The Roar Issue 3

theroar Voice of the Students

january 2011

Vampire Weekend continues to pair eclectic, folksy songs with quick-witted lyrics. // See page 8.

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3

West Shore Junior/Senior High School's Student Newspaper • 250 Wildcat Alley • Melbourne, Florida 32935

IN THIS ISSUE NEWS Funding the future

Sophomore class officers have success raising money in advance for when it’s their turn to host Prom. // See page 2.

Brittany Cho News Editor

Can we compete?

Education in the United States is rapidly falling behind in quality when compared to other nations; what is the solution? // See page 3.

Under the influence

Despite what you might have heard, not all peer pressure is negative.

Sometimes it helps students strive for academic excellence. // See page 3.

When the weather gets cold and Ugg boots come out, be wary of the fashion choices you make. // See page 6.

Straps causing stress

Administrators considering new ways to handle dress code and are looking to other schools for help. // See page 2.

LIFESTYLES

Following the famous Students discuss their reasons for idolizing various faces of the entertainment industry. // See page 7.

Stick it: Mattie Shaw

Seventh-grader hopes to take her gymnastics talent to the 2016 Olympics. // See page 7.

SPORTS

Dribbling into winter

College. When senior Ashley Wenger hears this word, the first thing that comes to mind is the excitement of gaining independence, meeting new people and preparing for her future career. As seniors mentally prepare themselves for the year to come, they sometimes forget to consider the process of actually receiving the acceptance letter.

“I’m still waiting to see if I’ll get into all the colleges I applied to,” Wenger said.

Wenger isn’t the only one waiting on her letters of acceptance.

“More and more people are now applying to four-year colleges,” guidance clerk Dixie Thompson said. “So now there’s more people trying to get their things together.”

With the technology of today, most colleges are asking for students to apply online instead of sending their applications through the mail. But submitting multiple forms electronically can result in glitches.

“Personally, I think that it would be easier to receive all of a student’s transcripts, scores, letters of recommendation and everything else in one envelope,” Thompson said. “But colleges don’t want that. They want everything electronically sent.”

However, some colleges including the Florida Institute of Technology require some of their applicants’ information to be mailed in.

“If there’s a glitch in the system, we always have our hard files we can look at,” FIT Admissions Recruiter Allison Glunt said. “We have a system online that tracks what a student has submitted and what they haven’t. Also we have hard

// See PICK, page 4.

Boys’ and girls’ soccer and basketball seasons open with many returning athletes and an improvement in records. // See page 5.

Create college application accounts online

Fill out basic information and choose a major

Look over application and submit for review

Read prompts and complete essays, if any

Transcripts received by admissions office

Transcripts not received by admissions office

Await decision (from two weeks to six months)

Have transcripts resent, make sure received

If accepted

If denied

Continue to pay necessary fees for admissions, housing, etc.

Apply elsewhere, await other decisions, community college.

District OKs online newspaper The Roar will pilot website program for Brevard County Schools Lucia Baglivio Managing Editor

CONNECT

Music film disappoints “Burlesque” relies on powerful vocal chords, mediocre acting and an unoriginal plot for movie theater success. // See page 8.

1-3 Opinions 4 Lifestyles 5 Connect

OOH, PICK ME Karen Pipek Connect Editor

Uggs: ugly yet comfy

News Sports Feature

CALL ME COLLEGE CRAZY: Senior Ashley Wenger has applied to five colleges both in and out of state.

Colleges know what they’re looking for, but do you?

OPINIONS

INDEX

Promotion sends Shirley to DeLaura

6 7 8

It’s the most anticipated night of first semester.

The Thursday before Homecoming, the day males leave behind a trail glitter with every step they take and the evening upper-class girls play football while male cheerleaders compete at halftime. It’s Powderpuff, and you’re so excited.

But your adrenaline rush is capped when you wake up on this Thursday morning with a fever.

You feel so sick that there’s no way you can make it through the school day, let alone the big event.

Have no fear. With an online edition of The Roar, future students could be able to receive the Powderpuff experience through their home

computers via live blogging. This is one of many goals set by The Roar staff made possible because the school district recently granted the staff permission to launch its electronic edition this month.

The idea of an online newspaper is not cuttingedge. In fact, Carmel High School in Indiana has had its newspaper online since 1996. Principal Rick Fleming says an online newspaper is long overdue.

“In order to move our students further into the digital age, we need to give them the proper tools,” he said.

From the time newspaper adviser Mark

// See ONLINE ROAR, page 4

Assistant Principal Claudia Shirley, the woman who once trained Olympic athlete Kelly Kretschman and played against tennis star Chris Evert at a highschool state tournament, faces perhaps her biggest challenge yet: becoming the principal of DeLaura Middle School. “[Area Superintendent Ronald] Bobay called and offered me the position and I accepted it most rapidly,” Shirley said. “I was excited, but sad about leaving West Shore. However it’s my growth time. I need to move on to the next level.”

Shirley received another important call during the summer notifying her that the Florida Department of Education named her one of three state finalists for the “Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award.”

“I was surprised when Superintendent [Brian] Binggeli called me to congratulate me on becoming Brevard County’s Assistant Principal of the Year,” Shirley said. “And then he told me I had to start essay writing.”

Shirley says she didn’t find writing the essays for the award difficult, but she did struggle with answering the Claudia Shirley questions.

“I had a hard time with the essays because they asked questions that focused on ‘what I do’, but I work with and through other people to do my job.

I got this award because I work with great people,” Shirley said.

But Shirley’s humility fails to conceal the milestone projects she completes for the school each year. Not only does she handle the Senior Project program, but she also contributes to staff development and created Wildcat Challenge among other achievements. Assistant Principal Jim Melia says Shirley won’t be easy to replace.

“A lot of us are nervous because Shirley by herself outworks five people,” Melia said. “How do you replace someone like that?”

Principal Rick Fleming has recommended a candidate for Shirley’s position to the School Board from six finalists chosen from 30 resumes sent to the school. After the recommendation is approved by the School Board on Jan. 18, the candidate will begin working at the school at the end of the month.

“The candidate was chosen by degree of competence, background knowledge of our school’s program and by the degree of affability the candidate has,“ Fleming said.

