LION’STALE
Teens discuss how to run a photography business pg 16
OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • FEBRUARY 3, 2012 • VOLUME 52 • ISSUE 4
Will you be
Silenced by SOPA? SOPA SOPA
SOPA SOPA
SOPA
SOPA
SOPA
SOPA
Popular websites, like YouTube and Twitter, could soon become censored under the SOPA act. pg 5
02
( news sports )
THE LION’S TALE
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FEBRUARY 3. 2012
Extended senior lunch begins
THE SCOOP
Long senior lunches have begun this semester. From first lunch to sixth period, seniors are permitted to take an extended lunch. Long senior lunches occur on Wednesdays. Lunch begins around 10:34 a.m. Not all restaurants will be open at that time, so it is advised that students check opening times. Lunch ends after fifth period. Students are expected to be present to sixth period when it begins. The remaining long senior lunches are on Feb. 29, March 28 and April 25. There will be no Tuesday or Thursday lunches for those weeks.
Science Man:
Senior heads to global science competition
Donations for events needed
The Senior Project Committee is looking for donations for senior events like senior breakfast and Grad Bash. If you have any questions, please contact Denise O’Sullivan at (407)-712-3255 or at deniseosullivan12@yahoo.com.
Graduation fees due
Cap and gowns now need to be ordered. Seniors can go online and order their black cap and gown from www.herffjones.com. Along with cap and gowns, senior dues are being collected every Wednesday. The dues can be dropped off during lunch in the Commons. The $45 is used to cover graduation costs.
Valentine’s Day approaches The Fine Arts Department will be once again selling their traditional acting grams and singing valentines. The chorus has around 16 different options for songs and singers. There will be about five different acting grams. Both the singing valentines and acting grams will be on sale for $3 each in the Commons. Acting grams can be ordered from the drama room Students can also order singing valentines from the chorus room
photo/ALICIA POPE
GENIUS ON CAMPUS. Senior Neel Patel was recently chosen as a finalist in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).The international competition will take place in Washington, D.C. during March. Patel, one of 40 finalists, focused his project on an analysis of sound waves. Patel won second in the same competition last year. (right) Patel attended the Seminole County Science and Engineering Fair on Feb. 4. (above) Patel reviews his paperwork with Experimental Science teacher P. J. Kreahling. The project concerns how sonification can be used in learning. photo/COURTESY OF NEEL PATEL
State increases FCAT pass scores offering more after-school tutoring to help the students master subjects. “We’ll have to do whatever we can do to he Florida Department of Education released a ranking of all of the schools in whatever we can to meet their needs. We can’t see Florida. Oviedo High School ranked 62nd what they’ve missed, which is ludicrous. We only out of the 404 high schools, and earned a grade of see broad subjects, like Algebra and Geometry, and that’s how we know what we need to help the ‘A’ for the 10th time. Last year the state required a 50 percent students with,” Ridenour said. Hennessey, however, learning gain for the My teachers haven’t done thinks elective teachers lowest scoring 25 percent of the students. anything differently to prepare will need to be trained to teach reading classes. “To get an A, we us. We do FCAT practice, like “I think more electives needed to test 95% of reading passages and doing will end up being cut, our students, and have and more reading classes learning gains made FCAT Explorer online. I’ll will be taught by elective by the lowest scoring probably practice a bit more teachers. When I go to readers and math this year, just to prepare conventions, I see different students,” Principal teachers, like business Robert Lundquist a bit more. Corey Zucker, ‘15 teachers and Spanish said. teachers, getting readingOn Dec. 18, certified. It’s job security the Department of Education decided to raise the cut scores for each for them,” Hennessey said. According to an article written by Leslie Postal level of FCAT, which means students will need to in the Orlando Sentinel, “an estimated 7,000 more score more points to pass. “It’s going to be a lot harder for sophomores students would fail the 10th grade FCAT reading to pass. I don’t understand why they’re making exam.” Students, however, don’t seem to be feeling it harder for these students who are already struggling. It doesn’t help their ego at all. I hate it the pressure. “My teachers haven’t done anything differently because I get so emotionally involved with these students, and they get so frustrated and it just really to prepare us. We do FCAT practice, like reading lowers their egos,” Intensive Reading teacher Ed passages and doing FCAT Explorer online. I’ll probably practice a bit more this year, just to Hennessey said. Intensive Math teacher Ray Ridenour suggests prepare a bit more,” freshman Corey Zucker said.
by Stephanie O’Sullivan
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photo/WILLOW MASON
ACT YOUR HEART OUT.
Seniors Nakisa Behi, Ali Hartwig, and junior Justin Hall practice an acting gram for Valentine’s Day.
Many students will continue using online resources to prepare for the FCAT. “To prepare for FCAT, my teacher, Mr. Hennessey, had us do online stuff, like FCAT Explorer and Reading Plus. They really helped me prepare, because I felt like I knew what kinds of questions were going to be asked and how they were going to be asked,” junior Caroline Carpenter said. The school board is unsure, however, how the schools will be graded next year. “I don’t think that we really know yet the impact this will make. It’s still a work-in-progress in the legislature, so I can’t really say how the school will be affected until the legislature knows for sure how they will grade us,” Lundquist said.
stephanieo@thelionstale.com
School Grade Points Points for FCAT earned during the 20102011 school year for OHS’s “A” grade v 162 points for students scoring Level 3 or above on reading and math v 150 points for students making learning gains. v 134 points for the lowest-scoring students making annual learning gains. v 85 points for students scoring Level 4.0 or above on FCAT Writing. v 56 points for students scoring Level 3 or above on FCAT Science.
FEBRUARY 3, 2012 | news |
THE LION’S TALE
03
pinions differ on tardy policy
School will be implementing tardy sweeps this semester by Rachel Lo
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reshman Carlos Suarez hurries to “The first five minutes of class don’t biology teacher P. J. Kreahling’s class usually have that much meat already, so it from Debate teacher Deborah Jepson’s doesn’t really bother me that much when room in the back of building five. But when students come in late to class,” Voorhees the bell rings, Suarez only just arrives to the said. science building doors. Morgan, however, believes that being in “Sometimes I get to the Building 12 doors class for the whole period is important. right when the bell rings; I don’t have enough “I think students need to be in class from time. It takes me the whole five minutes to bell to bell. Teachers are, for the most part, get to class, and usually I get in the classroom teaching from bell to bell and every minute after the bell. If you’re close to the class the you’re in class is important. If the student you’re going to, if it’s on the other side of the was allowed to be five or 10 seconds late, that school, you shouldn’t be punished [for being just means that they’re mentally not there for five to 10 seconds during class. The rule’s tardy],” Suarez said. established to get This semester, students to class on Oviedo High School It is important to be in class time so we maximize will be implementing on time because of the the learning time on a new tardy policy for campus,” Morgan students. interruption and distraction said. “The tardy policy that you create when you Students such as is that the first time the come in late. junior Lawson Early student’s tardy to class, do not believe that they’re warned by the Dean Drew Morgan tardies are fair when teacher. The second compared to other tardy, the teacher contacts the parent. It might be a phone call or policies. “I don’t think tardies are effective because an email or a voice mail—some kind of parent contact. The third infraction, they’re given you can get nine unexcused absences and a referral to discipline. [Then] it starts with nothing bad happens, but if you get three one Wednesday school and then it ramps up tardies you can get a referral,” Early said. for each additional tardy,” Dean Drew Morgan Morgan disagrees with Early. said. “When you’re absent from class, you’re Art teacher Robert Lawarre cares when being punished because you’re not getting the students are late to his class. material that you would be learning in class, “It’s disruptive, because as soon as the bell and, quite frankly, you’re not distracting the rings I will be giving instructions for the class class by being absent. When you come in period right away, so that way they’ll have late, more often than not, you’re interrupting plenty of time to get to work,” Lawarre said. the class time, so, to me it is different. It is Because Lawarre’s classroom is so far important to be in class on time because of from some parts of the campus, he partially the interruption and distraction that you create understands when students can’t get to his when you come in late,” Morgan said. class in time. In addition to the new policy, tardy sweeps “I think part of it is understandable, but I will be implemented this semester. On certain know there are occasions where I’ve heard the days, teachers will be notified to lock their students talking to somebody outside of the doors when the tardy bell rings. Administrators hall or something like that. I give students the will then sweep the halls to check for those benefit of the doubt, but when it becomes a who are late. Anyone caught will be given an long-going issue it gets annoying. If it becomes automatic Wednesday school. a problem, usually I’ll talk to the students and “I think tardy sweeps are a good idea; usually it’ll work out,” Lawarre said. they’ll help. I’ve had students say that they’re Junior Tommy Anderson feels that the new having to watch it so they don’t get caught and tardy policy won’t be very effective, because in trouble,” Lawarre said. tardies do not distract him from learning. Voorhees feels that the tardy sweeps are a “The teachers I have know that students little extreme. aren’t really in class mentally until like five or “That’s kind of over the top, I think. six minutes,” Anderson said. Teachers should be able to understand if you’re Junior Tessa Voorhees agrees with five or 10 seconds late,” Voorhees said. Anderson. Suarez finds that five minutes is not enough
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photo illustration/LINSEY DUCA
AS THE BELL RINGS. Senior Omar Mulero races to chorus teacher Bill Schultz’s class. If there is a tardy sweep and Mulero is late to class, he will receive an automatic Wednesday school.
time to get to and from some classes. “It’s not true that you can get to and from anywhere in five minutes, because every single day I try to take the shortest route to second period [from building five to building 12] and I always get there even after the bell or right on the bell,” Suarez said. Morgan thinks that students have a sufficient amount of time between bells. “I’ve walked every route on campus, and I’ve walked them during passing times when all the students were out there. You can get from any place in this campus to the opposite side of campus in five minutes, though it may mean for that one period you’re not going to be able to stop and talk to your friends. But if you go directly from one class to another, five minutes is enough time,” Morgan said. Overall, Vorhees has mixed feelings about tardies. “I feel like if you don’t talk, you can get from class to class in the time. But teachers should also be kind of lenient. If you come in like five seconds late, you shouldn’t be punished,” Voorhees said.
rachell@thelionstale.com
Passing times for other Seminole County Schools Oviedo High:
5 minutes
Lyman High:
6 minutes
Hagerty High:
6 minutes Crooms AIT:
4 minutes
Lake Howell High:
8 minutes info courtesy/SCPS WEBSITES
04
| news | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
THE LION’S TALE
State requires online class for freshmen
Classes you’ll be taking online 391 On Jan. 13, freshmen
were asked which classes they think they will take
21%
Personal Fitness
15%
A foreign language
11%
Other P.E. courses
11%
Driver’s Ed.
