See page 5 for a special on the school theater production, Sweeney Todd!
See Turf for a list of recruited athletes in this year’s senior class! Page 8
Summit High School
March 5, 2015
Volume XV Issue 6
125 Kent Place Boulevard Summit, NJ 07901
Students shine at Teen Arts Festival By Laura Pasquale Screen & Sound Editor This year, SHS will host the 43rd Annual Teen Arts Festival. This two-day free event honors talented students’ artistic achievements from grades six to 12. Three neighboring towns join Summit: Berkeley Heights, Mountainside, and New Providence for this multischool festival. Sponsored by the ParentTeacher Organizations and Associations of the public middle schools and high schools of the participating towns, as well as through donations, the event will be held on Friday, Apr. 17 from 7 - 9:30 PM, and Saturday, Apr. 18 from 10 AM to 3 PM. Mrs. Amy Tenny, Teen Arts Co-Chairperson, said, “Some people are shy and don’t want to participate - but this isn’t a contest, it’s an opportunity that creates a sense of pride for the different communities that are participating.” Interested students can submit up to two individual entries and one group entry in the following categories: Creative Writing, Performing Arts, Video Arts, or Visual Arts.
Teen Arts Co-Chairperson Mrs. Marianne Suffern said, “We have had 1,200 pieces, 30 performers, and dozens of videos and hundreds of pieces of creative writing submitted by many hundreds of students from seven schools, all in the area, in past years” Student artists that wish to be involved must fill out the required entry forms by March 13 for Creative Writing and Video Arts and by March 27 for Visual and Performing Art pieces. When submitting these forms, students must indicate whether or not they wish to be critiqued. Judges and critics for Teen Arts are professionals in the fields, and each will provide confidentially written, constructive feedback to the participating artists. Photography teacher and Judge Mr. Donald Standing said, “It is also a great way for the dedicated and hard working Art Teachers to see the results of their own creativity with the assignments that they present to their classes in school this year.” All information, contact info, and forms can be found at http://www.teenartsfestival. org.
App causes procrastination, fails to predict school snow closings
By Ethan Mandelbaum Metro News Editor
When a student hears the magic words, a student goes to the magic website. “99%,” the magic number, is posted all over social media on winter weeknights whenever there is any chance of snow-induced school closings. Seemingly a biweekly occasion, students tend to find themselves on Snowday Calculator, hoping, praying to see that the next day will be a snowday. But then the false predictions crop up, and there are ramifications to student productivity. When a student sees the optimistic “Snowday likely!” the noxious result is often staying up late, not doing homework. If this happens the night before an incorrect prediction, students become miserable at school the next day. Junior Anton Voci said, “I came to school on Monday Feb. 9 running on two hours of sleep and a newly found hatred for the Snowday Calculator. I would’ve gone to sleep at a regular time, but the Calculator said there was a 99%
chance of a snowday.” On Jan. 27, Feb. 9, Feb. 10, and March 2, Snowday Calculator showed a 99% chance of a snowday for the 07901 zip code. On Jan. 27, students instead found themselves taking period 7 and 8 exams. In Feb. and March, many students found themselves in class, both unprepared and sleep deprived. Sophomore Sophie ReitzBouren said, “The Snowday Calculator is responsible for nearly all of my procrastination. After seeing 99%, I have
lost dozens of hours of sleep on school nights. I wish it didn’t exist.” Though it appears to be a student’s best friend, the Snowday Calculator is inordinately harmful. It seems that students who make their decisions based on it are to be the ones who suffer. Those who function independent of the Calculator receive the advantage of either being prepared for class, or having a full day to do whatever pleases them, as opposed to the previous night’s homework.
Viral media report: What color is dress?!?
By Ethan Mandelbaum Metro News Editor
On Feb. 26, the photo swept across social media. Battle cries of “Blue and Black!” and “White and Gold!” strained the civility of social media. The infamous dress is actually blue. Skeptical? Invert the colors on your smartphone. The inverted version displays white and gold. This means the colors definitely are not white and gold. But how can this be? According to Adam Rogers at Wired, the brain discerns the color of an object based on the wavelength of the light it emits. Subconciously, the brain decides what color to see. According to neuroscientist Bevin Conway, Wellesly Teen Arts Festival! Congratulations to Junior Rebecca Wilson, whose College, “What’s happening here is your visual system submission (above) won the Teen Arts Festival Poster Contest. is looking at this thing, and
This month’s Verve.... Globe...................2 Screen and Sound...4 Buzz....................3 Spring Musical.......5
Pray! Seniors Conner Tomasello and Zach Rissman check Snowday Calculator and are disappointed to only see 68% for the next day. Photo Credit: Ethan Mandelbaum
Headache! No one seems to agree what color this dress is. This photo, orginally posted on swiked.tumbler.com, begged a question:“guys please help me - is this dress white and gold, or blue and black?”
you’re trying to discount the chromatic bias of the daylight axis.” He also said that the photo is a little blurry and the lighting is abnormal, and this causes some confusion because the daylight axis is unclear. The first thing a person’s brain does is counterituitive. Instead of determining the color the dress actually is, it determines all the colors it is not.
Upcoming:
Opine.................6-7 Turf.......................8
3/4-7: Sweeney Todd 3/9: Meet the Coaches 3/10: Maroon Room 3/12: Boosters Night
That’s why some people, even after discovering that in reality the dress is blue, insist that it is white and gold. Their brains have ruled out the possibility of the dress being blue, so they literally cannot see a blue dress once they see it as white. Blue and black or white and gold, there seems to be only one general consensus about the dress: it is ugly.
