November 2012

HIGHLAND

FLING

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NOVEMBER 2012

THE

INSIDE NEWS Hurricane Sandy p. 2 FEATURE Ms. Martin’s US History I Honors Class p. 4 Seniors’ Sprit Week Success! p. 5 OPINION Christie Conditionally vetoes Good Samaritan Emergency Act p. 7 A&E Red Album Review p. 8 SPORTS The Mind of a Coach p. 10 Player Profiles p. 11

A Victim of Hurricane Sandy: One of the Adelaide apartments received an unwelcome surprise on the morning after the storm. (continued on p. 2)

Don’t Mess with the Top Hat Charlotte Finegold

History has always been one of my favorite subjects, so to me, the prospect of seeing a film devoted to the struggle to pass the 13th amendment seemed like an awesome way to spend the Thanksgiving weekend. However, Stephen Spielberg’s look at our most respected president is not just for history buffs.

Lincoln, despite its opening scene depicting a particularly gross battle between the Union and Confederate soldiers, is no action movie. The story focuses on debate, not muskets and cannons. The movie, based in part on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book, Team of Rivals, focuses on the last year of the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln has given the Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation, and is trying desperately to pass an amendment which would abolish slavery. The film, like Lincoln’s life and presidency, is filled with one moral conflict after another. Lincoln spends most of the film wondering: whether passing the 13th amendment in order to end the war is purely a political move; whether he should accept the South’s arrogant offers of peace in order to stop the bloodshed; whether he would be a hypocrite by refusing to allow his son, Robert (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to join the Union Army. The film is not simplified for the audience: one must follow intricate dialogue and speeches to understand Lincoln’s, and other politicians’ reasoning and arguments. It causes the audience to think themselves, and for a whopping 150 minutes.

The acting of Lincoln was the best of the year. Daniel Day-Lewis spent an entire year method-acting Abraham Lin-

coln, and the time was evidently well spent. Every step, every look, every word (high-pitched and squeaky) was Lincoln. I frequently forgot that I was watching acting at all – it seemed so real. Day-Lewis conveyed Lincoln’s serious, plodding, and incredibly burdened existence, which the president attempted to lighten with stories and quotes from his favorite authors. Sally Field (Forrest Gump, Mrs. Doubtfire) put her all into Mary Todd Lincoln, displaying the first lady’s mental instability, her unabashed nature, her grief at the death of two sons, and her shame at making her husband’s life more difficult. The string of politicians elucidated the turbulent political atmosphere and racism of the Civil War. Tommy Lee Jones (Men In Black, No Country for Old Men) was an excellent Thaddeus Stevens, conveying the veteran politician’s impatience at the stupidity of younger congressmen and the retrogressive nature of Congress.

The ever-magnificent David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck, the Bourne trilogy) captured Secretary of State William Seward’s growing loyalty to and frustration with the president. As for the directing, Mr. Spielberg applied his staples – a dramatic soundtrack, intricate effects and costumes – to a new project with fantastic results.

Lincoln can teach the modern teen about the extraordinary intelligence and bravery of President Lincoln and his support staff, and about political gridlock and efficacy. No doubt it will hang around in theatres for a while.

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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NEWS Hurricane Sandy Hits Highland Park

Clockwise from top left: a tree fallen across the entryway of the Adelaide apartments; the middle school gym, filled with desks, to accomodate the high school and middle school; the remains of a fallen tree on Grant Ave; lucky cars; branches litter the ground next to the Highland Park Police Department.

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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FEATURE Local Love

November: Thanksgiving Edition Andrea Boffice November is probably the most well-known month for food because of the wonderful (food-filled) holiday of Thanksgiving. You probably did not realize it, but when you are eating the “food of the Pilgrims” on the fourth Thursday, you are also eating foods that are in season. When the Pilgrims settled, they could not go to the store and buy canned peaches like we can, so they used what was growing around them. From potatoes to yams, apple pie and even your stuffing, Thanksgiving dinner is truly a reflection of November.

While you are with your relatives giving thanks to your food and family, maybe you can spare a thank you for the farmers who grew your food.

Foods in Season for November: Apples Artichokes Avocadoes Beets Bok Choy

Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrots Celery

Chestnuts Cranberries Kiwis Pears Pomegranates

Potatoes Swiss chard Turnips Winter squash Yams

Apple Pie

Cooking time: 40 minutes Apple pie is one of the signature pieces of Thanksgiving and American culture in general. Each person has an idea of the perfect crust: you can make your own, but, for a product in a short amount of time, buy a premade crust. You can use different types of apples for different tastes and textures. I recommend Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Fuji, and Gala, but most apples will work in a pinch.

Ingredients: 1 cup light brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 4 tablespoons flour 6 cups of peeled, cored and thinly sliced apples 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons butter 1.Preheat oven to 425.

2. Butter pan and line a 9-inch pie pan with half the dough, or the premade pie shell.

3. Combine the brown sugar with the cinnamon and flour and toss with the apples and lemon juice. Pour mixture in pie crust.

4. Roll out dough for the top of the pie and cut out vents. Place over the fruit and pinch into place.

5. Bake the pie for 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350° F. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes longer or until the pastry is golden brown.

Vegetarian Stuffing

Cooking time: 20 minutes It’s always good to accommodate to different types of eaters when all of your extended family comes together, because of all the Thanksgiving foods, no one wants to miss the stuffing. This stuffing tastes goods for vegetarians and omnivores alike! Maybe instead of stuffing it in the usual turkey, you can stuff it in a vegetable, such as acorn squash. Feel free to include your favorite type of nuts, or abstain from nuts all together. Craisins are another good addition. If you want to make non vegetarian stuffing you can use chicken broth, add pieces of chicken, turkey, or sausage.

Ingredients: 5 – 6 pieces whole wheat bread cut into cubes 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 1/2 cups of vegetarian broth 2 stalks of celery, diced 1 medium onion, chopped 1 apple, chopped 1 cup of mushrooms, diced 1 cup of pecans (or walnuts) chopped 1 Tbsp of Bell’s Stuffing Seasoning – or a combined Tbsp worth of sage, oregano, thyme and rosemary Salt and pepper

1. Spread out bread pieces on a cookie sheet and bake bread pieces at 375 for about 5 -10 minutes, stirring it occasionally.

2. Move toasted pieces to a separate bowl and add nuts.

3. In a pan, sauté diced onions, mushrooms and celery with olive oil. Once onions are soft, add chopped apple.

4. When the apples have softened some, add the vegetable broth and stuffing seasoning.

5. Pour veggie broth, onion and apple mixture over bread, nuts and stir until well combined and bread is evenly moist. Add more broth or water if necessary depending on preference.

6. Gently mush your stuffing with a potato masher or a spoon.

7. Cover and cook at 375 for about 20 minutes.

Above: America’s favorite dessert. The twist is in the ingredients.

Candy Apples

Cooking time: 1 1/2 hours These are not the cheap, red, hard, candied, stale apples that are sold in the store. If you use crispy, in-season apples with this gooey caramel, the result will be delicious. You can put other things on the apples like chopped nuts, dried fruit, dried cranberries, candy, sprinkles, or chocolate.

