February 2013

HIGHLAND THE

INSIDE NEWS Controversy in the Boy Scouts p. 2 FEATURE Local Love p. 5 Spring Fashion p. 4 OPINION The College Fallacy p. 7 A&E Dragonborn Review p. 9 SPORTS Player Profile p. 12

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FLING FEBRUARY 2013

Above: the Highland Park Swim Team. Back row (from left to right): Michael Wang, Will Callahan, Griffin Wood, Thomas Sanchez, Chris Nolan; Front row (from left to right): Thomas Chen, Paolo Mesde, Jake Callahan, Owen Fessant-Eaton. See their updated GMC results on p. 11

Nanotechnology Charlotte Finegold

Here’s a look into Claremont High School, located in Claremont, California, 3,000 miles away from HPHS, provided by friend of The Fling, senior Molly Boyle: “Claremont High has been successful in the appropriate incorporation of technology and social media into the educational process. Everyone here at Claremont has their own username and password for Moodle, our Course Management System. This same login information allows us to access the internet on campus. Since 2009, we have gained five stationary computer labs and seven small departmental laptop labs for classroom use, such as research, and group Prezi presentations. Social networking sites are effectively blocked by the school’s firewall, but teachers can override this as necessary. My math teacher uses Twitter to post homework and class information. And just last semester, my Biology final was a group project in which we created a fake Facebook page for the pig fetus we were dissecting, explaining his anatomy in the comments and descriptions. Unless specifically requested otherwise, personal electronics are permitted in class, and often even encouraged; my classmates with iPads use them in lieu of planners, and classmates with personal laptops often use them to type notes, or to Google things that may add to the discussion. The policy is determined by and dependent upon the trust and relationship developed between students and staff.

Misuse (it has happened) carries consequences and punishments for the individual, but the benefit to the vast majority of us cannot be overstated. The overall attitude here is that technology and social media are not going away. We’ll need them in college and beyond, so they should be accepted!” The attitude towards technology in Claremont High School seems progressive to Highland Park students, but it is not alone; many schools are spending thousands of dollars to expand their technological capacity. In a recent article entitled, “Math That Moves: Schools Embrace the iPad,” The New York Times reported on Roslyn High School on Long Island, NY, which just gave out 47 iPads in a pilot program to students and teachers in two humanities classes. The iPads, which cost $750 each, replace textbooks, enable students to communicate with their teachers and turn in their assignments online, allow teachers to track students’

progress with digital portfolios, and save the school paper costs.

Says Larry Reiff, an English teacher at Roslyn High School, “[the program] allows us to extend the classroom beyond these four walls.” In Millburn, New Jersey, South Mountain Elementary School used two parent-funded iPads to play educational games and read books. These programs, though alluring, are unrealistic for every school. As the Times put it, “At a time when school districts are trying to get their budgets approved so they do not have to lay off teachers or cut programs, spending money on tablet computers may seem like an extravagance.”

However, technological developments in schools do not have to be so extreme.

Other schools are leaping ahead of the technological curve, and Highland Park is falling behind. The Highland Park Superintendant of Schools, Dr. Wood, admitted, “We can’t back off technology, even though it can be abused. We can’t expect kids to leave their technology at home when we have ours with us.

We accept that people interact and learn in new ways.” She also stressed that the job of the Board of Education is to “structure a policy that focuses most on enhancing the academic experience.” Yet actions have been taken which contradict these philosophies, and these actions have been unnecessary.

In early October, in response to several kids bringing e-Readers to Bartle, the Board of Education reexamined and began to enforce its policy concerning personal electronic devices. This rule, Policy 5516, sparked outrage in the student population.

The policy banned students from bringing laptops, tablets, iPods, and cameras to school, unless they were included in a student’s IEP or were used for a school-sponsored event/activity.

For a month, students sat in their study halls, at a loss of how to do their work without their personal computers and tablets. After protest from students and teachers, who argued that it often benefits a class if a student can use his/her personal electronic device, especially when the school’s technology could not cope with a task, the Board agreed to change the policy. According to Dr. Wood, the Board was surprised by the extent to which high school students were using their technological devices. However, this trend is evident to the average student and teacher peering in the window of a class in session. Under the revised rule, students are permitted to “use their privately-owned technology continued on p. 3

FEBRUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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NEWS Boy Scouts and Rainbow Flags Sarah Cheng From common phrases like “scout’s honor” to popular film characters like the boy from Up, the Boy Scouts of America have become an important part of everyday American culture.

Since its founding in 1910, this organization has firmly ingrained itself into mainstream society.

However, this group has recently received a lot of negative publicity for its discrimination against gay members. And gays are not the only target of Boy Scout bigotry. According to its employment application, “the Boy Scouts of America will not employ atheists, agonistics, known or avowed homosexuals, or others as professional Scouters.” Ironically, convicts are welcome because “conviction of a crime is not an automatic bar to employment.”

A few weeks ago, the Scouts’ national leadership announced that it was considering a proposal on ending the mandatory gay exclusion policy. Changing the current rules might even provide Boy Scouts of America an economic advantage, since many former supportive companies like Intel, UPS, and Merck cut all financial ties with the organization due to controversy of the current policy. They initially planned on voting on the proposal during the February 4th executive board meeting. This created a gigantic Internet uproar as tens of thousands of netizens petitioned for the revision of the policy.

However, even with the evident amount of public support, voting has been postponed until May. On the other hand, many advocates for maintaining the current policy argue that for an organization with such religiously-affiliated traditions, it is acceptable for Boy Scouts to

maintain their current standards for membership. Governor Rick Perry of Texas, for instance, believes that the organization should not bend to the whims of liberal culture. An Eagle Scout himself, Governor Perry believes that the traditional conservative values of Boy Scouts are exactly what make membership appealing to many Americans. Furthermore, the Supreme Court already ruled on this issue back in 2000; in The Boy Scouts of America vs. Dale, the organization was given the right to expel a former Eagle Scout after he publically announced his homosexuality.

Given the divisive nature of the debate, many Highland Park High School students chose to weigh in with their own opinions. Lena Copperman, a sophomore, believes that while this issue may not directly impact everyone, it is very important in that it sheds light on our society’s views of marriage equality. She personally considers it unfair for such a ban to exist in the program. HPHS junior Sam Trub, a Boy Scout, told The Fling, “I think that it’s a major mistake by the BSA to not change their policy on allowing gay leaders and scouts. I think it’s a factor in why their membership has plunged so much in recent years.

I think that since the military has changed their policy on gays, the Boy Scouts should do the same, because the styles of the two are very similar. I think it has taken way too long, and it should have been settled at the meetings in February; they should not have pushed the vote off until May. Within my troop I have not experienced or seen any repercussions of this policy, however at the international level I have friends one or two friends who were excluded from their troop when

it became public that they were gay (this generally only happens within the very religious troops).

I believe that at the very least it should be up to each troop to make that decision.” Jon Winter, a Rutgers sophomore, HPHS alum, and Eagle Scout disagreed with the official policy, but urged the American public not to discredit the entire organization for the administrative decision: “I believe that gay scout leaders should be allowed or at least be a don’t ask, don’t tell policy. I believe that it is mainly to do because of the fact that many troops across the country are religiously-backed. Although religion is supposed to be part of boy scouts (it is one of the 12 scout laws) I do not see it as an overarching theme that all troops follow so why have the rule as a standard. Also there are many troops that are not religiously associated at all. Personally my troop was Jewish but not everyone that was part of it was. In general, scouting has many other values that should be followed and such an issue should not over shadow the main ideals of scouting. I also know many scouts that have had disabilities of all kinds and from what I personally have seen it is an amazing program for really anyone that is trying to develop.”

