HIGHLAND
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New Toys This summer, Highland Park underwent much tweaking and construction to improve three of its facilties. This included a new stadium by the turf, complete with fenced bleachers, a new commentator’s box, and wheelchair-accessible ramps.
INSIDE NEWS The Supreme Court’s Summer p. 4 FEATURE Back-to-school Interviews p. 6 My Story: How does the U.S. look to a Bulgarian? p. 3 Club Spread p. 7 A&E A Disappointing Horror Film p. 3 SPORTS Euro Cup 2012 p. 8 Olympic Woes p. 8
My Story: A Site of Sorrow Sylvia Marks We’ve all heard of the Holocaust at some point in our school careers. We’ve all heard someone in our lives mention the atrocities the Nazis committed toward the Jews during Hitler’s reign in Germany during the 1930s and early ‘40s. And we’ve all definitely formed a picture in our mind of the horrors and the setting in which these crimes against humanity took place, whether by basing our visual off our own figments of imagination or pictures. However, despite the history lessons, memorials, movies, and imaginary terrors, I realized that one experiences a mental pain ten times more intense after physically standing in the grounds of Auschwitz. “Arbeit Macht Frei.” That terrible slogan is the first thing one sees upon entering Auschwitz. Work Sets You Free. Of course this was not the case for anybody who entered the camp, as most were gassed in the gas chambers immediately upon arrival, and others worked until they literally dropped dead from sickness, starvation, exhaustion, and abuse. However, from the looks of Auschwitz, one might not initially peg it as a place where so many terrible things happened… “…Propaganda,” the tour guide announced to my group. “That in these grassy plots were flower beds; that’s what they [the Nazis] showed on film to the German people to try to convince them that it was actually just ‘relocation’ and ‘isolation’ of the Jewish people—not slaughter.” I shuddered as we walked along the gravelly road up to one unit. Inside, I was confronted by display upon display: a huge pile of eyeglasses behind the glass, prosthetic limbs that Nazis would take away from victims for their own usage, kitchen supplies, hairbrushes…an array of objects that the people who entered Auschwitz and other concentration camps thought they would get back. I saw suitcases as well, all marked with beautiful and unique penmanship of adults and children who wanted to make sure their belongings that they were told to bring along would not become mixed with another’s. It was all terribly sad to see, but was nothing compared to the wave of emotion that hit me when the tour group entered a room full of human hair. Shaved off of everyone upon arrival, this marks one of the lowest points of human dignity. These people were no longer themselves; they were simply a body and a number. “No pictures in this room out of respect please.” The tour guide did not need to say this twice.
We left that building and entered another, this one known as the “prison” block. Throughout the hallway, pictures of victims and their names, arrival dates, and death dates, covered the walls. Karas Maier. Date of Arrival: February 1 1942. Date of Death: February 2 1942 said one framed picture. Eventually the Nazis trashed the process of photographing those who entered the camp because they exterminated such huge numbers of people every day that it became too difficult to keep track of which prisoners were still alive or dead. Next came the shooting wall. The gas chamber. The creamatorium. The silence in these places was tangible. Looking up into the hole at the top of the gas chamber in which the Nazis dumped two cans of Zyklon B for every “batch” of people was overwhelming. With heavy hearts and grim facial expressions, the tour group boarded a bus to be taken 100 meters down the road to Birkenau, the location of the infamous train tracks, the place the cattle cars entered holding overloads of prisoners, the place where any shred of hope was surrendered. A lump rose in my throat as I entered a wooden barracks. How could this place be real? I wondered. How could such a mass murder have happened in this beautiful countryside? Torn by bitter emotion and awe at the serene setting, I stared at a watch tower in the distance that lay against a serene background of mountains and trees and an azure sky.
A cattle car used to transport the Nazis’ enemies to and from Birkenau.
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NEWS CLIPS HIGHLAND PARK
U.S.
WORLD
HPHS Students Protest Policy 5516 On Tuesday, October 9th, a group of high school students attended the Board Meeting to protest the new electronics policy.
Vice Presidential Debate On Thursday, October 11th, Congressman Paul Ryan (Wisconsin) and Vice President Joe Biden met to debate their superiors’ platforms.
Radicalism Expands in France The French government has launched police raids aimed against young extremist Muslims in an attempt to quash radicalism.
Spirit Week Dates Changed Spirit Week was changed from the week of October 15-19th to October 22nd-26th. The Homecoming Dance is still on October 19th.
Tensions in Syria Escalate After months of civil war, the conflict in Syria has not abated. Violence between the rebels and government forces has spread and has affected many citizens.
Global Awareness Group Fundraises for Room to Read GAG has started its second fundraiser of the year, raising funds and awareness for Room to Read, which supports libraries and schools all over the world.
Israel Launches Airstrikes Following several rocket attacks from Gaza, Israel retaliated with airstrikes.
Board of Education Elections The last write-in ballots for the Highland Park Board of Ed were submitted the week of October 8th. The question of the three-candidate “slate” has sparked controversy throughout the town.
First Private-Owned Space Shuttles Launches On Sunday, October 7th, the first-ever private commercial cargo rocket took off for the International Space Station.
Hugo Chavez Wins New Term On October 8th, Chavez beat his competition to secure another term in Venezuela.
Senate Races Intensify Across the country, Senate races have heated up. In Massachusetts, Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren have debated several times. Their conflicting ideologies are evident.
Pew Poll Shows Romney Improving After his aggressive performance during the first presidential debate on Wednesday, October 3rd, Romney’s poll numbers have risen. Romney has already returned to Ohio to campaign with new vigor.
Middle School Puts Its Pinwheels Around Town HPMS has placed its oversized pinwheels around Highland Park in the past few weeks. A few can be seen along Main Street; others surround the turf.
Cloning Wins First Prize The Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was awarded to one English and one Japanese scientist for their work on regenerative medicine (otherwise known as cloning).
HPHS Remodels Auditorium...But Not in Time for School New seats soon to come; for now, the auditorium is filled with scaffolding.
China and Japan Continue Territorial Dispute The two eastern Asian countries are fighting over fishing rights on a tiny pensinsula off the coast of Eastern Asia. The Chinese call it Diaoyu; the Japanese call it Senkaku.
UPCOMING EVENTS HIGHLAND PARK GIRLS TENNIS HOME GAMES
THE REST OF THE WORLD
4 PM Donaldson Park
SPIRIT WEEK Dress up to help your class win! Oct. 22-26 HPHS
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Obama vs. Romney Tuesday, November 6
GIRLS SOCCER HOME GAMES Oct. 15 (6 PM), 16, 26 4 PM Turf
HOMECOMING DANCE First dance of the year to celebrate school spirit Oct. 19, 7:30-10:30 HS Cafeteria
SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE Romney vs. Obama in a town-hall meeting-style debate Tuesday, Oct. 16, 9-10:30 Hofstra University, NY
BOYS SOCCER HOME GAMES Oct. 10, 12, 15 4 PM Turf
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES Early Dismissals! Oct. 24 & 25 HPHS
Below, the empty auditorium of the University of Delaware - the site of the first presidential debate. Many hope that President Obama can improve from his lackluster performance on Oct. 3rd
HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME Support the Owls as they take on Cardinal McCarrick Oct. 26, 7 PM Turf
occer nto
PSAT Sophomores & juniors - prepare to prepare for the SAT! Sept. 10, 24; Oct. 8 HPHS CROSS COUNTRY HOME MEETS Oct. 13, 4 PM Donaldson Park THE HIGHLAND FLING, SEPTEMBER 2012
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FEATURE My Story: Nationalism Away from Home
STUDENT ARTWORK
Charlotte Finegold This July, I had the amazing opportunity to go to France for three weeks. I participated in a French immersion program in Nice, a beautiful port town right on the Mediterranean Coast, or the Côte d’Azur. During my stay, I lived with a host mother and other students from all over the world. To give you a taste, during my first week, there were nine of us in the spacious apartment: Jennifer from Washington D.C., Evana and Nikita from Macedonia, Blanca from Spain, Klara from the Czech Republic, and Bernou, Madeleine, and Wendella from Holland. Throughout the trip, we had almost complete independence, and were free to explore the city and even other countries as we wished. My last week was packed with outings to several other countries. On Monday, we took the train to Ventimiglia, Italy and grabbed some pizza for dinner. On Tuesday, we took the train to Monte Carlo, Monaco and explored for a few hours. On Wednesday, we all went to a beautiful beach nearby. There,
By Mao Ma
Contribute cartoons to The Fling! Contact thehighlandfling@gmail.com to find out more!
GAMES & PUZZLES Difficulty: Easy
Difficulty: Medium
Welcome Back to HPHS! ACROSS 1 Name of yearbook 6 Ruck’s full name 7 Principal 8 Number of languages taught
I met kids from a variety of European countries, including Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Slovakia, and Switzerland. As a result of my journey, I learned a lot of intriguing French history as well as more grammar, of course, but one of the most interesting things that I experienced was the European kids’ perceptions of Americans. One morning at breakfast, one of the Dutch girls said to me, “I thought that all Americans were stupid.” I couldn’t find a reply to her comment, simply because of how ridiculous she sounded. I’ve never been particularly patriotic, but I couldn’t help jumping to the defense of the U.S. It’s ludicrous to stereotype a country which is almost as big as all of continental Europe! Of course, there are stupid Americans, but there are also a great number of intelligent and creative Americans, a fact that is true in every country in the world. It was also interesting to see how different cultures used language. Most of the Europeans wanted to practice their English with me, which I was reluctant to do, since I had come to learn French. Others, possibly skeptical about my national background, barred me and other Americans from their conversations by talking amongst themselves in German, Serbian etc. Languages can be nostalgic as a reminder of person’s culture and home, but in a way, it can also exclude. This phenomenon helped me appreciate Highland Park, because the array of languages and cultures do not divide the student body; they diversify it.
DOWN 2 Highest level of math 3 Literary magazine 4 Mascot 5 Choir teacher 7 Cardinal and __________
Above, a church in Nice and St. Tropez - an island off the Mediterranean Coast.
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NO VACATION FOR SCOTUS Oscar Lee In six months, the entertainment industry has supplied us with a barrage of blockbusters: The Dark Knight, The Avengers, and The Hunger Games to name a few. The same could be said of the Supreme Court during its most recent term, with its docket full of controversial and buzzed-about cases.
CASE # 1: ARIZONA IMMIGRATION One of those contentious cases decided the fate of SB 1070, the notorious antiimmigration law - SB1070 - passed in Arizona this past year. The ACLU described the law as requiring “police to determine the immigration status of someone arrested or detained when there is ‘reasonable suspicion’ they are not in the U.S. legally.” Critics of the law argued that the law has a definite racial tinge, especially with the vague “reasonable suspicion” wording. As one reporter asked in a press conference to a flustered Jan Brewer (Governor of Arizona), “What exactly does an illegal immigrant look like?” However, backers maintained that the law was merely trying to enforce current law and was an example of states’ rights. The Supreme Court’s role in this was deciding if the law was constitutional or not. So…which side won? Well, neither side totally won, actually. In a 5-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the government had the power to block the law, but also preserved the police’s ability to check a person’s immigration status if “reasonable suspicion” existed. Make sure you do not look like an illegal immigrant, I guess.
A Hispanic man protests SB1070 in Arizona.
CASE # 2: PUNISHMENT OF JUVENILES The Supreme Court also heard arguments on a pair of cases directly affecting teenagers. The two cases, Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs, both deal with juveniles (in this context, people under 18) convicted of homicides when they were 14 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. In the former case, Evan Miller beat a neighbor and burned him to death by setting his trailer on fire. In the other case, Kuntrell Jackson attempted to rob a video store with two friends, killing the clerk in the process, although it was not Jackson who pulled the trigger. The main question was whether or not life in prison without the possibility of parole for juveniles was a violation of the eighth amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The issue of juveniles in criminal justice system has been hot since 2005, when the Court struck down the death penalty for juveniles, and in 2010, when the Court decided that juveniles could not be sentenced to life in prison without parole for non-homicidal cases. The Supreme Court continued the trend this year, striking down laws in 29 states that have mandatory life-without-parole sentences.
The Supreme Court is deciding the fate of juveniles like those above.
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CASE # 3: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION The Supreme Court will soon be deciding even more cases of Housewives-level dramatic proportions in the next term, including one concerning the fate of affirmative action in college admissions. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, affirmative action is basically the practice of race-conscious admissions. The case in question, Fisher v. Texas, is specifically about admissions in the University of Texas system, but may have far-reaching consequences. Private institutions might also feel the repercussions of the case, as they receive some federal money.
CASE # 4: OBAMACARE
Protestors in Washington connected affirmative action to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954.
The behemoth of the group was definitely the “Obamacare” case, The National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. One of the main parts of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), known as the Individual Mandate, stated that anyone who could afford healthcare but did not buy it would be penalized with a fine. Many argued that this meant that the government could make Americans buy anything—from Beanie Babies to broccoli. The Obama administration defended the Act, saying the government did have the power to make people buy, under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. As many already know, the Supreme Court essentially upheld the President’s health care law. One of the more surprising twists of the case was the fate of Commerce Clause argument. Four justices ruled Obamacare legal, four said it was not, and the tie-breaker justice, Chief Justice John Roberts, said Obamacare was constitutional—but not because of the Commerce Clause. He said the federal government could not force Americans to buy something, but could instead tax people for not being insured. To add even more drama to the case, Justice Roberts, who was originally appointed by President Bush and routinely voted with the conservative bloc, was reported to have switched his vote at the last minute, possibly because of increasing media criticism and pressure over the Court’s perceived conservative slant. Whatever the case, we are now able to stay on our parents’ health care plans until age 26! Hooray!
President Obama: “Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives are more secure because of this law.”
Facebook Status by HPHS alumnus Katy Napells-Mitchell: “GREAT DAY GREAT DAY Renewed Faith in the ability of SCOTUS to evaluate cases on the basis and merits of the law.”
Anti-Obamacare Tweets: “The United States of America as we know it is dead.” “I’m moving to Canada. Obviously, the United States doesn’t know what they are doing anymore. This used to be a great country.”
Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney: “Obamacare was bad policy yesterday; it’s bad policy today... Obamacare was bad law yesterday; it’s bad law today.”
Above, a pro-Obamacare protest before the Supreme Court upheld the law.
CASE # 5: GAY MARRIAGE Another issue that will likely show up is gay marriage, in the form of lawsuits concerning the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). According to the Human Rights Campaign, DOMA “purports to allow states to refuse to recognize valid civil marriages of same-sex couples” and “carves all same-sex couples, regardless of their marital status, out of all federal statutes, regulations, and rulings applicable to all other married people—thereby denying them over 1,100 federal benefits and protections.” Basically, even if a same-sex couple gets lawfully married in a state like New York, they will be ineligible for countless federal benefits that opposite-sex couples do get, because gay people are weird, not normal and would totally destroy the sacred institution of marriage. Stay tuned for that and more during the next episode—oops, term—of the Supreme Court this October.
A pro-gay rights protestor outside of the California State Building.
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The Return of the Dreaded Anticipated School Year HF: What is one thing you dread about this year and why?
Amy Wang The weather may seem like July, but the 2012-2013 school year has finally made its appearance! Are you excited to see your friends? Dismayed by the homework and classes? Missing the summer already? The
WC: Applying to colleges because of the anxiety and stress that comes with it. EM: I am totally dreading SATs and also some of the AP classes I’m taking. I hope everything goes well. DT: Harder classes... because they’re hard. TW: I’m dreading trying to find my way around the high school. I’m pretty sure that I’m going to get lost at some point.
Highland Fling (HF) sat down with various students to gauge their back-to-school feelings. HF: Are you excited for school to start? Senior Will Callahan (WC): No. Junior Emily Merino (EM): I know that on the day before school starts I will be excited because I’m going to see everyone again, but once I get to school, I know that I am going to miss summer. Sophomore Darcy Thompson (DT): No… not at all. Freshman Tia Wangli (TW): Yeah, because there are a lot of people I haven’t been able to see over the summer. Not only that, as freshmen, we get to go to a whole new building. Even though our high school and middle school are connected, it’s still interesting to have a change. HF: Okay…well what is one thing you’re definitely looking forward to and why? WC: Baseball season because this year, we have a lot of younger players and it will be
HF: Did you do anything fun this summer?
Clockwise from directly above: Emily Merino, Will Callahan, Darcy Thompson, and Tia Wangli awesome to see them improve and rebuild the baseball team after losing a lot of the team last year. EM: I’m looking forward to making new friends and finally having open lunch! DT: Better elective choices because they are more specialized. TW: I’m definitely looking forward to being able to see people from other grades in some of my classes.
