The Roar April 2014

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theroar April 2014

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theroar Voice of the Students

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4 Inbox

16 Russian Reign

Letters, surveys, tweets and more

Coach Inga Devlin brings new ideas to track team

6 GM-grow

18 Ace Makers

Law should require labeling for modified crops

Boys’ tennis team takes second place at districts, moves on

7 Reality politics

Congress, ‘Survivor’: What’s the difference?

1HZV 8 Higher Education How new diploma requirements will affect you

9 What colleges want

19 Cat Tales Participating in the tug of war event, senior Bridget Lee pulls for Jenkins’ Jamaicans during Wildcat Challenge on March 21. The Jamaicans captured first place.

Photo: Adam Marzec

11

20 Faltering Facebook Young people are leaving for trendier social media

Rotating APs For the second time this year, school welcomes a new assistant principal

21 Movie Review

“300� sequel — slowmotion violence can’t hide bad plot

by Katie Garwood

12

Sleep deprivation linked to homework, screens and caffeine

Cash Flow Junior Class fund-raising starts shaky but pulls through by Evy Guerra and Erin Sheridan

14 ON THE COVER: Illustration by Jack Dickens for The Roar

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Universities often unclear on what it takes to get in

15 Goodbye shuteye

March Madness captures school’s attention

Stress Factors Various triggers leave teens feeling anxious

22

Music Review Young Money’s latest not worth the price

23 Music Review

Foster the People impresses audiences again

by Jessica Whaley and Valerie Ferretti

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&KDXYLQLVW VHQWLPHQWV FRQFHUQLQJ Recently, I came across a Letter to the Editor entitled “Immodesty Shows Poor Priorities,â€? and was appalled upon reaching its conclusion. This letter was troubling for a few reasons. It begins by proclaiming that women simply dress to attract men, this is concerning due to its implication that women don’t dress for self-expression or personal satisfaction, but rather only to attract the attention of men. The misogynist undertones don’t stop here unfortunately, as it goes on to use a scientific study in an attempt to blame women for men’s inability to control themselves. I don’t believe it wise to blame one group for the shortcomings of another. This view perpetuates rape culture and the “she-asked-for-itâ€? mentality involving sexual abuse. Bottom line, women are the victim of men’s inability to see a woman’s personality past superficial appearance. The cherry on top of this piece of chauvinist literature is the assertion that women dressing “immodestly, is sacrilegiously immoral including a Bible verse to back it up. If your interpretation of the Bible leads you to believe that women shouldn’t have the right to express themselves in how they dress, I don’t think you’re getting the gist of it. .JUDI #SBVO UI HSBEF

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*gets sunburnt driving over the Pineda causeway with the windows dows* —Katelyn Kent, @katelynkentt my goal is to get as tan as my sunglasses make me look —Katheryn Etherton, @katherynetherton

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7KH GUHVV FRGH FDQ EH IRXQG RQ (GOLQH XQGHU WKH ŇŠ$ERXW 8VŇ‹ VHFWLRQ ´/HJJLQJV Âľ ´ORZ FXW WRSVÂľ DQG ´H[WUHPH KDLUVW\OHV RU KDLUFXWVÂľ DUH DPRQJ WKH SURKLELWHG VW\OHV RI GUHVV

&ORWKHV RI FKRLFH 3HU WKH GUHVV FRGH VKRUWV PXVW KDYH ´D GLVFHUQLEOH LQVHDPÂľ DQG SDQWV FDQQRW EH ORQJHU WKDQ KHHO OHQJWK %ODPH WKH REMHFWLĂ€HUV QRW WKH REMHFWLĂ€HG I have read The Roar since I was in seventh grade and never before have I witnessed such bias in an article as was in the February 2014 issue. A section entitled “Immodesty Shows Poor Priorities,â€? written by ninth-grader Reeder Ward, explains how girls at our school should stop dressing provocatively and be respected. While what he’s trying to explain is understood, his argument attacks and even demoralizes the very girls of West Shore, portraying them as nothing but attention-seekers. Ward uses only the Bible and a Princeton study as his source. He mentions that the only girls who show “self-respectâ€? are the ones “who draw their morals from the Bible.â€? That basically states that the only respectable girls in our school are the Christian ones, which is quite offensive to people of different beliefs (I am Catholic and even I found that offensive). Also, his Princeton argument puts the blame on girls for being seen as objects, rather than it being boys to blame for the “objectâ€? behavior. This article has offended a number of your readers and I write only so that this doesn’t happen again. 3JDIBSE ,MFOPUJDI ** UI HSBEF

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staffeditorial

Ҋ,QER[ҋ IHDWXUH LQYLWHV D IUHH H[FKDQJH RI \RXU LGHDV In light of the recent controversy over opinions that have been expressed in the “Inbox” section of The Roar, it appears that a clarification is in order. The letters published in the “Inbox” do not represent opinions that are endorsed by The Roar staff; rather, they represent the opinions of the school community. Studentjournalist opinions can be found on the pages following the staff editorial (what you’re currently reading), and will contain a picture of the author. As for the content of said letters, The Roar does not discriminate on the basis of belief. If your letter follows our guidelines, it will be published, either in the magazine, or on our website: westshoreroar.com. In regards to the dress code, The Roar staff supports the current dress code guidelines and maintains that, if they are to continue to exist, they should be enforced. However, the

Roar would be supportive of proposed changes to the dress code — perhaps ones that are more in keeping with the fashion of the times. Ultimately, The Roar is a free and open public forum. We welcome all opinions, from all members of the West Shore community (which can be sent to theroarletters@gmail.com). If you wish to see your opinions represented in The Roar, we strongly encourage you to submit. The ‘Inbox’ section of our magazine, and the ‘Letters to the Editor’ section on our website, serve to foster discussion  discussions that every member of this community is able to start or join. We want to hear what you think, because we are your magazine. Edline is for the teachers, and the walls of this school for the club. But this magazine is here to represent the thoughts and opinions of you, the students. In fact, our motto expressed above our table of contents on Page 3 reads “Voice of the Students.”

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Dana Brown

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Though genetic engineering is usually seen as a product of science fiction, it’s actually a lot more common than you’d think. According to the USDA, in 2013, 90 percent of all corn planted in the United States was genetically modified, as was 93 percent of the American soybean crop. While farmers have influenced the development of crops through selective breeding for thousands of years, genetically modified organisms or GMO’s are regarded as different from ordinary hybrids, and many people would rather not eat them — a difficult proposition when so many crops are genetically modified. A Mother Jones article lists papaya, milk, and corn on the cob among foods that often incorporate GMO’s, and since GMO’s aren’t typically labeled and can even appear in foods sold as “all natural,” it can be nearly impossible for consumers to choose whether they want to eat GMO’s. That could change soon, though, at least in Florida. Although at the moment only Maine and Connecticut require companies to label food that contains GMO’s, 25 state legislatures currently are considering such bills, according to the Right to Know GMO state coalition. Florida is one of these: The Legislature’s HB 1 and SB 558 would require the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to publish and annual update a list of foods that are commonly genetically modified; products that contain these ingredients would then be required to be labeled as genetically modified. Opponents of this bill insist that GMO’s are harmless, and that labeling will create a stigma, needlessly discouraging people from buying them. Proponents counter that consumers have the right to know what they buy, and the health effects of GMO’s have not been adequately studied. At this point, most evidence points to GMO’s safety, not danger. Still, without a multiyear or multi-decade human study, no one can be completely sure that GMO’s don’t have long-term dangers. Even if they’re perfectly safe to eat, though, GMO’s have environmental consequences that make protests reasonable. When we

