November 2010 issue

Chinstrap or mutton chops? See p. 8 for Beardvember commentary

THE

Sp ke

Conestoga High School, Berwyn, PA

Volume 61 No. 2 November 22, 2010 Stoganews.com

no one likes you ur fat & u really need to get a life

ur really bossy

people are going to hate our grade in school and it’s all your fault, hope you know that

loser, get a life ur the most fake girl i’ve ever met.

why would you date him?

Bullying 2.0

See page 4

people at stoga already hate youu... have fun when you get there

u flirt too much

it seems like a lot of people dont like you

uhm why does everyone everyone on the team at school hate you..?

HATES you because they there’s gotta be a good heard how horrible u r reason.. get out of our group because no one wants a reputation like yours i’m speaking for everyone who hates you--at school and everywhere Graphic: Meghan Morris and Luke Rafferty

*All comments based on Conestoga students’ Formspring accounts

PAGE 2 THE SPOKE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

NEWS

College Board changes AP courses

Neel Thakur Staff Reporter The College Board, a not-forprofit association that oversees, among other programs, the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT and Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams, is implementing multiple changes in the coming year.

As part of a usual review, the Board revised several of its AP courses and exams after assessing surveys completed by colleges regarding the AP program.

Beginning with the May 2011 AP exams, points will not be deducted for wrong answers on the multiple-choice section of the tests. In previous years, students lost a quarter of a point with each incorrect answer. As in years past, no points will be deducted for unaswered questions.

“You don’t have any pressure of deciding whether to guess or not,” sophomore Christine Zhang said. “You should just go for it.”

Due to this change in grading, scoring sheets used to grade the exams will also be adjusted.

“I think it will create a more relaxed learning environment,” junior David Siah said.

The Board has also revised the AP French and AP German Language and Culture exams for the 2011-2012 school year. AP French and German class chang-

chair David Zimmerman said that Conestoga is considering implementing an AP World History course that would replace the current freshmen social studies course, World Cultures.

College Board states that the AP World History course would highlight and compare global changes and major societies. The course would cover material from 8,000 B.C. to the present, including many of the areas the current World Cultures classes already study, such as Asia and Africa, but also other territories, such as South America and the Caribbean.

In addition, the College Board is in the process of revising the AP science programs to put an emphasis on scientific reasoning and inquiry, rather than memorization. These changes will be implemented for the 2012-2013 school year.

“You don’t have any pressure of deciding whether to guess or not.”

Online multimedia at

stoganews.com

Go to stoganews.com for photos and videos from “Alice in Wonderland,” the Justin Bieber concert and the fall sports season, including playoff games.

Watch the videofeed every week for TE/ TV’s Brian Cizek, reporting on “What’s Good” at ’Stoga.

- Sophomore Christine Zhang es will allow for more focus on speaking and practicality, rather than grammar.

The AP World History course and exam changes will be implemented during next school year and will encourage the application of historical thinking skills to analyze, rather than memorize, history, according to a College Board press release.

Social studies department

Neel Thankur can be reached at nthakur@stoganews.com

Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE

Follow ’Stoga boys and teachers through the month of Beardvember online.

Vote for the best beards on The Spoke’s Facebook at the end of “No Shave November” and check out the December issue for photos of the winner.

Local author honored by Radnor after twelve novels Lavi Ben-Dor Staff Reporter She writes about things familiar to teens: loss, personal identity and being different from peers, and this spring, Conestoga students will have the opportunity to meet this 1998 National Book Award finalist.

Local young adult author Beth Kephart, who was inducted into the Radnor High School Hall of Fame this fall, will come to Conestoga for the Central League Writing Contest.

In her novels, the twelfth of which came out in August, Kephart does not gloss over the angst of teenage years.

“I am asking questions that serious and thoughtful teens are up against,” she said.

While her novels are geared toward teens, she said that she does not change her writing style for a different audience.

“I want [teens] to recognize that I value them as readers,” Kephart said. “One of the things

in the way I write for teens is that I don’t write down [to them]. I want the reader of my books to feel as if I’ve honored their intelligence.”

The 1998 National Book Award finalist and mother of a 2008 Conestoga graduate said that she draws inspiration from the local area: she enjoys walking the streets of Philadelphia to find people or places that catch her eye.

“Everything I write is inspired by what I feel and the emotions I’ve had,” Kephart said.

Kephart will pass on her passion for writing by coming to Conestoga for the Central League Writing Contest in the spring.

In this competition, writers from several local high schools have a limited amount of time to write a creative response to a prompt. Conestoga will hold

a preliminary event prior to the competition, and two students from each grade will be selected to participate in the contest.

Senior Augusta Harris has participated in this event three times

worthy enterprise and students should consider their motivation before choosing the profession.

“Don’t write to be published,” Kephart said. “Write because you can’t be whole without it. If you really, genuinely feel that without putting what you know or feel on the page you aren’t whole, then you’ve got to do it.”

She also suggests that students keep a book of new and unfamiliar words they may come across, and look for metaphors in others’ writing.

For those who feel called to write, Kephart advises going into the industry with caution.

“It’s hard out here. It’s hard to do this work. It’s hard to get anybody to pay attention to it, [but] it’s still a very worthy enterprise,” Kephart said.

Though the industry is tough, Kephart said that she still enjoys the craft.

“Don’t write to be published. Write because you can’t be whole without it.”

- Author Beth Kephart and hopes to participate again this year. She said she is looking forward to meeting Kephart and learning from the experience the novelist has to share.

“I always ask [the speaker] every question I can think of about the industry and how to get a book published,” Harris said.

One piece of advice Kephart gives all aspiring writers is that in order to improve their writing, they should read every day. She said that writing is a difficult but

Lavi Ben-Dor/The SPOKE

Local author Beth Kephart holds her latest novel. Kephart will speak at the Central League Writing Contest in the spring.

“Only be a writer if you are completely called to it,” Kephart said. “I wouldn’t survive if I didn’t write.”

Lavi Ben-Dor can be reached at lbendor@stoganews.com.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

PAGE 3 THE SPOKE

NEWS

New requirements proposed for graduation and scheduling

Abby Pioch & Brittany Roker Staff Reporters Sept. 6, 2011 marks the beginning of a four-year plan recommended by the school board’s Education Committee to implement changes that would affect graduation requirements and scheduling for Conestoga’s staff and students.

In terms of scheduling, the committee recommended that the district reduce the number of periods that students can fill with classes, combine health and physical education classes into a single onesemester course and limit some electives to three days per cycle. A proposal was also made for teachers to instruct six periods rather than five, excluding teachers who have double lab periods with their classes.

Changes to graduation requirements that were recommended would allow the completion of a college application to serve as a culminating project, implementing certain Keystone Exams and requiring 3.0 credits in social studies, instead of 3.5, for graduation.

Karen Cruickshank, chair of the Education Committee, explained why the district may implement these adjustments.

“We are facing a $7 million shortfall, as is every other district across the state. We want to limit the budget gap,” Cruickshank said.

Though the changes may be implemented in part for economic needs, Principal Amy Meisinger said that new state regulations are also part of the reasoning.

“Change is [due] to state requirements,” Meisinger said. “[The state] has just gone to a more

experiential-[based] description in what they expect students to have completed upon graduation.”

Capping classes

Currently, students are permitted to take eight periods of classes each day, but next school year, the Education Committee is proposing that the district enact a 42-period cap on the classes students are allowed to take in a six-day cycle. Therefore, students will have a study hall or free period at least once each day.

Cruickshank said that the reason the school board would make this change is for student needs.

“High school can be stressful, so to have at least one study hall a day would make it less stressful,” she said.

Local high schools have schedules such as these that work to increase student free time. Harriton High School, a part of the local Lower Merion School District, utilizes a schedule similar to what has been proposed. It includes seven classes each day and a shortened advisory period where students are able to use the time for activities like talking to teachers, doing

cause we would not be so stressed after school.”

In a survey of 140 Conestoga students by The Spoke, 41 percent said that they think they would be forced to drop an elective from their schedule if the 42-period cap existed. However, 64 percent also said that they would prefer having a required study hall or free period each day, while 21 percent were against the change and 15 percent were unsure.

Meisinger said that the district realizes that each student has unique needs, so they are open to allowing exceptions for individual cases. The district is still reviewing possible options to allow students with full schedules, like those with academic support and music electives, to take the classes they desire.

Health, gym combine

For the next school year, the school board is also considering changing the arrangement in which students take health and physical education classes.

Health and Highway Safety teacher Mike Cangi said that the change might include a combined health and physical education class, splitting time with four days of health and then two days of gym in a six-day cycle. He also said that it may mean the summer health opportunity is eventually eliminated.

Sophomore Chase Shipp thinks that combining the classes could negatively affect what students can learn.

“I do not think [the change] is a benefit,” Shipp said. “[Currently] the health classes are separate and spread out throughout your high school career so that students can have their health knowledge refreshed [in Health 2]. I think that condensing all the health classes into one semester is too much.”

Unlike Shipp, junior Dana Sencindiver is optimistic about the new health system since it would allow other students to have more flexibility in their schedules.

“It is positive because you will be finished with health after your

“[A study hall or free period] would help us get better grades because we would not be so stressed in school.”

- Freshman Emily Sparks homework and making up tests. ’Stoga freshman Emily Sparks said that she thinks the school board’s new policy would be beneficial for students.

“I think it would be good if we all had a study hall every day,” Sparks said. “I foresee positive effects. [A study hall or free period] would help us get better grades be-

2011-2012 proposed schedule: • Maximum of 42 class periods per six-day cycle • Mandatory social studies courses: World History (freshmen), U.S. History (sophomores), Government and Economics (juniors); no mandatory senior class • Health 1, Health 2 and physical education courses combined into one class that would last for one semester • Many electives edited to meet three days per cycle instead of six

d be use n a c s t jec tion pplicainating pro a e g Colle as a culm

o be xams t E e n o t ys ed New Keadminister

Graphic: Luke Rafferty and Sam Winfield

freshman year, which gives you the opportunity to take more classes in your later years,” Sencindiver said.

Social studies reshuffles

The current freshmen could be the last students required to take the European History course as the recommendations include altering classes and credit requirements for the social studies department starting next year.

