Spotlight January 2018 Print Issue

Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street, Center Valley, PA 18034 Volume 61 Issue 3

Southern Lehigh Student Activists March on Streets of Philadelphia Turn to pages 10 and 11 to read more.

Photo credit: Kyra Salamon In this

Issue: Find out why freshman Erica Wang was featured on PBS on pages 4-5.

Meet a few Humans of Southern Lehigh on pages 8-9.

How have American politics changed since the election?

Read more on pages 10-11.

Page 2

The Spotlight

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

Students and Staff Adjust to New Southern Lehigh District Website

by Erin Noneman

Faculty Adviser

Mrs. Marlo Spritzer

Editor-in-Chief Sarah Trebicka

News Editor

Danielle Alpert

Features Editor Bridgette Lang

Opinion Editor Izza Choudhry

Our World Editor Sarah Jacobson

Entertainment Editor Quinn Schmidt

Sports Editor

Townsend Colley

Staff Reporters Ben Baca Jakob Bloss Erin Noneman Kennah Salvo Griffin Schmoyer Amanda Simko Saskia Van’t Hof

Photographers Nicole Karol Karin Naktin

Pennsylvania School Press Association 2017 Gold Rating 2016 Gold Rating 2015 Gold Rating 2014 Gold Rating 2013 Silver Rating National School Press Association 2016 First Class Rating 2015 First Class Rating

The home page of the school website offers a slideshow of updated pictures featuring students of all ages from various Southern Lehigh School District buildings. Photo Credit: Southern Lehigh School District

Recently, Southern Lehigh School District made the decision to change the formatting and overall look of our online website, and some students are genuinely confused.

The new website was debuted sometime towards the end of winter break, and while some teachers had informed their students previously about the change bound to happen, for others, the new website came as a surprise.

Over the past few months, teachers have begun to change their personal pages from the website to a Google Sites format, in an effort to better organize information and resources for their students, as well as keeping them up to date.

“Part of the reason was that the company that hosted our website was purchased by another company, and they were phasing out the school sites,” Southern Lehigh director of technology Mr. Ken Jordan said. “It was planned to be changed at some point, but this just pushed us to do it quicker than anticipated.”

On first view of the new homepage of the district website, there are several images of students of various

ages, clubs, and classes in a slideshow.

These replace the old, outdated images that were on the previous website.

The website’s new formatting includes a bar with sub-sections, similar to our previous website, with information organized by topic.

However, the set-up has changed drastically for some subpages, such as the teacher directory. Previously, students went through several tabs to select the school, the department, and then choose from a list of that department’s teachers. Now, students need to select High School in the top right search bar, and then head to the teacher pages tab, where one can either scroll through the alphabetically organized pages, or type in the teacher’s name into the search bar provided.

Some argue this is more efficient and organized, while others believe this is more complicated and a hassle.

“It’s harder to find simple things, like teacher pages or websites for your classes,” sophomore Lauren Dumas said.

Many of the students have been in Southern Lehigh for their whole lives, since the time they were in elemen-

tary school, and the change is abrupt and strange for them.

“The new style is more confusing than the old website,” junior Ava Maitz said. It’s hard to find exactly what you want, because we’ve been so used to it for our entire time in Southern Lehigh.”

However, one of the most significant new features for this time of year is the “Important Message” notification, which tells visitors as soon as they open the website’s home page if there are any announcements about school closings, delays, or other imminent changes in daily activities.

Nevertheless, some students have not found this seemingly new and improved feature to be so helpful.

“It’s difficult on mobile devices, and [it’s] harder for me to tell when we have snow days or other important events,” senior Lauren Paparo said.

While student feedback on the new website has been mixed, district community members should be able to adapt to the changes and navigate the new style and setup with time.

The new website allows students to search the staff of an individual school in order to access teacher webpages and email addresses.

Photo Credit: Southern Lehigh School District

January 2018

News

Page 3

Don’t Wait to Donate: NHS Kicks Off the Annual Pennies for Patients Drive in February

by Jacob Bloss

Pennies for Patients is hitting the school district again to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Photo Credit: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

If you’re looking for a good cause to donate to this winter, lend some spare change for the National Honor Society Pennies for Patients (PFP) campaign in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Southern Lehigh has been involved with the charity for the past twelve years.

The PFP campaign is headed by NHS adviser, Mrs. Lynne Kelly. Thanks to her and NHS members acting as PFP officers, PFP has given students and staff an easy opportunity to actively support LLS. “I would say most importantly our success [is directly related] to how involved our teacher community has been,” Mrs. Kelly said. “I’d also say our students are a driving factor, and last year they really pushed the campaign to the outside community.”

To provide an incentive for student donations over the span of three weeks last March, NHS provided rewards for every $1,000 earned: numerous staff members received pies to the face by students, ate gross foods, participated in a sumo wrestling match, got slime poured all over them, and showed down in a rap battle. In total, SLHS managed to raise close to $6,000. The school has even more surprises in store for this year, hopefully persuading kids to work together to raise money.

“Everybody’s gonna have the opportunity to be on a squad or a team, and hopefully have the ability to perform or participate in the pep rally,” Mrs. Kelly said.

Since 1994, millions of dollars have been raised for LLS by elementary, middle, and high school students nationwide. LLS is the largest voluntary organization dedicated to funding research and finding cures for patients suffering from an abnormal amount of white blood cells in the tissue and bloodstream. Symptoms include frequent infections, easy bleeding, red spots, and bone pain. Contrary to popular belief, leukemia affects both adults and children, with an estimated 13.7 out of every 100,000 men diagnosed every year according to the National Cancer Institute.

“Leukemia affects a lot of people in the world, so I think it’s great that this charity helps out so many people,” junior Ben Moskowitz said. “I don’t get a chance to donate often, so it’s good that the school gives us this option.”

If you missed out last year and want to involved, Pennies for Patients donation boxes will be placed in classrooms around the school again this winter. You can also visit pennies.org or studentseries.org to donate early.

Southern Lehigh High School is raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Photo Credit: Pennies for Patients

What’s Happening at Southern Lehigh?

FEBRUARY

MARCH

February 9 March 1-3 SAT Test Registration Deadline for PMEA Region V Chorus

March 10 test March 9 February 15 ACT Test Registration Deadline for

Snow Day Makeup

April 14 test

(School in Session)

Teacher in Service Day (No School) February 16 Half-day March 9-11 (Teacher In-Service)

PMEA N’east Region Orchestra February 19 President’s Day

(No School)

March 13-18 “The Little Mermaid” Production

APRIL April 2 Spring Break (No School) April 6 SAT Test Registration Deadline

for May 5 test

Report Cards Posted in

Sapphire April 12 National Honors Society

Induction

March 22-24 PMEA Region V Band

April 18-21 PMEA Band, Orchestra,

and Chorus

March 28 Third Quarter Ends

April 24 Concert and Jazz Band Concert

March 29-30 Spring Break (No School)

Page 4

Features

The Spotlight

Erica Wang Featured as PBS December Artist of the Month

by Bridgette Lang

By the age of three, freshman Erica Wang’s parents and private music teacher began encouraging her to pursue piano. Learning piano at such a young age has allowed her to excel over the past 11 years and take up other instruments, like cello. “[Erica] was a preschool beginner when she started and has grown to be one of my most advanced students,” piano teacher Ms. Gloriana Sewell said. “She takes part in all the auditions and workshops offered by the studio, and she has competed in the Music Teachers National Association solo piano competitions and in the PA Keystone Chamber Music Competitions.”