Ingredients: 1 1-pound box dark brown sugar 16 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 2/3 cup dark corn syrup 1/3 cup pure maple syrup 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 12 medium apples 1. Combine first 8 ingredients in heavy 2 1/2-quart saucepan.

2. Stir slowly over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves, about 15 minutes.

3. Increase heat to medium-high and stir.

4. While caramel cools, line 2 baking sheets with foil; butter foil. Push 1 chopstick into stem end of each apple. Set up decorations.

5. Holding chopstick, dip 1 apple into caramel.

6. Place coated apple on prepared foil.

Repeat with remaining apples.

7. Chill apples on sheets until caramel is partially set, about 15 minutes. Lift 1 apple from foil. Using hand, press pooled caramel around apple; return to foil. Repeat with remaining apples.

8. Firmly press decorations into caramel; return each apple to foil.

9. Cover and chill.

Above: stuffing that will please your entire dinner party, not just the vegetarians.

Above: a healthier approach to this childhood favorite.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

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FEATURE First Year of High School: Sophomore Year?

John Yang

As all students of Highland Park resettle into an altered school routine - with a brief intermission courtesy of Hurricane Sandy - a daunting realization has swept across the sophomore class; this year is nothing like the last. For those sophomores who are sitting in Mrs. Martin’s US History I Honors class this year, your upperclassmen send their regards to you.

Good luck! As a veteran of the course, I can promise that you are definitely going to learn, but you are going to work hard for that knowledge. But don’t worry, one day you will look back on those sleepless nights, sitting into the most silent hours of the night, mulling over every single detail, cursing yourself for not starting the assignment sooner, and remember it as the true beginning of high school.

Freshman year is akin to waddling

course. A student in this class will find knowledge that extends far beyond the history of the United States; he/she will find the work ethic required for the future and a course that will truly test his/her grit in the face of hardship.

By now this year’s sophomores with Ms. Martin have survived their first chapter overview and the infamous “Native

highlighting every other big word is not going to cut it anymore. The message is simple: as the difficultly level increases, you must spend more time and effort on your work. You can no longer write for the sake of filling up the paper; you instead write to explain and to persuade with a purpose. You can no longer take notes for an easy grade; you take notes

John Yang represents the grueling but rewarding burden of US History I Honors.

“Well, I saw the first two blank columns and I thought that was a lot of work;, then I realized it was like ten pages of blank columns we were suppose to fill in completely.”

“Expectations are getting higher, and you must meet it - when you do ... well, they’re just going to get even higher.”

- Ms. Martin

- An anonymous sophomore lazily through shallow waters unwittingly close a steep drop. Some may hear of the existence of this fall from the passing words of upperclassmen and friends, but not much thought is generally given to it. The more ambitious among them may swim dangerously close to this drop with Mr. Kruger’s Honors Biology class, but the workload that weighs down the older students simply does not exist there. Yet come sophomore year, all previous beliefs about the ease of high school abruptly vanish from the unsuspecting students’ minds when they step into their sophomore honors classes unprepared. The sharp fall has come, and woe to the ones who are not equipped for it; for they will plunge a long way into the abyss before they have a chance to retain a grasp on their school life. For many sophomores this year, this is the first time in their lives that they will be expected to do so much in so little time, to have to study a subject for hours and still feel unprepared, to glean bits and pieces of information from a insanely dense block of text even after losing interest. No class personifies this higher expectation of students better than Mrs. Martin’s US History I Honors

was when they first started her course, they departed her class with more than just knowledge of American history; they left her class with the work ethic that will set the foundations required for the work ethic one needs in AP courses in the latter two years of high school, and eventually, college.

With all this in mind, what exactly can you do if you are falling behind in said class? You must unlock the gateway to your mind and build an internal, strong work ethic. The old habit of glancing over the scribble you call notes minutes before a test and still pass must be eliminated completely to make room for a new normal of in-depth preparation. The tradition of highlighting your handouts for the sake of looking busy must be disposed of and replaced with reading and annotating with an active mind. Shallow “reading the text” answers and interpretations cannot define

Americans Packet” - a mere taste of the work ahead of them. Many may have just barely squeaked by, and perhaps there are even a rare few history buffs that excelled, but for those who are falling behind and overwhelmed by the work, what can be done? It may be surprising to know that despite the reputation this course has gained in Highland Park, it is not the monstrous dispenser of failing grades that one might expect. It is, simply put, the first of many “rising of the standards” one should expect from high level courses for the rest of high school and beyond. The workload may seem cruelly heavy, but its aim is to convey a better work ethic to students.

It surprises many new sophomores that

because the information is so thick that without notes one will inevitably fail.

When asked for her thoughts on the apparent infamy her sophomore Honors class has gained among underclassmen pretty much every year, Mrs. Martin answered, “It’s wonderful.” She says that she loves what she does and although incoming students may feel scared, intimated and very likely unprepared, she hopes that the reason that they took an honors class in history is because they have a genuine interest, or perhaps even a passion for it. Ask any upperclassmen who has taken this class, and after a few quips, most upperclassmen will tell you that no matter what their interest in history

your work; you must go deeper to read in between the lines for what the author implies, then even deeper still to find the purpose and reason behind the writing.

From the simplistic common words of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense to the old dense writing of John Winthrop’s A Modell of Christian Charity, you must apply yourself fully. All of these writings are famous for a reason, and are brimming with implications and purpose that a quick skim can never hope to exhume. Take your work seriously, even if you do not plan on a career as a historian, hard work is a fundamental part of life. Instead of desperately trying to finish that chapter overview in the small hours, build up a more responsible work ethic. You will thank yourself in junior and senior years and beyond high school.

Fearless? More Like Senseless Amy Wang

If someone ever asked me to jump down from 24 miles above the Earth for ten gazillion dollars, he (or she) would receive a resounding, “No! Are you crazy?” followed by a look of disbelief.

On Sunday, October 14, 2012, however, Austrian skydiver and daredevil Felix Baumgartner shattered all the records in the official book of crazy people, along with the sound barrier…and he did it for free. According to The Huffington Post, as the climax of Red Bull Stratos’ seven-year project, Baumgartner floated twenty-four miles away from earth in a capsule attached to a thin helium filled-balloon; in order to lift just Baumgartner and his pod, the balloon needed to be fifty-five stories high (remind anyone of Up by

any chance?). After a few long hours of ascension, Felix could see earth from the height of satellites and was ready to jump.

Although he seemed calm enough before stepping off the pod, the risks involved in one step off the capsule would have turned even the most daring daredevil back. For example, if Felix’s spacesuit even touched the capsule as he fell, it would have ripped open and left him without oxygen and in up to negative 70-degree temperatures for the duration of his fall. For a professional daredevil, however, beating all the odds is a part of the job description and that is exactly what happened.

A few seconds into his descent, Baumgartner began tumbling uncontrollably, spinning and twisting violently.