5%
A history course
Gettin’
“I don’t think it’s fair to make [the class] a eginning this year, all incoming high requirement, because students should be able to school freshman are required to take do what they want,” Brickeen said. an online class in order to graduate. Freshman Matt Milon thought that the new Upperclassmen do not have this requirement, ruling was illogical. as it only applies to the future classes and the “There’s no point when the classes are current freshman class. already available Academic courses for us in school,” In today’s modern world, such as math and Milon said. science can be taken Only 21% of people now have an and completed entirely students said that opportunity to become more online at Florida they preferred online familiar with new technology. Virtual School. classes to in-school Zachary Miller, ‘15 The program is now classes, while 68% the largest state funded preferred a face-toonline school in the face setting. Only nation with 1,400 faculty members and offers 2% said that they have no preference. more than 110 courses on virtually anything. “I think it’s fair. In today’s modern world, The mandate will affect the 2015 classs people now have an opportunity to become and applies to all grade levels from elementary more familiar with new technology,” freshman school through high school. Zachary Miller said. The response among freshman concerning But he is a minority, as most students do not online classes is mixed. While some students support the mandate. are in favor of virtual school over traditional “I prefer the school setting, because you can schooling, a question for many is whether be with your friends. For me, it helps knowing it’s fair to make it a required course for that other people are doing the same thing,” graduation. freshman Eliza Benedick said. Freshman Sarah Brickeen does not support An argument against virtual school is that the new law. some believe it is harder to focus in a home
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Higgy with it
Large Hadron Collider searches for Higgs boson by Brandon Koller
R
by Chris Moskal
esearchers in labs deep underground spend millions of dollars and years of time looking for even the slightest sign of the so-called God particle, a key component to many models of the makeup of matter. The particle reveals itself only under very specific conditions, and only a few hundred
times in trillions of collisions. The slightest error in looking for signs of its existence might miss its brief appearance. This particle, the Higgs boson, is the reason behind the research in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Since 2008, this serves as the site of significant breakthroughs in determining the Higgs boson’s properties. In Dec. 2011, CERN revealed evidence detecting the particle’s mass, determined in gigaelectron-volts. The unit explains mass as energy, since the boson influences mass itself. Nick Thompson, a reporter for CNN, explains
setting as opposed to a classroom, where work is required with a teacher monitoring and assisting face-to-face. “You have access to online websites like Facebook and can get really distracted,” freshman Savannah Gilger said. Freshman Kavieta Patram said she would prefer classes in school because they are less time-consuming. Freshman Katie Rose has diffrent concerns. She worries that online courses will be to rigorous. “They’re harder to take because you need someone like a teacher to help you learn,” Rose said. The majority of freshman don’t intend on using Florida Virtual School for an academic core course, but for electives. The combination of dual enrollment and virtual school means that students may have many different paths through K-12 and the opportunity to take courses not offered at their school. It also could mean that some students may not have to come to school at all. Seminole County Public Schools is implementing a new program called ePathways which allows virtual school options for all academic courses, including schedules entirely taken online.
chrism@thelionstale.com
A (very) brief history of the Higgs boson • 1687
why finding the Higgs boson is so important. “While finding the Higgs boson won’t tell us everything we need to know about how the universe works, it will fill a huge hole in the Standard Model that has existed for more than 50 years.”
Newton publishes law of universal gravitation stating gravity attracts all things to one another
brandonk@thelionstale.com
Fantastic
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Four fundamental forces of nature defined in short 1. Gravitation Responsible for forces bringing
mass together
2. Electromagnetism
Responsible for electricity and magnets
3. Strong nuclear force Responsible for holding nuclei of WITH AND WITHOUT. The Higgs field (pictured as grid) exists everywhere in the universe, and matter (pictured as charge) distorts this field, gaining mass.
atoms together
4. Weak nuclear force Responsible for radioactivity
• 1962-64
Physicists, including Peter Higgs, propose the Higgs mechanism as explanation for gravitational fields
• December 2011
CERN scientists in Switzerland near the mass of Higgs boson, the particle of the Higgs mechanism illustration/WESLEY WYNNE
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
| news |
THE LION’S TALE 05
Congress shelves SOPA, PIPA but OPEN still under debate
Future of the Internet concerns students, teachers
by Harry Traber
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n Jan. 18, major websites such as Google, Wikipedia, and Reddit participated in a protest to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA). SOPA and PIPA, tabled by Congress for review, gained distrust in the public’s eye because of the power the bills gave the govenment and intertainment industry. Both bills lost the majority of their support as a result, and were shelved for review at a later date. Junior Shawnne Doling-Tye questions the government’s involvement in the regulation of the Internet. “I don’t think the government has the right to tell us what to do [on the Internet]. I don’t think the government has the right to do these things. I should be able to stream a movie, but not make digital copies I can give other people,” Doling-Tye said. Many think of PirateBay and MegaUpload as the major sites for piracy and many companies point to them as the major offenders for the piracy Congress intends to stop. Computer Science teacher Charles Williams does not condone the act of piracy, and believes that the entertainment industry does have claim to their intellectual property. “I think when we look at this, we must look at two ends of the spectrum. On the one side, you have Facebook and Google, and on the other end you have the entertainment industry. [Facebook] says, ‘Hey, I should not be punished for what our users are doing,’ and on the other side you have song writers who are saying, ‘Hey, that’s piracy,’” Williams said. Williams explains his feelings about a situation where copying a piece of intellectual property can be done legally. “If I have a CD, should I be able to rip [songs from] it and make a copy? If you share this copy with a friend, is it all right? I don’t think so. But if I have a CD in my car, and I have two cars, and I want to listen to it in my other car, should I always have to remove it from the one car? I don’t think so. If it (copying a piece of media) is for personal use, then it is fine,” Williams said. Sophomore Pranshu Bhardwaj agrees with Williams. “I do that personally [copy] music [for personal use]. I don’t feel like that’s the main problem, but sites like LimeWire need to be shut down. Someone needs to buy the music in the first place,” Bhardwaj said. Critics of SOPA and ACTA claim that they are too heavy-handed on how they punish
DRM
(Digital Rights Management)
Movies When studios produce a movie,
they use what’s called a Content Scrambling System, an encryption algorithm to protect the content on the DVD disk from being copied. Music Most music download services encrypt on a subscription basis. So long as one is subscribed, the service’s music plays on an approved device. Apple’s iTunes had its own DRM system until 2009. iTunes songs are now DRM-free once purchased. Games Many games limit the number of times it can be installed. This is done through a CD key which the company’s server verifies. Once the allotted number of installations expires, it becomes impossible to reinstall the game without a new CD key.
illustration/WESLEY WYNNE
websites. Senior Jordan Waring-Hartman thinks the way piracy and copyright issues are handled now is fine. “I agree with what [laws are] doing, because it’s [intellectual] property. But I’m against [the bills], because they’re limiting the vast majority of the Internet. From my understanding, they are taking down a bunch of file-sharing websites and places where you can post copy-written material, and they would be censoring a lot of popular websites,” Waring-Hartman said. What Waring-Hartman worries about is how SOPA and PIPA act on offending
websites. What SOPA and PIPA propose to do is to block the web addresses of sites that have been accused of promoting piracy or not doing enough to stop its users from pirating. The bills also allow funds to be frozen on sites like Visa and PayPal and file lawsuits against offending sites. Opponents like Waring-Hartman argue that SOPA and PIPA won’t end piracy, but hurt websites like YouTube and Facebook because piracy websites won’t actually disappear. iJust the URL web address will be blocked so that it won’t take you to the website. “It may not be easily accessible as it is
now, but people always find a way around it. On the unindexed Internet you can post anything,” Waring-Hartman said. He believes this because of the way SOPA and PIPA intend to stop piracy. SOPA works by taking the web address of sites like The Pirate Bay. Websites have a URL address we are familiar with, for example www.thepiratebay. com, and that web address links you to the IP address of the website itself The IP address is an Internet Protocol that tells your computer where to go. We have web addresses rather than IP addresses because it’s a lot easer to remember compared to a series of numbers, which is what makes up an IP address (for example, 255.255.255.255). However, supporters of the bills point to sites like MegaUpload as the largest advocates of piracy. As of Jan. 18, MegaUpload has been taken down. The same day, other Internet servers such as minecraft.org and servers to the online game Firefall closed in protest of SOPA and PIPA. Students like Bhardwaj feel that though SOPA and PIPA are too harsh, something does need to be done. “I feel like they were [too hard on websites], but there are obvious problems with piracy, big names like Bon Jovi are saying it’s killing the music business. Upcoming artists are having a lot of difficulty. Their music is being pirated and were losing real talent,” Bhardwaj said. Williams warns that even though SOPA and PIPA have been tabled, we should keep vigilant that similar bills are not passed in the future. “My hope is [SOPA and PIPA] have been tabled to be reworked, so they are less restrictive. As they work, they should look at ACTA as well, so the two laws are more complementary,” Williams said. In the wake of the Jan. 18 protests, California senator Ron Wyden proposed OPEN, which has received broad support from both Democrats and Republicans, as well as the support of Google. However, the bill has yet to secure the support of the entertainment industry. Waring-Hartman doubt any bill like SOPA or PIPA will pass. “I don’t think [SOPA and PIPA] are ever going to pass. If it does, it won’t be to the severity of what people are expecting, so I’m not worried,” Waring-Hartman said.
harryt@thelionstale.com
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THE LION’S TALE
| advertisements | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
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(opinion sports )
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
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THE LION’S TALE
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“Censor ship reflects soc iety’s lack of confidence in itself.” - Potter Stewart
Internet under LION’S OUR WORD
ATTACK
TALE
OV I EDO H I GH S C H OOL • 6 0 1 K I N G S T R E E T • OV I E D O, F L 3 2 7 6 5 • F E B RUA RY 3 , 2 0 1 2 •VO L U M E 52• ISSUE 4
ACTA, SOPA ignore purpose of Internet
A
ll across the globe, countries seek to inhibit their people’s freedom of speech and hand power to the select, privileged few who wield influence through their large companies. America sought to do so with the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Now the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) poses to do the same internationally. SOPA is a bill introduced by the House of Representatives that, if enacted, would restrict access to sites deemed to be infringing on copyright, shut down infringing websites without due process, and potentially require Internet service providers to track users’ IP addresses. This legislation is both supported and instigated by such groups such as the Motion Picture Association of America, which produce material easily transferred on peer-to-peer networking sites. ACTA is an agreement that would establish an international copyright law. It targets counterfeiting goods, generic medicines, and copyright infringement on the Internet. Numerous countries, including the United States and 22 members of the European Union have signed it so far. In effect, government wants to censor the Internet. They illustration/ WESLEY WYNNE have caved to pressure from wealthy companies that want to make more money. They have ignored the rights of their can never be completely wiped out. citizens. Furthermore, legislators must recognize the wider impact It took an outcry from the Internet community and an that these bills could have on the world as a whole. How can we Internet blackout to convince lawmakers to reconsider SOPA. expect other countries to keep their Internet open and free when On January 18, 2012, websites including Wikipedia, Reddit, we don’t? and 7,000 other sites went black in protest of the bill. The Internet is a forum for jobs. Online entrepreneurs have These bills target our rights as American citizens. Since the built lives based on companies operated on the Internet. According country’s inception, the United States has stood as a symbol to www.huffingtonpost.com, the Internet accounts for over 70 of freedom. The First Amendment percent of the global GDP and over three establishes the right to freedom of percent of America’s GDP. Enacting [SOPA and ACTA] speech. Internet censorship isn’t even effective. SOPA could be easily be abused Websites can be accessed through the would severely limit the rights to shut down websites that some numerical IP address even if search engines that we currently have. The influential companies have conflicts and Internet providers prohibit certain Internet cannot be limited with. Most of the content on the Internet web addresses. Any pirated content that is copyrighted in some way. Intellectual is taken off the web can be immediately without destroying its use as a property is a very tenuous business put back on under a different username or place for creative development. in both its definition and its defense. on a different site. The Internet cannot be Money has been given greater priority controlled. than freedom. Far more pressing issues currently Enacting this legislation would severely limit the rights plague Congress than copyright infringement. With a failing that we currently have. The Internet cannot be limited without economy, widespread unemployment, a war, and social issues destroying its use as a place for creative development. to deal with, the government’s attention could be better focused Censorship would demolish everything that the Internet stands elsewhere. for. The inherent problems in SOPA cannot be rectified. The broad People separated geographically can connect together language of the bill begs for ambiguous interpretation. through the Internet. It is a means of open communication. SOPA and other bills or trade agreements that attempt to SOPA would remove parts of the web. Copyright infringement emulate it must not pass.
