March 2015 by The Chief Online

News

Editorial

Measles, vaccinations, and the autism myth

Drugs and alcohol in Massapequa

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

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The

Feature

Sports

Reviewing the MHS production of My Fair Lady

Round-up of the winter postseason

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Chief

Vol. 63 – No. 3

March 20, 2015 www.thechiefonline.com

Massapequa High School’s Chief Source of News

Massapequa seeks to be a beacon of education BY NELSON GOMEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has released a list of 178 “failing” schools, pressuring the state legislature to approve funding and education reforms. “Of the 178 schools, 77 have been failing for a decade. More than 250,000 students have passed through these 77 schools in the past ten years,” a corresponding report said. “That represents 250,000 students who did not have access to the high quality public education that they deserved.” According to the report, schools are designated as failing if graduation rates are below 60 percent over the course of several years, or if English and math test scores are deemed as consistently inadequate or underperforming. Six Long Island schools from four districts, including Hempstead and Central Islip, are reportedly failing. Massapequa Superintendent Mrs. Lucille Iconis, however, has invited Gov. Cuomo to the school district to “view, firsthand, what a successful school district looks like.”

Calling Out Cuomo | Superintendent Iconis recently wrote Gov. Cuomo regarding schools. “I feel that [Gov. Cuomo] disapproval from teachers’ statewide blueprint for a sucis painting everyone with the unions and democrats in the cessful public school district. same brush,” Mrs. Iconis said. state assembly. “Our skilled administra“We must help our chil- tors partner with the teaching “He’s generalizing — he’s saying schools are failing... dren to succeed, not punish staff every day to deliver a first and that they’re not doing them because they may live in class educational program,” what they need to do to com- poorer communities or deny Mrs. Iconis said in an open pete in this global economy, their schools the funding they letter to Gov. Cuomo. “Our and I don’t feel that is correct.” need to improve the learn- graduation rate stands at 98.9 The letter comes on the ing environment,” State As- percent, 94.4 percent of our heels of controversy surround- sembly Speaker Carl Heastie students go on to higher level ing Gov. Cuomo’s report and (D-Bronx) said. study, and... all of our teachers As both sides of the aisle have been deemed effective or proposals, which suggested raising funding by 1.1 billion struggle to find a mutually sat- highly effective, based on the dollars and allowing failing isfactory solution to the issue Annual Professional Perforschools to be taken over by of underperforming schools, mance Review.” administrators outside groups or the state — Massapequa Even in Massapequa, an idea which has garnered are looking to make it the though, education reform

and standards has become a contentious issue in itself. Increased testing and the implementation of Common Core standards have compelled some parents to opt out of state testing. “Although New York State Education guidance is very clear, the Board of Education and administration are aware of the controversy involving the administration of these assessments,” Mrs. Iconis said in a letter to parents of students in grades 3–8. “Therefore, we will continue the procedures and protocols put in place… to accommodate those children who do not wish to participate in the testing program.” Should more and more parents opt their children out of required state tests, a crucial benchmark for measuring Massapequa’s success as a school district becomes increasingly less relevant. Regardless, the district doesn’t seem to be rescinding its offer any time soon. Whether Gov. Cuomo will take Mrs. Iconis up on her invitation — or how the state will reform underperforming schools, if at all — has yet to be seen.

Robotics team to compete in VEX World Championship BY NELSON GOMEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

to win much,” junior Shane Murphy said, “but at our last competition we were able to do well and complete tasks reliably, so that allowed us to win over the other robots that were there.” Despite technical difficulties, the competition itself isn’t a priority for the team; rather, the learning experience and team-building aspects are more important to them than the awards. “The team’s biggest strengths are cooperation, teamwork and dedication,” robotics coach Mr. Brian Vanek said. “As long as the students continue to work together they will be great at the state competition, but what is more important than the trophies is the teamwork… and the students have done a fantastic job already this year.”

The robotics team works on one of their competition robots.

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

All three groups in the robotics club made it to the VEX Robotics Competition’s New York state championships, with one group representing MHS at the VEX World Championship. Qualification rounds consist of elimination-style matches in which the Robo Chiefs, like the other competitors, team up with another competing team to develop a strategy and work together to complete a set of challenges. Alliances are scored according to how well the challenges are completed, and, teams must score higher than the opposing alliance in order to qualify. “I wasn’t at states, personally, but I was at all the other competitions, and it’s exhila-

rating,” senior Kevin Zygmunt said. “There’s a whole bunch of other teams; it’s competitive, and building the robot is time consuming, but it’s… fun.” The world championship will take place in Louisville, Kentucky from April 15 to April 18. More than 400 teams from the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and other nations around the world will compete for the top spot. For the Robo Chiefs, the accomplishment is not without hurdles to overcome. Mechanical issues and unpredictable behavior of the robots posed a challenge with qualifying for the VEX World Championship. “One robot in particular, we’ve had difficulties getting it to work to a reliable standard, so we haven’t been able

THE CHIEF NEWS Too few ‘just say no,’ LI drug problem continues to escalate

MAR 20, 2015

BY DAVID MARQUES STAFF WRITER

Though Massapequa can seem like an idyllic and isolated community, social ills still slip into the bubble. Illegal drug activity has become one of the most prominent issues facing not only Long Island, but also Massapequa, prompting concern and confusion among residents. Ms. Jamie Bogenschutz is the executive director of the YES Community Counseling Center in Massapequa. YES provides a wide range of social services to the community, offering counseling for atrisk teens, victims of domestic abuse, and people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and dependency. “[Drugs have] plagued this community for decades, but more people are dying and overdosing because of the prevalence of lethal drugs on the streets,” Bogenschutz said. No drug has taken such an immense toll on Long Islanders as heroin has. The drug is

especially dangerous considering it is widely available and has a high potential for addiction. Much of the recent wave of heroin comes from New York City; dealers use the Long Island Expressway to access communities in Nassau and Suffolk, leading officials to dub the expressway the “Heroin Highway.” Nassau County police records indicate that there were 74 heroin arrests in Massapequa in 2014 alone. These statistics also include East Massapequa, Massapequa Park, and North Massapequa. Bogenschutz attributes the recent rise in drug abuse to overprescription in the medical profession. “It doesn’t take much to walk into any kind of medical practice and get a prescription,” Bogenschutz said. “Hydrocodones, oxycodones, medicines related to ADHD, Vicodin; there’s so much on the market, and it’s very profitable.”

Mr. Michael Draper, a health teacher at Massapequa High School, considers another source that can be easily overlooked: alcohol. “The biggest issue in Massapequa is the acceptance of underage drinking, which then leads to other, more serious issues,” Mr. Draper said. So what exactly explains the appeal of hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy? Experts such as researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) have pointed to the prevalence of drug use in today’s pop culture. “Popular culture has significant potential to influence drug prevention efforts,” ANU researchers said in a 2005 paper. “Popular culture represents and can create the norms and cultural milieu that can either encourage or discourage drug use.” Genres such as electronic dance music, or EDM, frequently feature references to “highs,” and use of designer drugs has been associated with

rave parties since the 1990s. “Now that EDM is more of a mainstream genre, it’s reached younger age groups,” EDM Chicago writer Staley Sharples wrote in a 2013 article about MDMA, “which means that the drugs are also reaching those groups.” However, others are skeptical that the relationship between popular music and drug use is causative; rather, the music is a feature of established drug subcultures. “I think that people who do drugs such as ecstasy choose to listen to EDM and other music like that,” MHS junior Erin Hofmann said. “It’s [not] the music that makes them want to do drugs, it’s vice versa.” Beyond this, there are other significant factors that can lead young people to drugs. “People can turn to drugs when they struggle with the stressors of life and pain management, whether it be emotional or physical like after surgery or an accident,” Bogenschutz said. “When kids as

sor Mrs. Denise DeLury said. In order to attend, students were required to attend a meeting to receive details regarding the event. More specifically, they learned when they would teach and received a kit that contained a unit to help them with the assignment. This year’s unit is called “My Community” and teaches the second graders about careers and jobs. In order to fit all of the students into the classes, they are grouped into pairs that will teach to the second graders. “I like seeing the kids faces after we tell them that we’re

going to make donuts or do a fun project with them,” senior Olivia Geraghty said, “and I like to see how much they like to participate in something that’s different from their everyday routines with their teacher.” Not only does the program provide a fun lesson for the children, it also provides a learning experience for high school students who have yet to decide what they want to do with their lives. “It’s a great chance for students to get experience,” Mrs. DeLury said, “before having to decide on a career.”

Senior Nicole Kaouris demonstrates a teaching activity.

elementary schools. “Koda” is the Dakota Sioux- a Native American tribe- word for “friendship.” With this idea in mind, Mrs. Schneider’s students were challenged to create a design for a bench that emphasized the importance of friendship. Inspiration for this project came from Mrs. Schneider’s niece. In Port Washington, “Buddy Benches” are the school’s way of attempting to facilitate a method for shy children to make new friends. “I really thought the concept was fantastic, somewhere kids who wanted someone to play with at recess,” Mrs. Schneider said. “Something symbolizing friendship: a positive, fun and inviting spot on the playground.” The receiving schools

were chosen based upon which responded first, second, and third due to the limited allowance in the budget. East Lake, Lockhart, and Unqua are going to be the schools to receive the Koda Benches this year. Mr. DeSantis’ classes worked extensively on making the art students’ “cardboard motifs” into something tangible that younger students could use to forge and fortify friendships. After this, Mrs. Schneider’s Drawing and Painting I and Ceramics students painted and beautified the benches. The project included a connection to the advanced technology that is now incorporated into the academic process on all grade and skill levels; in order to determine which designs won and which

were going to be constructed and installed, the elementary students voted for their favorite designs via Haiku. Mrs. Schneider wanted to improve upon the idea and make the benches works of art because in Port Washington, “the design was plain and sort of uninviting.” In addition, Schneider believes that everyone involved gains a beneficial experience from the project. “I think my students get just as much out of creating and giving of themselves as the recipients of our masterpieces,” Mrs. Schneider said. It is far from the first time that Mr. DeSantis and Mrs. Schneider have cooperated to better the community. In 2012, Mrs. Schneider’s Sculpture classes joined forces

young as 12 and 13 use them, it affects how their brains develop and their ability to cope with stress.” Despite the addictive nature of drugs and alcohol and social pressure and glorification of them from a variety of sources, YES believes that education and discussion can significantly help curtail the dangerous use of these substances. “The more people who understand, the more kids who know what drugs are, the more likely we are to see improvements,” Bogenschutz said. “It’s important that young people and their parents discuss about this, and it’s never too early to talk with kids about all kinds of drugs.” If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse issues, you can call YES at 799-3203. All calls are completely confidential.

High School Heroes offers opportunity for students to teach BY NICOLE LUDWIG STAFF WRITER

The art of affability: Massapequa installs new ‘Koda benches’ BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS COPY EDITOR

Friendship is a fundamental relationship, whether one is starting kindergarten or a graduating high school senior. Mrs. Penny Schneider and Mr. Jim DeSantis, along with their students, initiated a project in October to promote the value of friendship in the form of the Koda Bench. Mr. DeSantis, a technology education teacher, and Mrs. Schneider, an art education teacher, approached Superintendent Mrs. Lucille Iconis regarding the project; the idea was then proposed to each of the elementary schools. Mrs. Schneider assigned the project to her Drawing and Painting I and Ceramics classes, with the intent of submitting the best benches to the

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

This spring, students at Massapequa High School will be given the opportunity to become a second grade teacher for a day at one of the elementary schools in the Massapequa school district. The Junior Achievement program, otherwise known as High School Heroes, will send a group of students to elementary schools from March 23 to March 27. “The kids really love being taught by the students,” career exploration counselor and High School Heroes supervi-

with Mr. DeSantis’ technology classes to create “The Story Box.” The Story Box project was designed as an interactive structure that now lives in the lobby of Winthrop University Hospital on the pediatric floor. The purpose of this project was to brighten the spirits of the brave patients requiring long term treatment there. Likewise, the Koda Benches will promote friendship in the community and equally brighten the spirits of children looking for a playground pal. Between this project and the Story Box, it’s apparent that Mrs. Schneider and Mr. DeSantis are the high school’s newest charitable duo.