After all, Boy Scouts of America is a private organization and therefore have the right to do whatever they wish. Ultimately, despite the vehement public debate, it is not for the general public to decide on the fate of Boy Scouts of America’s gay exclusion policy. We can only hold our breath in anticipation, as May gradually approaches.

“I think that it’s a major mistake by the BSA to not change their policy on allowing gay leaders and scouts.

I think it’s a factor in why their membership has plunged so much in recent years.”

- junior and Boy Scout, Sam Trub

Cheater Cheater, Pumpkin Eater Grace Chong

“Cheating is a part of life, an essential skill you need.”

“Cheating will exist no matter what you do to prevent it.”

“Everyone cheats. Literally, no one does NOT cheat.”

THE HIGHLAND FLING, FEBRUARY 2013

These are the types of answers I received when I questioned the student body on what they thought about cheating. Obviously, everyone knows what cheating is, but it actually has a very broad meaning, and seems to vary from person to person. It can range from asking someone what’s on a test, copying your friend’s homework in the cafeteria, or cheating on a midterm or final exam. Everyone knows that cheating, even if it is not extreme, is not allowed, but few are willing to stop committing this crime.

Does it happen frequently in our school? According to the survey I took, it seems the majority of the school has cheated at least once in their lives. I asked many people how many times they cheated or witnessed cheating in high school, and divided into three categories: never, sometimes, or too many to count. Of the total surveyed population, 11 percent said they had never cheated or witnessed it taking place (most of them were freshmen), 15 percent said only once in a while, and 74 percent said they seen or cheated too many

times that they can’t even count.

However, our high school is not the only school with cheaters. Many schools, including and most noticeably, Ivy League universities, have cheaters. For example, last year, more than 100 students in Harvard University were accused of cheating and forced to temporarily withdraw for cheating in their take-home exams. According to the investigation, it was reported that 125 graduates cheated in a class called Government 1510 at Harvard and were put on disciplinary probations, which would not be erased from the students’ official records.

These recent instances of cheating at revered institutions like Harvard highlight the severity of this problem. Cheating in school has dire consequences, and can leave a huge impact on a student’s future. When I asked some students how cheating can influence one’s future, most responded that it will impact students in a negative way. One student predicted, “If they get used to cheating, it will impact them negatively. Like in college, they won’t know how to study.”

Another shared his thought: “Unless you have the will to learn, cheating will impact you in the future.”

One can either choose to ignore this advice and continue cheating, or simply remember what happened at Harvard last year and choose to change. Generally, the most severe punishment for cheating in high school is a zero on the offending paper or test.

However, colleges will not be so nice: the lightest punishment is often disciplinary probation; the most severe is expulsion. If students continue to cheat, this habit will stick with them even through college and bring damaging consequences. Although cheaters might get good grades now, it can severely affect them in the future. Another reason why students should stop cheating is because they will never learn anything in high school. If one only cheats and never study for their classes, the cheater will graduate with nothing remaining in their minds and never be ready to handle colleges.

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NEWS Nanotechnology (cont.)

Below: a high school student uses an iPad in class.

devices under conditions outlined in this Policy.”

Notebook computers and tablets, among other devices, are now legal if the supervising teacher approves their use and if the student turns in their Acceptable Use of Devices form to the office.

Highland Park is making great strides in its technology policies – buying new laptop carts and slowly simplifying the Firewall, to name a few advancements – and its actions, though smaller than those of other schools, are admirable in a state facing a budget crisis.

However, occasionally, the district limits itself. The original Policy 5516 was unnecessary and counterproductive. Schools must harness as much technology as possible. School-owned laptops and computers can only do so much; utilizing the masses of smartphones across the student body is the next step to meeting the next wave of technological needs in a cost-effective manner. Elliot Soloway, engineer professor at the University of Michigan and Cathie Norris, technology professor at the University of Northern Texas, told the Times that they are disappointed at schools’ choice not to use smartphones, a cheaper, more available resource than iPads. Teachers, of course, have the discretion of whether to authorize the use of personal technology; teachers should allow the use of smartphones if they can monitor students’ activity – no Facebook, no Twitter, etc. – but responsible use should be encouraged. The Board of Education and the administration should continue to incorporate the input of students, faculty, and community members to maximize use of technology in inexpensive ways.

A Transitional Year for Science Bowl Xuewei Ouyang After losing two seniors last year from their A team, HPHS’s Science Bowl Team was concerned about their longstanding pattern of having an upperclassmen-heavy roster. In order to thrive, a club must have younger members. Although, in the past, Science Bowl has typically been dominated by juniors and seniors, this year, an influx of eager freshmen joined the team. The sudden increase in popularity has greatly increased competition for a position on the A team, which is guaranteed to compete. After a highly-selective try-out process, three teams were formed. The A team included senior and captain, Xuewei Ouyang, senior Amy Wang, freshman Colin Marx, freshman Thomas Li (who replaced original member, junior Joon Ko), and freshman Patrick Liu. The B team consisted of senior and captain, Boning Zhao, junior Lydia Wang, junior Tabitha Marks, freshman Nicholas Heah, and freshman Michael Wang. The C team consisted of junior and captain, Mary Yan, freshman

William John, freshman Sendy Lin, and freshman Amita Shukla. The B team and C team were not guaranteed a spot in competition due to the overwhelming number of entries from schools in the competitions.

On the day of competition, February 23rd, at the Princeton Plasma Laboratory, one slot was available to a B team. Luckily, with HPHS students’ combined fortune, the B team was selected out of thirty-two B teams through random drawing to participate in competition. With a bye in the first round, the A team lost in the second round to State College C-Team. The B team lost to West Windsor-Plainsboro in the second round as well. Both the A team and B team proceeded to win their third round games in the losers’ bracket, against Red Bank and Notre Dame respectively. Unfortunately, both teams lost in the third round, ending their run at the New Jersey Regional Science Bowl Competition. With only three seniors graduating, however, and many underclassmen rising to take their places, HPHS’s Science Bowl Team has high hopes for future competitions.

To Plug in or Not to Plug in?

Rucha Phadtare and Stefana Voicu

As most of you may be aware, permission slips to allow you to use your own electronic devices have been sent home.

But what does that mean? You can bring your own laptop, phone, or other electronic device to school, and although the use of cellphones is mostly not permitted outside of lunch, students can use their laptops during class, as per the teacher’s discretion. The latest amendment to the policy, however, prohibits students from charging their electronics in school. It is understandable for us to ask why. What is the harm in plugging in our laptops for half an hour? This issue instigated a lot of debate during the Board of Education meeting - around forty five minutes were spent arguing back and forth between opposing opinions. Some members thought not allowing students to plug in their devices defeated the purpose of letting them use their devices in the first place. The majority of the members, however, thought that letting the small number of students that actually bring laptops charge their devices would substantially increase the school’s electric bill. This opinion eventually convinced the entire Board that students should not be allowed to use the school’s outlets to charge private devices: if you want to use your own technology, charge it at home!

We interviewed a few students, all of whom wished to remain anonymous, so that we could get an inside opinion.

One student expressed her opinion that the new policy in understandable. In a school of about 445 students, if every student who brings electronics to school plugs them in to charge them, the school is “wasting a lot of money. Students can charge their laptops at home before they come to school.”

