August 2012 issue

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WILDCATS GO VOTE BY MILLIE ROSASCO

theroar Voice of the Students

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13 Cat Tales

Letters, surveys, tweets and more

Summer Ball: Recapping of the most major sports news

5 Staff Editorial

Chick-Fil-A controversy blown out of proportion

14 Starting Fresh

New coaches revolutionize cross country

6 Politics

Aaelkhya Tenali’s advice on fulfilling civic duty

7 Education

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Dana Brown gives FCAT no mercy

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The Class of 2002 reminisces at the school’s first reunion

ON THE COVER: Illustration by Jack Dickens for The Roar

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8 Becoming Politically Active Discontented, seniors talk about politics and entering the world of voting by Millie Rosasco

15 Operation Homecoming The staff reviews the basic phases it takes to get through one of the biggest missions of the school year 18 Around the World Students recount international travels from the summer

Old-school acts welcomed by younger generation

21 Sam Wells

A closer look at the senior artist’s vision

22 Clone Craze

Book Review of “Beta� — A love story that leaves you wanting more

22 Love/Hate

Opinions on Netflix, Pandora and Instagram

by Keiran Sheridan, Stephanie Everest and Brittany Cho

HuntingtonHelps.com Š2012 Huntington Mark, LLC. Independently Owned and Operated. SAT and PSAT are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board. ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. The College Entrance Examination Board and ACT, Inc. were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this program. *Offer valid for Academic Evaluation or Tuition, new students only. Not valid with any other offer.

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,QER[ *HQHUDWLRQ 6HOĂ€VK How come people wish they could save the world but can’t actually take a moment to get it done? How come materialistic possessions are valued above human lives? The most simple answer is that this generation is selfish. But you, my friend, are a part of this club called “humanity.â€? Americans alone spend an annual $10 billion on Christmas festivities. For only half of this amount, clean water can be supplied to every single person on Earth. It simply takes one small act of compassion to create a change in this world. The moments worth remembering come from the indescribable joy of putting selfishness aside to help one another. Valuing compassion and relationships help put the greater picture into perspective. So, just for a moment, free your mind from the chains that bind dreams to the ground and consider what you truly can do to make a difference in this world. You’ll find that it’s really not that hard, and that it really just begins with one person at a time. %JBOB 4IFFEZ UI (SBEF

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*RVVLS *LUO I’ve noticed that my peers obsess over Hollywood buzz like Miley Cyrus’s new pixie-cut, rather than news that influences lives. It’s disappointing to recognize that while teenagers get caught in gossip, media is encouraging that habit. With the powers of communication, I believe teenagers are so accustomed to taking part in gossip that they’re ignorant of important topics. If we keep up this technological game, our hopes of being well-informed will become slim. Maybe it’s time to consider the people we’ll grow to be. "CCZ ,BXB UI (SBEF

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“My favorite word is currently ascertain.� - Paula Kostro, 11 “I’m only a third of the way through one of my assignments and I’ve already used five sheets of notebookpaper.� - Eran Del Castillo, 12

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&KLFN )LO $ GHEDFOH LV DQ RYHUHDFWLRQ For a country that proudly affirms its rights to free speech and expression, it sure is surprising to see its outrage at a man for voicing his opinions. This man is none other than Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-Fil-A, a popular franchise known for its conservative views. When appearing on the Ken Coleman show, Cathy elaborated on his distaste for same-sex marriage, stating that he saw it as a challenge to God to “shake our fist at him and say, ‘we know better than you do as to what constitutes a marriage.’� However, one must ask if all of the frenzied protests and demonstrations at the company’s 1,600 restaurants are an acceptable reaction to the statements made by one man. If one is vilified by the media and condemned by the public for simply sharing his personal belief on an issue, then how can America claim to champion its blazing ideal of free speech? What power does the Bill of Rights confer to an individual if he is publicly berated for a singular

controversial statement made only upon being prompted? Same-sex marriage has long been a heated topic, but the issue at hand here is not about the definition of marriage, but the hype created by the media and public’s overreaction. While Cathy’s statements may be regarded as intolerant, the company as a whole cannot be held accountable by any justifiable means. It has neither discriminated against gay customers, nor denied employment to them. So, how are the boycotting, extreme criticism and the same-sex kisses warranted or even sensible reactions to Cathy’s opinions? If we pride ourselves in being an educated society, then it’s time that we stop making fools of ourselves, as we have done by swallowing the distorted pills given by the media. It’s time that we learn to educate ourselves so that when the time comes, the position we take on an issue is a reflection of our individual and not that of the most accessible news channel.

