June 2016

News

Transgender bathroom debate stirs controversy

Plans for reconstruction all over district

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Massapequa High School 4925 Merrick Road Massapequa, NY 11758 mhsthechief@gmail.com

Sports

Feature

Editorial

Hope Breslin: Gatorade player of the year

Student to compete in first taekwondo paralympics

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The

Chief

Vol. 64 – No. 4

June 10, 2016 www.thechiefonline.com

Massapequa High School’s Chief Source of News

Dr. Williams sets sail on new journeys after retirement

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ALEXANDRA DOULOS//THE CHIIEF

Dr. Barbara Williams | Dr. Williams heads into retirement--for real this time.

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS example by finding what fit Massapequa. I think Massfits best. The LOTE depart- apequa always had a very clear EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ment wasn’t her only choice. vision of doing what’s in the “My best subject was best interest of our students.”

After a successful six Dr. Williams has reyears as the Massapequa High math, but I wasn’t really sure School principal, Dr. Williams I wanted to be a math teacher.” mained here at MHS because Not yet planning on be- of the community values. prepares for new adventures “It’s a really supportduring retirement. She re- coming a principal, Dr. Wilcalls an early love of teaching liams assumed the role of chair- ive community. We have an during her childhood, which person of the World Languages excellent staff and the kids has resulted in a successful Department in South Coun- are amazing. There are 100 things about every day that career in educational purmake me smile because I suits. “I had a blackboard in It’s a really supknow students are doing great my basement and made my portive community. things. Watching all of the friends play all the time!”

We have an excellent different things students do Prior to arriving in staff and the kids are [is very rewarding]. It makes Massapequa, Dr. Wilamazing.” me happy to help students acliams was a French teacher in South Country Central School District for 24 years. try Central School District.

There are 100 “When I was a chairper“I loved being a teachthings about every er because it was one of my son, I was also teaching and day that make me childhood aspirations since the job got too big. I felt smile because I know second grade,” Dr. Wil- I wasn’t teaching students liams said. “My high school as well as I wanted to and I students are doing French teacher inspired me. wasn’t serving my departgreat things. ment as best as possible.”

Dr. Williams took over complish the things they do.”

Dr. Williams has dediI loved being a as a middle school principal before coming to the cated her career as a princiteacher because it was one of my child- Massapequa School District. pal to helping students exDr. Williams needed a cel. In conjunction with the hood aspirations change and found it while read- school district, she is proud since second grade. ing a newspaper. “I saw an ad of what the school offers for Massapequa [School Dis- students in order to prepare She was my role model.” trict] in the New York Times for other goals they pursue.

“I think we have great The idea of having a pas- and, once here, it just fit. I was sion is important, and students meant to be a principal here. programs that prepare stushould live by Dr. Williams’ My philosophy of education dents for life after Mass-

apequa,” Dr. Williams said.

On a lighter note, after adhering to a busy schedule, Dr. Williams is ready for a change after 16 years as a principal between her time at Ames and MHS. “I’m not going to get up before it’s light out!”

She reminds students that a true passion for what you do is vital. “Choose to do something that you love because you spend most of your waking hours at work, so that it doesn’t really seem like work.”

Dr. Williams recounts that graduation is an exciting and emotional time for everyone involved. “The graduation ceremony is when I get to shake seniors’ hands as they walk across the stage to get their diplomas. For a lot of students, graduation comes relatively easy, but for others, it’s a struggle. For the students, families, and me that’s the best thing to see. It

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It’s important to have balance. Love what you do, but make time for everything.

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makes me cry every time.”

Dr. Williams advises

graduating students and future graduates with sage life advice derived from her experiences.

“It’s important to have balance. Love what you do, but make time for everything. Don’t sacrifice your time with family and friends because you’re focused on accomplishing things.”

Throughout her career, Dr. Williams has seen many new initiatives, such as the recent Common Core standards, come into being and has also seen how some of them have proven successful.

“Sometimes it’s tough when you really don’t agree with a new program or you don’t agree with the philosophy [behind the program].

Sometimes initiatives come out too fast.”

However, Dr. Williams is not done working and is looking forward to getting involved in different aspects of education, including administrative matters such as “administration certificates” and other innovative programs. Of her retirement, she says “it’s going to be a reinvention!”

Massapequa will miss a great principal as she sets sail on new adventures!

JUNE 10, 2016

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Doulos MANAGING EDITOR Danielle Anzelone COPY EDITORS Dave Marques Liam Higgins LAYOUT EDITOR Kiera Pagano EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Ryann Reagan ADVISOR Elyn Coyle Massapequa High School 4925 Merrick Road Massapequa, NY 11758

Editorial Policy

The Chief, the student newspaper of Massapequa High School, is an open forum to discuss the student body’s issues and concerns.

Members of The Chief will make every effort to publish following the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy. Consistent with the first amendment of the United States Constitution, the staff also will refrain from printing material that may incite students, be a violation of MHS’ Student Code of Conduct or disrupt school operations.

The editorial board of The Chief welcomes and encourages submitted letters, stories, cartoons and any other feedback to the editor. Please send all submissions to mhsthechief@gmail.com. Letters sent by email may need to be verified by student signature before publishing.

• Although anonymous letters to the editor are not printed, names will be held upon request. The Chief has the right to deny publication of any editorial, column, review or comment.

