The Muse November Issue

e h T

Alexander W. Dreyfoos

School of

the Arts Volume 9 issue 2 November 2011

bLOCKING tHE ROAD With insurance, gas, parking fees and distractions in the way, can students be responsible drivers?

Pages 14-15

Table of Contents

TABLE OF

Dreyfoos by the numbers

CONTENTS ON THE COVER

5

op/ed

Facebook cookies can track you

We all may lurk profiles on Facebook, but did you know that Facebook is lurking you back?

9

Illustration by Alex Lopez

Student drivers face many obstacles, distractions and responsibilities when they first get their license.

News

Unemployment hits high schoolers

The financial downturn affects students as they struggle to find jobs in this sluggish economy.

12

Features

Teen partying is on the rise

Party venues like DayGlow and Tabu create a controversial scene for adolescent partiers.

19

ARTS

“Midsummer” Rocks The Box Office

This Moody Blues rendition revamps a classic Shakespearean play.

21

Morris wins over 200 karate awards

24

Anaface.com: judge of beauty?

SPORTS

Communications freshman Richard Morris ranks No. 1 nationally in martial arts.

For more Museworthy stories visit:

entertainment

Computer, computer, on the desk, am I prettier than the rest?

themuseatdreyfoos.com This is a q-r code, scan it with your smart phone and it will take you directly to the muse website.

2

The Muse November 2011

Photo by Gabi Cohen

Editors-in-Chief Audrey Green (left) and Samantha Bilton stand in front of the number marking Building 1, which houses The Muse room. The numbers were installed for the Green Conference on Nov. 11.

A

new set of faces appeared on campus this month.

They’ve been here all along, but they just never had a name. The new, black building number signs shine light on a confusing problem. Until now, students were left to wonder which building they were actually in. When we noticed the black numbers placed on the buildings, this got us wondering about other Dreyfoos numbers.

There are 378 classes offered, which are taken by 1,294 students and taught by 81 teachers. There are 201 stairs in Building 1. There are 1,368 lockers on campus, not including dance and band.

There are 103 classrooms and 77 bathrooms. There are 12 park benches. There are 14 custodians. There are 220 student parking spaces. There are 180 schools days and the average day is seven hours and 23 minutes. There are eight LTM days. On average, Lynn Berryman prints out 75 passes per day. There are only 60 days in the second quarter.

Although these numbers may seem random and jumbled, they all have a purpose. Without a specific number of classrooms, a specific numbers of students would not be able to take a specific number of classes with a specific teacher. Dreyfoos lives and thrives on numbers.

This issue of The Muse takes a look at some of our numbers.

We have 43 staff members.

There six sections of the The Muse. This is the ninth volume of The Muse. Six issues are made each school year. We’ve decided to increase circulation and there are now 1,200 copies of The Muse printed each issue to distribute to students, parents, teachers and individuals in the community.

This issue, there are 28 pages with 35 stories.

The numbers of Dreyfoos and The Muse are important.

They can even be fun. The next time you are bored in class, try counting the number of tiles on the floor, desks in the room or ceiling panels because you never know what you might find. g

& Please recycle

The Muse

Staff Editorial

Résumé building breaks you down Adding fluff to college applications can be detrimental

by MuseStaff

S

cience Honor Society: check. Key Club: check. SGA Historian: check. Debate Team Captain: check. Inserts for my resume: check.

With the competition for college admissions constantly increasing, demonstrating that you are a hard-working unique individual is a must. Tacking some iffy accomplishments and beefy adjectives onto your resume seems like a tactical plan to build up some much-needed brownie points and give yourself that little boost. However, does this work?

The latest development in the realm of college admissions is resume fluffing, an ability that a growing number of students seem to have a knack for. Résumé building includes using rambling adjectives, stretching the truth and outright lying.

“When I see students attempting to ‘stand out’ by using big words they’d never use in real life or overlyembellished descriptions, I want to scream,” said Geneva Sarcedo, advisor at the Student Support Services Scholars Academy at the University of California, Berkeley Academic Achievement Programs.

Ms. Sarcedo explains that labeling oneself as a “financial business transaction facilitator” instead of a cashier is one example of résumé fluffing.

Similarly, joining multiple clubs just to add to your résumé will also look unappealing.

“Adding this fluff doesn’t make you stand out,” Ms. Sarcedo said.

“It makes you look untrustworthy, naïve and foolish to the person reading your résumé.”

College admissions officers do not simply want the straight-A kid with an IQ of 200, they want students who will contribute to campus life and diversify the student body.

“Admissions officers have BS detectors for resume stuffers, exaggerators and aggrandize-ers,” said Michele Hernandez, former Assistant Director of Admissions at Dartmouth College. “The key is to actually be a leader, an initiator and a role model, not to misrepresent yourself as such. Substance will always win out over fluff.”

Another common issue is exaggeration.

While highlighting an aspect in your resume is acceptable, over-exaggerating to the point

of fabrication is not.

“You have grades, test scores, essays and “There’s a fine line between bringing out the activities you’re extremely passionate the best of your resume and flat-out lying,” about,” Scheiber said. “Colleges won’t really said Max Scheiber, care about Dreyfoos alumnus the fact that and class of 2010 you were the valedictorian.

Recording “ResumeSecretary of boosting is a the English sort of prisoner’s Honor Society. dilemma, in that I promise, that everyone does won’t be what it. It’s hard to sit gets you into back and say ‘Yeah, -Michele Hernandez, former Dartmouth Admissions Officer Harvard.” even though I’m Developing vice-president of this club, I spent maybe your high school resume is not about listing three hours a month doing anything related yourself as a founder or member of dozens of to it.’ ” clubs and honor societies, but rather showing that you are an active participant who makes a positive influence in the community.

“If you don’t have a goal in mind for your honor society, then it’s going to be out of control,” said Pamela Mora, communications senior and cofounder of the English Honor Society at Dreyfoos. “There’s no way of structuring how any of the meetings are going to go, what you need to do or what you should be doing.”

To form a club, students are required to meet one prerequisite: finding a teacher sponsor. Other local schools require additional prerequisites, such as providing a mission statement.

Within the past few years, there has been an influx of clubs and honor societies for nearly every academic and art area at Dreyfoos, many of which lack vision and purpose. Joining too many clubs for the sake of adding Illustration by Oscar Carl them to your resume hurts you— admissions officers know that you probably College admissions officers have little to no active involvement in the club look for the students who show exceptional whatsoever. commitment to a focused group of a few, “Kids should put out a greater effort select activities. They do not want to see a in their clubs, but instead they spread “laundry list,” according to Ms. Hernandez. themselves too thin,” Assistant Principal “In fact, when admissions officers copy George Miller said. the list [of your extracurricular activities] Ultimately, admissions officers will onto the front of the master card in recognize the fluff you are attempting to abbreviated form, they usually leave out clubs beautify your application with, which will that you were just a member of and that did work against you. To be a strong applicant not occupy more than one hour per week of with higher chances of acceptance, plan early your time,” Ms. Hernandez said. and incorporate long-lasting, meaningful The college admissions process involves commitments into your schedule that will many facets and includes many layers, from show how serious and devoted and desirable course load to community service. One factor you are. g probably will not make or break you.

Contributors: Adriana Rahrig and Dominique McKenzie

‘Admissions officers have BS detectors for resume stuffers, exaggerators and aggrandize-ers.’

The Muse November 2011

3

op/ed

Getting greedy with Glee Give a Note contest Commentary by JenniferYoon

T

wo children are craving a chocolate bar.

One ate dinner and wants to enjoy a treat for dessert. The other has not eaten anything all day. Who should the chocolate bar be given to? This situation is comparable to schools competing for money in the Glee Give a Note competition.

The Glee Foundation is offering up to $50,000 in grants to schools that need help with funding their music departments.

Judging is based on the following criteria: public vote, which accounts for 10 percent; relevance to music education; originality, creativity and emotional or inspirational reaction in videos; and demonstration of financial need, each for 30 percent.

Although it would greatly benefit our school to win because the music department’s funding was cut 25 percent this year, according to director of orchestras Wendell Simmons, there are other schools in more desperate financial situations.

“Sure the money would help, but it would not keep [the band department] alive,” visual sophomore Charles Krumholz said. “Some schools have music programs that have as much passion running through their veins, but what they are facing [are] their music program[s] collapsing from deprivation [of ]

funds. Those schools need the money much rehearsal areas were relocated to surviving more than Dreyfoos does.” buildings, according to their director of Dreyfoos is a very fortunate choirs Eric Eichenberger. school. The music department’s “The choir is still trying to funding could use more money do all the same performances but will survive and thrive and concerts that we have without the funds. This past done in the past but we do April, Phil Campbell High not have choir rooms,” Mr. School in Alabama was Eichenberger said. “We are completely destroyed by a trying to rebuild and yet still tornado resulting maintain all of our current in the loss of 50 activities, all of our current years’ worth of performance schedules [and] instruments. Joplin all of the competitions that High School we go to.” in Missouri Schools like Joplin faced the same and Phil Campbell have devastation last experienced devastation May. that our school has been “We don’t really lucky enough to avoid. Their need the money,” band schools are still in a state of sophomore Trenton Fleming destruction and have a long way said. “All we really need it for to go before they can be rebuilt would be to buy more music into what they were before. On the stands and for better seats to other hand, we are still standing sit on while we practice.” and fortunate enough to have a Joplin’s music library successful music department. alone created a loss between Let’s share the wealth. g Illustration by Oscar Carl $800,000 and $1,000,000 and was just part of the rubble. Classes and

Humorous scholarships can provide serious money Commentary by HunterTruman

A

re you a devoted preservationist of American nudist culture?

How about a fan of fire sprinklers or bagpipes?

You wouldn’t by any chance be an Asian taller than six feet or a lover of llamas, would you? Forgive Photo by Nicole Hamilton me for sounding intrusive—but I’m simply trying to alert you of the fantastic scholarship opportunities that await.

For seniors, scholarship season is in full swing. At times, it can seem a bit daunting trying to convince a group of strangers, many miles away, to give you a boatload of free money. But it’s really much simpler than it sounds. Unfortunately, there is a common misconception in the academic world that to receive scholarships for higher learning, you must possess some sort of—oh, what’s the word—talent.

Nonsense. Sure, getting great grades, making interesting art or being really good at tackling people in shoulder pads are all surefire ways to pay for your degree, but they aren’t the only ways; all you need is a little perspective.

You see, there are a lot of people in the

4

The Muse November 2011

world with gigantic amounts of disposable income. Equally important, many of these people feel the need to give away some of this money in irrational and rather humorous ways. Now, my fellow high school seniors looking for scholarship money, that is where we come in.