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Editors-In-Chief Arianna Ray Stephanie O’Sullivan News Editor Harry Traber Opinion Editor Brandon Koller Features Editor Zoe Lyon-Goldman Diversions Editors Olivia Davila-Finch Carly Ford Sports Editor Andrea Dobo Advertising Editor Drake Dickerson Web Editors Amanda Ferguson Justin Mang Photographers Linsey Duca Colton Jaqueth Willow Mason
Staff Artists Jonathan Bohinsky Wesley Wynne Staff Reporters Leigha Bennett Andy Bosley Hafsa Hussain Trevor Khan Rachel Lo Ellen McCormack Chris Moskal Courtney Rothermich Alexis Sherwood Sarah Tripp Jessi Whitacre Faculty Adviser Deborah Jepson Admin Adviser Marcia Haskel Principal Robert Lundquist Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: 407-320-4199 Fax: 407-320-4213 Population: 2223 Students 165 Staff
Mission Statement
The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida. Our mission is to provide news, feature stories, editorials and opinions relevant to our readers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards. The Lion’s Tale follows copy standards outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd Edition, published in 2007 by the Associated Press, and is a member of the CSPA, NSPA, FSPA, and SIPA. Distribution
2500 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School. Subscriber information is available upon request. Reader Contributions
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THE LION’S TALE
TREVOR KHAN
| opinion | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Lack of scientific knowledge in Americans shock columnist
STAFF REPORTER
Stop worrying about romantic love on Valentine’s Day
trevork@thelionstale.com
HARRY TRABER
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NEWS EDITOR
he year is 1997 when Carl Sagan wrote Demon Haunted World. He recognized then what I’m seeing now. He recognized a decline in America’s understanding of science. As a society, we are losing our grasp on science. When I look around, I see that is true. Even in the news, pseudo science and general inaccuracies work their way into the headlines and these untruths root themselves in to our minds. Polls done by California Academy of Sciences and Princeton find embarrassing results regarding how we understand science. It’s hard to accept that about 47 percent of adults do not know the answer to or chose not to respond to the question of how long it takes the earth to revolve around the sun. But this is true 47 percent of people could not give a correct answer in regards to the length of time it takes for the earth to revolve around the sun. Where did we go wrong with our science programs? How did we allow ourselves to slip into an ignorance concerning science? The answer is illusively simple, and again, Carl Sagan beat me to the punch in spotting it. The answer is that our interest in true
ways to live and work. It is hard to think of ourselves as responsible for the upkeep of our world. It is always hard to do what is right, but it is necessary. America needs to return to its zeal for pushing into the future. Remember the space race? Figures like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates should be what every little tyke aspires to be. America needs to have its research and development departments be the top priority for companies and our future national welfare. It makes no sense that a capitalist society should want to stick to the old ways of energy, manufacturing, and transportation when superior methods for everything exist if we are willing to reach for it. Our habit of immediate gratification shouldn’t mean that we stick to our gas-guzzling hulks when with just a little more effort electric cars can be cheaper and still turn a major profit. What holds us back is our ignorance of science, our unwillingness to accept the facts presented. If we make a few simple changes to our selves then we will transcend out of our illiterate states to a level of understanding and enlightenment that makes a brighter future possible. The future literally rests in our hands. If we continue down our path of ignorance we will only see the numbers drop and the gap between the educated and the uneducated broaden. We must turn to science; we must accept an interest in the truth of the universe and look for the facts rather than just simply allow ourselves to be tricked or mesmerized by pseudo science, in short to live as a scientifically illiterate society. harryt@thelionstale.com
How science-savvy are you?
Find out if you can pass a test about general scientific knowledge with this quick quiz. 1. The sun revolves around the earth. True or False 2. The earth takes less than a year to revolve around the sun. True or False 3. Prehistoric humans and dinosaurs lived together. True or False 4. Turtles are amphibians. True or False 5. Water covers between 65% and 75% of the earth. True or False 6. The Sea of Tranquility is on the moon. True or False 7. Dinosaurs may have died off from a meteorite impact. True or False 8. Saturn is the biggest planet in our solar system. True or False 9. Hydrogen is the element with the chemical symbol ‘He’. True or False 10. The sun is the closest star to earth. True or False 8 to 10 Correct.....................You know your stuff! 5 to 7 Correct.......................You might want to review your science textbook. 1 to 4 Correct......................Do you even know what ‘science’ means? Answers: 1.False, 2. False, 3. False, 4. False, 5. True, 6. True, 7. True, 8. False, 9. False, 10. True
I
t simply must be said- we live in a depressing world. What am I talking about? Valentine’s Day is coming up or as I should say, Valentine’s and Singles Awareness Day. Do people out there really feel that bad for themselves? Am I the only one who witnesses it? Surely it can’t just be me. There are far too many whiners out there. “Nobody loves me, my life isn’t a romantic comedy, how can I live?” Give me a break. I feel like everyone’s thoughts are like an Easy A, Emma Stone narration except without the humor. Why is everyone so worried about having someone to be with on Valentine’s Day anyway? To me, Valentine’s Day is more superficial than a day in the house of the America’s Next Top Model girls! illustration/WESLEY WYNNE “Hey, I love you. Here’s some chocolates. I gave you something; it proves that I love you.” It’s all about gifts over affection. What ever happened to, I don’t know, romance? It’s only appropriate for Valentine’s Day, wouldn’t you agree? The good old days, where people would go to extreme lengths just to show their love, are over. No more laying out flowers on someone’s lawn in the form of a romantic phrase, or an important question. Nowadays it’s all just filling your ‘love’ with food and stuffed toys. Half of the participants in Valentine’s Day’s “love” are too young to even comprehend what love is. To me, love isn’t a person who you kiss and hug but then have absolutely nothing to talk about. A person you should love is a person who you can relate to. A person you can’t see your life without. Someone you’d take a bullet for, and someone who’d do the same for you. But I’m certain that even after reading this column, the day will go as usual with the beautiful souls of people everywhere crushed when there isn’t a companion by their side. Even the lonely shouldn’t be sad on Valentine’s Day. The person that should be loved will be there as long as you are—and that is yourself.
science as opposed to pseudo science is very poor. Americans are simply more inclined to believe that crop circles are from an alien race than that evolution is a rational explanation for how modern species came to exist. It’s hard to blame ourselves when in the history of our world magic and sorcery have always been a prevalent explanation for what we do not understand, and that is far more fantastic an explanation that the sometimes mundane answers that science provides. Many students find the sciences to be the most intimidating classes available. Much to the frustration of the teachers this is shown in classrooms. The “Deer caught in headlights” look plagues all classrooms but no subject more than science. The root of our trouble is not in education but in our society. We the people are the problem. Our society, for some reason, finds it acceptable for a small number to understand science and even love it while the vast majority has an ignorant fear and disdain for science. Often I find that when a problem arises and humans are found to be the source of an issue our society flocks to some politician somewhere to reassure us we are not at fault. We should not do this! It is wrong to wallow in ignorance while trying to convince ourselves that we are not to blame for many of our planets woes and that we can do nothing to fit more nicely with the environment while improving it as well as our quality of life. It is harder to look at a problem and find a solution outside of destroying or dominating it. It is hard to take initiative to look for cleaner
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
| opinion |
Too young for
tiaras
H
STAFF REPORTER
ow is it possibly possible that child beauty pageants are allowed to legally exist in this country? Oh wait, this is the same country where teenage girls bring hair straighteners to school to straighten their hair during lunch. Allowing young girls to compete in beauty pageants does not set a good precedent for the future of America (although America is pretty much a train looking for a cliff to fall off of at this point). Many of the parents who allow their eight-year-old daughters to parade around in makeup and $600 dresses may cite boosting their daughter’s self-esteem, poise, and confidence as the reason for letting their child compete in beauty pageants. I believe that those parents are psychos who may have been dropped on their head as a baby and/or perversely want to live vicariously through their daughters because their own dreams were crushed as a child. I would like to meet a pageant mom who could justify the actions of letting
Vote like your life depends on it illustration/WESLEY WYNNE
her daughter wear makeup and high heels that resemble a hooker. These girls try to appear “grown up” by wearing provocative gowns that I don’t even see at Homecoming, complete with boas and tiaras, of course. One mom even let her daughter get Botox injections (and you thought Asian tiger moms were bad.) Britney Spears doesn’t need to corrupt young girls anymore—they now have their moms for that. Child beauty pageants do not empower young girls in any way. What positive message do child beauty pageants send? Young girls should dress up like bobblehead Bratz dolls and become catty and spoiled? What to do they accomplish and contribute to society? Perhaps a good crime investigation on the murder of a pageant mom on CSI, but hardly anything more. These pageant toddlers try to emulate real pageant girls, but without being able to provide age-appropriate responses to questions; in other words, they have no brains. They must be brainwashed or something, because I bet a monkey could give a better answer than “Because I want money” to the question “Why do you want to win?” I can’t even believe that these girls compete in swimsuit competitions. Why or how it’s even allowed, I do not know. To me, it’s just sick and wrong in so many ways. I think the Toddlers and Tiaras judges are pedophiles. Seriously, what non-disgusting person would want to watch five-year olds
parade around in bathing suits. Ew. Just, ew. So much emphasis on child beauty pageants is put on, well, the beauty. These girls are more conceited and vain than some of the teenagers I know, which is saying a lot. The mothers that make these poor children wear oodles of lipstick and eyeshadow are despicable. I don’t know any sane mom who’d even want their daughter to wear makeup, quite frankly, and the pageant moms go far beyond makeup, too, like forcing their daughters to get their eyebrows plucked and waxed. Again, why? I wish I could know what drives these moms to do such things, but I don’t think I want to go inside the mind of a psychopath. In addition to acting more vain than teenage girls, the pageant girls also act more dramatic. They throw tantrums over absolutely ridiculous things, and bawl their eyes out over not winning. Hate to disappoint you, little girl, but, winning a coloring contest is more of an accomplishment than winning a pageant. It is so frustrating to see these little girls like this, almost as frustrating as the parents who allow their children to do such things. As entertainingly unrealistic as it may be, I’ll just say “no” to Toddlers and Tiaras. I’d almost rather watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
rachell@thelionstale.com
What do you think of child beauty pagents?
David Brickeen
“
‘13
Oh, those things are ridiculous.
”
David Brickeen, ‘13
“
Rowena Camacho
09
STEPHANIE O’SULLIVAN CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Psycho parents push child beauty pageants
RACHEL LO
THE LION’S TALE
Thessa Lim ‘12
‘13
They make children grow up too fast; they don’t let them live their lives.
”
Rowena Camacho ‘13
“
If you want to torture your kids then put them in a beauty pagent. Thessa Lim, ‘12
”
S
ome of you will fail to vote in this upcoming presidential election, I’m sorry to say. Don’t try to deny it. I hear students complaining in the hallways on the way to class, “I’m just one vote,” “It doesn’t really matter if I vote or not,” and the one that drives me crazy, “It’s not like it really affects me anyway.” Here’s how it could affect you: student loan availability, job opportunities after college, whether you will be able to afford a house some day, and, God forbid, you need to have surgery and you don’t have health insurance. The next president will weigh in on every one of those issues. Who you chose will change your life. Another way that the upcoming election may affect you is, of course, the new president’s views on education. On Nov. 19, 2011, Gabriel Trip wrote an article in The New York Times about Newt Gingrich’s rather interesting and rather delusional idea. To save money in poverty-stricken districts, Gingrich suggested firing the janitors and hiring students as young as nine years old to mop the floors and clean the bathrooms. Good one Gingrich. The candidates’ views on abortion could also impact some students. On Jan. 23, 2012, The Huffington Post published a piece about Rick Santorum’s views on abortion, where he said he is strongly opposed to abortion, especially in cases of rape. He would like the pregnant women to “make the best out of a bad situation.” Did you actually mean to say that? Poor old Mitt Romney doesn’t know where he stands any more; he hasn’t decided today if he’s for or against abortion. Gingrich, however, does. No abortions at all. Views on the economy also threaten to absolutely everyone. Obama has had to deal with high unemployment rates. Whether you believe he is the man to lead us out of this mess is your call but don’t pass it up by not voting. So don’t say your vote doesn’t count. Don’t even say the election doesn’t affect you. Believe me, students, it will.
stephanieo@thelionstale.com
10
THE LION’S TALE
| opinion | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
THE GREAT DEBATE:
PRO BRANDON KOLLER
OPINION EDITOR
Virtual schooling adapts to future students’ needs
T
echnology always shapes our world – right now, digital innovations connect billions and drastically change the future job market. Schools must adapt to this alwayschanging, ever-more-digital society to ensure students function effectively. Therefore, incorporation of more technology such as virtual classes becomes a necessity to accomplish a purpose of creating productive, valuable members of society. Virtual classes far exceed the limitations of typical classrooms – they easily adapt to meet individual students’ needs. Rather than a regular class structure with one assignment per day – no room for missing any of them – virtual schooling allows those several assignments to be turned in at any point in the span of a week. “Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning”, a report for the U.S. Department of Education comparing results from over 1000 studies, cited significant learning boosts from both purely online and combinations of online-and-offline curriculums over face-to-face, standard interaction. Students in both purely online and purely classroombased curriculums performed nearly equally. This means that requiring online classes becomes a matter of much more human factors. Virtual school certainly has convenience on its side. Online classes can be attended anywhere with an Internet connection, at any schedule, so long as the work gets done. Want to hit up the beach for a day or go on a month-long vacation? Virtual classes completely permit this, so long as work gets done. Rather than a structured, incompatible schedule, online coursework’s freeform nature allows for freedom of choice – a fantastic goal for education. Of course, some students slack off in virtual courses but this occurs in face-to-face teaching as well. The problem of motivation stems not from online coursework but coursework itself. Unless schools completely disappear, only one solution exists: make coursework as accessible and convenient for students as possible. Tablet PCs run extremely cheap, much more so than a full seven courses of textbooks, and loaning these to students without Internet connections solves another problem for the county. Online courses provide a second benefit: students integrate technology into their workflow. In a world where every employer expects proficiency with a variety of technology, allowing students numerous technical bonuses to their skill set only helps our next generation of workers. In a time of outsourced jobs and global corporations, when applying for a job might mean competing with thousands across the world, that extra techno-wizardry may be the one thing that puts Florida’s students a step above the competition. The benefits of online coursework simply number too many to pass this opportunity up. The rest of the world grows every day, and Florida schools must do their absolute best to stay ahead. Virtual schooling provides that boost above the competition.
brandonk@thelionstale.com
Should online classes become a requirement?
Quick Draw Promoting a change “Want to hit up the beach for a
day or go on a month-long vacation? Virtual classes completely permit this so long as work gets done. Rather than a structured, incompatible schedule, online coursework’s freeform nature allows for freedom of choice – a fantastic goal for education.”
photo illustration/BRANDON KOLLER
Conserving the now “Not every student will have the work ethic and intrinsic motivation to get on a computer every day and do their allotted work. Instead of requiring freshmen to take these online classes, let’s instead make a greater nonrequired push for freshmen to take online classes.”
CON HARRY TRABER
NEWS EDITOR
Online classes can help but requirement goes too far
T
he movement for technology in classrooms is wonderful – it’s the best thing that any school system can do. When students have the latest and greatest, they perform at the highest levels. Technology provides students with an ample and appropriate opportunity to access the world. With the advent of virtual realities on iPads and every sort of computer, students have the opportunity to apply the skills they are learning and reinforce everything with experience. This is the future of education: students with nothing but a tablet, and every bit of work is simultaneously shared peer-topeer in an interconnected community driven towards learning. At the moment, we have something pretty close to that – Seminole County and Florida Virtual Schools. An excellent program to offer, but it should not be required. Don’t get me wrong; I see where the county is coming from, requiring the freshmen of this year and every year after them to take a course online raises awareness of the opportunity and gives an experience that would not otherwise occur in a classroom setting. However, it should not be required because not every student is ready for the freedom and distraction that online courses provide. In some cases, the web can’t replace the real experience. Driver’s Education is a popular choice amongst freshmen. Rumor has it that Driver’s Education is an easy course and taking it lowers your family’s auto insurance rate. This is one course I point my finger at as a class that should not be taken online. Shortcuts and loss of real experience do not make safe drivers. That is why the DMV took to option to take the drug and alcohol safety and driver’s exam off the Internet. There are other courses that don’t have a place online. Personal Fitness is one of them. When students take Personal Fitness in the school they do activities like play soccer, run the mile, learn the correct way to do exercises with free weights and nautical equipment. In the classroom they read about nutrition out of books and listen to lectures from wonderful teachers like Coach Kevin Mathews. When students take the class online, those that pass may have not performed the actual physical tasks. This is unheard of inside the class room, where those who do not dress out fail. Not every student will have the work ethic and intrinsic motivation to get on a computer every day and do their allotted work. Instead of requiring freshmen to take these online classes, let’s make a greater non-required push for freshmen to take online classes. So far as I know, every high school has a video production group. The county could create a video or have each school create a video to advertise. The counselors pass out forms in class and spending more time talking with classes about virtual school. They could use images of students in pajamas reclined on their couches munching on bagels as they work on their schoolwork. That should fill their desire to integrate more students into their online classes without inviting the host of problems that comes with making it a requirement.
harryt@thelionstale.com
(features sports )
FEBRUARY 3, 2012 |
Sweet
KEEP ON TRUCKIN’
‘13 Ghali, k c i r r tlass Me bile Cu o m s ld 1970 O •
changed the radiator, brake booster, and master cylinder added a spoiler in the back
‘12 shorn, s t r a H ith hr Steven o 2 ss w amar
2011 C
by Sarah Tripp all photos/DUCA,, JAQUETH
DREAM COME TRUE. Sophomore Austin Blanchard works on the engine for his Toyota Landcruiser that he and his father are building from scratch.
Auto project binds father to son F our to six hours of blood, sweat, and tears consume every day of sophomore Austin Blanchard and his father’s life. Working constantly trying to get their Toyota Landcruiser fj40 finished by the end of the year. “It’s original in itself, and a lot of modifications and man hours have been put into this truck. That’s really what makes it so unique,” Blanchard said. Although Blanchard and his father started working on the truck when he was younger. “It’s always been my dad’s, and my hobby. I guess it was just growing up with him and seeing his love for trucks, I was like ‘Oh, I want to do that one day’,” Blanchard said. His father, wanting a father son project to get closer to his son, decided building a truck would do the job. “When I was born, I guess times were a little bit tough, he had a good job, but babies are expensive. He made the decision to sell his first truck ever, and he kept the barn truck. His dream was to have a father and son project, and really spend time with each other and build it up. And he really wanted that ever since he knew that my mom was pregnant,” Blanchard said. Blanchard has most of the parts for his truck already, but horse-trading, trading parts with others with the same type of truck, is crucial because it is a rare truck. “We had most of the body parts. We do a lot
of horse-trading, and Craigslist is a big thing. I just made a deal with a guy for a brand new softtop for like $60. And they’re like a 150 on the Internet, and still brand new,” Blanchard said With all of these parts he needs to buy for his truck, all the money adds up quickly. According to Blanchard, building a truck costs a lot more than buying a new one. “It’s just so much money. It has extra parts, custom made, has sentimental value, all this stuff that could never touch a brand new car,” Blanchard said. The truck is different from the others because of the quirks that make it one of a kind, including the kind of fuel needed to run the truck. “We’re deciding if we want to ride it on alcohol, or high octane. Alcohol is a very fast burning, high reacting, and a little bit unstable. It’s actually kind of dangerous. When that goes boom, it goes boom and there’s no stopping it,” Blanchard said. Jet fuel could be potential fuel source for Blanchard’s truck. “I think it’s a little easier to get thanks to our local airport, the Sanford airport, you can go there. We have a buddy with that license that can get that fuel. It’s five dollars a gallon. It’ll probably get about six miles to the gallon,” Blanchard said. Blanchard and his father disagree on ideas for the truck. “We share ideas but a lot of the times one of
11
Rides
•
by Sarah Tripp
THE LION’S TALE
us doesn’t like the idea. We’re both really hard headed, which isn’t a good thing,” Blanchard said. Blanchard finds joy in the hard work that goes into building the truck because the rewards are worth it in the end. “You look and you see ‘Wow this is a whole entire different truck then what it used to be years ago, or even weeks ago.’ Everything on that truck is very hard to do, but the easiest thing about that truck it sitting there and enjoying it,” Blanchard said. Hoping to be finished within the year, Blanchard and his father have plans for their truck. “We set a time line, within the summer, so we could go beach cruising,” Blanchard said. Family and friends support this project because they’ve been around it for years. “They all have memories about it, and the new one’s going to be even better,” Blanchard said. This truck has come to mean a lot to Blanchard and his father over the years. “The sentimental value is because of him, I want to get this done and finish it for him. I almost feel like I have to owe it to him. He says it’s my truck, but it’s ours, if not his. He made a big sacrifice for me,” Blanchard said.