The Class of 2015 may be the first students to take World History as freshmen, United States History as sophomores and a combined Government and Economics course as juniors, with no required course senior year. This would lower the social studies credits needed for graduation from 3.5 to 3.0 for students. These changes worry senior Pete Vilter because he has enjoyed what the current system offers.

“I’m a big fan of social studies.

I think they’re really important,” Vilter said. “It seems bad to take [European History] out and not have it required because I think it’s a pretty valuable class to take.”

Vilter also said he is worried that if European History becomes an elective, most students will not take the class because its benefits are often not immediately felt. Social studies teacher Danielle Scul-

ly-Ellet said that she thinks the course changes, overall, would be beneficial.

“I’m fine with [the course changes],” Scully-Ellet said. “European history does need to be taught in the context of world history.”

Meisinger said that she believes that if changes are passed, students will still continue to take social studies electives in addition to the required 3.0 credits, citing past trends.

“When we studied the number of credits our students take in social studies, many of them take over four credits because there are so many electives,” Meisinger said.

“Our hope is that it wouldn’t necessarily change that students take [social studies] electives, but that it would just change the sequence of the courses currently.”

Meisinger said that all of the plans have been made with the possible student benefits in mind, but that she thinks they will not majorly affect students.

“Overall, these are minor shifts in terms of where we are currently,” Meisinger said. “I don’t foresee it having a major impact on what our students do.”

Abby Pioch can be reached at apioch@stoganews.com.

PAGE 4 THE SPOKE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

NEWS

Conestoga’s firewall: Preventing the cyberbullying virus Laura Weiss News Editor Sitting at a round table, the club members read aloud from a Time magazine article detailing the pain of students from across the country, whose hurt was deep enough for them to end their lives. The group, led by teachers Tim Husband and Kevin Ruggeri, is determined to keep ’Stoga free from this type of pain.

A proposal was presented to the administration in October by the Gay Straight Alliance, AntiDefamation League and African American Student Union to hold an anti-harassment awareness event, which the administration is reviewing in light of the recent suicides, allegedly because of harassment, that have occurred nationally. One highly publicized incident occured on Sept. 22, when Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi committed suicide after allegedly facing harassment because of his sexuality. In order to increase awareness of this type of bullying, ’Stoga students proposed an event to the administration that would promote understanding.

Ruggeri, the ADL adviser, said that much of this harassment outside of the classroom stems from online bullying.

“Based upon what I’ve heard from kids, it seems [bullying is] common enough to be addressed.

It’s sort of disturbing to hear,” Ruggeri said. “The teachers are separated from this a lot of the time as it occurs on social networks.”

Cyberbulling is defined as willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices according to the Center for Safe Schools. As cell phones and computers shrink in size and become ubiquitous, the problem has intensified. In a survey of 114 students

by The Spoke, 22 percent reported being cyberbullied and 17 percent admitted to participating in cyberbullying themselves.

“On today’s social networking sites, people can easily harass and bully peers in a matter of seconds,” said senior and ADL president Ryan Dreyer. “It is simply a lot easier to send a threatening or demeaning wall post or inbox message than to confront someone in person.”

The district works diligently to

prevent this type of cyberbullying and harassment by taking proactive and preventative measures such as the Internet Terms of Use Policy students must sign before they use ’Stoga’s network. The district also has a policy regarding unlawful harassment, holds cyberbulling assemblies for high schoolers and uses the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program for middle school students. The anti-bullying program teaches students about bullying through videos and sets times during school for periodic discussions. The program also uses specific language to promote sensitvity on the subject.

Because the district restricts students to visiting only educational websites on school computers, cyberbulling is limited on school property. The school, Principal Amy Meisinger said, only has jurisdiction during the school day, but cases are often debated because there is a fine line between when to

go by school policy versus handing the incident over to police.

“I think we’ve been very fortunate that it hasn’t been a problem here, but in general, cyberbullying creates an environment where students are more free to say things than they are face-to-face,” Meisinger said. “I think that’s perpetuated the problem.”

No face and no name

Joining other social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, Formspring, at www.formspring. me, is a website where one creates a profile onto which anyone can submit anonymous questions or comments to be answered by the creator. According to Formspring, the purpose of the site is to provide “a new, personal way to connect with the people who you want to know better.”

However, for some students, the site provides a forum to be ridiculed where their cyberbullies have

the protection of anonymity. On one student’s Formspring account, an anonymous poster told the user to “go die” and said that the poster would not care if the user committed suicide.

In The Spoke’s poll, 64 percent of students said that they believe Formspring encourages cyberbullying. Twenty-five percent reported having Formspring accounts, with 18 percent of all students reporting receiving harassing or derogatory comments on a Formspring account.

Senior Bria Hughes said that the anonymity makes hurtful comments last longer.

“I feel that any harsh comment is going to hurt no matter if you know who the source is or if it’s just coming from someone who could be anyone,” Hughes said. On Formspring, comments are “equally as hurtful, but you think about them longer because you don’t know who they’re coming from.”

Hughes created a Formspring account because she was curious about the site as more of her friends began to use it. She said that she was shocked by questions and comments she received, leading her to suspend her account.

Formspring “has become such a medium for harassment. Now it’s just this tool—a cyberbullying tool—in my view,” Hughes said.

“We can tell ourselves that we’re not going to think about it but we do, and there’s no point in just allowing people to hurt you for the sake of feeling strong.”

Unlike Hughes, senior Graham Lenker has never experienced harassing comments or questions directed to his Formspring account.

“I use it for inside jokes with my friends and that’s it,” Lenker said.

Lenker said that he recognizes some people face problems because of Formspring, but for him, Formspring is simply another social networking site.

A united front

Have cyberbullied Have been cyberbullied someone

Think Formspring encourages cyberbullying

17%

22% Statistics are from The Spoke’s survey of 114 students. Conestoga clubs proposed an anti-harassment awareness event this year to try to keep national bullying trends from entering ’Stoga.

64% Graphic: Luke Rafferty

The U.S. Department of Education said in a press release on Oct. 26 that it is clarifying what types of bullying and harassment are illegal under federal law. Though no new legislation has yet been passed, the U.S. Department of Education sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to all schools in the country detailing how they are responsible for protecting students from bullying.

Meisinger said that she has not yet received any information on new state or national policies at ’Stoga.

Lisa Brunner, General Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said that cyberbullying is bigger than just bullying in the hallway.

“You can over-legislate but you can’t really solve the problem until you change the [school] culture,” Brunner said.

She said that she believes laws can help stop cyberbullying, but in the form of preventative measures, rather than punitive laws that are often hard to enforce. She also said that laws can help educate people about how they can transform the culture in their school to stop cyberbullying.

Making a puntitive law “doesn’t change people’s behavior, it just sends it underground and that’s more dangerous,” Brunner said.

See PAIN, p. 6

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

NEWS

PAGE 5 THE SPOKE

Students work with alumnus to create hope in city

Julianne Vallotton Staff Reporter They don’t have art supplies or books, so painting and reading are luxuries. But the Cambodian students at the Logan Hope School in Philadelphia have a school run by people who care about them. For these students, that’s a blessing.

Anita MacBain, a 1977 ’Stoga graduate, is the principal and a teacher at the Logan Hope School, a kindergarten through eighth grade Cambodian Christian charter school in the Logan neighborhood of North Philadelphia. Juniors Danielle Heron and Kimberly Winters are joining MacBain in helping Logan’s children by volunteering at the school. The school’s goal is to educate Cambodian children in a neighborhood that would not necessarily have access to a good school otherwise. MacBain wakes up every day with the hope that she can make one of these children’s lives bright and happier.

“I was so tired of watching kids from the neighborhood give up on school and become pregnant or join a gang,” MacBain said. “I wanted them to have a future—to have hope.”

In 2002, MacBain and her husband, Ken, bought a house across the street from their apartment with the initial goal of developing a small afterschool program to lift the spirits of kids around the area. Eight years later, the Logan Hope School has 61 students enrolled in a daytime school.

“I love my job so much. Every day brings a new experience and new story,” MacBain said. “All of the kids are unique and have different talents.

You have to treat all of the students like individuals. You need to get to know them before you help them to learn.”

MacBain remembers her experience as a student at Conestoga as a positive one where she learned several important lessons that led her to where she is today. However, she wants high school students to remember what she wishes she had known.

“One thing I wish I knew was not to get too caught up in knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life,” MacBain said. “Your future really depends on your experiences.

If you have patience, everything will fall into place.”

Winters and Heron are working with MacBain for their Gold Awards in Girl Scouts. Each student will use her individual talents to help.

Heron is organizing a library in the basement of the school. She has already collected more than 800 books and is working on a Dewey decimal organization system.

“I never thought about how much I take simple things like books for granted until I saw that they don’t

Photos courtesy Anita MacBain

Photos courtesy Anita MacBain

Conestoga alumnus Anita MacBain (upper left) smiles with the Logan Hope School Reading Olympics team.

MacBain helped start the school in the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia after being inspired by the difficult situations that children in the neighborhood faced and their need for a better educational system.

Meanwhile, Winters will be teaching a four-week-long art class at the program MacBain runs at the school over the summer.

She plans to instruct basic drawing, painting and mixed-media art in a 45-minute daily session.

“I love art and I love kids—a combination of the two couldn’t get much better. I just started my project but it already feels so rewarding,” Winters said.

Winters will also be organizing an art supplies drive later in the year because the school does not have enough funding to pay for its supplies.

“When I visited the school for the first time, it altered my perspective on why we really live and how privileged we are. I cried the second I got home.

It was so upsetting,” Winters said.

MacBain is grateful for people like Winters and Heron who use their time to help, as well as how much working with the children has taught her.

“If there’s anything I’ve learned from my experience, it’s that every day and every child brings something new and interesting,” MacBain said.

“It altered my perspective on why we really live and how priveleged we are.”

- Junior Kimberly Winters even have that [at the school],” Heron said.

Logan Hope students play outside together at school. Juniors Kimberly Winters and Danielle Heron are working with children at the school for their Gold Awards in Girl Scouts.

Julianne Vallotton can be reached at jvallotton@stoganews.com.

NEWS

PAGE 6 THE SPOKE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

When bands come marching in: Pioneers host competition Claire Moran Staff Reporter On a chilly night in early November, 900 students and more than 100 staff members gathered on Teamer Field in front of filled stands. The competition would be tough and the players well-prepared, but they were not the players normally found matched upon the field. Rather, they were marching bands competing for the first time at Conestoga.

The ’Stoga Showcase of Sound was a cavalcade show that Conestoga hosted on Nov. 6, marking the first band competition ever hosted by the Marching Pioneers. Local high school bands came to the event to compete against each other and be judged on their field shows. The ’Stoga band entered as an exhibition band, meaning that it performed and got feedback from the judges, but did not get a score or compete against other bands. The band took Teamer Field as the final band, ending the event on a high note.

“This year our band is good

enough and big enough that we can really brag about how good we are and this is the best way to do it,” said junior and color guard member Betsy Simon.

Mary Vilter, co-chair of publicity for the event and mother of two band members, said that Conestoga decided to host the event for more than getting judged by professionals.

“I think partly it was they thought that they could do a good job and it would be fun and it would be a great way to build enthusiasm within the band and within the school, and partly it’s a fundraiser,” Vilter said.

The event raised money for all of Conestoga’s music programs through the T/E Music Parents Organization (TEMPO). Members of Conestoga’s Tri-M Honors Society, parents, football players, band members and staff came together to plan and organize the event. Fundraising included ticket, food and apparel sales, candy grams that could be sent to band members and a half-time field goal kicking contest.

For senior drum major Jamey

Capolupo, the best part of ’Stoga hosting the cavalcade was the rare chance for the marching band to be in the spotlight.

“When people see the field show on a Friday night they’re not necessarily there to watch the marching band,” Capolupo said. “They’re there to see the football game and the marching band is a little bit extra.

With the cavalcade, everybody is there to see the band so the environment is completely different.”

After the Showcase of Sound, assistant band director Lydia Lieb received positive feedback and found that the cavalcade went well.

“Everyone has been saying what a success it was and how much they enjoyed seeing all the performances and how cool it was to have that many bands come and perform at ’Stoga,” Lieb said.

Junior Ruth Wellin, a spectator at the event, was surprised by how well local bands performed at the event.

“It was a good opportunity for people like me who don’t go to a lot of games to see the marching bands

Pain of harassment never fades

Continued from p. 4

Still haunted

A Conestoga parent, who will remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of her daughter’s harassment, still feels the stinging effects of her daughter’s bullying in high school, as does her daughter.

The mother said that her daughter’s harassment began in seventh grade, but was worse when she was a senior in high school. This ’Stoga graduate, who is now out of college, had an argument with a friend.

A group of boys then turned on her, taunting her and even turning to physical harassment at times. The boys also created a PowerPoint that mocked the graduate and showed it to other students.

“Once they see that you’re vulnerable and you gave into something, that’s when [bullies are] going to attack you the most,” the grad said.

She said she thinks that she was lucky to avoid a time when everyone had a Facebook profile.

“Now with the Internet there’s so many things that can go on outside of school,” she said. “I don’t think [adults who could help] take it as seriously when something is

said about someone [rather than physical bullying].”

She recognizes how much tougher it can be for children growing up with the wider use of social media.

“I could not imagine growing up now with all the cell phones and everyone allowed to have Facebook and instant messenger,” she said. “I think it’s dangerous.”

The harassment finally stopped a couple of years into her college career. But looking back, she is still shocked that she was bullied and recognizes that the events and taunts still follow her.

“I don’t think I had that much self-esteem,” she said. “It’s just weird to have a fresh start and have

no one know what people treated me like in high school.”

The bullying stays with her and she warns that it did not lead her to any positive personal change.

“People say that you get stronger from it, but I think it’s always in the back of your mind as ‘maybe what they’re saying is true’ or ‘what could I have done to make them not be mean to me,” she said.

“It always [stays] within you.”

Staff writers Allison Kozeracki and Shwetha Sudhakar contributed to this report.

Laura Weiss can be reached at lweiss@stoganews.com.

in our area that, under other circumstances, I wouldn’t have gotten to see,” Wellin said.

At the end of the night, band directors, parent sponsors and drum majors gave out awards to many local high schools. The event as a whole was fantastic, according to drum major Laura McCauley. She said it was both a fun event and a day when the band did some of its best work.

“The band played amazingly,” McCauley said. “[It was] one of the best performances we’ve ever given.”

Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE

Sophomore trumpet player Ben Fall stands to Claire Moran can be the ready as he waits for the band to begin its reached at cmoran@ field show in exhibition. The ’Stoga Showcase of stoganews.com.

Sound was the first Cavalcade hosted at ’Stoga.

Opinion

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

The Spoke is published seven times a year at Bartash Printing. It consistently receives the Gold Award from the Pennsylvania School Press Association and is a National School Press Association Pacemaker awardwinning publication. The Spoke serves as a public forum for student expression.

Editors-in-Chief: Liz Bravacos, Meghan Morris Managing Editor: Reshma Gouravajhala Production Editor: Luke Rafferty News Editor: Laura Weiss Features Editor: Mary Turocy Sports Editor: Erin O'Neil Centerspread Editor: K.C. McConnell Operations Director: Anjuli Patel Business Manager: Heather Ward Cartoonist: Gabriela Epstein Graphic Design: Margot Field, Karolis Panavas, Brooke Weil, Sam Winfield Staff: Maddie Amsterdam, Kelly Benning, Lavi Ben-Dor, Dana Bronzino, Tracy Cook, Allison Kozeracki, David Kramer, Daniel McConnell, Stetson Miller, Claire Moran, Patrick Nicholson, Emily Omrod, Abby Pioch, Sophia Ponte, Dolly Prabhu, Brittany Roker, Emily Seeburger, Jenna Spoont, Shwetha Sudhakar, Neel Thakur, Julianne Vallotton, Natalie West, Haley Xue Faculty Advisers: Susan Houseman, Cynthia CrothersHyatt

Submissions

The Spoke will print letters of general interest to the student body and community. Signed letters under 200 words may be submitted to Susan Houseman, Cynthia Hyatt, Liz Bravacos or Meghan Morris. Unsigned editorials represent the views of The Spoke editorial board, and not necessarily those of the administration, student body, community or advertisers. The opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of The Spoke.

From the Editor

Cyberbullying awareness One holiday The Spoke urges district to approve cyberbullying seminar Two months ago, the world awoke to the grim news about Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University who committed suicide after alleged harassment about his sexuality. In the weeks that followed, a string of other bullying and harassment-related suicides served as a wake-up call to schools nationwide, who then tightened policies to curtail in-school bullying and harassment.

Cyberbullying, which usually occurs offcampus, is a rampant problem that, according to i-SAFE, an organization specializing in e-Safety education, affects 42 percent of teens. Hidden under veils of anonymity, dangerous tormentors can taunt their peers from the comfort of their computers or cell phones.

Defined as the use of technology to do deliberate and repeated harm to others, cyberbullying is a problem that will only expand as more and more youths have access to new technologies.

While schools can and do create policies that act to curb the effects of in-school bullying, they do not have the jurisdiction to regulate off-campus cyberbullying, since it is difficult to differentiate between bullying and freedom of speech, a distinction that should not need to be made.

The best way to mitigate the effects of cyberbullying is to create precautionary programs that ensure the safety of students before the effects of cyberbullyingrelated

incidents are felt inside the school environment.

In an effort to do just that, Conestoga clubs such as the Gay Straight Alliance, the AntiDefamation League and the African American Student Union have proposed a school-wide seminar for all English classes. Spanning two days, this seminar would allow all students to discuss cyberbullying and the many dangers related to popular social networking websites.

This proposal has not yet been approved by the school district but it should be. Such an event is a necessary step in the right direction, one that directs aim at the core of the problem—ignorant students who are using new outlets to do willful and repeated harm to their peers.

We on the Spoke editorial board applaud these clubs for understanding the importance of raising awareness of the problem on a schoolwide level and also for proposing solutions that could benefit victims.

Though cyberbullying is a problem that occurs outside of the school, it is one that requires a solution that is proposed during discussions in the classroom. Preventive lessons will teach bullies the dire consequences of their negative actions and will ensure that victims can find help.

The only way to make sure that cyberbullying does not become a widespread problem in our school district is to raise awareness, which will then teach students to respect each other.

Contact Us

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E-mail hward@stoganews.com.

Visit The Spoke online at www.stoganews.com

Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

at a time

More than a week before Thanksgiving, I saw the first sign: "Live Christmas trees, for sale now. " While I have no qualms about a nice Douglas Fir tree, the sign’s timing was suspicious. My family’s Halloween decorations still adorned our porch, and we had yet to reserve our Thanksgiving turkey at the Farmer’s Market.

But B101 told me to go online to vote for my favorite Christmas music, kids were lining up to sit on Santa’s lap in the King of Prussia Mall and a Facebook event invited me to watch a live streaming video of Lord and Taylor employees putting up window displays.

Mall workers have transformed the commercial landscape into a winter wonderland. Tacky stocking stuffers are sold in every kiosk, and the overall spirit of the holidays hangs in the air—a good month before sugarplum fairies dance in my head.

Apparently, electronic snowflakes are that much more enticing than paper snowflakes, but whether digitally sparkly or made out of real glitter, any display before turkey time should stick to the month or season.

Nordstrom (my favorite store, in case you’re going Black Friday shopping) stands out by being generic: there have been signs hanging in window displays since October declaring its firm, traditional stance on holidays: “We just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time.”

This may be an even better marketing strategy than the 3-D space robots in Neiman Marcus’ flagship store, because it builds anticipation for the (not-live-streamed) window unveiling on Black Friday.

A few hundred yards away from Nordstrom in King of Prussia, the holiday section of Walmart is filled with competing aisles: Halloween candy on clearance clashes with dreidels and chocolate coins, while Christmas lights illuminate the chaos. I’m sure that in the back room, employees were busy unloading boxes of Sweethearts for Valentine’s Day. Now, the retail trend seems to be creeping into residential decorating schemes, at least according to a cursory glance around Berwyn.

I adore classic white Christmas lights, even if they’re left on all year, but inflatable decorations, particularly those with music, should not go up before Thanksgiving, if ever.

At home or at the mall, tis the season to deck the halls—just not until this Friday.

Meghan Morris can be reached at mmorris@stoganews.com.

PAGE 8 THE SPOKE

OP/ED

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

November presents time for growth What’s your preferred type of beard?

