The student newspaper of Western Albemarle High School CROZET, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014
WAHS PILOTS NEW PSYCH CLASS HOZA STARTS PSYCHOLOGY APPLICATIONS AND RESEARCH CLASS By VAL HAJEK
Several Western students and teachers recently cut their hair to support cancer survivors and cancer awareness at “Wigs for Warriors” . On October 5, over 30 students gathered in the auxiliary gym to cut off eight inches of hair to donate to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign, which has partnered with the American Cancer Society to provide free and reduced-cost wigs to cancer patients. Students and teachers sat in a circle of chairs with pink
balloons and inspirational quotes while friends and family cut their hair. Participants also took before and after pictures, and went to Face Value Salon & Studio in Old Trail for free touchups and styling after the initial cuts. The hair was packaged and sent off to Pantene to be made into wigs. Senior organizers Cara O’Connor and Clare Paxton were impressed by the participation and enthusiasm for the event. “I’m really happy…. I was
not expecting this big of a turnout, and I was so nervous about all of the logistics and how it was going to go because we’ve never done anything like this before,” O’Connor said. O’Connor attended a similar event at another high school and thought a hair cutting event would work well at Western. Paxton was inspired to co-organize the event after working at Martha Jefferson Hospital cancer wing over the summer.
“Most of the women that came into [the center] didn’t have hair, so they would talk about the wigs, and what a difference it made, and how they got them and felt beautiful,” Paxton said. Breast cancer survivor and WAHS alum Elizabeth Andrews spoke at the event and emphasized the importance of Wigs for Warriors in creating conversation and awareness about cancer. “What you’re doing empowers survivors,” she told the audience.
This year, a number of students have been given the opportunity to participate in the new psychology class, Psychology Applications and Research. AP Psychology is a prerequisite for this new class that focuses on experimentation. Students will observe, research, conduct surveys, and report data. “This class is an opportunity to play psychologist and for students’ curiosity to roam free,” Psychology teacher Lani Hoza explained. Full of hands on experiments and collaborative group work, many of the students in this class are having fun with the course curriculum that differs from AP Psych. Senior Emily Senesac said, “When you’re a super secret agent and you’re training, that’s AP Psych, but then when you’re sent into the field, that’s this class, Psych Applications and Research.” This class is project-based and the students use what they already know to investigate new ideas. For their first project, the class surveyed students in different grades about issues that the class was interested in, like technology and the library. Groups then presented their results to the class through colorful graphs and an oral presentation.
Opinion:
Feature:
Sports:
Arts:
Latitudes:
Photo: Grace Deal
Clare Paxton nervously giggles as Cara O’Connor trims eight inches of her hair at Wigs for Warriors.
Students Raise Breast Cancer Awareness WAHS hosts its first ever ‘Wigs for Warriors’ event By TIM DODSON
But am I a Warrior? pg. 6
Spirit Week Coverage: traditions & evolution pg. 8
Western Football Off to a Hot Start pg. 10 The Western Hemisphere • 1
Cult Classic Countdown pg. 13
The McKechnie Hot or Not List pg. 16
NEWS
Western Launches Environmental Studies Academy By RUBY NEISSER
Albemarle County high schools have developed specialized science academies science academies such as MESA at Albemarle high school and the Health Sciences Academy at Monticello high School. However, Western did not have an academy program until this year. About one year ago a poll was conducted to decide type of Academy to start at Western. It was decided that it would become Environmental Studies Academy (ESA). There have been many grants to jumpstart the academy. Some of these include funds from from the Verizon Foundation for a solar array, the Shannon Foundation for wave tanks, the Kids Foundation for a garden, and the Charlottesville area community fund for fish farming. Adam Mulcahy is a science teacher and the head of the ESA program at WAHS. “I teach earth science, but it [the ESA curriculum] is much better [because it includes] oceanography and
astronomy,” he said. Mulcahy was appointed to lead the program due his background and energy on the subject of science. In addition to the earth science class, the students in the ESA program take geology and geography. John Hobson, the geography teacher in the ESA, said that one reason that the program is unique is that “ [the students] are more able to collaborate using technology than any other students I have ever had.” “I like the fact that we are trying to collaborate as teachers,” Hobson added. The teachers try to overlap the content so that the classes are connected. He also thinks that the ESA incorporates more project-based learning and fieldwork into the curriculum. When asked about her workload from her ESA freshman classes, Ava Davita said “It is not too hard, but it is time consuming.” Ben McIntire, another student enrolled in the pro-
gram, agreed. “There is not a lot of work,” he said. The first hour and a half of every school day (Mondays included) is allotted for the academy classes. But are the students in this program isolated from the rest of the school? DaVita said “It is slightly isolated. There is a more concentrated group of people, but you have other classes with other people.” “I like that it is not just a normal classroom [experience], but we go outside,” Mcintire said. DaVita enjoys the program due to the increase in independent study and the fact that she has met many new people. Both Hobson and Mulcahy agreed that the program has been a success so far. Mulcahy said that he is proud of the amount of students that applied to the program. “These people are here,” he said, gesturing to the students in the Earth Science room.
Photo: Ruby Neisser
ESA students are growing vegetables outside of the C-wing.
Photo: Adam Mulcahy
The Environmental Studies class on a field trip.
Online Classes Grow in Popularity By MADELINE ANDREWS
Students can experience a different type of learning environment with just a click of a mouse. Online classes are branching out into a variety of school subjects that students are eager to take. According to Amy Wright, the director of counseling, the most common subjects are Health I, Health II and Personal Finance. Out of those three classes, the smallest one is Health II, because it does not include Drivers Ed. When a student chooses to take a class online, it frees a block in his or her schedule. Every student in the Class of 2017 and beyond is required to now take one online class within four years. Many students want to take a virtual class to create space in their schedule for a class that they have more interest in. However, there are virtual classes that students
choose to take even when they are not required in the curriculum. Personal Finance and Health I and II are the online classes provided by the school. There are other online classes that are offered at WAHS, but they are provided by a different resource called Virtual Virginia. Some of these classes are Chinese 1, Chinese 3, AP Environmental Science, AP Latin and Latin II. “Virtual Virginia is sort of a clearing house for classes. There are a lot of schools in Virginia that don’t offer AP classes because they are rural, really tiny or just don’t have the staff. Some also might not have a good science program or any foreign languages. That’s where Virtual Virginia comes in with a variety of classes,” said Zoe Padron, the mentor at WAHS for Virtual
Virginia students. Kate Innes supervises online Personal Finance that has a total of 30 students. Whether a student is taking Personal Finance taught the traditional way or online, the structure and the end results are the same. There are some differences between the two mediums of learning, but they both supply the same learning material. “It requires more time commitment and more personal discipline because it is outside of a classroom,” said Innes. Andrew Dunstan is a freshman who is taking virtual Latin II at WAHS. “There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages to taking an online class. The system takes a while to get used to. Also, you are given a weeks worth of work that you can finish before it is due,”
Dunstan said. Lillian Xu is a junior taking an online AP Environmental Science class through the Virtual Virginia program. “The reason I’m doing it is because I’m running out of sciences to take here. I’ve already taken Biology, Chemistry and Physics classes at John Hopkins,” Xu said. Xu enjoys the online class and recommends it to others with advice. “It depends on the kind of person you are. When taking an online class, you have to be really independent and know all of the deadlines to stay on top of things.”
86 WAHS students are currently enrolled in online classes. Available courses include: APEX Classes Personal Finance Health I and II AP Environmental Science AP Latin AP World History Math Analysis AP Calculus
The Virginia Department of Education notes on its website that beginning with all students entering ninth grade in 2013-2014, a student must “successfully complete one virtual course” in order to earn a standard or advanced studies diploma.
October 2014 • The Western Hemisphere • 2
News
WAHS Goes “Paperless” School pushes for greater use of technology in classrooms By TALLEY JOHNSTON
The school is going paperless in many new ways: all freshman have received their own personal laptops, teachers are passing out less worksheets, and many of assignments, and even quizzes are being completed online. When asked about how she felt about the school going paperless, Elizabeth Mulcahy, a history teacher at WAHS said, “The school does waste a lot of paper, but going paperless is like turning on a light switch, and we need to lower it.” She suggested that instead of trying to go paperless all at once, it needs to be more gradual and we need to allow the school to get used to it. Mrs. Mulcahy is incorpo-
rating various forms of technology into her class. “Freshmen are looking at articles online with their new laptops, and with my sophomore class I am more paper free than I am with my junior class.” With her sophomores she is not printing out the notes from Blackboard, homework is being turned in online and some quizzes are completed on Blackboard. “This year I am not giving juniors textbooks,” she said; however, she is giving out more handouts to that class. Wally Adesina, a science teacher has his own opinion on the subject. He agreed with Mulcahy that the school
should not go paperless one hundred percent, “Teachers still need to do outdoor activities and you can not do that on a laptop,” he said. His classes use laptops for gizmos and he shows a lot of Powerpoints, but he still prints those out to give to his students. Adesina said that “Students must write something down to learn.” Adenina likes having all the freshmen getting laptops because he does not have to sign up for a laptop cart, but in the classes where there is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, the sophomores do not have laptops and that is a problem. “The school should
The Western Hemisphere • 3
provide the money for all students to have a laptop,” he said. Bobbi Hughes, one of the school’s vice principals said that the school is moving in a paperless direction. This year the school’s budget was cut by five percent, but the school is saving money because all of the money from postage and paper that is saved is going toward instruction. Western is not the only school going paperless, other schools in the county are heading in the same direction. Hughes said that a few parents and students have complained, but those who did will have letters, instead of
emails, sent to them. Hughes says that it is really just a personal preference. In a county press release about the school going paperless, Dr. Billy Haun said, “Both objectives are important. We want to save every dollar we can, but at the same time, we’d like to make it easier for parents to be more involved on a more frequent basis with their child’s education.” The press release also states that they will use Blackboard and Parent Portal from a student’s classes to student meal accounts. It also states that Elementary School, Middle Schools and High Schools will be doing this.
NEWS
New Teachers Excited To Join WAHS Community By ABBY LOHR
If most students are honest after a relaxing summer break, they don’t notice new teachers when they come back to school. After students fall back into their school schedules they eventually come to know the new faces at Western. Many new teachers have been added to the WAHS roster this year, including Brian Ball, Ashley Holland, and Zoe Padron. Brian Ball is a new Biology teacher at WAHS. Born in Staunton, Virginia, Ball graduated from Fort Defiance High
Photo: Abby Lohr
Brian Ball, the new Biology teacher, assisting a student with a lab.
School and proceeded to go to Virginia Tech for college. After
living with two parents who were both teachers, Ball wasn’t exactly encouraged to become a teacher after graduating. Despite his parents’ suggestions, Ball received his BS in Biology in order to become a teacher. “I love my subject, which is biology and I love working with young adolescents,” said Ball. While Ball loves teaching kids, as a dream job he could see himself designing roller coasters and stadiums. One of Brian’s favorite memories is when Virginia Tech made it to the NCAA National Championship footballgame in 1999. He went to the game with his dad and was super excited getting to spend that moment with him. “It was cool seeing all the hype and the cameras and media personnel all over the place.” Zoe Padron, the new gifted resources teacher, was born in Washington D.C and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Padron’s goal as the gifted resources teacher is to help all the students and teachers have a better experience at WAHS. “I actually didn’t like high school very much. I had bad experiences with school. I became a teacher largely because I thought school could
be different,” Padron said. Before Padron became a teacher, however, she had other plans for her future. After attending the University of Chicago for her undergraduate and Boston University for her graduate degrees, Padron planned to pursue archaeology. In college, Padron majored in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations as well as Medieval Studies in order to pursue her interest in becoming an archaeologist. While Padron wished she could’ve pursued archaeology for a longer time, she changed her career path and decided to become a teacher. Now a 17-year citizen of Charlottesville, Padron greatly enjoys helping students, as well as teachers, to have a better experience in high school. Ashley Holland, the new Spanish I and II teacher, was born and raised in Northern Virginia, acquiring a passion for Spanish as she grew up. While attending Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Holland decided to major in Environmental Science and Spanish. After graduating from VCU, Holland taught at Deep Run High School and Tucker High School in Richmond. When talking to Hol-
Photo: Abby Lohr
Zoe Padron is the new gifted resources teacher at Western.
land, it’s obvious she has a strong love for the language. “I think it sounds beautiful; it’s a beautiful language. It’s fun to learn another language and open up a whole different world of communication.” said Holland. Holland has a strong love for yoga in addition to her passion for Spanish. Vinyasa, her favorite type of yoga, includes a type of “breath-synchronized” flow where each move goes with either inhaling or exhaling. As a dream job, Holland would love to own a yoga studio. For now, Holland plans to continue teaching Spanish so her students can form the kind of passion she has for it.
Photo: Abby Lohr
Ashley Holland teaching her Spanish students.
Another Year, Another Lockdown Drill By TIM DESIMONE
Sheltered by locked doors and dim lights, students huddled in the corner out of the view of windows, every classroom doing the same. All down the halls, door handles were shaken and twisted, and empty rooms searched. Within 20 minutes the practice lockdown was lifted. An Albemarle High School scare involving a misunderstood intruder and police squads, turned out to be a easily resolved issue yet resulted in bomb dogs sniffing the area, and policeman with war-style weapons shuffling students out of the building. This left many questions for students, and parents.
How effective is locking the doors? Does turning out the lights actually have any effect? What if you’re out in the halls when teachers lock their doors? Western class of 2005 graduate and current 9th and 10th grade English teacher Jessica Kompelien said lockdown drills are fairly new to WAHS. “I don’t think we even did drills when I was a student... just tornado and fire drills.” She makes sure her students are quiet, but still productive, doing worksheets or studying instead of just sitting in the dark. On the administration
side, Dr. Greg Domecq and his team are always seeking ways to improve the drill. “As administrators, we take great care to make sure we are doing everything we can to make sure you’re in as safe an environment as you can,” said Domecq, “We always get phone calls, because people get scared...but that’s the reality of the time in which we live.” Every day at 9:00 am, the administration team goes and locks all the doors so that the school can be protected from anyone trying to enter. But part of the issue is that students passively argue them on this.
“How many times do I walk around the school and see a rock in the door?...From start to finish school shootings take less than ten minutes, the open door is all they need,” Domecq said. “Mrs.Hughes is really great about all this, she makes sure that we are on top of all our procedures, and does a really excellent job.” Mrs. Hughes and the administration team have many procedures in place to guarantee that the student body and staff are safe from any emergency, including fires, tornadoes, and the lockdown drill. Every time a drill is activated, administrators have to
October 2014 • The Western Hemisphere • 4
walk the school and identify what needs to be fixed. They check door handles, lock the hall doors, and make sure teachers have a head count in the event of a fire drill. All of this may seem a little obsessive or unnecessary, but school safety is the top priority. “As a community, we have to look out for each other” said Mr Domecq, “I spend a lot of time some days chasing rumors that aren’t true… I can’t take the chance of being wrong.”