saraht@thelionstale.com
In the process of installing: • new grille • exhaust components • interior LED lights
, usante Alan M Teacher mics Econo 2000 2004 S • • •
two seater very fast corners well
12
THE LION’S TALE
| features | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Not everyone is doing it
Students choose to abstain from sex Key Male = male Female = female
50 %
40 %
30 %
20 %
‘88
‘95
‘02
S
by Jessi Whitacre
‘10
Percentage of 15- to 17-year-olds who have had sex has fallen since 1988 according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
photo/COURTESY OF HERITAGE.ORG
A IS FOR ABSTINENCE. Many studies have shown a correlation between high grade point averages and abstinence from sexual activity.
ophomore Elizabeth Phillips* smoothed her skirt and tentatively took a seat on the cold floor of the upstairs in building 13. She took a deep breath, and slowly looked around the empty hallway. “I could be like any of them with just five minutes of sex, but them? They can never be like me again.” photo/COLTON JAQUETH She is one of an increasing number of high school students BETTER TO WAIT. A high percentage of teens believe that waiting who willingly make the decision to abstain from sex. “People sometimes think that if I have sex, I’ll be disowned to have sex is better. Some even get purity rings to show their dedication to abstinence until marriage. or that my parents are forcing me, but it’s really my personal decision,” Phillips said. Since 1988, teen sexual activity has plunged. Although Phillips said. experts speculate as to the cause, no one reason has been Although these students are confident in their decision and pinpointed. are proud of themselves for committing to their choice, it is not However, Phillips chose to share her thinking. always easy to remain true to it, Phillips said. A major factor in Phillips’ determination to remain true to “It’s just the fact that after having sex, I’d have to go home her decision to abstain is the influence of her Christian religion and face my parents,” Phillips said. and being raised in a religious family, Phillips explained. Wilkinson urges fellow students to abstain because of the Another Christian student, sophomore Ashley Wilkinson, benefits that come with it, such as better emotional stability, also remains abstinent due to influence from her religion. self-respect, and a better reputation with people at school, “I think that you should not have sex before you get married, teachers, and other adults in the community. because I think it’s a holy thing. I feel Wilkinson also encourages students that when you get married, it is very to talk to someone they really trust about I can be like them with just five sacred between you and your husband it, since every situation is different, and minutes of sex. But them? They only. I just feel that it is something others could really help with making you should share with your husband the decision. can never be like me again. and not with other people. I believe in “I feel like a lot of times, teenagers Elizabeth Phillips*, ‘14 Jesus, and I believe that Jesus created feel like they’re just so in love, and marriage to be holy, and I don’t think they’re both putting pressure on each it can be if [students have sex before other to [have sex] because there is marriage],” Wilkinson said. really nowhere to go in a serious relationship when you’re so Influences to remain abstinent can also come from real life young,” Wilkinson said. examples that friends or family members set for one another. In addition to the benefits Wilkinson mentioned, there may Phillips found an additional reason to abstain from the be other positives to abstaining from sex. example set for her by several close family members who An article published in The New York Times in 2010 states became pregnant at young ages. that students who abstain are more likely to make higher “When my mother was 15, she had to have an abortion. grades. Two months later, she [did it again and was] pregnant with my A study done on heritage.org shows that women who waited older brother. Then, the same thing happened with my oldest until their early 20s to have sex are more likely to be in a stable brother. He got his girlfriend pregnant when she was the same relationship when they’re older, and also reports that women age my mom was [when she got pregnant]. For me, I’ve seen who waited had better financial situations, lower numbers of their struggles with those things, and how hard it was for them. partners and fewer STD’s and STI’s. It really spoke to me, though, that one mistake could really “Losing your virginity means giving someone a piece of change the rest of my life,” Phillips said. you that you can never get back. In the end, it’s everyone’s own Although there are various factors in life that can influence decision, so just use your head and follow your heart,” Phillips students’ decisions about their sex lives, Phillips advises them said. to make it a more personal and emotional choice. *Names Withheld “When it comes down to [choosing whether or not to abstain], you have to decide with personal, real-life experiences. You Editor’s Note can’t just take it from a book. Anyone can give their virginity This is the first of a two-part series about teenage sexual activity. up. It’s not that hard to find a desperate guy,” Philips said. “But, would he ever talk to me again? Would it be a lasting jessiw@thelionstale.com relationship? Those are the things girls aren’t thinking about,”
“
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FEBRUARY 3, 2012
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THE LION’S TALE 13
14 THE LION’S TALE
| news | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
ELECTION
Which candidate do you prefer? 60
58 48
22 12
ma
ba
mn
Ro
kO
m ru to an kS Ric l au nP h Ro ric ng Gi wt Ne ey
tt
Mi
rac Ba
Poll taken on 2/7 of 200 students
What political party do you belong to?
Democrat 30% Poll taken on 2/3 of 150 students
of seniors plan to vote this November Poll taken on 2/3 of 150 students
R Party- Democrat. R Economy- Supports reforms to crack down on Wall Street and help small businesses. R Health Care- Instituted Affordable Care Act. Aims to insure all Americans. R Foreign Policy- Encourages negotiation and cooperating with other nations. Wants to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. R Immigration- Voted to authorize the construction of a fence along the border but sympathizes with immigrants. R Gay Marriage- Backs the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. R Abortion- Pro-choice. Opposes repeal of Roe vs. Wade.
R Pa R Ec th bu R H he R Fo ap “s R Im bo w R G m R A an
R Party- Republican. R Economy- Would like to eliminate the Federal Reserve and return to the gold standard. R Health Care- Wants to repeal health bill and expand insurance across states. R Foreign Policy- Criticizes expansionist policies. Advocates focusing military on defense. R Immigration- Opposes amnesty for undocumented immigrants and requiring businesses to verify status of employees. R Gay Marriage- Believes in traditional marriage but wants states to decide. R Abortion- Pro-life. Supports abortion being decided by the states.
Republican 34%
74%
Mi
Ron Paul
Other 5%
Independent 31%
Barack Obama
How
Scoreboard Leaders Percent of approval
All voters mu
Barack Obama*
50%
1. Fill out the
Mitt Romney
39%
2. Print out c
Newt Gingrich
25%
3. Sign the ap
Ron Paul
19%
4. Mail it to S
Rick Santorum
15%
5. The Super least 29 da
Candidate Name
*Presidential approval rating- not associated with GOP poll info courtesy/WWW.GALLUP.COM
FEBRUARY 3, 2012 | news |
N CENTRAL
What is the most important issue in this election?
Compiled by Arianna Ray
Rick Santorum
itt Romney
Party- Republican. conomy- Wants to curb federal deficit hrough cutting spending, capping the udget, and setting a 25 percent income tax. Health Care- Supports repeal of the ealth care passed by Obama. oreign Policy- Criticizes Obama’s pproach and seeks to pursue a strategy of strength.” mmigration- Would like to secure the order and give green cards to educated workers. Gay Marriage- Advocates to define marriage as between a man and woman. Abortion- Pro-life but refused to sign nti-abortion pledge during the campaign.
THE LION’S TALE 15
R Party- Republican. R Economy- Supports reducing corporate tax to zero for manufacturing companies. R Health Care- Wants a patientcentered approach to health care. R Foreign Policy- Favors interventionist approach to wars and supports War on Terror. R Immigration- Speaks out against policies that give government services to undocumented immigrants. R Gay Marriage- Endorses federal definition of traditional marriage. R Abortion- Opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest.
John Baker ‘15
“
I think the most important issue is getting tourism back to Florida and getting NASA running again.
”
Newt Gingrich
Jacob Parsons ‘12
R Party- Republican. R Economy- Supports Bush-era tax cuts and wants to eliminate capital gains taxes, estate tax, and lower the corporate tax rate. R Health Care- Want to repeal current bill and allow insurance to be sold across state lines for a pro-jobs health plan. R Foreign Policy- Criticizes current plan as lacking a comprehensive vision. R Immigration- Advocates border control, panels to decide who is deported, and making English the official language. R Gay Marriage- Favors law or amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. all illustrations/WESLEY WYNNE R Abortion- Anti-abortion.
w To Register To Vote
info courtesy/CNN.COM/ELECTION/2012
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The economy.
”
Jamie Cairns ‘12
“
I think the legalization of gay marriage is important.
”
ust be a citizen of the United States, a Florida resident, 18 years or older, and have a valid driver’s license.
e Voter Registration Application online at election.dos.state.fl.us or print the form and fill it out in ink.
completed form and verify that all information is correct.
pplication. It must be an original signature, as you are swearing an oath.
Seminole County’s Supervisor of Elections at 1500 E. Airport Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773.
rvisor of Elections will mail you a voter information card within two weeks.You must be registered for at ays before you are able to vote. info courtesy/ELECTION.DOS.STATE.FL.US
Jackie Reich ‘12
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Unemployment.
”
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THE LION’S TALE
| features | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Junior says ‘Love what you do’ by Courtney Rothermich
flexible schedule. “It’s really nice having the ability to be flexible enior Kevin Price balances high school with an up-and-coming photography and for the most part be able to make your own business that he runs with fellow senior schedule. Additionally, it’s a bittersweet feeling not to have a boss and have to follow directions,” Jessica Valdes. “We were on Park Avenue in Winter Park, Price said. Price creates his own schedule, so school Florida having lunch and taking pictures for her photography class at school. All of a sudden I does not interfere with the business. “For the most noticed that we both part, no [it does not really enjoy taking Having this business has taught interfere with school]. pictures. ‘Why don’t we I work mostly only on start a business?’ That’s me to be more open and to weekends so school basically what sparked have paitence with people. doesn’t really get in the idea,” Price said. Kevin Price, ‘12 the way, although postOver the next processing tends to few weeks, Price take a long time,” Price and Valdes began said. their business, Urban Focus Photography. Price learned valuable lessons from running “We started by advertising to friends and asking people to model for us in photo shoots for free a business. “Working on deadlines [is the most difficult just so we could get some experience and some part of running the business]. People want work to advertise with,” Price said. These days, Price and Valdes advertise their pictures as soon as possible. I’m a very overbearing, fast-paced person, and I always through Facebook and word of mouth. “We advertise mainly through Facebook, want things my way, and having this business people we’ve done shoots for in the past, and I has taught me to be more open and have patience have postcard-sized flyers I hand out. Facebook with people,” Price said. Price advises everyone who is looking to is the biggest, though! People typically like to use the pictures for Facebook so all I ask is that start a business to go for it. “I would say if you have something you’re they put a link to our page or our information on really passionate about and enjoy doing it, just the caption for the pictures,” Price said. Price enjoys running a business with a go for it. There isn’t anything wrong with taking
S
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photo/COLTON JAQUETH
CAPTURING THE MOMENT.
Senior Kevin Price focuses his camera to take a photo for his business.
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chances, and if it doesn’t work out, it’s okay,” Price said. Junior starts event business Junior Erin Hoag also has a growing photography business, Ayrn Hoag Photography, which she started this school year. “This year I didn’t play anything in band but I was still in the class. I started taking pictures at practices and they turned out really well,” Hoag said. Hoag is in the process of starting her business, and prefers photographing events and scenery. She advertises mainly by word of mouth and Facebook. In her business so far, Hoag has had many rewarding experiences. “Just the other day, I took pictures for my friend who is making a rap album, and I took his cover photos. It was really awesome. He’s also telling people about me and it’s really helping,” Hoag said. In the future, Hoag hopes to take pictures for Color Guard and become more well-known. Hoag’s advice for starting a business is to find something that you enjoy doing. “Just do something that you love and something that you have fun doing. If you do something that you don’t really like that much, [running a business] is not that great,” Hoag said
courtneyr@thelionstale.com
FEBRUARY 3, 2012 | features |
THE LION’S TALE
Does absence make
17
the heart grow fonder? Teens share their experiences with long-distance relationships by Ellen McCormack
F
rom the outside, Senior Jessica Flachner and Junior Kim Abney may look like they don’t have much in common. Abney is a member of the school’s Color Guard while Flachner is involved with the First Baptist Church of Oviedo. However, both girls are strikingly similar, because they both suffer from being separated by hundreds miles from someone they love. Abney met her boyfriend, Brian Barlow, while skiing at Welch Ski Resort in Minnesota. “He is one of my cousin’s best friends and I was skiing with [my cousins]. When I got off a ski lift, I fell onto him,” Abney said. Barlow lives in Red Wing, Minnesota. Flachner met her boyfriend, Joshua Clark, in a more subtle way. “His middle school and high school youth ministers transferred from Ohio to our church, and he visited them because his family was close to the ministers. We met at Mission Interact at the First Baptist Church of Oviedo,” Flachner said. Clark lives in Ohio and is homeschooled. Both Abney and Flachner’s relationships were unanticipated, but they are make the sacrifices that a long-distance relationship presents. “I am in a long distance relationship because I love him [Barlow] and it’s worth waiting to see him every six months,” Abney said. Flachner’s reasons for committing to a long-distance relationship are similar to Abney’s. “It just happened that way; I didn’t ask for it. When you meet the right person and are in the right relationship, you are willing to make sacrifices,” Flachner said. According to Abney and Flachner, it can be difficult to cope with long-distance relationship, especially from an early age. Clark is Flachner’s first real boyfriend and she finds it hard to deal with immense distance that separates them, but she manages it with a positive attitude. “You have to have a lot of faith, trust, and communication [for a long-distance relationship]. It also helps that we have the same religious views, as Christians,” Flachner said. Abney’s approach to take her mind off of vast space between her and Barlow is staying distracted. “I stay involved with school and Color Guard and try not to think about the distance,” Abney said. With the amount of technology today, it is easier to stay connected for Abney and Flachner. “We talk on the phone a lot and Skype sometimes. We also write letters every once in a while,” Flachner said. Abney also uses her technological resources regularly to communicate with Barlow. “We Skype, usually around ten for an hour or two, and we also talk on the phone and write letters,” Abney said. Being in a long-distance relationship complicates Abney’s social life. “I try not to stay out too late so I can go home and Skype with him,” Abney said. Both girls experience adversity from their relationships. The detachment due to space between affects Flachner Flavia Mucciolo, ‘14 the most. “Not being able to see each other is the hardest part. When I’m
dealing with family issues, it’s hard because he’s not here to actually comfort me, and we can’t go on dates,” Flachner said. Abney gets embarrassed when her cousins tell Barlow about when she was younger. “[My cousins] tell him things about me from when I was like a baby. It’s embarrassing. He’s seen way too many baby photos,” Abney said. Despite the difficulties created from their long-distance relationships, Abney and Flachner both reflect on the positives. In Flachner’s case, distance intensifies their relationship. “We have great, open communication. Being apart from each other makes our relationship stronger,” Flachner said. The background that Abney and Barlow met in strengthens their relationship. “Since I met him in a family environment, he’s allowed to stay at my house when he comes down and I’m allowed to stay at his house when I come up,” Abney said. Flachner’s long-distance relationship has created skeptical responses with her friends and family. “My friends were skeptical at first, but once they got to know him, they loved him. My parents were iffy at first because he was my first real boyfriend and he lived halfway across the country,” Flachner said. Abney’s friends had similar reactions. “They thought it was a joke at first, because they didn’t think I was serious. I’m a very bouncy kind of person and they didn’t think I would stay with someone for a while and commit, but now they know that I’m not kidding,” Abney said Flachner’s long-distance relationship has given her mixed feelings. “It makes me feel sad at times. It also makes me feel strong because I am able to handle a relationship like this,” Flachner said. Abney and Flachner intend for the distance in their relationship to end. “Our future plans are to just visit as often as possible and hopefully go to college together,” Abney said. Flachner and Clark both aspire to get a degree in Ministry. “He’s actually going to college here next fall at SSC and then transferring to UCF. That’s honestly the only reason we stuck it out, because I would never do this through college; it’s just way too difficult,” Flachner said. “We decided that because our relationship has developed so much, he’s going to come here for college.” Abney believes that her long-distance relationship is worthwhile, even though it requires a lot of patience. “My relationship is worth every second, because I may have to wait six months, but it is worth one second of his time,” Abney said.
ellenm@thelionstale.com
Cody Hawk, ‘12
photo illustration/LINDSEY DUCA
18
THE LION’S TALE
| features | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Survivor Runaway Boy’s Town Resident
There is a town/city named Lincoln in every state of the USA.
sports ) ///////////(DIDYOUKNOW?
Xavier Johnson
One in every four Americans has been on TV 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily. A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off. A cow produces 200 times more gas a day than a person. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
Dr. Seuss pronounced “Seuss” such that it rhymed with “rejoice.” A jellyfish is 95 percent water. All of the clocks in the movie “Pulp Fiction” are stuck on 4:20. Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.
photo/AMANDA FERGUSON
Junior looks to court for emancipation by Hafsa Hussain
A
fter years of beatings and fighting, enough was enough. Junior Xavier Johnson packed his bags and left his home in pursuit of a better life. As the arguing with his father progressed to be more physical then verbal and started affecting his school life, he decided to run away. Two years later he lives at Boy’s Town, a foster home for boys and girls. Though Johnson thinks Boy’s Town has a much better living environment then his father’s home, he’s dissatisfied with it. “Sometimes the parents in the home and the children don’t really get along. Personalities don’t mesh,” Johnson said. His mentors at Boy’s Town discussed the idea of emancipation with him.
It was then that Johnson discovered that he will be eligible for subsidizing independent living if the judge grants him emancipation. Before being approved for emancipation the court requires him to keep his grades up and attend classes that teach him about budgeting, getting an apartment, and filling out applications. After getting emancipated Johnson plans on staying with a friend’s family. They’re going to help him “stand on his feet.” While living with them, Johnson plans on saving as much money as he can until he’s 18 and can financially support himself. He intends on going to college after high school and getting a job. Johnson one day hopes to work in the field of psychology and live his life the way he wants with no limitations. Despite the difficulties life has presented him
Senior Stacy: by Jonathan Bohinsky
with, he stays strong and keeps his head held high, refusing to surrender. “There’s nothing you can’t do as long as you’ve got someone at your side helping you. Just never give up. Never surrender,” Johnson said. Johnson has a court date on his 17th birthday. That is when his grades will be reviewed and the final decision in regards to his emancipation will be made. “I’m actually seeing myself out there in the real world not too long from now,” Johnson said.
hafsah@thelionstale.com Editor’s Note
One by One features a selected student, whose story is told in only 300 words.
“I am.” is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. The housefly hums in the middle octave, key of F. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
Marijuana is not as chemically addictive as nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine. Only 55% of all Americans know that the sun is a star. One in every four Americans has been on TV.
dyk@thelionstale.com info courtesy/TEALDRAGON.NET
(diversions sport s )
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
| THE LION’S TALE
19
all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY WEBSITES
What did
People
Talk about in
2011? Compiled by Zoe Lyon-Goldman
Mac Miller At age 19, new young rapper Mac Miller had a good year. After signing with Rostrum Records, his career quickly headed for success. His song, “On and On and Beyond” was #54 on the chart. His album, Blue Side Park, sold 144,000 copies after just a week of the release.
American Idol American Idol kicked off its 10th season on Jan. 19, but this time with a new panel of judges. Although music producer Randy Jackson stuck around, singers Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez joined the cast. Scotty McCreery took the win against runner up Lauren Alaina.
The Royal Wedding Prince William finally tied the knot with his long time girlfriend, Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011. The ceremony was on every morning news channel, filling the world in on every minute detail. “The Duchess of Cambridge’s” dress was talked about almost as much as the crazy hats worn by attendees of the wedding.
Steve Jobs Apple is the company behind many of the last decade’s top-selling inventions such as the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad. Behind these innovations was Steve Jobs. Apple wasn’t the only company Jobs was co-founder of. He headed Pixar Animation as well. He died at 56 due to a rare form of pancreatic cancer.
Two and a Half Men Kardashian Divorce Young actor Ashton Kutcher, well-known for his role on That 70’s Show, had heavy shoes to fill when he replaced actor Charlie Sheen on the hit series, “Two and a Half Men.” After Sheen’s character was killed off, Kutcher joins the show as a a heartbroken man. The shows airs every Monday at nine eastern on CBS.
Kim Kardashian’s marriage to NBA star Kris Humphries came to a quick halt after 72 days. After broadcasting their wedding on the E! Reality show Keeping up with the Kardashians, the couple decided to end their relationship, leaving everyone shocked.
