March 2014

Feature

News

Analyzing the idea of race — is it biological?

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

The

Sports1

Review of annual musical Oliver! and cast narrative

Climate change and going green

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Massapequa High School

Arts

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Mets & Yankees spring training preview

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Chief

Vol. 62 – No. 3

March 31, 2014 www.thechiefonline.com

Massapequa High School’s Chief Source of News

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

“Are You Confident?” | Under the College Board’s plans to revise the SAT, practice materials will be made available for free through Khan Academy.

College Board announces overhaul of SAT examinations

BY NELSON GOMEZ MANAGING EDITOR

Preparing for the SAT Reasoning Test is one of the most draining experiences a student will undergo. Many choose to study and memorize various antiquated or rarely-used vocabulary words in anticipation of the critical reading section and enroll in tutoring and coaching courses that could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

On March 5, however, College Board President and CEO David Coleman announced that the SAT would undergo major revisions, making it the second revamp in the past decade. Along with the changes to the exam, College Board also announced that it would be partnering with Khan Academy to provide free preparation materials for the redesigned SAT. “What this country needs

is not more tests, but more opportunities,” Coleman said at an announcement event in Austin, Texas. “The real news… is not just the redesigned SAT, but the College Board’s renewed commitment to delivering opportunity.”

Specifically, the new SAT will remove vocabulary that students may not have heard of and are not likely to hear of again. Moreover, the exam will be nearly twice as long, lasting three hours as opposed to the current length of one hour and 45 minutes, and penalties for guessing incorrectly have been scrapped.

According to the announcement, the modifications are “modeled after work that students do in challenging high school courses” and are designed to focus more on college readiness.

“That’s what the SAT is trying to change, at least on

the surface,” guidance department chairman Mr. Paul Weber said. “It won’t be as coachable, and it’ll be more about what you’ve learned in school and how hard you’ve worked, not how hard you’ve been coached on the side.”

Educators and college admissions officers believe that the overhaul is long overdue, and that the renewed focus on students’ skill, rather than ability to take the test, is a welcome change.

“Making the test more relevant to the high school curriculum makes sense,” Courtney McAnuff, Vice President of Admissions for Rutgers University, told The Star-Ledger. “In addition, I applaud the College Board for acknowledging that lower income students were underserved and typically could not gain the advantage of intensive and costly private coaching.”

On the other hand, some critics believe the revisions are motivated by competition with the ACT, which surpassed the SAT for total test takers in 2011. Others believe that standardized aptitude tests in general are obsolete, and that new methods of testing college readiness are needed.

“Why not give students the time to think, research, and learn as they answer serious questions whose answers demand careful thought and knowledge?” TIME writer Leon Botstein said. “What is needed is not minor, so-called improvements to the SAT, but an entirely new generation of testing instruments.”

Regardless of what changes the SAT undergoes in the future, the test and others like it will continue to be a key component of the college admissions process. The uniform nature of the exam for all stu-

dents who take it allows colleges to easily weigh decisions based on the relative success of each applicant on the standardized assessment.

“Everybody, whether you’re in California, Maine... or New York, is taking the exact same exam,” Mr. Weber said. “Regardless of what they do to [the SAT], everyone is on the same playing field.”

It will be several years before the revised SAT is publicly administered, and so until then, the impact that the changes will have on test preparation, college admissions and student preparedness are anyone’s guess. Still, a more focused and relevant SAT would not only help the College Board compete with the ACT, but also give students, parents and counselors a clearer picture of one’s ability to succeed in college.

Amazon unveils drone-based shipping service, seeks to overcome FAA hurdle

BY JOE FIOLA COPY EDITOR

Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, recently made headlines when CEO Jeff Bezos revealed Amazon Prime Air, a drone-based delivery service that has the potential to cut delivery times down to thirty minutes or less.

The concept behind Amazon Prime Air is simple. Amazon fulfillment centers, where packages are sorted prior to

delivery, would be used as launch bases for the drones.

The drones, which would be able to travel within a ten mile radius from the fulfillment center, can carry packages weighing up to five pounds, a specification that would only exclude approximately fourteen percent of total deliveries.

Though this concept seems attractive and progressive, its feasibility is questionable. Amazon hopes to begin

using the drones by 2015, but Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations present a major obstacle. Under current regulations, commercial drone use is illegal within the United States. Fortunately for Amazon, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta plans to undertake a drone-friendly overhaul of regulations sometime within the next five years.

In addition to FAA policies, there are several other

issues which stand in the way of Amazon Prime Air’s implementation. Inclement weather is certainly a real threat, since the drone’s small size leaves it susceptible to being thrown off course by wind gusts.

Shotguns and airsoft guns are also a formidable threat due to the risk of theft of drones and packages. Additionally, there are concerns that the drones could interfere with air traffic or collide with pedestrians, ve-

hicles, birds, or buildings.

Due to these aforementioned issues, it will likely be quite some time before drones begin delivering goods purchased on the Internet. Amazon, however, is to be commended for its progressive attitude and ingenuity. Regardless of whether Amazon Prime Air is ever fully implemented, the company clearly has the potential to revolutionize the way in which we shop.

EDITORIAL

MAR 31, 2014

THE CHIEF

BRIAN VAN DER BRUG // MCT CAMPUS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Meghana Rao MANAGING EDITOR Nelson Gomez ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Matt Colozzo COPY EDITORS Katie Cresser Joe Fiola

Blanket Banned | A man prepares to donate blood platelets. Under current FDA policy, homosexual men cannot donate blood.

PHOTO EDITOR Brandan Lawrence

Blood drive ban on gays discriminatory, wrong

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Kalleigh Regan ONLINE SPORTS MANAGER Anthony Romano EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jill Hand Jeff Horowitz Katie Lucey ADVISOR Elyn Coyle

Massapequa High School 4925 Merrick Road Massapequa, NY 11758 Editorial Policy

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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/or any other student 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.

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EDITORIAL

Many Americans donate blood every day, given the myriad of diseases and accidents in which a blood donation is a lifesaving measure.

However, that does not mean that every American has the opportunity to donate blood, as MHS alumnus David Sherlock, who is currently a sophomore at Binghamton University, soon learned when he tried to donate a few weeks ago.

He began the registration process like any other person would. “I got my finger pricked, my blood pressure taken, and was asked to answer a series of questions on their computer,” Sherlock said.

Such questions asked if he had ever used any intravenous drugs, slept with a prostitute, or engaged in any form of sexual activity with another man since 1977. Thinking nothing of it, Sherlock truthfully answered these questions, which included responding “yes” to the last one.

He was then approached by a representative from the American Red Cross telling him that he was immediately deferred from donating. Soon after, the representative told Sherlock that he wasn’t simply deferred from donating; he was banned for life.

“I asked if anything was in motion to change this policy, and [the representative] informed me that nothing was currently underway,” Sherlock said. “I thanked her for her time and left the donation site with my lifetime deferral sheet in hand.”

Many other men have shared David Sherlock’s experience. The Food and Drug Administration classifies IV drug users, people who have spent more than five years since 1980 in a country that has contained mad cow disease and men who have had sex with men (MSM) since 1977 as the highest-risk blood donors in the country.