.HUQHO RI WUXWK &RUQ LV RQH RI WKH PDMRU JHQHWLFDOO\ PRGLÀHG FURSV LQ WKH 8 6 produce cars or other products, we can be reasonably certain that only what we intentionally create will be released into the world; last time I checked, computers did not independently multiply outside of the “Terminator” movies. However, when we create and plant genetically modified crops, they retain their natural reproductive capabilities, and living things are designed to spread their genes. Thus, the patented genes inserted into GMO’s can take root in unpredictable places, and since these plants have been specifically created to be hardier and more pest-, drought- and herbicideresistant than their natural counterparts, they can easily become invasive species. Our current monoculture farming has already created a world in which we rely heavily on a handful of crops for our food, making us vulnerable to any catastrophe that targets those species; how much more unstable will our food supply become if all our crops share not only the same species but the same genes? Even without these valid reasons to avoid supporting GMO’s, consumers have a right to know what’s in their food. If, like me, you’re averse to eating animals, you should be able to read a product’s ingredient list

and see that it contains gelatin, which is made from animal fat. If you have a mysterious objection to red 40, or are gluten intolerant, or dislike potatoes, you should be able to tell from a product’s packaging whether it contains these things. While I’m not advocating the ridiculous standard that blazons “may contain nuts” across jars of peanut butter, if consumers can’t tell easily whether a food meets a certain requirement — and there’s hardly a way to sniff out GMO’s in a package of potato chips — they can expect it to be labeled. However, anti-GMO groups might want to examine HB 1 more closely. It has loopholes that risk lulling individuals into a false sense of security. When people hear “GMO labeling,” they may assume that all unlabeled foods are GMO-free, but the current bill requires labeling only for foods on the DACS list of common GMO’s. Thus, GMO’s could still sneak into non-labeled foods while consumers believe that all of them are labeled. Also, one of the most controversial elements of GMO’s is their use in animals. While the direct genetic modification of animals is still in development, many of the animals raised for food are injected with genetically modified hormones. One of the most prominent is bovine growth hormone, which can risk contaminating milk. It makes sense, then, that people would seek labeling of BGH so that they can avoid it — but among the exceptions to HB 1 is “an animal that has not itself been genetically engineered, regardless of whether the animal has been fed or injected with a genetically engineered food or a drug.” Thus, it doesn’t address one of the anti-GMO faction’s salient concerns. People have the right to make educated choices about what they eat, so labeling should be required. Then those who believe that GMO concerns are unfounded can ignore the labels, and those who don’t want to eat them can choose not to. However, the bill does have flaws; it leaves loopholes and fine print so that the food industry can sell unlabeled GMO’s.

Molly Minta

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There’s a town so corrupt that even the Florida Legislature has given up hope. Welcome to Hampton, a small town approximately 50 miles from Jacksonville with a population of 477. The median household income is $24,091 and most of the houses are small, disintegrating structures. In February it became the second city in the United States to be proposed for dissolution. Citing 31 violations of state law, city charter and federal tax requirements, the Florida Joint Legislative Auditing Committee formally asked State Attorney Bill Cervone to investigate any potential criminal activity, which led a number of state representatives and senators to push for closing the town. Ultimately, the town was saved. The city officials, including the aptly named Frantz Innocent, resigned, and a band of fellows, referred to by CNN’s Ann O’Neill as “The Replacements,” set about enacting reforms which, in conjunction with the passionate pleas of Hampton’s residents, stopped the Florida Legislature from taking any further action. A prime example of what can happen in politics when the people stop caring, isn’t it? And, an even better example of the good than can be done with the people finally take charge. But... Why demonize this town? I propose that instead of learning a dandy lesson about corruption, we seize the opportunity and put the city on a hill, look to Hampton as a beacon for the next stage in local political evolution. Because, let’s face it, less than half the public cares about local politics and even fewer vote in the local elections. Municipal voter turnout has reached extreme highs, but the low of 5 percent in the 1995 Dallas, Texas elections wasn’t an anomaly; rather it was the start of a new form of apathy. Local politics just isn’t exciting anymore. Our local politicians aren’t the passionate Leslie Knope, they’re more like Gary, from Gary, Indiana. If we’re to fix this problem, then we need to examine when people actually care about politics: scandals and tales of wrongdoing. So I think it’s time that our local politicians

6WDFNV RQ VWDFNV 5HDOLW\ 79 LV FKHDS WR SURGXFH DQG YHU\ SURÀWDEOH shrug off their metaphorical jackets and just have some fun. Because, who cares about ethics and morals, especially when they don’t get you anywhere? For instance, one morning I was almost late to school because I chose to stay behind a car with a disabled-driver license plate on a single-lane road, rather than aggressively pass it when I had the chance. I chose to be a good person, and it (literally) got me nowhere. If “Monopoly” (and the road) has taught me anything, it’s that cheaters always win. Always. History even supports my proposal. Perhaps the greatest governor who’s ever lived, Huey Long (sorry, Scottie), was corrupt. But under The Kingfish, Louisiana’s hospitals and educational systems expanded and rural isolation was ended with the construction of a highway system. Sure, he was assassinated, but that just strengthens my argument: politics should be fun and it should be interesting. And what isn’t fun about corruption? The excessive wealth and opulence? The schemers and the backstabbers? The unlimited power? Seems like fun to me. What’s sad is that this case is no longer shocking. We’ve come to expect Hampton from local politics, despite the fact that very few politicians have actually been guilty of corruption. We’ve had these great, truly

inspirational political figures in our past: Martin Luther King, Jr., Franklin Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony. Our parents and their parents were shown that politics can work and can change things, despite the barriers that are often present. And what do we get? We get Hampton. We get Bob McConnell, the former Virginia governor who is charged with illegally accepting gifts and large loans from businessmen who sought special treatment from the government. We get Chris Christie who, despite being a chummy guy, still blocked a bridge because he didn’t get his way. These are our role models. So, what are we to do? What we do best — turn government into a reality TV show. It would be called “Real Politicians of America.” The starring role would, obviously, be given to the president, with guest spots allotted to congressional representatives in proportion to their state popularity. Each episode would follow the politicians as they attempt to navigate the marbled halls of Washington through unethical logrolling and Machiavellian manipulation. A new independent agency would be established and it would be responsible for producing the show and ensuring that it stays on air. “RPA” would be required to gain a minimum viewership that is roughly equal to the average TV show’s viewership, and would have ad time that is, once again, roughly equal to the average TV show’s ad time. With exception given to the funding of the pilot episode, the taxpayers would not be responsible for the show as it would have to be able to compete in the market; if it weren’t considered entertaining enough produce competitive ratings, then the government would need to start over. Not only would this help the government with its little deficit problem, but it would also be a great way to introduce children to politics. All children aspire to be famous at some point, and what better way to encourage the attractive to take up civil service than with the promise of fame? I look forward to the day when I am able to fully complete my civic duty by doing nothing but watching TV.