“When I was spinning the first 10, 20 sec-

onds, I never thought I was going to lose my life, but I was disappointed because I’m going to lose my record. I put seven years of my life into this,” he recounted to The Huffington Post. Yet, he was able to stop turning a few seconds later and continue his fall without any further disturbances. At 5,000 feet above ground, Felix opened his parachute and landed safely on his feet in the New Mexico desert after a fall of over nine minutes. Thousands cheered at his success and when asked about his experience, Baumgartner replied enthusiastically, “Sometimes we have to get really high to see how small we are.”

The one record he did not break on this jump was the longest time spent in freefall; he fell short of Joe Kittinger’s record one minute and fifteen seconds. Uninten-

tionally, Baumgartner’s jump landed on the sixty-fifth anniversary of a jet’s first success in breaking the sound barrier.

How did Felix Baumgartner come to the point in his life where he willingly jumped 126,720 feet off a balloon? Well according to his biography on the Red Bull Stratos site, he began skydiving and dreaming to break records at the age of sixteen. In 1988, he partnered with Red Bull Stratos to achieve his dream of achieving new heights. Want to follow “Fearless Felix” in his path of being a professional daredevil and spend over four minutes in a never-ending roller coaster drop? Suit yourself; I’ll just watch your antics from the comforts of my couch and a bag of potato chips.

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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FEATURE Spirit Week: Seniors’ Secrets to Success 1

1 - The Class of 2013 as Freshmen 2 - Daniel Padgett and Michael Ehrlich as sophomores 3 - Florie Bicaj, Melshawn Taylor, and Anna Nedashkivska as juniors 4 - Seniors celebrating their third Spirit Week victory. Back row (from L to R): Thulani Hove, John Marin, Homero Balbuena; front row (from L to R): Jacob Ervin, Elvin Rivera, George Chavarria, and Tyler Morris.

Photo Credits: 1 - Jacqui Psolka; 2, 3, 4 - Sarah Rozaidi

Gregory Burdea

The Senior Class, a.k.a. the Class of 2013, has now won Spirit Week three out of four times, along with taking the gold for Spirit Hall all four years. Intrigued by their success, The Fling asked senior members to spill their secrets to success:

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“Take Spirit Week seriously (it takes like one minute to find something related to the theme), because 500 points is half of the win. Be the best class ever. And, most importantly, win.” –John Yang “Peer pressure; hassle enough unenthusiastic students, and they’ll comply . . . add in a bunch of reasonably creative and determined individuals to work on Spirit Hall and you have a recipe for victory”—Casey Horne “People bringing in extra stuff [for others to get points].

We’re really good at that.”—Will Callahan

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“I think one of our secret strategies is making sure we have as many 3-dimensional props as possible. We also make sure we have a lot of artistic people that participate. And we build everything which gains the appreciation of the judges” –Maggie Crisafulli “Something that comes to mind about spirit hall is remembering to bring in extra props/reminding others to bring in extras”—Gigi Ager “As a class, we’re great under pressure”—Jessica Reyes “Have an extraordinarily alpha and impressive individual on your team. Anyone named Alex Vanarthos will do” —Alex (of course)

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“The worse it seems and the less organized you are, the better it will be. Pressure will pull everything together. Be a diamond grade in the rough. BE THE ALADDIN OF CLASSES”—Ariel Glueck “I believe that for one week, our class came together as a whole, and there has always been that group of about 20 students who has awesome imaginations, and the best artists that bring it to life. I believe that we have always tried to bring out every detail in our hallways. We stay after every day and do work at home. Also, I love how the students that would not usually participate, give in and dress since the rest of the class is so pumped up.

Also our class has one crazy advisor with lots of energy” –Ms. Harper (the advisor for the Class of 2013) Every Spirit Week, the senior class has united to compete and prove ourselves as deserving of sweet victory.

Next year, who will claim the throne?

What Are You Thankful For? Sarah Cheng

Autumn is not only the season of harvest, crunchy leaves, and pumpkin pie, but is also the season of thanking others. Our modern holiday traditions have, however, evolved greatly from the original celebration in sevenTHE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

teenth-century Plymouth Colony. While many families today do not celebrate harvests or hold a religious link to this holiday, one component has stood the test of time – the act of giving thanks. Nonetheless, even this factor can vary from person to person depending on their point of view. This year, The Fling interviewed several different HPHS students and faculty to find out what different people are thankful for…we received many interesting answers.

The most popular and obvious response to the inquiry is summed up very well by Señor Esteban’s one word reply: “family.” This answer is understandable because family is an important aspect of everyone’s lives and is the basis of our support system. Another common response was friends, because they are the foundation of our social lives and can connect to our experiences.

Freshman Adriana Diaz says that she is thankful to have “a shelter, a family that loves and cares for her, and friends (they know who they are) who are always supportive.” Sam Guerrero, sophomore, on the other hand, is thankful for “simply being alive, being able to live every day to its fullest, and being able to see everyone he cares about.” Emily Merino, junior, is thankful for having “two amazing parents who have persevered and given her everything they can to make her happy.” She is also thankful for her family, siblings, and friends who have always been there for her. Finally, Will Callahan, senior, is thankful for his education, friends and family. He is

especially thankful for his “new baby cousin and the men and women who serve and protect this country.”

As Thanksgiving approaches, students should begin to think about which aspects of their lives they value the most and how grateful they are that these opportunities are available to them. On the fourth Thursday of the month, you hopefully paused in your eating to remember what we have; after all, we should be thankful for

simple things like family and friends every day.

What are you thankful for this year?

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FEATURE New Year, New Faces and soccer. I’ve always put a lot of importance on sports – I take them seriously. At the moment, I play varsity soccer, and I will certainly try out for varsity tennis.

Rucha Phadtare & Stefana Voicu There has been an influx of new students in the Highland Park School District this year, and several of these new faces have made an appearance in the high school.

The Fling got to chat with some of these students and learned a bit about who they are.

Highland Fling (HF):Tell us one interesting/unique fact about you.

EB: I like paragliding and I’ve done it before in the Alps. Also, I’ve traveled a lot; I’ve been to Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy, among other countries.

SG: I practice cultural dancing and I’m looking to take classes here too, outside of school.

PT: I enjoy making origami and have been learning since I was in first grade.

DZ: I care about other people and I have always liked in whichever way I can.

In Mexico, I was involved in a program that helped special-needs kids, and I am continuing this in HP by participating in Buddy Ball.

Highland Fling (HF): Why did you move here?

Emmet Brennan (‘14): We moved to Highland Park because my mom had been working at Rutgers for two years and the commute was too inconvenient.

Sushma Gangisetti (‘13): My dad transferred to Rutgers for his job. He is a researcher.

Pavan Yecham Thella (‘16): My dad decided that he wanted to work as a pharmacist in his friend’s business, in Manhattan.

He thought that the schools were good in this area, so we moved here.

Daniel Zendejas (‘13): I moved to Highland Park to make my last year of high school abroad, to have the experience of living in a different culture, and to expand my possibilities of going to college in the U.S. Highland Fling (HF): Where did you move from?

EB: I lived in Colts Neck, which is by the seaside. It’s in Monmouth County.

SG: I lived in College Station, Texas.