“Dumbledore beard”

Freshman Zane Pringle

“Chinstrap”

Sophomore Isha Damle

Erin O’Neil Sports Editor November is a month of abundance. A month of privilege. A month of celebration. Am I talking about Thanksgiving, you ask? A meager one-day holiday in which people eat turkey and fall asleep watching football? The answer is, quite frankly, no.

Not in the slightest. I’m talking about something far more important: an entire month when men are unified and beautified, working together toward a common goal, committed to excellence in the growing of facial hair. I’m talking about Beardvember.

Societies throughout the ages have come up with various tests of masculinity, some more brutal than others. In Ancient Rome, gladiators swore oaths to achieve Romanitis Virtus, or Roman-quality virility through victory in the ring—in other words, He Who Isn’t Sufficiently Manly Will Be Mauled By A Lion. Over the years competition was slowly refined to boxing matches, gentleman’s bets and horsepower. Nowadays, to the dismay of Gillette, men allow their beards to do the talking.

As far as Beardvember goes, I’m an outsider, and I’m going to take a few liberties and eliminate the 28 fine young ladies who RSVP’d to the Facebook event from the running as well. But I think that those brave men who decided to participate deserve a little bit of credit. Growing

facial hair isn’t something that just happens on its own after all—it’s hard work. That’s why I’ve decided to provide fellow onlookers with a Grow-to-Guide for Beards, in order of increasing manliness, which will hopefully be helpful in identifying the different styles of facial hair that have been cropping up in the hallways for the past three weeks.

“The Nice Try”

A shout-out to those who bravely tried and unfortunately failed. Failed quite miserably actually. Failed in a buy-a-fake-mustache-not-for-thepurpose-of-disguise-but-to-give-theappearance-of-legitimate-facial-hair way. You know who you are. Never fear, just shrug and say you gave up on the stupid competition decided to shave…two weeks ago.

“The Lost Razor”

Sported by guys who can’t get past the stubble phase. This style can sometimes pass for a developing beard, but more often than not gives the impression of that one lazy neighbor who spends his days on the couch watching “The Simpsons” and drinking tepid coffee. Seriously, you might as well show up to school in a bathrobe and slippers.

“The Milk Mustache”

Questionable growth of hair on upper lip and sometimes part of chin. Reminiscent of pre-adolescence on anyone other than Leonardo DiCaprio. Participants sporting this style are advised to keep their student ID’s handy, lest they be mistaken for a lost T/E middle school student. Can sometimes be confused with the goatee, which should never ever, under any circumstances, be attempted by teenagers and therefore is

not a part of this list.

“The Chinstrap”

The facial hair of cheats and conmen. Humanity has not yet been able to locate a naturally-growing, self-grooming beard of this variety.

If, in the hallway, you come across a student sporting such a style, don’t panic. Take him aside and kindly explain that “No Shave November” is not in any way synonymous to “Spend inordinate amounts of time using specialty-razors to groom a thin line of facial hair around the chin November.” You might also want to tell him to stop giving himself compliments in the hand mirror he carries around. Everyone can hear him and it’s not helping his self-image any.

“The Rabid Mutton Chop”

This look features sideburns that, like Miley Cyrus, can’t be tamed. Taking over the upper cheek Blitzkreigstyle, this facial growth gives the appearance of an uneven, patchwork shave. Suggestion to participants afflicted with this style: wear a button or sticker that says “I haven’t shaved in ___ days. This is natural” to let others know you don’t in fact shave with rusty scissors. (If you find yourself unable to fit into a category, consider your beard a malignant version of the rabid mutton chop. Maybe participating in Beardvember wasn’t such a great idea for you after all.)

Sometimes it grows in particularly patchy, increasing the likeliness to the tree-eating Giraffa camelopardalis.

“The Abe”

Chin-heavy and mustache-less.

Similar in resemblance to our 16th President. A respectable showing of beard-growing abilities, but the lack of mustache holds this beard back from its true masculine potential. Unlike our dear emancipator, however, this style of beard is usually not grown at the request of a female.

“The Lumber Jack”

It sounds like a good burger, but it isn’t. It’s the top of the rung for facial-hair followers, the pinnacle of manliness. Elvis Presley sideburns?

Check. Walrus mustache? Check.

Chin growth that would make Joaquin Phoenix feel feminine? Check. This beard is the catch-all, and I mean it.

Food, pencils and the occasional wad of gum: these growers might want to invest in a comb.

Psychologist Robert J. Pellegrini wrote that “Inside every clean-shaven man is a beard screaming to be let out.” Well, beards, you still have a week left. This is your time. Show us what you can do. Let your masculinity take flight, and then maybe we can talk about Manuary.

Erin O’Neil can be reached at eoneil@stoganews.com.

“The Giraffe”

All other facial growth is immediately dwarfed by a neckbeard so absolutely horrifying that you can’t look at anything else.

“Full-on beard— everything but the neck”

Junior Doni Potts

“5 o’clock shadow”

Senior Emily Heineman

Gabriela Epstein/ The SPOKE Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

r s

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

PAGE 9 THE SPOKE

OP/ED

Captivated by magic of ‘Harry Potter’

Reshma Gouravajhala Managing Editor Guilty as charged: I’m obsessed with Harry Potter.

Though millions have said it, what exactly does it mean?

To me, it means that I’ve read each of the books, cover to cover, at least twenty times.

It means that I can quote entire scenes, with an exaggerated British accent, from the books and movies at whim.

It means that, without fail, I’ve made a comment about the series at least once a day for the past eleven years of my life.

It means that I very much prefer the Boy Who Lived to the Boy Who Sparkles in the Sunlight.

It means that I’ve spent countless hours on the phone discussing things that I’m sure J.K. Rowling herself has forgotten.

It means that my brother and I discuss life’s most important questions (the Invisibility Cloak or the Elder Wand?) almost every night during dinner while my parents discuss much more real-world (and, if you’ll excuse me, Muggle) matters.

I’m sure that plenty of people will find everything I’ve just written a little scary, but here’s the thing: I find none of the above the least bit unusual, probably because I know that there are millions of people like me in

the world who’ve all been captivated by the magic of “Harry Potter.”

I’m not writing this column to say goodbye to one of the best parts of my life. It might seem like this is the perfect time: there is only one movie left (July 15, 2011, for those of you that want to count down the date with me) and after that, the cultural phenomenon of a decade will be no more.

I’m sure that there are many people (like my parents, at times) who can’t wait until that date comes around.

However, at least for me, that date will come and pass, but my love for “Harry Potter” will not die. This might sound fanciful as I’m a senior getting ready for college, and some people might think that I’m clinging on to my childhood, but I disagree. My love for the series has only compounded as I get older and I don’t expect anything different even after the final movies come out.

This is not a goodbye—this is a thank you. I thank Rowling for her writing, not only for the one-liners but also for the underlying social commentary. I’m grateful for the fact that this series actually contains protagonists that are excellent role models (Hermione Granger versus Bella Swan—is there really any competition?) and antagonists that aren’t at all one-dimensional. I thank her for creating a plot that is simple enough to follow but complicated enough to discuss, and for creating a Wizarding world that will never stop being wonderful.

More than anything, I’m thankful for the fact that “Harry Potter” has helped me grow as a reader, a writer and as a person. Though it sounds ironic that a children’s series has helped me mature and realize my profound love of reading, it is the truth.

And that, I believe, is the reason why we “Harry Potter” fans have an undying love for these books and movies. We were the curious children who found copies of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in the local library, the inquisitive teenagers who delved into the Department of Mysteries without looking back and now we are the young adults who have chosen Horcruxes over Hallows and have realized that the only way to defeat evil is to embrace love and hope.

As sometimes happens with the best works of literature, we learned (and still learn every time we pick up a copy of our favorite book) from the plot and characters and used this knowledge in real life. We learned from each mistake that Draco Malfoy made, from each argument that Ron and Hermione had and from each lesson that Dumbledore taught. And regardless of how young we were when we started reading the books and how old we are now, we all used this knowledge to become better people in our own lives.

The end is drawing near but I take comfort in the fact that true fans of the series won’t forget about it anytime soon. We won’t lose our love for the series any more than we’ll let its influence wane. I know that I’ll never say goodbye and I’ll never have to let go.

Because I understand this, I can quote Rowling and say that, at the end of fourteen magical years, “All is well.”

Kim Menapace for The SPOKE

R e s h m a Gouravajhala can be reached at rgouravajhala@stoganews.com.

Report Card Beardvember + Manly way to raise awareness for prostate cancer - With Halloween over, the Wolfman look is out of date

Online applications + Environmentally friendly; fewer brown envelopes - Senior class as “guinea pigs” for this change means some missteps along the way

Parking lot etiquette + Fewer underclassmen driving to school with more security enforcement - Freshmen, and some seniors, still don’t know where to get out.

Hint: it’s not in the crosswalk blocking traffic!

Thanksgiving break + An extra day off before the holiday gives us more time to prep for the feast - Teachers assign additional homework for the spare night

Manifest Wednesdays + Less homework is always a good thing - AP teachers declare their classes to be “above” Manifest’s guidelines, even though those are the most stressful classes

Power down days + When walking to first period, we can pretend we’re still asleep in the darkness - Awkward hallway encounters are even more annoying

PAGE 10 THE SPOKE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

OP/ED

Growing up: Fearing one-way trip out of Neverland

Haley Xue Staff Reporter

“Growing up,” according to Captain Hook, “is such a barbarous business, full of inconvenience and pimples.” The truth of these words (which may be lighthearted in tone) nevertheless brings me closer to a reality, one that is both inevitable and a little frightening.

I’m not too scared about pimples (though they can be extremely annoying) but the “inconveniences” that Captain Hook mentioned do make me fear the idea of growing up.

My fear and anxiety can be partially attributed to a set of responsibilities that I must take on in the years to come. It’s not that I don’t want to take on said

responsibilities, but I’m afraid of failing to meet expectations.

Eventually, I’ll have to rely on myself to get through life—which in itself is a scary thought in many aspects.

Although I don’t turn 16 for another nine months, I’m coming to the sudden realization that I’m going to have to learn how to drive soon.

While many of my classmates are eagerly waiting to receive their learner’s permits, I’m hesitant to take the wheel because driving comes with many responsibilities and, unfortunately, dangers. I’m not only responsible for the people in the car with me and the car itself, but also the other drivers on the road—a job that I’m not quite ready for.

