Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034
MAY 2015
Volume 58 Issue 6
The Spotlight In this
Issue:
“Every 15 Minutes” Leaves a Lasting Impact on Students by Nicole Schroy and Talia Trackim
Students travel to Spain. See more on page 3
Photo Credit: Spotlight Staff
There’s a new Mr. Spartan in town. Read more on center spread.
Guest contributor weighs in on Waxahatchee on page 13.
Curious to know where students are dying to travel to? Find out on the back page!
Want to see more?
Over two days, from April 23 to 24, Southern Lehigh High School students participated in a series of assemblies entitled “Every 15 Minutes” to better understand the consequences of drunk and distracted driving. The programs included a car crash simulation, a retreat for select students, and a re�lection assembly including a mock funeral. The program began on the morning of April 23, when a man dressed as the Grim Reaper walked into several classrooms and called out a student’s name. After the student followed the Grim Reaper out of the classroom, he or she was replaced by a police of�icer who read the student’s obituary. The students then returned to their classrooms wearing black t-shirts and white face paint, and they were instructed not to talk to or interact with anyone during the day. In the afternoon, staff and students made their way to the bus lot for the next stage of the program. Two buses were moved to reveal a car accident. Moments later, police vehicles and ambulances were scattered throughout the high school bus lot and went through all the same motions they would at an actual accident scene. Some parents who previously gave permission for their students to participate in the program, were called and told to report either to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, or to the scene of the accident itself. “I thought it was going to be emotional, but it was a lot more powerful than what I expected,” senior Cooper Nagle said. Nagle, along with about thirty others, was one of the students who had been pulled from the classroom. After the school day, students were taken to the courthouse where senior Matt Long, who acted as the drunk driver of the mock accident, was “sentenced” to prison. That evening, students were taken to a retreat where they experienced presentations regarding distracted driving. “We had three speakers,” junior Naomi Li said. “One of them spoke to us personally by talking about his best friend who had died. One offered statistics about the harmful effects [of drunk driving]. And the last one was the district attorney who harshly delivered the unequivocal truth about the legal implications of unintelligent decisions.” On the morning of April 24, all high school students
were brought to the gym where a mock funeral was held for the two students that had “died” in the car accident the night before. After watching a video of the accident, the impact really seemed to be getting to the students. Following the memorial service, attention shifted to students and parents who offered their re�lections upon the experience of participating in Every 15 Minutes program. At the retreat, students who were pulled from the classrooms were asked to write a letter to their parents, beginning with “Dear Mom and Dad, Every 15 minutes someone is killed as a result of drunk or distracted driving. Today I died…” Several students shared these heartfelt letters to friends and family. During the parent re�lections, it became apparent that the participating families did not know the speci�ic roles their children were playing in the program. Even though they knew it was fake, the parents still dealt with the shock of hearing that their child had been arrested, injured, or killed. They said the emotions were very real. Wrapping up the Friday morning assembly, Mrs. Barbara Reboratti of Quakertown, spoke about her daughter, Allison, who was killed at the age of 19 in a drunk driving accident. She spoke about how Allison lived her life alcohol free but the reckless decisions of others cost her her life, and she expressed the pain that she continues to carry. This presentation seemed to impact students the most, as they realized that an individual’s actions affect many others besides themselves. The planning and coordination for the assembly all started in October, taking about six months to make ends meet. Ms. Merrilyn Psycher, high school nurse, was the coordinator of the Every 15 Minutes assembly, while Of�icer Brian McLaughlin, the school resource of�icer, was the Every 15 Minutes facilitator. They put lot of work into the program, which it took a lot of communication and cooperation among all of the local agencies involved, including local emergency response agencies. “I just hope they [the students] take away the fact that decisions they make affect lots of other people besides themselves,” Ms. Pysher said. “They should think about people that they care about and love and people that they don’t want to hurt.”
2
NEWS
Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034 (610) 282-1421 x7122 slsdspotlight@gmail.com http://slspotlight.com
SPOTLIGHT
Senior Kelly Kirsch Wins Art Award by Kylie Schmitt
The Spotlight is published in print and online by the student members of its staff. Its purpose is to present news concerning Southern Lehigh High School and the Southern Lehigh School District, as well as to provide a forum for student opinion. Editorial content of The Spotlight expresses the view of the paper and not necessarily that of the Board of Education, administration, or faculty of the Southern Lehigh School District. Bylined editorial content and letters to the editor represent the opinion of the writer only. All contents are copyrighted by The Spotlight. Sponsorship rates are furnished upon request.
Faculty Adviser Mrs. Marlo Spritzer
Southern Lehigh High School senior Kelly Kirsch received a silver Scholastic Art Awards medal on March 18 for her drawing “Imposing Garden.” There were only four other medals given in the local area. Three students from
Parkland also received silver medals. The students will be honored at the National Award Ceremony at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, June 11. The Scholastic Art Award is the oldest art and writing award in the country. Many famous artists and writers such as Andy Warhol and Truman Capote have also received this prestigious award. Anyone can send something in as long as it is in professional format and was an assignment from class. Thousands of students submit their work each year. Around ten percent of the entries will make it to regionals and less than one percent will receive awards. There are multiple sections, such as painting, drawing, and photography in which students can enter their work. A panel of nine to twelve artists that work within the specialty in which a piece is entered vote to �inalize winners. Only regional gold key winners move on. Kirsch’s artwork is a pencil drawing, one inch tall and 18 inches long. “I think it got so far because of its interesting format,” she said. “It catches people’s eye.” Her assignment for art class was to draw something creepy. The design started as a doodle during class and slowly turned into an award-winning illustration of a crowd of people staring, and a mosquito stinging someone’s eye. Kirsch said she thought of things that scared her and other people. The TV show, “Over the Garden Wall,” which has an imposing garden vibe, in�luenced a lot of her drawings. Next year Kirsch will be studying animation at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Editor-in-Chief Dana DiGiovanni
News Editor
Ashley Zamichieli
Features Editor Talia Trackim
Entertainment Editor Nicole Schroy
Opinion Editor Katie Cole
Sports Editor
Cody Heffelfinger
Our World Editor Ashley Zamichieli
In-Depth Editor Kylie Schmitt
Web Editors Kylie Schmitt Robyn Somers
Copy Editor Lizzi Thom
2014 PSPA Gold Rating 2013 PSPA Silver Rating
Kirsch holds her award winning piece (top). Up-close view of “Imposing Garden”. Photo Credits: Kylie Schmitt
Solehi TSA Student Takes First Again Garrett deMars is the reigning 2D Art Cultural CAD winner. After his win at the state level, he will be competing at nationals in Austin, Texas by Kylie Schmitt During April 15 through 18, sophomore Garrett deMars participated in the state Technology Student Association (TSA) competition at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. DeMars placed �irst in 2D Art Cultural CAD for the second year in a row. Each year, TSA holds 68 competitive events that are aligned with STEM at the regional, state, and national level for students in high school and middle school. Students in technology education classes are eligible to compete. Biotechnology, prepared presentation, video game design, engineering design and computer aided 2D and 3D design are a few examples of events students can enter. There has been a local chapter of TSA at Southern Lehigh High school for 16 years. In that time, the Spartans have produced twelve state champions and �ive top �ive placements in the nation. “We would like to thank superintendent, Dr. Leah Christman for her continued support,” technology education teacher Mr. Richard Colelli said. When participants �irst arrive at the competition, they receive a packet with the assignment and a list of requirements that must be ful�illed. Students are given three hours to complete their project. DeMars was able to repeat his win from last year by using a computer to create a recreational park featuring a skatepark. “It felt awesome to win states again, especially since I was competing against 46 people,” DeMars said. The top two state quali�iers move onto nationals which will be held in Austin, Texas, in June.
Photo Credit: Mr. Richard Colleli
MAY 2015
NEWS
3
Five Cities. Eleven Days. A Trip of a Lifetime. by Nicole Schroy
Twenty six Southern Lehigh students, along with vice principal Mr. Jason Lilly, social studies teacher Mr. Matt Cooper, Spanish teacher Señorita Jessica Swartz, and Spanish teacher Señora Joan Imms, traveled to Spain on March 25 through April 4 to explore the culture and history of various cities throughout the country. Day 6: Madrid On day six, the adventure started at the Royal Palace. With beautiful architecture and phenomenal artwork, the palace was a remarkable structure. Next, the students were able to visit El Retiro, a park that, while situated in the middle of the city, is tranquil compared to the hustle and bustle of Madrid. There they were able to spend time with their friends either taking a nap under a tree, or eating ice cream. The day �inished with a visit to the Museo Del Prado, an art museum displaying works from the 12th to the 19th centuries.
View from inside La Alhambra in Granada. Photo Credit: Jordan Munoz
Day 1: Granada Southern Lehigh students started their experience in Granada. They �irst took to the streets and had a quick walking tour of the city. After the tour, students were able to explore the market area and have their �irst taste of churros and chocolate.
Day 2: Granada To start the day, students were challenged with a scavenger hunt. To get acquainted with the city, each group was given questions to ask the locals, and a map with speci�ic monuments that they had to locate and take a picture of. Students even witnessed a protest concerning employees wanting more pay. After the scavenger hunts, students traveled to the “Alhambra,” a palace located in Granada. Afterwards, students were given free time to explore local foods and restaurants. Right before dinner, students visited a Moroccan Tea House. After the tea house, the group viewed a gypsy �lamenco show, the combination of �lamenco music and dancing to essentially tell a story through song and dance. “I felt like the whole group was willing to try new things and they were really open to cultural experiences,” Sra. Imms said. “Everyone was pretty open to what we were seeing and doing, and that isn’t always the case.”
Day 3: Granada to Seville On day three, students took a bus from Granada to continue their travels to Seville. A quick pit stop at an olive oil farm allowed the travelers to taste test authentic olive oil. One strange taste was olive oil and ice cream. It sounds disgusting, but the combination of an orange �lavored olive oil and a bit of chocolate ice cream, was an amazing taste. Upon arrival in Seville, a quick walking tour occurred. Then, free time was given for lunch and exploration of the various sights of the city. Afterward, students toured the Seville Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. To end the night, another �lamenco show was available that told a love story.
Day 4: Seville A tour of Seville started off day four. First on the list was an exploration of the Plaza de España, a landmark to represent the Renaissance Revival style in Spanish architecture. Students then visited Plaza de Toros, a bull�ighting ring. After exploring the ring for awhile, an unforgettable salsa lesson was a fun experience for the students. The group continued on to the Metropol Parasol, a mushroom-like structure that provided various tourists with a fantastic view of the city. On the way home, the travelers ran into a religious procession, la Semana Santa, or Holy Week. Day 5: Seville to Córdoba to Madrid On day �ive, a bus took the group to Córdoba for a walking tour of the Mezquita. This cathedral was a Jewish Quarter and Synagogue. The group then left Córdoba to continue their way onto Madrid. “There was a lot of cultural experience,” junior Monica Gunkle said. “I feel like I learned a lot.”
Day 7: Madrid For the students’ last day in the city, they were given the option to either visit the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, also known as the Real Madrid Soccer Stadium, or La Reina So�ia (a contemporary art museum). Afterwards, they met up with Spanish students who were at a camp to learn more English. Prior to dinner, students were able to spend a little more time exploring the city and encountered yet another procession for la Semana Santa. Day 8: Madrid to Barcelona On day eight, students traveled from Madrid to Barcelona by train. Once in Barcelona, the students were able to walk around Montjuic Hill and observe a wonderful view of the ocean. In Park Güell (yes, the place where the “Cheetah Girls” was �ilmed), the students were able to view architect Antoni Gaudí’s work.
Day 9: Barcelona The next day, the group visited the Sagrada Familia, a large Roman Catholic church. The construction of this church will not be �inished until 2026. This was the �irst time a Southern Lehigh group had the ability to go inside the church, which was breathtaking. “I really liked the cathedrals, they’re so interesting!” sophomore Megan James said. “The details were beautiful.” Afterward, the travelers enjoyed a bike ride through the city and were able to spend some time at the beach. During their free time, there were numerous museums and shops to visit. Some students even enjoyed their free time at the beach! Day 10 Homeward Bound: The last day was bittersweet for most students. Though the adventure home was a long one, many people were excited to get back to their everyday life at Southern Lehigh.
Churros and chocolate (left) and the architecture of Spain (above). Photo Credit: Jordan Munoz
4
FEATURES
SPOTLIGHT
Students Prepare for a Night to Remember by Anna Esposito
May 16 is quickly approaching, and as the date draws near, Southern Lehigh juniors and seniors are beginning to prepare for prom night. The students’ expectations are nothing short of a great time and a night they will always remember. “Our goal is to make sure that this year’s prom stands out from the rest,” junior Erin Bauer said. “We have been working really hard to try to please all of the students.” After everything is all set, Southern Lehigh students will arrive at Bear Creek Mountain Resort at 6 p.m. Ticket prices will start at 65 dollars and increase to 75 dollars closer to the event. This price includes a great meal, engraved tumblers, a larger dance �loor, and a memorable night with friends. This year Bear Creek Mountain Resort’s
event center will be transformed into a place that shines. Before entering the event center, students will be greeted by a faculty member and an Apple iPad to submit their vote for prom queen. This year’s committee has been working really hard to make prom night one to remember. The eight junior girls that are in charge of this event are Bauer, Jocelyn Burns, Katie Foster, Sabrina Tran, Bridget Cerciello, Lauren Wolfe, and Lizzi Clemmer. This committee meets once a week to discuss everything from decorations to how they are going to promote the event. Treasurer Lauren Wolfe has been in charge of managing all the expenses for prom, but all the girls equally work together to stay in budget. “We are budgeting our money this year,”
Burns said. “The committee has been working really hard to �ix the lights being on as well as making the dance �loor big.” Many fundraisers have been held in order to help cover costs for this event. A recent fundraiser was held at the Inside Scoop, located on route 309 in Coopersburg. The committee promises this will be a night that the students will remember forever. With only a month left for preparations, there is still a lot to do in order to light up the night at Southern Lehigh’s prom. “I hope the night overall is successful and that the students have a great time with their friends,” junior class adviser Mrs. Amy Bausher said. “The students should also make sure to behave appropriately.”
Prom Tickets are $70 Buy Them Now! Bear Creek Resort will be hosting this year’s prom. Photo Credit: TripAdvisor
MAY 2015
FEATURES
5
Southern Lehigh Welcomes Mr. Michael Fay by Brandyn Berean
On April 7, 2015, Southern Lehigh High School welcomed another “I knew I didn’t want to be a business major because business is all new teacher to the staff. Mr. Michael Fay has taken the open position about what I can get from people. I want to answer the question of what within the English department to replace can I give to people and for me that was teaching,” Ms. Kate Schartel who resigned in December Mr. Fay said. 2014. Mr. Fay is excited about working at Mr. Fay said his �irst week at Southern Lehigh Southern Lehigh. was great. He would like to give a shout out to Mr. “It was de�initely the right decision. I Wilde, Mrs. Amy Bausher, Mr. Jeff Hershey, Mrs. chose Southern Lehigh because of the great Kelly Howsare and the rest of the English departreputation in success for academics and for ment for the very speci�ic help and support. Mr. Fay the love of the community,” Mr. Fay said. “I said everyone else that he has met has been very saw the opportunity for the job and I took it.” nice and welcoming. So far the students like him as Following the resignation of Ms. Schartel, well. the freshman English classes saw one sub“He tries to connect with the students a lot and stitute teacher after another, beginning with he gives order in the classroom,” freshman Wesley Mr. Kyle Levine who served as a long-term DeCasere said. “He keeps everyone interested.” substitute teacher until the end of FebruThat is exactly one of the goals that Mr. Fay has ary. Daily substitutes �illed in for a week set for himself as a teacher. He hopes to be apor so until Mr. Tom Wilde, a retired teacher proachable, relatable, knowledgeable, caring, and who works as a substitute teacher within kind to his students. But with less than two months the district, �illed in during March. Finally left of school, he has a few goals set for the rest of on March 23, 2015, Southern Lehigh School the year. District hired Mr. Fay who started working at “My �irst goal is that my students will get somethe high school on Tuesday April 7. thing relevant and useful out of the rest of the year,” Mr. Fay graduated from Parkland High Mr. Fay said. “For myself, I’d like to get accustomed School in Allentown. He then went on to and acclimated to the culture here and get to know receive an Educational Studies bachelors everybody.” degree from Kent State University in Ohio. Mr. Fay would like to get involved with extraAfter that, he returned to Allentown to Cedar curricular activities and watch some of the sports Crest College to receive a teaching certi�icate teams here at Southern Lehigh. He is a former Kent and currently he is working on a Masters in State University football player, and he said that he Mr. Fay is the newest teacher at Southern Lehigh. Photo Career and Technical Education from Wilm- Credit: Brandyn Berean might like to coach somewhere down the line. ington University in New Castle, Delaware. Before coming to Southern Lehigh, Mr. Fay worked as a substitute The rest of the English teachers are happy that there is �inally a new teacher at Parkland High School, Whitehall High School, and Salisbury teacher in the department. High School. He also taught for a year and a half at Sussex Technical High “As a tenth grade teacher, its a relief,” English teacher Mr. Joseph CastSchool in Georgetown, Delaware. agna said. “Now I hope that ninth grade students will have somewhat of In his free time, Mr. Fay likes to exercise, �ish, hunt, play golf and be the skills they should have into the transition to tenth grade,” adding that with his family. His reasons for becoming a teacher are unique. the students will be relieved and now their expectations will be clearer.
Coffee House: Writers and Musicians Wanted by Talia Trackim
Desperate to actually sing out of the shower? The Literary and Art Society and the Cover Club hope to satisfy all of your artistic and musical needs with the upcoming Coffee House! The Coffee House will be held on May 15, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Writers, poets, and musicians are all welcome to share their writing or musical talent, from spoken word poems to covers of popular songs. There will also be a spot for students to display their artwork. “There are various types of works, ranging from rock to alternative to poetic literature,” sophomore Ashley Lee said. “It’s nearly every art that you can imagine coming together in one coffee house.” Students who wish to perform at the coffee house should contact sophomores Ashley Lee, Georgian Fan, Alexandra Curtis, Nicole Schroy, Talia Trackim, or Madeline Hoffert in Mrs. Spritzer’s Room (122) on Day 3 during Spartan Period or in the band room Day 6 during Spartan Period. Or they can sign up on the sign-up sheet outside of Room 122. All are welcome to perform! There will be a dress rehearsal held prior to the coffee house for the hosts and participants to practice running the event. It will be held May 11.
“At the end of April we’re organizing a rehearsal just to make sure that everyone has their pieces together and that everything runs according to plan,” Fan said. In addition to entertainment, baked goods, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and other traditional coffeehouse foods and beverages will be served. Guests will also have the ability to get their own caricatures drawn by Kelly Kirsch and Mason Pelligrini. The Coffee House will be a fundraiser for the both the Literary and Art Society and the Cover Club. The Literary and Art Society is co-run by Schroy and Trackim, with Hoffert as the Vice President. The club is dedicated to providing a positive outlet for creativity and imagination within the Southern Lehigh community. The Cover Club is run by Lee, Fan, and Curtis. The club produces covers of songs and experiments with the magic of creating music. This is the �irst year for both clubs. “I’m really excited to raise money to support these clubs,” Curtis said. “They’ve worked really hard and deserve to be able to showcase their work.”
Come to the Coffee House on May 15! Photo Credit: Ashley Lee
6
OPINION
SPOTLIGHT
Better Alternatives Needed for Oncologists: The Truth About Chemo- and RadioTherapy by Sarah Trebecka “Cancer is the pitbull of diseases, and it had her in its jaws, biting and rending. It would not stop until it had torn her to pieces.” - from Revival, by Stephen King I have nothing against conventional medicine. Therefore, I am not trying to condemn chemotherapy, nor am I attempting to claim it is terrible and should never be used or has never been successful. What I am saying is that I think the U.S. should provide more funding to oncologists so that they can successfully concoct, at the least, a more direct treatment that targets tumors only and does less damage to healthy cells than chemotherapy and radiotherapy do. For over 40 years, a disease that author Stephen King referred to as the “pitbull of diseases” has continuously claimed the lives of over eight million people a year worldwide. Survival rates, which can be as low as four percent, have been roughly the same for 25 years. This persistent illness is known as cancer, and occurs when cells grow uncontrollably to form a malignant tumor. The most common types include breast, lung, prostate, and skin cancer. Nearly half of cancer patients are diagnosed too late, making their chances of survival as low as one percent. Some cancers can be removed surgically, depending on the type and location, while others have to be fought off with the help of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But are they
really helpful? Reports of chemotherapy’s effectiveness are shamefully exaggerated. It works for some cancers, but not all. According to a 14 year study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in December of 2004, chemotherapy is only 2.1 percent effective towards �ive-year survival for some of the deadliest cancers. Even then, patients were not cancer free after �ive years, just alive. One reason for this could be that chemotherapy can release a protein that stimulates cancer cell growth, and therefore causes the body to build up resistance. This creates a huge issue, since the only way to give a patient chemo is to give it to them in moderation, giving healthy cells time to recover, so increasing the dosage would eventually produce fatal results. Chemo is extremely harmful because it is literally toxic poison. In my opinion, it doesn’t make sense to basically poison your body back to health. Chemo attacks healthy cells as well as cancer cells, and therefore carries a number of fatal risks as well as severe side effects that can sometimes cause permanent damage to the body. Patients do not just lose their hair and experience fatigue; they also might experience things like blood clotting and heart arrhythmias. Both of these complications are not always easily treated and therefore could prove fatal. That’s why chemotherapy is usually only used as a last resort, and that’s why a lot of cancer patients don’t even think it’s worth going through it. “Even if it’s helpful to some patients, it’s harmful to others,” freshman Lin Li Oechsle said. “I think there should de�initely be more research or funding going towards alternate ways to �ight cancer.” Radiation carries most of the same side effects as chemotherapy. I’m no radiologist, but I feel uncomfortable with this treatment option as well because if radiation exposure is a common cause of cancer, it does not seem like a great treatment option. Although small, the risk of developing a second malignancy as a result of radiotherapy (or chemotherapy) is in fact present. The most common secondary cancer is bone cancer, which is very easily spreadable to other parts of the body and therefore dif�icult to get rid of. However, I am not trying to suggest that chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be immediately stopped because they are vehement killers. It’s a well-known fact that there have been many cases in which both treatments have been fairly successful in common cancers. But it has been almost 70 years since chemotherapy was �irst used in cancer treatment, and I think it’s time to start focusing on direct treatments that actually make some sense. Chemo and radiation are both used with the intent to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells, but wouldn’t it make more sense to go to the root of the issue and try to concoct alternative treatments that repair uncontrolled cell dividing and safely demolish tumors without harming healthy cells? I’m fully aware it’s not that simple, but I think by putting more funding towards cancer research, oncologists will have more access to the resources they need to discover valuable information about cancer and come out with safer and more direct conventional methods to tame this pitbull. “Chemo and radiation are only temporary treatments; they only buy people a couple more years,” junior Brandon Backa said. “It’s probably a better idea to come up with safer treatments.” After all, what’s more important to oncologists and politicians — saving money, or saving lives?
Have an opinion to share? Write a letter to the editor and email it to slsdspotlight@gmail.com Bottles of six drugs used in chemotherapy. Photo Credit:Wikimedia Commons
MAY 2015
OPINION
New Hallway Cameras Raise Questions
7
by Preston Amato Throughout the years, Southern Lehigh has continuously upgraded and revamped the security and protocol to protect students. From the moment you walk into the building you are under strict guidelines and rules to abide by. The newest addition to the school’s security is the installation of cameras at intersections of high activity through the school. With little to no circumstances of violence that occur in the everyday monotonous activities of school, students are wondering why there has been an increase in security precautions. “We live and go to school in a place where there is not any violence,” senior Anthony Lauer said. “Now there are cameras everywhere which is violating the privacy of students by watching our every move, and it is completely unnecessary.” Although many students are complaining about the new cameras, some say it is a good idea to protect the students and faculty from danger. “Coming from the middle school, the security there is much more relaxed,” freshman Niko Amory said. “The increased security at the high school creates a sense of people to be more aware of how they act in school.” The cameras are overseen by Mr. Lilly. Since being installed, they have been useful for the administration.
“Since the installation, they have been used to locate several items reported stolen by students, corroborate reports of student personal safety concerns, locate a missing vehicle, identi�ied vehicles and persons involved in activity, as well as other administrative uses,” Of�icer Brian McLaughlin said. In our everyday life, there are cameras monitoring almost constantly, when we go to the bank, school, or work. New advancements in technology will continue to incorporate cameras more and more into our lives and people will be forced to adjust to being watched. “I have to smile a bit when I hear that privacy is being violated by putting cameras in a hallway. Being that camera systems today are everywhere (ATM’s, grocery stores, gas stations, traf�ic intersections, shopping malls), and not just stationary locations,” said Of�icer McLaughlin. “When weighed against these other observed uses, our school system seems not so intrusive.” Southern Lehigh is always adapting their security with new technology to provide the safest learning environment for students and faculty. The staff regularly meets at building and district levels to address to address current and future needs. School of�icials encourage students to share their concerns or ideas about future safety.
Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered to 18? by Robyn Somers As seniors approach 18, many students wonder why the drinking age is 21, and not 18. Young adults often say, “well if we can serve our country and vote, why can’t we just drink?” Despite this, there are many reasons why 21 is the proper age for drinking. There would be a number of problems if the drinking age were lowered, and there are many reasons why the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Act (MLDA), was put into place in all 50 states. Among the most signi�icant problems with a lowered drinking age are increased chance of driving accidents by impaired and inexperienced drivers, and a lack of full brain development at age 18. According to MADD.org (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), “The age limit for alcohol is based on research which shows that young people react differently to alcohol. Teens get drunk twice as fast as adults, but have more trouble knowing when to stop. Teens naturally overdo it and binge more often than adults.” The brain is a very important part of the reason why teens should not be allowed to drink. In an NPR interview with Frances Jensen, a pediatric neurologist at Children's Hospital, "It's the part of the brain that says: ‘Is this a good idea? What is the consequence of this action?’ It's not that they don't have a frontal lobe. And they can use it. But they're going to access it more slowly.” But what about the fact that 18 year olds are considered adults, but can not drink? Drinking is not a right. You have the right to vote, and the right to serve your country. But nothing in the Constitution states anything about having the right to drink. The current age is very bene�icial. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that current drinking among persons aged 18 to 20 years declined signi�icantly from 59 percent in 1985 to 40 percent in 1991, after the states adopted the minimum legal drinking age of 21. The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends maintaining an age 21 minimum legal drinking age based on strong evidence of effectiveness. This includes a median of a 16 percent decline in motor vehicle crashes among underage youth. But what about the fact that kids do it anyway? In actuality, keeping the legal drinking age at 21 stops many youth from drinking. “Lowering the drinking age would give high schoolers and even middle schoolers easier access to alcohol,” according to drinkingageprocon.org. “Newly-legal drinkers often purchase alcohol for their
The Drinking age should be kept at 21 for the safety of young adults.
underage peers, creating a ‘trickle-down’ effect. Surveys show that the most common source of alcohol among 18- to 20-year olds is their 21to 24-year-old peers.” Although many students feel that the legal drinking age is unfair, there is much evidence to show why it should remain as is. None of the reasons that teenagers come up with are valid enough to overrule the signi�icant hazards associated with drinking under the age of 21.
8
CENTER SPREAD
SPOTLIGHT
The New Face
On April 18, eight of Southern Lehigh’s most talented male upperclassmen competed in the third annual Mr. Spartan pageant. The pageant is run by Varsity Club, which is led by social studies teacher Mr. Lee Zeisloft. The first Mr. Spartan was held three years ago, failed to run two years ago due to scheduling conflicts, and made a triumphant comeback last year when junior Brycen Holland was crowned Mr. Spartan. This year’s competition was hosted by Spanish teacher Sra. Imms-Geiser. The judges included principal Mrs. Christine Siegfried, French teacher Mrs. Kaytlyn Byers, mathematics teacher Ms. Erin Bromfield-Everett, and Spanish teacher Srta. Jessica Swartz.
Junior Jon Kanzler was crowned Mr. Spartan at the end of night. His combination of confidence, wit, and charm won over the judges and the audience. For the talent portion, Kanzler performed a piano cover of “Dayman” from the sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” In the final four, when Jon was asked what edge he has over the other contestants, he said it is his personality. Winning the pageant doesn’t only mean Kanzler earned the title of “Mr. Spartan.” It also got him a sweet crown and a pair of free prom tickets. “Special thanks to Sabes,” he said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him.”
Junior Jacob Cassel took the stage this year. His plans for the future include attending a “cool” college, having two kids, and traveling the world. During the beach attire portion, Cassel rocked a set of matching yellow minion swimwear from Despicable Me, sunglasses, and a pair of floaties. For his talent, Jacob covered the R&B hit “Ignition (Remix)” by R. Kelly on the piano. After finishing the song, he decided to take advantage of the spotlight and ask junior Lauren Wolfe to prom. After she said yes, he surprised her with roses. Cassel’s combined talent, dancing skills, and attire locked a spot for him in the final four. Although he didn’t win the Mr. Spartan title, he did score an awesome prom date. “I actually just decided to ask her the day of the Mr. Spartan event, but I’m glad it all worked out well,” Cassel said. “We were all very nervous about the show, but it came together fairly well, and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Can’t wait to do it again next year!” Senior Will Hagan decided to bring his smiling face and shining charisma to this year’s pageant, before graduating and attending Lehigh University in the fall. Hagan shamelessly claims Mariah Carey to be his biggest role model, but when it was time for the talent portion, he decided to cover the popular gangster rap song “CoCo” by O.T Genasis with a little help from senior Drew Schell on the guitar. He dedicated this song to all of the hot cocoa lovers out there, as the main verse of the song is “I’m in love with the coco.” Although Will didn’t pull through with the win, there was rarely a moment where he wasn’t smiling.
MAY 2015
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of Mr. Spartan
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Junior Christopher (CJ) Maron did something out of his comfort zone this year and competed in the Mr. Spartan pageant. Maron plans to attend a four-year university, major in biomedical engineering, and eventually go on to medical school. For his beach attire, he emerged with a huge stuffed dolphin, straw hat, lei, and sunglasses. He was the first up to perform his talent. Since CJ is already a well known rapper among Southern Lehigh students, he chose to sing the classic 1988 rap song “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie. Wearing a Princeton crewneck and silver dollar sign necklace, Maron managed to get the whole audience singing and clapping along. Although Maron fell short of a title, he still had fun and made the most of the competition. “Though it got stressful at times, it was the most fun I’ve had at a school event in a long time,” he said. “Next year I suggest a bunch of people sign up and go because I assure you you’ll have a good time.”
Junior Ryan Heurich graced the Mr. Spartan stage for the first time this year. He definitely made an impression during the swimwear and formal wear portions, and his talent was a joint effort between two other contestants, Zinman and Levengood, with their rendition of “Breaking Free” from “High School Musical.” The final question round was unfortunately out of sight for Heurich, but his performance and participation was appreciated by all who were in attendance.
Junior Brian Zinman brought his luscious locks to the stage, and although they weren’t enough to steal the Mr. Spartan title, they certainly stole the spotlight. As Zinman approaches his senior year, he hopes to attend a Division I college to play golf. Joined by fellow contestants Heurich and Levengood, the three sang the “High School Musical” hit “Breaking Free” for their talent portion. The song wasn’t enough to propel him to the final question round, but added to the success and humor of the Mr. Spartan pageant.
Confident junior Blake Levengood rounded out the eight Mr. Spartan contestants. His skills in the two dance numbers were impressive. For the talent portion, Blake sang “Breaking Free” from “High School Musical” along with contestants Heurich and Zinman. The number was memorable, but the judges could only advance half of the contestants onto the final question round.
Senior Matt Long gave the Mr. Spartan pageant a go this year. This fall, he will be attending Utica College to join their football team. For his talent, Matt played a piano rendition “Iridescent” by Linkin Park. “Iridescent is one of my favorite songs and I thought it’d be cool to learn it and play it,” Long said. Breaking with tradition, four of the eight contestants, including Long, moved onto the question round. When asked what he would miss most about his high school career, he reflected upon his time spent during Friday night lights. Coverage by Dana DiGiovanni Photo Credits: Lexi Brown and Ashley Dawe
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OUR WORLD
SPOTLIGHT
A Few Steps Backward for Indiana Governor Under fire by LGBT activists, and the people of Indiana alike, Governor Mike Pence revised a law that formerly allowed Christian-owned business to discriminate by Jamie Kish
Indiana Governor Mike Pence at a conservative rally in Feb. 2015. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
Lately, the good old Hoosier state has been under �ire from LGBT activists, celebrities, corporations, and small businesses alike after Republican state governor Mike Pence signed a law called the ‘Religious Freedom Restoration Act’, or the RFRA. Critics and opponents of the act allege that the law would allow the owners of Christian-owned businesses and companies to refuse service to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender customers. Despite several revisions made to the law to prevent discrimination
against LGBT consumers and to ease tensions between Indiana’s state government and its citizens, many residents of Indiana living on the principle of ‘Hoosier hospitality’ are appalled by the actions taken by Governor Pence. On March 26, the Governor of Indiana Mike Pence signed the controversial ‘Religious Freedom’ bill into law in his state. The bill was supported by many anti-LGBT organizations such as the American Family Association, and by conservative politicians such as Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio, all potential 2016 presidential candidates. The passing of the law has resulted in outrage in Indiana as well as in the rest of the nation. Thousands rallied in front of the Indiana courthouse, demanding the law be repealed. Many corporations, including the NCAA, Subaru, Apple and several Christian organizations have denounced the state law. Several states had banned state-funded travel to Indiana, and popular Chicago-based alternative rock band Wilco cancelled a concert in Indianapolis in protest, citing the passing of the law as the primary reason for the cancellation. Later the same week, Gov. Mike Pence revised the law to ensure that discrimination against LGBT customers would not occur as result of the law. As a result of the revisions, state-funded travel to Indiana was restored, and Wilco decided to reinstate their Indianapolis concert. Despite his seeming change in heart, many residents are still condemning Pence’s actions. Arkansas has also considered passing a similar Religious Freedom law in the wake of the controversial measures taken by the state government of Indiana. The Arkansas law has also faced considerable backlash.
Faculty Competes in Biggest Loser Challenge Forty members participated in the challenge to get into shape for the summer season, and the top three winners split a cash prize based on the percentage of weight lost by Cody Heffelfinger
This winter forty members of the Southern Lehigh faculty competed in a “Biggest Loser” style �itness challenge. Each staff member who wanted to participate had to pay a ten dollar fee. After the competition was over, the winner received half of the earnings, second place received 30 percent and third place received 20 percent. School nurse Ms. Merrilyn Pysher was in charge of this event. “I had staff members come to me so they could be held accountable for their weight, so I hung a memo in the mailroom about this competition,” Mrs. Pysher said. The challenge lasted for 11 weeks, starting on January 5 and ending on March 23. “The goal was to have the competition end before the Spain trip,” Ms. Pysher said. The competition was for most percentage of body weight lost, not actually most weight lost. The weigh-ins occurred every two weeks, with Mrs. Pysher taking each staff member’s weight, but also keeping track of their body weight percentage as well. Guidance counselor Mrs. Tamme Westbrooks was the overall winner, to her dismay, because she won the last biggest loser challenge that the staff held a couple of years ago. “It was my second time winning it,” Mrs. Westbrooks said. “I’m embarrassed that I won last time, so to win it again is not a good thing.” For some people a way to lose weight is exercising more, but Mrs. Westbrooks said she said she changed her diet, and her diet was seventy percent of the reason she lost the weight, while only thirty percent of it was actually exercising. “As the weight started coming, off it became easier,” Westbrooks said. “It wasn’t as hard, and I started feeling better.” The runner up for this competition was vice principal Mr. Jason Lilly. He lost over 30 pounds during the event. “The hardest part is the beginning while you change your habits and halfway through when you hit that wall where you get tired of dieting,” Mr. Lilly said. Like Mrs. Westbrooks, Mr. Lilly’s change also was more dietary than exercise. In third place was Of�icer Brian McLaughlin, who weighed in every time in full uniform, which is an additional 30+ pounds. “Mrs. Westbrooks killed it,” Of�icer McLaughlin said. On the day of last weigh in, as a joke, Mr. Lilly decided to wear an interesting out�it. He showed up in swim trunks and muscle shirt, as a kickoff to swim season. Mr. Lilly shows off the results of his hard work. Photo Credit: Officer Brian McLaughlin
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OUR WORLD
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A Local Hero Remembered: Chuck Bednarik by Brandyn Berean
Members of the Southern Lehigh Football team and family of Gary Popowitz join together for a picture with Chuck Bednarik. Photo Credit: Davis Trinh
NFL football players from the Lehigh Valley are very rare. However, one of the few local pros lived in Coopersburg until he passed away recently. Chuck Bednarik, a former Philadelphia Eagles player, died at the age of 89 on March 21, 2015. His legacy impacted many fans, one of whom is a sophomore at Southern Lehigh High School. “My dad �irst told me that there was a Philadelphia Eagle and a Pro Football Hall of Fame player that lived about a mile or two from me in Coopersburg,” sophomore Gary Popowitz said. “I was thrilled! My dad then found out that he would be at a signing nearby so we went, and I was able to get his autograph and talk to him a little.” Chuck Bednarik was a Slovak-American who played his high school football days at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. Bednarik was not just about football; he was all for the country he lived in. Following his high school graduation, Bednarik entered into the United States Army Air Forces where he served as a B-24 waist gunner in the Eighth Air Force during World War II. After his time in the army, Bednarik continued his football career at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He played center and linebacker and punted on occasion. A three-time All-American, he was then elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and won the Maxwell Award in 1948. Bednarik’s next destination in his football career was just a little more
The Fight for Feminism
south of UPenn. He was the number one pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1949 NFL Draft. In his time with the Eagles, he was an eight-time Pro Bowl Selection, a Pro Bowl MVP in 1953, a ten-time All-Pro selection, and a two-time NFL Champion in 1949 and 1960. Chuck Bednarik retired following the 1962 season. He was the last two-way player in the NFL, playing both center and linebacker for the Eagles. Bednarik was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the class of 1967 and the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1987. Reserving his legacy, his jersey number 60 was retired within the franchise. Adding to his many honors, Bednarik also was named a member of the NFL 50th and 75th anniversary teams and the NFL 1950’s All-Decade team. When Popowitz met Bednarik, he said he was energetic and full of happiness. Popowitz thinks that is very neat to know that one of the greatest football players lived so close to him. A football player himself, Popowitz likes to base his game after one of the greatest. “He was one of the toughest players to play the game,” Popowitz said. “His work mentality was strong because he excelled on both offense and defense, and that is who I try to be like when I am on the football �ield.” The highlight of Popowitz’s and Bednarik’s relationship came last fall during the football season. Popowitz’s family threw a surprise 16th birthday party for him after a Sunday morning football practice. Family and friends, and current and former teammates of Popowitz came to celebrate his birthday. But a very special guest -- Chuck Bednarik -- was also in attendance. “It was pretty awesome that a Hall of Famer was in my presence once again. It was neat that he took time out of his busy schedule to come to my birthday party,” Popowitz said. “I’ll remember that moment for the rest of my life.” The football team, friends and family of Popowitz came together for a picture with Bednarik. But that was the last time the Southern Lehigh student really spent time with the legend. Bednarik passed away on March 21, 2015, after becoming ill the previous day. According to someone in the Bednarik family, he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. “I will remember him not just as an amazing World War II veteran who loved his country and who also loved football,” Popowitz said, “but, I will remember him for playing football not for money but for the passion of the game.” Popowitz hopes to see the Philadelphia Eagles hold a moment of silence for Bednarik during the �irst game of the upcoming season. He also hopes to see the Eagles make a big statue to put in front of Lincoln Financial Field to remember the local legend of the Lehigh Valley.
by Emily Oberlender Feminist is only an eight letter word, but it is still misunderstood by a majority of students at Southern Lehigh High School. It is implausible that so many students are quick to deny any connection with the word, especially since its meaning is simple. Feminism is de�ined as equality between men and women on political, economic, and social grounds. Media portrays feminists as psychopathic, unstable women who believe that women are, or should be, better than men. These broad stereotypes are nothing but misleading. Feminists are passionate people, both men and women, who advocate for equality between the sexes despite human anatomy. So, why are so many distant from the three-syllable word? “Media portrays feminists as bra-burning, man-hating lesbians who are crazy to see the problems in society that they do,” senior president of the Feminist Student Union, Cara Schiavone said. “Ironically, this view on feminism and feminists is caused by the same male-centric cultural norms that feminists are �ighting so hard against already.” The cynical citizens who disassociate themselves from feminism are only harming society and shunning basic human rights. In the year 2015, it is disappointing that the public is still blind to gender gaps. While some feel that feminists only �ight for women’s rights, this is untrue. Feminists work hard to eliminate all gender-speci�ic stereotypes. “The reality of feminism is that the same issues that affect women negatively also negatively affect men,” Schiavone said. Despite the somewhat controversial name, the belief of feminism is nothing but looking past human anatomy to discover that we are all human, so it’s time we treat each other that way. “It’s a no-brainer,” freshman William McGlone said. “Why would anyone not want to have equal rights?”
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ENTERTAINMENT
SPOTLIGHT
New ‘Cinderella’ Flick a Perfect Fit for Today by Lizzi Thom
Notable director and actor Kenneth Branagh directed a new vision for the classic tale of “Cinderella” that premiered on March 13. It boasted an impressive 132.5 million dollar worldwide debut, including an estimated 70.1 million dollars in the United States, and a record-breaking 25 million dollars in China. Since the release, the movie has received phenomenal reviews for its refreshingly traditional take during a current time period of movie production that focuses on strong, arguably abrasive, creative adaptation. The plot begins with Ella (Lily James), who at �irst enjoys a truly enchanted life. She spends her days living among her animal friends on a beautiful estate with her affectionate parents. However, circumstances quickly turn for the worst when her mother falls mortally ill. Ella’s mother provides one last piece of advice that Ella will carry with her through her endeavors, to have courage and be kind. However, her father struggles to cope with the loss of his love. Longing for companionship, he marries a gorgeous, yet cruel, woman with vain daughters. However, when Ella’s father dies unexpectedly on a trip, she is left on her own with Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett), her stepmother. One thing that many movie-goers feared was that the essence of “Cinderella” would be lost in translation from the original 1950 animated movie to the 2015 live-action version. However, instead of branching off from the classic story, the new version expands upon it. The added depth helps viewers understand how Ella came to be in the position she endures and what enables her to overcome the challenging obstacles she faces. “It was so beautiful I cried,” senior Aly Moyer said. “It did not deviate very much from the original and when it did, it did in a good way.” Lately, typical damsel-in-distress movies have been receiving criticism for undermining female independence. In Branagh’s version, Prince Charming (Richard Madden) is a more dynamic character than a knightin-shining-armor. Instead, the Prince and Ella bring out the best in each other. Rather than just being rescued, Ella is more capable of standing on her own than Disney’s original heroine. Another praise to the new version is the virtuous resonance that it
embodies. After hammering home the idea of kindness, Ella proves her good-hearted nature. Instead of simply moving on to live happily ever after with her prince, Ella �irst forgives her wicked stepmother for her transgressions. Young or old, fans alike are sure to love the latest adaptation of this classic tale with dazzling costumes and wondrous special effects.
Photo Credit: Walt Disney Studios
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Butterfly’ Release a Hit by Preston Amato
Rising superstar Kendrick Lamar from Compton, California has drawn fans across the country with his masterful background music accompanied by his lyrical genius. Kendrick released his third studio album on March 15, entitled “To Pimp A Butter�ly.” The rapper has developed from his last critically acclaimed album “good kid, m.A.A.d City” to produce a masterpiece that could be considered as album of the year. The album opens with “Wesley’s Theory,” which establishes the tone for the rest of the album. The funk style song features Kendrick rapping about all the stereotypical things that he should have done when he signed his �irst major record deal. Fans can be refreshed by the fact that the Compton rapper did not follow the footsteps of other rappers and that he vows to continue to stray from the normal radio rap. Following “Wesley’s Theory” and the interlude “For Free?” is an upbeat funk/rap song titled “King Kunta.” The song’s upbeat instrumental with the rhythm of crisp vocals provides the listeners with the sense that nothing can break their spirits. In the song Kendrick seamlessly mixes the optimistic beat with portrayal of how he is feeling at the moment, and through the lyrics, the audience can hear that Lamar is not satis�ied. The studio hit of the album comes with the grammy winning single “i.” After several songs, such as “The Blacker the Berry,” about deep and more serious issues like race and inequality, the listener is refreshed with the return of the buoyant Kendrick. In this widespread anthem, he emphasises the need to love oneself �irst in order to succeed as an society. Directly after “i” arrives the �inale of Kendricks’ classic album, “Mortal Man,” which wraps the album up in a twelve-minute long adventure of a song. This features Lamar wondering about all the issues in the world and by doing this cements a Tupac sample in the middle of the song where Kendrick looks for answers from the late legend of hip hop. Overall, with this album, Kendrick Lamar has created an instant classic hit that is sure to be around for awhile. Lamar seem to question the contemporary issues that society faces and he somehow instills life lessons throughout the collection of ballads. Fans can be revived by their favorite rapper’s production of another classic album, and that they can
Photo Credit: iTunes
look forward to more excellent and distinguished work from him in the future. Follow Kendrick Lamar on Twitter (@KendrickLamar) or visit his website (kendricklamar.com) to stay updated on his latest music.
Follow Kendrick Lamar on Twitter! (@KendrickLamar)
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Indie Rock Quartet Waxahatchee Worth a Listen by Mark Haverhill, guest student contributor
Buried in YouTube, a brief nine-minute documentary titled “The Ackleys Final2” introduces an Alabama indie rock quartet of high schoolers explaining the formation of their band. Interviews by the members and clips of energized and proud performances at small Alabama venues tell the tale of their young group. The band, known as The Ackleys, consisted of twin sisters Katie and Allison Crutch�ield as well as friends Michael McClellan and Carter Wilson. At ages seventeen and eighteen, the group began writing music, playing shows in warehouse venues and basements. The band preferred to play all ages shows since their own friends from high school typically couldn’t attend those that were eighteen or older. They share their feelings about how age gated shows ruin the concerts, as people are there to get drunk and not to listen to their music. In the summer of 2005, the band recorded their debut, self-titled album The Ackleys. Following the record’s release, the group went on to more serious touring, even playing the very popular Vans Warped Tour in 2006. However, the band’s long term plans were cut short with their departure to separate colleges after high school. The talent behind The Ackleys was not lost though, as some members carried on their musical careers despite the splitting of the band. In 2007, the Crutch�ield sisters pioneered a new indie group: P.S. Eliot. This time, the sisters decided to work together without the help of additional bandmates. By 2009, P.S. Eliot had released their debut album titled “Introverted Romance in Our Troubled Times.” Shortly after, in 2011, the sisters released P.S. Eliot’s sophomore album, “Sadie.” Around the time of “Sadie’s” release, the twins had moved to New York with their family and had plans to scrap P.S. Eliot. However, after the new album received great feedback, the two decided to try and continue the band from their new location in Brooklyn. Later that same year, the duo split due to their creative differences. Katie wanted more control over the creative process while Allison wanted to be able to express herself more in her music. The resulting split gave birth to Waxahatchee, Katie Crutch�ield’s own indie band where she could be entirely in charge of the creativity behind the music. Crutch�ield got Waxahatchee �lowing like the Alabama creek for which it was named almost immediately. Despite having originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Katie recorded “American Weekend,” her debut album, in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama in 2012 while she was visiting for a week. The record was quickly noticed by NPR, who deemed “Be Good,” the middle track from the debut album, the song of the day on June 11, 2012, and also one of the year’s 50 best songs. “Be Good” tells an intimate story of friends who would rather get drunk in the sun together instead of blossoming into something more romantic because “that gets messy / And you will hurt me / Or I’ll disappear.” The song’s -- as well as the whole album’s -- recording process was very bare bones and simple yet the music still runs very deep, pumping out sounds of summertime and youth as it tells stories about shotgunning beers and laying out on the lawn. Although the album was recorded in one week with very little professional recording equipment, Katie Crutch�ield had produced a breakthrough debut for her new project. Waxahatchee fanbase grew as they supported Tegan and Sara after releasing “Cerulean Salt,” Waxahatchee’s sophomore album. The album released in March 2013 in the United States and was quick to reach number one on the Of�icial Record Store Chart and received a score of 8.4 from Pitchfork. Instead of recording the new record on her own, Katie recruited the members of her sister’s band, Swearin’, to play back up instruments while still maintaining the creative decisions. Arguably the best track from the album, “Swan Dive” tells about Now Playing!
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May 15
Photo Credit: Merge Records
moving past suicidal tendencies and growing into adulthood with its name dropping line, “I’ll grow out of all the empty bottles in my closet / And you’ll quit having dreams about a swan dive to the hard asphalt.” Another track, “Dixie Cups and Jars,” sings of reckless adolescence and replacing brittle champagne �lutes for less conventional methods of drinking, hence the title. Crutch�ield captures the the pains of growing up, falling in and out of love, and putting the past behind you with smooth, warm indie vibes that had only improved since “American Weekend.” On April 7, 2015, Katie Crutch�ield released a third album as Waxahatchee, “Ivy Tripp.” Its full release had been precedented by the single, “Air,” whose heavy drums and gritty guitar chords accompany Crutch�ield’s hauntingly beautiful vocals as she sings about overanalyzing every action in her soon-to-be-over relationship. “Ivy Tripp” retains the familiar, dreamy lo-�i Waxahatchee sound from previous albums while also incorporating its own new sounds and styles, capturing the band’s evolution since the bedroom-recorded debut album. Songs like “Blue” and “Stale Before Noon” slow down the band’s energy and cut back on the amount of intermingling instruments, creating a great balance of high and low powered songs throughout the album. The track “<,” which quite literally tells about being lesser than everyone else, introduces a wild bout of drumming halfway through its duration, showing that Waxahatchee is more than willing to try new things. “Half Moon” is reminiscent of “American Weekend,” as it returns to a single instrument accompanied by Crutch�ield’s voice as she sings about a heartbreaking love that tastes like sugar but pulls all of the life out of her. Although she had started on her own with minimal resources, Katie Crutch�ield has soared Waxahatchee to the top of the indie charts with fans all over the world and headline tour dates scheduled through August 2015 in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. With their dreamy, lo-�i sound, Waxahatchee is a band capable of drawing up sunny days and clear skies, as well as dreary tales of the loss of love and growing up. If you haven’t already given a listen, hesitate no longer.
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May 22
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Insidious: Chapter 3 (Automatik Entertainment)
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SPORTS
Lehigh Valley’s Kevin White a First Round NFL 2015 Draft Pick
SPOTLIGHT Boys Tennis Struggles in a Rebuilding Year by Alex Baca
by Alex Baca
Kevin White, a 2010 Emmaus graduate, went from a junior college wide receiver to one of the top NFL Draft prospects for this year. He attended Lackawanna College, a two-year junior college in Scranton, before attending West Virginia University. “I think he’s a really good athlete,” senior Michael Ouly said. “I think he’ll be very successful in the NFL.” White grew up in a dangerous neighborhood of Plain�ield, New Jersey. His family then moved to Allentown before �inally settling in Macungie. While at Emmaus, White did not put a lot of effort into his academics or into football. He attended a junior college because he did not have good enough grades to earn a Division I scholarship. He left Lackawanna due to �inancial aid issues after his freshman season. White then returned to Lackawanna in 2012. He trained with Jason Brader, owner of FASST, which helps athletes become faster and stronger. In 2012, he put up average numbers, where he caught 36 passes for 555 yards and six touchdowns. “His success is a tribute to his work ethic and commitment to the game,” Brader said. A few Division I schools, including Texas Tech and West Virginia University, were interested in him. After careful consideration, he committed to West Virginia University. In his �irst year at West Virginia in 2013, White put up almost identical numbers to his previous season at Lackawanna, catching 35 passes for 507 yards and �ive touchdowns. The following year, White put up unexpected numbers. In his stellar 2014 season, he caught 109 passes for 1447 yards and ten touchdowns for the Mountaineers. He was an All-American and a Fred Biletnikoff Award �inalist. “I hope he does well,” sophomore Tom Keller said. “I would like to see someone from the area do well on the big stage.” White was drafted in the �irst round by the Chicago Bears.
Three Southern Lehigh Students Cycle in Canada by Townsend Colley
Sports can take you all over the world, from the FIFA World Cup to the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, these are professional athletes. Two current Southern Lehigh students and one recent graduate have managed to break the international competition barrier, and they’re not even getting paid. Sophomore Josh Wentling, senior Nikesh Patel, and 2014 graduate McKenzie Browne all recently traveled to Canada to participate in the Ontario 2015 Track Provincial Championships, a sprint bicycle race. They are part of a team known as Sprinter’s Edge. Track sprint cycling is a form of bicycle racing. The racers bike for short distances on a circular track. The short distance provides little room for error and therefore the bikes must be as light as possible. Sprint bikes lack brakes and gear shifters in order to make the bikes as light as possible; a result of having no brakes is that the only way to stop is by slowing down. For the racers at our school, bicycle sprint racing is a year-round event. During the winter, when they’re not competing, they are practicing or participating in weight training. “At the gym we will lift weights or ride our bikes there,” Wentling said. “In the back of the gym we have an area where we will either put our bikes on stationary trainers or use a Wattbike.” According to Wentling, training is a huge part of a sport where there is no room for error. Whether it is lifting or practicing form, every moment of training for the Sprinter’s Edge team is intense. The team prepared for the Ontario 2015 Track Provincial very meticulously and with the goal of peaking at the perfect time in Canada, so the team could do as well as possible. “Our coach personally adjusted each of our schedules so that we would reach our peak performance going into Canada,” Wentling said. “He prepared us months in advance so that our bodies would be ready to compete to the best of our ability.” Canada posed several challenges for the team, many of which had to do with the normal days described by Wentling as long 12-hour days where
Senior Austin Piel was captain of this year’s tennis team. Photo Credit: Christmas City Studios.
The Southern Lehigh boys’ tennis team has a to date record of 2-12, according to lehighvalleylive.com. However, they came up short of three opponents: Bangor, Pen Argyl and Palisades. The second time they faced Palisades, they lost 5-0. Their two wins were against Palmerton (4-1) and Wilson (4-1). “This season has been quite different than previous ones as the losses continue to mount,” coach Andraea Drabenstott said. “What we lack this year is starters with previous varsity playing experience.” “Basically, we need to practice outside of school,” senior Billy Flynn said. “We also need to improve on techniques.” Out of all the players on the team, only Flynn and Austin Piel, both seniors, have varsity experience. Piel is the only team captain. “The goals for the rest of the season is to win as many matches as possible,” Flynn said. “I also hope to enjoy the rest of the season and have fun.” Their other losses include losing to three very good Colonial League teams, once to Saucon Valley and twice each to Moravian Academy and Salisbury. They also lost to three East Penn Conference schools: Parkland, Freedom and Easton. “As a team captain, I want to keep the morale up and set an example for the team,” Piel said. “I want to motivate everyone on the team, whether it’s a match or practice.”
they only left the track to eat. He said that the long days were made even worse by a lack of sleep which began when the team arrived in Canada late at night. This caused fatigue for the racers who had to stay up later than usual due to scheduling. “The days were incredibly long and tiring, and because we were so tired a lot of us actually ended up sleeping on the �loor in between our races or drinking some coffee from Tim Horton’s,” Browne said. “It didn’t seem affect our racing too much, but it’s still not something you want to have to deal with during a competition.” All tracks are not alike though and this was another issue that the Sprinter’s Edge team faced in Ontario. The track at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, where the team trains, is 333.33 meters long; however, the Ontario track was 250 meters long. This creates sharper banks according to Wentling and presented a sharp learning curve for the team. “Being able to switch over from our track to that one was probably the biggest difference,” Browne said. “It’s harder for us to race on that one since we don’t train on a 250 and it requires you to be a lot more technical.” However, the team managed to overcome the dif�iculties and have a very successful trip north of the border to Canada. Sprinter’s Edge earned 18 medals, and �ive of them were gold. “This was my �irst international race so, although I didn’t place, I felt like I learned a lot and gained experience to help me in future races,” Wentling said. These three members of the Southern Lehigh community, Josh Wentling, Nikesh Patel, and McKenzie Browne, have proven that professional athletes aren’t the only international competitors. Hard work has taken these athletes places that they wouldn’t be able to go without the hours they put in at the gym and training on the track. Next up for these three athletes is a summer of racing at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, that will lead up to the national championships in Los Angeles, California from August 3-8.
MAY 2015
SPORTS
Track & Field Stay Strong
Athletes Of The Issue
by Anna Esposito
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Junior Trevor Silfies throws javelin in a match this track and field season. Photo Credit: Chirstmas City Studio.
The cold weather has �inally died down and spring has arrived. Southern Lehigh’s spring track and �ield team has been preparing in the cold winter months to take the gold this spring, training hard with the mindset that their opponents will never forget the Spartans. Last year, the girls track team ended the season with a 10-1 record, while the boys team ended their season at 7-4. Under the coaching of Brian Sourwine, both teams believe they can continue to go very far this season. “As a coach, I hope they will do an outstanding job in the league and district championships,” Coach Sourwine said. “I also hope they represent themselves and Solehi in a fashion that we are all proud of.” With the girls having a current record of 5-2, they hope to come out on top as a successful team, as well as beat personal records. This season the girls team is lead by senior Meseret Hart who is expected to make her last season unforgettable. On April 10, both teams traveled to Jim Thorpe, PA, to compete in their �irst invitational of the season. The girls �inished in 2nd place and both teams earned a combined total of 26 medals. The girls 4x8 relay team also broke their personal record. Bringing home medals from Jim Thorpe were senior Meseret Hart, sophomores Nina Deluna, Sarah Yanega, and Alyson Yanega, and freshman Meghan Reese. Hart pushes her team to perform at their best. At every meet the distance team warms up for 40 minutes before racing. Hart also makes sure this team always has a cheering section that supports each player from start to �inish. With only a few meets left in the season, the girls are making sure that they treat every meet as if it is their last. “I hope that the team wins all together,” sophomore Laura Billings said. “I also hope that the team performs well in leagues and districts.” The boys track team currently has a record of 4-3. They have come back from their losses always looking to come back out on top. This season the boys are led by senior Dan Fulmer, who has been on the team all four years. He is a leader who expects nothing but perfection from his fellow teammates. Even with heavy losses, the boys made sure they rebounded while they
Name: JT Dyche
Name: Meseret Hart
Sport: Baseball
Sport: Girls Track
Stats: -1 Homerun -11 RBI - 4 Doubles - 2 Triples
Stats: - 5:24 Mile Time -First in the league for 3200 meter with a time of 11:25.93
JT was selected as male athlete of the issue for his outstanding hitting for the baseball team this year.
Meseret was selected as female athlete of the issue for her impressive times in her distance races.
were in Jim Thorpe. Juniors Evan Bothelo and Michael Deluna, and seniors Eric and Dan Fulmer brought back medals from the invitational. Along with the girls, the boys team also placed 2nd overall. Members of boys team have also broken a few personal best times. Sophomore Dominick Esposito has been a standout on the team so far this season. The week of March 23 he was named athlete of the week by Coach Sourwine for beating his personal best in one of his races. “I hope that I continue to grow in speed and in my form,” Esposito said. With only a several short weeks left, Sourwine has some advice for both teams as they go into the rest of the spring season: prepare in a championship way for the championships at the end of the season by making a greater commitment to their training, listening to their coaches, and coming together as a team, with a goal of doing their best.
Sophomore Wotring Races Toward Championship by Preston Amato
Sophomore Travis Wotring races quads, something that is not very common amongg high school students at Solehi. Photo Credit: Travis Wotring
While most high school athletes are involved in popular sports such as football or basketball, sophomore Travis Wotring is traveling a different path with his choice of sport. In 2004, Wotring started learning how to ride quads because his dad used to be involved with motocross and he was eager to learn from his mentor. Now as a sophomore he has taken his skill and showcased it by competing with others in the United States. “My favorite thing about motocross is the feeling of being free and going as fast as you can,” Wotring said. “ I consider myself really competitive and love the feeling of winning.” The skills he has obtained by practicing at the track weekly have allowed him to secure several awards and honors. These include multiple local championships such as the winner of the District 6 series and the MDRA series. One of Wotring’s biggest accomplishments came in 2010 when he won a motocross national championship. As of now, he rides a Walsh custom-built quad and competes in the senior schoolboy class which is a 200+ cc group of thirteen- to �ifteenyear-olds. He is currently running in the National Series and plans on racing in that series in 2016. Wotring has his goals set high for the coming years for his passion of motocross. He plans to continue to improve his skills at the track and contend with others to push him farther. “My main goals I have for the future are winning the National Series for the senior schoolboy class for 2015,” he said.
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ODDS AND ENDS
SPOTLIGHT MAY 2015
If you could drop everything and travel anywhere, where would you go?
Contributions by Anna Esposito
Seniors Bri Durics and Jade Hennessy: We would go to Bora Bora because of the food, surfing, and clear water
Sophomores Corinne Issac, Halle Hartman, Kaitlyn Torcivia: We would go to Burger King for chicken fries then fly to Disney World
Sophomore Zach Mohr and Junior Josh Mohr: We would go to Australia to see the kangaroos
Sophomores Daniel Noriega and Declyn Hallman: We would probably go to Dubai because itʼs rich and fancy
Seniors Matt Long and Travis Edmond: We would go to Connecticut and fish for trout
Freshmen Morgan Campbell and Haley Schummer: We would go to Costa Rica for the zip lining and for a new experience