Wang was most recently honored as December Artist of the Month for her exceptional performance in piano and cello by PBS 39, serving eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. In order to be considered for the prestigious award, students and their advisers can submit their work in painting, drawing, photography, videography, sculpture or performance art. Then PBS 39 selects up to four winners in each of the following categories: elementary (K-4), middle (5-8), and high school (9-12).

“The most exciting part of the whole experience was getting chosen,” Wang said. “Afterwards, my friends and family congratulated me.”

Wang performed Bulgarian Dance #6 by Bartók, recommended by her music teacher.

Wang knew it was a safe bet to play something she was comfortable with, even though the piece is filled with triplet and eighth notes. Her extensive experience is evident in her video performance.

“My teacher gives me more classical songs to play,” she said, “but sometimes I play modern

Wang performed Bulgarian Dance #6 in her studio performance video. Photo credit: PBS 39

music just for fun.”

Wang traveled to the SteelStacks in Bethlehem to meet with the PBS staff. During the process, she was interviewed by the staff through a paper interview and later recorded her composition on camera.

“I didn’t think it was my best performance ever,” she said, “but everyone told me it was really good.”

Wang is very humble about her accomplishments as a musician. Aside from playing in numerous recitals, she has competed at the state level three times. She also hopes to participate in more regional and state level competitions in the future.

“I guess I just like being able to perform and express myself without words,” she said.

“I’m not the best with words, so just physically performing comes a lot easier, and it’s something that I enjoy.”

Students selected as Artist of the Month are featured on a one-minute video PBS 39 television, social media and wlvt.org, PBS 39 News at wlvt.org, and receive an invitation to PBS 39’s exclusive Artists of the Month Art Show.

If you’re interested in seeing Erica Wang’s feature video, visit https://www.wlvt.org/blogs/ education/artist-of-the-month-erica-wang.

Looking for an Elective? Check out the 2018-19 Offerings

by Saskia Van’t Hof and Bridgette Lang

Health

Sports Medicine If you are interested in pursuing a health career or want to learn more about the science behind athletes, Sports Medicine may be a perfect class for you. Offered to Juniors and Seniors, this course will focus on topics such as nutrition, supplements, conditioning, and injury prevention, along with basic kinesiology.

Wellness Online An alternative to a traditional health class is Wellness Online. In this class, Juniors and Seniors will be able complete a generic health course online. Students taking this course will not be assigned to a block within their schedule. Instead, they will be assigned to a Health 11-12 Online Spartan Period, once in the 6 day cycle.

Art

AP Art History and Portfolio Preparation For juniors and seniors who have a relatively serious interests in the arts and/or in history, AP Art History will provide an opportunity it at a college level. Students can also build their portfolio for college applications in Portfolio Preparation.

Ceramics I and Ceramics II If you like to work with your hands, consider taking a ceramics class. In ceramics, students will learn different techniques and how to glaze their project. Ceramics I is a prerequisite for Ceramics II.

Computer Graphics More and more of art today is done online. This course will advance the skill and knowledge of computer graphics. Students’ designs are chosen to be utilized for the school’s Program of Studies booklet, graduation ticket, and graduation ceremony.

Drawing and Painting and Foundations of Art After first practicing with gray tones and shading, students can experiment with colors through painting. Foundations of Art uses other mediums as well.

Photography Take a break from digital photography and get experience with film in a blackroom. Students will learn with their own 35mm camera how to work with different types of light.

Three-Dimensional Design and Methods and Materials These courses give students the opportunity to experiment with numerous mediums. A creative mind is required for this course to try to work through problem solving.

Math

AP Computer Science and AP Computer Science Principles If you have an interest in software design, consider either of the classes. Students will use their creativity while working with programs like JAVA. Introduction to Computer Science 1 In this half-year elective, students will learn basic programming skills that they can use in real world setting.

AP Statistics and Probability and Statistics Students in these full-year classes will learn how to collect data and interpret results. Statistics apply to many aspects of the real world and your possibly your future college major or job.

Technology Architectural Design and Drafting From victorian mansions to skyscrapers, architecture keeps piece of history alive for centuries.

In this class, those who have an interest in design will be able to learn the basics of constructing a residence.

Principles of Engineering Design/CAD, Engineering Design and Development, and Manufacturing Technology Want to learn how everyday objects are made? In this course, students may create their own products and product ideas.

Foundations of Technology II If you’ve already take Foundations of Technology I and want to learn even more, prepare for collegiate level technology courses with this class. Robotics, CNC machining, pneumatics, 2D CAD, AC/DC electronics, and electrical control will all be covered in the course.

Robotic Systems Ever wonder how robots will be used in the future workplace? This class may answer some of the questions you have. In Robotic Systems, STEM principles and collaboration help students solve engineering design problems.

English

Newspaper Journalism Interested in writing? In Newspaper Journalism, students will develop their writing skills through the publication of the school newspaper, The Spotlight. The newspaper is co-curricular, so the course will require effort outside of school.

AP Language and Composition AP Language and Composition is a new class. It differs from AP Literature and Composition in that students will be focusing on informative and argumentative writing styles and reading mostly nonfiction works.

Mass Media I and Mass Media II Ever wonder how media affects all of our lives? Students in Mass Media will write, produce, edit, and direct newscasts, and projects.

Public Speaking (LCCC Dual Enrollment) In your future job, you will most likely have to make a presentation or organize information at some point. You’ll be getting a head start if enroll in this class!

Yearbook Do you have a knack for photography and design? Yearbook students work on page design, selling, advertising, and proofreading. This course is a full year long, but it will require some time and dedication outside of class time.

Creative Writing This course is different from other English courses because it’s not all about writing essays. Juniors and Seniors will be working on everything from short stories and poetry to writing for TV.

Features

January 2018

Page 5

Teachers Take to Twitter to Make Bold Snow Day Predictions

by Jakob Bloss

Winter is usually not considered people’s favorite season, especially for those who live up north. However, there is one thing that excites kids from Southern Lehigh and students all around the world: snow days! Snow days bring along the ultimate surge of excitement every time that notification or call is answered by our parents.

Everytime time snow is in the forecast,Southern Lehigh students begin to make predictions. The arguments and passion are real; people really go crazy when snow comes. Many wonder, “Are we going to have a delay, early dismissal, or a day-off?” Surprisingly, the most accurate predictions often come from math teacher Mr. Ryan Haupt and social studies teacher Mr. Lee Zeisloft’s Twitter accounts.

“I was trying to figure out what to post on Twitter and it was around the holiday,” Mr. Haupt said. “I was just trying to figure out what to post and how to get followers.”

As of January 18th, Mr. Haupt had 222 people following his Twitter account. He usually explains to his followers why certain types of cancellation or how the weather affects our travel to school, making bold predictions along the way like, “I am 100% positive we will have #NoSchoolTomorrow.”

Family Consumer Science Concepts in Clothing Concepts in Clothings teaches students interested in fashion about self-image, consumer intelligence, textile technology, and clothing selection and management.

Family and Consumer Sciences and Multicultural Foods Family and Consumer Sciences teaches everything from child development and individual maturation, to sewing and food preparation.

If you are open to trying different types of food, enroll in Multicultural Foods.

Family Living and Parenting and Young Child Once you graduate, you are expected to make life changing choices that could lead you to a million different futures. In these classes, students will learn about lifestyle choices, marriage and family dynamics, handling crisis, and how to care for children.

Housing and Interior Environments Taking this class could help you design your future dream home.

Elements of design and how to draw plans are a few of the skills you will learn in this course. This course is a half-year elective.

Nutrition Nutrition is more than just the amount of calories that’s listed on the back of food. In this class, students will learn about importance of food nutrition and how it affects your body.

Independent Living This half-year course will teach the fundamental survival skills needed to live in the adult world. This class covers all aspects of practical living from food shopping, finding a place to live, to buying a car.