The FDA’s policy of indefinitely deferring MSM was

first instituted in 1983, citing a significantly higher risk of transmitting HIV, hepatitis B, and other infections that can be spread by transfusion. The institution of the policy was also justified by past inability to properly test blood or plasma for HIV. Pressured to act, the FDA placed a ban on sexually active gay men — the group most likely to spread the virus.

“Having had a low number of partners is known to decrease the risk of HIV infection,” the FDA said in an official statement on the MSM ban. “However, to date, no donor eligibility questions have been shown to reliably identify a subset of MSM who do not still have a substantially increased rate of HIV infection.”

Still, researchers and activist groups believe that a lifelong deferral is excessive and unreasonable. Advances in medical science and technology have significantly reduced the risk of contracting HIV through blood transfusions by detecting the virus before it can infect the blood supply.

In 2008, the FDA approved the use of a nucleic acid-based test for HIV to detect infected blood samples, streamlining the screening process.

“Our organizations do not believe the data regarding quarantine release errors justify a different deferral period for MSM than that for individuals with similar high-risk sexual behavior,” a joint statement by the American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, and American Association of Blood Banks (AABC) said. “There is no sound rationale for focusing on [quarantine release error] numbers as a justification for a near lifetime deferral…”

Additionally, members of the MHS Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club have voiced their concerns over the ban.

“When you think about it, anyone can get an STD,” soph-

omore Martin Hogan said. “I don’t think that [the ban on gay men] makes any sense.”

GSA adviser Ms. Eileen Lind suggested that the United States should look to see how other countries handle MSM donating blood.

“Spain and Italy ask [gay men] questions differently so that they are given the opportunity to donate,” Ms. Lind said. “These countries don’t necessarily ban only gay men from donating blood, but rather anyone who has participated in any activity that would be considered a high-risk for acquiring HIV.” Scientists and researchers have also stepped forward in opposition of the FDA’s MSM policy; William Kobler, board member of the American Medical Association, called the lifetime deferral policy “discriminatory and not based on sound science.”

“This new policy urges a federal policy change to ensure blood donation bans or deferrals are applied to donors according to their individual level of risk and are not based on sexual orientation alone,” Kobler said.

Regardless of the number of partners one has had or whether or not safe sex practices were performed, a man who has had even one sexual encounter with another man in the past thirty-seven years is deferred indefinitely. Still, the AABB’s donation screening allows heterosexuals who have had sexual contact with prostitutes or someone with HIV, hepatitis B, or IV drug users to be deferred for up to only 12 months.

Moreover, banning all men who have had sex with men prevents a large number of homosexual and bisexual men, like David, from being able to perform a civic duty that could save thousands of lives.

“People perceive of giving blood as a civic duty,” Brian Moulton, legal director of

the Human Rights Campaign, said. “The current policy puts gay and bisexual men who are going to be honest in an awkward position during a blood drive.”

Rather than dealing with the potentially dangerous effects of such actions, the FDA should focus on reforming the stringent ban.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sixty-three percent of those who were newly infected with HIV in 2010 were MSM. Naturally, the FDA cannot simply ignore this fact. However, that does not mean that they should instill a policy that was created in 1983 when there have since been numerous technological and medical innovations.

To be consistent with other HIV risk groups, the FDA could start by enacting a new policy for men who have sex with other men that would defer blood donation for only one year. Additionally, MSM could take biomedical approaches to HIV prevention.

As described by the CDC, there is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in which individuals can take antiretroviral medications before they are potentially exposed to the virus, or post-exposure prophylaxis, in which these individuals could then take antiretroviral medications after possible exposure to HIV. MSM, and any high-risk group, for that matter, should be encouraged to take advantage of these preventative measures.

By taking small steps first, the FDA could come to a sound method of blood donation that would not be so discriminatory against healthy, gay men.

The act of removing the FDA’s permanent ban of gay men from donating blood will not only promote social equality, but also save many lives. If the donated blood is clean and safe, what else really matters?

OPINION Race reality: how society, not biology, created race

MAR 31, 2014

BY MEGHANA RAO

I

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Origins of Race

Race is a social construct, and for many the thought that race is socially created is a recondite idea because people have always been ascribing the idea of race to biology.

However, race hasn’t always been used as a method of classification.

“

“... You can look out the window at the horizon, and see, ‘Oh, what I thought was flat I can see a curve in now.’”

”

Around 400 BCE, Ancient Greeks often looked at language and culture as a means of distinguishing themselves from one another, not through specific physical characteristics. Yet by the eighteenth century in colonial America, wealthy white plantation owners began to group and exclude Africans based on their skin color.

Black people automatically belonged to the slave class

The Modern Meaning of Race

The anthropological definition of race is “any of the traditional divisions of humankind, the commonest being the Caucasian, Mongoloid, and Negro, characterized by supposedly distinctive and universal physical characteristics.”

Historians and anthropologists have since realized that this definition is no longer appropriate. To say that race is classified based on physical characteristics is to imply that race is a biological division of people based off of genetic traits. If this were to be true, different races would not be able to procreate due to prezygotic barriers.

When people say that Asians are the best in math or that black people are the best singers, they are alluding to the idea that “race” is linked to DNA. However, there are no genes that allow these people to have these characteristics. It could be the competitive environment in which the Asians live or the work ethic that black people have which allow them to have this universal trait as a respective group.

In an interview with PBS, Alan Goodman, Professor of Biological Anthropology at Hampshire College, described the acceptance of race as a biological myth as one that requires a “major paradigm shift.”

“For me, it’s like seeing what it must have been like to understand that the world isn’t flat,” Professor Goodman said.

“Perhaps I can invite you to a mountaintop or to a plain, and you can look out the window at the horizon, and see, ‘Oh, what I thought was flat I can see a curve in now.’”

Students Reflect

Most students in Massapequa never really have to consider the origins of race in the high school setting because there isn’t much diversity within our community.

As students branch out into college, though, they will be surrounded by a much more diverse student body. For this reason, I wanted to know if MHS students were aware of the idea that race was a social construct.

With about twenty students in my AP Literature and Composition class, I had a discussion in which I described the origin of race and how many people, including myself, have had the wrong idea of what race exactly is. With an online tool, students were able to anonymously send in their responses to the two questions I posed: “How do you define race?” and “What do you think of the idea of race being something that we have socially created?”

“

“Race is something we created.

Even if everyone looked the same, humanity would... find a way to group people.”

”

The responses that I received were very interesting. One student responded, “[Race] is sort of an odd equation between your ethnicity, your birthplace, and the color of your skin.”

Most of the students in the class seemed to embrace this sort of definition. Some acknowledged the idea that race was more than just one’s skin color. “I feel like it’s more of how we as individuals identify within a larger group or culture rather than skin color,” another student wrote.

However, others were able to admit to the fact that they often limited their idea of race to physical classifications.

“The idea about [race] being nothing more than a physical quality is what I have always thought,” another student replied.

On the whole, it seems like most of the students thought of race as one’s ethnicity, but it’s important to note the clear distinction between race and

ethnicity. Generally, race is associated with biology, while ethnicity is linked to culture.