PT: I moved from a small city called St. Catharines, which is about 15 minutes away from Niagara Falls.

DZ: I come from Zamora, located in central-western Mexico very close from Guadalajara.

Highland Fling (HF): What was it like where you came from and how does it compare to here?

EB: Colts Neck is a much larger town than Highland Park. There’s more open land there and larger properties.

SG: The weather was a lot different in Texas. It was much hotter there. Also, the school there was much larger; my class had something like 600 people. I liked the bigger class better because it meant that students had more opportunities, like more class options, since the school had better funding.

PT: I lived in that city for about 9 years.

Same school, same house, and I wasn’t really used to change, and didn’t know what to expect. After I moved here in July, I realized that this is city is very similar to my old one, very quiet and friendly.

DZ: My hometown is small city on the countryside in a valley located close to major cities. It is a very peaceful, very green city (with a lot of trees and less

Clockwise from top left: Daniel Zendejas, Pavan Yecham Thella, Emmet Brennan, and Sushma Gangisetti

pollution). Also, it is a very family-oriented city. It is very similar to HP in all these aspects, but the main difference is the climate – the temperature there was temperate, without the great fluctuations between very hot and very cold weather we see here. Another major difference I notice is that the U.S. society is composed of a mix of a wide variety of cultures, unlike in Mexico, and consequently, I have gotten to know many people with different views of life and ways to live it.

Highland Fling (HF):What is your background/nationality?

EB: My family is originally from Germany, from a town located near Köln. I used to speak German, but I am no longer fluent because I haven’t practiced speaking it for about four years. We occasionally visit during the summer.

SG: I’m originally from India. I was born there and I came to the US when I was four years old.

PT: I was born in India, and my family had moved to Canada when I was about

two. We lived in Canada for twelve years and now we’ve come here.

DZ: I am half-Mexican and half-American; my dad is from Mexico City and my mom is from Pennsylvania.

Highland Fling (HF):What are your interests/hobbies (sports, instruments, etc) Will you be continuing then here as well?

EB: I play soccer and do track and field.

I’m playing soccer for the school on the junior varsity team. I also hunt what is in season, like deer and rabbits. I enjoy skiing as well.

SG: I like to travel and shop. In terms of sports, I tried tennis for a year, and I enjoyed it but it didn’t spark enough interest for me to continue.

PT: I’ve been learning how to play guitar for a few years, and karate for about five years. As soon as football season ends, I will continue learning.

DZ: I love to play sports and listen to music. In Mexico, I played competitive tennis

Highland Fling (HF):What did you do this summer?

EB: I moved here and my family visited from Germany. I also had a summer job as a golf caddy.

SG: I moved here and I visited India.

I just relaxed there and caught up with family and friends.

PT: In the beginning of summer, I tried hanging out with my friends as much as I could, and my family had started packing.

By the end of July we moved here, and finished settling in by the start of school.

DZ: This summer I went with my family to the Puerto Vallarta beach resort and stayed for a week. I also spent two months in an intensive tennis course – I trained every day and as a result, I have improved a lot. And after all this, I came to HP and spent a lot of time in NYC. Highland Fling (HF):What are you looking forward to you high-school career at HPHS? EB: I’m looking forward to competing in track and field and participating in Model UN. SG: I’m looking forward to getting to know people, especially since a small school means a more tight-knit community.

PT: I would like to play football and do track and field for all four of my years in HPHS. I might end up trying out different sports and clubs as soon as I get used to everything here.

DZ: I am looking forward to finishing high school and to feel more confident and responsible, so I can go to whatever college I chose ( maybe in the U.S. or back in Mexico) and be more prepared. I would like to major in sustainable architecture or civil engineering.

Not Just an Assembly Elena Weissmann What, exactly, is cyberbullying? The Merriam-Webster dictionary cites it as “the electronic posting of meanspirited messages about a person,” while Stopbullying.gov, a federal government website, defines it as simply “bullying that takes place using electronic technology.”

Whatever the definition is, many students seem to agree that cyberbullying does, indeed, occur at Highland Park High School.

Out of a poll of fifty students, only sixteen disagreed, stating resolutely that cyberbullying never transpires at HPHS. One student surveyed, Ben Goldstein, junior, commented, “People interpret certain things as cyberbullying that are not actually cases of cyberbullying.”

The problem here is that many people in the school have different opinions about

the exact definition of the word – while some believe it has to include concrete, cruel behavior in order to count, others interpret it as including anything hurtful said online, whether jokingly or not.

“No-one really thinks it’s cyberbullying, everyone just thinks it’s funny. But it’s the little things that end up hurting people,” another junior, Bryce Eato, remarked.

Either way, thirty-four students polled out of fifty answered either “yes” or “maybe” when asked if cyberbullying occurs at HPHS – which means there are people in our school getting their feelings hurt by someone online, even if it may be unintentional. As Bryce said, it may be the “little things” that are hurting people – comments meant as jokes that end up meaning more than that. As a Facebook user myself, I’ve come across more than a few statuses that are clearly aimed at other people; it may be healthy to vent, but it is

not acceptable to publish these comments online if they will hurt someone else.

Another example of cyberbullying is when people post pictures of others that are embarrassing or degrading in some way.

This can cause extremely harmful effects – not only is the person being bullied very upset, but future colleges/employers may be able to track down this picture and use against the person in question. The picture you post jokingly could end up ruining someone else’s life, and all for what – a short laugh? This type of cyberbullying does occur at HPHS: “During Spirit Week there was a really bad picture put up of someone who didn’t know about it. The person was very hurt and embarrassed,” Jessie Dominick, a senior, reported.

On the other hand, I know that many people at the high school are not actually trying to hurt anybody when they joke around on social networking sites such as

Facebook. Usually, people only intend to make a joke or a connection with friends, but people just get hurt in the process.

It is hard to convey mood or tone in a comment or status, and many people often misunderstand whether the perpetrator is purposefully trying to be vicious or not.

There’s a thin line between joking and bullying, especially online when tone cannot be heard.

HPHS students just need to watch what they post and make sure nothing could be interpreted as hurtful or embarrassing.

You need to check what you write before you post it – would you be willing to say the same thing in person? If not, it’s definitely not a good idea to post it online, where almost everybody in the community can see it. The laugh you may get out of friends when you crack a mean spirited joke online is really not worth the pain you may be causing for others.

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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OPINION Food for Thought One out of every eleven people in New Jersey goes hungry every night. More than 764,000 people go to bed with an empty stomach. These numbers, coupled with the number of victims of the recent hurricane that devastated the region, yield a nasty combination. Entire towns have been wiped out—lives have been completely changed. Damages from Hurricane Sandy may total up to more than $50 billion. This year, the Highland Park DECA chapter is supporting the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The organization helps fights hunger and poverty throughout the state by distributing food and groceries, providing education and training, and developing new programs to help people with low incomes meet their basic needs. They act as the central food distribution center for other non-profits in NJ that serve individuals, soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters.