3/14: SAT 3/21: SEF Casino Night 3/22: Bowling Tourney 3/26: Music Marathon
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Daily news roundups a la Skimm By Anna Tselevich Opinion Editor The Skimm is a daily email newsletter that gets delivered to your inbox early in the morning, and has recently become the main source of news for over 100,000 subscribers. Started by two 28 year old, former NBC associate producers and best friends, the Skimm took off in July of 2012. Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin, co-founders and coCEOs, started the Skimm in an attempt to help their “millennial friends who didn’t have time to keep up with the news,” according to a CNN
Money article. Senior Nicole Owens, an avid “Skimmer” said “The Skimm has definitely become part of my morning routine. I enjoy it because it’s like getting the news from my best friend.” Co-founder Carly Zakin explains “no matter who you are or how educated you are, you’re going to have a group dinner at some point and people are going to be talking about something and you never want to be the person with that look on their face of like, I have no idea what you’re saying.”
Globe
March 2015
Sankofa Festival
Friday 2/27
CEO’s of Skimm! Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg are the cofounders of the Skimm. The two began the Skimm in 2012 with the hopes to help their friends keep up with news and current events with all that goes on their busy lives. Photo (c) Huffington Post.
theSkimm: daily e-mail newsletter sample So, what is the Skimm like? Here’s are sampling of excerpts of a Skimm email digest from March 4, the morning after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s congressional address regarding the US nuclear problem with Iran. FIRST, TELL ME ABOUT THE DEAL. For years, the US and friends have been trying to cut a deal with Iran to make sure its nuclear program is only used for peaceful purposes (like electricity). Part of the deal the US has recently been pushing would limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities for 10 years. President Obama really, really wants a deal to happen, so he asked Congress to please refrain from pushing new sanctions on Iran in the meantime. Some in Congress didn’t like that advice. And instead invited Netanyahu to speak. And here we are.
This year’s Sankofa Festival was a repeat success! Festival organizer, English teacher Ms. Asha Bailey, said, that over 150 people were present. Bailey also wrote that, thanks to donations from the PTO, teachers and staff, and program attendees, “We raised nearly $2,000 in scholarship funds!!!” “Moreover, we were able to garner support from within the Summit community,” she said. Attendees included Fountain Baptist Church, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Wallace Chapel AME Zion Church, the Board of Education, Maleku Costa Rica, the Director of African American Studies from Columbia University and S4A provided support by attending, performing and managing food for the event. Photo Credit: Judy Shue
WHAT DID NETANYAHU SAY? That if you give Iran a nuclear inch, it’ll make a weapon. That the US is settling for a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad deal and should walk away from it stat. That when the 10 years are up, Iran would be able to build a nuclear weapon, no question. WHAT WAS THE REACTION? Well, Obama thought it was “nothing new.” He said that Netanyahu didn’t lay out suggestions for how to deal with Iran and that without a deal, Iran will just continue trying to build a weapon. Iran said the speech was “boring and repetitive.” And yesterday, Iran reportedly said that it wouldn’t accept the 10year freeze anyway. So there’s that.
-- theSkimm
Verve Views: What are your St. Patrick’s Day traditions?
Junior Mary Fischetti “We have cornbeef, cabbage, and soda bread for dinner.”
Senior Lexie Perry “The leprechaun makes my milk and bagels green.”
Senior Erika Brodow “My mom is from Ireland, so she makes an Irish soda bread.”
Sophomore Griffin Feeney “We order a lot of Irish candy and Irish food.”
Sophomore Grace DePhillips “We put green dye in a lot of our food that day.”
Buzz
March 2015
Verve 3
Local cinema is scene of blind-date surprise By Meredith Robertson Editor in Chief The Verve Staff has reached an all-time low in blind date history. Even more awkward than the time one of our staff reporters was stood up at the movies, this issue’s blind date takes the cake for uncomfortable encounters. Once again, Verve young-love was shattered at the Bowtie theater—this time leaving not one person single, but three. This month, Sophomore William Robertson was asked to participate in the blind date. Chaperoned by none other than his awesome sister (who may or may not be writing this article), he left to pick up his mystery girl on a quiet Thursday afternoon. He suggested taking his date to the movies to see “McFarland, USA,” an obvious choice for such an avid cross-country runner. Ex-
cited about the cross-country theme, I had asked fellow runner and senior Anika Becker to join him. She just so happens to be one of my best friends, so I was rooting for them from the beginning. When we got to Anika’s house, Will immediately hopped out of the car and rang the doorbell. He walked her to the car like a gentleman and hopped in the back seat with her. “Nice lax outfit,” I heard him say, commenting on her super cool Bates shirt and high socks. She smiled genuinely and laughed, things were clearly going well right off the bat. After a trying to park in town for like 10,000 hours, we finally arrived at the movies. Will bought three tickets-one for the love birds, and one for the dutiful chaperone
Opinion: Some say copying does not harm a flea
of course! He even treated Anika to an absurdly over-priced soda, and I could tell her heart was melting at the gesture. The movie began, and I watched the couple from a comfortable distance of one seat away. Everything seemed to be going perfectly. There wasn’t a single awkward silence on this first date! Anika and I laughed at all the same parts in the movie. We cried together, we cheered together, and happily shared our popcorn with eachother. Afterwords, we chatted endlessly about our favorite scenes. We really hit it off, if you ask me. Wait, this was supposed to be a date with Will? Sorry buddy, that’s what you get when your sister sets you up with one her best friends! Love certainly wasn’t in the air this time. Bow Tie Cinemas: 2, Verve blind date: 0.