Towards the end of our class discussion, students started to understand how race could be a social construct.

“Race is something we created. Even if everyone looked the same, humanity would still find a way to group people,” one student wrote. “Physical appearance is an easy choice.”

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one example.

I’ve become much happier since realizing that I don’t need to alter myself to fit into any race in order to feel like I truly belong, since the whole idea of race is unclear to begin with. Sometimes, all one really needs is a change in perspective in order to better understand the world around him.

BRANDAN LAWRENCE // THE CHIEF

n the beginning of high school, we had to do a project in which we needed our baby pictures. I distinctly remember how one person sought my baby picture out and held it up in front of the entire class.

“Guys, you ought to know whose baby picture this is,” he began. “In a school full of Caucasian kids, an Indian girl is bound to stand out.”

To this day, I still can feel my cheeks flushing. “How dare he?” I thought to myself.

I couldn’t understand back then why he was using my race like it was a joke. Now, I can’t understand why I let his comment affect me.

Upon reflection, I know that this boy was right. As an Indian, I do stand out from my classmates with my long dark hair and tanned skin, but socially, I define myself as an American. Lately, however, I’ve noticed that embracing my hyphenated Indian-American identity has been more difficult than I imagined it would.

I would constantly blame myself for my inability to properly identify with my Indian race due to my strong American nationality. However, I have learned that perhaps it’s not my struggle to fit in that is the problem, but rather the nebulous concept of race itself.

and had little room for social mobility, whereas poor white indentured servants had some chance to elevate their social status. Even more apparent was the fact that poor whites wanted to identify themselves as white, although their status was closer to that of black slaves, with the hopes of advancing in society.

Shortly thereafter, scientists started to validate the natural supremacy of certain groups, and Darwin’s ideas of evolution evolved into the idea of “social Darwinism,” in which certain races felt superior by applying the ideas of natural selection; using phrases like “survival of the fittest” to justify their behaviors and actions towards people of other races.

People of many races live within the United States. But, as I have personally discovered, it’s quite difficult to classify an individual based on the unclear and arbitrary definition of race in our society.

THE CHIEF

A composition of faces of MHS students of different races.

Another student still believed that skin color was a major component in the idea of race. “People’s skin are different colors; this is an objective fact. Any relevance [skin color] has is a human idea that will never go away.”

Of course, two individuals who have similar physical characteristics will ultimately have children who share the same characteristics. If a child has both a black parent and a white parent, odds are he will have both black and white physical traits. The problem with the idea of race comes when that child is considered either black or white based on how dark his skin tone is.

Why It Matters

Why is it important to understand that race is a social construct? Race plays a huge role in our lives, and it will not disappear even if more people start to recognize that it has a social—not biological—origin. If one looks back throughout history, he can clearly see how people’s misconception and incorrect biological justification of race has created wars, conflicts, and discriminatory policies that we are still trying to fix today by means of affirmative action, to name

How do you define race?

• “A person’s ethnicity” • “Someone said ‘race isn’t skin color.’ Um... no.

That’s exactly what it is.”

• “I feel like it’s more of how we as individuals identify within a larger group or culture, rather than skin color.”

• “Just a technical term based on ethnicity and an ancestral point of origin.”

What do you think of the idea of race being something that we have socially created?

• “Differences in race... are rooted in the fear of something different, something unknown, and society has acted.”

• “People like to feel superior and the only way they can do that is to make other groups of people who are different from themselves seem inferior.”

• “Race is something that we have... and has become an unfair obstacle for many... to overcome”

OPINION

MAR 31, 2014

THE CHIEF

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KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

A Solid Core | Mr. Brian Vanek teaches his photography class. Teachers across the United States are changing their curricula to meet Common Core standards.

Common Core standards lay foundation for better education

BY MATT COLOZZO

ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR

Controversy has engulfed school districts across the country since 2010 when states began adopting the newly formed Common Core State Standards Initiative. Naturally, many local districts immediately felt the pressure as they rushed to meet the new standards set by their own states’ school boards.

The Common Core State Standards are a set of curriculum standards that “focus on core conceptual understandings and procedures starting in the early grades,” according to www.corestandards.org. The standards are not a curriculum, but simply standards that curricula produced by school districts must adhere to.

Why the uproar? Wouldn’t most states adopting a uniform set of goals aid the nation’s education? For decades, different states have held their students to different standards of education. Common standards would help states that are behind in terms of test scores or are dealing with any matter of educational problems, as the Common Core standards are higher than many states current standards as well.

In this light, the new standards were fully adopted by a majority of states — 45, in-

cluding New York—and naturally, Massapequa has had to adapt. How have we fared here in our little hamlet? How did our standards match up to these new and terrifying educational augments? The answer seems to be pretty well.

The requirements the Common Core State Standards established “weren’t very different from what we were already doing in our district,” Dr. Barbara Williams said, her main concern being that “testing different types of things has been difficult for colleagues,” rather than the new standards being a large jump in difficulty for students.

These issues are perhaps missing the point of the Common Core Standards. These new standards don’t interfere with what schools are already supposed to be doing—preparing students for the future.

Uniform standards not being attached to core subjects could leave some districts behind others, since each could contain very different standards for each core subject. The perceived problem of these standards being “static” could easily be alleviated with time.

“The rush to implement... standards caused the most anxiety among teachers at lower grade levels,” MFT president Mrs. Tomia Smith said.

The suddenness of the new standards have had negative effects in an immediate sense, but now that teachers are voicing their concerns and those concerns are being acknowledged by the state, changes can be made and the standards will become less rigid. The curricula themselves are only affected by the standards in a sense that certain standards must be met; the rest is up to the district.

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These new standards don’t interfere with what schools are already supposed to be doing—preparing students for the future.

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The last complaint seems to treat the standards like some kind of immovable object that, if put in place, we’ll never be able to change in anyway. This is simply not true, as the standards are more of a guideline than a strict code that school districts must adhere to without deviation. The same nuances of any subject affected by the standards can still be explored if the school district includes it.

“While the state’s new Common Core curriculum is moving in the right direction,

testing on it is premature,” Governor Cuomo said in a recent television ad. This ad preceded the March 25 announcement by Cuomo and other top New York lawmakers that there is a plan to institute a moratorium on implementation of the Common Core standards.

This appears to be an odd change in stance on Cuomo’s part. “When you come in with a big change, there’s normally fits and starts, and it’s a little jerky, so that’s to be expected,” Governor Cuomo said in October of last year, “but Common Core curriculum nationwide, that’s where the country’s going, that’s the state of the art.” This shift support to criticism is concerning, making the Common Core and — by extension — the education of thousands, an extremely politicized issue.

In Massapequa, there are genuine concerns that reflect the notion that the Common Core may not be based purely on furthering the education of students. “The teachers of Massapequa are not against raising the bar or challenging our students to reach their full potential,” Mrs. Smith said, “The standards and how they are being implemented lack the research needed to prove effective and ignore what is

understood about early childhood development” Oil and gas giant ExxonMobil’s television ads promoting the standards also raise concerns about the goal of these new standards. It would appear as if these standards are being pushed to align with political agendas or motives other than the desire to see students succeed. “To add angst, the rush to assess based on Common Core is driven by for-profit companies whose only goal is their bottom line,” Mrs. Smith said.

The Common Core State Standards are relatively new, and they’re not going away anytime soon, not that they should go anywhere. Holistically, uniform standards could prove beneficial. They aren’t the rigid, impregnable boundaries that they may appear to be at a glance. They’re a new standard trying to help make the country better.

If taken advantage of, such standards will prove effective in the future of education as school districts adapt and succeed under new curricula and systems based on the Common Core State Standards.

Much like a house needs a foundation, the Common Core standards were created to aid schools and students in achieving new heights.

The extravagance of prom is too stressful, too expensive, too inescapable

BY KATIE CRESSER COPY EDITOR

In the not-too-distant past, senior proms were held in high school gyms decorated with little else besides streamers and balloons. Today, senior prom is synonymous with extravagance and splendor.

For a senior girl, the stress and spending of senior prom starts months before the actual event. The hunt for the perfect dress begins sometime in November and consists of prowling through designer websites, squeezing into dress after dress in a poorly lit dressing room,

scraping together almost 500 dollars to buy the dress once you actually find it, and feverishly hoping that someone else doesn’t buy your dream dress before you do.

A Facebook group where senior girls post pictures of their dresses means there’s no excuse for any two people having the same dress. Even if one braves the social stigma of buying someone else’s dress, she comes under fire immediately. The comment sections on these groups can be home to threats, name-calling, and general cattiness.

Next on the prom to-do list is the limo and after prom which needs to be coordinated with the group of friends you plan on hanging out with.

While options like a trip to the city are still a solid choice, week-long stays in vacation houses on eastern Long Island or the Jersey Shore are becoming more prevalent. Even paradises like the Bahamas and the Caribbean are becoming premier prom destinations.

Simply asking someone to prom should be simple though, right? Not exactly. The person doing the asking, usual-

ly a boy, is expected to come with a cute and surprising way to ask a girl to prom. Some favorites include scavenger hunts and cupcakes that spell out the words “Will you go to prom with me?”

Is one night really worth this much stress and money?

“I think people should get excited for prom,” said senior Rachel Pereira. “It’s like everyone’s last hurrah. But I do think that sometimes people can go a little crazy during after prom.”

Any extended after prom plans that seniors have made

for this year will have to be put on hold until after graduation, which is scheduled for the day after prom. Others are not so convinced that prom justifies the attention it receives. “I don’t really see the big deal,” said senior Amanda Graziano.

“I think prom will be fun but I don’t see the appeal to spending a massive amount of money on just one night.”

There is no escaping prom mania. It has infiltrated every aspect of the event and hovers over seniors during the entirety of their final year of high school.

FEATURE

MAR 31, 2014

THE CHIEF

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CHARLES BERTRAM // MCT CAMPUS

Say It Ain’t Snow | Frequent snowstorms this past winter, such as this storm in Lexington, KY on March 3, have caused headaches for students and faculty alike.

Winter blunderland: snow days cut into school vacations

BY VINCENT COGHILL STAFF WRITER

Every day of this past winter appeared to be filled with snow, either falling from the sky or sticking to the ground.

It seemed to be fun at first; but to many, it has become a nuisance: one which sticks along and never seems to leave.

In February alone, there have been a total of seven out of twenty-eight days in which snow has fallen, and on average, snow depth was around ten inches for the month, according to Wunderground.

com.

Schools resorted to cancellations and delays and airlines canceled more flights than ever before, forcing schools to cancel tests and break up school weeks.

Most would consider these snow days a great bonus, but not everyone feels as strongly.

“Looking back, I don’t think the snow days were worth it because I sat inside on my days off,” junior Ryan Plaia said. “I would rather have enjoyed four more days to enjoy the outdoors in the nicer spring weather.”

These are some of the many troubles which students and staff face because of this winter’s constant snowfall. The five-day Memorial Day break has shrunk to a mere three days, and the April recess has lost its two tail-end days of the break.

These delays and days off have also proven to be a loss of valuable time for Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Being that most northeast schools in the United States start in September, they are a month behind most other

schools that start in August in the race to prepare for May’s AP exams. With the addition of snow days and delayed openings, students and teachers are facing a curriculum that is being rushed through to make up for lost time and fragmented school schedules.

Even with the makeup days instituted in May, AP students will not be able to put them to good use since the AP exams will have already ended.

Besides curriculum and tests becoming a problem, drivers education students

have found themselves unable to gain their licenses until the middle weeks of June. Some students can expect to finish their driving instruction as late as June 12, delaying their access to a driver’s license by more than two or three weeks.

Snow has had its fun, and it’s time for it to go. The massive amounts of snow have caused confusion and inconvenience for everyone, and people are ready for the warmer spring weather vacations — or at least what’s left of them.

COIN

SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

Shailene Woodley portrays Beatrice “Tris” Prior in the film.

Master Card | Coin aims to simplify shopping by providing one device for all of one’s cards.

BY TIMOTHY KEUCHLER

BY NICHOLAS PETRILLO

Divergent sure to succeed STAFF WRITER

After The Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire was released in November, fans have been craving another futuristic and action-packed movie. On March 21, they found just that when the next major movie franchise, Divergent, hit theaters everywhere.

Based off of Northwestern alum Veronica Roth’s debut novel, Divergent takes place in a dystopian universe in which a city near Chicago has been divided into five distinct factions. Every year, teens are required to take an aptitude test designed to show which faction their personalities are best equipped for. The book follows main character Beatrice “Tris” Prior as she struggles to determine which faction she belongs to after her aptitude test comes back inconclusive.

Since the novel was massively successful with over

five million copies sold since its release in April 2011, fans anxiously awaited the movie debut.

“I read Divergent, and I loved it,” sophomore Carly Soucie said. “I will definitely be seeing the movie.”

The rights to the film were purchased by Summit Entertainment, and Neil Burger directed the film. The Secret Life of the American Teenager’s Shailene Woodley stars as Tris alongside Theo James as Tobias Eaton, Tris’s love interest. Two sequels have already been announced with Insurgent being released in March 2015, and Allegiant in 2016.

“I think that [Divergent] could definitely be popular... because it’s an amazing piece of literature,” sophomore Aggie Lesser said.

With an all-star cast, entertaining story, and solid fan base, Divergent is gearing up to be the next teen sensation.

Coin has potential to revolutionize shopping STAFF WRITER

Millions of people use credit cards everyday. This summer, the new “Coin” smart card will tie people to their cards even more. With a simple swipe, Coin’s “magic” scanner saves credit card information and allows the user to select any saved card by pressing a button.

“Give people the need for only one card while giving the peace of mind they deserve,” Coin’s creator Kanishk Parashar said.

Coin is a high-grade safe with a 128-bit encryption or an 256-bit encryption code. “It’s just as secure as the Federal Reserve,” Head Embedding Software Tech Gil DePaula said.