In this time of need, the community needs our support more than ever. Last month, DECA sold ghosts that “scared away hunger.” Each ghost cost a dollar and was displayed with the donor’s name in Center Hall. Fret not! You can still help. At the end of the month, November 28th, DECA is planning a walkathon. The minimum donation required for participation is $5, but you are encouraged to raise more money. See Oscar Lee or Nina Xue for more info. Help stomp out hunger!

“Cowardice with a Death Toll” Oscar Lee

On October 5, 2012, Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed Bill A578/S851, the Good Samaritan Emergency Response Act. First, a special thanks should go out to our own Assemblymen Patrick Diegnan, Jr. and Peter Barnes III for responding to Highland Park High School SSDP’s efforts and co-sponsoring the Good Samaritan bill.

This bill provides legal immunity to those who call for medical help on behalf of overdose victims. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) defines Good Samaritan policies as, “Life-saving measures that enable people to make responsible decisions by shielding them from punishment when they call for medical help during an emergency relating to alcohol or other drugs.” Since the threat of punitive policies can often cause hesitation during confusing and stressful party situations, the existence of a Call 911 Good Samaritan Policy (GSP) is essential to ensuring that people are able to stay alive and receive help when they are in trouble.” The main objective of GSPs is not to reward or congratulate those who decide to call for help for a friend is in trouble. Rather, the objective is to enable and empower people to make that decision when they would otherwise hesitate. “It is a preemptive policy that promotes responsible behavior rather than a reactive policy that rewards responsible behavior after the fact.”

People die without these policies. According to The Atlantic, “most deaths occur one to three hours after a drug user has ingested or injected, presenting witnesses with

an opportunity to seek medical help. But only between 10 percent and 56 percent of people who witness an overdose call for assistance. Most hesitate because they fear arrest and drug charges.”

Good Samaritan policies are not about the right or wrong aspect of drug usage; that is beside the point.

Someone has made the personal choice to do drugs. As a result, he or she has overdosed. Should that person be allowed to live…or die? That is the question posed. This is not a partisan issue; this is a human issue, about the importance of human life. Governor Christie wants an 18-month study on overdose reporting. In 2009 alone, more than 700 NJ residents died from overdoses. If Governor Christie gets his way, we will be without a Good Samaritan Law for one and a half years.

Our own Ms. Harper has even been affected by the lack of a Good Samaritan law. A former student of hers, who decided to experiment with “harder” drugs with his friends, ended up overdosing. His “friends,” frightened of the consequences, then put his limp body on a computer stool and rolled him down the street, to avoid blame.

If 911 had been called immediately, he would not have ended up in the vegetative state he is now in. He was 19 when he overdosed. As Katharine Celentano, Secretary of SSDP’s Board of Directors, so eloquently put it, “Governor Christie’s actions reveal cowardice with a death toll.”

How many more lives should be thrown away?

What: Our Town, as performed by the HPHS Drama Department When: November 29th, 30th, and December 1st Where: Bartle Elementary School Auditorium How: Reserve your tickets online (for the first time!) at hpdrama.org, or buy your tickets at the door.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

8

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Red Hot Xuewei Ouyang Taylor Swift, the country star, charged back into the music scene with her new album, Red. Although she has been slowly leaking singles from the album over the past few months, the hype for the entire album did not diminish. In fact, her album shot straight up the iTunes charts to the number one spot in thirty-one different countries. Swift has already made a name for herself in the music industry, but what is it about this album that makes it so popular? The answer: its widespread appeal.

In Red, Taylor departs from her typical country and pop roots to explore a wide variety of genres, including rock, electronic, and even dubstep. The first song on her album, “State of Grace,” clearly shows Taylor’s venture into new fields. The heavy drum set (a little too prominent for my taste) and lack of acoustic guitar create an alternative rock sound. Unfortunately, “State of Grace” failed to impress me as its rock-inspired instrumental seemed forced. The acoustic version of the song (available on deluxe versions) sounded much better and more natural. The next song, “Red,” like “State of Grace” combines old and new sounds. Unlike the previous song, however, although the catchy, electronic chorus “re-e-e-ed” surprised me, it fit pleasantly with the rest of the song. The chorus added a twist that distinguished it from her previous pop hits. “Treacherous” has hints of Taylor’s country-pop roots as well as her creative, self-written lyrics, but still has an evolved, matured sound not found in her first few albums.

I could hardly recognize Taylor in her next track, “I Knew You Were Trouble.”

The dubstep and pop sounds characterize the song as a complete 180-degree turn from her country beginnings. Taylor clearly hopes to continue her fame and popularity with her appeal to mainstream tastes. The next song, “All Too Well,” as well as “I Almost Do” are the only songs that are reminiscent of her original sound.

My personal favorite, “22,” is a quirky and catchy pop song that follows the trend of songs that “embrace youth” like One Direction’s “Live While We’re Young.” In this song, Taylor’s maturation and growth is evident as it contrasts with her past song “Fifteen.” Also in this album is Taylor Swift’s previously-released hit, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” an addicting song with humorous lyrics including spoken lines. The next track in the album, “Stay Stay Stay,” has a lovable ukulele instrumental accompaniment which contributes to the overall whimsical tone of the song. Her next song is a collaboration with Gary Lightbody from the band, Snow Patrol. “The Last Time” is an extremely mature track, not only in sound, but also in lyrics. The other notable collaboration on her album is with the famous Ed Sheeran. Together, they create a simple, yet beautifully raw-sounding song called “Everything Has Changed.”

Other tracks on the album include “Holy Ground”, “Sad Beautiful Tragic,” “The Lucky One”, and “Starlight.” The last song, “Begin Again”, ends the album well with its subliminal message about listening to the album again, but it also has a mature, experienced tone which

summarizes Taylor’s journey well. Taylor starts off hollow and somber but the sound slowly transforms into wistfulness and anticipation for the new start. Her career is bound to soar even higher than expected before.

In her album, Red, Taylor Swift takes a risk by expanding to other genres. Gone is

the young teenage girl who crooned about her broken heart in simple melodies that nearly all sounded the same. Although her original country fans may be disappointed, for the majority, the new album shows that Taylor Swift is here to stay as the queen of pop.

Who Needs Swag When They’ve Got “Gangnam Style?”

Jana Choi At the HPHS Homecoming Dance, one song stood out: “Gangam Style” drew people to the dance floor where guys and girls alike danced to the entire chorus in unison. Yet, aside from the line “Heyyyyyy, sexy lady” that had students singing at the top of their lungs, the lyrics are completely in Korean, a language the vast majority of the school doesn’t speak.

With huge artists like Ke$ha, Maroon 5, and Taylor Swift in the music business, it’s a surprise how popular this foreign song has become overnight in the U.S., and in Highland Park in particular.

Though K-pop (Korean pop music) has found its niche audience in the U.S. over the past couple years, no song has taken over pop culture like “Gangam Style” by Korean rapper Psy (pronounced “Sigh”). Perhaps its dramatic success can be attributed to the dynamic music video that has gotten 814 million views and counting. It has surpassed Justin Beiber and has become the most-viewed YouTube video of all time. The iconic dance featuring Psy’s pantomime of riding a horse has become just as familiar and popular as 2007’s “Soulja Boy” and 2009’s “Dougie,” as was displayed by all the students who enthusiastically replicated the moves during homecoming.