Surprise! Sophomore Will Robertson was in for a heartbreaking surprise on this month’s blind date. However, Robertson, pictured with his date, Senior Anika Becker, enjoyed a movie about a sport he loves. Tune in next month to see if love can ever be found in the halls of SHS. Photo Credit: Meredith Robertson
Find your dream school.
By Brooke Murphy Contributing Writer
Ever get to that point in your day? It’s 11 p.m. or later, homework is everywhere, you know you still have work, and you’ve hit a wall. What do you do? Many students take a break by checking social media or finding other distractions, putting assignments off until it’s soooo late that it’s not going to get done. First dilemma: try to complete it during the periods before that specific class, OR, copy the assignment from another student. Yes, there are penalties of copying homework and there is a risk of getting the person that helped you in trouble as well. But if it’s just a one-time thing, then how bad can it really be? “If you understand the content then go ahead, it’s just supplemental,” said senior Geffen Siegel. “[The homework] is just there to make sure you understand the material; but if you already understand, then it doesn’t matter if you copy,” he said. Many students shared this opinion. Senior John Dorer made a valid point, “I think it’s fine. You are kind of [hurting] yourself if you don’t do the work. I feel if you don’t get caught, then you’re fine. As long as you keep up with the work” At a competitive school, students can become more focused on getting high grades than actually learning course content. Striving for great grades is key in many student’s eyes. “Copying off of someone else and getting the answers for a worksheet is fine” Sophomore Catherine Mueller said, “but if it’s something important that you need to know, it can really hinder your success.” Copying a homework assignment doesn’t make you lazy, it shows determination to achieve great grades... even if it means running the risk of getting in trouble.
The American Honors program at Union County College prepares students to find and transfer to their dream school. Our national transfer network of top 4-year colleges and universities actively recruits American Honors graduates. With American Honors, you’ll find a community of ambitious students, leadership opportunities, professional development, and one-on-one advising support.
Students at Summit are already applying.
AmericanHonors.org 908-997-0768
Screen & Sound One roundup, no Birdman! Musician of the Month
Verve 4
March 2015
Best Actor awards Mi tche ll Boo th
Jackson Sidebottom Opinion Assistant Editor
Julianne Moore won Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “Still Alice,” as Alice Howland, a college professor suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Patricia Arquette won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Olivia Evans, a divorced mother struggling to make a life for herself and her two children in “Boyhood.”
Megan Shaw Managing Editor
This month’s spotlight shines on senior trumpet player Mitchell Booth. Apart from serving as the trumpet section leader, he also is in full orchestra, marching band, jazz band, Eddie Redmayne won Best wind ensemble, and the Actor in a Leading Role for New Jersey Youth Symphohis role as Stephen Hawk- ny. He has enjoyed playing ing, a young cosmologist music since he was very suffering from a progres- young. sive motor neuron disease Booth said, “I actually in “Theory of Everything.” started with the acoustic guitar in kindergarten and then I picked up trumpet in elementary school. I love the process of mastering a piece with my ensemble. “I greatly appreciate the attention to detail in music,” he said. “For example, J.K Simmons won Best dynamics and articulation Actor in a Supporting Role can dramatically alter how for his role in “Whiplash,” the audience perceives he in which he plays a music music.” teacher who motivates his Throughout his many students through fear and years playing the trumpet, humiliation. his favorite accomplishPhoto Credit: ABC Oscars ment was playing ‘Bugler’s Holiday,’ a piece that features three trumpets, which
Emma Watson cast as live-action princess
Kaitlin Stewart Staff Reporter
All-time favorite, century-old Walt Disney Picture classics are making a dramatic reappearance in theaters, but without their beloved animated characters. These modern versions have been reinvented to feature live-action actors and actresses. Sophomore Keegan McManus says, “Disney movies make us feel like we can do anything, as if they’re like magic.” One of the movies, currently in the making, is the revival of the Beauty and the Beast.
Ready for action! Emma Watson has officially announced her role as Belle in Disney’s remake of Beauty and the Beast. Photo credit: Disney Pictures.
Actress Emma Watson, famous for her roles in the Harry Potter series and Perks of Being a Wallflower, accepted the role of one of Disney’s most admired princesses, Belle. “The Wrap” broadcasted Watson’s public revelation of her role in the cast, “[Beauty and the Beast] was such a big part of my growing up, it almost feels surreal that I’ll get to dance to ‘Be Our Guest’ and sing ‘Something There.’ My sixyear-old self is on the ceiling – heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can’t wait for you to see it.” Junior Mary Fischetti says, “I loved Emma Watson in Harry Potter. She is beautiful and she is my role model.” Perks of Being a Wallflower screenwriter Stephen Chbosky and Twilight: Breaking Dawn director Bill Condon are other familiar names that appear in the production of this movie. The Beauty and the Beast is scheduled to be released in 2016, and filming has already begun!
he played alongside former SHS students, Chris Pohl and Will Grayeski. Aside from his interest in music, Booth has a passion for running and has served as a Varsity runner on the Cross
Country and Track and Field teams all four years of his high school career. Booth hopes to play the trumpet in college by joining a jazz ensemble or orchestra.