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$ *XLGH WR WKH (OHFWLRQ 9RWHUV QHHG WR EH LQIRUPHG EHIRUH WKH\ IXOÀOO WKHLU FLYLF GXW\ As President Barack Obama leads the polls with 46 percent of pledged votes in Florida, to Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s 42 percent, it is crucial for students to become politically aware of the issues that will decide their immediate future. Chiefly, the issue of education is gaining greater prominence as the candidates battle to win the undecided states. Despite the commonly held rift between Democratic and Republican paradigms, Obama and Romney’s proposals don’t vary that much. Both champion Race to the Top, a program with stringent guidelines for adopting standardized benchmarks and turning around low-performing schools. This translates to an increased number of standardized tests, the replacement of FCAT with end-of-course exams, and a required level of improvement in performance every academic year. Such a change in policy will cause huge ripples across schools in America, changing the entire focus of classes and their course requirements. While increased standardized testing isn’t necessarily a better route to improving the quality of America’s education, it definitely will imply a curriculum shift that teaches to the test rather than covering a more holistic syllabus. It remains to be seen as to what new educational standards will be put into effect in order to decide when they further or hinder the goal of improving the standard of education. Another key election issue involves the ongoing Social Security feud between the two parties. It seems like an irrelevant issue to a high school student, but in reality it impacts and will impact each and

every one of us. Those who already have a job are currently paying 6.2 percent of their income in social security taxes. Why? To help fund a system that provides for elderly citizens as they retire. The Democrats view this as a humanitarian and

$VVHVVPHQW PRGHO VWUDLQV V\VWHPҋV FUHGDEOLW\ you receive from your part-time job but also casts a shadow of uncertainty over your future financial matters. The fate of the American economy is the most central 2012 election issue. With the national unemployment still at a stagnant 8 percent and the debt steadily climbing past $15.7 billion, there is much cause to worry. College tuition is escalating as bright futures scholarships and institutional aid are dwindling. Gas prices have been given a brief respite but numerous factors ranging from domestic energy policies to foreign conflicts can change these

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morally obligatory program and champion it as a part of redistributing wealth, while the Republicans have staunch criticism for this overburdened system. You should understand that as the baby boomer generation (oldest around 66 years old) begins to retire, the demand for social security funds is rapidly depleting the existing reserves. Continued implementation of the program will demand sharp increases in social security taxes, which in turn will significantly cut more into a person’s income. This not only can mean a change in the monthly salary

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prices in an instant. The bottom line for this election asks the following question. Do We want a president who will treat America’s precarious situation from a CEO standpoint with economic and marketing philosophies or someone who is more inspirational and can connect with the population to make policies together? The answer to this crucial question has a big impact on all of our lives, so it is important to be politically aware of the surrounding issues and to understand them in order to be an educated and successful citizen.

FCAT. Four letters that strike fear into the heart of innocent schoolchildren. They speak of questions designed to baffle and essay prompts blander than tofu, of desperately trying to figure out what the question-writer or essay judge wants to hear rather than answering based on knowledge. This year has been no exception, despite—and in some cases because of—changes to the FCAT. In a somewhat backwards model, schools that do better on the FCAT get more funding, while schools that need help are left hanging. While taking funding from highperforming schools provides a very bad incentive, low-performing schools can’t just be abandoned to stew in their own failure. It’d be nice to have some reward for schools doing well, but funding should not be dependent on test scores. Funding based on a school’s needs might help improve low-performing schools without ignoring high-performing ones. FCAT is meant to help evaluate teachers along with schools, but according to NPR, State Impact Florida, and the Miami Herald, the formula to do so is so complicated “not even an advanced calculus teacher and former college math major can figure it out,” and it fails to include important factors such as poverty, which many studies confirm to have a negative effect on students’ academic performance. FCAT Writing this year was a fiasco. Twenty-seven percent of fourth-graders passed the FCAT Writing in 2012, as compared with 81 percent the year before. According to the Miami Herald, the state switched back to having two people grade each essay instead of one and asked graders to pay more attention to “accurate punctuation, grammar and the quality of word choice and relevance.” Now, another reason for the low test scores could have

essay. It’s not really clear how a student is supposed to support a story about a camel. The anchor paper also lambasts students for explaining how they ended up riding a camel, and the additional focus on word choice gets a little ridiculous: “fun” is cited as vague word choice. Apparently, the BOE expected fourth-graders to say, “My experience with the Camelus dromedarius was quite diverting.” It’s just surprising that the graders didn’t take points off 6RXUFH %ULWWDQ\ &KR if students were unable to distinguish between Asian and African camels. Besides FCAT Writes, 10th graders 3KRWR %ULWWDQ\ &KR were required to take their Reading been simply the confounding prompts. FCAT digitally this year (apparently math Fourth-graders were asked to write about a FCATs fell off the bandwagon somewhere, time they rode a camel. How many fourthbut one less math test is always cause for graders have actually ridden a camel? Yes, students can make something up or stretch celebration). However, the 10th grade FCAT took a step further down the road the prompt—one fourth-grader wrote of “doing-anything-constructive-whenabout a time her father rode a camel—but you’re-finished-is-cheating” by requiring receiving such an eclectic prompt is bound students to wait not only until everyone in to throw students off. the class had finished but until everyone Of course, a bad prompt can’t account in the school was finished to retrieve their for the entire drop in scores, or the similar belongings so that they could read or results for eighth- and 10th-graders, study. It’s flattering, actually, for the BOE whose prompts, though insipid, at least to attribute such Mission Impossible-esque made sense. The simple fact that the stealth to students. Florida Board of Education seems to have The digital testing also gives rise to overlooked is that tougher tests don’t some problems, though it’s as good as can magically make students smarter. The be expected. There’s the usual gamut of scores dropped by quite a lot, but the test computer-related issues—sore eyes, back got quite a lot harder. Examination of the strain, etc.—plus the fact that sooner or essay-graders’ training materials shows later, some clever kid is going to figure out that this year’s average fourth-grade score how to Google answers while taking the of 2 is about on a par with last year’s 4. test. This doesn’t necessarily mean that The thing that jumps out the most in the anchor papers is that they say development digital testing should be abolished: West Shore is building a new computer lab to of support is inadequate for a narrative address the multiple-sessions problem, many kids are accustomed to long hours on the computer anyway, and as long as students find new ways to cheat, educators will find ways to stop them. However, problems with the FCAT deserve careful consideration to prevent future fiascos.

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News Feed Politics

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Approval Ratings for 2012 Election

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urning 18 means being eligible for no curfew, buying lottery tickets, and, for students blowing out the birthday candles before Oct. 9, entrance to adulthood includes the option of voting in November’s presidential election. This senior class will be making history not only as the biggest West Shore has ever graduated, but 22 students will be eligible to vote in the 56th presidential election. “When I voted in the primaries, I couldn’t remember who I was voting for because there were so many names on the ballot,� senior Drew Davis said. “So I actually called my dad while I was in the voting booth. I figured it was allowed because, honestly, what could they do – think I was cheating on the ballot?� Fellow senior Andy Dietz has mixed emotions about what voting for the first time will be like Nov. 6. “I picture giving my drivers license to someone who mistook Election Day for the Fourth of July,� Dietz said. “I’ll probably hold up the line from all the weird looks I’ll get because even though I’ll feel grown up, I’ll still look 13. I’ll finally make it to the voting booth and I’ll end up second-guessing myself even though I’ll know who I plan to vote for before I get there.� Voters ages 18-29 typically have the power to change election outcomes. In 2008, if the majority of the youth vote had gone to Republican John McCain, the country could be drastically different, a fact not lost on senior Stephanie Delgado. “I plan to vote,� she said. “I feel that not voting is being ignorant of America’s great democracy. Not to take advantage of our freedom to help decide on government issues here is awful when so many other countries don’t have that privilege.� The New York Times has named Florida one of eight “Swing States,� making voices of the popular votes louder than those of states such as Democratic-dominated California or Republican-dominated Texas.

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August September

Republicans Recent Election Results

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Senior Ciera Misner said all who are knowledgeable about politics should let their voices be heard. “I think everyone who is of age to vote should, as long as they’re politically educated,� Misner said. “If they are voting for a candidate only because they’re a certain age, gender or race, then they shouldn’t bother voting.� The youth vote isn’t projected to be as influential as it was in 2008. According to Best Online Colleges, 48 percent of young voters say they would prefer Obama to win, compared with 66 percent in 2008. Advanced Placement U.S. History

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teacher Jim Pustay said compared to the 2008 election, high school students and new voters aren’t as much of a part of the protesting, politically active scene. “Young people don’t have much incentive to vote,� Pustay said. “They’re disappointed because Obama said that he was going to change politics, but nothing changed. Since then, the kids who are now eligible to vote have somehow become connected to the recession – tightening of money, higher gas prices. This is making this year’s election more about the economy and jobs. In 2008, it was a lot more about rights and ending the war. We were just getting into

identifying the recession.� Davis said it’s important for every voter to tune out the negative politics and decide for themselves, based on key issues, who they will vote for. “I’m not really happy with either of the candidates,� Davis said. “The only reason I’m considering voting for Romney is because he said he would be repealing Obamacare. It puts more doctors into primary care, rather than letting them specialize. Becoming a doctor requires 12 to 16 years of schooling and under Obamacare, they’re not getting paid what they would normally get paid. Romney also would be replacing it with his own health care system which I wouldn’t want either.

Maybe I’ll vote for a third party candidate like Gary Johnson.� Dietz said four years is not long enough for a person to get America out of it current economic hole. “People have just looked to [Obama] as someone to blame,� Dietz said. “Given another four years, I believe that he will be able to turn things around. Four years is too short a time to change a country.� Issues that voters say are important can strongly influence their choice of candidate. “I think the most important issues are a good balance between stimulating our economy and keeping a good relationship with other countries based on trade,�

(OHFWLRQ %UHDNGRZQ $V WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO FDPSDLJQ FRQWLQXHV FDQGLGDWHV UHPDLQ FORVH LQ DSSURYDO UDWLQJV OHIW JUDSKLF 7KH SDVW WKUHH HOHFWLRQV DUH EURNHQ GRZQ E\ SHUFHQWDJHV RI SDUW\ YRWHV Delgado said. “I think that the social issues like gay marriage, abortion and ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ are important, but they can be settled by compromise.� Davis said he has respect for young voters who choose not to vote than for those who vote for the candidate with the most signs. “Once I heard this woman talking about how she goes and votes for all the women on the ballot because they’re women,� he said.