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THE LION’S TALE
| diversions | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
l ‘13
sse We ikal
photo/LINSEY DUCA illustration/WESLEY WYNNE
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TV TIME Teens replace television with other activities by Olivia Davila-Finch
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unior Mikal Wessel steps into his house after a long day of school. He glances at the inviting TV, but instead picks up his lacrosse stick and heads back out to his practice. “I just don’t have any time to watch TV anymore,” Wessel said. “I spend all my free time playing lacrosse, and if I’m not doing that I’d much rather be out with friends.” According to a study done by A.C. Nelson Co. in 1998, the average American watched three hours and 46 minutes of television daily. Put together, that’s 52 days of nonstop TV per year. Today, however, more teens spend their free time playing sports, completing homework, or working. According to a study on frankwbaker. com, the average person aged 14-25 now watches an hour and a half of TV every day. “If I can’t watch TV, it’s usually because of work,” senior Brii Boykin said. Video games such as Xbox, PlayStation 3, and PC games have also begun taking up more of student’s time. According to onlineeducation. net, the average gamer spends 18
hours a week playing video games. “I definitely play video games more than I watch TV,” freshman Ben Sorkin said. Some students divide their attention between TV and other activities. “I watch TV, but I’m usually doing homework or something else while watching it,” junior Valentina Viecco said. According to rbr.com, 52 percent of high school students browse the Internet watching TV, and 35 percent read a book while watching. Homework often takes up much of students’ free time, not allowing time for television. “Homework comes first for me,” Wessel said. “If I have too much homework, I won’t watch TV until it’s finished.” Often students watch more TV on weekends when they don’t have to worry about schoolwork. “I’m taking AP Human Geography. Most nights I have about three hours of homework,” Sorkin said. “I watch TV more on weekends because I have way more free time and I don’t have to worry about homework.” Others are busier on weekends
with other activities. “On weekends I have work, church, and lacrosse,” Wessel said. “I definitely watch more on week days.” Family habits can also influence teens’ TV watching. Some students are accustomed to having the television on, or even watching shows with their parents. “My dad always watches TV,” Viecco said. “I’m so used to having it on in the background of what I’m doing that I watch more of it.” Boykin watches TV with her mother. “I hang out with my mom in her room and we watch TV together,” Boykin said. “We always have to plan out which shows we’re going to watch because we like different ones.” Many think a change from reliance on TV to going out and doing other activities are beneficial. “I definitely think it’s good that teens are doing other stuff and getting out of the house, because it’s not exactly fun or productive that they watch so much TV,” Viecco said. “I don’t think [TV] is important, nor do I think it should be.”
oliviad@thelionstale.com
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Trends to
try
| diversions |
THE LION’S TALE
21
Tired of your old wardrobe? Look for these popular styles while out shopping. Compiled by Olivia Davila-FInch
Charlotte Russe
Silky Flower Elastic Headband $5.50
Wet Seal
Lurex Teardrop Earring $8.50
Forever 21
Paisley Peasant Crop Top $15.80
Forever 21
Brown Decorative Belt $8.80
Pacsun
Bullhead Black Basic Fray Hem Shorts $36.50 model/NATALIA RODRIGEZ photo/LINSEY DUCA
all photos/COURTESY OF OFFICIAL WEBSITES
Classic Brand $44.00 Charlotte Russe Western Tribal Woven Scarf $9.50
Other Styles
to watch out for
Toms
Target Chestnut Moccasin Slipper $9.98
Charlotte Russe Tribal Cotton Skirt $12.99
////Reviewed 22
| diversions | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
THE LION’S TALE
Music, movies, books & more
VERY GOOD
OUTSTANDING
GOOD
RUBBISH
Let’s Go Eat The Factory Guided by Voices Indie
Human Again
Sinners Never Sleep
Dark Adrenaline
by Jonathan Bohinsky
by Trevor Khan
by Olivia Davila-Finch
by Alexis Sherwood
Ingrid Michaelson Alternative
G
Lacuna Coil Rock
You Me at Six Alternative
H
B
uided by Voices is an indie rock band from Dayton, Ohio. They are known for their poor recording quality, often recording their albums with consumerlevel equipment. Their songs tend to be catchy but short, with very few lasting longer than two minutes. Their 16th album, Let’s Go Eat the Factory is the first album since their 2004 LP Half Smiles of the Decomposed and features the band’s original 1983-1996 line-up, the same band that created some of the best independent albums of the 90’s, namely Bee Thousand and Propeller. Robert Pollard’s lyrics tend to be more surreal, like they were in the mid-90s. Let’s Go Eat the Factory draws from the same British invasion/garage rock/punk/post-punk/ psychedelic style music their early albums did. The lead single ‘The Unsinkable Fats Domino’ is the kind of power-pop song that GBV is famous for. Songs like ‘Cyclone Utilities (Remember Your Birthday)’ harken back to early-80s postpunk bands like Joy Division, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Echo & The Bunnymen. The best song on the album is easily the poppy ‘Waves’, which features guitarist Tobin Sprout on vocals amidst a blur of guitars. ‘Spiderfighter’ combines a beautiful piano ballad with wild psychedelic rock. Let’s Go Eat the Factory is a diverse disjointed collection of 21 songs that gets better with each successive listen. Fans of GBV’s mid90s albums will not find this album out of place and serves as a good introduction to the band.
aving ever only heard one song by Ingrid Michaelson, I’m honestly a bit mad at myself for not looking further into her music. Now out with her 5th studio album, Human Again, Michaelson’s music is becoming more and more impressive to me, and I fear that one day it may be butchered by the mainstream audience, but we’ll wait and see. Similar to the style of Adele, Michaelson has an effective tempo that is somewhere between upbeat and slow-jam and a voice that takes your attention from the first lyrical syllable. Her lyrics are very powerful and focus heavily around her emotions. There are a few songs about love, a few about pain and a few about battling it all out. All combine to make an extremely wellcomposed album. Strong lyrics and good rhythms that are sure to get stuck in your head is code for a good album. My favorite song off the album is the second track “This Is War”. It’s much slower than the first track “Fire” which was probably the fastest of all the tracks. Another good track that caught my attention is “Black and Blue,” a semi-slow, post-breakup song about becoming a mess after being dumped. Overall, it’s a shame that Michaelson isn’t as famous as she should be, and sad to know that she hasn’t yet made a major impression on the world.
ritish pop/rock band You Me at Six released their newest album, Sinners Never Sleep, on Jan. 20 this year. Although it’s been out for longer in the U.K., we’re just now getting it here in the U.S. This album offers a good variety of slow, emotional songs that complement nicely with the other upbeat, energetic songs on the album. Songs like “Crash” soften the album with calm, harmonious melodies and meaningful lyrics. Other songs, however, like “Bite My Tongue”, bring fast, lively beats that create a diverse CD that, as a new listener to this band, I really love. My favorites on the album are the slower songs like “Crash”. A man reminisces about his teenage love and wishes for her back. The expression of longing in the lyrics is very emotional and makes for a very powerful song. Lyrics that recount how they grew up together are very personal, and the soft tone he sings with really makes this song enjoyable . Most of the songs, though, are fast-tempo, loud songs, like “Loverboy”. They combine good beats with the singer’s amazing voice to create songs that even I, not a usual rock person, really like. This album offers a variety of pieces that will appeal to a large audience. Admittedly, though, some of the songs on the album are just a little too loud and crazy for me. But overall, the album is filled with catchy songs that will be stuck in your head for days. I highly recommend buying.
DOWNLOAD THIS >>Waves
DOWNLOAD THIS >> This is War
DOWNLOAD THIS >> Crash
jonathanb@thelionstale.com
trevork@thelionstale.com
oliviad@thelionstale.com
Upcoming Concerts
NEEDTOBREATHE Monday, Feb. 27 8:00 p.m. House of Blues Blind Pilot Blue October Friday, Feb. 24 Saturday, March 24 9:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. The Social House of Blues
T
his new album of Lacuna Coil’s sounds pretty much the same as any other rock/metal band’s album would
sound. The Italian band used to have a unique sound to them, in a sense that they did not do the traditional hard rock melodies and their voices were much more powerful. However, in this new album, the band resembles every other hard rock band out there. Even though this album isn’t as unique as Lacuna’s others, singer Cristina Scabbia still brings the same incredible dark presence and sharp edge to their songs. Her voice overpowers the other singer Andrea Ferro in almost every song, because her voice brings much more of a mysterious sound than the mediocre voice of Ferro. Ferro’s voice is what makes the band sound like the ordinary rock and roll band that anyone listens to. Although the two singers’ voices are very different, in the song “Losing My Religion”, they both combine their voices to make the song really come together and make it sound like a softer, yet still dark, rock song. In contrast, one of the weaker songs is “Intoxicated”. Even though Scabbia’s voice is very different, it just doesn’t sound right with the way the instruments are playing. As for the instruments in the rest of the songs, it all sounds the same. This album is really nothing new.
DOWNLOAD THIS >> Trip the Darkness
Wolfgang Gartner Wednesday, Feb. 22 10:00 p.m. House of Blues
BADFISH Sunday, March 11 7:00 p.m. House of Blues
all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY WEB SITES
AWFUL
alexiss@thelionstale.com
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
| diversions |
THE LION’S TALE
23
BLOWN
AWAY
Reviewer stunned by fourth installment in major franchise byTrevor Khan
W
ith so many attempts to make vampires the new cinematic craze, the Underworld series has managed to achieve it, and trust me, it’s no Twilight either. Underworld: Awakening is the fourth installment in the franchise. Its events begin six months after those of Underworld: Evolution, the second in the franchise. The film brings us back to vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale) who lives now in a much different world than the audience had come to know. The existence of vampires and lycans becomes known to the human population, leading to “the purge”, or the extremist extermination of these non-human species. We see Selene trying to save her lover, who is the only lycan-vampire hybrid known to man, when an accident causes them both to be injured. From here, the film picks up twelve years later, as Selene awakes, cryogenically frozen and contained by a company called Antigen. She escapes, but is plagued with visions of things she’d never seen. When she stumbles
upon Eve (India Eisley), yet another lycanvampire hybrid, who Selene discovers is her daughter. But when Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea), the director of Antigen, takes Eve with him, Selene must save her daughter. She enlists Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy) to help her, and she goes into Antigen ready to fight. To me, this is a great movie and I honestly can’t get over how amazing it was. I’d seen the other Underworld movies, but it wasn’t until this one that I really got hooked on the idea of it. Beckinsale gives a performance that makes other female action heroes look like valley girls. She reminded me a lot of Milla Jovovich in Ultraviolet or the Resident Evil movies at first, but by the end I was like “Jovovich, eat your heart out.” As for the other actors, there were typically believable performances; another one that really struck me was that of Ealy. His performance showed impressive dimension and inferred a good back story. Eisley, too, did a good job as a helpless young hybrid who, like her mother, has a vicious side.
The effects in this movie were very good compared to other movies. I could tell that there was a sufficient amount of CGI animation, but it didn’t look entirely fake, like some movies tend to make it. In fact, I was quite thrilled by the werewolves’ appearance and glad to see it didn’t look overly cartoon-y like it did in the Wes Craven werewolf flick Cursed. Kill scenes and blood effects were also well composed. Blood didn’t look too thick, nor too runny, like other movies often make it look. Cuts, stabs and gunshot wounds looked very legitimate and made this fan of blood and guts very happy to say that this film had a perfect blend of both action and horror elements. Overall, Underworld: Awakening is going to be a tough movie to top. The film strayed from the recent subcategories of vampires (the lovestruck or the vicious) and created its own new action hero. It won’t be easy to find or create a similar or better kick-butt vampire vixen like Selene or to beat out such a great story line that proves there is still hope for film out there in Hollywood.
trevork@thelionstale.com 1.