And the trumpets they go! Senior Mitchell Booth, pictured above, is featured as the Verve Musician of the Month. He has been a member of band since elementry school, and currently plays the trumpet in various band groups. Photo credit: Meredith Robertson.
TV series favorites ending this season Sophie Lees Staff Reporter Is your favorite show ending this winter? The season finale of Scandal will air on Mar. 12 at 9 p.m. on ABC. This political thriller will complete its fourth season of exciting disasters and personal dilemmas. Scandal focuses on Olivia Pope and her crisis management firm, who work to alleviate client problems before they expand into severe catastrophes. According to ABC, Pope’s elite defense team, known as “gladiators in suits … specialize in fixing the lives of other people.” Introducing a varying disaster each week, Scandal is filled with mystery, suspense and excitement. Season four specifically fixates on Pope’s return to Washington D.C. after a two month relocation absence, and how she affected the people around her. Junior Emily Kalin said, “After kicking things back
Never fear, Olivia’s here! In this season finale of Scandal, problem solver Olivia Pope attempts to relieve her clients of their crises, all while being entangled with them on a personal level. Photo Credit: ABC
into gear for a killer season four, the finale will be nothing short of thrilling. I expect to see a lot of Mellie, the First Lady, one of my favorite characters.” Next, imagine being a survivor of a zombie apocalypse. The Walking Dead, a horror drama television series, is currently airing its fifth season every Sunday
evening at 9 p.m. on AMC. The plot centers around a group of survivors inthe state of Georgia who struggle to find a safe haven away from the lethal, perilous zombies that inhabit the nation. According to AMC, “Though they are still breathing, the line between [the survivors] and the dead is starting to blur.” Season five began on Oct. 12, and will be concluding on Mar. 29. Picking up where season four left off, season five introduces new obstacles the group faces in its attempt to stay alive. This popular series is anticipated to be mindblowing. According to Entertainment Weekly, the season finale will “shock people.” Junior, Julia Harkins said, “I could not be more excited to see how The Walking Dead ends this March. The big question I have is: Who is going to survive?”
March 2015
Spring Musical: “Sweeney Todd”
A wicked, dreadful story Senior the evi M a r t G r e e n l st Keega J u d g e T u r p i n e i n , w h o p l a n McM , y anus re a n d s o p h o m s ing nu hearse ore mber. the Th been w o r k i n g e c a s t m e m ir openb lines a h nd per a r d t o m e m e r s h a v e fect th o ing so rize th e voca ngs. A eir l l y ud mance challen s of “S i e n c e s c a n gse w 4th thr ough 7 eeney Todd” e perforth. on Ma rch
d” ey Tod n e e w S f“ any le set o y break by m ’s b i d e r c r eney brua The in es Swe dark ver Fe r o u t t a l i e f u the s. It was b student hich mirrors so acd e t a c i l w ded e set a hich r shop e h b T r a . l b a w sic rustic the mu time period in f o s e the them reflects akes place. y l e t a r t cu Todd” y e n e e “Sw
The ba nd and o Rapp r ehears rchestra, led e by t ballad of Swe he opening n Mr. Steve um ene these m usician y Todd. The ber, the s t succes s in the is a huge fac alent of tor to t show. he
Artful Dodgers: Part I At 2:59 a.m., a scream and a woman’s rapid footsteps are swallowed up in the miasma of darkness by Union Station. A deep, ghoulish laugh chases her like mustard gas, trailing most foul into the night. The fog-shrouded streets of Summit swallow these sounds, even choking out the ringing bells of St. Teresa of Avila’s, which chime a muffled ringing. Bongggg. Bongggg. Bongggg. The sound never reaches the screaming victim, nor does it reach the ears of the nearby residents in the insane asylum atop Mortuary Hill. The Mortuary Hill Sanatorium is surrounded by malevolent sculptures. During the day, these public arts projects provide visual interest: a pair of hands, a tornado made of recycled water bottles, a colorful box, and sitting or standing figures. But at night, they become Satan’s minions: vortexes of hell filled with cutting triangles; grasping, disembodied hands that crush runaways; you see that red one that looks like a little kid took Play-Doh and sculpted it into a playful box? It’s a soul trap. If you ever wonder what happened to the whimsical sculptures of the guy eating the apple on the park bench by the library, or that kissing couple one by the parking garage, well, they weren’t just defaced. They had their faces swallowed whole into the gaping maws of the foam bodies. But it’s no longer just art-on-art crime in Summit.
The terrifying transformation of these sculptures began around the same time that Summit gained a new resident, the mysterious barber and well-known art fanatic, Sweeney Todd. The townspeople were intrigued by the arrival of their newest resident. What did someone as famous as Sweeney Todd want with sleepy little Summit? It was within three weeks of Sweeney’s arrival in town that The Summit Herald, through a push notification to all its social media subscribers, published the following strange alert from police chief Jeremiah Mercy: “Be advised that the Summit City crime unit will continue to conduct plainclothes surveillance operations at the city’s old asylum, the Mortuary Hill Sanatorium. Trespassers will be arrested and prosecuted.” Sweeney rubbed his hands together in demonic excitement. The citizens of Summit could spy on the asylum all they wished, and blame the paparazzi that now stalked his Prospect Hill doorstep, but they would never find his evil anthropomorphic art studio, hidden below the center of the roundabout at the end of Beechwood Road. This patch of land, avoided by pedestrians for its impenetrable tangle of wild vines and resident family of copperhead snakes, hid an iron hatch frequented only by Sweeney and his evil assistant, Chief Mercy.