But we cannot forget that the lyrics, though catchy, lose their meaning to those who don’t speak Korean. Many probably don’t realize that Gangnam is an actual district in Seoul, South Korea, which is the prestigious equivalent of the Upper East Side in Manhattan. The video is a social commentary that jokingly pokes fun at the popular preconceptions about the wealthy residents of Gangnam. Between Psy’s antics on a party bus with middleaged women and his “luxurious” sandy vacation on the edges of a playground, it

is clear that the video is intended to make us laugh. Psy says of Gangnam, “It is noble at the daytime and going crazy at the night time. I compare ladies to the territory. So — noble at the daytime, going crazy at the night time — and the lyrics [of my song] say I am the right guy for a lady who is like that.” However, the song’s message is not what has made it so sensational in the U.S. So what is that “it” factor that has skyrocketed “Gangnam Style” to fame and made it the second most-played song on the radio?

Though sophomore Daniel Park knows how to do the “Gangnam dance” and agrees that the video is funny, he believes that the song itself is annoying and that the bandwagon effect is causing it to become famous for being famous. Senior Ariel Glueck agrees, saying, “It’s new and I think that sometimes people just go with what other people say is popular and interesting.” Other theories for the recent Gangnam craze include the idea of foreign appeal because people see it as exotic and unusual, according to junior Gabe Trevor.

Even so, the song’s popularity seems to be declining as fast as it rose in the first place. Some students are citing overexposure to the song being the driving force behind their disinterest. Ironically, the high radio airplay is becoming the demise of “Gangnam Style” in addition to the achievement that brought it fame.

Nonetheless, in the past few months, the music industry has had to make way for Psy, his quirky song, and his outrageous personality as K-pop and “Gangnam Style” have wormed their way into our lives.

Seniors Rachel Kim and Jacob Choi demonstrate some of the moves for “Gangnam Style.”

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Not Just Your Typical Teenage Drivel Avantika Yellapantala “As a freshman…it was intimidating, but by the second and the third day, I eased into it,“ recalls HPHS sophomore Maverick Lin. Indeed, many students are terrified at the prospect of attending high school on the first day. Everything is so different and new, as friends, teachers, and attitudes all may have changed drastically.

Unlike Maverick, Charlie, from The Perks of being a Wallflower, could never “ease into” the fast-paced high school system until he meets two seniors who change his life.

In Charlie’s day-to-day life, no one has a cell phone, and mix tapes are a crucial medium for expressing teen angst – the hazy time frame merely adds to the film’s feeling of universality. Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a reticent teenager who encounters a seemingly intimidating first day of high school. He is more unstable and unsure of himself than the average entering freshman, mostly because of the recent death of his best friend. However, Charlie’s situation soon lightens up when he befriends Patrick (Ezra Miller), a lively, openly gay senior whose biggest sorrow is that his closeted boyfriend does not let their relationship go public. The young woman who completes their little triangle of misfits is played by Harry Potter star Emma Watson, who ditches the academically-obsessed Hermione for the damaged but perky Sam. Also a

Left, Charlie (Logan Lerman) and Sam (Emma Watson) defy high school norms at a dance.

senior, Sam is Patrick’s stepsister. The pair quickly recognizes Charlie’s outsider status, and in no time, the three are

inseperable.

Though Charlie thinks he’s in love with the no- nonsense Sam, the drama

is not in whether they become an item.

It’s in watching Charlie snap out of his wallflower cocoon by waking up to the real romance in his life: the one with his newfound friends. The movie is toughminded: it zeroes in on Patrick’s anger at dating a closeted football star, and it doesn’t let Charlie off the hook for his cruelty or self-pity.

Directed by Stephen Chbosky (who also wrote the novel), the film features the perfect cast for this coming-of-age drama.

Logan Lerman’s acting flawlessly depicts Charlie’s reserved and sweet nature but still manages to convey his obvious intelligence. Ezra Miller also does an exceptional job when it comes to acting as the quick-witted and gay senior-class clown known as Patrick.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower contains some moments of uncomfortable honesty as well as dream-like wonder. It definitely contains interest for anybody who would like to know what it’s like to grow up in high school, be it a teenager, parent, or adult. It depicts the issues, decisions and consequences that occur in the lives of teens everyday. Furthermore, you will be left with the feeling that you’ve seen something real, subtle, and touching instead of the typical teenage drivel in most movies set in high school. This film encapsulates Charlie’s growth in a funny, emotional drama that will capture the minds and hearts of those who watch it.

Not Your Usual HPHS Production Hannah Weaver Students, parents, and theatrelovers of all shapes and sizes always anticipate the end of November, when HPHS’s fall drama occurs. This year is no exception; the Drama Club’s remarkable production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town is all set to open on November 29th and should go on without a hitch. However, several aspects of the production differ quite a bit from past years’ shows.

The play, which centers on daily life in an ambiguous town, features a cast diverse in age and quite large in number. Darcy Thompson, a sophomore involved in the play, cites these characteristics as unusual. “It’s different,” he says, “usually the fall dramas have a smaller cast mostly made up of upperclassman. That being said, the diversity of this cast just adds to its uniqueness.”

Another unusual feature involves the location at which the play will be performed; due to the current auditorium construction, Our Town will be performed at Bartle Elementary School. Several cast members, including Jason Rudolph (junior), and Chris Michael (sophomore) agree that the location change should heed positive results for the play. “It’s a bit of a hassle to walk so far to rehearsal,” says Rudolph, “but getting to work in a new environment is an overall positive experience.” Michael agrees, asserting “the seats in the Bartle School auditorium are so close to the stage, and surround it on all four sides.

Being able to perform Our Town in the round makes the show seem more interactive, at least from an actor’s perspective.” Riley Ernest (senior) notes this change as particularly personal, as his character THE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

often communicates directly with the audience. “It’s really interesting, because my character interacts both with the audience and the other characters onstage. It’s been a unique experience (what with performing in the round) and I’m excited to see how it turns out.”

And it’s turning out well; despite the location change, the general consensus seems to be quite positive. As Chris Michael explains, “although the differences this year (as opposed to previous productions) pose some challenges, Our Town is coming along nicely!”

The technical aspects are looking up too, according to stage manager Daniel Gittler (senior). “The show is progressing really well; we’re adapting just fine to the technical differences between the high school and Bartle [such as different acoustics and a non-proscenium stage].” Darcy Thompson agrees, explaining, “The differences make everything four times harder, but four times more fun. Our Town is going to be great!” According to those involved, the Thornton Wilder classic is definitely not one to miss.

When asked for any last words, Gittler immediately responded with “Tickets! Tell everybody you know to buy tickets!”

The cast of Our Town rehearsing a marriage scene in the Bartle auditorium. The director, Mr. Presty, stands and watches (left). Photo by Daniel Gittler.

10

SPORTS Bruises, Bashes, and Bleeding: The Ballad of High School Sports hard next year without them – especially Ashley Lozada. I’ve learned so much from watching her play the last two years and we’ve made each other better goalies. This was the last year to take on any of her advice or see what I can do better by watching her in games. After being injured, I started to understand what my fellow players such as Dierra Doyle, Elizabeth Murphy, and others felt like sitting on the sidelines. Watching a game makes me want to run onto the field and jump into goal.

Charlotte Finegold In every sports season there are triumphs.

There are also, however, many falls, bruises, breaks, scars, casts, crutches, and cries of pain. This fall has been no exception; every contact sports team has had its share of injuries, which are particularly difficult to deal with on sports teams as small as HPHS’s. If a Varsity player becomes injured, it is almost impossible to train another player to fill the vacated spot. This unfortunate truth, coupled with high school athletes’ implacable quest for glory and pride, leads students to play through their injuries. I myself suffer from this irrational frenzy to play. During this soccer season, I sprained my medial collateral ligament (MCL) and pulled my right front quad muscle. For the second half of the season, I have had to hobble on my injured legs and my abilities to shoot, change direction, and take long kicks have been greatly impaired. I cannot bear to sit on the bench, so I play. I am not alone: tennis, football, soccer, and cross country players have risked their physical health to challenge themselves and support their teams. Any high school Varsity athlete knows how frustrating it is to suddenly become a spectator.

Highland Fling: What’s your injury?

How did you get it? How has it prevented you from playing this year? How has it left you feeling – frustrated, upset, angry, etc.?

Name: Danny Sanchez Grade: 11 Sport: Football Injury: Punctured pancreas I normally play Varsity, but one day, JV needed extra players, so I filled in. I was going in to tackle a guy, and as I pulled his legs up to my chest, his cleat got underneath my padding and punctured my pancreas. I had no idea then what happened. I just thought that I had hurt a few ribs, or something. I went to the emergency room the next day and had to get an MRI and a few CAT scans. I had to stay a whole week in the hospital, then I

Name: Michael Ehrlich Grade: 12 Sport: Soccer Injury: Broken fibula I broke my fibula when I was playing rugby. I was running with the ball, made a weird move, and then someone fell on top of it. I went to the emergency room that night, stayed there for five hours, and came out with the diagnosis and crutches. I went to Bermuda for a whole week after that…with my crutches. I was out of rugby and soccer for two months. During my time off, I felt lazy and fat, and I was only able to get back to soccer for the last few games of the season.

Clockwise from top left: Junior Danny Sanchez, freshman Cameron Petkov, senior Michael Ehrlich (playing rugby)

had surgery (through the mouth) to repair the damage. The doctors told me that I couldn’t play contact sports for four years.

That’s made me really disappointed and upset. I can’t play basketball or football until my sophomore year of college.

Luckily I can still run track.

Name: Cameron Petkov Grade: 9 Sport: Football Injury: Concussion I got my concussion during the Dunellen game. I was hit very hard many times and found myself under piles of guys with my head being smashed. It prevented me from playing the rest of the season, partly due to the injury and also, since I had had a previous one, my parents were stricter and

more worried about me playing. It left me frustrated, but at the same time, I’m even more excited for next season!

Name: Kiara Weinstein Grade: 10 Sport: Soccer Injury: Strained Achilles tendon I got injured in our GMC game against Bishop Ahr. Then, I made it worse in a game a few days later after some girl stepped on the back of my heel. After I got hurt, I was angry at myself for playing in the second game because I missed the chance to play in our states game versus New Egypt. But after I forgave myself, I became upset that I was missing our last practices. This was my last year to player with the seniors, and it’s going be

Name: Chris Bray Grade: 12 Sport: Football Injury: Laceration on left hand As I was blocking this kid he fell so I pushed him over and fell into him, then someone stepped on my hand and sliced it open. Because of this injury I was not able to play in 3 games. I was not able to put any weight on it and I could not take any kind of hit to my hand. This injury has mainly left me feeling powerless. For two games I had to sit back and watch my team struggle. It sucked to know that because of this injury I could not help them. It also hurt to see my team get our first win without me. Don’t get me wrong - I was happy we won but it sucks that I could not be a part of it.

Fall Sports: The Coaching Perspective Annie McCrone As many of you know, girls’ and boys’ soccer, football, cross country, and girls’ tennis – the fall sports – are wrapping up.

The coaches for these teams are Mr. Ruckdeschel, Mr. Roig, Mr. McGlynn, Mr. Stark, and Mrs. Washington respectively.

Having met with each coach individually, I found some patterns among the way the coaches approach each season, along with some surprising differences.

One fundamental question for each one was, why coaching? While it is clear they love the sport they coach, all coaches mentioned their love for competition.

Ruck stated, “It fulfills my competitive nature.” Similarly, McGlynn said, “I love the competition.” Stark made the point that coaching is “a way to stay with it.”

Coaching gives athletes the opportunity to improve the skills of others.

Respect – another factor that everyone always talks about, and my interviews with the coaches revealed similar thoughts. A couple of coaches mentioned the importance of giving 100 percent effort. Ruck explained, “My 100% is always there. Students see that.” McGlynn also mentioned that “they [students] have to know that you’re invested 100% in them.” This is the idea that if the coach cares about the players and the game, the players will give respect to the coach.

Also, as Roig put simply, “I treat them with respect.” This might be the ultimate

hope they get certain things out of the seaanswer. Displaying respect for your playson. For example, Ruck wants his players ers invites them to respect you in return to leave the season knowing that they Building team spirit was an area that I pushed themselves to the limit. He said, found to have very different approaches by coaches. Washington explained that the “You’re finding something called will. It starts with just fighting a little bit harder girls’ tennis team sold some HP spiritbecause it feels right.” Wash would like to wear, which brought the girls together.

Roig says that competition within practic- see the girls on the tennis team improve and, like es and Roig, during wants games them builds to have team a very spirit positive because expethe kids rience. cheer Then for there each is the other quesand tion of push what the each coaches other. want to McCoach Ruck watches his girls play Dunellen. get out Glynn of the season, and it seems to be the same is all for getting the team to stick together even when off the field. The football team thing. As Wash mentions, she hopes that “everyone has fun.” Stark said simply, has lunch together, and they all wear nice “I just like to see my runners succeed.” clothing on Fridays before their games.

When the players are happy with the seaRuck had a different approach, that might son, so are the coaches. work just as well: “I think you build team The last thing we touched on was what spirit by working them out so hard that the coaches look for in a player. In terms the one thing that they all have in comof fitness levels, the coaches agreed mon is that they hate me.”Because these that being in shape is crucial. However, coaches love the students so much, they

specific requirements depend on the sport.

The academic involvement discussion was interesting. All agreed that it was important, but some coaches stressed that academics take priority. Wash, for example, puts “academics and behavior first.”

McGlynn said that he believes academics to come first as well, citing the football team’s tutoring on Wednesdays. In contrast, Ruck, Roig, and Stark all agree that academics are important, but they tend to separate it from sports. Ruck said, “I want the grades to be good because I don’t want to deal with the school.” Roig does not hold his players to a specific GPA, but instead wants to know that his guys put a lot of effort into their schoolwork. Stark agrees, and always thinks grades can be improved.