NEWS
WAHS Student Studies Abroad Lauren Kearns spends a year in Germany, feels “fernweh” By LAUREN KEARNS
In the German language, there are a lot of words that have absolutely no English translation. For example, “Backpfeifengesicht” literally means “a face that cries out for a fist in it” (I’m not even kidding) and “treppenwitz” describes the predicament of thinking of the perfect comeback once it’s too late. And while I have found that many of these untranslatable words are not especially useful, there is one that perfectly summarizes the reason why I am living here in Germany for a year, rather than spending my junior year at WAHS the way everyone expected me to. This word is “fernweh”, and it is basically the opposite of homesickness. Rather, it is the longing for traveling and experiencing far-away places, an aching for adventure. Last year, feeling the tug of “fernweh,” I applied for the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange, a program funded by the U.S. State Department that gives scholarships to 250 American teenagers to become “youth ambassador” exchange-students for a year
in Germany. I wasn’t actually expecting to be selected, but through some wonderful twist of fate, my dream came true, and I am now living in Berlin with my incredible host family, completely immersed in the German life, language, and culture. There are many things that I have found to be quite different between Germany and America. To state the obvious, everyone here speaks German (which was pretty terrifying for me back in August when the only thing I knew were the numbers one through ten). More specifically, however, fresh bakery bread is consumed at almost every meal, people drive way faster (last week we went 110mph on the Autobahn!), you’re expected to bring your own bags to the grocery store, dogs are allowed everywhere (buses, malls, etc), drinking water is always carbonated, and there are no water fountains. High school students smoke and drink in the schoolyard and it’s not a big deal. There are no substitute teachers (if the teacher’s not
there you get a free period) and schools do not have any sports or clubs. You have to pay to use public restrooms (but it’s totally worth it - they’re always so clean!), American music from the early 2000s is very popular on the radio, and energy conservation and environmental friendliness are extremely important, which is reflected in most aspects of the German lifestyle. But while there are many differences, there are also many similarities. For example, the core of my daily schedule here is really not so different from how it was last year, when I was a student at WAHS. Here, I wake up every morning, eat a bowl of plain yogurt with Muesli and make my school lunch (usually cream-cheese and tomato slices together on a sandwich - delicious!). I ride the public bus to school with my host-sister, and then from 8am to 3:15pm I learn (or rather I attempt to learn - the language barrier still makes this pretty challenging). Three days a week I go to fußball club practice with my
Photo: Lauren Kearns
Lauren Kearns poses with the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.
friend in the afternoon, and then in the evenings I never have much homework (my favorite cultural difference!). After dinner with my host family, I usually work on improving my German (I’m now to the conversational level!). And on Wednesday nights we all watch “The Voice” - the German version, of course. Sometimes I cook, too... last week I introduced my host family to the classic American breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon. It was definitely a hit!
Women’s Health Care Practice in Crozet Elizabeth Mandell, MD Phone: 434-249-1613 Email: emails4females@gmail.com Located in the Shoppes of Clover Lawn (across from Harris Teeter) The Western Hemisphere • 5
While it is sometimes pretty frustrating not being able to understand everything being said around me, I am so glad to be here because not only am I learning a new language and culture; I am also having the time of my life! If you want to follow my German adventures or send me any questions, you can check out my blog www.laurengoesgerman.weebly.com Auf Wiedersehen!
But am I a Warrior?
OPINION
By IAN MCKECHNIE
Before I begin; pride in one’s accomplishments and a desire to constantly better one’s self are undoubtedly natural and positive qualities. Tangible results, physical realizations of hard work and talent can serve as unequivocal validations of invested time, effort, and resources. It feels good to be recognized by, high scores, championships, and the like. Our school has an abundance of opportunities for students to push themselves in many capacities, and for this we should be thankful. I can only imagine the joy it brings to faculty and administration to see so many students rewarded in their endeavors. The following is not meant to belittle these accomplishments nor the satisfaction that they can evoke; it is simply a suggested revision of the message relayed in the class meeting at the onset of each year, in what has come to be known as the “Tradition
Speech”. I am not suggesting that it be removed altogether, but perhaps the message needs to be more inclusive. The premise for the speech is simple: Western Albemarle is the best high school, as demonstrated by our decorated sports history and exemplary testing scores (along with success in other scholastic programs). As follows, the students that attend the school are also the best. However well-intended, the logic here is faulty. To walk through Western does not make you superior, nor does it make you inherently different from a student at Monticello, Albemarle, or Charlottesville High School. The record of your football team does not define you. The school’s SAT average does not define you. The number of dusty trophies on a
forgotten shelf in the hallway trophies does not define you. Our student body is made up of so much more than these statistics, as are the student bodies of every high school.
To rank them based on this limited range of data, or even to rank them at all in terms of who is the “best”, is a gross misrepresentation. But to me, the single most troubling aspect of this
speech is that in discussing all this pursuit of success and glory (if it can be termed that on the high school level), the true desires of the student are never touched upon. In this speech I am made aware of the fact that Western is a place of academic and athletic success, but is it an environment that fosters success on a personal level? With colleges, bosses, parents, and grades, for many students high school can be a time of untold pressure for traditional success. Much of this speech, unfortunately, is no different in its influence. It puts enormous emphasis on achievement in prescribed areas (receiving high test scores, winning games, etc.) and neglects those areas in which students can find individuality. There’s not a single mention to the arts program
in the entirety of the speech. Is that because one cannot win in art? Basically, we have enough people telling us what we already know. Tell us to do what we love. Because to strive for success for success’ sake is empty. Without passion, achievement is devoid of any true meaning. Including this in the speech would not necessitate memorizing any more statistics; personal fulfillment cannot be quantified quite like those test scores and championships. There are a lot of students in this school. Not all are star athletes, and not all are geniuses. But every one is an individual with aspirations that vary wildly from one person to the next. So, please, next year, don’t miss the opportunity to tell them to follow all of these ambitions, not just those that reflect positively on the school.
Man on the Street What do you think about the Confederate flag being displayed at a recent Western football game? Photos & Interviews by MUHANNAH HOSSAIN, ANNIE LORENZONI & IAN MCKECHNIE
“I feel like it showed how passionate we were about the game, but it might have been a little over the top. But I don’t think people should get mad about that. ” - Tommy Lee “Not okay. I just feel like it’s disrespectful.” - Tapreeya Turner
“I don’t like what it stands for, but for free speech purposes I suppose it has to be allowed. - Eric Xu
October 2014 • The Western Hemisphere • 6
“I believe in freedom of expression, but that has to be tempered with whether or not it’s causing a disruption on school grounds.” - Tim Driver It represents white supremacy and it’s not taken seriously enough. -Joseph Lee
“I don’t care. I represent all races.” -Corey Jackson
OPINION
Lady’s Choice: A Critique of Sadie Hawkins By OLIVIA GALLMEYER
October is nearing, and the Western halls are beginning to buzz with murmurs of the universally loved celebration of crazy costumes and class pride we know as Spirit Week. However, this year the homecoming dance closing out the event has a bit of a controversial twist. Known as a Sadie Hawkins dance, this dance encourages the allegedly “nontraditional” value of girls asking out guys, rather than the males being the ones to invite. But in this day and age, is this custom really something that needs to be enforced? The concept of a Sadie Hawkins dance originated in the comic strip Li’l Abner in 1937, in which a character appropriately named Sadie organized a day in which all of the single women would participate in a race pursuing the town’s eligible bachelors. The Sadie Hawkins dance appeared later in the strip; it would take place the evening before the race, and the town’s spinsters would step on the men’s toes in order to hinder their running the next day. It’s hard to believe this odd story turned into such a notable tradition, but within a year of the comic’s publication the first Sadie
Hawkins dance was held, seen as a woman-empowering movement that spread to over 40,000 venues by 1952. However, is this dance truly give girls power they did not previously possess? During the time the idea of a dance with swapped gender roles first materialized, the idea of a woman openly pursuing a man was considered scandalous and offensive. An approved, public event like Sadie Hawkins that encouraged this was revolutionary back then, because it allowed ladies to make their own choices without being stigmatized for defying the status quo at the time. But in 2014, we’ve come much farther than considering a guy asking a girl out as deplorable. I’ll be the first one to say that gender equality is far off in our society, not when women still get paid 77 cents to a man’s dollar and the first reaction to sexual assault is to ask what the victim was wearing. However, it’s not exactly abnormal for a girl to ask out a boy, especially in present times. The social norm of one gender always having to ask another had been dropped, and both girls and boys have to freedom to ask and be asked as they wish. So now, enforcing the
Sadie Hawkins mentality just seems to be much more limiting than empowering. We aren’t empowering women by forcing people to ask them out; just because the gender roles are reversed doesn’t mean they aren’t still stifling. Boys and girls still have to follow a set of inherent cultural norms, Sadie Hawkins just chooses to reverse them. Additionally, by imposing this strict set of rules, the problem of gender roles becomes much harder to fix. With traditional dances, the custom may be for boys to invite the girls, but it is never enforced the way it is in Sadie Hawkins. Now, though, there’s a set of looming social norms that are strictly imposed, making them much harder to defy. Also, the inclusive mindset of a Sadie Hawkins dance has one fatal flaw: what are gay couples supposed to do? LGBT people already have a hard enough time in this society, where being straight is the norm. According to Sadie Hawkins tradition, the girls are supposed to ask the guys. Therefore, what are two girls or two guys to do? Are they just supposed to assign themselves gender roles to conform to, and deal with all of the problems brought by this? There have already been
The Western Hemisphere The Western Hemisphere is the student-run newspaper for Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Virginia. It is published 4 times a year by the journalism class and is distributed to students, faculty and the community. The Western Hemisphere serves as a public forum and seeks to inform, educate, and entertain the student body and local community. Opinions expressed in the newsmagazine are not necessarily representative of WAHS, the faculty, staff, or administration. The Western Hemisphere is a member of the Virginia High School League, Quill & Scroll, and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The newsmagazine is printed by Narrow Passage Press in Woodstock, Virginia. Letters to the Editor: The Western Hemisphere welcomes letters to the editor of any topic of concern to the Western community. All letters must be signed; works submitted without the author’s name will not be published. All materials are subject to editing for libel, obscentiy, poor taste, spelling, grammar, punctuation, style and space. Submit letters to the editor to 5941 Rockfish Gap Turnpike, Crozet, VA 22932 or wahs.news@gmail.com
cases at schools nationwide in which students have been suspended for taking a date of the same gender to a traditional school dance such as prom or homecoming, or even wearing a nontraditional form of clothing such as a lesbian youth attending in a tuxedo or a trans woman wearing a dress. However, this is becoming less and less of a case. Often, LGBT students and gay-straight alliances choose to hold their own “anti-prom” or “gay prom” to boycott dances that are not inclusive. Not only this, but school formals are becoming more accepting, with an increasing trend of transgender nominations in homecoming and prom courts. With all this progress being made already,
adding more gender and sexuality-conforming rules such as Sadie Hawkins just seems to be taking a step back. The idea of a Sadie Hawkins dance might have been a progressive idea when it was first conceptualized, but now the dance has just caused more and more issues of inclusion. Though our society is still far from perfect with issues of gender and sexual orientation, there’s much better ways to empower women than by creating even more limits for them. The Homecoming dance is an event that should be inclusive for all, and while I appreciate the effort, Sadie Hawkins is causing more harm than good.
Editors-in-Chiefs Patrick Andrews-Print Sarah Rainey-Web Tim Dodson-News Opinion Editors Abby Wheat Sam Lesemann A & E Editor Sarah Honosky Latitudes Editor Ian McKechnie Sports Editor Alex Lehmbeck Asst. News Editor Tim DeSimone Social Media Editor Amalia Garcia-Pretelt Operations Editor Eme Masserelli Photo Editors Julia Elder Morgan Broadus Staff Writers Abby Lohr Annie Lorenzoni Ben Donovan Ben Masselli Madeleine Andrews Matt Mandell Olivia Gallmeyer Muhannah Hossain Ruby Neisser Shannon Durazo Tyler Philips Talley Johnston Madeline Hamer Adviser Jill Williams
Follow Us Online!
On the web: www.thewesternhemisphere.org
On twitter: @wahsnews
The Western Hemisphere • 7
Facebook: thewesternhemisphere
Spirit Week 2014 An inside look at the evolution of Spirit Week
Teachers Remember Past Spirit Weeks
Photo Gallery
By MADELEINE ANDREWS
Every year for the past 36 years, Spirit Week has come and gone, and along with it comes many altered traditions. Spirit Week has existed at WAHS since 1977, though changes have been made throughout the years to make it unique to Western. AP Psychology teacher Lani Hoza said, “When Western first opened a lot of the students had previously only gone to Albemarle, where spirit week had started. When new schools open, often times people carry traditions from their previous school to the new one.” According to Hoza, Spirit Week used to have a single class skit a day, leading up to a pep rally. The activities for Spirit Week have slowly evolved into multiple competitions throughout the week that encourage school spirit like the Beat the Fanatic competition and Kinda Karaoke. “I think the competitions started to get a sense of unity in [each]... The goal always was that by Friday, all of the classes cooperate together to compete against the enemy, which is whoever you are playing in football that night,” Hoza said. Over time, new customs and trends have been created during Spirit Week. “My favorite activity probably was in my senior
year, when a lot of us gathered for breakfast at the McDonalds in town. We were all in our togas for toga day. That was the best thing we did... we didn’t have dodgeball and things like that at our time,” said Chuck Witt, a math teacher at WAHS. “My favorite Spirit Week activities would have been Skits and probably Beat the Fanatic, from when I was in High School,” English teacher Jessica Kompelien explained. Currently WAHS Spirit Week isn’t the same as it used to be in the 1977. Some changes to Spirit Week have been made by the Administration. “I think that a lot of good changes have been made to Spirit Week. I think they have really tried to listen to the students and tried to accommodate the changing world,” Kompelien said. Carrying on WAHS traditions, like Spirit Week, links together all of the generations who have attended WAHS. It has been continued every year because of its importance and effect on the student body. “It’s one of the most important things we do outside of the classroom. It provides such a sense of community and it allows students to be creative to do a lot of things they can’t do in classes,” Hoza explained.
*Image in the top left modified from Yahoo sports
Photo: Julia Elder
(Above) The junior class creates a futuristic chalk mural. (Bottom, right) Isaac Rowlingson rocks out during Kinda Karaoke.
(Above) Alex Kingsley, Asa Shin and Erin Nelson contemplate at Beat the Fanatic. (Below) Range Crisler and Billy Liverman cheer on thier grade at Beat the Fanatic.
Photos (two above): Morgan Broadus
October 2014 • The Western Hemisphere • 8
Photo: Tyler Phillips
Mural Results: 3RD PLACE
TIED- 2ND PLACE
TIED- 2ND PLACE
1ST PLACE
All mural photos: Madeleine Andrews Photo: Tilden Lexa
Clare Paxton and Grace Deal portray peasants in the medieval scene of the senior movie.
A Fond Farewell to the Golden Days of Skits Replacement of skits with movies sparks a variety of student responses By BEN DONOVAN
One of the staples of Western Spirit Week, a series of skits put on by the students of each grade as well as by the faculty, has been removed from the docket of activities this year. The skits were replaced this year with ten minute, pre-recorded videos which will serve the same purpose as the skits while removing the live aspect. The remodeling of the skits, an activity that allowed the grades to make jokes about themselves and other grades in a broad sense, was perpetrated by the administration after they received more complaints about skits last year than ever before. These complaints covered “everything from individual students being made fun of to inappropriate comments in the course of the skits to making fun of kids with disabilities, making fun of other
races, nationalities, those kind of things,” according to Associate Principal Greg Domecq. These complaints forced the administration to make a change. According to Domecq, “There is so much more you can do now with technology.” Student reactions to the change have been mixed. Oscar Diaz, a member of the Executive Council, believes, “The movies will be interesting. I think the seniors are opposed to the movies because they are used to the skits, but for the freshman class, this is all they’ve known.” He went on to add, “I think once everyone sees the movies they will realize how cool they can be. You can add some really cool effects that make the skits awesome.” This presents one of the upsides of the skits; an increased ability to control
the movie. As a member of the Executive Council, Diaz contributed to the discussion over the potential change and played a part in making the decision to change to the movie format. Diaz said, “I think skits are a funnier format but last year, the skits weren’t funny, they were just mean. I think this change is good because I would rather have a movie than last years skits.” In contrast, senior Harrison Lund said, “I think it kills tradition. We can’t have been the first ones to offend people.” He voices a common sentiment that the changes by the administration took out a key part of Western’s heritage. Lund went on to add, “They [tried] to not hurt anyones feelings”, speaking of the skits from last year. Senior Evan Davis also shared his opinion, saying,
The Western Hemisphere • 9
“The skits are much funnier in person.” This opinion, shared by many seniors, was one fear that arose from the changes to the skits. After all of this, Domecq is very positive about the skits. “I was totally blown away with how good they are,” he said. “I’ve been here twelve years… and this year, overall, it’s the best I’ve ever seen,” he said. In his opinion, removing the live element removes more problems for the students also, including sound issues, people forgetting their lines, and students going off of the skit. This is not the first time that conflict has arisen over the skits. Several years ago, the skits were almost shut down completely due to inappropriate actions that took place onstage.
Domecq said, “A couple years ago, we threatened to shut down [the] senior skit if they continued to do what he was doing onstage.” The change does not apply to the faculty, who will still present their skit live to the student body, something that Domecq views as a possible detriment to the faculty. The videos have the potential upside of eradicating some problems that existed with the skits in past years. Recently, sound issues have often made the skits hard to hear and hard to enjoy. The recorded videos remove this issues by getting rid of the microphones which were the source of the sound problems in years past. With conflict surrounding these movies, reaction to the movies is expected to be mixed when the movies are presented on Thursday, the October 16.
Sports
Photo: Julia Elder
The Western defensive line sets up before the snap.
WAHS Football Off to Hot Start By MATT MANDELL & MUHANNAH HOSSAIN
Sitting on a 5-1 record, the Western Albemarle football team won its first five games. The Warriors met their match at Louisa County High School, when Western suffered a 56-26 defeat against the Lions on their homecoming night. The Louisa running game was too much for the Warrior defense as Louisa ball carriers Job Whalen and Trey Cherry combined for 243 yards and four touchdowns. Throughout the first six games, the highlight for the Western squad has been the Albemarle game where the Warriors defeated the Patriots in a game to be remembered. With a stellar defensive performance and a steady run game, the Warriors hung on for a 23-17 win over Albemarle, sending the rival away in shambles and making the Western student section go nuts. After maintaining a steady lead throughout the game, Albemarle pulled themselves within a touchdown with 2:52 remaining, but junior Osiris Crutchfield swatted down a crucial passing attempt from Albemarle quarterback D.G. Archer. After the Warriors turned the ball over on a fourth down conversion attempt, the Patri-
ots threatened again but the hail mary pass from Archer to Cameron Green was off target and Western walked away with a big win. Despite their consistently stellar performances, the 2014 Western Albemarle football team is in a rebuilding year after the loss of 22 seniors from the legendary 2013 Western team. Last year’s group had a historic season finishing with an overall record of 9-2, and a regular season district championship. The Warriors are going under quite the personnel change, but this year’s squad is not focused on last season’s heroics. “We’re all just looking forward, living in the moment, and trying not to think too much about the past,” said senior offensive tackle and defensive end Matt Wozneak. Wozneak, along with seniors Michael Mullin, Josh Meeks, and Logan Sprouse are this year’s captains. Last year, the Warriors, led by Kent Henry, Steven Hearn, Nicolaas Drapanas, Patrick Maupin and Donte Henry, had big goals prior to the beginning of the season. “The biggest difference was expectations for us this year. We really are flying under the radar, not many
people think we’re that good,” said assistant coach Michael Redmond. “Last year we had a big bullseye on us we had to be our best every week but this year we are able to progress and hopefully be playing our best football by the end of the season.” The Warriors are exceeding expectations in the 2014 season. Leading into the highly anticipated Western vs. Albemarle game, coaches and players were preparing for the clash. “I’m excited, this rivalry thing is new to me, but the competition is what I love. It’s competition at its highest,” Redmond said. “It’s going to be a hostile environment, kids are going to be competing.” Wozneak was equally excited about this matchup saying, “There’s always some nerve going into games like these, but we’re just pretty pumped up. Especially after last year. We don’t like to think back to the past too much, but it’s hard to forget that one.” Wozneak was, of course, referring to last year’s victory over Albemarle, where Steven Hearn caught a last second touchdown pass to put the Warriors on top. Western’s defense has
been cohesive and tenacious this year, allowing a total of 54 points in 5 games. Coach Redmond said, “Our defense has been the biggest star...I can’t remember any games we gave up under 30 points last year,” Redmond said of his determined defense. The Warrior’s offense, led by juniors Sam Hearn, Henry Kreienbaum, and Oliver Herndon is producing and is not overshadowed by last year’s stacked senior crew. Sam Hearn is developing a good reputation in his first year as starting QB: the junior is fourth in central virginia in passing touchdowns, and passing yards. Oliver Herndon, starting at running back for the Warriors, is 9th in Central Virginia in yards per attempt, averaging 8.7 yards. Kreienbaum, the third of the junior offensive trifecta is fourth in receiving yards and 8th in yards per catch. Derek Domecq, the lone freshman on the team, is playing like a veteran. He leads the team in yards per catch and sees a lot of action at his starting position, slot receiver. But Domecq isn’t just limited to the wide receiver spot. He plays on both sides of the ball
October 2014 • The Western Hemisphere • 10
and special teams. He plays receiver, cornerback, kicker, and punter for the varsity squad. It seems like a big load for a first year, but Derek has been scaling the sidelines of the Western turf for many years. “I’ve been sitting on the sidelines...since I was 5 basically. As a starting receiver this year, I feel a lot of pressure, especially because I’m a freshman,” he said. Domecq has never played at the caliber of the varsity level. Domecq said of the big change, “The speed. It’s a lot faster. On JV the players weren’t as fast and didn’t hit as hard but varsity is a whole different level.” The Warriors look ahead to their next big matchup which is against Monticello, this Friday at home, on Homecoming night. Monticello is one of the strongest teams in the district with just one loss to Powhatan. But the Warriors are trying not to think too far ahead. Redmond said the team is “focusing on one quarter at a time one play at a time. That helps us forget the bad but also stay focused on the present and live in the moment.”
Sports
Upcoming NBA Season Approaching Quickly By ALEX LEHMBECK & BEN MASSELLI
The 2014 basketball season is fast approaching and there have been many substantial changes to the rosters of the NBA. The most notable changes have been in Cleveland, where LeBron James made his famous “I’m Coming Home” declaration, and Cleveland fans rejoiced. Following his decision, the Cavaliers traded their first picks from the last two drafts, Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, to the Timberwolves for Kevin Love. With Kevin Love, the Cavaliers now have a big man that can make a difference
on both sides of the court. Teddy Sullivan, a WAHS sophomore says, “They have three All Stars…. plus, the bench has lots of chemistry. Lebron will dish it to Mike Miller, possibly Ray Allen, James Jones, Shawn Marion. (Anderson) Varejao will be pulling in the boards.” The New York Knicks recently resigned their star small forward, Carmelo Anthony, and the Indiana Pacers, a traditional power in the east, suffered a devastating blow, when they lost their most valuable
Ben’s Top 5
player, Paul George. He suffered a gruesome injury this summer playing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, a tournament that the US later won. The Eastern conference of the NBA is rising quickly. The Cavaliers are the frontrunners, but teams such as the Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls are not far behind. With the return of Derrick Rose, the Bulls will be explosive. The only thing certain is that it’s going to to be a very unpredictable season and the league may forever be changed.
Alex’s Top 5
The Oklahoma City Thunder will top the NBA, being the most talented team. Kevin Durant, who recently signed a huge deal with Nike, is going to carry this team, along with Russell Westbrook, all the way to the Finals and take home the title. This is a bold assumption since they lost in the Western Conference Finals last year, but the Thunder have improved and are going to come back stronger and tougher than ever in the 2014-15 season.
The San Antonio Spurs are not done yet. The defending NBA champions do not plan on ending their incredible run. While they have not made any notable moves in free agency, the Spurs are bringing back a fundamentally sound, team-oriented, classic style of basketball which most other teams cannot claim. The San Antonio Spurs head into the season as the best team in the NBA.
With the return of the of the 2011 MVP, Derrick Rose, to the already powerful Eastern Conference team, the Chicago Bulls are going to be almost unstoppable this season. With players such as Pau Gasol joining over the offseason, the Bulls will have a wide array of skill ranging covering all of the positions on the court. If there was ever a year for Chicago, this is going to be the year for them to win the East and maybe more. The key in Derrick Rose.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are another threat from the west this year. The Thunder may be overlooked after failing to conquer the Spurs in the conference finals last year, but the Thunder boast a talented roster heading into the NBA season. Stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka lead a team full of promising players, such as Jeremy Lamb, Kendrick Perkins, and Reggie Jackson.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had ups and downs over the past few years, but this season they can return to greatness with the biggest deal of the entire offseason, the signing of LeBron James. The Cavs are not my favorite to win the Eastern Conference because they have to deal with a lot of adversity first. For example, their new coach, David Blatt, has a lot to deal with and the city of Cleveland is not going to accept missing out on a title during the next few years. Cleveland may have high hopes, but only time will show just how much of a threat they are.
Lebron has returned to Cleveland. With his sudden signing, the Cavaliers have been given the chance to make more offseason moves. The most significant was their trade of first draft pick Andrew Wiggins for Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Kevin Love. James has now formed a new “big three” with himself, Love, and star point guard Kyrie Irving. The Cavs also signed veterans Shawn Marion and Mike Miller. The Cavaliers are the favorites to take the Eastern Conference by storm, but they do have some stiff competition.
LeBron’s former team is next on my list. The Miami Heat have been wrongly put down by many people, though I believe that this season will not be as bad as people think. The Heat will not be as skilled as they have been for the past four years because of the loss of the best player in the world. However, they still have key players like Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade who have been playing with LeBron for the past few years and now will have a chance to lead the Heat. The Heat will be right there with other teams to win the Eastern Conference.
The Golden State Warriors are definitely one of the most talent-loaded teams. With the shooting duo of Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala leading the team, the Warriors are a menace in the Western Conference. The Warriors also added Ohio State graduate Aaron Craft to their roster. Harrison Barnes will also have his share of exciting plays this season.
The Portland Trail Blazers are coming back to the Western Conference after an exceptional season that had finished with a playoff appearance. Stars Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge both had a great season last year and are looking forward to another strong year. The young team will only improve as the season progresses and they have more experience in the league.
The Washington Wizards, led by John Wall and Bradley Beal, are coming off one of their best seasons in the last decade. They easily conquered the Bulls in five games during the first round of the playoffs, before falling to the top seeded Indiana Pacers in game six. Although the Wizards will miss Trevor Ariza, who signed with the Houston Rockets, they will enjoy their signing of veteran Paul Pierce. They also acquired Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair to the roster.
Teachers Show Support For Four Miler By TYLER PHILLIPS
On August 30, 2014, 3,500 women across Virginia woke up early for a good cause. This year starting at 8:00 a.m., a very refreshing jog through the Albemarle country side was the scene for the Charlottesville 4 miler. It cost the runners $50, $48 for Charlottesville Track Club members, to race, but was for a very great cause. All funds went to the UVA Cancer Center’s Breast Care Program. Breast Care Awareness has had a meteoric rise since 1991 when the color pink been on a associated with the cause through the hard work of Susan G. Komen. She started handing out pink ribbons at the New York City race for breast cancer survivors.
The ribbons were inspired by the yellow ribbons handed out for awareness of the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979. Since then, the color pink has been everywhere during the month of October. The bright color has been seen everywhere from 5-Hour Energy bottles, to football fields at all levels, and to many random people’s clothes, (especially boys, who finally have an excuse to wear their pink wardrobe). The Women’s Four Miler race also raised awareness for online donations, so that the Breast Care Program can raise a lofty goal of $400,000. “I think it’s for a really good cause,” said Jessica Kompelien, a 9th and 10th grade English teacher at Western
Albemarle. She was one of many Western Albemarle teachers that raced in the charity run. “We all did it for Mrs. White, another English teacher at this school, who has breast cancer. We wanted to do something to support her.” said Kompelien. It was really a great gesture for a woman who has gone through a lot. And what is more fun than a little bit of friendly competition between the women and girls of Virginia? As this race continues to become more and more popular every year, the UVA Cancer Center will continue to save more lives all across Virginia and if they find a cure, the world. *All images courtesy of sportslogos.net
The Western Hemisphere • 11
Sports
The Perfect Drive: Rachel Brown Gives Tips on How to Shoot in Field Hockey By BEN MASSELLI
Most field hockey games come down to one or two goals, which makes every single attempt at scoring crucial to the outcome of the game. To perform a perfect drive in the heat of an intense game one must be confident and under control while still keeping composure to make the drive. It is one of the most difficult things you can do on the field hockey field, but extremely important for most players to understand exactly what to do in the situation. Driving is also important for crossing the ball and clearing it if you are on defense. It is the most powerful shot you can make in the sport. The drive is used on all parts of the field and is a very versatile move in a game. Here is Western’s captain, senior Rachel Brown’s tips on how to drive the ball in field hockey: Step 1: Keep your hands at the top of the field hockey stick together and use your wrist motion to swing it back so that the stick is lower than shoulder level and near your waist. Step 2: Bend your knees and place most the weight on your back leg so that you can drive forward. Step 3: Drive through the ball with the flat side of the stick with the ball on your front foot and follow through with the stick to where you want the ball to go in the field. Shift your weight from the front to the back foot. When finishing, the stick should be at about at waist level. Step 4: Always keep your eyes on the ball the entire way through. Watch out for defenders who may try to steal the ball from you before you even drive it.
Photo Courtesy: Rachel Brown
Rachel Brown is a leader for WAHS field hockey.
Averi Witt Races Towards Recovery By VALERIE HAJEK
Sophomore Averi Witt came into Western Albemarle last year, immediately earning her key role in the running community at the high school. Throughout her freshman year, she progressed and earned her spot as a topnotch runner. She ended her freshman year with a debut at outdoor New Balance Nationals, where she took second place in the freshman mile and sixth place with her relay team in the emerging elite distance medley relay. This year, Witt had to end her cross country season early due to a lingering knee problem that has caused some big issues. Witt’s knee naturally has no groove for her kneecap to fit in, so it had trouble staying in place. Her kneecap slipped to the side and completely tore her ACL on the left side. The tendon that goes over her knee was attached too laterally, so the surgeons had to move the tendon so that it wouldn’t go straight over her knee. Witt also had to have a
groove carved into her kneecap, a band wrapped around her knee, and several screws put to keep her kneecap in place. Witt has to use crutches for the six weeks following her surgery, which consisted of three procedures that took a few hours of surgery. The doctors said it would take about six months for Witt to be running without pain. Witt has been doing everything she can to get back out running. She says, “Having this knee problem has really made me miss cross country and running. It really makes me appreciate being able to run and I can’t wait to get back out there. I know I’ll work much harder.” She has been going to physical therapy two to three times a week and has had to work on bending and straightening her knee quite a lot. Witt has just mastered bending her knee to ninety degrees. She has been trying to get in the pool as her recovery period continues. The cross country
team is sure to suffer without her, but Witt says, “The team has been really supportive and I’ve really enjoyed all the help I’ve gotten.”
WAHS Golf Finishes Strong Season By BEN DONOVAN
The Western golf team finished up their season last week with a strong showing at the regional tournament at Hidden Valley in Roanoke, Virginia. Senior Kyle Landis, who finished one stroke away from qualifying for the state tournament at Jefferson Forest on October 13th, led the team. “The team showed promising improvement at the end of the year,” Landis said. “The younger people really developed down the stretch.” On a tough, windy day, the team was not able to qualify for the state tournament as a team either. The Warriors had a strong season and are looking to come back next year stronger than ever.
File Photo
While Averi excels in cross country, she is also a star on the track.
October 2014 • The Western Hemisphere • 12
Arts & Entertainment Cult Classic Countdown
By SARAH HONOSKY
A Cult Classic TV show is the kind of television that people follow so passionately and obsessively that their sanity is often doubted. These aren’t necessarily the shows with the largest following, we aren’t talking programs like Judge Judy or Wheel of Fortune that generate insane amounts of viewers every week (largely due to a large casual viewing of the old people variety). These are shows that generate a huge response from its fans. Shows that inspire Fan Fiction and fanart, that provoke Cosplay and Comic Con panels. These are the shows that create a community. So, for your viewing pleasure, here is an entirely biased ranking of the Cult Classic TV shows of our time:
10) Supernatural
9) Veronica Mars
8) Pushing Daisies
7) The X Files
6) Lost
Two incredibly hot guys ride around in an incredibly hot car and fight demons. Need I say more?
Thanks to Veronica Mars I can say that high school journalism is bad apple and not feel like a complete dork. Also, how about that Kristen Bell amiright?
Everything about this show is beautiful: the narration, the scenery, LEE PACE. This show displays the best use of unexplained superpowers of all time, probably.
Apparently everyone owns this show on VHS somewhere. I’m taking that as a good sign.
I don’t know what happens in this show. Nobody knows what happens in this show. I hear that’s half the fun.
5) Firefly
4) Xena: Warrior Princess
3) Arrested Development
2) Doctor Who
1) Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Think cowboys in space. Now stop thinking cowboys in space and just imagine all the awesomeness in the world concentrated in one place. That’s Firefly.
Everyone should take the time to appreciate the many skilled warrior princess and her small blond partner in crime. And I mean partner in every sense of the word.
You will love these characters. I mean, you will spend 80% of your time wanting to punch them in the face but God, you will love them for it.
Although definitely not a personal favorite, this show’s incredible following can (sometimes unfortunately) not be ignored.
Do yourself a favor: go watch this show. Now. The rest of the newspaper can wait, I promise.
*All photo credit goes to imdb.com
Thanks to all of our subscribers for your continued support!
Beth Coats Bob Beard Catherine McGahren David Johnston Debbie Elder Elizabeth and Jim Mandell Elizabeth and Malcolm Andrews Ferguson Family Florence and Toby Berger Jane and Chris Lehmbeck Janet Lohr Jerry and Judy Mandell
The Western Hemisphere • 13
Kelly Senesac Kim Tolman King Family Leah Gallmeyer Lesemann Family Marietta and Joe Lehmbeck Mary Ann Schill Mary Dutta Shabbir Hossan Susan von Hemert The Servine Family Will and Janet King
Arts & Entertainment The Five People You Meet in Heaven By EME MASSARELLI
The Five People You Meet In Heaven, written by Mitch Albom, takes place at an old amusement park called Ruby Pier, where maintenance man Eddie dies in a freak accident on his birthday. After his death, Eddie must face five people who had a major impact on his life. Through a series of flashbacks, Eddie and the reader gain an understanding of how choices and actions, no matter how small, can affect those around you. Regardless of the bond you shared, be it vast or absolutely minute. Eddie’s conversations with his five people are both joyous and heartbreaking and lead to an unexpectedly fantastic, conclusive ending.
Although a short read, this story contains great details that enable the reader to picture every scene and easily track the rapidly changing locations. Mitch Albom has done a wonderful job at creating a story that doesn’t simply cater to one group. Despite the implication in the title, Albom does not mention religion of any sort during the course of the story and leaves room for the reader to interpret what life lessons Eddie learns. This book will both frustrate and comfort the reader while making them think deeper about their own lives and the people who touch it.
Haim: Artist Review
By MORGAN BROADUS
From the roots of the San Fernando Valley to the top of the charts, Haim has become almost an overnight sensation. The band, consisting of three sisters, has taken the world by storm. Members Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim began making music at a young age, beginning with their family band “Rockinhaim.” Learning to play instruments when they were just infants, music has always been a part of the trio’s lives. In their first album Days Are Gone, released in September of 2013, their unique indie-pop vibe separated them from other girl-bands. The girls tend to stick to a more natural sound, their music defined as more raw. Unlike many artists and bands, they actually sound the same- maybe even better- live. With only vocals, a bass guitar, a keyboard, and percussion, the girls all aim to make their sound as natural as possible. Personally, Haim has become one of my favorite bands. Not many strong, versatile girl-bands are still as successful as they are now,
and from what I’ve seen, it’s just the beginning of their careers. They’ve definitely made a name for themselves, previously opening for Florence and the Machine and Mumford & Sons, and in addition, collaborating with Kid Cudi, Major Lazer, and Childish Gambino. In the spring of 2014 the band completed their first headlining tour, traveling across Europe and North America over a course of six months. Recently, the band has announced their second album will be released soon, hopefully by the end of 2014. There’s a lot of speculation over their upcoming album, fans debate between whether they can still bring their unique sound to a whole new album or if “Days Are Gone” was really as good as it’ll get. I whole-heartedly believe Haim will continue their steady rise to fame. The trio’s raw sound is so different from the overplayed pop songs nowadays, while their music tends to be a refresher and a reminder to me that real music is still out there.
“Walk the Moon 11/16” By: Neon Tommy/cc
Walk the Moon: Artist Review By MORGAN BROADUS
Forming in 2008, Walk The Moon started out as a young, indie-pop band from the roots of Cincinnati, Ohio. Members Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, Sean Waugaman, and Eli Maiman have taken the indie scene by storm. Releasing a total of three albums so far, their fourth album, “Talking Is Hard”, is supposedly being dropped this December. The bands’ first album, “The Other Side: B-Sides and Rarities” was released in 2009, followed by “I Want! I Want!” in 2010 and “Walk The Moon” in 2012. WTM has travelled around with various bands over the past years such as Grouplove,
Panic! At The Disco, Weezer, Fun., Young The Giant, and have even opened for Local Natives at the Lollapalooza Music Festival. The lively, youthful songs from the group of boys have attracted a fun-loving crowd who show up to concerts with colorful face paint and glitter on their bodies. Their concerts tend to be more laid-back, and foster an atmosphere that allows fans to relax and dance along to the music. This past summer, I actually had the privilege of seeing them perform live during Panic! At The Disco’s “The Gospel Tour” in Baltimore. Colorful faces and
“Haim intervju - Øyafestivalen” By: NRP P3/cc
October 2014 • The Western Hemisphere • 14
bodies surrounded me while Petricca banged on a single solo drum, as the other members played electric guitars and a set of bass drums in the back. “Walk The Moon” brought a lively sense of joy to their music and their entire show. Petricca was extremely communicative with the audience, allowing their fans to chant along to the full rendition of Shut Up And Dance, the newest single from WTM. Overall, the bands’ sound and vibe really makes you appreciate the joy of attending a concert and letting yourself get lost in the music.
Arts & Entertainment Heartthrobs of the 2000s Attempting to Make a Comeback By AMALIA GARCIA
By AMALIA GARCIA
Photo by Aaron D. Settipane/WENN
Jesse McCArtney Most people, whether they like it or not, are familiar with Jesse McCartney. There’s something about the lyrics and tune of “Beautiful Soul” that have allowed it to worm its way into the hearts of all teenagers, regardless of gender. It was shortly after this classic hit was released in 2004, however, that Mr. McCartney all but dropped off the face of the earth. Jesse McCartney released his album In Technicolor on July 22, 2014. The compilation of soul-pop songs are clearly a reflection of Mr. McCartney’s impending existential crisis. It’s all in the song titles. One of the first songs featured on the album is called “Young Love”, in which Mr. McCartney describes his yearning to forget his age and feel like
Nick Jonas When the Jonas Brothers officially broke up in October of 2013, the hearts of millions of former tweens everywhere shattered into three and a half pieces. One for each JoBro and a smaller one for Frankie Jonas, who many believe is the real genius behind the band’s success. Nick Jonas, however, mended the hearts of these young girls and attracted a plethora of older followers with the release of his two new singles in 2014. While Kevin has been busy with his new baby and Joe has been amusing himself by posting humorous pictures on Instagram, Nick has been working with Island Records to produce a new breakout album, which will be released on November 11. Even though he was overshadowed by Joe in
the early 2000s, Nick is back and better than ever. He released his first single “Chains” in July of 2014 and recently came out with the song “Jealous”. Both of these songs reflect Nick’s undying love for his girlfriend Olivia Culpo (Miss Universe 2012), while still being vague enough to allow teen girls to take his message personally. “Chains’s” soulful vibes mark Nick’s physical and musical transition from puberty. It also helps that his torn shirt in the music video highlights his extremely muscular body. “Jealous” has a more dancey vibe with a strong synthetic bass beat, but still emphasizes how Nick has grown as an artist. Nick’s exciting career potential has restored honor to the Jonas family name.
he is 17 again. Maybe he was inspired by the classic film 17 Again, but it still reflects how he recognizes that he may have peaked in the early 2000s. However, Mr. McCartney is torn between eternal youth and actually facing reality. In his song “All About Us”, he addresses his need to commit to a steady relationship and finally settle down, which is much more appropriate subject material for a 27 year old. He is also attempting to appeal to his previous listeners who have grown by throwing away his innocent “nice guy” trope. Mr. McCartney has chosen to highlight the experiences of young adults today in songs like “Punch Drunk Recreation” in order to attract an older audience. “Nick Jonas” by Hana Selly/cc
The Western Hemisphere • 15
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Hilary Duff Lizzie McGuire is back. Just kidding, it’s Hilary Duff, mother of one, divorcee of retired hockey player. Once a Disney star, Hilary Duff is set to release an album in early 2015. As a 27 year old, Hilary is also facing an internal conflict. She is torn between facing adulthood and sticking with her tween roots that stuck out in her 2003 album, Metamorphosis. Jamming out to that album in portable cd players was almost like a religious experience to many of her fans. Hilary has tried to reach out to that devoted audience again with two new singles. In July of 2014, Hilary released “Chasing the Sun”. This song has an infectious beat and a cheerful message. Hilary is attempting to appeal to the worker bees of her
generation. The music video portrays Hilary daydreaming at a desk job about being on the beach with a beautiful man. Some say that she is not, in fact, chasing the sun, but that she is chasing the fame and frivolity of her youth. Shortly after the debut of “Chasing the Sun” Hilary came out with “All About You” in August. This song has helped Hilary gain a lot of traction. Although it has a bit of a more raunchy message, Hilary maintains a sense of dignity and pride while engaging in all female flash mobs in empty streets that only moms can ever attain. Her high pitched voice and attire, however, remind listeners that she still has a young teen soul just waiting to burst out. I predict that she will make a comeback with her new album.
Latitudes
(Mini) Hot or Not List Sneak peak! Trailer! More to come! Preview! Stick around!
They Take
Gaming Seriously!
They Jam
to Fresh Beats!
RSE H C TEA Y’RE THE IKE L JUST
Mr. Martin listens to music during his planning period
US!
Ms. Taylor plays Candy Crush
Naps!
Workout! Ms. Lovaglio takes a quick nap in the English Office after school
Mr. Lawson demonstrates his “hook ball” before class
-What’s hot, y’all? Contractions (of words, not uteri) -Legendary creatures (i.e. Nessie, Sasquatch, La Chupacabra) -that checkered red and white pattern on Italian tablecloths -shark tooth necklaces -giftshops -vowel-heavy words (Teahupoo, Waimea, panacea, aegis, sequoia) -bogo deals
Things that are NOT HOT
They Take They
Things that are HOT
-Yellow candy that is banana-flavored instead of lemon-flavored. You’re not being creative, just dumb. -Comic Sans. Try to take me seriously. I dare you. -Rejection of ideas based purely on preconceived notions -Flakes (corn flakes, people who lack moral fiber, dandruff) -white bathrooms. bring back our color. -sticky keyboards
22 Jump Street Deemed a Success By MADELINE HAMER
It’s no secret that the sequel is never quite as good as the original. There are exceptions though, including 22 Jump Street. Gaining the “Fresh” title on Rotten Tomatoes is not easy, but 22 Jump Street has managed to do this with an 84% like rating. This action and adventure comedy stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill who are two of my favorite actors. They take on their same roles as undercover cops from the previous movie, 21 Jump Street. However, this time instead of returning to high school as undercover students, their adventure takes them to college. Ice cube returns as Captain Dickinson, Rob Riggle and Dave Franco return now in jail, as well as a number of new characters. Throughout the movie I
found myself laughing uncontrollably. Although the movie’s plot was very similar to the first film, the jokes were original and the college atmosphere gave the bromance a whole new feel. Ben Sachs from Chicago Reader on Rotten Tomatoes said, “This sequel to the hit action comedy 21 Jump Street is better all around: the pacing is more consistent, the sight gags more imaginative, the self-referential jokes sharper.” The after movie credits were just as entertaining as the movie itself because they revealed multiple other undercover cases for Schmidt and Jenko. Overall, this movie is an exceptional sequel to the marvelous first movie and has become one of my favorites.
Supporting our Western Albemarle family neighbors since 1982.
Providing hard-hitting investigative journalism since before Luke found out Leia is his sister. (lol awk)
10% shoe discount to all student athletes and faculty!
thewesternhemisphere.org @wahsnews Like us on Facebook!
#3 Elliewood Avenue - Free Parkingwww.raggedmountainrunning.com
Subscribe to The Western Hemisphere!
October 2014 • The Western Hemisphere • 16