Verve 5
Make-believe violence has educational value By Ashley White Page Editor and Rachel Isralowitz Staff Writer This year, the drama department is performing “Sweeney Todd,” which features a dark and violent plot. In the past, some schools have faced scrutiny for performing such a violent show.
Verve asked: To what extent can works of art featuring violence, like “Sweeney,” have an educational value?
Junior Sophia Michalopoulos
“The violence in Sweeney Todd is educational because it shows that people can be turned evil in order to seek revenge.”
“It demonstrates to the audience that anyone can be pushed to their limits.” Sophomore Catherine Hassert
“We have to be aware of how violence can escalate many different situations.” Freshman Keyshawn Reese
“It teaches people that revenge can lead to uncharacteristic decisions.”
Senior Imogen Terrett
Senior Matt Greenstein
“I think it teaches us that though we may not go as far as Sweeney does, revenge can make anyone do uncharacteristic things.”
“The violence seen throughout the musical shows how people can be fueled by revenge.”
This is the Verve’s take on a modern-day version of a Penny Dreadful story, traditionally s a story of a violent criminal adventure. They were extremely popular during the era in which “Sweeney Todd” takes place. In fact, the character of Sweeney Todd originated in a Penny Dreadful, before being adapted for Stephen Sondheim’s musical. Story credit: Staff Reporters of Verve
Sophomore Keegan McManus
Photo Credit: Ashley White / Verve Staff
Opine
Verve 6
March 2015
By Caroline Phillips Staff Reporter Students and parents alike have been buzzing about the upcoming Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers assessments in math and language arts that will soon be given. The tests will be in freshman, sophomore, and junior English classes, and besides English Language Arts, cover Geometry, Algebra I and Algebra II. The mathematics PARCC tests are administered for the Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2/Trigonometry classes and are course-based. Those doubling up with both Geometry and Algebra 2/Trigonometry will take the Algebra 2/ Trig test. PARCC is a grouping of states that work to develop tests with the goal to evaluate whether or not students will be prepared for college and the workforce.
According to the PARCC website, “PARCC is based on the core belief that assessment should work as a tool for enhancing teaching and learning.” PARCC also claims that, “Because the assessments are aligned with the new Common Core State Standards, they ensure that every child is on a path to college and career readiness by measuring what students should know at each grade level. They will also provide parents and teachers with timely information to identify students who may be falling behind and need extra help.” Rumors have been flying over whether it is possible to refuse to take the PARCC exams. Assistant Principal Ms. Stacy Grimaldi has clarified that the tests are not optional if you are enrolled in the classes in which they will be given. She says, “New Jersey is a no opt-out state and that’s by the Commissioner of Educa-
Photo credit: Ellie Rogoff
Rumors end: students obligated to park it
tion.” Commissioner of Education David Hespe wrote in a letter to administrators dated October 30, 2014, “State law and regulations require all students to take State assessments. For the 2014-2015 school year, the PARCC assessment will replace the prior statewide assessments - the NJASK in grades 3-8 and HSPA in high school; as such, all students shall take the PARCC assessment as scheduled.” “I’m saying these are going to be challenging tests, because nothing comes easy in life,” Hespe said during his
Students wonder: Is there such a thing as cyber privacy? By Ryan Blume Staff Reporter
In the past two years, the policies of Internet privacy and accountability have changed drastically from the grand stage of supreme courts to the local stage of school cyberbullying policies. The largest questions at hand are whether or not people have the right to be forgotten on the web, and if comments made on the Internet should be held to same standard as something said in person. Today, it is common knowledge that anything written on the Internet is not written in ink, but carved in stone; however, what is lesser known is how this can affect the individual over time. For example, many schools, SHS included, have cyberbullying policies, which can punish students in school for what they said on the Internet on their own time. Senior, Owen Crowl said “While I obviously think cyber-bullying is bad, it seems kind of messed up that the school can get you in trouble for stuff you say online and out of school.” Crowl is not alone in his beliefs. Many advocates of Internet freedom, agree that these new school policies overstep the limits of school’s power over students by punishing students for out of school ac-
tions. Furthermore, it’s not just schools that scour the web in search of evidence of individual’s questionable posts. Potential employers often do online background checks on applicants. Suspect articles or comments -- which could have been posted years ago-might prevent them from hiring an applicant. In a competitive job market, there are few second chances. Situations like these have brought about the current global debate over the individual’s right to be forgotten, which, according to the EU’s official definition, is defined as follows: “Individuals have the right - under certain conditions - to ask search engines to remove links with personal information about them.”