Mr. Haupt and Mr. Zeisloft debate the weather of their Twitter pages. Photo credit: Twitter, @MrHaupt 217 and @LZeisloft

“I’d say about 75% of the time I’m right,” Mr. Haupt said about his predictions. “There was a time I had a perfect year.”

Mr. Zeisloft, on the other hand, had 301 followers. Mr. Zeisloft claims that he has more accuracy than Mr. Haupt.

“It started as Mr. Haupt’s thing, and I started reading predictions and replying to his tweets,” Mr. Zeisloft said. “We both had juniors at the time.

It’s really harmless fun.”

Many students feel it really helps to look at either teacher’s account to see how prepared they should be with school work for the next day.

Sleep is also a huge factor: it helps to know if you should set an alarm the next morning or sleep in a little if there might be a delay.

“It helps tremendously to look at Mr. Haupt’s Twitter to decide what I should do for the night,” junior Ben Szmodis said. They’re usually spot on, so whatever they predict, I usually go along with.”

The next time snow is predicted on the forecast, check out Mr. Haupt and Mr. Zeisloft’s Twitter accounts. If you’re not interested about their snow closing predictions, they also post other school-related information, including classroom work and special events that take place at Southern Lehigh.

Science

Social Studies

Honors Anatomy and Physiology and Kinesiology Considering the health fields? These courses will help you understand the body better. Students will learn anatomy and functions of different parts of the body in both courses.

AP Psychology and Psychology If you’re interested in going in-depth on how the mind works, then consider taking this class. Psychology courses focus on psychological facts, principles, phenomena, and research methods.

Ecology and Zoology If you want to learn more about the environment and the animals living in it, then take these classes. Students will learn about how humans play into the increase/decrease of certain populations and why animals are they way they are in terms of evolution.

Forensic Science Interested in becoming a real life detective? The course will cover the analysis of fingerprints, hair, handwriting, drugs, human remains, blood, and other bodily fluids.

Students will examine case studies as well as gather evidence at simulated crime scenes.

Genetics and Biotechnology If you’ve already taken Biology and found that you have an interest in genetics, Genetics and Biotechnology is for you. This course is a full-year class. Students will cover cancer, gene transmission, genetic mapping, gene regulation, and imunology.

Global Issues and American Issues American Issues was formerly known as Contemporary Issues in Race, Poverty, Health Care & Crime and Contemporary Issues in Education, Immigration, Terrorism & the Environment has been renamed to Global Issues. These classes encourage students to explore problems through investigation, discussion and problem solving.

Economics Aside from evaluating the overall economy, economics will help students make better financial decisions in their own life. This course evaluations basic theory of capitalism, real world consumer economics, a comparison of global systems, globalization and personal economics.

Sociology Have you ever thought about the way that society shapes you as a person? In this half-year course, Seniors and Juniors will learn more about how society, as well as technology, influences people’s relationships and their behaviors.

Business

Music

Business Concepts and Intro to Business Both of these courses will give you exposure to many subtopics in business. Covering the job market, budgeting, banking, credit, and insurance, students will receive a well rounded understanding of the basics of business.

Chorus and Meistersingers Aside from performing at concerts, chorus members learn about music reading skills, aural skills, vocal techniques and performance skills. If you are interested in auditioning for the Meistersingers, audition letters and materials will be available for all students who sign up for chorus on May 1st.

Accounting I, Accounting II, and Financial Literacy If you’re interested in the numbers behind running a business, take a look at these classes. In these classes, students will how to run different types of businesses, learn about credit cards, calculating costs for college, personal budgeting, banking, buying a car, and taxes.

Business Law This class will provide students with the basic knowledge and understanding of legal principles and terminology that will affect their everyday lives.

Web Page Design I and Web Page Design II Do you want to be able to make your own websites? In this class, students will learn the origins of the Internet and how to create and maintain a professional looking website using HTML. Marketing In this half-year course, students will learn the basic components of developing a marketing plan. Aspects of advertising, pricing, product/service management, and selling will be examined in this class.

Color Guard Do you want to be a part of the Southern Lehigh High School halftime show? The class is run during the first semester of the school year to coincide with football season, but students who join are expected to attend practices during the summer and afterschool.

Piano I and Piano II Piano I will teach beginners how to read notes and will develop their fundamental motor skills needed to play the piano. Students who have already taken Piano I have the opportunity to broaden their skills in Piano II. Theatre Students will be introduced to the theatre as actors and directors.

AP Music Theory, Music Theory, Band, and Orchestra If you already have experience with music and want to continue your studies, consider one of these rigorous classes. For Band and Orchestra, time outside the classroom is required.

Page 6

Sports

The Spotlight

The Spartan Girls Basketball Team Embarks on the Long Road to Hershey

by Townsend Colley

Members of the girls basketball celebrating Mobley’s 1000th point. Photo credit: Mary Jo Schmidt

When it comes to sports, one of the most engaging events to watch is a high-profile offense that can simply demoralize opponents through their sheer ability to score points. These teams are special, and are often led by special players, such as Baker Mayfield, Lebron James, Alex Ovechkin, and Lionel Messi. However, when it comes to Southern Lehigh girls basketball and their once-in-a-generation style of dominance, they have two prolific scorers that have led them to three consecutive undefeated Colonial League seasons: senior Amanda Mobley and junior Olivia Snyder.

Their dominance has transitioned itself from the stats sheets and into the record books, as both Mobley and Snyder have both broken the 1000-point mark this season to accompany an undefeated Colonial League regular season record at the time of publication.

On December 28, 2017, Mobley, a Rider University commit, scored her thousandth career point in a 64-53 victory over Phillipsburg High School in a tournament game. She would finish the game with seven points en

route to 1006 career points. During the 2016 to 2017 season, Mobley was named the Colonial League girls basketball MVP, and became the eighth Southern Lehigh player to score 1000 points, the first since Bridgette Dougherty completed her career as a Spartan in 2012, with 1081 points.

“It just felt really good that I’ll always have something to remember, like getting my name on that banner.

It’s just always going to be a cool thing when I come back,” Mobley said. “It was really cool that [Olivia and I] both got it in the season and we both knew how the other felt. So we were just so happy for one another.”

Southern Lehigh’s electric back court duo would add yet another member to the thousandth point club within weeks when Snyder accomplished the same feat.

On January 6, 2018, in a regular season matchup against the Northern Lehigh Bulldogs, Snyder scored 23 points en route to her thousandth point.

Snyder is one of only two players in Southern Lehigh history to score her thousandth point in only her junior

Did you know?

season, the other being Erin Owens- class of 2004, who went on to score 2060 points over the course of her career, and eventually played division one basketball at Binghamton University.

“Obviously it’s a great accomplishment, and I think we’re the first teammates in Southern Lehigh history to accomplish it, so that's also a great accomplishment,” Snyder said. “But I think we’re more focused on winning than anything else. We want to get the state championship.”

The expectations for Snyder’s season were much higher than those for the typical junior. During her sophomore year, she was named to the all-state girls basketball team and walked into this season with over 20 scholarship offers to her name. So far, she has lived up to the hype, as she leads the team in scoring with 20.3 points per game.

“I’ve put a lot of work in during the offseason. I played AAU, I train every day in the fall and summer,” Snyder said. “You never know, but I guess if you put the work in, it will come.”

All the record breaking would be for nothing if the stats didn’t translate into wins. This is where what Snyder and Mobley have done becomes truly special. So far this season the Spartans are 14-2 overall and 11-0 in league play at the time of publication. Their only two losses came early in the season to Archbishop Carroll and Easton, with scoring differentials of three and five, respectively.

However, outside of the losses, many of the Spartans’ games haven’t even been close, with an average scoring differential of 26 points in Southern Lehigh victories. One of the most important victories of the season came on January 20 against Cardinal O’Hare, the 24th ranked team in the state, where the Spartans won 44-36.

“I think we knew we were gonna be pretty good, just like last year,” Mobley said. “Some teams we knew we were just gonna whoop up on, but some teams we knew were gonna be a challenge, like Cardinal O’Hare, but we just stepped up and worked hard in practice.”

One of the more interesting challenges that the Spartans will face this season will be the jump in competition from the regular season to the playoffs.

Traditionally, teams in the Colonial League are not as strong as the ones that the Spartans will see in the district and state playoffs. Being able to step up to a higher level of competition after getting used to the rhythm of the Colonial League will be an integral part of the Spartans’ plan to capture the state championship.

However, with Snyder and Mobley leading the team, nothing is as challenging as it may seem.

The Spotlight has a Twitter account!

Tweet us @SLSDspotlight For all Southern Lehigh sports news follow @SolehiSpartans

January 2018

Sports

Page 7

Southern Lehigh Swim Team Credits Their Success To Tradition and Togetherness

by Saskia Van’t Hof

Members of the boys swim team celbrate their second place finish earlier this season at the All- American Invitational. Photo credit: Chad Remaly

For most students, winter marks the time to dig out old scarves, gloves, and coats from the bottom of the closet and bundle up as tightly as possible.

This is not the case for the Southern Lehigh swim team. When the final school bell rings everyday, the swimmers scramble to peel off their coats before they board the bus to Muhlenberg College. A loud and chaotic 20 minutes later, their two-hour long practice begins, and they think nothing of diving into cool water to train for their next meet.

On Saturdays, they gather again at seven a.m. for more practice. Aside from regular practices, swimmers are also expected to attend morning training sessions three days a week at 6:30, lifting weights at a time when most other students are still battling with the snooze button on their alarm clocks.

“It’s definitely hard. There’s no doubt about that,” sophomore Delaney Gemmell said. “But we all just joke around, so that makes it all worth it.”

Every year, the swim team grows in size, with 53 students participating this season. Compared to other sports offered at Southern Lehigh, the swim team has an incredibly close knit atmosphere. Even on the first day of preseason, they resemble more of a big family than anything else.

“The first thing I noticed about the team was how close they all were because of all the time they’ve spent together,” freshman Christian Velez said.

The swimmers have a lot of time to bond. Unlike other athletes who compete for roughly three months, swimming takes place from preseason in November to the competitions in March.

“When you first join swimming, it’s like, ‘Oh, no, these are all seniors!

They’re all older than me!’ and it’s really overwhelming,” freshman Rubani Sidhu said. “But then you give it a week or so, and suddenly you’re really eased into it and are having a blast. It’s just a really welcoming atmosphere.”

The anchor that holds this team together is the coaching trio of Brooke Gilson, Brandon Mazepa, and Maggie Olock. “[The coaches that I’ve had] in my three years in swimming have all been real leaders in my life,” junior Kaitlyn Adams said. “They are all really great people.”

Over the years, the swim team has developed many traditions that reflect its energetic collaborative spirit. The days leading up to meets are filled with pasta parties, buddy-bag exchanges, and spirit days. The boys and girls respectively also each have a secret cheer that they chant before competitions. On January 11, the Thursday before the two-day long AllAmerican Invitational, the team sported hand-decorated t-shirts. Each color t-shirt represented a different grade level: blue for freshmen, yellow for sophomores, red for juniors, and black for seniors.

Their most famous tradition, however, occurs in the days before the District XI competition: the boys bleach their hair, dye it bright colors, and subsequently shave it all off.

“Swimming is very competitive, but in a much different way than other sports. I’d say the competitions are more personal, because of course you’re going for your team but you're also going for yourself,” Adams said. “The goal is more about beating your own time.”

At the Invitationals this year, the girls placed fifth and the boys placed second. The team looks forward to the upcoming district competitions, which will take place on March 2 and March 3 at La Salle University.

Southern Lehigh Winter Track Has a Record Breaking Season

by Ben Baca

On the Southern Lehigh winter track team, sophomore Sierra Williams, junior Alex Fillman, sophomore Amelia Cassaday, junior Victoria Adams, and freshman Jayden Kline have all found found their calling on the polyurethane trails. Williams broke the school record for the 60 meter hurdles, while Fillman accomplished the same feat in the 600 meter race. Cassiday broke the long jump record, Adams broke the triple jump record, and Kline broke the school high jump record.

Fillman has been running on the winter track team since his freshman year of high school. Over that time he’s attempted to perfect his craft and has developed techniques for preparing for a big race, such as going to bed early and eating healthy.

Now, three years later, his hard work has paid off. At the Freedom Games meet Fillman posted a time of 1:31.26 in the 600m race, successfully setting the school record in that event.

“It’s a major accomplishment, knowing the success I put into my sport paid off,” Fillman said, “[that] I could be recognized for such a major accomplishment that became natural to myself.”

Competing alongside Fillman is his teammate, sophomore Sierra Williams, who has also been on the team since her freshman year and has been doing hurdles since this winter. Williams broke the school record for 60m hurdles not once, not twice, but three times in her first season competing in the event. Her latest record was set at the New Balance Games in New York City with a time of 8.69 seconds.

Her methods of training for big events are eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and practicing daily. Williams is also a member of the record breaking girls 4x400 and 4x200 meter relay teams that have consistently been some of the best events for Southern Lehigh over the years.

“I was surprised about breaking the record because I just started hurdling this year,” Williams said. “Usually, I do the 55 meter hurdles and the 4x400 meter relay.”

The New Balance Games seemed to be quite the sweet spot for the Southern Lehigh winter track team as four other school records were broken under the bright lights of New York City. Cassiday broke the school long jump record by jumping 16 feet, 10.5 inches. Adams broke the school

triple jump record with a length of 34 feet, 2.5 inches. Kline rounded out the individual events by setting the school record in the high jump with a height of 4 feet, 10 inches. The quartet of Imani Hollie, Megan McGill, Trisha O’Rourke, and Sierra Williams set a new school record in the 4x200 meter relay with a time of 1:49.94.

“It’s exciting having two athletes I know being able to break the records,” senior team captain Noah Schock said.

The Spartans cannot celebrate their success for long, as the winter track season rages on. Despite the cold weather and ice smothered grounds that most students wouldn’t dare go outside in, it can be assured that Southern Lehigh’s athletes will keep competing for records and preparing for the spring track season.

Megan McGill competes in a relay event.

Photo credit: Alex Fillman

Page 8

Center Spread

The Spotlight

HUMANS OF SOU

“Feminism is important to me because being female in this day and age is still extremely difficult, dangerous, and scary.

I went to the Philadelphia Women’s March on January 20 because there are so many women out there who need to have their voices heard. I no longer feel as though we are all individual people, but rather that we are one people going through the same struggle every single day, and we are obligated to empower and help each other,” senior Kyra Salamon said.

Photo credit: Sarah Trebicka Interview by Sarah Trebicka

“I’ve always been a really big fan of building LEGOs, but just recently I decided to make a YouTube channel.

Initially, I was scared because LEGOs [are considered] a child’s toy, but it’s something I love to do. The turnout has been really positive, and my friend joined in on the channel. It has been growing really well, and we’re getting lots of views, and the community and fan base is growing. It turned out to be a great bonding experience with my friend, and we have a great time.

[LEGOs] can be really relaxing, and if I’m ever having a bad day, I can always go and build LEGOs. What I love abot LEGOs is that whatever I want to make, I can make just from a pile of bricks. You can make something amazing from what started out as nothing, and I think the opportunity is really cool,” junior Janik Wing said.

Photo credit: Griffin Schmoyer Interview by Griffin Schmoyer

II

January 2018

Center Spread

UTHERN LEHIGH “I’m unabashedly unapologetic.

I am who I am and I don’t apologize for that. ’m loud, I’m large. It’s such an integral part of who I am that I no longer feel the need to be anything other than my authentic self,” Spanish teacher Sra. Joan Imms said.

Photo credit: Quinn Schmidt Interview by Quinn Schmidt

“I want to go and explore Europe again. I went when I was around 12 years old, but I want to see more of it. I’ve been to France and Belgium, and it was interesting, but I want to go see more of it. I’ve also always wanted to go skydiving, even though I think that’s something on everyone’s bucket list,” junior Keirstyn O’Neill said.

Photo credit: Griffin Schmoyer Interview by Griffin Schmoyer

Page 9

Page 10 Opinion

The Spotlight

High School Dropouts More Likely to Go to Prison

by Izza Choudhry

One in ten male dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24 are either in prison or juvenile detention. Photo credit: Neon Tommy on Flickr

Of all of the males in federal and state prisons, 80 percent do not have a high school diploma.

There is a direct correlation with a lack of high school education and incarceration. One in ten male dropouts between the ages of 16 to 24 are either in prison or in juvenile detention. Rather than spending tax dollars on incarcerating these dropouts, funding should be focused on encouraging these individuals to complete their high school education.

According to a report by The Hamilton Project, there is nearly a 70 percent chance that an African-American man without his high school diploma will be imprisoned by his mid-thirties.

There is a 16.6 percent unemployment rate for African-Americans without a high school diploma, showing that men in this demographic have about the same chance of being incarcerated than being employed.

“Institutionalized racism is a big factor in [high rates of] high school dropouts because a lot of high school dropouts are people of color, especially black men and women,” senior Camille Palmer said.

Juvenile incarceration decreases the likelihood of high school graduation by 13 percent.

Additionally, those who are incarcerated as juveniles are 15 percent more likely to be incarcerated as adults for violent crimes, and 14 percent more likely to be incarcerated as adults for property crimes, a concept known as recidivism. The probability of incarceration increases with childhood experiences with the juvenile justice system, often times with minor crimes, such as property crimes. With such a corrupt juvenile justice system, it is evident that juvenile incarceration can have a long-lasting impact on a child’s future, as it ruins a child’s opportunity for any social interactions and development.

“Kids who get in trouble in school are general-

ly kids who don’t wanna be there to begin with,” social studies teacher Mr. Troy Ruch said. “Once you remove them from the school environment, they fall behind and get discouraged, and it kinda creates this whole dilemma of how do you keep order and safety [at schools], but at the same time provide opportunities for all students.”

Socioeconomic status is a major factor that impacts high school graduation rates. Students from low-income families are 2.4 times more likely to drop out than middle-income students, and over 10 times more likely to drop out than high-income students. Moreover, 36 percent of students with learning or physical disabilities do not graduate high school. It is common for dropouts to have a history of being retained from advancing a grade level, relocating during high school, or having a general feeling of alienation with their peers at school.

“There is a higher chance of the people who dropout [of high school] to go to prison because they don’t have a high school education to get a higher paying job, so that results in deviant behavior,” senior Victoria Melton said. “Because they’re not a working member of society, they don’t know how to support themselves.”

The consequences of high rates of incarceration affect more than just the individual. Incarceration is extremely expensive for American taxpayers. In 2010, the United States spent more than $80 billion on correction expenditures at the federal, state, and local levels, which fund the supervision, confinement, and rehabilitation for adults and juveniles convicted of offenses against the law. To put that into perspective, in 1980 it cost $17 billion. When including expenditures for police protection and judicial and legal services, this cost increases to $261 billion.

According to a 2013 Alliance for Excellent Education report, the United States could save up

to $18.5 billion in annual crime costs if the high school male graduation rate increased by five percent. Additionally, this increase in male high school graduation rate would result in a decrease in annual incidences of assault by 60,000, larceny by 30,000, motor vehicle theft by 31,000, and burglaries by 17,000.

“There is a lack of education that then leads to a lack of opportunities and unemployment,” Mr. Ruch said. “There is a correlation between people who don’t have support systems dropping out of high school which then can result in them becoming incarcerated.”

The national average for educating a student is $12,643, while the annual state average cost for housing an inmate is $28,323. If our nation put more efforts and funding towards education rather than incarceration, it would show a drastic change by increasing high school graduation rates, therefore decreasing rates of crime and costs of incarceration. w“Schools could lower their dropout rates by trying harder to inspire students to learn,” Palmer said, “especially in inner-city schools and schools with [fewer] opportunities for their students.”

Overall, reducing the rates of high school dropouts would not only benefit the individual, but benefit the nation as a whole, by decreasing taxes, creating more jobs, and boosting the economy. In this day and age, a high school diploma is absolutely essential to have a stable career and life; therefore, the education system should make efforts to encourage all students to complete their high school education, regardless of their circumstances. Schools must focus on providing education and opportunities, rather than unfairly reprimanding and discouraging students during their crucial stages of development and growth.

The Spotlight is published six times annually 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. Advertising and subscription rates are furnished upon request.

January 2018

Opinion Page 11

Staff Editorial: The Regulation on No Food in Classrooms May Be a Matter of Life or Death Students may have noticed a more excessive, stricter regulation of food in classrooms in the past few months. While complaints have been voiced by both students and teachers alike, this rule may not be as harmful as it seems when it comes to life threatening allergies.

According to the school handbook, all food items served in classrooms by teachers must first be checked through the Health Room due to the high number of students with significant medical issues and specific allergens, such as eggs, red dye, pears, apples, and peanuts.

Additionally, possession of food outside the cafeteria is filed as a “minor misbehavior.” The first offense warrants a warning, while second and third offenses lead to detention.

It is a well known fact that many students suffer from common peanut allergies. An allergic reaction can occur through direct contact with peanuts, breathing in peanut dust, or eating something made with peanut

oil. Furthermore, those with ultra-sensitive allergies can also experience a reaction from cross-contact, such as if a slice of bread has been cut with a knife that has peanut residue on it.

According to WebMD, symptoms of an allergic response to peanuts may begin within minutes of exposure, and can lead to tightening in the throat, shortness of breath or wheezing, skin reactions such as hives or redness, tingling or itching in the mouth or throat, and more. A serious reaction is known as anaphylaxis, which, left untreated, can be deadly.

With this in mind, while it can be frustrating to save your food for a later time no matter how loud your stomach rumbling is, as long as we’re in school, it’s important to make sure that we’re being considerate of students with life threatening allergies. It’s an inconvenient rule for students and teachers without food restrictions, but it’s necessary for those who can go into anaphylactic shock in a matter of minutes.

Southern Lehigh’s School Calendar Should Take More Non-Christian Holidays Into Consideration

by Erin Noneman

Christian holidays are usually the only holidays that are acknowledged by many public schools for time off. Photo credit: Wikipedia

The U.S. Constitution allows us a line to frankly celebrate and talk about our religions in the open, and enjoy them as we should. But how does that translate to school holidays? In our school district, we currently have off for religious holidays mainly pertaining to Christian celebrations, including Christmas and Easter, among others.

In the late 90s, a court case was filed in concern for the high number of students absent on religious holidays that fell on school days. The state’s American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU),

sued the Sycamore School District for not giving holidays off for students who follow Islam or Hinduism, despite the large number of students who missed school.

So, why do school close for some holidays but not others? This could be due to the fact that some schools have more students who follow certain religions, but why don’t we still acknowledge those important holidays, out of respect and realization that many will be out of classes anyway?

Our religious holidays are meant to give us time off, to spend that time at home with our families. Wouldn’t it make sense for people of other religions to have that same level of respect?

“For kids who are Jewish [and part of other religions], it’s unfair for them to have to go to class instead of staying home with their families,” junior Kierstyn O’Neill said.

For Jewish, Muslim and other religions’ major holidays, our school does not close. Often, if we do have off for a holiday such as Hanukkah, it’s because some days overlap with the time that students have off for the winter break that includes Christmas in December. But, for the most part, we don’t have off for many holidays celebrated worldwide.

Schools in other states and cities such as New York, where there are higher Jewish populations, have off for many Jewish holidays because there

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would be such low attendance on those dates from both staff and students.

“I think that we should have off here,” junior Kiley Schlosser said. “We have off for Christmas and other holidays that I celebrate, it would be fair for them to also have off from school for their holidays.”

Some school districts say that not giving these holidays off is a sign of disrespect to the diverse students and staff who celebrate these days. However, within a school, there is a fine line teachers must obey between teaching about religion and celebrating it.

Religion is important in classes about international cultures and historical events, even current politics, as long as the study is comparative, and no one religion is endorsed over another.

Realistically, that rule-of-thumb is easy to understand, and when it comes to school holidays, the same logic should apply.

Despite the fact that we have minority of students who are follow religions other than Christianity, we should still be respectful and allow them time to celebrate with their families without having to miss a regular school day to do it.

“I feel like if we have [religiously diverse] students or faculty members in our school population it should be acknowledged and recognized,” art teacher Mrs. Courtney Bathgate said.

Page 12

Our World

The Spotlight

Southern Lehigh Weighs in on Trump’s Impact on America One Year After His Inauguration

by Erin Noneman

lems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”

Comments such as these have understandably caused controversy.

“Donald Trump’s remarks towards minorities and individual groups [have] aggravated me,” senior Aaron Focht said.

The President has also made headlines throughout his campaign and now into his presidency regarding discrimination and acts of hate. One of these most notable occasions occurred after the “Unite the Right” white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Trump made an attempt to comment publicly on the event, saying that there were good and bad people “on both sides.” Some were pleased with his response, stating he handled it well, as others note that the president should not refer to white supremacists as decent people.

President Donald Trump being sworn in on January 20, 2017. Photo credit: Wikicommons

On January 20, 2017, Republican Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States, taking the place of former Democratic President Barack Obama. Trump defeated the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the electoral college, despite losing the popular vote. Now that the U.S. is about a year into this new presidency, what impact has Trump’s time in office had on the nation’s political climate thus far? “[I was] wishing that there [would be] better candidates that could have made it through the primaries. I didn’t think that [Trump or Hillary] are great, [although] I feel that the right choice was made,” junior Riley Hefner said. “Although Trump isn’t great, I feel he’s better than [Hillary].”

Since his election campaign, Trump has voiced his plans to end several Obama-era programs that aid immigrants and their families, minorities, and lower income citizens. However, despite Congress making numerous attempts to repeal major legislation such as the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, there has not been enough bipartisan support to take any action, causing a deadlock on the issue.

Several other promises and topics of interest are now being revised or looked over. Major social issues such as LGBT rights as couples, women’s healthcare from services such as Planned Parenthood, and racism have been heavily discussed by the President, alongside plans and hopes to enact policies that will widely impact the nation for better or worse, such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Medicaid.

Trump has caused trouble in the past from his numerous comments and jabs at minority groups. In an Oval Office meeting last year, Trump questioned, “Why do we want people from Haiti here?”

Likewise, when prompted about Mexico, he reportedly said, “They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those prob-

“Donald Trump’s remarks towards minorities and individual groups [have] aggravated me.”

-Aaron Focht

Public relations with other countries have become increasingly tense since the election as well: the most controversial of which regarding the United States’ relations with North Korea.

The U.S. relationship with North Korea, specifically, has been intensified via Donald Trump’s twitter.

“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.’ Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger and more powerful one than his, and my button works,” Trump said on Twitter.

This growing strain on public relations with North Korea has been happening for decades, and was not borne out of Trump’s presidency. However, the tensions have increased enough for Trump to comment.

“If . . . forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” Trump said.

This idea of “destroying” North Korea is applauded by some, as well as sincerely feared by others. “[The election is] going to impact everybody’s future whether it’s good or bad,” social studies teacher Mr. Tom Beaupre said. “The people elected are now our officials and we hope they are going to make good decisions for everyone in the country. We always hope for the best.”

Local Library Offers Vast Opportunities to Public

by Kennah Salvo

Girl Scout troop 6467 from Southern Lehigh High School teach a group of young children during a program about Doctor Seuss. Photo Credit: Troop 6467

For many residents of the Lehigh Valley, the Southern Lehigh Public Library has become the centerpiece of a well rounded community of curious learners.

Aside from allowing visitors to check out books, the library also offers a wide selection of classes, such as cycling and yoga; clubs, such as storytime for toddlers, chess for all ages, and “Tail Wagging Readers” that reads to service dogs; and volunteer opportunities set forth by the organization, Friends

of the Southern Lehigh Public Library. Community members can get involved by visiting www.solehipl.org or going to the library and speaking with a librarian.

“Not only do libraries provide resources, but they host community events, and sometimes they have guest authors come and speak,” community member Faith Fiegel said. “They provide enrichment and bring a community together. I think [libraries] are absolutely essential to a healthy community.”

The Southern Lehigh Public Library hosts events like art shows, book club meetings, and tax assistance nights. They also offer internet resources such as e-books, databases, and language learning tools on the library website for anyone with a library card. For those who like e-readers, the library loans Nooks and Kindles with access to over 500 titles.

The library also serves as a meeting place for community organizations.

“Music Together” meets three times a week. An adult book discussion group meets monthly. For those interested in fashion, there is also a “Dessert and Design” night. The Girl Scouts of America work with the library to run a program that helps girl scouts earn the Silver Award: a highly impressive honor to note on college applications.

“The Silver Award is the second highest award a girl scout can earn,” junior McKenzie Hagenbuch, a girl scout who earned her Silver award through this program, said.

A library with well-integrated programs and resources can serve as a center of culture and life dedicated to community members. For many residents of the Lehigh Valley, the Southern Lehigh Public Library is the final cherry on top of an involved community.

Our World Page 13

January 2018

Phildelphia Women’s March Inspires Social Change

by Izza Choudry

An estimated 50,000 activists gathered in Philadelphia on January 20 to attend the second annual nationwide Women’s March on Philly. The theme this year was, “We Resist. We Persist. We Rise.” The Philadelphia march was one of many women’s rights demonstrations on the same day across the country, in cities such as New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. Among the thousands of protesters were several Southern Lehigh High School students.

“I was and am still tired of the great deal of inequality that surrounds women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and the lower class,” senior Katia Deutsch said. “I decided to turn my white-middle-class guilt [into] anger and do something about it.”

According to the Women’s March website, “The mission of Women’s March is to harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change...Women’s March is committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect.”

“There are so many women out there who need empowerment, and I as a female am obligated to help other females,” senior Kyra Salamon said. “I am passionate about protesting because when there is an issue that many people feel strongly needs to be fixed, we have the power to do so. Marching was invigorating and I have never felt more empowered in my life.”

