December 2014

Editorial

News

Library policy: a rigid spine

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

In Depth

Speed cameras: lights, camera, inaction

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The

Sports

A look at gender issues in society

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Winter sports update

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Chief

Vol. 63 – No. 2

December 19, 2014 www.thechiefonline.com

Massapequa High School’s Chief Source of News

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

The Racial Divide | The lack of diversity in Massapequa leaves many wondering how the student body is impacted .

Garner, Brown cases raise questions on diversity at MHS BY nelson gomez editor-in-chief

On November 24, a grand jury declined to indict former Ferguson, MO police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown. The decision came after a lengthy process marred by unreliable witness testimony and conflicting statements on both the prosecution’s and the defense’s sides.

Just over a week later, on December 3, a Staten Island grand jury dismissed all possible charges against NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo. Pantaleo was implicated in the homicide of Eric Garner during an arrest for selling untaxed cigarettes.

Unlike the Brown case, eyewitness video was available for the public and the grand jury to examine, prompting further outrage throughout the United States due to the perceived straightforward nature of the matter.

“Anyone who believes in the values of this country should feel called to action right now,” NYC mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Protests continue amidst concerns that the grand jury system — which is designed to determine if there is probable cause for a case to proceed, rather than establishing guilt — is being abused by district attorneys to avoid prosecuting police officers that allow them to establish cases against other

suspects.

Locally, over 400 protesters in Amityville shut down Sunrise Highway on December 7 in protest of the decisions, according to the Long Island Press.

Right next door in Massapequa, however, things were quiet. Some students in government or U.S. history courses may have taken a moment to discuss the Brown and Garner cases and connect them to their curriculum, but, beyond that, there didn’t seem to be much discussion among students other than a brief acknowledgement of seeing it in the news.

“I feel no classes really discussed it,” senior Nicole Kaouris said. “I think we should have been more aware of what was going on, and informed by people who knew the facts. All the stories I’ve heard from other students don’t sound legitimate, and it became a matter of opinion rather than law.”

Consequently, the question in Massapequa becomes whether students are given adequate tools to come to their own conclusions in cases like these, and how much of a disservice the lack of diversity at MHS does to students.

“I think there is a lot of room for improvement,when it comes to teaching about diversity of all kinds: ethnic, religious, political, racial and

gender/orientation,” AP Government teacher Ms. Suzanne Borger said, “And when controversial events occur (such as the Brown and Garner deaths), teachers should be comfortable listening to students and facilitating discussion. We call these teachable moments.”

Former Editor-in-Chief Joe Zappa ‘13 also added to the topic.

“Education can show people the light... but it can also play a role in perpetuating racism by failing to address its students’ biases,” Zappa said.

“In failing to institutionalize conversations on race in today’s America in the classroom and failing to hire faculty whose demographics come anywhere near matching the racial makeup of contemporary society, MHS is complicit in the perpetuation of the same structural racism that leads to such a large number of Americans decrying those who protested the grand jury decisions.”

According to New York State public records, about 96 percent of MHS students were white in the 2012–2013 school year. Seven percent of students were classified as economically disadvantaged.

Only three students enrolled that year identified as black or African-American.

“Massapequa is not immune from the structural

racism that pervades American society,” Zappa said. “In fact, because over 90 percent of Massapequa residents are white and many have lived in nearly all-white towns their entire lives, racism is particularly rampant here.

Despite the uniformity of Massapequa’s demographics, school administrators still strive to provide students with the tools needed to think independently.

“One of the things that I firmly believe in is that it’s not my job to teach you what to think, it’s my job to teach you how to think,” principal Dr. Barbara Williams said, “and to make sure I am supporting the teachers in bringing what sometimes are risky issues into the classroom. Ultimately, whatever conclusions you’ve come to are up to you to decide.”

Dr. Williams said that in a recent staff meeting, she encouraged teachers to address social issues in the classroom and allow room for discussion so that students are more able to freely express their thoughts and viewpoints.

“What I did encourage staff to do is to make sure that [they’re] taking every opportunity to address issues, and where we might not be able to physically experience things because of the homogeneity of our community, it’s certainly up to us to point things out,”

Dr. Williams said.

Still, without a more heterogeneous composition of students and faculty, alternative points of view on race relations and police brutality may go unheard, leaving students underprepared for society in institutions of higher learning and, ultimately, the real world.

“When Mr. Bachman arranged the Skyped Katrina/ Sandy session with students in New Orleans, that was a fantastic opportunity for his class to interact with a very different group of students,” Ms. Borger said, “And, at the same time, students realized that they had a lot of common concerns. It would be great if we could expand on that somehow and use technology and other resources to tear down the walls that keep us sheltered from more diverse communities.”

Clearly, students and faculty can’t be converted to a different race and cannot be forced to adopt viewpoints that they do not believe in.

Despite that, it’s still worth inquiring whether the homogeneity of the community is detrimental to pupils and faculty alike.

“MHS does not need to proselytize its students into becoming activists,” Zappa said.

“It just needs to give them the opportunity to consider that racism persists in the society in which they live.”

THE CHIEF News Nassau cuts school zone speed cameras; lights dim on plan

DEC 19, 2014

BY DAVID MARQUES STAFF WRITER

“

We encourage drivers to continue to exercise caution when passing all our schools, including the high school where students enjoy an open campus format.

-Mrs. Iconis

”

hours.

“It’s not realistic to go 20 miles per hour on Merrick, and all that [does is] cause a big traffic jam,” senior Cara Duffy said. “It’s not unsafe to cross the street if you wait at the crosslight like everyone else.

Don’t fix a system that isn’t

broken.”

Despite these claims, a 2010 study from Australia’s University of Queensland found that speed cameras did, in fact, reduce crashes in monitored areas by eight to 49 percent, and that fatal crashes decreased by 11 to 44 percent.

A controlled experiment conducted by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, meanwhile, found that the number of collisions neither increased nor decreased, and that the results are difficult to measure due to the numerous variables that can affect this number.

Regardless of the speed cameras facing the chopping block, the issue of student safety around busy roads and intersections remains an important issue for school administrators to address. Without the backing of speed cameras from the county, Massapequa will have to look elsewhere to ensure the safety of its pupils.

“We encourage drivers to continue to exercise caution when passing all our schools, including the high school where students enjoy an open campus format,” superintendent Mrs. Lucille Iconis said.

“Safety is paramount and we partner with the Nassau County police department and our security force to provide a safe environment for our students.”

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

To the surprise of many, the school zone speed camera program, faced with defunding in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, has recently been cut. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced a plan to end the controversial speed camera program last week, and Nassau legislators voted unanimously to eliminate them in a 19-1 vote on Monday.

“I think that it [eliminating the cameras] is totally fair. So many people were being charged money for stupid reasons,” junior Evelyn Sokolowski said.

Such speed cameras were installed at Unqua Elementary School over the summer; Unqua’s speed camera, however, was not activated until September 3. Cameras had yet to be installed in front of MHS, despite two signs warning that the speed limit “[is] enforced by photo/video.”

Many people felt the program was flawed at the start.

The camera, large in size and hanging from a pole in front of the school, is hard to ignore, yet many have been ticketed for speeding on that tiny section of Unqua Road.

The camera was a source of debate when it, along with other Nassau cameras, issued speeding tickets before the an-

nounced activation date. As a result, the county invalidated $2 million worth of speeding tickets.

Adding to the confusion regarding the speed cameras, the details, as given by the signs, were vague. The westbound sign says that this is only in effect during school hours (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.), like the camera at Unqua Elementary School, while the eastbound sign says that it operates when the lights above the speed limit sign are flashing.

