January 2013

HIGHLAND THE

INSIDE NEWS Can You Spell Change? p. 2 FEATURE Local Love p. 5 Teachers on High School Romance p. 6 OPINION DPOV: HP Compliments p. 11

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FLING JANUARY 2013

AARON GARTENBERG/ THE HIGHLAND FLING

Above: the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee rehearsing the opening number (story on p. 2); below (from left to right): boarded-up restaurants and a building left collapsed by Hurricane Sandy.

Outage Leads to Outrage

Maddie Hehir

The disastrous effects of October’s super storm still linger in both New York and New Jersey, particularly on the Jersey Shore. The power may be back on for Highland Parkers, but there the shore is still coping with massive damage done to houses, businesses, buildings, and the boardwalk. As the aftermath of Sandy loiters close to home, citizens of New York and New Jersey open a new chapter of relief for Sandy victims: to rebuild.

Each day brings new hope and relief to the thousands of people who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Lights, water, heat, internet, and cable have been restored to many. Sophomore Zoe Hudgins described her Sandy experience explaining, “I had no power for 11 days. I had no hot water either. I ended up going to my cousin’s house.” It is important to remember that while Sandy may seem to become more and more of a distant nightmare where everyone was stuck home in the dark all day without being able to go on Facebook, there are still many citizens in New Jersey who lost their homes, their businesses, loved ones, and their sanctuary—the shore. Each day, volunteers work hard to help those in need.

Unfortunately for vacationers, there was extensive damage done to the Jersey Shore, shockingly so. If you are able to, take a drive down to see the shore—even a New Jersey Native won’t be able to recognize what used to be shops, boutiques, restaurants, and the beautiful boardwalk. One beach hit particularly hard by super storm Sandy was Avon by the Sea, whose two restaurants, store, boardwalk, and pavilion were swept to sea,

without leaving so much as a pile of wood behind..

On the political side of this issue, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been everywhere in the media. Featured on the cover of Time magazine, Christie is opening up about his efforts to do all he can for the victims of Sandy and to collect the funds needed to bring relief to all those affected by the storm.

Earlier in January, Congress decided to delay the passing of a Sandy relief fund worth 60 million dollars. In Time, Christie said, “Shame on Congress. There’s only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims: the House majority and their Speaker, John Boehner. Last night, politics was placed before an oath to serve our citizens. To me it was disappointing and disgusting to watch.”

While there is still some minor damage in Highland Park— mostly trees, some roofs, and problems with wires—it is important for Highland Parkers to participate in Sandy relief.

While, the buzz from the 12-12-12 concert benefiting rebuilding New York and New Jersey has died down over a month later, donations are still being accepted for funding Sandy relief and to rebuild areas of the North East. Here are a few reputable charities which you can support: American Red Cross of Camden and Burlington Counties, American Red Cross of Central New Jersey, American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey, and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

As a member of Highland Park High School and the entire Highland Park community, do not sit back and feel content that you personally have a nice warm house with Internet access.

Aid in Sandy relief and do your part to personally rebuild New Jersey. This is your home—don’t forget that.

A&E Fairytales Revisited p. 13 SPORTS Player Profile p. 16 JANUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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NEWS Can You Spell “Change?”

Shana Oshinskie This year, the Highland Park Drama Club will be gracing a different stage with a different kind of musical. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a shorter, brasher, and smaller show than usual HP productions, will appear in Bartle School’s auditorium this spring.

The show follows a group of six prepubescent teens who participate in a county spelling bee moderated by three peculiar adults. In total, the musical will feature only eight high school students (and one middle school student) on stage, but many more in pit and tech. This is in sharp contrast to shows of previous years, when 60 students of all ages were on stage in Annie and Seussical.

Other than cast size, the material of this year’s musical is a little different than Annie and Seussical, which are both child-friendly musicals. Spelling Bee features some more explicit content, so expect fewer children to attend.

Although some alternate lyrics are being used, it is still probably not advisable to bring children under the age of eight, although it depends on the maturity of the child.

Yet another change is the identity of the choreographer.

Ms. Maureen Klaslo, an English teacher from the middle school, has stepped in as per Mr. Presty’s request. There will not be too many big group dances (like the finales to Seussical and Annie) because Spelling Bee is a little more character oriented than usual. She definitely recommends that you come, however, “Because it’s super hilarious!

It’s probably one of my favorite plays.” Mr. Presty, director, agreed and said, “It’s hysterical. It’s not your average little G-rated, Annie-type musical. It’s a little more mature.”

Another thing that will make Spelling Bee very different is the location. Just like the fall play, Our Town, Spelling Bee will be performed in the Bartle School auditorium and executed mostly in the round, much to the delight of a few actors and actresses. Mr.

Presty put the show on at Bartle because it was not certain that the auditorium renovation would be complete in time. However, Bartle School will serve the additional purpose of providing a unique atmosphere. All of Spelling Bee is supposed to take place in a school gymnasium, a place very similar to the Bartle Auditorium. This means, however, that our school may not get the teaser we are used to. The auditorium will be finished by the fall, so things may return to normal soon. “We love the opportunity to perform at Bartle,” Mr. Presty said, “because it gives us a chance to work with a small cast and a new atmosphere, but next year we’ll hopefully go back to a large cast.”

According to the stage manager, senior Daniel Gittler, this show will be very unique because of the way the audience can interact with the actors.

Every night, audience members will have an opportunity to apply to have a small role as a speller.

Four people will be selected at random, and they will receive instructions and participate in the bee alongside the actors. Even if you aren’t selected, this still makes the show interesting because every night will be slightly different.

As all the cast members agree that the show will be really fun. When asked why high school students should come see this show, senior Rachel Kim explained, “You’ll get to see all the cool seniors on stage! And despite the seemingly-nerdy title, it’s a really fun show.” Fellow senior Lance Shopowich added, “Come because you’ll get to hear me sing about puberty!” Adrian Gillerman, also a senior, also suggested you come because “It’s really fun and unique, and there are a ton of differences from other years.” Lucas Marin, a junior, summed it all up in one word. “Come because it will be AWESOME.” Despite all the changes, the Highland Park Drama department will put on another spectacular show this year on April 11th, 12th, and 13th. In the meantime,

Above (from top to bottom): the cast of Spelling Bee rehearsing in the Bartle auditorium; (from left to right) seniors Lance Shopowich, and Adrian Gillerman, and Rachel Kim and junior Lucas Marin rehearsing music in the Choir Room.

support the Drama Club by purchasing tickets online

(www.hpdrama.org) or liking

their Facebook Page.

Extreme Makeover: School Store Edition Oscar Lee DECA has achieved many successes this year. Eighteen people will be attending the state conference at the end of February, matching the record set last year. The chapter has also successfully raised more than $3,000 in total toward its

efforts to help families impacted

by Hurricane Sandy. Building onto those successes, DECA is planning on introducing several new changes, many of which have already been implemented this year, to the school store. For those who are unfamiliar, the DECA store is located right by the stairs leading up from Center

Hall. It is open right after school every day, from 2:40 – 3:10. As a part of the effort to reinvent its image and market itself better, DECA has improved the store layout, including seasonal decorations. Students may have noticed the Thanksgiving or Valentines Day decorations that have added some flare and spice.

Upperclassmen may have also detected the bright new colors in the store at the beginning of the year. The changes have not been limited to just the exterior. The DECA store has also introduced more nutritious and healthy alternatives in the form of orange fruit cups, yogurt, and pudding.

These alternatives will allow the

more health-conscious student to also support the store. Have any lingering suggestions? Leave them in the suggestions box during school store hours. DECA is always looking for ways to serve its customers better!

Don’t Lose Your High School Memories!

The Albadome Is Now on Sale!

See Ms. Marionni for Payment Plans THE HIGHLAND FLING, JANUARY 2013

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NEWS It’s Definitely in Our Power Amy Wang With the constant flood of information about the environment, the average person may feel helpless at times in fighting the giant problem of global warming. That being said, the leaders of Highland Park, collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state government, have started an initiative to cut energy consumption entitled It’s In Our Power. Offering home energy assessments to all, residents can now pinpoint parts of their homes that waste energy for only $49. And that’s not all! Ciel Power, a company that strives to make homes in New Jersey more energy efficient, will follow up with a Home Energy Assessment

Report that lists all the recommended upgrades and their costs.

Why would someone in Highland Park want to spend so much money upgrading their home when the people in other towns could care less? Well, Highland Park has been chosen by the EPA as one of the three towns in New Jersey to be part of the Climate Showcase Communities Program, a project to create energy efficient towns. If these towns meet their energy goals, then they could become a model for national energy projects! Not only that, people who pledge to help the campaign could receive up to $5000 in rebates! As Irene Boland Nielson, the Climate Change Coordinator of the EPA, said at the press conference a few

weeks ago, “It’s a win-win for taxpayers and the environment!”

