Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034
APRIL 2014 Volume 57 Issue 5
spotlight
In this
Issue:
District Makes Way For New Elementary School by Anna Simoneau
Do you love hockey? Turn to page 11 to read more about the Phantoms coming to Allentown.
If you are in search of a new game or already addicted, find out more about 2048 on page 4.
Marriage equality is debated once again. Read more on page 6.
The best-selling book “Divergent” gets transformed into a movie. Flip to page 13 for more details.
Want to see more?
Two elementary schools, Lower Milford (left) and Hopewell (above) are affected by the district’s plan. Photo Credit: Southern Lehigh School District
The Southern Lehigh school board has recently made the decision to close Lower Milford and Hopewell Elementary Schools and build a bigger school in Hopewell's place to make the elementary school system run more efficiently. Under the current plan, which is to be enacted in about a year, Lower Milford and Hopewell will be closed permanently. Hopewell will be demolished and a new, bigger school will be built on the property. In the future, all elementary school students will be split between this new school and Liberty Bell, which will remain the same. The decision to makethis change came about when the Board Facilities Committee reviewed a five-year plan for anticipated repairs to the elementary schools. They discovered that it would be more economical to build a new school rather than repair Hopewell's systems. Multiple options were reviewed and the current option was selected as the most cost-effective and beneficial to students. "Think of it in a similar fashion to repairs on an older car," Superintendent Leah Christman said. "Things will start to fail at some point and as a car-owner, you must at some point decide if it makes more sense to keep repairing things that go wrong or buy a new more technologically advanced and more efficient car. In the long run, which is more economical?" Besides newer, better facilities, the new change has many other benefits. Overall, most students should have a shorter bus ride. Also, class sizes will initially stay the same and work toward smaller class sizes as the economy
recovers. Despite the cost of the new school, under the current plan, taxes will not need to increase. Another major benefit of the current plan is that no teaching jobs will be lost, just redistributed. "There are only a few positions that may have overlap and therefore may not be needed at one of the elementary buildings, but we will create a plan to utilize all employees,” Superintendent Christman said. “Some may possibly replace other positions as individuals retire or leave the district for other reasons, but we have no intention for any current employee to lose a position as a result of the building project and [we] are confident that will be possible." Since many students at the high school have gone through one of these schools, the news comes with a lot of sadness and nostalgia. "When you drive by it, it brings back memories," senior Crystal Rizzuto said. "I wasn't sad until I drove by." Although the old schools will be missed, most students realize the change is for the best. "Its kinda upsetting, but as long as they're rebuilding it, that's fine," junior Nick Peoples said. "I guess they kinda have to take it down. From what I heard, its not really safe." Additional information on the change is posted under "Elementary Buildings Planning" on the district website. More information will be posted under "Elementary Building Project."
2
NEWS
Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034 (610) 282-1421 x7122 slsdspotlight@gmail.com http://slspotlight.com
The Spotlight is published in print and online by the student members of its staff. Its purpose is to present news concerning Southern Lehigh High School and the Southern Lehigh School District, as well as to provide a forum for student opinion. Editorial content of The Spotlight expresses the view of the paper and not necessarily that of the Board of Education, administration, or faculty of the Southern Lehigh School District. Bylined editorial content and letters to the editor represent the opinion of the writer only. All contents are copyrighted by The Spotlight. Sponsorship rates are furnished upon request.
Faculty Adviser Mrs. Marlo Spritzer
Editor-in-Chief Dana DiGiovanni
SPOTLIGHT
Network Drive Out: Spartandocs In
Starting in the Fall of 2014 the school district will no longer utilize its network drives in favor of the Spartandocs server. by Alex Miller
By the end of this school year, Southern Lehigh School District will have completely eliminated its network drives in favor of the Spartandocs servers. “The switch has been in place for some time,” coordinator of network and information services Erik Malmberg said. “Students have been collaborating with Google Docs for some time now, and we feel that using Google Drive gives them a chance to stay better organized and have everything in one location.” Malmberg says that students will simply no longer have access to the network drives, something that will benefit students and the district as a whole. “Students get up to 25gb of storage available with [Google] Drive, and with drive space becoming expensive, this is also a huge cost savings for the district as far as drive infrastructure is concerned,” Malmberg said. “This will also make for ease of use for students when they are off our network and at home, or anywhere they can access the cloud.”
A major adjustment in the transition will be seen in the CTA classes, which in the past have relied heavily on the network drive to save important files. “The software programs in Spartan Docs are limited and are not the full versions, so formatting features have been lost,” business teacher Mrs. JoAnn Peralta said. “I do understand that the decision to save to Spartan Docs is not the same as creating documents in Spartan Docs, but I think that students will confuse the two.” Peralta also believes that for some students, it will be difficult to decide which files to save and which to keep. She feels that it will require effort from students to keep the transition smooth. “Some students are not that organized, so storing files in an organized way may be a challenge for some,” Peralta said, “Students need to take time to delete old files and do the move itself.” There are also mixed reviews among students over the file migration. Some feel that a complete transition to Spar-
‘Global Nomads’ Connect to Students in Middle East by Taylor Marouchoc and Talia Trackim
News Editor
Ashley Zamichieli
Features Editor McKenzie Browne
Entertainment Editor McKenzie Browne
Opinion Editor Katie Cole
Sports Editor
Cody Heffelfinger
Our World Editor Ashley Zamichieli
In-Depth Editor Kylie Schmitt
Photo Editor Anna Simoneau
Video Editor Jacob Boyer
Web Manager Abby Muth
tandocs will be a new experience, though others feel that Spartandocs’ preexistence in the classroom will allow for a smooth transition. “Google Drive is helpful because it eliminates the need for emailing,” freshman Jason Moreira said. “I dont think it will affect me because I save all of my documents in folders on my desktop,” junior Gabriela Silva said. To some, however, the network drive was a safe alternative when Spartandocs failed to meet their expectations. “With the network drive I can access files at home and edit and save them from wherever,” junior Tomias Peoples said. The district-wide file migration will be an adjustment, but Peralta feels that adaptation is key to the process. “In CTA, we will address this change and help students with the migration and organization of file storing,” Peralta said. “One thing about change: it will always happen, so it's how we deal with it that matters.”
Freshmen arrive at 6:15 once a month to meet with students from around the world. Photo credit: Taylor Marouchoc and Talia Trackim
When most students go to school, the first people they talk to are their friends or teachers. Not for this group of students. A group of 26 freshmen find themselves face to face with students from Pakistan and Afghanistan once a month. “I think it’s been an amazing cultural experience, and I mean, we wake up at 6:15 in the morning and sit in our civics classroom and talk to kids from Afghanistan and Pakistan!” freshman Sarah Mackin said. “That’s really cool! It really is something that’s once in a lifetime.” Global Nomads Group, the program in which the students are participating in, is an international organization that encourages interaction between people from all over the world in hopes to change their preconceived perspectives of other countries. Global Nomads Group strives to give students the opportunities to work together, collaborate, and communicate despite their differences. “I wouldn’t consider it work exactly, because we’re together and it’s fun at the same time,” freshman Georgian Fan said. Once a month, the freshmen meet at 6:15 a.m. to video conference with students from SOLA, an all-girls boarding school in Afghanistan, and DA SKBZ, an all boys school in Pakistan. Students from all three schools participate in group discussions, debates, question-and-answer sessions, and 60-second showcases. “There’s a lot of assignments to be done. We have things,
such as timelines [and] also the group project that we’re working on,” freshman Victor Aung said. “For example, Mrs. Quartuch has emailed us multiple times [the night] before a conference to do something important to prepare for the conference. It’s sometimes last minute but we usually get those things done.” Even though the mornings are early, most students agree that it’s worth it. They have previously expressed being surprised at how similar they are to the students in Afghanistan and Pakistan, despite the picture that the media typically portrays. Students also think they’ve grown in character because of the video conferencing. “I think their general awareness about what it’s like to be an Afghan or a Pakistani has grown tremendously, you know, and kind of dealing with their own assumptions and stereotypes,” social studies teacher and Global Nomads adviser Mrs. Katie Quartuch said. “They’ve been open-minded enough to break those down.” Students from all three schools are also working on collaborative projects. Southern Lehigh Global Nomads participants are focusing their project on perceptions of other countries and how they’re often skewed. They will be making a documentary presenting it to the community. “We’re working on it well. I’m excited to show it…to the community,” freshman Brad Polek said. “I hope that it brings awareness to the community.” Global Nomads was established in 1998. It has involved over one million people in various programs, and has reached over 45 countries. It has become a global leader recognized for bringing together countries from all over the world through education and media organization. Students have two more video conferences left, and they will be devoting the rest of their time towards the collaborative project in hopes to spread their message. “I think it’s really eye-opening,” freshman Allyson Yanega said. “The kids there are just like us. Life’s not that much different there.” Video coming soon to slspotlight.com!
APRIL 2014
NEWS
3
No More Boring Summer Books! by Robyn Somers
This year there are many new changes in the summer reading lists. Over the summer students will be able to choose among more book options as they complete the assigned reading for next fall. According to English teacher Mrs. Marlo Spritzer an English teacher, who helps the department organize the summer reading lists, there are a few reasons for the changes. For one thing, it has been proven that students who read over the summer maintain more of what they learned over the previous school year. It is also true that if students have more of a choice, they are more likely to read, and most importantly enjoy, a novel they choose. “We don’t want students to see summer reading as a punishment,” Mrs. Spritzer said. “We hope every student will now be able to find a book that they will enjoy.” For each grade there are a number of new options. “I think the updated summer reading lists provide students exposure to both classic and contemporary literature, which is fantastic,” school librarian Mrs. Corry Robbins said. “The required journal entries are thought provoking and interesting.” Ninth graders entering college prep English now have the choice of two out of eight books in comparison to the limited three choices students had before. Honors English 9 students must choose only one of the classics, and then two more books out of ten options. Previously, the Honors English 9 students had only four books to choose from. New options include “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Childhood’s End,” and “Dracula.” Students entering English 10 CP must now read two books from their list of ten books. Last
year they had to read only one. However, the list of books includes popular teen reads such as “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Divergent.” Honors English 10 students still have to read five books, but not the same five. Among the eight books on the list, new choices are “A Raisin in the Sun” and “Killer Angels.” Students entering English 11 will find there have been more books added to list their list, including “The Metamorphosis,” “Unbroken,” and “Angela’s Ashes.” They will choose two. Honors 11 students used to be required to read the same five mandatory books. For next year they still have to read five books, but have 11 new options. Various categories include “The Book Thief,” “The Joy Luck Club,” and “Hiroshima.” The English 12 list has offered choice to students for several years, and are no changes for this year. Students must pick two books from the list of five. Popular choices include “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” among others. The Honors English 12 list includes more choices in each category such as “1984” and “The Ocean at the End of the Lane.” While “Macbeth” is still a mandatory read, it is paired with a new book, the popular nonfiction title, “Outliers.” Finally, AP students will see many more options on their list. In the previous years, AP students had to read the same four mandatory books, with no choices. Next year students will still read some mandatory titles, but they will now choose two more from a list of ten, including “Pride and Prejudice,” “The Natural,” and “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” Another big change to the summer reading list is that Applied Communications classes in all four
Summer reading offers more choice. Photo credit: Abee5.
grades will also be required to do summer reading. In previous years, applied students did not have assigned summer reading. Now each student will choose one book from a list high interest books. The choices vary from grade to grade and include popular reads such as “Crash” and “Catching Fire.” Teachers are due to share specific summer reading lists with students by May 1st. The complete list is already posted on the high school library webpage. New this year is that electronic versions of the lists include hyperlinks from each title to Amazon.com where students can explore book descriptions, reviews, and even click to “look inside” the book and read the first chapter to see if they find it interesting. Both the high school and the public library will have summer reading books available, and the local Barnes and Noble also makes an attempt to stock books on the summer reading list. Many books are also available in electronic form for free through our school subscription to Overdrive. More information is available on the high school library website. “I think the changes to the 2014 list are very positive,” director of secondary education Mrs. Joan Takacs said. “It will allow all students the opportunity to read books on their interest level, and read books that will also [relate to the] curriculum. I also like the fact that it offers students more choices.”
What’s My Username and Password? by Jacob Boyer
Links to numerous educational websites can be access via the school website under student resources. Photo credit: slsd.org
Starting early on in our educational careers, students at Southern Lehigh are given accounts for various online learning tools. However, with numerous usernames and passwords to keep track of, students can feel overwhelmed and lost. The real question: how many are usernames and passwords and accounts are necessary? “[We definitely use] Blackboard; all my stuff for every class is on Blackboard. Students are expected to understand how to login from home and school,” said business and technology teacher Mrs. JoAnn Peralta. “Spartandocs as well. Teachers expect students to know how to use that [as well as] course-specific things like Sapphire, Career Cruising, and Naviance.” “[Our students use] programs like Spelling City, Kid Biz, First in Math, Fast Math, things like that,” Lower Milford Elementary special education teacher Mrs. Wendy Bonsall said. “In [my] class, students use iPads once per week to carry out research for history simulations,” middle school social studies teacher Mr. Peter Orr said.
“I provide the framework; the topics, items, and ideas for them to look up. They do the research.” At the high school, the programs and websites students use in class include Spartandocs, Aleks, Cognitive Tutor, Career Cruising, Study Island, Blackboard, Edmodo, Net Trekker, COIN: Career Guidance Center, Atomic Learning, and Pearson Success Net. Among them, four sites are geared toward career planning, two programs are for mathematics practice, two are file-sharing sites, one is a school-friendly Facebook clone, and three are study assistance sites. How many do students really use? “If there were one program, it would be easier.” says Mrs. Peralta. “Like if Sapphire could manage grades AND share documents with teachers it would be easier.” “[In my class,] no lesson is built around the use of technology or any particular program.” says Mr. Orr. “As a general rule of thumb, the use of technology in my class is about research and reading to be prepared for class. The entire Internet is used in lieu of a textbook.” Many say that students learn more through technology because this generation is exposed to technology far more than previous generations. But at what point is there too much exposure? How much is really enough? “I certainly don’t object to using technology or programs or websites.” Mr. Orr said. “I DO object to the notion of including technology just for the sake of using it because ‘it’s technology.’” “[The students] are motivated to learn, and I get feedback about their performance [with the use of technology],” Mrs. Bonsall said. “Students may think it’s overwhelming,” Mrs. Peralta said, “but for the teacher, it is overwhelming when a student doesn’t understand the importance [of the program/website].” Ultimately, it’s up to the district to determine what is necessary. But maybe it’s time that they take a look at the student resources section of the website. It’s getting a little crowded.
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FEATURES
SPOTLIGHT
SL’s Top Five Favorite TV Shows Featured on Netflix by McKenzie Browne
Within the past few years, the popularity of Netflix has been consistently growing. Even with extreme loads of homework, extra curricular activities, and sports practices, students still seem to find time to watch their favorite TV shows online. According to a survey of 70 students, the top five most popular Netflix series at Southern Lehigh include “How I Met Your Mother,” “Breaking Bad,” “The Walking Dead,” “Dexter,” and “Lost.” All five series are featured on the watch instantly section of Netflix. CBS’s hit series “How I Met Your Mother” was voted the most popular TV show among students. In this comedy series, Ted Mosby tells his two kids the story of how he met his true love. He tells the kids eight years of insignificant, funny, crazy stories that include his four best friends, Marshall, Barney, Lily, and Robin, leading up until the day he finally meets their mother. The show began in 2005 and ended after nine seasons in March 2014. “I first saw an episode when I was at a friends house and thought it was really funny so I decided to watch more,” sophomore Dalton Browne said. “The show has kept my interest because of the great comedy and relatability of the characters.” Coming in a close second place was AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” The suspenseful drama tells the story of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who was diagnosed with lung cancer at the beginning of the series. White struggles with pay-
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox Television
ing for his medical expenses and worries about his family’s future financial situation if he were to die, so he turns to a secret life of crime. After finding his former student, Jesse Pinkman, for assistance, the two team up to become the most powerful meth producers in the west. Unfortunately, all bad things must come to an end, and “Breaking Bad” came to a close in September 2013 after five seasons. Taking third place was AMC’s latest hit, “The Walking Dead.” Set in a post apocalyptic world, a small group of survivors form together against zombies, called “walkers” and “biters.” The main characters, led by Rick, deal with the loss of their loved ones and the daily challenges of attempting to survive in this mad world. The show made its debut in 2010 and is still running with season five starting up again in the fall. “I would definitely recommend ‘The Walking Dead’ to others because not only does it teach you how to survive in a zombie apocalypse, but it also displays other issues between families, friends, and strangers as everyone tries to survive,” senior Amy Ramson said. “I ended up finishing the first three seasons in a couple of weeks because I couldn’t stop watching it!” Close behind “The Walking Dead” came Showtime’s “Dexter.” This thrilling series centers its story on Miami Metro Police Department’s blood spatter pattern analyst, Dexter Morgan. By
Photo credit: AMC Studios
Photo credit: AMC Studios
day he works for the police station, but by night he lives a secret life as a serial killer. After being “born in blood,” Dexter’s father knew that he was different, so he gave him a code to follow: never get caught, and never kill an innocent person. “Dexter” began in 2006 and ended in September 2013 after eight seasons. “I had heard people talking about ‘Dexter’ so I figured I would check it out for myself,” junior Julia Dunham said. “I was hooked after the first episode and watched the entire series in three weeks.” Rounding out the top five is ABC’s “Lost,” a drama series that follows the survivors of a tragic plane crash. Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 flying from Sydney, Australia to Los Angeles, California, is lost over the South Pacific Ocean and crashes onto what looks like a deserted island. Out of the 324 people on board, only 70 make it. These 70 people must figure out how to survive on the island, which they soon find out is definitely not deserted. “Lost” ran a total of six seasons from 2004 to 2010. If you’ve already seen all these shows and want a new series to watch, honorable mentions from the survey results include “Blue Mountain State,” “American Horror Story,” “Orange is the New Black,” and “Weeds.”
Photo credit: Showtime Networks
Photo credit: ABC Studios
2048: The Latest Gaming Trend by Alex Huang
Created by Gabriele Cirulli. Based on 1024 by Veewo Studio and conceptually similar to Threes by Asher Vollmer.
The latest game to take Southern Lehigh by storm is 2048, a free online game that makes players want to rip their hair out. Players move tiles around with the arrow keys on computers or swipe across the screen on smartphones. They add number tiles together to work their way up to get higher numbers on the tiles until they reach 2048. For example, the number two tile can only join with two tiles to achieve the number four tile. The pattern continues with the tile order of two, four, eight , then 16. Next is 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, and finally 2048. “It was confusing at first, but it becomes smooth and you realize there is a special trick to beating the game,” freshman Andrew Kim said. To win, players must reach the 2048 tile. Not many players are successful. Some can reach 1024, but lose before scoring 2048 and burst into outrage. After obtaining 2048, players are allowed to keep playing to get higher tiles such as 4096, but most players stop playing
the game after achieving the original goal. “It was fun at first, but got old quick,” freshman Garrison Piel said. A basic strategy players can use is moving the highest tile to a corner. Next, have slightly smaller tiles beside the highest tile. The reason for this is to stack up tiles so when players get similar smaller tile, they can immediately come together to achieve 2048. To move the highest tile to a corner, only use three of the arrow keys when playing.. “It’s not that hard once you figure it out,” sophomore Michael Partington said. The creator of 2048 is Gabriele Cirulli, a first time game developer. Cirulli created the game “as a fun project over the weekend.” The game is similar to “Three,” a game where you add the multiples of three together. There are many parodies to the game including “Flappy Bird 2048” and “DOGE 2048.” One of the complex parodies is “9007199254740992.”
APRIL 2014
FEATURES
5
Disney Announces Its Newest Princess: Moana by Jordan Burt
Whether you are one of the new Anna and Elsa fans or a die-hard Snow White devotee, every girl (and maybe even some guys) have a favorite Disney princess. What is it about these young, fictional women that inspire people to be something more? Is it their personalities? Their will to fight for what they believe in? Or maybe it’s their gorgeous hair? Disney recently released the name of its princess, Moana Waialiki, a Polynesian voyaging enthusiast who lives 2000 years in the past, and the only daughter of a chief in a long line of sea navigators. When her family is in need of her help, she sets off on an adventure, meeting some spirits and demigods along the way. Disney has not said much about the film, but the movie is set to hit the screens either in 2017 or 2018. The demigods and spirits in the movie will, for the most part, be taken from actual mythology. Though unconfirmed, Disney may use the same animation used in the Disney Animation Short, “Paperman.”
“I think it’s cool that Disney is still coming out with princesses that are both historical and relatable,” junior Elise Schaffer said. “I’m expecting [the demigods] to look like the gods in Greek mythology with three heads and half-horse-half-human bodies,” junior Samantha Zajdel said. Many people are expecting great things from Moana, and fans are already stoked. Thousands of people have already created fan art showing what they think the latest princess should look like. One thing is for certain: they don’t want another white, skinny, small-mouthed, bigeyed princess. Disney has rolled out three of those already, including Rapunzel, Anna, and Elsa. Fans are really looking to see a heavier, dark skinned, puffy-haired princess. Hopefully, Disney will deliver. “[Moana] should be different,” senior Erica Reichl said. “I think it would be better if Disney had more variety in their characters just so that all races, body types, shapes, and sizes can be represented.”
Florida’s infamous Cinderella’s Castle. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Fiction Brings Real-Life Success for SL Grad Alivia Anders by Kaelee Rupell
Local author and 2009 Southern Lehigh alumnus, Alivia Anders, has shown that college isn’t always necessary to follow your dreams. She took a different path and five years after graduating, she is already publishing her fifth book titled “A Shard of Ice.” Many students know that after graduating that they either want to go to college or just get right into work. Anders decided to pursue her passion which wasn’t college and wasn’t quite a job either. “I didn’t choose college because I didn’t feel I needed it,” Anders said. “ I already knew how to write, so going to college for writing wouldn’t have been beneficial.” During high school, Anders had both Mrs. Marlo Spritzer and Mrs. Leigh Kern as English teachers. She also took journalism, when Mrs. Kern was still the adviser. “I have always known, since first meeting Alivia, that she was going to be a writer,” Mrs. Kern said. “She has a very creative soul and is able to put that creativity into her writing.” “I liked writing,” Anders said. “It was a really great time to stretch yourself into the creative writing because the typical English classes were just textbook after textbook.” Anders started writing small short stories in middle school. Eventually, they turned into bigger stories.
“I liked that I could tell the story how I wanted to because I got tired of reading the same old books,” Anders said. “When I liked what I would write, I would show it to my friends.” Anders has already written several books since she graduated. Three of the five books in her “Illumine” series are already in our school library. Those books are “Illumine,” “Obumbrate,” and “Riven.” You can expect to see the final two books, “Ethereal” and “Alacrity,” in the library soon. “As a librarian, and someone who dreams of publishing a book, I am always extremely happy to celebrate the publishing success of former students,” school librarian Mrs. Corry Robbins said. “Having Alivia’s books in our library is a great reminder, to students and teachers alike, to follow your dreams. I hope Alivia inspires other to follow in her footsteps.” Along with the “Illumine” series, Anders working on another series. The first book, “A Shard of Ice,” is about five teenage girls who discover that they are reincarnated immortals and must destroy an ancient evil before it destroys them. Released on April 14, 2014, the book is also available online and will also be available in the library soon. “Alivia has proven to be successful. She has perseverance and drive,” Mrs. Kern said. “I could not be more proud of her. She will continue to grow and so will her audience.”
2014 MTV Award Winners
Movie of the Year “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” Best Male Performance Josh Hutcherson, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” Best Female Performance Jennifer Lawrence Favorite Character Shailene Woodley, “Divergent”
Best Shirtless Performance Zac Efron, “That Awkward Moment” Trailblazer Award Channing Tatum Generation Award Mark Wahlberg #WTF Moment Leonardo DiCaprio driving a Lamborghini in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Photo credit: Red Alice Press
Best Fight Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly vs. Orcs, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” Best Comedic Performance Jonah Hill, “The Wolf of Wall Street” Best On-Screen Duo Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, “Fast & Furious 6” Best Villian Mila Kunis, “Oz The Great and Powerful”
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OPINION
SPOTLIGHT
Marriage Equality for All? Letter to the Editor by Lizzi Thom
To the Editor: I enjoyed reading and learning about the UNICEF water donation. I thought it was good that our school got the chance to give clean drinking water to people who usually don’t have it. I liked how easy it was to make a difference. All you had to do was not touch your phone for 10 minutes and a bottle of water got donated to someone who needed it! I think that there should be more things our school does to help out with other kids that don’t have as much as we do. -Kristen Kylish Sophomore
To the Editor: The article was well written and I liked how it went into all events the Americans participated in. Each was well detailed and described. I really enjoyed the mentioning of TJ Oshie I knew he would do well in the Olympics and he sure did. From watching him on the blues I knew he was good but I did not expect the shootout performance he put up. Also liked the added part about his hero speech. The article was all around good structured and very informative -Draven Yandersits Sophomore
The gay marriage equality logo. Photo Credit: Human Rights Campaign
The legalization of gay marriage is the most passionately debated social issue of today. As of July 17, 2013, gay marriage had been legalized in only 14 of the 50 states of the United States of America and the District of Columbia. Pennsylvania is the sole Northeastern state that has not yet recognized gay marriage or civil unions. After Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, Pennsylvania enacted a statute defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. In contrast, bans on gay marriage through constitutional amendments or laws are present in 35 states. This extreme lack of freedom across the country for homosexuals to wed has sparked controversy particularly among religious believers and gay individuals. Every time I’ve had the pleasure to discuss this topic with a religious individual, I hear the same phrase, “marriage was intended between a man and a woman.” As a person who once went to church twice a week, I grew up with a similar mindset. Once I matured, I grew out of this belief and learned to develop my own opinions and morals without outside influence. I’d like to call myself agnostic, but what is written in the Bible cannot be ignored if I am to fully invalidate the opinion that gay marriage should be illegal. The question is not whether or not homosexuality is a sin, as the Bible clearly states it is. "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. (Leviticus 20:13). However, it is not man’s authority to determine who should enjoy and be denied the blessing of a bond with God, including marriage, baptism, and communion. If a gay individual is in fact a sinner, that is for a ‘forgiving’ God to conclude in Heaven, not your conservative Catholic who lives next door. It is recognized above that the Bible disapproves of same-sex relations. My question is, why should this context be taken seriously and literally when the Bible also approves of slavery? “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.” (Ephesians 6:5) By abolishing slavery, the United States has contradicted acts in the Bible; however, no one is quoting Jesus for this issue as it has long been resolved. It has been accepted by modern day American society that enslaving humans is inhumane, despite passages in the Bible
advocating it. We see parallels in this concept when gay marriage opponents cite incidents in the Bible that would support their abhorrent views. “It is excerpts like those that should render the Bible as a preposterous source to validate information since it clearly contains traditions...that are poorly outdated to modern day society,” junior Jason Renner said. “Sorry, but we aren’t in [ancient] Jerusalem during 0 C.E. guys.” My opinion concurs with Renner’s and for all the diehard constitutionalists reading this. I think you would all agree death by stoning violates our 8th amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The Bible can not be taken as a valid argument against same-sex marriage as it is clear it was not written for 21st century standards of living. For a moment, lets just say the Bible should in fact be rendered as sufficient evidence that gay marriage should not be legalized in the United States. Even if the Bible is true and valid, that means absolutely nothing to the federal or state government thanks to separation of church and state; at least in theory it should. The Bible can not be legally utilized as an argument against gay marriage as Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Bill of Rights: “Government shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Unfortunately, there is little to no separation of church and state as promised. As displayed in the Pledge of Allegiance, inserting “one nation, under god” utterly goes against the First Amendment guarantee that the government will remain secular. Instead of illegally respecting the Bible in the process of bill legislation, government should instead respect the list of rights and liberties this great nation was founded upon. Without regard to the Bible, legalizing gay marriage is essential in order to take another step towards every individual being truly equal, a right Americans take great pride in. However, not everyone feels this way. “I believe if the gays want to be treated as equals, they should act as equals. Stop with the parades and marches, stop the flamboyant attitude,” junior Brycen Holland said. The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a promise that can not be imposed or infringed upon. Though some, like Holland, don’t find it socially acceptable to be “flamboyant” in public, it is by no means up to them to judge another based on his or her own closedmindedness. Marches are a First Amendment right and a common means of spreading awareness and gaining support for an issue. Homosexuals have just as much liberty to do so as any heterosexual. A mere 50 or so years from now, society will remember the debate on legalizing gay marriage just the same as we look back on granting African Americans civil rights, simply that it is absolutely ridiculous that it was not done sooner and with more ease. Personally, I can not wait for the inevitable to come in which all half decent members of society find it ridiculous that the public had these condemning opinions that both ostracized and ridiculed a particular denomination. This issue is rapidly gaining traction in favor of the legalization of gay rights, just as African American civil rights gained support through activism by strong leaders. These activists took pride in who they were, unwilling to yield to the judgemental right-wing of politics who prefer to verbally take down those who do not share their opinions. All citizens, regardless of sexual orientation should be granted the right of marriage. After all, God did say to love thy neighbor, didn’t he?
APRIL 2014
OPINION
7
Standing up for the Pledge by Brianna Laughlin
In 1892, Francis Bellamy wrote the beginning of what eventually would become the 31 words we recite every morning during school. The Pledge of Allegiance was written to encourage citizens of the United States of America recognize the flag as a representation of their great country and to show their allegiance to American freedoms. Many students in our school do not stand up for the 30 seconds that it takes to render the Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence. “Students do not know what the pledge means,” freshman Joscelyn Billiard said. “I feel like if people were provided with a better understanding of what it actually is and what it’s supposed to mean, then more students would stand up.” Standing up for the pledge not only shows respect for the country that we live in, but it also is a sign of respect for the men and women that fight for our country to provide us with our human rights. Of 20 students surveyed, 19 voted that staff and students in the school should have to at least stand to respect the Pledge. According to the Southern Lehigh Student Handbook policy, students are required to show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance, but may refrain for reciting it. The handbook does not, however, give students permission not to stand for it; therefore, it is not unreasonable for teachers to require students to stand. “Of course I think students should be made to stand up. It is like a daily appreciation of what this country provides for us,” sophomore Caraline Meluskey said. “I don’t think that there’s any reason why a student is not able to stand up. I think it’s out of laziness that they don’t, which is so disrespectful.”
The American Flag. Photo Credit: Pixabay
Junior Year: The Pressure of College
by Dana DiGiovanni
Penn State University Campus. Photo Credit: William Yurasko
What do you want to be when you grow up? Where do you want to go to college? What are you going to major in? These are just a few of the many questions juniors and seniors are hammered with. It’s that time of year again: juniors are ripping their hair out because of their workload, seniors are still undecided on where they want to spend the next four years of their lives, and parents are dealing with the stress of getting their kids ready for “the real world”. Who is really at blame for all of this stress? Is it the school for assigning such a difficult curriculum for juniors? Is it the seniors for having a bad case of senioritis and procrastinating? Personally I believe parents and teachers are to blame. Starting my junior year, I was not all that worried. Freshman and sophomore year were a breeze, and I managed to get 4.0’s. Then, it all came crashing down. Summer work, projects, pop quizzes, essays, physics, preparing for the AP exam, homework every night. Adjusting to the workload was a
living academic nightmare. The problem of overwhelming school stress starts at home. Now more than ever parents are putting pressure on their children to succeed in the future. “As juniors in high school, our parents have such high expectations for us because our grades have become a crucial factor for our futures. Every decision we make affects what colleges we will be accepted into,” junior Ashley Dawe said. “Our parents put extreme pressure on us to succeed because they want the best opportunities to be available to us in the future.” Yes, our parents only want the best for us. On the other hand, is it truly necessary to hammer us with questions every day? Not only parents, but any adult. I simply can’t go anywhere with an adult without them asking me about college. The answer is: I simply don’t know! Teenage girls can hardly pick out an outfit in the morning so how can you expect them to have their lives planned out by the beginning of the school year? The next part of the pressure comes from our teachers, especially now in light of the newly implemented block scheduling. Juniors who are taking on level and/or AP classes have some form of homework every single night. That is a fact, not an opinion. A typical junior last year would most likely have homework every night, but with block scheduling, many teachers feel the need to assign double the homework. I understand we now have two nights to do our homework. Realistically though, we cannot work on the homework assigned that day because we have a ton of other homework to work on that is due the following day. There is simply not enough time in the day. Some teachers have the incorrect mindset that their students are only taking one class: theirs. Not to mention student athletes: students who play sports have practice right after school until 5:30 and may not get home until 6:00, eat and shower and by the time they get to their homework, it’s already 8:00. Those students will go to bed at 12:00 and will not get an adequate amount of rest to do it all again the next day. Pressure on juniors and seniors surround us in our daily lives. In conclusion, parents and teachers should both lay off a little and understand the stress of high school. It will ultimately make our lives, and theirs, a little bit easier.
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IN-DEPTH
SPOTLIGHT
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APRIL 2014
IN-DEPTH
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OUR WORLD
SPOTLIGHT
Too Many Animals Alone and Without a Home
Lehigh Valley animal shelters help find homes and familes for rescued pets. by Ashley Jann
Giving animals a home is a rewarding experience. Photo credit: Ashley Zamichieli
If you look inside almost every home in the community, you can see a pet running around or playing. These range from large dogs to tiny hamsters and lizards. Many families choose to rescue their pets from shelters. In February the world tuned into the Olympics in Sochi, and attention turned to the stray
dogs that roamed freely throughout the city. Athletes, tourists, and visitors aimed to help solve this problem by placing the animals in shelters. An animal shelter provides sanction for abandoned, lost, neglected or homeless animals that are brought in by community members. Unlike Sochi, the Lehigh Valley does not have a significant problem with stray dogs. Nonetheless, there are a few places that provide shelter for these animals; the Humane Society, Peaceable Kingdom, and The Center for Animal Health and Welfare are shelters here in our local community. Wendy Benedict, director of The Center for Animal Health and Welfare, said her shelter normally takes in about 1200 animals in one year. “We rescue animals by taking in strays or even from other shelters when animals are out of time. We help animals get adopted by getting their photo (or them) out into the public eye,” Benedict said. “Animals in our care get medical care, food, exercise, training, and our screening process for adoption hopefully gets them in the best home suited for a great life.” The adoption process usually includes the person seeing a dog they are interested in. If a person wants to adopt a dog and they already own a dog, the dogs must meet with dog trainer present to see if they will get along. If it is a pit bull or dog with special needs, they do home visits.
If person wants to adopt a cat, they can spend time with it in the shelter’s free roaming room and then fill out an application. The questions on the application determine if the applicant would make a good pet owner, in addition to gathering information that the shelter needs. All family members that will live with the pet must meet and be in agreement. Adopting from an animal shelter gives the opportunity to give back to the community. “I have adopted from a shelter, and I will definitely do it again” freshman Shanaya Desai said. Even though shelters improve an animal’s way of life, there’s nothing like having a home of their own. “Although we think our shelter is pretty awesome and we make our animals feel like they are, with beds, blankets, toys, treats, medical care and love, a home is better. A shelter can be a stressful place to live, especially if you were used to a calm home,” Benedict said, “Our long-term residents often write back that they love car rides, sleeping in bed with their new family and going on vacations, some of the things they don't get on a daily basis at the shelter--of course, they have a family!” Benedict said that there are three cats to every dog at the shelter and they also have other small companion animals such as hamsters, gerbils, birds, rabbits and the not-so-frequent reptile.
Closing the Gender Gap With College Degrees by Shannon Schone
It’s not a secret that some view men as the more dominant sex. For a long time, a perceived “gender gap” was believed to exist in which men were considered more entitled, more superior, or more qualified than females when it came to getting a college education or filling a job. Recently, however, researchers have found a noticeable gap in statistics show more females than males attending college and getting a degree. According to a federal survey, about a third more of women earn their bachelors degree by the age of 27. “More females get their degree, right? In my opinion…there are more hard labor jobs for men,” senior Spencer Cobb said. “How often do you see a female construction worker? The jobs females choose generally need a college education.” Not only do more women go to college, but more women graduate college with a degree. However, many believe there is more of a balance than there used to be.
“Without a college degree you can’t really do anything anymore,” physical education teacher Wayne Langsdorf said. “There [are] definitely more blue collar jobs available so there are more males in the workforce without degrees while some females still chose to stay home with their families. That’s where the balance comes out.” While it is proven that more men typically work hard labor jobs, there are many other reasons for lower numbers of men pursuing college degrees. For one, more males than females tend to enroll in the most difficult majors. That’s why the dropout rate for men is higher. Researchers think this affects the education gender gap statistics. “I like to think that it is equal, but I have to admit I think more girls get their degree,” senior Ciara Singleton said. “I feel like there are so many females out there right now who are a lot more success driven these days.” The number of females earning college degrees and getting high paying jobs the past few years has risen dramatically.
An Innovative Way to Add Flavor to Your Water by Kaelee Rupell
Didn’t think the words water and enjoyable could be used in the same sentence? With new fruit infuser water bottles, water is truly becoming more enjoyable. Many inventors have been trying to create the perfect fruit infuser water bottle to change the lives of water drinkers all around the world. Some have even taken their ideas to the well known television show, Shark Tank. 15-year-old Carter Kostler had taken his own fruit infuser water bottle called the Define Bottle to the television show. After the show aired, Carter was awarded one of Entrepreneur’s Most Brilliant New Inventions. The Define Bottle product was also promoted by President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Foundation “Health Matters” Conference. “I was truly inspired by Carter Kostler’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive,” business teacher JoAnn Peralta said. “He is proof that age does not matter when it comes to achieving your goals.”