Electricity is costly, and so it is understandable that the school wishes to prevent the loss of money unnecessarily. Another student also understood the school board’s perspective, but disagreed with the policy. He thought that “plugging in laptops should be based on teacher discretion.” He explained, “The only problem with electronics is that they can be disruptive, so allowing electronics in class and allowing kids to charge them should be banned only if it’s somehow disruptive to the class.” A third student concurs, arguing that laptops can run out of battery quickly. She says, “If someone’s laptop runs out of battery in the middle of the day, they should be allowed to plug it in so they can keep using it.”

What do YOU think of this new rule?

Voice your opinion at the next Board meeting, and maybe you can make a difference.

Above (from left to right): Xuewei Ouyang, Amy Wang, Joon Ko, Colin Marx, Thomas Chen, and Patrick Liu.

FEBRUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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FEATURE Spring into Style Amy Wang Never fear! The days of puffy layers and static-y sweaters are almost over! As winter slowly drags its snow-laden feet away and makes way for spring, get rid of your thick layers and prepare your wardrobe for warmer weather. Here are some suggestions for both genders taken from the 2013 fashion week trends!

Guys

Loafers These comfortably casual shoes will be all over the streets of New York in a month, so guys,

be proactive and claim a pair for yourself! Add a nice pair of jeans or khaki pants for a look that shows your inner stylishness.

As an added plus, it requires virtually no cleaning, perfect for an effortless bad boy aura.

Khakis No, this fabric is not something that you only wear to formal dinners and interviews. In fact, it’s a very versatile material for spring because you can pair it with virtually any top and still look good, perfect for the lazy type who still wants to be fashionable.

Leather/pleather skirts These pieces add an edgy and stylish flair to the generally pastel palette seen in spring. As a plus, it keeps you warm during those chilly rainy days. Pair it with a minimalistic, rich-colored top and you’re ready to go!

Leather Jackets Warm and chic, this jacket can be worn in the spring and fall.

Below: a HPHS boy models loafers.

Girls

Stripes As one of the most traditional patterns of all time, stripes are coming back into style this year, evidenced by Marc Jacobs’ new jailbird stripes line. Combine a striped shirt with a well-worn pair of jeans for an effortlessly trendy look in seconds!

Sheer blouses with peekaboo cutouts Innocently scandalous, these shirts can keep you cool during the warmer days. What’s the beauty of this style? There’s a cutout and a color for everybody.

Add a pair of jeans or a cute skirt and you have the perfect date outfit!

Sporty dresses (A-line) The epitome of comfort and fashion, sporty, A-line dresses are à la mode this season! Pick light fabrics and add a pair of your favorite sandals for a playful but sophisticated look.

Sunglasses As much as you enjoy the warm sun in the spring, don’t forget to protect your eyes! Toss

Above: sophomore Nautica Dennis models a leather peplum shirt.

on a pair of your favorite big sunglasses for a chic addition to any outfit.

Peplum shirts Carried over from the fall season, peplum shirts are extremely versatile. Pick pastel colored

fabrics to transform the style for your spring wardrobe. Wear it with a pair of jeans for a casual school outfit or a dark skirt for the perfect night out.

PHOTO STORY “Senioritis”

By Boning Zhao Starring Melshawn Taylor

Melshawn Taylor demonstrates the changing mindset of a high school senior as the year goes on.

Quarter 1

Quarter 4 THE HIGHLAND FLING, FEBRUARY 2013

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Post midterms

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FEATURE Local Love February

Andrea Boffice Winter is slowly but surely shedding its layers; soon people will wear shorts (even when it’s still too cold out) and eat fruit before it’s ripe. I know that everyone is eager, but we should enjoy winter while it’s still here! So make some hot chocolate with whipped cream, go ice skating or skiing, enjoy your Christmas lights before you are forced to take them down, and bake cookies...lots of cookies. But most importantly, use the last bit of cold weather to actually focus on your studies before the lovely weather distracts you into spending all of class gazing out the window.

Foods in Season for February: Artichokes Asparagus Chicory

Chives Dandelion Grapefruit

Braised Artichokes Cooking time: 50 minutes In honor of the month of my mom’s birthday, I will feature a recipe from her favorite chef – Lidia Bastianich. Even if you don’t like vegetables, you will definitely like artichokes slathered in a ton of butter.

Rhubarb Crumble and Custard Cooking time: 1 ½ hours Fun fact: during the 1500s, many people ate stewed rhubarb as medicine to get rid of the bubonic plague. It didn’t work very well, but it does make great pies!

Ingredients: 1 pound of baby artichokes (about 8) 4 pounds of garlic, crushed and peeled Zest and juice of one lemon 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh mint 1 tablespoon chopped parsley ¼ tablespoon kosher salt 1/4th teaspoon pepperoncino flakes 1 ½ of olive oil 1 ½ tablespoon unsalted butter ½ tablespoon dried breadcrumbs.

1.To clean baby artichokes and prevent them from oxidizing, fill a large bowl with approximately two quarts of cold water, and add the juice of two lemons, plus the squeezed-out lemon halves.

2. Peel and trim the stem of the first artichoke. Pull off any tough outer leaves and discard. Trim away any tough parts around the base and the stem of the artichoke.

3.Cut off the top third of the artichoke and discard.

4. Combine the artichokes, garlic, lemon zest and juice, mint, parsley, salt, and pepperoncino in a saucepan of a size in which the artichokes will snugly fit in one layer.

5. Nestle the artichokes in the pan with the ingredients, drizzle with the olive oil, and dot with the butter.

6. Pour the 3 cups of water and the wine into the saucepan. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook until the artichokes are tender all the way through, about 40 minutes.

Basic Vinaigrette Cooking time: 10 minutes It’s really hard to survive winter without the salad at the end of each meal, but now that chicory is in season, salads are making their seasonal comeback! I love dressings, but if you read the ingredients list of most vinaigrettes, there are often overcomplicated by scary amounts of unrecognizable additions. True vinaigrette should just be oil and vinegar. This version is really easy to make and organically healthy too!

Ingredients: 3 parts olive oil for every 1 part balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon of lemon juice (or other citrus fruit juice if you desire) Finely chopped garlic Black pepper Salt Dried basil, mustard seeds, paprika, or chili flakes.

1. Shake all ingredients together in a glass bottle. Experiment with different flavors, but resist the temptation to mix everything together at once.

Horseradish Leeks Oranges

Parsnips Peas Rhubarb

Ingredients: Rhubarb filling1 pound of rhubarb ½ cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon baking soda Crumble1 cup all purpose flour 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup chopped pecans ½ teaspoon cinnamon ½ stick of butter cut in chunks

Above: braised artichokes, slathered in butter, are sure to please everyone, even veggie-haters.

Custard¼ granulated sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 cup whole milk ½ cup heavy cream or 1½ cups of milk 3 large egg yolks 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss rhubarb, sugar, lemon zest, and baking soda in a 9 inch pan and bake for 10 minutes.

2. While it’s baking, make the crumble topping by combining flour, brown sugar, pecans, and cinnamon in a bowl. Add butter and rub it in with clean hands until the texture is like wet sand.

3. Remove the rhubarb from oven, mix the rhubarb, and then pour the topping.

4. Bake again for 50 minutes, or until the rhubarb starts bubbling.

Custard 1. Combine the sugar, salt, and cornstarch in a small, heavy pan. Stir in the milk and cream until the cornstarch dissolves over medium heat. Stir constantly until mixture is hot, but not bubbling.

2. Reduce heat to low and slowly pour some of the hot mixture into the bowl of egg yolks while whisking constantly to temper the eggs.

3. Pour the egg mixture into the pan.

Bring heat to medium and stir constantly until the mixture is thick and bubbling.

4. Remove pan from heat and pour the custard through a sieve. Add vanilla and stir.

5. Serve the warm rhubarb with the hot custard and enjoy.

I hope you all enjoy the springtime and these February-themed recipes. As the month progresses and more crops become in season, I hope you will check out our local farmers’ market with the ever increasing amount of fresh produce.

Remember that the best things to buy locally and/or organically are dairy products, eggs, meat products (if possible), and perishable produce (like tomatoes, peaches, etc.). On the note of tomatoes, it is important to buy perishable produce

Above: rhubarb crumble covered in custard.

Above: simple olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette is a simple but delicious dressing for any salad.

fresh, because supermarket tomatoes have been heavily treated to prevent rotting in shipping, so it stays red for the supermar-

kets but tastes terrible. Anyways, have a happy spring and happy eating!

FEBRUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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FEATURE Read Between the Lines: Unlisted Clubs Shana Oshinskie and Tia Wangli Every school has its share of ridiculously popular clubs, and then there are those which seem to sit there collecting dust.

Most students know about DECA, Student Congress, and Drama, which always have plenty of eager members. At the beginning of the year, all HPHS students receive an agenda which contains a planner for the whole year and holds the code of conduct for our school. A few pages are dedicated to some of the school’s most popular clubs. However, there are quite a few amazing clubs that haven’t made it into the agenda, but are definitely noteworthy.

The Philosophy Club seems self-explanatory, but goes much further than the name. We’ve interviewed a few of their members to find out what exactly the “philosophy” bit means. They meet every Thursday from three to four in the Teen Center, and discuss philosophic ideas such as metaphysics, incorporating both ancient and modern ideas. Victoria DeLaurentis, freshman, suggests you attend because it is interesting, educational, and it makes you question life, action, reason, and more. While it may sound too academic for some, Greg Burdea, senior and leader of the group, assures that the only purpose is to freely express beliefs and learn more about yourself and the world around you.

Who doesn’t want to do that?

For all those artsy people out there, the Teen Center now has an Art Club! Created this year by a group of freshmen, the Art Club undertakes a variety of projects.

One of their most recent works was the Valentine’s Day dance that was organized for the middle school. Currently they are working on a postcard project and are decorating a bulletin board for the choir room. The Art Club is open to all those interested in art no matter what skill level.

One of its members, Sendy Lin, freshman, states, “The Art Club is somewhere where you can express your passion for art and meet others like yourself.” If you’re

interested, they meet every Friday and are always welcome to new members.

Whenever sports are mentioned, many people think of stereotypical school sports like football, soccer, and basketball.

However, HPHS also has its own swim team. The eleven-person-team technically isn’t a club, but we’ve decided to include it here. Quite a few of their members have managed to place in state competitions.

When asked about what motivates her to swim, Mimi Wang, freshman, told us that she wants to stay in shape and swimming is really useful for that. She also mentions that small changes in technique can really help swimmers improve their time.

Even some clubs that are listed in the agenda have aspects that aren’t as well known. Global Awareness Group, or GAG, holds optional meetings after school on Wednesdays where they often focus on “Amnesty” related issues. They discuss current events and combine their diplomatic writing skills to send letters to governments (and individuals) all around the world to express their discontent with human rights violations. They also focus on one specific case each semester, involving an Indonesian man named Filep Karma who was jailed for peacefully raising a flag. Together they organized the Week of Karma, where they made petitions and spoke to freshmen classes.

So far, they’ve sent over two hundred letters, and counting. Lara Perez-Curran, a sophomore and one of the pioneer members of the group, enjoys coming because you get to learn more about current events and take action for injustices in our world.

Check outside Ms. Wilson’s room for the updated amount of mail the club has sent.

Though our school may be small, HPHS has a wide range of clubs. While some are better known than others, all offer a unique and valuable experience. Which one of these: GAG, Swim Team, Art, or Philosophy is right for you?

Above (from top to bottom): freshman Danielle Benesch writes a letter at an Amnesty Internaional meeting; the Philosophy Club meteting in the Teen Center.

A Penny for Your Thoughts John Yang

Artwork by John Yang

THE HIGHLAND FLING, FEBRUARY 2013

A penny saved is a penny earned, yet a discarded penny on the ground isn’t worth the time to pick up, unless it takes you six seconds to do it. (And that’s if you’re earning minimum wage). Why do we need the penny? What are the advantages of having a pretty stack of pennies but not a quarter? Besides having a bunch of Lincoln heads in your pocket (Lincoln is pretty cool), the penny just doesn’t add up.

As some people may state, it actually costs 1.26 cents to make the penny; a one cent coin. That means every year, American tax-payers are losing .26 cents for every single one of the 7,400,000,000 pennies that are made! That’s around 20,270,000 being minted a day and $50,000 wasted every single day! From this fact alone, it would seem that it’s a no brainer to get rid of the penny and round our daily transactions instead.

Here’s where, however, the opposition arises. If we did phase out the pennies, and if we began to round our daily transactions to the nearest nickel, what does this mean for the common folk? Well, for most of us, it means nothing, in fact it’ll save you two cents every day if you get a slice of pizza at Highland Pizza for lunch, but for poverty stricken families who struggle to make ends meet, a few extra cents on their purchases could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

The cheap $1.98 and $0.99 food products they live off of will siphon those cents from them, and it can pile up quite fast; a few cents a day, perhaps a quarter a week, and suddenly they’re losing money for an

entire week of food every year.

In addition, what about charities? When our local Global Awareness Group is going around the school trying to assemble some change for a good cause, spare change, such as pennies, are most easily parted. They’re cumbersome and hard to find a use for; and you probably have a whole cache of them if you shop often, but move up a tier to nickels and one’s willingness to give will waver, after all, that nickel could be the last five cents you needed to buy a chocolate chip cookie.

Speaking of nickels, did I mention that they’re actually even more inefficient to make than pennies? A single five-cent nickel costs 7.7 cents to make, and if we got rid of the penny, the need for nickels will undoubtedly rise and perhaps in 2014 we’ll look back and call ourselves idiots for thinking it was a good idea; or, perhaps we’ll be talking about getting rid of the nickel. After all,rounding up to the nearest ten cents is a good idea too right?

This great one-cent question has been around for quite awhile, and both sides have made some compelling arguments.

On February 4th, Canada stopped distributing pennies (their pennies cost an insane 1.6 cent to make compared to the American 1.26 cent) and the government believes they’ll save over ten million dollars a year because of it. If this yields good results, it might be the push the anti-penny Americans need to bring this change to America, but until then, Lincoln’s staying tucked in our wallets until we get that four cents to buy that chocolate chip cookie.

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OPINION The College Fallacy Elena Weissmann

High school is not, by any means, an enjoyable experience for most. The constant testing, petty drama, and brutal monotony of going to the same classes with the same people day after day all combine to create a vortex of stress. In addition to that, there are SATs, AP classes, and extracurricular activities.

You might even opt for volunteer work or a job. Pack on about five to six hours of sleep a night… and presto! You’ve got a cranky, sleep-deprived teenager, practically qualified as a member of the walking dead. Just peek into an AP-level class and you will see a roomful of exhausted, stressed-out adolescents, desperately scribbling notes and grilling the teacher on the subject matter of the next test.

So why do we do this to ourselves? Why work so hard?

The answer, more often than not, is that we all want to graduate, go to college, succeed, and make a lot of money. And certainly, the competition to get into college nowadays is cut-throat, with some of the top colleges admitting less than 20 percent of applicants. And trying ridiculous-

ly hard to get into these colleges makes total sense, right?

Actually, it does not. Economists Alan Krueger and Stacy Berg Dale began investigating this question as early as 1976 and found that going to an elite college does not, in fact, ensure a higher salary than attending a less prestigious university. In an article published in The New York Times, David Leonhardt explains Krueger and Dale’s study: “It [the study] tracked top high-school students through their 30s and found that their alma maters had little impact on their earnings. Students who got into both, say, the University of Pennsylvania and Penn State made roughly the same amount of money, regardless of which they chose.” Such findings are simply mind-blowing to those of us who were told that going to an elite college is the “key to success.” This study proves that it is the student’s ambition, not the elite college, which truly matters in terms of long-term earning potential.

So why stress out so much about getting into an amazing college? I, for one, am just so tired of going through high school freaking out about

testing and AP classes and extracurricular activities. Rather than stressing about these factors, I’d rather focus my energies on actually learning something valuable in high school. It seems that the “grade” is beginning to matter more and more, no doubt because of the rising competition to get into college. And high school students undeniably recognize this pressure: just look at the high levels of cheating in high schools nationwide.

We’ve completely lost our drive to learn, only to be replaced by the need to look good on a high school transcript. However, this need to “look good” turns out to be completely overrated, as Alan Krueger and Stacy Berg Dale figured out. So what’s with all the stress?

I certainly don’t blame the high school, the teachers, or even the tests for making us so anxious. I blame society for dishing up the idea that success means going to an elite college and likewise getting a high-earning job – lying and cheating your way to the top if necessary. I think we just need to remember from time to time that going to that elite college and pursuing that highearning job does not necessarily

Senior Carol Brown stresses out over her homework, college applications, and general high-school-related stress.

lead to happiness; a good work ethic and a strong desire to learn are ultimately more valuable.

As Alan Krueger advised in the conclusion of his study, “Recognize that your own

motivation, ambition, and talents will determine your success more than the college name on your diploma.”

Groundhog Day: Underappreciated or Silly?

Maddie Hehir February 14th marks February’s most famous holiday, Valentine’s Day, but what about that other holiday in February? Groundhog Day, February 2nd, passed by this year without any acknowledgement, celebration, or discussion.

So does that make Groundhog Day a frivolous, forgotten day on the calendar, or should we treat this day of animal phenomenon with respect?

Groundhog Day has a surpris-

ingly rich history. The holiday originated in Pennsylvania, in the late 18th to 19th centuries, when it was a German Pennsylvania custom. Some say it has ties to ancient Europe, where a scared/angry bear or badger would be used to predict the weather—groundhogs were the safer alternative.

Decades ago, February 2nd was “Candlemas Day,” when the groundhog would peep out of his burrow and if he saw his shadow, it would indicate six more weeks of winter. If he failed to see his

shadow, then spring would come early. Historians have located an old Scottish poem about Candlemas which says, “If Candle-mas Day is bright and clear, there’ll be two winters in the year.”

Today, we use those same signs in the groundhog’s behavior to predict the weather. If the groundhog sees his shadow, it’s six more weeks of winter—if not, look forward to an early spring. The groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, given his name after Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania,

has risen to great fame. There are multiple websites, groups, and clubs that honor Phil and have the exact details of his height, weight, length, and more. In New Jersey, we tend to be more interested in the shore, tomatoes, and Bruce Springsteen. Highland Parkers might enjoy other state traditions as well.

Groundhog Day is not just about the weather and it isn’t just for those who live in Pennsylvania—it’s a day for all of us to believe that maybe a tiny,

insignificant (for the other 364 days of the year) creature can tell us something that our iPhones and technology cannot. So next year, don’t watch the weather on February 2nd. There’s no need because like it or not, we have a perfectly good groundhog who can give us the right answer.

Overall, Groundhog Day is one of America’s simplest, easiest, and quickest holidays and maybe just maybe could be a little bit more appreciated.

Curbing the Crumbs Amita Shukla

A granola bar holds in its crunchy goodness the power to give you detention. The rule prohibiting food in class is not a new one; however, students had always been able to eat in class as long as they were discreet and cleaned up. No more! In order to curb the school’s mouse problem it has been decided that students cannot eat or drink anywhere in the building except the cafeteria, and at no time other than the designated lunch hour.

Freshmen Adriana Diaz and Rasheka Krishan wish nothing had changed. Rasheka says, “Children need food and nutrition. There has to be another way to deal with the mice.” Rasheka regularly brought hot drinks to school in the morning. Because she takes the bus to school, she arrives around 7:20AM, when the warmth from her hot chocolate or coffee made a big

difference.

According to Adriana, this rule could have long-lasting effects.

“If students don’t get breakfast, they won’t be able to concentrate. If they eat breakfast on a morning when they get up late, they’ll be late to school . Then they’ll get tardies and absences, which reflect badly on their record.” In short, school performance may be affected for lack of snacks.

Senior Nickita Ramrekha doesn’t agree with the food restriction either. “This is going to change a lot of things. I used to have class parties where we all brought food, and it was really a bonding experience. And, even on regular days, food helps you focus.” She does agree, however, that there have to be some limits on eating in class. “When people bring in huge Chinese takeout containers, that’s definitely over the top. But you should be able

to have some foods.”

This is also changing lunch pullouts. Now, students have to completely finish eating before going to the orchestra, choir, or band room for lunch rehearsals.

So, too, have lunchtime library visits been changed. Before going to the library to do research or schoolwork, students have to completely finish eating, which reduces the time spent working.

Students who frequently ate in the hallways for Open Lunch have had to relocate.

It may seem fairly straightforward: food only at lunch, and only in the cafeteria. But it is changing school for many students. In-school-suspension or detention for eating in class?

This may be one of the only ways to curb the crumbs that are attracting the mice. Our janitors already work hard, and we can’t ask them to clean the entire school every day because we are

High school lunches, whether bought in the lunchline, purchased at Sultan Wok, or brought from home, are prohibited from leaving the cafeteria.

too lazy to pick up wrappers. But we really do miss our granola bars.

FEBRUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

8

OPINION OSCAR’S PICKS

NO LIE

Oscar Lee

Eli Liebell-McLean

“Don’t Trust Anyone Over 30”

Above: the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta thrive on a lack of authenticity.

Questions of Authenticity Reality television has saddled me with some serious trust issues. NeNe’s exposure of Kenya’s supposed “romance” with Walter on The Real Housewives of Atlanta threw me for a major loop. I was so lost, so confused, so hurt. Why on earth would these people put on a sham for millions? I trusted them. In Season Two, did Sheree actually pull Kim’s wig or was that CGI? What’s real and what’s not?

MTV’s Catfish, based on a 2010 documentary of the same name that dove deep into the murky waters of online relationships, swims around in a similar pool of artifice. For those unfamiliar, a “catfish” is, according to Urban Dictionary, “someone who pretends to be someone they’re not using Facebook or [another social media network] to create false identities, particularly to pursue deceptive online romances.” The original documentary followed a photographer named Nev Schulman and his journey toward uncovering the true identity of his online girlfriend. The current television show follows the deluge of help requests Nev received after the documentary and his quest to unite those online lovers.

MTV, home to fecal-level entertainment in the vein of Buckwild and Snooki & JWOWW, serves as an apt aquarium for Catfish. The program functions as a logical next step for Nev, a manifestation of his self-absorption. He declares, “Catfish the movie was my story. Catfish the TV show is yours.” Not so, sadly. Nev claims to help other people resolve their online relationships, but in reality, only attempts to get as much screen

time as possible. The masturbatory title sequence actually begins with a “Hi, I’m Nev” and a series of pictures of him through the years. Okay I get it, Nev- you love yourself, but maybe television is not the best way to express that egotism. Mr. Schulman should exercise some restraint about appearing before the camera, instead of mugging it all the time. A more suitable title for the show would be All About Nev: A Show About a Guy Who Helps a Bunch of Plebeians by Doing Some Really “Advanced” Reverse Google Image Searches and by “Convincing” Their Online Paramours to Meet Them for the First Time. Overall, the show suffers from a lack of authenticity.

But then, what is “authenticity?” In some cases, the dividing line between what is real and what is fake smudges, but usually it remains well-defined.

There’s the raw, shiver-inducing emotion Perfume Genius infuses his music with, in contrast with the lush polish the Lisa Rinna-esque Lana Del Rey applies to her products. There’s the actual expression of creativity on social media, in contrast with Facebook posts copied from Tumblr. Authenticity comes in many forms. With Housewives, from its inauthenticity comes its authenticity. The show makes no pretensions about its purpose. Andy Cohen isn’t trying to be Abbas Kiarostami. And while the characters may cling onto their “class,” the show does not make a similar effort. It embraces its tackiness, its eye rolls, its shade, its ruined dinner parties. The Real Housewives franchise is both fully cognizant of its inherent stupidity and fully suc-

THE HIGHLAND FLING, FEBRUARY 2013

cessful in its aim to entertain.

Unlike The Real Housewives, however, Catfish is blind to its absurdities, splashing the audience with its airs, desperate for any semblance of respect.

And it does have the foundations of something truly significant, something capable of defining a chunk of human existence. But rather than exploring the intricate psychological rationales guiding the “catfish” or commenting on the social complexities of modern life, Catfish instead glosses over them, choosing to focus on vapidities and faux tension. It is a missed opportunity, more a showcase for narcissism than a cultural critique of our times.

Life is a performance. We all put on costumes the moment we step outside our homes, costumes that project an image of ourselves that we want others to see. But in the pursuit for self, actually try to be yourself. Don’t end up like Mama Elsa Patton (of The Real Housewives of Miami), a ruined product of plastic surgery, resolute on changing herself, to be something she was not.

One morning, I woke up pondering our generation’s contribution to the culture of revolt, and it disgusted me. Ironically, the real Progressives of the last decade were all over 30, the men and women who had seen real Progressive ideals in the 60s and 70s. They were the ones who really put up a fight against the wars in the Middle East, while most youth opposed these conflicts in the most passive way possible.

Where did real rebellion go? What decimated to the presence of youth in revolt, the outrage of the 1960s, the cynical liberalism of the 1970s? Was it the Reagan years, when neoliberalism swept college campuses and corporatism became popular in American politics? Does the rebellion against the corrupt status quo in favor of progressive politics and social change remain in the hearts of our generation? If so, then why has rock-androll been replaced with the pathetically generic Top 40 or the acoustic schlock that blares from the speakers of hipsters?

Hipsters. Now that’s a group that is hard to define. “The concept of standing out is prominent,” said Junior Daniel Zhu, and while I agree with him, it must be pointed out that ‘standing out’ for hipsters means acting within specific social parameters, and creating a self-defeating conformist counter-culture. Junior Gabe Trevor blames our elders explaining, “Middle class youth in our generation are passive because they’ve seen baby-boomers who claimed to be progressives embrace corporatism in their old age, undermining the concept of decisive change.”

“I think the spirit of ‘revolt’ today is through our generation’s distrust of authority,” said one student I talked to, citing Congress and our School Board.

Senior Ariel Glueck agreed with Mr. Trevor regarding passivity. “We like the idea of revolt…but we talk about revolution on social media and don’t do anything. People look at the Arab Spring and think that we can make changes by making something popular on Twitter but when it comes to achieving anything, we’re too lazy to put actual work into it.”

Glueck, cited Occupy Wall Street as an example of an important socio-economic movement stagnated by inaction, and while OWS did make a positive impact on the mindset of the nation, I must agree that it failed to cement its ideology.

Paul McLean, a Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University, observed that “argumentative children are healthier than the more outwardly complacent, who often engage in more devious and dangerous practices.” No, I didn’t just tell you to go home and yell at your parents.

Instead, don’t take what you have for granted. Don’t take what adults say for truth, just because of their age. If you see something, say something, do something, change something, do anything in your power to fight against the mire of oppression, small-mindedness, and injustice that engulfs the world. Because one day we will be over 30 and it will be too late to take advantage of the Youth’s right to make a difference.

9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT An Oddly Entrancing World Xuewei Ouyang

Downton Abbey, a British television series, created and written by Julian Fellowes, has recently wrapped up its third season in the U.S. Its widespread popularity among affectionate fans everywhere, however, as yet to decline. Aired on PBS every Sunday night for one and a half months, the hit series follows the lives of an aristocratic family managing a grand Yorkshire estate, Downton Abbey, in the early 1900s, an important turning point in history. Beginning with a crisis with inheritance caused by the sinking of the Titanic, the series follows the family through World War I and after as they attempt to reconcile opposing views of the old and new worlds.

At first glance, Downton Abbey appears to be the typical soap opera with dramatic plot twists and turns. Then why, has it received such wide acclaim?

Even Highland Park High School as not escaped its farreaching influence. Teachers and students alike are all enamored by the grandeur of the series.

Ms. Marionni describes it as “absolutely beautiful.” She continues, “It portrays an entire world that no longer exists.

The way of life and notions of propriety are completely gone.” With its excellent

Above: the cast of Downton Abbey, which has been extraordinarily popular with audiences worldwide.

cinematography, settings, and costumes, Downton Abbey completely transports the viewer into the time period of grand estates and beautiful dresses.

The beautiful visuals and appearance of the series, however, are not the only

reasons for its popularity. Mr. Kruger explains, “I think the period of history in Downton Abbey between the two World Wars is extremely cool. It’s a transformational period. The system of life in Downton Abbey is in death rows. The series also

gives you insight to how trapped the members of aristocracy are, particularly the women. It really makes you sympathize with the women and you can see how much trouble it is for women to get out.” The series has an ability to infuse history with life

Taylor Swift: Perfection in the Making Yang Xu and Boning Zhao

“I Knew You Were Trouble” lingers in the heads of students as they shuffle from class to class. Although notorious for her countless breakups and heartaches, Taylor Swift’s success on the billboard is undeniable. But what is it that makes her songs so great – the catchy rhythm, the sophisticated beat, the meaning-

ful lyrics? Either way, Swift is paving the way for other aspiring musicians to follow. Swift has what determines a good singer: good vocal ability and songs.

Taylor Swift, with a skillfully controlled voice that can dance across the entire vocal spectrum, creates harmonious melodies that not only appease our ears, but also our hearts. Throughout Swift’s recent title song, she

properly utilizes the extent and uniqueness of her powerful voice by consecutively shifting between high and low notes: I KNEW you WERE trouble when you WALKED IN. Despite the smile that the tune brings to our face, the true message within the song, necessary for any work of art, highlights that person in our life who originally brought along “a kaleidoscope of memories,”

but then walked away. Swift’s music contains a soul capable of conjuring our deepest emotions.

She allows pop music to be more than just a form of entertainment.

Combined with her charming personality and enchanting smile, she becomes more than just a singer; she becomes a goddess that brings us mortals a gift from the heavens. Forgiving (as demonstrated by the Kanye West

in a way that a history textbook cannot.

For some, the series comes down to the basic idea of human interactions. Connecting lessons from her AP Literature course, Ms. Marionni adds, “In addition to beauty, grandeur, the estate, the clothing, it is actually the story of human dynamics, asking questions such as ‘Who are you?’

‘Where do you fit in society?’

Basically, it’s the one story.”

Many of the minor plots and characters could easily adapt into a modern-setting. Much of Downton Abbey’s appeal stems from its ability to connect viewers to the characters and their issues despite the nearly one hundred year time gap.

Perhaps Downton Abbey will be added to Ms. Marionni’s AP Lit curriculum next year?

Even if the British soap-opera has not yet reached a timeless status worthy of English classes in high schools, Downton Abbey still demonstrates astonishing command over visuals, meaningful representation of the conflict of the period, and depiction of universal human conflicts. Still hesitant? Simply watch one episode, and you will find yourself mesmerized.

For those who are already fans of Downton Abbey, check out Monarch of the Glen, a similar series set in Scotland.

incident at the VMAs of 2009), mesmerizing, and captivating, Swift constructs unparalleled melodies and messages. A role model for all teenagers to follow, she becomes the epitome of a “celebrity.” Her music becomes something that we, as human beings, can’t let go. It becomes a safe haven for our thoughts and a safe haven for our hearts.

Finally, a Boon to PS3 Skyrim Players Gregory Burdea

Play Station 3 (PS3) users, who are still transfixed by the mystical realm of “Skyrim,” the 2012 “ultimate game of the year” according to Golden Joystick, recently received some new content through the “Dragonborn” DLC (downloadable content).

As a member of the PS3 branch of Skyrim players, I, like my brethren, found frustration in the fact that none of the Skyrim DLCs made their ways to the PS3—until now. The release of Dragonborn to PS3 players finally began the process of forgiveness between Bethesda Studios (the developers of the game) and the PS3 community. In the past, the other gaming consoles received content while the PS3 was left in the dust. PS3 players are now set to receive more DLC in the future – a belated act of justice to the gaming community.

When I learned of Dragonborn’s release, the excitement began to accumulate. I tried to keep an open mind when exploring the newfound land of Solstheim: an island plagued by creepy “Ash Spawn” and an infamous power that forces the denizens

of the island into mindless labor.

The main quest revolves around opposing Miraak, a “Dovahkiin” (a man that’s kin to the dragons).

Miraak uses his power in various dimensions, and players must “follow in his footsteps” to defeat him. This involves multiple journeys into surreal dimensions in order to solve the main-quest.

This transcendence into the

realm of a Daedric (demonic) prince is achieved through the use of several dictionary-like “Black Books,” which have the ability to transport the reader into a realm of infinite knowledge harvested by the Daedric prince Hermaeus Mora. While the ideas at work behind the main quest motivate players to finish it, the journey hardly lasts long

riding. To everyone’s surprise, dragon riding is not actually very captivating. Dragons fly cyclically, while the player commands the dragon to land, attack, or fast-travel. Most gamers dreamed of a dragon completely under the control of the player. Needless to say, riding a dragon can provide some pretty scenery – until even that gets old.

Nonetheless, I look forward to discovering new pieces of armor.

Dragonborn contains at least three different sets of armor to discover, including enchanted armor. Notably, enchanted armor gives the player a “more godly feel” (as if being able to shout into the air and change people into animals with a staff wasn’t enough). And really, it’s the process of exploration and discovery that keeps players involved in the game, even after the main quest.

Dragonborn delivers some interesting content for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 users. Unfortunately, I can’t comment on Dawngaurd, but if you are a serious Skyrim gamer, you should probably get the DLC. There’s definitely something for everyone in Solstheim.

enough; one could play through the main quest in 10 hours max.

Fortunately, one may overlook this shortcoming because of the abundance of secondary quests and things to discover.

Besides quest-content, the Dragonborn DLC offers three tempting additions: new sets of armor, new weapon styles, and dragon riding—yes, dragon FEBRUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

10

SPORTS The Importance of Recovery Olivia Draper

When it comes to resting and recovering, most student athletes have difficulty finding time to repair their bodies, especially when school sports tend to overlap.

Whether your soccer season coincides with the start of your basketball season, or you find yourself trying to find the balance between wrestling matches and baseball practices, giving your body time to recover is crucial. During these essential periods of recovery, overworked muscles naturally repair, rebuild, and strengthen themselves. Not only do athletes benefit physically from this frequent rest, but they also benefit mentally. Building in rest days to your schedule can help you maintain a better balance between home, school, and your desired fitness goals.

When you exercise, your body is constantly tearing tissue and losing energy stores; because of this, the main repair that occurs while athletes take time to rest is the replenishment of energy, muscle tissue, and body fluids. Without this recovery, the body’s muscles and tissues continue to breakdown and cease to strengthen.

Along with the depletion of many physical aspects of your body, most athletes will experience other unhealthy symptoms as well. This can include anything from a decreased sports performance to an ailment as serious as depression. In fact, an athlete

is more likely to injure themselves when they do not take an appropriate time to rest and allow their bodies to heal.

Athletic recoveries can be broken down into two different groups: short-term and long-term recovery. Important short-term recovery generally refers to those few hours directly after a workout; this means eating the right post-exercise meal and getting quality sleep, which becomes even more important after an intense workout. On the other hand, when it comes to long-term recovery techniques, many coaches or trainers recommend building in entire weeks dedicated to replenishing the body, especially when exercising on an annual training schedule. Another momentous factor that is associated with long-term recovery is making sure your workouts have variation. Variations of daily exercises will not only strengthen a significant range of muscles, but it will give certain muscles a much needed break as well. Even though many high school athletes will overlook the significance of recovery time in between school sports, the risks associated with this ignorance fail to decrease. Without following the right techniques and recovery schedules, athletes become more prone to injuries, illnesses, and mental exhaustion.

Above: sophomore Chris Michael recovers from a draining athletic season and is ready to go back in no time.

HP Drama Department Presents:

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Starring (in Alphabetical Order) Charlotte Finegold - Adrian Gillerman - David Isaacson - Rachel Kim Lucas Marin - Riley Michael - Lance Shopowich - Mackenzie Volpert Directed by Keith Presty

April 11 (7 PM), 12 (7 PM), 13 (1 PM & 7 PM) Bartle School Auditorium Tickets On Sale at www.hpdrama.org THE HIGHLAND FLING, FEBRUARY 2013

11

SPORTS Spring Previews Jacob Choi

Tennis

Track and Field

Indoor sport seasons are over, and HPHS athletes have already begun training for outdoor sports. One of the most highlighted sports in Highland Park – tennis – is about to start its season. Having won the state championship two years ago and second place last year, the boys’ tennis team is preparing to succeed yet again.

This year, there is a new senior, Daniel Zendejas, who played tennis in Mexico and won tournaments there, along with some freshmen, including Leo Goldman and Jon Buzbee, who both treat tennis more seriously than a hobby. Getting on this year’s Varsity team will be an intense process: seniors Daniel Zendejas, Jacob Choi, and Yang Xu will likely compete for the third singles spot, as well as first doubles. Most players have worked at indoor courts during winter to stay in shape.

Similarly to what Coach Stark said, this year the team is going to concentrate on competitive games like state tournaments and GMCs, instead of going on a game-bygame basis like last year. At the end of the year, hopefully tennis will take the state championship once again.

Owls track and field is another team that is already in shape as a team. Although the team did not won their meets in every single area, they are different than before. During winter, regardless of the cold temperatures, runners participated in practices every week with the Garden State Track Team and everyone worked their hardest, showing much improvement . One area that would be significant is the 4x400 relay, because it, as junior Joe Ambrosio says, “shows depth both as a team and a strong program.” Ambroio worked particularly hard during the off-season to improve. As he was training, he set his goal to run under two minutes for the 800m and 4:40 for a mile in order to qualify for states. Additionally, there are freshmen joining track and field, including Matthew Ambrosio, Luke Schroeder, and Farhan Rozaidi, all of whom have great potential.

Hopefully, everyone’s effort will be shown during the season and they will be able to reach state tournaments.

Baseball

Softball

Baseball is one of the sports many students join, enjoy, and play in spring. Owls baseball is already training and rebuilding the team to compete against other schools.

Unfortunately, a lot of players graduated last year, such as pitcher John Buck and outfielder Nick Baay. Last year, with those players, the team made to semi finals for states, which was the highlight of the season. However, due to the loss, the team needs to focus on rebuilding during practices in order to fill the empty spots.

Regardless of the loss, there are many freshmen coming up as well, and effort will lead them to win games.

With a rough finish last year in the Blue Division, the Lady Owls are looking to come back very strong this year. After graduating several powerful players last year, the Owls look to regroup and charge.

DaVanna McCarthy is likely to be the team’s main pitcher this year. Under the coaching of Lori Szentgyorgyi, the softball team will do some hard work. Hopefully they will have something to show for their effort!

Above (from top to bottom): Senior Daniel Zendejas serves the tennis ball; Jon Baay, junior, and Aedan Bell, senior, work hard at baseball practice.

HP Swimming: Updated GMC Results FINAL RANKINGS

Owen Fessant Eaton - 31st place for the 200 free with time of 2.28.77 48th place for the 100 free with time of 1.07.61 Lucas Irvine - 3rd place for 200 individual medley with time of 2.06.56 1st place for the 100 breast with time of1.02.17 Jake Callahan - 12th place for the 200 individual medley with time of 2.29.27 17th place for the 100 back with time of 1.03.58 Michael Wang - 18th place for the 200 individual medley with time of 2.29.90 19th place for the 100 back with time of 1.05.72 Paolo Mesde - 8th place for the 50 free with time of .0.23.36 11th place for the 100 free with time of 0.53.90 Griffin Wood - 37th place for the 50 free with time of 0.26.46

29th place for the 100 breast with time of 1.19.44 Chris Nolan - 28th place for the 50 free with time of 25.503

12th place for the 100 breast with time of 1.11.93 Thomas Li - 10th place for the 100 fly with time of 1.00.10 11th place for the 100 breast with time of 1.10.76 The Highland Park High School Swimming Team at the GMC Tournament

Tomas Sanchez - 11th place for the 100 fly with time of 1.00.21 FEBRUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

12

SPORTS PLAYER PROFILES Name: Anna Minakhina Grade: 9 Sport: Rock Climbing

Name: Ms. Washington Grade: Coach Sport: Tennis, basketball

Grace Chong

Annie McCrone

As devoted readers of The Fling know, every issue includes a Player Profile of an outstanding student in a school sport.

What about the individuals who took their sports past high school? I met up with Ms. Washington, one of HPHS’ gym teachers, to talk about her experience with high school sports and beyond.

Highland Fling (HF): What sports did you play in high school?

Ms. Washington (MW): I played field hockey, basketball, and softball.

Freshman rock climber, Anna Minakhina

Ana Minakhina, a freshman, has been rock climbing for only two years, yet she continues to show tremendous progress.

Although HPHS does not have a rock climbing team, Ana practices with a team called Garden State Rocks and participates in competitions.

Highland Fling (HF): How did you become interested in rock-climbing?

Anna Minakhina (AM): It was my dad who was interested at first; he climbed with his peers and would take me out with him when we went climbing outdoors. A couple years later I tried out for a class and I got hooked after that.

HF: How often do you practice a week?

AM: I practice two hours a day, twice a week. I also go to an outdoor climbing camp over the summer in New Hampshire.

HF: Do you go to competitions? Do you have a team that you train with?

AM: I’m on a team in a gym called “Garden State Rocks”. During our season, there are competitions that go on every weekend,and people from across New Jersey compete. I have only been to one of them in our own gym, and I had a really cool experience.

HF: Why do you enjoy rock climbing?

AM: It’s a self-rewarding sport that keeps you in good shape. The more you rock climb the better and stronger you become. It’s really rewarding to see your progress, and it’s fun to find out how to climb the next “problem.” I mean, sometimes you work to overcome a problem for weeks, and then you get it!

HF: What do you think is the most

difficult part of rock climbing? What challenges are involved in the sport?

AM: Well first off, it’s really fun, but it is also pretty dangerous. It takes a lot of practice and you have to really work on your balance, strength, and flexibility. It’s also annoying because if you don’t climb for a period of time, it’s hard to get back on track. It can take you weeks to work at a problem, and you can get really tired.

HF: Do you have a specific goal in rock climbing, like winning a competition?

AM: Rock climbing is more of a selfrewarding sport because you strive to get better, to go from a vb to v11, or from a 5.4 to a 5.14c. But for those who are interested there are competitions that happen pretty often. It depends on what type of climbing you like--speed climbing, bouldering, rope climbing etc...

HF: What sports do you play now?

MW: Softball. I play in two leagues in the spring and summertime.

HF: Why did you continue this sport?

MW: It’s just one of my loves that I’ve always had. There’s so much to it. It’s actually a difficult game to play. People see it as boring, and it’s really not.

HF: What is your favorite part of the game?

MW: Defense. To me, fielding has come naturally. I always wanted the coach to throw the ball harder. To me, you

MW: Yeah, it doesn’t even have to be at the college level. You’re keeping that competitive fire. I would encourage a lot of people to get involved [in sports]; there’s a lot of opportunity for adults to get involved. If you love something, keep doing it.

HF: What advice would you give to the athletes of HPHS? MW: You really need to push yourself and take advantage of these four years; they go by quickly. I encourage people to play multiple sports. To me, you can use the summer to practice your main sport.

Ms. Washington encourages people of all ages to participate in sports, and stresses their importance in high school.

While it may seem obvious that a gym teacher would advocate sports, Ms. Washington really shows us why staying active is so important. As the coach of high school girls tennis and basketball, and an active player in the HP sports community, her experience also shows how you can continue playing after high school and keep doing what you love.

should always be able to play good, hard defense.

HF: Do you think it’s important to continue sports after high school?

HF: Brag about yourself: did you win any awards or competitions in the past?

AM: I’ve only been climbing for about 2 years, and I’ve only been to one competition. I did get first in the intermediate bouldering section.

Although it wasn’t a very large section I still got some really cool prizes. I am also pretty proud of my own progress. I went from a v2 to a v7 in bouldering and a 5.8 to 5.11.

HF: How do you motivate yourself in rock climbing?

AM: Well I mostly boulder, which means you climb short heights without a rope, and there is only a mat to protect me from falling. In bouldering, it can take weeks or even months to get a problem and when you solve it, you become really happy. This whole process just motivates me. It’s so much fun to figure out a problem in rock climbing.

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 Zoe Temple, Jacob Choi, Miranda Safir, Tia Wangli, Amita Shukla, Adrian Gillerman THE HIGHLAND FLING, FEBRUARY 2013

The Highland Fling Staff

Coach Washington showing off her juggling skills.

Writers Sarah Cheng, Boning Zhao, Shuhong Chen, Olivia Draper, Yang Xu, Grace Chong, Gregory Burdea, Tia Wangli, Amita Shukla, Andrea Boffice, Eli Liebell-McLean, Jana Choi, Shana Oshinskie, Jake Callahan, Maverick Lin, Zoe Temple, John Yang, Annie McCrone

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

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