What does pledging to support the initiative entail? Well, switching to a clean energy provider, installing energy saving lighting, purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances and a fuel-efficient car, discarding an old refrigerator, and getting a Home Energy Assessment are great ways to start. If you are interested, more information can be found at http://ourpowerhighlandpark.org. And as the motto states: “Save energy, save money, save the earth.”

Right: Home Energy Assessments aims to maximize energy efficiency in the modern home.

Think a Bit Harder Grace Chong In the aftermath of the horrific shooting in Newton, Connecticut, many politicians and public figures have jumped on the bandwagon to improve mental health services, without fully examining and contemplating the issue. Some states have already proposed laws to fix their mental health systems. New York is attempting to block the mentally ill from owning guns; in other states, there have been calls for the forced medication and involuntary institutionalization of the mentally ill.

Junior Tabitha Lumour-Mensah said, on these controversial approaches, “I think that it’s completely wrong. Mental illness does not equate to violence nor should

the mentally ill be used as scapegoats.”

Junior Gabe Trevor also expressed a similar view, “I disagree with forced hospitalizations. Mentally ill patients are not necessarily violent, and forcing them into hospitals won’t solve the problem of violence. Also, if the government has the power to do so, they could exploit the power to send people to hospitals who might not even have mental illness.

Our culture should be more accepting of mentally ill people. We should stop being freaked out about mental illness.

However, I agree that people with potentially violent mental illness should not be given guns.”

Noting the controversies surrounding civil commitment laws, a freshman

who wished to remain anonymous took a different stance. “I think they [the measures] are good because if mentally ill people don’t take their medications, they can hurt people. So it’s better to give them the help that they need rather than taking any risks.” Freshmen Cameron Petkov took a more objective stance, “I think it depends on different circumstances. If a person is severely mentally ill, then he or she should take medication due to the reason that he or she may harm others.

But if it’s not as severe, the government should leave them alone.”

Many psychiatrists and other mental health professionals have mentioned that in order to improve mental health systems, states should pass laws that both protect

the rights of patients but also protect society from any potential violence or crime. Yes, society should be protected from potential dangers. But, society also must remember to protect the rights of the mentally ill, as Mr. Sclafani strongly argued, “The government shouldn’t force people to go to mental hospitals unless that person has tried to hurt themselves or others due to their illness. Unless that person has done something wrong, they shouldn’t be forced into hospitals. If the government was allowed to do that, we might as well as live in the world of George Orwell’s1984, because ‘Big Brother’ would be upon us.”

The Devastation Left by Hurricane Sandy in Belmar and Avon, NJ

JANUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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FEATURE A Piece of History Charlotte Finegold

The photograph “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” is a wellknown depiction of Depression-Era America. The photo, taken on September 20, 1932, is of eleven ironworkers, taking a break from building the GE building at Rockefeller Center. The men sit on a girder, with their

feet dangling 840 feet over New York City. The men do not wear harnesses – during the Depression men would take any job they could. Sitting on this girder, third from the left, is Charlie Cent, the great-great grandfather of senior Chris Bray. Cent was an ironworker, and his son

and grandson became ironworkers as well. Bray, whose family history is immortalized in this photograph, says, “I think it’s really cool. It kind of shows the whole history of my dad’s side.”

Money Matters Shuhong Chen Money is like your personal glass of ice water on a hot beach: if you doze off, the refreshment will soon evaporate; if you take too many gulps, it will quickly run out; if you’re not careful, it will be stolen from under your nose as you drink; if you borrow from others, it is expected that you pay it back; if you don’t care to save any for later, you will dehydrate. To survive the heat of the modern financial world with a cup full of dignity, you must drink responsibly, trade stealthily, and refrigerate wisely. The only way that can happen is if you are financially literate.

To be financially literate means to understand how to manage your money. This can range from comprehending macroeconomic political policies to determining how much makeup you can actually afford.

Unfortunately, there are many people (on an international scale) who are oblivious of the status of their own money.

For example, in Australia, more than the two thirds of people surveyed reported that they understood compound interest, but less than one third could actually calculate it. Canadians found a dentist appointment much less traumatic than making smart investments. Most of the financial knowledge a British man learns comes from

THE HIGHLAND FLING, JANUARY 2013

loose encounters with bankers or from pamphlets. As of 2005, in the United States, 40% of workers were not preparing a fund for their retirement.

Alarming statistics like these have prompted governments to take action. In 2004, Australia established the National Consumer and Financial Literacy Taskforce to deliver financial information to the Australian public. In 2010, Britain dedicated £10 million a year to its Consumer Financial Education Body. The Jump$tart Coalition was established in 1995 to promote financial literacy in the US. The US government joined in as well, creating the Office of Financial Education and the Financial Literacy and Education Commission in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Despite these actions, financial literacy rates are still low, especially among the young.

But you can help solve this crisis! First, you should become financially literate and know how the world of money ticks. Mr. Gold’s Introduction to Economics and Personal Finance class is a perfect place to start.

There is also information online at sites like mymoney. gov, jumpstart.org, and 360financialliteracy.org for you to access. Second, you can take initiative by spreading awareness. Tell your friends and family and make sure everyone understands the severity of financial illiteracy.

In the end, everyone should get a chance to equip themselves with a refrigerator of knowledge and proudly leave the hot-sand beaches with a cold, hard cup of cash.

Take this following quick quiz to see if you are indeed financially literate.Trueness or Falsehood?

1. If price goes up, demand goes down.

2.Your credit report keeps negative records for up to 7 years.

3. You pay up to $50 if someone uses your lost or stolen credit card.

4. The Rule of 72 states that 72 divided by the annual interest rate is how many years it will take to double your money.

5. Phone numbers beginning with 800, 888, 877, or 866 are usually toll-free.

(All answers are True)

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FEATURE Local Love

Valentines’ Edition Andrea Boffice Do you know what Valentine’s Day originally celebrated? Actually, no one does. But nowadays, it’s about giving gifts to your special someone. When deciding a gift, however, chose carefully. Roses may say, “I like you enough to spend $5.99,” but just as pretty are the delicate cauliflowers that say, “I like you enough to care about the healthy state of your colon!” Noting this, I will nevertheless include at least one recipe on how to make your own candy. Making chocolates and sweets is surprisingly easy and delicious, which is great for impressing your loved ones or bribing your teachers. One common Valentine’s Day tradition (aside from crying in front of The Notebook) is to stock up on 50% off chocolates on February 15th; but maybe after too much sugar you can try one of these healthier recipes to postpone the inevitable failure of your New Year’s resolution. Happy Valentines’ Day!

Foods in Season for January: Brussels Sprouts Broccoli Rob Cauliflower Chicory

Fennel Grapefruit Leeks Oranges

February Omelet Cooking time: 15 minutes Omelets are the best thing ever. You’ll never need to find a recipe to fit the in-season vegetable because omelets are the delicious vehicle of different kinds of vegetables. The egg deserves more celebrations than just Easter; if possible, I would spend an entire issue just talking about the different ways to cook eggs, but I will limit myself to the omelet here.

Omelets are one of the best ways to eat vegetables, especially for non-veggie-lovers. And in all honesty, no one would pass up a steaming omelet for some cold Captain Crunch on a winter morning. A nutritious breakfast is a great thing to start your day with and stops you from starving by the time lunch rolls around. Most of you know how to make an omelet, but this recipe will teach you how to make the best omelet ever while catering it to February.

Did you know that there is a real reason behind “winter blues?” Sun exposure helps us absorb vitamin D (through the protection of the ozone, of course), which is partially responsible for a good mood.

Since we have less sun exposure during the winter, we have less vitamin D and are therefore more likely to have feelings of depression. Citrus fruits are virtually the only fruits that naturally contain vitamin D. Tangerines, clementines, oranges, and grapefruits are all delicious and in season during this time of year. So eat orange sorbet, for the sake of your health.

Ingredients: Eggs (2-3 per person) Onions (if normal size onions, use a half for each omelet) Vegetables (Note: you can put whatever you want in here, but I find the best vegetables for omelets are onions, potatoes, spinach, collard greens, broccoli rob, swiss chard, asparagus, peppers, leeks, shallots, or zucchini). Vegetables for a February omelet: Brussels sprouts or broccoli rob, shallots, and leeks, Breakfast meat (optional; I personally like to keep my meat and omelets separate but if you want, you can add sausage or bacon).

1. Turn the stove to medium low and add some oil.

2. Add onions/shallots and caramelize the onions by turning often in oil for a few minutes until they start to brown. If you are tempted to speed the process by turning up the heat, you will have raw or burnt onions. You can scramble the eggs with a fork while waiting.

3. Add vegetables in order of cooking time (the general rule is that root vegetables take the longest and leafy ones take the least time). In this omelet, you can cook most of them at the same time.

