The Spoke December 2015

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his month, the district responded to charges filed against middle school students on Nov. 2. Guidance counselors delivered a series of lessons to students in fifth through 10th grade, focusing on inappropriate use of technology. In addition, Area Residents Caring and Helping (ARCH) presented a program for parents to help them start the

conversation about digital citizenship.

For parents and educators, addressing the dangers of cyberbullying and sexting is still uncharted territory. Until 2012, the word “sexting” was not even in the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary.

Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit photographs or

Debates p. 4

Sexting p. 6

messages via cell phone or other mobile device. When minors are involved, exchanging sexually explicit images is against the law.

Hoping to avoid legal consequences and their parents’ observation, teens may use “vault” applications, which enable a smartphone owner to hide photos behind the face of a typical app. For example, the app “KY-

Ethnic Food p. 9

CALC” appears on home screens as a working calculator, but its real purpose is to cloak images that the users wish to keep hidden.

While sexting is associated with scandal and crime, to this generation, it is perceived as a modern form of flirting.

“From the standpoint of the kids, (sexting) mixes the ele-

Ponchos p. 18

ments of romance and pornography,” Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said. “It is a volatile mixture. You take teens and porn and romance and mix them together — bad things are going to happen.”

See pages 6 and 7 Photos by Betty Ben Dor/The Dor/The SPOKE

Concussions p. 22

News

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Conestoga introduces new AP courses Eric Xue Co-Convergence Editor Conestoga High School is one of more than 350 schools worldwide that will take part in the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone program, a diploma program that the non-profit organization says will equip students with the skills that will allow them to succeed in college.

The administration of Conestoga has been considering participating in the new College Board program, which was developed from feedback given by higher education faculty and college admissions officers, since last spring. It was only recently that administrators came to the consensus that Conestoga will be implementing it into its curriculum.

Currently, the details regarding the program are being planned out by a team of 12 staff members. Principal Dr. Amy Meisinger, one of the members, believes the integration of this new program into the high school curriculum will be beneficial.

“We wanted to do it because we thought it filled a niche that we don’t currently have at Conestoga,” Meisinger said.

“It’s a different kind of course and it allows our kids to have a new experience that they aren’t already receiving here.”

The AP Capstone program incorporates two courses, AP Seminar and AP Research, with the purpose to develop the research, collaboration and communication skills of high school students

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in preparation for their college careers. One must complete the AP Seminar course before he or she can move on to enroll in the AP Research course. Because of this, Conestoga will only include

The Capstone program “is designed to (allow students to pursue their academic passions), and there isn’t any particular restriction as to what those passions are. For Conestoga, it’s a really

already-published sources regarding real-world problems to formulate an arguable thesis backed by supporting evidence, which will, along with an end of the year test, be evaluated for a score out of 5.

Eric Xue/The SPOKE

Looking forward: The AP Capstone program seeks to equip students with the research, collaboration and communication skills that will allow them to succeed in college. Conestoga decided to integrate this program into its curriculum for the 2016-17 school year.

AP Seminar in its list of available courses next year and AP Research the year after. As of now, there are no known grade restrictions on attending either course.

Science teacher Tim Ligget, another member of the planning committee, feels that these two courses will provide a great opportunity for students.

wonderful opportunity to reach many different students (and allow them) to find their voice, to find out what’s passionate for them and how’d they like to communicate. The course allows students to do that in many different ways,” Ligget said.

In AP Seminar, students will be analyzing information from various

AP Research, however, will allow students to individually research and eventually craft their own scholarly paper, which will serve as one of the two forms of evaluation of the student’s proficiency in the research process.

The second form of evaluation comes in the form of an presentation of the findings as well as

an oral defense, in which a student will answer three to four questions asked by a panel of evaluators. Students enrolled in this course will collect their own data while students in the AP Seminar class will use pre-existing data. However, Ligget believes that there are advantages to both courses.

“I see a lot of common (benefits). This is student driven research it’s not like a regular AP course. With Capstone, the idea is to take the restraints (of regular AP courses) away. Students are going to really learn how to work in teams, how to communicate and present and how to understand a single topic in great detail,” Ligget said.

After taking both courses, a student can receive the AP Capstone Diploma if he or she scores a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research in addition to four other AP exams. Otherwise, if a student only scores a 3 or higher on the two tests for the courses of the AP Capstone program and not on four other AP exams, he or she will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

Overall, junior Roxanna Fouladi thinks that the new program will allow students to discover their passions and figure out what they want to pursue.

“It would be an incredible opportunity for students if Conestoga offered research during the day,” Fouladi said. “The opportunity to independently test out different areas of study would help students explore their passions at their own pace and in more depth than normal classes.”

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

News

Ethics Bowl Team makes nationals for first time Jeff Xue Staff Reporter Imagine the following scenario: a person is cleaning up their store after hours, preparing to go home, when suddenly another person enters. The stranger begins to demand money and a physical struggle occurs. Fearing that the stranger has a gun, the store owner takes his own gun and fatally shoots the offender out of self-defense. The question is, was this justified?

Such was a case considered by the Ethics Bowl Team, a group within Conestoga’s Philosophy Club that participates in the annual Ethics Bowl competitions. This year marks ’Stoga’s first year advancing to the national tournament.

Ethics Bowl is a type of competition that is gaining a lot of momentum at the collegiate and high school levels. In this competition, teams are paired up each round in a tournament-style format to debate one of 15 cases. These cases are released prior to the day of the competition, allowing teams to review them and come up with solutions beforehand. The teams then present their solutions at the competition.

What separates Ethics Bowl debates from other debate styles is that

Caleigh Sturgeon/The SPOKE

Ethically driven: The Ethics Bowl Team poses at Villanova University after winning the regional competition. They went undefeated and will advance to nationals at the University of North Carolina in April. the goal is not to see which team has a more correct answer, but rather which team can better defend the solution they presented. In fact, it is not uncommon for opposing teams to present the same solution to a case. Many participants from Conestoga, including senior Evan Snyder, note that they particularly like this discussion-based organization.

“I loved being involved in the discussion-style format of the Ethics Bowl, and I just loved the nature of

combining ethics with philosophy and debate in such a way that I was happy to be a part of it,” Snyder said.

The club has developed significantly since its recent conception.

Snyder, who has been on the team for three years, notes that it has become more integrated into Conestoga’s culture by the year.

“When I got involved, in only its second or third year running, not many people knew of Ethics Bowl.

It was just a branch off of debate,

and it was this obscure thing where if I talked to my friend about Ethics Bowl, a lot of them don’t know what I’m talking about. It’s evolved into something that more people understand as a unique form of debate that combines unique thinking of philosophy and ethics into the structured format of a debate,” Snyder said.

Social Studies teacher John Koenig, the club’s sponsor, has noticed the rising student interest.

“There are a lot of really dynamic

and interesting students who didn’t think they’d be interested in this type of work. But who tried it out and took the risk and just showed up, and they got hooked,” Koenig said.

“They realized that like anything, (ethical debate is) a skill that can be developed, and they recognized the relevance and the value of it.”

Junior Daden Goldfinger is one of those dynamic new members. He competed for the first time this year, helping Conestoga achieve its victory at regionals.

“The time and effort that I personally spent was a lot,” Goldfinger said. “We divided up the cases, and I really just clamped down on mine and tried to come up with an argument that would stand.”

The team advances to nationals, which will take place in April of 2016 at the University of North Carolina. At club meetings, they work on independent ethics projects as part of Philosophy club. Once the cases for nationals are released in February, they will once again begin to divide cases, study them and draw up solutions to present. In the face of the polarization that characterizes today’s politics, Ethics Bowl aims to prove that debate about serious public issues can be conducted in a compromising and intellectual manner.

Tredyffrin Police honored in week-long event Allan Du Business Manager Blue and white signs dotted yards and roadsides across Tredyffrin for one week last month. Emblazoned with the message, “Thank you Tredyffrin Police. We honor you,” the signs strove to demonstrate the gratitude of local residents towards the men and women who keep the Tredyffrin Township safe.

From Nov. 14-22, the Tredyffrin Township Police Department was showered with gifts and thank-you notes during the township’s first Police Appreciation Week. Conceived by local couple Richard and Donna Sherwin, the movement intends to thank and encourage Tredyffrin police officers for upholding their duty to protect the citizens of the township, as well as to raise money for the police department to purchase new equipment.

A True Blue Community Tree Lighting ceremony kicked off the movement with the lighting of an engineered outdoor Christmas tree in Paoli with blue lights in honor of the officers’ uniform color.

“The tree lighting was one of the most memorable aspects of the event. It was great to be able to shake the hands of the police offi-

Allan Du/The SPOKE

Giving Thanks: Signs posted along roadsides honored the Tredyffrin Police Department. The event collected over $14,000 in donations. cers who attended and thank them in person,” Donna Sherwin said.

The Malvern couple first came up with the idea of starting a police appreciation movement after hearing about the controversy surrounding police treatment of suspects in the wake of recent encounters.

“We were sitting around one day watching television and after seeing all the negative publicity that the police throughout the country were getting, we decided we should go to our local police and let them know we appreciated what they were doing,” Richard Sherwin said.

The idea was further developed by an eight-person committee

formed by the office of Congressman Warren Kampf. ”It was a worthwhile community event for everyone who was involved. The police department enjoyed it and was humbled by the big showing of appreciation so it was rewarding for me to see that it had an impact,” committee member Colleen Eckman said.

Interested residents were given a sign to display in front of their home or business for the duration of the appreciation week. Donations for the police department were also collected by the Sherwins, totaling more than $14,000 including a $1,000 donation from the family themselves.

While talking with lieutenants, Richard Sherwin discovered the police department was in need of a new drug-sniffing canine unit, a new motorcycle to monitor recently built local trails and body cameras to document the movements of officers.

“So many people I had never met before sent me checks with letters and nice notes saying how much they appreciated the police in the township,” Richard Sherwin said.

Chief of Police Anthony Giaimo appreciated the gratitude of the local residents.

“It was a huge morale booster for our officers to know they’re appreciated and it allowed us to connect with the people in our community,” Giaimo said.

The Sherwins plan to turn the Tredyffrin Police Appreciation Week into an annual week-long event towards the end of every November.

“It was rewarding to see how many people cared about the police. I was blown away at how many people were willing to contribute money. Every day checks would come in and I didn’t even know these people,” Richard Sherwin said.

The greatest impact was bestowed upon the officers themselves, who are, after all, the stars of the movement.

“I saw a lot of smiles throughout this event. We do this job because this is a job we love to do and this bit of recognition was very well received by the officers,” Giaimo said.

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News

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Junior places nationally at Siemens Competition Cissy Ming Staff Reporter Voluntarily forgoing family vacations, cross country preseason and other hallmarks of summer, junior Kelly Jiang instead spent her break working 12-hour days in the labs of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center. She collaborated with Methacton High School students Emily Cheng and Gerald Liu, friends from church, to find a new means of detecting early stage cancer using a patient’s urine. The group decided to enter their project in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology, finishing second nationally in team research.

Though four other Conestoga students entered this year and others have entered in past years, Jiang’s achievement marks the first time a student from Conestoga has placed in a national research competition.

When Jiang’s group submitted their research paper for evaluation by Siemens judges for the first stage of the competition, they never anticipated advancing to the national level. As regional finalists, they prepared a poster and gave a 12-minute PowerPoint presentation to a panel from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology followed by

a 10-minute question and answer session. They moved onto the national level after the panelists selected them out of 12 regional finalists.

Jiang recalls the happiness she felt upon hearing the news.

“I kept refreshing the Facebook page (for Siemens competitors) for five minutes before (the notification) finally came up,” Jiang said. “Once I saw my name listed, I was so overjoyed, I couldn’t stop smiling.”

From Dec. 6-8, they attended the national finals at George Washington University in Washington D.C. The first place winners in individual and team research received $100,000 scholarships while the runner ups received $50,000.

Jiang describes their progress as “surreal,” but a “blessing” nevertheless. She attributes her unexpected success to guidance from her mentors at the Biotechnology Center and Cheng, the leader of the group, who had previously conducted research in a laboratory.

“There are a million reasons I could give (for my success), but those people really helped me the most,” Jiang said.

Chemistry teacher Dr. Scott Best, who advised Jiang on her project, hopes her achievement will inspire more interest in science at Conestoga.

“Kelly’s achievement shows that we have a lot of very intelligent students at Conestoga. Hopefully more will go into scientific research as a result (of the group’s performance),” Best said.

Initially, Jiang planned to spend only part of her summer interning at the Biotechnology Center to gain experience working in a laboratory, but became gradually more involved with her research project. A temporary internship through a family friend who worked as a researcher at the Biotechnology Center eventually

became an ongoing partnership that spanned her entire summer, from the end of last school year to the day before she returned to class. Prior to working in the lab, Jiang had never considered a science career and now values the experience she earned.

“It was worth it because you can learn so many things in the lab that just can’t be taught in school. It was great to challenge myself and overcome all my obstacles,” Jiang said.

“Now I realize that I do have a passion for science and how important science is to me.”

Courtesy Kelly Jiang

Top of their field: Methacton High School students Gerald Liu and Emily Chen and junior Kelly Jiang show off their medals at George Washington University. The group won $50,000 for their research on cancer.

According to Jiang, she faced several main obstacles in completing her project and entering it into the Siemens Competition, both individually and as a group. Because Cheng and Liu had already begun the project when she started working in the lab, she says she found it difficult to “jump in.” Jiang describes learning to work in the lab as “challenging,” but learned quickly thanks to help from her partners. She and her partners also had to manage writing their paper and other work for the competition with school.

In the future, the group hopes to continue working on their project throughout next summer and beyond. They plan to publish their findings in a scientific journal within the next year and work towards a clinical application of their testing method. Building off of her current achievements, Jiang remains optimistic about the potential of her project.