• Grammatical and/or spelling corrections will be made; however, the content will not be altered.

• Corrections will be printed when mistakes are found or brought to the attention of the staff.

• Original stories will carry bylines, although stories rewritten by someone other than the original author will not receive a byline. Contributing writers will be listed at the end of an article. All bylined writers will be held accountable for their work.

• All columns, reviews or commentary are strictly the opinion of the writer and may not represent opinions held by the school board, administration, sponsors, parents, student body or advertisers.

However, all editorials reflect the viewpoint of The Chief editorial board.

EDITORIAL The transgender bathroom bill debacle

Recent controversy regarding the simple act of using bathroom facilities has rocked America and—more specifically—North Carolina. Time News calls it “the latest civil rights fight.”

In February, after the passage of a law in Charlotte, North Carolina that allowed transgender people to use the facility that matched the gender with which they identify, conservatives countered by passing legislation that restricted bathroom use.

The North Carolina legislature passed the “Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act,” or HB2, which the American Civil Liberties Union has since called the “most egregious, sweeping, hate-filled anti-LGBT legislation in this country’s history.” The Justice Department proceeded to tell the North Carolina state legislature that the law, which required “education boards and public agencies to limit the use of sex-segregated bathrooms to people of the corresponding biological sex, violated federal civil-rights laws.” Pat McCrory, the governor of North Carolina, retaliated by launching a lawsuit.

One conservative argument against transgender people using the bathroom of their choice is that allowing people who ‘look’ male into the female bathroom will allow sexual predators access to a formerly “safe” space.

Though seemingly well-intentioned, this sentiment persists as archaically intolerant, as sexual assault will not be remedied by denying others access to a facility appropri-

ate to their gender identity.

“There is a misunderstanding that this would cause danger. However, transgender people have been using whichever bathroom they wanted for decades and there has never been a problem like the ones being predicted today,” junior and transgender student Alex Gordonson said on the topic.

HB2 draws some parallels to the case Romer v. Evans, in which “the Supreme Court struck down a Colorado state constitutional amendment… that prohibited all levels of state government from granting special protections to homosexuals” according to The Heritage Foundation. However, the two are substantially different in several ways.

First, HB2’s “language does not target a specific group or class for unfavorable treatment. It simply protects some classes, but not others” according to The Witherspoon Institute’s Public Discourse.

Second, HB2’s effects “reach only public accommodations, employment, and government contracting. Local governments specifically are exempted in their employment policies,” a much smaller scope than Romer v. Evans. Third, HB2 does not promote inequality, but rather “shifts the political process for granting nondiscrimination protections from local governments to state government,” making it a larger and convoluted process. Finally, HB2 attempts to make a social problem an economic one because “the stated purpose of HB2’s nondiscrimination provision is to improve North Carolina commerce

by ensuring the uniformity of nondiscrimination laws statewide for businesses, organizations, and employers.”

On May 13, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division notified the nation that denying students the right to use the bathroom facility which matches their gender identity violated Title IX because it interprets “a student’s gender identity as a student’s sex” according to The New Yorker. Though based on an inaccuracy, the move advocates in favor of transgender students, which is certainly a move in the progressive direction.

MHS has been faced with the decision of how to proceed.

“I think Massapequa High School has been very proactive when it comes to anything that has affected our transgender students. I will tell you that things have changed radically within last three years,” principal Dr. Williams said.

“Where initially a lot of the thoughts were to protect student safety, we didn’t think about the feelings of separateness students would feel. I think we’ve come a long way in making sure that the things we put in place make students comfortable such as using the locker room of their choice, using the bathroom of their choice, whether it’s dressing according to how they see fit when it comes to taking a senior portrait. There is no one way that we determine what’s male and what’s female.”

At this time, transgender people should be able to use whichever facili-

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ty makes them comfortable. Additionally, ensuring more people are informed is now of the utmost value.

“The bathroom legislation is a sticky situation because even transgender people themselves have differing views on it…. I think what we need is educate people on what being transgender means rather than the propaganda that the media is portraying,” Gordonson said.

“At Schreiber high school, which is in Port Washington , they had this big headline that now instead of the boys wearing blue and the girls wearing white, everybody was going to wear blue, and we’ve been doing that for years. I think I’m very happy in the way we’ve handled these issues as they come across my desk,” Dr. Williams said.

Obviously, Massapequa has made changes in order to reflect changing times, but, above all, we need more education about the topic in order to eliminate the bias against transgender people.

Time News predicts that “more political fights about this issue are coming” because “Congress recently introduced the Equality Act, a non-discrimination bill that would help protect LGBT Americans in spheres from the workplace to the jury box to the bathroom.” However, the social viewpoints and implications drive this debate because the topic of which restroom facility one uses remains a deeply personal and— for some— awkward one.

Distribution: 1,700 copies 1,859 students, 194 teachers All papers are free

ALEXANDRA DOULOS // THE CHIEF

Men’s and Women’s Bathroom Signs | Which restrooms should transgender people use?

LOCAL NEWS Mrs. DeRienzo says ‘adios’ to MHS

JUNE 10, 2016

BY RYANN REAGAN EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

her last thirty years at MHS, she reveals that technology has been difficult to keep up with and, in her opinion, has, in some ways, diverted teaching methods. However, she still sees Massapequa School District as a very successful district, “...because we push the students to be the very best, and we know how important it is to be on the same page as the parents.”

