The Lion's Tale - Volume 49, Issue 6

Teen father shares the difficulities and joys of raising his newborn son.

The Commons has been standing its ground since 1969.

Check out its renovations and history.

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pages 10 and 11

LION’S TALE M a r c h 13 , 2 0 0 9

Volume 49

Issue 6

601 K ing Street

Risky business Cheaters run afoul of honor code Carson Bailey

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staff reporter

enior Amanda Hampton watches as a girl in her class artfully lifts the seam of her skirt to reveal her thigh. Scribbled in black ink across the girl’s thigh are the answers to the daily quiz.

“The extremes that students go to cheat is sometimes very bizarre and definitely risky,” said Hampton.

Cheating has expanded from just looking onto your

friend’s paper. iPods,cellphones, graphing calculators, and even body parts are now being used to help students pass tests, illegally of course.

“I’ve seen a student take a picture with their phone of the test answer key while the teacher had her back turned to us,” said sophomore Claire Cook.

Sophomore Morgan Cassel has also witnessed off the wall cheating methods take place.

“As I was taking a test one time these two kids in front of me kept holding up their hands with either one, two, three, or four fingers showing,” said Cassel.

“After the test I realized that they had come up with a signal system to help each other on the test.”

Now that iPods can connect to the internet, they are more commonly being used to cheat as sophomore Hannah French explains.

“The students place the iPods in their laps during a test,” said French. “They are then able to access the internet and look up whatever they need such as definitions or diagrams.”

Students aren’t the only ones to experience methods of cheating.

“I’ve seen students with formulas written on a scrap paper,” said Algebra 2 teacher Maryann Montione. “Storing information in a graphic calculator is another method I have seen on rare occasions.”

Even objects such as writing utensils are being used as a method for cheating.

“Once I caught a student who put the answers to a multiple choice test on his pencil,” said Chemistry and AP Environmental teacher Susan Carpenter.

These are examples of an emerging trend. A Duke University study showed that 75 percent of students see CHEATING, page 9

photo/MIRANDA GHALI photo illustrations/TIFFANY RAY

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Junior Anna Rehnstrom demonstrates

an exaggerated form of cheating. Cheating is a violation of the honor code.

Oviedo, Florida

Buy a pie, save a life

Julia Thorncroft

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staff reporter

now white selling apple pies for charity, how ironic.

“Each year Relay for Life has a theme,” said sophomore Ashley Tooke. “This year’s theme is ‘Fairy Tales’ and the team I’m on decided to be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life kicks off on Friday, March 20, at UCF Memory Mall.

Schools like Lawton Chiles Middle School, Winter Springs High School, and Trinity Prep will also hold the 24-hour event over the next two months.

Tooke has volunteered for Relay for Life for the past three years. She’ll be working as a team member for Relay for Life with the families from her neighborhood.

“Our team raises anywhere from $1200-$2000 every year,” Ashley Tooke ‘11 said Tooke. “We raise money by holding events before Relay for Life takes place, then during the race we sell things at our tent site.”

This year, Tooke’s team will not only sell apple pies, but they’ll hold a raffle drawing for several baskets. One basket includes a Nintendo Wii. There’s a history of cancer in Tooke’s family.

Tooke’s grandfather died of colon cancer, her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her grandmother was diagnosed with colon cancer this year.

“It [Relay for Life] is very important to me,” said Tooke. “I want people to be educated on the subject, and I like how Relay for Life brings so many people together to raise money for research.”

While Tooke’s hands are full of apple pies and raffle tickets, sophomore Robyn Strobl will be one of the dancers performing at the event. Although Strobl has never attended a Relay for Life event, her dance team (Upac) looks forward to supporting this cause.

“A girl on our team passed away from cancer at a young age, which was emotional for many at the studio,” said Strobl.

The girl Strobl refers to was Lexi Matthies.

Matthies would’ve graduated from Oviedo High School this year if she survived leukemia four years ago.

see RELAY FOR LIFE, page 3

County offers transfers to boost enrollment Victoria Persampiere

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“The capacity transfer should help us to offset the

other student. They will be true Lions, able to participate in all the school has to offer.

Robert Lundquist. “It won’t eliminate As a member of the band, Tri-M Society, How to apply the problem, but it will certainly help,” the spring musical, Thespians, Beta Club, and Lake Brantley, Lake Howell, said Lundquist.

Encore Winter Guard, junior Paige Lenssen Lyman, Seminole, and Winter In an effort to combat the low knows the value of OHS’s huge variety of Springs High Schools are all enrollment numbers and hang on to as extracurricular activities. at or above capacity, and their many teachers as possible, Lundquist “Oviedo definitely has a leg up on other surplus students have the option and school board officials initiated the schools when it comes to the attention it puts to attend OHS. Information Choices Program for students not zoned on academics,” said Lenssen. “The variety and applications can be found OHS. of classes, especially AP classes, enables in the front office or at www.

Capacity transfers are open to any students to really push forward into whatever seminolecountyschools.com, student from Lake Brantley, Lake subject they consider their forté. I’ve had some and are due in to the front Howell, Lyman, Seminole, and Winter amazing teachers who have really helped to office April 1.

Springs. (Note that this does not mean show me what I can accomplish, and it’s that that Oviedo students are applicable for sort of teacher who makes you want to come capacity transfers.) Capacity transfer students will have to to school every day. The more you look forward to attending provide their own transportation to and from school daily, see CAPACITY, page 3 but otherwise they will receive the same treatment as any

news editor [budget] cuts we’re facing,” said principal

ttention Seminole County Students: OHS is opening its doors to students who are zoned to attend Lake Brantley, Lake Howell, Lyman, Seminole and Winter Springs High Schools.

In addition to diversity transfers, OHS has obtained clearance from the school board to offer 200 capacity transfers to students who would like to become Lions.

OHS’s newly constructed and renovated campus is equipped to hold up to 2,700 students. With only 2,000 students enrolled, the jobs of school staff and teachers may be in jeopardy.

And that’s pretty much what it boils down to – with approximately 700 empty desks every day, the school will receive much less funding from the district.

The highest expense in any business is labor; the lack of students may make some teachers just too expensive to keep on.

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News

March 13, 2009

News

The Lion’s Tale

Clock tower tops renovated campus Kevin Veloso

$1,000 Jefferson Award available to all philanthropic students wanting to get ahead The Jefferson Award gives any nominated student a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship. Any student who regularly participates in an honorable cause can be nominated for the award. This year seniors Jenny Cavaretta, Joeriel Castillo, and Amanda Loftus have already been nominated.

Senior week includes reflections on the future, TV-show tributes, Wacky Tacky Tuesday Senior Week will kick off on April 20 and extends through April 25. Monday starts the week off with T.V. Show Day, following with Wacky Tacky Day on Tuesday.

Seniors impersonate senior citizens on Wednesday’s Senior Day and on Thursday flash to the future forTen Years from Now day. To finish the week, seniors represent their institutions of choice with College Day on Friday.

Prom will be held at The Swan and Dolphin Hotel on April 25 and tickets will be available to juniors and seniors.

Top-ranking NJROTC to travel to Ft. Benning to compete in nationals

Ranking 4th in the nation out of about 3,000, NJROTC will be going to nationals at Ft. Benning in Georgia. The team will head up on Wednesday, March 25 to have time to train and check the equipment on Thursday. The actual competition begins on Friday, March 27, and concludes the following day.

Presently practices occur four times per week. The team consists of four members and each person fires about 50,000 pellets during their stay on the team.

“It’s fascinating to see how well these teams shoot. It’s gratifying to see them develop over the years. They’ve worked extrememly hard and it’s tough to get to this place. It’s rewarding for them,” said Master Chief Dale Marteney.

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staff reporter

laced in a sea of cement, the rising clock tower nears its completion under Principal Robert Lundquist’s supervision.

The clock tower’s position helps it serve as a focal point to the school. The idea for a clock tower originated with the desire to place something at the center of the school that would give some character and a defining touch to the school’s current renovation.

“We looked at other local schools, and a clock tower seemed to be an original idea,” said Lundquist.

Lundquist considered planting a large oak tree in the clock tower’s current location. Other ideas, including a decorative fountain, came to his attention, but werer quickly discarded.

“The fountain would have changed colors every day of the week, and had bubbles and stuff like that,” said Lundquist, “Besides, it would have cost more to maintain. And we already have many other beautiful oak trees on campus.”

Lundquist has not yet received the bill and does not currently know the cost of the clock tower. A majority of the cost, however, will be donated by the BE & K Building Group, leaving OHS’ expenses to the electricity bill and clock mechanism itself. The clock has been ordered from Christensen’s Clockworks in Oviedo.

The clock face will have an 18-inch radius and a simple elegant design. So far, Lundquist does not plan to have the clock chime to signal class changes or each hour.

“Several designs were thought of at first, but we decided a simple clock face

would add a touch of class to the school.”

The tower will have an identical, elegant clockface on each of its four sides, to be better visible from anywhere on campus.

Before the clock mechanisms are installed, the thickness of the tower’s walls will need to be determined. The mechanism will need to fit the tower just right, or the clock face will be either sunken in or protrude from the structure.

Lundquist plans to have the clock tower completed before the end of year. Although it hasn’t been designated as the senior’s gift to the school, it is available for them to fund.

“The senior gift to the school can be the lion design in the new gym, the clock tower, or anything they wish,” said Lundquist, “But the clock tower was not originally from the seniors.”

IN DUE TIME. A worker tends

to the growing clock tower while students pass between classes. The clock will later be painted to match the school, and sport four identical faces, one on each side.

photo/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

photo/MARSHA GIBBS

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. This year the NJROTC won second place for the 2009 NJROTC Service Championship.

Band members may soon receive honors credit for class

Jordan Hugh Sam

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co-opinion editor

and students at Winter Springs and Lake Mary High Schools often receive honors credit during their third and fourth year in band, but why not at OHS? “It’s not that we did not offer honors credit for band students, it’s just progression to get there is the issue,” said Principal Robert Lundquist.

Administrators do not determine who receives honors credit; the responsibility to designate honors credit falls to the state legislature, and they have placed honors credit at only Bands V and VI. At OHS, the progression for band is to take Band I, II, III, then IV and V. “Some schools, for example, like LMHS, through an

audition process begin Band III their freshman year, take Band IV their sophomore year and take Band V and VI their junior and senior year,” said Lundquist.

At WSHS, band students take Band I and II and then they audition to go straight to Band V and VI to receive honors credit.

To get to level V or VI by their senior year, students at OHS would have to take multiple band classes in the same year.

“It wasn’t made as convenient as we were seeing at Lake Mary and Winter Springs. That’s the discrepancy that other schools do not go Band I-II-III-IV-V,” said Lundquist.

Executive Director of Secondary Education, Walt Griffin, is aware of the situation.

“What we are going to do is make it so that all schools in Seminole County are on the same page with

this scenario and all other fine arts credit as well. We cannot create honors credit that is not designated by the state but we can create a pattern for our students to get to that honors credit because we want them to have honors credit as much as anybody wants them to have honors credit,” said Lundquist.

Lundquist hopes that the progression of honors credit, now sent to a commitee, will lead to a district-wide systematic pattern of fine arts credit to be developed by sometime next year.

Lundquist does not know whether the honors credit will be able to be awarded retroactively.

“It could be but maybe not. I don’t know, it’s just something that the committee will have to make a recommendation to us.” said Lundquist.

The principals will meet with the executive director on March 19 to make a decision.

The

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SUMof its years out of nine where OHS has scored as an A+ school.

1,0 4 0

scores of three or higher on AP exams last year

30

separate sports offered at OHS

77

years of operation, making OHS one of the longestestablished schools in Central Florida

transfers, which are designed to allow students of different ethnic minorities to voluntarily attend another, higher-rated school than the one they are zoned to attend.

Capacity transfers extend this offer to all students zoned to attend certain other schools, regardless of race or economic bracket.

Areas that were historically solid orangeand-black – like Aloma and Tuskawilla – were zoned to attend other schools to make room for Florida’s huge growth. Now, these students have the option to attend OHS. “I don’t expect there to be any problems with inter-school rivalries,” said Lundquist.

“We’re all historically Oviedo.”

The potential 200 new capacity-transfer students – who will span all grades, from 9 to 12, and all races and economic backgrounds – may be just the boost the school needs to keep more teachers in their posts. “It’s a good thing for OHS,” said Lundquist. “We have the capacity for more students. We have great programs, and we’re welcoming anyone who wants to come to Oviedo and take advantage of these opportunities.”

March 13, 2009

News

3

Relay honors lost friends, family

PARTS

from CAPACITY, page 1 school, the more driven you’ll be to make it into a great college.”

Junior Kristen Eley agrees wholeheartedly.

“Something that definitely causes Oviedo to stand out among other schools is our faculty. Both the teachers and administration are incredibly friendly and want to see you grow as a student.” she said. “And students interested in transferring to Oviedo – be exicted! You’ll be here by the time all the construction is finished, and you’ll get to use a big, beautiful new campus.”