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News Feed West Shore

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%\ $QGUHZ /LP Staring intently at her computer, sophomore Katherine Morgan clicks away at her driver’s ed online course. Morgan is one of 37 students who will be using the school’s new computer lab to take Brevard County online courses this semester. “All secondary schools are getting ‘fitted’ for a lab but may have to provide their own machines,” Principal Rick Fleming said. “The Office of Curriculum and Instruction is providing the funds by shifting some money from other sources.” Beginning with this year’s sophomores, all future students must take at least one online class during their high school careers according to the new statemandated graduation requirement. While the school must allow students to complete the course on campus — because some students might not have access to their own computers — those who take an online class during school hours may not work on that course at home. “We are trying to work out a schedule for students to rotate through to meet the state requirement,” Fleming said. “We want to ensure that students meet this graduation requirement first.” Renovations to convert Room 5-101, the old HOPE room, into a new lab began in late June. “The computers are already here because we’re planning to bring the computers from around the school,” Assistant Principal Jim Melia said. “But the lab hasn’t had the updates needed for more electricity and data. That’s planned for Sept. 17 to 20.” Students currently scheduled for the new lab go to the media center instead, where they work on their classes while waiting for the lab to be finished. “I’m mad that the state made this new requirement but not the means to do it yet,” Morgan said. “It’s really irritating.” Melia said the delays have to do with the district’s new purchase order system. “The district couldn’t get the bids [for the updates] officially approved until later,” he

%\ %UDG\ .HOVH\ said. “It wasn’t just West Shore, though. All the other high schools were in the same boat.” According to Melia, the school district originally planned to build two computer labs, but budget restrictions limited it to one. “From my understanding, the other lab was supposed to be used for several other things, such as end-of-course testing,” he said. Last year’s new assessment brought many problems. Computer glitches delayed students, and the revolving schedule included many classroom changes and silent bells. The district also shut down the school’s wireless network to boost Internet access for all the test computers at once. “A lot of people’s computers, including

summer, is optimistic about the new lab. “I think it will be for the most part beneficial,” Kalvan said. “Taking [online] courses outside of school subtracted from my free time.” Online courses are cheaper than traditional courses because they don’t require as many teachers and materials other than a computer. In addition, Fleming said the new labs are to help the tech-savvy standards learn better. “Digital or E-learning is simply another avenue to engage the digital generation,” he said. “Money may be a sidebar factor but is not the sole source for the transition from what I believe.” But Kalvan expressed mixed feelings about online learning. “I think I could have gotten more work done in a classroom,” she said. “In a lot of cases, having a personal faceto-face teacher is better. There are both pros and cons, but I think this system will serve the school well.” Other problems could arise if students use the new lab for online courses. Because the HOPE room is being converted into the new lab, HOPE has to migrate into other classrooms, sometimes those of teachers who have planning. Another problem is that students could have nothing to do if they finish their online courses before the year ends. ,OOXVWUDWLRQ -DFN 'LFNHQV “The thing is our kids could finish 3DUDGR[ 6WXGHQWV DUH LQFUHDVLQJO\ [the courses] quickly because [they] RSWLQJ WR WDNH FRXUVHV VXFK DV +23( can work at their own pace,” Melia said. RQOLQH UDWKHU WKDQ GR SK\VLFDO ZRUN LQ D Fleming agrees, worrying about the speed WUDGLWLRQDO FODVV at which advanced students finish. “Some students work faster than others, so space may open up quicker than we mine, would skip questions. I’d be on [expect],” he said. “We simply do not know [question] 2, then be on 4, then click to go yet because it is so new.” back, and be on 1,” junior Josephine Travis But according to freshman Avi Patel, the said. “Also, teachers didn’t seem to even benefits outweigh the problems. entirely know what days were and weren’t “Now this will allow me more time to do bell [schedule] or CAP or what.” other things like play during the summer Sophomore Emma Kalvan, who took and not worry about taking the class,” Patel HOPE and other courses online during the said.

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A group of 28-year-olds, most with thriving careers and some with children of their own, returned to campus this summer a decade after leaving their high-school. The first graduating class in school history, the Class of 2002, held its 10-year reunion, bringing together former classmates from places including Germany, Korea, Colorado and California. Class President Kari Bearss and Christina Stephenson coordinated the effort. To start the preparation for the reunion,

10 years. “The funny part was about nine or 10 of us ended up at Steak n’ Shake to end the night,” Mehta said. “We all got milkshakes and had a good time.” Bearss said her three years as a catering major helped her plan the event because she knew what needed to be done so she didn’t stress out the night of the party. Following the reunion kickoff, on June 30, the Oaks Courtyard in Melbourne held a formal dinner and dance for the 2002

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7UHQG VHWWHUV $OXPQL PHHW XS DW 3HOLFDQ %HDFK 3DUN RQ 6XQGDU\ IRU DQ RXWGRRU JULOO DQG D ÀQDO JRRGE\H the two made a Facebook page around February 2011 that more than 70 people “liked.” They sent out invitations in April after finally finding the missing information from more than 20 people. Beginning on June 29, the Class of 2002 kicked off its reunion at The Mansion resturant in Melbourne. Raj Mehta said the kickoff brought memories back of people he hadn’t seen in

alumni. An attendee of the second night, David Gould said he enjoyed seeing different people although it was a bit awkward after the “hi – how are yous’.” “Besides the obvious — some got skinnier, some got fatter — the majority of people hadn’t changed” Gould said. “For the most part they all have the same personalities.” At the dinner, a time capsule from the 2002 senior picnic was opened and revealed items reflecting interests and ideas from a decade ago.