“I love how our project has a real world application that will be able to help people. It would make cancer treatment more personalized and testing less hard on the patient,” Jiang said. “I’m really happy with how we did at the competition, but (what we’ve accomplished) can be so much more.”

Young Democrats and Republicans clash in annual debates Jordan Liu Staff Reporter Temper flaring, Young Democrats President Hannah Hyams furiously stormed onto the stage to defend her teammates. She slammed her fist, fiercely protecting her position that immigrants should continue to be admitted to the U.S. The Young Democrats and Young Republicans hosted their annual debate Dec. 4, 2015.

Teams of three representing each club considered a variety of specific issues, including environmental regulation, gun control and immigration. Over 200 spectators watched as peers grappled with many of the pressing issues currently facing the United States.

Young Republicans faculty adviser Dr. Robert DeSipio promotes student debates as a way to become more involved in politics.

“Clubs are really the genesis of students,” DeSipio said. “It’s a bunch of young people interested in current events and what’s going on politically, and they get to talk to their peers about it, who have generally similar notions on what they believe in.”

Over the course of the debate, seven major topics were discussed,

4 The Spoke

Jordan Liu/The SPOKE

Jordan Liu/The SPOKE

Building intensity: Sophomore Mike Hoban and seniors Pedro Acosta and Hannah Hyams formulate a response to the Young Republicans. all of which are considered funda- sonality, as some debates were a mental points in this year’s presi- lot more rowdy than others, but in dential race. Among those were gun the end, the issues were discussed control, immigration, tax reform and and the facts were presented,” Planned Parenthood. Prior to the Hallman said. debate, the Young Democrats and In a typical debate format, each Republicans spent weeks preparing, 10-minute round consisted of coordinating and refining their argu- opening statements, questioning ments within their teams. However, sessions and closing arguments. in the heat of the debate, teams often German and AP Art History teacher deviated from factual argument and Dr. Kevin Nerz moderated the deresorted to emotional appeal. bate, regulating the speaking times While senior Kyle Hallman, a and making sure that the discusYoung Republican, appreciated the sions remained relevant. Though passionate debates, he also recog- the event lasted for one hour and nizes the importance of self-control. 30 minutes, several students felt “Each debate had its own per- restricted by the time limits.

Poised: Senior Zach Kravitz delivers the Young Republicans’position.

Senior Emmy Chen, debating for Young Democrats, encouraged longer debate times, especially considering the significance of the issues.

“These topics are huge,” Chen said. “These are controversial issues that politicians literally spend years discussing and fighting over, and we only had 10 minutes to try to fit it all in.”

Held for the first time in 2005 in an effort to foster political activism and discussion, the Young Democrats and Young Republicans debate has since become a Conestoga tradition, with over 200 students

gathering to watch each year. In keeping with the original goals, Conestoga’s political organizations have increased steadily in membership and involvement, resulting in ongoing discussions of holding a second debate later this year.

Debra Ciamacca, faculty advisor of Young Democrats, believes that while this year’s presidential race will spur additional interest among students, they should continue their involvement outside of presidential years.

“Students should be looking hard about what these candidates are saying about your future: your job, your college, especially looking at tuition and student loans,” Ciamacca said.

Chen hopes that the debate will change Conestoga’s political community and student political involvement as a whole.

“There’s such a stigma that today’s youth — especially high school students — are politically apathetic, but I think this debate just goes to show how involved and energetic Conestoga students are about politics,” Chen said. “I think politics is the kind of thing where the more you learn about it and immerse yourself, the more you start to love it.”

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

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The Spoke 5

News

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Digital decisions that can last a lifetime Andy Backstrom, Paula Miller, Betty Ben Dor Co-Editor-in-Chief, Managing Web Editor, Photography Editor Design by Adam Lockett Continued from p. 1 Background On Nov. 2, Tredyffrin Township police charged three students with sexting, harassment, illegal use of communications facility and transmission of obscene materials. The students charged attended Valley Forge Middle School (VFMS) and Tredyffrin Easttown Middle School (TEMS) at the time of the incident and range in age from 11 to 15 years old.

The girl involved had been pressured to send nude pictures to a boy she was currently dating, but after they ended the relationship, he shared the pictures with friends. He and his friends then allegedly bullied the girl in school and online.

After the investigation began in April, police found that the suspects had photos of other girls as well and that a fourth boy

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had tried to sell sexts to others.

On Nov. 12, the fourth boy was charged with distributing sexually explicit images, although separate from the original case.

The incident made headlines on 6abc and Philly.com, while more extensive sexting scandals surfaced at Kings Park High School in Long Island and Cañon City High School in Colorado within that same week.

In 2012, Pennsylvania passed a statute that made it a crime for juveniles to transmit sexually explicit images. Pennsylvania’s teen sexting law applies specifically to minors involved in the possession or sharing of nude images depicting anyone 12-17 years old. The penalties vary in severity depending on the situation, and the offense may be classified as either a summary offense or misdemeanor. However, if a teen were to possess or share nude pictures of anyone under the age of 12, they would face felony charges for child pornography, as would any adult who possesses, shares or creates sexually explicit material depicting a minor. Teen sexting laws recognize sexting and child pornography as separate issues, helping teens avoid lengthy pris-

on sentences, substantial fines and sex offender registration.

Pennsylvania is one of only 20 states with specific sexting legislation. While the law for each respective state varies, the conduct appears to be consistent throughout the nation.

“Sexting happens all over the U.S. It happens wherever there are teenagers with iPhones or smartphones. It crosses all socioeconomic boundaries, all racial boundaries,” Hogan said.

“Sexting is the way people interact these days and, unfortunately, the laws have not caught up with this.”

-Dr. David DeMatteo, professor at Drexel University As the smartphone era is at hand, almost every child is equipped with a multi-purpose device. With the increase of technology, there are multiple new ways to communicate discreetly.

However, each text, sext or other exchange goes somewhere.

They do not disappear with the swipe of a finger or the press of a button. According to Dr. David DeMatteo, associate professor of psychology and law at Drexel University, each and every message is stored in the Library of Congress along with the associated phone number, forever.

“Imagine if you are 15 years old and you send some message and then you mature, and you are 40 years old and you decide you are going to run for a position in the Senate or a judge or a congressperson. Someone could get those records and say, ‘Hey, when you were 15, you were sending these messages,’” DeMatteo said.

In the digital age, it is all too easy to commit a crime or make a mistake that lasts a lifetime.

“When I was in school, if you were going to do something like this, you (would) have had to take a photograph and have it developed and trade it around.

Having it developed increased the risk of getting caught. That would have stopped most of it.

Technology is a huge difference.

In your pocket, you now have the means of producing what is child pornography,” Hogan said.

Usually, the students are unaware of the ramifications of their actions when sexting, and there is a lack of criminal intent.

DeMatteo believes that Pennsylvania is still “behind the times” in regard to sexting laws, suggesting that sexting should be excluded entirely from classification as a sex offense.

“I think for a lot of people, this is just a standard way of interacting. Back when I was young, you interacted with people in person.

There was no danger that there was going to be any permanent record of it. The worst that could happen would be that you get embarrassed because someone is not receptive to it,” DeMatteo said. “Sexting is the way people interact these days and, unfortunately, the laws have not caught up with this.”

Senior Chris Dreyer feels that, ultimately, it is up to the individuals’ jurisdiction to determine what they share with one another, if consensual.

“It’s everyone’s personal opinion what they want to share with each other, and I mean personally I don’t see any issue as long as you are comfortable with the other person. And if the other person says they won’t share, and they don’t share, then I don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” Dreyer said.

Teaching Digital Citizenship In response to the incident that occurred at the middle schools, the district arranged for guidance counselors to teach a series of digital citizenship lessons to students in fifth through 10th grade. Digital citizenship is a concept that helps teachers, technology leaders and parents to understand what students, children and technology users should know to use technology appropriately.

The lessons supplemented material in the district’s existing digital citizenship program, which has been in place since the 2010-11 school year. The program is designed for first through eighth graders and looks slightly different for each grade.

“It’s definitely a challenge because the things we’re trying to deal with are evolving and changing so rapidly. Schools, we always have to adapt to what our students are facing,” said District Director of Instructional Technology Dr. Michael Szymendera. “From a school perspective, ours is really trying to

proactively teach kids about how to be responsible, ethical users of technology.”

At the middle school level, digital citizenship has been incorporated into the HERO program, which focuses on anti-bullying lessons during homeroom every other week.

Students have one lesson related to digital citizenship, including topics like digital footprints and cyberbullying, four times a year. The middle schools also responded to the recent incident by adding a more focused lesson covering safe Internet usage both at school and with friends.

Using Common Sense Media as their basis for the district-wide lessons, Szymendera and other administrators met with the counselors to discuss how the lessons would play out.

“I think it’s really one of the points of emphasis in the lessons that as a student, and even as an adult, you can sometimes find yourself in a bad position

“We always have to adapt to what our students are facing.”

-Dr. Michael Szymendera, Director of Instructional Technology with technology that is through no fault of your own,” Szymendera said. “We want to make sure that we give them strategies, because there are appropriate ways you can get out of that situation.”

Guidance counselors at the middle schools began delivering the lessons on Nov. 11 during advisory periods in order to address the issue in smaller groups.

“We added a focused lesson recently to help our students understand and navigate these complex issues as they may have heard about recent issues related to inappropriate uses of technology,” TEMS Principal Andy Phillips said. “We shared the content of this lesson with parents, and the feedback was very supportive. The students also shared that they got a lot out of the lessons.”

Continued on p. 7

News

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Digital decisions that can last a lifetime Continued from p. 6 At Conestoga, while the 11th and 12th graders attended an assembly on mental health, the underclassmen had their lessons on appropriate digital conduct. The lessons, which included real-life examples, focused on two main goals: to help students recognize inappropriate use of technology and to provide them with strategies if they find themselves in an inappropriate scenario. The counselors also went over some of the lesser-known school rules on technology, including the rule that students are not allowed to take pictures in school without the permission of a teacher.

“I think there was definitely a scare factor and I think that scared people into thinking that’s not what they should do,” sophomore Jack Broadhurst said. “I think this is a problem in general because even though it was middle school kids that were caught, it really does go on everywhere.”

However, it is unclear whether these lessons will have a lasting impact.

“It’s sort of like those HERO lessons we used to have in middle school; they are kind of just reminders but most people don’t actually really follow through. And then when it comes down to it, they don’t know what to do,” freshman Emma Chan said.

Parenting Technology In his 20 years in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District (TESD), VFMS Principal Matthew Gibson has witnessed changes in the ways students communicate.

“I think that the teenage years have always been years of exploration and taking chances and, because of technology, those chances and those behaviors in many ways have a greater sense of permanency than they used to,” Gibson said.

The rapid changes in technology present challenges not only to schools but families as well.

“Some of the issues that kids and adults really deal with now are new because of technology,” Szymendera said. “It’s not of technology, those chances and those behaviors in many ways have a greater sense of permanency than they used to,” Gibson said.

In hopes of creating an open dialogue for families and community members to discuss these 21st century issues, Area Residents Caring and Helping (ARCH) presented a program specifically for parents on Monday, Dec. 14. The program included a screening of the CNN documentary “#Being13: Inside the Secret World of Teens,” an overview of the digital citizenship curriculum in T/E and a question-and-answer session.

Over 50 parents of elementary, middle and high school students attended the evening program at TEMS. “#Being13,” which originally aired in October, studied more than 800 eighth-graders across the country whose social media accounts were monitored

through an app that archived all of their posts. The documentary analyzed these posts, which were often explicit, uncovering topics like subtweeting, fake accounts and revenge porn. As the teens in the film discussed these topics, parents attending the screening shook their heads in disbelief, visibly upset.

“That 13-year-old kids are using those words and sending text messages and photos of nude pictures is really unbelievable,” said Raj Gaddameedi, a parent of a fourth grade student at Valley Forge Elementary School.

The documentary highlighted the addiction to social media that many teens experience and the loneliness and anxiety that results. But despite all of its problems, the researchers also noted that social media can be a positive tool for communication and support. Gibson cautions against assuming the worst of today’s technology.

“Most students most of the time use the technology in a very safe manner. And that is something that is important to remember because technology can also help us in so many ways and (we need to make sure) that we harness the positive capabilities of the technology to the benefits of our students and staff,” Gibson said.

One reassuring finding of the “#Being13” study was that the distress teens experience as a result of social media can be reduced when parents more actively monitor their kids’ accounts.

Gibson emphasizes the key role of parents and teachers.

“As a society, social media is here. And I think it’s important that the adults in kids’ lives work

to make sure that social media works on the kids’ behalf when they’re exposed to it,” Gibson said.

Kim Zahlaway, a clinical social worker and board member

limits on device use and encourage positive behavior.

“I will let them know that they will be monitored, and I hope to have weekly conversa-

Betty Ben Dor/The SPOKE Teaching Awareness: Guidance counselor Laureen McGloin presents an interactive lesson on digital citizenship. Ninth and tenth graders attended the inner-school lessons on Thursday Dec.10. of ARCH, spoke at the meeting about strategies for parents to do just that. She encouraged parents to have open conversations with their kids and to familiarize themselves with social media. While she shared different apps available to monitor social media, Zahlaway stressed the importance of communication within families.

“I think that the guidelines and the restrictions that you use have to relate to your family and your children,” Zahlaway said.

“There’s not a lot of concrete rules and guidelines so you really have to use your judgment and do your own research into the applications and services that are available.”

Erica Barnes, a parent of fourth and fifth grade students in the district, hopes to delay her children’s social media use. In the future, Barnes plans to set time

tions with them about the conversations that they’re having online,” Barnes said.

A lot of gray area still exists in regard to parenting, education and even the law when it comes to sexting, social media and digital citizenship. While there is no clear-cut solution, many community members share the same goal.

“I think you just want to protect (your kids). You want to keep them safe, and you just want them to be good, kind people,” Barnes said. “I don’t want them to be caught up in (social media). That’s not life. Life is being present in the moment with the people that you love, not on some device. That’s my biggest concern.”

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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

STUDENT LIFE

healthy holidays Story and cartoons by Staff Reporter Allison Reagan Winter is right around the corner, and with it come colds, cracked lips, dry skin and sniffling noses. To help make your winter a little more bearable this year, here are some tips to keep you healthy until the flowers bloom again.

Lips One of the worst ways to start the day is with a dry mouth and painfully chapped lips. Most people only have to suffer through dryness and flaking, but for some, winter can turn lips into a bleeding and cracking mess. As dermatologist Douglas Kligman explains, the low humidity and lack of moisture in the air during the winter make our lips and hands extremely dry.

An easy way to avoid dry lips during the cold is to apply lip balm regularly. Dr. Kligman recommends products containing petrolatum or beeswax, as they are thick and moisturizing. Taking care to smear it on before school, during the day and especially before bed will help ensure your lips stay healthy and crack-free all winter.

Recommended lip balm: Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

Skin If people have ever recoiled in horror at the scales on your hands, you are probably all too familiar with winter’s worst effect: red, raw, cracked hands. They itch, they burn and they are painful to look at.

But they are completely preventable. According to Dr. Kligman, hands should be moisturized every

8 The Spoke

night with a thick moisturizer. For extremely dry hands, Dr. Kligman also recommends wearing gloves at night over a healthy amount of petroleum jelly. The gloves help to prevent evaporation and leave your hands soft and smooth the next morning.

Once you get your skin back to normal, be sure to take precautionary measures to prevent them from becoming damaged again.

According to Dr. Kligman, irritants like water, gasoline and turpentine should be avoided during the water. Wear gloves when outside or exposed to heavy winds and rubber gloves when doing chores like washing the dishes. Washing hands is important during the winter months, but be sure to dry them thoroughly and reapply lotion as soon as possible after you are done.

Recommended hand cream: Vaseline

Cold Season You can hear it a mile away.

The inevitable sneezing, coughing, hacking, wheezing and honking that accompanies every winter season. It may seem like you are doomed to the same miserable fate, but there are a few ways to avoid sickness this year. Most importantly, remember to wash your hands.

“My best advice is to wash your hands and try to avoid other people that are sick or coughing, especially in a department store or somewhere where you’re out shopping,” Conestoga school nurse Jill Yeager said. “Try to stay out of the way of people that are spreading their germs.”

“According to Dr. Kligman, hands should be moisturized every night with a thick moisturizer. For extremely dry hands, Dr. Kligman also recommends wearing gloves at night over a healthy amount of petroleum jelly.”

As always, washing your hands often and thoroughly is one of the easiest ways to avoid getting sick.

“If you don’t use a lot of fric-

tion, you may not be cleaning your hands properly,” registered nurse Suzie Brook said.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), handwashing education can reduce respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16 to 21 percent.

Also, (and I think you might like this one) it is important to stay home when you are sick.

Yes, we are actually telling you to stay home from school, but only to prevent the spread of germs to healthy students. Reducing the amount of time spent around other people while you are sick lessens the chance of your cold sticking around any longer than it should. A little rest at home won’t hurt either.

But “as long as you are fever-free and are well enough to be able to concentrate,” you shouldn’t need to stay home for more than a day or two, according to Brook.

However, the single best way to prevent the nastiest of all winter sicknesses, the flu, is to get vaccinated each year. According to the CDC, over 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications, and as many as 49,000 people die each year.

“It’s important to get the flu shot to protect yourself. Obviously, it’s going to protect you more than if you don’t have one and also it’s

important for the people you come in contact with that you’re protected,” Brook said.

Recommended places to get a flu shot: Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid

Winter Blues Almost everyone gets a case of the “winter blues” every now and again, but for some, seasonal sadness is a much more serious issue.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a U.S. government-funded national resource for molecular biology information, between four and six percent of people in the United States suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during the winter. SAD is a seasonal depression that usually begins with the start of winter and ends with the arrival of spring. Symptoms of SAD include low energy, trouble sleeping, loss of interest in hobbies, difficulty concentrating or general feelings of sluggishness or agitation that appear during the late fall or early winter. Like any other depression, SAD is treatable and manageable with different medications, increased exposure to light and therapies, but only once it has been detected. If you believe your chilly melancholy is more than just a winter funk, SAD may be why.

Allison Reagan/The SPOKE

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Student Life

Students’ choice: The best of ethnic food Ian Ong Centerspread Editor When it comes to restaurants, Conestoga students agree that authenticity affects taste. Bringing together students from all reaches “(Han Dynasof the world, the ’Stoga student ty and R & Z’s body has influenced the growth Ping Pong) of facilities and businesses in the have good sercommunity, each person offering vice, they’re their own unique customs. With really nice, the food being such a large part of a food is really person’s culture, Chinese, Greek, well prepared Hispanic and Indian students and they get it have strong opinions on the best on time.” ethnic restaurants nearby to chow down and appreciate their heriFreshman Shannon tage.

Chinese Food From Wing Wah Kitchen to Chinese Delight, there is a vast Chinese food scene showcasing both Sichuan styles and Cantonese dim sum. Sophomore Leo Chen suggests Hong Garden in Paoli for a quick meal, but feels SangKee Asian Bistro in Ardmore serves the best Chinese dishes.

“They have a lot of Asian-fusion stuff and American stuff, like General Tso’s chicken, but they also have the real Chinese food that people might not think of usually when people say ‘Chinese food,’” Chen said. “If we’re going out to eat Chinese, that’s the one place we’re going.”

Other recommended restaurants include Han Dynasty, as well as R & Z’s Ping Pong in Gateway, according to freshman Shannon Huang.

“They have good service, they’re really nice, the food is really well prepared and they get it on time,” Huang said.

To Chinese students, “Americanization” is a red flag when it comes to authentic food. This faux fare includes sesame chicken, pepper steak and Mongolian beef foods that may taste good, but do not truly reflect their culture. This does not mean, however, that you cannot enjoy American-Chinese cuisine. Freshman Lily Zhou usually eats authentic dim sum in Chinatown, but she still holds a soft spot for Americanized foods.

“Personally, I eat real Chinese food more often, but I like fake Chinese food better,” Zhou said.

“I like sweet-and-sour chicken I guess.”

Chen encourages students to actively seek out Chinese food that not only tastes nice but fully represents the culture.

“When going out to eat, I’d suggest to not just stick with your broccoli, beef and orange chicken, but I’d try to ask the waiter, ‘when Chinese people come here, what do they order?’”

Chen said

Greek Food Greek food, famously inundated with olive oil, is available nearby at places such as Nova Mediterranean Grill in Villanova for those who want to experience a bit of the Mediterranean. Sophomore Yanni Tsetsekos normally goes out to eat at Estia Taverna in Radnor, which he claims has the best Greek cuisine.

“They generally offer Mediterranean food, centered around a Greek vibe, so not exactly the ‘gyros’ you would think of, but like seafood and grilled food,” Tsetsekos said. “It’s more genuine and it tries to mimic the atmosphere of a Greek restaurant.

Senior Harry Polychronopoulos agrees that Estia offers some of the best ethnic food in the area.

“I really like the seafood there; it’s really good,” Polychronopoulos said. “I go there to eat fish, calamari and food like that.”

While it does not have the largest following within Conestoga, Polychronopoulos feels that students should make an

“(Nova Mediterranean Grill) is more genuine and it tries to mimic the atmosphere of a Greek restaurant.”

“I think (Mesa Fresh Mexican Grill is) very authentic food; it tastes pretty much like what I have at home.”

“Himalayas doesn’t “add different chemicals, flavors or colors in order to make it look good.

They follow the original recipe.”

Sophomore Yanni Tsetsekos

Senior Leah Palomo

Junior Amulya Surakanti

effort to visit Greek restaurants and enjoy the cuisine.

“Some (people), because they’re not used to (Greek food), may think they won’t like it, but they are definitely going to like 99 percent (of Greek food),” Polychronopoulos said. “Everybody who’s been to Greece and tried Greek food, they’ve told me that they loved it.”

ican and other Hispanic restaurants nearby, Palomo believes that students should try more obscure foods than just the burritos at Chipotle.

“I think sometimes people get a little worried, like ‘it’s all going to be spicy,’ but that’s not true. There are plenty of foods that you can have if you don’t like spice that’s still Mexican cooking, and it’s still really good,” Palomo said.

no one type of paneer that they do,” Surakanti said. “They don’t add different chemicals, flavors or colors in order to make it look good. They follow the original recipe.”

Senior and president of the South Asia Culture Club Alina Macedo suggests Spice Indian Thai Bistro in Newtown Square, her favorite dishes off the menu being the buttered chicken curry and tandoori chicken.

“What sets Spice apart from other Indian restaurants around here is that it’s not toned down to handle a milder palate,” Macedo said. “It’s very spicy, and it doesn’t dull down the authenticity of the food.”

The spiciness of the food is a very important quality in Indian cuisine, however many American-Indian restaurants choose not to serve extremely hot foods in order to appeal to a wider audience.

“If you go to India and say ‘mild,’ it’s equivalent to ‘spicy’ here.” Surakanti said.

Although Indian food is described to be an acquired taste, students have plenty of opportunity to visit local restaurants and sample this unique cuisine enjoyed across the globe.

Hispanic Food From “chicharrón” to “paella,” the cuisine of Spain, Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries features a variety of filling and lively foods. The Hispanic culture in America is evident in the colorful selection of cozy Spanish restaurants such as El Limon in Conshohocken and Mi Pais in Malvern. Mesa Fresh Mexican Grill in Gateway is a favorite of senior Leah Palomo, who enjoys both the atmosphere and design of the restaurant.

“They play Spanish music, and I really enjoy that. It kind of adds to the whole feeling when you’re there,” Palomo said.

“Also, I think it’s very authentic food; it tastes pretty much like what I have at home.”

Junior Alondra Jimenez’s family owns Plaza Azteca in King of Prussia, which is centered around Tex-Mex cuisine.

“We serve a lot of things like fajitas, burritos, enchiladas and some steak and chicken dishes,” Jimenez said. “We also have the fresh tableside guacamole, which is a big hit because we make it to order right in front of you, and it’s all fresh ingredients.”

Due to the abundance of Mex-

Indian Food Indian food is well known for its spicy and rich flavor, a distinctive flavor sought out by many. From choices such as Chinnar Indian Cuisine and Taste of India in Gateway, junior Amulya Surakanti prefers Himalayas in Malvern because of its selection of “paneer” (a type of curry made from cheese) and “naan” (flatbread).

“There is ‘paneer mattar masala’ (peas and paneer) and ‘paneer tikka masala’ (grilled paneer with gravy), so there is

The Spoke 9

Student Life

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Noll and Winfield foster learning environment

Emma Purinton and Warren Zhao Staff Reporters

In the quiet yet busy atmosphere of the Achievement Center, 19 students sit hovering over their homework. National Honor Society tutors sit ready to help anyone who needs it, two classmates borrow a textbook and a math teacher has one-on-one time with a student.

Senior Leah Palomo appreciates this unique environment, preferring it over other Conestoga study spaces.

“The Achievement Center is somewhere that’s actually quiet, where you can work and get things done without people distracting you,” Palomo said. “Because when you’re in there, you can be alone and not feel weird that you’re not sitting with anyone and just do homework.”

Orchestrating everything behind-the-scenes as well as directly with students are Karen Noll and Anne Marie Winfield, the head tutors who oversee the Achievement Center. Every day Winfield and Noll help an average of 100 students.

“I see students from all levels and all courses of math throughout

10 The Spoke

Warren Zhao/The SPOKE

High Achievers: Achievement center ladies Karen Noll and Anne Marie Winfield help make the center a functioning and helpful place for students. the day. They can come in if they visions for papers, but I can help Winfield worked as an engineer have questions about their home- from the minute you get the as- designing medical equipment. Noll work, if they missed a day and are signment to the last time you print says that they have stayed on very trying to catch up, or (for) test cor- it out. And then I also do a lot of different paths their whole lives.

“I was at University of Scranrections,” Winfield said.

Spanish,” Noll said.

Noll says that like Winfield, she Prior to taking a positions in ton, graduated in ‘89. Mrs. Winfield helps students at all different class the Achievement Center, Noll and went to the University of Scranton, levels and stages of their work, but Winfield had very different ca- graduated in 1990,” Noll said. “We helps with a much broader range of reer experiences. Noll had several never knew each other, and whatsubjects. teaching jobs in the area, from the ever activities we did were proba“I teach history, English — I Philadelphia School District to bly the complete opposites of each have kids come in with a lot of re- Good Samaritan Preschool, while other. (But) as soon as we met, we

were fast friends.”

As the Achievement Center develops, Noll says that it is not unusual to see students return each year, and enjoys getting to see them throughout their high school careers.

“A lot of the freshmen and sophomores we started out with are now juniors and seniors, and these guys are still coming back in here.

They’ll come by and just leave a paper for me, or they’ll come in looking for Mrs. Winfield — she has taken them through three years of math at this point, which is fun to see, to just watch kids grow up,” Noll said.

As a tutor, Winfield says that she find the job as gratifying as she hopes students find it helpful.

“When I’m sitting with a student, and they go, ‘Ohhh,’ it’s like a lightbulb. It goes off, and you think, ‘Yes! I convinced them.

They know what they’re doing,’” Winfield said.

“Sometimes just knowing where to go to ask for help makes (students) feel a little better. We may not have all the answers, but Mrs. Noll and I both pledge to find out who does and to help the students get what they need to get their stuff done.”

Student Life

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Katie Buckley History teacher Katie Buckley reveals her favorite president, best travel experience and plans for spending this upcoming winter break

Lyvia Yan Staff Reporter When did you first start teaching at ’Stoga?

I started teaching last year.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in West Chester, and I went to West Chester East High School.

Why did you become a teacher?

I’ve always really enjoyed school and I had a really good experience in school. I always thought that teaching was something I’d like to do.

I really chose social studies ultimately because I had some really influential teachers, who were really engaging and were very encouraging of my interests in history, got me involved in clubs outside of class that really sparked my interest in social studies and different subjects involved in that.

What is your favorite thing about ’Stoga?

I think my favorite thing about ’Stoga would be the opportunities that it offers. Academically there are so many opportunities for students to get involved and to find electives or courses that really interest them, to take advanced courses or to find a good fit for them.

And then in terms of extracurricular activities there’s just so much with students and teachers to get involved in, so sponsoring clubs and being involved in clubs is a really good way for teachers and students to get involved outside of the classroom and find even further opportunities where they can spark each other’s interests and help society and really just get involved in the community. Conestoga does

a really great job at involving those students and teachers and presenting them with real, limitless opportunities.

Who is your favorite president and why?

I think I would have to say that Abraham Lincoln is probably my favorite president. We’re currently studying Abraham Lincoln in U.S. History right now, and I think that not only is he considered to be one of our greatest presidents, but he’s a really interesting president to study just because of the enormous events and challenges that he faced during his presidency and the way that he was able to handle them and to really demonstrate leadership skills and bring the country back together.

If you weren’t teaching, what would your job be now?

If I wasn’t teaching I think I probably would have pursued nursing. My mom is a nurse and it seems like it was something that she had a l w a y s r e a l l y e njoyed doing and it would still give me the opportunity to help people. I always want to be involved in some type of career that would allow me to help others and experience meeting and getting to know many different people within my job. I think that nursing and teaching both allow you to help people and to meet so many new people on a daily basis.

What do you like to do outside of school?

Outside of school I really

enjoy hanging out with my family and my friends. I have three sisters who are pretty close in age with me, so I enjoy visiting them. I really like to read, I enjoy running and I enjoy travelling.

What were you like as a high school student?

I think I was probably a pretty typical high school student, trying to find the balance between school work, extracurricular activities and friends. I was pretty involved in school. I played a few sports, I was president of my class, I was involved in Best Buddies and in our school’s TV station, as well as in our business club organization, hanging out with friends and then working as a waitress at a local restaurant, so I think really just trying to balance everything and enjoy things.

What places have you travelled to?

I’ve travelled to London, I’ve travelled to Paris, I’ve travelled around Ireland several times and then I’ve also been to a number of states within the U.S. and to Canada and Mexico.

W h a t is your f a v o r ite place you’ve been to and why?

My favorite place I’ve been to is Ireland.

Both of my father’s parents grew up in Ireland and so I’ve been there many times, I have family members still there.

Probably my

best experience in Ireland was the first time I got to see the farmhouse where my grandmother grew up. It was only a three-room house with no electricity, so it was really cool to see that it’s still standing there.

It’s still on my uncle’s farm and it was just a really cool experience to get to see where she grew up and how far she’s come.

How do you plan on spending winter break?

I plan on spending my winter break hanging out with my family and friends. My sisters will be coming home from work and college, so it’ll be nice to see them and probably catching up on some grading.

Maybe travelling a little bit to see some friends who live outof-state now.

Favorites

Movie- “Goodfellas” and “Love Actually” Color- Turquoise Food- Pasta Book- “Anthropology of an American Girl” and “Into the Wild” Sport to play- lacrosse Sport to watch- football Place to shop-Target or Loft Number-Three Male celebrity- Miles Teller Female celebrity- Emma Stone The Spoke 11

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Tuesday, October 22, 13, 2015 Tuesday, December

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Student Life

Alumna debuts fashion line Jahnavi Rao Staff Reporter Alumna Samantha Leibowitz’s career in fashion began when she was a student in Dr. Mary Kaye Rhude-Faust’s classroom. Her interest in designing clothing ultimately led her to become the CEO and creative director of her own company, Samantha Leibowitz New York.

Leibowitz, a graduate of West Virginia University, worked for over eight different designers and corporations in both Pennsylvania and New York. She was a colorist at Lilly Pulitzer and a designer at The Natori Company.

At Natori, Leibowitz learned that corporate “wasn’t the right feel for me. I’m someone who’s very independent and outgoing, and I knew what I wanted to do.

I worked for another designer for about five months. I fell in love with the control (of entrepreneurship), how she picked her designs, how she did her hiring.”

Leibowitz’s experiences with the designer spurred her to start her own venture. She moved to Manhattan last year to build her own company. In August, Leibowitz announced the release of her fashion line, Samantha Leibowitz New York.

With help from her mentors and a group of employees, Leibowitz’s designs and clothes will launch in stores this January. Leibowitz is confident that her products will be seen around the Philadelphia area.

“We will definitely be in the Main Line very soon,” Leibowitz said. “I’ve been communicating with a lot of boutiques in the area.”

Leibowitz plans to introduce her products to the same region where she had her first exposure to designing clothing. As a Conestoga student, she took fashion classes both in and out of school and was on the fashion board for Nordstrom in King of Prussia. She also founded the club Take a Blink for Pink, in which she used her interest in fashion to help reach her goal of raising money for the Susan B. Komen foundation.

“I had students in the club run the fashion show. They modeled my clothing on a runway in the cafeteria,” Leibowitz said. “It was packed. (We)

Students create personalized pieces

Angela Ngyuen/The SPOKE

Marvelous metals: Students perfect a metal snowflake and use a machine to drill a hole in their piece.

Michael Li and Jahnavi Rao Managing Editor and Staff Reporter

Courtesy Samantha Leibowitz

Fashion forward: Designer Samantha Liebowitz poses in a dress of her creation. She recently completed a fashion shoot for her clothing in Mexico. definitely had a couple hundred people there.”

Leibowitz sees her passion for fashion as a medium to make an impact in the community around her. She knows that her skills will distinguish her in from other designers.

“I realized I was designing for other people versus designing exactly what I want for myself,” Leibowitz said. “I have a lot of technical ideas that really are different and unique from all the millions of designers out there currently.”

Courtesy Samantha Leibowitz

All in the details: Alumna Samantha Leibowitz (right) puts the finishing touches on her model. Leibowitz created her fashion line in August. She hopes to expand her collection to local boutiques.

The sounds of clanging metals and whirring drills fill the air of room 203. Students are scattered around the table, using polishing machines and finishing their products with steel wool. Under the guidance of teacher Piera Raffaele, students showcase their creativity through their metal projects.

“I say we’re making key chains, but it’s really up to you to design what you want to do,” Raffaele said.

Rather than make a key chain with a pattern, sophomore Ashleigh Lake chose to shape her piece into a playful hummingbird.

“I started by tracing the picture I wanted onto tracing paper, then gluing it right onto the piece of copper, and used a little saw to cut it out,” Lake said.

Though the process seems labor intensive, Lake said working with metals is not as difficult as it might seem.

“I’m also in Studio Art I this year and Metals is so different because it doesn’t require any past experience. When I went into the class I had never worked with metals before and now I’ve learned so much,” Lake said.

Raffaele gives her students much freedom to work by themselves, but before the room comes alive the noises of metalworking, there are a number of techniques to be learned.

“When it looks like most of us are finished with a project, the teacher then uses the beginning of class to demonstrate how to make a certain ring,” senior Dahye Yoon said.

When class starts, Raffaele often opens with a demonstration on techniques including blanking and piercing, in which a “blank” or “scrap” of metal is punched out of a larger chunk of metal. She also

teaches forming, or the reshaping of a piece without loss of material.

Students then learn how to sand and rivet their pieces.

Each technique needs a certain tool. The multitude of instruments on the wall of the Metals room range from rawhide mallets to belt sanders.

“It’s very tool-intensive,” Raffaele said. “In the beginning, maybe the first couple of days, we’re just going over all the equipment: how to use a drill press, how to use the dremels, how to use the torches.”

Because of the nature of the acetylene torches, shards of metal and saws, safety is a serious concern.

Students “have to come in and wear glasses; they’re not supposed

“When I went into the class I had never worked with metals before and now I’ve learned so much.”

-Sophomore Ashleigh Lake to wear headphones and they have to pull their hair back. We work with these buffing wheels here and if you have long hair you don’t want to get your hair stuck in there,” Raffaele said. “Definitely, safety is the number one thing that we teach in this class.”

Lake went into the semester-long course thinking that she would only be working on jewelry, but she was pleasantly surprised by the variety of projects in Metals.

“I’d heard it had to do with jewelry making, so that was all I had really expected. But we do tons of different projects besides jewelry, like key chains and ornaments and things like that which I really enjoy because there’s always something new to do,” Lake said.

The Spoke 13

Centerspread

COLORFUL MIN MI NDS ND DS: STUDENTS PULL INSPIRATION FROM For sophomore Melanie Schwartz, the beauty in a piece of music is not limited to the progression of chords and melodies: each note also evokes the perception of a different color.

Schwartz has synesthesia, a relatively rare neurological condition in which one sense is accompanied by another involuntary sensation. The most common forms of synesthesia are grapheme synesthesia — the association of letters and numbers with certain colors — and chromesthesia — the association of color with certain sounds. Schwartz, junior Mike Pacca and sophomore Dylan Reis all have chromesthesia.

Reis realized he had synesthesia after he began playing the bass. His condition is most noticeable when he is fully immersed in his instrument.

Synesthesia “is definitely more prevalent when I’m playing. For me, each different chromatic note on my instrument is a different color. The note ‘C’ for me is red, and the note ‘C sharp’ is orange. It just goes on like that for each chromatic note,” Reis said.

As a guitarist in the Main Line School of Rock, Pacca first discovered his synesthesia when he was around seven years old.

“My mother told me I had it for my whole life and I didn’t really realize it myself. As I got older, it became more and more evident to me,” Pacca said.

Story and photos by Mary Mei Design by Ian Ong and Michael Zhang

SY S YN Y NE N EST TH H HE ESI SIIA SA A

Schwartz, who is a member of the marching band and a participant in musical theater, discovered her synesthesia in a more unconventional manner. When she started taking some medication, she found that her thoughts became “more vivid” and that she had a heightened ability for visualization and imagery.

Despite sharing some sensations, those with synesthesia have very individualized sensations. Schwartz describes hers as the “pairing of something semi-concrete with something very abstract.” Though some individuals with chromesthesia experience a projection of color in their vision (much like the projection of a movie screen), Schwartz and Pacca internally visualize a color in their “mind’s eye.”

The abstract nature of synesthesia makes it difficult for those who have it to verbally express their sensations; Pacca does not actively think about his perceptions when they occur. He simply knows that each note is different and that he sees them as different colors.

“It’s hard to put into words, but if someone plays a note, I don’t see an actual color. I see a note as if it were a color,” Pacca said.

The concept of one sense stimulating another may sound familiar. Almost everyone, to some extent, experiences some kind of sensory interaction, including the interactions between smell and

taste. In his class, psychology teacher Michael Palmatier and his students discuss what constitutes synesthesia and what doesn’t.

“Some of us share our feelings on what we think is synesthesia. I see colors for days of the week in my head, or decades of the year. I wouldn’t say that’s synesthesia because it’s so minimal. It could just be a little bit of it that we all have,” Palmatier said.

Historically categorized as “aberrant” behavior, today synesthesia is treated as a gift or hidden talent (like its complement, perfect pitch). Pacca and Schwartz believe that synesthesia is helpful to their musical interests.

“Having synesthesia is definitely sensational,” Schwartz said. “I love listening to songs and (my synesthesia) helps me try to come up with what exactly the songs have behind them and how the sounds the artists are using contribute to the piece.”

Although Pacca acknowledges that synesthesia is a key factor in his artistic development, he believes it is not without certain consequences.

“Synesthesia has pros and cons. I can easily tell if a song sounds correct or incorrect, and it’s easy to tell when music is going right or wrong. But the con is that I rely on my ear too much instead of actually learning the mechanics of what I am doing,” Pacca said.

Acknowledging that synesthesia has helped his ear in music, Reis believes the condition alone does not drastically affect his skills as a musician.

“I don’t really think anyone is more musically gifted over anyone else,” Reis said. “I think it’s just takes practice and that’s how you get good at music. Synesthesia is helpful because early on it gave me a really good ear, but I feel that everyone can train themselves to have a good ear like that. I don’t think it makes me musically superior to anyone — it’s just helped me in the beginning.”

There are

1%

of the population has grapheme-color synesthesia

14 The Spoke

3x

more women with synesthesia than men

Duke Ellington, Richard Feynman, Billy Joel, Franz Liszt, Marilyn Monroe, Pharrell Williams, Stevie Wonder and Kanye West all reportedly have had at least one form of synesthesia.

Statistics from the National Center for Biotechnology Information and Wikipedia.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

5 types of

Mei ng

Synesthesia

A Junior Mike Pacca discovered his synesthesia when he was 7 years old.

Grapheme-color Grapheme-color synesthesia is one of the most common forms, accounting for 64.4% of all synesthetes. People affected by this type of synesthesia will associate or “see” distinct colors when they look at certain symbols. For example, the letter “A” could be red, while the letter “B” could be yellow. The colors are unique to each person.

ABC

Chromesthesia (Sound-to-color) People afflicted with sound-to-color synesthesia see shapes and colors when they hear certain sounds. The perceived colors usually manifest themselves in generic shapes such as squares and circles. This type of synesthesia can be triggered by listening to a song or playing a musical instrument.

Number-form Sophomore Melanie Schwartz feels that synesthesia allows her to perceive the imagery of music.

6

3

Number-form synesthesia is caused by a connection between the way the brain handles numerical and spatial data. Whenever an individual afflicted with this form of synesthesia thinks about numbers, they visualize a number map such as the example shown to the right. These maps can be extremely convoluted, full of twists and turns between each number.

2

4

5

1

Personification Also known as ordinal-linguistic personification (OLP), this type of synesthesia results in individuals perceiving sequences of things to have various personalities. These sequences can include letters, numbers, days and months. For example, the numbers 1, 2 and 3 could be playful children, while the number 4 could be an elderly woman.

1

2

3

Lexical-gustatory Lexical-gustatory synesthesia is a rare form of synesthesia that combines language with taste (or smell.) To those affected, hearing written or spoken language triggers a complex sensation of temperature and texture. For example, the word “jail” could taste like cold, hard bacon.

Information from www.synesthesiatest.org.

Sophomore Dylan Reis visualizes music notes during his performances.

Test Your Synesthesia Look at the field of numbers to the right. Does anything pop out to you?

If you see the word “YES” emerge from the numbers, you may have the most common form of synesthesia: grapheme-color synesthesia.

The Spoke 15

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

OPINION Let’s talk about sext: an issue not just for schools In light of the sexting incidents that occurred at Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School and Valley Forge Middle School over the past few months, the school district has moved to implement revamped programs designed to teach digital citizenship in the middle and high schools. In the last month, high school students were shown two presentations on mental health and online safety. Moreover, for the first time, extending into the lower grades with lessons tailored for younger ages, counselors addressed sexting and tech culture with middle schools students in their advisory periods.

The lessons, an updated variant of the district’s digital citizenship program, demonstrates that school administrators are willing to take strides in adapting to technological changes.

Middle school students learned how to deal with inappropriate messages and respond to threatening and dangerous situations.

At the high school, guidance counselors gave a similar lesson to underclassmen, focusing on recognizing inappropriate use of technology and the consequences of a student’s digital footprint.

But the incidents that caused the new installments in the school’s address of sexting bring to light a deeper issue

about sexual health and technology that is often overlooked in our society.

As a community, it is often difficult to approach the topic of sexual health. In a study conducted by GfK Custom Research LLC, 50 percent of teenagers feel uncomfortable talking with their parent about sex as opposed to 19 percent of parents who feel uncomfortable talking with their teens. Too often, teenagers and parents are embarrassed or uncomfortable having these conversations, preventing a safe environment for discussing the impact of students’ actions. In addition, the widespread accessibility of the Internet and anonymity of users leads to unchecked and potentially inappropriate activities, exacerbating the issue of sexting.

While we support the direction that the administration is taking in response to sexting, we must also recognize that action must be taken at home.

Students need to understand the consequences. While it may seem harmless in the moment, sexting is a crime that can leave a scarring criminal record that influences future educational and career plans. Sexting is also permanent; once on the Internet, naked images can be stored indefinitely and found through

facial recognition software and metadata.

Parents must also recognize their role in creating a safe online environment. Sexting is indiscriminate of income, gender and race. In a study conducted

by Drexel University’s Women Health Psychology Lab, 88 percent of respondents reported having sent a sext at some point in their lives. And despite the perception that sexting is a “risky behavior,” sexting has been more commonplace in relationships as a means to show affection. As a result, parents must take a proactive stance in educating their children on sexual health and digital citizenship. “The birds and the bees” talk must be adapted to the times.

Yet we must be careful not to censor technology in the name of safety. Monitoring social networks and digital activity on an obsessive basis can prove counterproductive, as students become more mistrusting of their parent’s motives and secretive about their own actions.

Building a trusting relationship is the first step toward addressing sexual health in a constantly shifting technological landscape. Sexting may no longer be mainstream in ten years, but the impulses that drive it will endure.

Liz Lawton/The SPOKE

16 The Spoke

From the Editor: it is not a trap

Andy Backstrom Co-Editor-in-Chief I remember the tears streaming down my cheeks, as my mom wrestled me out of the car. I was stubborn, nostalgic, and most importantly, not ready to part with this large portion of my life. I had never lost so many friends at once; I would never get them back.

If you’re concerned, you should be. Portrayed above, is the seven year-old version of myself after watching the final episode of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, “Revenge of the Sith,” in theaters in 2005.

From then on, the films seemed to be a staple of my childhood – a classic, or a document of the past.

Friends and family constantly debated what would have happened if director George Lucas made one more movie.

I guess I have always been egocentric when it comes to Star Wars.

I assume that everyone has seen it.

Honestly, at age six, I could probably tell you more about the Star Wars universe than our own.

But, as we waited, reality began to set in. It looked as if the fan-fiction was the only bits of the “Galaxy far, far away…” that would continue to enlighten our imagination.

As a kid, I found it disturbing.

My brothers and I just kept the hoping that maybe the force would be on our side. We continued to compile Star Wars toys, games and even Halloween costumes, but the years went on without Lucas’ work in theaters.

However, I am happy to say, that our doubts have been proven wrong.

Recently, I just saw the movie “Boyhood.” It tells the story of a family over the course of a boy’s childhood, and, actually was filmed over the course of 12

years, (2002-14), using the same cast. When the boy is in 7th grade, he goes camping with his father, and they discuss the possibility of another Star Wars episode. They agree that it would be unlikely.

Even if it did happen, it would be an additional sequel.

Even the cast of “Boyhood,” didn’t see it coming. After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, we all knew the day would come – a seventh episode. Ten years of waiting may actually pay off. This is no prequel, rather a continuation – “A New Hope” per se.

“In Yoda’s words, ‘Fear is the path to the dark side.’”

Traditionalists appeared to be disgruntled by Disney’s purchase, and they believed that an extension of the Star Wars universe would devalue the originals’ place in film history. Such critics hypothesized that Disney would transform the production into something of a fairy tale. But, Disney is undaunted. In Yoda’s words, “Fear is the path to the dark side.”

One of my friends just introduced me to a conspiracy theory, in which the clumsy Jar Jar Binks is supposed to have been Lucas’ model for the ultimate Sith Lord.

Apparently, Lucas never went through with it, fearing fan backlash.

You know it has been too long without a new Star Wars film when the world starts to contemplate whether Jar Jar Binks was actually supposed to play a significant role in the movies.

The new release comes at a fitting time for my generation. As the holiday season hits its stride and family members gather, so do our childhood friends we thought we lost.

It is necessary to look back upon your past. Not only to learn from your mistakes, but to relive your memories. Disney has rewarded us with the perfect opportunity.

Only this time, I don’t think I’ll shed a tear. And if I do, it will be from happiness.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Opinion

We wish you a merry... nondenominational holiday

Pallavi Aakarapu/The SPOKE

Matt Soderberg Columnist AMERICAN GUN CONTROL: DOMESTIC EXTREMISM — We have been hearing a lot in the news about extremism. Extremism has taken on an evil connotation with links to terrorist groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram. In fact, a majority of Americans view Islamic extremism as the greatest threat to the people of this country. Though these organizations are subversive and inhumane forces, they are not the greatest threat the country faces. The greatest danger to American lives is home-grown extremism: the gun culture of America.

Every week since 2013 there has been a mass shooting in this country. Every week, at least one killing that claims a minimum of four lives.

Every week, a breaking news story appears, telling us another one has happened. Every week, it becomes a little more routine.

This is not the norm. This happens nowhere else in the world.

Mass shootings have become as American as apple pie. And this country, nothing if not prideful, has surrendered. We have accepted it.

We have accepted that, as a country, we are okay with letting these mass shootings continue.

To stand against gun reform is to accept that every week people will be killed in mass shootings preventable by simple and reasonable measures. The issue, at its core, is extremism. The extremist frenzy that feeds on fear. Gun extremists in this country have captured the fears of its citizens, and that is why logic has been left out of the debate.

America needs to return to that logic and not let extremism attempt to cloud it. Gun fanatics in this country have hunkered down inside a broken principle, a movement that prefers misleading headlines to truth or progress. To preface any real discussion on the issue, one thing must be made abundantly clear: no one is coming for your guns.

Lobbyist organizations like the NRA have spread this message, and it has stuck. The idea that gun safety advocates want nothing more than to take away American’s second amendment has taken hold in a disturbingly large portion of our population. That accusation has no grounds.

The second amendment has never been in jeopardy. When looking at the issue dispassionately that is clear.

The idea of gun reform is to provide regulations that will stop innocent people from being shot. When these reforms cause slight inefficiencies in the gun purchasing process, it is easy to jump to the reactionary response: to say someone is trying to violate your rights. I urge you to take a step back from that response and look at the possibilities in front of you.

The first possibility is to continue. To react with anger and disillusion about how your rights are being violated. To vow not to even look at the other side because that would be turning your back on some convoluted allegiance you have sworn yourself to. But most of all, to accept. To accept the reality that true American exceptionalism has been transformed into the great American exception: gun violence.

The second possibility is to look at the problem with reason. To look around the world and realize that this is not okay, this is not tolerable. To be a proud gun owner in the United States, while advocating for reforms that make it hard for bad or sick people to get their hands on a gun.

To understand that continuing the relentless ignorance makes you a part of possibly the most deadly social movement in the history of the country. To decide not to accept.

Betty Ben Dor Photography Editor With Thanksgiving and Black Friday already over, 101.1 blasting Christmas music since mid-November and Christmas trees going up for sale, the holiday season has been in full swing. Although we “politically correct” Americans like to secularize the holidays, you don’t have to disguise your Christmas-ness.

And that’s fine! America has been Christian since its start, with devout Puritans and Pilgrims fleeing Great Britain to escape religious persecution and to freely practice their religion. Ever since then, many people have been migrating to America as a religious haven. Although today we still struggle with issues of religious freedom, political correctness should not be strangling the holiday creativities of people.

As a Jew, I love the holiday season. That crisp feel of winter approaching in the air, the ever-present smell of pine and all of the decorations just form a happy bubble of December that lets me forget about

the quickly approaching midterms for a second. However, as America strives to show itself off as accepting of all people, it has gone a little bit too far.

All of a sudden, reindeer and snowflakes on beloved Starbucks cups are deemed offensive to other religions and the American chains of the brand have purged themselves of any association with Christmas by simply making the cups red. Last time I checked, I don’t recall seeing reindeer yelling “Happy Birthday Jesus!” These simple decorations are just that, merry reminders of the winter season. I recently travelled to London for Thanksgiving break and paid close attention to their Starbucks shops. Although still using the basic red cup (as I am sure this is a rule applying to the brand as a whole, not the U.S.), the front door of each location also proudly displayed “Merry Christmas!”

And it’s exactly like that. Starbucks is wishing the people of London to have a merry Christmas time.

People of other religions, including myself, should not be insulted by such a simple gesture of kindness.

As the country is mostly of varying Christian sects, they chose to target the largest chunk of the population instead of each individual race and religion. There’s nothing offensive in wishing people Merry Christmas; it’s simply a statement of joy and wellbeing. It’s not like their stores say, “Merry Christmas and we hope

everyone who celebrates anything else has a horrible holiday season.”

I have also gotten several confused looks from people when saying that my family decorates our bushes with lights for the season.

Oh no, lights! A classic symbol of devout Christianity? Not so much.

Hanukkah in itself is the Festival of Lights, celebrating the miracle of how oil that was only supposed to last for one day of light for the Israelites lasted for eight. Lights are generally festive decorations that cheer up the dark gloom of the winter months.

You may have your Christmas trees, but we sport our Hanukkah bushes with pride.

Although it’s easy to get tangled up in the intricacies of who believes in what religion and who celebrates what, we also have to view the time as a whole, a general time of wellbeing and joy. The holidays are supposed to bring people together, not make already existing divides more visible. Simple decorations of snowmen, snowflakes and reindeer, although associated with Christmas, are symbols of the wintertime and the holidays as a whole. There’s nothing wrong with having a Jew drink out of a festively decorated cup.

So while we sit over here, eating latkes and playing games of dreidel, you can enjoy your figgy pudding by the Christmas tree. And don’t worry; if you accidentally say Merry Christmas to a Jewish person, no, they won’t spontaneously combust.

“It’s good to be more inclusive. People would feel better that their beliefs are being recognized.”

- Daniel Stein “With all these new cultures and religions coming to our country,we need to embrace that other holidays should receive more recognition.”

- Jackson Dusinberre “I think overall we’ll become more cultured and can evolve more as a society if we acknowledge that there’s not just one holiday.”

- Kathryn Roessler “I’m in favor of letting people do whatever they want. People just need to respect other people and their religions, traditions, and holiday celebrations.”

- Linda Ashmead The Spoke 17

Opinion

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Microaggression Culture

What not to wear: poncho edition

The newest buzzword in college campus social activism, microaggressions are defined broadly by Columbia Psychologist Derald Wing Sue as the “brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to certain individuals because of their group membership,” intentionally or unintentionally. Including a wide range of examples from asking an Asian person where they’re from to proclaiming something as “so gay,” microaggressions can create hostile environments for minorities, and thus need to be addressed. However, the vicious hunt and condemnation for microaggressions in schools these days has also been seen as a coddling of victimhood culture and loss of freedom of speech.

So is the current treatment of microaggressions a much needed moral crusade, or a manifestation of oversensitivity?

Nour Elkassabany Columnist PRO: MICROAGGRESSIONS MUST BE CORRECTED — The “micro” bit in microaggression is not there to assure anyone that it is not a big deal or to placate anyone who is concerned about discrimination. Allowing microaggressions to go uncorrected and unchecked communicates that implicit racism, misogyny, xenophobia or homophobia are permissible.

Setting up situations where peo-

ple turn a blind eye to discrimination or pass off certain comments as jokes allows for the mistreatment to escalate. Briana Gray, a black senior at the University of Missouri, told The New York Times in November that her roommate began with asking how she styled her hair, then moved on to wondering if black people had greasy skin because the slaves sweat so much, then to letting a friend tack a picture of a black woman being lynched up on her door.

We can see in cases like the University of Missouri, an environment where racism and segregation were (and still are) a part of daily student life, that there is a breaking point.

Numerous student protests and the president’s resignation were not the result of a sudden outburst; they were consequences of the times that students felt unwelcome and isolated as a result of the school’s poor

race relations, to which the administration failed to make changes.