However to the dismay of many and support of others, Europe has already passed legislation ensuring this right, the US is still debating over the issue. According to Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt, who when asked about the decision, said “A simple way of understanding what happened here is that you have a collision between a right to be forgotten and a right to know [...] “Google believes, having looked at the decision, which is binding, that the balance that was struck was wrong.” As debates over the issue escalate, all one can do is wait and to see if organizations from the US government to New Jersey public schools change policy over Internet privacy.
interview with CBS2. He also said, “We estimate over half of our students are currently graduating without the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college or in careers.” According to Mr. Wendell Steinhauer of the New Jersey Education Association, he is concerned that an untried student test will be used to measure teacher effectiveness. He said, “Teachers should be evaluated, but it should be used to improve instruction, not be used as punitive gotchas.” Sophomore Ginny Collins said, “If I could, I would definitely choose to skip the
PARCC exams. I don’t really see their direct purpose and it just adds pressure.” Previously, the HSPA exam was given in the past years and it was well-received by students. PARCC will be administered over the course of March 2 to March 27, and April 20 to May 15. The English tests are three days per grade, and Math are 2 days, with roughly 1.5 hours of testing each day. Grimaldi said, “I’m not concerned how we will do performance-wise. We have great students and great teachers, and I’m excited to see the results.”
Yakkers want app back By Spencer Frey Staff Reporter
Several students use yik yak as a place where they can speak their mind totally free of judgement due to the fact that people cannot see who posted the yak. However, with parents on yik yak people will not truly speak their minds if they know someone’s parent is going to read the post. Furthermore parents will communicate with each other based on the fact that most of the school gossip can be found on yik yak. For the night of Feb. 9, there was supposed to be a party at an anonymous student’s house. The party had been cancelled, but the student who was hosting the party’s mother received a text message from a parent who was on yik yak. The mother receiving the text became very concerned. Previously she had planned on leaving her son at home to babysit his two little brothers. Had the party still been on, that would have forced the mother to question her son about the party This is a prime example of how the yak should belong to the students. Looking at the other side of the coin: now that we know parents have the app, who else has it? Since it is free to download from the app store, a person with the wrong intentions could
Time out, Moms. Leave Yik yak alone. Illustration courtesy of Yikyakapp.com
easily get a minor’s information and cause harm to those mentioned on yik yak. One parent, let’s call her Mrs. Yik, wanted to stay anonymous said, “The only reason I have Yik Yak is so I make sure my children are okay. If it doesn’t affect them, then I don’t care.” Many parents agree with this. They feel as if it is their duty as a parent to ensure their child’s safety. There are also parents on the complete other side of the spectrum. A second anonymous parent, said “I believe that I am just as entitled to have the app as anyone else. Apple wouldn’t have it if they didn’t think it was okay for everyone.” Junior Garrett Cahill said “I think it’s pretty stupid that parents have Yik Yak because all they are doing is snooping and busting parties.” The only solution to this problem I can see is that only students get the yak. Adults have enough cool stuff.
Opine
March 2015
Homework havoc stresses students By Ellie Rogoff Staff Reporter All student schedules vary depending on academic levels and interests, but no one is excused from the horror of homework. According to The Stanford News, on average, a high school student spends more than two hours a night on homework. Emphasis on average because these two hours don’t allow for increased workloads due to honors or AP enrollment. Students, like junior Teia Ross, who sign up for these rigorous courses, are aware that their workload will increase, but not even the brightest can handle the superfluous amounts of homework given each night. Ross said, “I stay up till 1 a.m. every day, which makes me so tired that I can’t focus in class the next day.” This year Ross’s course
Homework Hazard! Junior Rachel Olson is swamped with textbooks as she tries to finish all her homework. Photo Credit: Ellie Rogoff
load includes: AP Language and Composition, AP US History II, AP Chemistry, Honors Intro to Analysis, and Honors Spanish 5. Sophomore Kiera Little has a challenging schedule, too, and said, “Most of the time I have to leave some homework to do in study hall,
but it does not all get done so I won’t have my finished assignments for class.” Little also said that, besides the fact homework impacts GPAs, she sometimes has no desire to complete her assignments. Students understand that the teachers’ intentions for assigning homework is to help reinforce what was taught in class. However, if it comes down to a good night’s sleep or finishing the math homework, one should be able to choose sleep without fretting. In fact, the Stanford News study notes that high-achieving students who spend an endless amount of homework face physical and emotional detriments while also isolating themselves from society. Sophomore Jack Bonomo said, “Extra hours of homework adds a lot of stress and cuts into time for sleep, family time, and friend time.”