4. Once all the vegetables have been added, allow them to caramelize together for a few more minutes, adding oil if necessary.

5. Spread the vegetables in the pan then pour the eggs evenly. Wait a few minutes for eggs to cook. Add salt and pepper.

6. You can flip the eggs over or fold. If you fold the eggs, I recommend you put a cover on the pot for a little bit before folding to avoid a gooey center.

7. Serve immediately. If you need the Valentine’s Day touch, cut the omelet into a heart and eat the excess before serving it to loved ones.

Orange and Grapefruit Sorbet Cooking time: 10 minutes preparation, 5 hours freezing time, total time 5:10

Parsnips Pears Shallots Sweet Potatoes

Tangelos Tangerines Turnips

Ingredients: Citrus fruits, 6 oranges. Use twice the amount for tangerines and clementines, half the amount of grapefruit. I recommend a combination of all these fruits. ½ cup of lemon juice 1 cup agave syrup (aside from being a healthy replacement for sugar, it is easier to cook in this recipe.)

1 cup of water 1. In a saucepan, bring the agave nectar and water to a boil on low heat.

2. Cut the oranges in half and squeeze the juice out.

3.Once the agave and water is boiling, stir in the lemon and orange juice.

4. Pour the mixture into a shallow dish and freeze for 4 hours.

5. Remove from the freezer and spoon into a food processor or blender and process the mixture until it is smooth.

6. Place the mixture in a bowl and put back into the freezer for at least 1 hour, or until you are ready to use.

7. Scoop out and enjoy! If you feel like being fancy, you can keep the orange halves, scoop out the excess and serve the sorbet in the shells.

Chocolates!

It is easy to mold your own chocolates into different shapes or make different types of chocolates. You can form your own variations, and if you want to add colors, you can melt white chocolate and add food coloring. If you want to be in season, you can mold hearts!

Ingredients: Your favorite chocolate Raspberry: raspberry preserve Peanut Butter Cups: creamy peanut butter, confectionary sugar Ganache: 1 cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, semisweet chocolate 1. Chop chocolate into small pieces that are no bigger than pennies; the smaller the pieces, the easier it will be to melt.

2. Boil water in a double boiler and melt the chocolate, stirring constantly. You can also melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between each interval.

Do not overheat and do not mix melting chocolate with water. Also, don’t melt all of the chocolate at once or some of it will harden before you can finish using it.

3. Once melted, pour into a mold or create

Above (from top to bottom): A breakfast omelet, Valentines’ Day chocolates, and citrus sorbet to help you through the next few cold weeks.

one of these chocolates.

Peanut Butter Cups 1. Mix one part peanut butter with 1/3 part Raspberry Chocolate of confectionary sugar. Add the sugar and 1. Simply add a few tablespoons of raspmix in intervals. berry preserve while melting the choco2. Pour melted chocolate into ice cube late. You can choose different preserves, trays. Fill trays 1/3 way and rotate the tray but raspberry is the best. to coat the chocolate on the walls. Put in 2. Spoon into balls and let cool on a tray the refrigerator for 15 minutes. or in a refrigerator 3. Spoon some of the peanut butter mixture into the ice cube trays and pour chocolate on the top.

JANUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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FEATURE Below: Teachers’ Reactions to the Words, “High School Romance”

Mr. Ruckdeschel pulled out a few hairs.

Teachers: They Dated Once Too Elena Weissmann

It may be hard to believe, but back in the day, our teachers attended high school. And they too had to deal with the trials and tribulations of secondary education – perhaps the worst one of all being teenage romance. “Couples would sometimes just drive around in their cars… the most pointless date ever!” Ms. Martin exclaimed, recounting what teens did when they “dated” in her time. She also mentioned that high school students would go bowling together, and that “ice-skating was also a very big thing.”

Nowadays, students prefer concerts and movies to bowling and ice-skating, but has much else really changed?

According to most teachers, not much. “Not too much has changed. When I was in high school, teenagers still went out to the movies.

And they still awkwardly asked each other to prom,” Ms. Wilson commented. Gabe Trevor, junior, holds the same opinion: “People like to idolize the past. But really, it’s the same as it’s always been.”

Others, such as Dimitra Xenopoulu, senior, disagreed. “Dating was probably much simpler twenty years ago because there weren’t social media sites to interfere with your relationship.

Being in a committed, long-term relationship is a lot more difficult now, because there are problems that can arise from the social networks.” Mr. Gold, after pondering for a moment, also noticed a few key differences. “I don’t remember any long-distance relationships in high school. I also didn’t have a cell phone at all, so I think that was probably a major change.” As an after-note, he added, “I hear the word ‘love’ a lot more now.”

New, innovative technologies – as well as a general openness towards feelings and sexuality – have indeed changed a lot about relationships

since the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Not only can students now explore their sexualities without being shunned by society, but long-distance relationships can also exist with the astounding array of communication and transportation options. Many teachers agreed that technology has definitely changed teen dating, a least a little. Ms. Martin was particularly baffled by the communication methods of high schoolers: “The idea that texting or Facebook-ing is like having a quality conversation with somebody – to me, that’s bizarre. So much stuff can get misinterpreted online.” Mr. Sclafani agreed: “I really don’t like the endless text messaging.

If you’re in English and your boyfriend’s in history, and you’re texting each other every two minutes, then that disrupts the learning environment a lot. When I was a kid, you had to be way more focused. Nowadays, personal communication has gone out the window. When you’re talking to someone over Facebook, Twitter, or something, you never know if they’re telling the truth. And I think people just don’t know each other as well as they as they used too.

The world isn’t as personal anymore.”

Danielle Benesch, a freshman, suggested another difference between the generations.

“It’s a lot more acceptable to not be in a labeled relationship. It was more one or the other back then.” Perhaps, but our generation does obsess over making something “Facebook official” – the ultimate label.

When it all comes down to the basics, however, I don’t think much has changed about high school relationships. Teenagers still meet, go out, and then eventually, get into some fight and break up. And that will probably never change.

High School Love: What Do Our Teachers Think?

Jake Callahan and Maverick Lin

Ms. Wilson characterized the high school institution with a love for teen hearthrob, Justin Bieber.

Mr. Nobles could not keep down his lunch at the thought of teenagers dating in high school.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, JANUARY 2013

Have you ever wondered what teachers think when they see their students flirting? As Valentine’s Day approaches, The Fling wanted to get everyone into the spirit of the holiday.

If you’re looking for some advice to get that “special someone” this Valentine’s Day, this is the article for you. In fact, we have advice from the most experienced people in the building: the teachers. The Fling asked several teachers a simple question, “If someone came up to you and asked you for love advice, what would you say?”

The famous history teacher, Ms. Martin, said, “Make sure it does not end up on Facebook.”

She then went on to tell a story of a friend who was ridiculed on Facebook for their relationship pictures. Meanwhile, Ms. Barca responded, “Keep in mind that you have the rest of your life ahead of you, and love shows up in mysterious ways.”

One science teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, replied simply “Girls: College first. Boys: Stay home.” (This seems a bit harsh doesn’t it?) Another science teacher, who also requested to remain anonymous, said “Choose someone that respects you and sees it as a learning experience.” Says Ms. Marionni, “If it doesn’t work out, someday, you will look back on it and laugh.”

The PE teacher and boys basketball coach, Mr. Nobles, advised students that they are “…too young to be in a relationship – don’t do it.” Vice Principal Mrs. Price also said, “The other person should exceed or meet the level of your efforts; if they don’t, it’s not worth your time.”

Mr. Ruck shared his beliefs as well, stating, “No one in high school should be going out for more than 3 months; if you absolutely have to, 6 months, but then end it. Dating is for college.”

Señor Esteban agreed saying, “Students need to learn to love themselves a little bit more before

they go somewhere else.”

Ms. Finklin shared a short, but worthy piece of advice: “Be true to yourself.” Mr. Williams advised students to, “Enter with your eyes open and protect your heart.”

Mr. Sclafani shared the combined wisdom of a parent and teacher. “I think high school romance is a good thing, but I hate seeing the way kids want to grow up too fast. But in general, when you’re dating someone, you learn a lot about yourself and the same or opposite sex, and you’ll have a learning experience 99.9% of the time. But high school kids shouldn’t just date one person, because I think it’s important to branch out a little and gain some perspective. That’s what college is all about.”

Mrs. Maher shared a personal story before giving advice, “Since I married my high school sweetheart, first love can turn into true love.” In contrast, the highly anticipated response from Mr. Harper was, “My divorce was the happiest day of my life.”

Finally, Mr. Gold gave his nugget of wisdom in response to the question (note: Mr. Gold is getting married over the summer), “Sometimes when you’re sitting down, enjoying a meal, you say, ‘I could eat this everyday.’ In reality, you would get tired of it eventually. Love is the meal you can eat everyday.”

Overall, a majority of the teachers that were asked said high school relationships are not necessary and students have plenty of time in the future for love. The authors of this article would now like to give you some advice of their own: “Be prudent when searching for true love, but when true love is found, be prudent.”

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FEATURE New Year + Resolution = New You? Tia Wangli and Amita Shukla

As the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, some of us scramble to write down our resolutions while others choose to party the night away (or just scurry under the covers to sleep). The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to start fresh. Some students are eager for this opportunity but some students seem to have gotten a little lazy. We’re sharing some of their answers with you, but to preserve their dignity, we’ll just refer to them by initials.

Quite a few students decided that New Year’s resolutions weren’t worth the trouble. What really made us laugh though, were some of the reasons why they weren’t worth it. From S.K. and H.S. we got pretty common answers—all their past resolutions were failures, so they didn’t see the point in trying again. Another student, T.L., told us it was futile and never really bothered to make one. In the midst of all these common answers, one stood out from the others. D.S. told us there was no point in making a resolution since she was already living life to the fullest. Not to mention that she was okay with pretty much everything. Who needs a new year for a new chance if you already have it all?

On the other hand, some of us at HPHS did make resolutions. Many of the resolutions were pretty standard: to study harder, to be nicer… R.M. tried to be nicer, but it lasted “about five minutes.” Many, including H.B., and N.R. wanted to exercise more.

Certain students got really creative: One person, who wishes to remain anonymous, wants to “turn off her mancharming abilities.” Guys, we’re sure you appreciate her efforts.

V.L.’s resolution is to stop procrastinating.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t gotten around to it yet. And M.H. would like to learn piano and guitar. We were most

impressed by R.L.’s lofty dreams, though.

The Highland Fling (HF): Do you have a New Year’s resolution?

RL: YES! I want to become a leader in clubs, and make a change!

HF: What kind of a change…?

RL: I want to unite the school, and make everyone think I’m fabulous. I’ll talk to more people, use my intuition, my extroversion, and my strong feelings. Everyone will be impressed.

HF: Anything else?

RL: I want to have good, stable grades, starting immediately and lasting until I get into a good college.

Good luck R.L., and all of you who aspire to change for the better this year. Here are some tips on how to actually keep your resolution. First, before you even start on your resolution, make sure you know what you really want. Be specific and make a plan. However, keep in mind that you don’t want too many resolutions. Now that you’ve got your resolution done, constantly remind yourself of it. Write them down in a place where you can constantly see them and tell some supportive people about your resolution so they can also help remind you.

Finally, remember that it’s fine if you accidentally break your resolution. We’re all human (hopefully) and none of us are perfect. Just get back on track and reward yourself every time you are a step closer to your goal.

We definitely all have things to improve in our lives, no matter what certain people say. Some of us take New Year’s as an excuse to try and work them out. But ‘try’ appears to be the operative word, since many people give up at the first obstacle. Oh well, better luck in 2014?

Senior Joe Kallman wants to improve his basketball skills.

Blast from the Past The following article was published in The Highland Fling’s 1985 magazine to commemorate the centennial of Highland Park education. This blurb debunks the age-old story that the Albadome, the majestic, newly-refurbished icon of HPHS, was chosen over a swimming pool.

This Valentines’ Day, Buy a Candygram from Student Congress!

Pay $2.50, and your friend, peer, or significant other will receive a rose and chocolates!

JANUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

8

FEATURE

#MustFollo

@Osca

Twitter is revolutionary—in more ways than one. I have been through some really good experiences, some really bad experiences, and some plain old weird experiences on Twitter.

Before joining, I did not really know what to expect; Twitter had been characterized as this vapid, frivolous, stupid website where people posted vapid, frivolous, stupid garbage. It was where people went to tweet stuff like “It’s raining. #rain” and “Eating some crackers. #ritz” (to be fair, those are my tweets). But after joining, I have fully realized the importance and significance of Twitter. In addition to learning about what my classmates have eaten for lunch, I have also firsthand learned of Osama Bin Laden’s death, Barack Obama’s reelection, and Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s baby, among other important news, through Twitter. I have even been in some Twitter fights with celebrities— namely Retta Sirleaf (@unfoRETTAble), who plays Donna from Parks and Recreation! In short, it has been a crazy ride, this Twitter business. In no particular order, below is a list of some particularly notable tweeters (from Highland Park and the broader world) who have enlightened my Twitter feed: Oscar Lee, Junior (@OscarL33) We can’t have a real list without some shameless self-promotion, can we?

My Twitter Philosophy: “I tweet (and retweet) a relevant concoction of politics, culture, and all things “Oscar”—whatever that means. Twitter is a place for me to share cool articles and be a moody teenager. It is where I talk to strangers about Big Brother and live tweet my favorite television programs (Be warned: I yell in all caps during Homeland). Twitter connects me to the world.”

Lara Perez-Curran, Sophomore (@laraperezcurran) Her Twitter philosophy: “I don’t really think Twitter is about keeping up with people, but more about expressing your own thoughts.”

Nancy Grace (@NancyGraceHLN) Want to see the most ridiculous hashtags? Follow Nancy Grace.

You won’t be disappointed.

Allison Harvard (@alliharvard) The only good thing to come out of America’s Next Top Model: Allison Harvard—the girl with the weird eyes. Well, her weirdness extends far beyond her pupils to her tweets as well.

Ariel Gluek, Senior (@sushiariely) Her Twitter Philosophy: “Twitter is basically my mini-diary. I write whatever I’m thinking or feeling. The stuff I tweet ranges anywhere from teenage angst to song lyrics to complaints about schoolwork to things I think are funny. I like Twitter because I can go through my tweets and see what had been going on in my head at any moment in time. It is a little mini history book of my life. I used to make fun of Twitter. Now I don’t know what I would do without it... I’d probably go back to actually writing things down with a pen and paper.”

Trevor Packer (@AP_Trevor) For all you overachievers, Mr. Packer is a true “must follow” tweeter. As the head of the Advanced Placement program for the College Board, he is the true authority on all things AP. In addition to being the first source of a lot of information regarding those tests, he also responds to any questions people tweet at him.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, JANUARY 2013

9

FEATURE

owTwitters

arL33

Nathan Kjer, Senior (@NathanKjer) His Twitter Philosophy: “Twitter is a social network that emphasizes publicity over privacy, and simplicity over flexibility.

It is different from Facebook in that it cares less about your identity and more about the content and the influence you have over your followers. It features ‘tweets’ with a 140 character limit that encourages a ‘to the point’ writing style that allows a feed to fit more posts on it. It also features hyperlinked hashtags that allow greater content discovery, much like Instagram. Twitter has a vastly different culture from Facebook. There are people following tens of thousands of users just to get more followers, and substantially more spam and parody accounts as a result of less identity checks. It is better for news discovery with its trending tweets feature, and is a good way to connect with celebrities. Tweets are posted more often than Facebook posts as there are far fewer inhibitions about because of the character limit.

It is for these reasons that Twitter is different from Facebook, and you should get one to post thousands of witty thoughts and observations.”

Zoe Temple, Junior (@z_tempz) Her Twitter Philosophy: “I tweet because I’m lonely and have no one to tell my random thoughts to. Usually, I tweet first thing in the morning about my daily wakeup struggles. After that, I tweet obscure music references and the inner philosophical thoughts of the average confused teenager.”

David Siegel, Junior (@d_Siegs) His Twitter Philosophy: “I don’t really aim for anything in particular with my Twitter. I just kind of write what comes to my mind at any specific point in time.”

Cher (@cher) Cher is your crazy aunt who just joined Twitter. She encapsulates the baby boomer bewilderment with social media and it is hilarious.

Kim Kierkegaardashian (@KimKierkegaard) Twitter has give birth to a wide assortment of parody accounts, many of varying quality. This is one of the best ones, a combination of the existential musings of the Danish Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and the banal thoughts of Reality Star and Entrepreneur Kim Kardashian. The result is brilliance—err, half brilliance.

Gabe Trevor, Junior (@trevgabe) His Twitter Philosophy: “Tweets have replaced Facebook status updates for me. I enjoy the format much more. The character limit means tweets are more disposable; if you post a dumb one, people just ignore it—that’s how it works. On Facebook, people feel entitled to comment on everything. Because everything people do on Twitter shows up on their profiles, people are less included to make useless comments. That means when people do tweet, what they say is generally pretty constructive. For the most part, I tweet what I want and retweet funny tweets or articles I find interesting.”

Twitter is definitely not the trivial dumping ground of people’s banal lives. That’s Facebook. Twitter starts revolutions and breaks news. Do not be fooled by its seemingly stupid exterior as Twitter’s value depends on whom you follow. You are whom you retweet.

JANUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

10

OPINION Random Acts of Kindness

Competing for Compliments

Zoe Temple

One of your Facebook Friends

Above: junior Rebecca Klee brightens the day of junior Liz Murphy with a compliment.