In schools, it is a shared responsibility to ensure that the environment is inclusive and safe. Administration and teachers should make certain that they are offering spaces for and facilitating discussions surrounding very real and very important social issues. We live in a landscape where talking about things like discrimination is seen as seeking controversy or written off as a fun-killer. It is discouraging and harmful for young people to feel like their voices won’t be tolerated, which is a sad reality.

It also falls on students to make sure issues like microaggressions are out in the open. Educate your peers about what they are; explain why they are harmful. Demand that people care. A unified school community can only be successful if engaged, caring and active students take the lead.

Pallavi Aakarapu/The SPOKE

Michelle Xu Opinion Editor CON: MICROAGGRESSION MINDSET IS FAILING US — Microaggression activism has grown out of hand. I agree that we must be careful not to create hostile atmospheres, but people have begun to excuse everything under the vaguely defined umbrella of “microaggression.” Students have used the term to rationalize attacking a non-Hispanic student for saying the Spanish word “fútbol” during a soccer match or for criticizing a UCLA professor for

18 The Spoke

asking a student to lowercase the I in “Indigneous.” More recently, because verbal microaggressions were ruining their “safe and comfortable spaces,” 50 Yale students have signed a petition to repeal the First Amendment — apparently free speech and feeling safe can’t coexist.

The problem lies in that microaggression culture teaches people that experiencing any unwanted emotions make them victims. Thus, whenever they encounter anything that they slightly disagree with, they truly believe that they’re being attacked. People end up evaluating society with emotional reasoning rather than logical thinking, and develop zero tolerance.

Moreover, the microaggression framework feeds to people’s minds that their victimhood means they’re always right and deserve compensation from the external world anytime they feel uncomfortable. This entitled mindset explains why college students have begun to protest

in barbaric or unreasonable ways — spitting on professors, screaming at calm people and most frighteningly, censoring free speech.

They don’t realize that challenging opinions can be harmful to feelings, but sometimes also beneficial to society. Martin Luther King Jr.’s organized protests certainly didn’t create a comfortable environment for white people. But now microaggression culture has somehow twisted emotional comfort to prioritize over logical equality.

Microaggression activism has failed its original purpose of dealing with the issues minorities face today, instead teaching people to close their minds and push for victim superiority. We need to realize the supposed goals of the theory no longer matches its actions, and learn to support free speech and tolerance of differing opinions in our fight for social justice. Only then can we truly changed the ingrained injustices of society, and not just censor things we don’t want to see.

Rose Kantorcyzk Columnist I didn’t intend to buy the poncho. Rushing to meet my mom at the cash register, I tore through the rack at Target, looking for a bigger size of the geometric-patterned poncho I had tried on in the fitting room.

When I couldn’t find the size I was looking for, I turned to the next rack, which featured ponchos in a tribal pattern, and grabbed the right size without thinking. This’ll be cute too, I remember thinking to myself as I watched it slide through the checkout conveyor belt.

However, when I tried on the washed, detagged (and therefore non returnable) poncho a few days later, I felt weird looking in the mirror: with the fringe at the bottom and the red and black tribal pattern stretching across the front, I felt like I was wearing a costume of something I wasn’t.

Worried, I asked my mom and sisters if they thought the poncho could offend someone. No, of course not, they replied. People wear patterns like that all the time.

I texted a photo of the poncho to a few friends, and showed others the next day at school. They all responded the same way my family did: I was being ridiculous, the poncho was totally fine, and if someone was offended by it, it would be wrong for them to be that sensitive.

Still, I was haunted by news articles I had read: outrage over Native American headdresses worn by hippie white girls at music festivals.

“Pocahottie” costumes offending students at Halloween parties on college campuses. Sure, my poncho wasn’t as extreme as those, but didn’t it boil down into the same culturally appropriative situation?

Conflicted, I turned to Google.

Google knows everything, right?

Wrong. Google, if anything, made me more confused. I found articles with phrases like “mass lies about marginalized cultures” and “perpetuation of racist stereotypes,” along with detailed examples of what can constitute cultural appropriation, from trying to find an authentic Mex-

ican restaurant in a “non-sketchy” neighborhood to Katy Perry’s 2013 AMAs performance, where she dressed as a geisha. I learned that cultural appropriation is rampant, varied and often goes unnoticed by the appropriators.

In the end, I decided not to wear the poncho. There were two main reasons for this decision. First, the poncho is a traditionally Mexican style of clothing, but mine has a Native American-esque tribal pattern slapped across it. To the sensitive observer, this could appear doubly ignorant. Second, cultural appropriation is defined as “members of the dominant culture ‘borrowing’ from minority groups that have been oppressed or exploited in some way.” Both Native Americans and Mexicans have definitely been oppressed and exploited, and I, as a sheltered white girl from the Main Line, am definitely a member of the dominant culture. Therefore, my poncho is literally the definition of cultural appropriation.

I know there are plenty of people who would think that my decision not to wear the poncho is wrong. You can’t do, say or wear anything anymore without someone from some minority group getting offended, they say. And maybe that’s true. But I feel that, as someone distant from these minority groups, I have no right to define what “too sensitive” is for them. We white people have done a lot of bad things to minorities, and I’d rather play it safe than risk adding to that legacy of insensitivity.

Basically, if I provoke anyone during my brief remaining time in high school, I want it to be through the pages of the Spoke and not through my outfit.

Pallavi Aakarapu/The SPOKE

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Opinion

It’s time to stop enabling and ignoring American society’s bullies

Camille Kurtz Copy Editor Gather around, dear readers, for I have a story tell. It is tale of power, a tale of greed and misunderstanding. Of hatred, of aspersion.

Of destructive disregard.

There was once a particularly troubling bully named Robert Dear. Bully Robert was an aggressive boy who refused to listen to the opinions of others. He cited misconstrued, slanderous and misleading facts to support his misconceptions. The teacher of his class, Mr. Media, rarely tried to calm Bully Robert and never helped him realize he was confused and misinformed.

One day Bully Robert started a fight with another student, Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood was hardworking and tried her best to help her peers. She tutored them, studied with them and checked in on them from time to time to help ensure their success. Bully Robert believed Planned Parenthood was cheating when she helped her friends — a belief that led him to attack and severely injure her.

U.S. High School was forced to suspend Bully Robert as hurting others was against the rules. But Principal Congress decided that Planned Parenthood, too, should be suspended. While Bully Robert

was the attacker, Principal Congress thought Planned Parenthood should have kept to herself.

When the other students in the school heard what happened to Planned Parenthood, many supported Bully Robert. They recalled the rumors he spread about Planned Parenthood and — most importantly — they remembered Mr. Media telling them his own versions of the lies, prompting the students to wonder whether Bully Robert was well-intentioned. When Principal Congress decided to suspend Planned Parenthood a few days later, more students, even those who opposed his methods, began to believe Bully Robert may have been justified in his attack.

After Bully Robert and Planned Parenthood were suspended, Mr. Media taught his students about bullying. He explained bullying would not be tolerated in his classroom or in U.S. High School. He shared frightening stories of bullies from other school districts that harmed their peers.

“Wasn’t Robert a bully, Mr. Media?” the class asked.

Mr. Media shook his head, answering that Bully Robert was a “lone offender.” Mr. Media preached that, unlike other bullies, Bully Robert was “mentally ill” and did not act as a representative of a group of bullies. Mr. Media claimed what Bully Robert did was rare and would only happen once.

Mr. Media argued that Bully Robert had understandable reason to be upset with Planned Parenthood.

Excuse by excuse, Mr. Media apologized for Bully Robert. Principal Congress apologized for Bully Robert. The confused students apologized for him.

But Planned Parenthood and her friends suffered. The end.

Story time is over — this actually happened.

As outrageous and exaggerated as this fable may seem, it does not stretch the truth. Gunman Robert Dear is responsible for shooting a dozen people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood over Thanksgiving break. And he was only a “lone offender” when his finger was pulling the trigger.

In all other aspects, Dear (“Bully Robert”) is a product of his society. The shooter was brainwashed by a libelous public image of Planned Parenthood and the influential, uninformed opinions and comments of political leaders, public figures and the media (“Mr. Media,”) which led Dear to believe there was justice in killing and injuring innocent people. Despite denouncing Dear’s actions, the Senate’s (“Principal Congress”) vote to

defund Planned Parenthood a mere five days after the shooting only reinforced this false sense of morality. Regardless of the reasoning, what kind of message does this action send to the American public?

Just as Mr. Media directed his class’s attention to “foreign” bullies without acknowledging Bully Robert, modern news sources and politicians warn against terrorism from foreign countries while failing to address it within the United States.

While Dear’s actions are despicable and he must accept responsibility, we cannot pretend like he is an outlier whose terrible choices no one could have predicted.

Our polarized, anti-women and sensationalist culture enables people like Robert Dear. We provide the misinformation, we provide the weapons. All that’s left to complete the equation is a disgruntled citizen — but there aren’t any of those… oh, wait.

Report Card You Ain’t No Muslim, Bruv +Simple message, deep meaning -Still not simple enough for Trump to understand

“The Force Awakens” +Coming out just in time for winter break -Spoilers, spoilers, spoilers everywhere

Eagles Beat Patriots +Eagles smash Patriots in Week 13 thriller...

-...and get smashed by Cardinals two weeks later

Unseasonably Warm Weather +Better unnaturally warm than unnaturally freezing -Say bye, bye to snow days if this keeps up

New Lights in Hallways +Brightens both the hallways and my days!

-Too bright for anytime before 8 a.m.

Pallavi Aakarapu/The SPOKE

Connie Stoga

Pallavi Aakarapu/The SPOKE

The Spoke 19

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

SPORTS

After 19 years, Coach Brogan says good-bye Avery Maslowsky Staff Reporter After 19 years of coaching soccer and 17 years of coaching softball at Conestoga, coach Megan Brogan sent in the final notice of her retirement, first for softball and then for girls soccer.

Brogan led both sports through most of their seasons to success. She guided the soccer program to districts 18 years in a row out of her 19 years coaching at ’Stoga and six times to states, winning two State Championships. For softball, she guided the team to playoffs eight times, and advanced to states twice. But with recent changes in her life, she made the decision to retire from her coaching position at Conestoga.

“Coach Brogan came in with a different set of eyes. She always was able to make us laugh and make us enjoy the sports on a different level.

She is very dedicated and loyal to the students, the school and the families,” Athletic Director Dr. Patrick Boyle said.

When Brogan first started coaching at Conestoga in 1996, she did

not suspect she would be a coach for more than a year. She played sports all of her life and figured she would like to get back into playing the two sports that created vivid memories for her here in high school and college: soccer and softball. But, after coaching her enjoyable first year of coaching soccer, Brogan came to the decision to start coaching a second sport.

So, in 1998, she joined coach Vogan in the spring by getting involved in the softball program.

“For me, (the best thing about coaching two sports was that) I was pretty much there the entire year and so I got to see my players in the offseason. It was nice to be in the building pretty much six months of the year and actually see my players grow up and change,” Brogan said.

Brogan didn’t start her coaching at the top — instead, she worked with every team below varsity. She coached JVB when there wasn’t a field for them to play on, preventing them from having many practices.

But she didn’t stay at the bottom for long — after a few seasons of JVB she moved up to JVA and then to varsity. Over her 19 years of coach-

Avery Maslowsky/The SPOKE

So long: Girls soccer and softball coach Megan Brogan ends her coaching career at ’Stoga. Brogan started as a JVB coach and rose to varsity. She led both teams to playoffs the majority of her years. ing, Brogan built special relationships with each of her players and hoped to teach them confidence and to be strong enough to keep playing no matter what.

Junior Katelyn Perz has been on the varsity girls soccer team since her freshman year. Brogan’s retirement came as a shock to her as the two had a great relationship.

“I felt I had a different relationship

with her than the other girls, we connected on a level much greater level than just a player and her coach. I didn’t think it was real (Brogan’s retirement). I started to cry and I wasn’t the only one,” said Perz.

Once Brogan started coaching the softball team, she fell in love with the sport all over again. While she was coaching her first years of ’Stoga girls soccer, she also was coaching

softball at Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast High School, formerly Archbishop Prendergast High School, an all-girls Catholic school.

She joined the Conestoga coaching staff after her second year of coaching soccer.

Senior softball player Emily Conaway has had Brogan as her coach since freshmen year.

“One quote that she would always say and I will always try to use and follow is ‘never settle for good if better is an option,’” said Conaway.

After the softball season of 2015, Brogan decided her two coaching positions just didn’t fit her life anymore.

Her ideal job since college was to be a teacher, and at first she thought she could coach and teach, but reality proved otherwise. Once she received a full-time teaching job at Upper Darby, she decided that softball and soccer practices and games became nearly impossible for Brogan to balance with her work schedule.

“She has been around for so long; she shaped ’Stoga soccer and softball to what it has become. She believed in all of the teams of each program, and that really inspired me.” Perz said.

Full on sprint: track/field welcomes former Olympian

Kyle Kennedy Staff Reporter

Former Olympian, Olympic track coach, world championship competitor and Division I NCAA coach Pat Williams is the newest addition to the Conestoga Track Team Coaching staff.

Williams has a considerable amount of former track and field experience, as she was a former Olympic competitor and coach for her home country of Nigeria. Williams also worked for the University of West Virginia as a coach for its Division I NCAA track team. With this experience, she hopes to bring a new method of increased discipline to the team. Williams coaches both long jump, her former event, and sprinting.

Williams, originally from Nigeria, was offered a track scholarship to run track in the United States. After spending four years competing at the collegiate level, Williams competed in both the Olympics and the world championships, representing Nigeria.

She later returned to Nigeria to help coach the next generation of

20 The Spoke

Kyle Kennedy/The SPOKE

Olympic spirit: New track coach Pat Williams poses with another member of the coaching staff before winter track practice. Williams competed in the Olympics and coached at both the Olympic and college level.

Williams came to Conestoga Nigerian athletes as an Olympic coach. After her Olympic and in- at the request of former coach ternational experience, Williams Leasha Lewis, who was seeking was hired by the University of a replacement for her coaching position. With the high-level West Virginia’s track program.

experience that Williams has, coming to Conestoga has been a drastic change in talent-level for her.

“I’m enjoying it, it’s transitioning, it’s a chance to teach kids what they don’t know and what they’re not used to, so it’s like starting from a crutch, grassroots environment,” Williams said. “It’s fun to have non-readymade athletes.”

Despite being open to helping these fledgling athletes, Williams is hoping to help the team to success by bringing a new level of discipline to the team.

“My philosophy is, if you don’t want to be here, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to be here. If you want to be here, I’m ready to help you, and your level of success really depends on the goals you set for yourself,” Williams said.

Many runners on the team appreciate Williams’ “tough love.”

“She’s really tough and she pushes us hard, but she really cares and she knows that in the end it’s going to make us better runners,” sophomore Grace Lanouette said.

That sentiment was echoed by fellow runner Lilly Zhou.

“During practice, she can be intimidating, and she can be very intense with us, but at the end of practice she is hugging us, and she shows that she really cares,” Zhou said.

Looking forward, the team hopes to use its newfound coaching talent to help project its sprinting program to the levels of success that Conestoga’s distance program has enjoyed in the past.

“Many of the sprinters are very new, so we are just seeing what their levels of talent are and going from there,” fellow coach Comstock said.

Williams agreed, adding that she’s enjoying working with new talent and that she thinks they will be able to continue ’Stoga’s winning tradition.

“I really like the school and what they have done with the distance in the past,” Williams said.

“I used to hear about Conestoga, and being really good, and I figured I’m going to give it a shot, and come somewhere they want to win, and I really like it here.”

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Sports

A splash to the face: swimmers attend early practices Ashley Greenberg Staff Reporter

Swimmers must face the challenges of balancing their sleep and schoolwork with the early Some students at Conestoga practices. Waking up to get to are awakened by the shock of their school on time is hard enough loud and startling alarm. Swim- for most students, but swimmers mers are awakened by the shock have to get up at least an hour beof the bitter cold water at morning fore most of them. practice. ’Stoga swimmers are out Junior Griffin Hamilton has of bed and swimming laps before been swimming for Conestoga the sun comes up while most stu- for three years and is a varsity dents are still sound asleep. swimmer this season. Hamilton Conestoga swim teams have wakes up around 5 a.m. for mornpractices at the Upper Main Line ing practice. He has overcome YMCA before the school day on the fight for sleep through his foTuesdays and Thursdays during cus on time management. the season. Since the UMLY team “I have to get my homework occupies the pool in the afternoons, done earlier than normal and try Conestoga swim has to schedule to get to bed by like 9 p.m. so their practices in the mornings. then I don’t fall behind on sleep.

Starting at 5:30 a.m. and running I can get work done and I have until 6:30 a.m., swimmers have to a purpose to do it. It makes me get themselves out of bed before more motivated to get my work the crack of dawn. done,” Hamilton said.

Practices are held in an indoor Although the time is inconvepool, as the winter temperatures nient, Hamilton doesn’t mind the make the outdoor pool too frigid early practices as he sees them as at the time of morning practice. a jumpstart to his day.

Morning practices usually begin “My favorite part about it is with a warm-up which is followed that it wakes me up really quickly by sets that change day to day. Sets and I can get my swim in, early consist of multiples laps of vary- in the morning, and then I have 2015_HS_Newspapers (10.312 must x 5.843).2_Layout 8/11/15 4:32 PM ing strokes that swimmers the rest of1 my day ahead of Page me,” 1 complete.

Hamilton said.

Ashley Greenberg/The SPOKE

Out of the pool: Swimmers come into school, arriving from practice. From left to right, junior Emma Scudder, freshman Brooksey Perrin Hee, junior Rachel Winfield and freshman Maddy Todd. Swim season began on Nov. 16.

Freshman Sophia Poeta swims to make her 5:15 a.m. practice. for Conestoga as well as Radnor Poeta doesn’t mind morning Aquatic Club. On Tuesdays and practices despite how she has to Thursdays, she attends morning wake up early. That is the main practices with her club team. Poe- downside, but she likes many ta has to get up even earlier for her parts about it. practices — at 4:20 a.m. in order “It’s just kind of nice to be

Ashley Greenberg Staff Reporter

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awake and you get to know that you’re doing something while everyone else is asleep. You feel like you’re doing something more,” Poeta said.

Sophomore Emily Newhall strives to get her work done in free periods and soon after she gets home from school so that she can get to sleep early. She likes going to morning practices since it teaches her how to get up early and awakens her for the upcoming day.

“I hate getting up early, but I like getting it done and out of the way, and then I’m awake for school. I feel good,” Newhall said.

Despite her hatred toward getting up early, Newhall sees morning practices as a good opportunity for the team.

“It’s good team bonding — having to all get up in the morning and then taking the bus to school together,” Newhall said.

Members of the team are forced to face the challenges that come along with morning practice together, which results in a tight-knit team. Waking up early tends to be the least favorite part of anyone's school week, but the members of Conestoga’s swim teams sacrifice to do the thing they love.

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The Spoke 21

Sports

Caleigh Sturgeon and Shivani Sanghani Co-Sports Editor and Public Relations Editor “High school football is football in its purest form,” said senior football player Tommy Luce.

But more than 100 high schoolers have died from football-related injuries in the past decade.

Rule changes have taken place in both the NFL and at the college level, further protecting defenseless players and eliminating certain blocks. But there has yet to be a shift in the way foot-

ball is played at the high school level. However, our state and district have set out to protect the athletes of the greatest revenue-raising and widest-attended high school sport.

The Tredyffrin Easttown School District recently provided new Revo Speed helmets to all student athletes who play football in both middle and high schools. The football district also mandated that each sports coach must take a concussion course during the summer, which covers extensive protocol on diagnosing and treating concussions. The concus-

22 The Spoke

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

sion course emphasized the importance of “monitoring students and making sure their safety is first and foremost.”

Conestoga football coach Matt Diamond was among the coaches who had to undergo substantial head-injury training this summer.

“Any time that a student athlete comes to us with a head injury, we know the correct protocol to follow to diagnose, and we always send them to a trainer. We never have them enter back into play if there is any sign of a concussion,” Diamond said. “We always err on the side of caution.”

The coaches must take the concussion course every year, updating their certification annually. The course teaches coaches how to properly handle and diagnose concussions and includes a cardiac course with updates on the newer sciences of what constitutes a concussion, even i n cludi n g myths about concussion signs.

“We learn about myths of concussions and the many other signs of concussions that we had never even heard of years ago,” Diamond said.

Although the coaches are not allowed to diagnose the concussions themselves, they must immediately remove the player from play at the slightest indication of a head injury.

“I think with football, there’s always that fear especially because it’s a contact sport and because awareness has risen through movies and the media,” Diamond said. “Concussions are unfortunately a part of any sport, but I think our district does a tremendous job trying to counteract

concussions and being proactive with the new helmets, coaching courses and tests.”

Conestoga Health & Fitness teacher and football coach Mike Cangi said that one of the biggest issues with concussions is the return to play too quickly.

“Every athlete wants to get back in the game. Going back too soon is what leads to second concussion syndrome, which can mean long-term disability down the road,” Cangi said. “Those little blows that are happening time to time again are also causing problems for people as they age.”

“There are professional athletes now, who are finished their careers at age 45 and 50, who are now starting to have memory problems as a direct result of some of the blows they received while playing sports,” Cangi said.

Awareness of these long-term effects is driving the district to focus on greater prevention. T/E coaches must now follow a specific concussion protocol to ease the players back into play.

“It’s not just one day they have a concussion, and then they’re cleared. It is a slow process where they start to work back in slowly with non-contact, drills and then finally entering back into game play,” Diamond said.

According to Diamond, the risk of concussions can also deter student athletes from pursuing sports.

“The student athletes’ families worry for the safety for their children too,” Diamond said. “I know, as a football coach, I also fear for my son’s safety when he plays the sport, maybe possibly more than [is] necessary.”

Senior Michael Karas’s family is one example. A tri-sport athlete, Karas put wrestling and rugby on the backburner during the fall of his freshman and sophomore years to play football. It was before his junior year football season that his parents started to voice some concerns. Karas had already gotten two concussion since the start of high school, and playing football again meant a greater risk of injury.

“My cousin had a bunch of concussions and that really pushed my parents over the edge

where they didn’t really want me to play,” Karas said.

By Karas’s senior year he had decided on his own that playing football wasn’t a good move.

“I don’t regret not playing. It was for the better because it gave me time to focus on other sports and I got better at wrestling,” Karas said.

This has become a norm for many multi-sport athletes at ’Stoga. They don’t want to risk their careers in other sports by playing a sport that is regarded as more dangerous. Now a freshman lacrosse player at Loyola, Damase Bagbonon didn’t play football his senior year because Loyola didn’t want him getting hurt, even though he had played the line for ’Stoga before.

And the same went for seniors Jack Reilly and Sam Bouhdary, committed to play lacrosse for the University

bigger, stronger and faster to the point where they’ve surpassed the equipment,” Cangi said. “That has made the impacts that much greater.”

According to Cangi, youth programs have recently demonstrated lesser interest in contact-based sports due to the risk of concussions.

“I think there’s going to be a trickle-up effect, as kids will find other things to get involved in other than the collision sports that put them at risk,” Cangi said.

“For example, they are playing soccer instead of football.”

of Virginia and the University of Michigan, respectively.

The number of kids playing football at ’Stoga shows this pattern. In 2001 ’Stoga made it to district finals and in 2004 and 2005 ’Stoga was league champion, and in both these years the team had nearly 100 players. This year only 66 came out. And even with a fewer number of players, ’Stoga started the season with 23 of its varsity players injured.

“I think the risk of concussion is scary for any student athlete, whether it’s football or any sport,” Diamond said.

Cangi attributes the recent increase in concussions to the evolving physiques of athletes.

“The athletes have gotten

Cangi’s own son played football and received his fourth concussion during his freshman year at college, ending his playing career.

“In the past, kids and coaches were getting back into the game sooner than they should’ve,” Cangi said. “But I think we’re doing the right thing. We’re identifying concussions and we’re taking action and giving the brain the rest that it needs. We’re starting to use the evidence that we have of older athletes who are debilitated because of their head injuries, and applying it to present contexts.”

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Sports

Just Getting Warmed Up Winter sports season may just be starting up, but there’s been no lack of action. Both boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have shown themselves to be ready for Central League title runs. Wrestling began the season with both strong tournament and league showings. Winter track had its first official meet on Dec. 11-12. Below is a photo gallery of select images from the beginning of winter sports season. To find more photos, go to Spoke.news.

Angela Nguyen/The SPOKE

Hit the mat: Freshman Ameer Martinez wrestles for positioning in ’Stoga’s meet against Haverford High School on Dec. 15. Martinez won his match to contribute to ’Stoga’s second Central League win of the season.

Caleigh Sturgeon/The SPOKE

Throw down: Junior Sarah Mascioli looks for a pass in girls’ basketball game against Ridley. Mascioli contributed five points to the win. The girls averaged 47 points in their first four games this year.

Andy Backstrom/The SPOKE

Jab and hook: Seniors Lucas Yonda and Andrew Larkin shake hands before ’Stoga’s game versus Springfield on Dec. 8. It’s a Conestoga basketball tradition for the five starters to shake hands with a senior player before each home game. This year Yonda does the honors.

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Courtesy Carlos Schultz

Kicking it in: Senior Lila Holmes runs the 400 meter in the Distance Medley Relay at Lehigh University in the first DVGTCA meet. The girls look to qualify for the Indoor State Championships in March.

The Spoke23 23

Sports

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Icing over last season’s struggles with new talent Neil Goldenthal Staff Reporter At Ice Line in West Chester, there is a wall of trophy cases that belong to home teams right near the entrance. In the center of that wall, there is a case with a faded, old school Pioneers jersey and an array of awards, trophies and memorabilia. Tucked in the bottom right corner of that case, there is a gleaming silver cup with a plaque that reads "Central League Champions 2011-2012."

However, for the Pioneers, their performance has been downhill since then.

For the last few seasons, the boys’ varsity ice hockey team has been struggling. It's been a rough few seasons since the last Central League title. Last season, the Pioneers finished dead last in their division with a 2-16-0 record. But this year, the team is back with vengeance and is living up to its history of greatness once again.

Senior captain Mac Hamblett remembers the difficulties the team faced during the last few seasons.

"We've definitely struggled the last few years and it's nice to be back winning again. Conestoga

24 The Spoke

ice hockey has a long history and it's nice to be back in the winning form," Hamblett said.

A big reason for the tough season last year was the large group of inexperienced freshmen that filled up much of the roster. Those freshmen now form the backbone of the team as seasoned sophomores. Head coach Mike Graves recognizes their impact.

"We knew that last year was going to be a tough season because we were really young, and we're still very young this year. I think having the core of the guys back from last year and playing at the upper level really helped," Graves said. "The core of our team is sophomores, and it's great to see them getting out and getting as many wins as we have, and we've got a lot of talent. But they're really coming together and playing well now and it's refreshing."

The Pioneers have been performing well in their division.

They are currently leading with a 5-2-0 record. But this stellar form did not come overnight. The team worked hard in the off-season to improve both as individual players and as a whole. Hamblett states this as a reason for the team's early

Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE

Making the save: Junior goalie Luke Turner makes a save against Lower Merion as senior captain Mac Hamblett looks on. Upperclassmen have played somewhat less of a role on the team than on most Conestoga sport teams as a strong sophomore class looks the help lead the team to a cup run. success. tic about the Pioneers’ chances the right plays because they hav"Last year we definitely had a this season. en't been there as many times as lot of kids, a lot of freshmen and "Our goals are simple, just get- we have so we just have to keep you could definitely see some im- ting into the playoffs and seeing them in check. But it's definitely mature plays but in the off season how much damage we can do. nice to have young blood on the we've developed a lot more and We're holding onto to first place team," Kaufman said. we've started to play smarter hock- in our division, so hopefully we Hamblett agrees with Kaufman. ey," Hamblett said. can maintain that," Graves said. "I "I think they'll do well, we just Junior captain Turner Kaufman think teams in years past have just have to work hard to make sure sees the team as having vastly im- folded and given up for the night, that we keep leading so that they proved from last year, seeing bet- but this team was able to fight and stay mature cause we have a lot of ter player relationships as a larger continue believing in themselves younger guys," Hamblett said. part of that. and I think it will pay off in the The Pioneers have showed "Our team chemistry is a lot future." that nothing can hold them back better, we're not playing selfishAs for the long term future of for too long. It takes a great team ly and we're working as a team. the team, the leaders of the squad and great leaders to make a comeWe've been running three full are confident that they are leaving back, but most importantly, it lines, and it's been working well," behind a team with a lot of poten- takes determination. From their Kaufman said. tial. Kaufman sees the sophomores performance so far, it's clear they With the resurgence of the as a great addition to the team. possess all three. In that case, anteam, there has been buzz of a "They're all very talented, other silver cup is not out of the new name around Conestoga: sometimes they're just not making question.

Matt Cameron. The sophomore forward currently leads the team in goals, points, points per game, game winning goals and he is the only player to score a short handed goal. Graves is happy to have Cameron on the team.

"He's just an exceptional player on the ice, and he's just one of those players that knows the game, sees the game and the game just kind of slows down for him.

Great playmaker with the puck, great shooter and finisher with the puck. He's one of those types of players that makes everyone else around him better and it's great to have him back this year," Graves Neil Goldenthal/The SPOKE said.

With their success thus far, the Breaking away: Junior Turner Kaufman brings the puck up the team is confident moving forward ice against Lower Merion. Conestoga won that game 6-2. The Piofor the season. Graves is optimis- neers look to continue their dominance over the rest of their league.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

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The Spoke 25

Sports

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

The last season, a search for the soul of Kobe Bryant

Matt Paolizzi

Co-Sports Editor When one takes a walk around the athletic wing of Lower Merion High School, an impression is made. A shrine comes into view. A glass case stuffed with memorabilia of a legend since gone. The jersey that hangs in the rafters of the main gymnasium also leaves one with a sense of wonder. The players wear his shoes. He being the NBA legend, Kobe Bean Bryant.

Growing up in Conestoga’s backyard, Kobe should be remembered as a local legend. While he is still revered at Lower Merion, ask about him anywhere else in and around Philly and you’re likely to get some sort of negative response.

Kobe Bryant has always had an awkward relationship with Philadelphia. Many easily could assume he was just always a Los Angeles guy. One event above all seems to prevent the city from ever embracing the man who should be

their proudest product: The 2001 NBA Finals. The Philadelphia 76ers were taking on the mighty Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were almost guaranteed to win, but something interesting was to occur.

Allen Iverson, adopted as Philly’s patron saint of basketball at the time, was to go against an actual son of the city. He had led that rough and tumble Sixers to the finals, compiling a playoff stat sheet that makes basketball geeks drool.

The trio of Iverson, Dikembe Mutumbo and Eric Snow, along with the rest of the team, were exhausted coming into the finals. Two straight seven game series (including a memorable seven game shootout between Iverson and the Toronto Raptor’s high-flying superstar Vince Carter) showcased the 76ers’ incredible endurance. The Lakers only had to play 11 games the entire playoffs (sweeping all the series that they had played in) compared with the Sixers’ 18 games. It was going to be interesting.

No mercy was shown. After an exciting win for the Sixers in game one (giving the Lakers their only loss of those playoffs), Los Angeles would win out the rest of them.

Before game three in Philly, Kobe said something Philly fans may never forget. Kobe had said he

had come to Philadelphia to “rip the fans’ hearts out.” Those were his actual words. He wanted to rip out our hearts. His hometown.

His own people. As a natural reaction to such a surprising threat, we flipped out. In truth, we were jealous. We missed him.

He wore Los Angeles Dodgers gear to the 2009 NLCS. The Phillies won that series 4- 1. Not like he cared.

Driving Shaq out of Los Angeles was a sign of who he was.

Kobe is an alpha dog. He must be the best on the team or nothing gets done. He would prove those who doubted him wrong. Kobe was the best player on those 2009 and 2010 championship winning Lakers teams. Kobe is the closest thing to an MJ this generation has. He scored 81 points against the Raptors in 2006 for crying out loud, second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points in 1962. Kobe’s defense is often forgotten, his 12 selections to the NBA All-Defense is the most for any guard in NBA history. Kobe’s skill was boundless.

Yet at the end of the day, Kobe still perplexes me. The more I delve, the more I come out confused. Who was this man? Can he even be called 100 percent Philly?

He spent most of his youth living

in Italy, where he spoke fluent Italian and always picked up a soccer ball over a basketball.

His rape allegations in 2003 tend to get swept under the carpet.

Kobe’s self-obsessed and immature attitude that defined him for most of his career isn’t something kids should make themselves out to imitate.

One possible answer to Philly’s hatred of Kobe, other than 2001, is that he represents everything Philly isn’t. Philadelphia sports teams normally echo the blue-collar mentality of the city. Physical and team-focused are words that come to mind.

Kobe isn’t either of them. He’s selfish and has that “all about me” attitude that Philly fans hate.

I suppose that Philadelphia will

always have one thing from Kobe.

A win for the dreadful 76ers team that now represents our city. Kobe’s Lakers have the only record close to being as bad as theirs.

As the City of Brotherly Love scrambles to love its most distant son, I too have trouble connecting with Kobe. I can only think of one thing. The closest I ever felt to Kobe Bryant. I was playing at Bala Cynwood Middle School on the T/E basketball team. Our squad was in desperate need of some points, and after pulling down an offensive rebound, I thought myself the man to do that. I rose up for a layup and could only think of one thing. Kobe played here.

Kobe played here. Kobe played here. My shot was blocked and I was left in a daze.

luck the past few years with 21 losses so far this year and just one win, they look even worse than the 18-63 team last year.

The only sports team with an even losses to wins ratio is The Flyers, who have started their season 11-11. Although they have not won any league titles and are always golfing by the time of the Stanley Cup, they are the only rising hope for Philly’s teams.

Philadelphia fans are usually categorized as passionate and rowdy when it comes to cheering for their sports teams.

The term “four for four” is a common term in Philadelphia.

It simply means that you show your support for all four of the major professional sports teams in Philly: the Flyers, the Phillies, the Eagles and the Sixers.

That term is now passed around lightly, though.

Those die-hard fans who have tattoos of eagles or the Phillies’ ice cream cup hats will always be there, but the overall majority of the support is in a downward spiral.

This year the Phillies had an incredibly low attendance

in April, after 90 losses, with only 19,074 attendees in Citizens Bank Park, a stadium that can hold up to 43,647 fans at capacity. But hey, not everyone attending games actually watches the games, but instead go for the food, the half time shows or the famous philly cheesesteaks.

They just love the excitement and energy of the experience.

Even these people will not want to attend games if the atmosphere is going to be depressing and uneventful, especially if the team is losing 12-2, like the Phillies were in their game against the Washington Nationals on Sept. 16.

The athletics of this city might just be in a rut, but this could be the start of years of dis-

appointment, and being gloomy and unsupportive is not going to help. The only way the fans can aid their athletes is continuing to give support and not be so fairweather. The athletes lose confidence and determination when they see empty stands.

They feed off of the energy of the fans and use it as their drive to win. If the fans aren't screaming their names and wanting them to win, they will be less inclined to do so.

Philly fans are historically loyal to their teams through thick and thin, and that chain of continuity should not stop now. And the future doesn’t look all that grim. The Eagles have now won two in a row and look to clinch the NFC East if all things go well. The Flyers will definitely be competing for a playoff spot as the bottom half of the Eastern Conference looks up for grabs.

Regardless of how the teams are doing, fans need to carry on attending games and cheer for the teams — win or lose.

Gaining back the support of the community is one step closer to getting these athletes’ attitudes back on track.

Liz Lawton/The SPOKE

For every uphill battle, there is a downhill sprint

Elizabeth Billman Staff Reporter Walking into class, the chatter consists of test stress, weekend plans and last night’s game. The Flyers lost again 4-1, not surprising to any of the students. Someone even studied for their quiz last night instead of watching the game. This is the declining level of enthusiasm coursing throughout the halls of Conestoga where Philly’s sports are involved.

The declining performance in Philadelphia's professional sports teams is not new this year, but trend that has continued ever since the Phillies’ World Series title in 2008. Four years later, The Eagles had a disappointing season last year with only four wins and 12 losses.

The 76ers have also had tough

26 The Spoke

Liz Lawton/The SPOKE

Sports

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

SportsLine: From the hoop to the mat

fifth in their brackets. DeVitis, Jean, Elken and Reagan all wrestled into at least the quarterfinals of their weight classes. Jean won his consolation bracket at 285 The winter sports season is pounds. off and running and two teams The Pioneers have posted in particular are looking to make convincing wins over Lower their mark: wrestling and girls Merion and Haverford High basketball.

School, earning a 2-0 record in Wrestling the Central League.

The Conestoga wrestling ’Stoga looks to build off of team began its season with a last season, in which they finsecond place finish at the St. ished second place as a team in Mary’s Kickoff on Dec. 5. the Central League seventh in districts. The team’s next tournament will be the two-day Governor Mifflin Holiday Tournament over winter break from Dec. 29-30. Conestoga’s next Central League match is on Jan. 5 against Harriton at home.

Girls Basketball Girls basketball started their season 3-1, losing only to Garnet Valley, a team undefeated in the Central League for the past two years. The team’s potent offense, led by leading scorer senior Ellie Mack, has Angela Nguyen/The SPOKE propelled the Pioneers Riding the opponent: Junior Kade LaMarre controls his match to average 47 points a against Haverford. The wrestling team would go on to win 34-31. game, an average victory They look to do well in their upcoming tournament over winter break. margin of 12 points over

Matt Paolizzi and Caleigh Sturgeon Co-Sports Editors

Senior captains Dan Iredale and Ethan Rodgers-Vargo took first place in the 160 pound and 132 pound weight classes, respectively. Junior captain Eric Hutchinson won his bracket at the 145 pound weight. Eric Rodgers-Vargo finished second at 113 pounds.

Sophomores Scott Jean, Jack Reagan, Tyler Amendola, juniors Dean DiVitis and Jack Elken and senior Jack Frantz all had strong performances.

Amendola and Frantz placed

James Reilly ’18

their opponents.

In the season opener on Dec. 8, ’Stoga faced off against Springfield High School. After pulling ahead by the half, the girls came alive in the third quarter. Mack went 12 for 12 from the line to gain half her scoring total and junior Emma Powell put up 10 points to help contribute to the 47-34 victory.

Garnet Valley proved a test for the team in its second game of the season. After a tough start against GarCaleigh Sturgeon/The SPOKE net Valley’s defense, the girls narrowed a Up for the score: Senior Sondra Dickey double digit deficit to goes up for a layup against Ridley. Conestotwo points late in the ga won the game. The Pioneers are hoping to game. With just 1:43 ride their great start to a successful season. left in the game ’Stoga trailed by the first quarter, and maintained three, but Garnet Valley went on this lead for the rest of the game, a scoring spree, and ’Stoga end- winning 52-33. Mack boasted 23 points, pulling her points per ed up losing 34-47. ’Stoga bounced back for a game average up to 17. Junior convincing 51-23 win over In- guards Lindsay Erickson and terboro in which sophomore Ma- Sarah Mascioli set her, Koblish, ria Koblish came up strong with Powell, junior Liz Scott and 11 points. Eight other Pioneers senior Sondra Dickey up for success with strong handles all besides Koblish scored.

On Dec. 15, ’Stoga played game, and each put up three and its home opener against Ridley. five points of their own, respecThe girls went up by 10 early in tively.

COMMITMENT CORNER

Emily Conaway ’16

School: Georgetown University Grade: 10 Sport: Lacrosse Position: Midfield

School: LaSalle University Grade: 12 Sport: Softball Position: Shortstop, First

Why Georgetown?

“I decided that I really liked the campus and the location is ideal, being in Washington D.C., such a nice city, and I though after college there would be nice opportunities for jobs.”

Why LaSalle?

“I love the coaching philosophy and the girls made me feel welcomed. And when I went I just felt like I belonged there.”

What ’Stoga Lacrosse taught him: “‘It’s taught me that a team, if they work together, they can go far. I mean, last year, we worked as a team we didn’t have a great regular season but we went all the way to the state quarterfinals so that was awesome.”

What ’Stoga Softball taught her: “To never settle for good if better is an option.”

Favorite ‘Stoga Softball Memory: “Singing on the bus to ‘Frozen’.”

Favorite ’Stoga Lacrosse Memory: “Last year, beating Radnor in district semis was pretty fun.”

The Spoke 27

INSIDE: Olympic Track Coach p. 20 Boys Ice Hockey p. 24

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Driving ahead Girls basketball is off to a 4-1 start. The team has only lost to Garnet Valley, a team two years undefeated in the Central League.

Caleigh Sturgeon/The SPOKE

Senior Sondra Dickey drives the ball inside in girls’ basketball game against Ridley High School on Dec. 15. Dickey scored four points to contribute to the 52-33 win, with junior Sarah Mascioli, sophomore Maria Koblish and senior Ellie Mack each scoring five, 13 and 23 points respectively.