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the idea of one test deciding whether a student will progress to the next grade. “With testing and the decision, I don’t know how I feel about holding kids back because of their scores,� he said. “Do they fail and stay there? I don’t think one test should make that decision.� Advanced Placement students will have to take both an AP exam and an EOC for courses they take, but Leary said it’s not fair to have to take both. “That’s annoying,� she said. “I don’t see any point since we go way more in depth in AP and go out of our way to do all this work and then we have to take another standardized test.� Junior Sierra Park disagreed. “It wouldn’t be that bad because you would already have been studying the AP material and it would just be the same knowledge,� Park said. Fallon said students should get used to the idea. “The more EOCs we have, the more we’ll see this situation,� she said, “and I feel it may get worse. EOCs are designed to replace FCAT, which will ended with last month’s administration of FCAT Writes, but the change will bring even more testing. “They want to see what we’ve learned over the year, but it’s still a bit much,� Leary said. “Even if they’re taking away the FCAT, they’re piling so much more, so it’s a step up.� Over-testing is becoming a common complaint among those who say it’s exhausting and repetitive. “So much more is being added to everything we do, so I feel a little overwhelmed with all these tests,� junior Elissa Gilbert said. The confusion and murkiness of the new diploma system makes it difficult for guidance to predict exactly what students can expect from this program, and they warn they’ll have to wait and see. “This is totally new, but we’re all doing this for the best,� Drake said.

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Last December, junior Maddie Leary was pulled out of her class to take an exam for U.S. history, over material she hadn’t been exposed to in more than five months during a class she took during the previous school year at the Advanced Placement level. “I thought it was really stupid and ridiculous,â€? she said. “It wasn’t like it was overly difficult, but we had already taken the AP exam and that provided enough credit for what we’d been doing.â€? Leary, along with 41 other students, took the U.S. history end-of-course exam that caused them to miss valuable class time before semester exams. “It was a pain. It’s always a pain,â€? 3ODQ 5HYHDOHG *RY 6FRWW VLJQHG WKH ELOO RQ Orchestra and Theatre Director Maureen $SULO DQG KRSHV WKH SURJUDP ZLOO Fallon said. “If teachers are trying to ´KHOS )ORULGD FKLOGUHQ JHW MREV ZKHQ WKH\ Ă€QLVK prepare and we’re losing kids and the WKHLU HGXFDWLRQ Âľ next day we know we’re losing more, it said. “Last year we were told only students halts progress.â€? in regular U.S. history would take the exam, The annoyance among teachers was but the new Scholar Diplomas put those 42 exacerbated by anxiety among test-takers, students in a disadvantaged position. So we adding to stress before semester exams. invited them to still take the exam and all “As hard and as rigorous as this school agreed.â€? is, I think it was a bit much,â€? Leary said. “I According to the Foundation for Florida’s understand the academic difficulty we get Future, the scholar diploma will require here, but it’s honestly tiring.â€? biology, chemistry, English 3, Algebra 2 and Students are required to take the history U.S. history EOCs prior to graduation. If a exam only if they wanted to attain the student has not completed these exams by Scholar Diploma, a new graduation this time they must take them after, which distinction signed into law by Gov. Rick is the reason many juniors were obligated to Scott last April. The law is an attempt to take the US History exam last semester. create separate standards for students “The test is much easier than the AP Exam, pursuing either vocational or collegeso I was confident that no student would preparatory education. have a problem with the test,â€? Drake said. “This new diploma overlaps with AP U.S. History teacher James Pustay [the school’s] Diploma of Distinction initially felt annoyed, but then had a change requirements so if you follow West Shore of heart. requirements, you will be along the same “At first I didn’t like the idea, but on track,â€? Testing Coordinator Mike Drake said. second thought I decided it would help Because West Shore’s focus is to remain APUSH,â€? he said. “It’s generally three weeks a college preparatory school, students are earlier than the national exam, and because encouraged to reach the Scholar Diploma it’s a lower-order thinking test, it’s good for a through their Diploma of Distinction student to get that review. It’s a confidenceprogram, which is why the guidance booster too, so I’m going to incorporate it.â€? department urged juniors to take the exam. But Pustay still isn’t comfortable with “The students didn’t really have to,â€? Drake

.QRZ ZKDW WKH\ UHDOO\ UHDOO\ ZDQW" 8QLYHUVLW\ DGYLVHUV SURYLGH FODULW\ RQ ZKDW LW WDNHV WR JHW LQ %\ 6WHSKDQLH (YHUHVW Facing fears of rejection head-on, high school seniors submit college applications each year, sometimes with little assurance of a future acceptance to one of their dream schools. In senior Michaele Garrison’s mind, an acceptance letter from the University of Florida seemed unlikely despite her 4.2 grade-point average. “When I was accepted by UF, I cried because I was so surprised,� Garrison said. “I just saw the amount of people getting rejected or deferred from other universities and thought it must be really hard to get in.� There’s a growing sense that college acceptance has become increasingly cutthroat, and the reasoning behind why colleges chose some student over others can often be unclear. According to Katie, a student supervisor working for admission officer Cody Furse at Florida State University, the office of

admissions reviews applications holistically. However, officers weigh three factors heavily before making the final admission decision: grades, SAT and/or ACT scores and strength of class schedule. “FSU does not require a minimum GPA, but the middle 50 percent of applicants last year ranged from a 4.0 to 4.7 GPA,� she said. “ACT scores ranged from 26 to 30 and SAT scores ranged from 1780 to 1980.� While the university does not require a minimum GPA, it necessitates test scores of at least 500 on each section of the SAT, 21 on ACT English and math, and 22 on ACT reading. Another popular choice of West Shore graduates, the University of Central Florida, also emphasizes the importance of the same three factors. “The admissions committee at UCF is very interested in the quality of courses taken during high school, the grades received in those courses and a student’s overall test score,� said Dr. Gordon Chavis, associate vice president of UCF enrollment services. “We also look very carefully at the intended major a student has indicated they wish to pursue in relationship to how well they have performed in courses related to that choice of major.� Aside from the three major factors, all three schools review nonacademic criteria as well when selecting students for admission. Although the office of admissions at the University of Florida was not willing to answer questions regarding its admission process, the university’s admission website appears to give particular attention to qualities of student leadership. According to www.admissions.ufl.edu, “[They] search for students who will be UF’s future community of leaders, learners and thinkers, and whose education will be enhanced by diverse experiences and who will be prepared to serve and participate in all segments of society.� Leadership seen through community involvement and extracurricular activities

during high school likely helps students by setting them apart from others in the application pool. Such qualities may help explain why the admissions office chose Garrison out of the 30,000 applicants this year. “I mainly just put down job experience and volunteer work,� Garrison said. “I’ve worked at Winn-Dixie for almost two years, and I do volunteer work at my mom’s school.� Even after receiving her acceptance letter, Garrison expressed confusion concerning the university’s admission process. “My friend has over a 2000 on the SAT and a 30 on the ACT but didn’t get into UF,� Garrison said. “I have lower test scores than other people I know who also got rejected. I just don’t see the logic in their decisionmaking, but I’m beyond thankful I got in.� West Shore guidance counselor Dina Dearmin reminds students that there are no guarantees. “Some very bright students with great grades and test scores have been surprised to learn they did not gain admission to their first choice college,� Dearmin said. “For some of the Ivy Leagues, you have to have an edge – something that stands apart. And sometimes, this may seem random.� To be competitive in the admission process, Dearmin advises an early start to college preparation. The school designs its curriculum to give students this opportunity. “Every graduate has the edge by taking more honors and AP courses. They are required to complete leadership and community service as part of our program,� Dearmin said. “Students at other schools can do all these things; the difference here is many of these are built into the graduation requirements, so even the average student is forced to push themselves to accelerate.� Dearmin also reminds students not to grow discouraged. “There is a college out there for every need,� she said. “Students should do their best to research and visit their particular colleges and then enjoy the process, trusting that your hard work and effort will pay off.�

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News Feed Administration

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After working at the school since 2007, assistant principal Jacqueline Ingratta recently announced she would be accept a new position as staff development coordinator for teachers and leaders at the school district. “I was never looking for a new position,� Ingratta said. “I finished my principal’s certification program, so my plan was to become a principal within a few years. Since I serve as a mentor to several other assistant principals, I was approached to see if I would be interested in ‘mentoring/ teaching’ on a different level. My first response to the position was ‘no’ as I love where I am and what I’m doing.� After the new position was brought to Ingratta’s attention twice, however, she %DFN LQ WKH 'D\ :KHQ $VVLVWDQW 3ULQFLSDO -DFNLH ,QJUDWWD DUULYHG DW :HVW 6KRUH VHYHQ “talked at length� with Principal Rick \HDUV DJR VKH ZDV JUHHWHG E\ VHYHQWK JUDGHUV ZKR DUH QRZ LQ FROOHJH Fleming, her “boss, mentor and friend� about the big decision, considering how it things, and moving to the district is a wonderful opportunity for might affect her life, especially with a newborn child. her.� “Although I want to be a principal, I would be interested in a Although Fleming will feel the impact of losing a “key player� position at the elementary or middle-school level as I cannot devote in the school’s administration, he remains optimistic and vowed as much time to the high school duties and responsibilities,� she to make sure Ingratta’s position is filled with a person of “utmost said. “This position is a nice step for me to gain more experience on respect and responsibility.� an administrative level before taking a principalship. There is not a “The good thing for me, however, is that I’ve hired some very, day that goes by that I don’t ask myself if I made the right decision very good, quality people that are helping immeasurably and also in leaving West Shore. Nevertheless, after having my daughter, I people that have institutional knowledge of the school, most notably realize that I simply cannot devote the hours I used to put in at teacher leaders, [office clerk Janice] Kowing, our new bookkeeper West Shore. I have three children under the age of 5 years, and my Mrs. [Kay] Beach, our new secretary Mrs. [Linda] Atkins,� Fleming family needs as much of my time as possible.� said. “To top that list, is, of course [Assisistant Principal Robert] Fleming, being a longtime supporter of Ingratta, added his Farrell, who has come here and in four months, has really hit the personal thoughts about her relocation. ground running. While it will be a painful adjustment for me and “Losing Mrs. Ingratta for me is like losing my right arm,� he said. our faculty here to train a new person, students and parents should “My right arm is my dominant hand. I lost my left arm earlier in trust in the fact that the Wildcat Nation is Mr. Fleming’s entire the year, after, as many know, we lost Mr. Melia, so, at times, part existence, and I will take care of my pack of Wildcats.� of me feels like I’m going to be armless. I am going to miss her As excited as Ingratta is to continue her career and life within the immeasurably, not only her work ethic, but as a friend. I’m going to district, she knows that not being at the school will be a not only miss her being around, but it’s not like she’s moving back to Canada, physical, but emotional, modification in her daily life. so I’m happy about that.� “My new job in is an administrative position where I will be According to Fleming, the assistant principal position is one that working closely with human resources and curriculum and is quickly cycled out throughout the school years. instruction at the district level,� she said. “However, my life has been “As far as Mrs. Ingratta is concerned, if her leaving wasn’t going so busy with change right now that I have not really digested the to happen now, I’m pretty confident that I would’ve been forced to fact that I’m not returning to the school. My thoughts on leaving push her out of the door over the summer, not because I am mean West Shore are quite mixed on a number of levels. I loved my job at or would ever want her to leave us, but because my job is to prepare West Shore. It never really felt like work as I enjoyed every moment. new assistant principals to step up and be principals,� he said. The students, administration and faculty hold a very special place “There are four principals in the district now that have previously in my heart. There is a culture that exists at West Shore that doesn’t worked under me as assistant principals, and that is my job — to exist in every school, and I was lucky and blessed to be a part of it develop people. Mrs. Ingratta was destined to move on to better since 2007.�

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Lisa Kratz has always wanted to help kids learn. But what kind of kids? Ones who are just learning their ABCs, or ones who know the ins and outs of complex math? Throughout college and into the early years of her career, that question remained unanswered. “When I first started thinking about teaching, I was stuck between trying to decide whether to teach elementary, middle, or high school,” Kratz said in an email. “It was a difficult decision to make, and you really have to look at your own personality and try to figure out if you will truly be happier teaching one level over the other.” Throughout many student teaching rotations, Kratz found 0HHW DQG *UHHW 1HZ DVVLVWDQW SULQFLSDO /LVD .UDW] PLQJOHV ZLWK IXWXUH FRZRUNHUV DW D 0DUFK IDFXOW\ PHHWLQJ her calling. “I wasn’t really able to comKratz said. “In the dean’s position, most of the position deals with pletely decide until I had done student teaching with all of the negative issues. I know working at West Shore will have its own different levels.,” Kratz said. “I eventually came to realize that I had challenges, but I look forward to the productive outcomes in the a passion for mathematics, and I wanted to focus on that particular end.” subject.” Working at DeLaura Middle School moved Kratz away from Kratz, the new assistant principal of curriculum, will take over a high school environment, after she had been dean at Merritt for Jackie Ingratta, who accepted a job at the school board in early Island High School and Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School. According March before leaving on maternity. to Kratz, she envisions returning to high school grounds will She comes from DeLaura Middle School, where she served as an be refreshing. assistant principal and a dean. Her first job was at Edgewood Jr./ “I am looking forward to getting to know the students, faculty, Sr. High School, teaching something she was passionate about: and parents,” Kratz said. “I am excited to go back into a high school mathematics. and participate in all the celebrations and to see students grow Kratz said the chance to work again in an administrative role from seventh-graders to graduates.” would allow her to dedicate time to helping students learn. Away from campus, the Slippery Rock University graduate enjoys “This is not just a great opportunity, but this school is a place time with her family. where I think I can make a difference,” Kratz said. “West Shore “My husband and I spend a lot of time at the beach,” Kratz said. contains challenges to keep me on my toes. I have always had a “Being from Pennsylvania, I crave the warmth and the sun. We desire to work in school administration since I was a teacher, are also big travelers and I may consider myself a ‘foodie.’ I can and I thrive when it comes to curriculum and making a difference also find myself staying awake all night reading a good book.” through classes.” Kratz said moving into Ingratta’s position may prove difficult, but Although being in a dean-like position, will have its good days with time, the new job will become effortless. and bad days, Kratz remains optimistic. “I know I have some big shoes to fill, but I am up for the task and “I am excited because my new position at West Shore will allow I am eager to belong to one of the top public schools in the nation,” me the opportunity to work with great people and students,” Kratz said.

News Feed

Prom

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As Prom anticipation began to build last month, a corresponding uptick in rumors regarding ticket prices took hold with some on social media predicting student would pay as much as $100 each. Seniors blamed the Junior Class for not doing enough fund-raising and juniors defended themselves while adding events to help raise money. Most of the rumors proved false as evidenced by the fact that juniors will pay $55 for admission and seniors will pay $40. Still, last year’s seniors paid $30 so some of the Class of 2014 remain upset about the price increase. “I feel like the prices are slightly ridiculous because this is the one time seniors rely on another class to make our prom enjoyable and paying a massive amount is not enjoyable,� Sarah Brusca said. “Several people said it’s not worth it and they’d rather not go.� Not only is Brusca upset about the price, but she said she’s disappointed with the juniors. “I’ve heard that juniors felt they got put in a bad position[when the venue moved from the King Center to the more-expensive Hilton Rialto], but I feel that they’ve known about it all year so seniors are ultimately upset with how much we have to pay,� she said. On the other hand, junior Kristen Burns said her class needed to put in a lot more effort in order to not let others down. “It is a very tough position, but we kind of

dug ourselves into a hole,� she said. “But I’m glad the people in our junior class decided to actually do something and get stuff done so Prom will be a good experience for everyone.� To help offset costs, the juniors hosted a fund-raiser at Moe’s in the Melbourne Square Mall on March 18, but those funds might not be needed immediately. “As of now the money from the Moe’s fund-raiser is going to be used for next year,� Junior Class President Marissa Patel said. “We have bought all the decorations for this year or have already made them. The venue will be covered through the tickets. If we need the money for this year than we will be able to use it since all our money will be in our Junior Class account which we have access to.�

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Despite a happy ending for Prom funding, Ladd remained unhappy with the Junior Class’s preparations. “In previous years working as the Junior Class sponsor, they have had much more money [by March] and I was hoping for more money,� Ladd said. To help avoid sluggish fund-raising in the future, next year’s Sophomore Class will be enlisted to supplement the cash flow even though they can’t attend the Prom. “I feel like I’m being taken advantage of,� freshman Clara Castor said. “It’s the juniors’ and seniors’ problem that they messed up.� Patel said Prom is going to be a wonderful event despite the challenges. “It’s an affair you won’t want to miss,� she said.

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Everyday activities have become new challenges. “The hardest part of my day is honestly just getting out of bed in the morning,� Stewart said. Missing 17 days of her senior year due to her condition, Stewart also faced the alarming possibility of not graduating. “I went to the office and got a chronic illness form so I could graduate with the rest of my class,� Stewart said. With unfamiliar obstacles arising, Stewart sought new means of coping with the pressure. “My stress level has shot through the roof,� Stewart said. “Before I’d sit on the beach and relax but now, since I can’t drive, I’ve become very involved in Netflix.� Although the doctors have cleared the senior to resume working and return to her previous routines, they are still monitoring her condition in case of future flare ups. After enduring numerous hardships, Stewart offers advice garnered from her experience. “Expect the unexpected because you never know what’s going to happen,� Stewart said. 3KRWR 9 )HUUHWWL

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%\ .HLUDQ 6KHULGDQ The alarm rings at 4:45 a.m., disrupting what was a peaceful sleep for senior Michelle Smith. “I wake up early to go ice skating before school,â€? she said. “This is the only time I can go because of my busy schedule. I normally have activities after school so I don’t get home until late. Then I have to eat dinner and shower, so I typically can’t start homework until 9 or 10 at night. That’s why I get to bed late, especially if I have other chores to do like laundry. Usually I only get between four to six hours of sleep a night.â€? While Smith says her lack of sleep does not usually affect her ability to focus, she is anomaly, according to anatomy and physiology teacher Sherie Jenkins. “Sleep deprivation causes cranky, tired kids,â€? she said. “It leads to poor quality school work, inattentive driving, lack of creativity, depressed immune systems and kids getting sick too often. Laziness, apathy and depression are also common side effects of not getting enough sleep.â€? Hoping to inform her students about the negative consequences of sleep deprivation, Jenkins recently dedicated a section of her curriculum to a sleep project. Students researched the effects of sleep deprivation through a series of newspaper articles and NPR broadcasts and analyzed their own sleeping patterns by keeping track of what time they went to bed and woke up during a one-week span. “We are too busy,â€? Jenkins said. “Our ‘full plates’ are valued in our culture. Technology, energy drinks, the popularity of coffee and

tea [point to] a lack of awareness on not only the importance of sleep but on the disrupters of sleep.� Jenkins said technology has a large impact on peoples’ sleep cycles. With more exposure to bright screens and a reason to stay up later, students are losing sleep as they remain plugged in. “I usually get about seven hours of sleep on school nights,� freshman Ian Kennedy said. “I have one bad habit. I stay up a little later than I should on social media, whether it be Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.� To combat sleep deprivation, Jenkins recommends students power down their electronics before bed. “For optimal sleep, people need to put away their technology one hour before bed and use that time to wind down with yoga or a book,� she said. “People need to dim the lights, develop a consistent bedtime, intake no caffeine after 3 p.m., and take short power naps in order to feel well-rested.� But technology isn’t the only thing keeping teens up late. While grading student sleep essays, Jenkins saw a common theme in what her students felt was keeping them from getting a good night sleep: homework. “Some of this can realistically be attributed to normal teenage procrastination and poor time management skills,� Jenkins said. “However, I would like to see teachers reevaluating the type and amount of homework that is routinely assigned.� But how would that happen? “The best way for students to address their concerns is probably through surveys

from the school or teachers.,â€? Jenkins said. “Teachers appreciate constructive, respectful suggestions on their end-of-the-quarter or end-of-the-year student feedback surveys.â€? Jenkins said teachers and students need to find a happy medium when it comes to homework load. “Homework has always been a touchy subject, and it will take thoughtful consideration on both sides,â€? Jenkins said. â€œAs far as practical advice for students in the trenches, my seniors had some great suggestions to improve their own homework situations and sleep deprivation. They suggested that students do their homework as soon as they get home from school and not to wait until before bed.â€?

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%\ /LQGVD\ *RUKDP With three different coaches in three years, what the track team needed was stability and that is what Coach Inga Devlin has brought to the table. Since her arrival, the athletes have set many school and personal records. “She is really passionate about what she does. At first she seemed really strict and serious, but ultimately she just really loves what she does,â€? senior Luke Brunner said. “I’ve learned to respect her training style. She always pushes us to our limits.â€? Devlin competed in track and field competitions since she was 11 years old — when she was a sprinter in middle school — through college. Her coaching resume includes a stint with the Russian Academy of Physical Education and Sport in Moscow. Prior to coming to West Shore, Devlin coached at Indian Harbour Montessori School for seven years. In addition to track, Devlin also 5DFH )DFH 1HZ FRDFK ,QJD 'HYOLQ EORZV competed in cross-country skiing and KHU ZKLVWOH VLJQDOLQJ WUDFN DQG Ă€HOG WHDP represented her high school at many PHPEHUV WR EHJLQ WKHLU SUDFWLFH competitions every winter. to improve on,â€? he said. “Unlike previous “My coaching philosophy is based on believing that every athlete on our track and years, Coach brought along her knowledge field team is an individual,â€? Devlin said. “It’s of track. She has taught us new exercises to important to me that each of the athletes will improve our times. She has greatly improved learn the sport, improve their athletic skills our team, and the results don’t lie.â€? Although she is new, she is eager to see and achieve their personal goals.â€? Coming into the season was difficult, her team compete at Districts on April 10. “My goal for the team is to encourage according to Devlin, because she had to learn 38 new names and recognize each every athlete to practice and compete to their highest potential and be well-prepared student’s strengths and weaknesses. “I very quickly learned that West Shore for the district meet,â€? Devlin said. Devlin believes her coaching techniques track and field athletes are very intelligent individuals who are eager to learn, improve and values will pay off. “The most important thing I’ve learned and compete,â€? Devlin said. “It is an honor to coach such a talented group of athletes. from sports is that being involved in any The seniors became leaders of our team. We sport makes you a smarter, stronger person and helps build one’s character,â€? Devlin will miss them next year.â€? One of those seniors, Krunal Patel, said. “Through sports you will learn many credits Devlin for the team’s new outlook. important skills that will be useful and help“She has been a great coach and mentor for ful in life like team building and leadership the track team. She has provided our team qualities. Being involved in sports all of my with great leadership and has taught us a lot life has provided me the opportunity to more about the fundamentals that we need meet great people and make new friends.â€?