My fear of driving is probably trivial considering the even

however, is learning how to cook—I’m deathly afraid of knives.

I’ve heard my peers say that growing up is exciting: they’re all looking forward to being able to do whatever they want without having to listen to their parents all the time. I won’t deny that I am looking forward to some privileges that growing up offers, but at the same time, it’s hard to imagine what life would b e like without that safety net of guidance that I’m used to.

Despite my fears, I realize Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE that growing

bigger picture. Sure, college is a time of opportunity, but it is also one of new duties. There are so many things I’ll have to learn in order to really grow up and take care of myself. I’m afraid that I might fail a course, lose my way around campus, or simply be unable to take care of everything that needs to be completed.

Perhaps my biggest f e a r,

up is inevitable—everyone must face life eventually. A large part of growing up is taking risks and learning from mistakes. In the short 15 years of my life, I’ve only made a fraction of the mistakes that I’ll probably make in my entire lifetime. It’s unavoidable—everyone messes up once in a while. But I also realize that there is an important moral in every mistake that I make; after all, as the saying goes, “failure is the mother of success.” Mistakes are stepping stones over an otherwise formidable crevice that separates childhood and adulthood.

While we would all enjoy flying over to visit Peter Pan and Tinkerbell in Neverland, it’s impossible to stay young forever. If the saying “we’re all children on the inside no matter what” rings true, though, maybe we can still hang out with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys once in a while. In that case, perhaps growing up won’t be that scary after all.

Haley Xue can be reached at hxue@stoganews.com.

Vegetarianism offers restraint against consumer abundance

K.C. McConnell Centerspread Editor Until recently, my Thanksgiving meal probably looked a lot like yours. Beginning last year however, there was a slight change in what was served on my plate—instead of stuffing my face with the traditional holiday bird, I now dine on tofurkey substitute.

It’s around this time of year when I’m reminded of how difficult it is to be a vegetarian in a society where eating meat is such a big part of the culture. And yet, with each temptation comes a reminder of why I became a vegetarian in the first place.

I could tell you I became a vegetarian to save the animals, but that argument is such a cliché that nobody pays attention to it

anymore. Instead, I advocate vegetarianism because it teaches you something that’s hard to learn in a culture where instant gratification has become the norm.

Being a vegetarian teaches self-restraint since you must resist the constant barrage of temptation that comes your way on a daily basis.

In a society where “I want it” has morphed into “I need it,” the concept of patience as a virtue has almost completely disappeared.

With vegetarianism comes the desire for something you can’t have, and with the resistance of that desire comes self-restraint.

By not eating meat, a vegetarian is rebelling against the urge for more and staying strong in society’s tendency to push toward reveling in excess.

Because we all grew up submerged a consumer culture, it can be hard not to fall into the trap of grasping for far more than we actually need. Sure, meat can be healthy in moderate amounts, but eating a giant cheeseburger topped with two greasy strips of fast-food bacon and copi-

ous amounts of cheese is hardly necessary. Yet in our society, we’re tricked into thinking that these advertised (and airbrushed) items are absolutely vital.

Choosing vegetarianism provides an escape route out of consumerism’s trap. Being a vegetarian doesn’t eliminate the desire to bite into a Big Mac, but it’s in the suppression of that desire in which true self-restraint is found.

Somewhere during this process, the lenses of “if it exists, it must be mine” are shed and the line between “want” and “need” is more clearly drawn.

Of course, you don’t need to make a radical change like becoming a vegetarian to escape the dangerous cycle of always

Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

wanting more. To practice selfrestraint, you need only to sacrifice a little. Whether it’s time spent on the computer or money spent on unnecessary additions to your wardrobe, giving up a little each day creates a good habit of learning to live without taking too much. Even the slightest of changes is still a step in the right direction toward learning to

eliminate constant want.

While it may seem like a challenge at first, practicing selfrestraint is key in overcoming society’s call for excess. I’ll try to keep this in mind this Thanksgiving and let the plate of turkey pass right through my hands.

K.C. McConnell can be reached at kmcconnell@stoganews.com.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

PAGE 11 THE SPOKE

OP/ED

Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

To t h e Ed i to r

Celebrating gluttony

Dear Editor,

Letters Policy

What are you agitated about? Do you have an opinion about something we’ve published? The Spoke will print letters of general interest to the student body and community. Signed letters under 200 words may be submitted to the editorial board. E-mail us at spoke@stoga.net.

stoganews

.com

Go online to comment on our articles

Although I was unable to attend the 2010 Homecoming Dance, my little sister (a freshman) attended the traditional Conestoga social event. When I asked her if she had fun at her first Conestoga dance, she told me that “the article in The Spoke was right,” that the dancing was uncomfortable to watch and even disgusting. She even admitted to me that she and her friends did not dance at all, but rather stood around and watched the Phillies game.

While I do think that “Dirty Dancing” (Oct. issue) accurately describes the dancing habits of the majority of Conestoga students, we need to remember that not everyone dances that way, and that no one has to dance that way.

Conestoga should also keep in mind that no one should be excluded from the fun! The whole point of Homecoming is to have fun with your friends, not to sit on the sidelines and watch baseball (although the Phillies are pretty wonderful).

Callie Clifton Senior Dear Editor, In response to last issue’s centerspread (“Electing to choose,” p. 12 – 13), I’d like to congratulate The Spoke on maintaining a bipartisan view. I particularly appreciated this after reading the unsigned editorial (“Choosing sides,” p. 7), which endorsed the Democratic candidates. As a conservative student, I feel that this editorial did a disservice to the more conservativeleaning students and should have focused more on civic engagement, which would have been beneficial to all students. The article only gave the views of the Democratic candidates when students might have wanted to know both parties’ views. By endorsing these candidates, The Spoke contradicted the bipartisan feeling that the centerspread invoked and instead didn’t allow students to form their own opinions about issues. If we were given information about all candidates’ views on issues like education and the environment, we as conscientious students could have exercised our civic rights and chosen our own sides.

Jillian Koresko Senior

Anjuli Patel Operations Director When the pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Indians in 1621, I don’t think I was the kind of Indian they had in mind for the future.

Then again, I don’t think they realized this celebration would go on for the next (almost) 400 years.

Thanksgiving doesn’t stand for what it used to, which may be a good thing, as I don’t think we’ve celebrated a bounty of crops in about 200 years— at least on the Main Line.

For my family, it’s a way to connect my Indian heritage with American culture. We keep the Indians, replace the hatchets with footballs and trade bonnets for cornucopia centerpieces—essentially Thanksgiving at the Patel household.

Regardless of our heritage or traditions, those of us who are celebrating are awaiting the dreaded question, “What are you thankful for?”

I like to use this time to do some self-reflecting, rather than spit out the same, cookie-cutter response every year. More specifically, this year, I’m not afraid to admit that I’m thankful for passing physics, finishing all my standardized testing and having both curry and gravy at my Thanksgiving dinner.

I’m still not sure why everyone

says the same thing every year as we go around the table—perhaps they’re too busy eyeing up the turkey to be creative. By going for the clichéd answers, though, you’re really not saying much at all about yourself. Are you trying to express the importance of being generic?

We’re all thankful for our family, friends and good health, but that can go without saying. There’s a reason those are considered typical responses: those are things we should be thankful for and appreciate every day.

Instead, say what’s on your mind.

We all have our own ways of celebrating Thanksgiving: for some people that means avoiding the holiday altogether, while for me that means trying to find a balance between my Indian and American backgrounds.

Even though my family won’t be celebrating a successful harvest in three days, there’s nothing wrong with modernizing old traditions.

Thanksgiving isn’t what it supposedly was in the 1600s—it’s better. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your beliefs are, Thanksgiving is open to everyone living in America (and Canada, if you want to celebrate in October). Even if the holiday doesn’t represent effective farming techniques anymore, it’s a reason to invite family and friends over to your house.

But above all these newfangled traditions and an increased appreciation for more abstract things, I’m most thankful that Beardvember is almost over.

Anjuli Patel can be reached at apatel@stoganews.com.

T

by Emily Omrod, Staff Reporter

Seniors Andy Bazany, Cassidy Stevens and Ted Lewis rescue dozens of library books from the trash, one book at a time.

Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE

Features

hese three local superheroes, the “Dumpster Divers,” are joining the ranks of Batman, Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk.

Spurred by Bazany’s fascination with dumpster diving, the boys visit local libraries on Wednesdays, take discarded books out of dumpsters, compile a list of the rejected titles in a Facebook note and distribute the books to students in school the next day.

“We found a couple of boxes worth of books one time and decided, ‘Why should we let these go to waste? Why don’t we just take them?’” Bazany said.

The three have received a positive response from students which Lewis

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

calls a “striking success.” With fiction titles ranging from “Wicked” to “Romeo and Juliet,” and non-fiction books covering topics from selfhelp to Shakespeare, Conestoga’s students have enthusiastically given these discarded books a second chance.

Despite positive responses from students, the libraries have responded differently to the issue. Joseph Sherwood, director of the Tredyffrin Library, expressed concern for the students’ safety. “‘Dumpster diving’ is dangerous,” Sherwood said. “They could fall and get hurt getting into or out of the dumpster. If we see them, we’re going to ask them to stop. The

quote, ‘It’s fun until someone gets hurt’ comes to mind.”

The Dumpster Divers are not fazed by the library’s stance. In fact, they find it slightly comical.

“You could get a paper cut at libraries or you could fall down the stairs. That’s very dangerous too,” Stevens said.

Despite the library’s response, the Dumpster Divers continue to expand their mission. They hope to establish a book swap for students to share popular dumpster books and plan to donate all leftover books to charity at the end of the year.

Emily Omrod can be reached at eomrod@stoganews.com.

FEATURES

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

PAGE 15 THE SPOKE

‘Alice’: After tea party ends, time to tidy up Mary Turocy Features Editor

everything that was part of the production.

Immediately after the last show, the Stage Crew adds a prop from the show to their collection of “trophies” that decorate the control booth in the back of the auditorium.

“We grab a funny or interesting prop that is easy to hang up,” senior and stage manager Shannon Martin

for what they will add this year.