WC: I went to Florida and visited Sea World and Disney World. EM: I went to Florida to visit my brother and sister. I haven’t seen them for two years so it was very nice spending time with them. We went to Disney World for a day so that I could see Belle from Beauty and the Beast. It was so awesome. DT: I shot some short films and documentaries. TW: I was able to go on a road trip to Maine and visit my friend in Boston. I’ve also had a few picnics with my friends. And, despite the heat, tennis practice has been fun too.
WC: AP Physics because last year I took regular physics and I enjoyed it very much. I’ve also found a passion for physics, which I’m excited to take further. EM: I’m looking forward to AP Bio and AP Lang because my teachers seem really cool. DT: Digital Photography because I really enjoy photography and filmmaking. TW: I have to say I’m looking forward to my electives the most since this time, unlike in middle school, they’re actually classes I really want to take. Hopefully this school year will go smoothly (for the most part) for everyone! Happy September!
HF: Which class are you most looking forward to attending and why?
Barnie Is for Babies, and Other Lessons I Learned from Kindergarteners Maddie Hehir This summer I spent seven weeks as a camp counselor working with children ranging from ages four to seven. And while this meant having to deal with many tears, timeouts, and trips to the bathroom, it also gave me a second chance to look at the world from a child’s point of view. By high school we have outgrown crying over a spilt juice box; we are put in detention instead of being put in timeout. Despite these differences, there are some lessons that we can learnor re-learn, rather- from kindergarteners. 1. Honesty: If there’s one thing that children aren’t afraid of, it’s being honest. Try asking a five- year-old what they think of your shirt- they’ll tell you exactly what they think and they won’t hold back. When children are having a conflict with a friend they will tell them exactly what they did and how it made them feel. They don’t text each other, they don’t ignore each other, they don’t “unfriend” each other when they’re angry. Instead, they simply state the truth. 2. Acceptance: When two children look at each other, they don’t see different colored skin, different hair, or different clothes – they just see a new friend. As we get older, it somehow gets easier to point out the differences between ourselves instead of our similarities. As high school students, we label and get labeled in order to be accepted. Although it might seem difficult at times to accept others for who they are, sans labels and judgments, we must remember how good it feels to be accepted for being ourselves. 3. Creativity: Children are able to look at a cardboard box and turn it into a rocket ship. They can take a chair and turn it into a queen’s throne. Children think outside the box. There is no reason for limiting ourselves once we become teenagers. We should not limit our ideas, our hopes, or our dreams. Maybe if we are able to think back to when macaroni and string was a cool fashion accessory, we would be able to think of a great essay topic or a game plan that will finally lead our team to victory. We should use our imaginations to our advantage. 4. Positivity: Have you ever heard a small child be sarcastic? Probably not. That’s because they’re not negative or passive-aggressive; children are just happy to be alive. Children wake up in the morning excited for the day ahead of them. High school-ers wake up in the morning and want to go back to sleep. Children spend their days looking for
THE HIGHLAND FLING, SEPTEMBER 2012
something to smile about. Try it; you’ll realize that it’s a lot more fun than looking for things to complain about. 5. Confidence: For little girls, there is no such thing as “bikini season.” When they are told they are going to the pool, they all put on their bathing suits - bikini, tan- kini, one piece (whatever their mom or dad bought them) - and go play. They don’t feel the need to diet, or worry about hiding belly fat, or getting tan. Children are comfortable in their own skin. They know who they are and they like it. As we grow older, we let other people decide how pretty we are
or if we’re in good shape and forget that confidence comes from within. Like children, we shouldn’t let others dictate the way we feel about ourselves. Take a moment today to try and get in touch with your inner five-year-old. You might learn something.
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The Club Index Charlotte Finegold and Xuewei Ouyang Meeting: No regular official meetings, but competitions are monthly. Talk to your math teacher for more information.
Band & Orchestra Purpose: Concert Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Orchestra, and the orchestra ensembles bring sweet music to whichever venue they attend. Concert Band and Orchestra are classes; the other groups are extra-curricular activities. Contact Mr. Colmon and Ms. Feng to fit them into your schedule! Advisor: Mr. Colmon & Ms. Feng Meeting: Jazz Band meets one evening a week. Other ensembles often rehearse during lunch. Breaded Fish Purpose: Breaded Fish is HPHS’s spectacular and amusing improvisation group. It is a place where fun is bountiful – the club plays improv and theater games, and occasionally graces the stage to play a game in front of and involving the HPHS community. Advisor: Ms. Lindsey Wilson, History teacher Meeting: Breaded Fish meets once a week during lunch, usually on Mondays. Contact Charlotte Finegold to find out more. Chess & Gaming Club Purpose: Whether you need an outlet for stress relief or just want to have some fun, this club is a fun way to engage in some friendly competition with your peers. Advisor: Mr. Roche, English teacher Meeting: Nothing has been set officially but this club typically meets once a week; talk to Mr. Roche for more information. Concert Choir and Master Singers Purpose: Love singing? Join Concert Choir! You will learn basic vocal technique and music theory while exploring various genres of choir music. For the dedicated singer, Master Singers, an advanced, auditioned vocal ensemble, is a great option for improving skills and exploring difficult music. For a challenging but exciting musical experience, audition for Master Singers! Advisor: Mr. Jung, Choir teacher Meeting: Concert Choir is an elective class. Master Singers rehearsals, which count towards attendance and grades for the class, take place on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. For auditions and more info, contact Mr. Jung. Dead Center Purpose: Dead Center is HPHS’s literary magazine! It publishes students’ poetry, short stories, songs, drawings, cartoons, and much, much more in its annual publication. Dead Center hosts numerous coffeehouses throughout the year in the Media Center. Advisor: Ms. Gonzalez Meeting: The club occasionally meets during lunch to plan. DECA Purpose: Entrepreneurs will love this business/finance club which participates in state, national, and international conferences and competitions all year long. Members of DECA also participate in many fundraising and charity activities throughout the school year, including the Breast Cancer Walk in October. Additionally, as a member of DECA, you are expected to run the student store once a week. To develop your business-skill set, join DECA! Advisor: Ms. Harper Meeting: Official meetings don’t have a set schedule. Contact Ms. Harper for more information.
Alumnus Tess Erickson fastens junior Lucas Marin’s bowtie backstage before a performance of Annie last spring.
Source: Selina Garcia
Amandala & Acapellics Anonymous Purpose: These two ensembles make up the Highland Park a capella community. Amandala is an all-female group which sings international music; AA is co-ed and generally sings pop songs. Each group performs varied repertoires at school and community events. Both are student-run groups. Keep an eye out for audition notices! Advisor: For Amandala, contact Riley Michael; for AA, contact Hannah Weaver Meeting: Both groups rehearse twice a week at members’ houses.
Model United Nations/Congress Purpose: Public speaking, debate, research, politics, and global issues all combined into one, Model UN/Model Congress is a club for everyone from those who love debating to those who want to improve their public speaking. For an intellectually-stimulating experience, join Model UN/Model Congress! Advisors: Mr. Gold and Ms. Wilson, History teachers Meeting: RUMUN takes place in early November while RMC takes place in April. Although try-outs for RUMUN have passed, RMC try-outs take place early next year. Meetings occur about once every two weeks, but simulated committee sessions/debates happen every week. Contact Mr. Gold or Ms. Wilson for more information. Movie Club Purpose: Attendees of Movie Club watch films from all over the world, dine on refinements such as pizza and cupcakes, and discuss what they have watched. Advisor: Ms. Marionni, English teacher Meeting: Movie Club attempts to meet one night a month. Contact Charlotte Finegold or Sylvia Marks to find out more. Peer Mediation Purpose: If you are a good listener, this might be the activity for you! As a peer mediator, you may listen to your peers and encourage and aid them to come up with solutions to their issues. Advisor: Ms. Powell, Math teacher & Ms. Doosey, Science teacher Meeting: Tuesdays after school. Philosophy Club Purpose: At Philosophy club, you can discuss your ideas on a variety of subjects with other students. If you are interested in deep discussions as well as learning from others, join Philosophy Club! Advisor: Ms. Asamoah, Teen Center Meetings: Meeting: Contact Senior Greg Burdea for more information. Science Bowl Purpose: Not a test-taker? Test your knowledge of science and reflexes in statewide and regional quiz-bowl-style competitions! For a heart-racing, buzzer-competition involving your math, biology, chemistry, physics, energy, and Earth/space science, join Science Bowl. Advisor: Ms. Stephen, Science teacher Meeting: The full-day regional competition takes place in February. Practices typically start in mid-November and take place once or twice every week. Try-outs, however, often occur earlier in the year. Contact Ms. Stephen for more information. Science League Purpose: Science League is a statewide competition in which individual students and schools test their knowledge of science. You are allowed to participate in one subject (i.e. Biology, Chemistry, and Physics). Science League is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and earn awards in the process! Advisor: Science department Meeting: Competition takes place monthly for four months in January, February, March, and April. Meeting schedules vary depending on the subject and team leader. For more info, talk to your science teacher.
Above, DECA at the Make A Wish Castle last year. Drama Club & Tech Crew Purpose: Drama Club graces the HPHS stage three times a year: in the fall/winter, it performs a play, in the spring, it dazzles with a musical, and in June, it cavorts in One Acts. Students must audition to participate in the two former productions. Tech crew completes school productions by adding lights, sets, sound, and props. Become a builder, a light designer, a costume/make-up artist, or a prop assistant in a few weeks! Advisor: Mr. Presty Meeting: Once a production begins, rehearsals are every day until the show starts! Global Awareness Group Purpose: GAG raises awareness and funds for local, national, and international projects, from Heifer International to the Highland Park Food Pantry. Its activities range from simple change drives to booster events to running a booth at the street fair. Advisor: Ms. Lindsey Wilson, History teacher Meeting: Once a week, sometimes during lunch, sometimes after school. It usually has a bakesale once every two weeks to raise money for its current cause. Contact hphsglobalawareness@gmail.com for more information. Mathletes Purpose: If you enjoy tackling challenging math problems, Mathletes is the best way to hone your critical-thinking skills! Mathletes is a competition in which students work to solve ten difficult math problems under a time limit. Mathletes is open to everyone! Advisor: Todd Lisella, Math teacher
Ski & Outdoor Club Purpose: On the weekends, this club travels to the Poconos to slide down mountains and explore the wilderness. Advisor: Student-run: contact Sylvia Marks. Meetings: Schedule varies. Step Team Purpose: This club practices body percussion, performs at various school events, and occasionally participates in local competitions. Advisor: Ms. Gonzalez, English teacher Meeting: Step Team practices after school in the dance room. Contact senior Maggie Dominick for more information. United in Prevention (UP) Purpose: UP is a program run by the Highland Park Community Teen Center which focuses on drug and alcohol prevention. UP conducts outreaches for the middle and high school on various topics, from the importance of natural highs to the harmful effects of smoking. Advisor: Ms. Ketofsky, Substance Awareness Coordinator of the Teen Center Meeting: UP meets every Tuesday in the Club Room in the cafeteria. Yearbook Purpose: Yearbook contributors help create a priceless piece of high school memorabilia! Advisor: Ms. Marionni, English teacher Mettings: Yearbook meets after school. Schedule varies.
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SPORTS Euro 2012: Excitement or Indifference?
Sylvia Marks “Did Americans even watch the Euro Cup?” a Polish friend asked me mid-July as we stared off into the distance at Warsaw’s state-of-the-art soccer stadium from a street in the Old Towne. “Yeah, definitely!” I responded with hardy conviction at first. But then I thought about it; Is the event that popular here in the States? A soccer fanatic myself, I had watched most of the matches, wondering at Spain’s ability to easily string together 15 passes in a play and enjoying Germany’s solid performances throughout the tournament. I couldn’t help but snicker at the Italians’ elaborate falls to the grass in anguish if someone nudged their shoulder a little harshly or stepped on the back of their cleat. Yet, I did wonder if Americans were feeling these games quite as passionately as it seemed those in the stands in Europe took them. “I thought the Netherlands were good…” one friend stated. “They were in the finals of the last World Cup. Bummer they couldn’t even make it out of the group round.” Another friend declared that “England [would] win for sure!” This same friend shrunk back and stubbornly declared that “England is still one of the best teams in the world!” after they lost out on a margin to Italy in a penalty-kick shootout. I have to say though, despite some energetic Facebook statuses from a few people who were native to one of the competitors, despite living in America, Highland Park did not seem so rampant with soccer fever. No reason to dance in the streets, I suppose… these teams were not our teams. “My dream is to go to the next World Cup,” one of my friends remarked. “That would be so cool!” And thus, came I to the conclusion that the Euro Cup 2012 was not exactly something Americans went crazy for, but rather an event that we could enjoy from the comfort of our homes and watch prominent athletic figures play some beautiful “futbol.”
Rusting Rings? Mande Younge We hold high expectations for the Olympic Games. Since its founding, the Olympics have grown to an international event, with London 2012 grazing the top of the most-viewed Olympiads in history. But despite the prestigious event, the super-human athletes and the expectations of the world, the Olympics lost a disappointing amount of my respect this year. I’ll be completely honest: I didn’t watch the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. I had neither the Internet nor TV technology to do so, and I wasn’t really interested. Over the last two or three years, however, I gained a deeper understanding of the mental and physical strength required of Olympic athletes and a respect for the athletes and the Games themselves. With this newfound esteem, I approached London with eager eyes. My expectations quickly fell to outrage. In what kind of world would someone allow McDonalds to advertise itself as the “official restaurant of the London 2012 Olympics”? McDonalds shouldn’t even be allowed to call itself a restaurant! What’s worse, NBC abused its right to cover the Games by showing the U.S. the footage hours after it happened. While the rest of the world watched Usain Bolt’s historic performance solidifying his title as the Fastest Man in the World, NBC force-fed us Olympic Horse Jumping and showed Bolt after many had gone to bed. The real travesty, however, exists in our lack of alternatives. NBC decides our access to the events, covers the stories of only American athletes, fills screening time with fluff stories about the history of the London tea business, and we have no choice but to sit there and wait until they show synchronized diving – an event they promised us an hour ago. The lack of alternatives robs the U.S. of the chance to discover new sports or foreign athletes that NBC didn’t bother to cover. In Ancient Greece, the Games paid tribute to the Gods; in modern America, they honor corporate sponsorship in a monopolization of this test of human strength. On the other hand, the Modern Olympics always lacked purity. When Munich hosted in 1936, Hitler grasped the opportunity to flaunt Germany’s military strength and heavily advertized the Nazi
Party. In 1972, a group of terrorists snuck into the Olympic Village and took twelve Israeli athletes hostage. Despite attempts by German police, the event ended in bloodshed. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has yet to recognize these deaths, citing the political implications as reason to abstain from comment. The IOC’s refusal to recognize the victims as part of the Olympic family taken from Olympic land continues to spark outrage and controversy, while simultaneously disgracing the vision for world peace which Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the IOC) held so dearly. During the Cold War, the governments of the U.S. and the USSR boycotted each other’s Olympics, denying their athletes the chance to exhibit their talent. Yet each Olympic year reminds us of the truly immeasurable power of human potential. Through every fresh set of disappointments from politicians and corporations, the athletes take on the task to uphold those five sacred rings, and in doing so leave the world speechless.. When Munich hosted the Games in 1936, Jesse Owens delivered four gold medal performances to the annoyance of Adolf Hitler, whose Nazi campaign was advertising the superiority of the Aryan race. Nadia Comaneci of the USSR won hearts all over the world in 1976 when she scored the first perfect ten at the age of fourteen. Despite some disappointments this year, several record-making performances exhibit our limitless human potential. Michael Phelps’s 20th medal, the first two female Saudi Arabian athletes, and Oscar Pistorius’s amazing story all added color to the Games. Breaking records and setting new standards even to this day demonstrates the Olympic mantra – citius, altius, fortius (higher, faster, stronger) – a phrase that not only expresses the goals of all Olympians, but the eternal human quest for improvement. Every four years, Olympic athletes perform feats of incredible physical, emotional and psychological strength so that between commercials for McDonald’s and idiotic pieces on Ryan Lochte’s Twitter life we can remember the pure strength of our species and the infinite power of human potential.
Bolt and Phelps were two of the most successful athletes in the 2012 Games. But were their performances tainted by NBC’s greed and the extent of corporate sponsorship? Source: Google Images
The Highland Fling Editors
Chief: Charlotte Finegold Online: Xuewei Ouyang News: Oscar Lee Feature: Amy Wang Opinion: Maddie Hehir Sports: Sylvia Marks A&E: Elena Weissmann Layout: Stefana Voicu Advisor Brett Roche
THE HIGHLAND FLING, SEPTEMBER 2012
Staff
Writers Sarah Cheng, Belle Gabel-Frank, Yang Xu, Boning Zhao, Olivia Draper, Simone Kusnecov, Grace Chong, Gregory Burdea, Jacob Choi, Aidan Kusnecov, Sam Trub
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