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%\ &KULV 0LNXODV The boys’ tennis team finished second in the district playoffs held at Titusville Astronaut High School on April 2 to advance to the regional tournament April 8. After an unprecedented season of success, tallying 13 victories against only one loss, the Wildcats had high hopes entering into districts. “I expected us to win it all,� junior Ben Mechachonis said. “We were all playing very well, and the team was strong going into districts. The only school that posed a threat to us in the tournament was Merritt Island, and we knew that we could beat them, if we played to our potential.� Despite the Wildcats’ expectations, the boys fell short to the Merritt Island Mustangs 23-22, finishing as district runner-ups. They still maintained their sense of optimism as they entered in

the regional playoffs, due to their home-court advantage and desire to avenge their loss in the district playoffs. “Though we’re all pretty upset about coming up short of the district title, the team is excited to enter into regionals,� senior Erich Heinricher said. “We have a good shot at advancing to states, given that regionals will be held at Hoover Middle School — courts that we practice on all of the time — so we have a home-court advantage. Our disappointing loss at districts also gives us an advantage because we are motivated to redeem ourselves of placing second, when we really should have won.� The Lady Wildcats’ tennis team did not see as much success as the boys, as they did not move on after the district playoffs.

/DFURVVH WHDPV KHDG LQ RSSRVLWH GLUHFWLRQV %\ 6DP /DFN The boys’ lacrosse team started the The team found itself atop the season in an unprecedented way for district early in the season, and the the program: with a winning record. players cited the new coaching staff Triumphing in three of its first four and new daily approach as a reason games, the boys’ team, which previfor their success. ously lost most of its games by double “We played competitive games digits, found the winning recipe and instead of recreational games,� junior knocked off rivals Rockledge and Eau mid-fielder Lev Freeman said. “I think Gallie early in the season. this team is tough enough to get to the “We’ve played together for four district finals, and even win. There’s years, and the seniors have been there no reason that we shouldn’t have a since the beginning,� senior goalie winning record.� Jack Moore said. “The new coaches Contrasting the boys’ start, the have put in an offense that’s allowed 9-4 girls’ team struggled to get off us to score and succeed.� the schneid, losing three of its first Despite a recent downturn, the 6-8 four, but then won five games in a 3KRWR 'HDQ 6WHZDUW team remains steadfast in its desire row, including a victory against rival +DQGV RII 6HQLRU ,DQ &KDQ EDWWOHV D 0HUULWW ,VODQG Melbourne. to do big things. ‘It’s important to stay humble and RSSRQHQW LQ D 0DUFK JDPH “We figured out that we actually had remember that the best way to win is to work harder to win,� senior captain for us to pull together,� Moore said. “You can’t get cocky or over- Christine Sherry said. “Our competition got better, and once we confident, especially if we want to keep winning.� learned that, we started steam-rolling our opponents.�

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%\ 6DP /DFN Your sports trivia question, in honor of the long-awaited beginning of baseball season: In which country did the Los Angeles Dodgers open their season, playing the Arizona Diamondbacks? We’ve all heard it. “So, how’s your bracket look this year?� or “My bracket was totally busted by Stephen F. Austin beating Virginia Commonwealth� or even “Wait, is Stephen F. Austin a school or is it a person? How could one guy win a basketball game all by himself?� It may get tiring, hearing people claim they actually picked North Dakota State to win, and people lamenting Duke’s stunning loss, but you listen anyway. You have to listen. That’s the draw of March Madness, and that’s why we fill out a bracket and enter it in pools, year after year after year. Despite not caring if your friend “actually picked� Mercer to beat Duke, if you want to talk about how you “totally called� Harvard over Cincinnati, you are obligated to listen. In a school that I have previously berated for being too academically6PHOOV /LNH 7HDP 6SLULW 6HQLRU .D\OH\ /HZ oriented and for having infinitesimal FKHHUV RQ KHU SRZGHUSXII WHDPPDWHV EHIRUH sports knowledge outside of high WKH 6HSWHPEHU VKRZGRZQ /HZ SLFNHG 2KLR school sports, I’d venture to say that 6WDWH WR ZLQ WKH 1&$$ WRXUQDPHQW there are more people at our school who filled out a bracket this year than and spent many a day lamenting my upset there are people who abstained from the picks that went awry when people who friendly competition. simply choose their teams based on the Students who have never watched a prettier jerseys find themselves atop the basketball game picked Baylor because standings. they have cool uniforms. Students On top of the usual obsession with who’d rather watch “Breaking Bad� than selecting brackets and making bets, the basketball picked the Florida Gators, much buzz has increased dramatically as our like myself, because they were the No. 1 state’s own Florida Gators dominated the overall seed. Students ask other students early rounds of the tournament, soon after for advice, then proceed to beat their West Shore students found out that they advisers in a friendly pool. were admitted to the Gator Nation. Basketball knowledge goes out the This year’s tournament had some window once we enter March. I’ve lost interesting draws, all combining to a many a bracket pool to uneducated fans, bracket craze at school unlike I’d ever seen

before. First, Florida’s success had many new Gators clamoring about their team’s potential for a third NCAA title. Then, there was Wichita State, the first team to go undefeated since the 1990s, before losing to Kentucky in the tournament’s third round. Speaking of Kentucky, its freshmanled team pulled of a surprise Final Four run, with players barely older than West Shore’s own seniors. Traditional powerhouses North Carolina, Kansas, and Duke were all ousted before the Elite Eight. The madness that takes over the school during the NCAA tournament is unlike any other phenomenon. It involves athletes, musicians, thespians, and teachers alike. Regardless of who was crowned champion, everyone wins, because for one month, the thing atop everyone’s mind is “Hey, how’s your bracket?� So yes, I do want to hear about how you had UConn beating North Carolina, and how “since day one� you’ve been a Mercer fan. As long as you don’t mind me telling you about how I knew Arizona would lose and that Tennessee was a sleeper team. Whether you picked Creighton because the “Bluejays� is a stellar team name, or Michigan because “Wow, Nik Stauskas is awfully cute.� Whether you picked Harvard because that’s where your dad went, or Duke because you just were admitted and you’re excited to attend, you contributed to the madness that is the NCAA Tournament, and for that, I can’t thank you enough. You bracket-braggers have made sports relevant in the conversations of many, and the buzz that spreads across a campus that typically has a sports-defecit makes me happier than UConn’s Shabazz Napier after he buried Michigan State with 3-pointer after 3-pointer. Trivia Answer: The Dodgers and D-Backs opened their season down under, playing in Sydney, Australia, mate.

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7KH )DFHERRN )DGH :K\ WHHQV DUH OHDYLQJ DQG ZKHUH WKH\ DUH JRLQJ %\ +DQQDK %UXVFD It’s 6:30 in the morning and her alarm sounds. Sophomore Ana Rosal taps the snooze button on her phone and drags down the notifications menu to check if anything interesting has happened overnight. Searching for likes on an Instagram picture or for more followers on her Twitter account, her hopes are met with only a couple of updates from various social media apps. Youtube has reminded her that a user that she’s subscribed to has uploaded a new video, Vine notifies her that she gained a “like� on her last post, and Tumblr says her video post from the previous day has been reblogged four more times. The goal of reaching more Youtube views and more Vine followers has been met for the day. This is Rosal’s morning: Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, Vine and Tumblr. The most successful social media platform in history is noticeably absent. “I don’t like Facebook because it’s the things that people post — it’s really annoying,� she said. “I go on Twitter and Instagram and Tumblr. Nowadays, Facebook is more for stalking, whereas Twitter is for keeping up with people.� If the problem isn’t the website itself, could it be the users that are the cause of its demotion in teenagers’ favorite social media preferences? Or is the issue the competition from other companies? “Twitter is easier to check,� junior Marissa Patel said. “It’s less complicated and I’m constantly on it. People can’t really post useless stuff other than dumb tweets. I think just going through and reading tweets is more fun than scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed.� Twitter is the second-most used social media site, with 500 million users in 2012. The sites unique 180-character limit-per-post generates 340 million tweets and 1.6 billion searches each day. Of the many popular websites and apps that teenagers use, it seems Twitter and Tumblr aren’t the only ones that are a priority. The Instagram app, which was purchased by Facebook in April 2012 for $1 billion, has been gaining users, while Facebook has steadily been losing its audience of the same age. “I use Instagram a lot, but that’s just random stuff that you post pictures of, and that’s about it,� senior Krishna Davda said. Facebook was founded in February 2004 and reached 100 million users by August 2008, while Instagram was founded in October 2010 and reached its 100-million-user milestone in April 2012. Even with Instagram’s limited

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variety of just photo- and video-sharing, it has still managed to reach the 100-million-user mark in half the time it took Facebook. While Instagram is more of an entertainment-based social media setting, it seems teenagers visit Facebook primarily for school-related information. “I use it a lot right now for groups and stuff to keep up with school,� Patel said. “Prom and Junior Class stuff, that’s why it’s really useful.� The use of Facebook as a school source has helped aid students when trying to interact with each other in more ways than one. It has appeared to have a large effect on school sports teams and other extracurriculars. “I think that it’s a good way to keep connected with people that you don’t get to see all the time,� Davda said. “It keeps you updated on what’s happening. I usually use it for groups. We have our senior group and our basketball group on Facebook. People post in that, so you don’t have to keep texting different people. When there are multiple people in a group, you have everything just in one area instead of having to text multiple people at a time.� The competition aspect of social media has been growing throughout the past decade, with more people using them than those using cable TV. “With Tumblr, it’s kind of the same as Facebook; there’s also cool and funny things that people post,� Rosal said. “I like Instagram because it’s kind of like Facebook, except with photos. Also, with Instagram, people post really cool stuff.� The wide audience that the internet appeals to reaches all age groups and generations. Students and teachers fall into this broad spectrum. “I got my Facebook in 2006 or 2007 because I was tired of MySpace and everybody seemed to be getting them,� English teacher Carrie Glass. “I originally got it to connect with people I went to high school with. My favorite part about Facebook is easy contact. You know you can always reach somebody on Facebook and I use it daily.� Facebook was once the place to be internet-wise, but it numbers seem to be dropping. Whether it’s the struggle to compare to other forms of social media or simply the user content posted on the site, Facebook is having a hard time keeping up with its high expectations. Its metamorphosis into more of a school tool than a form of entertainment has limited its ability to move up in popularity. The once-dominant site on the internet may soon be challenged to maintain its high standing.

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%\ -RH\ &URZQ I imagine the preproduction meeting for “300: Rise of an Empire,� might have gone something like this: “Hear me out, what if we target any instance of bad plot and replace it with bad violence?� exclaimed the film executive in a moment of eureka, “and cut out any ‘motivation’ or ‘character development’ so we can fill these spots with slow-motion shots of swords slicing through people. Audiences will love that.� Thus a movie that could have been 30 minutes long is dragged out to 144 because somebody thought that the same scenes of people being killed with gratuitous amounts of blood would make for compelling cinema. Granted I have nothing against gratuitous violence. When done right, violence can keep things interesting and reinforce the meaning of a film. Unfortunately, when the film has little to no meaning, it comes off as shallow and mindless. Taking place almost directly after the events of the first film, we learn that the contrived king-god Xerxes has declared war on Greece after the original 300 Spartans have been slain. We get a bit of backstory that lets us know how Demisticles, the commander of the Athens forces, killed the king of Persia, and how Xerxes came to power, which was

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through some masterful manipulation by Artemisia, played by Eva Green. While Green plays the main villain of the film, her character but is just as useless as the rest of the them. Her interactions with Demisticles range from laughably bad dialogue to some provocative scenes with conflicted tones that made me increasingly uncomfortable, and after seeing “The Wolf of Wall Street,� I didn’t think that was possible. When watching an adventure movie, it’s normal to expect visual thrills, and this movie’s action scenes were all right, nothing spectacular. The highly-stylized violence in the opening scene is impressive, but things get old quickly as people can only cut off so many limbs with swords before it gets boring. It’s mildly entertaining slow-motion violence combined with a lame plot feels like nothing more than a cash grab at the hype created by the original “300.� I understand “Rise of an Empire,� is based on the sequel of the original graphic novel but that doesn’t mean it deserved a film, especially if it’s not a story worth telling. An uninspired sequel to a fairly revolutionary action film, and a third film to follow that will most likely be just as uninteresting. It reads like the summary of the Matrix trilogy but is equally applicable to this series. I understand it’s a setup for the third movie, but I don’t think this makes it better because it means that someone actually thought it be a worthwhile endeavor to make a sequel to a film as useless as this. It’s a movie sequel so far removed from the original that comparisons aren’t even warranted.

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The concept of plane-hijacking has appeared in movies for decades, but Jaume Collet-Serra’s “Non-Stop,� gives this tired concept a muchneeded update. Liam Neeson plays federal air marshal Bill Marks, who begins receiving text messages indicating that a passenger on the plane will be killed every 20 minutes unless $150 million is transferred to an account. While we’ve all seen this plot before, “Non-Stop� adds a twist: the unknown passenger is attempting to frame Marks as the hijacker. It is up to Marks to find the true hijacker from 40,000 feet in the air and clear his name. Despite being 61 years old, Neeson still ranks among the top action stars in today’s films, and it is obvious that without his strong presence, “Non-Stop� would have been a flop. He adds intensity that only a seasoned action star can and even goes a step further by giving witty comments that occasionally bring needed relief from that intensity. Neeson brings believability to such lines as “I’m not hijacking this plane. I’m trying to save it,� causing the audience root for this unlikely hero to clear his name. Julianne Moore plays Neeson’s love interest, but the movie could have done without her since her two scenes are not crucial to the overall plot and distract from the action. Even the hijacker or hijackers don’t have a real physical presence until the end. Ultimately, “Non-Stop� is a solid film that offers both on-the-edge-of-your-seat action and entertaining comedy. However this is all due to the work of Neeson, who almost singlehandedly makes this run-of-the-mill movie into an action-thriller hit.