As retirement approaches, she recalls her fondest memories of her “...wonderful colleagues, who have been supportive and loving.” However, she is also looking forward to her plans to, “Travel, travel, travel.” In fact, she already has planned a vacation to Italy in July. Along with traveling, she looks forward to her grandchildren, and “... doing what she wants, when she wants.” One thing Massapequa is not looking forward to is losing a wonderful teacher.

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JACKIE ANGELO// THE CHIEF

Many teachers come and go in Massapequa High School, but after thirty years at MHS, Spanish and Italian teacher Sandra DeRienzo will be missed greatly because she has spent all thirty years inspiring and educating Massapequa students Although teaching has been, for the most part, the only career Mrs. DeRienzo has sought after, she explains that it was a, “...camouflaged passion.” Fortunately, she discovered her passion for teaching before taking on another career path. She began teaching at private schools in Massachusetts, and later taught at community college for six years prior to her job at MHS. She has discovered Massapequa High School to be an “adventure, with amazing people, and amazing students.”

Mrs. DeRienzo loves to

teach because she “...loved to see the enthusiasm of the kids who are excited about foreign language and culture,” and she, “...wanted to instill in them the same love for learning languages that (she) experienced.” Throughout her years of teaching, the most rewarding aspect for her has been the joy of seeing students advance in careers that are influenced by language.

One of the main lessons that Mrs. DeRienzo has learned from her time at MHS is that working as a team is difficult, and so is working with different types of people. According to Mrs. DeRienzo, one of the most important things in life is to, “...learn to adapt.” Another piece of advice she has, especially for graduating seniors, is to, “...work hard, stay focused, and don’t think for today; think for tomorrow.”

When thinking about

THE CHIEF

Mrs. DeRienzo| The multi-lingual teacher leaves MHS.

ALEXANDRA DOULOS // THE CHIEF

New and Improved | The new renovation plans for the Berner Middle School field.

Massapequa School District-New and Improved

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A new and improved Massapequa is on its way!

Renovations for each of the 9 school buildings are scheduled to take place over the next few months. Although students have already seen the beginnings of some of the projects, there are more to come being that “the bulk will be started by the end of June” according to Director of Facilities and Operations Timothy O’Donnell.

Massapequa will be continuing in its tradition of making the district an exemplary place to live, work and learn as the planned projects are mainly focused on “enhancing the safety and security for all student and staff at each location” according to Mr. O’Donnell. The improvements will

include installing security vestibules, fire alarm systems, public address systems, intercoms, clock systems, and interior door hardware.

The security vestibules will be located in the main lobbies of each school and consist of an extra set of electronically controlled doors according to Deputy Superintendent Alan Adcock.

In order to gain access, visitors must produce ID or a driver’s license. Once the identification is shown to the monitor, visitors will be buzzed in. The security vestibule “creates a waiting area before you gain access to the general part of the school building. The safety of students and staff is our highest priority,” Mr. Adcock said.

Back in 2014, a $35.7

million dollar bond was approved for renovations and improvements to facilities districtwide. Many of these projects that were planned are in the process of waiting for permits. After receiving permission, the Board of Education bids the projects to contractors and then uses the “lowest responsible bidder” Mr. O’Donnell said. However, being that the renovations are tied to interior work, the district will be given building aid, meaning that the state will pay back 53% of the budget.

Another long-awaited component of the roughly $7.2 million dollar endeavor will be the renovation of the girls locker room here at MHS. Those who read the January issue of The Chief will recall an article concerning the condition

of the girls’ locker room. The summer renovations are expected to remedy some of the shortcomings students find in the locker room. The renovations will include painting the walls and installing new lockers according to Mr. Adock.

The renovations of the field at Berner Middle School make up a significant portion of the budget. The football field will be redone in synthetic turf and the track will be resurfaced. which hasn’t been done in over a decade. The bleachers will hold about 1200 people at maximum capacity. The renovations will make the BMS field the first one in the district with the capacity for hosting county wide track meets and invitational events. A concession stand and bathrooms will be housed in a building near

the track and field. Additionally, “high-power” lights will be installed for night games being that the area surrounding Berner Middle School is less residential than that of the high school. The BMS field complex will serve as a “satellite facility for district-wide use” according to Mr. Adcock.

Overseeing the improvements will be H2M architects and engineers, a construction manager, school construction consultants, and Massapequa’s facilities and operations office.

Although some projects will continue into September, students and teachers can look forward to updated and more secure buildings for the 2016-2017 school year.

POLITICS Chaos and controversy: the presidential primaries JUNE 10, 2016

BY LIAM HIGGINS COPY EDITOR

The news of the past several months has been dominated by the upcoming presidential election, which has become mainly focused on the primaries, the process by which each party chooses its candidate to represent the party in the general election for president. This system is a bit complicated and not as democratic as one may assume.

The two main parties, Democratic and Republican, differ slightly in the way in which they select candidates. Both of these parties use “pledged delegates” to show the progress of a candidate and determine the party’s winner. The amount of pledged delegates a candidate receives is generally proportional to the amount of votes they receive. During each state’s primary, pledged delegates are allocated based on the state’s population and the percentage of votes that a candidate receives in that primary.

However, the process becomes slightly more complicated.

In lieu of primaries, certain states, such as Iowa, Nevada, and Maine, use the caucus system to determine who will win delegates. Caucuses require individuals to go to certain caucus sites, such as schools, and stand by the representative of their chosen candidate and wait to be counted. Addi-

tionally, ardent supporters of a candidate may attempt to win over caucus-goers who are undecided or supporting other candidates by explaining why they believe their candidate is more capable. So instead of simply voting for a candidate, individuals must wait to be counted at their polling place to ensure that their “vote” is cast. This generally leads to lower turnout than primaries as it requires more effort on the part of the voter.

Every four years, both parties hold conventions, in which they will decide the party’s candidate. Delegates and other prominent Democratic figures attend in order to decide the nominee. In a non-contested convention, the candidate with the majority of pledged delegates would win. However, contested conventions work slightly differently. After President Jimmy Carter’s crushing defeat in the 1982 election, the Democratic Party enacted a series of reforms in the primary process. One of these changes involved the establishment of “superdelegates.”

According to the Congressional Research Service, superdelegates are elite members of the party, typically governors, Congressmen, and former presidents, who vote for the candidate that they prefer. Superdelegates vote at the convention, and in a contested

convention, they will decide the party’s nominee. Such was the case in the 2008 contested Democratic convention, in which then-Senator Barack Obama narrowly beat Hillary Clinton in pledged delegates, and was able to win with the help of the superdelegates.

There will mostly likely be similar circumstances in this election; However, it seems that Hillary Clinton will be the one to win this time, as she holds the lead in superdelegates over Senator Bernie Sanders.

This disparity is certainly a significant factor in Senator Sanders’ struggle for the nomination. Despite holding his own in many primaries and clinching victories in several states such as Washington and Minnesota, Clinton has the upper hand on superdelegates, and thus the nomination in general.

“I’m sad that the media did not cover Bernie’s primary wins and cut to the victories of other candidates, but I’m glad he was able to win so many primaries anyway,” sophomore Samantha Cupolo said.

Here in New York, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump won with commanding victories. Many believe that Clinton won in part due to her tenure as a Senator from New York from 2001-2009.

“Once she was our Senator from New York, I fol-

lowed her actions, especially regarding education policies,” MHS Chemistry teacher Mrs. Friedman said.

However, many also believe the victory was heightened by tactics of voter suppression. According to CNN, over 125,000 voters were removed as Democrats in Brooklyn alone. This means that they were unable to vote in the Democratic primary, since New York’s primaries are closed to only registered voters. In other words, voters must be either registered as members of the “Republican” or “Democrat” party— members of third parties or independents are barred from casting their vote. This also occurred to a lesser extent in other counties throughout the state.

For a few months, it appeared that the Republican Party, in an attempt to stop Donald Trump in his path, was trying to organize its base into producing a contested convention.

At the time, there were three contenders remaining: Ohio Governor John Kasich, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump. Kasich and Cruz both hoped to prevent Trump from securing the nomination by earning enough pledged delegates for a contested convention. In a Republican contested convention, delegates are free to vote for whomever they please.. However, after

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a series of crushing defeats

by Trump, Cruz and Kasich dropped out, leaving Trump as the presumptive nominee. “[Trump] is going to put America on the right track to fix the economy, and he’s going to ‘Make America Great Again,’” junior Hannah Mott said.

As of right now, it appears that the presidential race will be between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, neither of whom are an incredibly popular choice. Both candidates have low favorability ratings, with Trump at 60% and Clinton at 53%, according to a recent poll by ABC News. In fact, when placed in a threeway Monmouth University poll alongside Clinton and Trump, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson received 10%, which is a rarity for a third-party candidate to achieve. Additionally, there is a group of many Sanders supporters known as “Bernie-or-Busters” who refuse to vote for Hillary Clinton in the general election. These individuals plan to either not vote, write in Sanders’ name on the ballot, vote for the Green Party candidate Jill Stein, or even vote for Trump. And so every day it seems that this election will be more and more unorthodox.

The road to th • Trump announces candidacy • Candidates announce their plans to run for President

• Cruz wins Iowa caucus • Trump wins New Hampshire primary

• Rand Paul and Rick Santorum formally withdraw their candidacies

• Trump wins Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, a Island primary

Summer 2015 February 2016

• Clinton wins Iowa caucus • Sanders wins New Hampshire primary

March 2016

April 2016

• Clinton wins Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania Democratic primaries • Sanders wins Rhode Island Democratic primary

THE CHIEF POLITICS If not Trump, then who? - assessing the libertarian option

JUNE 10, 2016

BY JUSTIN MCGOWAN STAFF WRITER

With Donald Trump now reaching the amount of delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination, the question being raised is whether or not the establishment will back him. Paul Ryan recently endorsed Trump after a lenghtly period of ambivalence. Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is now backing Trump. With the party steering toward unity over ideology the question that remains is what will happen to the voters who refuse to compromise and sell out their ideology?

The popular belief as to why Trump is gaining more support is that he won’t compromise on certain core values of the GOP establishment.

“I believe that he, unlike Hillary, truly cares about...

America… Also I support his lack of political correctness, which I believe...is weakening our country” said Senior Vincenzo Gargano.

Sean Fiola added: “Trump is a strong leader with a massive ego...He will not allow himself to be pushed around by special interest groups.

He also has the best Twitter account I’ve ever seen.”

Both Gargano and Fiola are registered Republicans.

With many MHS seniors registering to vote this past February, those who regis-

tered Republican are mainly on the “Trump train” as each and every day students can be seen wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat or “Trump 2016” tee-shirt. Many even attended the rally he held in Bethpage back in April.

Some Republicans report voting for Trump because they think he will unify the Republican party, not because they truly believe in and support him.

“I became a Republican because of the party’s conservative values and I believe Trump is a liberal who will not represent me in the manner I would hope. He’s lied throughout the race and has given no indication he deserves my vote” Senior Mark Fedoronko said.

There is however an alternative to Trump. The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971.

By 1980, the party had gained ballot access in all 50 states, the first time a third party had done so since the Socialist party in 1916. The big figures of the party include former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson, who has been the party’s nominee the past two election cycles, Ron Paul who has gone back and forth over the years between being a Libertarian and a Republican, and David H. Koch, the billionaire who was the party’s first candidate in 1980. While taking aspects of both parties in social liberalism from the

Democrats and Fiscal Conservatism from the Republicans, the Libertarian party is on the rise among young people.

“I believe many people are Libertarians and just don’t know it,” said Gary Johnson during a Fox Business debate hosted by John Stossel on April 8. With social conservatism being a thing of the past and driving many young people away from the Republican party, the Libertarians are growing fast. Some MHS seniors even registered as Libertarians back in February.

“I view it as a viable alternative to the Republican party because it features the foundations of the Republican party however...they are more socially liberal when it comes to gay marriage and legalization of marijuana.

They are also true economic conservatives and have a less aggressive foreign policy” Senior Joe Mauceri, a registered libertarian, said. Social conservatism and evangelicalism drove many away from Ted Cruz during his campaign.

MHS senior Kaitlyn Oddo, a registered Libertarian, takes fault with one core aspect of the Republican Party. “The Republican party is too swept up in religious ideals, many of which are factually incorrect and disrupt the learning process of children. Choosing religion over the rights of citi-

zens is bigoted and backwards for a 21st century nation.”

“Libertarianism is all about people’s freedom, something I find to be very important. Everyone should be free to choose whatever they would like to do, not have their personal opinions or decisions regulated by the government.”

Senior Kevin Hitchings said.

Though himself a fan of Libertarian ideals and a registered Republican, Hitchings doesn’t see the Libertarian party as a viable alternative to Trump.

“I understand the rationale of those who see it that way but I don’t. My hope is that a Trump election will smash the left-right political structure and form a more libertarian-authoritarian structure. He is gathering himself around individuals like Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, Dr. Ben Carson, and Jeff Sessions (R-AL). He will bring bombastic political correctness shattering rhetoric and smart policy wonks who want to truly keep America out of unnecessary wars and shrink the size of government.”

A big question that many are trying to figure out is who Bernie Sanders’ supporters will go for, another outsider in Trump or their presumptive nominee in Hillary Clinton. Many are already saying they will vote for Trump.

However, senior John Merz says he will not be among that group: “[Trump] is two-faced and is playing his constituents like fools. He is not trustworthy because there is no value behind his words.

He hides behind the word ‘flexible.’ Flexibility does not carry over to ‘yeah I’m going to build a wall’ to ‘oh yeah that wall’s not going to happen’…”

Nonetheless, July will be an interesting month. as both the Republican and Democratic parties hold their conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia respectively. Gary Johnson is the locked-in nominee for the Libertarian Party.

As Kevin Hitchings said, a Trump-Clinton election could cause a party realignment. If this proves to be true, and with party ideology clearly at stake on both sides, this election could see the biggest party realignment since the 1960’s.

he conventions

Delaware, • Trump wins Indiana Republican and Rhode primary • Cruz and Kasich withdraw candidacies

,

y

Republican National Convention • California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico Republican primaries/ caucuses

July 18-21, 2016

May 2016

July 25-28, 2016 June 2016

• Sanders wins Indiana Democratic primary

• Clinton reaches the number of delegates necessary to be declared the Democratic presumptive nominee

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Democratic National Convention

THE CHIEF FEATURE Brianna Salinaro roundhouses the taekwondo competition

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JUNE 10, 2016

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

inspiration in her “teammates and their national and international accomplishments.”

According to the talented young athlete, she “always had an interest in martial arts” and “began Taekwondo in the fall of 2009 to improve the restrictions of my cerebral palsy, loosen my muscles, and improve my balance.” In order to compete in both the US and Canada Open, Salinaro had to become a black belt fighter, a feat which can take five or more years to attain.

Salinaro advises any young and aspiring athletes “to continuously make goals!”

Despite all of her accomplishments, Salinaro does not plan on stopping any time soon. This summer, she will compete at the National Championships in an effort to make the USA Para National Team.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BRIANNA SALINARRO

Brianna Salinaro, a dedicated athlete who has faced unimaginable odds recently won four gold medals at the US and Canada Opens and currently holds the number one spot in the world for her division.

Winning gold medals in sparring and form earned the eighteen year old Massapequa student a world ranking of number one for her division.

“Having the title of the first female para-athlete for the United States of America definitely inspires me as well as having the goal of competing in the first Taekwondo paralympics in 2020,” Salinaro said.

Her favorite part of tournaments is the ambience: “The atmosphere is something you can’t experience anywhere else. I love watching other

athletes spar and I love being surrounded by the crowds and the teams cheering and reaming.”

The skilled competitor shares that she has “learned that if you put your mind to it you can overcome any obstacle in life regardless of what anyone says.”

The best advice someone ever gave her was “to keep pursuing [her] passion regardless of [her] limited abilities-” which she is steadily proving may not be so limited after all.

Through all of her achievements, Salinaro has remained humble. “[It] is an unbelievable feeling. Before I competed in para -divisions, I never really had a fair shot but now I’m able to compete on an even playing field and have the ability to make history. I could not be more thankful for that,” Salinaro also finds

Brianna Salinaro | The taekwondo champ goes for the gold!

“Brexit,” Britain’s possible exit from the European Union

BY DAVE MARQUES COPY EDITOR

On June 23, the United Kingdom will hold a referendum to determine whether or not it will remain a member of the European Union. The highly contentious vote has been dubbed by international media as “Brexit” (Britain’s exit from the EU).

The UK, like France and Germany, is a net contributor to the EU, meaning that it pays more into the EU than it receives from it. The money that wealthier states pay in membership fees is redistributed to poorer members like Greece for infrastructure and economic development. Critics argue that membership in the EU is an undue financial burden on the UK given this scenario— as Britain’s economy improves, it must pay for a greater portion of the EU’s budget.

“Euroskeptics” believe

that membership in the EU hampers the UK’s ability to conduct international trade on its own terms, and that an independent UK would be able to create its own trade agreements with foreign nations such as China. Supporters of “Brexit” cite the success of Norway, which has access to the single market of the EU but is not subject to its economic regulations.

Citizens of the European Union are free to move throughout its 28 member states. In recent years, thousands of Eastern Europeans— especially those from former Soviet bloc states like Romania and Poland— have arrived in the UK looking for blue collar work. Many British blue collar workers feel threatened by this significant influx of legal migrant workers, and hope that an independent UK could enforce stricter immigration

laws. Furthermore, the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels have sparked fears that unrestricted movement throughout Europe could increase the likeliness of attacks in major British cities.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that Brexit could have severe negative effects on the British economy. Recent data from a London-based think tank suggests that Britain’s departure from the EU could decrease its gross domestic product (GDP) by anywhere from 1% to 9%.

Economic repercussions could be felt in the US and elsewhere.

London rivals New York as the investment capital of the world, but investment could decline due to fears of economic uncertainty.

American investment could also decrease if the UK is no longer seen as a gateway to the

EU single market.

The UK is a major force of security and stability in Europe. Its strong economy creates a balance within the EU and prevents German economic dominance. EU membership also strengthens both the UK and the EU’s leverage in international diplomacy, which is crucial given that Europe is faced with an increasingly bellicose Russia and the most severe refugee crisis since World War II. Brexit could undermine American foreign policy interests. European integration has been a cornerstone of US foreign policy since the beginning of the Cold War, as it has prevented the recurrence of disastrous conflicts similar to the two World Wars and led to successful trade and military agreements (such as NATO).

In particular, the “special relationship” between the US

and the UK provides the US with a key ally in the EU and in projects in the increasingly volatile Middle East. Britain leaving the EU could trigger a domino effect, in which various member states follow the UK’s lead and European stability would disintegrate.

EU membership actually decreases the likelihood of terrorism in the UK, as it facilitates the exchange of intelligence and criminal records.

The Financial Times’ Brexit poll tracker states that as of May 8, 2016, 46% of respondents chose “stay,” 43% chose “leave”, and 11% are undecided. While a majority responded in favor of staying in the EU, the undecided voters could possibly tip the scales in favor of Brexit.

THE CHIEF ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Best Avengers installment yet? Captain America: Civil War

JUNE 10, 2016

BY DANIELLE ANZELONE MANAGING EDITOR

The year of 2016 has been associated with several clashing ideologies, between the presidential election, Batman v. Superman, and even Captain America v. Iron Man. The new release of Captain America: Civil War has gained a lot of attention in the media, mostly due to extensive advertising, that has led to the division of the Marvel fanbase: into team Captain America and team Iron Man. Yet, did this film really live up to the hype?

For those who missed the last installment of the Avengers series, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel disappointed many fans with a nearly pointless film in which the gang faced a villain that Tony Stark made himself.

Thankfully, things did not work out the same for Captain America: Civil War. Though it was greatly advertised, the film actually lived up to the high expectations that were

set by the company this time.

Those who are fans of Marvel have long anticipated the return of Bucky Barnes ever since both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the post-credits scene in Ant-Man, and the time has finally arrived. In the latest film, Bucky is finally back to normal, or at least for the most part. For a great deal of the movie, Bucky is the guy that Steve grew up with. However, for a couple of scenes, Bucky is a trained assassin, brainwashed and under the control of HYDRA. Another character that fans cheered for was Black Panther, a new addition to the Marvel film industry. He is first introduced as T’Challa, the son of Wakandan King T’Chaka, at the signing of the Sokovia Accords, a global initiative that would contract each and every member of the Avengers to the U.S. government.

A bomb goes off by the site of the signing and, as a result,

T’Chaka is killed. T’Challa then transforms into the Black Panther with a suit made of vibranium (yes, the same material that Captain America’s shield is made of) and the absolute dedication to get the man who killed his father, one he believes to be Bucky.

The addition of Spider-Man to the Avengers squad also enthused members of the Marvel fanbase. In the latest Captain America film, Peter Parker is portrayed as a curious, yet innocent, young boy with a lot to say. This can be noted in the fight scene outside the airport where Peter is colloquially conversing with those on the other team, while in the midst of fighting them.

As far as the formerly introduced characters, the movie introduces relationships that some would not have thought of. For example, a growing bond between Sam and Bucky.

While in the car together with Steve, the two begin to

form a friendship as they joke around and tease each other the way most siblings do.

On top of this, Wanda and Vision seem to have something going on. Although the two were married in the comics, this relationship was a bit of a surprise to many viewers, especially since most of the Marvel films sway greatly from Stan Lee’s original vision. However, the bringing together of these two unique characters is justified and appreciated, unlike that of Steve and Sharon.

Although the couple seemed a bit cute in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the extension of this relationship was completely unnecessary. At Peggy’s funeral, the viewers learn that Sharon is the niece of Peggy Carter, Steve’s love interest in the 1940s. Later in the film, Sharon and Steve share a kiss, yet it seemed quite unnecessary and, frankly, odd, given the situation.

Not only was there great

character development and introduction in the film, but there were also outstanding fight scenes. The airport scene was the greatest, including all previously mentioned characters. Both the choreography and the special effects of the scene were absolutely phenomenal considering the amount of people involved and the smoothness of everything.

The fight scene between Bucky, Steve, and Tony was also amazing since it included a great deal of action but also brought tears to the eyes of viewers because of the emotion behind it.

Overall, Captain America: Civil War was by far the best film out of both the preceding Captain America films and Avengers films. It not only brought action, but also emotion into play, really bringing out the best story possible.

UNKNOWN // MARVEL

HANDOUT // MCT CAMPUS

Team Captain America | Cap and his allies ready for battle.

7

Steve v. Tony | The two teams leave the Avengers and their fanbase divided.

Jones Beach summer preview-concerts for every listener

BY DANIELLE ANZELONE MANAGING EDITOR

Summer is just around the corner and students are surely going to be spending some time at the beach over the next few months, and what better way to pass the time than listening to some music while you’re there?

Every year, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater hosts a plethora of concerts with artists ranging from country all the way to punk rock. This is your guide to this year's lineup.

Kicking off the concert series is 103.5’s KTUphoria on Saturday, June fourth.

This year, appearances will be made by Mr. Worldwide himself, Pitbull; everyone’s childhood favorite, Backstreet Boys; famous EDM artist, the Chainsmokers; and Mike Posner. Also performing will be Spanish heartthrob, Enrique Iglesias; and Bebe Rexha.

The annual BLI Summer Jam is always a hit at Jones Beach and features several popular artists. Every year, the concert sells out and the audience jams to their favorite tunes, having the time of

their lives. The event will take place on Saturday, June 11.

The Dave Matthews Band will celebrate it’s 25th anniversary at the beach on Tuesday, June 21. The band visits the theater almost annually and performs a great show for rock fans all over Long Island.

Journey is yet another band that books Jones Beach every summer. Musics lovers, both young and old, gather to enjoy the classic songs of Journey, including their unforgettable hit, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Some even pull up beach chairs and sit outside the venue to enjoy the music without paying for a ticket.

Weezer will be playing with Panic! At The Disco and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness on Thursday, June 30. Panic! At The Disco has gained popularity with their new album Death Of A Bachelor, while Weezer was mostly popular during the late 90’s and early 00’s.

Heavy metal fans will be pleased to know that Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, and Of Mice and Men will all be performing on Wednesday, July sixth.

Immediately following this concert is VANS Warped Tour, an annual event which features rock, metal, and punk bands from all over the world, even some smaller, lesser known bands. This year, the Jones Beach event will feature performances by New Found Glory, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, Good Charlotte, and Yellowcard.

The concert on Monday, July 11 including Def Leppard, REO Speedwagon, and Tesla is definitely one your parents are not going to want to miss. These bands were mostly popular during the 80s, yet their tunes are classic, so consider joining your parents for this one.

Country fans will love the concert on Sunday, July 17 which will include Florida Georgia Line, famous for their song “Cruise.” Also appearing will be Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three, and Kane Brown.

Pop artist, Gwen Stefani will also perform at Jones Beach with Eve on Thursday, July 21. Surely we all remember her hit songs “Hollaback Girl” and “The Sweet

Escape” from our childhood.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will play alongside Heart and Cheap Trick on Thursday, July 28. The first band is famous for their song “I Love Rock and Roll” and the impact they have left on the rock world.

Meanwhile, Cheap Trick is most well-known for “I Want You To Want Me.” Lead singer of Matchbox Twenty, Rob Thomas will be performing with Counting Crows on Sunday, July 31. Both rock bands were at their height in the late 90’s and early 00’s.

Rap enthusiasts will be at joy to know that Wiz Khalifa will be performing with Snoop Dogg, Kevin Gates, Jhené Aiko, Casey Veggies, and DJ Drama. Last year, Wiz Khalifa performed with Fall Out Boy and Hoodie Allen. The concert was a hit.

The Goo Goo Dolls, performers of “Iris,” will appear alongside Collective Soul and Tribe Society, an exciting event for rock fans.

Blink-182 will perform alongside All Time Low and A Day To Remember, quite an

exciting event for those who love punk rock. Blink-182 is known for “I Miss You” while All Time Low is remembered for “Missing You.” The concert can be seen on Saturday, August 13.

Black Sabbath and Rival Sons will be on stage on Wednesday, August 17. These bands have gained fans old and young with their universal music that has made a great impact on the heavy metal world.

The Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival is yet another annual event that takes place exclusively at Jones Beach.

Though a lineup has yet to be released, there are guaranteed to be several popular artists who have made their mark on 2016. This year, it will take place on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21.

Last, but certainly not least, Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefers will reappear for his annual concert on Thursday, August 25. This event almost always attracts thousands of fans, most of which camp out days in advance in order to get a good spot.

SPORTS THE CHIEF Girls golf: up and coming stars shine during spring season

JUNE 10, 2016

BY DANIELLE ANZELONE MANAGING EDITOR

PHOTO BY ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY

We all can agree that in Massapequa, golf is somewhat overlooked and at times forgotten by many; however, the sport should be given a glance at.

Though it may not sound as exciting or aggressive as, say, football or lacrosse, golf is a very engaging sport that requires skills like focus and patience. This year, the girls’ team came out undefeated with a 12-0 record, finishing seventh in Nassau County, and became conference champions for the fourth year in a row.

Senior captain Kristen Moldovan was all-class and made it to day two of counties, according to coach, Mr. Michael Viola.

“Kristen was an absolute pleasure to coach: reliable, competitive, and she had the drive to be great at all walks of life,” Mr. Viola said.

This season’s excellent achievements can also be ac-

credited to senior Alex Turco and freshman Kate Pagano.

“My favorite memory has to be when I first broke my best score,” senior Alex Turco said. “The entire game I felt as if I was playing mediocre when in reality I was getting better and better...my ending score was a 48 which was the lowest of my season.”

Mr. Viola has high hopes for next season with a lineup of very talented girls including rising seniors Shannon Brust and Lauren Schmelzle, rising sophomores Kate Pagano and Katie Peterson, as well as eighth grader Isabella Fontana.

Clearly, the girls really enjoyed being a part of the team and many will be sad to leave this year.

“Leaving the golf course for the last time was definitely tough, although I know the team will be in good hands and continue to succeed," senior Kristen Moldovan said.

Though it may not have

8

It’s Tee Time | MHS girls golf team finish off the season undefeated the same amount of hype as football, the girls golf team is much appreciated. A job

well done to everyone who has participated this season and good luck to every-

one joining next year: you have quite some shoes to fill.

An interview with Gatorade player of the year, Hope Breslin

BY JUSTIN MCGOWAN STAFF WRITER

Recently, the Gatorade Players of the Year were announced and junior Hope Breslin was among the talented athletes included in the annual roundup. Breslin helped lead the MHS varsity soccer team to their “threepeat” state championship this year after a decade of hard work and consistent practice.

The Chief recently sat her down for a Q&A, in which she sheds light on the role that soccer has played in her life.

How old were you when you started playing soccer?

Hope: 5 years old.

How did you first begin playing soccer?

Hope: My mom gave me a choice between soccer and cheerleading, and I wanted to be the one on the field playing, so I chose soccer.

What is your favorite memory from playing soccer?

Hope: Winning 3 state championships in a row on the MHS team.

What is your favorite thing about being on the field?

Hope:The competition.

What do you like the most about your coaches?

Hope: They have high expectations for the team, and work us hard to get better everyday.

How do you effectively balance soccer and schoolwork?

Hope: I’ve been doing it for so long, so it’s all I know, and I’ve learned to manage my time because they’re both so important to me.

Do you have any advice for student-athletes?

Hope: Whether in the classroom or on the field, success will only come with hard work.

Do you play on any travel teams or other organizations?

Hope: Yes, I’m on an ECNL travel team for the East Meadow Soccer Club and I’ve been on the U.S. National Futsal Team.

What has playing in Massapequa taught you?

Hope: It has taught me a lot about teamwork, sacrifice, and about all the good qualities that a team needs to succeed.

Who is your role model?

Hope: Ever since I was little, my role model has been Julie Foudy. She was on the ‘99 National Team, was the captain, played my position, and has had a lot of success throughout her career.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Hope: Always do what you love What was your first thought when you found out you had won Gatorade Player of the Year?

Hope: I was super excited and really proud because I know that there are many great players out there to choose from.

What do you look forward to for next year?

Hope: Trying to go all the way like the previous 3 years and win a state championship What do you look forward to in the future?

Hope: Playing soccer in college in the Big Ten conference at the University of Illinois, and for the all new experiences I will have there.

KAITLYN LUCEY // THE CHIEF

Which position do you play?

Hope: Forward and center midfield.

What do you like the most about your teammates?

Hope: All are so supportive in everything, but each brings something so different to the team.