THE CHIEF FEATURE Student shows community that ‘Everybody Deserves Music’

MAR 20, 2015

BY JACLYN ANGELO COPY EDITOR

PROVIDED BY ALYSSA BURGOIS

Junior Alyssa Burgois is one of many people who is making a difference in the community. Combining her love for helping others with her passion for music, Burgois implemented a music program entitled “Everybody Deserves Music.” The program teaches students essential music comprehension and social skills. “I make up a lesson plan per week [for] the students,” Burgois said. “We learn about note notations, rhythms, and we even play games and have in depth conversations about differences in genres, as well as how time periods affected music.” Setting the class in motion required some effort, as initiating the program required approval from the school, providing factual, scientific support for the idea that music can not only help special education students, but students of all kinds by improving their cognitive skills. Within a week, though, Burgois’s class was in session, teaching a wide range of students about music. Not only is she teaching children about music, is also beginning to see improvement in their social and comprehensive skills. Students are speaking more

frequently among their peers, whether it is social or based on the music theory that they learned in class. “One student was able to write ‘Jingle Bells’ all by herself, without anyone’s help,” Burgois said. “We have seen a student talk more than he has in lessons, [and] we have also seen students comprehend the different genres of music to the point that they can tell you the genre, the time period, and how it differs from other pieces.” There’s also another motivating factor behind the project, originating from her personal background. “My cousin is eight years old, he has learning disabilities and I’ve seen him struggle with his life,” Burgois said. Having seen an opportunity to give back to students like her cousin, she took it. By doing this, she has made a positive impact on their lives as they continue to learn about music, while strengthening their cognitive skills. “Music has taught me how to make friendships as well as how to work hard for something you really want,” Burgois said. “I strongly believe that everyone deserves that opportunity.”

Junior Alyssa Burgois and senior Angelica Ansbacher working with MHS music students.

*Brow Artistry *Tweezing and Waxing *Manicures / Pedicures *Shellac Color Gel Manicures *Sunless Spray Tanning *Nail Art Designs *Make Up Application

EDITORIAL

MAR 20, 2015

THE CHIEF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nelson Gomez MANAGING EDITOR Brandan Lawrence KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Kalleigh Regan ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Timothy Keuchler BUSINESS MANAGER Jeffrey Horowitz COPY EDITORS Vincent Coghill Alexandra Doulos Jackie Angelo Jill Hand Kaitlyn Lucey PHOTO EDITOR Kalleigh Regan ADVISER Elyn Coyle Massapequa High School 4925 Merrick Road Massapequa, NY 11758

Editorial Policy

The Chief, the student newspaper of Massapequa High School, is an open forum to discuss the student body’s issues and concerns. Members of The Chief will make every effort to publish following the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy. Consistent with the first amendment of the United States Constitution, the staff also will refrain from printing material that may incite students, be a violation of MHS’ Student Code of Conduct or disrupt school operations. The editorial board of The Chief welcomes and encourages submitted letters, stories, cartoons and any other feedback to the editor. Please send all submissions to mhsthechief@gmail.com. Letters sent by email may need to be verified by student signature before publishing. • Although anonymous letters to the editor are not printed, names will be held upon request. The Chief has the right to deny publication of any editorial, column, review or comment. • Grammatical and/or spelling corrections will be made; however, the content will not be altered. • Corrections will be printed when mistakes are found or brought to the attention of the staff. • Original stories will carry bylines, although stories rewritten by someone other than the original author will not receive a byline. Contributing writers will be listed at the end of an article. All bylined writers will be held accountable for their work. • All columns, reviews or commentary are strictly the opinion of the writer and may not represent opinions held by the school board, administration, sponsors, parents, student body or advertisers. However, all editorials reflect the viewpoint of The Chief editorial board.

EDITORIAL

Anti-vaccination decision harming public health

With a sudden increase in the amount of measles cases, panic has struck the nation. The newfound concern parallels the rising debate of whether or not people should get vaccinated in order to prevent formerly eradicated diseases from spreading, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Although vaccines are considered safe and scientifically proven to work, many Americans controversially choose not to get vaccinated, resulting in an increase of animosity amongst communities that hold different opinions. Those who choose not to get vaccinated — otherwise known as “anti-vaxxers” — are society’s scapegoats as to why there is an increase in measles cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most recently recorded cases of measles involved those who were unvaccinated. “In a hypothetical community where nobody has immunity from the measles virus, one infected person might infect 12 to 18 people, who might each infect another 12 to 18 people,” The New York Times said in an interactive infographic on the measles outbreak. The highly infectious disease, which can be prevented nearly 100 percent of the time with only two doses of the vaccination, was declared eliminated in the year 2000. The CDC reports that an elimination merely means the disease is no longer widespread. Unfortunately, as of 2015, there has been a significant rate of increase. In fact, as of late February, there have already been 154 confirmed cases, which will continue to increase unless more Americans choose to get vaccinated.