Let’s try cold, hard, concrete learning By Andrew Bowyer Contributing Writer Adults love telling stories about how difficult life was in the old days. Cell phones and the Internet didn’t exist, and parents were far more strict. In school, teachers lectured in front of blackboards while students furiously took notes, making learning almost impossible. But there is where these adults are wrong. According to the Teaching Learning Center at The University of California at Irvine, “lecturing disseminates a great deal of information in a rela-
tively short time” and “allows the instructor to determine precisely the aims, content, organization, pace, and direction of a presentation.” Independent work, lectures, checklists, worksheets and outlines, etc., convey information precisely and clearly; abstract forms of teaching such as group work, visuals, media, and humor may be more fun and engaging for children, but most students learn best when their information is given to them concretely. Nate Bowyer, a 2013 Summit High School graduate and freshman engineering
student at Clemson University (and my brother) likes when his professors assign work out of textbooks, and said “I learn best when I know exactly what I am expected to do. When a professor assigns work out of the textbook, I know that material will be on the exam. If I read and study that material precisely, I know I will do well on the exam.” According to Trevor Dickerson, an elementary school teacher in Charlotte, NC, “Students don’t retain information very well, after group projects or interpretive assignments. My students tend to receive higher grades after
Verve 7
From the Editor’s desk... Well. We’ve kind of run out of things to say to our readers at this point. So... March: what a month! Hopefully there will be no more runaway llamas, deceiving dresses, or sociology surveys (looking at you, Ms. Wells). Just kidding: we love the surveys. March is like the awkward middle sibling (looking at you, Will Robertson and Will Schaffer). Sometimes it feels unnecessary, but we know things wouldn’t be the same without it. <3 lol. Let’s be real. The rest of this month we’ll find ourselves asking, shorts or snow pants? But, despite this being the longest month, it will be over before we know it. And then we’re in the final stretch (looking at you, Spring Break). Speaking of this being a long month, did you know we go five weeks without a single break? That 3/11 in-service was cancelled because of PARCC. Now might be the time to cross your fingers for random snow days. Oh
yeah, there’s still snow on the ground. Maybe scratch that whole “wearing shorts” thing. We’re frozen for the long haul. Now we want to talk about our good friend ALICE. ALICE deceived us. We thought that when ALICE came to play, we would get to choose the game. Instead, we were corralled down the halls by yelling teachers. We thought we would get to break out the karate-chops, but instead stood outside without coats. The drill wasn’t indicative of how this emergency operation would actually go-but we guess it’s true, you can’t just go around punching people. Unless they punch you first (looking at you, ALICE). PS if you haven’t got the memo, teacher contracts are back! This means clubs are back too. Woohoo. Keep your eye open for the baking club. You heard it here first. Slow month, folks. Just keep doing you.
turning in essays and worksheets rather than posters and presentations.” In a Harvard University teacher’s guide called Working In Groups, teachers are warned of group work because “Some people might take more than their share of the discussion by talking too often, asserting superiority, telling lengthy stories, or not letting others finish...Others may rarely speak because they have difficulty getting in the conversation.” Many students struggle to sit through a lecture or work through a long block of text, but with proper organizational/learning skills, rigorous
schooling is more effective. Abstract teaching styles are more captivating for students but ultimately less effective methods of education. AJ Penizotto, a man-onthe-street chef in Syracuse, NY says “It makes sense. Students are given the most opportunity for success when they are given material in the simplest way possible.” Life may have been more difficult in the old days. Technology has come a long way, but education techniques certainly have not. In the end, good old, old-fashioned learning is the solution to education.
Summit Senior High School 125 Kent Place Boulevard Summit, NJ 07901 Staff Reporters: Editors-in-Chief:
Meredith Robertson Ellie Schaffer
Managing Editors:
Carly Leiter Megan Shaw
Metro News Editor: Ethan Mandelbaum Globe Editor: Anika Becker Opinion Editor: Anna Tselevich Asst Opinion Editor: Jackson Sidebottom
Entertainment Editors: Ashley White Laura Pasquale Buzz Editor: Emily Gao Sports Editor: Cam Fuoti Asst Sports Editor: Dan Montgomery Art Director: Ryan Blume Circulation: Sophie Lees Kaitlin Stewart Specials Editor: Rachel Isralowitz
Ryan Blume, Spencer Frey, Ben Henning, Emily Hurley, Rachel Isralowitz, Sophie Lees, Matthew Mormile, Caroline Phillips, Marielle Rogoff, Kaitlin Stewart Principal: Mr. Paul Sears Assistant Principals: Mrs. Stacy Grimaldi Mr. Michael Lapotasky Adviser: Mrs. Anne Weisgerber English Supervisor: Mr. Corey Walsh
March 5, 2015 Volume XV, Issue 6 shsverve@gmail.com
Verve is funded by a grant from the Summit City Board of Education and print subscriptions. As of publication, Verve’s circulation is 600, including 320 print subscribers. Verve is printed at School Publications Company in Neptune, NJ, and digitally archived at Issuu as shsverve. Verve is a publication open to the opinions of its readers. Please submit all letters to shsverve@gmail.com. Letters must be signed, and will be subject to editing for space, grammar, and factual ac-
curacy; however, all efforts will be made to preserve the writer’s intent. Libelous and inappropriate writing will not be published. If Verve has made an error and a correction is warranted, the editors take reader feedback seriously and will promptly deal with concerns. Reader corrections welcome at shsverve@ gmail.com Views expressed in Verve do not necessarily reflect those of Summit Senior High School’s administration, faculty, staff, or other students.
College recruits speak:
Last year’s seventh-ranked team in the state is hoping to repeat its state sectional and Group 3 final wins. With a tough loss to the state’s top ranked team, Millburn, the boys tennis team has high hopes. Returning All-County player senior Christian Harkins wants the team to win a TOC championship.
College recruiting is a difficult undertaking. Guidance counselor and coach, Mr. James Davidson, said, “A realistic assessment of your son or daughter’s athletic talent is an important first step. This assessment will help you determine the appropriate level of play for your son or daughter at the college level. Don’t rule out NAIA or NCAA Division II and III schools if they can help your child attain their academic goals. Casting a wide
By Matt Mormile Staff Reporter
The day college basketball fans are waiting for is growing near. March 15th kicks off the start of the popular NCAA tournament with the annual selection Sunday. On Selection Sunday, the NCAA Selection committee decides every team’s fate by determining eligibility and rank for the tournament. Typical power houses such
Last December, Senior Drew Mulholland committed to play lacrosse at Wagner College, an NCAA Division 1 team. He said, ”The process was stressful yet enjoyable at the same time. It’s tough to choose the right school, because you want to pick a school that fits you academi-
cally and athletically.” On the other side of the process, high school coaches play an impactful role as well. Varsity boys lacrosse coach Jim Davidson has 17 years of recruiting experience, and said, “For me, my job is to meet with coaches and families to talk to them about the
as Kentucky and Duke are expected to advance far into the tournament, however some teams this year, like Univeristy of Utah are in position for success. Some key players are destined to stand out this year. Jahlil Okafor, a freshman at Duke, looks to carry the team to the championship with an average of 18 points, and nine per game Additionally, 6’ 7” small forward Stanley Johnson
is a major factor of the Arizona’s success this year. The last Summit Alum to participate in the NCAA tournament was Wellington Smith, who was a forward at the University of West Virginia. In 2010, his team made it to the final four, losing to Duke with a final score of 78-57. Smith said, “Reaching the Final Four was and is the pinnacle of college basketball with winning the national championship being the ultimate goal.” He recalled the experience as one he will never forget. It was exciting and nerve wracking, but once
the game started, he realized it was just basketball. Smith’s pick to win is Kentucky or UVA. The first round of the NCAA tournament will begin on March 17, at the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Fans from all across the country are looking forward to the big day. The Championship game will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 6. Be sure to fill out your March Madnes brackets and take your pick at who you think will make a run and win it all. There are numerous brackets waiting to be filled.
Provided by Ethan Feinsod
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A consistently popular sport here is the boys volleyball team. Despite a strong season, a quarterfinals loss to Kearny last year shattered its state championship hopes. Even though the team lost key seniors that year, returning starters Will Huck and James Goldman look to carry this team to a state championship.
net will improve your child’s chance of being successfully recruited.” Furthermore, to illustrate the wild world of college sports, NCSA Athletic Recruiting posted a graphic on its website. It showed that coaches send 10,000 to 15,000 letters to recruits each year. 1,000 to 2,000 videos are evaluated by coaches and only 500 calls are made to potential recruits. Then there are 62-200 verbal scholarship offers made, 85 official visit offers extended, and eventually 25 players signed each year in Division 1 sports.
Mormile’s meticulous March madness pre-game preview
Possibly one of the most successful teams in recent years, the two-season sailing team looks to continue its success from the fall. Junior Mark Freiden said, “Our goal every year is to win states.” This team travels around the country competing in the top events for high school sailing.
GOLF
Finally! Summit seniors sign National Letter of Intent to choice schools, after the long process of college recruiting. For some it was tedious, for others, the ride was easy and more relaxing. Photo credit: Greg Elliott/TAP
commit to whirlwind process By Dan Montgomery Turf Page Assistant Editor
One of the teams on the rise, the softball team looks to continue its upswing and is eyeing a county championship and even a state championship. Junior Kayla Hoesly said “We’re in a easier division and we expect to win more and everyone to have a better season than last year.”
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The girls track team comes into 2015 with strong team. Returning All-County Seniors Ryan Freeman, Emily Chin, and sophomore Emma Osborne lead the charge. Osborne comes off a stellar freshman campaign winning the 100 in the county championship and setting numerous school records.
SAILING
VOLLEYBALL
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Last year’s Union County Runner of the Year, senior captain Leland Jones, leads this strong team toward a state championship. In what he calls an ongoing sport from fall to spring, Jones said, “It should be a great spring season and we are hoping to finish it off with nationals in North Carolina.”
After a tough 2-1 loss to state ranked Cranford in the state sectionals semi-finals, the baseball team is hoping to make it to the state finals. Senior Captain Hunter Miller said, “Beating Cranford is always in the back of our minds and we are looking to win our section this year.”
TENNIS
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GIRLS TRACK
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BOYS TRACK
The most successful program starts out with a number two ranking in the sate. After last year’s 8-6 loss to Delbarton in the TOC, the team is ready to take home the hardware. Senior Sean Andrews said, “Last year was great, but a TOC championship is what we are looking for.”
highschoolsports.nj.com
www.laxlessons.com
With a storm of DI recruits, the Hilltop ladies lax team hopes to complete its state championship run to the TOC. After last year’s tough loss to Moorestown, the team is ready to take on the challenge again. Senior Brynn Johnson is optimistic. “We have a real strong freshman class,” she said.
By Cam Fuoti Turf Page Editor
SOFTBALL
BASEBALL
BOYS LACROSSE photos.nj.com
GIRLS LACROSSE
March 2015
Provided by Andrew Bowyer
Turf 2015 Spring Sports Preview
Verve 8
As one of the up and coming sports, the golf team can see success over the horizon. Senior Captains Pat Beljian, Andrew Bowyer (who, by the way) was third team All-State last year, are determined to bring home a championship. Bowyer said, “We’re willing to do anything this year to win states.” process, building a resume worthy of recruitment, the NCAA clearinghouse process, and how academics factor into it all.” For the athletes still partaking in the process, they are evidence that recruiting is not as easy as it may appear. Senior Varsity boys tennis player Christian Barrett is still actively engaged in his college search. He said, “I’ve made a highlight video and now I am sending out emails to coaches to see if they have an openings on their team. The process has been kind of difficult because if you have your heart set on a school but they are not looking to recruit anyone at the time, it can be really tough.”
Reigning champ! Hilltop alumni Wellington Smith accepts his retired jersey during a game in 2013. Smith was a part of backto-back state sectional championship teams in ‘04 and ‘05. Photo credit: Jason Cohen/The Alternative Press