Shirley’s easy-going nature developed while she attended Pahokee High School and helped her excel in tennis and softball at Palm Beach Community College. Shirley went on to play softball and volleyball at the University of Florida, and later earned a master’s degree from Florida Tech.

“My teaching career began at Palm Bay High School in 1980, where I taught anatomy, biology and eventually physical education,” Shirley said. “I loved my job. I woke up every morning and thought about how lucky I was to go to work in shorts.”

Shirley moved to Satellite High in 1994 where she coached volleyball and softball, and transferred to West Shore in 2000. She worked to improve the lives of students, parents and teacher, and to better the school itself.

“Mrs. Shirley is the epitome of excellence,” Fleming said. “She’s hardworking, dedicated, and articulate and above everything else, she puts the students at the top of her list.”

Art teacher Annamarie Zink agrees with Fleming’s sentiment.

“Mrs. Shirley always gives me encouragement on any lesson I do,” Zink said. “She encourages everything I do and is always ready to give advice.”

Nonetheless, Shirley doesn’t let all the praise go to her head.

“People ask about all that I do for the school, but it’s not that big of a deal,” Shirley said. “I just do what I’m supposed to do. I do my job and I love it.”

NEWS

theroar

January 2011

Staff plans to update site daily

2

//Continued from ONLINE ROAR, page 1

MOO-VE OVER WILEY, THERE’S A NEW MASCOT IN TOWN: Lauren Brown and other members of the Junior Class interact with the Chick-fil-A Cow to help promote a fund-raiser.

Expensive endeavor

Fund-raising for Prom proves difficult for juniors Marley Butcher Connect Editor

Crowds, laughter and tons of food can be found at a Chick-fil-A night hosted by the Junior Class to raise money for Prom. Junior class president Grace Beck watches and is pleased with the turnout. But the Junior Class remains short of money for Prom.

“We have to make a down-payment of $8,000 to the Hilton,” Beck said. “We have about $6,000 now and for the remaining $2,000 we’re probably going to have fund-raisers at Tropical Smoothie, another fund-raiser at both locations of Chick-fil-A, and maybe On The Edge, the rock-climbing facility. I think we’ll be OK, but we are struggling to get money.”

Beck also has more last-minute plans to secure the money needed for other things.

“I think we are going to sell early bird Prom tickets which means they’ll cost a bit less if someone were to buy their ticket earlier. With the ticket money we will then be able to pay for the decorations and the DJ at Prom because as of now, we don’t have any money to pay for that.”

Jaclyn Martin is the vice-president of the newly formed Sophomore Club which plans to help with fund-raising ideas for the upcoming Prom.

“We want to get a jump-start, so to speak,” Martin said. “When we meet for club, we discuss ways to raise money. We all just brainstorm to think of some possible fund-raising ideas. Right now we’re thinking about selling chocolate on Valentine’s Day in the cafeteria. It’s not definite but it’s a thought.”

“We see how the juniors are struggling to get money this year for Prom, and we just don’t

want to be in the same predicament.”

Beck planned some fund-raisers that didn’t turn out the way she expected.

“I planned to do a discount card,” Beck said.

“That is when 20 businesses are on one card and anytime you use the card at one of those places, you get a discount there. I spent some of my summer walking around in the heat asking businesses if they would advertise. When I got to school my idea didn’t go over too well. So even though no money was wasted, my time and effort were.”

“Also, there is about another box of lanyards that never sold. We had to buy those in advance, so we still have to pay off the extra lanyards that didn’t sell.”

Kylie Wenger, the president of the Sophomore Club, organizes all its functions to get a head start on fund-raising for Prom.

“We are fund-raising for both juniors’ and [sophomores’] Proms,” Wenger said. “We want to have the best Prom that we can without a closed budget. We sell candy every Club Day and also for $15, on your birthday, we can have your name on the marquee in front of the school for everyone to see.”

Beck has learned from this year’s experiences and plans to do different things next year.

“I’m going to run for Senior Class president next year and plan not to have fund-raisers that have up-front fees,” she said. “Chick-fil-A doesn’t charge a fee. All you have to do is say you’re from West Shore and you get a discount and [Junior Class] gets some of the profits. Also I would delegate more. I was working by myself over the summer, but once I got to school everyone was working together. I would still like to have people work with me more.”

Schledorn brought the idea to Fleming two years ago, a complicated set of steps has been completed.

“If I had to break [the process of approval] down,” Fleming said, “it would be learning about online newspapers, researching schools with their publication already online, lobbying the district, gaining West Shore administration approval, writing a proposal and finally receiving approval."

According to Schledorn, the district’s main concern was weighing safety against including students’ first and last names on the Internet.

“If we’re going to teach journalism, we have to be online,” he said. “The vast majority of this school is on Facebook with their first and last names anyway. How will kids know if they like journalism if we don’t teach it the way it’s used in the 21st century?”

West Shore is the first school in the district to move its newspaper to the Internet.

Mikayla Larson, editor in chief of The Roar, is confident.

“We are a pilot program,” she said. “Putting the paper online is a necessary measure because our main readers, the students, already spend much of their time on the computer and consume news through the Internet. However, the print version of The Roar will still be distributed at school.”

The staff plans to update to the site each day. Other school publications will also be welcome to contribute their material such as a slideshows of yearbook photos or a TV productions videos. The students in Schledorn’s Journalism 1 class will contribute briefs about competition highlights or upcoming events.

Although Larson is a senior, she is helping younger staff members plan to achieve goals in the future of The Roar.

“One of our ultimate goals is to offer live blogging for the first time at Wildcat Chal-

ONLINE TIME LINE • Fall 2009 District receives a teacher inquiry involving posting student newspaper work online.

• November 2009 District committee meets to gauge interest in online publications and assigns research tasks.

• April 2010 Committee members attend a seminar with media consultant Jake Palenske and begin to formulate a workflow chart and overview for incorporating an online school newspaper.

• July 27 2010 Adviser and staff present district representatives a detailed rationale for adding an online publication.

• Nov. 3 2010 A focus group meets at School Board Offices in order to gauge parent comfort student names and photographs being posted online.

• December 2010 District approves pilot program

lenge this year,” Larson said. “We have also talked about offering podcasts to accompany pieces such as the fashion column.”

Junior Lyndsay Yandell is enthusiastic about the alternate availability of the newspaper.

“My seventh-period teacher sometimes forgets to pass out The Roar when there is a new issue,” she said. “I am excited that the paper will be online because I will be able to access it and know what people are talking about when they reference something in the newspaper I don’t have a copy of.”

The Roar staff expects the website to be entertaining enough to generate many hits.

“We hope to post fun, interactive things on the website as well such as polls and surveys,” Larson said. “The window of opportunity we are standing within right now is vast.”

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NEWS

theroar

Longer school year proposed to fix education

COVERING UP:

At Merritt Island High School, a new dress code does not permit the two shirts on the left. The district will soon survey parents to find out if they want that policy expanded to cover all schools.

Courtney Barney Sports Editor

Due to increased pressure from our nation’s economic competitiors, President Barack Obama says he wants students in the United States to attend school longer than the current 180 days a year. Obama recently pointed out that American students are falling behind in the areas of mathematics and science. In 2009, for example, the U.S. students ranked 11th in science and ninth in mathematics according to a Trends in International Mathematics and Science study.

“I don’t feel like a longer school year would be a bad thing because we would still have breaks.

It wouldn’t feel any different,” senior Melody Karycki said. “I think it’s sad because we have so many opportunities, and I feel that we could really further our education.

Junior Lauren Brown disagrees.

“I have a friend in England who goes to school year-round and she doesn’t like it,” Brown said.

In England, the school year is 10 months long.

Brown also said it is better to go to school and get it all done at once instead of going all year.

In Singapore, the 2009 world leader in science, students attend school 100 more days a year than their U.S. counterparts. In Taiwan, the world’s math leader, students attend school from 8 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m.

Math teacher Sabrina Nobili says year-round school would be the best option because kids would be better rested and also be able to retain more information. But Nobili added that many don’t share that view.

“I feel that education is a top priority in other countries compared to the U.S. because in several other countries students go to school more hours and days of the week, and teaching is regarded as a highly respectable profession,” she said.

“Although many people in America think teaching is regarded as a highly respectable profession, the priorities of the majority of the American people are focused towards movies, music, sport games, video games, smart phones, etcetera. These distractions inhibit education from being a top priority. Of course entertainment is important, but homework and studying should come first.”

Debra S. Blenis, Director of Teacher Education at the Florida Institute of Technology, agreed that education is not a high enough priority.

“I think American students are capable of outperforming the entire world if given the right tools, but, in general, the American public does not value education enough to implement the reform needed to make a change,” Blenis said.

“Our American culture places emphasis on extrinsic rewards in education — scores, grades and rankings. Instead, we need to change our focus to the intrinsic values of education. In other words, we need to learn to love to learn.”

theroar Editor in chief Mikayla Larson Managing editor Lucia Baglivio Art director Alex Deavers Business manager Mia Glatter News editor Brittany Cho

West Shore Jr/Sr High 250 Wildcat Alley Melbourne, FL 32935 (321) 242-4730 ext. 255 FAX: (321) 242-4740

Connect editors Marley Butcher Karen Pipek Lifestyles editor Jennifer Garrido Sports editor Courtney Barney Opinions editor Lesley Wright Staff adviser Mark Schledorn

publicationpolicies

The Roar recognizes itself as a public forum and encourages letters from West Shore students and members of the community.

The Roar cannot print ads promoting activity illegal by Florida law, ads opposing any religious beliefs, ads written in poor taste, ads with racial or sexist comments, ads considered inappropriate by the staff or ads containing libel.

The Roar is not responsible for websites viewed through links found on pages mentioned in the publication.

The Roar values letters from our readers: the maximum length for letters is 200 words. No more than one letter a semester will be published from a writer. Letters and columns are edited for length, content and clarity. The Roar maintains the right to edit all submissions for poor taste, length, grammar and libel. Views expressed in the “Opinions” section do not necessarily represent the views of the Brevard County School Board, the West Shore administrators, faculty, student body or The Roar staff.

Send letters to Room 3-104 or Mikayla Larson

3

January 2011

No shoes, no sleeves: a problem Jennifer Garrido Lifestyles Editor

Spring has sprung and it’s time to throw on a tank and jeans. The freshman confidently steps off the bus, only to be stopped by the principal who tells her that her shirt is inappropriate due to its lack of sleeves.

This would be the experience of all Brevard County high school students — both male and female — if the School Board moves forward with a suggested dress code revision to ban sleeveless shirts. In fact, one Brevard County high school already has put this plan into action.

“Dress code has always been and always will be an issue. I applaud Merritt Island High School for going through with what they believe will work for their school,” Principal Rick Fleming said.

Sleeveless shirts stir controversy because they often reveal bra straps which are referred to as “undergarments” that “must not be shown,” according to the district’s dress code.

According to School Board member Amy Kneesy, Merritt Island came up with the idea on its own for a stricter dress code, and the decision does not yet affect other Brevard

County high schools.

“Everyone can take a sigh of relief because no action is going to take place yet,” Kneessy said.

“The Board is simply going to gather data this year to see if it could possibly work for the year to come.”

The School Board plans to extract data from Merritt Island’s reviews and reactions, as well as from the annual district-wide client survey.

“The survey is approximately 30 questions asking parents how satisfied they are with their child’s education experience,” Kneessy said. “We plan to add a question asking the parents if they would be interested in a more restricted school dress code. If they are, the Board will consider it, if not, then we won’t, but as of now, it’s up for discussion.”

In order to revise the school dress code, not including revisions issued by the School Board, the Advisory Committee of that school must agree as a whole on the decision at hand.

The committee consists of six elected students, three selected faculty, three parents chosen by the principal, and the principal acting as chairman.

“School dress codes are hard to change,” Fleming said. “I don’t think I’d go as far as Merritt Island High and ban sleeves, but maybe a stricter dress code is what we need.”

Fleming bases this idea in part on the school’s change in administration for the past two years. After the dean’s position was eliminated due to budget cuts in 2009, former Dean Jacqueline Ingratta was re-located, giving Fleming an opportunity to realize a major difference in dress code efficiency.

“Since we lost Mrs. Ingratta, we haven’t been as strict in dress coding students,” Fleming said. “That’s not our primary goal.”

However, Fleming does see the need for a stricter dress code as styles and norms continue to move forward.

“Our young ladies are notorious for short shorts, low-cut tops and bra straps showing,” he said. “Undergarments do include bra straps, and they shouldn’t be showing at all.”

But Fleming’s urge for a more strictly enforced dress code does not mean that he expects to follow Merritt Island’s lead in banning sleeveless tops.

“We’re not going to do anything yet at our school,” he said. “We’ll just see how it goes for them.”

Peer pressure drives academic success Karen Pipek

Connect Editor As report cards are passed out, sophomore Alaina Warshowsky compares her grades to those of her peers.

“When I see my friends get good grades it makes me want to study more to get better grades than I do,” Warshowsky said.

Peer pressure to succeed affects students in different ways. “[Peer pressure to succeed] allows me to be surrounded by the people who are just as smart [as me], making me want to do the best that I can,” eighth-grader Carly Mackler said. “Although, if I went to another school I might say a lot of people did as bad as me.”

Guidance counselor Glenda Lovell says peer pressure to succeed sets West Shore apart from most other schools.

“Most kids come here because education is important to them,” Lovell said. “When there’s a group where all the people strive to be the best, then there’s going to be more competition.”

Peer pressure to succeed often pushes students to strive to go to four-year universities rather than community college.

“This school prepares me for the course load for a four-year university,” senior Daniel Urban said. “At a four-year university, the courses offered are much more rigorous. To me, going to [Brevard Community College] is the easy way out.”

Senior Ashley Wenger says she wouldn’t want to attend BCC for other reasons.

“If I stayed home for a few years after graduating, I wouldn’t be able to leave, I’m such a daddy’s girl,” Wenger said. “That’s why I’m going straight to a four-year university after high school’s over.”

Senior Jordan Dorsch, on the other hand, says community college is the right path after

graduating.

“A diploma is a diploma, I’m just staying at BCC for my [Associate in Arts Degree],” she said. “Whether I get it here or at the University of Florida, it’s the same thing.”

Warshowsky says students here are more determined to do well compared to students at other schools.

“The students at West Shore care more about their grades than students at other schools,” Warshowsky said. “Therefore, it helps West Shore’s great reputation.”

But senior Amy Mosher says her peers don’t affect her success.

“I don’t really think I get affected by peer pressure because I care enough on my own for it not to matter,” she said.

With the pressure to succeed, students can potentially be impacted in negative ways as

well.

“I think it may push [students] to try to improve,” Mackler said. “Or it may do the complete opposite.”

Warshowsky agrees.

“Peer pressure affects those who don’t excel as much by really trying to make an effort to do well in school and go the extra mile to get good grades,” Warshowsky said.

Lovell says any student has the power to perform as well as their peers.

“I don’t think brains [have to do] with success,” Lovell said. “If [students] still have a strong work ethic and desire, even with a lower IQ, they can be just as successful.”

Mackler maintains a positive outlook.

“I know what I am able to do and I do that,” she said. “I do the best I can and that’s all that matters.”

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NEWS

theroar

January 2011

4

Private investigations Can’t afford non-public tuition? Think again Marley Butcher

Connect Editor Photo: Rachael Moore

MOMS ASSEMBLE: A sign stands near West Shore calling for moms to pray for school.

Moms touch school with power of prayer

Brittany Cho News Editor

Reciting Bible verses in the Lutheran Church of the Reedemer, Kim Mikulas, Monica Poole and Synthia Montgomery meet every Wednesday morning from 8:45 to 9:45 to pray for the school and its students as part of the interdenominational Christian organization Moms in Touch International.

"We pray scripture over our children because we believe scripture is life," group leader Mikulas said.

"We also pray for ill teachers, other students and the school's sports teams. We pray that they will glorify God when they're out there."

Mikulas, Poole and Montgomery make up the school’s local chapter of Moms in Touch, an organization that unites like-minded moms to pray for the needs and concerns of children and schools across the world. Viera and Satellite high schools also have chapters as do several elementary schools.

“I feel like these moms found their purpose with God to pray for schools,” area coordinator Robin Morrison said. “I also feel like it’s nice to know someone is praying for your benefit.”

The group not only prays for the school and its students, but it also receives prayer requests from other schools.

“We got a request last month from someone from Melbourne High to pray for a 15-year girl who committed suicide,” Mikulas said.

“We don’t just stay inside the box of West Shore.”

Junior Victoria Heuston says the group is beneficial to the school.

“I believe that Moms in Touch has a positive impact on the school since the organization is an example of active parents who care,” Heuston said.

Sophomore Sunny Saini says the group is acceptable to a point.

“It’s fine as long as they stay within their limits and keep it a private thing,” Saini said.

“They shouldn’t try to get the actual school involved since that could offend people who belong to a different religion or are atheists.”

Though the number of moms in the West Shore group fell from 10 to the three members who are currently in the group because previous members went back to work or left when their kids graduated from school, Mikulas maintains a positive outlook.

“It’s funny because in the Bible it says ‘for where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them’ and that’s how we are at the moment,” Mikulas said. “What God has shown me is that our job is to pray for [the] school, and we’ll keep doing it as long as there are people willing to pray.”

College season fast approaches and seniors apply to the schools they are interested in attending. Private schools can be as easy to be accepted into as public universities, but the cost of a private school is much higher. The Florida Institute of Technology, for example, costs $31,734 a year while at the University of Florida, the cost of tuition is $18,380 a year.

But private school applicants need not pay the advertised price. Scholarships and grants are available for students. The combined dollar amount of scholarships and grants offered at FIT alone, could cover $22,280 a year dropping the price to $9,454 a year.

According to Jay Lally who is the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at FIT, more than 535 of his school’s 539 first full-time freshman had some type of scholarship or grant assistance.

Gary Hamme is vice provost for enrollment management at FIT and helps potential students to receive scholarships.

“Many scholarships are available from state, university and private sources,” Hamme said.

“When looking at private universities, the sticker price is never the final cost. Here are some benefits of Florida Tech: ratio of nine students to one faculty member; attentive academic advisers with Ph.D.s; get started in your major in year one; you specialize in year two. You have the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree in

Acceptance process can take time

//Continued from PICK, page 1

copies of everything so that we can pull a file and check exactly what it is they are missing.”

Guidance counselor Dina McMillan understands the college application process because she used to work for the admissions office at Barry University.

“State universities have more of a clear, minimal ideal student,” McMillan said.

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five years – not six. Recent graduates report a 97 percent placement rate in jobs, graduate schools or military service within six months of graduation.”

Adrian Milford, admissions representative at the University of North Florida, a state school, helps find and publicize available scholarships.

“The rough number of students that receive UNF scholarships is around 280 per year,” Milford said. “These are merit-based.

There is also need-based UNF grants as well as state aid and numbers for those are usually not generated but we usually work on a dollar amount and we attempt to award as many students as possible while still offering an acceptable award amount.”

Milford describes the differences between public and private colleges and the benefits of attending a public colleges.

“Private schools offer different things than public schools,” Milford said. “ Private schools tend to cost more and are smaller, whereas public schools are state-funded but are larger.

In particular, the University of North Florida is the best of both worlds.

“We offer state tuition (a third to a quarter of the cost of private and out-of-state schools), while offering smaller classes sizes because we are a smaller state university,” Milford said. “Public schools offer resources that private schools cannot. Public schools have the support of the state government – bringing with that support, free resources for students to use across campus.”

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“Whereas private universities are more liberal in their decisions because less people are applying, so it’s not as competitive.”

When students don’t immediately receive feedback on their applications, they worry about the college preparing to deny them acceptance.

“The thing is that kids get anxious and think that their colleges can get everything in a week,” Thompson said. “But it really doesn’t work that way.”

theroar

gametime

SPORTS

5

January 2011

Welcome to the winter sports season. All over campus, student athletes are wrapping up practice sessions and fundraisers, and getting ready to begin their competition against rivals from across Brevard County. Continue reading to learn about standout players, upcoming matches and injuries of the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, and boys’ and girls’ soccer teams.

photo: Dean Stewart

THIS SEASON’S STARS

// John Bocinsky, 11 Bocinsky is currently leading the Wildcat Varsity soccer team with 11 goals and six assists.

// Nabil Motlagh, 11 Motlagh is behind Bocinsky with nine goals and four assists.

// Hunter Butcher, 12 Butcher is the goalkeeper for the Varsity team, currently with 52 saves and five shutouts.

THIS SEASON’S STARS // Kaitlyn Forry, 11 Forry (pictured below) is currently leading the team in goals with 15 for the season. She also has six assists.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

BOYS’ SOCCER

// Erica Sheedy, 12 Sheedy has the second most scored goals with

a total of 11 or the season. She is also leading the team in assists with 10.

INJURY UPDATE

Sophomore Diana Sheedy broke her ankle but returned to playing on Senior Night. Freshman Desiree Shields had knee surgery and is out for the season.

UPCOMING MATCHES

INJURY UPDATE

The team will play its last regular-season game at Vero Beach on Jan.14. They will begin District play Jan. 18 at Satellite High School.

James Bocinsky is out for the season with torn ligaments in his knee. He had surgery and is recovering.

UPCOMING MATCHES

THIS SEASON’S STARS

THIS SEASON’S STARS

// Danielle Tully, 12 Tully is captain of the Varsity girls’ team.

She is leading the team, averaging 10.3 points per game and is also first in assists with 26 for the season.

// Victoria D’ Esposito, 10 D’ Esposito is leading the team in rebounds with a total of 85 for the season.

INJURY UPDATE

Kristy McCoy is out for a few games due to an ankle injury from the Dec. 10 district game against Satellite High School. She is expected to be back this month.

Courtney Barney is also out for few games due to a broken nose and is recovering from surgery.

Barney was injured in the Dec.10 district game against Satellite High School.

photo: Dean Stewart

UPCOMING MATCHES The next game will be at Holy Trinity on Jan. 21. The girls also have a game at Merritt Island High School on Jan. 25.

// Jacob Daniel, 12 Daniel is leading the team in scoring with an average of 9.5 points per game. He also is averaging 3.6 rebounds per game.

// Will Dawson, 12 Dawson is following Daniel in scoring averaging in 9.4 points per game. He is leading with rebounding with a 7.3 average.

// Dex Wilborn, 12 Wilborn is currently leading the team in assists. He has a total of 27 for the season and is averaging 2.1 assists per game.

INJURY UPDATE

Will Dawson (pictured below) has a hamstring injury. currently He is out for the remainder of the season.

photo: Erica Sheedy

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

The team will play Bayside High School on Jan. 20 for their Senior Night. This game will honor the members of the Class of 2011 who play on the Varsity team.

UPCOMING MATCHES

The boys’ next game will be at Palm Bay on Jan. 24. They will also play an away game at Cocoa Beach on Jan. 26. photo: Dean Stewart

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

OPINIONS

theroar

January 2011

headsup Copy and photos compiled by Lesley Wright

6

Who is your celebrity role model and why?

wethink: staff editorial

Vianca Rivera “Michael Cera because all of his movies are funny.”

Announcements not optional photo: Brittany Cho

FUZZY FANCY FEET: Ugg boots gain popularity when the weather turns chilly.

Worn the wrong way, Uggs are ugly Brittany Cho News Editor

Are Uggs fashionable? It’s ironic that this question comes up during the colder seasons because the shoes were originally designed in Australia for surfers to wear when they came out of the water.

However, the shoes are ridiculously comfy, warm, cozy and they became a huge hit in America.

Remember when it seemed like every other person on the street was wearing them? Although the Ugg craze has died down, the shoes have become a household name and a classic boot in winter fashion.

I’m going to be painfully honest: Uggs are ugly shoes. Though the company later designed other boots to be high-heeled and fancy, the original Ugg boot that people know and love (or hate) is bluntly shaped, plain and boring. If properly worn Uggs can be adorable and have a certain charm. Although the shoes are by no means high fashion, they have great potential for casual every-day fashion. All you have to do is buy the pair that best suits you, coordinate them with the right clothes, and avoid wearing them in inappropriate situations.

Buy a pair of Uggs that suits you personallyjust because a pair of tall, dark purple Uggs looks amazing on a 5’ 10” brunette doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll suit you. When you choose the color of your boots, think about your hair color and complexion. Warm earth tones such as chestnut and brown suit people who are fair and have light hair, while a brunette with a darker complexion would look good with cooler colors like grey, black, or blue.