Looking back at all of the discussions I had with the coaches, it’s clear that there are some varying perspectives; building team spirit being a perfect example, and the importance of grades another. However, there are many similar beliefs among coaches as well, perhaps the most important being in the importance of respect.

These coaches give everything they have and showing that 100% is what makes them such great coaches!

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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SPORTS Player Profiles Name: Carolina Acosta Grade: 12 Sport: Cheerleading Simone Kusnecov

Carolina is a very hard-working student, who dedicates her time after school to cheerleading. She is captain of the team, and puts in 110% when cheering at football games.

Highland Fling (HF): When did you start cheerleading and why?

Carolina Acosta (CA): I started my sophomore year of high school.

I had done dance before and when my friend told me to join cheer I decided it would be fun.

HF: Do you take a lot of responsibility in being head cheerleader?

CA: I guess so. I teach cheers, and make up routines, and I make sure that the girls know what Coach expects of them.

HF: How do you think you’ve grown as a cheerleader since you started?

CA: I didn’t really know anything about cheer when I started. I have definitely learned a lot through experience and I’m a much more confident cheerleader than I was

when I first started.

HF: What’s your opinion on the negative stereotype of cheerleaders?

CA: I definitely disagree with it.

You can’t really categorize all cheerleaders into a specific type of person. A lot of people assume that we are empty headed, or simple minded, but I know that several girls on the team are in AP and Honors classes and we care a lot about our academics. Some of the girls participate in other sports or extracurricular activities; we aren’t just cheerleaders. So it doesn’t make sense to define us all by the same stereotype.

HF: What’s something you want yourself or your team as a whole to improve on the rest of the season?

CA: The team has improved so much already from where we first started but I would love to see us more united and confident as a team.

Above, from left to right: Carolina Acosta, leading a cheer at the Homecoming football game, senior Ariel Glueck, senior Hannah Weaver, and junior Estephany Reyes.

Name: Daniel Seigel Grade: 12 Sport: Cross Country Yang Xu

The Highland Fling: How long have you been running?

Daniel Siegel (DS): Running was initially introduced into my life during my freshman track season, when some of my family and friends suggested I try to lose weight. It never became a serious part of my life until sophomore year, during Cross Country season, though, and it wasn’t until very late in the junior track season that I realized just how passionate I was about the activity.

HF: What do you enjoy most about running?

DS: I most appreciate the vast variety of euphoric feelings associated with running. Imagine a borderline narcotic experience at the same time as induction of a feeling of progressive covering of distance. It feels productive, exhilarating, and relaxing at the same time.

HF: What is your proudest achievement so far?

DS: My recent 19:45 time best in a 5k; though I am now down to a 19:13. Breaking the 20-minute mark was an achievement indeed, but peer review and discussion with friends from other districts has proved to me that I could still strive to do tremendously better and I hope to continuously try and improve over the course of the remainder of the season.

HF: How has running affected your life?

DS: Running has affected me in three major ways: first and most blatantly, I lost an obnoxious amount of weight, losing almost 50 pounds over the course of the

past two years. From a social perspective, I now have a means of relating with others, thus a catalyst for enhancing my position on the high school social ladder, per sey. Such helped me overcome the plague-like epidemic known as “neck-dancing.” The years of shame that have arisen from it will probably never wane, throughout our community at least. And lastly, cross-country and track teams had finally given me something to feel truly competitive about. Prior to my discovery of running, I would have barely any excuse to even leave the house. I would practically play video games nonstop, all day every day. Running allowed me to get out of the chair, do something fun, healthy, and useful. During some races, I would even find myself getting extremely hyped over the whole thing, cheering on teammates at the top of my lungs. Prior to joining the team, I wouldn’t ever have expected myself to act in such a way.

HF: How do you train for races?

DS: I try to push myself harder and harder every practice, to the point where the already massive standards I have set for myself feel almost minimal during the actual race. Stretch a lot, drink plenty of water, and eat pasta with veggies the night before a race.

HF: What do you listen to when you run?

DS: Hardcore Dubstep, what else?

I’m up for suggestions of any genre, but Dubstep always gets my adrenaline going, thus prolonging the amount of time it takes for me to get tired.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

Above: Dan Seigel listens to his Dubstep as he warms up for a meet.

12

SPORTS Highland Park Football: A Rebuilding Year Sylvia Marks It’s natural to look at the record of a sports team and automatically assume, “This team is really good,” if the team has racked up many wins, or “This team is terrible,” if the wins are nonexistent. What many fail to realize is that a team like the Highland Park High School football team, a team that has only won one game all season, may have been victim not to poor athleticism of players, but to inexperience and lack of team unity.

Looking back on the games the Owls have played this year, one can see that many of the points that have been scored

by Seniors Quatay Nesmith and Na-dre Hepburn. Hepburn has scored most of the touchdowns for the Owls this year, and rushes an average of 87 yards per game.

Much of the Owls’ offensive juice also comes from Nesmith, who has made over 30 passing attempts and rushes for an average of 108 yards a game.

“I guess you could say the season was [full of] of missed opportunities...” Senior Melshawn Taylor commented when reflecting upon the season. “We weren’t able to execute and we became a family too late in the season.” When responding to The Fling’s questions about how to go about preparing for next year’s season,

Melshawn added that “It all starts in the off-season,” and, “People need to work hard and not fool around.”

Mr. Girvan, head of athletics, also pointed out that the program in Highland Park does not have many kids. Referring to the game on Saturday October 20th in which the Owls lost 49-23, he mentioned: “Point Pleasant Beach had 50 kids on their roster; we had 25.”

This is not to mention the injury bug that the team seems to have been infected with... Jacob Ervin has meniscus tears in both legs from the game on October 5 against Keansburg (he will receive surgery after the season), Angelo Odato

was out for some time with a ruptured elbow, and both Cameron Petkov and Andy Powell suffered from concussions during the season. Many younger players without much Varsity experience have had to step in.

Luckily, this might be exactly what the team needs—for those younger players to gain playing time so that they have the experience and knowledge of plays to add to their repertoires, to make for a stronger team next year and in the years to come!

Below: scenes from the Highland ParkMetuchen game. Photos by Chris Bray.

The Highland Fling Editors

Chief: Charlotte Finegold Online: Xuewei Ouyang News: Oscar Lee Feature: Amy Wang Opinion: Maddie Hehir Sports: Sylvia Marks A&E: Elena Weissmann Layout: Stefana Voicu Advisor Brett Roche Photographers Maggie Dominick, Zoe Temple, Jacob Choi, Sarah Rozaidi, Chris Bray, Daniel Gittler, Stefana Voicu

Staff

Writers Sarah Cheng, Belle Gabel, Boning Zhao, Olivia Draper, Simone Kusnecov, Grace Chong, Gregory Burdea, Sam Trub, Andrea Boffice, Jana Choi, Shana Oshinskie, Avantika Yellapantala, Jake Callahan, Maverick Lin, Zoe Temple, Annie McCrone

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Contact thehighlandfling@gmail.com Write, draw, and take pictures for The Highland Fling!

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OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING