The Wessex Wire The Student Newspaper of West Essex Regional High School
Vol. LV No. 3
West Essex High School, 65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, N.J.
January 2015
Track undergoes major construction Athletes upset about unspecified changes to track; administration provides explanation By Monica Onorata ’15
School administrators and coaches broke the news in early December that, due to unforeseen problems with its condition, the track at Travis Field would not be ready in time for the spring athletic season. When members of the track team learned that they would not have a home running surface, some were angered, claiming that changing deadlines and timetables regarding the track and turf at Travis Field have left their team shortchanged. Mr. Samuels, head girls’ track coach insists that students’ main focus should be on their individual performances. “As a program we have to focus on what we can control, training hard and training smart; all the athletes have to worry about is
competing,” he said. “As a coaching staff, we will find the proper training facilities.” In a facilities update on the West Essex district home page posted in early December, Superintendent Ms. Longo said that workers discovered some unanticipated problems with the track’s curbing during reconstruction of the new turf field. Due to these problems, lane one of the track had to be torn up in order to complete the project correctly and since the track cannot be poured and set until the weather is warmer, sprinters and long distance runners are now left without a stable running surface on campus for the upcoming spring track season. According to athletic director Mr. Macioci, the original start date of track construction, Nov. 1, 2014, was chosen so that fall sports would not be heavily impacted and the turf would be completed by the start of spring sports. The plan was for the track to be left untouched until after graduation in June 2015 to accommodate all teams and students. However, workers on
See TRACK on Page 2
Photo by Caroline galligan
Renovations on the turf at Travis Field this winter ended up affecting track lanes, leaving it unusable by spring sports and community. Construction on the turf started Nov. 1 and is scheduled to end at the beginning of spring.
West Essex family channels memories into hope
By Courtney Pappas ’16
After the Donnelly family lost their son, Henry, they decided to use their sorrow in a different and more positive manner. The Henry William Donnelly Memorial Scholarship fund, created in December, gives West Essex an opportunity to give back while honoring the memory of Henry’s legacy. “We wanted to keep Henry’s spirit
to live on,” Mr. Donnelly said. “We know how much he loved people, and he would have wanted a fund to help people. His spirit can touch the people in this community.” “Part of our responsibility, as a caring educational community, is to help and support others in a time of need,” Principal Mr. Suda said. “A scholarship, in the memory of Henry, is a beautiful idea.” On Oct. 7, tragedy struck a family of West Essex, the Donnellys, when
What you can do: All donations can be made at www.hwdonnelly.org. They can also be sent to HW Donnelly Fund, PO Box 1012 West Caldwell, 07007 Photo courtesy of hwdonnelly.org
In This Issue:
3-4 Opinion
beloved baby boy Henry passed away. As the story came to West Essex the students and fellow teammates of brother, Nick Donnelly came together to support the family in this hard time. The football team comforted Nick at the wake when their friend was in need. Along with the football team, any West Essex student, family or person who hears of the Donnelly story now has the chance to make a donation to the family’s charity. “It was very important to us as a team and a coaching staff that Nick and his family knew that we were here for support,” football coach Mr. Markey said. “You could see the love our kids had for the Donnelly family.” The scholarship was created to benefit families with college age children that don’t qualify for reg-
MLK Day deserves respect
8-10 Arts
ular financial aid but still may have difficulty affording college costs. The Donnellys have three kids that they plan on putting through college, so they understand what such families go through. To fit three young students through college could potentially be a lot of money and this scholarship could help. The scholarship fund is currently a work in progress considering it is just beginning. The first goal is to raise enough money to give a substantial donation for students and to have enough money to continue the charity after that. “The fund is going much better than anticipated and we would love even more support from the West Essex student body,” Mr. Donnelly said. Beyond just receiving donations, the family is also holding fundrais-
Predictions for Grammys
11-12 Sports
ers. T-shirts with the charity’s logo were created and sold, which raised more than $650. Also, Madison Avenue Soaps created a special scrub in honor of Henry called “Snow Angel.” They have raised several thousand dollars and proceeds will go straight to the foundation. Families and people are coming together to show their support towards the Donnellys. Along with donations, the Donnelly family looks to hold a 5K run the spring, a fishing charter in the summer and tricky tray next fall to raise money. They encourage all people to come support! “I hope to continue to receive support from my friends and classmates at the future fundraisers,” said Nick Donnelly. “The scholarship is a great way to keep my brother’s memory alive.”
Mr. Humes leads Knights to wins
The Wessex Wire: News
January 2015
TRACK | from Page 1 the turf project discovered that incorrect curbing was previously installed under the track, causing unavoidable damage during construction. Even after constructing a new track, it takes four weeks to cure with a necessary temperature of at least 60 °F. “Anytime with construction, there could be issues that aren’t covered because you can’t predict what happens during demolition,” Mr. Macioci said. “Now my plan is to provide the best possible training facilities for this track season.” Some members of the track team said the news and the way it was broken left them immensely disappointed. “We are the largest team with nowhere to practice. There are so many alternate solutions that no one is making,” said senior sprinter and four-year track athlete Alexa Alhout. “We won conferences. We have so many record holders. We were all in agreement that the track wasn’t supposed to be touched, so if they ruined it, they need to fix it.” However, there are some track
athletes with a different outlook. “Although the track is nice to have, a season without it is the ultimate test of will and character. The track is not the reason we are great,” sophomore distance runner Steven Collini said. Shortly after they learned of the news, a number of senior track athletes attended the board of education meeting on Dec. 8 to plead their case for a new track in time for the spring season. They criticized the sudden news that the track was unavailable, stating that the lack of practice space is not only a huge inconvenience for the largest sports team at school, but also hazardous to the athletes. In a written statement read aloud at the meeting, students said that running on concrete as opposed to a softer track can cause shin splints, and that the track team would no longer be able to host home meets. Students also said they felt as though they were receiving “no help or support from the school or athletic department” and that “this was not the proper way … to be repaid for success” after winning conference championships last year. However, the outcome of the Board decision was not in their favor.
Track, turf are necessary Grass Fibers Granulated Rubber Shock Absorbing Pad Leveling Layer
Drainage Zone Natural Subgrade Illustration by Lindsay Sanderson
Breaking down the health benefits of not running on concrete By Noah Eagle ’15 While members of the school’s track team wait for the renovations at Travis Field to be completed, athletes have been running outside on the pavement during practice. However, both the track and the turf are vital to our athletes’ longterm health and durability. Each surface offers necessary padding that concrete does not, helping to prevent injuries, the most common
being shin splints. During the track seasons, it’s common to find team members on the stationary bike, working on shins. If not the bike, it is not difficult to find somebody complaining about the same injury. Some students have claimed the numbers of shin injures seems higher than usual this year, including athletic trainer John Mascola (TJ). “The shock absorption provided by the track compared to the concrete is very important,” TJ said. “However, injuries can happen on either surface.” While bumps, bruises, sprains and even breaks can truly happen anywhere, the track and turf
At the meeting, the Board told students that everyone within the administration was doing their best to help them, but the situation was out of their control. Ms. Longo and Principal Mr. Suda were also present at the board meeting to hear the track athletes. When later asked how he felt about the board meeting, Mr. Suda said, “I was proud of the students for trying to articulate their feelings, but I felt they didn’t have all the information, or all the pieces to the puzzle.” In response to the situation, Mr. Macioci and Mr. Suda sat down with Mr. Emering, Mr. Samuels and several senior track athletes later that week to clarify the school’s plans for the spring track season. “I honestly felt really bad that night,” said Mr. Suda. “I get it, as a former teacher, a coach and athlete.” The administration said the track team will now be bussed to various facilities to perform workouts such as Coastal Sports. Other high schools such as James Caldwell, Bloomfield and Cedar Grove all have rubber tracks and have offered their assistance. “They will be bussed about three times a week; it’s really up to the
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Photo by Caroline galligan
Student track participants’ season is in jeopardy because of the track and turf being covered in gravel due to the resurfacing project of Travis Field.
discretion of the coaches. They will also be having meets at least once a week, and we are going to work on getting them turf time,” Mr. Macioci said. When the track team is not competing at a meet or being bussed to a facility, the administration said the team will be able to use the asphalt walk currently surrounding the turf for their workouts. Although the track is gone, a common sentiment among
coaches is for athletes to move on and continue striving for a successful season. “As adults, we recognize the situation is what it is, we are dedicated to working hard and working with what we have,” said boys track coach Mr. Emering. “Track is about hitting walls and figuring out how to move beyond them, and our athletes and their character will push us through.”
Senior citizens attend holiday breakfast By Ceana Cuello ’16 West Ess ex Hig h S cho ol expressed an enjoyable morning by spreading holiday cheer with the annual senior citizen holiday breakfast on Dec. 17 in the high school cafeteria. The event is an yearly tradition for numerous senior citizens around the community that come to enjoy a breakfast that high school students prepare themselves. The event reached an all-time high record of over 225 seniors attending the event. “I don’t know who has the most fun! The kids are so excited that they get to participate in the event, and the seniors truly enjoy the time they have here,” culinary arts teacher Ms. Maw said. The seniors started off their mornings being welcomed by students and faculty, who escorted them into the cafeteria illuminated with tons of holiday decorations. The seniors enjoyed a morning full of entertainment and delightful treats. Af ter conversing among themselves and enjoying their food, they were given the pleasure of watching performances by the dance team and instrumental and choral music groups. They performed dances and songs to bring the holiday spirit to life. Some of the music included “Sleigh Ride” and
other holiday tunes. “This was my first time coming here, but the show and food was wonderful. I’m so amazed at what a great job this school does with this breakfast,” said Dina Dubas from Roseland. The event was organized by Ms. Maw, who teaches Culinary Arts II and Food and Sports Nutrition. The breakfast has been organized by her for the past nine years. Ms. Maw had all of her students from both classes prepare different types of breakfast foods for the seniors. Students took time out of their academic day to make a variety of foods. Numerous
foods being crumb cake, blueberry muffins, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, quiche and fresh fruit cups along with coffee and tea as refreshments. At the end of the meal, each senior received a goody bag filled with cookies to bring home. The event was a success, bringing in many seniors who seemed anxious to come back next year for yet again another wonderful day. “The elderly bring joy into my life and make my heart warm,” junior Joesph Perrone said. “I love helping out in this event. It’s something really important to do.”
Photo by lexie sabato
Principal Suda poses with two senior citizens at the breakfast hosted in the school’s cafeteria.
Opinion
January 2015 Issue 3
The Wessex Wire Page 3
Keep our speech free
Staff Editorial
The Wessex Wire The Official Student Newspaper of West Essex High School A Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Medalist Paper 65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, New Jersey 07006 (973) 228-1200 ext. 258 2014-2015 STAFF: Managing Editor Monica Onorata ’15
Editors-in-chief Bryan Gallion ’15 Ben Lowenthal ’15 News Editors Anthony Gagliardi ’16 Cathryn Kessler ’16 Features Editors Caroline Galligan ’15 Tatum Pappas ’16 Arts & Culture Editors Patrick Glenn ’16 Julia Maxman ’16 Photo Editors Lexie Sabato ’15 Courtney Pappas ’16 Advertising Editors Maddie Butler ’15 Sara LiVecchi ’15
Opinion Editors Jordan Alworth ’16 Brianna Crummy ’16 Junior Editor Gianna Aktas ’16
Layout Editor Lindsay Sanderson ’15
Sports Editors Noah Eagle ’15 Rose Pezzuti ’15
Research Editors Dominic Magliaro ’15 Luke Magliaro ’15
Copy Editors Kelly Scheper ‘15 Gianna Aktas ’16 Maddie Gering ’16
Cartoonists Mattias Voltmer ’16
Art Director Sabrina Saccente ’15
Contributing Staff Ceana Cuello ’16
Adviser Mr. Hermosilla
The Wessex Wire Editorial Policy
The national-award winning Wessex Wire is published with supplemental updates to inform, educate and entertain the approximately 1,200 students of West Essex High School, faculty and community. Unsigned editorials are the consensus opinion of the editorial board and do not always reflect the views of the adviser, staff, administration and/or board of education. Signed editorials reflect the view of the person whose name appears in the byline. The Wire serves as a forum for the expression of ideas and opinions of students, staff and community members. We urge readers to write letters to the editor on pertinent matters of concern. Letters must be signed; however, anonymity will be granted if necessary upon request. Members of the editorial board reserve the right to edit all letters to the editor for length or libelous content. Students, faculty or members of the community with an interesting experience or strong opinion on any subject are also encouraged to write or contact the Wire at thewessexwire@gmail.com. Several photos in this issue are used under various Creative Commons licenses. For more info and full licensing details, visit creativecommons.org.
photo Courtesy of bob Mical (Creative commons (CC BY 2.0)
Many protested the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity chapter at UVA due to the Rolling Stone’s account of a rape accusaton.
Greek life ignites controversy Story victimized by the media’s manipulation, but whole college setup deserves criticism By Jordan Alworth ’16 Both a victim of the media’s manipulation and accurate source of blame College Greek life is a subject that harbors both criticism and esteem from the public. One could argue that sororities and fraternities are simply a part of college culture and allow for the creation of lifelong friendships. Yet, they are constantly thrown into the spotlight for the specter of alcohol abuse, sexual assault, violence and hazing, that mark their reputation. This raises the question as to whether or not Greek life should hold a continuing presence at schools. “The issues at hand, such as what occurred at UVA (University of Virginia) and WVU (West Virginia University) are terrible situations, however it is rare that the media will focus on the positives of Greek life,” Jessica Iacullo, a University of Pittsburgh sophomore said. “Some of the smartest, well-equipped leaders belong to a Greek organization.” Iacullo is both a sorority member and a journalist for her school, so she can attest to the ways a story can be manipulated to generate the greatest stir. The University of Virginia in particular has been brought to the forefront of the media’s attention as cases of rape that were once neglected, are being revealed. A November Rolling Stone article titled, “A Rape on Campus: A Brutal Assault and Struggle for Justice at UVA,” told the story of female victim, “Jackie,” who intricately described being raped by several members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity during a party, her freshman year. According to npr.org, the university had originally decided to suspend all fraternities until next year. However, weeks following the story’s release, Rolling
Stone then reported that there were “discrepancies” in Jackie’s account, causing an uproar from the public. This has resulted in an uplift of the suspension. Was “Jackie’s” story misinterpreted, and should the University of Virginia’s now tarnished reputation be reconsidered? “Two former female students of mine, who attend UVA, were angered and appalled that this incident of sexual assault occurred, but also felt targeted because of their school’s status,” English teacher Ms. Dunphy said. This exposure has prompted further investigations into allegations against fraternities in other colleges. West Virginia University put all Greek life to a halt when freshman student and fraternity pledgee, Nolan Burch, was found unconscious in a fraternity house and later pronounced dead this November, according nbcnews.com. Ramapo College, somewhere that hits closer to home, has also fallen victim to this “trend” of on campus rapes. According to cliffviewpilot.com, two Ramapo male students are being charged with aggressive sexual assault for raping a female who attended an overnight fraternity party in November. These examples should leave readers uneasy about the unfortunate reality surrounding Greek life; however, there is a common theme present in all of these cases. The victim was typically a freshman, or in some instances not even of college age, and in a situation where alcohol was being consumed in copious amounts. The nature of fraternities does play a part in this unruly behavior as “studies have shown that fraternity men are three times as likely to commit rape,” according to rollingstone.com; yet other forces are also at work. To end these disturbing occurrences involving sexual assault and alcohol abuse, further measures, other than simply “punishing” fraternities for a period of time, must be taken. This problem is to be addressed on the broader span of all college behavior and
activities. Greek life is an easy scapegoat for the unapproved activity that is occurring at some of country’s most prestigious universities. There are fervent attempts made by administration to sweep accounts of sexual assault or alcohol abuse out of the media’s attention, to keep their status from being degraded. According to rollingstone. com, UVA graduate and victimrights advocate Liz Seccuro said, “University of Virginia thinks they’re above the law. They go to such lengths to protect themselves. There’s a national conversation about sexual assault, but nothing at UVA is changing.” The role of higher education plays a key role in preventing, detecting and coping with cases of sexual assault. If they are not doing their part to correct wrongdoings, nothing will ever change, as Seccuro said. It is similar to disciplining a child: one must be given consequences for an unacceptable action, to deter them in the future. Efforts should also be made to educate incoming freshman men as well as women on the inevitable hazards that lie ahead instead of simply playing the blame game. Students will be experiencing a newfound freedom while being exposed to situations where their moral compass must lead them. Greek life is undeniably a catalyst for a lot of poor behavior, but it is the people that belong to the sororities or fraternities that make these choices. It all comes back to the character of the person and how they have been taught to handle themselves in unbecoming circumstances. “I believe Greek life is an amazing opportunity for students if it is not taken advantage of,” sophomore Spencer Barry said. “My sister belongs to a sorority, and she has grown and developed lifelong friends because of it. However, the Rolling Stone article was extremely disturbing and hard to read. The students who took part in the rape are people that need to be dealt with and punished, not the entire frat house.”
“Protesting phi kappa psi” By Bob mical (flickr.com/photos/small_realm/15853242252/) ; (flickr.com/photos/small_ realm/15680235508/) ; (.flickr.com/photos/)small_realm/15231608834/) ; (flickr.com/photos/small_realm/15666366288/)
French magazine Charlie Hebdo has been known to satirize various religions in the past by means of cartoons and has received multiple threats as a result of this practice. However, action had not been taken against the magazine until last week, when three gunmen broke into the publication’s headquarters in Paris, murdering 12 and wounding several other employees in the worst terrorist-related incident in France in the past 50 years, according to The Economist. This attack was a response to the magazine’s focus on a book written by Michel Houellebecq entitled “Soumission,” which entertains the possibility of Muslims taking control of France and the European Union. The gunmen were later identified as two brothers and an accomplice who have ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic religion; they received military training in Yemen during 2011, according to The New York Times. This has been the second major incident as of late regarding terrorist attacks that have followed controversial published works. The first, brought on by Sony’s “The Interview,” did not have as nearly a bad outcome, as the cyber-terrorists involved only issued threats but did not carry them out. Nevertheless, both events expose the fact that freedom of speech is still not widely accepted around the world. Creative freedom and being able to say what you want should be a right that nobody should be afraid of exercising. While it can lead to controversy, it must be understood by all that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and that’s something that cannot be taken away from them, especially through fear tactics. Publications must continue to say what they want, and not let these people try to scare them from expressing their true opinions.
January 2015
Calendar neglects to honor MLK Day
Students and staff feel as if the half day is half hearted
Media outlets lack necessary followup on trending stories By Anthony Gagliardi ’16
Illustration by mattias Voltmer
By Julia Maxman ’16
Martin Luther King Jr.’s efforts to achieve racial equality have shaped the country we know today, and should therefore be recognized with the upmost respect.
On Jan. 17, 2000, Martin Luther King Jr. Day became an official holiday observed in all 50 states. As a sign of respect, schools, offices and federal buildings are closed to honor King Jr. and his quest to end racial inequality. While everyone should observe this federal holiday, our school only typically gives a half day rather than a full day off. This is a national holiday and deserves the full recognition as any other federal holiday. A half day off feels as if Martin Luther King Jr. is being shortchanged. To draw a comparison, our school continues to close on other days that it recognizes as federal holidays, such as Columbus Day and Presidents Day. Similar to Martin Luther King Day, these two holidays are national holidays in which all federal buildings and schools close. Our school acknowledges these two days off, however why is Martin Luther King Day, also a national holiday, any less important? “A day off is important to honor King’s work in history,” history teacher Ms. Blanchard said. Some may argue that whether attending school or staying home, people will still choose to honor King in different ways. While some may take the day to remember him and his contributions, others may continue on with their daily schedule and not stop to think about the importance and implications of his work. However, it is still important to observe the holiday with a day off of school. The main purpose that a full day off as opposed to a half day off serves, is
that the school should be closed, like any other federal holiday. A half-day feels half-hearted. With a full day off, students and administration would have their schedules come to a halt for this day, to pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. His work and sacrifice for equal rights deserves our attention and respect. “I think we should have off of school on Martin Luther King Day because a half day doesn’t really honor him for all that he did throughout his life,” sophomore Lindsay Feldstein said. Changing the schedule is easier said than done. I understand that the number of days of each school year is calculated to ensure that we meet the state requirement of 180 days, which currently include half days such as this one. However, if our school evaluates the schedule and decides that MLK day should become a priority, this change could easily be instated. For example, if we start the school year a day earlier in September, we could have a full day off for Martin Luther King Junior Day. “It’s disrespectful to have off of school for other national holidays when Martin Luther King Jr. was just as influential,” junior Ryan Applewhite said. Until our administration comes to realize this vital need to adjust the calendar, students are still able to keep King’s legacy alive on their own. If each person takes a little time from their hectic schedules on this holiday to consider King’s everlasting mark on this country, his work will remembered and honored.
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The Wessex Wire: Opinion
It’s disrespectful to have off of school for other national holidays when Martin Luther King Jr. was just as influential. —Ryan Applewhite
Over the summer, it seemed like the only thing people were talking about was the thought of America being attacked by members of the terrorist organization ISIS. Newspapers, magazines, social media and news programs threw the topic in society’s face, scaring us into thinking this was going to be the end of it all. Publicized with background information on how/ why they started up and warning society that they were making moves in land where American military spent more than 10 years trying to fix up, ISIS was the main topic to converse about. News corporations were bathing in stories that everyone wanted to read, feeding them the information they were eager to hear. Then, as if out of nowhere, the information suddenly stopped spilling out. It wasn’t the hot topic it used to be on the newsreel. Newspapers didn’t follow up on stories, magazines had no feature articles on how conditions were and the problems in the Middle East stopped were no longer trending. This “here one minute and then gone the next” style of news is due to the 24 hour news cycle. Information in today’s world is more instantaneous than ever before. Stories from all over the
world can be found quickly due to technological advances in the way we communicate to one another, but these stories rarely go into detail on how events played out. In order to keep up with this fast pace, news programs need to be on top of the most recent news stories. This spreads basic information, but lacks crucial detail regarding what is truly going on. In other words, news programs seem to report on headlines, but don’t want to teach us what’s truly going on around the world. “You will hear everything about ISIS all at once, but then no one seems to know anything anymore,” junior Jake Schatz said. “It’s like no one knows what’s going on over there.” When you actually look at the news stories that made headlines throughout 2014, only a handful of them went in depth to fully cover the entire story. Remember Malaysian flight MH17? It was the commercial plane that was shot down by Russian missiles while flying over Ukraine. Every day, the news talked about what seemed to happen, but nothing ever followed up. The last thing I remember hearing was that the black box was on its way to Russia to be examined, but what did the recordings end up holding? What about the PalestinianIsraeli cease-fire? Did the bombs
finally stop falling on the innocent women and children and are both countries beginning to get along? “People don’t know what’s going on in these parts of the world because we rely on the news to inform us,” said history teacher Ms. Jozefczyk. The truth is that in order for us to get out of our little bubble and learn something fully out in the world, it’s up to us to go find it. The whole story to every article is not going to be formally published on a news program simply because there is too much to cover. News programs must feel as if they cannot afford to go into detail on certain articles when broadcasting information, so if you want to know what ended up happening, its all on you. I understand that news programs have a lot on their plate when it comes to broadcasting information to the public. They only have a certain amount of time to spill out everything they can, so that’s why it’s our responsibility to follow up on stories. Hearing about an event is one thing, but actually going into detail with a story and learning from it is powerful. Humans are most efficient when all information is acquired, so I hope that mass media companies stop baiting society with flashy headlines and start covering stories fully more often.
Photo By Monica Onorata
Ben Lowenthal, even at age 18, relishes the snow by making a snow angel.
Welcoming the winter wonderland By Ben Lowenthal ’15 As our Northern Hemisphere begins to tilt away from the sun, the seasons change and we are struck by the contradiction that is winter. There is joy in the air with the holidays about, but it is clouded by the breath of those grumbling in the bitter cold. This cynicism, though, comes out of spite for something that was once dear to our hearts: snow. As a young’un, I spent my winter days frolicking through the white, bright wonderland that I had been graced with on any given December day, as children are known to do. Yet, as we age, the presence of snow is met with more mundane matters. “How
will I get snow off my car?” and “Wow, it’s, like, really cold” are two phrases that are commonly echoed throughout the winter season. No one takes the time to marvel at the glory of snow, but they really should once in a while. It is as if a white blanket has been laid across the landscape, covering every surface the eye can see in a smooth concealment. But time is not taken to enjoy this picturesque image. People bustle on by-in fact, ruining the perfection with their salt and their snowplows, cutting through the masterpiece, ripping it to shreds. Snow is piled up on the sides of roads, turned a sickly gray color by dirt and exhaust fumes. This is not the ideal use for such a simple gift. It is meant to be cherished
and appreciated for its beauty. Instead of walking outside and making snow angels, snowmen or even igloos, if you’re really talented, students blandly watch as the snow gathers up on the ground, wondering if school will get canceled. If it is not, the next thing to worry about is the roads, and what it is going to be like to drive on them. Nobody leaves any room for fun; it’s all work and no play. But, ‘tis the season to be spent relaxing and enjoying the company of friends and family. So go out there, throw a snowball, go sledding or ice skating. Enjoy that frozen tundra for all its worth. Maybe even try some of that yellow snow. I hear it’s lemon flavored.*
*Ed. Note: Don’t actually do this.
Features
January 2015 Issue 3
The Wessex Wire Page 5
Caution: emosh article with swag 62 By Cathryn Kessler ’16 This one is mostly for all the adults that are out of the loop and are trying to be hip again. You may not be able to rock that old fashioned ’90s blowout or the well-manicured mullet that you rocked in every class picture, but you can start by getting up to date with today’s lingo. “Groovy” and “rad” died out about 10 years ago, so I’ll save you guys by giving a little lesson on the lingo you hear from teenagers when you have no idea what’s being said. Prepare to be educated.
Killin’ it (killin/it), v., 1. Older gen-
erations may assume it to be a term of violence, but I promise you no one is being harmed. In fact, it is the exact opposite. It may sound misleading, but in reality it is a genuine compliment describing an exciting achievement. Some perfect examples would include how the boys’ soccer team “killed it” by winning the Super Essex Conference Liberty Division Championship or how I just killed this article. “Killin’ it, just look at me,” senior Adam Rodgers said.
Swag (‘swag), n., 1. Let’s talk about
63 swag. Everyone claims to have it, but what does it really mean? Swag comes from the root word swagger. It is very apparent if you have swag or not. Swag is an inherent attribute and cannot be obtained over time. Those who don’t have it, I’m sorry just take notes. “Swag is when your teacher thinks you’re not listening and then she asks you what she just said and you tell her exactly what she told you. That my friend, is swag,” senior Mike Farina said. Someone riding down the street in an Audi, rocking their sweet, new Raybans that their grandma gave them can perfectly describe a person dripping in swag. Yes, grandmas can have swag too.
Artsy (artsee), adj., 1. The word
teenage girls use to describe pictures posted on Instagram that highlight the way in which a picture is taken is “artsy.” For example, most girls in our school, myself included, have definitely taken pictures of a serene looking sunset, with a filter of course, and captioned it on Instagram as “#artsy” with many emojis next to it. The peaceful and exuberant effect of an earthy style is what can ultimately be what can be classified as “artsy.”
“The ideal ‘artsy’ picture is a pumpkin spice latte, with a backdrop of colorful autumn leaves descending from the ground. If this does not appear in your ‘Instagram’ feed, you should definitely get on it now,” junior Sabrina Palko said.
Emosh (eemosh), adj., 1. Ever find
yourself getting in touch with your inner soul once in a while? The term “emosh” can be used in either a positive or negative sense. An “emosh” situation can stem from when the girl’s field hockey team celebrated a county championship to when you did horribly on the SAT that you were studying for since August. Any picture, conversation or situation where an intense emotion is being projected, can be described as “emosh”. “It was super emosh when Nathan got kidnapped in ‘One Tree Hill’,” freshman Bailey Schuster said.
Bae (bay), n., 1.“Bae” is an acronym for the saying, Before Anyone Else. It is used as a term of endearment, often referring to boyfriend or girlfriend. Or perhaps a prospect that might one day hold this lofty position. So that boyfriend who is attached to his girlfriend’s hip
while carrying her backpack to class? Yeah, she’s his “bae.” “I wish I had a bae” sophomore Gianna Zecchino said.
Fleek (fleek), adj., 1. Has anyone
ever told you your eyebrows are on “fleek”? In other words, it looks like you spent hours perfectly grooming your eyebrows before coming to school. Having your eyebrows described as on “fleek” is the highest compliment your eyebrows could get. Having fleek eyebrows takes a lot of maintenance. One may have to get them waxed on a weekly basis and consider filling them in with eyebrow pencil. “Mr. Johnsons eyebrows are on fleek,” sophomore Nina Giangrande said.
Turnt (turnt), adj., v., 1. Turnt is a term that can describe our school perfectly. We love to get rowdy. We get turnt during football games, we get turnt during pep rallies and we even get turnt when the lunch lady treats us by putting extra deli meat on our sandwiches at lunch. Turnt is a term that describes someone’s emotion for getting excited about the task at hand. As known by many, we love to turn up.
Teachers take on teen lingo Evolution of #hashtags Would you say your mustache is on fleek?
Mr. Woodworth: “I have no clue what on fleek means, I feel so bad!”
Can you use killin’ it in a sentence?
Mr. Llauget: “My gym classes kills it, like they go hard.”
What does swag mean?
Mr. McNaught: “I have swag; it means style.”
Do you ever use the word bae? Ms. Jozefczyk: “I hate the word bae, I will never use it; my husband and my dogs would be my baes though.”
What is it to be artsy? Ms. Colabelli: “Artsy is something that is artistic and fancy like a sweet Instagram filter.”
How is someone if they are emosh?
Mr. Collins: “Emosh is when your emotions are running too high.”
By Gianna Aktas ’16
The powerful nature of social media has given birth to the hashtag as a social construct. No longer is the hash mark seen as the pound sign or the number sign – instead, that “#” symbol creates a label to mark anything you want to draw attention to. You can use hashtags to sort and f ind other social media posts with the same mindset and attitude. Taking a selfie? Just add the hashtag “#selfie,” and it’s done. Feeling upset? #sad. Feeling excited for the holiday season? #ilovechristmas. They can be as funny or serious as you
need them to be. Hashtags tied to larger news events can create emotional rallying cries, as seen by Twitter posts marked with #blacklivesmatter and #notallcops with people sounding off on the controversial deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. But hashtags can also be a simple matter of self-promotion, both for celebrities and for everyday people. #tomorrowatmidnight scrolls across Instagram feeds everywhere when a celeb is primed to release a new single. The use of hashtags allows celebrities to promote their upcoming events. The emergence of the hashtag has ultimately brought us one step closer to each other around the world via
January 2015
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The Wessex Wire: Features
Two thousand and fourteen in review: t International news events hit close to home Ebola outbreak
“In 1995, the movie ‘Outbreak’ came out about the Ebola virus but no one really worried about the virus until 2014 when it hit Africa and made its way to the U.S.” — Dr. Bruffy
— Justin Trigg ’16
ISIS terror photo courtesy of echo (creative commons (cc by nd-2.0))
The outbreak of Ebola and its subsequent arrival in the United States created a global scare.
Ferguson protests
photo courtesy of Malaysian review
photo courtesy of eventphotosnyc (creative commons (cc by NC-nd-2.0))
Riots ensued in Ferguson, Mo. following the shooting of African American teenager Michael Brown.
American journalist James Foley kneels before a member of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) prior to his filmed beheading.
“It highlighted the fracture in race relations in our country which we still need to work on.”
“Like the overthrow of the Soviet regime in Afghanistan, ISIS will establish a fundamentalist state similar to the Taliban. The importance of their emergence in 2014, however, is that it shows a shift in the Islamic world from favoring moderate Islamic theocracy cooperative with the west to total Islamic fundamentalism.”
— Ms. Goudreau
— Louis Galarowicz ’17
“The events in Ferguson opened up a lot of discussion and debate throughout the country as we see many similar things to continue to occur.” — Hailey Blum ’17
Clockwise from top left: “Ebola in guinea” by echo (flickr.com/photos/69583224@N05/13717624625/); malaysianreview.com; “eric garner nyc” by eventphotosnyc (flickr.com/photos/eventphotosnyc/15330711873)
“Was Ebola as deadly as a disease as they made it seem, or did they just make it seem like it because they had nothing to talk about?”
January 2015
Page 7
The Wessex Wire: Arts & Culture
the year in world affairs and pop culture Azalea, Woodley and Fallon shine on the stage and screen
By Brianna Crummy ’16
from left: “Iggy Azalea (Austin, Texas, 2014-10-11)” by ralph arvesen (https:// www.flickr.com/photos/rarvesen/15313096744); “Shailene Woodley” by nick step (www.flickr.com/photos/nickstep/6256374246); “Jimmy Fallon” by steve garfield (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/3823192398)
This past year was a good one for entertainment. Hollywood produced some of the best music, films and television to ever be created. The stars of 2014 made such a great impact that the audience will remember their performances long after the New Year. We were introduced to Australian hip hop artist Iggy Azalea, moved emotionally by young actress Shailene Woodley and ended our nights laughing with comedian Jimmy Fallon. Iggy Azalea: The release of Iggy Azalea’s first album, “The New Classic,” on April 18 made her the new singer to watch. She has been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and won the American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album. Within just months of her album’s premiere she has been more successful than others that have been in the music industry for years. According to billboard.com, the release on Iggy’s new album
put her hit single “Fancy” at the top of the Hot Rap Songs Chart. No other woman has topped the chart since Nicki Minaj in 2011. Shailene Woodley: Many people knew Shailene Woodley as the star of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” But as of this past year she is better known as Tris Prior from “Divergent” or, even better, as Hazel Grace Lancaster of “The Fault in Our Stars.” Her work in both of these films proved she is capable of playing just about any role. Many people are blown away by her capabilities because of her young age. The 23-year-old stunned us all as she transformed from the fierce, unstoppable Tris to the fragile, emotional Hazel. Woodley has been nominated for many awards in the past, but her outstanding performances in 2014 granted her several nominations and one win for People’s Choice Awards. She is in the running for Favorite Action Movie Actress, Favorite Drama Movie Actress and Favorite Movie Duo for both “Divergent” and “The Fault
in Our Stars.” Jimmy Fallon: The announcement came in 2013 that Jimmy Fallon would take over “The Tonight Show.” It wasn’t until last February that the comedian took his seat at the late night desk. There was no doubt in his viewers’ minds that would be able to fill the shoes of his successor Jay Leno. Fallon has made his mark on the show with his one-liners and witty skits, and managed to bring on guests that appreciate his humor and always have something to respond with. According to nbc.com, Fallon has made “The Tonight Show” the most viewed late night show in the last few years. Each of these three entertainers were capable of contributing something different to the past year. Azalea introduced herself as one of the greatest female rap artists, Woodley furthered her reputation with her versatile acting abilities and Fallon proved he can make all his viewers laugh. Both their audiences are looking forward to what they have in store for the New Year.
Top selling albums 1. “1989” – Taylor Swift (3.66 million copies) 2. “Frozen: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (3.53 million copies) 3. “In the Lonely Hour” – Sam Smith (1.21 million copies) 4. “That’s Christmas To Me”– Pentatonix (1.14 million copies) 5. “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” (898,000 copies)
Top grossing movies at the box office 1. “Guardians of the Galaxy” ($333,055,258) 2. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” ($324,301,247) 3. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” ($259,766,572) 4. “The LEGO Movie” ($257,760,692) 5. “Transformers: Age of Extinction” ($245,439,076)
Photos courtesy of Ralph Arvesen, Nick Step and Steve Garfield (cc by-2.0)
The work of Azalea, Woodley and Fallon not only made them the biggest stars of the year, but it also set them up to thrive for years to come.
Statistics courtesy of nielson soundscan and boxofficemojo.com
Wire picks: our favorite things of the year Favorite Album
Favorite Song
“1989” – Taylor Swift
“Drown” – Bring Me The Horizon
“I got an app to count down the days until it came out.”
“Nobody likes screamo, so no one listens to them, but it’s a great song.”
– Rose Pezzuti, Sports Editor
– Courtney Pappas, Photo Editor
Favorite Celebrity Ariana Grande
“The multitude of hit songs that she released in 2014 allowed her to ‘Break Free’ from the pack of other artists and solidify her status as a bona fide pop superstar.” – Bryan Gallion, Editor-in-chief
Favorite Show
Favorite Movie
“How I Met Your Mother”
“Guardians of the Galaxy”
“Even though the ending was controversial, it’s the best show I’ve watched this year, hands down.”
“I didn’t even know about these superheroes going into the movie and they still blew me away.”
– Julia Maxman, Arts & Culture Editor
– Ben Lowenthal, Editor-in-chief
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The Wessex Wire: Features
January 2015
Hot spots to enjoy in cold weather
Photos courtesy of julie rosenberg
(Above) Families enjoy ice skating at the Trump Rink to avoid busy crowds at Central Park. (Below) One of many doughnuts to enjoy is this Hazelnut chocolate doughnut from Doughnut Plant.
Eating with your eyes
By Maddie Gering ’16
Foodie accounts posting pictures of all types of foods have taken Instagram by storm. One account, New Fork City posts a wide variety of food pictures including breakfast, lunch, dinner and (most importantly) dessert. These delicious combinations are found all over the city from highend Upper East Side restaurants to hidden gems in SoHo. Seeing all these pictures of delicious foods while sitting at your lunch table is a good enough reason to hop on a train to New York City and try out the recommended locations. The New Fork City account was started by Natalie Landsberg, Gillian Presto and Emily Morse, three girls who went to high school together in Manhattan, and now attend separate colleges. They originally intended for this
food account to be shared with only a few people, but were pleasantly surprised when the account reached 119,000 followers. “Our love of food, as well as photography, really inspired us to create the account. Our purpose of creating New Fork City was to share our pictures with friends and family,” Landsberg, Presto and Morse said in a statement. The popularity of this account has caused many students to venture outside Essex County and into the Big Apple to taste this heavenly food for themselves. Junior Amanda Wasserman is one of many who has followed the account for a while and has gone to a number of different eateries featured on New Fork City. “Recently I went to the Milk and Cookies bakery, which was featured on the account, and I got two chocolate chip cookies with
Photo courtesy of New fORK cITY
This Mac ‘n Cheese photo was sent in by a “New Fork City” follower.
ice cream. It was really good,” Wasserman said. New Fork City is not the only food account that has made an impression on Instagram. Food in the Air (FITA) is another account which puts their own twist, and posts pictures of food from all over the world. They post a myriad of foods varying from French fries in front of the Eiffel Tower to Lobster rolls in Cape May. You can see different types of food from countries near and far. Even though many of the places are only a plane ride away, it is popular among students because they get to see foods of all different cultures. “I think that it is really interesting that they post pictures of foods from all around the world,” junior Harry Goldstein said. Four sisters first thought of the idea to create FITA when they were driving in the mountains in upstate New York, and they saw someone taking a picture of their food in front of a mountain. They came up with the idea of creating a food account that let people from all around the world share pictures with them. “The coolest thing for us is the response we get from followers when we post their pictures. It’s awesome to see how much joy you can bring to a person by posting their picture on our account,” the FITA staff said. Both New Fork City and Food in the Air have become popular among students at West Essex. It allows students to see the best foods and restaurants from all around the world whether they are 10 minutes away or half way across the world.
Whether you’re into sightseeing or snacking, the Big Apple is full of options By Julie Rosenberg ’16 As the frigid winter months approach, Floridians put on their sweatshirts, Arizonians put on some long sleeves and people in the tri-state area put on five layers of winter jackets. As painful as it is, the cold weather is unavoidable. After l a s t y e a r ’s harsh winter storms, people are now e a ge r t o leave their houses and find fun in other places; t h e c omput e r and TV screens can only be so entertaining. Luckily, for West Essex students, freedom from all of their winter agitation is just a bus ride to New York City away. Here are some cool things to do during chilly times in the city. Doughnuts. If you’re in the mood for pastries that are as delicious as they are beautiful, then Dough should be on your list of prospects. Located at 14 West 19th St., Dough’s delicious doughnuts range from flavors like blood orange to chocolate with earl grey tea – they’re sure to have you eating by the tons. Most high schoolers usually aren’t satisfied with just one donut, though; if you fit into this hungry group, you can find more to eat at Doughnut Plant. This little snack shop is
located at 379 Grand Street on the lower east side and has three varieties of handmade doughnuts (yeast, cake and filled square) in flavors like vanilla bean, tres leches and apricot. Add in artisanal coffees and teas, and anyone can enjoy. Ice skating. On the east side of Central Park (by the Central Park Zoo), the Trump Rink has been put to good use by ice skaters getting fed up of the touristy feel in Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park. It’s a nice change for anyone who has already skated elsewhere in the city, and being in C entral Park, good peoplewatching is guaranteed. Go with f am i ly or friends – the rink offers amenities for p e opl e of a l l ages. On Friday and Saturday, the rink is open late, making it flexible with your schedule. Whether you dig skating or just watching people fall down, the Trump Rink is a nice change of scenery in those colder months. Rockefeller. Walking around for a day can get tiring, so trekking to the top of 30 Rockefeller center lets you see the entire city without the exercise. On your way up, you can stroll through the history of John D. Rockefeller’s oil company and his life. Past the elevator ride up to the observation deck, you can snap pictures of landmarks like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building and get a rare bird’s-eye view of Central Park. The scenery is unforgettable.
January 2015 Issue 3
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Arts Arts
Culture
The Wessex Wire Page 9
Grammys: Who takes home the gold? By Bryan Gallion ’15 The Grammy Awards are Music’s Biggest Night, celebrating an eclectic combination of hits from the world’s finest musical talents. Beyoncé, Sam Smith and Pharrell Williams led the pack this year with six nominations each. It is never easy predicting how the Recording Academy will vote, but here are our thoughts on who could emerge victorious on Grammy Sunday, Feb. 8.
• Iggy Azalea • Bastille • Brandy Clark • Haim • Sam Smith
SONG OF THE YEAR:
• “All About That Bass” — Kevin Kadish & Meghan Trainor, songwriters (Meghan Trainor) • “Chandelier” — Sia Furler & Jesse Shatkin, songwriters (Sia) • “Shake It Off ” — Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift) • “Stay With Me” (Darkchild Version) — James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith, songwriters (Sam Smith) • “Take Me To Church” — Andrew HozierByrne, songwriter (Hozier)
This year’s nominees have already achieved a great deal of success to date despite their “New Artist” statuses. Azalea’s hit “Fancy” took the world by storm, being named Billboard’s Song of the Summer, and her debut album “The New Classic” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Smith had a huge year as well, turning heartbreak into a hit album, “In The Lonely Hour,” which spawned two Top 10 singles: “Stay With Me” and “I’m Not The Only One.” His music has a timeless feel that is hard to find in today’s music industry. The passion he pours into his work makes listeners feel every emotion that he experiences. Smith’s successful breakout year has shown that he is not only deserving of being named Best New Artist, but he will also remain a big name in the world of music for many years to come.
Awarded to the songwriters of a single that “must contain melody and lyrics,” according to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide, Song of the Year recognizes how a song is written instead of how it is performed. In recent years, winners of this category have come from the alternative genre; “We Are Young” by fun. featuring Janelle Monáe took home the prize in 2013, while Lorde’s “Royals” won in 2014. Alternative anthems like these are driven by brilliantly written lyrics that are delivered in an unconventional way compared to typical pop tracks, allowing them to reign supreme over other nominees. Due to the recent alternative trend, Hozier’s “Take Me To Church” is a heavy favorite to win this year. “The song is about replacing theoretical things with things that are tangible,” Hozier said in an interview with The New York Daily News. Sia’s high-flying anthem “Chandelier,” which chronicles the sad, but true realities of life as a “party girl” could also be looked at favorably in this category; Meghan Trainor’s booty bubblegum pop booty appreciation anthem “All About That Bass” could also give Hozier a run for his money.
RECORD OF THE YEAR:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
This award honors “artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry,” according to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. A Grammy is given to the performing artist, producer and recording engineer of the winning song in this category. Three of the five nominated songs (“Fancy,” “Shake It Off,” “All About That Bass”) have reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, but the real competition for this award is between “Chandelier” and “Stay With Me.” Sia’s haunting vocals backed by an eerie electropop beat make “Chandelier” the most deserving of the Record of the Year crown. But The Recording Academy decided to recognize the Darkchild Version of “Stay With Me,” which could work out in Smith’s favor in this category. The mix spotlights Smith’s soulful in-studio backing band, making the song sound more like a single performance than the result of studio engineering.” The Darkchild Version is special, for it sounds more organic and has a less forced feel to it. This change sets “Stay With Me” apart in a field of songs that rely heavily on studio production. But the odds are still in Sia’s favor, however. Her first major hit as a solo artist solidified her pop powerhouse status.
Album of the Year is the most coveted Grammy Award that every recording artist dreams of winning. All five nominees are very different in style, but the impact that their work has had over the past year make each deserving of this great honor. Beyoncé shocked the world with her “secret” selftitled album, which was released with no prior announcement or promotion. Selling 828,773 copies in the first three days of release, according to Nielson SoundScan, the album received rave reviews from fans and critics alike. This great triumph will be hard to defeat, but Sam Smith has a strong chance of overpowering Queen Bey with his debut studio album, “In The Lonely Hour.” The honesty and emotion of this album is reminiscent of Adele’s sophomore release “21,” which took Album of the Year at the 2012 Grammys. Beyoncé’s monumental musical moment will be tough to overcome in this category, but the pure artistry that Smith used to create “In The Lonely Hour” could assist him in achieving victory.
• “Fancy” — Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX • “Chandelier” — Sia • “Stay With Me” (Darkchild Version) — Sam Smith • “Shake It Off ” — Taylor Swift • “All About That Bass” — Meghan Trainor
• “Morning Phase” — Beck • “Beyoncé” — Beyoncé • “X” — Ed Sheeran • “In The Lonely Hour” — Sam Smith • “G I R L” — Pharell Williams
(Clockwise from left) “Sam Smith” By dima thabit (www.flickr.com/photos/121632947@N03) “hozier” by brendan t lynch (www.flickr.com/help/general/#147) “Sam Smith’s The Lonely Hour certified Platinum Award by RIAA” by thenext2shine * https://www.flickr.com/photos/then2s/16028219102) “Chandelier” by mari paz molina (www.flickr.com/photos/123491884@N02)
BEST NEW ARTIST:
January 2015
The Wessex Wire: Arts & Culture
Page 10
‘Whiplash’ is one beat above the rest
A young director and veteran actor make indie film into award season contender
By Patrick Glenn ’16 A film’s central plotline often determines its popularity. With this in mind, the story of an up-andcoming jazz drummer studying under the tutelage of a tough-love mentor might not seem to be the most alluring of subject matters. Despite this atypical focus, “Whiplash” manages to break the walls of the stereotypical movie genres and captivate all audiences. The mentor, Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), conducts the finest jazz ensemble at a prestigious Juilliard type-college in NYC. Andrew (Miles Teller) is selected to play drums in this exclusive group and understands the monumental role the band has on his quest for musical prominence. Andrew desires to not only be exceptional at his craft–drumming–but to be “one of the greats.” Although a teacher, Fletcher does little to encourage his students; instead, he preys on the musicians’ fear of making a mistake in order to inspire their best performances. Fletcher is cutthroat, and continually makes distasteful and psychologically manipulative insults to berate his band members. Andrew is relentless, and truly believes that to be the best you must pursue your goal with conviction and absolute dedication. He goes as far as to break up with his girlfriend and cut all ties with others for the sole purpose of perfecting his craft.
Photo courtesy of Mingle MediaTV (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Miles Teller (Andrew) plays opposite J.K. Simmons (Fletcher) and also establishes himself as a force to be reckoned within the acting industry. After moving out of his dorm room to live in his studio (with
little more than a mattress and his drum set), Andrew spends count-
less hours practicing in order to correct the weaknesses exposed
during his sessions with Fletcher. These solo practices are some of the most powerful of the entire film, as Andrews pours his heart, sweat and blood (literally) onto the drums, truly capturing the young musician’s limitless motivation. Above all else, Simmons’ performance, as well as the master direction of Damien Chazelle, sets this film apart. Simmons, known best for his performances in “Juno” (2007) and the “Spider-man” trilogy, brings intensity to the role never before seen from the veteran character actor. His portrayal of the formidable maestro is chilling to say the least, and even the viewer will start to sweat once each rehearsal scene commences. Fletcher believes that intimidation and fear work far better than all else, and that there are no two words more harmful to an artist than “good job.” Even when it pushes his musicians to weep or question their merit as a human being, Fletcher never yields. Fletcher’s tactics overstep the line between constructive discipline and abuse–or do they? It may seem hard to understand this perspective, but Chazelle and Simmons frame the character in such a way that the audience questions whether the ends justify the means. This is not just a “music movie.” It is a film that examines the ethics of the teacher-student relationship, and the lengths one will go to reach success, even if it
Hunt adds a new flair to country music scene
(Top to Bottom) “Miles Teller - DSC_0967 “ By Mingle mediaTV (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0“sam hunt” by Crowellzach (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Hunt)
West Essex students take an interest in newly popular country musician By Lexie Sabato ’15
be turned off by the idea of an artist talking through their songs, but Hunt has a way of making his lyrics flow each time, drawing listeners in. “I love how he talk-sings his songs. He isn’t like typical country singers we hear all the time, which makes me love listening to him even more,” senior Daniella Russo said. Growing up in a rural town in Georgia this country boy was not just a great singer, but a talented athlete as well. Hunt loved playing football, and was talented enough to continue his career through college starting as the quarterback for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. When Hunt knew his future did not involve sports and his true passion was in music, he moved to Nashville to live out his dream and become a singer/ songwriter. Hunt did not realize his outstanding talents until sitting side by side with country legends helping them write their songs. As such a talented songwriter, he has co-written
“”
Some may know Sam Hunt from his No.1 single “Leave the Night On”, but this 29 year old singer/songwriter has so much more to offer. West Essex’s hype over country music has become extremely evident the past year, with Sam Hunt at the top of the list. “The first time I heard his song Leave the Night On was in the summer, and I could not get it out of my head. Since then I have learned so many of his other songs too,” junior Rachel Cecere said. His way of singing is unique from the typical country music most people are used to. He often talk-sings his verses, making them one of a kind. At first, some may initially
He isn’t like typical country singers we hear all the time, which makes me love listening to him even more. —Daniella Russo
many popular country songs such as “Cop Car”, by Keith Urban and “Come Over” by Kenny Chesney. Even though he was behind the scenes for these great hits, the artists are grateful for his talents and give him much praise for the success of their songs. “I learned a lot from working with those amazing writers,” Hunt said on a statement on his personal website. “I learned so many unique rules and the structures that make great songs. But I knew there was a way to go beyond those rules and make something that would really be unique and honest to who I am.” Hunt is not just known for “Leave the Night On” anymore, but also, “House Party”, “Break up in a Small Town” and “Ex to see”. With their upbeat tempos and catchy lyrics, these songs too are hitting the charts. Even though Sam Hunt is currently not on tour, he is doing some shows throughout the country. He will be preforming on Feb.11 at 7:00 p.m., at the Irving Plaza in New York. “I am really hoping he tours this summer so my friends and I can go to his concert,” junior Rachel Cecere said. Hunt is still at the beginning of his music career; however, with his unique style and
meaningful lyrcis, his future is filled with promise and success.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia (CC
BY-SA 3.0) Although a newcomer, Hunt has already achieved a high level of succes.
January 2015
The Wessex Wire: Sports
Page 11
Jets and Giants continue to struggle
By Noah Eagle ’15
Super Bowl Sunday. What comes to most people’s minds upon hearing those three simple words? Food? Commercials? An awesome halftime show? When I hear it, all I can seem to think about is how my team is never participating. As a Jets fan I have endured almost an unbearable amount of pain and probably lost a few years of my life watching and rooting for the team, but now, New Jersey’s other NFL team has begun to spiral into a similar pattern “Gang Green” has been experiencing for years. After their Super Bowl victory in 2012, the Giants haven’t been able to reenter the playoffs and have continuously let down their fan base. So my question is, as fans, why do we put up with all the suffering of watching and hoping for our favorite subpar teams to pull through when we all know it will only lead to more misery? Every season begins the same way: with plenty of optimism. Whether it be the hiring of a new coach or general manager, or the acquisition of a hunky wide receiver— ladies you know who I’m talking about— there are only positive vibes surrounding the teams and the area. But that honeymoon period ends pretty quickly. “I’ve learned not to get my hopes
Photos courtesy of Keith Allison and Anthony Quintano (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Long time Jets fan and crowd motivator “Fireman Ed” virtually gave up on the team two years ago as a result of poor performance, while Giants fans are hoping Eli Manning and the team can escape this current funk the team is in.
up,” said Jets fan Michael Cesare. “Most years I end up rooting for whoever they’re playing against that week so they can get a better draft pick.” Cesare’s ideals are not alien to Jets fans, as most share his thought process. For example, this past season the Jets were able to win their first game against the Oakland Raiders and rookie quarterback Derek Carr. Coming
off a season that saw clear growth in QB Geno Smith, many analysts and team supporters felt the Jets might have what it takes to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. That is, until the team went on to lose their next eight games, including a 31-0 rout to the San Diego Chargers, leaving fans unhappy and demanding a top pick in the draft. Yet, just as the Jets always seem to do, the
team won meaningless games late in the season and failed to put themselves in the correct position to draft the player of their choice. Generally, Giants fans take the opposite approach: seasons begin with a lack of hope, and then the team can actually surprise its fans by going deep into the playoffs. However, after winning it all in 2012, the G-Men have been unable to find themselves back in
the postseason. This year was not the strongest for “Big Blue,” who began the season 3-1, only to lose their next seven games, taking the team out of playoff contention. With few bright spots this season—other than superstar rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.— Giants fans exit the year with a bad taste in their mouths, yet manage to find more positives than Jets supporters. “Sometimes making progress is better than winning games,” junior Lloyd Wilson said. So I will raise the question again: why do we as dedicated sports fans put ourselves through such unnecessary, emotionally draining pain? Why is it that every time I tell somebody what NFL team I root for I automatically receive a look as if I were terminally ill? After thinking about it, the only answer I have is that it has become part of me. As a fan, I have learned to embrace the ugly and take pride in my team. I have gained a great deal of mental toughness, and gained the value of loyalty. While the suffering may continue for years to come, these ideals and tools will actually help me in other parts of my life. I now know never to get too excited over something, or to expect too much from someone. But maybe I’m still looking at the situation too optimistically.
Controversy is still looming in professional sports
Clockwise from left: “Eli Manning” by Kieth Allison (http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/15170696859/), “Fireman Ed” by Anthony Quintano (http://www.flickr.com/photos/quintanomedia/4298405802/)
Several professional athletes have taken protests into their own hands after recent outbreaks of violence
The NFL questionably reinstates Ravens running back Ray Rice
By Dom Magliaro ’15
By Luke Magliaro ’15
Over the past few months, police cases have surfaced about innocent civilians being killed by armed police officers. These cases have caused a lot of debate and anger because of the non-indictment of these officers. Throughout professional sports, many supporters for the families of Michael Brown and Eric Garner have showed support by joining the “Hands up, Don’t Shoot” campaign for Brown and the “I Can’t Breathe” for Garner. On Nov. 30 the St. Louis Rams took on the Oakland Raiders thought to be an ordinary Sunday afternoon football game. However, this game turned out to signify much more. Five St. Louis Rams players made a statement when running out of the tunnel before the game. Wide receivers Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Chris Givens Kenny Britt and tight end Jared Cook put their hands up to show support for Michael Brown. They were supporting the “Hands up, Don’t Shoot” campaign which had brought much attention to
many of the professional sports leagues. These Rams players did not think an apology was necessary and neither did the staff or front office. However, various police officers were offended and thought that they should be fined or suspended. The Brown case has brought a lot of professional athletes to speak on the case. Many athletes expressed their thoughts over social media, specifically via Twitter and Instagram. Also, players around the NBA are now wearing shirts that say “I can’t breathe” to honor the family of Eric Garner. The first player to wear the shirt for warmups was Bulls’ guard and face of the franchise Derrick Rose. According to CBSsports.com, Rose told reporters that, "I think it touched a lot of people because I grew up in an impoverished area like that, and that stuff happens a lot of times. It touched a lot of people and I wanted to make sure I got my point across." Brooklyn Nets’ Jarrett Jack, after seeing what Rose had done, had the same shirts made for him
by Jay-Z and offered them to any other player that wanted to join him. He also gave shirts to his old teammates who were the opponents for that game. Players to join Jack were teammates Deron Williams, Kevin Garnett and his former teammates LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, all of whom represent their respective teams as star players. This campaign has also reached college basketball when the entire Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team sported these shirts for warmups. Washington Redskin wide receiver Desean Jackson also starting wearing custom cleats that say “I can’t” on one shoe and “breathe” on the other. This too was in honor of the Garner family. Throughout professional sports, as well as collegiate sports, players have shown respects to both the Brown family as well as the Garner family. Whether it be players from the Rams walking out of the tunnel with their hands up or wearing “I can’t breathe” across their chest on a t-shirt, players have been showing their condolences on a national stage.
Former Baltimore Ravens running back, and one of New Jersey’s own, Ray Rice was reinstated by the NFL on Nov. 28 after winning his appeal. Rice was originally suspended by the league after a video of him hitting his then-fiancé Janay Palmer in an elevator — in Atlantic City was released by TMZ. The Ravens and league C ommissioner Roger Goodell suspended and released Rice soon after the video evidence was leaked. Rice was indicted by an Atlantic County grand jury on a charge of third-degree aggravated assault. However, the charge against the three time probowler was dropped. Rice was originally suspended for two games, however, a stricter policy was enforced to
all players in late August. The policy includes a six-game ban for any first time league offense. Those who commit a second offense, are scheduled to be banned from the NFL for life. Despite what some people think about Rice, there are many others believe this one night does not define who the Rutgers standout is as an individual. “ H e had a bad night, but that doesn’t make him a bad person,” ESPN analyst Cris Carter said. Rice’s violent act will be questioned by many, but Rice said he does not think it will hinder him for years to come. According to an ar t icle written by Christian Bryant, R i c e w i l l c ont i nu e t o b e “the best husband, father and friend, while giving back to [his] community and helping others to learn from [his] mistakes.”
“ ” He had a bad night, but that doesn’t make him a bad person.” Cris Carter
January 2015 Issue 3
The Wessex Wire Page 12
Coach Humes, team upbeat for 2015
Basketball team primed for success as Coach Humes reaches his fourth year with the Knights
By Rose Pezzuti ’15
A high school coach is more than just a teacher, but rather someone who shows you the techniques and skills needed to achieve success. Mr. Humes has reached his fourth year coaching the West Essex varsity boys’ basketball team, meaning these seniors are the first group he has fully developed here. From their freshman year until now, the team has developed into a force in their conference, and with 11 seniors, is optimistic about the upcoming months. While the Knights look forward to the rest of their season, much of this success has come as a result of Mr. Humes coaching them. “He always wants to perfect everything and constantly pushes me to be better,” senior Jakub Adamowicz said. Last year, the boys finished the season with a 13-10 record, but Mr. Humes cares more about each player’s improvement from day to day. He talks about a “Basketball IQ,” which is the understanding of the game, and how it can greatly affect a player during any given day. Therefore, if each player’s IQ is on par with where it should be, the team as a whole will become more successful.
Mr. Humes began his coaching career at Passaic Valley High School during the 1985-1986 season. The program was looking for a freshman coach, and Humes jumped on the opportunity to apply for the job. “As a young coach I was very frustrated that my teams could not successfully execute our offense and defense even though we scrimmaged every day,” Mr. Humes said. “After a short time I learned to break everything down into drills that worked small pieces of the entire system.” He learned from his first coaching job and began to focus on the minute parts of the game that would put his team over the top. From there he has grown as a coach and truly learned how to teach a group of kids with different abilities and talents into a team. The Knights compete in the SEC Independence division. With only two losses this season, falling to Barringer and Newark Academy, the boys are currently 5-2. Recently, over Winter Break the team competed in the annual Holiday Tournament and won for the first time in four years. They beat Cedar Grove in the first round 74-37 and defeated Verona 42-35 to win the championship.
“This is only the start of something beautiful, however it is all about the end result,” senior Mike Gencarelli said. With great success early on, the team hopes to make this season a long one. After years of effort and an impressive work ethic, the team is no longer an underdog, and has become well respected around the state. “This is an extremely hardworking group and they are much better now than they were four years ago,” Mr. Humes said. “The kids know the systems and we are able to develop more.” This fourth year together is promising for the seniors having grown both physically and mentally as a team. There are no new plays that need to be taught and the players can focus on developing further, instead of starting from scratch, especially on the offensive end. They have had one system in their mind throughout high school and have mastered it on and off the floor. “Humes has helped me believe in myself and play with confidence on the court,” senior Chris Costa said. “And that has transitioned into my everyday life; he helps me believe that anything is possible if you work
Matt Matturo Wrestling
Gary Lombardi Boys Basketball
Steff Lee(Capt.) Girls Basketball
Jenna Cecere (Capt.) Girls Swimming
Tim Barth (Capt.) Boys Swimming
Position? Shooting guard How did you start? “I started when I was about four, my dad signed me up for the town team.” Play in college? “I don’t plan on playing in college.”
Position? Guard/point guard How did you start? “I started travel basketball in fourth grade on Mr. Sabato’s team.” Play in college? “I plan to participate in intramural/club teams.”
Event? “I swim backstroke, freestyle and sometimes butterfly.” How did you start? “I’ve been swimming since I was little.” Swim in college? “Probably not, but maybe for fun.”
Event? “I swim the 200 IM, the 100 back and two relays.” How did you start? “I started by almost drowning as a kid.” Swim in college? “I am committed to swim at Purdue.”
Farukh Bhatti (Capt.) Boys Winter Track
Alexa Alhout (Capt.)
Daniel Sanchez (Capt.) Fencing
Mia Cana (Capt.) Winter Dance
Alyssa DePasquale (Capt.) Winter Cheerleading
Event? “I do sprints, hurdles and long jump.” How did you start? “I began running track in eighth grade.” Run in college? “I will continue it, but I’m not sure where yet.”
Event? “I do sprints and jumps.” How did you start? “I decided to start when I was in elementary school.” Run in college? “I’m going to run at Lehigh.”
How did you start? “I wanted to play hockey, but mom would not let me. Instead she put me in ballet classes as a two year old.” Dance in college? “I will be majoring in dance.”
Position? Flyer How did you start? “I started with my friends in preschool.” Cheer in college? “I’m not sure if I want to cheer in college. I am definitely looking into it.”
hard enough.”
Photo by TKTKTKTK
Head Coach Humes with Passaic Valley Hornets in his early coaching years.
Wise words: Coach Emering “The journey can be challenging, but the real challenge is in the preparation for the journey.”
Senior stars ready for winter season of the new year
Weight? 160 How did you start? “I started because my brother and cousins wrestled, so I wanted to try it.” Wrestle in college? “No, I don’t plan on wrestling in college.”
Girls Winter Track
Weapon? Foil How did you start? “I wanted something fun, and this was the only sport that interested me.” Fence in college? “I’m not sure, but it’s definitely on my mind.”