“The Caterpillar will be smoking a hookah, [so we might take As soon as the curtain falls, bedthat] or the tea set from the Mad lam breaks out in the main lobby.

Hatter’s table,” Martin said.

The audience waits to congratulate After returning home, some of the cast members as they emerge the cast members begin the surprisfrom the double doors leading ingly laborious effort of removing backstage. The actors, wearing the makeup that helps to bring street clothes and stage makeup, each character to life. It takes 15 hug and kiss friends and family, minutes of work with baby wipes, receive bouquets of cream cleansers, soap colorful flowers and and water to remove the sign autographs for makeup, which takes the youngest audithree hours to apply. ence members. “[Even so,] we have Although this purple eyebrows for spontaneous gatherdays,” said junior Sarah ing represents the Stern, who played one of end of the magic of the Cheshire Cats.

“Alice in WonderBeginning the morn- Lighting director Michael Starner land,” the efforts of ing after the last show, the people involved costume designer Susan in the show continue for days after said. “[We do it] so we always have De Jong spends 20 to 25 hours the show closes. The actors, stage memories of past shows.” sorting, washing, airing and putmanager, costume director and The collection includes pieces ting away the costumes for the lighting director of the fall drama, from shows since 2007, when they entire cast. She said that the clean which ended Nov. 20, celebrate picked up masks from the masquer- up for “Alice in Wonderland” will their achievements while tearing ade ball in “Sweeney Todd.” The be easier than the spring musical down, packing up and putting away Stage Crew has already made plans because of the smaller cast. However, organizing the massive costume closet is still no easy feat.

“When I started [about 15 years ago] there was no costume closet and now I would say we have about 1,000 pieces,” De Jong said.

“Organization is very difficult because everything is always moving around [backstage]. We organize things just to find that someone dumped all of our boxes.”

De Jong finds the clean up after a successful show to be tougher emotionally compared to

“I always take a minute to remember all the cool stuff that happened in that space and all the people that enjoyed it.”

Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE

Senior stage manager Shannon Martin stands on the set of ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ She has been stage manager since her sophomore year. the buildup of excitement during rehearsals.

“The aftermath is the hardest part, because after all the preparation for production, there’s nothing to look forward to,” De Jong said.

A few days later, lighting direc-

Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE

tor Michael Starner and set designer Noah Austin spend the school day “striking” or “loading out” the set; theater terms for tearing down two months of hard work in a number of hours.

“We take everything apart, lay every piece on the ground, and decide what to keep and what to throw away,” Starner said.

He added that they will save approximately two-thirds of the set from “Alice in Wonderland,” mostly structural elements and framework, in the loft above the stage for future shows.

Starner has mixed emotions about destroying a major element of what makes such a magical show possible.

“Art is a verb, not a noun, [so] it doesn’t bother me to tear it all down.

It’s about the process, not about the product,” Starner said. “[But] I always take a minute to remember all the cool stuff that happened in that space and all the people that enjoyed it.”

Costume designer Susan De Jong [left] and the other costume de- Mary Turocy can be reached at signers spend 20 hours washing and storing costumes after the show. mturocy@stoganews.com.

PAGE 16 THE SPOKE

m nd

FEATURES

the

THAT SHA+PE MINDS

Miss Jane

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

Jane McGregor, Substitute Teacher

by Mary Turocy, Features Editor

The SPOKE: Why do you go by Miss Jane?

J.M.: It is friendlier, and it is also fewer syllables. It started with the young kids. I was involved in an after school program in Great Valley at Katie Markley Elementary School. Everybody went by their first name and the little kids always [called me] “Miss Jane.” It seemed to ring and the kids loved it.

The SPOKE: Where else do you teach?

J.M.: I also teach in Great Valley.

The SPOKE: What makes T/E School District special?

J.M.: I really love Tredyffrin/Easttown. I find it very warm and friendly here and everybody seems to be helpful. It’s quite lovely. The students are the best part.

The SPOKE: What advice would you give to high school students?

J.M.: Be true to yourself. Don’t be a fake, and follow your dream.

The SPOKE:What advice would you give to other substitute teachers?

J.M.: Try to be a friend to the students and to the teachers you’re covering for as well. Try to bridge the gap and you will be in good shape.

The SPOKE:What do you like to do in your spare time?

J.M.: A lot of different things. I like to travel when I can afford it. I’m an avid gardener when I have the time, and I do a lot of hiking.

The SPOKE: Do you have a favorite flower?

J.M.: Orchids. I love to grow them, because they are so exotic and so rare.

The SPOKE: Where do you like to hike?

J.M.:Sometimes I go abroad. I have done a lot of hiking in Ireland, which I enjoy a lot. Around this area, several times I have done a little bit of hiking in Valley Forge Park.

Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE Design by Brooke Weil

The SPOKE: What extracurricular activities were you involved in during high school?

J.M.: On the high school paper, I was the artist on the staff. I worked on the scenery too, background scenery [for the school plays].

Quotes: “Less is

Favorites

more!” and “Keep it simple.”

T.V. Show: Natural and historical documentaries on PBS, Comedy

Subject to teach: Art and other Music: “Paint The Sky with Stars” and creative subjects

“Shepherd Moons” by Enya, “I Dreamed

Hobbies: Gardening, hiking A Dream” by Susan Boyle and travel when I can afford Book: “Monet’s Table” by Claire Joyes it, especially to Ireland

Movie: “The Sound of Music”

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

PAGE 17 THE SPOKE

FEATURES

A project with pulse David Kramer Staff Reporter While the word “pulsera” means “bracelet” in Spanish, the pulseras sold at Conestoga represent hope to senior Mandy Patterson and dozens of children in Nicaragua.

In the summer of 2009, Patterson traveled with twelve of her family members and family friends to Los Quinchos, a shelter for orphaned, abused and abandoned children in San Juan del Sur. The trip formed the basis of the Pulsera Project; an organization that raises money for the children of Los Quinchos by selling bracelets, mainly at 40 schools and 19 colleges and universities nationwide. The majority of the schools are in Pennsylvania, but some schools sell bracelets as far south as Texas and as far west as Wisconsin.

The group originally intended to combine a vacation with some one-time volunteer work, never imagining the life-long relationship they would form with the Ni-

caraguans.

“We thought all we were going to do was cook a spaghetti dinner for them,” said Sue Patterson, Mandy Patterson’s aunt and cofounder of the Pulsera Project.

The group formed close bonds with the children and spent the week playing with them, taking them to the beach and treating them to dinner. They were moved by the children’s spirit and optimism.

“They were the most joyful kids any of us have even been around, and we knew it wasn’t going to end [when we left],” Sue Patterson said.

Mandy Patterson also said she felt an immediate bond with the children.

“They had never seen love but they were open to it,” she said.

“The connection was instant.”

When the children gave the group colorful knotted pulseras as going-away presents, the volunteers were inspired to buy more and sell them in the United States to raise money for the children.

“They really had nothing and we knew we could use all of our resources from home to make life better for them,” Mandy Patterson said.

Sue Patterson and her husband and son run the day-to-day organization with help from other members of the original group.

The group has raised $40,000 so far to build a small library in a vacant building near the children’s homes, paint the girls’ sleeping area and buy food, shoes and school uniforms.

Mandy Patterson helped to lead a trip back to Nicaragua in July for students who contributed to the project by selling bracelets at their high schools.

She also sells bracelets at local events such as the Chester County Restaurant Festival and the Goshen Fair, spreading the word about the project and talking to people who might be interested in selling the bracelets at their own schools.

At Conestoga she is the president of the Pulsera Project club, which has raised approximately

Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE

Senior Mandy Patterson is the president of the Pulsera Project club at Conestoga. The club has raised about $3,000 for the Pulsera Project by selling bracelets outside of the cafeteria during the school day.

Courtesy the Pulsera Project

A Nicaraguan child diplays pulseras. The Pulsera Project’s goal is to“color the world” by supporting the children and their culture. $3,000 solely by selling the bracelets for $5 each.

“I’m so proud of her,” club adviser Timothy Husband said. “She does everything: gets people together, sells bracelets, makes posters.”

Mandy Patterson said the Pulsera Project has affected her outlook on life.

“It changed my perspective

on everything in my world that I take for granted,” she said. “It has given me a reality check on how the world really is and how we can help.”

Features Editor Mary Turocy contributed to this article.

David Kramer can be reached at dkramer@stoganews.com.

PAGE 18 THE SPOKE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

FEATURES

Conestoga boys sing proudly on international scale Dana Bronzino Staff Reporter Standing on the field at Citizens Bank Park, sophomore Alex Carré marveled at the immense crowd surrounding him on all sides and savored the opportunity to see baseball stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley warm up nearby. Meanwhile, some of his fellow choir members tried to resist looking at themselves on the Jumbotron.

As members of the prestigious Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale, Carré, in addition to senior David Dicurcio and freshman Ian Wolfe, had the honor of singing the national anthem at the Phillies playoff game on Oct. 16. Although membership in the selective choir provides the boys with unique experiences, it also requires dedication and sacrifice.

Auditions are highly competitive. Boys from all over the area,

including other states, come to sing in front of a panel of judges who evaluate aural ability—the ability to detect notes and pitches, and vocal ability. Only one in 50 boys are accepted each year, making selection into the choir a significant achievement.

“After you have been accepted into the choir, you must also learn a dozen songs before you

“The music is sometimes very complicated, because we have the luxury of choosing boys from all over with the highest ability.

Much of our repertoire comes from the same repertoire that professional adult choirs sing,” Smith said. “We have a rigorous performance schedule with over 40 performances each year.”

With the commitment to the group, some boys struggle to balance schoolwork and other activities.

“It does cut in to my social life. Singing at least one concert a weekend can interfere with hanging with friends,” Carré said. “And sometimes I don’t even see my family on Christmas Day. It takes dedication, but it’s brought me a lot of opportunities.”

Senior David Gleichman, an alumnus of The Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale, remembers how much time he spent practicing and performing.

“I wasn’t able to play sports because of rehearsals,” Gleichman said. “And for many Independence Days, I wasn’t able to spend time with my family; I’d be in Philadelphia singing.”

Though it requires a serious time commitment, there are many perks to being part of such an elite group. The Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale annually performs at a variety of local places, including at Phillies games, “The Nutcracker” with the Pennsylvania Ballet, church concerts and City of Philadelphia performances, as well as on local and national TV shows. The choir also travels internationally to Europe, South America and Asia.