There were 11 speakers at the march in Philadelphia. Vashti Bandy, a regular attendee at Tuesdays with Toomey flagship protests, spoke about leading the persistence. Jenny Entin, a computer science student at the University of Pennsylvania, spoke about women in engineering. Pauline Thompson Guerin, a member of the Philadelphia Veterans for Organization, spoke about veteran women and sexual assault. Amy Gunzelman, a 17-year-old senior at Spring Grove High School in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, spoke about being persistent in her community. Michele Leahy, spoke about women with disabilities. Jamie Perrapato, a member of Turn PA Blue, spoke about electing more Democratic women to the Pennsylvania state house. Melissa Robbins,

Protesters at the Women’s March in New York City. Photo credit: Sarah Jacobson

Senior Katia Deutsch marching at the Women’s March in Philadelphia. Photo credit: Kyra Salamon

member of Emerge PA and NOW, spoke about “Staying Committed and Being the Change,” and Barbara Wittman spoke about bullying.

Among the speakers were several writers and musicians. Marguerite Sexton performed her original public inspiration chant “We Are One.” Daejah Vaughn, a 15 year-old spoken word poet, shared one of her own pieces.

Voices Rising Philadelphia, a community chorus of women and men committed to social justice and motivating people to resist, also performed. “[The atmosphere of the Women’s March was] loving and warm,” Deutsch said. “All of the wonderful women, children, and men that I spoke with at the march were kind and compassionate. They were all there because they were unhappy with the world that we live in and were determined to change [it].”

Last year, the first year of the Women’s March, the aim was to send a message to the executive branch about the need for equality. This year’s Women’s March comes as a record number of women seek public office and the #MeToo movement arises against sexual assault.

“What I took away from this protest was an overwhelming sense of hope for the future, and the feeling that I am not alone by any means,” Salamon said. “There are so many thousands of men and women who feel as strongly as I do, and will sacrifice so much for equality, which I feel is the most important aspect in any society.”

Nationwide, the Women’s Marches are much broader than just an antiTrump march. According to the Philly Women Rally, gender inequality goes far beyond Trump’s presidency. The organizers of the Women’s Marches recognize that gender inequality is a societal issue that has been prevalent for centuries, and the marches are focused on positive messages from inspirational men and women. This year, the main takeaway is to “Resist. Persist.

Rise.”

Where Are They Now? Tyler Pino

by Danielle Alpert

All high school students face the difficulty of choosing a career path or college. However, most students eventually have a single “lightbulb” moment, in which they realize their true passion. The same goes for 2010 Southern Lehigh graduate Tyler Pino. It was not until he was given the option to work on a video project for an AP history class that he discovered his love of video production, leading him to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Production from Florida State University.

“I had never edited or shot a video before, but as I started to learn the software, I became fascinated with how you could tell a story through a video production,” Pino said. “I did not have any other career passions at the time, so I figured, why not?”

Pino now works for the New York Jets, and produces and edits a weekly CBS show called “Jetlife,” which allows fans to witness players’ “off-the-field personalities” through mini documentaries.

“Many times we ask them to open up about hardships and challenges growing up, and when they appreciate the results of their labor, it feels gratifying,” Pino said.

Along with the excitement of working with professional athletes, it is the rewarding “thank you” from a player that Pino enjoys the most, along with the traveling of course. He traveled with the Jets to London, England, and spent time in Turks and Caicos to video a cheerleader calendar production.

Out of all the stadiums Pino has seen, Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, is by far his favorite.

In high school, he was part of the golf team all four years and played basketball until sophomore year.

“He was a popular kid who was relatively quiet in class and on the golf course. He was always a hard worker and a super nice kid,” math teacher and golf coach Mr. Matthew Greenawald said. “He was the youngest of

Pino films a Jets game from the sidelines. Photo credit: Dan Szpakowski

the three Pinos that I taught. I looked at his LinkedIn, and he is obviously doing really well, and I am proud of him.”

In Pino’s eyes, the key to happiness is not a high paying job, but a job that suits your passions, because in the end, your love for the job is worth more than the money.

“I’m happy I picked a career for which I had a passion rather than pursuing a job that would pay more,” Pino said. “If you love what you do, everything else falls into place.”

Page 14 Arts and Entertainment

The Spotlight

‘Star Wars’ Flies High, But Not High Enough

by Sarah Jacobson

‘Star Wars’ was wildly successful in the box office, earning over $900 million. Photo Credit LucasFilm. B

A hush falls over the theater, and the air is filled with the thrill of anticipation. This brief moment of silence is immediately followed by the fanfare of the traditional opening title scroll of a “Star Wars” film, and many cheers erupt from all over the theater. The beginning of the eighth installment in

The West End: It’s More Like Best End

by Townsend Colley

For many Southern Lehigh students, a typical night out with friends will lead them around the Valley and eventually back to the classic Copperhead Grille for a nice dinner. Friday after Friday students frequent the restaurant to watch sports and eat some pub grub. Much like any routine, this can eventually get boring. In an effort to combat this culinary boredom I would like to introduce you to the West End, a restaurant in Quakertown that takes classic pub foods and puts their own signature twist on each of their meals.

As you approach the restaurant, your expectations may be a little low as you view the ancient brick walls with little to no light spilling out of the windows. However, once you hear the joyous laughter from inside you’ll become just excited enough to head in. Once inside, the experience could not differ any further from the quiet atmosphere of the outdoors.

The patron is showered with warm lights from the cathedral ceiling of the dining room and comforted by a large fireplace that is center stage along the back wall. The resulting ambiance is a strange yet soothing combination of sports bar and log cabin, the perfect place to watch a football game on a cold winter evening.

As your evening at The West End continues, you’ll be brought face to face with the relatively high prices to go along with the corresponding larger than average portions. The menu is highlighted by classic bar foods such as burgers, wings, and sandwiches. However, the food selection is slightly cluttered by foods of all types, from pizza to seafood. The seafood

the “Star Wars” franchise, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” filled moviegoers with excitement and hope. However, when the lights in the theater switched back on at the end of the film, a different, more uncertain feeling permeated the room.

The film takes place directly after the closing of episode seven, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” with Rey standing on a cliff side holding out Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber towards him. She has come to convince him to join the Resistance once again in their fight against Kylo Ren, a former student of his, and the First Order. Their difference in opinion on the Jedi way quickly becomes an obstacle in their relationship, and it seems the entirety of the Jedi religion hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, the Resistance is locked into battle with the First Order in a perilous fight for freedom.

Overall, the film was enjoyable. Even when viewing what I consider to be the worst movies in the franchise, I am nonetheless still enthralled in the “Star Wars” universe. If I were to take the movies for face value, then I would find every one of them nothing less than stunning. However, I find myself completely unable to do so, as this movie posed some problems for me.

The first problem is the number of storylines the viewer needs to follow. The film has three main storylines, and as a person who finds myself relatively easily distracted on a day to day basis, this is a problem.

I was also frustrated with Luke Skywalker’s character, who I’ve spent nearly my entire life watching. Throughout my years of “Star Wars” obsession, I’ve discovered several things about Luke’s character to be true: he never gives up, he fights for what he believes in, and he does what needs to be done for the greater good. Through watching “The Last Jedi,” I saw many of these traits crumble to reveal a grumpy old man who ran away from his problems rather than face them. I felt as if an entirely different man was being portrayed, and the actor who plays Skywalker, Mark Hamill, shared similar sentiments on the press junket for the movie.

“I, at one point, had to say to Rian, ‘I pretty much fundamentally disagree with every choice you’ve made for this character,” said Mark Hamill to Vanity Fair in an interview, “Now, having said that, I have gotten it off my chest, and my job now is to take what you’ve created and do my best to realize your vision.' " Despite some of the film’s shortcomings, I felt that Daisy Ridley's character, Rey, was well done. The young Jedi’s inner struggle between light and dark as she developed her skills with the force was well illustrated. Her struggle also provided a perfect parallel for Kylo Ren’s much older struggle first seen in the movie prior.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” proves to be an entertaining movie, but as a viewer, I’m looking for more than just entertainment.

Solid character development and a well thought out plot are crucial to any good storyline, and “The Last Jedi” was lacking in both of these areas.

A common saying is to “aim for the moon, and you’ll land among the stars,” but writer and director Rian Johnson merely aimed for mediocrity, and that’s exactly what he got.

The West End has gained recent popularity among the community. Photo Credit: West End

portion of the menu is larger than is to be expected of a non-seafood restaurant in the middle of Quakertown.

When the meal comes after a wait that is slightly too long for my liking, you’ll be surprised to see that many of the sandwiches are complemented by the au jus on the side along with another one of their specialty sauces, including a creamy horseradish that I’m 99 percent confident would go well with anything on their menu. The main menu item, as far as burgers and sandwiches are concerned, is known as “The Signature West End Beef Sandwich.” This sandwich is loaded with two types of cheese and top round shaved beef, placed on top of the perfect roll to complement the dish. However, if I had to make a complaint regarding an otherwise excellent sandwich, it would be that the meat was slightly too dry for my liking, subsequently forcing me to load up on au jus. Each sandwich is served with their special “Sidewinder fries.” These fries are shaped like a spiral ribbon and coated in parmesan cheese, and together these two flavors create one of the best french fries that I have had in years.

For the student looking for an alternative to the Copperhead Grille, I implore you to look no further than the West End. I’d almost convince you to go there all the time, but the longer drive makes that impractical. From a unique ambiance to food that will make you rethink classic dishes along with the occasional live music, the West End secures its place in my heart as one of the best restaurants in the Valley. After only one visit, I can be almost certain that I will be coming back.

January 2018

Arts and Entertainment

‘Justice League’ Fails to Save the Day

Page 15

by Jakob Bloss

Over the past couple of years, DC films have not lived up to their expectations. Movies like “Suicide Squad” and “Batman v. Superman” were critically acclaimed for all the wrong reasons. In the wake of their previous let downs, DC has returned with yet another superhero movie for their fans: “Justice League.”

Ben Affleck returned to reprise his role as Batman. Zack Snyder, best known for his action movies and huge part in making hit blockbusters like “300,” “Watchmen,” and “Man of Steel,” had no room for error while directing this film after coming off his huge disappointment, “Batman v.

Superman.”

The movie takes place years ago, when Steppenwolf tries to conquer the earth by using the powers of three mother boxes. These mother boxes give Steppenwolf power and a unity before Wonder Woman’s people, the Amazonians, hide them away from him. Months after Superman’s death, Steppenwolf tries to regain these boxes in an attempt to rule the earth again. To retrieve the boxes before Steppenwolf does, Bruce Wayne, or Batman, and Diana Prince, or Wonder Woman, search for superheroes that can help them save the world.

Together, Bruce and Diana recruit a team of metahumans: The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), and Cyborg (Victor Stone).

The Flash, the fastest human on Earth, is the youngest out of the group. He is awkward yet funny, and finds a sudden urge for saving people throughout the movie. Aquaman, “King of the Atlantis,” can telepathically communicate with sea

life. He is an intimidating yet relaxed hero, who ultimately joins the Justice League because of his commitment to saving the world. Cyborg is regarded as one of the smarter ones in the league, and can easily work his way around technology if needed.

“Justice League” is finally a DC film that is lighthearted, easy to watch, and provides some fan service for all the comic book nerds out there.

It has its flaws, but Zack Snyder knew that fans want entertainment, and this film’s heroes bring plenty of it. Even though the character introductions are rushed, the heroes provide a rush of excitement every time they are in action. Their chemistry together is also amazing, making viewers excited for these characters to come back, and Snyder did a pretty good job at bringing the heroes together in a realistic manner.

With all the pros of “Justice League,” there are some cons that present themselves as well.

Snyder handed audiences a lackluster storyline, a weak villain, and subpar CGI. The plot just seems so typical: an evil villain who wants to conquer the Earth and is stopped by some superheroes.

The “Justice League” needed a reason to come together, so in the context of the film it makes some sense, but they could’ve at least done a better job with their CGI. The movie also moves pretty fast, but that is due to the short run time which provides more advantages than disadvantages.

When “Justice League” was first announced, fans were buzzing with anticipation.

When it finally premiered in November, “DC” seemed to take the right step with it. The film

League”. Photo Credit: DC Entertainment DC Films has redeemed itself with the movie “Justice

isn’t perfect but it still manages to be what it was meant to be, nonetheless. That being said, I wouldn’t recommend watching this movie in theaters unless you’re looking for a basic yet entertaining movie, or you’re just a hardcore fan.

I would rate the “Justice League” a 7/10 for its character chemistry, audience amusement, and fan service.

Green Proves His Excellence Once Again

by Kennah Salvo

John Green’s excellence was proven once again in his sixth novel, “Turtles All the Way Down.” Green is a well-accomplished author, as he has also written several popular novels like “Looking for Alaska,” “An Abundance of Katherines,” “Paper Towns,” and “The Fault in Our Stars.” He also co-authored “Will Grayson, Will Grayson” with David Levithan. In addition to writing books, Green is also part of the Vlogbrothers, an online video project, and he co-created the educational video series “Crash Course.”

“Turtles All the Way Down” centers on sixteen-year-old Aza Holmes and her best friend, Daisy, as they hunt for local billionaire Russell Pickett, who is on the run from the law, to earn a $100,000 reward. The only problem is that Aza has an irrational fear of a disease known as Clostridium difficile, an intestinal disease often obtained after a hospital stay or a lengthy antibiotic regimen, and because of her anxiety she is sometimes unable to focus on anything other than her fear. She calls these unique moments “thought spirals.” They happen sporadically and leave as abruptly as they came, and they become increasingly debilitating and affect Aza’s every choice and action.

“Turtles All the Way Down” offers an eye-opening look at mental illness. Anxiety is not something that we should roll our eyes at and assume that “it’s all in their head.” It is in their head, but is there anything scarier than not being able to control your own mind? This question is debated throughout the book. Those who enjoy a refreshing angle on an old topic, as well as true blue John Green fans, will love to laugh and cry with “Turtles All the Way Down.”

Overall, I would rate this book 9/10 for its sympathetic look at mental illness, great character development, and well conducted plot.

John Green once again gave his readers a fantastic book. Photo Credit: Dutton Books

Upcoming Movies: “Black Panther” comes out in February. Photo Credit: Marvel Studios

“Pacific Rim” comes out in February. Photo Credit: Legendary Entertainment

“The Meg” comes out in March. Photo Credit: Warner Brothers

Page 16 Odds and Ends

The Spotlight

January 2018

Students Celebrate 2018 With Resolutions for a New Year “My New Year’s resolution is to stop dabbing. It was a trend that died in 2017,” junior Sam Wetzel said.

Photo credit: Bridgette Lang

Photo credit: Bridgette Lang

“My New Year’s resolution is to cut myself more slack because I constantly worry if I’m doing well enough, and I am. I need to hold myself accountable for what I do, but not overestimate my abilities,” junior Ben Boyer said.

“My New Year’s resolution is to dress nicer,” junior Marissa Harley said.

Photo credit: Bridgette Lang

Happy New Year!

Photo credit: Bridgette Lang

“Our New Year’s resolution is to be more health conscious and pay more attention to fitness,” sophomores Xavier Pellegrini and Audrey Zeidenberg said.

“I spent New Year’s Eve in the shower, and I made a New Year’s resolution to use the bar of soap in the shower every day,” freshman Nicholas Cullen said.

Photo credit: Bridgette Lang