Coin is also capable of storing twelve cards at once, and alerts your phone via Bluetooth when you are far away from it. All purchases

must be approved within five minutes of each transaction by entering a password specified by the user.

Credit card companies like American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Discover are amazed but enraged at the same time. Coin has a two year battery life, which will significantly limit the amount of plastic cards these companies produce for people each year. Coin has also patented the idea of a electronic smart card which will provide a problem for these companies for the next twenty-five years.

The makers of Coin are now bringing it to the public for pre-order for 55 dollars.

Coin is aiming to sell about 90,000 units once pre-orders are available, bringing in more than five million dollars in sales.

Coin does have some drawbacks however, such as its fragility, getting water on

the card, and how magnets will easily break the Coin. Its makers suggest buying the Coin protection plan for an additional twenty-five dollars.

Users cannot view specific information that Coin has about one’s credit cards either, making it difficult to make online purchases with it.

Currently the Coin application can only be found on iOS. Coin plans to eventually release an application for Android smartphones, but for now, all their sales are going to be from iPhone users with iOS 7 and any iPhone that is model 4S or later.

Still, Coin has set the bar for potential competitors in the world of credit card-based smartphone devices and applications. In short, Coin is the future of how humans will make transactions, changing technology and lives as they are known today.

MAR 31, 2014

Oliver!

THE CHIEF

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Reviewing the annual MHS musical production

A

s the titular character sang “Where is Love,” the audience felt they found it inside Oliver!, Massapequa High School’s latest musical production/ Based on the 1838 Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist and adapted by Lionel Bart, Oliver! is a tale of redemption, loss, and love within the confines of industrialized English society.

A story of an orphaned boy who is lured unknowingly into criminal activity after escaping his workhouse, the MHS production of Oliver! came to life on March 7 and 8 through a myriad of fantastic sets, costumes, characters, and crisp English accents. The musical was directed by Mr. Kevin Harrington.

In order to create the

BY KATIE LUCEY • EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

young and naïve image of Oliver Twist, Birch Lane sixth grader James Kelly was cast as the title role. The wonderful acting and singing ability of the cast bridged across various grade levels.

Taking on this production was no easy task, as the lighthearted songs and subtle humor had to be balanced with the darker themes of the play, such as domestic abuse and poverty. The actors carried these dark themes with awe-inspiring precision and skill.

Although there were some mishaps, including Oliver’s fall during the first act when he was being carried over the shoulder, the cast did an excellent job portraying the classic musical. The ensemble added historical accuracy the production by portraying the

“Haves” and the “Have Nots” of nineteenth century England.

Nancy, played by senior Rebecca Martin, took on the difficult role of representing domestic abuse. Throughout the play, she tolerates pain and turmoil at the hands of her boyfriend, Bill Sikes, portrayed by senior Anthony Romano, simply because she loves him. This relationship played an important role not only in continuing the plot, but also in providing awareness to the audience, as domestic abuse is still a major modern day issue.

One standout actor was junior Brian Bernhard, who played Fagin. Although Fagin serves as a comical character in the musical, Dickens wrote him as a warning to mankind.

Selfish, devious, and malicious, Fagin is the symbol of pure evil. Still, audience members can see that a large part of Fagin’s flaws rest in the fact that he is insecure and misunderstood.

“He’s a lying, cheating thief who is made even more despicable by spreading his ‘wisdom’ to children, yet he

knows what he’s doing is wrong,” Bernhard said. “He’s the kind of guy you love to hate, but there are times where you just can’t help to feel bad for him.”

Throughout the perfor-

mance, there were large-scale musical numbers that had their own unique sounds and strong vocals. Vocal standouts included the Widow Corney, played by sophomore Hannah Bentivegna, Bet, who was portrayed by freshman Nicole Pulsinelli, and the “Artful Dodger,” played by junior Charlie McGrath.

“The music in Oliver was incredible. The actors were able to sing their heart out while sticking to their characters’ quirks and accents,” senior Megan Byrne said.

Massapequa High School’s production of Oliver! was an excellent rendition of the classic musical and successfully showcased the amazing talent that MHS has to offer.

THE CHIEF

MAR 31, 2014

7

“A tortured soul” Behind the portrayal of antagonist Bill Sikes

“T

in 2007. It goes without saying that the standards were tremendously higher in this production, and the junior version had little in common with this Broadway-level musical.

To master the persona of Bill Sykes, I knew it was going to be difficult.

For me, it was key to understand where Sykes comes from and why he chooses to act the way he does. Most of the characters in this show are the lowest of the low in society, with the central group being a gang of thieves that works for their quizzical ringleader, Fagin.

These men steal to live, and Bill Sykes is the most successful and brutal of them all.

He strikes fear into every person he meets, daring anyone to even mention his name. Only his lover, Nancy, has the courage to stand up to him.

Throughout the violence and mistreatment, Nancy remains faithful to Bill because she knows that he loves her in the only way he knows how: through intimidation and fear.

It never ceases to amaze me how much work goes into putting on these productions year after year. There are an endless number of stars behind the scenes who make what we do on the stage possible, and without them, we would probably resemble “Ms. Mary Jane’s School of Dance.”

In my years with the theatre program, I have been honored to work with individuals like Mrs. Ilena Dempsey and Mr. Harrington who, in addition to being extraordinarily talented, are two of the most supportive and dedicated around the constant search for love and acceptance, and it teaches us that family can be

whatever we need it to be. A family could be your parents, a single loving relative, or even a gang of thieves.

I will never forget my Oliver! family—from the little orphans, to my fellow classmates, to the extraordinary

Mr. Kevin F. Harrington, to my very best friends. No matter where my future takes me, they will always hold a place in my heart, and as the curtain closes on this stage of my career, I could not have asked for a better finale.

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

heatre is the art of imitation,” said Mr. Kevin F. Harrington.

This will forever be synonymous to my experiences in the Massapequa High School theatre program and especially to my role in this year’s production of Oliver! as Bill Sykes.

For the first time in my life, I was a villain—a truly evil character for which the act of murder was second nature.

I had never considered myself the “villain” type before this show, but I embraced the role wholeheartedly and was excited to discover the direction in which I would take it.

This was not my first experience with a stage production of Oliver Twist, as I had previously appeared in an elementary school take on the Charles Dickens classic

BY ANTHONY ROMANO • ONLINE SPORTS MANAGER

The cast and producers of MHS’ production of Oliver!

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

FEATURE

MAR 31, 2014

THE CHIEF

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PATRICK TEHAN // MCT CAMPUS

Steering Ahead | Workmen assemble a Tesla Model S at the Tesla auto plant. Tesla cars are fully electric but use environmentally harmful lithium-ion batteries.

Hybrids, electric cars fail to fully fix environmental drawbacks

BY JEFF HOROWITZ EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

If you thought that hybrid vehicles were a great solution to some of the numerous environmental problems that the world is currently facing, you might be mistaken.

All hybrids run off a traditional internal combustion engine as well as an electric motor which gets great fuel economy of about 40 to 50 miles per gallon (mpg). But this fact doesn’t necessarily imply that hybrid cars will be the future of automobiles.