Redheads should go with beige or brown colors.

Also, take body proportions into consideration. If you have short legs in comparison to your torso, you should buy the shorter Uggs. If you have long legs, you have the freedom to choose between tall or short Uggs, you’ll look good in either (lucky).

You can wear Uggs with a variety of casual outfits.

They look fantastic with tights and skinny jeansanything that slims down the legs will create an important emphasis between your leg and the boot.

You can match a dress that cuts above the knees or a short skirt with tights or match an oversized shirt with skinny jeans which will look as cute as it is cozy. Baggy pants or flare jeans should be avoided (unless you want your legs to look like tree trunks.)

If you insist on wearing baggy pants with the Uggs then tuck them into the boots and pair them with a tight shirt, sweater or cardigan so you don’t look too slouchy.

A crucial fact to remember about Uggs is that they’re casual. Don’t wear them with your Homecoming dress or anything you consider formal. If you’re going to a fancy event or on a nice date, leave these shoes at home. Although this may sound like common sense to some of you, not everyone has this knowledge. Also, don’t wear Uggs in hot weather. Though they weren’t designed to be winter boots, that’s what they’ve become, so it looks ridiculous when someone runs out in them without socks and in shorts.

Uggs are shoes that have become beloved among celebrities, fashion icons, and everyday teenagers.

Though they aren’t the most fashionable shoes on the planet, you can make them fashionable if you wear the pair that suits you the right way. Uggs are ridiculously comfy and have become iconic when it comes to casual winter fashion. Although I wouldn’t call Uggs timeless yet, they’ve become a recurring trend that comes to life during the colder seasons, and for that they should be appreciated.

Increasingly, teachers have decided not to show the morning announcements during their fourth-period classes — even though that choice technically is not theirs to make.

“Teachers are supposed to play the announcements, so it’s disheartening and disappointing when reports come in that they are not playing,” Principal Rick Fleming said.

Without announcements, important school information is withheld from students. The announcements serve as a common information base for students to know whether sports practices have been cancelled or if they have club meetings after school. Students are left in confusion about school events when they are not given the opportunity to at least listen to them. As a result, fewer students join clubs or teams because they are unaware of mandatory meetings and practices they are required to attend.

The announcements also allow time every day for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. In fact, the state requires public school students to participate in saying the pledge or to at least respecting

the time when it is said aloud by others.

Students say the pledge as a sign of gratitude toward the nation and the opportunities it has provided. When the chance to recite the pledge is taken away, students are denied a basic right.

Teachers often base whether they show the announcements on their personal preferences. Some argue announcements take away from class time, but that is not the case. Fourth period is 10 minutes longer than other classes specifically to provide time for the announcements.

Other teachers argue that the announcements are too silly to be played for 10 minutes. But when the announcements are funnier than usual, students are drawn to actually pay attention to the school news, rather than ignore it and talk to their friends.

When it comes down to it, the announcements are an important way to inform all students and teachers across the campus about sports, clubs, and even valuable lessons such as fire safety.

Teachers refusing to show the announcements should be reminded that participation isn’t optional.

86 and Friends

Michael Colucciello “Trent Reznor because he is an independent person.”

twelfth

Alannah Stewart “ Lady Gaga because she is so out there and she has a lot of confidence.”

Austin Hunt “Chipper Jones because he became so successful as a baseball player.”

eleventh

tenth

ninth

eighth

seventh Brandon Cox “Tim Tebow because he is a good football player who helped out his team a lot.”

Lindsey Johnson “Bridget Sloan because she is a very composed and relaxed gymnast.”

youthink: letters to the editor

Arizona shooting tragic, but let’s not overreact

In the recent events of the Arizona shooting I find myself shocked at the reactions, or lack thereof, of my fellow students. The Monday after the event I was surprised that an alarming number of students seemed to have little to no idea that the shooting even occurred, and in the subsequent days I was surprised about how much misinformation on the event was going around. Perhaps they don’t quite understand that the shooting will have an effect on them too. The media have been speculating to the cause of the shooting, and although many of the theories have already been proven false, they are putting in and will continue to implement preventative measures. Some of the suggestions I’ve already seen circulating in the media are limiting freedom of speech (mostly mentioned as either the dissolvement of censorship of certain social networks like Myspace and other sites that ‘instigate violence’ by allowing ‘hate speech’). And although it’s just speculation and still appears to most people to an untimely course of action, I believe it’s important for students to stay informed and verify their facts, so they can protect their rights.

— Stacey Corbett, junior

Matt Verdier

Music Television: reality shows cap songs MTV needs to reincorporate music videos into its daily repertoire Mikayla Larson Editor in chief Music television is a thing of the past.

Perhaps the most easily observable instance comes in the form of MTV, a television station that was created as an outlet for rock music in the early 1980s. This is ironic considering that when the station currently plays music-related programming, rock ‘n’ roll is the last genre considered. Why a station that gained its reputation for playing videos which broke the color barrier and provided an entire generation with a creative outlet has virtually ceased to play music boggles industry critics and fans alike.

Statistics alone can illustrate this dramatic change: in 2000 MTV played eight hours of music videos in their daily circulation, but in 2008 the station aired only three hours a day. However, on international stations of MTV an average of 23 hours of music-related programming plays per day.

Music videos have sadly been replaced with “reality television shows” and other programs that seek to fulfill pop culture demands. For the first time in the station’s history, no VJ-hosted music programs exist.

After its inception, MTV was called a ‘great achievement’ by Rolling Stone for its coverage of rock ‘n’ roll music (in particular, allowing Nirvana a sweeping transition into televised alt-rock). In its early days MTV

would reject music videos from artists that didn’t fit their rock ‘n’ roll dominated image and program format.

Currently, the only time that music is really even mentioned by the network is in the case of someone’s death or during an annual awards show. At the 2007 Video Music Awards, pop culture icon Justin Timberlake even went as far as to tell MTV to “play more videos!” and was met with roaring applause.

Meeting the demands of an audience is fundamental, albeit something that MTV has chosen to ignore. I’m fairly certain that there are more viewers wondering about where the ‘music’ has gone in the network’s title than about Jersey Shore.

theroar

LIFESTYLES

January 2011

7

GETTING TO KNOW

Level eight competitive gymnast Mattie Shaw THE ROAR: How long have you been doing gymnastics?

SHAW: Twelve years, my mom put me into gymnastics when I was 14 months old and I’m 13 now.

THE ROAR: What is your favorite part of gymnastics?

SHAW: I love competing and showing off what I’ve been working on.

THE ROAR: What is your favorite competitive event?

SHAW: Floor routines are my favorite. They give me so much adrenaline, and I’m able to really show off my skills.

FLAG FONDNESS: Juniors Marissa Vega and Aaron Walker stand during the announcements to salute the American flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.

THE ROAR: Have you ever gotten hurt doing gymnastics?

SHAW: I’ve never had any major injuries, just little things like ankles and elbows. I’m very lucky.

Effectiveness of daily pledge shows in student attitudes

THE ROAR: What are your future plans for gymnastics?

SHAW: I’m training for the 2016 Olympics. There is an Olympic trials competition you have to be hand selected for.

Allegiance to flag varies Mia Glatter

Business Manager “One nation, under God, individual, with liberty and justice for all,” the anchor on the school announcements said in closing the Pledge of Allegiance. Laughter and surprised faces filled the classroom of Nancy Gray’s AP Literature class following this flub of an everyday recitation.

“If the quality of the announcements was better I think people would be more serious about the pledge. They say it funny and they mess up words,” senior Amy Mosher said. “People would be more serious if [the anchors] were.”

Although students say the pledge every day, there has been talk about those who do not stand for or recite the pledge.

“People think that I don’t stand for the pledge because I’m against it,” sophomore Austin Combs said, “but I’m honestly just too busy to stand up.”

But is it really a travesty to not stand up and salute the flag? Principal Rick Fleming says that there is a pledge policy, but it is not widely enforced.

“The policy is that a child must stand and recognize [the flag] but does not have to recite,” Fleming said.

The issue of patriotism in classrooms has surfaced before. In 2006, state representative Bob Allen initiated the Carey Baker Freedom Flag Act which stated that every classroom have a three feet by two feet flag. The act received mixed feelings. Some felt the flags were too big. While the act is still in effect, the amount of respect afforded the flag did not change with the size and the recitation of the pledge remains widely unenforced.

Junior Adam Davidson says the daily pledge has little merit because of its repetitive nature.

“A pledge is something you should say once in a while, not every day,” Davidson said “We say it every day and it loses its meaning to me.”

Sophomore Jimmy Carroll says respecting the pledge and the flag is an important part of being an American citizen.

“Everyone should respect the pledge and the flag by standing for the pledge, he said.

“Whether you say it or not doesn’t matter, just respect it or leave the country.”

Famous role models have power to inspire, corrupt Mia Glatter

Business Manager Screaming at the top of her lungs, seventh-grader Sterling Anderson cheers on her No. 1 celebrity role model, Taylor Swift, as she watches from her front row seat while country pop singer performs om the Fearless tour in Jacksonville. The number of students who look up to celebrities for guidance is increasing with every passing media-filled day.

“I look up to Taylor Swift because most of her songs are about relationships which give good advice on love,” Anderson said.

“She encourages people to believe in true love, but a lot of her songs are also about heartbreak. I think that she is telling those who have gotten their heart broken that things will change and get better.”

Celebrities such as Swift also show the audiences that even the most seemingly unfeasible goals are possible to achieve.

“Taylor Swift is very talented and I think that she has set a goal for herself to become this super star, singing in front of millions of people,” Anderson said, “and here she is still living her dream. She chased after her dreams, didn’t give up, worked hard and her dreams came true.”

Celebrities have an immense effect on pre-teens and teenagers as a result of their

extended exposure through the media.

“Celebrity role models have a big impact on students’ lives because they are always visible,” guidance counselor Glenda Lovell said. “Today’s youth spends an exorbitant amount of time watching TV and videos, whereas past generations’ role models were the people they were with, like family and neighbors.”

Yet celebrity worship can have dangerous effects on teenagers, including depression, drug addiction and low self-confidence. But the even dark sides of celebrity behaviors doesn’t always have a negative effect on teenagers.

“Billy Joel is my role model in the piano sense because he’s probably one of the best piano players of all time in my opinion, despite his alcoholism and whatnot,” junior Max Kawa said. “I feel like celebrities’ actions have an effect on teenagers because people our age are easily influenced.”

According to a study conducted at the University of Leicester, celebrities such as David Beckham and Angelina Jolie are more influential to teenagers than historical figures such as John F. Kennedy.

“Students are bombarded by the media and emulate whomever their role model may be,” Lovell said. “However, most of the times these celebrities simply are not good role models.”

THE ROAR: Have you ever met any Olympians?

SHAW: I met Nastia Luikin — who competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing — at the Florida Mall. She was launching her own clothing line and was really cool.

THE ROAR: What is your favorite trick to do in floor routines?

SHAW: A full-twisting back layout.

THE ROAR: Who is your favorite gymnast?

SHAW: Shawn Johnson, because she’s really powerful and great at gymnastics.

THE ROAR: What is your most difficult event?

SHAW: Uneven bars, I’ve always struggled with swinging between them and the shift of movement.

CONNECT

theroar

Perfumed scents

Photo: Yasmeen Elsawaf

Under the sun

Photo: Austin Combs

With a smile as wide as the Cheshire cat, freshman Chelsea Fungaroli enjoys the sun on a walk with sophomore Austin Combs. “We were joking around and I drew a cat face on her while we were walking through the woods and I took a beautiful candid shot of her laughing.” Combs said.

Kneeling down, juniors Yasmeen Elsawaf and Stacey Fisher capture the essence of the flowers on the ground. “There was an empty lot near my house with a patch of grass and flowers and I told her to smell it. When I did, the light hit her perfectly and I got a great shot,” Elsawaf said.

8

January 2011

Pretty in pink

Photo: Rachael Moore

A solitary, rare roseate spoonbill buries its bill inside a delicate pink wing as junior Rachel Moore captures the action. “I was in Animal Kingdom waiting for my family and I saw this bird chilling in the lake,” Rachael Moore said. “Everything was dark around it because of the shade.”

‘Burlesque’ doesn’t impress Alex Deavers

in 2002, that appears to be a horrible reason to make a film in general. This may have been the reason Burlesque got off to a bad start, but there’s more to why it continued to be lackluster.

Aguilera’s acting comes off as unnatural and forced as she quotes lines such as the constantly repeated, “that’s just the kind of friend I am.” On the other hand, it is no question that Cher is able to act, but she did not seem to go above and beyond in this film; possibly

Art Director

“Burlesque” is no “Cabaret,” or even “Chicago.” The film comes off more corny than campy as the director/writer (Steve Antin) uses the typical story line found in many stereotypical backstage musical films: a naïve girl from a small town (in this case, somewhere in Iowa) looking for fame and fortune.

Ali (Christina Aguilera) becomes a waitress at a cabaret in Tinsel Town hoping to make her Rating: PG-13 Burlesque big break becoming a cabaret Cast: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Eric Dane, Alan Cumming, entertainer. Forcing herself upon Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci the emcee, Tess (Cher), with Studio: De Line Pictures Director: Steve Antin her “mutant lungs,” Aguilera becomes the cabaret entertainer she wanted to and belches out hard- because Tess as a character did not hitting songs throughout the film. require much skill for an actress to Sadly, that is not a good thing. Aguilera portray, which was once again by fault sings 80 percent of the numbers in the of Antin’s screenwriting. film and all of them show off her typical One actor who meets expectations vocal prowess. Aguilera’s voice is not throughout the movie is Alan enough to save the film, although that Cumming, who only has a few short seemed to be the goal of Antin, who appearances and one ballad, should hatched the idea to create Burlesque have been the mistress of ceremonies after watching Aguilera perform as a instead of Cher, but instead became an featured vocalist for The Pussycat Dolls underutilized actor with potential to

make this film a lot better than it really is. Other actors such as Stanley Tucci (as Sean) and Eric Dane (as Marcus) live up to expectations as they do in every piece they star in.

As far as the musical side to this film, it is a bit top-heavy. The film has no slow songs, which are necessary to give this film a break from its powerful singers.

The exclusion of these slow songs is considered to be an amateur mistake in musical film making. Many elements in the film are also questionable such as the reduction of raunchiness in order to achieve the film’s PG-13 rating. This is a horrible mistake in that the word “cabaret” alone should never be associated with the PG-13 rating. Viewers go into theaters expecting the film to be filled with sensual songs, scandal, and lingerie only to be stupefied with the childlike facsimiles of raunchy songs, unimpressive acting and cheesy lines.

Although nothing in “Burlesque” goes horribly wrong, it is dull and unoriginal. The soundtrack might be worth more for your money than the movie ticket or DVD, but that too is questionable.

THE UPROAR Students provide their opinions on the most recent albums, movies and television shows.

Taylor Swift’s Album “Speak Now” I really like her but I don’t listen to her all the time.

“

Valerie Ferretti, 9th

David Kupperman, 12th

“

“

Television Series ‘‘NCIS’’

I love it, it’s a great show. It’s better than CSI, which has gotten boring. NCIS is fun and upbeat.

James Vinson, 12th

“

It’s not high on my agenda. I don’t wake up in the morning thinking about how I’m going to find a way to watch it.

Jordan Bellamy, 11th

“

Film ‘‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1’’ I loved it.

The movie was really close to the book. They executed it well.

Mary-Elizabeth Jobson, 8th

It was really bad. There wasn’t any fighting, blood or anything and that is what I go to see.

Colin Apt, 8th

Photos: Lesley Wright

Vampire Weekend return with worldly mix of instruments impossible to hate Mikayla Larson

to embed itself in the listener’s head. This song ends abruptly yet still transitions seamlessly into the seventh track, “Cousins,” which has guitar On a bleak day in January amid an equally work similar to Vampire Weekend’s self-titled bleak music industry, it seemed unlikely that debut. The album’s seventh song begins with a four Columbia University graduates would string of nonsensical lyrics (“You found a sweater once again find the ideal combination of lyrical on the ocean floor, they’re gonna find it if you complexity and upbeat yet folksy melodies that didn’t close the door”) and then quickly evolves would captivate an entire genre. In doing so, into a chorus with heavy percussion, fleeting Vampire Weekend made a subtle re-entry into guitars and shouting that somehow isn’t hectic. the music scene with the release of its sophomore Arranging songs on an album is an important album Contra, which task, and Vampire has since become a Weekend smartly definitive staple in the Vampire Weekend placed Contra’s three band’s discography. best songs back-to‘Contra’ Although the band has back. “Giving Up remained relatively the Gun” is a swift obscure, a rise to the Label: XL Recordings Japanese historytop of the charts seems inspired wonder that inevitable. speaks of youth in a Contra’s first track, simplistic way (“When I was seventeen...I felt “Horchata” begins with a recollection of a frigid complete, does a chance remain to see those Manhattan winter and progresses into thinking of better days?”) while partnering with a fleeting lost love retrospectively (“Here comes the feeling synthesizer line. The addictive and dancehallyou thought you’d forgotten, you understood esque “Diplomat’s Son” explains the tale of an that you shouldn’t have fought it,”). An array unsteady friendship for a staggering six minutes, of classical instruments swirl together with then blooms into the slow and painfully honest stomping drums and an angelic choir of backing closing song, “I Think Ur A Contra”. Spelling vocals to create a medium in which vocalist Ezra errors aside, this song finally captures the youth Koenig explains his predicament. and emotions of their fan base in an inexplicable Early in Contra it is apparent that Koenig way. Phrases such as “You wanted good schools develops and supports most songs with his own and friends with pools...I just wanted you,” are whimsical, falsetto voice - demonstrated in full sung over a trembling guitar riff and later joined effect on the song “Run”. by xylophone and tambourine harmonies.

With quickly paced lyrics about a desire to Listening to Contra, fans will likely agree that escape “worlds away from cars and all the stars consistency technique have helped Koenig and and bars” with only a loved one and a radio, “Run” Company to create an impeccable, complete is an energetic song that uses horn arrangements album.

Editor in chief

photo: Google Images

“

I just don’t like country in general so it’s not my type of music.

Photo: Google Images