With a brand-new campus and a total of over 20 AP courses offered on-campus, OHS may draw a large number of applicants to fill the 200 available capacity transfer positions.

“We’re open to anyone who is interested,” said Lundquist. “We’re pretty much just getting the word out right now.”

So what caused this severe slump in student numbers? In short: the economy.

The schools receive their budgets based on property taxes from their area. When people foreclose on homes, or don’t move into the area as expected, the school budget takes a cut.

Until recently, the city of Oviedo had been growing at an incredible rate. Now with the bottom dropped from the housing market, that growth has stalled, and students that had been rerouted to Hagerty to make room for the expected influx of new Oviedians left a gaping hole in the student population.

And with few homes selling, there are not nearly as many students attending OHS as was projected five years ago, just before the opening of Hagerty.

“Nobody could have predicted that this scenario; nobody could have known that the housing market and economy would falter, not when before we were growing by leaps and bounds every day. We had a vision that our community would continue to grow, but it stopped.” said Lundquist.

OHS has always been open to diversity

The Lion’s Tale

from RELAY FOR LIFE, page 1 Matthies battled the leukemia twice.

The second time she was diagnosed at age 14, her life was lost.

To honor their friend and support the cause, team Upac will perform approximately at 8 p.m., 2:15 a.m., and 6:30 a.m.

Parallel to Tooke, Strobl lost a family member to cancer. Both of her grandparents were diagnosed with cancer. Strobl’s grandmother may’ve survived the skin cancer, but her grandfather lost an ongoing battle with lung cancer a few years ago.

While many loved ones have been lost due to cancer, hope is rising. With the help of Relay for Life and donations, research has been found, and even a new test will be held. The Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) Sandy Bedont has been named chairperson of the CPS-3 study at a local Relay for Life, which will be held on March 27 at Lawton Chiles Middle School. This is the only Relay for Life in Central Florida that offers the CPS-3.

According to the American Cancer Society’s official web site, the ultimate goal for the CPS-3 is to get 500,000 adults of various ethnic/racial backgrounds to participate in the study over the U.S. Adults with no history of cancer between the ages of 30 and 65 years are eligible to participate in the CPS-3.

Participants of the CPS-3 first will read and sign a consent form, complete a survey, give a blood sample and provide waist measurement. The overall estimated time for the processes is 30 minuets. All information given in the surveys is kept confidential.

But that’s not where the CPS-3 ends.

Follow-up surveys will be mailed to

Upcoming Events

3/20 3/27 5/1 5/8 5/15

UCF Memory Mall 4000 Central Florida Blvd Lawton Chiles Middle School 1240 Sanctuary Drive Winter Springs High School 130 Tuskawilla Road Trinity Prep 5700 Trinity Prep Lane Geneva/Chuluota 1350 Snow Hill Road

participants over the time span of 20 to 30 years.

Willing participants can sign up for the CPS-3 at Relay for Life at Lawton Chiles Middle School on March 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The registration fee for Relay for Life is only $10 for anyone who wants to participate.

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March 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Opinion

“I love mankind; it’s people I can’t stand.”

Charles M. Schulz LION’S TALE

OUR WORD

Troubling trend of kids having kids

Oviedo High School 601 King Street, Oviedo FL 32765 • Phone: 407-3204199 • Fax: 407-320-4213

Age isn’t necessarily everything when it comes to raising kids.

We realize that a child showered with love and support from a teenage mother, or father, is likely to enjoy a happier life than a neglected or abused child of an older couple.

In spite of this, we believe that increasing rates of pregnancy among adolescents is a pattern that shouln’t simply be shrugged off.

While some very young parents provide everything their child needs, the reality is that many more are struggling. It is hardly surprising that most teenage parents are barely able to look after themselves, let alone their children.

While contraceptive use had previously seen a 34 percent plummet in teen birth rates between 1991 and 2005, recent years have experienced a reversal of fortune.

Percentages have recoiled by three percent in the past four years, alone.

Sadly, in many cases, teen pregnancy isn’t just a temporary inconvenience. It’s a setback that can negatively affect the lives of parents and child for many years to come.

An early pregnancy can potentially keep a woman, and sometimes her partner, from getting a good education. As reported by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, only 41 percent of mothers who have children before the age of 18 ever complete high school.

Unqualified for good-paying jobs, mothers are faced with great difficulty when it comes to making ends meet.

Almost half of all teenage mothers go on welfare within five years.

Furthermore, the March of Dimes charity asserts that pregnant teens and their offspring are especially vulnerable to a multitude of health-related complications.

The Lion’s Tale belongs to CSPA, NSPA, and FSPA. We reserve the right to refuse ads. The views of the staff do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, staff, or faculty of Oviedo High School. Advertising and editorial policies are on file in the newspaper room. (21-020) Editors-in-Chief: Miranda Ghali, Stacey Sterling News Editor: Victoria Persampiere Features Editor: Tiffany Ray Diversions Editors: Carly Brower, Emily Cottrell Sports Editor: Connor Bailey Opinion Editors: Kevin Baird, Jordan Hugh Sam Photo Editors: Graham Christensen, Brooke Fidrick Staff Artists: Miranda Harmon, Michael Mangos, Kevin Baird Staff Technician: Graham Christensen Advertising Editors: Ryden Butler, Faculty Advisor: Deborah Jepson Administrative Advisor: Anna McCarthy Principal: Robert W. Lundquist Staff Reporters: Carson Bailey, Caitlyn Braswell, Tien Holmes, Nirvani Khan, Maggie Kipi, Tova Kranz, David Parsons, Colin Perry, Caitlin Smith, Julia Thorncroft, Kevin Veloso Lion’s Tale is accessible through the OHS web page.

In our opinion, however, the biggest consequence associated with pregnancy is that robs kids of both their childhood and their futures as productive adults while simultaneously establishing a difficult life for the unborn.

Regardless, when kids succumb to their naivety and do make mistakes, supportive adults should be there to help them learn from their past experiences and engage in better decision-making in the future.

Rather than focusing on the poor

decisions or sheer bad luck of individuals, we need to give all teenagers all the tools they need to keep their lives on track.

When a girl falls pregnant anyway, we need to surround her with all the support familial, societal, and governmental - she may need.

Is teen pregnancy a good thing? We don’t think so. But it happens, and every baby born should be given love and a good chance. With a lot of dedication, it can work out.

positioning system. Apparently, such an advanced electronic device is not “impossible.”

And the United States as a whole, along with many other countries around the world, never really believed in the possibility of America undergoing an economic crisis again after the Great Depression.

Most Americans probably just assumed that our country would thrive and prosper forevermore and would always hold onto its stable, flourishing economy and status. Some of us were naïve; we didn’t have even the slightest idea that the unemployment rate would rise to about 8.1%.

Apparently, such a dreadful downturn is not “impossible.”

And what about a flying car? Yes, those definitely exist for the SkyCar, devised by a British inventor, took off from London on Jan.. 14, 2009, on a journey to Timbuktu, Mali in West Africa.

Women taking governmental roles, an AfricanAmerican becoming president, a man on the moon, robots, hybrid cars, a mind-reading device, and a 10-year-old graduating high school are all possible, too, but at one time they weren’t deemed to be.

From my own account, an impacting event occurred in my life when I was five years old that I’ll never forget, an incident that ended my belief in impossibility.

My cousin Tony, 32 years old at the time, was spending the night at a relative’s home and stayed in a guest room on the second floor.

He woke up in the middle of the night to a burning home, to blazing heat and smoke.

Panicking, he jumped out of bed and ran to the window in the dark guest room he was staying in. Unfortunately, an air conditioner sat on the window sill, blocking access out of the flaming room.

Tony, completely frantic at that point, tried punching the air conditioner out of the window.

After three attempts, he failed. He was running out of time, his heart was racing, but he found a bit of courage inside of him.

Tony walked to the bed, sat down, prayed, and tried to calm down. Then, he quickly got up from the bed and used all of the strength he had, pushed the air conditioner out of the window, and jumped out from the burning building. Tony survived, although four out of five of the other people in the house died. Anytime I see the permanent burn marks on Tony’s arms, I see the possibility of impossibility.

So, maybe the term “impossible” should no longer be used in the English language.

Saying that something is “impossible” is

The Lion’s Tale provides an open forum for students, teachers, and the members of this community. Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and may be written and submitted to Deborah Jepson’s room 21-020. Anonymous columns or letters will not be printed, though names may be withheld upon request.

No suc h t hing as mission impossible Guest Column

I

Nirvani Khan

staff reporter

n today’s world, with rapid technological development and growing personal ingenuity, what exactly denotes the line between possibility and impossibility?

Can we really say that an idea is “impossible,” or does that term simply imply the enormity and difficulty of a task? And what can we speculate about some of the users of this term; that they give up without persevering, that they hold pessimistic views? Couldn’t we also assume that other users of this term are optimists; that they doubt the possibility of disaster and crises?

As cliché as it sounds, I ardently believe that impossibility does not exist, at least not in this generation. Anything and everything at all can essentially happen, good or bad, even if one may initially deny its possibility.

For instance, I don’t think that Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the basic telephone, would have probably deemed possible the availability of the iPhone, with a camera, a portable media player, as well as access to a global

invalid because we are ignorant to the capabilities of future generations.

If we all took a moment to think about some of the remarkable things that have happened in our society, as well as the disastrous things we’ve had to overcome, we’ll realize the possibility of what we previously thought as “impossibility,” instead of jumping to conclusions.

Of course, I’m not saying that all our earnest dreams can come true with desire alone. We cannot achieve anything at all without time, patience, and dedication. We, ourselves, hold responsibility for almost everything that happens in our world so we must work towards our dreams and aspirations and we must also work together to try to prevent the unfortunate from happening, too, as best as we can.

Who says you can’t fly? With a pair of mechanical wings and an ounce of courage, who knows what can happen. Anything’s possible.

illustration/MIRANDA HARMON

The Lion’s Tale

Consumerism kills animation as art form backgrounds were hand-painted and characters were drawn with pencils.

Now, it’s not fair to say that all new Miranda’s animation is bad. Obviously, Pixar has proven that CG animation can bear beautiful results.

Musings It’s not the presence of new technology that’s wrong.

There are a lot of factors that make a good or bad animated film, and the craft is just one.

For one thing, it’s impossible to please staff artist Miranda Harmon everyone, and yet the studios still try.

This holiday season, Disney is coming eing an animation enthusiast, I out with a new movie, The Princess and the watched the Oscars this year with Frog.

The movie centers on a black princess mixed feelings. I knew that Wall-E in 1920’s New Orleans. was going to win Best Animated Feature. That Because of the protagonist’s race, Disney was clear from the start. has been walking on eggshells to please Don’t get me wrong; Pixar certainly everyone, making sure she doesn’t seem low earned their Oscar this year. What bothered class.

And all this simply because she’s Black. me wasn’t the victor, but rather the lack of It isn’t just this; our culture as a whole has competition. become ultra sensitive.

It’s hard to face reality, Ask anyone born in the 90’s and they’ll even when depicted on the silver screen. tell you that the cartoons they grew up on can But we don’t want our perception of beat the ones airing now any day. Whether reality to be challenged, especially for our this shows a decline in quality, an overactive kids.

We want jokes and ideas to be cut sense of nostalgia, or both, one thing is clear: up and spoon-fed to us. We’ve become so Somehow animated movies just don’t have accustomed to sound bytes and information the same spark they used to have. handed to us that we’ve forgotten how to These days, nobody seems to care about think. the craft, as long as the kids laugh and the Whatever happened to animation that parents pay up. What kids crave these days taught and enriched? Studios will now is familiarity, brevity, and crude humor. And produce film upon film without ever giving what kids crave, kids get. thought to artistic integrity.

I miss Fantasia. I miss Bambi. I miss The For example, let’s take Shrek. Everyone Secret of Nimh. I miss the days when liked Shrek.

The movie was the heartwarming animation meant something, tale about inner beauty, using parodies of when the act of giving fairytales to tell the story. And then life to characters was a there was a sequel, which painstaking labor of wasn’t terrible, as love, when sequels go. But then there was another movie in the series, and from what I understand, another one is in

Marvelous

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illustration/MIRANDA HARMON

production.

The series has lost its charm. The plot is no longer surprising, and the characters have long overstayed their welcome. The movie has fallen victim to consumerism.

Who cares if it’s well made as long as people pay to see it, right?

It’s true that animation is a business, but it’s also an art form. This has slipped the minds of most major studios within the last decade or so.

Once upon a time, kids didn’t need to be over stimulated with state-of-the-art computer-generated graphics and crude humor in order to be happy.

Once upon a time, there was more to an animated movie beyond the jokes and fight scenes, beyond the celebrity voices and the special effects.

Once upon a time, animation was magic.

Despite all this, there is hope. Coraline is a prime example. Coraline shows wonderful storytelling and major effort. Not only was the movie beautiful, but it was all handcrafted, a true gem.

Disney will be returning to 2D with The Princess and the Frog, the first traditionally animated movie to come from Disney in five years.

It’s also fair to mention that there are plenty of animated movies that don’t get nearly as much attention as they deserve, simply because they don’t belong to major studios.

As for CG animation, I’m looking forward to 9, a computer-animated movie about a rag doll-like character out to save the world. 9 comes out later this year. And, of course, Pixar will continue to dazzle us.

Maybe it’s not talent that we’re lacking here. Maybe the moviegoers are to blame as well.

Hopefully with the rise of new technology, studios will realize that the true heart and soul of a film doesn’t lie in the money it makes, but in the story that’s told and the craft of the animation.

Then, and only then, will we ever be able to return to that dreamy, elusive once upon a time.

Old campus fades but memory remains

demolished I was devastated. everyone could sit and relax in one place, Where was I going to pass people on my together. long walk from Newspaper in the back of The new campus offers us many building 21 to the science building across different environments that students can campus, and where was I going to put my relax and enjoy their free time such as the locker? The commons was my only chance amphitheatre, the courtyard, and building to catch a quick hi, from my friends in the 8, but with these new environments comes hallway. separations.

The demolition of the buildings I felt that the old commons were dubbed Stacey Sterling co-editor-in-chief surrounding the commons made the campus that because almost every activity occurred arrived my freshman year intimidated seem much larger, and gave buildings 13 and there, but now it seems by the students who could navigate the one a great view of the campus layout and to just be a place to sit campus without a map glued to their landscaping. and have lunch. hands.

I have to admit that I miss the old I never see students I, with my color-coded map and my senior commons, as well as ‘Old Oviedo’. walk through the commons sister at my side, set off to my ‘homeroom’ to Sure the school was rundown, anymore, because there is no need receive my final schedule. and in major need of for it. There are numerous zig-zag I felt safe that is until my sister left for her renovation, but I feel that a sidewalks that allow students to navigate first period. strong part of Oviedo’s the campus, and even a shortcut Now alone, with no idea where to meet my history has been taken behind the commons. friends, I became very nervous but made it to with it.

I understand that with time first period.

My sister, a comes change, and that is why As I headed to my second period I passed graduate of the Oviedo High School has through the commons and saw over half of my class of 2006, my changed so drastically friends, making me feel more confident. dad, a graduate during my four years here, I made plans with them to meet by the of the class of but now that my time is lockers in building 2B, now demolished.

1977 and one coming to an end, and After school, I realized exactly why the of the current I am leaving I choose illustration/MIRANDA HARMON commons were dubbed ‘the commons’. automotive teachers, and my to remember the ‘Old Throughout the three years I had with the grandmother a graduate of the class of 1943 Oviedo’ rather than the new original commons I was amazed by what went all graduated from Oviedo High School.

Oviedo. on in that vicinity.

When I talked to my dad about how I will always remember that first year From Homecoming dances to color guard Oviedo was when he was a student I was when I discovered the true meaning of the practices to football feasts the commons were astonished. There were towers to overlook the commons, and I hope that the following used by everyone and anyone, who needed commons, and a pit within the ground where classes’ don’t forget what it means. them. students could relax before, during, and after When it was announced that the buildings school. surrounding the commons were being My dad explained how that is where

Slice of

Life

I

March 13, 2009

Opinion 5

Because Pobody’s Nerfect Michael Mangos

staff artist

X out X-box

L

et me preface this article by saying this: I hate the Xbox 360. I hate that we, the American consumers have been duped into buying a console that is so clearly inferior.

I hate that the Xbox was marketed as the “reliable, cheaper” console, the middleman between moronically flailing your arms in the air like a chimpanzee conducting an orchestra while playing the Wii, or shelling out hundreds of dollars on a PS3 so its manufacturers could blow the money on rice liquor at a karaoke bar.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those console fanboys trying to mock another console just because it exists. Competition in the console market is good. It weeds out the weaker consoles. Remember the Atari Jaguar?

Of course not because it sucked.

The only reason console fanboys refuse to accept this is because mommy doesn’t want to buy them two consoles. They end up being very defensive of the Xbox their parents bought them just to make them feel better for buying a glorified paper weight that’s nice enough to blink red so you don’t stub your toe on it at night.

I’m getting off-topic here. Where was I...? something about chimpanzees.

Anyway, I bought my original Xbox and some games from a friend for about one hundred bucks. Seemed like a good deal, and it was for the first couple of months. I set up my Live account, made a gamer tag, listened to racist, seven year olds chastise me while playing Grand Theft Auto’s multiplayer and convinced myself I was having fun.

Then, like watching celebrities on the red carpet in HD, the glaring flaws started showing up. First it’s Xbox Live, the biggest selling point of the Xbox 360 if you believe the fanboys.

Apparently Bill Gates is rich enough to create his own private bank and therefore, his own currency. That’s right, instead of sticking with every other countries’ tradition of buying goods with said countries respective currency, you’ll be using “Microsoft Points.” A form of money completely made up just for the Xbox 360.

And guess what, you have to buy these Microsoft Points with real money. Not retarded enough for you? How about this: you also can’t buy the exact amount of points you need, you have to buy like five hundred points which costs about seven bucks in grown-up money.

Think that 500 points will get you far?

Yeah, if you want to buy some crappy Xbox arcade game that you could play for free on the internet. Would you pay 20 real dollars for 900 stickers nobody else will accept just because that’s what you need to get into a movie?

My question is this, what are kids in thirdworld countries supposed to do? They end up having to decide on whether they’re going to buy Geometry Wars on Xbox arcade or not dying from starvation.

Then there’s the Xbox Live subscription fee. It’s not enough that you’re paying for the internet provider to be on Xbox Live in the first place but now you have to pay a monthly, or yearly fee just to play with friends and download new content. You have to pay before you can buy stuff.

Remember that Xbox I bought from my friend? Well the thing ended up getting the “red rings of death,” If you’re unfamiliar with that term, congratulations, you didn’t buy an Xbox! It basically means my Xbox committed suicide. I look at it as a new beginning though.

Maybe I’ll go back to playing Atari.

6

Opinion

March 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Religious Debates:

Gift from God or tool of corruption I love the fact that despite our different prayers and the order in which we do things, we all come together to understand that in the long run, it’s not about us.

In the summer of 2005, my faith was greatly tested with the loss of a close family member.

During this time I wondered why a God as great as people say would take someone away so loved in such a cruel way.

Caitlin Smith staff reporter The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if this God even existed.

Truth worth living for But as the months went on, my faith in ’ve been going to church every Sunday God was soon restored with the help of my since I was born, which has given me a church family. sense of security. Going to church was They helped me understand that God has something that I never questioned, because a plan for all of us and we can not second it was a routine thing. guess why things happen. We have to Sure I’d like to sleep in late, stay on the believe that things happen for the best. couch, and do nothing for once like all my Because of this test of faith, my belief other friends, but my parents made it seem that God exists is stronger than ever. like church was something special that my By no means am I saying Christianity is friends were missing out on which made me the only right religion. want to go even more.

As long as you have something to Religion brings people together for a believe in your life will be better. common cause like nothing else can. When I honestly feel sorry for people with no you’re 10 years old standing in a room religion in their lives, to have the idea that with 3,000 other people all singing “Silent you’re just going to spend eternity in a box Night”, you get a sense of how the power of six feet under is not only depressing but God brings people from all different walks completely wrong. The idea of an afterlife is of life together. the one commonality in all religions.

For an hour every week, people forget I firmly believe religion saves lives and about their problems with each other, their gives us hope. Without hope, life can be stress from work, and these hard economic empty and lonely. With our faith in God times and just worships this one unifying and through the structure of religion, we can god. cope with whatever life throws our way.

That feeling has provided me with a Throughout our lives, we will be sense of stability that nothing else can come challenged in ways we can never imagine. close to matching.

We may face marriages that don’t work The only problem I have with some out, children who get hooked on alcohol or Christians is that they separate themselves drugs, death of our parents or siblings, loss from each other. of a job.

There are separate churches for Here is where religion can help. If you Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans, and belong to a church, you are now part of a Baptists, all of which are different branches church “family”, loving individuals who of Christianity, but believe the others are come to your aid in time of trouble. You wrong. I’ve grown up seeing that first hand. have a minister or priest who you can talk to My mother was raised Baptist and my and who can help you find solutions. father Catholic and after they got engaged And, of course, belief in God enables us both of their parents refused to speak to one to have faith that the future will be better, if another because of the other’s faith. not on earth than in heaven.

I go to a nondenominational church, That’s why I have never questioned meaning whether you’re Catholic or Baptist going to church. It’s part of who I am and it doesn’t matter because we all worship the who I want to be. same God. I can’t imagine living a life without If my parents hadn’t chosen a religion. nondenominational church to attend, I wouldn’t have the same faith in God that I do today.

Over the years we have gone to other churches every now and then, but none provide as great a sense of acceptance as ours.

Heretical Thought

Divine Word

I

Kevin Baird

I

co-opinion editor

Greatest lie ever told

’ll be the first to admit that I have a long and messy relationship with organized religion.

Between “bible camp,” where I was berated for my lack of enthusiasm, and wishing that those Jehovah’s Witnesses would just stop rapping on my door, I have a few issues to say the least.

That being said, I also have an undying respect for those who build bridges within faith communities so as to become better human beings.

In that respect, organized religion is a gift.

It’s sad to say - but for all our strengths, humans are fairly weak-willed.

The institution of organized religion reminds us of the values we hold most dear and helps us strive to adhere to them.

Even in spite of these benefits, I generally despise organized religion.

Characterized by blind faith, irrational beliefs, and political power grabs - my disdain is derived not from lack of belief in a deity, but from lack of faith in my fellow man.

Religion is, as Karl Marx preached, an opiate of the masses. It is the foremost example of manipulation through emotional appeal.

Organized religion exists as the institutionalization of something that was never meant to be institutionalized. In its purest form, religion is supposed to be personalized – a delicate relationship shared between man and divinity. It is a relationship that should, ideally, be free of mediation or intervention by a third party.

Contrastly, organized religion plays off indiscriminate faith.

When man ignores his reasoning, he robs himself of God’s greatest gift – the mind.

Without rationality, man is condemned to a state of intellectual blindness.

It’s a condition that seems to be supported by the world’s churches. Within these organizations, religious texts are utilized as the platform upon which political movements are built.

These movements, in turn, completely ignore the teachings of their creators.

As a consequence, we’ve become alltoo-familiar with the power of religious fervor. Religion instigated the Crusades, which swept through the Holy Land for 200 years. Religion sparked the Salem witch trials, which resulted in the death of countless innocents.

When you think about it, it’s religion that nailed Jesus Christ to the cross.

Rather than applaud the efforts of the church, Christ publicly condemned its adherents for their immorality, their selfrighteous attitude, and their lack of love.

It is professed that Jesus came to Earth to set us free, but his methods weren’t what we expected. His message was powerful but simple. Don’t judge others for their faults. Love them, and the almighty creator.

This is precisely what religion should be all about. Anything less is a blatant fraud.

Church cannot “save your soul” if you’re unwilling to open up your heart.

Christ, himself, was not concerned with religious matters. He preached of a spiritual revolution – the implications of which threatened established orders and resulted in his own death.

The resulting “moral of the story” is something that every individual should dedicate to memory.

Christ’s sacrifice validates a life without apocrypha or meditation or straight-arrow morals. These are unnecessary concepts that do little besides feed our guilt and distract us from the big picture.

Religion is something left over from the infancy of our existence. It will fade away only as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines.

Man should be concerned only with the simplest religion our world has to offer.

It has no need for temples or complicated philosophies. It regards our brains and hearts as shrines unto themselves. It venerates man as his own god. It is a seldom-expressed thing called kindness.

photo/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

“God to me is something concrete, something I can believe in or fall back on when all else fails.”

Josh DeCoursey ‘10 Poll out of 500 students taken 3/16.

“I’m agnostic, which basically means I believe in what I want to. No rules, no contradicting facts, just what I think is real.”

Ariel Thomas ‘09

Features

The Lion’s Tale

March 13, 2009

7

Baby Daddy Teen resolves to be there for his son Tiffany Ray

features editor

A text message changed senior Justin Ivie’s life. His eyes widened in surprise as he reads the text from his girlfriend, Andy - she had tested positive on a pregnancy test.

“I was surprised, and happy, and she was ecstatic about the pregnancy. She hadn’t been feeling well so she stayed home from school.

Her mom gave her the test,” said Ivie.

Ivie met Andy during their sophomore year, and had been dating when the baby’s [Aiden] conception occurred.

“We met through my best friend and she labeled me ‘the best hugger ever.’ Andy got pregnant because one time we weren’t safe.

It was a heat of the moment kind of thing,” said Ivie.

Ivie helped Andy throughout the first four or five months of her pregnancy with Aiden.

But, the two broke up briefly during her third trimester.

“I helped her set up the nursery, make doctor appointments, and helped out with chores as she got bigger and less mobile,” said Ivie. “For a period of time, we wanted nothing to do with each other, besides [my involvement with] Aiden.

But, now we’re beginning to grow as a family.”

Besides trouble in Ivie’s relationship with Andy, problems with Andy’s father and father’s girlfriend surfaced.

“They hated me and disowned her when she was pregnant,” said Ivie. “After Aiden was born, they began to soften up. But, her family [still]

doesn’t approve of me. They’d rather me be Aiden because they’re not having crazy fun. a paycheck in the mail every month instead They’re just having a good time with Aiden of being there with Andy and Aiden.” there,” said Ivie.

Though Ivie isn’t just money in the mail, Though Andy and Ivie’s social lives have he plans to bring in a paycheck to support not become difficult because of their baby, his family. difficulties do arise.

“I’m going to career college. I’ll hopefully “The hardest thing is just trying to get be able to provide substantially more once through it all, and the looks you get in stores I hit the business world. Andy’s home - Oh my gosh, two teenagers holding a baby,” schooled because of Aiden, and is going to said Ivie. beauty college,” said Ivie.

Ivie believes that Aiden is worth any According to pregnantteenhelp.org, two- trouble. thirds of pregnant teenagers who have a baby “He’s one of the best babies in the world. will not graduate He rarely cries, and from high school. he’s the silliest baby of “The hardest thing is just trying all time. He giggles a Ivie plans not to be a part of any negative to get through it all, and the looks lot. Physically, he’s got statistics that go biggest blue eyes, you get in stores - Oh my gosh, two the along with teenage and almost a full head teenagers holding a baby.” pregnancy. of hair. He’s getting “I think Aiden Justin Ivie, ‘09 some baby fat on him will have a normal too. He’s honestly life [despite being amazing,” said Ivie. born to two teenagers] because of the way we Ivie hopes that Aiden shares characteristics have things set up. My aunt is helping us get with him when Aiden’s older. a house of our own, and we’ll be set up near “I want him to be like me. I play in three family. We’ll be able to support metal bands, and I hope he turns out like that. him with everything he Hopefully I can take my son to concerts, and needs, especially when bond through music,” said Ivie.

I start my career,” Ivie looks forward to the future. said Ivie.

“I’m looking forward to starting our own Despite turmoil life. I can’t wait until he’s older. Five’s when with Andy’s father, they’ve started talking and they’re walking.

Ivie’s family, That’s when Dad can start showing him to friends, and ride skateboards, and play games,” said Ivie.

Andy’s mother, Andy and Ivie agree that Aiden needs his are supportive. biological father consistently around.

“All of our “Andy’s told me she doesn’t want Aiden friends are in love to have a step father. I think he needs a father. with Aiden. When I know a lot of kids who go back and forth Andy goes out [between parents houses] and they have she takes all these new people like ‘Mommy’s New Boyfriend.’ They’ll be no confusion over who Daddy is,” said Ivie.

Ivie resolves to be the best father he can be.

Ivie said, “Right now, I’m an okay father.

The time we see each other is brief but we make the most out of it. But, I want to be someone who’s always going to be there no matter what. I know in my heart with Andy and Aiden is where I want to be. He’s my son, my baby boy.” photos/COURTESY OF JUSTIN IVIE photo illustration/MIRANDA GHALI

TEENAGE PARENTHOOD. (Left) Senior

Justin Ivie holds his son Aiden Ivie. (Below) The birth announcement for Aiden shows pictures of him and a picture with the mother Andy Cockran.

Teen pregnancy statistics The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world.

More than 2/3 of all teenagers who have a baby will not graduate from high school.

Among black teens, the pregnancy rate dropped about 40 percent since 1990.

Among Hispanic teens, the pregnancy rate dropped about 19 percent since 1990.

Among white teens, the pregnancy rate dropped about 34 percent since 1990.

Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually.

Unmarried teenagers having children account for 24 percent of all unmarried expectant mothers.

In 2002 the abortion rate among teen mothers was 50 percent lower than its high point in 1988.

Florida ranks sixth in the states with most teen pregnancies, while Nevada ranks first and North Dakota ranks last.

Information compiled from pregnantteenhelp. org and www.guttmacher.org.

8

Features

March 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Oviedo’s own melting pot

Modern Technology

Darine El ’Harake strives to hone her English abilities

with desire for improvement, passion for learning Emily Cottrell

T

co-diversions editor

he FCAT Reading test and answer booklets lay across the desk as freshman Darine El ‘Harake struggles to complete the exam. The very culture she is so proud to be a part of – she moved to Florida from Lebanon at seven years old – works against her on stressful tests like these.

“When I moved here I couldn’t speak a word of English. My dad got a job here – he knew the language well because he was educated in England. I wouldn’t have been able to take regular courses, so I was put in the ESOL program,” said El ‘Harake.

ESOL, or English for Speakers of Other Languages, lets students like El ‘Harake learn the same curriculum as they would in regular courses, with a bit of extra help.

“When we first moved to Florida, we lived in Maitland, and I began the ESOL program at Domerich Elementary. I actually caught on to the English language really quickly, but the teachers recommended I repeat that level – the third grade. I don’t feel like that was a bad idea – if I didn’t stay back, I would have had a lot of problems in fourth grade,” said El ‘Harake.

Her family relocated to Oviedo, where she continued in the ESOL program to perfect her skills.

Said El ‘Harake, “Dr. Diaz was the main ESOL director at Stenstrom Elementary, and she really helped all of us a lot. Some of my previous teachers made me feel stupid, but she made sure I improve my

speech and listening skills. By the time I was in fifth grade, I was able to help some of the students in the lower levels with their English and their homework.”

El ‘Harake, who speaks both English and Arabic, enjoys her Honors English course, a giant step for someone who learned such a difficult language not too long ago.

“English is the most difficult class for me, but my teacher really helps me out.

It’s actually most difficult for me to speak English. I have to think about what I’m going to say a lot more than most people here. Understanding the language is a lot easier, until I come across vocabulary I don’t know,” said El ‘Harake.

El ‘Harake’s Honors English teacher, Deborah Jepson, notes that while she doesn’t understand some colloquial American phrases, she continues to succeed, making an A in the class.

“To come out of ESOL and to do so well is a tribute to the fact that she is so hard working. She’s really a good, conscientious student,” said Jepson.

Although she continues to improve in her knowledge of the English language, El ‘Harake doesn’t plan on letting go of her culture or the Arabic language.

“As soon as I get home from school I start speaking Arabic with my family. I love knowing the language because it ties me to my culture. I love spending time with my family – and communicating in

Arabic is just natural for us. My sisters and I actually used to go to school at the mosque on Saturdays – we would learn to read and write in Arabic, study the Qur’an, and more,” said El ‘Harake.

In Lebanon, students learn a second language of French, and now El’ Harake understands a plethora of languages.

“I still know a little French from when I was living in Lebanon, I still speak Arabic and English, and I’m taking Spanish as my foreign language at the high school,” said El ‘Harake.

For the first time since she moved to the United States, El ‘Harake will visit her native country this summer.

“I’m really excited because I haven’t seen my family members in such a long time. I’ve talked to them on the phone, but it’s just not the same. I’m not exactly sure what it is going to be like after being away for such a long time. I feel very connected to the Arabic culture and religion. I can’t wait,” said El ‘Harake.

ESOL

AT OHS

In the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages,) program, the instructor must teach the same curriculum as any other English class, while individually guiding each student through the course using special language strategies.

For example, seniors enrolled in the program complete the Senior Project.

Magali Rodriguez, the ESOL teacher, works with students who speak languages from across the globe - Spanish, Turkish, Swahili, Ugandan, Korean, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese.

“My students are so full of enthusiasm and desire.

I’ve had many who have gone on to successful careers in medicine, aviation, and more,” said Rodriguez.

Ryden Butler

staff reporter

Androids, gynoids and freedom. Oh my!

T

he progression of technology is rather peculiar. At one time, Edison Diamond Discs were the bee’s knees, the Edsel, much like Asbestos, was from coolsville, and the beeper was the most trusted way to get the 411. Yet our wireless age of iPhones and Google is a far cry from when the spinning jenny was “capital”. While my focus could easily drift to the evolution of popular slang over time, my message is actually a moral one.

Technology takes turn for worst If my previous allusions to technologies indicate anything, it should be recognizable that bad technology often comes in the form of new, good inventions.

Luckily for humanity, many of them fail their trial by fire in the consumer market – Does the term “HD DVD” ring any bells? But what if a bad technology were to come along that we, as a society, fail to acknowledge as such due to apparent positive traits? What I’m alluding to is the technology to produce androids.

First I should clarify, when I use the term “android,” I refer to a highly intelligent machine potentially capable of possessing emotion. Featured in films like Blade Runner and A.I: Artificial Intelligence, these androids often seek liberty from their servitude as tools of humanity.

Recently a gynoid (the proper term for a female android) was created known as Aiko. It can process complex math in the blink of an eye, identify objects, and read words aloud, all by simply looking at what is placed in front of it.

Additionally, it reacts to pain and responds angrily to being touched inappropriately. All of this is built inside what appears to be a somewhat convincing young Asian woman. This machine, so nearly human; the child of science and money.

Morality questions

photo/MIRANDA GHALI photo illustration/MIRANDA HARMON, MAGGIE KIPI

LEARNING THE LINGO. Freshman Darine El ’Harake stands with Lebanon’s flag, her native country. Since the age of seven El ’Harake has learned to incorporate English into her dominant Arabic language.

But is it morally acceptable to create something capable of deep thinking and emotion?

Every second a child is born. They possess emotion and eventually, through maturation, will have the ability to reason and think abstractly.

Consciously, as human beings, we deliver into this world future generations of youth without the slightest hesitation because human life is formulaic.

The children will be born into a world of 6.76 billion potential companions and competitors, throughout life, their bleak reality will be tempered with bouts of happiness, and ultimately, they will die.

But these absolutes which provide the foundation of humanity are not necessarily extended to the machines we construct.

If androids are efficiently designed to not sustain injury or die, would using them for work not be the highest degree of slavery?

But if they are free, do they possess rights? Do they vote? Marry? Pay taxes?

Where does humanity begin and machine end? Is it a matter of physiology?

All races and genders possess rights in the free world. Then does it pertain to mental capacity, the ability to think, feel, and reason? On a basic level, Aiko fulfills these requirements. But does it deserve rights? Does she deserve rights?

The Lion’s Tale

March 13, 2009

Features

9

Katsevich out calculates competition Junior rockets to top in Harvard-MIT math tournament Miranda Ghali

I

“Basically any sport I would play here would require me co-editor-in-chief my division, the Geometry division. [The Rocket City Math to practice two hours a day,” said Katsevich. “I go on bike League competition was a] mail-in competition where you

t’s Saturday morning. Some students plan a beach visit.

Others plan to sleep the day away. Not junior Gene Katsevich. Instead, he spends some of his Saturdays at math competitions.

He traveled all the way to Harvard to compete in one of his more recent competitions, The Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament (HMMT) on Feb. 21. The trip proved to be worth it when he earned third place in the Calculus level competition.

“My score was a 33 and the top two finishers tied with a 35. If I had solved any other problem then I would have gotten first place,” said Katsevich.

Katsevich also went to Princeton University on Jan. 31 for the Princeton University Mathematics Competition where he tied for fifth place in the Geometry division.

Katsevich started competing in math competitions in his sixth grade year, when most haven’t even began to learn preAlgebra.

“I started in sixth grade mainly at a local level. I started doing state competitions in seventh grade and traveling to national competitions starting in ninth grade,” said Katsevich.

His third place win in the HMMT win isn’t even his best.

“In eighth grade I did what was called the Rocket City Math League and I got first place nationwide in

basically stay at the school and they mail you the test that you take and they have all of the results on the internet and they send you a trophy if you did well,” said Katsevich.

Katsevich spends a lot of his time studying for these competitions. He studies during the school week, during the weekend, and even during the summer.

“Right now is the competition season when I practice most intensely because it is closer to the competitions,” said Katsevich.

Over the summer, Katsevich studies up to five hours per day learning from a textbook.

“During the summer before my tenth grade year, for example, I studied Calculus. I just took a textbook and went through it with my dad,” said Katsevich. “During the summer it’s basically like I have school except instead of having school I just do math.”

Katsevich’s math skills run in the family.

“My dad is a math professor at [the University of Central Florida]. He is basically my coach,” said Katsevich. “My dad devotes a lot of his time to helping my sister and me, probably more time than he devotes to his actual work.”

For Katsevich, math isn’t his only activity. He is actually very active. While he doesn’t have the time to devote to a sports team at the school, he does enjoy playing many sports.

rides on the weekends and [my family and I] play volleyball.

On the weekdays, I alternate going jogging with my family, playing tennis with my family, and playing basketball.”

Katsevich hopes to make math his future. He wants to study applied mathematics at the best school that will pay for his college education, and plans on becoming a college professor.

Katsevich appreciates all of the help he has earned from his Calculus teacher from last year, Farshid Safi.

“I would like to extend a special thank you to my calculus teacher last year, Mr. Safi, because, of all of the competitions that I do, he basically organizes them for me,” said Katsevich. “He sets them up, he makes sure that we never miss a competition and basically, I am able to do all of these competitions because he facilitates them for me.

He’s a very reliable person. He has never let me down.”

Multiplying medals.

Junior Gene Katsevich displays his growing number of awards.

photos/KEVIN VELOSO

from CHEATING, page 1 “I either walk around the room, or continually change positions in the room to monitor the admit to cheating. 90 percent of students admit to copying students,” said AP Spanish and Spanish 3 teacher someone’s paper.

Alida Eldridge. “I also have several different sets of While some students do get away with cheating, many don’t tests for each class.” realize the consequences until they are caught red handed.

Carpenter also takes precautionary steps to “After I catch someone cheating I call the parent and give ensure students do not cheat. the student a zero,” said Montione. “I also contact the discipline “I make them clear thier desks of all materials office with the information because cheating in any form is a before tests are distributed,” said Carpenter. “Also violation of the honor code.” they must take their Getting caught for cheating gives students not only a zero on backpacks out of their laps and I watch them during the the assignment but brings on a whole new enemy for the students, test.” called the honor code.

Some students say that there are degrees of cheating. Cook “I don’t think that the honor code punishes students enough for cheating,” said sophomore Alex Hoover. “Students who cheat says copying a test is definitely cheating but homework is another should just have to take a much harder test instead of losing exam issue.

“I think cheating definitely qualifies as copying a test but I exemption.”

When a student violates the honor code, teachers are notified have mixed feelings on whether or not copying homework is cheating,” said Cook. “It’s fine if and a list of violators is distributed to you don’t know a few problems and teachers to ensure the students will “Most of the time teachers have no borrow a friend’s homework but not if not receive exam exemptions. The you copy the whole thing.” student also receives a zero on the idea when a student is cheating.”

Disagreeing with Cook is junior assignment, parental contact, and Dimitri Wilks.

Saturday school.

Morgan Gill, ‘10 “Cheating only covers tests,” said Depending on the number of times Wilks. “If someone copies homework the student has been caught cheating then they will do bad on the test.” the punishment worsens.

The pressure to succeed in school weights on students, some “The honor code punishes cheaters very well,” said French.

“Not only does it punish the student but I think that it also prevents may say this pressure is even the fuel to the fire of cheating.

“It’s not just the dumb kids who cheat,” said Hoover. “Students other students from cheating because they don’t want to lose their who are perfectly capable of doing the work are the ones now exam exemptions.”

Some students feel as though teachers are not as alert to resorting to cheating because they are under so much pressure to cheating as the students and are therefore making it easier for get good grades and get into the best colleges.”

Senior Iggy Johnson* admits to falling under this pressure. students to cheat.

“I get piled on with homework, tests, and quizzes,” said “Most of the time teachers have no idea when a student is cheating,” said junior Morgan Gill. “I’ve only seen a student Johnson. “In order to get everything done in time I feel like there get caught once or twice out of the many times I’ve witnessed is no other way then to resort to cheating. I don’t have a major problem with cheating because almost everyone engages in cheating.” cheating whether teachers believe it or not.”

Hoover Agrees.

Students don’t always see the reality of cheating as Carpenter “Students almost always get away with cheating,” said Hoover. “Most teachers don’t notice but most of the students explains.

“Unfortunately, I think that many students see nothing wrong notice and never say anything.”

Despite prior beliefs, teachers don’t have eyes in the back of with cheating,” said Carpenter. “It will catch up with them their head, therefore some teachers have formed ways to make eventually when they realize that they did not learn the necessary skills to survive in college.” sure cheating does not take place.

There are many ways to avoid cheating and getting help from a teacher before a test is just one way.

“If you really need help with something you should go to the teacher before a test, cheating won’t get you anywhere,” said Cassel. “If you cheat you’re never going to learn anything which is the reason you’re taking a test, to show what you’ve learned.” *name withheld

Famous Cheaters Alex Rodriguez - Major League Baseball player caught using steroids.

1

Bill Clinton - Democratic President accused of cheating on his wife, Hillary.

2

Bernard Madoff - Investor responsible for a massive Ponzi scheme that cheated numerous people out of their money.

3

Frank Abagnale Jr. - Conned millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, Georgia doctor, and Louisiana prosecutor.

4

1

Claimed to not have known what steriods were at the time.

2

“Did not have sexual relations with that woman.”

3

Says no one else was involved but his accountant was arrested March 18 and investigators are looking into whether his sons knew.

4

Inspired the movie “Catch Me if You Can”.

10 Features

y r o t s i e h t s Hof n March 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

o m m o C 1972

Blast from

Tom Sterling ‘77

e commons w “To me I liked th because it was there in the 70’s e time,” said S contempary for th get to togethe so many places to ter benches, an pit, towers, thea

1984

1982

1991

1974

Commons no longer ‘has-been’ Miranda Harmon

L

staff reporter

eon Merck knows the Commons.

As someone who’s worked at Oviedo High School since 1970, Merck lived through all four stages of the Commons, from the original site built in 1969 to the shiny new commons of today.

The first stage, known as “The Pits,” became the forbearer of today’s Commons.

“It had a dungeon environment,” said Merck. “They had pits that we’d call ‘the pits.’ The auditorium was in with the Commons.”

The Commons was then an indoor enclosure with concrete benches furnishing the area, adding to the dungeon effect.

The Commons at first served as a cafeteria, an auditorium, as well as a library.

The auditorium was removed, leaving the Commons as primarily a cafeteria. “It was in the center of the 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D buildings,” said Merck. “It was used as a multipurpose room.”

Not long ago, the band room was removed from the Commons, leaving an exposed area in its place. Soon after, buildings 2A, 2B, and 2D were demolished, as was the entire Commons, leaving only the basic structures behind.

Merck reveals no sense of nostalgia for the old Commons.

“I didn’t care for the old Commons,” said Merck.

“I like the new Commons the best. The new Commons

Sterling re “When th silent during drop, even wh be 60 student only happene me for the rem The Com over the year “I rememb and would co Auto mechanics teacher Tom Sterling, an OHS graduate, want to walk recalls the old Commons as well.

“The Commons was the heart of the school,” said Reading te Sterling, “where everyone would pass each other between commons classes, hang out, and enjoy themselves.”

“It’s such Sterling graduated in 1977, and returned to teach in words.

It’s cl 1992. the school,” s Upon returning to OHS, Sterling noticed some changes Hennessy to the campus.

“When I came back to teach it was like stepping back to teach.

“It had a fe in time 20 years, the shop was the same but the Commons architecture.

T had changed,” said Sterling. “The pit and tower had been Hennessey di removed some time in my absence, and the sun roofs were “You knew covered, filling the Commons with artificial light, making them but you the commons ‘dingy.’”

While he The Commons once contained a pit leading to a tower miss certain a overlooking the entire area, and the large concrete structures “As much overhanging the Commons were once sunroofs, filling the old classroom Commons with sunlight.

is bright, it’s cheerful, it’s beautiful.”

The Commons went through many minor changes, including expanding the kitchen and leveling the floor, however, the latest renovation stage lasted the longest. “This one lasted the longest because they had to completely redo it,” said Merck.

Merck remains hopeful about the new Commons.

“It’s really a beautiful facility,” said Merck. “The students will take pride in it, I’m sure.”

1970’s - 1980’s

The Lion’s Tale

March 13, 2009

. . . t s a p e h t m

Mike Hennessey ‘97 “I had a class in ther t e when I was in nint when I first wen h gr ad e.

M y cla ss ro om was in there, 2D-01 very unique and 17 .

It was one of the bigg were est classrooms in the Sterling. “There e the school. I had a classroom, a compu er with friends lik ter room, and an office,” said Hennessey. nd tables. ”

7

U nd

o ns t r u C r

on ct i

e

1999

Chris Frie “That ro nd ‘96 om [the c o mmons] seemed more a n always ecessary destinat evil than ion a happene ,” said Friend. “ d there, Too much but to justify the atten it offered too lit tle tion.”

20 09

2001

Upgraded look bright, open, welcoming

ecalls student life during the 1970’s. he teachers could paddle, every student was class. If you walked in you could hear a pen hen the classes would combine and there would ts in the class,” said Sterling. “Fortunately, this ed once, that was enough. That experience lasted mainder of my high school career.” mmons, school, and students have all changed rs. ber people would walk through a field to school, ome to school with bare feet because they didn’t around in wet shoes all day,” said Sterling.

1990’s - 2000

eacher Michael Hennessy rejoices over the new

h a drastic improvement, it’s hard to put into lean, it’s bright. It’s one of the centerpieces of said Hennessy. y attended OHS as a student, and then returned

eeling of an old ‘70’s building because of the old There was no natural light in there,” said Hennessy. isliked the old Commons. w there were rodents in there. You couldn’t find u didn’t really want to find them.” didn’t like the old Commons, Hennessey does aspects of the older campus. h as I love this, all these new things, I miss my m,” said Hennessey.

Friend also remembers the old Commons.

“The best description I can think of for the Commons is to say it was dark, tired, and run-down. It constantly gave the impression of being a has-been,” said English teacher Chris Friend.

The old Commons had a dark interior.

“The low ceilings around the edges that were made from molded, steel-reinforced concrete segments brought back echoes of the Cold War, during which the building had been constructed. Our school was strong enough to withstand all kinds of horrible weapons,” said Friend. “Consequently, that building also withstood cellular signals, making text messaging a non-issue.”

The Commons also once served as the auditorium as well, connecting the fine arts rooms.

“The stage on the north end, seeming useless toward the end, promised that at one time, the room had been used to entertain students and parents through concerts,” said Friend.

Friend prefers the newer commons to the old.

“I must say I’m impressed with them. The lighting alone is worth the change,” said Friend. “It’s bright, open, and welcoming—a terrific contrast to the enclosed, stuffy, and miserable feeling one got from the old building.”

“What was with the skylights? I never did figure that one out,” said Friend, who graduated from OHS in 1996. “Or the second-story ‘Doors Into Nowhere.’”

Seemingly mysterious doors lined the upper walls of the old Commons, creating rumors and stories about where they led.

“We never really knew where that led, and we never really knew how anyone got up there,” said Hennessey.

Stories about a pool atop the Commons entertained and perplexed students.

“We would tell people that there was a pool up there,” said Hennessey. That those double doors led to the pool, but you had to get someone to let you up there, to get to diving practice.”

2000’s - Present day

Pool stories always provided amusement.

“I was smart enough not to fall for that. I tried to tell people that, but I never believed that when people told me,” said math teacher Erica Seagrest.

Seagrest graduated in 2002, and returned to teach in 2006.

“They were just starting construction when I came back. It wasn’t really that different, but now it’s a whole new school,” said Seagrest.

A cafeteria, media center, classroom, and meeting place, the Commons has changed over the ages, yet remains the center of OHS. “I think it served its purpose at the time,” said Sterling.

“But things change and so did the Commons.”

photos/CHRISTENSEN, THORNCROFT photos/COURTESY OVIEDAN YEARBOOK

Features

11

12 Features

March 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale One by One Carly Brower

Skiing bonds daughter with father

S

ophomore Karli Welhoelter takes a deep breath, leans over the edge, and jumps. She is gliding across a white blanket of snow with a huge smile stretched across her face.

“I love skiing because it’s so exhilarating. I feel like I’m flying down the mountain and, I know it sounds corny, but if skiing was all I ever did , I’d be happy,” said Welhoelter.

Welhoelter has been skiing practically her entire life.

“I used to live in Canada for two years when I was little and I would ski all the time. As I got older it was more fun because I didn’t have to take lessons as much,” said Welhoelter. “It used to be a family thing but then my mom stopped coming because she doesn’t like the cold so it’s just my dad and I.” Skiing has helped build a strong relationship between Welhoelter and her father.

“It’s a bonding time, it’s like our special thing. When we go skiing together we don’t fight, except maybe when we’re trying to catch a plane and I’m being slow.

But it’s a really nice father-daughter time, and we always have the best memorieslike me falling into chest deep snow on a snow

mobiling trip,” said Welhoelter. some high risks.

Welhoelter said that the first time “It’s so easy to to get hurt. When I skiing was a frightening experience. went to Whistler Mountain, someone had “It [skiing] is a totally different run over another person on a hill,” said experience than anyone is used to. You Welhoelter. “You just have to be watchful should have self-confidence and be able to of your surroundings and be prepared to not be afraid of hurting yourself, as well handle people flying out of corners.”

Welhoelter as willing to learn,’’ herself has said Welhoelter.

“I feel like I’m flying down the suffered some Welhoelter has injuries. traveled to Northern mountain and, I know it sounds “When I California, Colorado, was six I was West Canada, and corny, but if skiing was all I ever skiing in the North Carolina to did, I’d be happy.” woods and pursue her love for my mom was skiing.

Karli Welhoelter, ‘11 in front of me “My favorite and she turned place to ski is North Carolina. I love the resort and the hills, and at the last second and I tried to turn too, I was born there, so it’s my roots. It feels but I hit an ice patch and almost broke like home,” said Welhoelter. “One of the my arm,” said Welhoelter. “Another time, best places in the world to ski is Whistler when I was 15 and on Whistler Mountain, Mountain in British Colombia, Canada I was going down the last stretch of a hill because the hills are so big and steep and and trying to turn to follow my dad and both of my skis crossed and I fell forward. there are a lot of runs,” said Welhoelter.

Welhoelter usually goes skiing over The ball of my ski hit my temple, I slid about ten feet, and my poles got tangled winter break.

“During the winter is when the snow is up which twist my wrists. Luckily, I didn’t the best. If you’re willing to settle for less break anything.”

Even with the risks, skiing is a runs and less snow in the states, then you can go over spring break, but winter is my rewarding experience.

“My favorite part is the last few runs of favorite,” said Welhoelter.

Having the correct supplies is a main the day because everyone’s starting to head component of skiing. One should have back to their condos and hotels, and there’s properly fitting skis, ski boots, and if you’re less of a chance that I will hurt myself or bystanders. I also love wandering around more advanced you can use poles.

“My dad owns his own ski poles the villages and shopping; it’s so much and boots and we always rent my fun to have that cool mountain villager equipment,”said Welhoelter. “I experience,” said Welhoelter.

On ski runs, there are three different usually wear a lot of clothing layers. I would wear a sweater, types of levels.

Green is the easiest level, blue is a thermal jacket, and a winter coat. For the pants, intermediate, and a black diamond is the I would recommend hardest run out there,” said Welhoelter. long underwear and a “My goal is to run a double black diamond, pair of comfortable which I partially did when I was 13. I snowboarding pants,” really want to keep up with skiing because it’s been a lifelong thing.” said Welhoelter.

Taking part in skiing also has ONE, TWO, SKI. Sophomore Karli Welhoelter, prepared

with her skiing equipment, is ready to glide down snowy slopes.

Welhoelter began skiing when she was little, and has continued ever since.

photo/COURTESY OF KARLI WELHOELTER

Editor’s Note: One by one appears in

Jelly

by MirandabyHarmon Miranda Harmon

every edition of the Lion’s Tale and features a randomly selected student. This edition, a staff reporter interviewed the first person who helped her pick up dropped books.

Americans eat 100 pounds of chocolate, tipping offends waiters in Iceland • Every second, Americans collectively eat one hundred pounds of chocolate.

• There are approximately fifty Bibles sold each minute across the world.

• More money is spent on gardening than on any other hobby.

• It is estimated that millions of trees in the world are accidentally planted by squirrels who bury nuts and then forget where they hid them.

• Every 45 seconds, a house catches on fire in the United States.

• The world’s oldest piece of chewing gum is over 9000 years old.

• In the White House, there are 13,092 knives, forks and spoons.

• In Miami, it is forbidden to imitate an animal.

• In Florida, it is against the law to put livestock on a school bus.

• Should there be a crash, Prince Charles and Prince William never travel on the same airplane as a precaution.

• In Tokyo, a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips less than 50 minutes.

• Tourists visiting Iceland should know that tipping at a restaurant is considered an insult.

• Almost half the newspapers in the world are published in the United States and Canada.

• A ‘jiffy’ is an actual unit of timefor 1/100th of a second.

• The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley’s gum.

• It was once against the law to have a pet dog in a city in Iceland.

Compiled from: strangefacts.com

Diversions Just Face It -

The Lion’s Tale

W

staff reporter

hile viewing a Facebook profile, a user can see their friend’s favorite quotes, books, movies and music, and at the same time view pictures and videos posted on the social networking site, which currently hosts over 175 million profiles.

With so many users, making one profile interesting and entertaining takes work.

“I think to make a Facebook interesting you have to, as Mrs. Hilyard would say, let yourself shine through, so people are looking at who you are, not just another clone Facebook page. Whether it’s hard or not, I think it depends on if the person is willing to put the time into it,” said sophomore Mariah Weise.

One popular feature, Flair, located on the applications bar in the bottom left corner of a user’s screen, allows users to give virtual buttons to their friends. Decorated with witty sayings, scenes from movies and celebrities, they can be relatable to large groups of people or based on an inside joke.

“I express myself through Flair, [which is] just about the only thing I have displayed on my profile. I love looking and finding new flair pieces that portray who I am, like artsy, flowery, and ones with really cool designs,” said sophomore Morgan Casavant.

Photos are another way people can add personality to their Facebook profile and make them more interesting. From trips and vacations to hanging out around the house, many people post pictures of them with their friends on the networking site.

“Some people take some really cute or funny pictures that’ll cause a smile when you see them. Others post pictures from a concert or a night out, and those are always fun to look at. As an example, recently, my brother

and some of his friends went to a thing called Dayglow. I got to see many pictures of him and his friends covered in neon paint while dancing to, from what I’ve been told, techno music,” said Weise.

Applications also help make Facebook such a popular site. After a player has finished a game, the score is posted on their wall, allowing friends to compare scores.

Some like to compete with friends in games like Geochallange, a game where the player must match flags with their country and find different capitals with their countries around the world. Twirl, and word game where the player must find as many words as they can out of a bank of six letters, also brings a fun and competitive spirit to Facebook.

Others send Bumper Stickers, virtual stickers Facebook users can stick to their friends’ “walls”, or spaces where friends can post comments or give virtual gifts.

“One of my favorite things is the applications. When I’m bored and can’t find anything to do I find some applications that can entertain me like the movies applications [where] I can take movie quizzes, and YoVille. (A game where players create a digital self, get jobs, buy clothes, and meet other players.) Another great part is the [applications] that help raise money and support for important causes like cancer,” said sophomore Alex Hoover.

When looking at others’ Facebooks, many users look at the points they think show the most about a person’s personality.

“I look at a person’s photos the most along with their favorite quotes because I think you can tell a lot about someone by looking at the quality of their pictures and how intellectual their quotes are,” said sophomore Paola Castrillon.

Facebook Applications Pieces of Flair

Facebook users can use this application to show off their interests with buttons like these.

They can also send pieces of flair to Facebook friends.

Notes

With this application, Facebook users can share surveys, poetry, song lyrics, and more. They can tag friends in these notes and their friends can comment.

iLike

This application lets Facebook users add music, playlists, and videos to their profile, as well as dedicate songs to friends.

Causes

Facebook users can make a difference in the world with this application.

Any Facebook user with some initiative can create a cause, recruit their friends, and raise money. Donations are processed automatically via credit card.

What is your favorite social networking website?

“Facebook is like MySpace but even better. The applications are fun. I like the MySpace profiles because they are more colorful and personal, but Facebook is better overall.”

Gina Scheraldi, ‘10

13

Facebook applications best way to express personality

Flair, photos, games liven up site

Tova Kranz

March 13, 2009

“I’ve never really thought it was necessary to use online communication when you can just have face-to-face conversations.”

Alex Borkholder, ‘12

“I like MySpace better because you can express yourself freely with it. You can’t design your Facebook profile to reflect yourself.”

Shelby McGrew, ‘10

“I like Facebook better because it’s more private and it’s less of a personal advertisement.

Plus it’s a lot easier to find and communicate with friends.”

Alan Zegarra, ‘10

14 Diversions

March 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Tube Talk

lonely Road

I wrote these

Marsha Gibbs

J

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Alternative

love vs. hate

Julia Nunes Pop Rock

The Dream R&B Hip Hop staff reporter Tien Holmes

ulia Nunes reinvents pop-rock with her latest album “I wrote these.” Her side-kick? A ukulele. This unusual addition to her sound lifts her music to a superior level. The lyrics are intelligently crafted, leaving amateur work rotting in the trashcan.

Instead of an entire album of gloomy love songs about petal picking depression, the song “Short and Sweet” has an upbeat tempo about rejection that anyone can rock out to.

Starting off as a self-advertising musician on YouTube, Julia Nunes has laid a strong foundation for the future, previously opening for Ben Folds and performing in London.

Her goofy down-toearth personality and sensational sound leave her fans craving more. For more information visit www.

JuliaNunes. com.

T

Caitlyn Braswell staff reporter

he title says it all. “Rockin’ that Thang”, is one of the hottest songs out at the beginning of this spring season. Novice hip-hop artist The Dream has done it big with this CD Love Vs. Hate. Dream collaborated with many artists including Mariah Carey on the track “My love”, and on the “Rockin that Thang remix” with artists such as Fabolous and Rick Ross. Kanye West also makes an appearance on the 14 track CD and is featured on the song “Walking on the moon”. The Dreams’ high pitched, smooth, melodic voice has established him as a dominant male figure in the R&B and hiphop game.

Round 2

J Holiday R&B

Tien Holmes

H

staff reporter

e put the world to “Bed”. However, with the release of his new album, Round 2, J. Holiday, put listeners to sleep. The first single, “It’s Yours” is a complete waste of studio time and listening time. What happened to the once new Holiday and “Suffocate”?

Maybe the plastic bag got a little bit too tight because Round 2 comes off as life after death. The CD features 13 tracks of which all but one is J. Holiday singing pathetically about losing a girl, loving a girl, or hating being alone. Rick Ross is featured on the track “Wrong Lover”, and his appearance was the only thing that made the CD worth listening to.

W

Miranda Ghali

‘Those Happy Days’ of catchy theme songs too long gone staff reporter

hile The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus new album Lonely Road can hold attention, it can’t compare to the break out sound of their first album Don’t You Fake It. The new album has southern rock roots, much different from the screamo sounds of Don’t You Fake It. Though most of the album sounds like the band suffered from a lack of creativity, there are a few gems in the album like their single “You Better Pray” with its catchy southern rock guitar and easy-to-sing chorus. The lyrics on this album all around fail, with the band settling for typical girl breaks boys heart lyrics.

However, the band managed to pull together impressively with their ballad-like lyrics of Godspeed, pulling on emotions with their retelling of a boy’s experience killing a soldier in Vietnam. While this album is acceptable enough to give a listen, the band has fallen from the talent they once had.

Restaurant Review

Best Asian food on this side of Chinatown

Tori’s Choice: Victoria Persampiere Fried Veggie Dumplings (4 dumplings) news editor - $4.25. One word: yum. A crispy and

Altamonte and Millenia malls.

Elephant Bar’s food is very unique and varied. The menu is pretty colossal, and unexpectedly tangy rendition of a classic features everything from seafood to steak to en Yen – 855 East State Road dish. vegetarian dishes. The use of exotic flavors, 434, Winter Springs Shelley’s Chicken (enough for two) fruits, nuts and garnishes into the meals Yen Yen has the unfortunate $12.95.

A very fun new take really makes the dishes memorable. For burden of being the only interesting Food: 5/5 on sweet and sour chicken, the most part, Elephant Bar’s food is light business in an otherwise desolate Total check for two Shelley’s is sweet and spicy – so and guiltless, as opposed to the generally shopping center on the worst end of people: $21.20 if you’re skittish, order it mild. sauce-covered dishes served at Chinese town. (it’s across from the Winter Yen Yen’s friendly, engaging takeout joints. Elephant Bar’s best quality Springs DMV) However, it’s well atmosphere and crazy shows make it a great is its signature near-tropical tang to all of worth the trip into Bear Country – Yen Yen place for a first date, a fun-loving couple, or its dishes; for a healthier, brighter pan-asian boasts some of the best pseudo-Chinese a large party of friends. experience, nobody beats Elephant Bar! food I’ve ever had!

Elephant Bar – Just outside Tori’s Choice: Small parties (four or less) are seated Altamonte Mall and Mall at Millenia Oriantal Chicken Salad - $8.95. I at intimate shadow-box-esque tables, Located about 20-30 minutes from honestly don’t know what’s in this, but and larger parties at round, spin-top OHS at both Altamonte Mall and Mall it’s pretty much amazing. It tastes almost tables perfect for sharing Yen Yen’s at Mellenia, Elephant Bar is a bit of tropical; crunchy iceburg lettuce, mandarin large portions. Yen Yen is a fairly classy a commute.

But it’s ritzy atmosphere oranges, water chestnuts, and a tart dressing restaurant; dim lighting, soft music and and light, unique food make it – plus a whole bunch of dapper waiters serve to enhance the worthwhile. other tasty treats – make Food: 5/5 romantic ambiance.

The giant elephants and giraffes this dish simultaneously “Yen Yen is a mix of different Asian Total check: $18.75 are certainly unique, and the faux ‘safe’ and also unique. cuisines,” said general manager Tely Tse. palm-frond Georgia ceiling fans Giant Cookie Ice “It’s pan-Asian, combining Vietnam, are pretty, but other than that the décor at Cream Sandwich $7.72.

It may be a bit Thailand, Malaysia, and China.” Whatever Elephant bar is nothing especially dazzling. pricey for a dessert, but the Giant Cookie it is, it’s delicious. Seriously, once The lights dim in the evening, and while Ice Cream Sandwich really delivers.

It’s you’ve had Yen Yen, there’s no going back this does lend the restaurant a cozier, more a generous helping of vanilla ice cream – I crave fried veggie dumplings at all intimate feel, the place can sometimes between two warm, gooey chocolate chip hours of the day. Yen Yen’s cuisine is appear to be too dark.

It’s very trendy, cookies, topped with a squeeze of chocolate an eclectic blend of sweetness, spice, and though, and both locations are conveniently sauce and cookie crumbles. And it lives up citrus tastes, and not at all like any other located within walking distance of the to its name – it’s giant!

Chinese food I’ve ever had.

Y

co-editor-in-chief

I

dare you to not finish these lyrics: “In West Philadelphia born and raised. On the playground is where I spent most of my days.”

Couldn’t help it right? You had to say (or at least think) “Chillin’ out, maxin’, relaxin’, all cool and all shootin’ some b-ball outside of the school, when a couple of guys, who were up to no good, started making trouble in my neighborhood. I got in one little fight and my mom got scared. She said ‘You’re movin’ with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air.’” This theme song (for “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” for those of you who were deprived as children) is a staple of the show.

Everyone can rattle off TV show theme songs to their favorite older shows.

“Three’s Company,” “Friends,” and “Gilligan’s Island” all had great songs that, if you thought hard enough, you could probably sing right now.

Not very many TV shows have theme songs anymore. Sure they have a 10 second blip at the beginning of the show to say the stars names, but it’s only melodies - no catchy words to get stuck in your head.

Theme songs make impact on shows TV shows would be better off with theme songs. They really can get into people’s heads and create an easier way for people to remember their show.

This is not to say that any bad show will become better with a theme song. I am merely saying that good TV shows that you may not remember past five minutes of the show’s end can become good TV shows that you will remember for years because of a theme song.

I can’t really think of a good reason that TV shows don’t have theme songs anymore.

Maybe producers are too scared you will change the channel during their theme song. Maybe they just want to fit in more commercials. Whatever the case, TV theme songs are becoming a lost art.

Sure some shows still have them.

“Gilmore Girls,” “Scrubs,” and “Psych” just to name a few. But, can you think of many more? songs lead to great shows Great It’s really a shame that today’s shows are no longer creating these theme songs. I don’t think they realize how much these songs help the show.

Just think about it. What’s the first thing you think about when you think of “Full House?” Probably the lyrics “Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, there’s a heart, a hand to hold onto.” These songs help the shows leave behind a legacy.

I’m willing to bet that not as many people would have remembered “The Brady Bunch” if it didn’t have such a compelling story-like theme song. “Here’s the story of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls…”

In general, songs help everything on television. Think about the commercial for flea medication with the cute little golden retriever. He sang “Hello mother, hello father, fleas, tick, mosquitoes really bother.” If I just said “think about that commercial for flea medication,” you wouldn’t know what I was talking about.

All television shows should make an effort to make more interesting introduction bits for their shows. They really leave behind a legacy for the show and they will make people remember the show for years to come.

The Lion’s Tale

March 13, 2009

Diversions 14

Movie Reviews

Reviewer calls Friday the 13th Boresville David Parsons

Y

staff reporter

ou can guess a lot of things about the most recent Friday the 13th incarnation before watching it. The plot will be achingly minimal. The acting will remind you of a kindergarten play. The horror will bore you rather than scare you. Such have been the staples of the series since Jason’s addition to it in Part II. You’d be right on the money with all of those deductions. The new Friday focuses around Clay (Jared Padalecki), who has come to Crystal Lake to search for his sister Whitney, who went missing some Rating: R weeks earlier. His travels intertwine with those of a group of photo/www.watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com rambunctious stereotypes masquerading as teenagers.

Time: 95 min Michael Bay’s mere involvement in the project mandates Grade: D a cast of attractive people. Similarly, it ensures that the viewer Michael Mangos that many of these “heroes’ are not as heroic will care about absolutely none of these people.

Jason’s return throws a wrench in the kids’ plans for a good time, and well…you can staff artist as you would like to think. For example, guess the rest. People die…en masse. If you’ve seen any Friday movie, you’ve basically lot of comic fans complain that most Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson) may look like seen this movie. movie adaptations of their favorite Batman but acts more like a grown-up Everyone from the stereotype crowd turns in miserable acting performances, with stories are never faithful enough to Peter Parker. He’s a nerdy, loveable hero Travis Van Winkle as rich-boy Trent forming the bottom of the barrel. Padalecki actually the original material. Watchmen certainly who’s afraid of his alter ego after years of does a pretty good job with his role, although sometimes he seems a little too calm for the isn’t in that category. Zack Snyder, the retirement. circumstances he’s placed in, as if he occasionally lapses into his persona from the TV director of Watchmen has translated the The film really shines by asking some series Supernatural. graphic novel directly from page to screen. interesting questions regarding masked The movie takes itself far too seriously for its content, and poor pacing makes it feel This should leave Watchman fans happy but vigilantes: what would cause someone a lot longer than its runtime. The problem is, you know everyone’s fate before it comes also leaves us with a movie that to dress up and fight crime? to pass. There’s no suspense, nothing to get the viewer’s heart pounding with any sort of people who haven’t read the novel What if super-heroes had the nightmarish anxiety.

Rating: R may find very confusing. same fears we do? And most The script is absolutely miserable, but is also the aspect of the movie in which you’ll Time: 163 min importantly: If the “Watchmen” The story of Watchmen spans find the most enjoyment. I can cite multiple instances in which the characters begin talking Grade: Bmany decades, and revolves look over us, who watches over to inanimate objects. At one point, Trent drops his around several masked heroes them? gun in a small stream, and angrily calls out to it: with their own complicated backEach of the film’s six “Where are you, gun?!” stories. masked heroes are well developed, the People might like to claim that this remake The majority of the story takes place film delves into the psyche, flaws and is a hollow shell of the originals, but really, during the eighties. America is on the brink motivations of each with surprising they weren’t that good either. Ever since of war with the soviet union, Nixon has depth. Dr. Manhattan the only member of good old Pamela got axed, the series hasn’t been reelected and The Vietnam war was the Watchmen with actual powers has a had a single exciting or original moment a success thanks to Dr. Manhattan (Billy particularly interesting back-story. to my recollection. And they’ve now had 11 Crudup)a blue, omniscient super-man This definitely isn’t a film for kids. movies to try. It’s time to put the hockey mask with God-like powers who works for the Scenes of rape, sex and gore are quite on the shelf for good.

American government. numerous. Snyder uses a lot of the same In short, predictability and a dogmatic Watchmen opens with the murder of one violent imagery he used in 300 and although determination to stick to the conventional slasherof these masked heroes. After the Comedian there’s less of it, it seems a lot more intense. movie formula doomed this Friday, as it (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is assassinated by Watchmen is the comic book movie has doomed all the others aside from the an unidentifiable killer, Rorschach (Jackie- that does what other comic book movies original. Until the slasher genre can prove Earle Harley) the film’s ink-blot faced, dare not do. You can go to it to see some that it is capable of redefining itself and morally ambiguous detective is on a mission super-heroes do violent things to people or evolving into something fresh and original, to find the killer before any more heroes end you can contemplate the moral questions it there proves to be little need to waste eight up dead. brings up. Either way it’s an enjoyable and dollars, now $8.50, at the box office to see its Thoughout the movie you begin to see completely unique super-hero movie. latest production.

This family of inbreds sends an exterminator out into under all 0.76 pounds of it. the woods to take care of the “frog problem.” When Smith The butler wrestles an alligator and is putting it to comes along his path, he finds an absolute massacre. The shame in front of all its alligator friends. At some point, forest floor is littered with snakes, lizards, frogs and birds. however, Steve Irwin himself must have felt great pity for Birds? Why was the exterminator shooting poison into the the beast and shot the butler from afar using the torque bow sky? He’s supposed to be spraying for frogs, not the bald from Gears of War, because the man inexplicably bursts eagle. The dead animals are also conveniently out in the into a pool of blood. staff David Parsons staff reporter reporter open, as if their dying wish was to be evenly spaced along A woman dressed in traditional African tribal dress the trail for the cameraman. uses phrases from the Gettysburg Address in her arguments Smith finds the exterminator dead (though the convincing the others to leave. Wow, time really IS actor is still breathing heavily) and returns to the moving fast. We’re already at the Civil War. If this ometime in 1972, a man got very, very drunk in the movie goes on much longer, I expect to see a high depths of Louisiana and broke into a zoo, making off house.

Following the Napoleonic war tactics they speed chase on some hovercrafts. with every reptile and amphibian to its name. He had Slavery leaves, along with everyone still alive, no idea what to do with the animals once he had them, and learned at West Point, the frogs cut the phone lines, presumably with the scissors that they except for the old man, who elects to stay behind quickly realized that the police would be upon him faster in his wheelchair. than his hangover. You can’t very easily walk into a bar and keep in their back pockets at all times. Time seems to be passing supernaturally quickly, too.

The frogs repair the phone line and begin attempt to pay for a shot of liquor with a corn snake. He Shots alternate wildly between day and night, as making prank calls to his home phone. Somehow, took refuge on a plantation and tried to decide what to do they manage to leap through his glass window, with his prize before it was taken back and replaced with a if the movie is trying to fast forward itself past the slave days and into modern times over the though this would probably be veritably jail sentence. course of the next twenty minutes. impossible. Perhaps they wrapped themselves in medieval He had a camera.

This begs some very interesting questions: armor and strapped jet engines to their legs when I wasn’t This is currently my working theory on how the Smith, why are you still here? Weren’t you just stopping looking. The lights go out as they crawl over the man. I movie Frogs came about. It’s a horror movie where frogs – have no clue how this harms him in any way, but it still the masterminds of all animals – coerce the local fauna into off for a cup of lemonade? And now you’ve been here, what, three days? Don’t you have some more pictures to causes his immediate death. exacting their revenge upon humans living in a plantation/ I’m not entirely sure how creature-features always swamp in Vermont. Every animal you can imagine in a low snap, nature boy?

The frogs’ revenge is carried out in more and more find their way into my hands. First we had Orca. Strike quality zoo is in this movie. There are monitor lizards here. absurdly complex ways. A motley assortment of reptiles one. Frogs, strike two. Planet Raptor? Strikes three You know where this movie does NOT take place? The through…426. You know what happens to people when Gaza Desert. Try finding a monitor lizard in the swamps of traps a man in a greenhouse. They use their astute knowledge of chemical properties to mix toxic substances, they strike out that many times in a row in real baseball?

Vermont. Try finding swamps in Vermont! creating a gas that is miraculously poisonous to humans and They get kicked out of the major leagues and end up with Nature photographer Pickett Smith is accidentally not themselves. the Calgary Vipers, where management trades players for knocked out of his canoe and is invited to dry off at the Tarantulas manage to tie a man down with falling satchels of extraneous sports equipment. In any case, this local plantation. This house exists in one of those parallel universes that always seem to pop up at least once a season strands of Spanish moss, which are apparently far too heavy is suddenly right up there with “putting Nicholas Cage in for the victim to simply throw off. He is crushed to death movies” on my list of Hollywood trends that must stop. in Star Trek when the writers completely run out of ideas.

Every character here looks EXACTLY the same as every HOW BAD CAN IT BE? other character of their gender, making it almost impossible to tell who lives and who dies. Time in this alternate reality moderately angering so bad it’s funny cruel and inhuman punishment seems to have reversed itself well over a hundred years, as I’m pretty sure the help in this household consists entirely of slaves. inherently stupid emotionally scarring so bad it hurts to live

Watchmen not for faint of heart

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March 13, 2009

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From Lions to Bulldogs Two seniors receive scholarships to play for big dogs Maggie Kipi

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photo/courtesy LEONARD’S STUDIO

photo/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

staff reporter

eniors Todd Hankins and Malcolm Clapsaddle caught the eyes of the University of Georgia recruiters and received baseball scholarships to become members of the UGA bulldogs.

Hankins feels a sense of anticipation in his upcoming baseball career.

“I’ve been a bulldog fan my whole life. I’ve always wanted to play there,” said Hankins.

Baseball requires tremendous commitment and hard work. In order to succeed, members of the team must be willing to put forth numerous hours of training and practice.

“In order to stay at the top of your game at the plate you have to spend hours a week taking batting practice, and maintaining your swing. Conditioning and working out is the most demanding part of baseball,” said Hankins.

Clapsaddle also puts forth many hours of practice and training.

“I’ve been on around 20 teams since I was four years old, and I practice for around two hours every day,” said Clapsaddle.

Hankins and Clapsaddle aspire to expand their baseball career to the major leagues.

Hankins also admits that being a professional baseball player would entail even more hard work and commitment.

“I would love to get the chance to play professionally, but I would have to work extremely hard, and get really lucky,” said Hankins. “My favorite team has always been the Atlanta Braves so I would love to play for them.”

Clapsaddle also shares a common interest in major league team he would prefer to play on, if given the opportunity.

“If I could become a professional baseball player, I would like to play on the Atlanta Braves. It’s my favorite team, and it’s always been my family’s favorite too,” said Clapsaddle.

Discovered by UGA at a baseball camp, Hankins acknowledges that camps can prove to be very beneficial to one’s baseball career, and can also improve aspiring baseball player’s skills tremendously.

“I have been to several baseball camps before, including my first camp ever which was when I was 13 at OHS. Last year I attended camps at UF and UGA, and the camp is actually where Georgia took interest in me,” said Hankins.

Hankins possesses the ability and versatility to be able to play a myriad of different positions throughout the game.

“In high school I play shortstop, but Georgia recruited me as a utility player so I can play any position on the field except pitcher. Shortstop is my favorite position because you get the most action there normally. I’ve played shortstop since I was ten,” said Hankins.

Reminiscing on his previous baseball years, Hankins expresses relief that Clapsaddle will be joining him in their upcoming four years at UGA. “Malcolm and I have been playing together ever since I can remember. I’m really glad we are both going up there because that means we can play together for four more years,” said Hankins.

“And it’s going to be good

photo/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

photo/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

photo/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

COVERING THE BASES. Senior Todd Hankins

PITCHING TO SUCCESS. Senior Malcolm Clapsaddle was recruited to play for UGA’s baseball team as pitcher.

Clapsaddle pitches in the game against Lyman High School. He will be playing alongside Senior Todd Hankins.

photo/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

illustration/MICHAEL MANGOS

photos/BROOKE FIDRICK

runs to third base in the Lyman vs. Oviedo game on Tuesday March 10, 2008. Hankins reaches first base on a bunt. Hankins recieved his acceptance letter to UGA and has decided to play for the Georgia Bulldogs, along side Clapsaddle.

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Sports

March 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Practices key to season wins Connor Bailey

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photo/JODY FISHER

PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE. Senior attacker

Kelsey Poling cradles the ball while running down the field looking to get a shot on goal.

sports editor meaning.

he Lady Lions lacrosse team beat two of the toughest teams in Central Florida by a single point, Winter Springs and Lake Brantley High Schools.

Both teams left everything they had in them on the field, hustling during ever play.

Picking up the intensity level in the second half proved to be the key factor in both of the games.

“We are more of a second half team. We have a habit of not playing to our full potential in the first half, but in the second half we pick up our level of play 100 notches,” said senior defender Rhianna Wardian. “We came back to win from behind in two big games which really showed our determination to win.”

Even though the team was losing at half time in both games, they all still believed they could pull out wins.

“During our talk we were just encouraging each other and trying to pump each other up. We knew we had the ability and skill level to win the games, we just had execute properly,” said junior defender Kaci Wing.

Senior midfielder Ellyn Spangenberg scored the game winning goal with under a minute of play left in the game against LBHS. “It wasn’t the fact that I scored the game winning goal, it was when our goalie blocked a crucial goal in the last minute and our defense was able to transition it down the field and get a good pass to me to set up a play with the attackers,” said Spangenberg.

The Lions beat LBHS 15-14 WSHS 1413.

With only six games left until the playoffs, practices start to hold a whole new

“In our recent practices we have had a set focus. We’re starting to work on the meticulous elements; specific plays, stressful situations, strategies on how to beat certain teams, and fine tuning our skills. These types of practices are really going to help us reach the level we need to be at for playoffs,” said Wardain.

Two of the skills the team doesn’t have to work on during practice is their communication and chemistry.

“Our team posses a strong communication element. We have played with each other for a few years now so we kind of know what our teammates next play or move will be,” Wing.

Most of the players are friends on the field and off which transitions onto the playing field.

“We like to hangout together off the field.

We know the difference between game time and when to goof around, which is a great boundary to have with each other,” said senior attacker Kelsey Poling.

The Lions hope all of their hard work throughout the season will pay off during the post season.

“We are feeling pretty confident about reaching the final four for the second consecutive year. If we advance to regionals we are going to have to play Barcham Trail but we have to get by Winter Springs during districts, which should be a tough game because of the redemption factor they have against us. Just beyond Barcham Trail is Park Vista High, who is currently ranked second in the state, which will be a very tough game for us if we advance that far,” said Wardian.

Dedicated dozen hope to crush Lyman Caitlin Braswell

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Most of the water polo members set

staff reporter personal goals they would like to achieve by

nly 12 players total on the water polo the end of the season.

“I’ve been preparing for the IM team this team means that the team must work twice as hard to accomplish anyhing year, which is the college club team. I’m planning on playing at Auburn after graduate. they do.

“We’re really low on people for our team. They have a really good water polo team We don’t have any subs for games so we all there,” said Garcia.

Other members set different goals. have to work harder at games but we also get “I really want to get first team all more playing time,” said senior Alex Garcia.

Coach Donnell stays busy trying to recruit conference this year which is the basically the ranking of the best eight players in the more players.

“I tell the players every day to get friends district,” said Keyes.

Returning members of water polo also to join the team. I’ve gone to the cafeteria during lunches and tried to get people to join know what opposing teams they would like and we’ve also made a video,” said Donnell. to beat.

“I’m looking forward to the Lyman game Many of the players speculate about why because we’re going to crush them this year. they have to recruit players.

“I think a lot of people just don’t know But I’m dreading the Lake Brantley game what water polo is. They think it’s not cool because I’m worried they’ll crush us instead,” but I honestly think it’s one of the top two said Freeburn.

The Miami tournament hosted by Ransom hardest sports to play in high school,” said is held in April. Players look forward to it sophomore Alex Freeburn.

Others blame the fact that many of the each year.

“Winning the Miami tournament is what new players last year were seniors, so when they graduated, the team had fewer people I’m really looking forward to this year. It was a lot of fun last year,” said Keyes. coming back.

Although the team didn’t win the “We did have a lot of seniors last year.

Because of this, we have less experience as a tournament last year, some are confident that whole but it’s also better for the future,” said they can win this year.

“I think because we didn’t win last year Donnell.

Many of the players in the past were on the that we are going to train harder in order to swim team, giving them an extra advantage win the tournament in Miami. We’re more unified as a team this year and I think that we in the game.

“Water polo is a lot different from other can go further and be better than we did last sports. I think it gives me an advantage and year,” said Garcia.

One of the main contributors to a the whole water thing works well for me.

The sport really gets you into shape, too. successful season is dedication and so far, the The Speedos are fun too,” said senior Dustin team has plenty.

“We have less people on the team, because Keyes.

Other players were introduced into the of this we have to work harder, but because we sport through camps that Donnell holds in the do this I think it also shows a lot of dedication that each member has,” said Garcia. summer.

The Lion’s Tale

March 13, 2009

Sports

19

The Roar Tien Holmes

Chase Gordon becomes wrestling state champion after hard work, long practices

photos/COURTESY LEONARD’S STUDIO

TAKE HIM DOWN. Junior Chase Gordon became the state champion of wrestling on Feb. 21. The competition shown was against Winter Springs High School at Oviedo High School on Jan. 21. Over the course of the season, Gordon won 46 games and lost only two. Gordon is proud of his accomplishment. He said, “After it was all said and done, I knew I worked hard, so I felt accomplished.”

Wrestling team finishes the season with fourth place finish in state competition

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ate in the season, the Lions wrestling team won first place at the Region tournament. Their season finished up a few weeks later with a forth place in the 3A State tournament.

Among some high placing wrestlers are Erin O’Dell who placed third in state for weight class 160, and Jay Taylor also placed high receiving second place for weight class 189.

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Boy’s track team makes an improvement

ith a few weeks gone by in March, the boys track team has significantly improved its times as a whole since the start of the season. In the Holloway Lake Highland Invitational, junior Daniel Schmidt ran a 10 minute 36.5 second race (abbreviated 10:36:5) and sophomore Erik Clarke ran an 11:30:2 in the 3200 meters, both placing high in the race. On the consolation 16 meters race, junior Ricky Schooling had a time of 5:22 and sophomore Zane Beard had a time of 6:23:8.

with Colin Perry

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Lady Lions softball working toward districts

he Lady Lions are trying to find their comfort zone this season. The team has been in a funk lately with two heart-breaking losses to Winter Springs, 6-4, and Lake Howell 2-1.

The Lady Lions brought it back with a win against Seminole High School by a score of 10-1. Senior Alyssa Gantt hit a triple during the game against Seminole and it was her second of the week. Senior Stephanie Shoup hit the only homerun of the season. At this point in the season, the Lady Lions are 7-6 and looking forward to playing in the District tournament.

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Boy’s tennis attempts to make turn-around

he boy’s tennis team currently has a record of 1-2. They won on Feb. 14 against Lake Howell High School by a score of 6-1. Even though the Lions crushed LHHS in that game, they weren’t so lucky a few weeks later when they suffered a 5-2 loss to Winter Springs High School. They have the rest of the season to recover to make it past Districts and maybe make it into Regionals.

Dustin Keyes

Claims of cheating lead to disrespect Sore loser. That’s the only phrase that describes Toronto Raptors player Chris Bosh after Bosh accused Shaq, that giant monstrosity, of cheating in the most recent game betweens the two teams.

It’s not Shaq’s fault that he wasn’t guarded and was able to make play after play because of Bosh’s poor defensive technique.

Bosh publicly defamed Shaq by saying the only reason he scored 45 points was because he camped out in the lane. He referred to the referees not counting the three-second rule against O’Neal.

With this 40+ game, it adds Shaq’s total 40+ games up to 49. All of the other 48 games the Shaq has played, he hasn’t cheated. At least it hasn’t been brought up publicly before.

What makes Bosh think that this time O’Neal cheated?

Maybe because Bosh scored 19 points that game, and Shaq almost tripled that score in just one game. In fact, while Bosh played for 33 minutes, O’Neal only played 35.

In two minutes, is it possible for a man to score 26 more points because he’s cheating?

No. Bosh, don’t blame it on the ref’s. Don’t blame it on Shaq cheating. Blame it on the fact that you’re 6’10” and you can’t guard one of the greatest players ever. Blame it on Shaq’s skill. You’re 24, he’s 37.

Shaq was the savior in the game against the Raptors. Some players have their off days like Bosh did, and good players (O’Neal) play on their inadequacy.

O’Neal got kind of cocky when he told the press “I’m the only player, who looks at every center and says to myself that’s barbequed chicken down there.” I love chicken so I got the innuendo.

Even the Toronto coach said that his team has no one to guard him [Shaq]; he’s just too strong.

If you’re going to play a professional sport, don’t complain, and don’t be a BMW. It isn’t high school. It isn’t middle school when my team went into the third straight overtime and still lost and we cried about it.

Professional ball is a big boy game, but not for Bosh who accused one of the biggest boys in the NBA of cheating. In the words of Justin Timberlake, “Cry me a river”, or better yet, just suck it up Bosh.

Upcoming Games 03/25

Senior polo player loves Speedos, water, fun

Girls Varsity Water Polo VS. Hagerty - 4:00PM Girls JV Lacrosse VS. Lake Brantley - 5:00PM Boys JV Baseball VS. Lake Brantley - 6:00PM Girls Varsity Lacrosse VS. Lake Brantley - 7:00PM

03/26

Boys JV Volleyball VS. Lake Mary - 5:30PM Girls JV Softball VS. University - 6:00PM Boys Varsity Volleyball VS. Lake Mary - 7:00PM Boys Varsity Baseball VS. Hagerty - 7:00PM photo/BROOKE FIDRICK

Lion’s Tale: What feelings do you get when the game is getting ready to start?

Dustin Keyes: Nervous anticipation. I feel the calm before the storm.

LT: When did you play your first game?

DK: My first high school game was at Lake Brantley last year. It was the first game of the season, and it was one of the worst experiences of my life.

LT: Why do you like water polo?

DK: Speedos! It’s fun, a challenge, I get to show off my bod, it’s different from other sports, and I like water.

LT: Who would you say influenced you to play the most?

DK: Matt Sokolowski, he is a god, and Steven Brown (I wear his number).

LT: In your opinion, is the team performing well this year?

DK: Yes, many first year players are doing really well, we have a lot of teamwork and cohesion.

LT: If I gave you a brick, what would you do with it?

DK: Use it to start laying the foundation of a successful tomorrow.

LT: What song would you use to describe how you play?

DK: “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas.

staff reporter

03/30

Boys Varsity Tennis VS. Lyman - 3:00 PM Boys Varsity Water Polo @ Lake Brantley - 8:00 PM

03/31

Girls Varsity Tennis VS. Lyman - 3:00 PM Boys JV Lacrosse VS. Timber Creek - 5:30 PM Boys Varsity Lacrosse VS. Timber Creek - 7:00 PM

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