Hybrids do not protect the environment as much as one would believe. There is still a gasoline or diesel engine in the car, which means that fossil fuels still burn. The batteries used to power the electric motor are also harmful to dispose of and to create. Additionally, the rare metals needed to create the batteries are mined

with environmentally harmful methods, and the manufacturing process of the batteries creates more pollution than the manufacturing of a traditional car, according to Stephen Williams in a New York Times article about the factory that produces the Prius in Toyota City, Japan.

Many people are drawn to hybrid vehicles because of the money they can save.

“If you compare [the calculated savings of buying a hybrid] to an SUV, you’ll be saving a lot of money,” physics teacher Mr. Vincent Guidi said about his Toyota Prius.

“Compare it to a Honda Civic; you won’t be saving as much.”

He’s not wrong; there are temporary advantages in the purchase and use of hybrid cars. However, he’s talking about a small sized hybrid.

Try using a hybrid system in an SUV, and the numbers ar-

en’t nearly as appealing as the 50 combined mpg of the Prius.

The Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon all get around 15-17 mpg combined, while the hybrid versions of these vehicles get around 20-23 mpg, according to their respective companies.

All of the hybrid versions also cost around 10,000 dollars more than their non-hybrid counterparts.

Don’t forget to add in the fact that the batteries in hybrid cars may need to be replaced during the lifespan of a car.

Replacement batteries for the Prius cost over 3000 dollars, with the exact price depending on the model year of the car. The time of the battery’s replacement depends on how it was treated by the driver.

Sometimes, battery replacement could be as much as half of the total value of the car.

Some believe that the fu-

Is Massapequa water contaminated?

BY JILL HAND

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

The Bethpage plume is threatening Massapequa’s water supply. Even more shocking is the apparent lack of awareness regarding the dangerous condition. Since October 2009, the groundwater contamination plume has been flowing from the U.S. Navy/ Grumman Aerospace Plant in Bethpage, New York. The plume contains harmful and poisonous chemicals that can have detrimental effects if not stopped.

A plume is the direction in which contaminated water flows, and according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the plume is headed straight for Massapequa water. The threatening plume is about 3.5 miles long and 1.6 miles wide, and extends below the surface about 700 feet.

Some contaminants found in the plume are suspected to be carcinogenic and extremely toxic. According to News 12 Long Island, the plume originated from chemicals that

seeped into the soil from the U.S. Navy/Grumman site.

Residents who live directly above the plume may be affected by soil vapor intrusion.

In order to prevent complete contamination, immediate action is required. If the plume is not stopped, over 200,000 water users will be affected.

“It’s a scary thought that Massapequa’s water could cause cancer,” junior Dan Sweeney said.

Massapequa residents are concerned over the fact that there is little being done to stop this plume. “I honestly had no idea we were even being threatened by a plume,” junior Olivia Geraghty said.

“I don’t think we’re being told enough details and action should be taken immediately.”

Despite the lack of public knowledge, Massapequa Water District Superintendent Stan Carey assures that action is being taken. According to his recent newsletter, the Massapequa Water District finished several projects which include the replacement of underground storage tanks

and the improvement of water pressure during the past year.

“Under this provision, additional monitoring wells will be installed with remediation extraction wells (a pump and treat system) to stop the plume from further migration,” Carey said. “Although this is not the complete containment we had hoped for, it helps protect MWD’s northwest wellfield which is under the most immediate threat.”

The total cost of these projects have yet to be released to the public, but the Board of Commissioners continues to balance funding by using reserved funds. In Bethpage, over 14 million dollars have been spent to clean the toxic water.

Citizens should take solace in knowing that the Massapequa Water District is doing everything in its power to prevent the plume from spreading. To find out more about the plume, citizens can visit the Massapequa Water District website at www.massapequawater.com.

ture of automobiles is the use of fully electric cars. However, electric cars also suffer from similar issues as hybrids with high prices and the pollution produced during the making of the battery.

Because fully electric cars completely rely on the batteries for power, the lifespan of the battery is shortened tremendously. Estimated range on each charge of the battery varies per driver, but still doesn’t come close to the highest gasoline or diesel car ranges.

Electric cars produce no emissions, but what is being used to charge the batteries?

If you plug the car into your house to charge it, you’re just using electricity made from the power plants that run off non-renewable resources.

The Honda FCX Clarity has been on the market for the past few years, running off of

an electric motor that is powered solely by hydrogen fuel cells. The inner workings of the engine are complex, but the important points are that the hydrogen fuel cells are merged with oxygen to create electricity to form a sole byproduct of water. This model can only be leased and still uses a battery made from exotic metals. But, it still offers a promising start for an alternatively powered car.

Hybrid cars are a shortterm solution to a long-term problem. Hopefully, these models can be used as stepping-stone on the path to an alternative fuel source for automobiles. The time is nigh for a change. Fossil fuel powered cars will soon be a thing of the past, and clean, powered and manufactured cars will be the norm.

Eco-friendly fashion

BY KATIE CRESSER COPY EDITOR

While eco-friendly practices have seeped into various aspects of our daily lives, not many are aware of various clothing and accessory companies founded on the concept of “going green.” These companies vary in style and cost, but all have one thing in common: they provide fashionable clothing without taking away from the planet we rely on.

Synergy Clothing is one of the leaders of the green fashion movement. Founded by Kate Fisher and her husband Henry Schwab, Synergy Clothing aims to “create clothing that combines sustainability with modern yet timeless design,” according to their website, SynergyClothing.com.

Their line of women’s clothing, which ranges from dress and skirts to outerwear and yoga apparel, is made from organic Indian cotton and is colored using dye that is designed to have a minimal impact on the environment. The garments are made by hand in Nepal and fully conform to

fair trade standards.

Rodale’s, one of Synergy Clothing’s competitors, moves beyond the typical eco-friendly women’s fashion line to provide baby clothing, children’s toys and more. All their products conform to high standards which ensure that only the most environmentally friendly ingredients and materials are used during production.

In addition, many products feature certifications from organizations such as Ecocert, a certification body which prohibits the use of synthetic perfumes and call for recycled or biodegradable packaging.

Unfortunately for the eco-conscious consumer, many of the products offered by these companies charge heavily for their environmentally friendly peace of mind.

These monstrous price tags, while justified by their sustainable status, have put these fashionable yet ecologically responsible garments out of reach for all but the most eco-fanatics.

MAR 31, 2014

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THE CHIEF

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MAR 31, 2014

THE CHIEF

SPORTS

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CHARLES BERTRAM // MCT CAMPUS

Farewell, Mr. November | New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter pulls back from an inside pitch. Jeter will retire from major league baseball after this season.

Yankees poised to return from lackluster 2013 season

BY ALEX COSENZA STAFF WRITER

The New York Yankees had quite an unfortunate season last year. Considering the fact that the Bronx Bombers were injury prone all season long with team members such as Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, and Alex Rodriguez on the disabled list for extended periods of time, the Yankees had to fill the open spots with less productive players and consequently missed the playoffs for the second time in nineteen years.

The Yankees front office realized that the roster needed improvement and spent most of their 470 million dollar budget on free agents such as Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, and Masahiro Tanaka.

Catcher Brian McCann’s lefty bat was something highly sought after. With his five-year 85 million dollar contract, McCann will provide the Yankees with much needed power and leadership behind the plate.

McCann played for the Atlanta Braves and has a batting average of .277 with 176 home runs and 661 RBIs over his career.

Jacoby Ellsbury became the everyday center fielder for the Yankees after signing a seven-year, 153 million dollar contract. Coming off a World Series title with the Red Sox, Jacoby is known for his stellar defense and speed on the base paths. Ellsbury is also known for his lefty bat at the top of the lineup. He hit .298 in 2013 with an On Base Percentage of .355.

Carlos Beltran is attempting to win his first World Series Ring with the New York Yankees. Carlos will play right field and designated hitter at times throughout the season after signing a three-year, 45 million dollar contract with the club. Beltran has a .283 batting average with 358 home runs and 1327 runs batted in.

He is also a switch hitter, hitting from both sides of the plate and is one of the most

successful postseason players in MLB history.

The last player the Yankees signed, Masahiro Tanaka, undoubtedly received the most attention. Tanaka is a 24-year-old right handed pitcher who recently pitched for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League. Tanaka achieved a record of 24-0 alongside an earned run average of 1.27 during his 2013 campaign with the Golden Eagles.

During the offseason, the head of the Golden Eagles “posted” Tanaka. This allowed MLB teams to negotiate a contract with Tanaka and would then have to pay a 20 million dollar posting fee to Rakuten.

Tanaka chose the Yankees, signing with them to pitch on a seven year 155 million dollar contract. He adds star power to the Yankees starting rotation, which has been missing the past few years.

The Yankees didn’t gain all these players without los-

ing a few major ones. Pitchers Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte both decided to retire.

Closer David Robertson is certainly going to have major shoes to fill as the Yankees closer this upcoming season as Mariano remains atop the leaderboard in all time MLB saves. Pettitte will be missed as a reliable starter on the back end of the rotation.

Second baseman Robinson Cano left New York in the winter to sign with the Seattle Mariners on a ten year 240 million dollar contract. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez had his suspension reduced from 211 games to 162, still barring him from participating in the 2014 season. Curtis Granderson switched boroughs and signed with the New York Mets on a four year 60 million dollar contract.

These losses left the Yankees with vacancies in their defense. After adding infielder Kelly Johnson along with second baseman Brian Roberts, the Yankees hope to cover up

their weak points at third base and second base. Eduardo Nunez is another candidate for either position.

The 2014 campaign received more attention on February 12 when Derek Jeter announced on his Facebook page that this season would be his last, marking the end of an era for the Yankees.

Jeter is entering his twentieth club with the team, with notable achievements like 3,316 hits and five world championships. The Captain will go through a farewell tour as Yankee legend Mariano Rivera had done in 2013.

He, along with Mariano, has a spot waiting for him upstate in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

With the infield and bullpen being the current weaknesses of the ball club, the Yankees are going to rely on their starting rotation to give them quality starts. With more big bats being added to the lineup, the Yankees look to have explosive spring season.

New York Mets build up all-star team, prep for comeback

BY KATIE CRESSER COPY EDITOR

The Yankees aren’t the only ones who are hoping to use this upcoming season to make up for last year’s disappointing one, as the Mets are also making major changes to their starting lineup this year.

The highlight of the MLB offseason for the New York Mets was the addition of outfielder Curtis Granderson to a four-year, 60 million dollar deal. Mets fans hope that the former Yankee will rebound from his injury which plagued his 2013 season.

Chris Young, another outfielder who had a disappointing 2013 season, was signed in an attempt to shore up the weaknesses in the outfield.

The Mets also look to improve their pitching rotation with the addition of veteran starter Bartolo Colon.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Mets are relying on Eric Young Jr. and Daniel Murphy to hit well at the top of the batting order. These additions would give Granderson and team captain David Wright big at-bats as the number three and four hitters.

Unfortunately for Mets fans, the bottom of the order is still very much in question.

If young catcher Travis d’Arnaud has another up and down year and manager Terry Collins continues to experiment with the shortstop position, the Mets could be in for some frustrating offensive games.

One of the biggest concerns for the Mets heading into the new season is the situation at first base. It appears that Lucas Duda and Ike Davis will battle for the position. However, Davis—whose previous struggles had earned him a demotion to the minors last season—could be on the chopping block. If the Mets were to deal or cut Davis, than Collins would have more flexibility to mix and match positions with offense as the primary concern without forfeiting too much on the defensive end.

All-Star rookie pitcher Matt Harvey is unavailable for the entire season due to ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, also known as Tommy John surgery. Despite

the young superstar’s absence, the Mets’ starting rotation is not entirely destitute.

Colon will join veterans Dillon Gee and Jon Niese, both notorious for their poor starts to the season. Zach Wheeler, another young pitching prospect who made his MLB debut during the second half of last season, will look to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump.

The fifth spot seems to be up for grabs, and all eyes will be on highly touted prospects Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero. Both pitchers will be starting spring training with the major league club.

While they are not expected to make the opening day roster, an impressive spring performance could set the

stage for a second half debut.

The most uncertain area of the Mets roster appears to be the bullpen. Closer Bobby Parnell is recovering from shoulder surgery while part-time closer Jeurys Familia will be looking to avoid a repeat of his 2013 injury shortened season.

Other than that, the majority of bullpen spots seem ripe for the picking during spring training.

Fans should be on the lookout for breakout performances from young players like d’Arnaud and continued excellence from established MLB stars, such as Wright and Granderson. While the Mets aren’t shaping up to be World Series contenders just yet, the rebuild seems to be progressing as planned.

SPORTS

MAR 31, 2014

THE CHIEF

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PROVIDED BY DANIELLE PROBST

Ace of the Alley | Danielle Probst follows through with a swing at a regional game. Probst represented Massapequa in the state varsity bowling championship.

Danielle Probst bowls her way to state championships

BY ANTHONY ROMANO ONLINE SPORTS MANAGER

If Massapequa is known for one thing, it is its widespread reputation as a perennial contender in nearly every major varsity sport. MHS students rally around their favorite team, and the stands are always filled with blue and gold at every game.

Massapequa has its fair share of individual athletes as well, not the least impressive of which being varsity bowler and junior Danielle Probst, who represented Massapequa in the all-star bowling team that competed for a sectional championship.

Since she started bowling in the Police Athletic League at the age of nine, Probst has developed her game and matured

into one of the top bowlers not only in Massapequa, but in the state of New York.

“I started bowling with my brother when I was little but that was more for fun,” Probst said about becoming a competitive bowler. “My mom’s cousin taught me a lot of things about how lanes work and about oil patterns, so I always wanted to be like him.”

At the age of thirteen, Probst joined her first competitive league, and she has been hooked since then.

“I actually threw a straight ball in the beginning, but my coach taught me a lot, and I eventually averaged around 150. It was a lot of fun,” Probst said. She has since become one of the most consistent members of the team, and in

2014 her work finally paid off.

At the Nassau County individual competition, which began the week after she and her squad placed fourth in the team event, Probst posted a stellar 193 average for the day—a score high enough to land her a spot in the state competition.

“We practiced a ton, trying to learn all of the ways the lanes work, and even becoming friends along the way,” Probst said.

She and her team of local all-stars placed sixth amongst the eleven teams competing at the sectional championship at Babylon Lanes. Despite falling short of victory, Probst felt the experience still had a profound positive impact.

“The best word for it

Tom Sarant shoots, scores commitment

BY KATIE CRESSER COPY EDITOR

ferent than how you play the whole season,” Probst said.

“I’m just hoping to have a good season next year, and take it from there.”

After high school, Probst hopes to find a college with a bowling team that also fits her academic interests, and she hopes to continue to impress in other competitions as well.

“I became friends with an amazing group of girls,” said Probst about her fellow allstars. “I realized that it’s best to make friends with people who do what you do because only they understand just how hard it is to be good.”

While it may be hard for Probst, she makes it look all too easy, and after this incredible 2014 season, who knows just how far she can go?

Cheer squad wins nationals

tors are accepted on an invitation only basis. Additionally, shooters need to be proficient in both smallbore and air rifle.

Despite the grueling application and recruiting process, Sarant is excited to continue his rifle career at the Naval Academy. There is no doubt that he will continue to shine while both competing at the Naval Academy and serving for our country.

Sarant preparing to shoot.

PROVIDED BY LISA BATTISTONI

PROVIDED BY TOM SARANT

Thomas Sarant of Massapequa High School’s Rifle team recently lead his team to victory at the New York State regional smallbore rifle championship on March 1. Sarant, one of three co-captains on the team, has already received his appointment to the United States Naval Academy.

Sarant’s recruitment began during his junior year.

While most Division I schools require a National Letter of Intent from recruits, the Naval Academy only asks for a verbal commitment.

“I went down to the academy after finals for week,” he said. “Within two weeks of returning, Coach Kelley asked me for a verbal commitment.”

In order to attend any of the United States service academies, applicants must obtain a nomination from either a U.S. Senator, Representative, or the Vice President. They must also pass a physical fitness test.

“Even after committing though, I knew that my admissions process was far from over,” Sarant said.

Although Sarant always knew that he wanted to attend a service academy, his journey to get there was not easy. “The whole recruitment process, when piled on top of my junior year became very stressful,” he said.

Unfortunately, this negatively impacted Sarant’s rifle performance. “Looking back, I could have done a much better job at controlling my mental game of shooting. No shooter will succeed without learning how to stay cool, calm, and collected.”

Sarant’s achievement, which is quite impressive in its own right, gains even more weight when it is put into context. “Before I committed, Coach Kelley told me that he would be recruiting four, maybe five people,” Sarant said.

Most recruiting for rifle takes place at national competitions in which competi-

would be enlightening,” said Probst after all was said and done. “From the time I made the all-star team up until the day I bowled for states, I was exposed to a completely different world of bowling than I normally am on my high school team. I learned just how technical the sport really is and I became a much better bowler as a result.”

With this season behind her, Probst looks forward to next year, and hopes to bring her average up to the boys’ level of 200. She is also aiming for a chance at redemption in the state competition—though even she admits that bowling is a tough sport to predict.

“The way you play on the day of the county’s competition could be completely dif-

Congratulations to our cheerleaders for winning their first ever national championship on February 22 at the National Cheerleaders Association High School Open in the Medium Intermediate Division in Louisville, KY!

SCHOOL NEWS

MAR 31, 2014

THE CHIEF

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KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

Riding the Wave | Students dance in the gymnasium during Catch a Wave for Winthrop. “Catch a Wave” raised nearly 4,000 dollars for Winthrop Hospital.

MHS catches a wave for Winthrop Children’s Cancer Center

BY MEGHANA RAO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Who would have imagined that MHS would be the place to hangout on a Friday night?

If you weren’t at Catch a Wave on March 21, you missed one of the biggest events of the year. This wildly successful fundraiser raised money for the children’s cancer center at Winthrop Hospital.

As people walked down the main hallway of the high school, they could instantly feel the warm, tropical vibe.

The hallway had a wonderful beach feel, thanks to the work of the talented art department. Students were dressed in their best beach attire, and the catchy music played in the background by WMHS only added to the summertime ambiance.

Various school clubs had stations where they sold items.

Half of the proceeds would benefit the cancer center and the remaining half would further the respective club. From the boys’ track team to the Tri-M music honor society, nearly every school club was eager to support a fantastic cause and spread awareness for its own organization.

By seven o’clock, people started to file into the main gym for the benefit concert. Each person had to pay a three dollar

admission ticket that would directly go to Winthrop. The art classes designed beautiful postcards that were adjacent to the ticket booth, and people had the opportunity to vote for their favorite postcard that would ultimately be sent to a cancer patient at Winthrop.

The house band, with seniors Brittany Garcia and Tom Morse alongside juniors Angelica Ansbacher, Rob Catinella, Julie Kapuvari, Brandan Lawrence and John Witt, were already playing an infectious tune that got the mood going as everyone entered the gym.

Students sat on blankets and tossed beach balls in the air as they waited for the concert to begin.

Senior Ryan Schulte, one of the event’s main coordinators, started the night by introducing the inspiration for Catch a Wave, seven-year-old Sadie Freifield. Sadie’s mom, Mrs. Beth Freifield, expressed her immense gratitude to both Winthrop Hospital and the

Massapequa community for helping Sadie successfully defeat cancer.

Little Sadie even took the microphone during the evening to express her gratitude.

In an especially touching moment, to celebrate Sadie’s birthday the following day, the entire gym joined together to sing to her.

Following the speeches, the show opened with sophomores Kevin Stallone and Rebecca White, who set the bar for the talent the concert would showcase when they performed “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait. Several other bands and solo artists also performed throughout the night.

Although the performers were happy to sing, they were even more thrilled to have a chance to perform for such a worthy cause. “[Catch a Wave] was such a great cause,” White said.

“Being able to do what I love and knowing at the same

time that it is helping so many people is heartwarming.”

At intermission, raffles were drawn for both the student artwork that was on display earlier in the evening and baskets that many clubs donated for the event. By the end of the night, nearly 4,000 dollars had been raised for the cancer center.

After nearly a year, the coordinators never thought they would make it to this day.

“I honestly think it’s a miracle that the entire thing worked out,” Schulte said.

“Although this project has been a monster of anxiety and

hard work, the memories I’ve made on this project are some of the best of my entire high school career.”

Between the benefit concert and the boardwalk, this event was arguably one of the most creative fundraisers that MHS has ever hosted.

“Catch a Wave was an amazing event that was very well-prepared,” Principal Dr. Barbara Williams said.

Everyone who took part should be incredibly proud; with such a powerful collaborative effort, Catch a Wave was a definite success.

“B ein

d knowing at th n a e ve any o l m I o at ing s h w elp o h ng.” d s i o i t t i m e bl that war a g rt e a im he t e is e m sa opl pe

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

GRAPHIC BY NELSON GOMEZ

Students, performers, and decorations at Catch a Wave.