DiCiurcio said that one of his fondest memories came from performing abroad.

“Sometimes while sightseeing we decided to hold impromptu concerts,” he said. “We sang ‘Amazing Grace’ on top of the Great Wall of China.”

Sophomore Carré said he believes that the experiences abroad have helped him become more responsible, while allowing him to expand his horizons.

“You meet people from very

“It takes dedication, but it’s brought me a lot of opportunities.”

- Sophomore Alex Carré can earn your blazer and perform with the choir,” Wolfe said. “The tryouts are very different from school tryouts.”

Music director Jeffrey Smith stressed the choir’s challenging musical curriculum.

Courtesy Kenny Kavalkovich

The Philadelphia Boys’ Choir and Chorale performs at a 2009 Phillies game. Senior David DiCiurcio is fourth from the left in the back

Courtesy David DiCiurcio

Senior David DiCiurcio stands on the field after singing the national anthem at the Phillies NLCS playoff game on Oct. 16. diverse backgrounds,” Carré said. “It also showed me how to be on my own at such a young age in a foreign country.”

With the opportunity to travel abroad, pursue a love for music and create strong friendships, the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale has a large impact on participants’ lives. Gleichman is still appreciative of the choir’s role in his musical growth.

“On a training side, my time in the choir helped me to improve my pitch memory and taught me to read music,” Gleichman said.

“But it definitely helped me to determine how much music means to me, and solidified [my desire] to perform for the rest of my life.”

Dana Bronzino can be reached dbronzino@stoganews.com.

Go online to stoganews

.com

for photo galleries of recent concerts, including the Justin Bieber concert

Rocking out on the Main Line

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

Kelly Benning Staff Reporter

The Main Line School of Rock appears to be a nondescript store in a strip mall, wedged between a yoga studio and an empty Curves building, hidden behind a Papa John’s. However, on the inside, the school is a haven for the area’s aspiring rock stars.

“It’s my own little oasis,” senior Brendan McShane said.

The School of Rock was founded in Philadelphia in 1998 and is now a national business. Despite the school’s relatively local beginnings, the Main Line School of Rock opened in 2009 on Lancaster Road in Berwyn. Now, the school draws students from Conestoga and other local schools.

Students take private lessons in guitar, bass, drums, keyboard or vocals for 45 minutes once a week, and participate in a threehour supervised group rehearsal to prepare for their culminating show, performed in front of a live audience.

“It’s all about rock and roll.

[During] the first performance you definitely get a little jittery, but there’s all the smoke and lights and you really feel like a rock star,” sophomore Noah Miller said.

Junior Brie Sommese, a bass player and vocalist who performed in two past shows, said that performing is an emotional experience.

“During a song, it’s like everyone is connected in some way and you can feel everyone’s energy flowing through you,” Sommese said. “There’s nothing better than knowing that everyone is playing their heart out for that one moment of perfection.”

Past shows have included tributes to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Beatles. This year the school will present a tribute to the Rolling Stones on Jan. 21 and 22, David Bowie on Jan. 28 and 29 and Guns N’ Roses vs. Motley Crue Feb. 4 and 5.

Sophomore Aubrey Doherty attended two School of Rock concerts last year and said she was impressed by the quality of the performances.

“It was excellent,” Doherty

PAGE 19 THE SPOKE

FEATURES

NEW

ALBUMS Natalie West, Staff Reporter

Guster “Easy Wonderful” Universal Republic Records Oct. 2010 For fans of: Ben Folds, O.A.R.

Courtesy Brie Sommese

Sophomore Noah Miller plays drums in a concert at the Main Line School of Rock in Berwyn. The October concert was a fundraiser for Delta Squad, the house band of the School of Rock. said. “It was a ton of fun to watch because they had costumes, lights and everything. They really get into it.”

The students in the practice groups said that they become tight-knit while preparing for the performances “During the shows, we’re all like one big family just creating and playing some amazing music,” Sommese said.

McShane, Sommese and senior Brendan Bird are also members of a house band called Delta Squad.

The band members are are among the most experienced musicians at the Main Line branch. Delta Squad performs at locations outside the School of Rock, including an upcoming performance on Nov. 27 at Suburban Square in Ardmore. The band is also planning a trip to Cleveland during spring break, and is considering a trip to Ireland in the summer.

The staff at the School of Rock

Since the members of Guster met on their first day of college in 1991, the band has stayed true to themselves— a group of quirky musicians with a definite sound and irresistible disposition. “Easy Wonderful” offers nothing more and nothing less.

As their sixth studio album, their new release sticks to the full-bodied sound and vocal harmonies that their devoted followers know so well.

Guster began as an acoustic trio releasing independent albums and eventually kick-started their career with the release of their first official studio record, “Long and Gone Forever,” in 1999. Since then, their hits “Satellite,” “Amsterdam” and “Care-

Courtesy guster.com

ful” have earned them a certain degree of fame.

“Easy Wonderful” is the perfect soundtrack to a sunny day. With one upbeat, buoyant track after another, this new release is everything a Guster fan could ask for. Features such as the ukulele in the beginning of “What You Call Love” and the synths on “Do What You Want” add unique touches to the album, but tracks like “Architects and Engineers” are similar to their previous songs. The peppy lead single “Do You Love Me” shines as the definite highlight of the album, making “Easy Wonderful” capable of brightening almost anyone’s day.

Matt & Kim strongly emphasizes educating “Sidewalks” the next great musicians; most of the staff members have been classically trained in music and music theory. Accordingly, many of the students intend to pursue careers in music.

“I’m very interested [in a musical career] and this school definitely prepares you for different experiences,” Bird said. “They teach you how to record, what you have to do to get a gig and great tricks of the trade.”

Sophomore Noah Miller said he believes he will continue playing at the School of Rock for months and years to come.

“I love this place. Even if I have to get a job to pay for it, it’s just so much fun,” Miller said. “You get absolutely hooked.

You always want to do the next show.”

Kelly Benning can be reached at kbenning@stoganews.com.

Fader Label Nov. 2010 For fans of: Passion Pit, The Postal Service Vampire Weekend, MGMT, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and a plethora of other bands have made Brooklyn an essential component of the current music scene. One of these groups is the dance punk duo of Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino. This happy-golucky twosome formed their band entirely by accident, while experimenting on the drums and keyboard.

Before they knew it, they had a gig, even with a name as lacking in creativity as “Matt & Kim.” A few years later, their hit “Daylight” from their second album “Grand” was constantly stuck in their listeners’ heads.

Courtesy mattandkimmusic.com

Matt & Kim’s sole goal is to get the crowd moving, so it isn’t surprising that “Sidewalks” is full of high-energy dance numbers with loud keyboard melodies. However, their new album took the wonderful exuberance that “Grand” brought to the table a little too far. Songs like “Good for Great” and “Wires” are catchy the first time around, but can be overbearing after a few listens.

The overly happy demeanor of their new album makes “Sidewalks” a bit too much to handle in one sitting, better suited for a dance floor than an iPod.

Sports

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

ELUSIVE GOAL Dolly Prabhu Staff Reporter

After two hours of relentless determination, the Conestoga girls’ soccer team could do nothing more than stare in silence, shocked and motionless on the field as, with minutes of overtime left, a wellplaced shot hit the back of their net with a deafening swoosh. The shot, which put an end to the Pioneers’ playoff run, concluded the game in a 3-2 defeat to Archbiship Wood in the state semifinals.

“In the first half, I don’t think we played as well as we could have,” senior captain Jessica Hirst said. “I think we were really excited and nervous, so we weren’t really playing our game.”

At halftime, the Pioneers found themselves trailing 2-0, and knew they had to step up their game.

Early into the second half, sophomore Salina Williford scored two back-to-back goals, just minutes apart, to tie up the game.

“Coming back from being down 2-0 showed how badly everyone wanted to win it,” senior captain Tamzin Ellerbeck said.

Halfway through the second overtime, Archbishop Wood scored to win the game and advance to the state finals, leaving ’Stoga in stunned defeat.

But even in spite of the loss, the girls knew that as contenders in the state tournament, they had come a long way from their shaky start to the season.

“We got way farther than we ever dreamed,” junior captain Chrissy Bradley said. “We weren’t even supposed to make districts, but then we made states and then the semifinals, so we really don’t have any regrets about the season.”

The season was filled with fight after fight for the Pioneers, who started off with a losing record, far below their normal level of

play in recent years. Despite initial setbacks, ’Stoga managed to scrape the 24th seed in the district tournament, and all it took was the perfect combination of luck and skill to propel the Pioneers into the sixth seed out of seven teams in the state championship tournament. Securing the win with an overtime goal by junior Meredith DiRico, the team defeated Central Bucks West 2-1 in the quarterfinals and advanced into the next round, where their state run was cut short.

But, as both the boys and girls know, luck always goes one of two ways. The boys’ team sailed through the regular season, losing only once to rival Penncrest, and built an impressive 22-1-3 this season, winning the Central League and qualifying for the state

tournament.

After an easy 4-0 win over Easton in the first round, the Pioneers suffered a tough 3-2 defeat against Central Dauphin in the quarterfinals. The game, fought hard into overtime, was close, and the team was disappointed to see such an equally matched opponent advance in its stead.

“It was definitely a game we could have won,” senior captain Robbie Rose said. “It’s unfortunate that sometimes the best team doesn’t always win.”

But looking back, the boys are proud of their post-season success and their accomplishments as a team throughout the year.

“Many players did extra work that wasn’t required,” Rose said.

“We all had goals that we wanted to meet, and we put in the extra effort to make these goals happen.”

Throughout the season, this combination of commitment and skill was something to be reckoned

with, and the success is likely to continue. Both teams have taken on many new talented players and are ready for successful seasons next year.

The graduating seniors are understandably reluctant to say goodbye, but are glad to end their last season on a successful note, with such a strong finish after questionable beginnings. The girls are happy to look back on their season as a successful—though unexpected—run to the state semifinals, win or lose.

“It’s sad to leave the girls behind,” Hirst said. “But we proved a lot of [skeptics] wrong this year.”

Dolly Prabhu can be reached at dprabhu@stoganews.com.

Above photographs left to right: Sophomores T-Ben Donnie, Salina Williford and Julianna Bradley.

Photographs by Karolis Panavas and Luke Rafferty.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

SPORTS

PAGE 21 THE SPOKE

Hershey run Titanium: Grand slam or grand scam?

Cross country at states

Maddie Amsterdam Staff Reporter

With handmade signs stating “Run Shannon run!” and “Go Maddie!” in each hand, senior James Ferguson cheered on his female teammates, just seconds apart from each other, across the finish line at the cross country state championships. After qualifying at the District meet, Ferguson, along with senior Maddie Klebe and freshman Shannon Sweeney, joined over 600 of Pennsylvania’s top runners to compete on the 3.1-mile course in Hershey, Pa. Ferguson won the Central League meet and led the team to its first victory in 30 years. Although the boys finished in a heartbreaking 6th place at districts—one spot away from qualifying for states as Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE a team—Ferguson Senior Maddie Klebe was able to ad- runs at the state meet vance to states in Hershey, Pa. individually, and placed 42nd at the state meet.

“It was quite the experience, with the state’s top runners with whom you can honorably associate yourself,” Ferguson said.

Klebe, who placed 108th at states this year, was the only ’Stoga girl to qualify for the state meets in 2008 and 2009, and said she appreciated Sweeney’s companionship this season.

“For the past three years I haven’t really had someone to push me as well as Shannon does,” Klebe said. “Having her there makes races easier to get through.”

The girls ran together for most of the race and Sweeney, who finished right behind Keleb, placed 118th. Klebe said that she and is thrilled with Sweeney’s success, and is reassured by the strength she sees in her younger teammates. The boys’ team faces a bright future as well, and Ferguson also has high hopes for his teammates next year.

“The depth and dedication this year was unbelievable,” Ferguson said. “I have no doubt that the team will continue to succeed long after I’m gone.”

Maddie Amsterdam can be reached at mamsterdam@stoganews.com.

Student atheletes talk about Phiten sportswear

Jenna Spoont Staff Reporter

Children wear Silly Bandz, athletes wear Phiten.

The trendy titanium necklaces, sold by Japanese company Phiten Co., are sweeping the nation, providing baseball players and other athletes with boosts of energy and alleviating discomfort throughout the body.

Imported from Japan and sported by major leaguers Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum to name a few, the necklaces and bracelets come in all shapes and styles, everything from the traditional black to Hello Kitty.

What started out as a titanium tape, developed by founder Yoshihiro Hirata in 1983, has expanded to include a franchise of shirts, socks, lotion and sweatbands, all aimed to improve and balance the flow of energy throughout the body.

“Athletes are always looking for a competitive edge and they’re always looking to somehow improve their performance,” said Dr. John McShane, Sports Medicine Specialist and Conestoga parent.

“I think a device as simple as a necklace is easy to do.

There’s no harm in it, and if they believe that it will help them, then they’re going to give it a try.”

Senior golfer and baseball player Brian Cizek decided to do just that. After seeing professionals were them on Courtesy Phiten Co. ESPN day after day, he thought the product was worth a try and purchased a bracelet at the local Golf Galaxy.

“Anything that can give you an edge, I think there’s no harm in trying it,” Cizek said.

Phiten claims that the necklaces alleviate discomfort, speed recovery and counteract fatigue through the balancing of energy, but the Food and Drug Administration has refused to approve any of these claims, and not all Conestoga students are fans of the product. Junior football player

Adam Goins decided to buy a titanium bracelet after it was recommended to him by a fellow teammate, but soon stopped following the Phiten fad.

“I started wearing the bracelet and I got sick the next week,” Goins said. “It also hurt my knee so I stopped.”

Nevertheless the trend continues to climb, and Phiten asserts that users feel less fatigue, less stress and less pain after an injury. “[Athletes] are being convinced that there’s some benefit and often times that positive thinking will help them play better,” McShane said. “I think it’s not the real effect from the titanium, it’s a placebo effect.”

Phiten fans may be dealing with just that: a state of mind in which a person believes their conditions has improved. Titanium creates heat, which prevents the free nerve endings from sending pain signals to the brain. According to Phiten, athletes can usually feel the difference right away after wearing the products.

“When I first put it on, I did notice that I felt a little bit better,” Cizek said.

Although the medical benefits of titanium have yet to be decided, continue to be worn by athletes all over the country.

“If they make someone think that it’s having an effect, that’s sometimes as good as really having an effect,” McShane said.

Proven or not, placebo or no, these Phiten titanium necklaces may just be the next popular boost in the neck-in-neck race that is the world of competitive sports.

Jenna Spoont can be reached at jspoont@stoganews.com.

Senior Brian Cizek wears his titanium bracelet while playing golf and baseball for Conestoga.

The titanium bracelets, manufactured

by Phiten Co., range in price from $25 to $85.The bracelets are permeated with aqua titanum and contain microtitanium spheres, which are printed directly onto the material.

Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE

PAGE 22 THE SPOKE

ƒ

SPORTS

G0

1GUR3

Andy Reid’s current winning percentage with the Eagles Total number of points ever scored in an NFL game, set in 1940

73 Total points scored by Eagles against Redskins on Nov. 15

Combined total penalty kicks taken by both ’Stoga soccer teams

19

Andy Reid tying down Eagles’ wings

Emily Seeburger Staff Reporter Fifty years is often called the Golden Anniversary, but not for the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1960, the Eagles won the NFL Championship—and it hasn’t happened again since. Fans spanning generations have had the chance to watch the Eagles not-quite-get-there for over half a century, and the time has come for things to change.

This season, the Eagles seem to be back on the right path, most recently with a blowout victory over division rivals Washington Redskins on Nov. 15. But, as a team, the Eagles are still far from being potential Superbowl contenders with a head coach who continues to hold back team potential. The once-great Andy Reid will only lose more steam the longer he hangs on to his position.

Reid has been head coach since 1999, when he took the place of Ray Rhodes and the not-so-high-flying Eagles. Rhodes’ last season ended with the team in a three-way tie for the NFL’s worst record at 3-15, and Reid rose to the challenge.

He’s had 11 years to create a dominat-

Total season wins for Conestoga girls soccer

Total minutes of post-season overtime played by ’Stoga All statistics as of Nov. 18

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

Gabriela Epstein/The SPOKE

ing team and, admittedly, he’s had some star moments. He has successfully led the team to many playoff and championship appearances (including a Superbowl in 2004) and was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year in 2002.

Although Reid’s past may be impressive, the problem is that it’s just that: his past. A past that shows quite clearly that although Reid is capable of getting to the Superbowl, he isn’t capable of winning it, and his coaching ineptitudes continue to drag the Eagles down with him.

Reid’s outdated tactics, especially his awful clock management skills, continue to frustrate fans. Timeouts are being wasted and called at outrageous times, and time on the play clock is consistently squandered. The Eagles spend long periods of time in huddles, waiting for a call from Reid. However, the plays he eventually calls inevitably consume too much time on the clock.

Under Reid, the Eagles are passing the ball roughly 60 percent of the time, and with mediocre results. The Eagles can’t continue to rely on Reid’s philosophy of pass, pass, pass in the first half, then strap down and run in the second half. The element of surprise is practically nonexistent as opposing teams also know that the Eagles are notorious for passing first, and are able to plan their defenses accordingly. Even though his philosophy might work at times, Andy Reid needs to prepare a less-predictable offense if the Eagles hope to win more games. Granted, the initial flip-flopping between Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb was largely due to injuries, but Reid’s handling of the circumstances was wholeheartedly inept.

In case the city of Philadelphia needed more proof of Andy Reid’s weaknesses as a coach, it needs only to look at his handling of the quarterback situation. I do not have a problem with Michael Vick; in fact, I’m glad to see him reach his full potential, which manifested in the Redskins game. Vick was able to rack up 59 points, total yards adding up to 592 and set three NFL and franchise records. The situation worked itself out this time around, but it did so simply because of the adaptability of the Eagles’ players, not because Andy Reid made a clear decision from the beginning.

Andy Reid has potential, as evidenced by the team’s winning record over the past years, but he has squandered more opportunities than he has been able to capitalize on. At the end of this season, it will be time for Andy Reid to go. It’s time for the Eagles, and the city of Philadelphia, to move on to bigger and better things.

It’s time to say goodbye to 11 years of Andy Reid. It’s time to make more out of the next 50 years. It’s what’s best.

Emily Seeberger can be reached at eseeberger@stoganews.com.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

PAGE 23 THE SPOKE

SPORTS

#5

Player Profile Nicola Coakley, Midfield

Q: What do you do to get ready for a game?

A: Lafayette College.

Q: Why Lafayette?

Q: What is your favorite pump-up song?

A: It fits perfectly with what I want academically and athletically— a small liberal arts school with a strong field hockey program and great coaches.

A: “My Time” by Fabolous featuring Jeremih.

Q: What is your fondest sports memory?

Q: If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

A: Beating Radnor in overtime three times.

A: I have been playing for six years—I started in seventh grade.

Q: Why did originally decide to play?

A: All of my cousins in Ireland played field hockey and since I had always played soccer I decided to try it out.

A: Compartment Syndrome in my shins.

Q: Where have you committed to play in college?

A: We try to keep the warm-up focused but light-hearted so that everyone is ready for the game but not too anxious. Music definitely helps keep everyone pumped.

Q: How long have you been playing field hockey?

Q: What’s the worst injury you’ve ever gotten?

Q: What is the craziest spirit day you’ve ever done? What was the inspiration?

A: Tennis. You not only have to be extremely fit and skilled but also mentally strong.

A: The Cougar Hunting spirit day was probably the most intense. The seniors created it last year for our game against the Springfield Cougars.

Karolis Panavas and Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE

Q: If you could have any name on the back of your jersey, what would it be?

Q: What has been your favorite aspect of playing for Conestoga?

A: I will definitely miss the team dynamic and the friends I’ve made...and the fans!

A: I’ve always liked the idea of just having the team name on the back of jerseys.

Practice makes perfect: ’Stoga teams hard at work

Volume 61, No. 2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

Student athletes talk about titanium See p. 21

INSIDE

Andy Reid holding back Eagles potential See p. 22

Almost

Goalden

After suffering close defeats in the state tournaments, ’Stoga soccer reflects on season success See p. 20

stoganews Go online for coverage and an extended

.com photo gallery from the soccer season.

Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE