THE SPOTLIGHT April/May 2019
Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034
Volume 62 Issue 5
Spartech Success Read about Solehi’s triumphant robotics team on page 4. Photo Credit: Aisha Durrani
In This
Issue:
2
Read about Mini-THON and it’s fantastic fundraiser on page 2.
6
On page 6, read about the boys baseball team’s 2019 season.
14
Discover Kill Bill: the Rapper and Rav on page 14.
Page 2 News Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034 (610) 282-1421 x7122 slsdspotlight@gmail.com Twitter: @SLSDspotlight Instagram: @slsdspotlight Facebook: Southern Lehigh Spotlight
The Spotlight
Mini-THON Raises Over $21,000 by Kennah Salvo
Faculty Adviser
Mrs. Marlo Spritzer
Editor-in-Chief Sarah Jacobson
News Editors Kennah Salvo Aisha Durrani
Features Editor Saskia Van’t Hof
Opinion Editor Bridgette Lang
Our World Editor Bridgette Lang
Entertainment Editor Quinn Schmidt
Sports Editor Quinn Schmidt
Social Media Editor Grffin Schmoyer
Staff Reporters Breana Grabowski Marc Ramson
Photographer Jonathan Lee
Pennsylvania School Press Association 2018 Gold Rating 2017 Gold Rating 2016 Gold Rating 2015 Gold Rating 2014 Gold Rating 2013 Silver Rating National School Press Association 2018 All-American Rating 2016 First Class Rating 2015 First Class Rating
Students participated in a dance marathon for over 12 hours. Photo credit: @slhsspartans on Instagram.
From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, the students of Southern Lehigh High School participated in Mini-THON, a 12-hour dance marathon, in order to raise money to fight childhood cancers. Mini-THON is modeled after Penn State IFC (Interfraternity Council) / Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON). The event is connected with the organization Four Diamonds, which pours all donated money into helping families affected by childhood cancers and researching for cancer cures. “The hope is that the more money you funnel into research and trials the higher probability of a cure, and a cure for one form of cancer may be a cure for all forms of cancer,” said Mini-Thon advisor Mrs. Lauren Tocci. In order to put the fundraiser together, Southern Lehigh works with Four Diamonds liaison, Gail Frasseta, who acts as a go-between in order to train the officers and advisor of Mini-Thon so that they can be as effective in their fundraising as possible. The Mini-Thon campaign raised over $21,000 this year, well past their $10,000 goal. In order to achieve this, they hosted several fundraisers including stop the bop, carpool karaoke, an online donor drive, the puppy room, a Duck Donut sale, and of course, canning. The most successful of these
fundraisers was Carpool Karaoke. The idea originated with Carly and Breanne Burns, and the videos were edited by Alex Lycette and Lizzy Selman. The fundraiser, wherein teachers and students drove around campus singing to pre-curated soundtrack, was a smash-hit among students and staff alike. The fundraising started all the way back in September and ran until the Friday before the day long event. “It’s a symbolic gesture. You’ve worked super hard to raise the money, sure, but also it’s also showing commitment,” Mrs. Tocci said. The students’ commitment is shown through their willingness to participate and help organize the event itself. It would seem that this cause near and dear to the hearts of
Southern Lehigh students. Approximately 185 students came to dance “for the kids” at Mini-Thon, in addition to 20 chaperons and about 100 community members. There were lots of things to keep people busy and moving while at the event. A costume contest, yard games, video game tournaments, capture the flag, ping pong, and hula hoop, to name just a few. Students created a handprint poster, listened to family speakers, played “The Floor is Lava,” and manned a “Donation Station.” The hard work of the event organizers culminated into a reveal of the total amount of money raised.
Members pose for a picture with mini-THON advisor Mrs. Lauren Tocci. Credit:@slminithon on Instagram.
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April/May 2019
News Page 3
Annual Coffee House Celebrates the Arts by Bridgette Lang
On March 29, Southern Lehigh High School’s art and literary club held their annual coffee house, a culmination of weeks of hard work before the event. The Coffee House showcased student artists, creators, performers, singers, musicians, and more, but we also cannot forget the spectacular show that some of the teachers put on as well. “Our school doesn’t offer anything else like [the coffee house]. All these like minded people are coming together for a common goal,” English teacher and club advisor Mrs. Sheryl Ciotti said. “It’s people who appreciate and enjoy the arts. The goal is to offer students a creative outlet in which they are free from judgement.” The art and literary club also raised money from the baked-good sales towards club activities. Admission to the event was free, but they sold a variety of homemade baked goods for their causes. Senior co-presidents Gianna Griffith and Sarah Jacobson worked tirelessly for over a month to coordinate performers, food, decorations, and logistics. This year, they split up their club into smaller committees to focus on different areas of the coffee house and found that this technique allowed things to run a lot more smoothly. “[This year,] we organized club members into … a decorations committee, an advertisements committee,” Jacobson said. “Each student leader in the committee was in charge of making sure that their duties got done. We oversaw everyone.” Some changes were made from the event last year, such as addition of the “poetree.” Decorations committee head, sophomore Joy Fan created a tree that included line and stanza submissions from students. Each leaf of the tree represented a different student’s contribution. The week prior, a Google Form was open to all SLHS students for their submissions. “This year the club members put in much more effort than they did last year, which took a lot of pressure off of Sarah and I, who were
Students and parents watch and enjoy the evening’s performances. Photo credit: Sarah Jacobson.
under a lot of more stress last year,” Griffith said. “The ‘poetree’ was a really fantastic creation of some of the sophomores, an idea that Sarah and I would have never thought of otherwise.” Despite some of the small changes, the Coffee House itself was greeted with the same surge of enthusiasm from performers and spectators. Many of the students who performed last year decided to perform again this year. Sophomore Sarah Lindley played the flute and piano in three duo performances. “I feel like there were more people there [this year], and everyone was really supportive of everyone else performing,” Lindley said. “Everyone was really enthusiastic and forgiving of mistakes.” Another returning act was senior magician Dean Pellegrino. Pellegrino invited up several members of the audience, including assistant principal Mr. Thomas Ruhf, to help him with his tricks. “I don’t really have a passion for magic; it’s just fun to make people confused,” Pellegrino
said. “Since [the] last coffee house, I’ve just honed in my skills and gotten more comfortable with sleights and stuff.” Science teacher Mr. David Dougherty performed two songs on the harmonica. Though he starting playing harmonica around six years ago, he has always loved the blues. He was overwhelmed by how the audience clapped and cheered when performers messed up or forgot the words. “The number one reason [I performed at the coffee house] is to support Mrs. Ciotti, and the second reason is because I get nervous going on stage. I know that a lot of students get nervous going on stage too,” Mr. Dougherty said. “... let’s celebrate our bravery together.” The art and literary club wants to thank Mr. Dougherty, music teacher Mr. Larry Fisher, math teacher Ms. Justina Viola, and the custodial staff for all of their help during the set-up and clean-up of the coffee house. Students can expect the annual art and literary magazine to be published and distributed in May.
Big Changes are Occuring at SLHS this Year by Breana Grabowksi
This year, Southern Lehigh High School administrators have committed to fulfilling student requests to further enhance the high school experience. Already these requests are being completed or they are in the works. Principal Mrs. Beth Guarriello is responsible for the changes that have occurred or will occur in our school. Her notion is to help students to feel valued and for their voices to be heard. She wants to build a safe, and happy community that students would want to be a part of. “We have been working hard to create an environment that is more positive, more welcoming and more fun. If students and staff want to come to school and they feel safe and respected, then they may be willing to work a bit harder, be open to learning and stretching themselves more, and start to appreciate each other more,” Mrs. Guarriello said. “My mantra this year has been, ‘Do the right thing and take care of each other.’” Currently projects include more menu options at the coffee shop, the elimination of single-use plastic utensils in the cafeteria, and
more school dances. There will also be senior privileges for next year’s senior class, which would allow seniors to leave early or arrive late with the “Sr. Priv. Study Hall” course selection. There have been dozens of fundraisers once again this year that have shown the compassion that SLHS has for their community. Fundraisers include a clothing drive for homeless teens, the “dodgeball fundraiser,” Pennies for Patients, a blood drive for students 16 and older and of course, Mini-THON, which managed to raise the most money at over $20,000. Outdoor lunch spaces for senior students and music in the hallways on Fridays are some projects that have already been accomplished. The Spartan Life podcast has also been introduced to Southern Lehigh by math teacher Mr. Ryan Haupt and English teacher Mr. Joseph Castagna. Coming soon, SLHS could see vending machine improvements, room number direction signs, a microwave in the cafeteria, dividers between urinals in the male restrooms, and even stress relief animals.
Photo credit: Southern Lehigh School District.
Page 4 Features
The Spotlight
Spartechs Build Successful Robotics Season by Aisha Durrani
The spartan robotics team, known as the Spartechs, work together to produce robots that are able to overcome challenges. Photo credit: Aisha Durrani.
On April 6th, Southern Lehigh’s robotics team, the Spartechs, competed in the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship at Lehigh University. The event was massive, with over sixty teams competing in the tournament. The Spartechs advanced along with other top teams to the FIRST Championship in Detroit, Michigan. During the season, members competed in several different tournaments, where the team competed against other schools in various challenges. Some events involved transporting orange balls into a “cargo ship,” as well as placing a plastic disk onto either the “cargo ship” or the “rocket.” Efficiency is integral in these competitions, as competitors can earn more points based on their speed. “For us, the orange balls are easier because we have a better intake for them, and we can
get them in and out faster,” senior Jackson Seiger said. “Overall, it much easier for the robot to get the balls instead of the hatches.” From January to February, also known as the “build season,” the team works tirelessly to create their robot. There are different responsibilities for different team members, from programming to business. Each member works together to create a effective robot for the tournament. “Every year, our robots are very unique, and our students on the team are very creative in coming up with innovative designs,” senior robotics team president Brandon Myung said. “Being a team, we really come together, and we can accomplish the impossible here.” In robotics, students must learn how to cooperate with one another in order to craft a efficient, precise, and effective robot. Mr.
The Spartechs watch nervously from the stands as other high schools’ robots compete during the FIRST Mid-Atlantic Championship held at Lehigh University. Photo credit: Southern Lehigh School District Instagram.
Joseph Zacher and Mr. Jonathan Piperato both coach the team, helping them apply the necessary skills to create the robot. “Seeing the students apply the things they learn in school to the real world is a really great opportunity,” Mr. Zacher said. “Deciding which method to work with is often a challenge, so finding a common ground is an important thing to figure out when the team builds the robot.” The sixty robots that competed were extremely diverse in their varying capabilities. This allows teams to to decide which strategy would be most effective when competing. “This year, we’ve really been the offensive power,” freshman Charleston Bijou said. “When we look at the other tournaments we’ve competed in, like Westtown or Seneca, the offensive strength we have is nearly unmatched at those tournaments.” The Spartechs agreed that team cooperation is integral when competing, as the team needed to cooperate every step of the way to build, operate, and maneuver the robot. There are currently five officers that work together to organize the team. “My favorite part is probably everyone’s excitement while we are playing, and how much the team bonds,” senior Audrey Miller said. “Throughout this season, the team has gotten so close, and everyone can be themselves with each other. Also, we’re doing pretty good, so that’s awesome.” The Spartechs had many other victories during the season. The team had also won the Seneca Tournament, as well as winning multiple safety and quality awards. “There’s a really fun atmosphere [at these tournaments],” sophomore Alyssa Zimmerman said. “It’s really fun to see something you helped build and create, and it’s nice to see it do so well and succeed.”
April/May 2019
Features Page 5
Speech and Debate Prepares for Nationals by Saskia Van’t Hof
After months of afternoons practicing, and dozens of weekends in front of judges, the Southern Lehigh speech and debate team has wrapped up another successful season. Not only was the Southern Lehigh team ranked seventh in the state, but sophomore Cameron Hines also brought home the title of congressional debate state champion. This summer, a total of twelve students will advance on to the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) Grand National Tournament in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The selective group includes nine students competing in speech: junior Alex Lycette, junior Kyle Nord, senior Mckenzie Hagenbuch and sophomore Grant Hagenbuch for Duo Interpretation, sophomore Aisha Durrani, senior Dyani Hernandez, and senior Kullen Yurchak for Original Oratory, senior Alex Becker for Oral Interpretation, and freshman Bryson Davis for Declamation. Three debate students, sophomore Kayla Howie, sophomore Cameron Hines, and senior Ryan Sheats, will be competing in Congressional Debate. “It’s going to be really cool,” junior Kyle Nord said. “Nationals are always in a big city, and it’s a lot of fun. There are always cool things to do. It’s also such a great opportunity, so I’m really lucky to go. I’m excited.” The road to nationals has certainly not been an easy one. For months, students have spent countless hours after school writing, memorising, and rehearsing their events. Students then competed against other high schoolers at tournaments, which were held at local universities and high schools every Saturday. “This year, [Kyle and I] ended up taking a whole movie script and cutting it down, creating basically our own piece,” junior Alex Lycette said, “and so far that’s worked pretty well. It’s just become a learning experience of becoming more and more independent and knowing how to do it myself.”
Speech and debate students after a tournament at Northampton Community College, where a dozen students qualified for Nationals. Photo credit: SLHS Speech and Debate Instagram.
In speech and debate, students participate in a variety of events. With a strong focus on performance, speech students can compete in anything from original argumentative speeches to comedic storytelling. On the other hand, students in debate compete though mock congresses and courtrooms. Most students, especially those moving onto nationals, have been involved in speech and debate since middle school. “I started debate in eighth grade,” sophomore Kayla Howie said. “I was awful. Like, scary bad. Sometimes I couldn’t even read my paper because my hands were shaking so much. But I think I’ve grown a lot since then, and making it to nationals again this year is a really great chance to show what I can do.” Much of students’ progress can be credited to Southern Lehigh’s speech and debate coach, Mr. David Long. For twenty-seven years,
Mr. Long has been the advisor for both middle school and high school speech and debate students. This year, he’s coached one of the biggest teams with over thirty-five students. “I’d say my favorite part is when people finally learn confidence in their own voice and thy realize how they can actually express themselves,” Mr. Long said. “Watching the personal successes for the kids is the best part.” The hard work has certainly paid off. Recognized as one of the best teams in the state, the Southern Lehigh speech and debate team will continue competing even after the school year ends. “My view is always been that yes, competition is nice and it’s nice to be successful and win an award, but the important part is the skills that you learn,” Mr. Long said. “For me, I value the skills over the competition any day.”
From April 4th to April 7th, four music students, sophomore Helena Munoz, junior Drew Curtis, senior Jake Finkbeiner, and senior Marissa Harley, attended the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Conference in Pittsburgh. “The all state conference is a combination of student festival and a professional development conference for music teachers from around the state,” music teacher Mr. Larry Fisher said. “The students that went were able to perform with the best student musicians in the state. They were able to do some networking and work with elite faculty members in ensembles. They performed very difficult music at a very high level.” At the event, students spent many hours practicing and attending different instrumental workshops. The group was also able to watch a concert by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as well as a concert my the United States Marine Band. At the end of the trip, the four students joined other top high school musicians and played in a full concert. “[The PMEA conference] was a really great experience. Getting to play with different high schoolers was really fun, but my favorite part
was definitely the car ride with Mr. Fisher, Helena, and Jake,” Harley said. “It was really fun spending time with them and being able to play music at the same time.” With a focus on music education, the conference also allowed Mr. Fisher to expand his knowledge of music. He visited many specific sessions that addressed different topics, ranging from teaching intonation to world drumming. The four students in particular have had a very successful year leading up to the conference. After qualifying in the district and regional sectors, Curtis and Harley were selected for state band while Munoz and Finkbeiner were chosen for the state orchestra. “I’ve worked really hard this year to get to where I am, so it was really rewarding to see all our hard work pay off and to reach our goal of playing a full concert,” Munoz said. “I learned that the most important thing you need to be successful is discipline and determination.” As the 2018-2019 school year comes to a close, the band and orchestra students are already preparing for next year’s music season. The PMEA conference will be held again in 2020 at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos.
State-Ranked SLHS Musicians Attend PMEA by Saskia Van’t Hof
Senior Jake Finkbeiner (left), senior Marissa Harley (center), and sophomore Helena Munoz (right) traveled to Pittsburgh to attended the PMEA conference alongside junior Drew Curtis. Photo credit: Mr. Larry Fisher.
Page 6 Sports
The Spotlight
Spartans Baseball Plagued by Slow Start By Quinn Schmidt
Head Coach Todd Miller (15) stands next to junior Chris Andrews (14) and senior Jacob Stanton (6) in a captains meeting prior to a home game against Northwestern on March 29. Photo Credit: Mandi Zajdel.
As one of bigger schools in the Colonial League, Southern Lehigh is expected to dominate their opponents year in and year out. Lofty goals are set for almost every sport, and in more cases than not the Spartans live up to their expectations. Sometimes, they just take a while to get acclimated to the high level of play with which they are expected to compete. For example, this fall the football team crawled out to a 1-3 start, but was able to right the ship and win seven straight on their way to a silver medal in District XI. During the winter, the boys basketball team dropped seven out of their first eleven games, but rebounded by winning eleven straight and taking home the Colonial League title. The Southern Lehigh baseball team continued this pattern of sluggish starts, and dropped four out of their first five games this spring. The reigning Colonial League Champs are reeling after three straight losses to Northwestern Lehigh, Notre Dame Green Pond, and Palisades, all of which are supposedly inferior teams. The Spartans lost 6-5 to the Tigers on March 29, suffered a blowout at the hands of the Crusaders on April 5, and followed up their disappointing performances with sloppy 9-5 loss to the Pirates. “The little things which won us a championship last year have killed us this year,” senior pitcher and first baseman Jacob Stanton said. “That’s why we were off to a 1-4 start.” All of this comes as a surprise, considering the Spartans are returning their entire starting lineup from last year, minus Division I catcher Niko Amory. It turns out that he was the glue holding the Spartans together, keeping pitchers calm on the mound and providing the batting lineup with many clutch hits.
“Niko was a key leader behind the plate,” junior Chris Andrews said. He was a key piece of our offense last year, and we haven’t been able to replace him this year.” Freshman Will Woodring was thrown into the fire, tasked with replacing last year’s Colonial League MVP. For the most part, the rookie has been able to keep his head above water while catching one of the most potent pitching staffs in the league. Big time senior arms like Stephen Hoyer, Andrew Lievendag, and John Coyle pace the long list of pitchers on the roster. They return eight pitchers with varsity experience from last year, and have added freshman Matt Tankred to the lineup. This staff instills fear in opposing batters, but so far their inability to find the strike zone has hindered the team’s ability to win games. Through the first 25 innings of the season, Southern Lehigh pitchers walked 22 batters. “Now that we’re on the big stage our pitchers are having trouble throwing strikes,” Coyle said. The problems for the Spartans didn’t stop there. Inconsistency plagued the outfield, and untimely errors only further frustrated their pitchers. To make matters worse, their bats were silenced. Other than a 15-run showing against one-win Northern Lehigh, the Spartans averaged just under four runs per game in the beginning of the season. The Spartans were lacking in every facet of the game, despite their incredible potential at every position. Their poor performance at the plate frustrated the pitchers, whose ability to throw strikes was then inhibited, and in turn placed more pressure on the defense to make plays. Luckily enough, this cycle of unsatisfactory
baseball ended when the Spartans hit an easy spot in their schedule. Consecutive wins against Palmerton, Pen Argyl, and Salisbury alerted the team of their true capability, while also putting them back in contention for best Colonial League West record. Tankred got the win streak started when he overcame his initial nerves and threw a solid four innings against Palmerton on April 8. Senior leader Andrew Lievendag finished up the Blue Bombers throwing two innings in relief, and for the first time this year the team left Limeport Stadium with a smile on their face. The Spartans finally played a solid, all-around game featuring production from the entire lineup and clean fielding for all seven innings. “I think winning that one got us moving in the right direction and will get us back in the playoffs,” Coyle said. The Palmerton win served as an example to the rest of the Colonial League, as well as the Spartans themselves, of just how capable they are. Although this team never found themselves in a hole as deep as the one they dug at the beginning of the season, no other league foe brings back the same amount of experience. Senior Moravian College commit Stephen Hoyer threw a sizable number of innings last year on the mound while also earning himself a first team all league outfielder spot. Junior second team allleaguer Chris Andrews roams in center field, and the highly prized class of 2021 college prospect Wyatt Yaindl rounds out the outfield when he’s not on the mound. Seniors Dalton Musselman (shortstop), Jacob Stanton (first base), and Andrew Lievendag (second base) join junior slugger Colin Houck (third base) in the infield. Most everyone in the field has been playing their respective positions at the varsity level since freshman year. Utilizing their experience as well as their sheer talent will be key if they plan to continue this hot streak. Teams such as Northwestern, Palisades, and Notre Dame have proven themselves capable of an upset, and the Spartans are sure to play at least one of the three in the league tournament. A two-peat is clearly within reach, the Spartans just have to go out and muscle it away from their opponents who have gotten the best of them once already. “We just have to stay confident,” Lievendag said about seeing teams like Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Palisades later in the playoffs, “They’re gonna make good plays and we’re gonna make good plays. We just have to keep up this momentum and we’ll be good to go.”
Boys Vollyball Pines for Varsity Status by Griffin Schmoyer
Photo Credit: Alex FIllman
Scan the QR code to read about the boys volleyball team’s journey to become a varsity sport as well as their conquests on the court.
April/May 2019
Sports Page 7
Things Finally Looking Up For Boys Tennis by Aisha Durrani
The boys tennis team lines up prior to a home match with Moravian. The Spartans were able to put up a good fight, but lost the match 4-1. Photo Credit: Aisha Durrani.
Finally, spring has sprung, and the weather is getting warmer as the school year winds down. With spring, another season has also sprung: boys tennis. The boys tennis team is back and better than ever, ranking second in the Colonial League South Division. The team has improved a lot compared to prior years, and it seems that their success can only increase. The team has been climbing in the ranks for several years now. They ranked fourth in the league in 2017, third in 2018, and this year, they ranked second overall. Unlike other sports, the team is not senior-dominated. However, this could become an advantage in the future, as the players have the unique opportunity to grow and get experience, without having to worry about losing key players for the moment. “It’s been one of our best seasons in the last four years, because there’s a lot of guys stepping up,” Coach Andrea Drabenstott said. “It’s not very senior-laden, but there’s some good experience on the team.” Aside from league rankings, the team has shown a great deal of improvement over the years. The seniors on the team are very aware of this. “This is my last season, and considering my first year, where we only won three matches, it’s cool to see how much the team has progressed this year,” senior Sam Wetzel said. But what exactly made this year’s boys tennis team so dynamic? Well, if
you ask the players themselves, it all comes down to team dynamic, perspective, and staying focused. “You can’t play well if you don’t have a positive outlook,” junior Aidan Johnson said, “and on this team, we definitely have fun, and it creates a positive atmosphere, and it helps you play better.” Even with all the hard work the team has put in, the competition is still fierce. Moravian holds the number one spot for this season, and they are the team’s main rival. However, the team’s perseverance and commitment to the game may spell out success for Southern Lehigh in the coming years. “I like that our team is really good this year, and we’re likely going to team districts this year, which is exciting,” captain Krishna Annambhotla said. “Keeping each other motivated and fighting hard is really important.” The boys get along very well, and the meaningful connections they formed with their teammates will live on, even after the season’s end. “One of my favorite memories of the tennis team this year is going out to eat at miscellaneous fast food places after our matches,” Johnson said. “We always have a fun time going out to eat, and it’s always a blast connecting with the team.” Overall, it’s safe to say that their the potential of the soon-to-be upperclassmen may only improve in the coming years.
Boys Lacrosse Not Phased By Injuries
by Marc Ramson
Lacrosse is one of the few teams that does not complete within the Colonial League and only competes at the larger district level. Every other team has the luxury of feeling out their skill set againsts smaller schools like Salisbury. But their schedule is filled with schools a bit bigger than ours, like Emmaus and Parkland. Looking at their 7-3 record at the time of publication, the boys lacrosse team seems to be up to the challenge. Last year, Central Catholic ended the Spartans’ season in a devastating 9-8 loss in the District XI championship, but this year the team has a vision to defeat the reigning champions. They lost a few notable graduates last year, including three Division I commits in Mike Sisselberger, Logan Blondel, and Colin Hoff, but these challenges only made the team stronger and inspired them to work harder. This year they are redefined by new coach Lucas VanEmburg and new leadership in senior captains Andrew Smith (attackmen) and Dominic Caciolo (midfielder), junior captain Kyle Hoff (midfielder), and senior co-captains Max Johnston (midfielder) and Ken Wolfe (attackmen). “We got a new coach and the team has changed to more of a family because we have a coach that is approachable; that people feel comfortable asking questions to,” Caciolo said. As with any team, this season hasn’t been without its challenges with a few sprained ankles and an inconveniently placed school trip. Sophomore defender Raul Ochotorena, senior defender Zach Howe, as well as Caciolo, Smith, and Wolfe, have all missed significant playing time due to injury. Johnston, junior midfielder John Kerr, and senior defender Cam McColgan all missed time while on a school trip to Spain. Missing players seem to be the biggest problem this team faces. “Injuries have really been hurting us this year, there’s a few guys injured right now, and our main focus is sticking together and everyone fulfilling their roles,” Kerr said.
The team celebrates after an 11-8 victory over Moravian Academy. Photo Credit: Richard Kerr.
Even with a few lost Spartans on the road or in the trainer’s room, they were still able to hold the Vikings of Central Catholic to a close game, only losing by one goal in the regular season. A feat like that seems more impressive once you consider they were missing five starters, most of them on defense, facing one of the best offensive units in the Lehigh Valley. The missing starters placed even more pressure on senior face-off-man Ben Linden. Up against Syracuse commit Luke Talego from Central Catholic, Linden won nearly 45% of his face offs: an stellar performance when his team needed him. There’s a newfound unity this team has found in this 2019 season. Could it be the sense of urgency for the graduating seniors, the pressure felt by the underclassman to perform at a higher level, or the leadership of a new coach? Whatever it is, it seems to be working. Right now the boys lacrosse team has their eyes set on a District Championship, and the whole team is focused on reaching the podium. “This is my senior year and there’s nothing we want more than to bring home that title,” Linden said. “This is huge for us”.
Page 8 Center Spread
The Spotlight
Humans of Southern Lehigh
The students of SLHS all have a unique take on life. Capturing these different views can be difficult, but essential for understanding the various perspectives among the humans who walk the halls of Southern Lehigh.
“I think one of the biggest things that I try to remember is I believe that everyone has a story to tell that we can all learn from, and that it’s very important to be open to listening to what other people have to say because it can teach us a lot about not only others but ourselves.”
B E C C A
sophomore
P E T E R S
“When I think about what gets me excited everyday, its probably just the small things. I like to wake up in the morning and count my blessings every day. I just like to say what I’m appreciative for in my head. Just the little things, like the sunrise and the birds, and all those things. It makes me appreciate everything else a bit more.”
B E N
senior
B O Y E R
“Ever since I moved here, my friends have impacted me a lot. It’s kind of different because my old school was not like Southern Lehigh. It’s different... how people acted and their personalities. People here don’t swear as often, they’re kind, they like helping out here more, and they’re supportive.”
K E I R A
sophomore
W I L K I N S
April/May 2019
Center Spread Page 9
“I don’t think a lot of people know that I play an instrument, or that i’m in honors classes. I think most people just see me as an athlete, but I don’t want to be remembered as a dumb jock. Even though I love playing sports, family always comes first. Sports is a hobby, but family... they’ve done everything for me so yeah, they’re pretty important.”
B Y R O N
senior
M I L L E R
“...there’s this quote that my mom used to tell me all the time. It’s a Chinese proverb, and it means, “blood is thicker than water”. It taught me that family comes first over everything, and that was something I struggle with when I was younger. And when I grew up, and started to become more independent, I realized how important that was.”
E D D I E
freshman
J E I T N E R
“One of my goals, it’s pretty broad because I haven’t really specified exactly what I want to do with my life, but I just know that I want to make something. Make something larger than myself. Not larger in a popular way, just something that other people can derive entertainment from.”
M I C H E L L E
sophomore
L I
Page 10 Opinion
The Spotlight
Why We Need Feminism by Sarah Jacobson
Since the beginning of the feminist movement, there have been many misconceptions about what activists are fighting for. Some people are under the impression that feminism is about promoting a matriarchal society, wherein women should be better than men. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. These misconceptions are at the root of why we still need feminism. “I think...the people who...have a negative view of [feminism] kind of perpetuate these negative views,” the feminist student association (FSA) advisor and social studies teacher Mr. Thomas Beaupre said. “The groups that have traditionally been empowered by [gender inequality] they see [feminism as threatening] that you would want to pursue policies or make changes that would really create equality and not just play lip service.” Many people are unsure what the true definition of feminism is. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines feminism as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” If you are among those who believe feminism is all about putting women above men, then this definition might come as a shock. This false idea about feminism often comes from the name itself. Although the word itself hasn’t always been used to define gender equality, feminism is a concept that transcends modern history. The earliest known feminist protests occurred in ancient Rome over limitations of women’s rights. The enlightenment era of the 17th century solidified gender equality into a philosophy that would one day become known as feminism. “I don’t believe in the superiority, like ‘women are more superior and they deserve more rights,’” freshman Evelyn Blower said. “I believe more in an integration of both genders.” When feminism first appeared, the name was meant to provide equality for women. However, the movement for gender equality has evolved to fit a variety of modern contexts. In the early 20th century, feminists fought for the right to vote. Just a few decades later, women were (and still are) fighting for an equal place in America’s job markets. Nowadays, however, feminism has evolved far beyond these fights. The term “intersectional feminism” is often used to define the modern day feminist movement. This variety of feminism is really the only true form of feminism, as the name implies that gender rights have a lot of overlap with other issues, such as race discrimination and environmental issues. This modern day form of feminism has changed the way people lobby for gender equality. “Absolutely [feminism is still needed] because treating others differently is not quite fair. We should treat everybody with equal standards, even if they have less to bring to the table or more,” sophomore Vincent Moore said. Intersectional feminism recognizes that a person’s identity is made up of more than just their
Intersectional feminism recognizes diversity. Photo credit: Marc Nozell on Flickr.
gender expression, and because of this, the social, political, or economic rights they desire may be different from any other one person. This is the most important form of modern day feminism. Being a person means so many different things to so many different people, and intersectional feminism fights for all these people’s individual rights. Sadly, this form of feminism is not what many people think of when they hear that I, or anyone else, is a feminist. Instead, they often think of a concept called “white feminism.” This term is commonly recognized as feminism that fails to understand the rights and needs of people who are ethnically, racially, sexually, or otherwise different from a cisgender, heterosexual white woman. This can be perpetrated by anyone, and these feminists are the same ones you see fighting exclusively for reproductive rights while ignoring police brutality. “[White feminism] doesn’t really focus on racial inequality,” freshman Nicole Oviedo said. “It just focuses on gender [inequality], which is good too, but also it excludes a large portion of women that really need support, and it’s not given to them through white feminism.” So who is feminism fighting for? The short answer is everyone who is still oppressed by our society that prioritizes white male achievement and advancement. True intersectional feminists are seen fighting for transgender people, 84% of whom feel unsafe in their classrooms. They fight for people of color, who make up more than 60% of the prison population but only 39% of the U.S. population. Intersectional feminists fight for
everyone, because all of these issues and more are still very real and need to be addressed. We need feminism because we need to cut the chains of oppression and allow both ourselves and others to thrive. America is an advanced society, so advanced that we should be beyond all this discrimination. But we’re not, and that’s where activists come in. Feminists and other advocates for equality are the helping hands who will push us towards a better society. “Within Southern Lehigh, the FSA is working to promote feminist movements,” FSA head of advertising and senior Erin Noneman said. “On April 26th, we’re giving out blue ribbon stickers to promote [awareness of] domestic violence and abuse.” Ultimately, we need feminism because oppression still exists in a variety of forms, even for men. What people don’t understand about activism is that there are varying degrees of oppression, which is why intersectional feminism is important. I would be remiss if I assumed the hypermasculine stereotypes pushed on white men have the same effect as the ultra aggressive stereotypes often forced on black men. In the words of Audre Lorde, “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” We need feminism because all of our voices have an immense combined power. There are issues in this world that need to be solved, and while some don’t agree with this, I will still fight for their rights. Everyone deserves to live a life without oppression.
Did you know? The Spotlight has a website. Check it out at slspotlight.com.
April/May 2019
Opinion Page 11
Drinking Water Provides Numerous Health Benefits by Breana Grabowski, Sarah Jacobson, and Bridgette Lang When life gives us lemons we have a couple of options: we can either make lemonade, or we can just toss them right back at the tree they came from. This can be considered the same thing as making a beneficial health decision. Little do we know, a healthy choice can be easier than we think. Not drinking water can take a toll on your overall health. It’s common sense that drinking water is essential for the body to function properly, but are we drinking enough water everyday to sustain a healthy lifestyle?
There are many ways to make drinking water more fun. Photo credit: Breana Grabowski.
Though there are many theories about how much water you should drink on a regular basis, a widely accepted study from the 1950’s claims that the average human should consume about 2 to 3 liters, or 8 glasses each day. This may seem like lot of water for just one day, but dehydration is no laughing matter. You might not even realize that you’re dehydrated until you begin to feel seriously ill. Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. Dr. Beth Ann Callihan Ricci from Erie, PA, reports that other symptoms of dehydration include tiredness, rapid breathing, and vomiting. Kids and teens frequency complain about feeling tired, drained, and not being able to focus but according to many studies, health authorities say that not consuming enough water can be one cause of this. According to the United States Geological Survey, the human adult body is made up of 60% water, and muscles and kidneys are made of 79% water. Organs like the heart, lungs, liver, and brain all contain significant volumes of water as well. Water is one of the most important basic resources all organisms, from tiny cyanobacteria to giant blue whales, need in order to survive. WebMD’s Kathleen M. Zelman (MPH, RD, LD) found that drinking a significant amount of water everyday comes with numberless benefits such as a dramatic decrease in stress levels, promoting weight loss, flushing out toxins, improving your skin complexion, and protecting you from diseases. Water can also boost your mood and energy levels, making you more happy and less tired. Water can even increase your athletic and mental performance, making it easier to move and stay focused. If you’re not a fan of drinking water, you can add flavor packets to your water to make it more tasteful. But the FDA claims that if you buy something packaged to add to your water, you are adding chemicals to your body. Flavor packets do not have any health benefits, for they are just made to add a little bit of taste to your water. We live in the 21st century where there is an app for everything, even apps that can help you keep track of how much water you drink in a day. One app called, “My Water Balance” is completely
“The Spotlight” staff loves water. Photo credit: Sarah Jacobson.
free and has a rating of 4½ stars. This app lets you know when you should be drinking water and how much you drank in the day. Users of this app left reviews that it is extremely helpful and encouraging for them to drink the correct amount they need in a day. Though water is extremely important for our bodies to function, certain continents like Africa aren’t able to access it easily. People have to walk miles upon miles to access water that isn’t even sanitary. There are advocacy groups everywhere that are working everyday to solve this issue. Water advocacy organizations like “Charity Water” brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. For some of these advocacy groups, it is their main priority to bring water to countries that are struggling to get the clean drinkable water they need. Water is accessible all around our school. There are water fountains around every corner including three down the main hallway. There are also two filtered water stations to refill your water bottle when needed, and there are water bottles available in the cafeteria vending machines. You may think water to be tasteless, and nothing compared to good old Hawaiian Punch, but it is a major part of our health and essential for all organisms to sustain life. Now, knowing the major benefits that come from just drinking water, will you be reaching for a glass?
Staff Editorial: SLHS Should Bring Back Class Rank The 2018-19 school year is the first year that Southern Lehigh High School hasn’t recognized class rank, or a valedictorian and salutatorian -- the students ranked number one and number two in the class, respectively. All of these ranks and recognitions are based on GPA, which cumulatively weights each student’s coursework. Before this year, the valedictorian and the salutatorian were named at the end of the fourth quarter, and recognized at graduation and where they presented a speech. As current seniors near the end of the school year, many have questioned how the class of 2019 would have been affected by class rank. On scholarship and college applications, seniors have been repeatedly asked for their rank, which leads them to question whether class rank would have helped them or hurt them. There are benefits to having class rank. The first that comes to mind is healthy competition. By knowing where you stand amongst your
peers, you may feel more motivated to perform better. This is especially true if you are close to achieving a notable ranking, such as top 10% or top 50%. This may result in students studying harder. GPA can tell colleges about how students perform, but this may mean very little without context. Class rank tells colleges how students perform in relation to their peers, which means that the admissions process will be more equitable for Southern Lehigh students if class rank is provided. A 4.0 at one school may be way more difficult to achieve than it would be at another school due to grade inflation or deflation. Class rank can provide another component of the application process that shows how competitive an applicant is. Now that college decisions are practically over, releasing the class rank would not affect a student’s chance in the admissions process. The top members of the senior class have worked incredibly hard to obtain the grades that they
have, and releasing class rank would serve as a way to reward these students for their work throughout high school. One of the drawbacks to having class rank is that it unfairly gives preference to students who are not taking co-curricular elective courses, such as yearbook and band. If a student’s GPA is over 4.0, these elective courses would actually bring it down because they can only be weighted as a 4.0 at most. If the administration has concerns about “penalizing” students who take these classes, they can recalculate GPA with core classes only. This would make the process more fair. Class rank would benefit the majority of Southern Lehigh’s college applicants by providing more information about their background and how they performed within the context of our school. It isn’t too late to restart calculating GPA for future classes.
Page 12 Our World
The Spotlight
The Day of Silence Brings LGBTQ+ Conversation to SLHS
by Breana Grabowski and Bridgette Lang
On April 12, 2019, Southern Lehigh’s GayStraight Alliance (GSA) club and other student allies in all grades observed the annual National Day of Silence (DOS) to spread awareness about the negative effects of bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students. The event is promoted by GLSEN, a national organization whose mission is to create safe schools for all. “The goal of the ‘DOS’ is to reflect on the experiences of people, who have in some way been silenced by bullying or harassment,” senior GSA president Ben Boyer said. “Also, participants’ silence aims to show that anyone can be going through these struggles.” Before the day of the event, GSA prepared by creating a morning announcement video that featured SLHS students, putting together rainbow ribbon pins for participants, and hanging up posters. Like previous years, GSA members hoped that their efforts paid off and that as many people as possible would participate. After signing up for the event, students vowed to proceed throughout the school day on April 12th without speaking. Participants wore pins with a rainbow ribbon, inspired by the gay pride flag. This symbol signaled to other students and teachers that the student was involved with the campaign and would not be able to talk throughout the day. “Seeing students partaking in it and getting to see that there are people that are willing to a grand gesture during the school day shows solidarity with those who have been silenced because of LGBTQ bullying,” English teacher and GSA co-advisor Mrs. Lauren Tocci said. “I think
The Day of Silence recognizes members of the LGBTQ+ community. Photo Credit: Bridgette Lang.
that the impact it really had on the school is that it’s a reminder of how far we have come, but also the work that we need to do ahead to make sure that SLHS is a place where people feel welcomed and safe.” It was difficult for most students to remain silent throughout the school day while classes went on. Most classes encourage students to participate in discussions, making it challenging for students to stay quiet. However, teachers were made aware that the students would be silent and could only
break that silence should they choose. While teachers were unable to join the silence, many showed their support by wearing black shirts, Day of Silence stickers, and rainbow ribbon pins. The first ever Day of Silence event was organized by students at the University of Virginia in 1996. Since then it has been a national ongoing event that spreads awareness about the bullying and harassment of LGBTQ students in their schools.
American Democrats Gear Up for the 2020 Presidential Election
by Marc Ramson
As the 2020 primary election approaches, while there is no outstanding opposition to the Republican incumbent, President Donald Trump, many Democrats across the country have declared they are running for their party’s presidential nomination. Out of the 21 Democrats who have announced their candidacy, only one will face Trump in the general election. Each of the 50 states will hold either a primary or caucus to determine who they feel is the most fit for the job. Here is an overview the current top five candidates in terms of polling:
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris is currently the most popular female candidate. Harris is an attorney who has served in the United States Senate. She has a background in law enforcement, and has served as the attorney general for the State of California. Harris plans to cut taxes for the middle class and raise taxes on the wealthy.
Joe Biden
Pete Buttigieg
Joe Biden was the most recent of the top contenders to announce his campaign. Biden served under Barack Obama as the U.S. Vice President from 2008 to 2012 and served as a U.S. Senator for over 35 years. In his view, one of the main goals of his presidency would be to reverse the changes done by the Trump administration.
Pete Buttigieg is by far the youngest out of these five candidates. Buttigieg is the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. He was a member of the United States Navy and attended Harvard University. Bettigieg, if elected, would be the youngest President, a large contrast from Sanders, Biden and Warren.
Bernie Sanders
Elizabeth Warren
Bernie Sanders previously ran for the Democratic nomination in 2016, but fell short to Hillary Clinton. Sanders is hopeful for a victory this time around and has gained some valuable name recognition since the first time he ran. Since then, he has released two books and led many town hall meetings, including one in Bethlehem.
Pete Buttigieg is by far the youngest out of these five candidates. Buttigieg is the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. He was a member of the United States Navy and attended Harvard University. Bettigieg, if elected, would be the youngest President, a large contrast from Sanders, Biden and Warren.
Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons.
April/May 2019
Our World Page 13
Spring News Briefing by Bridgette Lang
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
The country of Sri Lanka experienced bombing attacks on a hotel and a church. Altogether, more than 300 people were killed and many more than that were injured, including American citizens. There are more than 40 people that have connections to the bombing.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
A team of scientists and the Event Horizon Telescope captured the first picture of a black hole this month. The picture wasn’t exactly “taken” but rather calculated. In the future, they hope to create a higher resolution image of the black hole.
Photo Credit: MaxPixel.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy won the Ukrainian presidential election with 73% of the vote. Before his career in politics began, he was an actor and comedian. He is a member of the Servant of the People political party, which was created by a television company. The broadcaster also runs a T.V. show with the same name as the party.
Photo Credit: ThoughtCatalog.
On Monday, April 22, the Supreme Court heard a case regarding whether employers are allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. Though we won’t know the decision for some time, the Court discussed whether the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sexuality and gender expression.
Photo Credit: Flickr.
After running since 2011, the HBO “Game of Thrones” series will end next month, in May. The last episodes are based around the final books of the series, “The Winds of Winter” and “A Dream of Spring.” Views have risen from 2 million views per episode for the first season to 11 million views for the final season.
The 800-year-old Notre Dame burned for several hours. Philanthropists donated over 1 million dollars, but these donations have caused increased controversy. Some believe that these funds should have been used for ongoing issues, such as worldwide hunger and environmental concerns. In the rescue process, only one firefighter was seriously injured.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
On April 21, three North Face climbers were found dead after an avalanche at Banff National Park in Canada. The two Europeans and one American were reported missing, and the park system found their equipment scattered in many locations.
On April 22, the Philippines experienced a magnitude six earthquake, and on April 23, another earthquake hit the island country. More than a dozen fatalities and more than a dozen deaths have been reported cumulatively from both incidents.
Photo Credit: PxHere
During the month of April, Seth Moulton, Eric Swalwell, Mike Gravel, Tim Ryan, and William Weld all announced their candidacy for the 2020 presidential election. There are currently 22 candidates in total, but this number is expected to rise.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, was found hiding in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, England. Ecuador’s President evicted him from the embassy after disorderly conduct. He hid for nearly seven years in attempt to escape charges from the U.S. Justice Department.
Photo Credit: Flickr.
Netflix announced its first original African animated show, “Mama K’s Team 4.” It features four girl superheros, and the story is set in Zambia. The show will be produced in Cape Town by Triggerfish Animation Studios.
Photo Credit: Dip Note.
President Trump threatened to place sanctions on countries that buy Iranian oil after May 1. The U.S. also decided to not renew sanction waivers, making oil prices rise in the past weeks. Some of the main Iranian oil purchasers are India and China, and the amount that they import will make it hard for them to cut off supplies from Iran.
Page 14 Arts and Entertainment
The Spotlight
Netflix Original Series ‘Queer Eye’ Still Going Strong After Three Seasons by Sarah Jacobson
Simply put, the latest season of “Queer Eye” is exquisite. I have been watching the show since its initial release in February, 2018, and I eagerly await every new season. The biggest appeal of the show for me is its feel good nature, mainly due to its unique format. The structure of “Queer Eye” is different in that it isn’t simply a reality show that gives a quick makeover and leaves. Each of the five gay male hosts, dubbed “The Fab Five,” leave a lasting impact on the heroes whom they help. Every episode features a new “hero,” or someone who was nominated by a close friend or relative that really needs the help that the Fab Five can provide. Each season provides something new. Season three includes the first-ever double makeover, as well as its first lesbian hero. The Fab Five was also able to give new and helpful tips to both the heroes and the viewers. Each member of the team is in charge of a certain aspect of the transformation: Karamo Brown does culture, Bobby Berk does design, Antoni Porowski does food, Tan France does fashion, and Jonathan Van Ness does grooming. The show is a revival of a series from the early 2000s by the name “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” The original premise was that five gay men would give a straight man a total life makeover, from fashion to food. The current “Queer Eye” differs from its predecessor in that it doesn’t exclusively makeover straight men. I like that the new show has strayed away from exclusively helping straight men, and has come to include people from all walks of life. Each episode appeals to a variety of emotions. You can laugh along with the Fab Five as well as cry with them. They really make a difference in the heroes’ lives, and along the way they can help make a difference in viewers’ lives as well. At the end of every episode, one of the guys gives a brief piece of advice related to their speciality. Outside of the show, the Fab Five have a strong social media presence. Viewers can follow @QueerEye on Instagram or Twitter to receive updates on past heroes as well as the series itself. This is where you can see just how much of an impact the Fab Five have on these heroes’ lives. Months after they have helped someone, that person can be seen living happily and using the advice that the Fab Five has given them. It’s a really touching thing to see, and it shows how helpful a little compassion and expertise can be. The Fab Five have such great chemistry as a group, and this can be seen in everything they do. I’m not a big fan of drama or shows that make you cry, and luckily, “Queer Eye” really isn’t the kind of show that dwells on sadness too much. Just as there are tear-jerking moments, there are also moments where you laugh, or simply just feel satisfied with the work that’s been done. Some people might think that the premise of the show is a little odd. Five gay men were specifically cast to come makeover people’s lives. Why not straight men, or women? Originally, the show was meant to play off the stereotypical differences between straight men and gay men. However, the show has evolved beyond these stereotypes, and it has become a place where important cultural conversations take place in nearly every episode. One of the best examples of this is in the episode “Sky’s the Limit.” Sky is a transgender man who has a hard time presenting himself
This Netflix Original has gained popularity since its inaugural season back in 2018. Photo Credit: Netflix.
to the world the way he wants to. The Fab Five start honest conversations about transphobia in the LGBT community, and Tan even admits that he used to have some transphobic tendencies. These conversations complete the show, and make it more well rounded. Rather then just coming in and telling the heroes that they are ugly, the Fab Five really work to improve their quality of life by shining a light on all of the hero’s positive qualities. As a whole, “Queer Eye” is a wonderful show that shares powerful messages that coincide with an entertaining cast. Season three was just as amazing as the past two seasons, and I can’t wait to see who the Fab Five helps next.
Netflix Series ‘Roman Empire’ Crumbles After Releasing Third Season ‘Caligula’ by Kennah Salvo
On April 5, Netflix released a third season in its original docu-drama series “Roman Empire.” The new season, titled “Caligula; the Mad Emperor,” details the life and short four-year reign of Rome’s most psychotic emperor. Caligula seized power by killing the former emperor Tiberius, and convincing the Senate to void the emperor’s will and name him emperor. His early reign, approximately the first seven months, constituted a Golden Age. However, Caligula soon fell ill with “brain fever” and went into a coma for several months. Once he recovered, he was paranoid and excessive, killing off many allies and committing incest with all three of his sisters, getting one of them pregnant in his haste to produce a male heir. The mother, unfortunately, died before she could give birth. This sent him spiraling further into sexual deviancy, and nearly bankrupting the empire. As Caligula and the empire edge closer to bankruptcy, his close advisor conspired with the Senate and the new head of the Praetorian guard to kill him and return Rome to a republic. However, the advisor double-crossed the Senate and seized power after Caligula’s death, ending his reign. The series has many defects and failed to impress me. Chief amongst the issues was the tasteless handling of the over-the-top nudity. I could maybe excuse the amount, as it is historically accurate, but the way it was handled was crude and excessive. For example, there are ways to portray Caligula’s
deviancy other than full frontal female nudity. Slight changes to the angles and positioning of the actors, and the audience would still have gotten the message they were trying to send, loud and clear. Nudity aside, we are given an entire subplot on Caligula’s incest, but we are led to believe he possessed an entire wealth of other perversions, yet what they are is extremely vague. The narrators simply say over and over again that he is a sexual deviant. Despite the fascinating subject matter of the show, it was yawn-inducing boring. Considering the amount of intense political intrigue, psychological twists, and betrayal in the real life of Caligula, the lack of any sort of meaningful suspense is actually quite impressive. The show struggles to keep a coherent concept of the passage of time. It goes into deep detail about the first two years of Caligula’s reign, then skips to events that ended it, with two entire years left untouched. At one point, Caligula marries, but the wife and daughter are mentioned only once, to establish their existence. The new season of “Roman Empire” is not worth the time it takes to watch it. I would not recommend it to anyone. It is boring, unnecessarily explicit, and the plot is confusing.
April/May 2019
Arts and Entertainment Page 15
Kill Bill: The Rapper and Rav Alter the HipHop Genre With Their Unique Sound
by Griffin Schmoyer
Let me be the first to say, I was never a huge fan of rap or hip hop. For a long time I felt that it was all the same, and that it wasn’t good music. Most of today’s popular songs to me are extremely repetitive, and it doesn’t feel like there’s any craftsmanship or passion behind it. One day this past summer, a podcast I listen to featured two guest artists, Kill Bill: The Rapper, and Rav. After listening to their music, the image I had in my head of every hip hop artist out there was completely shattered. Bill and Rav have been making music since the days of Newgrounds and Napster being the best places to release music. Yet only now are they receiving the recognition they deserve for the beautiful music they make. Bill and Rav’s art has a very lo-fi feel to it. Not much of it is “hype up music.” The jazzy undertones to many of these beats create a unique style that is almost instantly recognizable. Heavy nostalgic tones and references to video games and anime like Dragonball are also commonplace. There is such a variety to their works that you’re sure to find a song for any mood you are in. Looking for a chill song? Try “Black Coffee”. Hype? Give “Smoke Break” a listen. Is it “sad boi hours”? “A Better Place”, and “About Last Night…” should be put on repeat. Perhaps you are in the mood for a thriller movie-esque storytelling journey about a serial killer? How oddly specific of you, but “Good Luck Chuck” has you covered there, too. This just scratches the surface of the variety in their library. Each of them has a record that is instantly recognisable to their style and sound. Bill’s 2014 record “Ramona” and Rav’s 2015 piece “Beneath the Toxic Jungle” are their most popular works, and can easily hold their own against the best today. One thing that Bill and Rav like to do with their albums is create a certain flow to it. If you listen to the whole album without shuffling it, all the songs bleed together into one cohesive piece. In my opinion, it makes them even better, and it gives the songs a connection to one another. Like the connection in their music, Bill and Rav are best friends, and and are featured on most of each other’s songs. They collaborate on almost every song, and even with other artists within their group “Exociety” like Airospace, Rekcahdam, and Scuare, who are all incredible in their own right, but that’s a whole other can of worms. This close friendship and their unmatchable collaborative chemistry culminated in their latest record, “New Moon,” released on January 20, on Youtube, and January 21 on Spotify. I listened to this album maybe 10 times over in the first week it came out. Still keeping with that flowing feel seen in their other works, and it had back to back to back, hit after hit songs. “Passionfruit,” “Lovedrug (Off That),” “Sleeptalking,” “Saffron,” “Put it Down,” and more, it was such a magical album. Thanks to their spike in popularity from being on the podcast, this album put them on the cusp of
Rav released his 10-song album “Beneath the Toxic Jungle” in December of 2015, containting some of his more popular songs like “Solanine” and “Addlerall”. Photo Credit: Rav.
finally breaking out like they most definitely deserve. Not only has their music blown up, but their own foray into podcasting, “We Don’t Suck”, is hilarious, and is also becoming just as popular as their music. I’ve been an advocate for these guys ever since I first listened to “Ramona” last summer. They are so entertaining, and the world deserves to know how good their music is. Hopefully to those of you in the position that I was in, who don’t like hip hop at all, will end up finding an appreciation for that kind of music through them. Bill and Rav’s music rings as true as the name of their podcast. You can find Bill and Rav on Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud as Kill Bill: The Rapper and Rav, and on Youtube at the WeDon’tSuck channel.
New Movies You Won’t Want to Miss
Photo Credit: Monkeypaw Productions
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.
This mystery thriller from director Jordan Peele follows the life of a typical family on a vacation and their ‘friends’ from a different world. The Wilson family fights for their life while unraveling where their mysterious ‘friends’ are really from.
With one shout, 14-year-old Billy Baton lives out every kid’s dream of becoming a superhero. With the mind of a kid, he tests out all his newfound powers, trying to master his new life before Dr. Thaddeus Sivana destroys his superpowers.
Photo Credit: New Line Cinema
Afraid of the dark? Well then “The Curse of La Llorona” is definitley not the movie for you. Legendary ghost La Llorona stalks the night haunting a social worker and her family while they rely on an otherworldy priest to rescue them from a dark realm.
Photo Credit: Marvel Studios
After an intergalactic battle breaks out, Captain Marvel steps in to put down the evil Skrulls. When flashbacks to her life on Earth affect her fighting skills, she enlists Nick Fury to help solve the mystery of her past while destroying the Skrulls.
After a battle with Thanos, the remaining Avengers attempt to bring back their fallen comrades while Tony Stark is still trapped in space. The Avengers prepare for the ultimate battle with the demigod Thanos that is sure to be legendary.
Photo Credit: Marvel Studios
Photo Credit: Will Packer Productions
Jordan is a moneyhungry, emotionless tech mogul. But when she magically turns into a 13-year-old girl, she must rely on her long-time assistant April to carry her career and alter her personality for the better before her career collapses.
Page 16 Odds and Ends
The Spotlight
AprilMay 2019
Humans of Southern Lehigh (Continued)
There are so many unique perspectives at Southern Lehigh that we couldn’t contain them all to one page! “I believe that everybody deserves the same respect from a baseline perspective and that everybody should be looked at like just another human being. It’s most important to look at the character of people’s actions and the intentions of them rather than to judge people based on appearances or other little things that are ultimately superficial.”
B R I A N N A
athletic trainer
D U N L A P
“I love to sing. I write my own songs. I perform once a month in a cafe thing, like an ice cream shop. Ever since I was younger, before I could even walk, I was dancing. Before I could talk, and I was singing. It’s kind of an escape for me, because I went through a lot with my mom.”
Q U I N T
senior
H A N S E N
“You can be happy without being successful. You can learn from not succeeding. That’s the whole thing. You can be successful but if you don’t succeed, you can be a miserable person, or you can learn from your failure and succeed in a different way.”
K A Y L E I G H
freshman
L I V E Z E Y