best feelings in the world because I know there Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor are a lot of songs that shows his music blog to an East student. they probably wouldn’t hear otherskill is derived not only wise, especially songs that from passion, but also from are big overseas.” a lot of research.

Jared Dashevsky (‘14) “It is a hobby that is can attest to Maniscalco’s thoroughly enjoyable, but accuracy. every single day I’m “He knows what songs researching what’s going are going to be big. On one on in the music industry, CD he put LMFAO’s ‘Sexy what’s coming out,” he and I Know It’ and within said. two months it was huge,” As a member of a DJ Dashevsky said. pool, anytime a song is Besides the bartering of released, he receives a digplaylists, Maniscalco also ital copy of it.

Making a chic laptop case is no sweat at all (or is it?)

■ By Kayla Schorr (‘14) Eastside News/Features Editor

For some reason, teens are currently going through an obsession with jackets and covers. This is probably because teens feel the need to cover shiny objects. Let’s be honest, I have truly never seen anyone texting away on a naked iPhone.

However, no one really feels that dire need to cover their laptops. I guess this is because not a lot of people have the pleasure of gazing upon other students’ computers. However, I happen to believe that computer sleeves are more essential than cell phone cases due to their skyrocketing prices. Now, I am on a quest to start an innovative trend: carrying around our laptops in hand-made computer sleeves. Do not get me wrong, I am way too lazy to sew together an intricate computer case: the one I am referring to is just made out of a sweatshirt. Now, we will be able to walk confidently into Starbucks and Panera with our chic laptop cases. To the right are a few simple steps to creating a fashionable laptop sleeve out of one simple material: a sweatshirt.

Photos by Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor Photo illustration by Hailey Edelstein (‘12)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief

litrar e and the lyrics.

For instance, he has his students listen to Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” to underscore the theme of the American Dream, or more specifically, the corruption thereof.

He said, “It’s kind of funny when you can teach kids more about a Jay-Z song than they would pick up themselves.”

During vocabulary lessons, he is prone to utilizing popular songs to teach the particular lesson’s words.

“I loved how he ran the lessons. He would try to find a song that has a vocab word in it and he would play that song while he was explaining the word,” said Rachel Viggiano (‘12).

In the end, Maniscalco humbly attributes the purpose of his blog not only to his love of music, but also to his readers, whom he hopes to expose to the music industry’s newest sensations.

Maniscalco said, “It’s really been more for personal satisfaction. There’s that feeling that whatever I write or say is public and someone somewhere might be reading it, and for me that’s enough.”

NEWS/FEATURES January 2012

EASTSIDE

Page 3

Imported Cornerstone program supports students in New Jersey ■ By Juliet Brooks (‘13) Eastside News/Features Editor

In The Wuz, the facultyproduced play written by Mr. Peter Gambino put on in October, the “uncool” Dorothy from Kansas gets transported into the world of cyberspace where she learns a valuable lesson about friendship and the dangers of technology.

However, for the majority of students in the audience, Dorothy’s face did not ring a bell. That is because Ms. Alison Granite—the woman who played Dorothy—does not teach English or math here at East. Instead, she is an employee of the Cornerstone program, which helps students who might need organization in their lives academically, socially or emotionally.

The Cornerstone program is not run by East.

However, it has outposts at East, West and Marlboro in South Jersey, as well as

several outposts in Central Jersey—the base of the program. The program has been in the district for over two and a half years.

Granite said, “It’s a place for up to twelve students that can come for extra support, if they need academic support, emotional support, behavioral support… it helps the students be successful.”

Every day, Granite meets with all twelve students in a group setting to discuss the accomplishments and the pitfalls of the day.

“We talk about any issues that come up. School issues, friends, family,” she said.

Even though the students have many diverse issues and some excel where others have trouble, the group is very supportive of each other’s endeavors.

“They’re all pretty supportive of each other,” Granite said. “When you’re

in a group, when you’ve been in a group for an extended period of time, you learn to respect each other’s differences, which is huge in itself… and confidentiality is huge… what’s said in group stays in group… I think it’s interesting because they’ll call each other out on their stuff.”

On days when the students do not have issues ready to discuss, Granite has prompts and games available.

“Everyone’s got different issues that they work on, so group can be challenging sometimes, but I start from where they are… we like to talk about positive things that are happening, too,” she said.

This balance enables students to support each other through the good times as well as the bad.

The Cornerstone program focuses on academics as well as social or familial problems.

Granite said, “Everyone knows what they have due, assignments coming up, usually their grades are in there… I get sheets every week… from every teacher letting me know if the student was in class, if they were prepared, were they doing their work, what’s their grade up to date.”

Referrals for students who might need the program come from a variety of sources, including the students’ teachers to their guidance counselors to the school nurses.

Granite said, “It’s hard to leave your emotional stuff at the door when you come in and so this program tries to work with everybody to keep that balance.”

The Cornerstone program provides extra help and a welcoming environment for any New Jersey students, including those at East, who might need assistance.

Juliet Brooks (‘13)/ Eastside News/Features Editor

Ms. Alison Granite participates in group therapy with students, who discuss each others’ highs and lows.

Black History Month play to be “raw and uncut” ■ By Gilana Levavi (‘14) Eastside Editorial Assistant

“Uncensored: Black History Revealed, Raw and Uncut,” a Black History Month performance, scheduled for February 11 at 7 p.m. at Cherry Hill West, promises a unique experience.

“I want to do something that [takes] our audience members to the edge,” said director and East alumnus Keisha Blount (‘05). “I want to show something that [is not] a cookie-cutter cliché representation of black history.”

The play aims to display aspects of African American history that are often overlooked.

“A lot of black history [taught in] school is repetitive, [often only] about slavery,” said Hiba Hashim (‘12), cast member and president of West’s African American Culture Club.

Blount says the show’s message is to stop censoring history and to hold censors of history accountable.

“When we censor parts of our his-

tory because they were hurtful or they show oppression, it can be very hurtful,” said Blount.

The show, set in the present day but interspersed with flashbacks, focuses on the African Diaspora to both the U.S. and other parts of the world.

“We call it edu-tainment… because we educate people through entertainment,” said Shanice Davis (‘12), a cast member and president of East’s African American Culture Club.

The cast, composed of members of the African American Culture Clubs at both East and West and students from Rosa and Carusi, consists of approximately twenty students but is continually growing, said Blount.

Blount has directed the Black History Month Production for the past three years.

She was also involved with both the Black History Month Production and mainstream theater when she attended East.

“Something I really appreciate about Keisha is that she gives people

the opportunity to learn more about themselves as a performer,” said Davis. “When I decide to do something, it needs to resonate with me and these shows have definitely hit me at the core.”

Many of the cast members, including Davis and Hashim, have not been involved in other theater programs at their schools.

Another unique feature of the show is the Fankosa marketplace, which will be open during intermission. Local African American vendors sell a variety of products including jewelry, baked goods and clothes. In Swahili, “Fankosa” means “to go back and fetch it,” an important idea behind the production, said Blount. “[It’s] really important to bring all your history to your present because everything that we do…is a part of someone that came before us,” said Blount. “The idea of Fankosa is to go back and to get…all that…historical intelligence and to bring that into the present. We need to go back and learn…from the past.”

Class presidents answer: What are your class’s New Year’s resolutions?

This new year brings an experience the great majority of stuat Max Cohen dents East have (‘12) been waiting for: the coveted second semester of senior year.

Second semester of senior year is basically a code name for what we seniors like to call “fun.” I want to sell boatloads of prom tickets. Every senior should be going to prom. If every signer of the Constitution will be there, so should every senior at East.

My personal goal for the new year is to assure my fellow classmates Amy Myers that we’ll have a suc(‘13) cessful year.

Currently, our agenda includes having an exciting junior prom, locating a venue for senior prom, class fundraisers, class apparel and maybe a class trip. I am trying to get insight from a variety of people in my class to make sure I have approval on various decisions.

Hopefully, the remainder of our junior year will run smoothly.

So far we’ve had a great school year.

Starting our year with a bang, we went to Ross Creamy Peterzell Acres to enjoy the (‘14) six haunted attractions they offered.

Then came Spirit Week, when I was pleasantly surprised with our second place dance performance.

Currently, we are working on apparel. In the next six months of the school year, we plan on having another field trip, a great sophomore cotillion and a charitable fundraiser.

Our grade has fit in perfectly at East since the beginning of this school year.

Sam Amon But like (‘15) anyone else, we have some New Year’s resolutions. The New Year’s resolutions for the freshman class are to continue working diligently following a successful freshman dance and to have a wonderful year. If our grade is able to do this, we will make the best of our time here at East.

NEWS/FEATURES Page 4

EASTSIDE

January 2012

Students skip class levels through dedicated work ■ By Kayla Schorr (‘14)

Jake Horner (‘14) is an example. At East, freshmen are obligated to take Vocal Workshop if they are Many parents, teachers, guidinterested in being a part of the ance counselors, mentors and, of Vocal Department. Even though course, Jordin Sparks, tell students Horner did not take Vocal to take things “one step at a time.”

Workshop as a freshman, he was This is one way to achieve one’s chosen to be a part of East Singers goals. and Casual Harmony, two very Rather than multi-tasking or advanced singing groups. As a progressing through various stages freshman, Horner had a passion simultaneously, students are told for singing but did to accomplish goals in an efficient not feel it necesand timely manner. The typical sary to take Vocal student at East enrolls in the first Workshop. When level of a course, then proceeds to he auditioned last the following level. However, this spring to be placed is not the case for several Cherry in a choir, his disHill East students. tinct musical abiliMultiple students at East skip ties were immedirequired classes and advance to a ately noted. higher level of a course due to a “Throughout great amount of knowledge in that this year, I have specific field. pushed myself to Tommy Tang (‘12) skipped the grow with sightgeneral seventh grade math reading, harmoncourse, Pre-Algebra, as well as ies and a bunch of Introduction to Functions. In other other skills,” said words, Tang went from his sixth Horner. “It has grade math course to geometry in been very fun, but seventh grade. When Tang was a very difficult to freshman at East, he was enrolled work with so many in Calculus AP. He continued his advanced and talpath in mathematics the next year ented people.” by taking a Multivariable class, Tang, Silver, which can be explained as an addiHaaz and Horner tional Calculus class, basically a agreed that if a college course. Tang and classmate student is believed Ricky Zhao (‘12) accomplished this to be capable of together. skipping a neces“It was not unusual to be in sary class, he or such an advanced class,” Tang she must be said. “Although the classes were Jasmine Hwang (‘12)/ Eastside Staff absolutely sure of tedious, I did not have a problem A class of 2016 East student takes Biology 2 AP with current juniors and seniors. that decision. It with it.” takes a great In order to skip a level of a class, thing besides French, you are repclasses, yet they have moved on to amount of work and dedication to one must pass an exam that assessrimanded the first time. The secclasses of much higher difficulty. go beyond what is expected. es the student’s knowledge of the ond time, you are pretty much particular class he or she would kicked out of [the program].” like to skip. If the student passes Silver said that this strict discithe exam, he or she can progress to pline positively affected the stuthe next level of the subject. dents at the program and continAdditionally, Dana Silver (‘12) ued them on the path to fluency. skipped French 4AP and was Like Silver, Allie Haaz (‘12) placed in a French 5AP class as a skipped French 3AP and projunior. This year, Silver is regisgressed onto French 4AP her sophtered in a rigorous online course omore year. Haaz was also through Middlebury Interactive immersed in an advanced summer Languages, a company that program, in which students had to emerged from Middlebury College, abide by harsh restrictions that specializing in various world lanforbade English usage.

Eastside News/Features Editor

Jack Li (‘15)

guages. Silver said that he was exposed to extra French classes during the summer after sophomore year, which helped to enrich his French skills.

“At the beginning of the course, [students] are forced to take a language pledge that must be renewed every week,” said Silver, referring to the French course he took over the summer. “If you speak some-

Mika Kalimi (‘12)

Mrs. Melograna

Juliet Dintino (‘15)

I lived in Israel

I wanted to be a clown

I really wanted to jump rope

Walt Disney World

New York

New York City

We asked...

When I was little...

I would live in ... for the rest of my life I wish I could swim in ...

I wanted candy

Africa

the Pacific Ocean

Jello

water

Venezuela

find my dog Can somebody please...?

make me laugh

do my laundry

do my homework

“At the beginning of [my sophomore year], I felt a little behind, but with a little extra work I was fine,” said Haaz.

Haaz also said that she would not recommend making this large skip unless one has the aptitude.

In addition to the students who have skipped academic level classes, there are students who have skipped required musical

NEWS/FEATURES January 2012

EASTSIDE

Page 5

Kramer K reates K ool AppliKations Conrad Kramer has been making smartphone applications since September of 2009 and gravity has been helping him along the way.

■ By Prashasti Awadhiya (‘12) Eastside News/Features Editor

The computer hackers of old are no longer. Now, learning to manipulate codes and create programs is a matter of course for some people. One of these people is application creator Conrad Kramer (‘14).

When Kramer received programming books for his birthday in September 2009, it sparked his interest in computer programming in general.

The books inspired him to start programming on Apple products, so he bought his first: a Mac mini in December of 2009. He originally began his programming for the iPhone.

He began by working on his application called “Stealth Tones,” which plays tones that cannot be heard by adults of various age groups. It took Kramer a month to create “Stealth Tones,” which was released in October of 2009.

Since then, Kramer has gained a lot of experience.

“If I were to make it today, I could do it in a few days,” Kramer said.

Kramer uses two main hosting servers for his applications: the regular Apple App Store

and Cydia. Cydia is an application that enables third party applications for jailbroken iPods, iPhones and iPads.

Jailbreaking an item allows the user to avoid certain product restrictions.

Kramer has two main applications which are popular in both Cydia and the App Store: “Gesturizer” and “Graviboard.”

He was inspired to make them when he saw similar applications on other products.

He decided to recreate the applications for the iPod and iPhone.

“Both ‘Gesturizer’ and ‘Graviboard’ have similar origins,” Kramer said.

These apps took Kramer a month to make initially, but now he can write the code within a couple of days.

“Gesturizer” is an app that recognizes gestures made by the user, and opens applications based on those gestures.

“Graviboard” simply tilts all of the applications on the home screen downward, in the same way that gravity would.

“Gesturizer” was the tougher app to make, according to Kramer, because it involved implementing a complex algorithm, he said.

“Kramer’s apps are intuitive and some of them are just really fun, like ‘Graviboard.’ It’s amazing how someone so young could design and come up with stuff like this,” said Akshay Subramanium (‘12).

Kramer also made ten apps that are available on Cydia.

“They’re free, small tweaks, available in Cydia for jailbroken devices,” Kramer said.

Kramer now spends much of his time tweaking those applications and updating them, although he is working on some codes for new applications.

Currently, his applications are available on Cydia for jailbroken iPods and iPhones and regularly through Apple’s App Store.

Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director

Conrad Kramer’s “Graviboard” application tilts all of the applications on the user’s homescreen just as gravity would when the device is tilted.

SPECIAL Page 6

EASTSIDE

Megan Kotzen (‘14), Danielle Josh Murtha (‘15), Chapman Mike Wang (‘13), Abigail Ravin Impagliazzo (‘12), Rachel Gaby Patel (‘13), Hong (‘15) (‘13) Viggiano (‘12) Gianna Palma (‘14)

Dan Fabi Kotler (‘12)

(‘12),

January 2012

Andrew Adler (‘13), Sophia Gracias (‘15), Sydney Boory (‘15), David Nahum (‘14)

Sam

Amanda Feldman (‘15), Rebecca Morgan (‘15), Rebecca Cohen (‘15), Emily Karpf (‘15), Sami Zive (‘15), Haley Cohen (‘15), Lauren Kotler (‘15)

TJ Bourne (‘15), Sarah Matt Stern (‘15), Alexa DiPiero (‘12), Dan Fabi (‘12), Jake Silpe (‘15), Becca Taub (‘12) Goldberg (‘15)

David Turner (‘12), Emily Lichtenstadter Nevin Shanker (‘14), Rachel Kolmins (‘15) (‘15) Jordyn Kopelson (‘15), Jena Blum (‘15) and Lauren Kotler (‘15) prepare to hang a poster.

A table centerpiece.

A balloon arch surrounds the DJ table.

Photos by Rebecca Ohnona (‘12)/ Eastside Community Editor, Alana Kopelson (‘12)/ Eastside Community Editor, Michael Yashaya (‘13)/ Eastside Business Manager, Lindsey DuBoff (‘12)/ Eastside Entertainment Editor and Nick Mitchell (‘13)/ Eastside Staff

Joey Ciurlino (‘13), Lily Schwartz (‘15)

Erika Chaux (‘14), Connor Levy (‘15)

Sami Elkan (‘14), Alex Vincoff (‘15)

Freshmen have sweet time at the Freshman Dance ■ By Lindsey DuBoff (‘12) Eastside Entertainment Editor

East held its annual Freshman Dance on January 20 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. With a theme of Candy Land, the halls and cafeteria were decorated like the game board, with posters of characters as well as colorful squares and candy canes.

The freshman Student Government Association officers, Sam Amon (President), Jordyn Kopelson, Sam Snyder and Eric Grayson (Vice Presidents) as well as the representatives worked tirelessly to make decorations as well as organize the food for their first class dance.

“The kids had a good plan, they had a lot of ideas and they executed most of them,” said Mrs. Susan Melograna, one of the freshman class advisors along with Ms. Nora Smaldore.

The dance had various food options with cotton candy machines, ice-cream with various candy toppings and a few bowls of candy for everyone to eat.

The freshmen sold a total of 390 tickets and Jack Friedberg (‘08) served as the DJ for the fun-filled night.

“My favorite part of the dance is probably the DJ and the dancing,” said Amon.

Everyone else seemed to feel the same, as freshmen and upperclassmen danced the night away through Candy Land.

“Everyone worked really hard to plan the dance and I think it has really paid off,” Rachel Sklar (‘15)/ For Eastside Rachel Sklar (‘15)/ For Eastside Front of the Freshman Dance Kopelson said.

Back of the Freshman Dance The Class of 2015 is off to a positive start at East with a very successful Freshman T-shirt, designed by Rachel T-shirt, designed by Rachel Dance.

Pacitti (‘15).

Pacitti (‘15).

COMMUNITY January 2012

EASTSIDE

Page 7

L

ti u Bo r e e n u l l M e i c h a

L

Two boutiques have recently opened in South Jersey.

Love on a Hanger and Lauren Michelle both sell jewelry and clothing.

e u q

■ By Olivia Altman (‘14)

■ By Rachel Cohen (‘15) Eastside Staff

No longer will South Jersey women be unfashionable. With the help of Lauren Michelle Jewelry and Boutique, women will finally have a flawlessly put-together look.

The boutique, owned by Ronnie Coben, is located in Cross County Plaza and opened this past September. It is named after Ronnie’s daughters, Emily Lauren Coben (‘07) and Julie Michelle Coben (‘11). Lauren Michelle sells unique jewelry and accessories, as well as fashion basics such as black jackets.

Coben does the buying herself; she looks at fashion magazines or what

local boutiques.

The boutique sells reasonably-priced, high quality clothes and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

The store has sales when new products come into the store and on holidays. Plus, its mailing list will send tons of coupons throughout the year. Love on a Hanger was featured in SJ Magazine upon its successful opening.

All the customers leaving the store can’t help but say that the clothes are gorgeous and they cannot wait to come back for more.

For Eastside

Emily Kates (‘14)/ For Eastside

celebrities are wearing to influence her decisions.

What makes the store so unique is that it asks customers to bring their outfits from home so it can help the customers create new looks without having to buy a new wardrobe.

Because many women need help throwing outfits together, Lauren Michelle will help women so that they can just put together a perfect outfit and go.

Coben has had a lot of retail experience before opening Lauren Michelle.

She started off with a jewelry business (also called Lauren Michelle) inside another boutique. After Julie graduated and went to college, she decided to expand.

“I needed a new baby to

on a Han u e ger Bo tique v o

look after,” Coben said.

Coben spent a year researching to create a successful business plan.

She strategically created a business that started small and went big.

Coben’s advice is to “do research, know who the clients are and what the market is like,” she said.

Lauren Michelle has a lot of competition; it is next to Dare and across from Finally…The Perfect Gift; however, Coben does not mind the competition.

“There is enough business for competition,” Coben said.

With the unique selection and a helpful staff, women are sure to be looking and feeling fabulous thanks to Lauren Michelle Boutique.

This past August, Britany Vespe (‘06) opened a trendy boutique called Love on a Hanger, located in the Short Hills Shopping Center. The store sells a wide range of clothes and accessories, spanning from casual everyday wear to cocktail attire for bar and bat mitzvahs.

Love on a Hanger sells clothing for all ages, including newborns, children, teens and older women. It sells stylish brands such as Vintage Havana, Free People, Lush, Flying Monkey Jeans and signature pieces from other

Cherry Hill features other boutiques to help women get in style: Jan’s Boutique

Finally the Perfect Gift

Dare Boutique Brittany Nghiem (‘13)/ Eastside Staff

Foodies blog to spread good taste in South Jersey ■ By Rebecca Ohnona (‘12) Eastside Community Editor

With the era of blogging among us, food bloggers are ever-present and very prominent in South Jersey. Food enthusiasts routinely photograph a restaurant’s entrees, staff and décor upon their mealtime to post daily on their blogs. For foodies in the area, blogs such as “Jersey Bites,” “Eating in South Jersey” and “Table Hopping with Rosie” provide readers with a daily vicarious culinary experience.

Rosie Saferstein runs the blog “Table Hopping with Rosie” for njmonthly.com. She has the latest information about New Jersey chefs and food events and chronicles recently opened and closed New Jersey restaurants. This professional is a member of the

International Association Lastly, “Eating in South upcoming events as well of Culinary Professionals Jersey” features many as interactive links. and Association of Food Journalists.

Another food blog, “Jersey Bites,” features multiple writers’ personal experiences at local restaurants about eating surprisingly tasty foods.

Recently, Beth Christian, one of the blog’s writers, documented her trip to the restaurant Hong Kong Fusion, a Cherry Hill restaurant that brings Hong Kong cuisine to South Jersey.

Readers of the blog get a secondary experience that will ensure a feel for whether or Photo illustration by Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor not they will enjoy “Table Hopping with Rosie,” “Eating in South Jersey” and “Jersey the restaurant.

Bites” are three of South Jersey’s most popular food blogs.

Currently, they have video interviews posted with rising chefs, such as Luke Palladino of Harrah’s Atlantic City and Northfield, which gives viewers a deeper look into the minds of the men in the kitchen.

The blog also features many recipes for elaborate dishes, such as gazpacho andaluz, Tuscan bean soup and Osso Bucco with risotto Milanese.

The blog also includes a travel section, where writers tour the tri-state area looking for good eats at every turn.

The vibrant culture of food blogging has caught on, as many foodies resort to reading these food blogs or even making their own.

Generally, food bloggers do not aim to bring harm to the reputation of a restaurant; they just want to spread the love of food to all who are interested.

COMMUNITY Page 8

EASTSIDE

January 2012

Newly elected mayor really Cahn do it all ■ By Rachel Cohen (‘15)

money and still deliver the great services Cherry Hill provides,” he said.

Few may know him as the head Cahn definitely has his business of security for Bruce Springsteen. strategies that he believes will be Some people may know him as a beneficial for Cherry Hill, especialpilot. However, Cherry Hill resily in the current poor state of the dents know him as the new mayor. economy. One of his main focuses Chuck Cahn is a Cherry Hill native will be trying to attract new busiand a fresh face in the political nesses to fill up the vacant buildscene for Cherry Hill. ings in Cherry Hill. Because Cahn Luckily, he has set big grew up in Cherry Hill, he knows a goals for the town. lot about how the town has grown “Because I grew up over the years, he said. in this town, I love “[Cherry Hill has] changed in Cherry Hill. I wantways that we have more diversity ed to give back to my in our township, we speak over 70 community in a very languages in our township, we meaningful way,” have more than 150 churches and Cahn said. synagogues, and Cherry Hill has Cahn is a businessbecome a wonderful melting pot of man with no political many different people all experience; howevwith a common goal to er, he believes make Cherry Hill a that being a great place to live,” b u s i Cahn said. nessman His love and will give pride of the town him the are very apparent. confiCahn has a good dence understanding of a n d the people in the underc o m m u n i t y, standing which many peoto make ple believe is crudifficult cial, especially in decisions Cherry Hill, where in office. there are many “I can issues that need try to run repairing. He Cherry Hill promises to allow commore like a munity membusiness, bers to voice making tough their opindecisions about ions in our budget, finding new Courtesy of Eric Frank e a c h decision ways to save New Mayor of Cherry Hill, Chuck Cahn Eastside Staff

Kuzina by Sofia brings Greek flavor to the Cherry Hill area ■ By Sarah Minion (‘12)

or simply a unique cultural experience.

While guests examine the diverse For those looking for a taste of the menu, they can enjoy the fluffy, Mediterranean without going into home-made pita bread and sesame the city (or across the ocean), enjoy dipping oil. The menu offers everyone of Cherry Hill’s hidden gems, thing from seafood to sandwiches to Kuzina by Sofia. Located in Sawmill souvlaki, and is very accomVillage on Route 70 West, Kuzina by modating, with vegetarian options Sofia is a casual yet intimate dinlike the vegetarian platter or vegeing experience that offers locals a tarian gyro, which consist of the candle-lit meal and fine Mediterfreshest, locally grown vegetables. ranean cuiIts famous sine. Greek tzatziki, hospitality at strained, its finest, Greek-style K u z i n a yogurt with strives to cregarlic, shredate a unique ded cucumexperience ber, dill, by welcomextra-virgin ing guests at olive oil and the door and other spices providing a is the perfect re-laxing appetizer or atmosphere complimenand exceptary sidetional food. dish for any The head Greek meal. chef and The meal owner, Sofia ends with Karakasidassorted, ou, was born home-made and raised in Greek pasThessaloniki, tries and Greece, and deserts acis an expericompanied Kevin Yoo (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor enced chef

by Greek cofwith a deep Kuzina serves authentic Greek cuisine. fee or Greek passion for both her roots and for herb tea.

Greek cuisine.

Although the restaurant can get Kuzina, which literally means noisy, it is definitely worth a visit “kitchen” in Greek, is a must for all for the fair-priced, authentic Medilocals looking for quality Greek food terranean cooking and experiEastside Editor-in-Chief

he will make. Cahn does not it sounds like Cahn knows what refrain from expressing his ideas of he’s doing, as he will approach who he will work with to make every situation as if it were a busiCherry Hill a better place. Cahn ness deal. would like to have a citizens’ cabi“Part of being a good mayor is net in which representatives from being a good face for the township, different regions can have their and you always have to have a posopinions heard. itive attitude and work your hardCahn would also like to work est to make a difference in the closely with the school board. He world,” he said. believes it is important for the township and the Board of Education to work closely together to find ways to save money for Cherry Hill Public Schools.

He believes that it is important for the township and the Board of Education to work closely together to represent what the citizens of Cherry Hill really want. He hopes to work with legislators to fight the charter school in order to save taxpayers significant money.

Every experience Cahn has will be new for him because he has never been in the political Courtesy of Elizabeth Cahn field; however, Chuck Cahn speaks on election night.

OPINIONS January 2012

EASTSIDE

Page 9

Students should focus on studying, not spending ■ By Matt Lichtenstadter (‘12) Eastside Opinions Editor

Students should have pride in their school in many different areas, and this includes the school building itself. However, it is hard to do so when a student can walk into a bathroom to see graffiti scrawled on the walls and no doors for the stalls or a ceiling leak and stained ceiling tiles. This brings up a point: should students have some say in where funds go in school improvements?

As much as the surface issues can be prominent and clearly noticeable, there is much more to these issues than just what is on the surface, and no student has enough time, or even the attention span, to care about what is wrong with the inner workings of the school’s plumbing system. They notice that none of the copies of To Kill a Mockingbird are bound

properly, but not that pipes may have burst above the East Gym. Sure, their history teacher’s projector is failing, but they do not know that a sewer pipe may have broken. There are many more problems behind the scenes that need fixing that students just do not know about.

Students may not know what room there is in the district’s budget to fix small cosmetic issues at one school, and they may also forget the school district has many more buildings than just East to upkeep. While they may not like having paint chips fall on them in the locker rooms, or having book pages fall out when they try to read a school’s copy, they don’t know about the issues at other district buildings, or that the district may be handing out more pink slips than new books to teachers.

If the students have a say in where district money goes, nothing would get done due to massive

disagreement between the students of each high school, plus the administrators and superintendent. The school district already has enough problems determining where the little money the district has to spare can go, and adding some students into the mix will not help matters. The student representative to the Board of Education can possibly make suggestions based on what students notice, but a widespread think-tank of students would not be much help.

It is not that students would not have good suggestions as to where district money should go in order to fix some school issues, because they would know East better than any administrator that comes to East once a month, but the

administrators have a more global perspective of the district as a whole, which most students will not have.

The administrators already have a tough job to do, and adding opinions which some will regard as unnecessary cannot possibly make the situation any clearer.

East is not bigger than the district, and neither are the opinions of some students, despite what they see on a daily basis.

The debate over funding proves that “mo money mo problems” is a true theorem.

Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director

Students should have say in the excess funding ■ By Alexcia Mazahreh (‘12) Eastside Staff

Dictatorship.

Slavery.

Absolutism. These might be some of the words that you associate with school. Okay, perhaps, not to those particular extremes, but somewhere along those lines. But when you think of the lack of consideration to students’ opinion in school spending, those very adjectives do not seem that far off anymore. So of course the district handles the annual spending on necessities, but what about excess budget spending? Students are never solicited for their firsthand advice in this area, when their input would greatly benefit the school and district as a whole.

No matter how high the degree or how prestigious the university of our district administrators, the fact remains that they cannot possibly know what would truly

benefit the students from paper reviews. Who truly knows what needs to be updated or fixed to benefit students’ learning environment better than the students themselves? Every day students are surrounded by the good, the bad and the ugly of East: six and a half hours a day, for nine months a year and students are not even dignified with what they should already have –- a say?

East has made a few changes this year with the excess budget money. While some changes have no pragmatic educational effect, the additional SMART Boards are not among them. Students and teachers alike can agree on the efficiency and usefulness that SMART Boards provide in the classroom. However, the same cannot be said about all areas of spending, one of which is responsible for the wave of nausea one encounters upon entering the freshly painted locker rooms. If

students had a say in how excess budget money is spent, painting the gym locker rooms would probably not come up in the thought process. How about buying some books without pages missing, textbooks without profanities in them or some adequate bathrooms at the very least? No one knows these problems better than the students who endure them and, therefore, students should have input as to where excess funding goes.

“Your generation is the future,” and “you are the future leaders and voters” are phrases that students hear all the time, but how much do these statements actually carry in weight when the students in question are underestimated to this extent? By November 2012, at least one quarter of the school will be able to vote in the Presidential Campaign, yet they will not have a say in how their high school spends its excess funds. So in essence, students are old enough

to vote someone into the White House, but not old enough to vote for school books instead of locker paint.

Granted, high school students are teenagers who often make choices with their amygdalae rather than with their ever rational pre-frontal cortexes, but a big red button of power is not what students need, want or should ever be in possession of. Rather, they deserve some input into decisions that directly affect them, decisions to which they are the most appropriate judges. And thus, these decisions can go one of two ways: one, they can be made without student input and let that rare extra tax dollar go to waste on projects that scarcely affect students in school; or two, these decisions can be made with student input and have the potential to greatly enhance students’ academic and athletic careers. You choose which way you want it to be.

U.S. should leave stoning practices unturned ■ By Eric Simons (‘15) For Eastside

The Chinese once practiced ritual foot binding, a tradition in which young girls’ feet would be broken, then wrapped. This process would be repeated until their toes curled underneath their feet. The process was obviously extremely painful and left the female unable to walk, but was considered a sacred ritual until it was outlawed. The United States did nothing to stop that, so we should not make an attempt to stop traditional stoning in foreign countries.

Traditional stoning is an ancient form of punishment, in which the offender of a usually sexual crime is killed by a circle of people around him or her throwing stones. To most Westerners, this would be viewed as barbaric. However, it is a sacred

practice to many in the Middle East, and many Americans do not understand the full meaning behind it.

One definition of the word “foreign” is “belonging to or coming from a different nation.” One reason traditional stoning is not practiced here is because the United States is a country founded upon the principles of liberty stated in the Constitution. But the Middle East does not belong to the United States, and those countries have their own set of laws and cultures very different from those here. They should be respected and should not be terminated by another country just because their rules and ethics differ.

The Saudi Ambassador in London, Ghazi al-Qusaibi, said that this tradition may seem irrational and cruel in the Western mind, but

it is a part of the Islam faith. He also noted that people should show greater respect towards the Muslim culture.

In America, everyone is free to practice any religion he or she chooses. Like Ghazi al-Qusaibi said, stoning as a form of punishment has a direct link to the Islam faith. If intervention were to occur, the message that would be sent is that one can practice any religion in the United States, but if one were to do it somewhere else, and it does not meet the United States’ standards, then it cannot be practiced.

The reason many people feel that the United States should intervene by stopping stoning is because they view it as “cruel” and “barbaric” by American society’s standards.

However, before the United States tries to stop something that is

going on in other countries, the United States should focus on fixing the problems in its own nation.

It seems that every time a talk show is on the radio, the subject is inflation, or the rate of unemployment and lack of jobs. These problems exist right here, and there is even talk of China becoming the world leader in innovation. The United States has a lot to focus on domestically before intervening internationally.

When it comes down to it, the choice to intervene and stop the practice of stoning is all about respect for other religions, or the lack thereof. Other countries do not have the authority to try to stop it, and it is directly related to the Islamic faith. Before changing other countries, the United States should look inwards first.

OPINIONS Page 10

EASTSIDE

January 2012

Horse meat could be in your hamburgers ■ By Amy Myers (‘13) Eastside Opinions Editor

For thousands of years following their domestication, horses have had an inseparable bond with humans that has led to victories in warfare, discoveries of unknown lands and has even offered opportunities for further advancement.

Horses played a crucial role in American history as they improved travel, increased efficiency in farm work and, for a substantial period of time, provided a source of food during difficult times. As of November 2011, the United States revisited a once void practice: horses are now allowed to be killed for human consumption in the United States— something virtually unheard of due to George Bush’s ban on the practice.

A temporary substitute for beef, horse meat was regarded as a “last resort”

by Americans who would only eat the meat if other sources of food were not available. As it currently stands, the slaughter of horses is banned in California and Illinois, regardless of any federal laws that may change the national status of horse slaughter in the United States.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, horses have earned a “pet status” where the consumption of horse meat is regarded as taboo. However, the largest purchasers of horse meat are Japan, Belgium, France and Italy, where the meat is regarded as a delicacy.

After a series of struggles from animal rights activists, horse slaughter,

under President George Bush, was banned in 2006, making the practice illegal for five years. The original approval stood at a substantial 263 to 146 vote, with the majority voting against the practice. In November 2011, President Obama lifted the ban of horse slaughter by signing it into law under a bill that establishes guidelines for

noted that there was actually an increase in horse theft in the surrounding areas of the slaughter plants because it was an untraceable source of income. Thieves could steal a horse from one’s backyard, take it to the slaughterhouse for a few hundred dollars, and the horse would be killed within hours, so there would not

mane” means that all horses will be unconscious as they are slaughtered, then yes, the process itself is a very humane one.

Horses will be kept in overcrowded areas, where they are injured and then will await a “stun” that will progress them into the slaughtering process.

The USDA stated in a report regarding horse

“local opposition will emerge and [they’ll] have tremendous controversy” if the slaughter plants were to open.

In addition to Pacelle, Representative James Moran of Virginia said, “I am committed to doing everything in my power to prevent the resumption of horse slaughter and will force Congress to debate this important policy in an open, democratic manner at every opportunity” due to such strong opposition.

However, as a past catastrophe inflicted upon the United States, horse slaughter is re-established, and as such, in addition to the wild horse slaughter, typical racehorses and even pets will be sent to the slaughterhouse. Unless the United States votes “neigh” on the furthering of horse slaughter, horses will once again suffer from inhumane practices in order to please the meatindustry.

Over 92 percent of horses slaughtered are in good condition.

Photo Illustration by Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor

The government has declared horse slaughter legal after Obama signed a bill. agricultural appropriations. The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is even supportive of the process, claiming that it would reduce equine abuse throughout the United States.

Unfortunately, as a study progressed about horse slaughter, it was

be any direct evidence pinpointing the thief to the crime.

Advocates of the process claim that the process itself is humane and will ultimately result in revenue for the United States, instead of smuggling the horses across the borders to Canada or Mexico for them to be killed. If “hu-

slaughter prior to the ban that 92.3 percent of the horses that went to slaughter were in perfectly “good” condition. Often, this is a popular disposal of racehorses whose careers expired.

Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States warned proslaughter activists that

The majority of horses are conscious during slaughtering.

From 1989 to 2007, over 2,400,000 horses were slaughtered in the United States.

Every 5 minutes, an American horse is slaughtered for human consumption.

Fewer nuclear weapons means more security ■ By Dave Riches (‘12) Eastside Staff

The human race is an endangered species.

With over 26,000 nuclear warheads worldwide, civilization can be obliterated in a matter of minutes.

A nuclear warhead, in simplest terms, is a missile fired at a specific location, carrying a nuclear bomb.

According to the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, nine countries already have nuclear warheads ready to be fired. Ninetyfive percent of the world stockpile of nuclear warheads, however, lies in the hands of either the United States or Russia.

The average U.S. warhead is eight times stronger than the atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima in World War II, which immediately killed over 90,000 people. Some people refer to nuclear warheads as peacekeepers, a euphemism for a missile that could kill every organ-

ism on the planet. These country would dare attack the globe, terrorist groups people justify nuclear us, as they would be easily such as Al Qaeda will get weapons, explaining that destroyed. However, the their hands on them. Al they prevented a war threat of massive retaliaQaeda is a terrorist group between the U.S. and tion relies heavily on the that does not have a set Russia and that the U.S. United States having a territory, meaning if they arsenal of nuclear warspecific location to fire at were to attack us, we heads defends the country in return. As nuclear would have no place to and prevents attack. weaponry develops across return fire. Our only hope Many is that they people n e v e r t h i n k obtain a t h a t nuclear nuclear warhead, w a r and if they h e a d s do, that increase they never o u r use it, national which is security u t t e r l y u n d e r hopeless. the idea M a n y of maspeople also s i v e claim that retalianuclear t i o n . weapons People are a costbelieve effective t h a t method of since we defense have so (under the m a n y flawed idea nuclear of massive Zoe Greenhall (‘13)/ Eastside Staff retaliation). w a r heads, no Boom goes the dynamite, but hopefully not the bomb.

Nuclear

warheads are also anything but cost-effective, as the U.S. has already spent 7.5 trillion dollars on them, and that number only continues to grow. In a struggling economy, nuclear weapons are the last thing the government should be spending money on.

The best way that the U.S. can defend itself from nuclear warfare is to disarm. By spending more on nuclear warfare, other countries do the same, and the world grows more unstable. Nuclear warheads do not prevent war, they do not promote peace and they certainly do not serve a good purpose in the world. The idea of massive retaliation is flawed, and all that will come from nuclear weapons is certain doom. If the United States simply disarms itself, new treaties could be drafted that also disarm other countries, and people could live in a world free of nuclear warheads.

EDITORIAL January 2012

EASTSIDE

Page 11

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

New schedule has promising aspects In the words of our principal Dr. John O’Breza, “It’s not the end of the world, it’s a change in the schedule.” To many students, the new schedule’s proposed changes to their weekday routines is upsetting, but the new schedule includes many positive aspects that can really improve the typical East school day.

Change is often met with resistance, and although many students hope that East will keep its simple eight-period schedule, the changes that the Cherry Hill School District plans to make to the schedule are for the better.

The schedule offers a 25-minute lunch period that is mandatory for all students, followed by another 25-minute break during which students can seek extra help or meet with clubs and activities. This is beneficial because it means that students will have a chance to participate in activities during the school day without worrying about staying after school. Additionally, the break in the middle of the day will reduce student stress levels for the 17 percent of students who currently do not take lunches. For all students, the new lunch/ break period will make it

easier to complete assignments.

Since students will not have every class every day, homework will not always be due the day after it is assigned. The day off will allow students to devote more time to each class and spend more time on specific assignments.

Students will have 52minute class periods regularly and two days with 80-minute periods during the six-day rotation. The extended class periods from the current 44-minute periods will allow teachers to introduce more material within one class period because lessons will not be disrupted by the bell and pushed to the next day.

Eastside admires the schedule as a whole but has found a few parts of it that would benefit from more revisions.

In the first place, the new schedule includes two science lab periods throughout its six-day cycle. One of the lab periods is one of the designated 80-minute classes.

However, science classes get a second, 108-minute lab period in the six-day rotation. This second lab period is only possible because students will still lab out of study hall, physical education/

health class or music class in that order. If extra time is necessary for science classes, that time should not be taken away from music electives.

One of the reasons that the administration decided to start researching a scheduling alternative was to allow students who take sciences to avoid labbing out of other classes, as they do under the current system. Instead, the current draft of the scheduling system still forces science students to lab out of another period. The classes that students may lab out of have been further limited so that students who want to double up on science classes are required not only to take physical education, but also to take either a study hall or— oddly enough—a music elective. The reasoning behind classifying music electives, including the rigorous Music Theory AP, as more expendable than other electives is unclear. The fact that students still have to lab out of classes is unfortunate, because one of the original promises of the schedule was a revision of the lab issue.

In revising the school schedule, East is losing 11 percent of class time

total. A possible solution to this is to extend the school day by a half hour.

Schools throughout the nation have extended school hours; a six-and-ahalf-hour school day is less than the national average, which is a 6.7hour school day, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. A thirtyminute increase in the school day would not only make up for the lost 11 percent, but it will also increase cumulative class time for the year.

While any change is something to be weighed and considered carefully, this schedule’s fine points outweigh its flaws. The type of block schedule that the Board of Education hopes to implement in the fall will decrease students’ stress by providing a mandatory break and also enhance classroom discussion by extending the time teachers can spend with each class in a given day. The extra time to be granted to the science classes and the institutionalized disregard for music electives are certainly not to be ignored, but ultimately, the schedule will improve learning experiences for East students, even for those who are not looking forward to the change.

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Page 12

Biology teacher says germs are not always the Mr. Larry enemy Frockowiak Wash your hands while humming “Happy Birthday” twice... really?!? Who does that? This is among many recommendations the CDC has on its website. I’m not “anti-hand washing,” I just don’t feel the need to wash my hands as much as people say you should. Do you really wash your hands that much?

I guess I don’t wash my hands ALL of the time because I don’t fear germs.

These “germs” of which I speak are bacteria and viruses, natural organisms that have surrounded us since the beginning of time and will continue to do so. I actually believe that people over-wash sometimes.

Do I wash my hands after changing a diaper? Yes. After picking up after my dog? Yes. There are certain situations which I deem hand washing worthy. Before eating dinner, after watching the news? No! We need exposure to bacteria and viruses.

If you don’t wash your hands for the correct amount of time, you may allow very strong organisms to reproduce. Plus, I figure since I am not going to have the time to wash them in every situation, and as soon as I do wash them, I am only going to step into a situation where I need to wash them again, why even do it!

The thing is, I don’t believe I have ever gotten truly sick because I have not washed my hands. I do it when needed, but not always, because germs are not necessarily my enemy.

EASTSIDE

January 2012

SPECIAL

January 2012

Will you eat food after it touches the lunch table?

23% of males surveyed said yes.

10% of females surveyed said yes.

After swabbing different areas of the school for germ colonies, the lunch table (20) produced a higher number of colonies than the desktop (14.5).

One million 70% of students surveyed cover their sneeze using their arm. bacteria are creat40% of students surveyed run to get a tissue. ed by one person in Today, we know the correct way to prevent the spread of illness-causing germs is by covering coughs and an average school sneezes using a tissue or the upper sleeve. day.

How do you cover your sneeze?

Germs leave your body at 80 mph when you sneeze.

Are you more likely to spread germs by shaking someone’s hand or by sneezing/coughing?

56 % of surveyed students believe that shaking hands spreads more germs.

40% of surveyed students believe that sneezing or couging spreads more germs.

Germs transmitted from a sneeze or cough can travel up to three feet, but when they land on surfaces like keyboards and telephones, they can stay/infect for up to three days.

To make sure your hands are clean you should...

83% of students surveyed believe washing your hands is the best way to keep your hands clean.

Doctors agree that washing your hands is the best way to keep your hands clean.

How long does it take you to wash your hands?

17% of students surveyed take five seconds to wash their hands.

51% of students surveyed take ten seconds to wash their hands.

32% of students surveyed take twenty seconds or more to wash their hands.

Researchers have noted that in order to fully wash one’s hands, one must wash his or her hands for twenty seconds or more, or sing the full alphabet while washing.

You shed skin cells when you type on a computer, so when you put your hands in or near your mouth after typing, you are technically eatThere ing dead skin is one-tenth of a cells.

gram of feces in the average pair of underwear, which then swishes around to get on all of the clothes washed with it.

I can’t get over the fact that there are 16 colonies on my locker. At least, there are only 9 colonies on this hand rail.

Hey! Did you hear about the experiment Eastside conducted?

Yes, it’s called Germy Affairs.

They swabbed different areas of the school to figue out the amount of germ colonies.

Oh, yuck! I never thought I’d see the day when my lunch table would harbor 20 germ colonies.

That’s more than the amount my average desk has.

Layout by Danielle Fox (‘13)/ Eastside Entertainment Editor and Sherin Nassar (‘13)/ Eastside Humor Editor All experiments conducted by Prashasti Awadhiya (‘12)/ Eastside News/Features Editor and Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director

a distance of up to six feet, so if you brush your teeth within those six feet, you may have brushed your teeth with toilet water.

3. A dog’s mouth ia cleaner than a human’s mouth.

Finding: Busted Explanation: In an interview with ABC News, Marty Becker, veterinari-

4. Washing your hands is better than using hand sanitizer.

dirt, blood, feces or any other body fluids or soil must be washed away first in order for the sanitizer to be effective.

http://www.cdc.gov/

Toilet, stall and soap dispenser by Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director

Finding: Plausible Explanation: The airborne particles of a toilet flush can travel

Finding: Plausible Explanation: The alcohol in hand sanitizers does not cut through grime well; thus,

http://www.health.state.mn.us /handhygiene/why/5ways.html

Stairs, school entrance, lunch table, desk, computer and sick facts logo by Joel Greenspan (‘13)/ Eastside Art Director

2.

You are brushing your teeth with toilet water by keeping your toothbrush within 6 feet of a toilet.

an and author of Chicken Soup for the Dog Owner’s Soul, said, "[Dogs] raid the garbage can. You know, [people] give each other a peck on the cheek when [they] say hello, [dogs] give each other a peck on the rear end. All you have to do is look, watch, smell and you'll realize that [this thought] is not true."

http://www.health.state.mn.us /handhygiene/wash/fsgermbuster.html

Tissue photo by Sherin Nassar (‘13)/ Eastside Humor Editor

1. The “Five Second Rule”

Finding: Busted Explanation: Bacteria will jump onto food the second that it hits the ground.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/q a/germs.html

All photos of students by Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Page 13

The average port-apotty harbors less germs than the average picnic table.

The following survey of 381 East students was conducted by the Eastside Editorial Board to determine how much East students really know and think about germs.

Reliable websites to use for further research on germs:

http://health.howstuffworks.co m/diseases-conditions/digestive/five-second-rule.htm

EASTSIDE

5. More viruses are spread by kissing than by hand.

I can’t believe that this toilet has 102.5 colonies.

After washing my hands with soap, I still had 72 colonies on my hands.

Finding: Busted Explanation: According to Professor Sally Bloomfield, graduate of the London School of The Germy Affairs Lab: Observations -Desk (14 + 15) / 2 = 14.5 colonies -Computer mouse = 19 colonies -Smartboard Marker (16+19) / 2 = 17.5 colonies -School Phone = 160 colonies Conclusion: After swabbing the school, the school phone came out to have the most germ colonies out of all objects tested.

Hygiene and chairman of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, a kiss on the cheek region is a relatively germ-free affair. Because shaking hands is typically the main form of physical contact between people, people are more likely to pass on an infection by shaking someone’s hand.

6. You will catch a cold by going outside with wet hair.

Finding: Busted Explanation: Rhinoviruses that are in invisible droplets in the air you breathe and on things you touch cause most colds. These viruses can get through the protective lining of your nose and throat, which triggers the typical cold symptoms. Not dressing warmly enough, sitting or sleeping in a draft or going outside with wet hair will not cause you to catch a cold.

7. There are 400 times more germs on an office desk than a toilet.

Finding: Plausible Explanation: According to a survey conducted by the Chicago Tribune, 83 percent of Americans surveyed eat at their desks. Only 36 percent of people surveyed clean their desks weekly, allowing their desks to become an infestation of germs. Since most people clean their toilets more often than their desks, it is plausible that office desks tend to harbor more germs than toilets do.

ENTERTAINMENT Page 14

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January 2012

McGorman still rocks after high school ■ By Lindsey DuBoff (‘12) Eastside Entertainment Editor

Describing Jim McGorman (‘92)’s profession in one word would be virtually impossible. A versatile singer, songwriter, producer and instrumentalist who plays the piano, guitar, bass and drums, the Cherry Hill East graduate does it all.

It all began at age six when McGorman began playing the piano.

“Piano is always going to be my first love,” McGorman said.

Growing up in a family that was very involved in the entertainment business, McGorman had parents and grandparents who exposed him to art at a young age and had a major influence on his musical career.

“It was always kind of in the house, there was always music,” McGorman said.

During his time at Cherry Hill East, artists such as Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen also influenced McGorman.

“When I grew up, at the time, hair metal rock

was very popular,” he said.

McGorman continued his interest in music when he began playing the guitar at age 12, and then, throughout high school with his band, which was never given a definite name.

“I think we always kept changing the name because we couldn’t decide on one,” McGorman said. “I think we had one band called Sahara.”

With his band, McGorman played in East’s Battle of the Bands as well as in variety shows that took place in the cafeterias during his time in high school.

Although music was not his only interest or main focus during high school, he always knew he would be an artist after his time at school concluded.

“I was always pretty big into sports, too, but once I got deep into music, that was kind of my thing,” McGorman said.

McGorman continued “his thing” at the Berklee College of Music, where his primary instrument was the piano, and he

earned a degree in music production and engineering. Shortly after, the fame began, starting with an audition that a fellow student from East set up for him.

McGorman has been a professional musician for about fifteen years, mostly known for playing guitar for various artists, but also for playing the piano.

“It was kind of ironic that I ended up playing guitar in all of these bands,” he said.

McGorman has collaborated with various artists and continues to do so. He has served as the musical director for multiple artists and bands including Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch and Weezer. He has also toured and performed with multiple artists and bands such as Cher, The Goo Goo Dolls and Shakira, and has also collaborated, written songs and recorded with other artists such as Miley Cyrus and Matt Nathanson.

McGorman has made various TV appearances throughout his career

with different artists, such as on “Saturday Night Live” with Avril Lavigne, “The Today Show” with Michelle Branch and the World Cup Kickoff Concert 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa, with Shakira.

“I always liked being on stage, I don’t really get nervous,” McGorman said. “The only time I got nervous was on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ [It] gave me the butterflies a little.”

Although always working with various artists, McGorman has also seen some independent success throughout the music industry. Recently, he came out with a new single called “Girls” that is available on iTunes.

His song “The World is Falling Down” was also featured in the movie White Irish Drinkers, which is available on iTunes along with the rest of the album, The World is Falling Down. “[The movie] just played my song and there was no dialogue, so that was kind of cool,” McGorman said.

McGorman has a catalog of over one hundred

McGorman has played and recorded with various major artists throughout his music career, such as: • Avril Lavigne • Cher • The Goo Goo Dolls • New Radicals • Michelle Branch • Miley Cyrus • Paul Stanley (KISS) • Poison • Shakira • Weezer • Member of the House Band on CBS’s “Rock Star: INXS” and “Rock Star: Supernova” • Performed on Mark Burnett/MTV production “P. Diddy's Starmaker” All photos courtesy of Jim McGorman and JimMcGorman.com

songs that he created himself. “[It’s] basically like a private page catalog that I have for submissions for music supervisors for television, TV shows and commercials and such, but they’re not all up on iTunes right now,” McGorman said.

Always keeping busy, McGorman is thinking about releasing a record and even starting his own record label in the future. He has already written songs and produced for multiple artists, his most recent work being with Ryan Lutz, a singer from Mount Laurel, NJ. However, despite his prominence within various aspects of the music industry, McGorman has remained grounded throughout his career.

“I’m not really interested in becoming a rock star at this point,” he said.

For more information, vist JimMcGorman.com and follow @JimmyMcGorman on Twitter.

ENTERTAINMENT January 2012

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Page 15

Book of Mormon: the most provoking show on Broadway ■ By Scott Nover (‘13) Eastside Staff

Since performances commenced in the Eugene O’Neill Theatre this past March, all Broadway buzz has been predominantly focused on The Book of Mormon. Its creators are masters of a rare but admirable craft: making controversial and offensive popular culture.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, two of the show’s creators, became instant stars when their blatantly off-color television cartoon “South Park” took American households by storm, corrupting the minds of young children and mocking the beliefs of all religions and the values of all people.

The other creator, Robert Lopez, is the author and composer of the 2003 smash hit Avenue Q, which was the first show of its kind on the Broadway stage. It explores the contentious themes of sex, drugs, poverty and pornography through the crafty medium of Muppet-like puppets.

Between the three creators, they have a Tony Award, a Daytime Emmy, four Primetime Emmys, an Academy Award nomination, a Grammy Award nomination and countless other nominations not including those won for The Book of Mormon.

With this impressive aggregate of talent and a shared interest in Mormonism and music, it seemed as if there was nothing better for these three to do than write a

musical about Mormons. An eightyear process resulted in a musical that simultaneously won nine Tony Awards and was called “sacrilegious,” “crude” and many other terms too vulgar to print.

The musical follows two unprepared Mormon teenagers who embark on their mission to poverty-stricken Uganda and must overcome cultural differences that impede on their attempts to convert the natives.

With songs such as “I Believe” and “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream,” the trio constantly walks on the fine, fine line between an innocent portrayal of Mormon values and an outright attack on the entire Mormon belief system. If the show’s writing was not absolutely impeccable, the show could have been a disaster and a prejudiced one at that. Fortunately for the writers and audience alike, The Book of Mormon is an unparalleled example that perfection can still exist in writing.

“It was amazing! And it was probably the best Broadway show I have ever seen or will ever see,” said Julia Waldman (‘13).

The Book of Mormon also shows that originality is still possible on

the Broadway stage. In an era riddled with adaptation after adaptation, The Book of Mormon is a refreshingly unique musical with much to offer for an open-minded theatergoer.

In addition to its criti-

cal success, The Book of Mormon has been the show to see for months now and for months to come. Tickets have been sold out on a regular basis, and The Book of Mormon is among the top Broadway shows in terms of ticket demand.

With its undeniable success and originality, The Book of Mormon joins the likes of In the Heights, Avenue Q and Rent as the paragons of successful originality on the m o d e r n Broadway stage. In this unique case, the creators collectively describe their brilliant production as “an atheist’s love letter to religion,” and such a letter has somehow resonated in the hearts of all visitors to Broadway’s most groundbreaking musical.

Photo Illustration by Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Light up the new year with the Kindle Fire If you were to receive one piece of technology for the new year, what would you select?

Sherry Kim (‘12): “The iPad 2”

Matt Getson (‘13): “Macbook”

Jenny Gao (‘14): “Blackberry”

Dan Jang (‘15): “A Hover Car”

■ By Rebecca Schuck (‘13) Eastside Staff

Like the iPad, only cheaper. Amazon has now tapped into the tablet phenomenon with its November 15 release of the new Kindle—the Kindle Fire.

However, this Kindle is very separate from its predecessors. In fact, CBS technology expert Molly Wood dubbed it “an iPad killer” due to its immense differences from the other Kindles and its similarities to the iPad. The Kindle Fire has a seven-inch touchscreen with access to eighteen million songs, movies, television shows, books, magazines, apps and games. It holds eight GB of storage, has eight hours of battery life and can connect to any wifi network. It is also priced amazingly low for the features it offers. Sure, it lacks webcam and Bluetooth capabilities, but for a price of 199 dollars (compared to the cheapest iPad 2 at 499 dollars), technical analysts predicted many consumers would be opting for the Kindle Fire this holiday season.

The Kindle Fire focuses mainly on Amazon’s content. That said, Amazon is the world’s largest online retail store, so it has plenty of content for the consumer to select from. Also, the Kindle Fire supports Adobe Flash, so it can play flash videos. Also, if consumers opt to join Amazon Prime, they will have access to unlimited and instant streaming of 10,000 movies and television shows.

All in all, for what the Kindle Fire lacks in features, it makes up for in price, allowing many consumers to rethink their tablet choices this season.

Kindle Fire art by Kristiana Rivera (‘12)/ Eastside Staff Kindle photo by Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor

ENTERTAINMENT Page 16

EASTSIDE

January 2012

■ By Rachel Tinkleman (‘13)

Kristiana Rivera (‘12)/ Eastside Staff

Eastside Staff

Gregory Maguire, author of the bestselling Oz series that inspired the Broadway play, Wicked, has recently pubfinished the fourth and final book in the series, Out of Oz. The first book in the series, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, was published in 1995. Not only was the book well-received, but it also inspired the Broadway smash hit, Wicked. The Oz series is based off of Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, as well as the 1939 production of the movie. However, instead of focusing on that sweet little girl in the checkered dress, his first book is about the Wicked Witch of the West, whom he renamed Elphaba. It soon becomes apparent to the reader that Elphaba is, in fact, not so wicked after all, only extremely unlucky and accident-prone. Maguire produces a whole new way of looking at the land of Oz, and his first book is so creatively interwoven with the original story that it is no wonder the book, and later the musical, became spectacularly popular.

The play based on this saga opened on June 10, 2003, in San Francisco and made its way to Broadway in late October of that same year. Although the initial critical response was ambivalent and mixed, the public response was astounding. The play has earned on average 1.6 million dollars weekly since it first broke the record held previously by The Producers for the highest weekly grossing play. Wicked is still one of the most popular shows on Broadway.

Out of Oz came out on November 1, 2011, followed by mostly positive reviews. USA Today said, “Out of Oz is a satisfying finish to the ‘Wicked Years’ saga,” featuring Rain, the green-skinned granddaughter of Elphaba. In this last book, readers find the world of Oz torn up for the fight for Grimmerie, a book filled with magical spells. A traveling band of minstrels, among them the Cowardly Lion, protects the book with its soothsaying dragon clock. Rain, fleeing from the evil General Cherrystone, a man bent on destroying Munchkinland, joins up with the traveling minstrels, aiding in the protection of the magic book and seeking to deliver Oz back into a time of peace.

The Washington Post calls Out of Oz the conclusion to “one of the most audacious and successful fantasy series of the past few decades,” and then goes on to say that its characters “are so beautifully drawn that a reader never catches the brimstone whiff of didacticism.”

With sparkling reviews, Out of Oz promises to be a book of magic itself and a heartwarming take-off of a wonderful children’s tale.

Logo by Joel Greenspan (‘13)/ Eastside Art Director

We asked...

Jack Braunstein (‘13)/ Eastside Underground Editor Hannah Feinberg (‘12)/ Eastside Underground Editor Jake Fischer (‘12)/ Eastside Sports Editor Mr. Gagliardi/ Eastside Adviser Mr. Hischak/ Eastside 10th-11th Homeroom Teacher Eric Kessler (‘12)/ Eastside Opinions Editor Thomas Hudson (‘14)/ Eastside Tech Director Joe Incollingo (‘13)/ Eastside Staff

Favorite Movie

Favorite TV Show

Favorite Album

Drive

“Portlandia”

Gloss Drop (Battles)

The Artist Limitless Life in F087

No The Owls of Ga’hoole sequel Charlie Sheen Anything on MTV

Higgs Boson

Charlie Sheen comedy tour (#winning!)

“Regeneration” by DJ Premier ft. Nas

Wilson Valdez

Dubstep

Mylo Xyloto (Coldplay)

“Stereo Hearts”

by Gym Class Heroes

Melissa McCarthy

The death of Steve Jobs

“Game of Thrones”

Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011 (R.E.M.)

“Perth” by Bon Iver

Ryan Gosling

Cars 2

“Wilfred”

The Year of Hibernation (Youth Lagoon)

“Ice Cream” by Battles

Jessica Chastain

Anthony Weiner sex scandal

Elle Fanning

Arnold Schwarzenegger sex scandal

Donald Glover

Jack and Jill

Empros “I’m On One” by (Russian Circles) DJ Khaled

“South Park”

The King’s Speech

“The League”

Cole World (J. Cole)

Bridesmaids

“Parks and Recreation”

The Muppets

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Biggest Disaster

No new season of “County Line” by Chris Plummer “Meerkat Manor” on Cass McCombs Animal Planet

The chick who Go Tell Fire to the “Spidey’s Curse” played Jill in Jack Mountain (Wu Lyf) by Black Lips and Jill “Moves Like “How I Met Your Andy Grammer Jagger” by Maroon Blake Griffin Mother” (Andy Grammer) 5 Any Man in “The Biggest “Count on Me” by The six Y dwarfs, classified by NASA as America (Blue Loser” Mat Kearney "cool Y's" October)

Hallows: Part 2 Sherin Nassar (‘13)/ Eastside Humor Editor Brian Sheehan (‘13)/ Eastside Humor Editor

Breakout Star

“Children’s Hospital”

Source Code

Nick Mitchell (‘13)/ Harry Potter and the Deathly Eastside Staff

Favorite Song

“Two Broke Girls”

Science and Faith “This is Love” by (The Script) The Script

“Community”

Join Us (They That A Lot” by They Might Be Giants) Might Be Giants

“You Probably Get

Captain America

UNDERGROUND January 2012

EASTSIDE

Page 17

BADBADNOTGOOD is good good, not bad ■ By Jack Braunstein (‘13) Eastside Underground Editor

I’m not going to pretend I really understand anything about jazz. It’s one of the items on a list of many things that, if I’m completely honest with myself, I know absolutely nothing about.

Among its neighbors: cats—I just don’t see the appeal of a less friendly version of a dog—improv comedy shows—“we’re going to need a bit of audience participation on this one!” rings like nails on a blackboard—and Twitter.

But there’s something about jazz, or at least the surface level of jazz, that makes it really easy to think you know something about it: standards.

The old group of twenty to forty songs that have been played, listened to and respected to death.

“Giant Steps.” “So What.”

“Round Midnight.”

Anything given out to high school saxophone

quartets, or anything played in the bathroom of a Panera Bread franchise. These standards are enablers. They give people the idea that “Oh, jazz, yes of course,” but don’t leave any incentive to dig deeper.

The problem is that the standards are fine tunes, really. They’re important for musical education, and they hold up pretty well in said commercial bakery. But, they help folks harbor a sense of false security in their appreciation of jazz in general: Why does an extremely wide-scoped genre have to publicly and historically be categorized by such a parochial group of—dare I say—kind of boring tracks?

That’s where BADBADNOTGOOD (henceforth to be referred to as BBNG) comes in. This Toronto “post-bop” trio is the jazz standard antichrist—on its

first full length, the band presents a new canon of swing, this one pulling from a source vastly different than its smokyvoiced grandfather.

BBNG hosts a range of iconoclastic reinterpretations, from boom-bap hiphop classics to ‘90s videogame theme music, these boys have taken a century-old approach to music and molded it to the cultural revolution of their youth.

The hip-hop tracks come off exceedingly well. The trio flips Gang Starr’s 1994 thug anthem “Mass Appeal” into to a fluid drum, bass and Korg keyboard jam, later transforming New York rap legend Nas’ classic “The World is Yours” into a languid improvisation session.

BBNG does not seem afraid to push its boundaries, however, even if those boundaries do lie in a field to the extreme left of most jazz players. All the band members, especially wunderkind drummer Alex Sowinski, sound equally as confident flitting around postpunk-brood-rockersion.

This song selection is more than just a gimmick: it’s easy to tell how passionate they are about the music they’re playing. Why else would they pour their zeal into a nearly ten-minute exploration of theme music from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? These whippersnappers have created an album that might just start a revolution, a more relevant form of jazz that could hold some serious mass appeal in the generation of Twitter and “swag.” We might have a rebirth of the cool on our hands.

Photo Illustration by Hannah Feinberg (‘12)/ Eastside Underground Editor

Out of the Vault: Freaks and Geeks ■ By Nick Mitchell (‘13) Eastside Staff

James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segal and Martin Starr all share one unique trait. They all received their first big break on a show called “Freaks and Geeks.”

Judd Apatow, creator of films like Knocked Up, Funny People and The 40Year Old Virgin, put together this fantastic ensemble to create a teenage world stuffed with adolescent truths and problems, drugs, embarrassing situations and the ever-existing petty concerns of high school life.

Even though “Freaks and Geeks” was set in 1980, its moral dilemmas still resonate with kids today.

Unfortunately, though, due to low viewership, it only lasted twelve episodes before NBC executives cast it off. Although unpopular at the time, it maintained a small supportive fan base and an eventual cult following.

“Freaks and Geeks” focuses on the life of Lindsey Weir (Linda Cardenilli), who early in her high school career sheds her scholarly, wellmannered image to transform into a “freak” and an

atheist. Trading long group appears on the the chance to make a satskirts and brightly colored show, too, following a geek isfying conclusion. The shirts for ripped jeans and through his equally torcharacters do grow, but old army jackets, Lindsey mented high school expewithout ever fully maturtries to gain acceptance rience. Sam Weir (John ing. The characters are from the freaks, the misfit Francis Daley), Lindsey’s forever locked in their group that includes the little brother, is labeled a high school roles like their greasy-haired Daniel “geek” when he enters the frozen-smiled yearbook Desario (James Franco), unrelenting environment portraits. It still gives Nick Andopolis (Jason of high school and strugworried high school stuSegal), Ken Miller (Seth gles to find his place. dents, both freaks and Rogen) and Kim Kelly It really is a shame that geeks, something to relate (Busy Phillips). this show was canceled to–exactly what it was Unlike the cheesy and because it never really got designed to do. unrealistic high school sitcoms of the ‘90s like “Saved by the Bell” and “Boy Meets World,” “Freaks and Geeks” pays careful attention to the unsettling problems that shake a high school student’s nerves. Lindsey deals with peer pressure, conformity and deep insecurities about the future. Even when lighthearted or providing a laugh, “Freaks and Geeks” maintains its focus on the sometimes harsh realities of Joel Greenspan (‘13)/ Eastside Art Director high school.

Seminal 1999 show “Freaks and Geeks” launched the careers of The title’s actors James Franco and Jason Segel, amongst others in its other outcast ensemble cast.

■ By Rachel Tinkleman (‘13) Eastside Staff

H . G .

Wells may not have been happy with the original publication of the serial When the Sleeper Wakes, but Woody Allen saw in it the outline for an excellent parody.

Allen wrote, directed and starred in the 1973 film Sleeper, a tale about a nerdy health food storeowner in New York who, after slipping into a coma, is cryogenically frozen, only to be reawakened about 200 years later.

Finding himself amidst an oppressive communist government, which condemns him as an “alien,” Allen is enlisted by the doctors who unfroze him to overthrow the government, with the aid of a reluctant, none-too-bright poet played by Diane Keaton.

Some of the funniest moments of the movie include Allen hobbling around in the guise of a robot, Keaton’s realization that ‘dog’ is ‘god’ spelled backwards (“It makes you think, doesn’t it?”), and the two revolutionaries trying to steal the nose of the society’s oppressive leader (watch the movie to figure this one out).

Woody Allen is a quirky kind of comedian—as if the above-mentioned jokes are not evidence enough.

His films often deal with literature, philosophy and even Jewish identity (to be sure, any number of his characters would fit in perfectly at my family table during the holidays). His characters are usually argumentative, whiny and sometimes paranoid, but always entertaining.

Sleeper is just one of many Allen films worth seeing, but it’s a good starting point for anyone who has never seen a Woody Allen picture before. A movie like the notorious Annie Hall might be too much all at once, because admittedly, his films are an acquired taste and his rants and soliloquys, directed at the audience, might not go well with someone who isn’t used to that type of humor—though I personally enjoy it.

This film is also a unique combination of science fiction and comedy.

There are plenty of science fiction movies that are comically bad, like Dune (which did no justice to the books) or Troll 2 (surprisingly, there isn’t a Troll 1, but if there was, I doubt they would have made the sequel). There are fewer science fiction movies that actually mean to be funny, and even fewer that actually succeed.

UNDERGROUND Page 18

EASTSIDE

January 2012

Toeing the line of alt fashion ■ By Hannah Feinberg (‘12) Eastside Underground Editor

‘Winter fashion’ can sometimes seem like an oxymoron. Even the staunchest of fashion nerds can become disheartened having to hide their cropped cardigans with coats and hats and mittens and scarves and those weird fingerless gloves that my mom got me in second grade even if they come in the season’s luxe fabrics and warm jewel tones. Yet alt fashionistas know how to warm up the

season’s frozen fashions– with their socks.

The surprising last vestige of alt fashion peeks boldly out at the bottom of a pair of cuffed jeans or peeps slyly out of the toes of weird chunky heels.

While their peers hide their anemic little socks under their Vans and Supremes, the sub-cultured populace show off ankles decorated with woolen wonders.

Though oversized sweaters and BDG jeans are common to just about all groups at East, a sly glimpse of horse

socks poking out from their shoe-houses separates the alt fashionista from her conventional comrade.

Even as the rags of alt culture are sewn into the rich fabrics of the fashion industry, fringe culture proudly wears their origins on their feet. Like manifestos we put inside our shoes, funky socks vouch for alt culture in the face of commercialized individuality.

However popular “dressing weirdly” becomes, some little piggies won’t run home without a fight.

All photos by Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Oh shoot. It’s January. How did you let this happen again? The holiday season has come and gone, and as the snowdrifts melt and the shopkeeps remove the sale signs from their windows, it hits you: you forgot to give gifts to all of your friends.

Don’t sweat it–we’ve got you covered.

Eastside Underground’s Fa s h i o n a b l y L a t e H o l i d a y G i f t G u i d e Cat DJ Scratching Deck: Are you tired of your cat constantly ruining your vinyl copy of Naughty by Nature’s “O.P.P.” when he spins at that loft party last week? Us too! But at last, the Mittens Romney or Chairman Meow in your life can set the roof on fire without tearing the furniture to shreds. This could possibly be the most functional pun in the whiskery of the feline world.

(Suck UK, $34.99)

Courtesy of Pitchfork.com

We Are the Works In Progress- Various Artists in support of Japan: The seismic catastrophe that hit Japan last year may be out of the headlines, but for the displaced residents of the tsunami-ravaged island nation, the pain is still all too real.

Japan native Kazu Makino,

(front-woman of legendary NYC no-wavers Blonde Redhead) has pulled together a compilation of like-minded avant-garde musicians to keep the support alive.

Drop a couple bones for a good cause to hear unreleased tracks from indie luminaries like Deerhunter, Four Tet and John Maus. (Asa Wa Kuru, $16) Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, O c e a n o g r a p h e r s , Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them: Although it may seem as if there is no possible way this book could go anywhere other than downhill after the perfectly absurd title, Donavon Hohn’s unforgettable account of a manic odyssey across the seven seas is just as compelling as it is baffling.

(Viking Adult, $18-25) Courtesy of Insound.com

Email your answer to alan@tutoringclubch.com 2/20/2012.

Please include your name, mailing address and phone number. Entry information will only be used for prize fulfillment contact. This month’s winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Starbucks and other assorted Tutoring Club goodies. Winner will be selected randomly from entries with the correct answer and contacted via email by January 13, 2012. Winner must come to Tutoring Club

by February 27, 2012 to receive prize.

COMICS January 2012

EASTSIDE

Ungrateful by Christine Hwang (‘12)/ Eastside Staff

Page 19

SOPA by Helen See (‘12)/ Eastside Staff

The Admissions Process by Joel Greenspan (‘13)/ Eastside Art Director

True Love by Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director

HUMOR Page 20

EASTSIDE

January 2012

Magnus von Steelson: A man on a mission to bring back Manuary ■ By Kobi Malamud (‘12) Eastside Radio Manager

Three hundred and seventy-six days, 15 hours and 42 minutes: the amount of time that has elapsed since the last celebration of Manuary, and its followers are angry.

Last Manuary, during the annual eating competition of raw red meat, things took a turn for the worse after twelve of the contestants, including the winner, were rushed to the hospital for food poisoning illnesses. Already fed up with the problems the holiday was causing, upon receiving countless complaints from numerous health groups and activists, legislators decided

immediate action needed to be taken. In an emergency two-day assembly in which leaders from all over took center stage to defend their views, strong arguments were brought forth from lobbyists representing the National Federation for Manly Men and the opposing American Association of Health and Feminine Relations. However, in the end, the Manuary supporters’ arguments were just not strong enough.

Deeming the month-long celebration of all things manly too dangerous for the nation, Congress passed the Abolition of Manuary Act of 2011.

However, as headlines have been showing, not everyone has taken so kindly to the government’s decision.

In his hometown of Huntsville, Texas, Magnus von Steelson has been rallying up support, trying to revive Manuary, his favorite holiday since childhood.

“Ever since I was a young boy, I always loved killin’ them animals and eatin’ meat in Manuary!” said Steelson, who went on to say that it was his decision to try to resurrect the holiday after his friends were sentenced to jail-time for illegally practicing the celebration’s festivities.

“He’s been collecting petition signatures, putting up flyers, writing letters to the government and even holding local protests,” said wife Mary on her husband’s efforts to bring back

the month-long celebration.

As of today, support for Steelson’s initiative has spread like wildfire from as far north as Minnesota, out west to Nevada and all the way east to New York.

Although it has already been over twenty days since Manuary would have officially begun, it seems there is still some hope for its diehard followers, for Steelson’s movement looks as if it is going to shake up Congress.

Logo by Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director

• Santa impersonator arrested at Cherry Hill Mall.

• Cafeteria now serving mystery meat for $2.50.

• Third floor C-Wing freezes over, students ice skate to class.

• Sports section steals Humor’s “Briefs” idea.

• Editors appalled by Humor page without News Briefs, cry out “Where’s the Brief?”

• Students struggle to grasp that “New Year” doesn’t mean school is half-over.

• Many still writing year as “2011” on tests and quizzes.

• Giant ice cubes placed in Atlantic Ocean: Global Warming solved forever.

Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director

Logo and Von Steelson art by Joel Greenspan (‘13)/ Eastside Art Director

A call for justice: Feminist’s open letter to abolish Manuary ■ By Bryan Sheehan (‘13) Eastside Humor Editor

Manuary must be stopped. The oppressive, male-centric society that we live in is hard enough for womyn as it is, and if Manuary is brought back, it will surely be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

We womyn have worked so hard to establish ourselves as equals, and what do the men do?

They claim the first month of the year as their own! Men taking a whole month and dedicating it to themselves is wrong, and the fact that it is the first month of the year makes it worse. And what do the womyn get? We are left with just March for Womyn’s History Month and October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So men get the best month of the year while we are left with just the third and tenth months, and that is just too unfair.

That is why I am suggesting that we feminine freedom fighters must strike back. Not only must Manuary be banned forever, but the government must rename Feburary to Femuary as restitution for the oppression of last year’s Manuary. It’s a simple mat-

ter of equal gender rights: womyn are just as good as men, if not better.

We as a gender must stand up and rebel against men and their cruel, sandwich-demanding ways.

We are aware that the leader of the National Federation for Manly Men, Magnus Von Steelson, is making a hard push in Congress, trying to reinstate the wretched month. That is why we need to show up in huge numbers to occupy the Capitol Building and make our voices heard.

Our effort should not be limited to just one protest outside of Washington. I am calling out to all of my feminist sisters to protest at home as well: write letters of complaint, go to supermarkets and block the sale of raw meat, set fire to the very forest that these men live in, whatever it takes to assure that we will never have to face another 31 days of inequality at the hands of those savages.

All females in the area should come down to the protest in Washington. Put your cat in the kennel, set up the newest episode of “Dancing with the Stars” to record at home and drive down to join us in the fight for equality.

• News Briefs now 20% “Briefier.”

HUMOR Jauary 2012

EASTSIDE

Page 21

Post-Holiday Survival Guide 2011 When the holidays get tough, the schemes get going

Joel Greenspan (‘13)/ Eastside Art Director

■ By Sarah Robbins (‘13) For Eastside

Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director

■ By Sherin Nassar (‘13)

Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director

Eastside Humor Editor

Everyone gains those unwanted pounds during the holidays from turkey day, the Christmas ham and the New Year’s cheers, but instead of shedding pounds at the gym, try one of these unconventional ways: 1. Eat things with a spoon. Nutritionists recently discovered that it is not the actual food you eat, but it is the additional sides that make you fat. For instance, it is not the peanut butter but the bread. It is not the ice cream but the cone. So dig into some Nutella, peanut butter, ice cream or some other chunky substance with a big spoon, minus the bread. Eat as much as you want, you will not get fat.

2. Instead of ordering a wrap during lunch, make yourself into a human wrap through a series of yoga moves. You’ll be sure to wiggle yourself back into shape or at least be a little bit more flexible.

3. Wear pajama jeans… people will not notice the extra weight when you look lazy.

4. Create your own shake weight with two cans of soda. Shake them up really hard and let the carbonated bubbles shake your muscles into shape, or at least when the can blows up, you will not be craving soda anymore.

5. Adopt a squirrel: glue some acorns to your fridge door so every time you go near it, the haunting squirrel pecking at the fridge door will keep you away.

■ By Zack Becker (‘13) Eastside Staff

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been a little naughty since Christmas. For those whose naughtiness outweighs their niceness, a “coald” future awaits. Here are the top ten “coalest” things to do with your leftover coal from Christmas.

1. Burn it, because who does not love the smell of charcoal in the morning?

2. Donate it to Goodwill for those who did not receive coal for Christmas but instead got meaningful gifts from generous people.

3. Put ‘googly eyes’ on it and put on a production of Coal: The Musical.

4. Be its vocal coach: have it sing alongside the Blues Brothers, “I’m a coaaaaal man.”

5. Give it to BP: It has been a while since they’ve caused a huge problem and oil spills are “so last year.”

6.Use it as a jump-off point for small talk with that cute boy or girl in your English class: “Coal me.”

7. Go to your neighborhood Kohl’s and ask for an exchange; you need the next size up.

8. Paint it white, wait for the next snowstorm, then use it as snowballs. “Fire in the coal!”

It is that time of year again! For those of you who fear New Year’s resolutions or anything at all having to do with self-improvement, do not worry! Here are a few things to do when putting off your resolution this year: 1. Read this article (fantastic success already).

2. Go blimp watching.

3. Find the fortune cookie factories and free the enslaved fortune cookie writers from their misery.

4. Find Waldo.

5. Become Waldo and make others find you.

6. Memorize all the Oompa Loompa songs and find situations to use them in daily life.

7. Complete all 501 ways to get kicked out of Wal-Mart.

8. Move to another state where the people at Wal-Mart do not know you.

9. Read a bunch of fortune cookies while eating chinese food.

10. Make a bunch of your own fortune cookies.

11. Watch Inception on ten different movie screens until you feel like you are in a dream, within a dream, within a dream...inception, man.

12. Try to make a basket go into a square shaped basketball hoop.

13. Attempt to do your homework to fufill your New Year’s resolution, then do not.

14. File a paternity suit against Justin Beiber.

And if you did not like the first 14 options, then maybe you should: 15. Write your own article on how to avoid your New Year’s resolution.

How to get rid of your fruitcakes ■ By Sherin Nassar (‘13) Eastside Humor Editor

The formal definition of a fruitcake is a cake no one wants, but the recent discovery of biochemical radioactive material inside of it, rendering it illegal to be thrown away, has made the fruitcake even more undesirable. Hence, I have taken the awful duty of proposing some ways of how to get rid of this distasteful crime against humanity.

1. Wear it as a hat.

2. Smash your face in it and say, “I’m a fruitcake.”

3. Use it as a puck at a hockey game.

4. Give it to the Breakdancing Club to see if its members can break this cake in half.

5. Make a really ugly sweater out of it and call it “retro.”

6. Wear it as a huge bracelet.

7. Use it as a collar for your dog and watch him eat his way out of it.

8. Use it as a huge paperweight.

9. Feed it to the animals at the zoo.

Joel Greenspan (‘13)/ Eastside Art Director

SPORTS Page 22

EASTSIDE

January 2012

Winter track differs from other seasons

Boys’ Swimming loses state champion

■ By Jake Fischer (‘12)

■ By Juliet Brooks (‘13)

Eastside Sports Editor

In the midst of another successful winter track season for the Cougars, the majority of East students and the Cherry Hill community still do not really understand the difference between winter track and other seasons of track. Besides boasting teams and players in multiple events that rank within the top twenty nationally, the East winter track team boasts different players who compete in various events.

“The [winter track] events are indoors and we only compete in Toms River and New York,” said standout Alex Reber (‘12).

The usual track coaching staff, led by Mr. Matt Cieslik, has guided Reber along with the rest of the shuttle-hurdle and

4 x 4 relay to skyrocket the national ranki n g s over the past few years.

T h i s success Alex Reber (‘12) is most likely contributed to the fact that there are fewer events in the winter, which allows them to precisely focus their efforts on specific aspects.

“There are definitely much less sprinting events in the winter,” Reber added.

Despite the lack of sprinting during meets, the team looks to continue to move up the national rankings.

Eastside News//Features Editor

Two-time New Jersey state champion and former East swimmer Joe Petrone (‘13) has left East for St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, but boys’ swimming coach Mr. Joseph Cucinotti said that he knows the team will still succeed.

Cucinotti added, “We have a lot of flexibility with our options here to try to overcome a loss such as Joe. And we have very good swimmers. I’m not concerned about losing Joe Petrone… I’m more concerned about who I have remaining on my team.”

Petrone revealed that he had been considering a switch since his freshman year, when there was a rumor going around that the swim team would be cut.

Petrone said, “It was actually freshman year when the team was… questionably going to get cut I was looking for other schools because I still wanted

to swim in high school.”

Pe t r o n e did not leave East for swimming-related reasons; in fact, Petrone said, “I miss Joe Petrone (‘13) is the East now at St. Joseph’s swim team a Prep. lot.”

However, the fact is that Petrone no longer swims for East, and the swim team will have to cope with the loss of a state champion.

In spite of this setback, team captain Ford Scott (‘12) said, “We lost a couple key swimmers (Joe Petrone (‘13), Joey Andalora (‘13)) but… we have more people improving from last year and may have a chance to be fiour-time Central Jersey champions.

We’re a strong team getting stronger.”

Meet new Varsity Head Boys’ Basketball Coach Dave Allen (‘89) ■ By Max Cohen (‘12) Eastside Editor-In-Chief

Mr. Dave Allen (‘89)

During his first year as boys’ varsity basketball coach, Mr. Dave Allen feels as though he is merely continuing where retired coach John Valore left off.

Last year, Allen served as an assistant coach with the

boys’ varsity basketball team during Valore’s final season as head coach to get acclimated with the players before he took over the head coaching job.

“I’ve been around the kids for a while,” said Allen.

“It’s kind of like a second year for me. They know me and I know them.”

If you have not been seeing a huge variation in terms of playing style from these Cougars in comparison with teams of the past, don’t be surprised. Allen tends to value most of what Valore valued from his teams on the court.

“We’re still going to play hard, we’re going to play

smart and we’re going to play as a team,” said Allen.

Allen had previously coached at Cherry Hill West, Eastern High School and Cherry Hill East before transferring from West last fall. Allen also played basketball under Valore as a student-athlete during the 1980s at East.

All headshots by Kevin Yoo (‘12)/ Eastside Photo Editor and art by Harrison Kim (‘12)/ Eastside Business Manager

Wrestling 2011-2012 Top Win-Loss Records (As of January 22, 2012) Carmen DiTore (‘12) 14-2 Kevin Swenson (‘12) 14-4 Marc Rothman (‘12) 12-4 Daishi Goto (‘13) 13-5 Max Caldas (‘13) 12-6 Aaron Gomez (‘13) 9-7 Patrick Swenson (‘14) 7-5 Andrew Foy (‘14) 8-8 Dan Bendik (‘13) 7-7 All photos Jordan Stein (‘14)/ For Eastside

SPORTS January 2012

EASTSIDE

Page 23

Uncertain future looms over football ■ By Mike Reisman (‘13) Eastside Staff

Nearly two years ago, the Cherry Hill School Board proposed budget cuts that would completely cancel freshman sports, while also cutting all levels of several sports. Students, parents and concerned citizens came out en masse to oppose the cuts, eventually talking the board out of eliminating the sports, and keeping them safe, at least for the time being.

Now, one sport is being threatened, not by the school board or by budget cuts, but indirectly by students, who have simply stopped participating.

Ironically enough, this sport is one of the most popular high school sports in America: football.

Despite its fantastic 7-3 record, the 2011 Cherry Hill East Cougars football team had only 13 freshmen and 14 sophomores on a team of nearly 70 kids.

The participation was so low that the school was unable to field a true freshman team and, instead, combined freshmen and sophomores to play other schools’ freshman teams.

Part of the problem, said head coach Mr. Tom Coen, is the rising level of commitment needed to play the sport.

“It’s not just show up and go play… the game has changed a lot,” he said.

Coen added that the summer practices have changed dramatically, possibly contributing to the lack of players.

stuff in the last week of June… with the expectation that the athletes are there.”

The coach also noted that the move toward athl e t e s beginning t o

Football Participants: 69 total players 13 freshmen

Zoe Greenhall (‘13)/ Eastside Staff

“When I was in high school, our first practice was September 1st,” he said. “Now we’re doing

specialize their talents and play just one sport has hurt participation, citing sports like baseball that

require a year-round commitment, leaving no time for football.

Though the number of players is low, the coaching staff is not just sitting back and letting this decline happen. Instead it is going around East and to the Cherry Hill middle schools trying to persuade students to play next year.

While the team’s record hasn’t shown a definitive impact on recruiting kids to play yet, it’s certainly a nice way to try to convince some.

“It’s a whole lot easier to convince a kid when we were 7-3 last year and we beat Cherry Hill West,” he said.

Unfortunately for the team, if its situation does not get much better, the freshman team would be all but gone, forcing freshmen to compete with sophomores and juniors for JV playing time and creating a lose-lose situation.

However, Coen is still optimistic about the program’s future.

“Certainly we would like to improve those numbers [of freshmen who play football],” he said, “but we’ll always offer football.”

The team will look to add as many freshmen as possible next team after it will lose many senior starters from this year’s roster.

As a freshman, Silpe plays well on point ■ By Max Cohen (‘12) Eastside Editor-in-Chief

Against the then-number-one-ranked Bishop Eustace in the third game of the Cherry Hill East basketball season, one of the stars for the Cougars played as if he had been there before. The player wove through the defense of the Crusaders as if they were cones for dribbling exercises. He hit a huge three in the fourth quarter to give the Cougars a sixpoint lead and all of the momentum in the world.

He also dazzled the gymnasium with an unbelievable layup that sent the Countrymen into a frenzy to extend the lead to eight in the fourth quarter on the way to a win for the Cougars that officially put the team on the map of South Jersey basketball for the 2011-2012 season.

This would be a memorable game for anyone.

The scary thing? Jake Silpe (‘15) is a freshman.

Nobody expected Silpe’s success to begin so quickly.

“I knew how good he was, but I didn’t know how quickly he would adjust to varsity basketball. In our third game against Bishop Eustace, he played like a senior. It was his third game, he played like it was

Becca Mulberg (‘12)/ Eastside Video Editor

Silpe (right) listens intently to Coach Allen along with Jesse Gold (‘12). said Jake Gurkin (‘12), his hundredth game,” said the starting lineup, a rare team captain.

Coach Mr. Dave Allen. feat in itself for a freshAs a freshman on a senNot even Silpe knew man. On the court, Silpe ior-laden team, Silpe what to expect as he has maintained a role as a knows his role. entered his first high key ball handler for the “The seniors are the school basketball season.

Cougars and also as a key leaders and you need to do “At first, I didn’t think I scorer, proving time and your part,” said Silpe. was going to touch the time again that he can Silpe has done not only floor,” said Silpe. both drive into the lane to his part, but also much After scoring nine points score and drain threepointers to help the more as the Cougars’ in the game against Bishop Cougars win big games. record stands at a solid 11Eustace, Silpe has not “As a point guard, he can 2 (as of January 18). looked back. In the first see the floor very well. He “I think he’s a big part of practice after the Bishop can give us scorers the ball where we are right now,” Eustace game, Silpe was when we need it most,” said Allen. immediately inserted in

Correction: On page 24 of the November/December issue (Winter Sports Preview), the picture of boys’ swimmer Ford Scott (‘12) was actually of boys’ swimmer Alex Dintino (‘12).

Also, all of the sports equipment art for the Winter Sports Preview was drawn by Carmen Montalvo (‘13).

■ By Jake Fischer (‘12) Eastside Sports Editor

When rumors about the Cherry Hill School District’s new policy about hiring only districtemployees for head coaching positions began swirling, I immediately disagreed with the policy.

Originally, it seemed that the district was saving money by cutting the cost of pricey outside coaches.

However, recent events have totally flipped my opinion. The truth is this: Cherry Hill Public School employees are the best people to coach Cherry Hill schools’ sports teams.

This issue became extremely relevant when East was faced with replacing two long-time head coaches: Boys’ Tennis Coach Ralph Ipri and Boys’ Basketball Coach John Valore. After a 41-year career, Ipri retired in 2010.

Fortunately for the program, Mr. Greg deWolf, a well-known East business teacher and an assistant coach under Ipri, was almost immediately named the next coach. deWolf’s great communication with students and experience in the program allowed the team to easily move on from the Ipri era.

Similarly, as Valore planned to retire after 43 years of coaching at East, Mr. Dave Allen, formerly the head basketball coach at Cherry Hill West, transferred to East and assumed an assistant coaching role. Now that Valore has retired, Allen has already moved smoothly into the head coaching role after previously working with his players.

It’s also important to note the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA)’s coaching accreditation rules close coach-player relationships. The NJISAA Handbook states New Jersey Public School coaches are required to be CPR certified and to complete a course in “Sports First Aid.” Basically, coaches are required to care for the well-being of their players, and what better way to fuel compassion than with a pre-existent relationship with those players.

Mr. Mike Brown, now a physical education teacher at East, currently holds the position of wrestling head coach. Daily, he talks with wrestlers during gym periods and really creates strong coach-player relationships outside of the wrestling room during school hours. Hiring a coach from outside minimizes the potential influence of the coach on students. In-district coaches provide their players with the best chances for success on and off the field.

SPORTS Page 24

EASTSIDE

January 2012

Even when the weather outside is frightful, your body still needs to stay in shape. Although it may require more creativity, exercising during the winter is not impossible. Here are six ways to eliminate the visibility of those few extra cookies you ate during the holiday season.

■ By Emmy Silverman (‘13) Eastside Sports Editor

If you love to dance, Zumba is the right winter exercise for you. Zumba is a dance fitness program based on the Latin dance style which also involves aerobic elements. Zumba is a great cardio workout because it gets your body moving and burns calories quickly. A person can burn up to one thousand calories in one hour doing Zumba.

“You don’t need to be a trained dancer to dance.

You just need to have a love for the music you hear. When you attend a Zumba class, or any dance fitness class, the main criteria is to keep moving,” said Zumba instructor Samuel Beckett on www.jfitnessarts.com.

If you are not a dancer, you may feel awkward at first, so follow Beckett’s instructions—just keep moving—and the movements will become natural.

Zumba works your entire body, including your abs, thighs and arms.

“Zumba is a combination of dancing and exercising and is a really fun way to get into shape,” said Becca Morgan (‘15).

Zumba classes are offered at the Cherry Hill Health and Racquet Club or Future Fitness in Cherry Hill.

Swimming is not just a summer sport; with an indoor pool, indoor swimming is also beneficial to the body.

“Swimming keeps you in shape during the winter months when it’s too cold to do something outside,” said Cameron Butts (‘14).

Swimming is a great cardio workout that builds strength and endurance. Swimming works every part of the body with little impact, so you don’t have to worry about putting too much stress on joints and muscles.

While swimming, you can burn, depending on your speed, about 300-500 calories per hour.

Because water adds 12 times more resistance to movement than air, it takes more work to move through water. Swimming is also a form of meditation. While swimming, a person must focus on his or her breath and strokes, which eliminates any distractions.

When the weather is cold, there are indoor swimming pools at the Wahoos or the JCC.

Kick boxing is a great way to stay in shape, get your aggression out and learn self-defense. Kick boxing is a good cardio workout that strengthens the entire body because it works both the lower and upper body. There are many benefits to kickboxing: it teaches discipline and self-defense; it increases self-confidence, strength and agility; it helps with weight loss and it builds stamina. The average person can burn up to six hundred calories per hour kickboxing, but if you work really hard, you can burn up to one thousand calories.

“Kick boxing is good exercise because you’re working all kinds of muscles to get in shape and become quicker,” said Alisa Verratti (‘14).

There are many places to take kick boxing classes in South Jersey, such as Future Fitness and LA Boxing. You can also practice at home.

Andrew Qian (‘12)/ Eastside Staff

Staying in shape during the winter involves a little more creativity in order to lose weight and stay warm.

Jumping rope is not just a recess game, it’s also a great cardio workout that can be done just about anywhere, so it is perfect for any season. Jumping rope is also an easy, quick exercise. It works your legs, shoulders, chest and arms.

“You'd have to run an eight-minute mile to work off more calories than you'd burn jumping rope,” said Leanna Skarnulis on WebMD. A person can burn one hundred calories in ten minutes jumping rope.

“You can jump rope as an easy way to exercise and it will make you want to go through the rest of the day with a healthy outlook,” said Alexa Nichols (‘13).

If you really want to get in shape and work hard every day, P90x is the best workout. P90x is a ninety-day workout video that keeps you in shape by building and toning your muscles.

There is a 12-day rotation of different workouts, which are all about an hour long, within the 90 days. Those workouts include chest and back workouts, plyometrics (a jumping cardio workout), shoulders and arms, yoga, legs, abs and core workouts. It’s like having a personal trainer in your house.

“All you need is a small space and an hour each day to get into shape,” said Brian Stomel (‘13).

P90x is proven to help people lose weight while strengthening every part of the body.

Main logo by Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Art Director.

Other titles by Hailey Edelstein (‘12)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief and Gabrielle Kains (‘12)/ Eastside Managing Editor.

Yoga is a great way to stay in shape and is also a great way to reduce stress during the tough school weeks. Yoga creates a toned, flexible and strong body while helping you relax in stressful situations and build awareness of your body. Yoga is a great exercise for both your body and your mind.

“For me, yoga is not just a workout, it's about working on yourself,” said Mary Glover, yoga instructor at Desert Song Yoga and Massage Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Although yoga is generally meant to calm the body and mind, a person can burn about 150 calories an hour doing regular yoga.

There are many places to take yoga classes in Cherry Hill, such as the Cherry Hill Health and Racquet Club or Sivam Yoga. If you don’t want to leave the house and would rather do yoga alone, you can buy a variety of yoga workout videos, such as “Power Yoga Total Body Workout” by Ted Landon or “The Biggest Loser: The Workout–Weight Loss Yoga.”

If you are interested in something more intense to burn more calories, you can try Bikram yoga, which is yoga in a room of around 100 degrees. The heat loosens the muscles and every part of the body to allow more flexibility and burn over 600 calories per hour. You can do Bikram yoga at Bikram Yoga South Jersey in Cherry Hill.