It is when this glorious merger of needy scholars and bored philanthropists occurs that we see such awards as the Michigan Llama Association Scholarship, whose mission statement is to “promote public awareness of llamas in an uplifting manner” (because when I think Michigan I think llamas.)

Maybe you’re not a llama enthusiast, but are you down to raise some cultural awareness? Great, then try looking into the American Nudist Research Library Scholarship for any aspiring college student “dedicated to preserving nudist history and culture.”

I’m sure we all agree that nudity has its perks, but perhaps your devotion to the birthday suit is wavering at times. Not to worry, there certainly are other options.

For instance, the American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship Program will offer a $2,000 scholarship to any high school senior who can watch a short video about fire

sprinklers, answer a few sprinkler-based trivia questions and not pass out from boredom.

There are also some interesting minority scholarships out there such as the one for the Former Majority Association for Equality, whose only two requirements are that applicants are “Male and Caucasian” (I bet you didn’t see that one coming.)

You see, it is simple. Apparently, the great patrons of the American higher education system are as interesting and diverse (and weird, don’t forget weird) as we are. Whether you like gathering archives for our country’s nudist culture, learning about sprinklers or simply spending some quality time with your llama—there’s a scholarship out there waiting to be grabbed.

So seniors, try not to have a panic attack as you try to afford your dream school. There are plenty of things in this world to be scared about, like grizzly bears or Courtney Love.

When it comes to the stuff you can’t control, the best I can do is wish you good luck, but I’m guessing you won’t really need it. g

‘The great patrons of the American higher education system are as interesting and diverse (and weird, don’t forget weird) as we are.’

op/ed

Facebook’s tracking cookies are not so sweet The social networking site can follow your activity across the web long after you log off Commentary by AubreyLevin

F

acebook: the number one reason for procrastination. “Look at me! Look at me!” it screams as you try your hardest to study for a test. We post statuses, “poke” our friends or lurk other friends’ profiles. Little do we know that the people behind Facebook are actually lurking us right back.

Facebook has been under fire for the use of tracking cookies. Internet cookies are little bits of data that are collected based on your Internet activity. Online users who filed the lawsuit against Facebook accused Facebook of violating federal wiretap and electronic communication laws.

“Even if you are logged out, Facebook still knows and can track every page you visit,” blogger and hacker Nik Cubrilovic said. “A cookie known as ‘datr’ helps identify suspicious login activity, while another called ‘lu’ protects those using public computers.”

The lawsuit, filed in California by six Facebook users from Illinois, Hawaii, Virginia and New Jersey, claims that any data collection after logout is a violation of the Federal Wiretap Act, the Stored Electronic

Communications Act and the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. These laws prohibit the known interception of any oral, wire or electronic communication. The placement of cookies on a computer allows the access of stored communication without

Illustration by

Oscar Carl

authorization.

“We believe this complaint is without merit and we will fight it vigorously,” a Facebook representative said.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center upholds that Facebook is actually using “supercookies,” which are more problematic than regular cookies. According to The Wall Street Journal, “supercookies” are capable of re-creating users’ profiles after being deleted.

Also, according to Maria Aspan of The New York Times, Facebook keeps a copy of your profile after you deactivate it.

“Deactivated accounts mean that a user can reactivate at any time and their information will be available again just as they left it,” Facebook spokesperson Amy Sezak said.

Facebook servers keep copies of the information on a profile indefinitely. Many users have unsuccessfully tried to delete their accounts, including strings sophomore Rachel Randolph.

“I tried to delete my Facebook account last year, but it was too complicated,” Randolph said. “I think it’s ridiculous how hard trying to delete your profile is. When I’m older and no longer want my Facebook, I want to be able to click a button and it be gone for good.”

When signing up for a Facebook account, the terms and agreements state that “you may remove your user content from the site at any time.” However, it later goes on to say that “you acknowledge that the company may retain archived copies of your user content.”

For some, reading the fine print would have been a worthwhile investment this time. g

Florida teacher prosecuted for faulty voting laws

New legislation makes it more difficult for third parties to register young voters Commentary by ShawnaBilton

I

t was an average day for high school social studies teacher Jill Cicciarelli at New Symrna Beach High School. Elections had been making the biggest headlines in almost every form of media, so naturally she felt it was important to get her students involved in the political system by registering them to vote. However, new laws passed by the Florida Legislature have created roadblocks for her attempt and have subsequently forced Ms. Cicciarelli to learn a lesson the hard way.

These new laws passed by Florida Legislators include a mandatory, stateadministered license as a Third Party Registration Organization and a 48 hour window to turn in voter registration cards or a $50 penalty is enforced, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Ms. Cicciarelli distributed the registration cards without a state administered license and proceeded to collect them a few weeks later, completely unaware of the timeliness restriction. Ms. Cicciarelli possibly faces thousands of dollars in fines.

The situation involving Ms. Cicciarelli is directly reflective of what is to be expected in the upcoming elections. Teen activity in voting

has always been low, even when candidates, [social studies teacher Jeffrey Stohr] brought typically Democrats, spend a great portion of this case up in our class,” visual junior their campaign budget attempting to inspire Nicholas Robinowitz said. “I feel like the young adults to get to the polls. Teachers have Republicans who run our state are afraid avidly strived to increase the percentage of of the new voting body and want to make young voters to no avail: unfortunately, new the registering process tedious in order to laws have further dissuade the population from inhibited their voting.” efforts. These laws Generally, younger must be repealed voters typically side with the in order to crush Democratic Party. Republican the efforts made lawmakers in favor of these by lawmakers laws argue that they will help to complicate reduce voter fraud. However, the registration prior to the passage of these process. strict laws, little voter fraud Although Ms. existed.

Cicciarelli did “These laws were passed break the new to prevent young people and laws, the reasons other groups from registering,” Illustration by Oscar Carl for her actions Mr. Stohr said. “The current should be the central issue surrounding legislature of Florida is not interested in her transgression. The importance of democracy; it is interested in staying in power youth participation at the polls is key to by curbing the rights of Americans.” a representative democracy that truly Until these laws are repealed or changed, represents the vote of the majority, and these it is safe to say that young Americans will find laws directly inhibit that. it difficult to vote despite all other efforts by “I didn’t even hear about the laws until teachers, candidates and activists. g The Muse November 2011

5

news

Florida Virtual goes mobile

the

S F E I R B size,

f bite-ries o n o i t c a colleteworthy sto no

by KyleBell

F

lorida Virtual School has released a new mobile application which will give students the option to learn course material on their mobile devices. The app is called “goFLVS” and it is available now on the App Store for free.

GoFLVS provides study tools for students taking FLVS classes online, with many functions designed to help students study in specific courses. Also, an event calendar is built in so that students can schedule appointments with their teachers from their smartphones.

Along with providing general study tools, it also links the student to a plethora of other apps designed for study in specific FLVS classes. These study apps are called meStudying apps, some of which include “meStudying: AP Art History” and meStudying: Algebra I. These apps will provide a convenient option for students learning on the go.

Some students feel they cannot fully learn the material they are studying just by reading on their mobile device, while others have experienced that the app is perfect for their mobile lifestyle. The goFLVS application is the first of its kind for FLVS and aims to open up many new options for students taking online courses. g

Graphic by flvs.net

Student voting becomes less of a hassle S and if a student is absent we want to make tarting in May, students will no longer sure that everyone has the opportunity to have to deal vote,” math teacher with the hassle Traci Whalen said. of waiting in “It is a more efficient long lines to way as well because vote for their there will be less favorite SGA counting errors.” or class council This new system president representatives. will make it easier vice-president The for students to secretary introduction participate in the treasurer of an online elections. voting system “I would be more will not only likely to vote [with extinguish the the new system] extensive lines, because I can do it but it will also at my leisure, and I give students a don’t have to wait in more practical those hectic lines,” way to vote by said communications Graphic by Alec Zisson offering them senior Tatiana the opportunity to choose their candidate Lestido. “I am more likely to make my with just a click of a button. own decision and not be influenced by my “There is only one day to cast a vote friends voting at the same time.” g

by FrancescaOtero-Vargas

Photo by Daniel Milstein

On Nov. 9, Congressman Ted Deutch spoke to an audience of several classes in the Black Box. He revealed that when he was younger, he was part of several school theater productions and was a member of the debate team. Mr. Deutch held an open Q&A session and spoke about political issues ranging from the economic crisis to advancing arts education. “I felt he was really casual and allowed us to connect with him,” communications junior Emmalyn Green said. “Although most of us can’t vote yet, he gave us a voice in government.”

Tribal Wars benefits A Prom to Remember

by SamanthaBilton and DanaMiller

O

ver 170 students participated in Tribal Wars on Nov. 10, an event sponsored by the A Prom to Remember club. Tribal Wars featured a series of 24 games including a flipper chase, pizza delivery, soaking pants, tug-of-war, and a HulaHoop contest. Students competed in teams of six and 16 teams competed against each other for the grand prize of free yearbooks for all team members.

“The club has been working really hard to prepare for Tribal Wars since the beginning of October,” said communications senior Gabrielle Carrera, A Prom to Remember club founder and president. “This event is so important in raising money for the prom we host at the end of the year for children and teens with cancer. We’ve raised $1,908 from this event and all proceeds go to the charity.” g

6

The Muse November 2011

Photo by Samantha Bilton

Communications senior Jessica Saldarriaga sets up a balloon related event at A Prom to Remember’s fundraiser, Tribal Wars. The winning team was the Tomahawks.

NEWS

A friendship through the ages Teachers Valerie Bauer and Melissa Gifford’s camaraderie goes back to high school

by KevinLevine

I

n late August 1991, Palm Beach School of the Arts opened its doors for its second year. Students poured in for their first day of school. Among the crowd were seventh graders Valerie Bauer and Melissa Gifford.

When they graduated from Palm Beach School of the Arts six years later, Ms. Gifford believed her time at the school had concluded, while Ms. Bauer always knew that she would return to the school to teach. Coincidently, 20 years after they started high school, longtime friends Valerie Bauer and Melissa Gifford have both returned to the school they once attended.

English teacher Valerie Bauer and history teacher Melissa Gifford became friends two decades ago when they were 12 years old.

However, their friendship has grown since they first met in the seventh grade.

“Our friendship basically started as two scared middle schoolers thrown together into a high school experience,” Ms. Gifford said.

“At first we were just acquaintances, friends that would wave to ‘Our friendship each other as they passed in the hall. basically started as Then we would be two scared middle good friends, then online friends, schoolers thrown [then] back to together into a high good friends. It cycled.” school experience,’ They were both -English teacher Melissa Gifford communications majors and they were in many of the same clubs and classes.