“We have the capability and technology to get rid of a fatal disease, and with rare, unlikely side effects resulting from a vaccine, there’s no reason not to get one,” senior Zach Ready said. Of course this can all be avoided with two doses of the vaccination, administered at a young age. Each person that develops an immunity towards the infection can potentially reduce the risk of those unvaccinated contracting the disease, which is called the “herd effect,” a slow yet considerable factor in the decline of the disease. Anti-vaxxers, however, cling to their own individual beliefs and are reluctant to get vaccinated. The origin of the anti-vaccine argument derived in 1998 when Andrew Wakefield, a former gastroenterologist at Royal Free Hospital in London, released a study discussing the possible correlation between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccina-

tion and autism. “We identified associated gastrointestinal disease and developmental regression in a group of previously normal children,” Wakefield and 12 other authors wrote in the study, “which was generally associated in time with possible environmental triggers.” What anti-vaxxers do not take into consideration, however, is the fact that Wakefield’s study was merely a hypothesis; nothing was proven to be factual. His data was configured from too small of a sample, therefore it did not represent society accurately. Moreover, Wakefield’s medical license was confiscated due to acting “dishonestly and irresponsibly in conducting the experiments that led to the publication of the paper” according to Time. Since 1998, researchers have emulated the study but could not reproduce Wakefield’s findings or confirm his hypothesis. Still, it doesn’t help when celebrities take

NATE BEELER // TRIBUNE NEWS

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

A New Epidemic? | Every year more and more Americans are choosing to not vaccinate their children against deadly viruses.

part in the mass media frenzy. Model and actress Jenny McCarthy, for instance, supported the claims that autism and vaccines are linked. “If you ask a parent of an autistic child if they want the measles or the autism, we will stand in line for the… measles,” McCarthy said. “It shouldn’t be [measles] versus autism.” Though the CDC states that the vaccines like those for MMR may only cause a mild fever or sore arm, severe reactions such as deafness, seizures, brain damage and comas have also been documented. According to the CDC official website, one out of a million doses cause severe reactions, but “these are so rare that it is hard to tell whether they are caused by the vaccine.” “In the absence of any answers from the scientific community, any scintilla of suggestion is going to get magnified by the social process of talking it out,” Dr. Lee Sanders, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said. It is important to note that when the general public is at risk, matters of individual preference are superseded by public health. While it is not mandatory to get vaccinated, it should be strongly encouraged. Ultimately, society should be aware of both extended arguments before coming to a decision. New York State allows the decision to abstain from vaccinations, but limits those unvaccinated from services such as allowing them into public schools. Other states who struggle with the debate should implement similar laws in the interests of public health.

OPINION

MAR 20, 2015

THE CHIEF

COMMENTARY

Massapequa Moms: a resource for parents or a waste of time? BY BRANDAN LAWRENCE MANAGING EDITOR

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

People enjoy talking. Whether it be about an amazing restaurant, an awful barber, a new movie, or an old friend, human beings truly do enjoy running their mouths about anything they can. What makes humans such magnificent creatures is that the ability to communicate, collaborate, and correlate complicated ideas and emotions; these abilities have allowed humans to thrive and develop rich cultures and advanced civilizations over the course of time. Yet, it is that very same ability that is the unfortunate cause of a much less pleasant side of the human coin. The same mouths that speak beautiful poetry and discuss complex formulas are also more than capable of spewing out false gossip, misinterpreted “truths,” and a great deal of complete nonsense. Thankfully, amongst a group of somewhat reasonable people, much of the social poison is filtered out and its creator disregarded. But in an unregulated, unwatched forum, this disease will, without a doubt, fester uncontrollably. In any small town, cliques and circles are inevitable, encompassing a huge variety of people, tastes, and opinions, and these groups are bound to talk. About what? Anything to fill the dead air. In years past, most peo-

A Group of Friends? | Massapequa Moms boasts thousands of members on Facebook. ple could have found these enclaves of opinion in coffee shops, libraries, and living rooms across the town, but with social networking and electronic communication becoming more prominent, a new breed of book club gossip has emerged: a terrifying culmination of the lowest form of nonsensical chatter and lack of reason, which bears the ominously alliterated title of Massapequa Moms. The idea — or the intention, at least — behind this now locally infamous Facebook group was genuine and thoughtful. What mother

wouldn’t want a place to see what’s happening within the bubble of their area code? Massapequa Moms — which also includes some dads — offers place to discuss anything and everything that one could ever want to, all while behind the comforting, blue glow of a computer screen. How could such an immersive and live community ever falter? While this type of open forum discussion worked very well for the ancient Greeks, the method was somehow lost in handing the baton to the modern mothers of Massapequa.

Even with the potential to bear fruitful discussions, this group is filled with miles of comment threads insulting everything from local eateries to school teachers, to other mothers in the group. The sheer amount of electronic savagery that has been displayed in this group leaves many wondering how a town seemingly filled with such kind, docile child-carers could produce such a toxic group. What it comes down to is just who in Massapequa is using this group. Are the ever-so-lovely mothers who proudly parade down Park

Boulevard with their children the same Massapequa Moms that frequently barrage local businesses and community happenings? Unfortunately, the few who do belittle their community unfortunately misrepresent the rest of the members with their poor conduct. Consciously or not, these members may feel that they are important by providing useful advice, although this advice could ultimately hurt local businesses in the long run. Most importantly, the group provides these dark web dwellers with the one thing they truly crave — an audience. Even if no one is listening, the post will still go up, and stay up, letting its author feel, and truly believe, that she is supplying useful advice to the locale. This creates a vicious circle of self-importance versus a thriving community. This misleading sense of importance and duty is what has fueled this group from the beginning, and what will continue to fuel it until its end, until one unlucky member of the group realizes that spending all of one’s time on a page that has become an abhorrent mixture of Craigslist and the YouTube comment section isn’t the most worthwhile of hobbies. Maybe then will the nonsense cease. Until that fateful day, the Massapequa Moms will continue to do what they do best: nothing.

COMMENTARY

Congress letter to Iran not illegal or treasonous, but dangerous BY NELSON GOMEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

due to the ambiguity of authorization, or because no one has even been indicted under it since the 1800s. Moreover, the move is not unprecedented. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) even visited Syria in 2007 with three other members of congress, despite cold White House relations with the dictatorship that has since been rocked by civil war. “The president is the one who conducts foreign policy,” former vice president Dick Cheney said after Pelosi’s trip, “not the speaker of the House.” This doesn’t make the Senate’s open letter any less of a gamble, though. It may not be the first time that Congress has meddled in State Department affairs, but with the full force of nearly half of the upper chamber making a direct statement to a foreign government, the letter becomes nearly representative of Senate interests.

This, in itself, isn’t a problem. However, by bypassing the State Department, the Senate has made the United States look increasingly divided and its legislature unorganized on the world stage. The letter torpedoes not only President Obama’s diplomatic efforts, but the prospect of a future Republican president as well, for fear of a current executive agreement being tossed. “I didn’t think it was going to further our efforts to get to a place where Congress would

play the appropriate role that it should on Iran,” Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) said. “I did not think that the letter was something that was going to help get us to an outcome that we’re all seeking.” Unfortunately, the letter has further divided Democrats and Republicans, and in the process has weakened U.S. negotiating power as well as establishing international distrust of American politics.

DREW SHENEMAN // TRIBUNE NEWS

Even at a time when domestic politics is marked by partisan voting, failures to negotiate, and an incredible lack of efficiency and productiveness, it would be risky for Congress to enter the diplomatic arena. Still, 47 Republican U.S. Senators, under the guise of an open letter headed by freshman Senator Tom Cotton (RAR), proceeded to teach the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about how treaties work. “It has come to our attention while observing your nuclear negotiations… that you may not fully understand our constitutional system,” the letter said. “... The next president could revoke such an executive agreement [without Congressional approval] with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any

time.” This move angered American citizens and Iranian diplomats alike. A petition on the White House’s website to charge the senators with violation of the Logan Act of 1799 even garnered over 290,000 signatures as of mid March. As condescending and risky as the letter was, allegations of treason are completely unfounded, and a prosecution under the Logan Act would be riskier than the letter itself. “Every time a member of Congress does something in the foreign policy sphere that’s at odds with the president, someone trots out the Logan Act,” American University law professor Steve Vladeck said. The Logan Act states that “unauthorized” citizens cannot intervene in diplomatic matters. However, if challenged in court, the implications of the act could be overturned. Charges could also be dropped

MAR 20, 2015

THE CHIEF

MAR 20, 2015

My Fair Lady This year’s musical a more than fair spectacle for audience

he high school’s production of the classic musical My Fair Lady, under Mr. Kevin F. Harrington’s direction, dazzled the audience with its lively performances and impeccable acting. My Fair Lady is Downton Abbey meets The King’s Speech. Based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, the musical recounts the story of a working-class cockney girl, Eliza Doolittle, who takes speech lessons from the uptight Mr. Higgins — a renowned linguist — in order to pass as an upper class lady. Taking place in England during the twentieth century, Eliza makes her living as a flower girl, selling colorful blossoms to high society Londonites and is regarded as a “draggle-tailed guttersnipe.” The very theme of this play — wrought

BY KAITLYN LUCEY • COPY EDITOR

delicately by the actors, as it is never said aloud, but heavily implied — is grounded in the societal structure of the era. While the upper class is able to lounge all day or expand their knowledge as they please, the working class is doing just that: working. Gender roles are just as prevalent in shaping the musical; women are oppressed and objectified to the point of Mr. Higgins soliciting an answer to his question as to “Why can’t a woman be more like a man?” The play makes it clear that Eliza is valued not for her character, but for the way she dresses and presents herself. Ultimately, My Fair Lady sets itself up to be rather unfair. Which is why Eliza, portrayed by junior Hannah Bentivegna, is so brave. Instead of leaving her fate up to “A Little Bit of Luck,” like her sellout father does, Eliza marches up to Mr. Higgins and demands

to be taught how to act like a lady, and she succeeds. Both Bentivegna and senior Brian Bernhard, who took on the role of Mr. Higgins, shine in their leading roles. It truly takes talent to transcend across time and society, and both of the leading roles obviously have that talent. Other fantastic performances were given by seniors William Halstead, Charles McGrath, and William Meurer, who portrayed Colonel Pickering, Freddy Eynsford-Hill, and Alfie Doolittle, respectively. Clearly, during their high school careers, these students were able to cultivate and express their acting talent. MHS should be proud of students who develop such an extensive interest in entertainment. As much as this school loves its athletics, it is invaluably just as important, if not more, to celebrate a diverse and lively student body.

Of course, a performance is not complete without its mishaps. At one point during the opening night performance, during a scene in which Mr. Higgins was teaching Eliza how to speak “proper English,” the candle that was supposed to train her to speak with proper vowel pronunciation would not stay lit. To the delight of the audience, Bernhard was not fazed. Instead, he alleviated the mishap with clever improvisation by exclaiming “Oh my!” several times and finally expressing, “Well, it’s the principle that matters anyway,” launching the audience into laughter and applause. He succeeded in staying calm and in doing so did not break his character. Throughout the performance, there were several moments that held their own in helping to bring the musical to life. This year’s ensemble, a passionate group of actors and

actresses who sung and acted with ease and distinct talent, was vital in allowing these moments to shine. One particular moment undoubtedly awed the audience. During the Ascot scene, the cast members stood perfectly still in synchronization with each other, leading perhaps the entire set of onlookers to believe for at least a second that they were witnessing some sort of wrinkle in time. It was eerie, but thrillingly so. This scene, perfectly produced by the cast, made the confines of the society in which My Fair Lady takes place infinitely more clear. During such a time of conformity, what triumphs? While perhaps the answer to this question is purposely posed without a clear answer, the true triumph of the night was the grandeur and exceptional execution of Massapequa’s My Fair Lady.

BTheehind the Curtain painstaking process behind the production W

volved in putting on a musical and it wouldn’t be the same without them.” Bentivegna had the opportunity to play the lead female role of Eliza Doolittle in this year’s production. She describes Doolittle as a “very naïve girl with a big heart. She cares for people but has her own mind and isn’t afraid to express her opinion.” In order to perform My Fair Lady and perfect each scene, rehearsals were intense. On top of memorizing lines, details such as where to stand on stage, choreography and inflections of lines are expected to be completely refined by opening night. As arduous a process as it may be, it is this very undertaking that helps to strengthen an already tight-knit bond between cast members, and the mutual support makes rehearsing a much more enjoyable and rewarding experience. “The other leads and I are more like a family,” Bentivegna said. “We can go to

each other for anything and everything, and we don’t have to worry about messing up a line because they will help us through it.” The actors of My Fair Lady may have taken their final bow and the curtains may have fallen on this year’s musical production, but the friendships, memories and ex-

periences forged will live on. “Being able to play Eliza Doolittle is just a dream come true; that may sound cliché but My Fair Lady has been one of my all-time favorite musicals,” Bentivegna said. “The storyline and the music are just beautiful, and to be able to bring Eliza to life has been such a privilege and an honor.”

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

KALLEIGH REGAN / NELSON GOMEZ // THE CHIEF

ithout a doubt, the school musical is one of the most intricate displays at MHS. A talented cast, an impressive high school pit orchestra, and a tightly run sound, lighting and stage crew all came together under Mr. Kevin F. Harrington’s direction to put on as great a show as possible. At the forefront of the production, of course, are the lead actors. As the most visible people in the production, the actors are tasked with delivering a convincing performance and immersing the audience in the universe of My Fair Lady’s Edwardian England. But more than just the leads are necessary in order to impress an audience. “It’s not only the actors that are needed, but there’s also the stage crew, the pit, stage managers, lighting, sound...the list goes on,” junior Hannah Bentivegna said. “There are a lot of important people who are in-

BY NELSON GOMEZ • EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Seniors Courtney Taylor and Will Halstead perform.

MAR 20, 2015

THE CHIEF

THE CHIEF ENTERTAINMENT New Harper Lee novel to be released for a new century

MAR 20, 2015

BY NICHOLAS PETRILLO STAFF WRITER

her opinions that were voiced during the interview,” ASC director Joseph Borg said. In Watchman, readers will see an older rendition of Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, fueling speculation about how Scout and Atticus’ relationship would change. Reports on CNN and Yahoo have speculated that Atticus will have a very relaxed role in this book and will be seen as someone who will be offering his wisdom to Scout more as an adviser than a parent. However, these claims are largely baseless rumors, and others believe that Atticus will act similarly to the first novel. “She [Scout] will always see her father for his gentleman-like qualities and she will see him as a man who accepted everyone and their views,” Mrs. Starr said. However, she added that unlike her father, Scout would be “more modern and progressive, causing her to maybe look down on some of her family and the citizens of Maycomb as a result.” Regardless, Burnham said in his statement that the book’s

narrative would still be “compelling and ultimately moving.” To Kill A Mockingbird is a beloved novel for all ages, and many avid fans — especially high school students who enjoyed her first novel — are eager to read her upcoming novel, which is slated for release on July 14. “I’m looking forward to reading this new Harper Lee

book very much,” senior Nikki Zizzo said. “Harper Lee is an awesome author with a diverse look on life.” “We will order the book as soon as possible,” MHS librarian Mrs. Jill O’Connor said. Although many details about the novel are unclear as of now, what is certain is that the entire world is eager to delve back into the world of Mockingbird.

TERRENCE ANTONIO JONES // TRIBUNE NEWS

Harper Lee and her publishing company, HarperCollins, announced on February 3 that Lee would be publishing a sequel of sorts to her classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird this summer. “This is a remarkable literary event,” HarperCollins senior vice president Jonathan Burnham said in a statement. “The existence of Go Set a Watchman was unknown until recently, and its discovery is an extraordinary gift to the many readers and fans of To Kill a Mockingbird.” The novel will be the author’s second piece and was uncovered last year by Lee’s longtime friend and lawyer Tonja Carter. Watchman will be published largely unedited. In a press release from HarperCollins, Lee’s publishing company, it was publicly announced that the book is about Jean Louise Finch (also known as Scout) and her return to her hometown of Maycomb, Alabama. The press release also stated that Scout will be “forced to grapple with issues both per-

sonal and political as she tries to understand her father’s attitude toward society, and her own feelings about the place where she was born and spent her childhood.” “I’m curious to see in which direction Harper Lee goes with the second book,” MHS English teacher Mrs. Christina Starr said, “along with the [shift in focus] from childhood innocence [to] adult corruption in society.” The announcement was met with controversy due to allegations of elder abuse by HarperCollins, largely due to the decision to publish Watchman in light of Lee’s declining health and the death of her sister, Alice Lee, just months prior. However, an investigation by the Alabama Securities Commission (ASC) found that Harper Lee was fully aware of the decision to publish the book, and was even excited to discuss it. “It was clear to our investigators that she fully understood the questions that were being asked, that she indicated she certainly wanted her book published, and she had

Harper Lee | Lee’s new novel is highly anticipated.

COURTESY OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLEY

Kingly Reception for Kingsman | This new take on the classic British secret agent film leaves many at the edge of their seats, and all entertained.

Kingsman: The Secret Service, real, riotous, regal, revelry BY JEFFREY HOROWITZ BUSINESS MANAGER

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a violent movie, filled with blood, guts and gore. With the amount of cursing incorporated, it would be possible to buy an Aston Martin from the change in the swear jar. This film satisfies all criteria to be an R-rated movie. Kingsman is a movie that not only mocks special agent movies, but also salutes the classic James Bond character. Viewers will be enthralled by lighters that become hand grenades, poison-tip shoes, bullet proof suits, and crazy computer chips.

Everything has a concealed lever, but what is no secret is that this movie is truly enjoyable to watch. It is as fun as the old movies and still manages to elicit laughter. Secret Agent Veteran Harry Hart, codename “Galahad” (Colin Firth) — a true gentleman — recruits street tough Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Edgerton) to take part in a series of tests so the Kingsman (The Secret Agency) can find a new “Lancelot.” Eggsy starts off as a bad mannered potty mouth with a dark streak who eventually evolves into a gentleman.

The “Q” (Quartermaster) equivalent for this movie is “Merlin” (Mark Strong), who puts the recruits through a series of escalating tests in order to find the worthy replacement while the head honcho, “Arthur” (Michael Caine), watches over them from afar. The primary antagonist in this film is “Valentine” (Samuel L. Jackson), who is exactly the bad guy one would predict. He is the ruthless and deranged head of a popular technology company. His malicious plot involves making the world’s inhabitants go insane by using the phone chips he produces

to trigger something in their brains which makes them hostile and violent. From his lair in the mountains (not a volcano, unfortunately), he will leave a portion of the elite population to survive unharmed and start a new civilization. The plot is predictable at times. Despite this, it does not make the movie any less fun. It is both a shame and a virtue that there is such over the top violence. If you can remember KickAss from 2009, the movies share directors and authors of source material; director Matthew Vaughn really makes

some movie magic using Mark Millar’s comic book as a guide. There are a lot of great scenes in the movie including some over-the-top (though riveting) hand-to-hand combat, a reverse car chase scene, and an interesting scene to the tune of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird.” If viewers can handle the insane violence factor, the movie is both entertaining and quick-witted, and a must-see for anyone that ever wanted an umbrella that was also a bulletproof stun gun.

SPORTS

MAR 20, 2015

THE CHIEF

COURTESY OF ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY

Bruined Again | The girls’ varsity basketball team was once again within arm’s reach of a county championship until they were stopped by Baldwin.

There is a bear in the woods, girls fall second year to Bruins BY VINCENT COGHILL COPY EDITOR

Girls’ basketball looked to make a return to the county championships this year after a devastating loss last year to the Baldwin Bruins. The Chiefs dominated in the regular season, going undefeated in conference play while only suffering one defeat against non-conference Kellenberg. The Chiefs easily advanced with the County Champion-

ship in sight once again. After easy conference playoff wins, a rematch of the 2014 county championships unfolded against the Baldwin Bruins. Baldwin also went undefeated this year, but the Chiefs felt confident in their ability to redeem themselves from last year’s defeat. Massapequa started out with a 16-7 lead after the first quarter and led by halftime more than 10 points. By the

third quarter, the Chiefs began losing some momentum, but a victory looked promising. By the fourth quarter, the lead began to slip from the Chiefs, as Baldwin gained momentum while the Chiefs lost some steam. “We got a little tired and they went on a run and got momentum,” senior Lauren Boix said. Along with exhaustion from the game came foul trou-

ble for the Chiefs, who lost Boix along with senior Carmelo Gampero and junior Bianca Furci from fouling out, starting as early as six minutes left in regulation. Baldwin gained the lead with 2:49 left with a lay-up by the Bruins’ Aziah Hudson and kept the lead, limiting the Chiefs to only six points in the final quarter. “I would honestly say we won three quarters of the game and we should have won the

game,” senior Boix said. With that loss came the loss of many of the Chiefs’ major players, including seniors Meghan McCabe, Lauren Boix, Carmela Gampero, Olivia Batista, and Amanda Crowley. Another successful season is likely in the future so one can expect great things from next year’s girls’ basketball team.

Boys’ basketball captains carry team, fall short to Elmont BY VINCENT COGHILL COPY EDITOR

Captains carry team, fall short to Elmont. The boys’ basketball team had a decent regular season with the possibility of extending it further during its playoff run. The Chiefs ended the season with a respectable 10-7 record, giving them the seventh seed in the playoff rounds. Massapequa first faced Hempstead, ranked tenth in the conference with a weak 6-11 record to end the season. During the game, the Chiefs started strong, gaining

a commanding 11 point lead by the end of the first quarter, maintaining their lead throughout the rest of the game. Hempstead played sloppily on defense, surrendering 39 points by the end of the first half and committing an excessive amount of fouls, especially on senior Brandon Merklin, who scored 11 out of his 22 points from the free throw line. The Nealis brothers, senior Sean and junior Dylan, scored a combined 18 points while Joe Perna also put up double digits with 10 points. The Chiefs went on to win the game 68-36, allowing them to

advance in the playoffs. The second game was not as easy as the first game, however, as the Chiefs played on Elmont’s home court. Massapequa stayed close throughout the whole first half of the game, only down by one point at the start of halftime. The lead started to escape the Chiefs by the end of the third quarter, and so the Chiefs fell to the Spartans 54-40. Foul shots made the difference in the game as the Spartans scored 15 points from foul shots alone. Spartans player Travis Robinson-Morgan proved to be dangerous at the

free throw line, scoring half of his 20 points off of fouls. “It’s just hard to defend [against] some guys and fouls are inevitable,” Massapequa senior, Matt Spinelli said. “And they hit their foul shots, which put us in trouble late in the game.” Merklin and Nealis scored a combined total of 31 points, but the rest of the team could only score nine — a combined seven points from sophomore Bryce Paladino and senior Joe Perna. As the season ends, Massapequa says goodbye to two high scoring

players: captains Brandon Merklin and Sean Nealis. “I’ve grown up playing with these guys since we were young,” Spinelli said, “but to see them emerge not only as the consistently talented players they always are, but also as leading sources of motivation for the team in practice and games, is what carried us to win some of our toughest games of the season.” The team now will look towards junior Dylan Nealis and sophomores Bryce Paladino and Tom Amandola to lead next year’s team.

MHS makes a bang at New York State rifle championship BY VINCENT COGHILL COPY EDITOR

last year, she placed fourth in the air rifle competition with a score of 285 out of 300 and sixth in the smallbore event with a score of 276 out of 300. This year, she was able to score second highest in all of Nassau County as well as score a 279 at the state level competition at West Point Military Academy. Michael Seith also made his presence known at West Point, scoring the highest among alternate shooters with a score of 281.

COURTESY OF ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY

Over the past three years, Massapequa has been a dominant force in high school rifling and has not always been given the attention it deserves. In both 2013 and 2014, Massapequa advanced to the State competitions for smallbore rifles, which includes .22 caliber rifles, and for air rifles in 2014 as well. This year, Massapequa was unable to advance as a team to the State compe-

tition, but was able to earn the highest average score in Nassau County. “We had a very young, but capable team [but] unfortunately didn’t qualify for states,” senior Matt Lazina said. However, the rifle team still sent two of its players to the state competition this year, senior Julie Kapuvari and junior Michael Seith. Kapuvari is not unfamiliar to these state competitions;

The rifle team sent two students to the state championships.

SPORTS Massapequa wraps up another winter season in style

MAR 20, 2015

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS COPY EDITOR

Undoubtedly, all of Massapequa’s scholar-athletes deserve recognition for their effort throughout the winter season. The assorted teams all progressed through the ranks of high school athletics with many reaching the postseason and state championships. “All of our teams had a very successful winter sea-

son,” Massapequa Athletics Director Mr. John Piropato said. “We are very proud of the many individual and team awards that were earned by students and coaches.” The girls’ bowling team was ranked top 10 in the county, as did boys’ bowling. The gymnastics team likewise took second place at conference and additionally scored second place in the county champion-

ship. The boys’ wrestling team were qualifying tournament champions in addition to dual meet semifinalists. The boys’ swimming team demonstrated not only their aquatic skills, but their gamesmanship as well by securing the Section 8 Sportsmanship Award. At the 2015 Nassau County Division I Wrestling Cham-

pionships, the wrestling team came in third overall with a collective score of 173.5 following Wantagh and Long Beach with tallies of 191 and 183, respectively. Athletes who moved on to state competitions of their sports were John Putnam, Aiden Smith, and Olivia Smithwick for track. Julie Kapuvari and Mike Seith qualified from the rifle team.

THE CHIEF

Allison Wick, Gillian Murphy, and eighth grader Heidi Baldinger qualified for the state competition with an overall remarkable qualifying score of 35.125. “I’m once again so proud of how our students represented themselves in the competition,“ Mr. Piropato said.

COURTESY OF ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY

Massapequa Brings the Heat | This winter season, MHS varsity athletics proved their worth with an impressive display of strength and character.

The three sport athlete: a disappearing high school trend BY KAITLYN LUCEY COPY EDITOR

gender equality. Passed in 1972, Title IX is a national law that “requires gender equality for boys and girls in every educational program that receives federal funding,” according to its website. From the time it was passed to now, athletic opportunities for women have grown exponentially. “I feel that over time, girls have gotten much more opportunity when it comes to high school sports,” senior Devin McQuillan said. “First we were able to go to school, and now I feel like there’s no limitations to what we can do, really.” However, since the law calls for equality, a stretched budget can result in more cuts of collegiate athletic teams — both intercollegiate and intramural. Therefore, less students are able to diversify their athletic experience, as budget cuts can restrict athletes from pursuing multiple sports during the year or season. During the decline of the “three sport athlete,” athletics has certainly shifted towards specialization and gender equality. While this decline has its disadvantages, athletics as a whole has since improved. As a result of the prolonged effort of athletic supporters everywhere, more athletes, both male and female, are participating in athletics on every level. Indeed, athletes from around the country are encouraged to “play on.”

KALLEIGH REGAN // THEE CHIEF

Football in the fall; wrestling in the winter; lacrosse in the spring. It was not rare several decades ago to drift from one athletic activity to another with every passing season, but nowadays is increasingly uncommon, with most athletes preferring to specialize in one or two sports. Popularized in the mid-twentieth century, the “three sport athlete” is an umbrella term used to describe an athlete who participates in multiple sports teams per academic year. However, a typical high school athlete today may play only one sport for the school team, and continue to play that one sport year round for their club team. What has caused athletes to specialize in their athletic pursuits? The answer is perhaps grounded in competition for collegiate athletic scholarships. Due to increasing college tuitions — where top-rated universities charge upward of 40 thousand dollars per year — athletes vie for spots on Division I university teams where they can receive money to attend and play for the school. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division I schools “manage the largest athletics budgets and offer the most generous number of scholarships.” If a student-athlete specializes by focusing

their time and energy into training for one sport year round, in the hope of being recruited and ultimately gaining an athletic scholarship, they have a better chance when competing with similar athletes on the national level. However, this increase in popularity towards specialization can have a detrimental effect. According to Dr. Edward M. Wojtys, of Sports Health Magazine, sports specialization from an early age can lead to disinterest from societal stigmas of achievement “The slow developers of skill or physique are often left behind because they don’t make the grade,” Dr. Wojyts said. “... Common tendencies [to push] the gifted and [diminish] the opportunities for those with poorer skills can take the fun out of sports, especially when it happens at a young age.” Although specialization at too early an age can have negative effects, it also has its benefits. Athletes can find stability when playing on one sports team, develop lifelong friendships with their teammates and even boost their confidence on and off the field. “The friendships that I have made on this team [the Chiefettes] are ones that will definitely last for a long time,” junior Kellyann McClenahan said, “even when the seniors graduate.” The decline of the three sport athlete may also have something to do with the prolonged pursuit of athletic

Every year, fewer and fewer atheltes choose to play three sports.

MAR 20, 2015

MARCH

THE CHIEF

CATCH A WAVE

Proceeds Go to the… Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop!

Italian Ices, Hot Dogs, Pretzels, Pizza, Raffles, Prizes, Music and MORE!!!

Catch the Wave – of Giving! Concert Open to ALL MHS Main and Ames Campus Students, Teachers, Staff, and their Families

“BOARDWALK,” FOOD, & MUSIC Boardwalk 5:30pm -7pm & Intermission

Concert 7pm - 9:30pm

Walk the halls of MHS— transformed into a boardwalk and get a head start on all of those summertime items— seashells to shades, while supporting the charity event!!!

THEN…. Head into the gym @7PM for a Chill to Rock, Benefit Concert given by the talented students of MHS! TICKETS are ONLY $4, provides admission to the CONCERT. Just like the beach— BRING YOUR OWN BEACH BLANKET!