lympics: Beijing 2008
Get the scoop on the news and sports, pages 3 & 8
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Massapequa High School
SEPTEMBER 2008
mhsthechief@yahoo.com
Vol. LVII - ISSUE 1
The Times They Are A-Changin’
locker room. Also, students will be dismissed from inside the gym, rather Welcome back! If you have than from the locker room, making not noticed, there are some changes the halls on the lower level a little bit around MHS this year. If you are still clearer for everyone. on summer vacation mode, here are Many students are happy some of the new changes, some of the about some of the changes. Senior Lisa new faces, and some of the new rules. Blum said, “I think it’s good that the Perhaps the most visible school is thinking of new ways change in our school this year is to stop stealing in the gym.” the incoming sophomore class, One thing that hasn’t changed is made up of 669 students, which the traditional homeroom period brings the total student count in in the beginning of the day being MHS to 1,907. Of course this leads replaced by a five-minute period to extremely crowded hallways, of announcements at the beginand a slow class change process. ning of second period. Many stu Junior Rich Laino has an dents are still unhappy with this. optimistic view on the issue, “The Senior Alex Massimillo said, “I crowding in the halls is rough the still miss homeroom a lot, and I first couple of weeks, but after a don’t think that the new system while, everyone gets used to it.” is having any significant effect in Masses of students push their way through the gym lobby between classes IAN GOODMAN//THE CHIEF Another building change reducing cuts. If kids want to cut involves communication. A new and as Wind Ensemble director is Mr. Mark until after school. Yes that’s right, from they’re going to do it anyway; the new improved telephone system was in- Stempel from Ames. Returing from one now on, you can’t grab that quick Pop system only cuts down on class time stalled this summer. The new tele- year out of district, and three years at Tart before class, unless you go to the and aggravates just about everyone.” p h o n e number for Massapequa Berner is Mr. William Anderson, new Cart Lady. She will be seeing a lot more Finally, rumors have been High School is 516-308-5900. Be coordinating chair of L.O.T.E. Mr. Rob- business now! Thankfully, the water and circulating regarding MHS receivsure to put it on your contacts list! ert Gariglio from Berner, and Ms. Tomia Snapple machines will stay on for the ing solar panels! Dr. Grossane con And Google has returned! After Smith from Fairfield have joined the whole day, so you can still re-hydrate firmed that with the aid of a generous being restricted for all of last year and high school staff. New to Massapequa after running in the oh-so hot sun. grant from New York State Senate, part of the previous one, the search are Ms. Elizabeth Alessi, Ms. Rosemary Speaking of running, the Phys plans to install the solar panels have engine is finally available again for Ciccato, Ms. Alicia Gervasi, Mr. Vin- Ed department has a few new rules been sent and are awaiting approval. student use. Needless to say, students cent Guidi, Mr. Barry Steinberger, Mr. as well. For example, after getting Looking back on the first day, are very pleased. Senior Mark Engel- Ronald Forman, Ms. Theresa O’Connor, changed, students can no longer go Dr. Grossane was very pleased. He said, man said he learned of this while work- Mrs. Cynthia Holmes, Mrs. Evelyne back in the locker room until dis- “We’re off to a great start, and we’re ing on a project in the library when he LeGoupil, Ms. Theresa LaNeve, Mr. missal. This will hopefully put an end building on what we started last year.” overheard other students talking. “I David Doring, and Ms. Tricia Crotty. to previously reported thefts from the BY KYLE FEE COPY EDITOR
am very happy about it. It’s a very easy and helpful search engine to use.” Along with new students, Massapequa also welcomes some new (and not so new) faces. Former band and Wind Ensemble director, Dr. David Gaines is now the new Curriculum Associate for Music, and taking his place
Welcome also, new English Curriclulm Associate, Mr. Kevin Harrington, formerly of Baldwin High School. There are some other changes that may affect your eating habits. If you’re hungry between of classes, you’re out of luck. The vending machines are now on timers and don’t work
Facebook: The College Admissions’ New Weapon? pages in order to get an even clearer picture of who “you” are and whether MANAGING EDITOR you would be a good or bad influence for their school. “Competition to get into college is becoming so close and so onesided because every student is submitting such strong applications. If there source: facebook.com are other opportunities available to get Facebook lovers beware: your to know a candidate, such as looking at beloved networking site is being moni- a social networking page, there is no tored—and it’s even weirder than your reason why it should not be utilized. Ofmom making a profile and friend-re- ten, these sites offer the really indicative questing all of your friends. Colleges features of a student’s personality. If you have moved into the virtual social net- can’t present yourself in a classy manner working world and are using your pro- on a public forum, how are we supposed files in (gasp!) the admissions process. to have faith in you while you are at our If you think because your profile college?” one admissions counselor is “private” under your privacy settings from Gettysburg College commented that you will be safe from prying eyes, last year at a school-sponsored collegethink again. If you’ve assumed that col- planning program. What are they looking for? leges, inundated with applications, will not check your status or your pictures While there is no perfect page that can from last night, well, we all know what be exclusively used as a platform to get into college, there are definitely things happens when you assume. In fact, many colleges and uni- that admissions counselors do not want versities now acknowledge that they do to see on a specific student’s profile. check Facebook and MySpace pages When asked, most counselors said regularly during the admissions process. that when looking at pictures, the last Many admissions officials believe that thing they wanted to see was excessive today, it is not just acceptable, but nec- underage drinking and out-of-control essary for colleges to check networking partying. BY CAITLIN WALDRON
Some cited that the Facebook enhancing applications let people— even college admissions officers—know more about you, and indicate the way you present yourself in real life. Anything from the popular “Bumper Stickers” option (send your friends a witty sort of e-card) to “What Beatles Song are You?” (take a vague test to find which Fab Four song most matches your personality) to “Pass the Bong…” (use your imagination) are all applications that are considered when looking at a student’s page. But wait—how are colleges looking at our profiles, anyway? When asked, many admissions counselors were vague. However, some colleges, such as Gettysburg College, actually hire people to hack into candidates’ profiles, even if they are set as private. There is much debate among students, teachers, and admissions counselors on the ethical implications of this forcible extraction of information from students, especially since there is neither warning nor request from colleges when looking at these profiles. The reaction is one of outrage from students—“That is not right. It is a violation of privacy,” one senior stated.
Guidance counselors have a separate view. “Is it ethical? I don’t know. But students should realize that it is a public forum and they need to be careful. This occurrence is becoming more and more frequent, and students have to have this in their minds when posting things on the Internet,” said Mr. Lou Sabatini, Director of Guidance. But do students even have the right to be outraged? When signing up for Facebook, or any networking site, you must agree to a “Terms of Use” Most students carelessly just check “yes”—but what are they agreeing to? Facebook’s “Terms of Use” reads “By posting User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant… to the Company an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, worldwide license to use, copy, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in part) and distribute such User Content for any purpose, commercial, advertising, or otherwise…” Basically, colleges can get anything they want from Facebook, no matter what you do to try to prevent it Is this ethical? Does it limit a person’s right to privacy? It doesn’t matter either way—you already agreed
to it.
OP/ED
SEPTEMBER 2008
EDITORIAL
Protect Your Facebook College and Facebook: a beautiful pair. You can keep in touch with your high school friends, find out what’s going on this weekend on campus, and share your crazy pictures with everyone. But a newly emerging policy of colleges using Facebook in their admissions processes is causing students to be up in arms about the limitations of their right to privacy. Emotions range the gamut from outrage to practicality. The difference lies in whether a student believes that a profile is a part of a public forum, available to everyone, or not. Many believe that colleges should not, under any circumstances, check students’ profiles. It is a process completely independent of any outside
influences, much less influences that students do not want colleges to see. However, Facebook is a public forum, and if you accept the “Terms of Use” (which outline the privacy policies that administrators have laid out for the website), it should come as no surprise that anyone, even colleges, could be searching for you. The fact is that colleges are hacking their way into private profiles, and while this is disconcerting, there is nothing you can do except to use basic common sense when customizing your page and posting photos. Use discretion in your virtual choices, set your profile to private, and do not call attention to yourself for anything that you would not want your mother, who might have her own profile, to see.
POINT
Closed Campus for Safety BY MARISSA CETIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Oh how I enjoy my California Rolls from King Kullen, and being outside on those lovely days during lunch. But there are too many horror stories involving students, cars, and open campus lunch to argue that the open campus policy is the more responsible choice. Safety. It’s the only reason to close a campus. While it is not structurally possible at this point in time, Massapequa High School should close its doors during lunch periods, solely for the safety of the students. We have all heard some form of “Stop, Look, Listen,” before crossing the street in our younger years. However, it is apparent that some have forgotten that important lesson Barney taught us. Regardless of whether the light is green or red, or if cars are barreling down Merrick Road, students just waltz—or break into a sprint—right onto the street. And with the notoriously impatient and speedy Massapequan drivers, it creates a particularly precarious situation. Students behind the wheel during lunch periods also do not help the safety situation. While many student
drivers are cautious and responsible, all it takes is one teen driver to get into an accident. And with only 40 minutes to walk to the car, drive to a place to eat, wait on line, place an order, get the food, eat, drive back (although many do the latter two at the same time), find a parking spot, and walk back to the school, speeding will happen. Just this past April, three students from West Hempstead High School got into a terrible accident during their lunch period, leaving one student dead, and the two others critically injured. “The campus has been completely closed since the accident,” said a member of the West Hempstead High School staff, although they are now considering keeping campus open for seniors only. It may not be fair to punish all students because of a few students’ lapse in judgment, but as long as there are students on the road during lunch hours, there is the possibility of a heartbreaking accident. The possibility of tragedy is too much to gamble with; the life of a student is not worth some supermarket sushi.
The Chief Editorial Staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Angela Roamer Marissa Cetin MANAGING EDITORS Caitlin Waldron T.J. Kelly HEAD COPY EDITOR Charlotte Burger PHOTO EDITOR Ian Goodman
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Jamie DeFilippis SPORTS EDITOR Ben Sklar COPY EDITORS Kevin McCarthy Kyle Fee Katie Fucillo Sara Pickles ADVISER Elyn Coyle
THE CHIEF
Try A Little Kindness BY SARAH PICKLES COPY EDITOR
Think about the last time someone held a door open for you. Did you say thank you? Now think about the last time you sneezed, and someone said, “God bless you”. What about then? Did you even acknowledge him or her? It seems that kindness isslowly going out of style. It’s rare enough that they even happen in the first place, and it’s even more rare that people take notice when they do. In fact, prior to writing this, I asked three of my friends if they could think of something someone did to them as an act of kindness lately, and none of them could think of a single thing. In this world focused on money, work, and war, do we really not take
note of these things anymore? Believe it or not, hearing a simple “thank you”, or pushing that button on the elevator that keeps the doors open for a few more seconds (even though you really don’t want to) can surely make someone’s significantly better. With this said, I give you a challenge. The challenge is to do at least five random acts of kindness within the next two weeks. Do something selfless, whether it is little or big. Smile at someone who looks like they’re having a bad day. Help the kid in the hallway whose books have fallen over. Maybe even help out at the nearest nursing home. Not only that, but take the time out to appreciate the acts of kindness that people do for you.
Get Caught Doing It Catch someone in the act of kindness, and get caught being kind yourself! If you happen to witness a random act of kindness, The Chief wants to know! Come tell us about it. Want to see what you can do in your community to help out with random acts of kindness? Check out actsofkindness.org! A little kindness goes a long way. COUNTER POINT
Open Campus for Freedom BY KATIE FUCILLO COPY EDITOR
What I love about MHS is the privileges we get here. We have more clubs and extracurricular activities than most other schools. There is something exciting going on pretty much every week, and going to school events is one of the most enjoyable things to do around here. But I have to say what I love the most about this school is the privilege to leave campus during lunch. Venturing outside helps students recuperate and reenergize for the second half of their day. Joe Persico, senior at MHS, said “It allows me to get a break from the rush of AP work during the day.” More importantly, if MHS eliminated the open-campus policy, where would we go? We are a student body of almost two thousand people and every year the school keeps getting more packed. Though it is sometimes difficult to find a good table in the eateries around the school, it is going to be a lot more difficult to fit hundreds of students into the cafeteria at one time. A new wing was just added to the school last year and as of now, there is barely any way to expand further. According to Principal Dr. Grossane, concerned parents have been calling in about the open-campus policy. While he admitted that central administration has been looking into closing the campus, there are no immediate plans. Dr. Grossane also added that last year when rumors spread about the
campus being closed, the local shop owners contacted the school with concerns. While community members also eat at the shops around here, the students at MHS make up a large percentage of their business. Without us, their businesses would struggle to survive. King Kullen, Starbucks, and Juice It Up may be nation-wide chains, but the other eateries around campus are independently owned. Some students are concerned that the open-campus privilege may be denied to sophomores, a policy that currently exists for the freshman at Wantagh High School. According to Dr. Grossane, if the campus were to be closed, it is doubtful it would be for all grade levels. While the safety of leaving the campus during lunch remains a constant concern for parents. There is a pedestrian crossing signal on Merrick Road to let us know when it is safe to cross. As long as students observe the traffic and the lights, there is really no safety concern at all. Those who run frantically across the middle of the road are putting themselves at danger without reason. And if parents are really concerned, they can tell their kids to stay on the north side of Merrick Rd, where plenty stores are available and there is no major road to cross. Every year the rumor travels that the campus will be closed to underclassmen. Despite these rumors, it is safe to say it will not happen anytime in the near future.
NEWS FEATURES
SEPTEMBER 2008
Beijing 2008 BY CAITLIN WALDRON MANAGING EDITOR
The 2008 Summer Olympics were supposed to be China’s moment—to prove to the rest of the world its emergence as a new global power, economically and politically. From the beginning of these games (the awe-inspiring Opening Ceremony) to the end (China won a total of 100 medals, fiftyone gold), the whole event was designed to illustrate China’s perceived new standing in the world: the best. But, according to these standards and goals set by China, can these Games be measured as a success? It is true that every Olympics includes its fair share of controversy, but China’s scandals seemed sharpened because of the precarious situation it was in. The world, distrustful of China and its government from the start, was looking for the slightest sign that would point out China’s incompetence as a host for the Games, and therefore its incompetence as a nation.
Left: Girl who lip-synced at the opening ceremony, Right: Girl who was recorded singing
Watching the Olympics, it was easy to see that the Chinese government understood the circumstances and the scrutiny it was being placed under. At first glance, everything about this Olympics was bigger and better then anything the world had seen before. The Opening Ceremony, featuring over 15,000 different performers, was a beautiful expression of China’s history and an inspirational promise to the world of its newfound openness. Even the motto of this Olympics was “One world, one Games.” It celebrated every different type of culture found in China under one flag while also celebrating its new relationship with the rest of world—it featured several global performers and even one American singer. This level of perfection seemed almost too intense, however, and people questioned many of the things that they saw. Afterward, it was reported that the little girl who sang the national anthem was actually lip-synching, and the actual girl who was singing did not get to sing in front of the world because, according to one news anchor, she was deemed “not cute enough.” It was also discovered that most of the children representing China’s various different cultures (a group dressed in costumes walked across source: telegraph.co.uk the stadium for a specific part of the ceremony) were actually not part of the cultures they
THE CHIEF
were representing, but, again, picked based on their attractiveness. T h e controversy continued with the actual competition of the Games. The Chinese women’s gymnastics team did not look, to the rest of the world, to be sixteen, the minimum age to participate Three of the gymnasts whose age sparked controversy source:beijing.cn in that event. The media had a field not Yao Ming, but a woman diver named day, calling the Chinese cheaters and Guo Jingjing. During the Opening Cerdemanding the team gold they won to emony, the spectators (all fifty thousand of them) gave almost as rousing a cheer be revoked. These scandals made the Chi- for the United States as they did for their nese government seem almost desperate own country. During the same walk to impress, like they would do anything around the track, even people watching to demonstrate their superior status in the broadcast thousands of miles away the world. The world, looking down on could hear the boos for Iran through the them for resorting to such petty tricks, television—and that is a country that was no closer to accepting China then the Chinese government is supposed to support. it was at the beginning of the Games. Maybe, for these purposes, the Maybe, though, we are too quick to judge. The most interesting modernization of China does not reaspect of these Games was seeing and volve around the government’s choices interpreting the human aspect of the and actions; they reflect the views and Chinese people. Yes, the government opinions of the few, not the whole. The tried too hard in trying to achieve the people are what move a country forperfection that it was supposed to de- ward, and the Chinese seem ready to liver, and it also has an abysmal human enter the global fray as a modernized, rights record. But the people of China, receptive people: people who can learn all 1.6 billion of them, are what really from others and, more importantly, a measure the character of a country. It is people the world as a whole can learn important that one of the most popular from as well. and respected athletes in China is—no, ADVERTISEMENT
Around the World in Three Minutes BY ANGELA ROAMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
BAGHDAD-Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is insisting that all foreign soldiers leave Iraq by 2011, according to the Associated Press. In mid-August, U.S. and Iraqi officials said that both sides agreed on a tentative schedule that would include a large U.S. troop pullout by the end of 2011. However, there remains the possibility that a residual U.S. force will stay behind to continue training and advising Iraqi troops. This is the first time president Bush has agreed to set a “general time horizon” for bringing U.S. troops home since the Iraq war began in 2003. Iraqi officials are asking for a specific schedule. An al-Maliki aide stated, “We don’t want the phrase ‘time horizons.’ We are not comfortable with that phrase.” Unites States officials are becoming frustrated. Before anything is agreed upon, it must be approved by Iraq’s 275-member parliament.
MOSCOW- In the midst of the ongoing war with Georgia, Russian President Medvedev formally recognized the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as breakaway regions. According to CNBC, Russia would like to have these regions either become part of Russia, or independent states. It is being speculated that Medvedev and Putin’s actions are the first steps to putting back together the old U.S.S.R. regime, beginning with the conquering of Georgia. More evidence of this, other than the military occupation, is that Russian passports have been administered to all residents in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia area and residents are forced to use Russian currency. Russia’s advances into Georgia have displayed the lowest point of the Russian-Western relationship since the fall of the Soviet Union seventeen years ago.
SEPTEMBER 2008
FEATURES
THE CHIEF
Places to go, people to meet, food to eat MHS Lunch Options
Last Licks
The Buttered Bagel
Fredo’s
The Good: It is located right next to the school, which is perfect for those rainy days, or for anyone who is too darn lazy to walk anywhere else. The Bad: Due to its convenient location, it gets crowded and it can be loud and overwhelming. The Ugly: $$$$
The Good: The pizza comes in many varieties and tastes great. There is a variety of alternatives to pizza offered, including the popular chicken bomber, which is a combination of buffalo chicken and cheese all wrapped in a roll. The service is friendly and the wait time is short. The Bad: There is a slightly further walk than other eateries and seating can be hard to find , so try to get there early. The Ugly: $$
King Kullen
The Good: Got a passion for ice cream? Do you live for sports? Then this place was made for you. Even for those of you who don’t so much believe in physical activity as you do in ice cream, Last Licks is perfect for quenching your sweet tooth. With delicious ice cream flavors like Rice Pudding (seriously, it’s good) and Louisiana Pecan Crunch, this store is a great spot to sit back, enjoy your ice cream, and watch the game. The Bad: Although they did recently lower their ice cream prices, it’s still relatively expensive. They also serve mostly sweet things, like soda, candy, and ice cream, so it’s not the best candidate if you’re looking for somewhere that serves lunch-type foods. The Ugly: $$$
“The Cart” The Good: Think of the five S’s: Sandwiches, Soup, Sushi, Free Samples, and SelfCheckout! At King Kullen you can find anything your heart desires, from freshly made sandwiches at the Deli counter to a bag of chips and guacamole. Pitch in with friends and reward yourselves with a quart of ice cream on a Friday after a stressful week. And the self-checkout counters are quick and convenient alternatives for students. The Bad: Prices are not exactly cheap, especially for special items. The Ugly: $$$
Bagel Café
The Good: Since it is one of the farther options, seating is almost always available. From chicken fingers to egg sandwiches to French fries to muffins, there are many delicious options to choose outside of the standard overpriced bagel with cream cheese. The Bad: Local customers come here, mostly, because there are fewer students, and the workers tend to accommodate them first (rightly so), making ordering slow sometimes. The Ugly: $$$
Grace Kitchen
The Good: Grace Kitchen is the place, the only place, to get Chinese food near MHS. You can get a nice portion of food for a lot cheaper than other eateries around the school, and they have a large selection to choose from, including a favorite, chicken and broccoli. The Bad: It’s one of the dirtiest places around. It has even failed health inspection in the past. If you’re a germ-o-phobe, then this is definitely not the place for you. The Ugly: $$
Starbucks
The Good: Starbucks coffee is a godsend on long stressful days. And, a large cookie can make any bad day feel better. Starbucks also has a calming atmosphere—it’s great for some last minute cramming before a test. The Bad: The drinks and snacks at Starbucks are high in calories, sugar, and fat. A tall Frappucino, for example, is over five hundred calories! The Ugly: $$$$
Juice It Up! The Good: Here, you’ll find just about any combination of fruit and juice blended into a delicious smoothie. From fruity favorites like Strawberry Wave and Lava Flow, to other equally delicious nonfruit options like Jumpin’ Java and Green Tea Chiller, you’re sure to find something you like at Juice It Up! The Bad: Some of the juices and beverages are not necessarily what one would consider normal or tasty, like wheat grass juice. The Ugly: $$$$$
Margaret’s The Good: The food is delectable with a large assortment of homemade Italian food. The lines move fast, and while you’re waiting you can check out fresh pizza, pasta, cold cuts, desserts and more. They have awesome student specials, including pizza for only a dollar! The Bad: There is very little seating available. The Ugly: $
The Good: The best thing about Cart Lady is probably her legendary cookies. “They’re delicious,” say hungry locals. Ms. Cart Lady is a convenient in-school food provider, perfect for those without lunch periods and vendingmachine-challenged students
who want a post-gym water bottle. The Bad: The confusion of the gym lobby and the disorganized crowds that surround Ms. Cart Lady. The Ugly: $
Pizza bistro
The Good: Bistro boasts extensive seating, penne bowls, salad bowls, and over fifteen varieties of pizza. The Bad: The line can get long fast and the prices are fairly high. The Ugly: $$$$
THE UGLY SCALE: $- A great bargin $$- Won’t break the bank $$$- Average $$$$- Don’t make it a habit $$$$$-PRICEY! You might want to get a loan Photos by Ian Goodman//The Chief
FEATURES
SEPTEMBER 2008
THE CHIEF
11 Tips for the Class of 2011 one
The easiest way to bump up your class average is by doing your homework and participating!
Get involved in the many clubs and extra-curricular activities offered at MHS.
two
functions such as Mr. Massapequa are three School really a lot of fun, so go to them! Don’t be afraid to ask upperclassmen four questions, they were sophomores once too!
five
Look at the MHS course book to see different electives you can take for the next two years.
Befriend your teachers—they may end up being a huge help when you need college recommendations or advice.
six
seven
Don’t let your social life get in the way of your schoolwork and vice versa. Make sure you manage your time well so you can fit in everything you want to do.
Don’t procrastinate with your work… because you WILL be up until 4:45 in the morning the day it is due.
nine
eight
Use the science wing staircases! They are not as congested as the main staircases.
Don’t do anything you don’t want to do just because it’ll look good on your college resume—you’ll be miserable.
ten
e l e v e n
Have fun at school, rather than complaining about being here.
Navigating the Hallways
Now, getting to these rooms is a whole different story. Ah, the So it’s the first day back to wonder of the staircase. For our conschool, and you’re excited, right? venience, there are approximately Right. You walk in the building, say six major stairs located throughout hi to your friends, but wait . . . where our school. Of course, this includes are you going? After you’ve plowed the very important center staircase through over two thousand students and staff members and wasted three minutes talking to your peers, you find out you’re apparently on the complete opposite side of the school that your scheduled class is on—oh no! Catastrophe ensues. We all know the deal. Getting lost isn’t fun, and neither are the repercussions of walking into your class five minutes late. But, dear sophomores, don’t be dismayed, for the confusion won’t last! It’s a located in the middle of the building promise. All it takes is a little prac- that we all know, love, and possibly tice, a bit of time, and some general use too often. A suggestion—only knowledge. If you haven’t already take this staircase if your class is lofigured it out, here’s some important cated within the center of the school. things you should know. Let’s say you need to get to Room First off, all room numbers 219, and you’re coming from the on the main floor are in the 100’s. All gym. If you take the staircase located of the rooms in the basement are in next to the gym (yes, there’s a stairthe 80’s and 90’s. All of the rooms case next to the gym—in fact, there on the second floor are in the 200’s, are two! Take the one in the back and all rooms on the third floor? You near the first floor science corridor guessed it—the 300’s. if you need to get somewhere in the BY SARA PICKLES COPY EDITOR
back of the second or third floor), you should be there in no time. Having difficulty actually getting somewhere on the staircase? It’s a sad routine we all have to face, although it can be fixed, sort of, if we try really hard. The problem
with staircases is that sometimes the people-to-movement ratio can be alarmingly unproductive. Look around, there’s a good chance that the other side of the main staircase is empty (this happens a lot). Or maybe instead of taking the gym lobby staircase, you could take the one behind it. Another important bit of information one should know is the general area for all the important classes you take. For instance, your
English class will commonly be somewhere in the English corridor, which is located near the front of the school on the second floor. Same with Social Studies, which is generally located on the third floor near the front of the school. The Science wing is located in the back of all three floors, which may become irritating, but remember what I said about the room numbers! All the art classes are generally located in the Fine Arts Wing, which is nearest to the front of the school, around the same area of the auditorium. The Technology corridor is in the North Wing Lower Level (the basement), the Math corridor is around the middle of the third floor, and lastly, the gym and locker rooms are located in the North Wing, also referred to as the Gym lobby. With all of that said, getting to your next class should be a breeze. If you’re still having trouble, try picking up a map of the school down at the main office, or if worse comes to worse, simply ask someone for help. After all, we’ve all been there.
FEATURES
SEPTEMBER 2008
THE CHIEF
Summer Box Office Blockbusters BY KEVIN MCCARTHY COPY EDITOR
The Dark Knight: The most popular movie of the summer and one of the most successful of all time, the seventh Batman flick lived up to its hype. Completely rid of the characters’ campy, cartoon-ish image seen in the old TV show and the Joel Schumacher sequels, Dark Knight feels somewhat real. It was what it would really be like if we had a billionaire ninja dressed as a bat flying around our city. With its dark storyline and its fearlessness to kill characters, the audience was left in fascinating uncertainty. Another likeable thing about the movie is the cast, made up of actors who are talented but not overly popular. And of course, the late Heath Ledger gives a ferocious, Oscar-nomination-worthy performance as The Joker. “Why so SERIOUS?” will be quoted by fans, forever. In all seriousness, Ledger gives an excellent performance, making what would have been a
source: photobucket.com
very-good movie into an instant classic. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: ALIENS? Nineteen years and that’s what you came up with, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas? As an avid fan of the first three films, I’ve got to say, I was disappointed with this. It’s fun and entertaining, yes, but the first three films are classics that you remember forever, classics that are referenced on Family Guy all the time. The only things I remember about Crystal Skull are the part where Shia LaBeouf is swinging with monkeys and the bafflingly disappointing ending. Kung Fu Panda: I wrote in an old article that I thought this looked hilarious. And that panda did not disappoint. I was glad to see that this wasn’t crammed with pop-culture references, like the Shrek movies; the humor comes from the characters and the story. It also features some impressive animation and nice moral lessons that aren’t too cliché. The Incredible Hulk: 2003’s Hulk was pretty awful, so they tried to redo it with this more action-packed not-boring Hulk film. It’s a lot better than the previous film, with critically acclaimed actor Edward Norton as the main character, but they still haven’t improved technology enough to make the Hulk look somewhat realistic, and the
Farewell to Rent BY ANGELA ROAMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
After twelve years of performances, Rent—the musical that depicted the AIDS-ridden East Village in the 1900’s—has finished its time on Broadway. It was the seventh-longest running show on Broadway. The rock musical’s book, music and lyrics were written Jonathon Larson, who tragically died of an aortic aneurysm after the show’s last dress rehearsal in 1996. After receiving remarkable reviews offBroadway, the show was moved to the Nederlander Theatre, where it spent its twelve years on Broadway with a total of 5,124 performances. The original cast, including Taye Diggs, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, were even featured on the cover of Newsweek, making it the first time since, A Chorus Line that members of a Broadway musical were on the cover of a national magazine. Rent, with its ethnically diverse cast, boasted a powerful message about controversial topics such as AIDS, love, and the gay and lesbian communities. This allowed it to speak to younger generations and opened up
Broadway to different genres, paving the way for musicals such as Avenue Q and Spring Awakening. Rent has also performed overseas, packing playhouses in Japan, Australia, Germany, England, and many other countries. The musical has won countless awards including: the Pulitzer Prize for
source: siteforrent.org
Drama, Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, Tony Award for Best Original Score, Drama Desk for Outstanding Musical, and Drama Desk for Outstanding Book. Additionally, Rent was adapted to a movie in 2005 which stayed in the box office’s top ten for three weeks. Gwen Stewart, a member of Rent’s original cast, avowed, “There is a universal truth that I think everyone can identity with: Living today to the fullest because you don’t know if tomorrow will be promised to you. Live. Love. Laugh. We have all gone through loss. Not necessarily AIDS-related, but everyone loses someone at some point.”
character isn’t as complex or interesting as Batman or Iron Man. It’s a good movie, but it lacks the style and reality of other recent comic book blockbusters. Get Smart and You Don’t Mess With the Zohan: These are movies that made me LOL, but not LMAO. I think if I was a kid seeing these source: celebritywonder.com m o v i e s , I would have enjoyed them much more— the same way I loved Rush Hour 2 when I was ten. There’s nothing really wrong with these movies though, besides the fact they aren’t completely hilarious. Pineapple Express and Step Brothers: These movies, on the other hand, are movies that made me LMAO, but not ROFL. Comedies are hard to review, there’s nothing I can really say except that these were the standard R-rated comedies that come out every August and always make people laugh. It’s also funny when an elderly couple ends up seeing Pineapple Express for some reason and do not approve, like the couple in my theater. Tropic Thunder: This movie came the closest to making me ROFL, probably the funniest and most inven-
tive comedy this summer. Cruise gives his best performance since Rain Man and it almost made me respect Matthew McConaughey for two hours. Only the greatest movies can do that. Hellboy II: The Golden Army: This is a movie that I really didn’t want to see, but the movie I was going to see was too crowded, thanks to all the cheap moviegoers taking advantage of discount Tuesdays at Seaford Cinema, but it wasn’t bad. Hellboy is not everyone’s cup-of-tea because it is weird, but in a subtly funny, bizarre kind of way. The special effects are visually stunning, and it has a really catchy Barry Manilow song in it. One thing I didn’t understand was: why did all the citizens hate Hellboy so much? Yes, sometimes the people in Gotham don’t trust Batman because he bends the law, but Hellboy is clearly saving them, and the people just flat-out hate him. I didn’t see the first movie, so did I miss something? Wanted: Again, I didn’t really want to see this, I was actually planning on seeing a slightly different movie called WALL-E. But my friends wanted to see Wanted (get it?!) so sure. It ended up being an enjoyably kick-ass movie about a secret underground league of assassins led by Morgan Freeman. I never did end up seeing WALL-E, though. That’s kind of disappointing.
MHS Hall of Fame BY KEVIN MCCARTHY COPY EDITOR
For thirteen years, the Massapequa High Schools Hall of Fame has been honoring notable community members and Massapequa and Berner High School Alumni for their achievements and awarding scholarship funds to deserving MHS students. This year, the Hall of Fame inducted several new alumni. John Ames, MHS class of ‘66, is Chairman & CEO IPC Inc. of Virginia Beach, VA. Dorothy Meyer, Berner class of ‘73 , is the director and owner of a small private school. Marianne Millnamow, Berner class of ‘73, is President and Owner of CF Rutherford/Financial Office Design in New York. Linda Pfeffer MHS class of ‘62, is President and Founder of Aerobic & Fitness Association based in Los Angles, CA. Thomas Wagner, MHS class of ‘85, is Program Director Antarctic Geology of the National Science Foundation. Michael Watt, MHS class ‘77, is Executive Vice President of the Long Island Builders Institute. Albert Wilkening, MHS class of ‘63, is Major General Wisconsin Army and Air Force National Guard. Susan ZwangerMendelsohn, MHS class of ‘74, is Physician and Co-owner Zwanger- Pesiri Radiology. Hon. Jospeph Saladino MHS class of ‘79 is a New York State Assemblyman. In addition to alumni, the Hall of Fame also inducts community and Massapequa High School staff members. This year’s honorees are Pauline Koller (Massapequa teacher and admin-
istrator, 1964-98), Jamie Bogenshutz (Executive Director, YES Community Counseling Center), and Gene and Lillian Rumfield Bryson (lifelong community volunteers). The foundation, responsible for the glass case display in the MHS lobby, inducts several accomplished locals every year. The induction ceremonies annually consist of a golf tournament, followed by a dinner and induction ceremony. These events raise money for scholarships for graduating MHS students. Twelve two thousand dollar scholarships were awarded to MHS seniors. Winners included Christopher Franzese, Ashley Domingo, Edward Shanley, Gabrielle Yeager, Yesenia Reyes, Tara Annunziata, Megan Cohen, James Duerr, David Falcones, Kelly Kramer, Stephanie Post, and Shane Strumwasser. Along with annually awarding scholarships, the Hall of Fame awards grants to deserving curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities at both of the Massapequa High School campuses and A.G. Berner Middle School. The current 128 inductees include a diverse group of individuals. The Hall of Fame honors both people who have served the Massapequa School District and achieved notable success in their occupational fields, from business to science to entertainment. Massapequa High Schools Hall of Fame inspires spirit in the community and the school district, and inspires students with potential career choices by rewarding successful alumni.
ENTERTAINMENT
SEPTEMBER 2008
WARPED TOUR ‘08! vocals back at the singers. COPY EDITOR If concert goers were not watching the bands, they were probRunning on its fourteenth year, ably at one of the tents from the differthe Vans Warped Tour rolled by Nassau ent bands selling merchandise, which ranged from bandannas to booty shorts. Trucks from different companies such as Truth and Monster Energy Drink attracted kids to take a break from the heat of the concert. But the most popular truck by far was the free water truck, spilling out water and allowing fans to fill their water bottles at risk of photo by Dylan Floody purchasing a new waColiseum on July 26. The Warped Tour, t e r b o t t l e f o r f i v e d o l l a r s . founded by Kevin Lyman, has a strong On a post from WarpedTour. reputation of being one of the most com, Lyman commented, “This year’s diverse summer concerts ever to hit the tour has been one of the most difficult stage and this year did not disappoint. that we’ve ever had, and one of the Over fifty bands from different most rewarding at the same time.” genres such as punk, ska, rap, hardcore As a fan, I can say this was and pop were spread across six stages. one of the highlights of my summer. Fan favorites such as Gym Class Heroes, Say Anything, Angels and Airwaves, and the newly discovered bad girl Katy Perry rocked the main stages to hundreds of adoring fans. Other bands, such as Every Time I Die and Set Your Goals, saw fans crowd surfing and yelling BY KYLE FEE
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photo by Dylan Floody
THE CHIEF
TheVibe: A Look at Local Talent BY JAMIE DEFILLIPIS ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
The Wealthymen
(Alternative/Indie) www.myspace.com/thewealthymen Massapequa, NY Bryan Destefano - Guitar and Lead Vocals Mike Fursa Bass Guitar Scott Devito Lead Guitar Mark Valenski – Drums Influences: Against Me!, Band of Horses, Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie Venues played: Number of local backyards, Village Pub South (VPS) Upcoming Show: October 11th at Village Pub South in Amityville, NY “We love spreading and sharing our music out to the public and feel as if selling demos and EUP’s is unnecessary and in respect to that we have put our EP up for download online” - Mark Valenski
Score 24
(Punk/Rock/Pop Punk) www.myspace.com/score24band Seaford, NY Paul Ruess - Guitar and Vocals Joey Fox - Guitar and Vocals Rob Fox Bass Guitar and Vocals Ryan Linzer - Drums Influences: Elton John, Valet Parking, Push Play, Hannah Montana, The Jonas Brothers Venues played: Upcoming Shows: October 12th at Dave and Buster’s in Farmingdale, NY
Vision Through Sound
(Alternative/Rock) www.myspace.com/ visionthroughsound Massapequa, NY Andrew Krolikowski - Guitar, Vocals, Keys, and Bird Flute Franny Berkman - Guitar, Vocals, Keys, Bass, and Theremin Jason Briggs - Bass and Vocals Hugo Lopez - Drums and Precussion *Micheal McManus and Mike Sarna are featured on the albums* Influences: Radiohead, Elliot Smith, Tori Amos, Smashing Pumpkins, The Doors, Beck Venues played: Village Pub South (VPS), Sussex County Fairgrounds, as well as a number of local backyards Upcoming Shows: October 10th at Cabaloosa in New Paltz, New York October 18th at the Babylon Street Fair in Babylon, New York
The Killing Season
(Pop/Hardcore/Rock) www.myspace.com/thekillingseasonli Massapequa, NY Steve Sanders - Guitar and Vocals Chris Hertling - Bass Guitar and Vocals Keith Billstein - Guitar and Vocals Zach Olster Drums Influences: Set Your Goals, Verse, Have Heart, Four Years Strong Venues played: Vibe Lounge, and the Crazy Donkey
Life Between Sleep
(Pop/Hardcore/Rock) www.myspace.com/lifebetweensleep Massapequa, NY Nick Zinnanti - Guitar and Vocals Robbie Hassett - Guitar and Vocals Chris Blatchly - Bass Guitar Jeremy Scalchunes - Drums Influences: Thrice Venues played: Vibe Lounge, The Crazy Donkey, Taste of Chaos, Warped Tour ’08
Exemption
(Metal) www.myspace.com/Exemption Massapequa, NY
Tom Moran - Bass Guitar and Vocals Nick Lee - Guitar Ray Marte - Drums Influences: Black Sabbath, Pantera, AC/DC, Metallica, Allman Brothers, The Doors Venues played: Village Pub South (VPS), The Ultra Sound Lounge, Stinger’s Pub & venues throughout NC to FL Upcoming Shows: September 21st at Southpaw in Brooklyn, New York
WANT YOUR BAND TO BE FEATURED IN THIS COLUMN? E-Mail your band bio and a picture to mhsthechief@yahoo.com or stop by room 131!
THE CHIEF
SEPTEMBER 2008 OLYMPICS
United States Olympic Teams Go for the Gold BY BEN SKLAR SPORTS EDITOR
Since 776 B.C. the Olympics have been a tradition where worldclass athletes are challenged and only the best of the best prevail. Whether it is the strongest, the fastest, or the most composed, the winner is always defined in a different way. This year’s Olympics showed, as always, who really came with their “A” game. At the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, 302 gold metals were given out. Some were expected, some were upsets, however they all had a story behind them. The USA basketball team showed that it could dominate again, and became known as the “Redeem Team.” The Chinese showed they were a force to be reckoned with in Men’s gymnastics, winning every possible gold medal. And Usain Bolt of Jamaica showed that no matter where you’re from, anything is possible. But in the minds of many, eight gold medals truly stick out. Eight of these special gold medals have brought a sense of patriotism to families across America and drove life into the Olympics. Eight of these gold medals belong to the greatest champion the sport of swimming has ever seen. Eight of these gold medals belong to Mr. Michael Phelps.
The man with a body of a fish and the heart of a lion gave America a winner it has not seen since the glory days of Mark Spitz. Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in eight attempts while setting seven world records in the process. He became a star and was part of the most exciting moments in Olympic history. T h e 4x100 team relay was not only an event led by two powerhouse teams—France and United States—but a battle fueled by the mouth of Alain Bernard who guaranteed to
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
She may not have won eight gold medals, but Dara Torres was still a remarkable member of the US Olympic Swim Team at the 2008 Beijing games. At 41, Torres is the oldest Olympic
swimming medallist in history, a title that she already held at 33. The Beijing Olympics were her fifth games—she had competed previously in the 1984, 1988,1992 and 2000 summer Olympics.
source: beijing.cn
When the anchors entered the pool (Jason Lezak for Team USA, and Bernard for Team France) the French had the lead by a full body length. But with half of the pool left to go, Lezak suddenly crept up on Bernard and as they were tied heading down the stretch, a fingertip was the deciding factor. Lezak hit the
wall one-one hundredth of a second sooner than Bernard, giving the victory to the Americans, and keeping Michael Phelps’ dream alive. These games were significant for many reasons. Although Team USA did not finish with the highest number of gold medals, American pride was regained. Maybe it was Michael Phelps, or Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the U.S. women’s beach volleyball team who successfully won their second consecutive gold medal, the first time this has ever been done, or Phil Dalhausser and Paul Rogers of the men’s beach volleyball team who earned their first Olympic gold, or the “Redeem Team” that kept viewers interested. But whatever the reason may have been, the 2008 Beijing Olympic games hold a special place in Americans hearts and the historic moments will be talked about for decades to come.
Varsity Home Game Schedule
source: china.cn
Spotlight On: Dara Torres BY MARISSA CETIN
“smash the Americans.” As the race went on, it seemed the loudmouth Frenchman was going to be correct.
Coming out of her second retirement, Torres decided that having a child was not the end of her swimming career. She gathered a team of full-time trainers, including two stretchers, two massage therapists, and strength and spring coaches to get her back into top form. D e spite what many would think, Dara Torres was an asset to the swim team, rather than a liability. Not only did she win an individual silver medal by one one-hundredth of a second—the same amount of time that determined Phelps’ most source: nytimes.com controversial gold—but she also anchored the 4x100 medley and freestyle relay teams, which also won silver medals. In fact, Torres’s leg of the 4x100 individual medley was timed the fastest split in history.
Date
Time
Visiting Team
Girls Soccer 10/2 10/4
7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Sacred Heart HS North Rockland HS
Girls Field Hockey 10/2 4:15 PM 10/4 3:00 PM 10/7 4:15 PM 10/13 4:15 PM
Baldwin HS Friends Academy Great Neck South HS Wheatley HS
Girls Tennis 10/3 10/6 10/10 10/17
South Side HS Long Beach HS Hewlett HS Oceanside HS
4:15 PM 4:30 PM 4:30 PM 4:15 PM
Girls Volleyball 10/13 5:00 PM 10/20 5:00 PM 10/24 5:00 PM
Baldwin HS Plainview JFK HS East Meadow HS
Girls Swimming 10/21 6:00 PM South Side HS Meet held at SUNY Farmingdale Boys Football 10/18 11/1
1:30 PM 3:00 PM
Farmingdale HS East Meadow HS
Boys Varsity Golf 10/2 4:15 PM Wantagh HS 10/7 4:15 PM Island Trees HS* 10/14 4:15 PM Plainedge HS 10/16 4:15 PM Bethpage HS 10/17 4:15 PM Levittown Division All Matches at Bethpage State Park except 10/7 at Eisenhower. Boys Varsity Soccer 10/2 4:15 PM Oceanside HS 10/13 4:15 PM Farmingdale 10/21 4:15 PM Valley Stream Central HS All games at McKenna Elementary.