“We both were on the Marquee,” Ms. Bauer said. “We both had debate. [Gifford] was in the club and I was on the team.”

Furthermore, Ms. Gifford and Ms. Bauer were monumental in founding and

establishing some of the clubs, and even into Ms. Gifford’s first year at Dreyfoos, an classes that are still part of the Dreyfoos opportunity opened up. tradition. “[Ms. Gifford] “[They] contacted me were founding when she heard members of the the rumors that debate team” Dr. Bucklew was communications leaving. I was teacher Ancil teaching college at Deluz said. the time, and wasn’t “[They] had a going to teach high strong sense of school unless it was commitment at Dreyfoos,” Ms. to values and Bauer said. “[Dr. contributing to Bucklew] was here the school.” when we went to After high school, so I knew school, they exactly who she was Photo courtesy of Valerie Bauer went their talking about. She Valerie Bauer (left) and Melissa Gifford (right) bond as they meet with a teacher from their past. separate ways. told me to give her Ms. Bauer went my résumé and she to Florida Atlantic would hand it in and University, while make sure I got an Ms. Gifford went interview with the to the University right person.” of Central Florida.

Ms. Gifford and A few years ago, Ms. Bauer agree that they reconnected their friendship has through online only improved over social networking. time and is now “[After high stronger than ever Photo courtesy of The Marquee Photo courtesy of The Marquee as they work side school] we drifted Ms. Giffords’s yearbook photo from by side teaching at apart,” Ms. Gifford Ms. Bauer’s yearbook photo from her sophomore year. said. “We went to her sophomore year.

Dreyfoos. different colleges, and only heard about each “We’re closer now than we ever were other through friends that had shared our in high school.” Ms. Bauer said. “We were past. Then, a few years ago, we got in touch both focused on our art area then. We had again through MySpace or Facebook.” an academic relationship. Now we share our When Ms. Bauer heard that Ms. Gifford lives beyond academics, we talk about other was going to be teaching at Dreyfoos, she stuff:our lives, bills, [and] kids. Stuff other asked her to keep an eye out for an opening than school.” g in the English department. A couple months

The Muse November 2011

7

news

The youth revolution: Occupy Wall Street rages on

by TessSaperstein

I

t has been called the Youth Revolution and a call to action. On Sept. 17, hundreds of protestors gathered in New York’s Financial District in a movement called Occupy Wall Street. After gaining massive support from some and criticism from others throughout the media, Occupy Wall Street has become a worldwide phenomenon.

One of the major questions about the movement is what it hopes to accomplish.

After lasting for about two months, Occupy Wall Street has had few specific demands.

“I think what they want most is to have their voices heard,” digital media senior Courtney Wayne said. Wayne witnessed the protests during her trip to New York. “They were chanting ‘We are the 99 percent. The whole world is watching.’ ” Occupy Wall Street calls for equality among people of all tax brackets. The thousands of people that have attended the protests are united by their anger due to the high wages of the richest 1 percent of Americans.

Their main argument is that the richest 1 percent of Americans hold too much of the nation’s wealth while the bottom 99 percent are barely making ends meet.

Many of the protestor’s claims have been proven either false or exaggerated. According the Tax Policy Center, the cut off to be considered the top 1 percent is an annual salary of over $500,000. Individuals earning less than that are the poor and downtrodden

8

The Muse November 2011

by Occupy Wall Street standards. the younger generation. The idea of a Despite what others say is an exagerration revolution that puts power in the youth’s regarding the underprivelged 99 percent, hands is what attracted people to the they still believe that Occupy Wall Street movement the most. supporters are still posing valid arguements.

“There are a lot more young people there The Congressional Budget Office reported because this is their generation that we are that the richest Americans’ salary has making change for,” Wayne said. “The old increased 275 percent over the past 32 years people have had their way and what they while the middle really want class’s salary to do is has increased maintain by less than that. The one fourth of young that. That is the people now inequality that are trying Occupy Wall to make a Street hopes to change for change. their future.”

The Occupy The Wall Street Occupy movement Wall Street has gained protestors momentum are united at a local under Photo by webmastertalkforums.com level. The one goal.

Protestors gather to speak out about Occupy Wall Street. The Occupy movement has spread to places like Toronto, Canada, pictured here. movement Whether has branched off into several smaller protests they are male, female, black or white, the within the state and across the country. These protestors all feel change is necessary. protests have given students the opportunity “[We are] a leaderless resistance to be a part of the Occupy Palm Beach movement with people of many colors, protests and fight for the 99 percent. genders and political persuasions,” according “It’s a good way for people to get involved,” to Occupy Wall Street’s website. “The one Wayne said. “But I definitely think it needs to thing we all have in common is that we are be a more centralized movement.” the 99 percent that will no longer tolerate the Occupy Wall Street has mainly attracted greed and corruption of the 1 percent.” g

NEWS

Students face reality of unemployment school for the past four years,” Outlaw said.

Outlaw has a more dramatic prediction to “It was given to me by another student.” how long it will take for things to shape up. he unemployment rate in the United Yet Outlaw, and others like him, are still a “I think it will be about 15 years before States is at 9 percent and rising. In people come to their senses Palm Beach County alone, [concerning the economy],”Outlaw unemployment stands at an said. astounding 12.3 percent. For teens With unemployment on the rise, between the ages of 16 and 19 this another trend has emerged; young rate is even higher at 25.4 percent adults moving back in with their as of this August, according to the parents. This is especially prominent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. for students fresh out of college.

Students are finding it harder These young adults are being called than ever to find employment.

“The Boomerang Generation,” According to a survey conducted because, right after they leave their

by The Muse, more than 50 homes, they come back. percent of the students who are A study conducted by economist unemployed are looking for a job.

Greg Kaplan from the Federal Communications senior Reserve Bank of Minneapolis states Jake Meyer is one of the many that the transition from employment students who have been to unemployment increases the struggling to find employment.

Graphic by Alec Zisson Students rated the ease of finding a job, with 1 being the easiest and 10 being the hardest. chances of moving back home by 64 His job hunt began in the summer minority. Social studies teacher Tom West percent for males and 72 percent for females. of 2011. predicts that change, although it is on its way, “[It’s] not only unemployment, but a lot of “I chose a bit of a tough time to start is not coming anytime soon. kids come out [of college] with a lot of debt,” hunting,” Meyer said. “Not many employers “The last quarterly report states that the Mr. West said. “When you factor in all the are looking to hire.” unemployment rate is going downward, expenses of daily life, such as cell phone bills, On the other hand, some students have but I don’t think that it’s going to happen they are forced to move back in with their been lucky enough to find a job. Theatre overnight,” Social Studies Dean Tom West moms and dads. It’s tough for kids to get a senior Andrew Outlaw has been working for said. “It’s at least two years away to any head start and get their feet on the ground.” g the Harriet Himmel Theater since last Sept. change.”

“This job has been passed down through

by EstherMendoza

Number of students

T

Assesing Needs.

Increasing Scores.

The Muse November 2011

9

Features

Lack of injury leaves fracture in childhood Commentary by MackSchroeder

S

ticks and stones don’t break my bones but I wish they did.

It all started way back when I was kicking it in my first grade class. I was playing tag on the playground with a few of my bros, just having a grand old time.

“You’ll never catch me!” one of my friends said.

That’s when it all went downhill, literally.

After doing one of those radical first grader jumps, the boy tumbled down the hill and started crying hysterically. He was out of school for a week.

A few days later, I was chilling next to my cubby, organizing my addition and subtraction worksheets when the tumble kid walked in with a weird strap wrapped around his arm and across his neck. Was this the new style for 7-year-olds? Why would anyone wear something like that? I was baffled.

About a week later, I was hanging around coloring pictures and impressing all my buddies with cheesy jokes when the same kid walked in with a brightly colored hard plastic wrap around the same arm. All the previous attention I was getting from my peers slowly faded away as they rushed over

to sign this piece of plastic with a sharpie. hands if you still have to sit in a car seat.

That’s when I found out that the boy fractured Then second grade came along: the year I his collarbone. My almost had my big break. After doing a front jealously was pushed flip off the side of my grandad’s pool, I to the extreme. missed the water by about a My next foot and fractured the top of few years of my skull on the marble elementary deck. This was it. I was school finally going to get one of were those stellar protective torturous. helmets. Everyone would Every few want to sign it and be my weeks, friend. another I went home with youngster four staples in my head would and no helmet. walk into Now that I think of it, the classroom to brag maybe my naïve immature about his sweet new self should have had more decked-out cast and compassion for these injured how he got in some tragic individuals. Even if they took all of accident. It sickened me to the attention away from poor little Illustration by Oscar Carl watch these fools limp down Mack, I realized that I never had to the hallways on crutches, getting suffer from the same type of boneall the attention in the world. Even worse was crushing pain that these children were forced the “I’m a righty and I broke my right arm so to endure. But really, how hard is it to make a I can’t do any work” excuse. I’m pretty sure fake cast? I’ll be sure to let you know. g your handwriting looks the same with both

Improper hallway etiquette spreads among students

by CamilleSanches

I

t has become increasingly harder to get to class on time. With almost 1,300 students shuffling from class to class five times each day, venturing through the school’s hallways is difficult. Even though many students take AP classes such as World History and Calculus, many of them seem to lack knowledge of proper hallway etiquette. This includes walking at a decent speed, staying on the right side of the staircase and not stopping in the middle of the hall to have a conversation.

“We live in the United States, where people drive on the right and the same thing applies to entering doors and walking,” theatre teacher Wade Handy said.

It is clear that hallway etiquette has become less important to many students, especially to those who do not realize that the only way to get to class on time is if everyone knows the rules of the halls.

“Most of the time [getting through the halls] is difficult because people walk slowly and they stop randomly,” dance junior Malik Williams said. “So you end up being late to your class even though it may not be your fault.”

Students generally learn these hallway

10

The Muse November 2011

manners at a young age from teachers and cover my locker when they are talking, so I students so that later in life they will know have to say ‘excuse me’ like 10 times.” how to get through the halls.

“You learn in elementary school about hallway etiquette because teachers assign line leaders and door holders, but people tend to throw all of that away in high school,” dance senior Adriana O’Neil said.

“I think I have just gotten used to the lack of respect among students.”

In addition to the Photo by Aubrey Levin poor traffic flow in Double door entrances to buildings, such as the one seen here in Building 1, still do not provide enough room to solve hallway ettiquette issues. the hallway, getting to and from lockers is also an issue.

It seems like hallways will forever be “All of the time I try to get to my locker packed and students will always tend to get in Building 3 and there are always people in the way of people actually trying to get to hugging their friends or talking to each other,” class. It is important to be informed about visual sophomore Megan Luchey said. “Also, how to walk the halls in the correct manner to it is really annoying when people’s friends make life easier for everyone. g

Features

Companies prime customers for a profit opposite: what if we entered a store and were hen someone walks into Whole Foods greeted with stacks of canned tuna and plastic Market, they are immediately greeted flowers?” with the fresh aroma of flowers, quaint As a result of priming, customers are chalk signs and fresh vegetables and fruits thrown into the world of advertising from that have recently been sprayed by hidden the moment they walk into a store to when sprinklers. Little they sit down to do they know, watch their favorite they’ve just been television show. primed.

Priming has been Companies greatly adopted in such as Whole many franshises.

Foods and Publix For example, decided to prime companies such their customers as McDonalds, by creating an Geico and Apple environment hire people and where people contribute large not only feel amounts of money comfortable to produce one spending money, of the greatest but also buying priming campaigns the products Photo by Alex Lopez ever devised: These flowers cause an immediate asthetic appeal among constumers in this that they would commercials.

Whole Foods Marketplace. not generally “Priming is purchase. an integral part of a business as well as “Fresh flowers are placed right up front to in product and sale,” Social Studies Dean ‘prime’ us to think of freshness the moment Tom West said. “It puts great pressure on we enter the store,” said Martin Lindstorm, the consumer to part with their dollars. writer for Fast Company. “Consider the Historically, since TV was invented, product

by TimDiTocco

W

placement has become extremely important.

TV in particular, has been the most important vehicle for priming in the past 60 years.”

One of Mr. West’s students, band senior Judy Gaunt, completed an assignment where she and four other students created an advertisement for an original product. As unrealistic as the product was, it gave her a real look into the facets of advertisement and priming.

“You really have to target a certain demographic and make it appeal to the buyers,”Gaunt said. “My product, ‘Detention Lawyer’, had to really appeal to the kids at Dreyfoos. If we were selling it to anyone else, it could be a little difficult.”

Priming, even though unwanted by consumers, is likely to remain a large part of our society.

“It’s a phenomenon that makes everything else inferior. That’s the important thing marketers have done. They have made it uncool to use unnamed branded products and it has been effective,” Mr. West said.

“Priming is not an unusual part of a company commercial strategy. Since most companies use priming, it is not an unknown part of companies. From what I’ve seen, priming has been a very effective tool for companies.” g

Bright Futures Academy Public Charter School

An “A” rated Palm Beach County Public School serving Kindergarten through 8th Grade

Located in North Palm Beach & Palm Beach Gardens

Spanish Music • Art • PE Character Education

Middle School Magnet Program Outdoor Edu Garden

6210680

K-8 After School Program • Sports • Clubs • Tutoring Celebrating 11 Years in Education

561-253-7504

www.BrightFuturesAcademy.com

Now Holding OPEN ENROLLMENT! The Muse November 2011

11

Features

Teen partiers: underage and out of conduct

by JosieRusso

T

here were underage, drunken girls being dragged out of the crowd as partiers looked on outraged that security would admit “completely trashed” youth. Everything was out of control.

Similar reviews flood the message boards of company-sponsored teen parties and under-21 clubs, which have been increasing in popularity over the past several years. There has also been an increased concern whether organized teen partying encourages underage drinking and substance abuse.

“Some kids will try to get a quick buzz or little shot before coming to the party so that the rule of no drugs or alcohol doesn’t apply to them,” strings sophomore Megan Daorerk said.

Several teen clubs have opened around the Palm Beach County area in the past few years. Tabu, a Palm Springs night club, started offering teen nights on Saturdays over the summer. The club is for ages 14 to 17 and is open from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

According to News Channel 5, Tabu offers bouncers and police protection, with a strict no alcohol and drug policy. Despite these efforts, police made 33 arrests in August for underage possession at the club.

“My highest level of concern is when I have a 16 or 17 year old blowing a .25, .22 or .174 [on a breathalyzer],” Mark Hall, Palm

Springs Police Chief, said in an interview with effective.

News Channel 5. “Once you start getting close “The companies usually have age to that .3 range, you are looking at alcohol restrictions, plenty of guards and other staff poisoning.” around helping to ensure safety,” digital media Similar cases occur at other organized senior Taylor Krauser said. “They typically do parties and events. DayGlow, a traveling dance enough in my opinion, and when something and paint party, states the minimum age for detrimental happens, it’s usually the kid’s admittance is 18. However, fault, not the organization’s.” several review and message Teen partying has been a controversial boards of the event topic for years, but the increase in organized have similar accounts of parties has brought it under further scrutiny. there being numerous While the companies provide a “fun and underage attendees. safe environment,” they also expect The underage partiers partiers to be responsible and make are reportedly seen appropriate with drugs and alcohol, decisions. g and many complain Insert Face that security takes no Here notice of it.

“Teen partying is Insert a good and bad thing,” Face Here visual sophomore Luis Zepeda said. “People who party to have a good time with their friends use the event wisely, and people who go to drink and do other things are just taking advantage of the situation.”

Some attendees believe that stronger measures need to be taken to prevent problems, yet others find the current actions to be Graphic by Alec Zisson

Close but far-reaching.

All you want in a college is closer than you think. At Palm Beach Atlantic University, you’ll begin to work on your career goals from the very first semester. Outstanding Christian faculty will steer you toward internships and practical learning experiences as well as lessons for life. Visit and see how far you can go.

West Palm Beach, FL b 888 GO TO PBA (468-6722) or 561 803-2000

12

The Muse November 2011

b www.pba.edu

Features

Fall Festival

by KyleBell

Z

ombies, super heroes, ghouls and even Justin Bieber fans marched into the Cafeteria to the cheering of crowds of students and teachers.

They hopped up on tables and were judged by members of SGA at the 2011 Fall Festival on Oct. 31: Halloween day. Teams of students participated in all the events, with music blaring and the Halloween spirit flooding the cafeteria.

“You knew that there were a lot of people at the Fall Festival because whenever you went to the lunch line it was completely deserted,” communications junior Brooke Walling said.

The events included bobbing for apples, a pie eating contest, fishing for donuts, a teacher mummy wrap and a costume contest. All of the events had teams from each grade, with students competing against the other classes.

The SGA Fall Festival has occurred for a number of years previous to 2011. There are new events and old events each year; one of the older events is the teacher mummy wrap, in which teams of four students from each grade compete to see who can wrap a teacher in toilet paper the fastest.

The winner of the costume contest was communications senior Charlotte Nowak; she dressed up as a Justin Bieber fan, with a life sized cardboard model of Justin Bieber and other articles of Bieber paraphernalia.

“I thought it was really fun, I liked the costume contest and the girl with the Justin Bieber Fever costume,” vocal sophomore Kylie Clark said. “It was great, I don’t think you guys really have to do anything to make [the festival] better.” g

Photo by Daniel Milstein

Photo by Mikeshia Lewin

From top to bottom: Digital media junior Maxwell Cornwell, digital media sophomore Daniel Martin and communications freshman Steffan Gawlikowski compete in the pie-eating competition; Cornwell stands in victory after winning the pumpkin pie-eating contest; dance junior Lawrence McClarin prepares to “fish” for donuts; Principal Dr. Susan Atherley judges the student costume contest, which included everything from Mormons to zombies.

Photo by Daniel Milstein

T

Photo by Daniel Milstein

hanksgiving was finally here and it was our family tradition to go out and catch our own ___________(animal) for Thanksgiving dinner. I was

so ___________ (adjective) to catch my soon to be dinner so I ___________ (verb) into the forest behind my house. When I reached the glade where the ___________ (animal plural) lived, I began clapping my __________ (body parts) and making ___________ (animal) calls. It wasn’t too long before they finally came. Quickly, before they could see me, I hid behind a ___________ (noun).

compiled by MikeshiaLewin and KimCarrero

I raised my net, and when one ___________ (noun) walked by I caught it! It looked at me and I could already imagine the gravy, ______________ (food), and ______________ (adjective) potatoes on it. But then it spoke: “___________(magic word)!” And all of a sudden I wasn’t ___________ (adjective). I looked at him and I knew we would be best friends forever. Hand in ___________ (body part) we walked back to my house and we never ate ___________ (animal) for our Thanksgiving dinner ever again. g The Muse November 2011

13

Cover Story

The cost of driving

Though getting a Florida driver’s license is as cheap as $28, few recognize the real costs of teen driving

T

question and if you right click it, it’ll stop the hough you might not guess it by timer,” Chun said. “If you’re not good under her first-place diving performance pressure or you need more time to think at regionals, communications about the question, then it helps a lot.” junior Daniela Sorgente has The glitch has been fixed since Chun suffered neck and back pain since her car earned her permit. When Chun tried to help accident earlier this year, which occurred a friend take the permit test after the Florida about a half-mile from Department of Highway the I-95 Okeechobee Safety and Motor exit on her way to Vehicles removed the school. online-test option for “I stopped just in time those born after 1996, to not hit the car in front but then put the test of me,” Sorgente said. back online, the trick “The worst part was when failed. the car behind me crashed The only into me and it made consequence of failing me hit my head on the the permit test is a $10 steering wheel. I was just retake fee, and after -communications junior Rio Jacobbe three failed attempts, thinking, ‘Don’t black out, don’t black out.’” the DHSMV requires an Even with private in-person test. Failing a driving lessons and months of prior driving license test is similar: pay $20 and try again. experience, Sorgente was not immune to the But when it comes to getting a license, dangers of driving. Because of the ease with teens have an unlimited number of do-overs. which most teens can obtain a license, they On the road, however, do-overs are rare; underestimate the costs and responsibilities accidents can be permanently debilitating and of driving. sometimes even fatal.

by RachelAnderson and KellyBerger

‘I took [my permit test] at midnight as soon as it was legally my birthday.

I called a friend and she helped me look up all the answers to it.’

Failed? Try Again About one in three students failed their learner’s permit test on their first try, according to a survey of 80 people who attempted the test, the majority of whom took it online. Despite so many failures, the online permit test is favored because it’s easy to cheat.

“I took [my permit test] at midnight as soon as it was legally my birthday,” communications junior Rio Jacobbe said. “I called a friend and she helped me look up all the answers to it.”

Jacobbe is by no means alone. Keyboard junior Eunice Chun learned how to stop the timer on the online permit test.

“There’s a blue bar at the top of the

14

The Muse November 2011

No Do-Overs The day after her accident, Sorgente failed her first math test.

“I was feeling dazed and confused and unable to concentrate,” Sorgente said. “I even went up to the teacher afterwards to tell her I felt really bad about the test.”

The accident’s impact has extended beyond a bad grade. Besides an unusual sleep schedule, Sorgente gets headaches and visits a chiropractor three times a week for her neck and back. Once the internal swelling subsides in a few months, she will have an MRI to check for permanent damage.

Many are not as lucky as Sorgente; an average of 11 teens die every day in preventable car crashes, making motor vehicle

Sally got her license last week.

Her license cost $48, but she had to pay an additional $20 to retake the driving test since she failed the first time.

Sally’s parents pay about $250 a month for insurance (they get a discount for Sally’s good grades).

Driving 15.4 miles from Palm Beach Gardens to get to school, Sally drives a total of 30.8 miles five days a week. With a few extra miles on weekends, she drives about 5700 miles a year. A year’s worth of gas for Sally’s 2006 Honda Accord (which costs $250 a year to maintain and averages 25 miles per gallon) costs $730.

Sally paid $32.50 for her school parking permit (half price since she started driving during the second semester).

On her way to school one morning, Sally sped in the school zone outside her school and got a $140 ticket.

Combine these costs and we arrive at the price for Sally’s first year of driving: $4,220.50.

Sally doesn’t exist, but if you drive, you or your parents probably pay a similar amount, unless you drive more, have worse grades, use toll roads, have been in an accident, are male, bought a parking pass at full price or have a less fuel-efficient car, in which case the cost is higher.

Cover Story accidents the number one killer of U.S. teens ages 15 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although most states (84 percent) have passenger restrictions on newly licensed drivers, Florida has none. In a survey of 87 student drivers, 98 percent said they had driven passengers under 21. According to the Florida DHSMV, the crash risk increases by more than 50 percent for carrying one passenger for 16 and 17-year-old drivers.

“I think I’m a very safe driver, especially when I’m with other people in the car,” said communications junior Chandler Coven, who carpools every afternoon. “They make me more focused because I’m worried about getting them home safely.”

The probability of a crash is compounded when drivers use their cell phones, as 76 percent of student drivers from the same survey said they had talked on their cell phone while driving and 49 percent said they had texted while driving.

“My kids couldn’t use their phone at all,” math teacher Barbara Schober said. “If I caught them once they would lose the use of the car. Driving is a privilege, not a right.”

What It Really Costs Even without the added physical and psychological costs of accidents, driving is expensive. Don’t be deceived by the low license fee: driving is not cheap.

New drivers pay $48 for their of students who licenses, and have talked on their it costs $20 cell phone while to retake the driving driving test.

On average, a 16-year-old driver costs $250 a month for insurance if they get a discount for good grades.

Someone who drives 5,700 miles a year (15 miles to school each way during the school year, with a few extra miles on weekends) pays $730 for a year’s worth of gas in a car that averages 25 miles per gallon.

A school parking permit costs $65, or $32.50 if purchased during the second semester.

Altogether, the average cost for a teen’s first year of driving is $3,863. The actual amounts vary with mileage, insurance plans, toll use, parking fees, accident costs, car maintenance and fuel efficiency.

76%

Number of students who pay for...

72

46 74 41

15

13

car

insurance

gas

62

64

25

23

tickets

toll

47 71 40

PARENTS PAID STUDENTS PAID

16

parking maintenance Graphic by Alec Zisson

The graphic above shows the distribution of responses from a survey of 87 student drivers about whether students paid for their own car, insurance, gas, tickets or fines, tolls, parking or maintenance.

Who’s Paying?

Visual junior Christina Charlton works 25 hours a week at a restaurant to pay for driving, which she estimates to be $4,100, including car maitenance “[My parents] can’t afford it, so if I want to drive and get to work and get to school, I have to pay for it,” Charlton said. “I’m sleep-deprived because I get home, change, and go straight of students who to work.” have texted on their cell phone while Although driving Charlton is part of a minority only 15 percent said they pay for their car insurance - 47 percent said they pay for gas and 46 percent said they pay for parking.

“Paying for gas gives students a sense of responsibility and helps students be less frivolous rather than just hopping in a car and just going someplace,” said social studies teacher Sara Stout, whose teenage daughter attends Dreyfoos.

Sometimes the responsibilities are After more than finanical, as was the school, the case for Sorgente. student “If I was in the left parking lot is flooded with lane, I could have cars, buses died,” Sorgente said. and students “Afterwards, I called as they leave campus. Many my mom and my students choose friends to tell them to carpool with other students. how much I loved “I carpool them.” becasue I love the environment For more and I like saving information on money,” theatre teen driving, visit senior Aaron Klipin said. “ I also KeeptheDrive. carpool for the com. g benefit of shared

49%

HOW TO SAVE MONEY NOW Here are some ways to save money on driving.

1. Carpool, but do it safely or drive with an adult.

2. Study. If you have a 3.0 GPA or higher you may be eligible for an insurance discount.

3. Drive safely and follow the law.

Speeding tickets, parking fines and accidents will add unwanted costs.

4. Turn down the A/C and the radio.

Air conditioning and speakers at full blast reduce miles per gallon.

5. Clean out your car. The heavier the load, the worse the mileage.

6. Look for free parking in safe areas.

Always get your parking validated when possible.

camaraderie.”

Photo by Francesca Otero-Vargas

The Muse November 2011

15

Arts

Arts Index

A guide to uncovering what’s going on in art area classes Band Visual Arts and Digital Media

by MikeshiaLewin and ValeriaRivadeneira

V

Photo by Aubrey Levin

Digital media senior Emily Bonani hangs her photographs while observing her artwork.

isual students have repainted the first floor walls of Building 9 in a collaborative wall drawing using charcoal and paint infused with their personal tastes.

“I’ve waited for this since freshman year, the last time they painted,” visual senior Kayla Palma said. “It was a lot of fun and it was a good experience.”

The Digital Media Department is currently studying silent films.

In AP 2D Design they are working with amateur style cameras to get “accidentally” expensive looking shots. They are also getting ready for juries by organizing their prints, rolls and search. g

B

and members are practicing for the winter Prism concert on Dec. 8 and 9. They are also planning a trip to New York to compete in the Heritage Fan Festival where they will compete against other bands from across the country.

Florida Bandmasters Association has released their All- State results.

The Band Department broke their previous record with 32 students ranking. g

Dance

Communications

T

he Speech and Debate team returned from the Blue Key debate tournament at the University of Florida. Communications sophomore Micaela Fagan won first place in Humorous Interpretation with her comedic retelling of “Cinderella and the Substitute Godmother” by Ed Monk. Other awards went to communications sophomore Tess Saperstein who progressed to semifinals in Congressional Debate, theatre senior Sarah Baldinger who finaled in Congressional Debate, and communications senior Pamela Mora and sophomore Sydney McCauliffe who both semifinaled in Oral Interpretation. g

S

eniors are preparing for NFAA by hosting various guest choreographers such as Troy Powell and Margo Sappington. Powell is an artistic director from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Sappington is a choreographer previously nominated for a Tony Award. g

Strings

T

he strings department is preparing for a series of concerts in November. The concerts will feature a wide range of music from pieces by Hollywood composer John Williams, to original music by band senior Alyze Rabideau in her performance of “Cookie Crisp.” g Photo by Alexandra Lopez

Ballet classes rehearse for the upcoming Fall Concert.

K

eyboard students are practicing pieces for their jury in Dec. Their jury includes playing scales, a solo piece and a presentation on their selected composer.

Students are also preparing for their upcoming Prism concert in Dec. g

16

The Muse November 2011

Theatre

Vocal

Keyboard

T

he vocal department is rehearsing for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort.

The choir will be singing with two other choirs and a celebrity narrator in Dec. g

T

he theatre department is preparing for “Metamorphoses,” compiled by Mary Zimmerman. Theatre teacher Bruce Linser has altered it to make a straight play that touches on the theme of human changes, transformation and the power of love or lack thereof. g

Arts

A DAY IN THE LIFE: Visual Department

by ElizabethLane

O

ne step into the visual building and you are immediately faced with reflections of student artwork hung throughout the building and directly painted on the walls themselves. Visual students bustle from class to class marked in vibrant paints and charcoal, some carrying their artwork with them.

“Every year you hear [Visual Department dean] Jenny Gifford say [to the parents] that if your house, car and child’s bedroom is consumed with artwork, your child is on the right track,” visual junior Lauren Stein said. “We are constantly working on art in school and outside of school.”

Starting Out:

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

“Printmaking is a dirty process, but that’s the life of a visual major,” visual junior Lauren Stein said.

Visual freshmen are encouraged to try all of the various mediums provided by the department in order to understand their strengths and weaknesses as artists. Visual freshman Michael Goldstein has discovered, out of the mediums he has worked with so far, that charcoal is his favorite. He is pleased that students are given the opportunity to create art with little restraints.

“My favorite part of being a visual major would probably be the freedom that comes along with it,” Goldstein said. “You can make any kind of art you want and the teachers are really supportive.”

Painting and Architecture:

Visual sophomore Mason O’Brien is very involved in his visual classes. He recently partook in the painting workshop with visiting artist Leslie Smith III. “Working with Mr. Smith was invigorating because of the fresh perspective he gave us on composing a painting and making it interesting to a viewer,” O’Brien said.

Visual students can take architecture, painting, sculpture, printmaking, art history or photography. O’Brien is currently taking architecture and painting. In his architecture

Photo by Alex Lopez

“My chair for Mr. Griffin’s architecture class collapses flat and folds out so you can sit on it,” visual sophomore Mason O’Brien said.

class, the students make prototype constructions and create objects from recycled materials.

“In class, we are sometimes given a project with restrained parameters such as a still life,” O’Brien said. “Other times we’re given a very broad assignment that tests our ability to think critically, creatively and constructively.”

The Visual Department has been taking an eco-friendly approach to making art in preparation for the Green Conference in which students’ recycled art will be exhibited.

“In architecture specifically, we are focusing on creating chairs that are made from an ever-present material: cardboard,” O’Brien said.

Portraiture and Printmaking:

Stein is also very dedicated to her artwork. Recently, Stein has been focusing on portraiture and printmaking.

“My concentration in particular is portraits that I overlay with different textures,” Stein said. “Depending on how well I can match two images up, it can make it look like the texture is part of a person’s face. For example, a person’s face can be perceived as having the texture, say, of wood.”

Special Features:

Stein enjoys being a visual major because the art that the students create is very personal to them. Students are constantly surrounded by inspiration from fellow students and teachers. The visual building itself is a Photo by Elizabeth Lane piece of art that is always evolving.

Visual freshman Michael Goldstein works on a still-life drawing with “Not many his preferred medium: charcoal. people know about a new room that was created over the summer,” Stein said. “In the room, they have taxidermy and skeletons where the students can sit and draw anything they see in their sketchbooks. Some of the recent additions would be a mountain lion, a grizzly bear and an orangutan skeleton. g

Contribute to Dreyfoos through Charitydine.com Save 50%-60% on dining certificates to about 200 South Florida restaurants including: City Pizza, Field of Greens, Howley’s, Roxy’s Pub, Pistache, II Bellagio, and many more!

20%-30% of the purchase is donated to the School of the Arts Foundation.

The Muse November 2011

17

Arts

Rabideau thinks outside the cereal box Cookie Crisps inspire an entire original orchestra composition According to her peers and instructors, or most people, cereal is a normal part of Rabideau has many strengths. She has an their morning routine. For band senior amazing work ethic, is completely focused Alyze Rabideau, Cookie Crisps cereal was and is not happy unless she reaches inspiration to write an entirely original strings perfection. orchestra piece.

Her best known composition at the school is called “Cookie Crisp.”

Rabideau was inspired and came up with this piece while eating the cereal, and playing around with her violin. It took her two months to finish.

“The piece is nice. It’s definitely interesting to play something someone in my grade wrote. It’s very good for someone our age,” strings senior Genevieve Martinez said.

This is the first strings piece that has been composed and played at the school by a student. The strings orchestra has worked hard practicing and getting “Cookie Crisp” right for their upcoming show Band senior Alyze Rabideau takes time during her orchestra class to practice pieces. the violin, her main focus in band is percussion. on Nov. 17.

“Cookie Crisp is really well crafted.

[Rabideau] is really good at composing for “It has been a gift having her as a the whole strings orchestra,” strings teacher student,” Mr. Simmons said. “She has so Wendell Simmons said. many strengths and plays many instruments.

by JensenTate

F

18

The Muse November 2011

I feel it will make her an amazing composer.”

Although Rabideau has a talent for the violin, her real passion is percussion. Her love of music began long ago when she saw her older sister playing the violin. She now plays violin, saxophone and percussion. She has been playing each instrument for five years and plans to continue playing in the future. Rabideau has big aspirations that will incorporate her musical talent.

“I want to come up with a new method for learning music and create a music academy for unprivileged kids,” Rabideau said.

Rabideau wants to go to Oberlin Conservatory College and major in composition to continue her passion for music.

She is known by her peers to be more than just Photo by Dana Miller Although she plays an excellent musician. Many regard her as a friendly mentor and one to look up to.

“She’s the stereotypical Dreyfoos kid: smart and talented,” strings junior Austin Hershack said. g

Arts

The Moody Blues, music to Shakespeare’s ears Commentary by KloeeCiuperger

T

he equation “Shakespeare + The Moody Blues = New Rock Musical” was the advertising slogan for the theatre department’s fall production. It was also the formula that sparked theatre dean Beverly Blanchette’s vision. “Midsummer” was an original concept that had the audience marveling at its aesthetics and howling with laughter.

“It’s enthusiastic and inspirational; I think it has turned out to be everything Ms. Blanchette wanted, mixing Shakespeare and the Moody Blues,” Principal Susan Atherley said.

Although attendance was a concern for the cast and crew, nearly every seat in the Meyer Hall was filled. Songs from The Moody Blues, a 60’s rock band, were incorporated into the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to create an original musical.

The play follows the stories of four mortal lovers who are put under a spell by the fairy queen’s husband, Oberon. It forces them to fall in love with the first person they see. The spell is cast upon the fairy queen, Titania, and she falls in love with a man who is turned into a donkey. The ridiculous plot and hilarious characters kept the audience bursting into laughter during almost every scene.

The audience got to experience a show full of features never before done in a Dreyfoos performance. Of these features was a silk rope performance put on by the fairies.

Photo by Aubrey Levin

Theatre seniors Nicholas Galarza (left) and Johnathan Tilkin (bottom) and theatre junior Cameron Jackson (right) played Puck, Demetrius and Oberon.

“None of the fairies have ever done them before. It really questions upper strength,” said theatre junior Particia Suarez, who played a fairy.

Dreyfoos alumna and aerial choreographer Rain Anya came in and worked with the fairies every day after school. Although a difficult component to the show, the students overcame their nerves and developed the skill in a limited amount of time.

“It’s very nerve-wracking.

We’ve all fallen off because if you do one thing wrong, there is a big chance of falling,” Suarez said.

The fairies’ costumes were also all student-made.

“We got to choose a fairy and design their costume by ourselves. Usually we have to collaborate,” theatre junior Shanley Mitchell said.

The stage was the attention Photo by Aubrey Levin catching part of the show. In the Theatre seniors Alanna Ramos (right), and Ellen Brown and theatre junior Patricia Suarez (left) perform as fairies. It cost $7,000 to ensure the fairies’ safety. center was a motorized portion that rotated. The stage floor was understand if you don’t know how a sentence given a slope that required mathematical should sound for Shakespeare,” said theatre precision. If the slightest measurement was junior Lexi Carter, who played Helena. off, the stage could potentially be dangerous.

The play went as many had hoped for, “[The slope] gives the stage a forced even going beyond many expectations. perspective,” theatre senior and technical “I wasn’t expecting it to be really funny director Erick Fields said. “You can see more because it’s based off Shakespeare, but it was of the actors; they have more of a presence.” hilarious,” communications senior Tatiana On the stage was an abundance of props Lestido said. ranging from a life-size moving snail to handThe concept for the entire play had been made baskets. The stagecraft as well as the an idea developing in Ms. Blanchette’s mind props, illuminated with colors, sparkles, and for some time. So much time was spent were made with captivating intricacy. putting every aspect of the production “The director has her vision. My job is together. Students, alumni and teachers all to make sure her vision gets realized,” said collaborated to create an eye-catching and theatre senior and prop manager Kelsie Fore. extremely entertaining play. Every part of The actors conveyed the words of “Midsummer” was on point.

Shakespeare in a performance easily “I’ve been living with this idea for several understandable and very humorous. years so now that it’s done I can sleep,” Ms. “Practice was key. The audience doesn’t Blanchette said. g

The Muse November 2011

19

Sports

To the point

Strings sophomore Jenna Meyers-Sinett accomplishes a Dreyfoos first by making the boys basketball team

JAGUAR PROFILE

basketball for two years in elementary school Meyers-Sinett believes that there could here is not a girls basketball team at and played girls basketball in middle school. be some controversy on how other teams Dreyfoos. However, out of 27 people Until now, Meyers-Sinett has had little perceive Dreyfoos and the team because who tried out for the boys team, strings experience playing against boys. of her. Rival teams might view her as an sophomore Jenna Meyers-Sinett was one of “I have only played against boys inferior player, simply because of her gender. the 14 to be selected. After six years of playing in pickup games, but I have never Regardless, “Other schools would obviously basketball, she has made Dreyfoos sports played against guys before in an view me as not a threat at all, like I wouldn’t history and she will now be playing as “one of actual league. I’m really excited to be competition for them,” Meyers-Sinett the guys” on the team. see what the games will be like,” said. “I feel like other teams would “When I first made the team, I felt pretty Meyers-Sinett said. see us as a worse team just because proud,” Meyers-Sinett said. “I was just Communications there is a girl on the team, but I’d content with the fact that I proved myself sophomore Munashe like to surprise them.” worthy of making the team.”

Kwangwari has been As a new addition to this Social studies teacher and coach Jeffrey playing basketball for year’s basketball team, MeyersStohr sees potential in her that could help the seven years. As a point Sinett has high hopes for the team be more successful this year. guard, he controls the season and her role as part of “Jenna is a tremendous athlete, and I am ball and makes sure it the team. She believes that the very much gets to the right team will be able to look past the looking players at the right time. fact that she is a girl and see her forward Kwangwari will be playing as a fellow player. seeing her on the team alongside “I’m starting to think they will play for us Meyers-Sinett. accept me on the team,” Meyersthis year,” Mr. “Jenna is a good person; Sinett said. “The teammates accept -Basketball coach Jeffrey Stohr really smart, nice and goodStohr said. me as a player, which is really nice “She is a natural leader and I think fans who hearted. As a player she goes on the to see. And I think the coach sees attend our games will be pleasantly surprised court and literally puts in 100 percent some things that are good in me by her contributions.” effort and never gives up,” Kwangwari and some things that are bad Photo by Aubrey Levin Meyers-Sinett played recreational said. just like any other player.” g Meyers-Sinett warms-up during lunch.

by AngelicEdery

T

‘Jenna is a tremendous athlete, and I am very much looking forward to seeing her play fo us this year.’

BACHELOR’S & ASSOCIATE DEGREES DEGREE & CREDIT TRANSFER CAREER PROGRAMS | ONLINE CLASSES AFFORDABLE TUITION

palmbeachstate.edu

561.967.7222

Belle Glade | Boca Raton | Lake Worth | Palm Beach Gardens

20 The Muse November 2011

Your Pathway to Success

Sports

Karate kid bests competition Communications freshman Richard Morris achieves martial arts success

by JosieGraham

A

lthough communications freshman Richard Morris does not do kung fu fighting, he is still fast as lightning and his black belt in Tae Kwon Do can seem a little bit frightening. Morris has competed in about 100 karate tournaments and has collected around 200 trophies, the majority were awarded for 1st or 2nd place. Morris has been ranked number one nationally and internationally within his age divisions for four consecutive years in the North American Sport Karate Association. Although he has since retired from competition, Morris still trains in his free time.

The road to success began for Morris when his father signed him up for Tae Kwon Do classes when he was 5 years old. In 2003, he attended and competed in the U.S. Open Championships in Orlando, FL. It was at this event that Morris was inspired to pursue martial arts.

“I sat at one of the competition rings and watched this 11-year-old boy compete,” Morris said. “He was amazing at the Bo staff, a martial arts weapon. After watching him, I wanted to learn how to the use the Bo just like him. That 11-year-old boy was Taylor Lautner, and later that day he won the Overall Youth Weapons Grand Championship.”

Karate competitions are separated into two different age groups: youth and adults.

Three to five judges score competitors, on average, 9.91 to 9.99, with a rare 10.0 appearing if the judges are really impressed. If a competitor wins their division, they move on to compete -Morris’ trainer against the other competitors who have won in their divisions.

The person who wins goes on to compete in the Overall Grand Championship, where the Grand Champions contend with one another at the end of the whole competition. Morris competed in Traditional Weapons, Creative Weapons, Traditional Forms, and Creative Forms.

“In competition, I would compete in Traditional Weapons using the Bo staff. Properly using the Bo staff, I would do my form executing strikes and sweeps,” Morris said. “I would also compete in Creative Weapons. I would use traditional techniques as well as some contemporary technique styles to create my own unique form.”

Morris’ achievements in Photo courtesy of Richard Morris martial arts include Morris performs in front of an audience in Quebec. He has earned over 200 trophies and was certified in Tae Kwon Do by the Kukkiwon Headquarter in Korea in 2006. appearing on ESPN in 2008 at the competitors in his generation, and that is International Sport Karate Association’s U.S. what sets him apart from a lot of the people Open World Championships, being the 2010 that he competes against,” Ms. Espina said.

Overall Grand Champion Weapons winner at “Ricky Morris is one of the hardest working the New England Open in Boston, and putting kids I know and I am truly proud of him. I on many karate demonstrations for different feel very honored to have had the opportunity organizations. In addition, Morris has earned to train him.” many skills needed in life Stephanie Prorank, one of Morris’ that are not limited to competitors, has been training with Morris self-defense. for around seven years. She describes him as “The most important being a unique athlete. things I’ve achieved “[Morris] has many strengths, but in martial arts are one of my top picks would have to be his discipline, self-respect, creativity,” Prorank said. “He always has the and confidence,” Morris most creative routine when it comes to his said. “These are the performance. [He] always knows how to get core things that help me a crowd at the edge of their seats and keeps in my day-to-day life. them there.”

Dedication played a huge Every sport has its misconceptions, and part as well. Training martial arts is no exception. The Carl Douglas took up just about all song “Kung Fu Fighting” may come to mind Jennifer Espina of my free time. When for many, and others may think that karate is most of my friends were just a lot of fighting, but there is more to the hanging out, I was always training for an sport than many people realize. upcoming competition.”

“Sometimes parents think that martial arts Jennifer Espina, Morris’ trainer, has is not safe for their kids; some feel martial worked with him for a little more than a arts teaches kids how to fight,” Morris said. year and has helped him with his Weapons “It’s actually the opposite. Martial arts teaches training. Ms. Espina commends Morris for his kids to use their minds before using any type effective use of the Bo. of self defense.” g “Ricky is one of the fastest weapons

‘Morris is one of the hardest working kids I know and I am truly proud of him. I feel very honored to have had the opportunity to train him.’

The Muse November 2011

21

Sports

Inside Athletics: bowling & cross country

Do not be deceived by my washboard abs or glowing tan: I’m not an athlete. I’m a journalist. Follow my experience as I try out every varsity sport. This issue I joined bowling and cross country.

by RachelAnderson

Bowl me over

Run, Rachel, run!

I

S

have been bowling wrong my whole life. I always used my index and middle fingers instead of my middle and ring fingers. Who knew?

Once I mastered the proper grip, I managed two strikes on consecutive frames (even without bumpers!) If I can do it, so can you. Here’s what you need.

ince cross country is my sport, I’d like to resolve some myths. First and foremost: CROSS COUNTRY IS NOT THE SAME AS TRACK.

What exactly is cross country?

It’s long-distance, multi-surface running. Meets are 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) races where runners compete against other teams and the clock.

Bowling shoes: Borrowing shoes from the alley is unsanitary. Buy your own pair, with extra arch support and bright colors.

What’s the difference between cross country and track?

In cross country, everybody runs the same distance, but in track running events vary from 100 to 3200 meters, including hurdles and relays. Field events include long jump, high jump, shot put, discus and pole vault.

Bowling ball: Most members own a weighted bowling ball with a funky design and transport them in rolling bags that looks like suitcases.

Arm strength: The lightest ball the alley had weighed 10 pounds. The heavier the ball, the better, so hit up the gym.

Does it hurt?

If it doesn’t, you’re not trying hard enough.

Appetite: Considering the only foods Photo by Michael Baldwin Photo by Daniel Milstein I ever eat while running are GU packets, On her final lap of her three-mile tempo I was surprised that bowlers eat during On the second frame of the first game during bowling practice at Tropicana run around the strong, Rachel lengthens matches and practices, specifically Verde, Rachel bowls her first strike. her stride to finish with energy. french fries. g

Why run so far?

It builds character. Running is punishment in every other sport, so if you like to run long distances, you have to be either crazy or disciplined. g

Fall sports wrap-up: big year for girls

by KevinLevine

The girls swim team went undefeated this year, winning all eight of their meets.

Communications junior Daniela Sorgente qualified for the state tournament in the diving competition after finishing 1st in the region tournament. Vocal sophomore Irene Plaza finished 12th in the in the 100m butterfly at the region tournament, and 12th in the 400m freestyle relay with her teammates: dance senior Madison Delgado, strings freshman Fabiola Plaza, and vocal freshman Camila Gonzalez.

Boys Swimming The boys swim team went 5-3 this year as a small team (13 swimmers) and competing against teams of 30 swimmers.

Communications freshman Michael Rahrig qualified for regionals in the 400m freestyle event, 100m butterfly and 200m relay. Divers band freshman Nolan Mallet and keyboard junior John Halloway qualified for the state tournament. Communications senior Nathan Ward also qualified for the state tournament in the 100m butterfly.

22

The Muse November 2011

Volleyball The girls volleyball team highlighted its first official year by posting a record of 6-12 and winning a match in the district tournament. The team was led by senior captains Charlotte Nowak, Ashleigh McDougal and Alison Marshall.

Boys Golf The boys golf team had its best season ever this year. The team had a record of 4-6 and was competitive in all of their matches.

They also set the record for the best combined score (171) in school history. Communications senior Marlowe Brand had a school-record average of 39 and qualified for the State Region II tournament.

Girls Golf For the girls golf team, this season was designed to be a rebuilding year. The team finished with a 3-5 record and had two golfers, Myranda Tarr and Robin Mackey, qualify for the region tournament.

Boys Bowling The boys bowling team had difficulty fielding a team because it only had three

players and competed against full-squad teams with five players.

Girls Bowling The girls bowling team placed first in its division during the regular season. Even though they lost the district tournament, they still had a successful season with a 10-1 record.

Boys Cross Country The boys cross country team was younger than in recent years, consisting of mostly sophomores and a couple of juniors. Band junior Brandon LaRosa finished 10th in the district to qualify for the region meet. His best time was 18:27 which came within three seconds of the school record.

Girls Cross Country The girls cross country team had the best season in school history. The girls finished third at districts and qualified as a team for the region meet. Rachel Anderson (4th in the district), Natalia Flores (7th), Isabella Pezzulo (11th) and Chloe Toscano (12th) qualified for regional meet. g

advertisement

The Muse November 2011

23

Entertainment

Anaface website only goes skin deep

Website has users upload photos of themselves to be rated on a 10 point scale

by GabiCohen

E

ver since the day a person is born, they are told that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, everyone is pretty in their own way, etc. But what if there were a definite set of standards that defined how attractive someone is? Anaface.com, a website where users can upload a picture of a face, will report how attractive someone is.

Users can upload a picture of themselves (or of any face) and place points on their face based on a guide. The website then calculates beauty based on facial symmetry, length of the nose compared to the length of the ears, height of lips in proportion to the width of the lips and several other components. It then ranks the face on a 10 point scale and

WEBSITE REVIEW

tells them what is attractive about the face and what makes it hideously unattractive.

Anaface has the potential to serve as a confidence booster. Imagine the euphoria you experience when told your face is a 9.78 because its length is perfectly proportional to its width. You earn bragging rights for days. The next time someone tells you that your inner ocular distance is too great for the height of your eyes, tell them to think again, and be sure to flash them your Anaface score. But not even Megan Fox earns a score that high, and neither does Joseph GordonLevitt.

But imagine the depression you would feel when told that your face is only a 4.46.

You’re not even worthy of the halfway point.

On the website, even a chimp could score at least a 5.32 points. Your flawless makeup and thorough skin regimen doesn’t apply; it doesn’t care how long it took you to pluck every single unruly eyebrow hair.

Unfortunately, Anaface only takes facial features in to account, completely disregarding other factors such as bone structure and hairstyle. You could have a patchy, greasy mustache, and the website will still tell you that you’re the most attractive man on Earth. You could have a really nasty unibrow that makes you look like a caterpillar has eaten half of your face, but the website will tell you that you’re that hottest babe in all of Florida.

This is especially apparent when you use the website to analyze fine celebrities.

Jake Gyllenhaal, perhaps one of the most beautiful and flawless men to walk this land in the last 200 years, only scores a 6.54.

Anaface provides a fun way to waste time, but it’s not exactly accurate. It has its limitations as far as what it can evaluate, so don’t depend on it to tell you how hot you are. They always say the beauty on the inside is the beauty that matters anyway. g

Just‘in time’berlake stars in sci-fi film

by LauraPitts

S

cience fiction thriller “In Time” gives audiences a look into what writer and director Andrew Niccol perceives as the future: a place where people never age past 25 and where time is money—literally. The film’s opening weekend earned over $12.1 million and reached number two in the box office.

In the film, once a person reaches age 25, they are given one more year to live, with a bioluminescent clock ticking down their time left on their forearms. To earn time, one must get a job, beg or steal. Because of this, there is an obvious line between the poor and the wealthy, as the rich can live forever, and the poor live day to day.

Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) is a poor man living in the ghetto. He gets his chance to change the economic system after saving the life of Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer), who had over a century on his clock. Salas gets a taste of the high class life, and in an attempt to redistribute the wealth, clashes with a

WHAT’S HOT

businessman’s daughter, Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried), who eventually aids in Salas’ plan to help the poor.

The film came out with perfect timing, right in the middle of the Occupy Wall Street protests; the 99 percent are portrayed as the inhabitants of poor “time zones” in the movie, and the one percent as those living in Greenwich, the wealthiest neighborhood in the movie. The movie was thorough and thought out by writer Niccol, with the idea of a fully functional society in the future.

However, “In Time” drags on for too long, inserting lengthy action scenes that don’t further the plot. The movie’s emphasis, time, was its own enemy, as it lasted nearly two hours. “In Time” raised some unanswered questions as well. It wasn’t made obvious if there was a middle class of time holders—it just focused on the extremes of the groups.

The movie also allowed for time to be passed from person to person with a type of forearm hand shake. It brings up the question whether

Justin Bieber and Usher record song

J

ustin Bieber and Usher recorded a new cover song, “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).” They recorded the song on the radio show “On-Air

by LauraPitts with Ryan Seacrest” late in October. The song is on Bieber’s Tantalizing tidbits Photo by Ryan Seacrest Website Website Christmas album, “Under the from the world of A holiday themed collaboration Mistletoe,” released Nov. 1. between Justin Bieber and Usher can entertainment. be heard on Bieber’s album.

24

The Muse November 2011

MOVIE

REVIEW Photo by Twentieth Century Fox

“In Time” recieved around $12 million in its opening weekend.

a person would lose time if he were to get an unintended grab.

“In Time” offers an eye-opening insight on how the world would be if our way of living changed: if everyone looked 25-years-old, if paying for a cup of coffee was as simple as an arm swipe, if your days were literally numbered. g

Eddie Murphy not hosting 2012 Oscars

A

Photo by Entertainment Tonight

Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy are interviewed by Entertainment Tonight.

ctor Eddie Murphy announced Nov. 9 that he would not host the 2012 Oscars as originally planned. Murphy was assigned to host after working with director Brett Ratner, who is no longer producing the Oscars. Murphy didn’t think he was suited for the job and didn’t want to be a part of the Oscars without Ratner. Instead, comedian Billy Crystal will host.

Entertainment

A penny saved is a penny earned

!

TLC’s ‘Extreme Couponing’ shows people taking savings to another level

by MaggiePatterson

T

LC, formerly known as the Learning Channel, is no stranger to controversy.

With series on giant families, oblivious pregnant women, and child beauty pageants, unscripted oddities Photo by TLC reign. True to form, J’aime Kirklew is shown here peeking through her vast the show “Extreme collection of coupons used to drastically reduce her grocery bill.

Couponing” shoppers take little apparent since her episode aired. is about the legions of pleasure in purchasing or She allegedly doctored and suburban housewives whose consuming; the thrill is misused coupons, posting hobbies are purchasing the save. In the world of videos on YouTube to show hundreds of dollars worth ‘Extreme Couponing’ free others how to do the same. of merchandise for pennies always tastes best.”

Backlash against Kirklew’s using ordinary newspaper Despite the show’s methods has had viewers coupons. It airs at 10 p.m. materialism, not all featured calling for her episode to be on Wednesdays. couponers are mindlessly taken out of circulation.

Episodes are all creating stockpiles. Michelle “The bottom line is, it’s formulated the same, with (last names are not usually okay to dislike a show; but two couponers profiled given) shops to feed there are socially acceptable each episode. The couponer her family and her son’s ways of expressing an starts by describing their disadvantaged sports team. opposition to the show,” financial situation, coupled Using extreme couponing, Kirklew wrote on her blog. with shots of them and she has elevated her family “The individuals who their families furiously from poverty. express such distain [sic] scrambling to clip coupons “I started couponing for the show are the vocal from a mountain of ad in 2009,” said Michelle. minority. Respectfully inserts. Many couponers “My husband was laid off critiquing a show is have entire rooms built to unexpectedly, and I was acceptable. Posting hateful, store their plunders. Then, hysterical. It was very short hurtful comments on the they are shown making their notice. He called me and TLC Extreme Couponers enormous purchases at a said, ‘Just so you know, Facebook fan pages or local grocery store, while right now I have three websites is unacceptable.” onlookers stare and cashiers more days of work and I’m Kirklew’s episode sweat. done.’ We were going to remains in rotation, and she Critics’ receptions for lose everything. If I hadn’t has not been prosecuted for “Extreme Couponing” have started couponing, I think coupon fraud. been mixed. things would look very bad “Extreme Couponing” is “There’s nothing for us.” just another show about the indulgent about ‘Extreme Other couponers don’t eccentrics down the street.

Couponing,’” said Hank have quite the same shining These are just ordinary Stuever, staff writer for the morals. J’aime Kirklew, people with an extreme New York Times. “Desire coupon blogger, has been habit. Don’t waste your isn’t at play here. These at the center of controversy Wednesday night. g

TV

REVIEW

Kim Kardashian filing for divorce

A

fter marrying NBA player Kris Humphries, reality TV star Kim Kardashian filed for divorce after just 72 days of marriage. She was quoted by Access Hollywood saying that she “hope[s] everyone understands this was not an easy decision,” and that she “had hoped this Photo by Twirlit Website marriage was forever but sometimes things Humphries and Kardashian appear on don’t work out as planned.” a talk show before their divorce.

Kardashian and Humphries reportedly paid $10 million for their fairytale wedding.

Gabi COHEN Sit down with a bottle of Faygo and apply your clown makeup because the juggalos are coming to town. “Miracles” by Insane Clown Posse is the anthem of our Photo by Gym Class Heroes generation, advising lost and confused adolescents, families and adults alike to acknowledge and appreciate the miracles that surround us daily.

Maggie PATTERSON

I’ve heard music in weird places. Once, my favorite song was a few lines a homeless man sang at a skeevy bodega. This month, my favorite song came from my English Photo by Kansas teacher, Valerie Bauer: “Carry On my Wayward Son,” by Kansas. It’s got awesome riffs that beg you to air guitar until your arms break. I already have a sprain.

Laura PITTS

The fall season brings new songs with different collaborations of artists. A favorite of mine is “Stereo Hearts”

by Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine.

Photo by Gym Class Heroes The partnership brings verses of rap together with Levine’s soft voice in the chorus. It’s a great song to listen to on a windy evening walk.

Rihanna Hospitalized; cancels concert

O

Photo by Star Pulse

Due to Rihanna’s sudden illness, she was forced to cancel a Swedish concert.

n Oct. 31, Rihanna became sick with the flu, causing her to be hospitalized and hooked up to an IV drip at a Swedish hospital. She was forced to cancel her show in Malmo, Sweden.

“It would have been a great time. . .so much better than being sick with the flu.

I’m really disappointed I couldn’t be there,” Rihanna said to US Weekly.

Rihanna later recovered, and performed her Nov. 4 concert in Hanover, Germany.

The Muse November 2011

25

advertisement

Dermatology Associates, P.A. Joshua M. Berlin, M.D. Brett S. Dock. M.D. Mark R. Gardner, M.D. J. John Goodman, M.D. Howard A. Green, M.D.

Richard A. Krathen, M.D. Cristina Lampuri, M.D. Harvey J. Penziner, M.D. Robert A. Sarro, M.D. Brent Schillinger, M.D. John M. Strasswimmer, M.D.

WEST PALM BEACH 120A Butler Street West Palm Beach, FL 33407 • (561) 659-1510 PALM BEACH GARDENS 10335-A No. Military Trail Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 • (561) 622-6976 BOCA RATON 7280 W. Palmetto Road, Suite 207 Boca Raton, FL 33433 • (561) 368-1440 951 NW 13th St. 2D Boca Raton, FL 33432 • (561) 862-5021 DELRAY BEACH 400 E. Linton Boulevard, Suite G7 & G9 Delray Beach, FL 33483 • (561) 272-1137 NORTH DELRAY BEACH 2605 W. Atlantic Blvd., Suite D204 Delray Beach, FL 33445 • (561) 819-5822 ATLANTIS 120 JFK Circle, Suite 128 Atlantis, FL 33462 • (561) 964-9671 WELLINGTON 10111 West Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 100 Wellington, FL 33414 • (561) 798-1649 BOYNTON BEACH 10301 Hagan Ranch Road, Suite 930 Boynton Beach, FL 33437 • (561) 739-5252 STUART/PALM CITY 3654 S.W. 30th Avenue Palm City, FL 34990 • (772) 403-2227

26

The Muse November 2011

of the Palm Beaches

Arts

The Muse Staff Editors-In-Chief Executive Editor Managing Editor Managing Content & Style Editor Senior Layout Editor Assistant Managing Editors Op/Ed Editor Op/Ed Staff News Editor News Staff Features Editor Features Staff Head Columnists Sports Editor Sports Staff Arts Editor Arts Staff Entertainment Editor Entertainment Staff Business Managers Business Staff Photo Editor Copy Editors Assistant Layout Editor Graphics Editor Website Editors Cartoonists Adviser

About The Muse

Samantha Bilton, Audrey Green Rachel Anderson Alex Rehberg Daniel Milstein Nicole Hamilton Kelly Berger, Shawna Bilton, Dominique McKenzie Adriana Rahrig Aubrey Levin, Hunter Truman, Jennifer Yoon Francesa Otero-Vargas Kyle Bell, Esther Mendoza, Dana Miller, Tess Saperstein Mack Schroeder Tim DiTocco, Josie Russo, Camille Sanches Mack Schroeder, Hunter Truman Josie Graham Angelic Edery, Max Fields, Kevin Levine Kloee Ciuperger Elizabeth Lane, Valeria Rivadeneira, Mikeshia Lewin, Jensen Tate Laura Pitts Gabi Cohen, Maggie Patterson Tijienene Gordon, Emily Lane Enrique Orosco Alexandra Lopez Savannah Artusi, Jillian Adams Angelica Moreno Alec Zisson Max Fields, Josie Russo Oscar Carl Stephen Moore

Editorial Policy

The Muse is a national awardwinning newsmagazine. The publication has won numerous awards from the National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. This publication, and all six issues produced, is completely funded and created by its staff, advertisers and donors. Over 1,300 students and a multitude of in-state and out-ofstate subscribers receive copies of the magazine annually. All aspects of the magazine from the cover to the exposure on the back page are written and designed by the students. There are 43 staffers, grades 10-12, from the Communications Department (and a cartoonist from the Visual Department) who work during and after school to make this publication possible. We would like to thank School of the Arts Foundation board members Lisa Marie Browne, Ralph Guild and Don Silpe for contributing generously to the 2011-2012 issues of The Muse. Your donations are greatly appreciated by everyone on this staff. g

themuseatdreyfoos.com

This is a q-r code, scan it with your smart phone and it will take you directly to the muse website.

The Muse is a student publication produced by Journalism IV, V and VI classes at Alexander W. Dreyfoos, -School of the Arts. Opinion is limited to editorials and columns. We welcome and will print letters to the editors, which should be submitted to the Pressroom (1-305). We reserve the right to edit letters for grammar and space restrictions and will publish no letters that are libelous or defamatory to any staff, students or members of the community. We also accept guest editorials, although we reserve the right to edit or to decline at our discretion.

The Muse gratefully accepts advertisements from community businesses as well as donations from interested readers. Yearly subscriptions can be purchased for $35. Please make checks payable to Dreyfoos School of the Arts and send to:

Dreyfoos School of the Arts 501 South Sapodilla Avenue West Palm Beach, FL, 33401 or call (561) 805.6252 The Muse November 2011

27

exposure Ryan Rosado

Photo by Savannah Artusi

T

aken by digital media junior Ryan Rosado, this photo, “El Castillo de Sombras,” depicts a Puerto Rican castle. The piece was created with minimal editing: only filters and contrast tools were used.

Rosado portrayed the castle as a short of homage to Mary Shelley’s

“Frankenstein” by using dark filters to create an eerie picture. After winning a Gold Key for his piece, Rosado was also awarded a summer scholarship to the International Center of Photography.

“It’s a very significant piece to me because it is my first piece that has actually won something, especially

since it was not something that I had spent hours and days on,” Rosado said.

“It makes me proud to be able to call that my piece and I hope that at some point in the future I will be able to produce something at a similar level to it.” g

Written by Savannah Artusi