January 2013

Lakewood High School - January 9, 2013

snntoday.pcsb.org

Vol. 4, No. 3

Three-time Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist

Religion ... A

look at students’ and teachers’ different faiths... pages 10-11

Cheating...pages 4-5 Multi-sport athletes...page 18

the hub

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A word from

SNN

By KAYLA GARCIA SNN Editor in Chief

It’s back to school Spartans, time to finish this semester and welcome 2013.

This year should be greeted with positive attitudes, for we are survivors. This past year has been a year of hard struggles, but we have prevailed.

First, we have survived the “end of the world,” supposedly predicted by the Mayan Calendar, which cut off at Dec. 21, 2012. (Check out snntoday.pcsb.org for a multimedia piece on what students would do on their last day alive).

Besides the “end,” we have survived much else. Some seniors have slogged through their college application processes and in just months will have survived high school altogether.

After three years, we are coming to the end of state supervision at Lakewood - a hard time of new schedules, teachers and curriculum changes.

We have overcome the long holiday season. Some of you have survived the uncle who always gets drunk when the family gathers or the ugly sweater your mom makes you wear for the family Christmas picture.

The overcrowded malls and shopping stores are finally empty and your wallet - also empty - has survived the last of shopping for family and friends.

Every year people make plans to change something for the better and give themselves a fresh start. Usually they give up on these plans within a month.

Don’t give up this year; if you have a New Year’s resolution stick to it. Do whatever you can to keep yourself from falling off. If you have to, reward yourself at the end of every month for sticking to your resolution.

Personally, I plan to break my nail biting this year for my resolution. I plan to triumph over the habit by wearing clear nail polish or getting my nails done professionally. Another goal is to finish my associate’s degree by the end of the summer.

Let this year be different, for we have survived a lot, as a school and individuals.

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KEJUAN SAMUELS | SNN

Senior Franklin Newton-Reece plays golf at the St. Petersburg Country Club in the fall with Lakewood’s golf team.

Newton-Reece, who has been playing golf for eight years, practices every day. He has played on a team for five years, four at Lakewood. “It’s an individual sport. I don’t like teams,” Newton-Reece said.

On the web...

Check out the following news and multimedia stories on the Spartan News Network’s website.

Go to snntoday.pcsb.org.

• Cooking class: A slideshow of Faith Walker’s nutrition and wellness class. By Algernard Brown and Brianna Johnson.

• Wiccan Insight: An extention of the story about Olivia Ferris, who is a Wiccan.

By Chelsea Helt

• Seniors, where will they be?: A multimedia piece asks seniors where they see themselves in five years. By Basil Rolle and Sherice Johnson.

• Robotics: Take a look at a multimedia piece inside engineering teacher Jason Ness’ robotics class. By Carlollee Bryan and Ke’Ara Clayton.

• Tennis: An audio slideshow of tennis teacher Brian Taylor’s class. By Areil Ward and Alex Ison.

• New Clinic: Meet the new nurse and her assistant in the new clinic building. By Dominic Eaves and Kamdon Martin

Page 1 photo by Brianna Johnson: Senior Olivia Ferris holds a necklace that represents her religion. Ferris is a Wiccan and the necklace is the pendant of Artemis, the goddess of hunting.

Correction LIVE! with Kelly and Michael did not replace CATCOM’s FOX ThirTEEN Magazine television show on Saturday mornings.

Another show did. SNN was incorrect on this point in the November issue.

SNN honored The Spartan News Network is a finalist for the Scholastic Crown Award, given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. This award is for a hybrid publication, meaning print and website.

There were a total of 1,344 eligible publications, including colleges, high schools and middle schools, but only 210 schools will be recieving Crown awards. In March, during the associations spring convention in New York City, finalists will receive either a Silver or Gold Crown Award.

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Lakewood grant money runs out

By KAYLA GARCIA SNN Staff Writer

Since Lakewood’s school grade has risen, the school will no longer be under state supervision, which means this is the last year Lakewood receives School Improvement Grant (SIG) money, about a half-million dollars.

Principal Bob Vicari said Pinellas County applied for but did not receive the Race to the Top Grant. The grant money would have meant $5-40 million distributed over four years to Pinellas County.

Not receiving this money has Vicari worried.

“If I can’t have rock-bottom $350,000, I can’t sustain what I have now,” he said.

Vicari’s plan is to talk with school Superintendent Michael Grego about seeking more money for the school. His tactic is negotiation. He said he should be meeting with him this month.

If he doesn’t get additional money for the 2013-14 school year, some cuts will have to be made, but Vicari declined to discuss where those cuts would come.

When it comes to cuts, students and staff think of the block schedule, which costs more money than a traditional schedule.

“Please don’t take away the 96-minute blocks,” said art teacher Larry West. “The 45-minute classes and seven a day are too much change.”

West said with kids changing classes often their concentration level goes down and they don’t learn as much.

Student Government Association vice president Ericka Murphy also sees the effectiveness of the block schedule.

“I think the block schedule’s pretty good, because teachers have time to get lesson plans together and grade tests,” she said. Murphy also said it allows students more time to get homework done and have time to study for tests.

Murphy hopes teachers won’t be cut because she thinks that would put a lot of stress on the teachers who are left.

The first year Vicari came to Lakewood, 2010-11, the school received about $1.1-million in grant money. That money included $600,000 from Title I and $500,000 from the grant Lakewood received to better its school grade.

Lakewood, which was a “D” at the time, was in the lowest five percent of all high schools in the state, ranking 553 out of 577. Vicari used some of the money to improve

technology and hire new teachers to make smaller classes.

And the money paid off: After the first year Lakewood improved to a “C.” The second year, 2011-12, Lakewood lost the Title I money and had only the $500,000 from SIG. Vicari said this wasn’t that bad because he had already updated technology. Again, Lakewood improved, this time to a “B,” ranking 237 out of all schools in the state.

And once again, the school grade for this year is a “B,” according to data released Dec. 21.

Another concern of Vicari’s as he looks at students who will be coming from Bay Point Middle School and John Hopkins Middle School is that he has a lot more level one students coming in than in previous years, and he needs money to help raise these students to a level three in reading and math.

“I want the school to be great; I want the school to stay strong,” he said.

Counselors’ Grad rates Corner on the rise

* Cathy Heatly: juniors, seniors A-G * Tara Davidson: sophomores, seniors H-Ni * Veronica Pruit: freshman, seniors Ni-Z * Barbara Stambaugh: All CAT students

Counselors are located in front of the cafeteria every day during lunch, please feel free to stop by and chat with them.

- Students should complete Bright Futures applications.

- For ASVAB results see Heatly and then check with your branch recruiter for requirements.

- If you are interested in Dual Enrollment or Executive Internship Program for spring or summer semester, see Davidson.

- The College Reach-Out Program is now seeking freshman applicants; please see Heatly or Pruitt for further information.

- Juniors should be signing up for a spring ACT/SAT college admissions exam.

- The deadline for the Feb. 9 ACT is Jan. 11 to avoid paying a late fee.

- Guidance is putting together a Hall of Fame for students’ college acceptances; please bring a copy of all your letters of acceptance to counselors.

- Second semester schedules can be found on Portal. If you have questions see your guidance counselor.

By KATIE BLEVINS SNN Staff Writer

Lakewood’s graduation rate for the 2011-12 school year was 80 percent, eight percent higher than the previous year and higher than both the county and state rate. “(It’s) one of the highest in the southeast,” principal Bob Vicari said.

According to data recently released by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), the average national graduation rate was 75 percent for the 2011-12 school year, and the rate for Pinellas County was 71 percent.

Graduation rates for African Americans specifically were higher at Lakewood, 67 percent in 2011-12 compared to the county average, 54.6 percent.

Vicari attributes Lakewood’s above average graduation rate to the extra help available at Lakewood.

“We offer more opportunities for credit recovery and tutoring, and more counselor credit checks are being conducted. We also have more students taking their classes seriously,” he said.

Science teacher Raymond Bauer

thinks Lakewood’s high grad rate is a result of good leadership from administrative staff and teachers.

“Obviously good things are happening around here,” he said. “Everything starts at the top. You’re only as good as the people guiding you.”

A new federal formula was used to calculate the grad rate this year. The formula, which is now used uniformly throughout the country, excludes students previously considered graduates.

The use of this new formula explains how the 2011-12 graduation rate was up eight percent from the 2010-11 school year, when the old formula was used.

Chart by KAYLA GARCIA

The formula includes the number of students who graduate within four years of their enrollment in ninth grade and divides it by the number of students who form that graduating class, while disregarding transfers, deceased students and those who get alternate diplomas, such as GEDs. Guidance counselor Tara Davidson said she was not surprised by Lakewood’s graduation rate. Davidson said that because counselors have now begun doing credit checks and academic advising earlier than senior year, it ensures that students are on track to graduate.

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To cheat or not to cheat?

An SNN survey shows that nearly 80 percent of students say they have cheated. Why? To get the A.

By MARILYN PARKER SNN Staff Writer

‘ CHEAT-

The thought of cheating has crossed everyone’s mind, probably more than once. The act of being dishonest or unfair in order to gain an advantage in school happens more times than many teachers would like to think about.

“Sometimes I just feel the need to succeed,” a sophomore boy said.

“A lot of times I don’t have time to do the homework. I’m in CAT, and the unofficial thing for CAT is ‘Cheating All the Time,” a senior said.

“Yes, I think cheating is wrong,” a junior girl said. “But I do it anyway.”

In the fall, SNN surveyed 302 students in randomly chosen classes, asking them about their thoughts on cheating. (See the results on these pages.)

It may not be surprising to many people that nearly 80 percent of students at Lakewood say they cheat. Nationally 86 percent of people said they have cheated in high school. What might be surprising is the way students cheat.

We all remember the old ways of cheating.

On television we would see actors writing the answers on their arms, hiding flash cards underneath the desk, and even writing the answers on top of it.

But this is 2013, and students seem to be smarter than that. Sitting in the back of the class may be someone on his or her cell phone, looking at a translation application to pass the Spanish test.

Common ways of cheating may include snapping a picture of the review sheet the night before the exam or maybe even texting a buddy for answers.

“I’ve seen a lot of stuff with cell phones where (people) take pictures of the pre-test and it circulates through the school, and then they are looking at it on their cell phone and answering it on the paper,” earth science teacher Christina Lucas said.

Music teacher Jacob Merrett recalls one test in which guitar students had to memorize a song, then perform it. One student, he said, copied the chords then taped it to the back of the guitar. When the student was called up to play, however, he had to pause every other chord to look over his cheat sheet – which quickly caught Merrett’s eye.

Biology teacher Fawnia Shultz said students cheat using the SmartBoard clickers (a

student response system) by asking questions or making comments in code. For example, they might say to their classmates “Apples are good.” The sentence starts with A, and that is the answer they’re trying to convey. Or they might say “Boys are ugly,” meaning the answer is B. Whether it’s classwork, homework, tests or quizzes, cheating leads to consequences. According to the 2012-2013 Pinellas County Student Code of Conduct, a teacher shall record a “zero” for each act of cheating.

“If I catch somebody cheating, like obviously on a test or quiz, I take it and it becomes a zero,” math teacher Philip Morgan said. “If it’s somebody that is allowing someone to copy theirs, it becomes a zero. If it’s somebody who’s stealing answers from somebody, I’d inform the person, ‘Hey, you need to make sure you’re covering your answers’ and it becomes a zero and there’s no chance to retake that test or quiz, which can have a detrimental effect on your grade.”

Though his consequences are strict, Morgan takes a lighter approach about copying homework. “I don’t fret about it as much over the homework, because the performance aspect of the grade is still going to suffer,” he said.

The SNN survey results show that most students don’t think copying homework is cheating. For example, a senior girl said she doesn’t mind allowing others to copy from her. “Everyone does it, and if they need help I’ll give it to them,” she said.

“I don’t technically call it cheating; I call it copying from a friend,” a senior boy said.

There are many reasons why students cheat. Students say they do it because they see others doing it, they think the teachers are bad, they lack motivation or they just want to get through a required course.

“It’s just sometimes you may study, but at times you can forget and you feel like you really need that grade and just have that feeling just to look around that class and get a couple answers,” a senior boy said.

Another boy, also a senior, said he cheats because his classes are not important to him.

“Our school system is awful and we learn useless stuff. Why do I need to know the Pythagorean Theorem? Why do I need to know Newton’s laws? I don’t care about that,” the boy said.

He explained his reasoning this way: “I don’t think cheating matters, because in the real world we have an unlimited source for all information, so I think if you’re good at cheating, just do it.”

Yes, I think

ING is

wrong... but I do IT anyway.

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79.4% of students said they have

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cheated at least once in school.

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Sometimes I just feel the NEED to SUCCEED.

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1 in 4 people

say they cheat on tests or exams.

49.2%

of students say that copying homework is not cheating.

52.5% Photo Illustration by MEKELL PHILLIPS | SNN

In the past, it was struggling students who were more likely to cheat. Now, a study from Stanford University shows, it’s also the above average college-bound students who are cheating, because they feel so pressured about competition for admission to universities and graduate schools.

English teacher Kristie Dowling said she understands why some students cheat.

“I think today, school’s gotten a lot harder for students,” she said. “We were expected to take two or three (Advanced Placement) courses; today’s students are expected to take eight or 10, and I think those expectations are unrealistic.”

In the end, teachers say, by cheating their way through school, students are simply cheating themselves out of a good education.

“They’re cheating themselves because when they take a test they’re going to perform lower because they never actually practice the work themselves,” said Morgan, who has been teaching Algebra 2 at Lakewood for seven years.

Morgan said cheaters are taking advantage of the teachers, and he compares cheating to the disruption of society.

“High schools’ and colleges’ goals are to prep you to be a productive member of society, and if you are cheating your way into these positions, there is no way you can fulfill the expected obligations when you get that position,” Morgan said. “If doctors and scientists cheated their way through school would you want to go to them? Would you expect people to cure cancer that cheated through their chemistry class? … It’s hurting society.”

-SNN staff writers Amelia Alberts, Krystal Ivy and Wyatt Knox contributed to this story. Thanks to statistics teacher Anthony Diemidio for his assistance in compiling data.

say they cheat on classwork.

63.1%

of students cheat on homework.

Editor’s Note: Normally, SNN does not use unnamed sources. An exception was made for this story in order to allow students to speak candidly about the subject.

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Lakewood won’t be rebuilt any time soon

By OWEN DYCHES and KAHIL HOLMES SNN Staff Writers

Exposed pipes in the A-Wing stairwell.

Water stains on the ceilings. Walkways littered with blackened gum. Missing stall doors in the restrooms. These are a few of the things wrong with Lakewood’s campus.

“The other schools are cleaner, nicer, more maintained. Ours is just dirty and unattractive,” freshman Sonya Casey said.

St. Petersburg High School is well maintained because of its historic label.

Gibbs High was rebuilt in 2005 and looks like a college campus. Boca Ciega just finished getting rebuilt in early 2012.

Then there’s Lakewood.

The oldest parts of Lakewood - A-wing, the cafeteria, the gymnasium and the main office - were built in 1967. Since then, the other wings have been added on, according to CAT assistant principal and head of facilities Peter Oberg. The Center for Advanced Technologies building was built in 1991, the newest addition.

Many students and teachers are wondering when or if Lakewood will be rebuilt or renovated. According to Oberg, the school district doesn’t have enough money to rebuild our campus.

“Times are tough right now. They (the district) won’t be able to build yet another school, let alone another high school. I don’t think Lakewood will be rebuilt in my lifetime,” he said.

Every five years all schools in Pinellas County are evaluated in certain areas, including safety, capacity and programs, said Michael Bessette, the associate superintendent of operational services for Pinellas County schools.

These evaluations result in a total point value. The schools and offices are ranked 1-133 based on the highest to lowest need.

In March 2011, Lakewood was ranked 16th, Bessette said. Even though this is a high number, it is still not very probable the school will be rebuilt any time soon, he said.

Largo High School was number one on the list.

“Over the past five years, dollars available for maintenance, renovation and replacement have dramatically reduced. It has taken the district many years to reserve sufficient capital funds to even consider rebuilding Largo,” Besette said.

There are three high schools between Lakewood and Largo on this list: St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Seminole.

These schools are not categorized for replacement but instead in need of major infrastructure upgrades, primarily in the areas of roofing, said Bessette.

Despite the news, there have been renovations at Lakewood. Pinellas County School Board supervisors and Oberg were

BRIANNA JOHNSON | SNN

In the stairway of A-wing, there is a hole in the ceiling on Nov. 12. in charge of the renovations this past year, which cost $500,000. These renovations included a new fire alarm, drainage repairs and cafeteria and kitchen repairs.

There also have been improvements made by some of Lakewood’s service clubs. Last year, Girls Service League (GSL) painted benches in the courtyard between A and B wings and football players helped spread shells throughout the area to keep down weeds.

During the summer, Oberg and principal Bob Vicari painted some of the walls.

Oberg said he’s open to suggestions for further improvements.

“I’ve talked to GSL and NHS (the National Honor Society) about applying for grants, but none have come through yet,” Oberg said.

Even though students can’t control when or if the school will be rebuilt, students can still do their part with trash.

“The students need to help us too.

Sometimes, you’ll see trash next to a trash can. Our campus can be so much better if everyone does their part,” Oberg said.

School has more than 1:1 computer-student ratio

By JAKOB BARKER SNN Staff Writer

Lakewood High School has been a tech-centered school for years, since the introduction of the Center for Advanced Technologies program in 1990. What may not be as well known, however, is just how computer-heavy the school is.

According to a recent survey, the school collectively has 1,750 laptops, desktops and netbooks currently available for use by the 1,319 students here.

That means there are more computers than students.

Network administrator Louis Zulli does a technology survey every year for the school, and this year he recorded the ratio of 1.33:1 computers-to-students, which is more than what is recommended for each high school.

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“The county model is one student computer for every three students,” principal Bob Vicari said.

Many of Lakewood’s computers were bought in the past couple of years with money provided via the School Improvement Grant, Vicari said. The school received this grant when the state intervened in Lakewood because of its low school grade.

While the benefit of having so many computers is clear, it is expensive to keep the computers working right, Vicari said.

The expenses include replacing and repairing damaged computers. Also, software for the computers is still limited, and students are still carrying textbooks because digital textbooks are too costly.

ATIERA HOPKINS | SNN

Students work at computers in Christopher Borg’s Introduction to Information Technology class on Nov. 27. Lakewood High School has more than enough computers to accommodate every student.

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Turnitin.com may turn in cheaters

The new program, which most Lakewood English teachers will be using, is designed to detect plagiarism in student writing.

By BEN EFFIOM AND CEDRIC WHITLEY SNN Staff Writers

Schools are changing the ways they catch cheating students. The newest way is called turnitin.com, an online plagiarism checker that Lakewood High School English teachers have begun to use.

Turnitin.com’s three main features are OriginalityCheck, GradeMark and PeerMark. OriginalityCheck is the program’s plagiarism checker. It checks papers against a large variety of documents as well as previous student submissions for plagiarism.

GradeMark automatically grades the paper with the rubric that the teacher has selected. It also checks for grammar and spelling errors and then provides feedback with comments.

With PeerMark, students can anonymously review another’s paper and provide feedback, too.

English teacher LaTonya Hill says that Pinellas County has purchased a year-long license for Lakewood. She said she absolutely thinks it will prevent students from cheating.

“It’s being used by most universities and colleges. It will be good preparation for the students in high school,” Hill said.

English teacher Kristie Dowling has been using the program for about a month now in her dual-enrollment classes. She describes the program as an online paper submission site that is not only a plagiarism checker, but a grammar checker as well. ”I love the program,” Dowling said.

She expects to use it for essays in all of her classes.

While teachers may agree that this is a helpful and useful program, some students aren’t fully convinced.

Senior Justin Wells thinks the program has its “pros and cons.” The program does decrease cheating, he said, but there are still some ways to cheat without the program knowing. For example, there’s no way of knowing if the person submitting the work is the same person who is registered to the account.

“You can easily give someone your login and have them submit the essay,” Wells said.

Still, Wells said he likes some features of the program such as having it grade the essay and provide feedback with comments to make the essay better.

Uniform survey for Lakewood

By KAYLA GARCIA SNN Staff Writer

The School Advisory Committee (SAC) is surveying students, staff and parents about the dress code and the possibility of having uniforms at Lakewood. Students, staff and parents can take the survey now on surveymonkey.com.

“If everyone agrees, we’ll go for it; if everyone says no, we won’t. When it’s somewhere in the middle, that’s when it gets sticky,” principal Bob Vicari said.

The survey will include questions such as, “Are you in favor of a strict uniform policy?” and “Are you in favor of a flexible uniform policy?”

A flexible uniform policy would allow club polo shirts, such as for Girls Service League or art club.

Student Government Association vice president Ericka Murphy said she thinks the school will have a split decision on the

uniform issue.

“If they do initiate the uniform policy, I don’t think they should make it strict,” she said. But if the school does go to flexible uniforms it should keep the fingertip rule, allow club shirts and not make a tie on the uniform mandatory.

Murphy said she believes uniforms could be good because it could prevent bullying. Some students can be materialistic and if students dress alike, it could minimize this. Murphy said she could see parents being in favor of the policy for this reason.

The decision to do the survey came during a SAC meeting on Nov. 13, 2012.

Directions about how to access the survey on surveymokey.com were expected to be online at the beginning of January.

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Tackling tobacco

The murky puffs and hazy clouds of cigarette smoke have been cloggging the lungs of teen smokers for decades, but Lakewood has been combatting this issue with S.W.A.T.

By CIERRA CHAMPAGNE and KC SHELTON SNN Staff Writers

You see it in the air. You smell it on people.

You hear about it. Cigarette smoking is everywhere. Some of your friends or even your family members may smoke. In fifth grade, a Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer taught you how to avoid drug usage and the side effects of smoking. Even though many of you completed the program and got your certificate, many of you or your friends still smoke.

Senior Dusan Graovac is one of them. He started smoking cigarettes about five months ago because of peer pressure. Now he smokes about three packs of Marlboro Full Flavors per week at $4.50 a pack.

“I probably shouldn’t have done it in the first place,” said Graovac, who compares the after-taste of a cigarette to that of Lays Sour Cream and Onion chips.

Graovac is not alone. According to the American Lung Association, every day about 3,900 children under 18 try their first cigarette. Of those, more than 950 become regular daily smokers, and half of them will die from the effects of smoking.

At school, there are rules in place to prevent students from smoking on campus, and there are consequences for breaking these rules, School Resource Officer Lerric Boyd said. No one is allowed to smoke on campus, including teachers. All Pinellas County school properties are smoke free.

According to the Student Code of Conduct, students are not allowed to possess tobacco of any kind. If students are caught smoking on campus, they are fined $36. Boyd said no students have been fined this year or last year.

At Lakewood a program called S.W.A.T. (Students Working Against Tobacco) hopes to stop many students from smoking and to also hold the tobacco companies responsible for targeting teenagers as prospective smokers.

S.W.A.T. coordinator Vanessa Morris, whose godmother died of lung cancer from smoking, said they’re not trying to blame student smokers, but they are blaming the companies.

S.W.A.T. does many community projects.

“We do activities such as: cleaning up the beach, designing multi-media projects, meeting with legislators to discuss laws, educating the public about the dirty secrets of big tobacco, and, of course, we have yummy snacks,” Morris said.

The club meets once each month during lunch and after school for one hour. It currently has six active members and is still recruiting students who are interested.

Graovac says he now wants to quit. His plan: “Just throw them away.”

“It’s a bad habit,” he said, “and you shouldn’t do it.”

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RACHELLE GADDY | SNN

The Facts About Smoking

• More than five million children living today will die prematurely because of a decision they will make as adolescents - the decision to smoke cigarettes. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) • Over the past decade, there has been virtually no decline in smoking rates among teens. Among AfricanAmerican adolescents, however, the prevalence of smoking has declined dramatically. (Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People, U.S. Surgeon General Report) • In the U.S., 440,000 people die each year from tobacco use.

• Eighty-eight Floridians die each day from tobacco use. This number includes smokers and non-smokers who die from secondhand smoking. (Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County) • The tobacco industry spends $12.8 billion a year on ads to try to get teenagers to smoke and buy their products.

(Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids data)

10 weeks and counting...

By OWEN DYCHES SNN Staff Writer

A year ago I sat next to my dad, watching a college football game, thinking and reminiscing about my grandparents - and what could have been - if it weren’t for one of the top cancer causers in the United States.

Then my father went outside to take a smoke break. **** Seven years earlier, my grandmother announced that she had lung cancer, and that she needed an operation that required half of her lung to be removed.

The surgery went well, but she later acquired pneumonia. From then on, things progressively got worse.

She was placed in the intensive care unit at Memorial Hospital in Tampa. She kept getting worse. On Christmas, she was too sick to give me my gifts or even say, “Merry Christmas.” After that, she went from nursing home to nursing home, hospital to hospital. There was no sign of improvement, just more problems.

I was pulled out of school in the spring and told that I was going to see my grandmother. I was excited to see her, because it had been a long time since my last visit. Before I walked in, however, my father stopped me and whispered something during a long embrace. I began crying and continued as I walked in.

The day was March 21. I was just 8 years old as I watched my Grandma slip away quietly.

**** It was 2010, four years after that terrible day. My grandfather, who suffered from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), was at home watching the news, and his condition flared up. He called my dad to take him to the hospital. My grandfather spent three weeks in the hospital, suffering from pneumonia. He progressively got worse, and was hospitalized on June 26, 2011. Three days later, it was the same story. Two of my grandparents died because of smoking-related illnesses, in the course of five years.

**** After this, both my parents still smoked, and even started smoking in the house. I grew to hate cigarettes and any sort of tobacco. I was getting teased at school for smelling like smoke. I soon grew extremely selfconscious, and doused myself in cologne. I didn’t have the guts to tell - or ask - my parents to stop.

Soon, I began getting sick from the second-hand smoke. But when we were forced to move out of our house because of mold and other unhealthy living conditions, my father took notice.

Now, my father and I sit on the sofa, watching the same college football team, reminiscing about my grandparents, and what could have been - except, my father does not take a smoke break. In fact, he hasn’t taken one in about 10 weeks … and counting.

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More Lakewood Leaders

By KATIE BLEVINS and ZOE BLAIR-ANDREWS SNN Staff Writers

This is a continuation of a previous feature about Lakewood Leaders in our November issue.

Science National Honor Society president | J.P. Chulick | senior “(I became president because) I love biology and anatomy. I want to become a doctor someday. …It’s just intriguing how the body works, and how complex it is. … I love how (SNHS is) brand new, and it has endless possibilities. (My goal is) to get our club as big as NHS.” Drum Major Jaquartez Robinson | senior

BOBBIE WRIGHT |SNN

During the Debate Club’s fall car wash Chelsea Helt washes a car with senior Kent Fernandez. The goal of the fall fundraiser was to raise money for future competitions.

No debate: Club is back

By BOBBIE WRIGHT

SNN Staff Writer

A 13-year-old freshman member of Lakewood High School’s debate team presents her newly written speech to a group of students during a debate. This is her first speech, and she’s having trouble breathing as she speaks.

When she finishes she feels relief and a determination to improve.

Four years later that freshman, Elizabeth Smiley, is the president of the debate club. She has been on the team all four years, and now is full of confidence whenever she speaks.

“I like how students with opposing arguments can come together and discuss their views without being alienated or criticized,” Smiley said.

Not well known at Lakewood High School, but not a particularly quiet bunch, the debate team is rejuvinated this year. It has gone from an after-school club to a new class called Debate and Ethics taught by social studies teacher Jessica Heiser. Though you don’t have to be in the class to be on the debate team, most team members are.

With help from Heiser, the team is tackling more events this year and stepping up to the challenge of representing Lakewood. They now have 10 new members in addition to the five from last year. Every member plays a role within the team, researching, writing and stepping up to participate in any fundraisers when needed.

The team has held car washes in the past,

taking the money they’ve raised and putting it toward the induction fees for events that the team attends as well as any other expenses, including new members who don’t have the $15 required to join.

Heiser speaks highly of the members of the debate team, saying they are the main reason she enjoys being their sponsor.

“The kids are awesome,” Heiser said.

But the process isn’t all fun and play. The toughest battles the team has to face are technical, such as practice time. Getting everyone ready for the events, plus transportation is no small feat.

As the president, Smiley’s main job is to organize the fundraisers that may be needed and take charge of any meetings the team has throughout the year. The meetings are held during lunch and after school.

Senior Kent Fernandez has been on the team for four years and has advice for those who would like to know what skills they’d obtain from debating.

“It has definitely helped me with public speaking and forming arguments,” Fernandez said.

Heiser said she thinks students get a lot out of debate.

“I think students get a lot of confidence, great public speaking skills and the opportunity to form their own opinions,” Heiser said. “We are able to manipulate people - in a good way.”

“(I became Drum Major because) I’ve always been a leader. I was basically born a leader.

I don’t look down or up on anybody. …My favorite part of being a drum major is being able to bring the whole band together. …It feels good having that responsibility.”

Drum Major Ryan Robinson | junior “(I became Drum Major because) when I was in band three years ago, I was inspired by the thencurrent drum major, and just seeing what he did made me want to work hard, and now I’m here. … (My favorite part is) just being able to see all the rest of the band members grow throughout the year.”

Mu Alpha Theta | President Danial Khan | senior “I took over responsibility in making sure the club actually becomes prosperous. It’s a competitive thing. I like beating other people. …

I want to set a standard for the next years to come; whoever is president next year I want them to be successful.”

Drama Club | President Amanda Dodge | senior “I was hesitant (to become president) because I don’t like work, but I wanted to make sure the Drama Club was successful. … Nobody ran against me though; everyone was just like ‘Amanda’s president right?’ … My favorite part is the performing aspect but also the sense of community that Drama Club has. We’re a lot more like a family than any other club I’ve been in.”

Spartan News Network Editor in Chief | Kayla Garcia | senior “I was inspired to become editor in chief of SNN because I wanted to have an impact on what goes into the paper. … My favorite part about the newspaper is the interaction between all the staff and the editors. We connect really well to produce a paper and better educate the students on issues in our community.”

Photos by Kamdon Martin, Brianna Johnson, Atiera Hopkins and Alex Brackx

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Being diverse means more than people being different in skin color, the clothes they wear and the people they hang out with. On these pages, SNN takes a deeper look into the religious diversity on campus, talking to teachers and students of many different faiths about how their beliefs affect their lives.

Olivia Ferris Wiccan

Stories written by Nia Cumberlander and Chelsea Helt with information from SNN’s multimedia staff. To see the multimedia religion story, go to snntoday.pcsb.org.

Ryan Frewin - Mormon

It is only fitting that a man of science belongs to what is sometimes called “the evolving religion”. AP Physics teacher Ryan Frewin is a Mormon. “My religion means everything to me. It’s an integral part of who I am,” he said. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church), Frewin shares many of the same beliefs as other Christians, such NAUDIA MCDANIEL | SNN as Jesus’s divinity, crucifixion and resurrection, but he and other Mormons believe there’s more. “We also believe in a second book of scripture called The Book of Mormon,” he said. “It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. … The highlight of the book is after Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected he came and visited the people here in America. He gave them his gospel, just like you can read in the New Testament.” When in a dilemma, many ask WWJD, What Would Jesus Do? Frewin says, “Our religion has the answer: Choose The Right,” meaning do the right thing.

Frewin’s religion keeps him pointed in the right direction. “Everything about the teachings of my religion has made me who I am today,” he said.

Olivia Ferris was encouraged to find religion on her own and she ended up finding Wicca. Wicca is a polytheistic religion, meaning their followers worship many gods and goddesses. They focus on balancing the physical and spiritual worlds.

Wiccans typically choose a patron god or goddess.

Ferris chose Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting, wilderness and wild animals. She protects women until they are married and grants strength and health to others. Ferris said she plans to get tattoos of wings on her shoulder blades as a tribute to Artemis because she is often pictured with wings.

According to Ferris, much of the bullying and fear of Wiccans arises from stereotypes. People often expect Wiccans to be insane and extreme people who live naked in the forest casting spells, she said.

“I just want people to realize we’re not weird or evil or nut-jobs, we just are. We’re still people. We just have different focuses,” Ferris said. Ferris encourages others to become educated about Wicca. “It doesn’t matter who you are, you can always find something good about yourself to celebrate,” Ferris said. “I feel like that’s what my religion is. … You just celebrate life.”

BRIANNA JOHNSON | SNN

Dekevin Arscott - Rasta

Many people hold a stereotypical view of someone who calls themselves a “Rasta,” but senior Dekevin Arscott defies most of them. Rastafarianism isn’t exactly a religion, it’s a spiritual and cultural mindset focused on oneness, awareness and social responsibility. For Arscott, Rastafarianism isn’t about style, it’s much deeper. “It’s pretty much going back to your instinct and doing what your conscious tells you. If I have a guilty conscious, I won’t do it,” Arscott said. He moved from Jamaica as a young child and has not abandoned the philosophy he was taught there.

“Your body is your temple, so you don’t have to go to church, but you still have to meditate, you still have to take care of your body,” he said. Arscott said there are some misconceptions about Rastafarianism. “A lot of young Rastafarians don’t actually smoke (marijuana), it’s mostly the old people. They don’t just smoke weed just to feel high, they use it to meditate easier. It’s kind of insulting when people say ‘all they do is smoke ganja.’” Being a Rasta keeps Arscott in a good state of being. “(Rastafarianism) means following your soul,” he said. “It means following what you feel is right.”

KRYSTAL MITCHELL | SNN

Danial Khan - Muslim

KRYSTAL MITCHELL | SNN

Michael Culbreth - Christian

Michael Culbreth spends his weekdays at Lakewood High School teaching HOPE, but after the last bell rings, you’re likely to see him fulfilling another responsibility. As senior pastor of Genesis Worship Center Church, he strives to be a role model for his non-denominational Christian congregation. Culbreth became a pastor after his previous pastor died of a stroke six years ago.

Now he’s in charge of about 14 leaders, including elders and deacons. His church also has a youth ministry and a choir, both of which he helps to lead. “I have a lot of administrative positions to do. I have to care for the people that go to the church and make sure that not only their spiritual needs are met, but also their physical needs are met,” Culbreth said. “I don’t want anybody to be in my congregation and they don’t have lights on in their home or having problems with their kids.” Culbreth says that much of his expertise is in counseling. He’s seeking his master’s degree in mental health counseling and currently counsels married couples and individuals in his church. He incorporates his spirituality into his day to day life by praying twice a day and embodying Christ-like behavior. “You have to live the life,” Culbreth said. “My life doesn’t belong to me; it belongs to the people that I serve.”

In the CAT Auditorium, Danial Khan demonstrates how he prays. He starts standing, and then is on his hands and knees, face down as he chants in Arabic. As a follower of Islam, or a Muslim, this ritual is part of his daily life. Muslims believe in following the will of Allah, their name for the same God of the Jews and Christians. “My religion is believing in one and only one God and that Prophet Mohammad is His messenger,” he said. Praying five times a day toward Mecca is one of Khan’s acts of devotion. “Every time I pray, I always have the remembrance of God. He’s always in my life,” Khan said. Khan said he thinks that often the media depicts Islam unrealistically. “Really learn more about the religion. What you see on the TV of what the extremists are doing, that’s not even 1 percent of the Muslim population.” Violence is not something he believes should be associated with Islam. “Our religion is actually very peaceful,” he said. “Our religion tells us not to curse, no backbiting (gossiping), no lying…Prophet Mohammad taught us to always respect others.” Khan is hopeful that people are starting to open up to Islam. “I actually think people are starting to learn about the religion more and that they are not going off of what the media tells them.”

NAUDIA MCDANIEL | SNN

Ruth Barrens - Jewish English teacher Ruth Barrens is proud of her roots. “I was born Jewish and raised Jewish, and I’m very much connected through tradition and my family and also spiritually,” she said. She lives her life according to Jewish teachings. “Love thy neighbor as thyself is part of Judaism, the 10 Commandments are part of Judaism. They’re in the Old Testament, the Holy Scripture.” Judaism is the root of Christianity and Islam, making up the three monotheistic religions. The Old Testament is shared in the Jewish Holy Scriptures and the Christian Holy Bible. Though Barrens is devoted to her own religion, one of her closest companions doesn’t share all the same beliefs. “My husband’s a practicing Roman Catholic,” she said. “We have a Jewish home; our children are both Jewish and were raised Jewish.” Through her faith, Barrens focuses on the big picture. “I try to make my life a blessing by repairing the world. There’s a principle in Judaism that we each have an obligation to make the world a better place than the way we found it.”

BRIANNA JOHNSON | SNN

features

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 3

Lakewood lacking in school spirit, some say

By ZOE BLAIR-ANDREWS SNN Staff Writer

This fall an average of 572 people attended each Lakewood home football game, with 5,726 total tickets sold during the season.

“The most supported sport at Lakewood is football,” said assistant principal and athletic director Deb Fabrizio. Some other athletes are beginning to notice this.

Only 441 tickets were sold to Lakewood volleyball games this past season, and so far the girls’ basketball games are averaging about 123 people per game.

“As good as the girls’ basketball is, I just don’t understand why they don’t get more people,” Lakewood bookkeeper

James Kochanik said.

Junior varsity basketball player and sophomore Olivia Gibson has noticed the lack of support. “People don’t think girls’ basketball is that important. … They just don’t think of it as one of the major sports compared to football,” she said.

Some people believe the cause of the poor turn out to other sporting events is due to the nights they’re scheduled on. “(Basketball is) not on convenient nights, usually in the middle of the week,” Gibson said.

On the other hand, football games are always on Friday nights, which is more

convenient for people, said Fabrizio.

According to senior swimmer Alexandria Linton, another possible reason for poor turn out to some sports events is the lack of advertisement.

“I think swim meets need to be promoted more and shown how exciting they can be. I mean people always watch the Olympics for swimming so why not experience it live to support your school?” said Linton.

But maybe school spirit isn’t just about the number of tickets sold for the game. “I feel like people at games don’t cheer, they just watch,” Gibson said.

Aquatic Management Systems and

Environmental Technologies (AMSET) program coordinator James Kostka also sees the lack of passion in Lakewood students. “I think that students today are less passionate in general,” Kostka said.

Kostka said he thinks the solution to this problem is for students to be proud of going to Lakewood.

“I think the students have to decide to make Lakewood their home and their school. … We need people to get involved in the school and activities, to not be afraid of letting go and cheering. We need people to be brave and support our teams,” he said.

I Tried It: Sweet! is a cupcake treat Sweet! by The Cake Factory is open seven days a week: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

By KC SHELTON SNN Staff Writer

ABOVE: A cupcake is decorated by reporter KC Shelton at Sweet! by The Cake Factory. TOP RIGHT: Candies sit available for use as toppings for customers making cupcakes. BOTTOM RIGHT: Pre-made cupcakes are on display at Sweet! in November.

KC SHELTON | SNN

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Sweet! by The Cake Factory, on the corner of 11th Avenue and Fourth Street N, is a unique cupcake and cake store. This shop, which has been open for a year, allows you to decorate your own cupcakes.

Simply pick out the type of cake you want, decide which icing you’ll use to frost your cupcake and add toppings. The cake flavors you can choose from include gold, chocolate and marble.

There are also gluten-free and vegan cake options. You have the choice of getting gluten-free vanilla or you can choose vegan vanilla or chocolate cakes, which contain no eggs or milk.

The cupcakes are $3.50 with three toppings and $3 without the toppings. These cupcakes contain zero trans fat. You can also purchase cakes at Sweet! by The Cake Factory.

The owner and St. Petersburg native, Daniel Delgado, makes the cupcakes fresh every day. He and his mother, Jeannette Delgado, arrive at the shop at 4 a.m. and start baking. The cupcakes are finished at 7 a.m. Delgado has about 100 to 120

customers each day.

Delgado’s favorite cupcake is the Boston crème. The shop also has seasonal flavors.

This season, they have a “North Pole” cupcake, which consists of a chocolate cupcake with cookies and cream icing, white chocolate ganache filling and is dipped in white chocolate. Their top three popular flavors are red velvet, chocolate and coffee cupcakes.

I got a chance to make one of these cupcakes. I chose a gold cake with classic buttercream frosting, and I put Oreo crumbles and rainbow sprinkles on it. The frosting was rich and the cake was moist and tasted like it was homemade. This was the perfect concoction for my huge sweet tooth.

Delgado says (the job is) hard sometimes, but he enjoys working. His biggest competitor is the Cupcake Spot on Central Avenue. He did not go to a special culinary school, but he learned from his mother.

“I enjoy experimenting with different flavors,” said Delgado, who would like to expand his company to different cities in Florida in the future.

-If you have an idea for an “I Tried It” column, come to SNN and let us know!

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 3

features

ALEX BRACKX | SNN

Jamaican students Shanice Burke (center), Olidaya Shaw (second from right) and Shanique Panton (right) sit on a bench with Ariyan Gamble and Sonja Rogers (left to right) during lunch break on Dec. 18. Lakewood has the most Jamaican students of any school in Pinellas County.

Presence here, hearts at home

By SHANA-KAY SURAGDEEN SNN Staff Writer

Junior Tristan Denton moved to the United States from Jamaica five years ago. “(I) moved to see my family members, such as my aunts and uncles, but I also moved because of my parents,” he said.

Denton’s father moved to America in 2001 to work, but he would often return to visit Jamaica. Then in 2004 his mother moved to America to work also, leaving her kids behind. On her first visit back home she decided she wanted them to be with her, so she brought Denton and his little brother back.

That’s how Denton ended up at Lakewood High School, but he is not the only Jamaican here.

In fact, Lakewood has the most Jamaican students of all the schools in Pinellas County, with 20 students who say they were born in Jamaica this year, according to district demographer Marshall Touchton. In all of Pinellas County, there are only 52 Jamaican-born students. That means that Lakewood has 38.5 percent.

And that figure does not include students who attend

Lakewood who have Jamaican parents but may not have been born there, Touchton said.

Like Denton, most of the Jamaican students at Lakewood said their parents moved here first for better job opportunities, and over time they brought their children here.

Junior Jazemaro Mason moved to the United States five years ago, but he’s still missing his native country.

“I like everything about the school in Jamaica. I like the environment,” he said.

The differences between Lakewood and schools in Jamaica, he said, are the schedules, the different ethnic groups and the fact that kids here don’t have to wear uniforms.

The lunch food is also different in Jamaica. “(There) we get a full meal for lunch,” said junior Shanice Burke, who moved to Florida two months ago.

Junior Shanique Panton, who has been here two years, agrees.

“The food in Jamaica for lunch is like dinner: fried chicken and rice and peas,” she said.

Despite the food, Panton said she likes Lakewood because the school is bigger than the one in Jamaica and she likes that she can check her grades whenever she wants.

In Jamaica the high schools start at different times. For freshman Nigel Samuda, who moved to the United States four years ago, school started at 6 a.m. and finished at 1 p.m.

In most schools in Jamaica, the class sizes are bigger.

“There are fewer students in the school than Lakewood, but there are more kids in a classroom,” said Denton.

In Jamaican schools, students are responsible for their education. If students want to, they can leave school whenever they want without getting in trouble because there are no hall monitors or cameras.

“I don’t feel like I’m in jail (there), because I’m in jail right now,” Panton said.

Most of the Jamaicans who have moved here think they fit in at Lakewood except Shaw. “I don’t fit in with the kids because they have too much attitude,” she said.

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opinion

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 3

Editorial

Look around and be proud When Lakewood students are asked what school they go to, too often they hesitate before they answer. Some are just not proud to call themselves Spartans and wear black and gold.

There is little attendance at sports games outside of football and basketball, and even at those games, there is a lack of spirit among the students. Not many cheer; they simply sit down and watch. You see other schools’ students beam in their school colors and scream cheers, and one can’t help but wonder: Why doesn’t Lakewood have that?

Lakewood is often not taken seriously in many respects, but there is much to be proud about here. Center for Advanced Technologies is listed as one of the top academic programs in the nation. The girls’ basketball team is the previous state cham-

pion. The Aquatic Managment Systems and Environmental Technologies program works with Tampa Bay Watch, the city of St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation office and Friends of Crescent Lake, among others. Our football team has won the first two Mayor’s Cups and has been in the playoffs every year of Coach Cory Moore’s career, except one. The robotics team has won several awards. SNN is a Pacemaker finalist, essentially the equivalent of being a Pulitzer Prize finalist in the world of high school journalism. Our drama club was awarded an “excellent” for its performance on its one act play at the thespian district competition. Several of our service clubs recently sent 90 boxes of supplies to hurricane Sandy victims.

If this doesn’t convince you that Lakewood High School is something to be

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, The last issue of SNN had an article dealing with self-segregation that caught my attention. While I do agree that magnet programs can separate schools, that’s where the segregation ends. To say that we create our friend groups based on race is an unfair judgment. Most of my friends at school are all races: black, white, Asian, Eastern European and Latin. If there are groups that are primarily one

race, it’s probably because they have many classes together, are in similar clubs and sports or live close together.

Whether you’re in CAT, AMSET, C-JAM or traditional, people are not self-segregating based on race. To say there are boundaries between groups does nothing more than make people question their friend group, and that’s not right.

-Ryan Callihan, 12th grade

proud of, then do something. Get involved within the school and change what you think needs to be changed! If you wish we would have more attendance and cheering at sports games, then go to the games and cheer. If you want to change the way our school is viewed academically, then engage yourself in your studies and encourage others to do the same. If you think our school could look better, then volunteer your time to beautify the school. Often times, once you are involved and put yourself into the school, you will become proud. But don’t passively complain about how “terrible” our school is when you are not involved in it.

That’s like complaining about who is president when you didn’t vote on Election Day.

-This editorial reflects the opinion of the SNN staff and was written by opinion editor Chelsea Helt.

Share Your Opinions

Letters to the editor should be sent to tobink@pcsb.org. They should concern an opinion on a featured editorial or news story. They must be signed, accurate and at most 150 words. Letters may be edited for taste, length and grammar.

What could we do to add more school spirit at Lakewood?

Jason Scott | Junior | “Have more after school activites and bring back Friday pep rallies with the band.”

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Staff Editor-in-Chief: Kayla Garcia Managing Editor: Symone Brown Chief Photographer: Leon Tomlinson Chief Sports Photographer: Rachelle Gaddy Sports Editor: Devon Rogers Opinion Editor: Chelsea Helt Multimedia Editor: Alex Brackx Design Chief: Scotty Schenck Online Editors: Molinseai Elcius, Jessica Thornton Copy Chief: Katie Blevins Copy Editors: Zoe Blair-Andrews, Caroline Dunning

Code of Ethics

Your Voice – School Spirit Justin Bending | Chemistry teacher | “Lakewood should get students involved, have several school activities that won’t cut into class time. Have festivals that are free for all students and staff.”

Spartan News Network

Dajah Curry | Sophomore | “People need to come out of their shells more and get involved in the school.”

As journalists for the Spartan News Network, we work together as a community with respect, professionalism, accuracy and curiosity. We collect information and dig deep to get to the bottom of the most current events to produce and distribute hard-hitting and honest news to the Lakewood community in a timely manner. SNN is an open forum that strives to accurately report a balanced and truthful depiction of the news while remaining objective. Our main goal at SNN is to build and maintain trust with the people, to give a voice to the voiceless and to succeed at not just painting the picture, but telling the story behind the art.

SNN is produced by the students of Lakewood High School.

1400 54th Ave. S St. Petersburg, FL (727) 893-2916, ext. 2163 SNN is printed

by Lakewood’s business partner, the Tampa Bay Times.

Darius Evans | Senior | “Add more school spirit by adding more pep rallies, doing more pranks, just in general things (that are) fun to give the students another reason to come to school.”

Photos by ARNIECIEA LITTLE, MOLINSEAI ELCIUS and CAROLINE DUNNING

For more news, go to the SNN web site:

snntoday.pcsb.org

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 3

opinion

Columns

Talk about shooting while it’s raw

By NIA CUMBERLANDER SNN Staff Writer

In the days after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, a full range of emotions were felt on a national and even international scale.

The shock of such a horrifying and senseless massacre in which 20 first-graders and seven adults, including the shooter’s mother, were killed by an assailant with an assault rifle, leaves everyone looking for answers to so many questions, some of which will never be resolved.

Many think the pain is still too raw to talk about gun control, because it is a controversial issue that divides the public opinion.

Also, many think bringing politics into this issue would somehow diminish the impact of the lives lost. Regarding both opinions, I disagree.

I’m not saying that this tragedy should be a tool for political gain, but failing to put it into a larger context doesn’t help us progress.

Think of what most people do when loved ones die. The death first shocks us, we grieve, but then we begin to give their lives and sometimes even their deaths meaning. For example, many charities are started in honor of people who died of certain diseases because someone close to them wanted to give their life - and death meaning.

As America comes to terms with this event, we need to open ourselves up to a healthy conversation about all the issues an

act like this arouses. Though I’m not sure if an assault rifle such as the one obtained by the shooter should be legal at all for civilians, maybe it is time that we evaluate our handgun laws. Some good places to start are the issues of mental health, school safety and the fact that these mass shootings reoccur in America.

We also can’t forget the Aurora, Colo., shooting in a movie theater in July 2012, killing 12 people, the 2011 Tucson, Ariz., shooting that killed five people and injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting in which 32 people were massacred.

It seems that already some of these issues are being tackled in the public sector.

Many school districts, including Pinellas County, are reviewing safety procedures, and several senators are already proposing

legislation regarding gun laws. A recent poll by the Washington Post shows that 52 percent of people surveyed think the Sandy Hook shooting “reflects broader problems in American society.” By comparison, only 24 percent thought the same thing after the Aurora shooting.

Really, this tragedy and the others within the last few years affects you, me and the nation. You have the opportunity to sit down with the people you know and discuss these issues. You can make your voice heard on social media (for better or worse) and soon, if not now, you can make your voice heard where it really has power for social change: the voting booth.

The victims of the Newtown, Conn., shooting deserve more than your condolences. They deserve action and that action begins with you.

Don’t trash talk and then be trashy

By KC SHELTON SNN Staff Writer

When you walk around school before break, it looks pretty clean and smells fine. However, during and after break is a completely different story. Fries line the walls, ketchup globs stain the carpet, chicken wing bones are strewn every which way and juice pouches deluge the ground.

It happens every day, like some sort of messy routine.

The funny thing about this is that the people who complain about the stench and the gross conditions of the school are the same students who you find tossing their food remnants

on the floor. These people are hypocrites. They go on and on about how Lakewood is so terrible, yet they don’t do anything to change it.

Rather than throwing trash on the ground, walk to the trash can that is literally three feet away. Stop acting like 2-year-olds and grow up. Is it really that difficult to throw away your pizza crust? Some of you act like “Oh no biggie! We have janitors who can pick it up for us.”

Newsflash: THEY DON’T WANT TO PICK UP YOUR SMUSHED GRAPES OFF THE FLOOR! If you were a custodian, I’m pretty positive that you wouldn’t want to pick up after nasty, trash-leaving teenagers who are per-

fectly capable of cleaning up after themselves. Have some respect for others.

Also, for those of you who throw little Cheerios and Goldfish at your cronies: GET A LIFE! This is not Camp Rock or any other cliché Disney movie; you don’t need to have a food fight every day at lunch. If you are that in love with food fight scenes, go home and watch some movies.

Please don’t make my school disgusting because of your obsession with throwing food.

Littering the hallways is not okay and all of you look like people who didn’t learn their manners.

Military-bound students get neglected

By BRIANNA JOHNSON SNN Staff Writer

Most schools, including Lakewood, push for students to go to college. That’s cool, but what about the students who aren’t meant for or don’t have an interest in college? With college tuition rising and scholarship values declining, some families can’t afford to send their children off to college. Being in debt for an undergraduate degree isn’t very logical either.

Going into the military is an option that is not always brought to the attention of students. The military has the false reputation of just sending young people off to war, and ultimately leading to their deaths. That is not the case.

Not only are there many branches of the military where you do not go off to war, but they also offer a multitude of benefits.

While enlisted in the military, you’re provided with insurance and a place to stay cost free. In fact, it does all this while still paying you a pretty good salary. Once you fulfill the term of your contract, your college is paid for. These benefits aren’t available through any other organization. So why don’t high school kids hear more about this?

Not only are we not told what the military has to offer, but we aren’t given many chances to even become eligible for it. There are many chances to take the ACT or SAT, but the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) – the test students must take to qualify for the military – is

offered to us only once a school year. There are many prep classes for the ACT and SAT, but Lakewood does not offer any for the ASVAB. To enlist in the military, students have to go out of their way to do so. It seems as though we are discouraged from even consider enlisting in the military.

More of an effort should be made to help the students who are thinking of the military. College-bound students shouldn’t have the upper hand and more attention, while the military-minded students fall to the side. Let students be fully informed that there are other options besides college. Offer more chances to take the ASVAB, and give classes to help the students prepare.

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entertainment

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 3

Unexpected Journey unexpectedly funny The Hobbit will fulfill your expectations and give you a laugh along the way.

By TRISTAN SHULER SNN Staff Writer

When sitting down in the theater for the new Peter Jackson film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, one must ask oneself a question: How is Jackson going to make this work? The answer is wonderfully.

The Hobbit, part one of a film trilogy made from the 310-page J.R.R. Tolkien novel, succeeds where Harry Potter’s split failed. The movie is chockfull of every imaginable extra sequence splicing off from the novel at parts to include scenes revealing important aspects of the plot. New Zealand once again provides a beautiful backdrop to Tolkien’s work while Ian McKellen also returns as everyone’s favorite wizard, Gandalf.

Other returning stars are Hugo Weaving as Lord Elrond, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Christopher Lee as Saruman, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Ian Holm as old Bilbo Baggins and Andy Serkis as the repulsive Gollum.

A key difference between The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings is the presence of comedy.

While The Lord of The Rings did have comedy mainly coming from banter between the dwarf Gimli and the elf Legolas, The Hobbit has 13 dwarves, 11 of which provide merriment as you might expect a group of dwarves to, many times right in the middle of a climactic battle or escape.

Surprisingly, the 169-minute film doesn’t feel slow, or full of filler. The action and storytelling mix in a perfect blend with the fantasy aspect never forgotten. Viewers familiar with the novel will find themselves on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the next portrayal of their favorite scenes.

The sequel to An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug is expected to be released in December of 2013. While the wait will be long, it will definitely be worth it.

MGM

Teen tragedy will wilt your heart

By CAROLINE DUNNING SNN Staff Writer

Willow, by Julia Hoban, is a unique teen novel in a sense that Hoban writes of a tragedy rather than a comedy. Most people find this subject to be too emotional, but it tells of true hardships that could be happening to anyone that you know.

Scarred and hurt from her horrendous past, 16-yearold Willow chooses the only method to cope that she knows: cutting. Willow has been cutting herself ever since the accident that killed her parents. She never speaks to anyone about the accident, until one day when Willow is working at the library and she meets Guy. Penguin Group Inc. Willow and Guy’s relationship escalates and they become closer friends than anyone could ever imagine. When Willow finally shares her secret with Guy, the results may change their relationship.

Willow is a well-written novel that explains a teenage tragedy with extreme detail.The only thing about the book that is frustrating is the fact that Willow always turns away any person who shows that they care for her. With the hint of romance that contrasts with sadness, Willow is a good way to inform teenagers about depression and how it affects teens in numerous ways, including cutting.

Hoban writes about a girl undergoing stress, trauma, depression and confusion and how she perseveres to find love. Willow will have you reading beneath the covers with a flashlight, unable to put it down.

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Mars’ Unorthodox Jukebox is every girl’s fantasy

By SYMONE BROWN SNN Staff Writer

Bruno Mars delivers a hit with his smooth R&B delivery. From there, the second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox. album ventures out into heavily influenced The handsome crooner’s melodies, peppy tunes and second song collection is bluesy ballads. filled with heart-fluttering Mars channels the late and heart string-tugging greats like the pop idol tunes.

Michael Jackson (circa The album gives off an Thriller), and soulful songeffortless suave vibe, yet a stress Amy Winehouse. He provocative edge without blends their iconic styles ever coming off as raunchy. with his own unique flare Only an artist like Mars seamlessly. can be a sensitive gentleWith the skills of this man and a rugged bad boy music craftsman, it’s no simultaneously, making him surprise Unorthodox JukeAtlantic Recording Corp. and his music practically box topped the charts. Since perfect - and every girl’s fantasy.

2010, Mars has graced us with his talent by The album opens with Young Girls, a bringing sincerity and charm to the music profession of Mars’ love for pretty young biz, and I hope he continues to crank out things set to a thumping beat. He infuses love songs for many years to come. the country feel of story telling with a

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entertainment

‘The Walking Dead’

By CHELSEA HELT

By TRISTAN SHULER

SNN Staff Writer

I am not one for television shows, but I am a dedicated member of The Walking Dead fandom. I watch The Walking Dead religiously. I discuss the show with fellow watchers at every opportunity. I read fan fiction and look at fan art. I love everything about The Walking Dead.

Fighting zombies seems to be a secondary issue in this series. The main focus rather is the conflicts that arise among the characters and their individual reactions to each situation. Many times, the problems are of an ethical nature and each character has had his or her fair share of making moral and immoral decisions for the good of the group. The dilemmas presented often create heated and entertaining debates.

As you watch the show, you become attached to and develop feelings for the characters. They are all believable and have amazing development. The variety of characters is expansive; from Michonne, a cold-hearted and deadly katana-wielding woman, to Daryl, a protective redneck whose weapon of choice is a cross bow.

There is someone for everyone to love and someone for everyone to hate. You must be wary of becoming too attached, though, as the writers aren’t afraid to off any character, which adds an element of uncertainty.

Though the comic books are not followed closely, the writers do an absolutely fantastic job. Wavering from the comics allows for their own creativity and ideas to come out. There is little more that I could ask for in a show.

SNN Staff Writer

She loves it.

He hates it.

AMC Studios

The problem with The Walking Dead is not the show, or the graphic novel. It’s the fans. Any traditional zombie lover has no qualms with the 2003 comic book series. However, much like with Twilight, a bandwagon effect has occurred with a new generation of fans, annoying the more acquainted fans with their ignorance of the older and more standard undead media.

If The Walking Dead has one key fault, it is the overbearing presence of drama.

Instead of the sick glee of watching survivors get munched on by the undead, or “walkers” as the show calls them, viewers are submitted to affairs, family issues and other bits of human life that people normally try to avoid when seeing any type of cinematography related to horror.

The drama doesn’t stop there - it continues on the internet where groups of fan girls covet Boondock Saints star Norman Reedus as the gruff redneck Daryl Dixon, a character with origins not from the graphic novel. This further discredits The Walking Dead as fans are paying more attention to eye candy than the actual struggle of the group and the mirage of “human” values that is present in most pieces of zombie media.

The Walking Dead is the beginning of the end of the last of three great horror icons (vampires, werewolves and zombies) besmirched by modern day Hollywood filmmaking and marketing. What could have been the saving grace of horror icons has instead made the underground ripe for grave diggers.

Soundgarden is back and better

By TRISTAN SHULER SNN Staff Writer

After a 13-year hiatus and 16 years with no newly recorded music released, Soundgarden’s new album, King Animal, is proof that grunge has yet to die. The first track, Been Away Too Long, is a simple truth about Soundgarden. The entire album delivers with Soundgarden’s signature sound, Chris Cornell’s voice sounds well-aged, and the entire band collectively sounds more mature.

The album is made up of primarily chill grunge-based songs with all lyrics written

by Cornell. The music overall seems like a perfect fit with each instrument and Cornell’s vocals blending and responding greatly. On

the occasion that a track is not light, the listener is transported back to the grunge heyday with heavy bass presence, haunting vocal calls and riveting guitar riffs. On the lighter tracks, however, the music seems to almost lull the listener into a trance and take them to a place much like the cover of the album, which is some sort of snowy forest.

Soundgarden’s return is one much welcomed in the music community. While the music provided by Cornell during his stint with Audioslave was a pleasant gift, it is nothing but a good sign to see this grunge giant return to the musical forefront.

Seven Four Entertainment

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sports

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Double the dedication Many Spartan athletes play multiple sports, forcing them to become more focused on academics and make some sacrifices.

By DEVON ROGERS and JALON EDWARDS SNN Staff Writers

Senior Rodney Adams holds a basketball and football outside of the gym on Nov. 29. Adams plays both football and basketball.

Rodney has been playing basketball for eight years and football for 14 years. "I like football the most because ... I have love for the game,” Adams said.

ATIERA HOPKINS | SNN

Juggling one sport with school work can be difficult, but a very select few try juggling two sports with a full school load and still excel in their sports. While Florida High School Athletic Association regulations don’t allow students to play two sports at one time, many athletes flow from one sport to another.

One challenge of playing two sports, especially two team sports like football and basketball, is the transition from one sport to another.

“It takes a while for (football players) to get used to playing,” said Lakewood basketball coach Anthony Lawrence, who has many athletes who play multiple sports on his roster.

Senior Rodney Adams, a stand-out on the Spartan football team, has already begun his second season, basketball. Despite the challenges, Adams said he can handle the extra workload.

“I wait until one season is over (to worry about the next),” said Adams. He said football and basketball come naturally to him, as they have been a part of his life forever.

Playing two sports can take away from life outside of school. Junior Jamie Kane, who swims and will play baseball in the spring, said his two sports cut into his social life. “(Playing two sports) takes away from time after school and the practices are long,” Kane said.

He has been swimming for 12 years and has played

baseball for nine years.

Kane said he prefers swimming, and he represented Lakewood in the state competition this year.

For theses athletes, the most important aspect of school is academics. Athletes must maintain a 2.0 grade point average in order to play, though many strive for and achieve even higher GPAs. Brothers Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin, who played football and will run track for Lakewood in the spring, use their time wisely in order to do well academically.

“We try to get everything done during study hall,” Shaquill Griffin said.

Track coach Anthony Snead said the study halls are well attended. “Most kids appreciate the study halls,” Snead said.

“I require that kids under a 3.0 (GPA) come to the study halls, and kids with 3.0 (GPAs) come to help kids … and act as role models to them.”

Playing two sports can have its benefits.

“The different muscle groups can be worked out (by playing multiple sports) and different parts of your body can also be worked out,” Lakewood athletic trainer Erika Miller said.

Despite the challenges of playing two sports, the physical benefits make it worthwhile, junior Kimberly Koagel said.

“It keeps me in shape throughout the year,” said Koagel, who swims and plays softball. “Pretty much it can help your whole life.”

LEON TOMLINSON | SNN BRIANNA JOHNSON | SNN

Senior Shaquill Griffin sits on the track while a football spins in front of him on Dec. 10. Griffin plays football and runs track for Lakewood.

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Junior Jamie Kane holds a baseball and wears his swimming goggles on Dec. 14. Kane has been playing baseball for nine years and swimming for 12 years. “I couldn’t choose one over the other. I’ve been playing both all my life,” Kane said.

BRIANNA JOHNSON | SNN

Senior Shaquem Griffin gets in the starting position on the track on Dec. 10. Griffin has played football and run track for the past four years.

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sports

Concussions may have a lasting ImPACT

By ELIJAH FLEWELLEN SNN Staff Writer

Seven of Lakewood’s students in fall sports and he has seen a 17-year-old football player this year have suffered a concussion - five in with them. football and two in volleyball.

Gupta estimates that one in 10 high school Senior volleyball player Bailey Kay said football players has probably had a concussion. she was hit in the head by a ball during a game His research shows that 40 percent of them this season. “I played the game (even though) went back to play in the same game.

I thought I got a concussion. That was stupid, According to the documentary, having a but I sat out two weeks afterward,” Kay said. concussion at a young age is better because “From the baseline test I took when the season your body can rebound more quickly, though started and the test I took after my concussion, it can be bad for the brain because it is still I had a mild one.” developing.

Kay said she was nauseous, dizzy and tired Studies of how concussions affect athletes while recovering from her concussion, all of in the long term are still being conducted. which are normal symptoms.

Former NFL players are speaking out, howHead athletic trainer Erika Miller inever, because of their ongoing struggles with troduced the dementia, alzheimer’s ImPACT test and even schizophre(Immediate nia and suicide.

Post-Concussion Senior running Assessment and back Laterian Latimer Cognitive Testing) had a concussion this for Lakewood athseason and was out letes at the end of for a week and a half. last year. The test, “I recovered a taken by all athfumble and when I letes before their landed on the ball respective seasons someone hit the side start, provides of my head, then my a baseline look head hit the turf. I at the students’ blacked out for two brain. During the to three minutes, and season, if Miller I don’t know how I thinks a student got off the field. All has received a I remember is Miss concussion, she Erika treating me,” he removes the said.

ILLUSTRATION BY JAYCE GANCHOU athlete from play Latimer went back and conducts a sideline test called the SCAT2. into the game in the fourth quarter, and did not This test tells her whether the athlete should feel concussion-like symptoms until after the continue playing. After the game, the student game. He sat out for a week and a half. will take the ImPACT again to compare results “I had headaches, sensitivity to light and and determine how severe the concussion is. loud noises and I couldn’t concentrate,” said The student is then sent to a physician.

Latimer, who says he still occasionally has “The physician may allow them to start the headaches. new gradual return-to-play protocol, which Spartans head coach Cory Moore said he then takes at least four days to complete. Each also got a concussion playing football in his athlete’s time out of play is different based on freshman year of college. how long they are experiencing symptoms,” “After I got hit I didn’t know my name or Miller said. where I was. My symptoms were short-term Concussions affect short and long-term memory loss and vomiting. I think from taking memory. Students are bothered by lights, so many hits in the NFL I still have headaches. noise, reading and have trouble focusing on They make a big impact on the body,” he said. assignments, Miller said.

Moore said he thinks one thing that would CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta made a documenhelp is if all schools in the county had a new tary last January called Big Hits, Big Dreams, helmet called the Schutt DNA, which has more focusing on concussions in high school padding to help prevent concussions. football. He said that over the long term, “They cost more, but I think the safety of concussions can cause protein deposits that are the kids is the most important thing,” he said. similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s patients,

RACHELLE GADDY | SNN

Senior Jared Gregory goes in for a layup at the Lakewood vs.

Pinellas Park home game on Dec. 13.

Sports updates:

Boys Basketball

Coach: Anthony Lawrence Sr. Record: 10-1 “(The boys are) doing good…not playing to their full potential yet, but that’s okay…playing well enough to win games,” Lawrence Sr. said.

Girls Basketball Coach: Necole Tunsil Record:11-1 The Lady Spartans are fourth in the state. Their one loss was to Palatka, which is No. 3 in the state. “(We were) pretty disappointed,” she said, because she felt they could’ve beaten Palatka. “It’s really difficult to evaluate. … We really haven’t been playing that many competitive teams.”

Boys Soccer Coach: Jonathan Crouch Record:4-5-1 “(They’re doing) well in the district…which is what matters,” Crouch said.

Girls Soccer Coach: Walter Blake Record: 4-6 “(We’re) Missing too many players… I have a young team and we should finish fourth in the district,” Blake said.

Wrestling Coach: Frank Niles Record: Junior Varsity: 18-7; Varsity: 0-2 “We are a very young and green team at this point. Each time out we have seen improvement,” Niles said.

All records are as of print time Dec. 21, 2012.

- Briefs were compiled by Jalon Edwards

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Year of the boys

Style is the common denominator in this trendy clique: (above from left) junior Austin James, senior Eddie Tolliver, sophomore Brandon Sweat and junior Aaron McDonald. Their unique style encompasses everything from H&M apparel to Goodwill gear. Whatever this fashion-forward quad wears, swag will always be their ultimate accessory.

To watch episode four of Jalissa’s Closet use your smart phone to scan the code.

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Photos by JALISSA JORDAN, BRIANNA JOHNSON, MONICA SCRUGGS and TAMARRA WILLIAMS Design by MEKELL PHILLIPS