However, the lights do not stop flashing with the school

Commissioner King resigns, leaving behind uncertain future BY nelson gomez editor-in-chief

On December 10, New York State Education Commissioner John King announced his intent to step down from his position at the end of the year. Upon resigning, King will become a senior adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. Executive deputy commissioner Elizabeth Berlin will act as his interim successor.

Though usually an uncontroversial position, King’s tenure oversaw the rollout of the largely debated Common Core standards and new standardized examinations aligned with them. During his time in office, New York also adopted a new teacher evaluation system that placed more emphasis on standardized testing.

The rapid pace of the implementation of Common Core standards resulted in widespread criticism, including a unanimous vote that showed little confidence in King by the NYS United Teachers’ (NYSUT) assembly that called for his removal by the Board of Regents. Teach-

ers called the new evaluation metrics flawed, stating that they had little time to adjust to the new standards. Public forums with King across the state have raised the same concerns.

“NYSUT and our members have consistently done everything to convince SED to avoid the train wreck they have engineered,” former NYSUT vice president Maria Neira said. “For three years, SED and the Regents have repeatedly rejected every significant recommendation teachers and parents made to correct the huge problems with Common Core and the Regents reform agenda.”

However, the direction that education in New York has taken under Commissioner King has also received some positive feedback, such as the New York Daily News calling him “a warrior for higher standards and better education” in one of its editorials.

“A generation from now, when we look back on the history of New York’s public schools,” the editorial read, “King’s tenure must stand not

as a courageous but anomalous blip, but as the start of a revolution.”

Regardless of the mixed reception regarding his effectiveness as the state’s education commissioner, the fact remains that the new commissioner Berlin will face an uphill battle trying to satisfy numerous educators and administrators. King leaves a number of policy wars in his wake, with reform advocates concerned that the new commissioner will slow the pace of changes such as the implementation of the Common Core, leaving parents and educators anxious that he or she will be as steadfastly supportive of these changes as King.

“As John B. King Jr. vacates his position as the NYS Commissioner of Education and moves on to the national level, all districts in New York State, as well as Massapequa, are left with more questions than answers,” superintendent Mrs. Lucille Iconis said.

“Whoever replaces him will occupy a prominent post, where he or she will need to juggle numerous heated is-

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sues including testing, the new Common Core standards, and teacher evaluation.”

Despite his departure from the state, his future position as a top adviser in the U.S. Department of Education will net King more of a say in how education policies are developed nationally. Legally, he will have the same powers and responsibilities as the deputy secretary; accordingly, he will be focusing primarily on K-12 education.

“New York State public school educators, as well as many parents and students, found Commissioner King’s goals detrimental to public education, so I see his resignation as a positive for Massapequa Public Schools,” Massapequa Federation of Teachers president Mrs. Tomia Smith said.

“However, I now have concerns regarding what impact he will have at the federal level.”

The NYSUT echoed this sentiment.

“NYSUT has disagreed sharply and publicly with the commissioner on many issues,” the organization said in

a press release from December 10. “The disconnect between the commissioner’s vision and what parents, educators and students want for their public education system became so great, NYSUT voted ‘no confidence’ in Commissioner King last spring and called for his resignation.”

We hope he has learned from his stormy tenure in New York State and look forward to working collaboratively and productively with the Regents to improve public education going forward.”

For now, the future of education in New York remains unclear. Until King has been formally appointed to his new position and the Board of Regents selects a new commissioner, it’s impossible to assess the effects that this shakeup will have on the quality of schooling in New York and the country.

Still, one thing remains certain: parents, educators, administrators, and politicians alike will be watching closely to see what will happen next.

Editorial

DEC 19, 2014

THE CHIEF

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nelson Gomez MANAGING EDITOR Brandan Lawrence ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Timothy Keuchler BUSINESS MANAGER Jeffrey Horowitz COPY EDITORS Jillian Hand Jeffrey Horowitz Vincent Coghill Kaitlyn Lucey PHOTO EDITOR Kalleigh Regan KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jackie Angelo Alexandra Doulos 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.

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

Checking Out Checking In | Much time is wasted every day by students who are unable to leave the library early.

EDITORIAL

Are students livin’ it up in the Hotel Massapequa?

The MHS library offers a wealth of resources for students: thousands of books that can be borrowed, librarians available who are willing and ready to help with research projects, printers for last-minute assignments, and ample space for studying and tutoring, to name a few.

“The high school library is no longer just a room with books on a shelf,” Maureen Quinlan said in an article for the Boston Globe. “It is a multifunctional space meant to unite a community and aid the creative and innovative learning and teaching process.”

Despite the technology and information offered, the convenience of the library is hindered by a policy that requires students who check into the library to stay there for the remainder of the period. This rule deters students with unscheduled “out” periods from visiting for even five minutes — simply printing a paper or briefly helping a friend with homework confines them to the library.

“Students are incessantly bombarded with assignments and some don’t even have time to eat lunch,” senior Julie Kapuvari said. “We aren’t allowed to eat in the library, so it would be convenient to work in the library for however long and permit us to leave when necessary.”

The rule serves to mini-

mize disruptions while classes are in session. Aside from being unable to leave the library, students are, in most cases, prohibited from leaving the Cyber Café or classrooms.

“We don’t want people in the hallways because what happens is, it’s innocent, but say you and I go... then I say ‘I just want to go to my locker,’” dean of students Mr. Patrick Howard said. “Then you go to your locker and you’re standing outside of a classroom talking. We want to try to cut down on that.”

Remaining in the library does have its advantages, as it provides space for working on homework assignments (including maintaining a collection of textbooks for every course taught at MHS), and allows for time to be spent productively and with minimal distractions.

On the other hand, these issues are relatively easy to counter. Disruptive students roaming the halls can be easily spotted and stopped due to the presence of hall monitors right outside of the library, as well as other parts of the building.

While the library is a place for students to do productive work, it’s unreasonable to suggest that students should be obligated to spend the entire period in the library because they wanted to drop in briefly.

“I’ve got a heavy course load and minimal time at home

to do homework,” senior Jessica Bardio said. “Usually I try to do as much as I can during lunch the day it’s assigned, but if it’s textbook work that’s impossible. I can’t stop in the library and take pictures of the pages I need, then go out and enjoy my lunch.”

The largest obstacle to overcome would be the issue of tracking who really does have an out period and who is looking for an excuse to cut class. In such cases, it would be hard to distinguish between conscientious students and troublemakers.

However, the same methods used by the dean’s office for handling those who do just cut class would be applicable to this situation as well. Students who cut class using the “out period” excuse would be easily caught regardless of library policy, and would face consequences that would either deter them from cutting or make it impossible for them to leave the building anyway.

Ultimately, nearly all students see the requirement of staying the entire period as an obstruction that inhibits their freedom of open campus.

“I don’t think they should be allowed to force you to stay,” senior Kelly Flaherty said. “If you have the freedom to come to the library, you should have the freedom to leave when you’re done.”

The dean’s office recog-

nizes that students should not be penalized for studying. As such, exceptions are currently made on a case-by-case basis for students who want to go in, get their work done quickly, and leave.

“If there are extenuating circumstances, we always exercise common sense,” Mr. Howard said. “If they want to go get something to eat because they’re hungry and they only have one opportunity to print something out, we’re going to make exceptions if they come to the Dean’s Office or Ms. LiVecchi and let us know.”

Obviously, a change in policy is necessary to grant students a greater degree of freedom in accessing the library. Restricting students’ ability to plan how they spend their time in the building, for something as minor as going to the library to get pictures from a book, only hurts students, and is contrary to the objective of the library, making it an increasingly unpopular location to work.

It is simply up to the student body to make administration more aware of the need for a change in the way library check-ins are handled.

“Practices change,” Mr. Howard said, “if we see that more people are coming in and need certain things, we may make changes, but right now, that’s where we are.”

THE CHIEF ENTERTAINMENT Star Wars Episode VII: The Hype Awakens once more

DEC 19, 2014

BY jeffrey horowitz business manager

“Have you seen the new trailer for the new Star Wars movie yet?”

It’s an important question you may be asking your friends and family. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens will be a continuation of the saga, more than thirty years after Return of the Jedi , and it may be one of the most anticipated movies of 2015.

During the Thanksgiving weekend, the world was treated to the minute and a half trailer that revealed very little aside from a new lightsaber, a soccer ball droid and the Millenium Falcon.

It is a teaser trailer, there really isn’t that much in it.

There is more time in the trailer of a blank screen than

anything else, with short flickers of scenes, and a voiceover of a man talking about an awakening in “the Force.”

Though there is very little content in this trailer, and it is merely a preview for the full length trailer, this fact has not stopped individuals on social media from saying that it will be the death of Star Wars.

Flip through the YouTube comment section, and you will see that the movie looks “disappointing” or even “stupid.”

The new lightsaber design has been the source of much controversy. Some believe it is impractical due to the fact that the two smaller beams protrude from the end of the hilt, to maybe act as cross guards.

However, there is still part of the metal hilt left unprotected, which could be the source of

some danger for the user, leading to speculation as to how the new lightsaber even works.

“Three focusing crystal activators to split the plasma into three perpendicular blade energy channels,” Stephen Colbert said. Colbert is not only the host of his self-titled show, The Colbert Report, but an avid Star Wars fan as well. He also uses this explanation to describe that all three beams are connected and do provide protection for the user.

Here’s what is known at this time: the movie will be directed by J.J. Abrams, much of the original cast will appear, and it will feature a completely new storyline, not from any of the expanded universe books or comics.

Many of the characters have not been revealed

yet, and at least according to IMDB.com, George Lucas has not had as large a presence in the creation of this movie as he had in the creation of the Prequel trilogy. Still, he is acting as a creative consultant, overseeing the story.

“I mostly say, ‘You can’t do this. You can do that.’

You know, ‘The cars don’t have wheels. They fly with antigravity.’ There’s a million little pieces,” George Lucas said in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek. “I know all that stuff.”

Though many of the character names have not been revealed yet, we know which actors and actresses will be starring in the movie. Returning are Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Leia Skywalker, Harrison Ford

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as Han Solo, and the original actors for Chewbacca, C3PO, and R2-D2. Newcomers include Andy Serkis of Lord of the Rings fame, John Boyega, Gwendoline Christie, and Oscar Isaac. Again, the details of the characters these actors portray, as well as their names, have not yet been announced.

With so little known about this movie, any feelings about it besides curiosity or confusion may be a case of judging a book by its cover. Many people do not like the fact that the movie is neither an original, nor a prequel.

The only way to make an educated judgement about a movie is to watch it, and many will be waiting impatiently for that opportunity.

COURTESY OF BBC

The Force Returns | The Jedi may have returned thirty years ago, but now it seems that the Empire’s Storm Troopers have finally caught up.

Mockingjay Part One hits theaters like a cannonball BY jackie angelo editorial assistant

The third installment of the best-selling trilogy by Suzanne Collins opened in theaters across the world on November 21.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 attracted superfans of the series as well as casual spectators.

This helped make it the biggest opening weekend at the box office of the year, starting with over 123 million dollars, according to Variety.com.

Although it was predicted to be very successful, the hype was accompanied by some doubts about how it would compare to the book.

“After reading Mockingjay, I was very nervous to see how the movie would turn out,” junior Erika Cappell said.

Director Francis Lawrence — not related to the movie’s star, Jennifer Lawrence — had a difficult task at hand while creating the film.

Not only was it the first of the final two movies, but Mockingjay has also been regarded by fans as the weakest book in the Hunger Games trilogy.

Within Mockingjay, there

was no Hunger Games, but rather a war throughout the book. Although gruesome, there was no doubt that the reason that the books and movies were so successful was because of the interesting concept of teenagers fighting each other to the death. Mockingjay perhaps lacked some of the excitement that the first two movies delivered due to the loss of the presence of such a concept.

However, the novel also offers a shift in setting from the arena to the outside world, and examines what happens after the Hunger Games are over, and how the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, is left to lead the rebellion against the oppressive government of the Capital.

Ultimately, the storyline turns into a more dilute plot that audiences have seen many times before, with typical rebellions and attacks.

Despite the plot not being as interesting as the first two movies, the movie redeems itself with constant action. Although the beginning seemed to drag on a little too long, as did the two other movies, once the film picks

up in action, it remains like that for the rest of the movie.

The scenes of the attacks on Katniss’ district, as well as other districts that Katniss encounters, are more real than many of the movies audiences are subjected to.

The explosions are not overwhelming and never become jaded, making it more realistic and putting the audience right besides the hero.

Katniss Everdeen, played

by Jennifer Lawrence, is not the moody and sometimes annoying character that people have become used to seeing.

Although stubborn, Katniss is an overall likeable character in this installment when compared to the first two movies. Still, there are times when one can tell that Lawrence is trying to push the theme of standing up for oneself and telling girls to have a voice for themselves; these actions come across as just being a stubborn, rebellious, and moody teenage girl.

The relationship between Katniss and her romantic interest Gale, played by Liam Hemsworth, was a huge disappointment that proba-

bly had millions of fans on “Team Gale” angry. Whether purposely done or not, Katniss’ and Gale’s relationship almost ceased to exist, with no real chemistry between the two even when confronted in difficult situations.

When Gale volunteered himself to save Peeta — who was absent from most of the film due to being captured by the Capitol — the whole audience didn’t find it that romantic, since they hadn’t had any spark the entire movie.

If this was done purposefully so that the audience would sway their preference more towards Peeta, Katniss’ other romantic interest, played by Josh Hutcherson, then it gave the audience almost no other choice but to side with him, which defeats the whole purpose of the love triangle in general.

This movie basically shut down Gale from ever developing a further relationship with Katniss, foreshadowing who the victor of this love triangle will be.

Despite the dull chemistry, the film does a great job on focusing its attention towards

other districts, besides 12, that many had craved to see. Oftentimes, the film would cut to different districts, showing various regions’ tactics towards rebellion, which lent more attention-grabbing action to the story, as well as a more dynamic setting that had failed to be seen in the first two movies.

The producers did a good job on focusing their attention more towards the entire country rather than just one district, symbolizing how each district was coming together to fight against their oppressive government and the evil President Snow, played by Donald Sutherland.

Overall, Mockingjay was a success in both profits and quality of the movie. They successfully started the ending to this fantastic movie franchise in a way that will have audiences leaving happy, especially those that read the third book.

“I was very happy with how Mockingjay turned out,” junior Diana Golden said, “and I will definitely be seeing the final movie in the series.”

feature

DEC 19, 2014

THE CHIEF

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KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

Viral Hysteria | Despite the alarming symptoms associated with the Ebola virus, the alarm raised in the United States has largely been unwarranted.

The results are in: United States tests negative for Ebola

BY Riley sausa staff writer

Over the last few months, the West African virus Ebola has consistently made headlines. Almost every media outlet panicked over the virus as if it were the bubonic plague.

What most people do not understand is that the sensationalized media response was handled in an irresponsible manner that overstated the virus’s destructive potential.

Many are unaware of the fact that Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever has had multiple outbreaks since the virus was identified 1976, and none of those outbreaks became as widespread as those of HIV or any modern influenza strains.

Ebola, therefore, is by no means a new threat to global health and welfare.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

states that unlike influenza or the common cold, Ebola is relatively difficult to contract. The virus cannot travel through the air; it is only communicable through bodily fluids. This means that direct contact with the blood, sweat, saliva, feces, vomit, semen, or breast milk of an infected person is required for contraction.

The infected person must also be symptomatic in order to spread the virus. In other words, the virus cannot be spread during the three week incubation period before the infected person shows the symptoms of Ebola. Unlike HIV, which can be both asymptomatic and communicable, Ebola can only be contracted from someone who is obviously very sick.

Since contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids is needed to transmit the disease,

most Americans are at a very low risk of being infected.

Those who are at a high risk of being infected are healthcare workers and West Africans.

Citizens who live in underdeveloped countries have little knowledge of how the disease spreads and as a result keep infected family members at home and maintain intimate contact with them, while shunning aid workers and, in some cases, attacking them.

“We don’t want them in there at all,” Marcel Dambadounou, a Guinea village chief, told the New York Times in July. “We don’t accept their presence at all. They are the transporters of the virus in these communities.”

“Across the region, the ritual preparation of bodies for burial involves washing, touching and kissing, with funerals often attracting large

numbers of mourners from nearby districts,” BBC News reporter Nassos Stylianou said. “These rituals simply helped the disease to spread.”

Residents of these countries are more likely to be skeptical of medical professionals and more loyal to their religious obligations. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that consequently, as many cases are not reported, preventing effective treatment from being deployed in areas where it may be needed.

The only westerners at risk of infection are the doctors, nurses, and aid workers that tend to those infected. This idea was briefly challenged after nurses treating Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas were infected, prompting changes in national protocol for Ebola treatment in the United States.

“We need to consider the

possibility that there could be additional cases, particularly among the health-care workers who cared for [Duncan] when he was so ill,” CDC director Tom Frieden said. “We would not be surprised if we did see additional cases.”

The only thing that is truly alarming about Ebola is the nature of the virus. Those infected have an average mortality rate of 50 percent, according to the WHO. Symptoms include fever, headache, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, and most notably hemorrhaging (severe bleeding and bruising of random body parts).

The Ebola virus may have been an easy topic for fear-mongering news outlets to sensationalize, but well-informed citizens should focus on more important issues.

Alex from Target in social media bull’s-eye, teens take aim BY jackie angelo editorial assistant

Alex Lee from Frisco, Texas was a typical 16 year old who enjoyed playing sports and hanging out with friends.

He had no desire or urge to get famous, but rather to study hard in school. However, this all changed after being secretly photographed while working his shift at Target by a bystanding girl, who later uploaded his photo to Twitter. Suddenly, he became the talk of the Twitter world, and of his school, when the snapshot went viral.

“I was getting tons of texts,” Alex said in an interview with The New York Times.

“They’re all saying, ‘This is crazy, you’re famous!’”

His friends weren’t that far from the truth when he had become an overnight sensation. #AlexFromTarget had become the number

one trending topic worldwide on Twitter, with over 2 million tweets made about him.

Somehow, Lee’s Twitter profile was discovered, and when he sat down at his computer to see what was going on, he realized that his follower count had grown from 144 to 100,000 in a matter of hours.

Shocked, Alex tweeted “Am I famous now?” His tweet was retweeted 42,000 times and favorited by 86,000 people.

Just when he thought it couldn’t get any crazier, Alex was then flown to Los Angeles to be on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. In less than three days, an average teenager from an under-the-radar town in Texas had become a cultural sensation, all due to a photo posted on social media.

Although this has been viewed as a light-hearted topic to some, many have criticized

the trend saying the figures who have become famous from this type of exposure have no noteworthy talent.

“Alex from Target doesn’t deserve [the fame],” junior Christina Devivo said. “He doesn’t do anything while people are doing extraordinary things everyday that go unnoticed.”

This is not the first time that people have seen others who do nothing become famous in a matter of days.

For example, boys from the MAGCON tour, a series of shows in which fans can meet and greet famous viners, became famous on Vine for being considered “cute,” including Nash Grier, Cameron Dallas, and Taylor Caniff, among others. They have often been regarded as “offensive” and “self-centered” by many viewers because of the

way they make money from adolescent girls willing to pay $150 to get a picture with each of them. Other people also include the Kardashian family, who received their money and fame from one untasteful act.

“We should admire people starting organizations and charities, not the people who drop out of school to go on tour because of Vine,” junior Alex Turco said.

Many people have also felt “Alex from Target” has created a negative ideology about gender roles. Some feel as though releasing a picture on the internet of someone unknowingly can be seen as a violation of privacy.

“It shows the double standard with men and women,” junior Kaitlyn Oddo said. “If the picture was of an attractive woman, people would get angry saying how it was a ‘viola-

tion of privacy’, but since it’s a teenage boy, it is seen as okay.”

Others feel that it is just the age of the kids, and it comes in every generation; it’s just that this generation has a broader network which is social media.

“Our parents did the same thing at our age,” junior Shannon Carroll said, “Once you mature, you realize the important stuff in life.”

Regardless of how one feels about this type of overnight stardom, the fact of the matter is that social media has made a huge impact on many people’s lives. Without it, Alex from Target, an overnight star who went on the Ellen Show, would’ve just been called Alex Lee from Texas, an ordinary boy.

in depth

DEC 19, 2014

Sophomore Alex Gordonson | An openly transgender student.

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KALLEIGH REGAN //THE CHIEF

KALLEIGH REGAN //THE CHIEF

Transgender singer-songwriter Ryan Cassata speaking to MHS students and parents.

THE CHIEF

Right gender, wrong body: transgender students in MHS

BY Amber Merlini staff writer

Acceptance is the one thing that every person wants, including transgendered people, who identify as a gender that doesn’t match with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Alex Gordonson, a female-to-male transgender sophomore at MHS, has struggled with finding acceptance from peers and himself on his transexuality.

From a young age, Alex has questioned his gender identity.

“I just always knew something was wrong, but I never knew it was because I was transgender,” Gordonson said about discovering his gender identity.

Other transgender students in Massapequa feel conflicted as well. One, who prefers to remain anonymous, said, “I’d prefer students not knowing and just want them recognizing me as they would any cisgender person [someone whose gender identity matches the sex

they were assigned at birth].”

Although the student feared coming out, he said that he was given the strength to do so thanks to encouragement from one of his friends who had come out as transgender before him. “He had the courage to do it, so why can’t I?” “I think personally, the biggest thing that I have been able to do is to just have [the] support of a Gay Straight Alliance here and just being another presence in the building,” Mrs. Eileen Lind, an MHS guidance counselor and Gay Straight Alliance adviser, said. “They know that they can come in here at anytime and be one hundred and ten percent accepted for who they are. ” “I think that everyone has a sense of their own body and should explore what it is that they’re feeling and be happy with their life and their existence,” Mr. McCauley said. “Whether it’s in home, school, or anywhere else, they should feel comfortable in their own skin.”

Mr. McCauley hopes that any transgender students facing problems or confusion of their gender identity will find help.

“If people are feeling that they’re afraid to come out and say that that’s who they are or how they’re feeling or that they have mixed emotions, that they hopefully shouldn’t have any fear in reaching out to the right people. ” Gordonson and other transgender students in the high school have faced problems regarding their preferred names, bathrooms, and locker rooms.

“I think it’s ridiculous that the school doesn’t allow transgender students to use the locker room that agrees with their gender,” junior Anne Jordan said. “That’s discrimination and bullying and it goes against the Dignity Act and people need to start paying attention to it.”

“Going with the gender marker assigned at birth, obviously for transgender students, is not an appropriate place for them, because they don’t

identify with that particular locker room,” principal Dr. Barbara Williams said in response, “But... I have to also be mindful of safety, and to me that is a huge issue right now.”

“As much as I want students to be tolerant and accepting, if I know that I can’t guarantee that or if I’m concerned that there could potentially be an issue with that, I would be remiss in my obligations to not provide [a safer alternative]. ” Regarding the names of the transgender students, instead of having their preferred first name on their school identification cards, they only have the first initial of their name.

“I think that schools and more places should be more accepting and accommodating to them,” sophomore Kathryn Anderson said. “If they request to be called a different name or anything, it should be accepted and not fought.”

In response, Dr. Williams cited legal requirements which prohibit the use of anything other than a student’s legal name.

“Anything that’s issued from the school, whether it’s an official school transcript, whether it’s a username for an account, or whether it’s a lanyard, has to be by what a person’s legal name is,” Dr. Williams said.

“We [the school and central administration] were able to make an agreement that as long as I had parent approval and some sort of documentation from anyone that could positively say that this person is in fact transgender, I then had the latitude to at least change the name to an initial,” Dr. Williams added.

It was also made clear that a legal name change is required in order to print a student’s preferred name.

“If you want to be who you are and it makes you happy,” Anderson said, “then you should just be [who you are] and don’t let anything stop you.”

Is equality between the sexes really present in today’s society?

BY jacqueline rapisardi & danielle anzelone staff writers

An organization known as HeForShe is campaigning to engage both men and women to fight for gender equality.

According to their website, HeForShe.org, the organization urges men to “join [their] country” in standing up for women’s rights.

The goal of the organization is to bring the issue of unequal rights between the genders to light and to fund oppressed women in third-world countries.

So far there are over

198,000 men involved in the cause worldwide, and the number is quickly rising.

The website states that 100 dollars “will provide shelter and life skills training to 12 women in a Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.”

The program also assists women in ways such as offering loans to fisherwomen in Zimbabwe, providing seed funding to female farmers in Côte d’Ivoire, and helping indigenous women in Guatemala to gain national ID cards.

Emma Watson has proved herself a valuable public figure for HeForShe through her work as a United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador. During a press conference, she spoke out about her beliefs pertaining to gender equality.

“Men, I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation,” Watson said. “Gender equality is your issue, too.”

This speech, which was posted on Youtube on the United Nations’ channel , currently has over 470,000 views. Other famous faces have contributed

to the HeForShe cause, including David Tennant (of Doctor Who fame), Tom Hiddleston (who played Loki in The Avengers), and Harry Styles (a singer for One Direction).

These actors have posted pictures of themselves on Twitter holding signs that say #HeForShe, voicing their support of the work of the organization.

With this trend catching national attention, MHS students also weighed in on the topic. A poll was conducted in which students were asked about their opinions regarding their beliefs on feminism.

Out of 80 students, 94 percent said they believed women and men should have equal rights.

Additionally, students were asked if the word “feminist” creates a negative or biased image of women in their minds. 48 percent of students said yes, with the remaining 52 percent saying no.

Nevertheless, as long as these issues exist both inside and outside of MHS, the fact remains that they need to be addressed for the betterment of our future.

THE CHIEF in depth Crimes against women continue to take worldwide toll

DEC 19, 2014

BY Jillian hand copy editor

According to The New York Times, Sulkowicz was dissatisfied with the way the university had handled the situation of her assault, which included allowing the accused student to remain on campus.

This led her to create the national “Carry That Weight” campaign.

Sulkowicz turned her case into her senior thesis project enabling her to carry the mattress until she gained justice. Rather than suffering in silence, Sulkowicz manufactured an outlet for herself and others dealing with the aftermath of their sexual harassment. Facilitated through a hashtag featured on popular social media, #CarryThatWeight, these people can share their personal story and spread their message, advice, and opinions.

Though Columbia University officials have yet to reach a verdict, Sulkowicz’s activism has raised national awareness. What had started as a single project, has turned into an international act of inspiration for other victims like her.

Students from Stanford University in California to Central European University in Budapest, Hungary had also taken part in the protest, posting photos of themselves with mattresses that contain phrases such as “You are not alone.”

Colleges have been han-

dling cases such as Sulkowicz’s in accordance with Title IX, a “gender-parity law from 1972,” according to NYMag, that requires universities to facilitate and formally decide on sexual assault claims to ensure gender equality on campuses.

Still, survivors such as Sulkowicz, did not feel justice was adequately served, and therefore attempted to make people more aware of their stories.

According to SaferCampus.org, women ages 16 to 24 are raped at rates four times higher than the assault rate of all women, making college and high school vulnerable times for females.

“Schools, especially colleges, are supposed to be a place where students can feel

safe,” senior Nikki Zizzo said.

“They shouldn’t have to live in fear.”

So how can female students feel safe? According to Pact5.org, 95 percent of rape cases on college campuses go unreported. Therefore, it is advisable to tell someone right away if they feel sexual assault or harassment of some form is occurring. Other suggestions include to always walk with a cellphone. Secondly, try to avoid walking alone, especially with headphones, and people should always be aware of their surroundings.

In the long run, though, the best way to prevent the problem is to start a conversation as a society to stop it from occurring in the first place.

COURTESY OF YOUTUBE.COM

Harassment, sexual assault, and rape are a growing worldwide epidemic, and although they vary in degree, the effects are always detrimental.

However, more people are taking a stand to stop crimes against women, and make the public aware of their effects.

Everyone recognizes the harassment that occurs on a daily basis; it is not a societal secret, and girls are not surprised when they exit their homes and have to endure some type of harassment.

To demonstrate the magnitude of the problem, aspiring actress Shoshana Roberts filmed herself walking the streets of New York City for ten hours, simply clad in a t-shirt, sneakers, and jeans.

The video was sponsored by the international nonprofit group, Hollaback!, in order to show the widespread nature of catcalling.

In the video, Roberts was filmed over the course of ten hours in one day. By the end of her walk, she had been hollered at and catcalled over a hundred times, including phrases such as “Hey baby” and “Lookin’ good.”

Not only did Roberts have inappropriate comments spewed at her, but at times, men had followed her for several minutes attempting to in-

cite a remark from her silence.

“I think the video is really powerful, and a lot of girls can relate to it,” senior Olivia Geraghty said. “It’s about time the issue is gaining attention.”

Harassment doesn’t just happen on the streets, though.

In fact, it can happen to anyone at any place. According to The American Association of University Women, 48 percent of surveyed middle and high school students said they were sexually harassed at least once, typically by their peers, during the 2010-2011 school year.

The statistics are much worse when looking at college campuses. In a study conducted by Hollaback!, 67 percent of college students personally experienced harassment, and 82 percent either experienced or witnessed it.

Columbia University is one of many colleges at the center of public attention regarding the issue. Emma Sulkowicz, a senior at Columbia University, says that she was sexually assaulted on campus, but her alleged attacker — also a student attending Columbia — has yet to be expelled.

In order to raise awareness about survivors of sexual and domestic abuse, Sulkowicz now carries the fifty pound mattress on which she was assaulted everywhere she goes on campus.

Shoshana Roberts being cat-called by an unidentified man.

Redressing the Massapequa High School dress code

BY Kaitlyn lucey Editorial Assistant

Dress codes are nothing new, and they permeate society on a nationwide basis, being stated in schools’ rule books across the nation.

Massapequa High School’s own code, according to the Code of Conduct, states that “A student’s dress, grooming and appearance… shall not disrupt or interfere with the educational process.”

But is the enforcement of the dress code doing just that?

Recently, in multiple movements around the country, high school students have spoken up against the sexist agenda that dress codes may unintentionally contribute to in an academic environment.

For example, almost one hundred students of Tottenville High School in Staten Island were given detention in September of 2014 because they defied the new “Dress for Success!” dress code. According to the New York Post, this updated code, predicated by the new principal, banned tank tops, short-shorts, miniskirts, leggings, headbands,

halter tops, sweatpants, hats, and hooded sweatshirts.

Tottenville students retaliated by ignoring the rules of the new code, and refusing to change or cover up their clothing. School administrators have stated that “students have the right to determine their own dress except where such dress creates a distraction, is dangerous or interferes with the learning and teaching process.”

The very title of this updated dress code suggests that female students in particular can only attain academic achievement if they dress in a very specific manner.

The majority of the guidelines are tailored directly to the task of limiting young women’s fashion choices for the purpose of eliminating any component that could lead to a distracting environment.

These rules dictating what female students may wear are ultra-specific while only broad specifications are put in place for the male portion of the student body .

“There should be a part of the dress code that makes boys get in trouble for show-

ing their underwear if I can’t show my shoulder,” sophomore Shannon Brust said.

But what governs this so-called “distraction?”

MHS students may be able to relate to being required to abide to standard dress code rules. Rules such as not wearing shorts that extend to less than “fingertip length” and prohibiting girls from wearing spaghetti-strap tank tops are often questioned by the students.

The catch? MHS’s dress code doesn’t specifically mention either of these two relatively common offenses. Still, students, most notably girls, are expected to follow these unwritten rules.

School dress codes often suggest that some clothing choices — especially those of female students — cause a distraction or interfere with the learning process.

Consequently, this implies that other individuals’ learning experiences are more important than the academic careers of these female students.

Many students and people involved in the academic community think that

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female students are more targeted than male students when it comes to their dress.

Meanwhile, little stress is placed on male students’ duty to make sure female students and staff are not distracted.

For example, last year, a male student frequently wore clothing to a class that, according to the Code of Conduct, encouraged “violent activities,” such as gambling, prostitution, and weapon usage. This class was later in the day, so logically, he should have been reprimanded and obligated to change into more appropriate clothing by then.

However, he consistently wore the contravening shirts throughout the academic year. By contrast, just a few weeks ago, a female student was publicly called out by an administrator for her tank top.

This societal stigma against female dress is not only sexist, but harmful. Throughout their adolescence and into their adulthood, women are continually held responsible for other people’s hormones and actions, perpetuating rape culture. Placing the blame on

and sexualizing young female students suggests that the way they dress and look, not the way they think, controls their educational experience and, essentially, life.

This gender inequality is present nationwide. If the dress code of an academic institution is not equally enforced among genders, and if female students are subject to punishment to unwritten rules, the emotional and mental well-being of future adults is at stake.

That is not to say that schools should do away with the whole concept of dress codes, even if it is, at this point, flawed and sexist.

Students of any gender should be advised to use reasonable discretion when choosing their outfit for the day, as this demonstrates students’ self-respect for their own body.

“Sometimes there are things you just can’t wear,” Mr. Howard said, “and I say this every year, in a summary, dress for success.”

DEC 19, 2014

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Going With the Herd | Yik Yak has become one of the most popular apps used by both high school and college students across the United States.

Yak-attack: Yik Yak app stampedes campuses nationwide

BY Nicholas petrillo staff writer

The Yik Yak app has finally extended it’s user base to the high school denomination and it is sweeping the nation.

According to Yik Yak’s official website, the app is a community-based service where users can “get a live feed of what people around you are saying.” Unlike Twitter or Facebook, Yik Yak users see anonymous comments, or “yaks,” from people in their local town, college campus or neighborhood. This, along with the no advertising policy, makes the yaks personal and relevant to users.

Yik Yak also gives a “Yakarma” score to each user. Yakarma is earned when users comment and receive positive votes on their posts or vote on comments they see from other users. For some users, the mo-

ment their Yakarma score surpasses their SAT scores is an accomplishment. For others, it’s a defeat.

What’s strange about the growth of Yik Yak around high school campuses is that the app is truly geared for the college student. Unlike other forms of social media, Yik Yak usually can’t be accessed when users are near a primary or secondary school, even if someone isn’t using a school wi-fi system. If students in Massapequa High School want to use Yik Yak, they have to be off campus, making the app inconvenient for most high school users.

Yik Yak has gained its popularity due to the fact that people enjoy the anonymity of posts. One anonymous user explains that Yik Yak “gives people a way to express themselves and relieve things off

their chest or get advice that they normally wouldn’t be able to do without anonymity.” The idea that students can express their feelings without disclosing their identity is a very attractive feature of this app.

The same user also stated that many people like how we can view what the people around us truly think.

“The area feature gives a cool insight into demographics,” he saidGPS. “You can gain a sense of what people are like in a specific place.”

The anonymity of the app, though, also has its downsides.

Because users cannot be held accountable for their posts, bullying and harassment can be carried out against individuals or groups of people with little ramifications. In some cases, users downvote such material, making it less visible

to others. However, mob rule and dangerous activity is still possible and does occur on Yik Yak. For another, the lack of identity removes a human aspect of communication, making it harder to associate comments and posts to a real person on the other side of the screen, thus contributing to the former problem.

This feature, however, doesn’t mean users can say whatever they want. Many people assume that they are untraceable on Yik Yak to colleges, which is not the case. In cases where posts and comments exceed legal boundaries, Yik Yak can disclose the user’s phone number, device model and the GPS location where a post was made from.

Yik Yak’s growing popularity has triggered the app’s creators to tour the United

States. A traveling bus, known as the Sherpa, will be traveling the west coast to promote the app to people in 35 college campuses in 29 cities. The tour will be hosting different campus events, a meet and greet with the creators, and the bus will be bringing pedicab to campuses for free rides to and from class for students.

The hope is that this tour will reinforce the apps popularity and draw new users in as a result. Schools like the University of Southern California and California State University have already been toured according to the Yik Yak website, and reception has been positive so far.

Simplicity and uniqueness is something that has not only separated Yik Yak from the pack, but also formed a herd of anonymous users.

MHS gets ready to Catch the Wave a second time near spring

BY Brandan Lawrence managing editor

Last March, Massapequa High School hosted the first annual Catch a Wave for Winthrop, a charity concert to benefit the Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop hospital.

With over 200 tickets sold and more than 4000 dollars raised for the center, the hype for this year’s version of the event is already building.

What is Catch a Wave? It is the best way to get a sneak peek of the summer when it is most needed, in the dead of winter. What Catch a Wave does is bring the beach and the summer right into the MHS gymnasium.

With bright beach-balls, flowers, and a multitude of other decorations it will be hard to believe that it is still March. Not only will the gym be transformed into a beach, but the center hallway will be converted into a boardwalk teeming with different vendors. The boardwalk will feature booths and tables run by

MHS clubs and organizations, as well as several local businesses.

This year the event will take place on March 20, and will feature a variety of musical acts that span a diverse range of genres. The upbeat music will raise spirits and help out a great cause.

The Cancer Center for Kids relies completely on donations for its funding, so charity events like Catch a Wave are key to its survival. Between the price of admission and all of the money made by the clubs and businesses, as well as any other donations, Catch a Wave for Winthrop will provide a great deal of help to the center.

This year the Catch a Wave team is hoping to go bigger and better than ever with the event. Hoping to shatter last year’s numbers in both attendance and dollars raised, it is mostly up to the MHS students and community to show their support for this worthy cause.

THE CHIEF 10 arts NYCB Theatre was “Feelin’ It” as McCreery rocked the stage

DEC 19, 2014

BY Jennie toutoulis staff writer

JENNIE TOUTOULIS // THE CHIEF

Feelin’ it | Scotty McCreery performs at the NYCB Theatre.

You may recognize him as the winner of the tenth season of American Idol, but Scotty McCreery has come a long way since 2011. His debut album Clear as Day went platinum, and he is currently touring for his most recent album, See You Tonight.

I attended his show on December 3 at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury. This theatre was the perfect location for a performer like Scotty.

The theatre began in 1956 as a tent for Broadway shows, and ten years later, became a hardtop theatre.

The theatre has 2,800 seats, the same amount of seating offered at the Beacon Theater and Carnegie Hall.

However, the NYCB Theatre has a round stage that offers a more intimate experience for not only the audience, but for the artist as well.

During my interview and backstage tour with Dan Kel-

lachan, the marketing manager for Live Nation at the NYCB Theatre, he shared with me the history of the theatre and the tradition of the “ghost light.”

After each performance, a single light is placed center stage to welcome the next artist.

Scotty McCreery definitely received a warm, NYCB welcome. Fans of all ages filled the theatre to watch McCreery, as well as the winner of the fourth season of The Voice, Danielle Bradbery.

Bradbery opened the show with songs from her self-titled debut album and even did covers of popular songs like “Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore and “Roar” by Katy Perry.

I got the opportunity to meet Danielle after the show and she was just as sweet as she appears. At only 18, Bradbery has a very bright future ahead of her.

As the main act, Scotty McCreery opened the show with high energy, performing “Now” from his newest album.

McCreery sang a mix of songs from both of his albums as well as some of his classic country favorites, such as “Check Yes or No” by George Strait.

McCreery also shared stories from his time on American Idol and showed his appreciation of his fans in between songs, showing that his personality has not changed, even though his career certainly has.

I asked Kellachan for his advice to students who want to work in the entertainment industry: he stressed the importance of following your heart and finding something one is passionate about.

McCreery is a great example of this, as he shared that while on American Idol, the producers pushed him to sing more pop songs. McCreery, following his heart, stuck to his country roots.

Closing the show with a foursong encore, Scotty McCreery definitely left the fans in the NYCB theater feelin’ country.

Aspiring musician Rebecca White takes center stage BY timothy keuchler editorial assistant

and MHS varsity girls’ soccer team, where she is not only a two time state champion on both teams, but also a national finalist with the Crush. Rebecca plays goalie and also sings the national anthem at most of her games.

“To be honest it is pretty difficult to balance my singing career and soccer,” she said. “Between practice and games it’s very hard to find time to go into the recording studio because the process of writing and recording a song is very time consuming and you need to put a lot of hours aside to work on it.”

Still, Rebecca is able to find a happy medium between both of her passions. While playing for the Crush, she will be able to find time to write and record her next single.

“My next single is completely different than the first and contains a completely new sound for me,” she said. “In my career, I aspire to be a very versatile artist and I think this is the first big step I need to take to put me in the right direction.”

In regards to her future, Rebecca wants to pursue her career in singing, however if this goal does not work out, she still wants to work within the industry.

“My goal is to continue to do what I love and gain more recognition in the music industry in hopes of getting signed, producing an album, and sharing my music with the world.”

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

For most students in high school, the simple thought of what their future holds brings on a surge of unnecessary stress and an endless amount of questions — that is, except for junior Rebecca White, who has a clear vision of what she wants to do with her life; become a famous pop singer.

Rebecca has had a love for everything music related ever since she was a child due to the fact that she was constantly surrounded by it. With her mother and older sister Courtney both musicians in their own right, it was only a matter of time before she got involved in singing herself, and when she was in fourth grade, she joined the school choir.

Around the age of nine, Rebecca started taking her love for singing seriously, taking voice lessons and realizing that this could be a possible career path.

“After hearing about Taylor Swift’s journey to success, I realized that any ordinary person with a dream and persistence can achieve anything they put their mind to,” Rebecca said.

By the age of 12, Rebecca picked up on another crucial skill when it comes to music: songwriting. For Rebecca, her songs are inspired by specific events in her life or people, similar to the way many current vocal artists write their music.

“The writing process for me is pretty unpredictable.

I’m not the type of artist who can sit down during any time and start writing,” Rebecca said. “Ideas come to me at so many different times and believe it or not, it’s usually when I’m in the middle of doing something important; sometimes I’ll come up with a chorus in my head during class or at soccer practice.”

It wasn’t until last year that Rebecca had somewhat of a turning point in her singing career when she reached out to the owner of a local recording studio in Farmingdale who offered to help her record her first single.

“Be With You” is a song about loving someone who is in a relationship with someone else and was inspired by a certain event in her life.

After her producer gave her the background music to the track, Rebecca was left to compose the lyrics and melody of the song which she said took less than an hour.

Despite all the hard work and stress that came with trying put out the song, it all paid off on July 15 when the song was released on iTunes.

“I felt so relieved when my song was finally released,” she said. “I was definitely nervous about how people would respond to it, but I was beyond grateful when I started to see the reactions of my friends and family.”

Aside from being a musician, Rebecca is also a member of two different soccer teams; the Massapequa Crush

Rebecca White | Singing soccer sensation.

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DEC 19, 2014

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KALLEIGH REGAN// THE CHIEF

Chains of Change | The frequent changes of the most famous standardized test has many concerned over how the changes will impact their scores.

The (once again) redesigned SAT: what you need to know

BY Alexandra Doulos Editorial Assistant

The College Board announced changes for the redesigned SAT/PSAT/NMSQT that will take effect in 2016.

Key alterations have been made regarding the types of questions, grading system, critical vocabulary, and essay section.

Should a student choose to complete the optional writing portion, the maximum score will remain at 2400, while the highest score will be 1600 if the test-taker opts out of the essay. The three categories of the SAT will still be critical reading, math, and writing.

Similarly to the ACT, the redesigned SAT will not penalize students for incorrect answers.

The essay section typically poses the greatest source of anxiety for students, and has been completely reworked. It is now fifty minutes in length,

double the current length.

“Instead of a short prompt and providing a personal, evidenced based opinion, students will now be asked to read a longer passage of 600–700 words and to analyze how the author built their argument,” head of guidance Mr. Paul Weber said.

Regardless of the essay section being optional. This will not be the case in Massapequa though. It is “strongly recommended,” according to Mr. Weber, but school districts are not allowed to make the essay mandatory.

These changes will affect current sophomores the most, being that they will be able to take the SAT when the changes are rolled out. No preparation materials have been released, which will make determining what skills must be improved that much more arduous of a task.

The reading section “may include more focus on drawing from significant texts,” according to Mr. Weber, and math questions will focus less on abstract problems and more on application-based questions. Likewise, the vocabulary formerly associated with the SAT, which had been repeatedly labeled impractical and inapplicable, has also been axed. Now, students will be tested on fewer “multiple-meaning words.”

“I haven’t witnessed the adjustments being made firsthand, nor do I think I ever will,” senior Chris Kvartek said. “But, I’m open to change, and it’s comforting to know that the College Board is at least attempting to do what they believe will most accurately assess students.”

The image of students incessantly flipping flash cards had been a quintessential part

of the SAT process, but mere memorization will no longer provide the upper hand. In the near future, test-takers will be tasked with the utilization of pertinent words as well as their relevancy to higher education and profession-related responsibilities.

“The idea is that students will be less able to ‘prep’ or ‘cram’ from an SAT through memorization and must have a deeper understanding of the material presented and how to apply it,” Mr. Weber said when asked if the hackneyed lists that boast containing the ‘Top 250 Words’ were the best way to study for these tests.

The rehaul of the SAT also comes as institutions of higher learning adopt a trend of being “test-optional.” Such colleges state that tests such as the SAT and ACT are not needed to apply, and claim that not submitting test scores does not place

applicants at a disadvantage.

Still, these tests remain an integral component of college admissions for many other universities.

“It is unfortunate for some, and fortunate for others, that so much emphasis is placed on one Saturday morning exam,” Mr. Weber said. “While this is a nice trend, it is important to recognize that the SAT and ACT will not be going away anytime soon.”

Overall, the redesigned SAT poses new challenges for students, but academic officials are stressing the fact that this should not discourage students from taking it. The intricacies and new objectives associated with this test have been put in place to lead students to read and think with a more critical lens and truly comprehend information that can help them succeed along the course of their career.

senior Alexis Porcello said. “I barely even watch regular TV anymore.”

undergone extensive restructuring under an entirely different vision. Beginning as a rival “Blockbuster” (remember Blockbuster?), Netflix went from mailing archaic DVDs and shipping them directly to your doorstep to streaming more than 2,500 movies and TV shows, ranging from popular TV cult dramas such as the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black to obscure documentaries like Exit Through the Gift Shop.

Now a multibillion dollar corporation, Netflix’s transformation in focus has revo-

lutionized the way the general public watches TV. No longer do we have to wait for our shows to come on at “9 p.m./8 p.m. central” when we may be working or studying; all we have to do is log into Netflix and take our pick.

“I like the fact that I can watch essentially whatever I want without disrupting my schedule,” East Brunswick HS senior Angela Bersani said.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, daydream with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday. Upset? Cry it out with Good Will Hunting.

In the mood to laugh until your stomach hurts? Try John Mulaney’s stand up special New in Town, addressing essential topics like quicksand, flying Delta, and Ice T on Law and Order.

There is really something for everyone on Netflix. So next time you sit on the couch wrapped up in a million blankets, eagerly waiting for the red screen, don’t feel so guilty about watching that extra episode. Indulge in the “New Releases” section. You might just be surprised at what you may find.

A lovable addiction: why we can’t enough of Netflix BY katie mcmahon STAFF WRITER

When it comes to Netflix, why are we so addicted?

Oftentimes I find myself eight hours into a Grey’s Anatomy marathon, periodically interrupted by a prompt that reads “Are you still watching?” across my screen. (Of course I am, do you think I went out and actually did something?)

Meanwhile, my thoughts are constantly stuck between “just one more episode” and “I have 6 AP’s worth of work due tomorrow.”

“I can’t get enough of it,”

“

My thoughts are constantly stuck between ‘just one more episode’and ‘I have 6 AP’s worth of work due tomorrow.’

”

How did we come to be so addicted to Netflix?

Since 1997, Netflix has

Sports

DEC 19, 2014

THE CHIEF

KALLEIGH REGAN// THE CHIEF

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRISTOPHER TOMA

MHS Varsity Hockey Team | The team is looking forward to a successful sesason.

12

Junior Mario Festante shooting baskets.

Massapequa athletics heat up heading into winter season BY vincent coghill copy editor

Winter sports look to continue playoff runs this season As a miraculous fall season ends, all eyes turn to Massapequa’s winter sports teams to keep the momentum going, particularly the basketball teams and ice hockey team.

Boys’ Basketball

The boys’ basketball team entered the new winter season with an “exceptionally stronger team than we’ve had in years past,” according to senior Matthew Spinelli. Last year’s season ended with a loss against Elmont in the quarterfinals, but the Chiefs look to bounce back and make another run to the playoffs.

The Chiefs started off strong in their first two games of the season, winning easily against non-conference opponents Division and MacArthur. Senior Joe Perna scored

a combined 30 points over the course of the two games, leading his team in scoring.

However, as the season progressed, the opponents grew tougher. Even with strong efforts by senior Brandon Merklin with 15 points against Plainview JFK, the Chiefs fell 59-53. The game against Floral Park also proved to be difficult for the Chiefs as they lost 50-34, starting the season with a record of 2-2.

“Even though we lost the game, I think it helped us and some of the younger guys get a glimpse of the kind of competition we are going to face this year,” Spinelli said. “We’re in one of the toughest conferences in the county and we learned today that even with an already talented team, we still need to work even harder if we want to win games.”

While conference play has not started yet, the Chiefs must step up their game in order to be competitive in a confer-

ence with powerhouses such as Syosset, Uniondale, and Hempstead.

Girls’ Basketball

Girls’ basketball looks to repeat another successful season this year. The Chiefs ended last year’s season at the county championships with a disappointing loss against the Baldwin Bruins.

However, according to senior Lauren Boix, they believe they can make another run to the playoffs during this year’s season.

“I think we have a very strong team, but we are not cocky,” Lauren said. “We know it will take hard work and dedication.”

The Chiefs have very few changes going into this season, only losing one former senior, Rachael Sieber, due to graduation, while gaining three new players, including junior Allison Stackpole, originally from Kellenberg Memorial High

School, and seventh-grader Gabriella Heimbauer.

“Rachael Sieber was an unbelievable shooter,” Lauren added. “I believe that we have really great additions to the team.”

The Chiefs have started off strong, winning their first three games decisively, scoring above 50 points each game. Junior Melanie Hingher scored a total of 57 points over the course of the three games, while Heimbauer led the Chiefs in scoring against Great Neck South with nine points. The Chiefs look to continue this hard work and dedication throughout the rest of the season.

Ice Hockey

The ice hockey team is off to a slow start to its season, losing their first two games of the season: one against Manhasset 2-1 and a crushing defeat against Bellmore/Merrick 8-1.

The Chiefs finished last season with a record of 13-103. However, with the first two losses, it seemed difficult at first to believe that the Chiefs would at least break even in terms of wins, losses and ties by the end of the season.

The Chiefs remained positive after these two losses, according to senior Ryan Dashkoff.

“We’ve had a rough start.

It’s been a wake up call for us as a team,” Ryan said. “But it’s brought us closer and you can expect big things to come.”

And Ryan may just have been right, as the Chiefs won against Cold Spring Harbor by a score of 4-3, reflecting a similar outcome in last year’s season, where the Chiefs started with a record of 1-2-1, but won three games straight after that. It seems as though the Chiefs needed to fix some kinks before returning to the win column, and hopefully, they will stay there.

Spotlight: Brad Baldinger

BY Brandan Lawrence MAnaging editor

field behind him, Brad is eager to play next season.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Brad said, “the team, the atmosphere, the whole thing.”

This great attitude towards the game and towards life has gotten Brad far already--and who knows where it will take him next.

“I’m hoping to play in college if possible,” Brad added. With an impressive record already behind him, this young athlete is already looking towards a professional career in football. “That’s my dream, but it’s not there yet.”

Nonetheless, Brad Baldinger is one of the most talented athletes that Massapequa High School has to offer, and next year, playing will only serve to improve his already stellar record and reputation.

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

This year’s varsity football season was filled to the brim with suspense, excitement, and emotion for all players, fans, and supporters alike, and there was no exception for Massapequa High School junior Brad Baldinger.

As the starting quarterback, his high level of skill and dedication was clear from the beginning of the season, and this unbelievable work ethic did not fade as the season progressed.

Every season has its challenges: long hours of practice, exhausting physical training, tough opponents, and so on.

For Brad, however, this season had an unexpected hitch.

During the third game of the season, the team was

playing hard against Freeport High School. Late in the third quarter, Brad was hit with a hard, unexpected tackle, rupturing his spleen.

“A lot was going through my mind,” Brad said. “I knew I was going to be out for a while, and I wanted to be back in the game.”

His injuries kept him off of the field for the rest of the season. Not being able to play for so long would crush the spirits of almost any player, but not Brad Baldinger.

This injury has only motivated Brad to work even harder for next year.

“I was really upset... but I knew that I was lucky to still have another year to play,” Brad said.

With this year’s experience on and off of the

Brad Baldinger | Brad is optimistic about next year’s season.