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7KH ,W ŇŠ*,5/Ň‹ 3KDUUHOO UHYHDOV GRXEOH OLIH %\ -HVVLFD %ODQFR Last year marked the epic comeback of the bighatted mentor to pop artists, Pharrell. Winning more than seven Grammys for his music, Pharrell Williams, former member of N.E.R.D., is now endeavoring in his own field of rhythm-and-blues music. He combines old Sinatra-style singing with new-age electronic beats and a dash of Jamaican

reggae spices. “Brand New,� featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, is the second song on the album, and it’s my least favorite . It lacks substance and creativity, it’s repetitive and, to top it all off, it’s a complete waste of Timberlake’s and Williams’ talent. Much of this song consists of a low-humming background beneath soft-spoken lyrics that say nothing more than how “the price tag is still on it.� Timberlake is barely even noticeable in this song. He just harmonizes during the chorus. But overall, I adore this album. It’s a masterpiece for Pharrell, with most of the songs displaying complex tones and love-saturated lyrics. I have been a fan of Williams since his early R&B days with N.E.R.D. His iconic voice mesmerizes and enchants the listener with all of the calm serene pitches. While 2013 was definitely the year for Williams, “Girl� shows 2014 coming in as a close second. Williams has a governmental hold on the music industry and demonstrates his “jack of all trades� persona here. I eagerly await new compilations and new partnerships with other artists in the future.

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<RXQJ 0RQH\ DOEXP PHGLRFUH %\ %UDQGRQ %DLOHU Lil Wayne’s Young Money music label seems to split the difference between success and failure — it has produced pop-music powerhouses Nicki Minaj and Drake, as well as minor star Tyga, but most of its label roster has failed to make it either commercially or critically. And given that recently Drake’s the only one of the power trio who’s still actually any good, it does not bode well for Young Money. So the question is: Will Young Money’s new album finally launch one or two careers? On the plus side, newcomer Euro brings some hungry energy to the intro track “We Alright� and solo cut “Induction Speech.� And Lil Wayne’s solo “Moment� is surprisingly good, almost as much as “6’7�� and getting rid of some of the awful memories of his 2013 music. However, for the most part the album just doesn’t work. Mack Maine is only slightly better than the posse tracks, while Drake and Nicki’s solo tracks are half-hearted. And what’s bad on here is horrible: Lil Twist sounds like a whinier Lil Wayne, and it’s not really a coincidence that all the songs he’s on stink. The production efforts on many tracks are straight-up moronic; and the rap spots on Shanell’s songs sound more like spoofs that forgot they weren’t actually supposed to stink. Most of the tracks on here would be decent if just average, but often at least one thing’s bad enough to kneecap them into mediocrity.

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)RVWHU WKH 3HRSOHҋV DPELWLRQ SD\V RII 6KDNLUDҋV ODWHVW GLVDSSRLQWV %\ 7KRPDV .HQGULFN Just about everyone knows the tune to Foster the People’s 2011 single “Pumped up Kicks,” and its debut album Torches was well received with 80s synths and high-ranging vocals from Mark Foster, who wrote jingles for Honey Bunches of Oats before founding the band. Three years later, Foster the People has released its sophomore album Supermodel, which builds upon the foundation laid out in their first record, while stepping out of the box creatively. Unlike Torches, Supermodel is a much more guitar-based, angrier album about capitalistic greed. Don’t be mistaken; this is still the cheerfulsounding band that can hide dark lyrics within a poppy beat and melody. The introductory track on the album “Are You What You Want To Be?” could be mistaken for a song off of Torches with its poppy chorus and catchy melody, but despite its evident lack of innovation, it’s one of the best songs on the album and starts the record off well. Much of the album deals with Foster’s growth and the knowledge he’s gained now that he is older and wiser. “Ask Yourself” is such an example; he says ambition isn’t bad as long as you’re chasing the right dreams. Its acoustic guitar combined with bass synths sound fresh, and the chorus, like in most tracks on Supermodel, brings everything together and is just plain good. After “Pumped Up Kicks,” it was widely debated whether Foster the People would continue to create hit albums or fade from relevance. Mark Foster has proven that Torches was not a fluke, and Supermodel is definitely worth the same attention.

%\ $QGUHZ /LP There are certain celebrities whom you forget exist for long periods of time until they are brought back into the spotlight by some obtuse means. It happened to Justin Timberlake and now Shakira. The Colombian singer was brought back to my attention as a coach on “The Voice.” Excited to see more from the artist of “Hips Don’t Lie,” I gave her 10th album SHAKIRA a listen, and honestly, hearing its standard-pop sound, I’m disappointed. And that’s not a lie. “You Don’t Care About Me” has some of the strongest writing on the album. Put to a dark, reggae beat, the lyrics describe a selfish man who doesn’t care about Shakira at all. Descriptions of the relationship are very specific; Shakira “fold[s] your T-shirt” and “strip[s] your bed.” She pours wine for him when “you say you’re thirsty.” But “there’s no appreciation.” I really feel the frustration when Shakira pointedly sings how “you don’t care about me” or how “you don’t care if I die.” I feel herregretwith“[I]nevershouldhavehelpedyoubecomesopowerful.”Inaddition, I really love the song’s dark tone, its simple structure and the horns in the bridge. I respect Shakira for making such a personal album, but personal doesn’t equal good writing. This album is riddled with lame metaphors and terrible lyrics that don’t compare to her past works. Many herald SHAKIRA as the Colombian artist’s restoration to her pop-rock roots. Again, I respect Shakira for this artistic move, but there’s a reason why I like the more reggae songs here; in a world of poppy, rocky female artists and male indie pop bands, Shakira’s Latin vibes would have been a breath of fresh air. SHAKIRA is a good album, with several good, exciting songs. It’s just that much of it is a complete bore.

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The Jim Melia Memorial Scholarship The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse and the family of Jim Melia are very pleased to announce the establishment of ‘The Jim Melia Memorial Scholarship’ for both new and returning college students that have served at The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, either as a performer in Stars of Tomorrow or the Broadway on Brevard productions, a musician or a member of the production team. Each scholarship will be a one-time $1,000 award and may be used at any college or university in which the student has been accepted or is currently enrolled.

The scholarship applications and criteria for applying are available both online at www.cocoavillageplayhouse.com or may be obtained directly at The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse Box Office, 300 Brevard Avenue in downtown Cocoa Village The deadline for applying this year is June 30, 2014. All applications must be postmarked by this date. The recipient(s) will be announced at the 25th Season Announcement Party, July 12, 2014 at the King Center for the Performing Arts.

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BBN Vol. 31 No. 24

June 17, 2013

Brevard

Business

News

$1.00 A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine printed in Brevard County, Florida since 1984

The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse establishes a foundation By Ken Datzman

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