Above: senior Angelo Odato watches, left out, as Ehren Whitfield compliments Jacob Ervin.

A random act of kindness can make someone’s day, from holding the door for a stranger to leaving a generous tip for your waiter or barista. In the modern age, we’re coming up with new ways to make someone smile, including the new “Compliments” Facebook pages sweeping the nation, which recently landed in Highland Park. Created by an anonymous user at the start of Winter Break, HP Compliments allows Facebookers to pass along a few nice words to another student in town without signing their name.

This self-titled “social project” aims to spread happiness throughout the community.The page has already affected students. Everyone from eighth graders to seniors has been sending and receiving compliments.

HP Compliments could not have come at a better time – right before the holidays, spreading joy and cheer around town. But the best part is that the joy and cheer continues well into the New Year, proving that Highland Parkers not only compliment to get into the holiday spirit, but also to spread good feelings for the sake of being kind. As Ian MacLaren, a Scottish author, said, “Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

We all have bad days, especially during these rocky teenage years.

Sometimes all we need is a compliment or a few words of encouragement to turn our day around and keep us going.

In our daily lives, we rarely stop to appreciate others. Whether from embarrassment or a life that is too

busy, so many good things remain unsaid. That girl who always offers you help in class, or the boy who tells the best jokes – it’s easy to let the situation to tell them, “Thank you so much,” pass you by. Instead, we find ourselves surrounded by so much negativity. Even teasingly, we all know jokes can hurt. And we all know someone with so many amazing qualities, but who has too many self-doubts to realize it. Highland Park Compliments solves all these problems: thank that girl, tell the boy that you love his jokes, enlighten someone as to how great you think he or she is, all without signing your name.

So, to the anonymous admin of Highland Park Compliments, I want to say thank you. Even a few words can make someone’s day, and it’s about time that Highland Park switches gears into the tight-knit, loving community I know it can be.

This page is just the beginning, the first tile in the long line of dominoes towards universal kindness and respect.

Above: senior Jessie Dominick is overwhelmed by the joy of the nice words of her fellow seniors, Anna Nedashivska and Jenna Johnson.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, JANUARY 2013

I, like the growing ranks of Highland Park (HP) Compliments’ Facebook “friends,” enjoy a genuine compliment as much as the next guy. But I can’t enjoy bearing witness to the competitive, sarcastic, puberty-coated display of compliments that many of my fellow “friends” create.

In an internet era of cyber-bullying, HP Compliments boasts of being, “a great way for people to really be nice and praise other people without telling them in person.” The idea came from a trend of “Compliments” pages across Facebook, and has gained the interest of many HPHS students. We all know that it is better to be nice than mean, but is anything in high school ever really that simple?

In a dialogue with The Fling, the anonymous admin of the page admits, “I do find it annoying when people message me obviously sarcastic, flippant comments. It is actually insanely annoying. I mean, do people think that they are being “funny” or “cool” or something? . . . I am not stupid. I can tell if you are being serious or not. I genuinely do not understand their rationale for behaving like that. The level of immaturity galls me.”

The admin reveals an uglier side of the compliment-submission process that most of us fail to consider.

Junior Gabe Trevor takes the issue of dishonesty further when he says, “I do think that whoever is running should learn how to read into sarcasm, and probably should understand the social makeup of our school a bit more. I know there have been some joke submissions which have been rejected, even though who they were directed to would have found them hilarious, but there have been some submissions which are very clearly errors or ill-intentioned jokes. . .” Gabe’s

concerns reflect the shortcomings of a highly esteemed admin, meant to “filter” the content that’s eventually published to a predominantly teenage audience.

Danielle Benesch, a freshman who’s received many compliments through HP Compliments says, “. . . [while] it [HP Compliments] obviously brings people up. . .I’m sure there are people that feel left out too because of it.” While the admin of HPC doesn’t view this as a “real negative,” Danielle accesses the most frightening irony of it all: many of the people who would benefit most from such compliments don’t receive them, and instead, the prettiest / sexiest / funniest / smartest/ awesomest of us all profit.

An anonymous contributor to The Fling even admits to a competitive view of the compliments. She admits that she’s compared her compliments with others’, and while this may seem strange to some readers, it’s not that uncommon; I’ve done it myself. A couple of HPC’s more competitive “friends” have even sent compliments about themselves for publication in an attempt to uphold a shallow sense of superiority. Is it fair that beneath these compliments lies a hidden framework of high school drama, popularity, prejudice, and superficiality that’s competitive rather than appreciative in nature?

After close inspection of Highland Park Compliments, I’ve concluded that the “social project” falls short of its aim, “to spread joy and happiness to the Highland Park Community.” That goal is too simple for a teenager to take on.

Above: Hajir Mohamed sits, left out of the compliment Helen Lee is giving Avantika Yellapantala.

11

OPINION NO LIE

OSCAR’S PICKS Oscar Lee

Eli Liebell-McLean

Behind the Conflict

It’s Complicated There’s this secretive organization.

It’s 94% Caucasian and 77% male, with a median age of 62. Only 14% of the membership is under 50. No, I am not describing Rupert Murdoch’s country club—rather, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Or, for those unfamiliar: the mysterious organization that purports to choose the best of the best, the crème de la crème, of cinema. But is that job appropriately assigned? This “club” did single out Crash as not just a “good” film, but the best film of 2004. Of course, its demographic makeup does not disqualify the Academy from making these decisions. After all, Roger Ebert is Caucasian, male, and 70 years old.

With age comes experience…right?

But wait! Membership in this selfdescribed “preeminent movie-related organization” is for life. As a result, the roster is composed of many people who have not worked on a film set in years. And yet their votes hold the same weight as Tilda Swinton’s. There is a very good reason the Oscars ignore daring or experimental pieces of work.

The membership is conservative, close-minded, and insular. There are rarely any surprises, with the Academy always falling for the routine, typical, middlebrow, conventional “Oscar bait.”

I am not going to act like the other Oscar and claim to be an authority.

To be frank, I have not watched many movies this year. The following list is comprised of films and performances I did happen to catch and enjoy.

Picture: Holy Motors Most films work merely as a story, as entertainment. Holy Motors is an experience, a roller coaster of a ride.

The film challenges the audience to derive its purpose, refusing to spoonfeed any meaning. It functions as a series of vignettes, yet gives off an odd sense of coherence that binds the narratives together. Holy Motors follows the journey of yet another

Oscar, this time a Monsieur Oscar, a literally transformational character who travels throughout the city of Paris in a limousine. His job involves donning an array of guises. And guises he dons.

At one point he kidnaps Eva Mendes.

Then, in a separate point, he returns home to his loving chimpanzee family.

This movie could have easily flown off the rails, but the masterful direction keeps the incoherence in check, even utilizing it to build its charm.

Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook I outlined Jennifer Lawrence’s brilliance in the previous issue of the Fling. Missed it? Heresy. Check my Tumblr (shameless plug) or just read here: “She holds up the film, even elevating it a bit, tearing her scenes apart, conjuring up a peculiar concoction of deep sorrow, shielded by a rigid, dour exterior. Lawrence lifts her character, written simply as a crutch Pat uses to get back on his feet, into the stratosphere. It is a striking, yet sensitive performance that will most likely earn Lawrence her first Academy Award. My only disappointment is that it will be in such a lackluster vehicle.”

Also, I’d liked to add that I was a fan of Jennifer Lawrence before The Hunger Games. (See: Winter’s Bone.)

Actor: Denis Lavant, Holy Motors An actor portrays actions, as the name might suggest. A performer depicts emotion. Denis Lavant is a performer. His flawless submersions into the various personas suggest his vast talents. Really, the entire movie functions as a showcase to his talents.

And talents he possesses.

Supporting Actor: Mitt Romney, 2012 Presidential Election Talk about transformations. This was a performance that spanned decades.

And people call Daniel Day-Lewis a method actor. Mitt Romney was able to

convince audience after audience that he actually had principles and a core!

Supporting Actress: Ann Dowd, Compliance Ann Dowd owned this movie. A thriller based on real events, Compliance explores the prickly psychological edges of control. She stars as a manager duped into abusing one of her employees because of a voice over a phone. Dowd masterfully expresses her character’s dual insecurity and wish for control, reflecting the tense, austere atmosphere of the film. Because of Compliance’s difficult subject matter, it failed to generate a profit and its studio, Magnolia Pictures, refused to send out screeners to Academy voters. Ann Dowd had to collect $13,000 to fund her own campaign, but to no avail. The Academy ignored her career-making, monumental achievement.

We as a society need to stop ascribing so much value to these awards and honors. Especially in entertainment, they are not at all reflective of the vibrant, expansive art being created today. I am mad that the Oscars even make me mad.

They shouldn’t even matter! Judging anything is an inherently subjective task. Some things are unequivocally bad (like The Script), while other stuff is undeniably exquisite (like Fiona Apple’s entire discography). But most fall between the two ends. The films and performances I listed may or may not be the best of the year. That is up to you to decide. Start thinking for yourself and not just parroting what the media or other people say is cool or lame or good or bad. Think for yourself.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most hotly debated issues in the world. However, I don’t believe that the majority of students in HPHS who are interested in the topic really understand the context, and instead focus merely on the current issues (which have been discussed recently in the Model UN-run simulation of the Iranian ‘missile crisis’), and so I wanted to sum up briefly the reasons for conflict.

Following the widespread violence against Jews in largely anti-Semitic Europe, especially around the time of the Holocaust, many Jews fled to Palestine to start fresh in a haven from genocide, inspired in part by the Zionist movement to resettle Israel. At this point, the British controlled the area of Palestine through a mandate which was met with hostility from most non-Jewish Palestinians in the area of the mandate. In 1947, the United Nations recommended that the area, which the British sought to end control over, be partitioned into three areas: a Jewish state, an Arab State, and a separate city state for Jerusalem. This was much contested because of Jerusalem’s significance to both Judaism and Islam; this partition would have awarded the Jewish population the majority of the land. To the Palestinians who lived in the areas that were to be given to the Jews, the partition meant giving up their land to the Jews, and resentment against the Jews, who had accepted the terms of partition, grew.

War broke out between the Palestinians and the Jews in 1947, and during this war the boundaries of Jewish Israel grew significantly, to 78 percent of the area despite the intervention by surrounding nations on behalf of the Palestinians. During this time more than 700,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes; barred from returning to their lands, these outcasts formed large refugee communities and there are still many Palestinian refugees living in camps because they are prevented from returning to their homes. Those Palestinians who live inside Israel are to this day discriminated against and considered second-class citizens, while those who have been exiled are not permitted to return. This flies in the face of the United Nations, which has released several resolutions calling for repatriation of these exiles, and goes against United Nations Resolution 194 which stipulated that Israel allow the return of refugees and compensation for their losses. The Jewish nation remains to this day a heavily militarized state, although in this case there are certainly mitigating circumstances. Israel, in response to the belligerent attitude of many of its neighbors including Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon, maintains a powerful army which is backed by the United States.

Israel is a Jewish nation, the only Jewish nation in the world, and for this reason it has held overwhelming support by Jews across the world. I certainly believe that a Jewish state is important, especially when considering the level of hardship that the Jews have endured not only in the Holocaust but all across Europe for hundreds of years. However the current Israel doesn’t properly represent those ideals. Israel has evolved from a plucky state trying to provide refuge and a new start to a nation which actively oppresses certain citizens and is ‘forced’ to adopt an extremely belligerent foreign policy. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been accused by former members of the government of using scare tactics and hawkish politics to ensure a lasting legacy.

In fact, the ex-Director of Mossad, the national intelligence agency of Israel, Meir Dagan, called Netanyahu’s urgings for a pre-emptive strike on Iran “a stupid idea,” indicating that it would only lead to conflict without any decisive advantage.

While I agree with the concept of a Jewish state and acknowledge the historical threats to Israel’s existence, Israel’s long-lasting policies of aggression towards Palestinians and Netanyahu’s belligerency towards foreign politics are not at all beneficial for the continued existence of a reputable Jewish state.

JANUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Playlist: Valentines Day Survival Kit

Taking Art to the Next Level Tia Wangli and Amita Shukla

Arts High School, often shortened to AHS, is an out of school, collegelevel art program that lasts for a total of fourteen weeks. Every Tuesday afternoon, students leave school early and go to Middlesex County College, where they receive three hours of instruction in a chosen form of art; courses include writing, theater, photography, and classic visual art. This year, HPHS had a total of nine students who made it past auditions and are now attending classes, which began on January 15th.

Auditions were earlier in December, but students had been preparing long beforehand. For instance, all visual arts students were required to bring in a portfolio with ten works of art and an optional sketchbook, while photography students just had to bring in ten previous works. However, all auditions included crawling out of bed on a Sunday morning and attending a two-hour long workshop.

Reactions to the actual auditions were mixed...

Danielle Benesch, freshman, auditioned for theater-arts and poetry.

She remarked, “I think a lot of good people get rejected... I know a few that got in some years but not others. People shouldn’t give up because of an off day.” We have to agree. Auditions only last for two hours, so what will really makes a student stand out is how well they prepare beforehand and what they bring to the audition. For Danielle’s theater-arts audition, she needed to recite a previously memorized monologue and do improvisation exercises with others. The poetry audition included reading previous works and writing from prompts.

Auditions for Visual Arts and Visual Arts 3D both involved creating two art-pieces on-site. One was done with Sharpie marker while the second piece involved abstract art and creativity. Amit Miretzky, junior, commented, “The audition was fine, but your portfolio pieces count more than those you make on the spot.” One of the most important parts of any audition is the student’s pre-audition preparation, as Danielle’s statement illustrates.

Zach Tinawi, junior, also auditioned for two different art classes – Photography and Visual Arts. He says, “The audition for Visual Arts was unusual due to the nature of what they asked us to draw... it didn’t go as well as I would have liked it to. Photography, on the other

hand, had no work in the audition itself, so it was cool. Both auditions were very intimidating. Especially because I would see people who I thought were so much better than me, which lowered my confidence about getting in.” Despite his worries, Zach still made it into Photography.

An important factor to consider when applying to AHS is the program’s effects on academic classes. Students leave at 12:30 PM, which means that they miss their afternoon academic classes. In order to maintain good grades, those accepted need to be proactive and ask their teachers for the material they missed. In addition, they have to learn the material on their own time without the help of a teacher. Because AHS requires a certain standard of academic grades; using the course as an excuse to skip your homework is a no-go. Besides that, students also receive homework from their AHS teachers, which can take up to three hours. For those doing sports, AHS may be a hassle because it involves missing practices or games on a regular basis. Despite the effects of AHS on academics and after-school activities, it is still worth it for those who are passionate about art and wish to earn college credits for taking the course.

Many Highland Park students who currently attend Arts High School plan to audition again next year and would suggest it to their friends. Yet, it should be noted that those who are more interested in the technical aspects of art might prefer taking lessons. As Amit puts it, “I’d recommend it to someone looking for a college art class experience, but if you want to develop your skills, I’d suggest enrolling in a studio...” However, AHS is great for those who want the college experience as well as the chance to meet new people.

Enrollment is over for the 2013 semester, but you can consider auditioning next year. According to one of this year’s students, “Arts High is perfect for making talents come to life.” You can see for yourself at the annual closing festival this May, where Above (from top to bottom): Senior Ariel Glueck, all students will showcase their works studying Theatre Arts, and junior Zach Tinawi, created in the 12-week program. studying Visual Arts.

This Year’s HPHS Participants: Ariel Glueck-Senior, Theater Arts II Amit Miretzky-Junior, Visual Arts Zach Tinawi-Junior, Art Photography Darcy Thompson-Sophomore- Film Making

Danielle Benesch-Freshman, Poetry Sendy Lin-Freshman, Visual Arts Anna Minakhina-Freshman, Visual Arts 3D Amita Shukla-Freshman, Visual Arts Tia Wangli-Freshman, Visual Arts 3D

Hannah Weaver

To many, Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark holiday filled with red roses, heart-shaped chocolates, and adoring love letters. The following songs reflect the optimism of February 14th and the happiness lovebirds feel towards their significant others.

Spin Me Around Patent Pending

Valentine Kina Grannis

Let’s look at the facts. HPHS has classes for digital photography, visual art, and creative writing digital photography class. So why, Highland Park High School students, are there so few people who have joined the Dead Center?

Flipping through a 1995 Dead Center Literary Magazine reveals thirty to forty people who were part of the club – now there are only around four or five who attend the weekly meetings.

Some HPHS students might be scratching their heads at the name of this publication. Yes, the Dead Center does exist. It is a group that meets every Thursday during lunch in room 205 and selects poetry, artwork, and photography to publish in the HPHS literary magazine that comes out once a year. The Dead Center also hosts monthly coffee houses in the Media Center, at which students can hang out with friends, read poetry to others, or take advantage of the openmic in some other way. There are many

reasons to join; not only is it a very small time commitment, but there are various activities you can partake in: editing poetry, picking out artwork, reviewing photography, or even managing the design.

In addition to all the above opportunities, the Dead Center is holding a poetry competition with the submissions it receives. The winner will receive a gift card from a vendor in town and bragging rights. If you want to get your work published in the literary magazine or participate in the poetry contest, submit your poetry and/ or artwork to either Ms. Gonzalez (room 205) or the submission boxes located in all Language Art classrooms. If you have photography, email it to reyesevette@ gmail.com.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, JANUARY 2013

Just the Way You Are Bruno Mars

Yet not everyone shares these loveydovey feelings towards Valentine’s Day. In fact, the holiday tends to put all single folks to shame; who could possibly walk down the pink-and-red aisle of a store during February without feeling lonely?These songs portray the bitterness some have towards love, whether it is caused by rejection, heartbreak, or loneliness.

Perfection Jesse Bonanno

I Don’t Believe in Love

We Are Trees

Over You We the Kings Forget You Cee Lo Green Don’t Want to Fall The Narrative

Night Like This The April Year

Love Love Love Avalanche City

The Dead Center Wants Your Art Elena Weissmann

Kiss Me Ed Sheeran

Above: previous Dead Center magazines, including one from 1984,

13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Classic Fairytale 2.0 Jana Choi

Fairytales are not as childfriendly as you would think.

In the Brothers Grimm tale of “Hansel and Gretel,” two small children are abandoned by their parents in the woods, captured by an evil witch, and almost baked in an oven for dinner. Snow White fares no better when her evil stepmother sends her into the woods to be killed because she is too beautiful. Even when she escapes and finds refuge with a group of grumpy, sleepy, dopey little men, the evil stepmother strikes again with a poisoned apple and Snow White narrowly escapes death. As for Little Red Riding Hood, a simple walk to her grandmother’s house quickly sours when the Big Bad Wolf gets in the way, swallows her grandmother, and has to be cut open before Little Red is once again safe. While these stories seemed enchanting as a child, their content and morals now appear a little twisted. Hansel and Gretel’s parents didn’t love them, Snow White nearly died for her good looks, and Little Red Riding Hood taught us that going to Grandma’s is

dangerous.

The recent work of Hollywood has made these children’s tales even darker and more suspenseful. The first of the fairy-tale remakes was Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010), which succeeded in breathing life into the older version by bringing Alice back to Wonderland, years after her initial visit. Red Riding Hood (2011), starring Amanda Seyfried, another successful venture, was well casted and well written, focusing on the hidden identity of the town’s resident werewolf to achieve anticipation in the plot.

However, some producers have let plot quality fall to the wayside in favor of overdramatic, meaningless, scenes and sexualized characters.

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), starring Kristen Stewart, features a snippet of the evil Queen undressing and completely submerging herself in a bath of what appears to be milk and another of the queen’s brother sexually harassing Snow White – all for no reason, whatsoever. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, coming out this

year, uses Matrix-like costume designs and the adventurous allure of bounty hunters to draw audiences in. Perhaps flashy imagery is what American movie goers are most responsive to, but it certainly does not make a good film.

In the coming year, many fairy-tale remakes are slated for release, and many more have release dates still to be decided. Familiar titles like “The Wizard of Oz”, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, and “Sleeping Beauty” are soon to be morphed into movies laced with adult themes. Dorothy of Oz, Jack the Giant Slayer, and Oz the Great and Powerful are just a few of the films expected to be released in 2013. Hopefully the integrity of these enchanting tall-tales will be retained, because the end of this fad is not in the near future.

Right (from top to bottom): Gemma Arterton as Gretel and Jeremy Renner as Hansel; Kristen Stewart as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman, and Charlize Theron as the jealous queen.

The Apocalypse: An Obsession Xuewei Ouyang

If the endless claims of the arriving apocalypse in the news are not evidence enough, then the sudden onslaught of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic movies amply confirms our obsession with the demise of the world as we know it. Although our society has always enjoyed the eerily foreboding fear that doomsday movies create, the obsession with the apocalypse has made a comeback with the recent surge of apocalyptic movies. Current issues, such as global warming-induced natural catastrophes, nuclear war, alien invasions, deadly pandemics, and cosmic influences all have made appearances. At the movies, however, as you sit through preview after preview of apocalypse and post-apocalypse movies, a question comes to mind. Why are we so infatuated with the idea of the end of mankind?

Perhaps the developed world has advanced to the point that the issues of the world, war and third-world poverty, are simply insufficient “excitement” and we feel the need to invent farfetched claims of impending doom. In other words, perhaps we’re bored with our toocomfortable lives. The suffering

of those in poverty and warstricken areas should not be trivialized, but, in comparison to past centuries, the 21st century is a relatively peaceful time. As civilians, swept up by the rush of modern-day life, retreat into their bubbles of safety, the only clear, possible threat is the end of the world, an event that does not distinguish between the poor and the rich.

Professor Richard Miller, who teaches a class at Rutgers University on the obsession with the apocalypse, disagrees.

According to him, the problems in the world today are “problems that are global in dimension and thus cannot, by definition, be solved by any single nation or coalition of nations.“ As a result, we deal with these uncontrollable issues by “Imagining the threat before us as a zombie uprising makes the problem manageable again: all one can do with a zombie is kill it. Fantasies about the Rapture and dreams of some Final Judgment that separates the good from the evil provide simple reassurance in the face of problems that are unfathomably complex.”

Another explanation could involve the lack of original topics in Hollywood. In the past, horror movies, even ones with fake effects, could thoroughly scare the pants off

of any average person. Now, however, ghosts and monsters popping out from under the bed produce more yawns than screams. Directors must look everywhere for inspiration for a decent adrenaline-pumping movie, even fairytales or the apocalypse. If Hollywood has resorted to grim, adult remakes of fairytales like Snow White and Hansel and Gretel, clearly, the ideas are starting to run out. The quintessential apocalyptic movie will most likely always fare decently in box offices, which may explain the inevitable return to doomsday plots during a dry period.

Does our apocalyptic obsession stem from societal trends or a lack of movie ideas? Maybe both. The apocalypse is not a novel idea. The Biblical story of Noah’s Ark is evidence of that. Humans have always worried about their demise. Add that to the exponential rate of technological advancement and the scarcity of original movie topics in Hollywood, and voila!

A slew of apocalyptic and postapocalyptic movies. We may have survived December 21, 2012, but doomsday predictions will not disappear; the trend in movies continues to remind us of our own mortality and fragile settlement on Earth.

Above (from top to bottom): Tom Cruise in Oblivion; Jaden Smith in After Earth

It’s Testing Season!

But don’t stress - visit the Prep Book Drive in the HPHS Media Center New and Old Books, from $3 to $8

All Proceeds Benefit Global Awareness Group’s Fundraiser for Room to Read

JANUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Old Story, New Genre Aedan Gunnar Bell and Ariel Glueck

Many assume that, since a walking, cannabilistic corpse falls in love with a girl, Warm Bodies must be the new, gorier Twilight. But it is so much more.

Warm Bodies takes the rejuvenated zombie film and infuses it with a story of forbidden love older than Romeo and Juliet – ironic, because the movie is an analogy for the story of the Montagues and the Capulets. The movie is set eight years into the zombie apocalypse and follows the intertwining stories of an undead flesh-eater and a teenage girl. After they meet in a gruesome attack on the survivors, the audience sees an unlikely relationship build between two opposing sides begin to flourish. As zombie fanatics, we loved this movie for its horror, humor, and truth to the zombie genre, but it had a twist which made the movie appealing to all kinds of demographics. It was a bit short (97 min) and cliché, but just like the divine creation of Nutella and peanut butter (hold the bread), Warm Bodies combines two unique styles into a delectable classic.

Whether you are a zombie nut with a zombie-like intent on seeing any zombie movie good or bad, or someone with taste, Warm Bodies appeals to every audience.

Right: Aedan Bell depicts, in his cartoon, the unlikely love felt by the undead in Warm Bodies.

STUDENT ARTWORK Sarah Rozaidi

CORRECTIONS A Sports article in the December issue entitled “Putting Down the Football Helmet: Coach McGlynn Returns to the Basketball Court” lacked a byline. The article was written

by Olivia Draper.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, JANUARY 2013

The Fling would like to issue an apology to biology teacher Mr. Kruger. In the December issue of the paper, the staff of The Fling published a cartoon featuring Mr. Kruger without his explicit permission.

The caption for the December article entitled, “An Unexpected Disappointment,” incorrectly listed the cast members of The Hobbit as Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, the stars of Silver Linings Playbook.

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SPORTS High School Sports: The Building Blocks of a Professional Career Olivia Draper

Gossip about professional athletes flows through HPHS on a daily basis. .

Whether it be basketball star Kobe Bryant, tennis sensation Novak Djokovic, or soccer legend Lionel Messi, the amount of knowledge students possess about a variety of athletes is truly remarkable.

However, the similarities between many of our school’s athletes and professional athletes remain unrecognized. Hidden behind the title of a “high school athlete” are genuine players filled from head to toe with expanding determination, potential, and love for their sport. Similar to many professional athletes competing in their own leagues, Highland Park athletes continually transcend the expectations of a high school sports career.

Scotland Native Andy Murray currently holds third place among the ranks of the best tennis players in the world. Murray holds as many singles titles as his 25 years of age. This is not to mention that Murray continues to breeze through most of his Grand Slam (the four most important tennis tournaments of the year) matches, winning his first slam at the U.S. Open last summer and cruising through the Australian Open. With similarities ranging from techniques to statistics, Highland Park’s own tennis sensation, sophomore Maverick Lin, could very well be following in the footsteps of this extraordinary Brit.

Fifteen-year-old Maverick Lin began his tennis career only five years ago, yet the achievements he continues to reach are never slight of amazing. While competing in both sectional and national matches, this sophomore’s highest

national ranking was an astounding 25th place. Lin’s determination as well as his passion for tennis is unmistakably shown in his records and statistics; last season, as a freshman playing on the varsity tennis team, Lin concluded the season with a record of 19-2 (19 wins and two losses), sparking HPHS’s own wave of “Linsanity.” He also ended his out-ofschool season with an impressive record of 48-20. Many of these achievements are reached by simple techniques Lin uses in every match. Similar to professional tennis player Andy Murray, Lin has a strong right hand, which provides him with a near perfect aim and a powerful force to the ball. Being such a significant part of the team, Lin frequently expresses his appreciation of the atmosphere of tennis season. Under the significant influence of Coach Stark and his teammates, Lin’s talent and enthusiasm are flourishing.

Stepping off of the tennis court and on to the soccer field hides another unknown star – Senior Jessie Dominick.

Playing Varsity soccer all four years of high school, Jessie Dominick recently broke the town record for total number of assists. Like professional soccer player Marta Vieira Da Silva, commonly known as Marta, Dominick played a crucial role in the girls’ high school soccer team’s unbreakable midfield lineup. Marta, the 26-year old-Brazilian superstar, has won Player of the Year five consecutive times, and has also received silver medals for the Brazilian women’s national team in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. However, straying away from the glory of the titles, Dominick’s record proves to be just as impressive as Marta’s. Not only do these

Above (from left to right): sophomore Maverick Lin shows off his guns; senior Jessie Dominick juggling like Marta.

two female athletes share similarities in height and body structure; their tactics and techniques that they consistently use are very alike as well. Like Marta, Dominick excels in crossing the ball and assisting her teammates while attacking the opposing goal. Dominick’s number

of assists for her high school soccer career reaches an impressive total of 36. Dominick has scored 21 goals for the girls’ team and received her first AllDivision award her senior year.

Girl Power: Wrestling Edition Annie McCrone

Most of the student body will remember the pre-Winter Break holiday concert: the musical performances, the sports teams introductions... As the wrestling team lined up, with Mr. Girvan reading out the names of the participants, everyone’s eyes were drawn toward one person. Standing tall and proud, amid the boy wrestlers, was freshman Rachel Guerrero.

Rachel, the only girl on the wrestling team, told The Fling, “One reason I joined wrestling is so that I can prove to myself and everyone else that a girl can do anything she puts her mind to.”

With this one statement, Rachel ignores high school conventions and argues that girls should be given the same opportunities, and should be allowed to participate in sports if there are no girls’ teams. Another reason why Rachel says she joined wrestling was to follow her family;’s tradition: everyone in her family wrestles, and she was not going

to be any different.

While most people would agree that girls should be allowed to join the wrestling team, those same people might act differently when it actually happens. I asked Rachel about the support she gets from her team members. She responded, “I honestly thought it would be completely awkward when I was there, but you know, it’s pretty comfortable.”

She also says that she likes all of her teammates for the support that they give her. She comments though that, “The biggest support of all is my brother, Sam.” If you remember, Mr. Girvan had said at the winter assembly that Rachel was not competing at the moment, but that he hoped she would soon. I asked Rachel about this and she said, “I would love to enjoy at least one match this year, but I can’t because my mother doesn’t want me to compete because she is scared of me getting hurt.” Still, Rachel attends the practices just like any other wrestler.

2013 Swimming GMCs

Will Callahan

Although seldom recognized, HPHS has a killer swim team. At this year’s GMCs, sophomore Lucas Irvine took first place in the 100-meter breast stroke; sophomore

Tomas Sanchez placed 18th and fellow sophomore Jake Callahan placed 19th in the 100-meter backstroke; senior Griffin Wood got a personal best in the 50-meter freestyle; freshmen Chris Nolan, Thomas Li, and Michael Wang swam well in the

100-meter breast stroke; junior Paolo Mesde placed 20th in the 100-meter fly. Freshman Mimi Wang was the only girl to compete for the HPHS team, and unfortunately, senior Will Callahan was not allowed to swim because of his

Even without the chance of competing, Rachel remains determined and positive, “It [wrestling] is actually helping my confidence.” Rachel also claims that committing to wrestling is actually helping with school, because she applies her sense of accomplishment that she feels after practices to school. She argues, “It helps with school because I know I can do anything I put my mind to.”

Rachel Guerrero works hard, just like the boys on the wrestling team. She stood tall with them at the winter concert; hopefully she’ll stay standing tall at meets soon too. Rachel is just like every other wrestler our school knows. She’s committed, hard-working, and willing to push herself to the limit. What sets her apart is that she’s a girl, and really, that shouldn’t mean anything.

fractured ankle, but HPHS still pulled off another underappreciated success at the Middlesex County championships.

JANUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING

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SPORTS PLAYER PROFILE Name: Freddy Cacace Grade: 12 Sport: Wrestling Yang Xu

Highland Fling (HF): How long have you been wrestling?

Freddy Cacace (FC): This is my third year wrestling. I had to miss sophomore year because of a shoulder injury and weakness.

HF: What do you enjoy most about wrestling?

FC: I love the high level of competition, the intensity, and the feeling of winning. It shows that the hard work you put in finally pays off and that it was worth it.

HF: What is your proudest achievement so far?

FC: There is a split between two moments in my career. One would be last year when I got fourth place at the district tournament.

The other would be beating an opponent from South River this year that beat me last year.

HF: How has wrestling affected your life?

FC: It has taught me so many things: to become tougher mentally, physically, and emotionally. It has also taught me to appreciate life more. It was a life changing decision and I have committed as much as I could to it.

Rutgers with teammates, did other sports to stay in shape, and competed in tournaments.

The more effort I put in, the more results I get out.

HF: How do you feel about the cutting weight aspect of wrestling? What are the biggest drops in weights you have witnessed?

FC: It starts off pretty badly, but we’re babies about it. You learn to get used to it. You just have to work hard and eat healthily and you won’t have to go through too big of a drop.

Before the season, I was 128 pounds and now I am 123 pounds. My personal record was dropping 6 pounds in 1 day. The biggest drop I have ever seen was someone dropping 11 pounds in 1 day.

HF: Are there certain music or songs that you listen to before wrestling?

FC: A lot of the guys on the team like the same things. For example, Eminem has aggressive lyrics, Dubstep or Techno has an upbeat tempo, and Johnny Cash has a slow tone and gets in your head. My personal favorite is “Cracks” by The Freestylers.

HF: How do you train for wrestling?

FC: It is important to keep wrestling, even during the off seasons. I wrestled in clubs at

Freddy Cacace and Mr. Girvan, the wrestling coach, intensely watching a match.

Dashing Through the Snow Sarah Cheng

On a cold December morning, the rhythmic steps of runners in the snow could be heard circling the Highland Park High School football field. These feet belonged to the members of the Garden State Track Club, persistently carrying on with their workout, despite the film of halfmelted snow covering the track. Incredibly, a few high school students were huffing and puffing amongst the adults. What are they doing there?

The answer is simple – they’re training with the other runners. The Garden State Track Club is a team of competitive runners who often use the high school track. For this reason they allow dedicated high school students to train with them. Since Highland Park High School has Cross Country in the fall and Track in the spring, many athletes want to stay in shape during the winter. This offers a great opportunity for those students to maintain their fitness during the off-season and train for the upcoming spring track. In addition, although

the high school does not offer winter track, the students who still wish to participate in the upcoming Winter GMCs and Sectionals use this as a way to prepare for the competition.

The current students involved in this club are seniors Sylvia Marks and Dan Siegel, juniors Joe Ambrosio, Lucas Marin, Grace Chong, Emmet Brennan and Elena Weissmann, and sophomore Becca Chant. They meet three times a week, on the high school track, rain or shine, snow or hail. Practices are every Monday and Wednesday at 5:30pm and Saturday at 10:00am. They focus on a variety of workouts and routines designed to help all different aspects of racing; some are for the finish, some for endurance, some for pacing, etc. According to one of the participants, “The workouts are pretty intense, especially for us high schoolers.”

Follow our track team come spring and see how their hard work pays off!

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

Above: the members of the Garden State Track Club on one cold morning.

The Highland Fling Staff

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, Annie McCrone

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

Come to our next meeting!

JANUARY 2013, THE HIGHLAND FLING