Whether you have the one shown on Shark Tank or the one from Amazon, these fruit infuser bottles are changing the way people are drinking water. It’s a healthier alternative to sugary soda or even juices that contain real fruit, which are often packed with sugar. “I think these water bottles are becoming popular because people don’t like the taste of regular water,” senior Crystal Rizzuto said. “It makes drinking water and [being] healthier a little more enjoyable.” It’s a simple idea to help many people. Most individuals do not drink as much water than they should. It’s typical to see people with their coffee, soda, iced tea, or sports drinks. But these water bottles are on the rise. They get people’s attention. “With fruit inside these water bottles, they’re definitely different from the usual water bottles,” junior Rachel Focht said. “I think the fact that it is different, is what makes them so popular.”
APRIL 2014
OUR WORLD
11
Financial Aid Influences College Decisions by Heather Thompson
FAFSA is something every college bound student will soon have to deal with. Photo credit: fafsa.org
As seniors look forward to graduation, they frequently hear one question: “Where are you going to college?” But no one ever asks the most important question: “How are you going to pay for college?” For many, there is a huge amount of stress as the May decision deadline comes closer. Financial aid plays a huge role in the college decision making process. Yet when looking for financial aid, none of the websites are easy to navigate and the letters are even more confusing to understand. There are multiple ways in which students can receive financial aid from universities, state and federal government, private organizations, and banks and lending companies. This aid can come in three different forms: grants, scholarships, and loans. Grants are a gift of financial aid, that do not need to be repaid. Grant money comes from federal and state governments and primarily need-based. Scholarships are also a gift aid, but they are based primarily upon academic merit, athletic ability, volunteer work or interest in a certain topic. Loans are
solely borrowing money from the bank or government and need to be paid back. When applying to colleges, many students look at key factors such as location and programs offered. But with the average annual price for tuition at $30,094 for private colleges, $8,893 (in-state) to $22,203 (out-of-state) for state universities, many parents and future college students are rethinking their decisions. “It is not going to directly pick the college for me, but if I was stuck between three colleges I would pick the one that gave the most money”, senior Kyle Vogeler said. “As the saying goes: I need money and the colleges need me. I think that they should try and convince me to go to their school,” senior Gretchen Scheetz said. “However, as much as would like to receive more money from schools, if it’s my top choice I’m going to go regardless.” However, Southern Lehigh, being an affluent school district, presents an unrealistic representation of financial need. “I ended up choosing the more expensive college,” senior Ciara Singleton said. The majority of families, in inner-city high schools, for example, need more financial help. The need unfortunately outweighs the monetary gifts given by college, university and government grants. Why aren’t schools doing more in providing aid for families? Universities argue that if students want more they should perform and apply for as many scholarships as they possibly can. However, students shouldn’t be afraid to call for reconsideration. Sometimes the needs of some families might be overlooked the first time around. College can be stressful, but finances shouldn’t be.
New PPL Arena Attracts Many to Allentown
Seating over 8,500 people the PPL center in Allentown is set to host a variety of events including the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the band “The Eagles.” by McKenzie Browne
The Phantoms team logo will soon be popping up all over the Lehigh Valley. Photo credit: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
In 2009, plans were announced for a new arena to be built in Allentown, Pennsylvania. After five years of waiting, the new arena, named the PPL Center, is scheduled to open in September 2014. The arena will seat over 8,500 people for hockey games and more than 10,000 for concerts, which makes it the area’s largest event venue. Each year, the PPL Center plans to host over 140 events, including Phantoms hockey games, concerts, shows, sporting events, graduations, and more.
As far as food goes in the venue, there will be plenty of options that everyone will enjoy. The PPL Center recently announced that Chickie’s and Pete’s, who are known for their crab fries, will be open as a full restaurant inside the arena. “I’m excited for the Chickie’s and Pete’s because it’s amazing and a perfect food to eat while watching the game,” junior Matt Long said. On September 12, the first-ever concert at the PPL Center will take place as The Eagles take the stage as a part of their “History of the Eagles” tour. Bringing a huge band to Allentown as the first big show will be a great way to open the new facility. Hockey fans are pleased that they will no longer have to drive all the way to Philadelphia, New York, or Newark, New Jersey to see a great hockey game. "I love hockey and go to a couple of Flyers games a year,” technology education teacher Mr. Robert Gaugler said. “It’s a lot closer so it should be good.” The Phantoms are the affiliate team for the Philadelphia Flyers, so fans will get to see the future Flyers players in their home town. Current NHL stars that have all previously played for the Phantoms include Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Patrick Sharp, James van Riemsdyk, and current Flyers captain Claude Giroux. “I’ve seen players come up through the lowest levels of hockey and make it to the NHL so you always know you’re going to see talent wherever you go,” Matt Long said. With the opening of the arena, the current Adirondack Phantoms hockey team will relocate to Allentown and change their name to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. This will be the third city that the Phantoms will play in; they originated in Philadelphia where they played from 1996 to 2009. To stay updated on the progress of the arena, follow the Phantoms on Twitter (@LVPhantoms). They post a construction update every Wednesday.
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ENTERTAINMENT
SPOTLIGHT
We Waited For it. Was it What We Expected? by Dana DiGiovanni
The legendary sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” came to a close on March 31 with a controversial finale that left some fans unsatisfied. Before I start ranting about the finale, I would like to give an official “spoiler alert” because there’s no way I can censor this article. Also, before I get to the finale, I want to state that HIMYM is one of my favorite television shows of all time. The series, seasons one to eight at least, has quality characters, is extremely quotable, and is packed with laughs. The ninth and final season failed to meet the high standard and quality installed back in 2005. I think we all can agree on that statement, whether you liked the finale or not. Excluding the last episode, all episodes from season nine are the 56 hours leading up to Barney and Robin’s wedding and the mishaps and flashbacks that went along with it. I’ll be very straightforward here: it just wasn’t
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox Television
funny. None of it was funny. I didn’t laugh. I didn’t cry. I didn’t even want to watch the rest of the season. Nothing important happened. It was full of unnecessary fluff. The purpose of these episodes (or so I thought) was to make us fans love and approve of Barney and Robin finally together after all of the ups and downs (which I did) and grow an attachment to the mother as we learned how she coincidentally met all of the other members of the friend group and how she’s the perfect fit for Ted (which I also did). I made it through these dry episodes thinking I would get the perfect finale that I’ve always dreamed of. But wow, I was wrong. Instead of Barney and Robin, the two thick-headed troublemakers who never thought they’d end up married, living happily ever after, they got a divorce after three years of marriage. These three years were also covered in about five to ten minutes into the episode. Yes, I know. People get divorced. It happens. But I also know that this is a television show and I want my happily ever after. Also, they should NOT have had ALL of the episodes leading up to this be ONLY about their wedding and then have them get divorced immediately. This is proof that all of the episodes preceding the finale were ABSOLUTELY POINTLESS. After getting over that heartbreak, we find out many other things such as Marshall reaching judgeship, Barney becoming a father after a one night stand, and Robin disappearing after becoming a workaholic news celebrity. Did they ever go to Rome? Who even is the mother of Barney’s kid? How many kids do Marshall and Lily end up having? What are their names? Where’s Robin and how did she instantly become a celebrity? I get it, the show is called “How I Met Your Mother,” and not primarily focused on these other side stories. But since I have been a die hard fan, I kind of feel insulted. I deserve answers to these questions. What they should have done, which is my grand solution to this horrible finale, is spread all of these major life moments throughout the season instead of packing them all into one hour. If they would have spread this out into a season, maybe I would have been okay with all of these unexpected events. I didn’t even get to the most controversial part yet. On top of all of this, we sadly find out that Ted’s wife dies of illness in the year 2024. After concluding the story of “How I Met Your Mother,” Ted’s kids urge him to ask Robin out on a date since it has been six years since his wife has passed. The series ends with an allusion to season one, where Ted stands outside Robin’s apartment with the same blue french horn. Cute, right? Wrong. How can a fan of the show possibly be happy about Ted and Robin being together after just finding out about the death of his wife? I seriously thought this was a sick and twisted April Fool’s joke or something. I cannot believe they ended it all like this. In conclusion to this ridiculously long article that I can only imagine a few people read all the way through, the finale did surprise me. It wasn’t a happy ending and threw everyone off guard. I will personally never be a fan of the finale, but that’s okay, because it was announced that an alternative ending will be released on the season nine DVD and series box set. Whether or not you liked the ending, HIMYM fans can agree that overall, the series has been legen(wait-for-it)dary.
Shakira Shows a Different Side on Her New Album. No Lie. by Dana Musgnung
Colombian artist Shakira recently released her first self-titled album. Many wondered if she was able to live up to her past nine albums and hit singles including “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie.” Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll signed with her first record label at the age of eight. Her first two albums didn’t come with much success, but her third album sold over three million copies. With only a small American fan base, the singer decided to move to the United States at the age of 20 to pursue a career in English music. Shakira later released her first English album titled “Laundry Service” in 2001. Since then, Shakira has been unstoppable. Over the years, she has won a total of two Grammy awards and seven Billboard Latin Music awards. Taking her career even further, she became a vocal coach on NBC’s hit show, “The Voice,” in 2012. With the release of her newest album come many mixed reviews from the media, ranging from a disappointment to a complete hit. “Shakira” includes many different genres of music such as reggae-rock
and country, while still maintaining her typical pop sound. It is also very ballad heavy. The album includes songs that are very personal to Shakira. She even brings out her inner Taylor Swift when singing “23,” an open love note to her boyfriend, Gerard Pique. The whole first verse explains how she felt when they first met, when he was 23 years old. The current, most popular song on her album is “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” a collaboration done with pop artist Rihanna. The single that grabbed most listeners’ attention was “Medicine,” a shocking collaboration with country artist and fellow coach on “The Voice,” Blake Shelton. As always, Shakira’s album includes Spanish singles such as “Loca Por Ti” and “Nunca Me Acuerdo de Olvidarte,” the Spanish version of “Can’t Remember to Forget You.” Shakira shows a different side of herself in this album. If you enjoy pop and reggae-rock music, then you should give this album a listen.
ENTERTAINMENT Page
APRIL 2014
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One Choice Can Transform You in ‘Divergent’
by Anna Esposito
On March 21, 2014, the film adaptation of the popular novel “Divergent,” written by Veronica Roth, hit movie theaters across the country. Neil Burger directed the movie and made Roth’s book come to life, making this a must-see film. “I really liked the movie because of the book series,” freshmen Sloane Sexton said. “Divergent” is a story of a girl trying to find her way in the world while sending a message to society to always to stay true to yourself. She never conforms to what society wants or thinks. The futuristic world of “Divergent” is set in Chicago, with the city split up into five factions: Dauntless, Erudite, Abnegation, Amity, and Candor. Tris, the main character, grew up in the Abnegation faction, but when she turns 16, she must take a placement test and choose for herself which faction she wants to spend the rest of her life in. The results of this test are supposed to tell exactly where she belongs, but Tris’s results are inconclusive, making her Divergent. Burger did an extraordinary job by showing the message of the story through main actors Tris
(Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James). The cast of the film was a mixed group of actors, some well-rounded individuals and others just making their big break. Stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet, kept the movie suspenseful through the citizens of this community conforming to society. “Divergent” has also been compared to another popular series “The Hunger Games”. Both films share a similar theme and approach. “In ‘The Hunger Games’ there are Districts,” freshmen Justine Grober said. “In ‘Divergent’ there are factions where [characters] get to pick where [they] belong,” The film has also been compared to the novel. There are many different opinions, but overall the movie did follow the storyline. “They stuck close to the plotline,” Sexton said, “[but] some characters were missing.” “Divergent” is a box office hit. The actionthriller film has hit nearly $100 million, and critics are predicting that the movie could eventually earn $145-$150 million in the U.S.
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment
‘The Walking Dead’ Season Four Comes to a Close
by Trevor Leposa
The fourth season of AMC’s popular drama “The Walking Dead” has come to an end, promising exciting things to come. This season saw the fall of the prison, the survivors’ home for the past season and a half. Ravaged by a strange sickness that killed many huge zombie herds, it was finally attacked by The Governor, who drove off with his two cronies in the season three finale. After the survivors fled, they were split up and on the road, looking for a sanctuary, and more importantly, each other. Signs and messages from a proposed sanctuary were scattered along train tracks, leading the survivors to the mysterious Terminus, seeming too good to be true. The final episode of the season, titled “A,” ended on an intense cliffhanger. No major spoilers, but it does show a return of the hardened Rick Grimes that we saw at the end of season two and into season three. The finale also gave answers about Terminus, the mysterious “sanctuary” the survivors were working towards. Depending on what you were predicting, it may or may not have played out the
way it was supposed to. “It was so predictable,” freshman David Birts said. There was one widespread observation: this season, especially the second half, has stayed much closer to the comic book series the show is based on. The best example of this was the midseason premiere, “After.” This episode was essentially a few issues (#49 and #50, to be accurate) of the comic book as a TV episode. There were some added scenes with the character Michonne, but other than that, it was nearly panel-to-screen. Overall, the season’s was well-received. The episodes with the most positive reception have been “Internment,” “Too Far Gone,” and “The Grove.” “Too Far Gone,” the finale of the prison arc, has been especially praised. Critics say it had a much bigger impact than the season three finale, which many considered underwhelming. The fourth season was not without its criticism, however. Some have said that the second half of the season dragged without progressing the story or that the character development was
something we have already seen. Longtime fans of the show were certainly entertained by season four and will definitely find difficulty in the wait for season five.
Photo credit: AMC Studios
Movies Now Playing in Theaters Rio 2
Photo credit: Twentieth Century Fox Animation
Transcendence
Photo credit: Alcon Entertainment
Draft Day
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment
Photo credit: Marvel Entertainment
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SPOTLIGHT
SPORTS
Concussion Awareness Becomming Stronger by Cody Heffelfinger
A typical football helmet paired with a football. Photo Credit: digitalart
In recent years, people have become more aware and concerned about concussions. With the growth of technology, trainers and doctors have been able to detect and treat concussions with proper care. “There were just as many [concussions] ten years ago, but there is a lot more research and knowledge today,” athletic trainer Kelly Dexheimer said. “It is more upfront.” According to concussiontreatment.com, the football players have a 75 percent chance of getting a concussion.. Soccer, however, is the most common sport for females who have a 50 percent chance to get one. “I’m not afraid of getting [a concussion] because if you use the right technique, such as keeping your head up, and not leading with your head, concussions are not as prevalent,” junior football player Matt Watkins said. “The form you use can help reduce the chance of concussions.”
New Sports for Seniors
by Cody Heffelfinger
This spring some senior athletes have decided to try a new sport they have never played before. Senior Troy Reppert has been an important member of the football and basketball teams throughout the last four years. Because of this, Reppert didn’t consider trying a new sport until he got an extra boost from his friends. “My friends Tyler Mann, Trevor Musselman, and Chase Asman influenced me to come out for baseball,” Troy Reppert said. Senior Casey Krause was also a key member of the basketball team and spent much of his fall and spring sport seasons playing Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball. Since he exceeded the age limit for AAU this year, Casey was able to participate in new sports such as golf and track for the first time. “I held off because I played basketball year-round, which conflicted with the other sports’ seasons,” Krause said, “and seniors get cool gifts.” According to US News, 7.6 million athletes across America participate in high school sports. Sports are an integral part of the American teenager’s life, and as a result, they are hard to give up. “It is my senior year and I didn’t want high school sports to end, so baseball is my last hurrah,” Reppert said. A study by the American College of Sports Medicine discovered middle school students who performed best on fitness tests also performed better academically than those who do not. Picking up a new sport is beneficial to a student, because it helps the student develop structure to keep their grades high. According to the American Heart Association, more than half of Americans are overweight or obese. One way to counter this is staying active and participating in sports. “I joined track because I had friends on the team, and I wanted to have something to do to stay in shape,” Krause said. Both Casey and Troy are adapting to their new sports very well and are already making contributions to their respective teams.
Concussiontreatment.com also stated that 47 percent of athletes do not report feeling any symptoms after receiving a concussive blow. “I think people are understanding [concussions] more; we are now taught that ‘getting your bell rung’ is not just a ‘shake it off’ type of injury,” assistant baseball coach Mr. Matthew Greenawald said. “It’s a true injury that although you can not physically see it, it can be far more harmful than an ACL [injury or] broken bone because of the long term effects. It can affect you the rest of your life.” In April of 2010, 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania football captain Owen Thomas was found dead in his home, where he committed suicide. No one knew the cause, until Boston University researched the player’s brain. They found that Thomas was in the early stages of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Strangely, Thomas never was diagnosed with a concussion in his entire football career; however, the disease was caused by the subconcussive hits he acquired throughout his career. CTE is a progressive degenerative disease which is caused by a history of having concussions or brain damage. It shows up mainly in former athletes, especially those who played football, ice hockey, or boxing. Individuals with CTE may show signs of dementia, such as memory loss, confusion, depression, and aggression. Symptoms may not show up until many decades after the head injury. Former NFL star linebacker Junior Seau was also found dead in his home by a gunshot wound to the chest on May 2, 2012. Researchers later proved that Seau suffered from CTE. Seau had no prior reports of having concussions; however, his wife said that he did sustain concussions throughout his career, but he never told anyone. “It’s important for athletes to let their coach know if they’ve sustained a head injury whether it be in practice, or a game, or even from messing around with a friend on the weekend so everyone is on the same page with symptoms so they can get checked, and maybe take the baseline [ImPACT] test again,” said head field hockey coach Mrs. Adrienne Searfoss. The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing or ImPACT test is a computerized test that examines the mental awareness of a person. It helps trainers and athletes determine a timeline for a safe return to their perspective sports. Southern Lehigh School District uses this technology in their training rooms.
MLB Comes Out Swinging
by Casey Asman
On March 30, 2014 the MLB first pitch of the season was thrown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. From the beginning of the season in March, to the end of the regular season in mid September, there will be a total of 2430 games played, each team playing 162 games, not including the post season, which starts in mid-September and ends in October. World series favorites are already rising. According to the Bleacher Report, the top predicted teams to win the 2014 World Series are the Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels. “I feel the Giants will win [the World Series], because they have a well rounded rotation and are successful throughout the years,” freshman Tom Keller said. Midway through the season, the all-star break will be held at Target Field in Minnesota. The all-star festivities include a home run derby including five of the best hitters from each league. The next will be the all-star game when the leagues’ best players play each other in a highly competitive fan festive event. “My favorite part of the season is the all-star break because you get to see all the young talent and superstars in the league,” freshman David Birts said. Last year, the fans saw a lot of superstars rise up out of the dirt such as Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Manny Machado, and Yaisel Puig. “I think that the best player in the league is Mike Trout because he hits bombs,” junior Anthony Lauer said. There are many highly anticipated rookies entering the league this year, including Xander Bogaerts, who showcased his ability with the Boston Red Sox during their road to the World Series title last season. “People should keep their eyes open for Bogaerts and other rookies who will try to live up to last year’s first year phenoms,” senior Pete Long said.
APRIL 2014
SPORTS
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En Guard! Luke Kitagawa Fences His Way to the Top by Nicole Schroy
En guard! Junior Luke Kitagawa participates in a sport that most students do not know much about: fencing. “Fencing consists of stamina [and] endurance,” Kitagawa said. “It has to do with a mind game...both mental and physical strength.” Kitagawa first started taking fencing lessons when he moved to Pennsylvania about six years ago, when he was a student at Liberty Bell Elementary School. “When I moved to Pennsylvania, I was required to have one instrument and one sport,” Kitagawa said. “I think I was watching ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and I was like, sword fighting looks cool I guess.” National and international fencing tournaments continue throughout the year, providing athletes with constant opportunity for competition. Kitagawa practices on Mondays and Fridays for three to four hours at a time. “We usually do footwork, exercises with our movement, other times we free fence,” Kitagawa said. “We want to get scenarios down for when we compete.” Fencers not only need to be quick on their feet, but quick with their minds. They need to think about what their opponents might attempt. Kitagawa’s friends provide him with motivation. They support him and his determination. “He’s a hard worker-for sure,” junior Brandon Thrapp said. “I thought it was really interesting when he first told me about [fencing],” junior Austin Isaac said. The several years of hard work have resulted in astounding achievements for Katagawa, who was able to participate in the junior olympics. “I got state champion, I got first place and earned a C rating. Ratings consists of A, B, C, D, and E, [with] A being the highest,” Kitagawa said. “I’m basically in the middle level now. I also got to compete in the junior olympics. I qualified twice, fenced only once.” Kitagawa plans to continue his fencing career throughout college, and he will continue to work on his goal to attend and participate in the 2020 olympics.
Luke Kitagawa is honored with many fencing awards. Photo Credit: Nicole Shroy
Released and Resigned by John Zamichieli
Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, was released from the team on March 28, 2014. This past season, Jackson recorded a career high in both total receptions and total yards. As of now, it has not yet been confirmed on why the Eagles released Jackson. In his six years playing for the Eagles, Jackson has been picked for the Pro Bowl three times, recorded 6,117 yards, and 32 touchdowns. Despite a personal record setting 1332-yard season for Jackson, the Eagles still decided to part ways with the star. The Eagles issued an official statement upon releasing Jackson. "After careful consideration this offseason, Eagles decide to part ways with DeSean Jackson. The team informed him of his release today." Jackson signed with the Washington Redskins on April 1st and signed a four-year 32 million dollar deal. This deal has produced varied reactions among fans. Social studies teacher Mr. Lee Zeisloft has been a fan of the Redskins since his childhood, and likes that DeSean Jackson was added to the Redskins for a low price. “The move was good, because I don’t feel like they overpaid for him,” Zeisloft said. “However, I don’t like him at all,” Zeisloft said. Jackson is known as showboater and flashy player. He does not always get along with his teammates, and may or may not have affiliations with gangs. Marco Spinosa believes he will be a good fit in Washington, despite the fact that he does not always get along with his teammates. “The Redskins aren’t very good, and he will bring intensity to the team,” Spinosa said. “He is a talented athlete, but lets the fame get to his head. He is not a good role model for kids,” freshman Nick Barnett said. The controversy of this trade from the Eagles to a rival team will only continue to grow as the 2014-2015 NFL season approaches.
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ODDS AND ENDS
SPOTLIGHT APRIL 2014
What did the Spotlight Staff Do Over Spring “Break”?
Ashley: “I visited old people.”
Jacob: “I ate way too much sugar, celebrated with family, dyed eggs, and watched my younger cousins look for them. Good times, good times…” Dana: “I underwent chipmunk transformation surgery and have been recovering ever since.”
Anna: “I made a bunny cake!”
McKenzie: “I skated around in circles wearing spandex.. the usual.”
Katie: “I went on a picnic and then played with a random six year old in the park.”
Abby: “I watched “Across the Universe.”
Kylie: “I didn’t visit Dana after her surgery because I’m an awful friend.”
Photo Credits: Spotlight Editors, Heather Simoneau, Sony Pictures, Joxemai
Cody: “I went to the land of my people... the zoo.”