Sherie Jenkins, a science teacher who has taught at West Shore since its founding in 1998, said she enjoyed catching up with former students. “It was very exciting to see them, after all, they were the first class to graduate from a brand new concept — a ‘School of Choice’,” Jenkins said. “There were no traditions, no Powderpuff, no Wildcat Challenge, and no history of success. They were groundbreakers. Many of them looked just the same, just more confident and professional. The surprising part of the reunion was how happy they were to see their teachers. They told me that with Facebook, they still felt connected to their classmates.” To close the reunion weekend, families gathered at Pelican Beach Park in Satellite Beach for a Sunday picnic. Bearss said she was pleased with the turnout. “The downfall of it was that I’d really like to have seen more of the teachers,” she said. The first West Shore class reunion left current student pondering what their reunions might look lilke. Junior Bailey Coolican said she pictures her reunion as a big party where everyone is having fun like ‘the good ole’ days.’ “I definitely think the boys will be more attractive once they are finally mature,” Coolican said. “It’d be cool if the slackers actually turn out to be successful.” Senior Olivia Escandell had mixed concerns regarding her far-off reunion. “I hope that no one ends up in jail,” she said, “and that we are all successful.” In a side note: Ryan Anders, a student of the 2002 class who attened the reunion was hit by a car and is in critical condition. There is a Facebook page, ‘Randers for Life’, with more than 600 likes from his supporters. This page keeps everyone up to date on the condition. The Class of 2002 has put together fundraisers and has been active in helping his family and visiting him in the long-term care unit.

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Quick quiz for you sports and history buffs! Who said this quote? “Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates.� OK, I can give you a hint. When he said it, it was MAGICal. Anybody? OK, OK, it was Earvin “Magic� Johnson, Hall of Fame Lakers point guard, one of the five best basketball players who have ever lived. OK, the history lesson is over, on to the column. We left off back in May, and not a whole lot was happening in the sports world. The NBA Playoffs were happening and baseball season was starting, but not much else. But oh, what a summer it has been. As if the Tim Tebow saga and the Dwightmare didn’t consume enough media, you had the Summer Olympics and LeBron James’ championship quest. Just locally, you have enough storylines to fill an entire newspaper. I’ll try and flash through the biggest headlines, and if you want more in depth sports info, send me a letter. I would love to hear from a competent sports fan. On June 21 the self-annointed King, LeBron James, finally won his elusive first NBA Championship, leading the Miami Heat along with the other two “Amigos� Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, to basketball glory. They knocked off Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. Many people will criticize LeBron for his “Decision� two summers ago when he “took his talents to South Beach�, and the fallout from it was evident in his first season when he failed again to win a championship. It is time, however, to accept this man as a legend. He is arguably the greatest to ever play the game, and he has repented for his sins. The man is a philanthropist, a genuinely good guy, and finally, he’s a champion. Let’s take a breather and I’ll recap the few

Paterno, following his death, has had his reputation trashed and his statue removed. The penalties imposed upon the school were unprecedented, and hopefully we’ll never see as sick and disgusting of a scenario as the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal ever again. The Olympics came next this summer, and they were positively fantastic. I was glued to the TV for two weeks, captivated by Lochte vs. Phelps, then the ever-bubbly Missy Franklin, the inspiring Oscar Pistorius, and the gymnastics “Fab Five�, led by Gabby “Smiles� Douglas and my personal favorite, McKayla Maroney. American men may have fallen short of expectations in London, but if the American women were a country, they would have been behind only China and Great Britain for the most gold medals at the summer games. Oh, and if you didn’t already know this, Usain Bolt can fly. If I were a betting man, I’d take Bolt over Secretariat, Seabiscuit and I’ll Have Another, combined. The final sports story made me chuckle, while simultaneously sending a dagger through the hearts of Orlando Sports fans. It’s only been a year since the Magic built a new arena (on the taxpayers’ dime, no less) and promised to build a dynasty around Superman, 6RXUFH &UHDWLYH &RPPRQV D12, Dwight Howard. He was the summer of sports that West Shore-ians biggest celebrity in Orlando since Mickey care about. In one of the most amazing Mouse, but he wanted out. So Orlando runs in NHL History, the LA Kings won decided to cut their losses and deal the the Stanley Cup. In Major League Baseball, Steel Man to the Lakers. What did they the All Star Game bored everyone to tears, and the Miami Marlins sold all of their best receive in return? Magic fans close your ears here; they received Arron Afflalo, players for very little, nothing out of the Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic and some ordinary. draft picks that will likely never amount to In other sports news, Tim Tebow is a anything. member of the New York Jets: he’s still If he continues on this path, his next a lousy quarterback, and the media still stop will be with the Miami Heat. First won’t leave him alone. he leaves, then he goes to your arch-rival, Saddening news from not-so-Happy sounds like a rough existence for Magic Valley this summer, as the Penn State fans. Music to my Heat-loving ears. scandal took huge turns for the worse. Joe

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xcitement fills the lungs of the cross-country team as it takes their first breath of summer air and step out onto the roads of Brevard County to begin the summer base training routine in preparation for the upcoming season in the fall. “This summer I’m planning in putting in a lot of miles to form a solid base in order to be at peak performance for next season,� senior varsity captain Jacob Smithe said. “I’ll be building up to a maximum of maybe 80-85 miles a week for a total of I’m thinking around 700 miles this summer.� Although there are several self-motivated runners on the team, an experienced and dedicated coach is essential to the success of the program. With luck on their side, the team has acquired three new knowledgeable coaches for the approaching season. “I think Greg Hayes, the boys’ coach, is going to be a good asset to the team with his dedication and knowledge making up for experience,� Smithe said. “Also, from what I hear the girls’ coaches are certified cross-country coaches, so it seems to me like all of our bases are covered in that area and a successful season awaits us.� Hayes participated in track and field at DeLaura Junior High and Satellite High School, where he ran sprints and relays but specialized in the long jump and triple jump. He developed his interest for longdistance running and the sport of crosscountry in 2009 when he decided to sign up for a racing series with his sons, where they competed in local 5K races. “After attending a summer track camp at the University of Florida, I was fortunate enough to win first place in the triple jump at the state meet,� Hayes said. “Once my sons and I became involved with the local 5k races, we developed more of a competitive drive and we decided that we would like to take the sport even further.

I began educating myself through reading books and talking with some of the elite runners and high school coaches in the area. I haven’t coached at the high school level but have been coaching my boys using the knowledge I gained over the past four years.� On the girls’ side, Tracy Simso and Andy Dutra are in the brainstorming process

for the success for the team. Since all of the coaches this year work outside of the school, they won’t have the means to make it to daily afternoon practices. Additionally, morning practices have some definite advantages such as cool temperatures and free time after school. Apart from the lack of motivation to run expressed among many in the summer,

7DNLQJ &KDUJH 5XQQLQJ ZLWK WKH SDFN VHQLRU /XNH 5HGLWR VSULQWV WR JHW DKHDG GXU LQJ ODVW \HDUŇ‹V PHHW DJDLQVW 3DOP %D\ +LJK 6FKRRO for the girls’ team as the upcoming season quickly approaches. Soon after becoming certified coaches, they organized a meeting/run in attempt to become familiar with the team and get them into a regular running routine. “From what I hear, the coaches intend to have regular practice in the mornings instead of the afternoons this season,â€? Smithe said. Although making it to school an extra two hours early will be a challenge for some—especially those who live far away—morning practices are necessary

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there are few exceptions to the case. For example, for the past few summers now varsity senior Luke Redito has been training with Holy Trinity, a 13-time state champion team in order to push himself to improve. “It really helps having a group of motivated individuals to train with who are all focused on achieving the same goal – to get faster,� Redito said. “In addition to the great training atmosphere, Coach, Doug Butler is open to allowing athletes from all over Brevard County to come train with his

team in the offseason. He even has set up his own camp, called ‘Set Goals Not Limits,’ where individuals of all shapes and sizes can participate in order to get in shape or train for an upcoming race.� Hayes recommends Butler’s camp to the entire cross-country team in attempt to get everyone outside running during the summer. Hayes and former Coach Jason Whitworth even got their own kids involved in the camp. “I understand the importance of training in the offseason, as it ensures ones conditioning going into the upcoming cross-country season,� Hayes said. “I must say that participation so far this summer has been great. Many of the runners are participating in the “Set Goals Not Limits�

&RROLQJ 'RZQ :LWK KHU IULHQGV VHQLRU 6DUDK 'D\ HQMR\V WKH XQLTXH HQYLURPHQW running camp and have been joining me during the Saturday morning group runs.� Workouts during the season will build on the conditioning that was developed over the summer and will consist of long runs, intervals and speed work with a goal of peaking towards the end of the season. “Runners coming into the season in shape will benefit the most from the workouts and will likely have the best chance of competing at the highest level,� Hayes said. “I’m also working on a race schedule that will be competitive, fun and

one that will ultimately prepare us for success during the post season meets.� Several runners, such as Jacob Smithe, Lexi Krehbiel and Sarah Day, should stand out throughout the upcoming season, as they are working hard to stay in an organized training schedule to improve their times. “With this season being my last chance at a shot for a scholarship to run at the collegiate level, I’m staying as focused as possible on my goals throughout the summer,� Redito said. “I’m planning on averaging between about 60 to 80 miles a week for a total of a 1000 mile summer.� A majority of the runners have their eyes set high with the season approaching — some sticking to old training that

coaches arises from a different reason. “This past season, my son Christian ran cross country for West Shore,� Hayes said. “As a parent, I got involved by attending the board meetings, fundsraisers, a few practices and the team pasta parties. At the races, I would talk to the runners and give them encouragement before, during and after the race. Throughout all of this, I really got to know many of the runners including Coach Whitworth. I never considered coaching until Coach Whitworth asked me if I would be interested in applying for the position.� Although Hayes will mainly focus on coaching the boys’ team with Coach Simso and Coach Dutra coaching the girls’ side, they will each contribute to

&KDUJLQJ $KHDG ,Q D VSULQW WR RYHU WDNH KLV RSSRQHQW VHQLRU -DFRE 6PLWKH SXVKHV IRZDUG DW D PHHW has worked in the past, and others experimenting with new techniques in attempt to enhance their overall performance. “I’ve been trying to do 40 to 50 miles per week and really do quality miles, so I’m very tired after every run and I get a lot better,� varsity junior, Lexie Krehbiel said. “I’m hoping it’s a great season and that my times improve from last year.� Although the the new coaches all have a great deal of interest and experience with the sport, their incentive to become

the entire team based on their areas of expertise with the sport and with coaching in general. Hayes intends to be in charge of the meet schedule, configuring the workout schedule for the team, as well as constructing prerace strategies. “I met Andy and Tracy through competing in the local 5K races and have a lot of respect for the knowledge and enthusiasm they bring to the sport,� Hayes said. “Together, we will leverage our talents and knowledge to continue building the Cross Country program.�

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5RFN RI $JHV 6WDUV RI WKH SDVW DWWUDFW D QHZ JHQHUDWLRQ RI IDQV %\ 1DWKDQLHO &XUWLV Early this summer, rock enthusiasts in the Chicago area marked July 5 on their calendars. On that day, at dusk, the lights in the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater flashed off suddenly, paired with growing roars from the crowd. A slow, melodic guitar faded in for a few seconds, followed by silence. Then from the back, fireworks shot up as Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickenson leaped from a stage monitor toward the crowd, shouting, “Scream for me Chicago!� The metal band, made famous in the early 80s, is one of many them current students’ parents may have listened to in high school. Iron Maiden paired with Alice Cooper for a North American tour, as did many other of these “classic rock� bands. “This year is a huge one for rock,� senior Alex St. Pierre-Pesant said before the end of school in May. “There are so many great tours going on this summer. The Rolling Stones are even playing, and this is probably their last big tour, so I hope I can get out and see them.� Two-thousand-twelve was a big year for these bands, as well as young enthusiasts. There were more tours for rock bands than any other year since the turn of the millennium, according to livenation.com. “Van Halen was brilliant,� senior Sam Edwards said as he walked out of the Amway Arena after seeing the band perform. “I took advantage of the tours this year. I saw Boston early in the summer, and I’m seeing Def Leppard and Poison after school starts up.� Pesant and Edwards enjoy the same genre of music and often go with each other to see some of these concerts. “I saw Journey, Foreigner and Night Ranger last summer with Sam,� St. PierrePesant said. “The huge stadium was completely filled. It’s kind of crazy that the fans stick around so long. Some of those guys are getting pretty old, but they’re still partying like it’s 1989. People were singing with the band, playing air guitar, banging their heads and jumping around.�

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Many of the older attendees were parents to others at the shows, reliving the days when they were fans as rock bands were releasing their debut albums. “Both of my parents listen to most of the bands I do,� Edwards said. “I may have gotten into rock because of the fact I heard it on the radio when I was growing up, and it stuck, but now I listen to bands on my own or get recommendations from my friends. And it may be embarrassing for

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Myself.’ He is known for his vocals though, and although he is getting up there in years, his show was excellent.� Junior Natalia Marmol shares the appreciation for rock, and although she didn’t attend any of the older bands’ shows this summer, she wishes she could have. “I love rock music.� Marmol said. “Attending concerts is so much better than just listening to your iPod because the sound quality is amazing and you’re with all of these other people who love the same music you do.� Robert Kuykendall, famously known as Bobby Dall, knows the true meaning of rock and roll. He is the bassist for the band Poison and a resident of Indialantic. Dall left with Poison in May to tour with Def Leppard. “I get asked if playing the same songs over and over bothers me,� Dall said. “The answer is no. I helped write some of the songs, and they are like a part of me. A lot goes into each one, just like a lot goes into every show we play.� Dall, who formed Poison in 1983 with his bandmates, never tired of the fame that his music brought him. “I love it when fans recognize me, especially younger ones,� Dall said. “I don’t mind signing autographs and talking for a bit. It’s refreshing and it always improves my day when I meet people who truly love the music that I helped create.� With the big concert season coming to a close, all that is left for rock fanatics to do is cheer loudly for an encore. Iron Maiden’s closing song “Running Free� was about the soul and the spirit that rock represents. More than five minutes after the band had left the venue, and the lights had come back on, people were still cheering and shouting the lyrics to their favorite songs. “We need to keep this music alive,� Schroeder said. “Rock is so upbeat, and the way it sounds is indescribable. I don’t understand how a turntable is considered capable of making music. I listen for the spirit and the emotions of rock. Machines have no soul, but rock and roll does.�

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6HQLRU XVHV PXOWLSOH DUW PHGLD WR H[SUHVV KHU FUHDWLYH YLVLRQ %\ 0DGGLH 'LPRQG As senior Sam Wells puts the finishing touches on her sketch of junior Jack Dickens, she plans out how she is going to enhance this image on her computer by adding special effects to it that are not available simply sketching by hand. Wells has a love for mixed media which for her is not just an art form: it is her passion and her future. She looks at mixed media as the ultimate form of expression that allows maximum freedom and creativity. “Mixed media is a type of art that allows the artist to use any kind of art medium together,� Wells said. “For example, I draw a picture, then I scan it on the computer and Photoshop it. After that I can print it and even paint on it more.� Wells says her love of art and graphic design was encouraged by her parents, who supported her both emotionally and financially. “I always had interest in art, so my mom bought me art supplies and fabrics for me to use�, she said. “My dad set me up on Photoshop when I was in the third grade, which helped me get an early start.� Wells participated in a few shows since

taking James Finch’s AP 2D art class last year and recently won first place in her division at the annual Henegar Center Art Show. “It felt nice to have my art recognized as what someone would consider cool�, Wells said. “I was stoked to come to the realization that someone besides me liked what I was doing.� Finch says he is impressed with Wells’ winning piece. “I was extremely proud that Sam received recognition for her work at the Henegar Center,� Finch said. “When an artist wins an award, it usually is a reflection on the effort, skill and talent of the student. The awards are nice, but the true success for my students is that they are actively involved in the art community and are showing their work, building on their confidence and listening to the audience and judges’ response to their art.� However, Wells says she usually avoids competitions because of her aversion to monetary rewards. She says she has even rejected selling some of her pieces due to her attachment to her work.

“The truth is, I don’t like shows because I don’t want to give off the impression that I’m in it for the money,â€? Wells said. “I do art for my love of it, not for the money or recognition.â€? Senior NoĂŤl Schutz says she can understand Wells’ attachment to her art. “Sam is an amazing artist and what sets her apart from everyone else is her ability to find the beauty in things that most people write off,â€? Schutz said. “For example, she loves to draw beards and wrinkles because she sees the complexity in them that most people don’t.â€? Junior Chloe Sink says Wells’ love for art runs deeper than a hobby or a pastime. “With Sam, art is a fascination. Every aspect of a piece means something more than its appearance. That is why Sam loves art,â€? Sink said. “She places all this time into it because she wants to create something unique, something surreal, an escape from the tools of reality. That is Sam’s motive in art.â€? Schutz says she believes in Wells’ plans for the future but also sees more in store for her friend’s art. “I know Sam’s dream is to start a small graphic design business, which I could definitely see her doing,â€? Schutz said. “But at the same time, I really hope she continues with her art because she is a very talented individual and I hope she takes advantage of that.â€? Wells, however, is not so sure of plans for her art career. “When I am making art, I feel really motivated and excited to see how the art turns out,â€? Wells said. “I don’t know if I plan on going to art school or not. Honestly, I am unsure of what I want to major in. I have no plan really, I’m just going with it.â€? Finch says he sees a bright future for Wells. “Talented, intelligent, along with a strong work ethic and motivated,â€? he said. “Samatha Wells is an artistic force that will find or create a life of beauty and happiness.â€?

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It might be sort of missing the point to say that a novel about cloning is slightly lacking in originality, but that’s how the first half of Beta, a new book by Rachel Cohn, goes. The main character is Elysia, a teenage clone — a beta version of the technology, which hasn’t yet been perfected. She lives on Demesne, an island engineered to be a perfect oasis of luxury — even the air and surrounding sea have been altered to product perfect atraxia, or happiness. But this comes at a price: all of the labor on the island is done by clones, replicated from the dead and supposedly unable to feel. Elysia, however, begins to realize that she has emotions, and so do many of her fellow clones, who are horribly oppressed by Demesne’s society. This far, the story’s not very interesting. The question of whether a clone has emotions and should be morally regarded as a real person has been addressed before, and done

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behind his creator’s apparent kindness. However, Beta’s redemption comes with a shocking twist halfway through the book, and from that moment on, it’s a much more interesting story. Previously, Elysia’s experiences with the drug-addicted teens who make the island their home, and particularly her total ignorance of colloquialisms — these people have the technology to create clones and engineer oxygen to automatically make people happy, but they can’t program a clone to recognize sarcasm, wordplay, or figurative language — are really pretty boring. However, the second half of the book is an intense, vibrant tale filled with unexpected changes. I find most teen romances sappy and uninteresting, but the love story in Beta managed to hold my interest, despite the slightly convoluted plot. Though it starts off very slow, Beta ends with a surprise that leaves me eager for the next installment in this series.

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