2.
3.
CREATURE FEATURES
Ginger Snaps
Director: John Fawcett Starring: Katherine Isabelle, Emily Perkins, Kris Lemche. Plot: Ginger, a gothic teen, has the displeasure of being a werewolf while going through puberty.
Van Helsing
Director: Stephen Sommers Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh. Plot:Van Helsing is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula.
Ultraviolet
1. Michael Ealy prepares to shoot his adversaries. 2. The vampire clan preparing for the werewolf invasion. 3. Kate Beckinsale shooting in a building.
Director: Kurt Wimmer Starring: Milla Jovovich, Cameron Bright, Nick Chinlund. Plot:Violet, a vampire rebel, has to save a young boy whose DNA contains the cure to vampirism. all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY SITES
24
(sports sports )
THE LION’S TALE
|
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
1.
4.
3.
2. 5.
Just keep cheering PREPARING FOR COMPETITION. 1. Sophomore Polly Walter practices pumping up the crowd. 2. Walter poses at the top of her stunt group, while practicing her smile for the judges. 3. The cheer squad practices all of their stunts before they head to competition. 4. Senior Allison Terry balances on top of her stunt group. 5. Sophomore Berkley Mohler works on perfecting her routine for competition.
all photos/WILLOW MASON
Cheerleaders place second at states, go on to nationals by Andrea Dobo
T
he competitive cheerleading team clenched a second place win at the FHSAA state championship on Feb. 3 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. “Dr. Phillips got first, and our goal was to beat them because they beat us every year,” junior Allison Terry said. “We were really close to beating them, and we put on a great performance.” The team competed in four competitions, placing second in each. They competed at states by qualifying at the FHSAA regional competition at Flagler Palm Coast in January. “States was nerve-wracking, but we hit everything and our cheer was very crowd appealing,” sophomore Shannon Tokumaru said. “You just have to not let your nerves get to the best of you.” The competition team consists of 15 girls, 12 on the floor and three alternates. The competition team is picked out of each level of regular season cheerleading: freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity. “Regular season doesn’t effect competitive practices because we practice at different times. We try-out for competition team a week after
the regular season,” senior Allie Boardman and 30 seconds of music, then continued with said. another minute of cheer. The music is used for When looking to make the competition the dance and tumbling techniques. The cheer, team, the coaches Brenda Holmes, Courtney described by Holmes, is collegiate style; easy Boucher and Lauren Goodwin look at the for the crowd to become involved and follow. skills of tumbling and stunting. For tumbling, “This year’s routine is different because the cheerleaders we learned the should be able routine a lot States was nerve-wracking, but we hit to do a round faster. Last year everything and our cheer was very off back tuck, there were a a standing back lot of injuries,” crowd appealing. You just have to not handspring, and Ridenbaugh let your nerves get the best of you. standing tucks. said. “The Shannon Tokumaru, ‘14 The routine routine is not as starts off with crazy. When you upbeat music and switch people an elite tumbling stunt. An elite is a sequence around, it’s hard to be consistent when landing of consecutive tricks. The routine is judged stunts.” according to cleanliness, how effective the The routine is a collaboration of bits and routine gets the crowd’s attention and hitting pieces of past years that pleased both the all the stunts and tumbling. judges and the audience. The cheer team also “The hardest part of the routine is the ending looks for more appealing legal stunts that the music: there’s tumbling, dance and a pyramid. crowd will enjoy. You’re really tired after the beginning, and you “Everyone is told how to hold the foot of have to finish the routine,” sophomore Kaitlyn a person, and how to twist, and to make sure Ridenbaugh said. they’re spotted, so we have to make sure to Each routine is performed to one minute nail it. Stunts are important because there are a
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lot of difficult points,” sophomore Polly Walter said. Although tumbling may be a weakness in the team’s routine, the team makes it up with their stunts and camaraderie. “I think the easiest part of the routine is the basket. The bases throw a flier in the air and then catch them,” senior Krystie Quackenbush said. “As a team, we have some challenges, but we never give up and encourage one another.” Senior Taylor Drosky adds to the routine with her lifting skills as a base and tumbler. A base needs to be strong to be able to catch a fallen cheerleader. “As a base, I have to make sure every stunt is hit. I’m not the best tumbler so I have to make sure I don’t bust,” Drosky said. The team will travel to Disney’s Wide World of Sports on Feb. 11 to compete in the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) National competition. “Nationals is always the most fun competition of them all, because we stay in a hotel and it’s a great team experience. We plan to do our best and raise our score from the last competition,” Terry said.
andread@thelionstale.com
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FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Sean Condon, ‘13
Lacrosse teams raise over $1300 by Andy Bosley
S
ophomore Dakota Dunmire feels the pressure from his teammates as he prepares to take a half-field shot using a girl’s lacrosse stick. The game is in his hands now and he has to make the shot or the Shorts (girls) will beat the Skirts (boys). “[The ball] was going straight in, and at the last second took a hop over the goal. It was very frustrating,” Dunnmire said. The boys’ hopes were dashed with the girls taking a win by one point, 9-8, during the Rumble in the Jungle’s JV game held Jan. 28 at John Currier Field. Varsity boys followed in the footsteps of the JV team, losing by one point in an overtime half-field shoot-out. Junior Kendall Darley made the final midfield shot for a victory for the girls. Despite who won, the game is not all about the win. Rumble in the Jungle is a fundraiser that has been going on for three years and is a way to provide funds for the lacrosse programs and for the artificial turf on the football field. Girls lacrosse head coach John Darley thought of Rumble in the Jungle three years ago. His idea raised $1300 this year for a
total of $3600 over the past three years. After $1200 was raised the first year, the lacrosse program decided to use this fundraiser to go towards their portion of the turf. In the past two years the program has contributed $2400 to the turf just from this activity. “It’s a great way to raise money for the program, and is a lot better than car washes,” senior David Stevens said. For Rumble in the Jungle, the boys’ team switches sticks with the girls to make it more fair. The boys also wear skirts to complete the experience. In addition to the switches, the game is played by girls’ rules. “It lets us see what it’s like to switch,” Walters said. The boys have the biggest adjustment because there is no checking and no physical contact in girls lacrosse. The girls’ stick does not hold the ball, unlike the boys’ stick. “It’s a little different. The sticks are a little higher and you don’t have as much hold in your stick,” Dunmire said.
andyb@thelionstale.com
Who is your toughest opponent?
Ireland
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THE LION’S TALE
Shorts vs Skirts Rumble in the Jungle features both the girls and boys junior varsity and varsity lacrosse teams. Both teams switched equipment and uniforms.The junior varsity girls won 9-8, and the varsity girls won after a 10-10 tie breaker goal.
Marcus
sports
“Lake Highland will be our toughest, but [the toughest] that we have a chance against will be Lake Brantley, because we always go against them in districts. We are preparing by not ‘12 goofing around in practice Haley Bolt ‘12 and getting stuff done.”
“Winter Park, only because they are in our district, and we want to beat them. Skillwise,Vero Beach, but emotionally the one we want to beat is Winter Park. Last year, we did the same drills every day, but this year we mixed it up and the captains are more involved.
Shawn Hudson
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Jenny Karpinski, ‘13
all photos/ANDREA DOBO
Lacrosse goalies Girls Ellie Weinbel ‘12 - Varsity Katherine Schneeberger ‘15 - Varsity Linda Alverenga ‘15 - Junior Varsity
Boys Alex Perez ‘12 - Varsity David Stevens ‘12 - Varsity Peter Bial ‘15 - Junior Varsity Zakariya Hassouneh ‘15 - Junior Varsity
“Lake Highland, because they are a private school and can recruit players. We can’t get players from all over the state like Lake Highland can. We are preparing by just putting plays together, because Lake Leah ‘15 Highland has a lot of plays and they are a very good Hayhurst team. We just have to focus and run as a team together.”
“Our toughest opponent will be Vero Beach, because they always beat all the teams every year. We are preparing by working on new plays and tightening up our defense.”
‘15
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THE LION’S TALE
Boys’ soccer
| sports | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
defeats Lake
all photos/LINSEY DUCA
DEFENDING THE JUNGLE. Sophomore Bryce Gardner rushes in to steal the ball from Lake Brantley, followed closely by
Brantley
sophomore Jon Coleman to assist.
Cobb’s kick saves game by Jonathan Bohinsky
T
he boys’ varsity soccer team finished their season with a record of 11 wins, five losses, and three ties. “I feel like we did really well. We worked hard as a team and I’m proud of what we accomplished,” freshman Robby Bolen said. Head coach Ben Luker is proud of the team’s season. “This year’s team was a young team, but a very experienced team. They all got along very well and spent a lot of time together. Being so close to each other made them work harder in games; nobody wanted to let anyone down,” Luker said. The team went to districts on Jan. 23. The team played Lake Brantley High School. The game went into double overtime, but ended with a sudden death battle kick-off. Junior Kyndle Cobb, goalie, kicked in the winning goal. The team ended with a 4-3 victory. “I was walking up to the penalty spot and all I could just think was just put it in the net and I said a quick prayer and just went for it,” Cobb said. Cobb was chosen by the team to kick the
penalty kick in sudden death. “[Cobb] handles the pressure well and can kick the ball past the keeper,” senior Kyle Krause said. Next the team went on to play Lake Howell High School for districts and didn’t come out on top. The team lost 1-2. “The team’s expectation was to go deep into the playoffs after a successful regular season, and only to be stopped short of our goal was absolutely devastating. It felt unreal and took me a couple days to finally realize that our season was over,” senior Scotty David said. Despite their loss at districts, Luker is optimistic about next year’s season. “We have a great group of juniors and sophomores with a lot of experience now. On paper, it should be a strong season for us, and if the boys work hard, then they are capable of making a solid run,” Luker said. Nine starting players will be returning next year. “I think we’ll make it out of districts, because we will have a lot of seniors and juniors that will step up and really lead the team,” Cobb said.
jonathanb@thelionstale.com
ON THE BALL. Sophomore Michael Scheraldi goes in to steal the ball from Lake Brantley opponet.
PLAYING HARD BALL.
1. Junior Thomas Evans controls the ball and heads toward the goal, while attempting to outrun Lake Brantley High School player on Jan. 23. 2. Senior Scotty David runs in to steal the ball from the opponent. 3. Junior Kevin Adam battles with opponent for the ball.
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Roar Board
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FEBRUARY 3, 2012
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THE LION’S TALE
27
AMANDA FERGUSON WEBSITE EDITOR
TO THE MAT. (Right) Senior Charlie Mitchel takes down sophomore Toby Collins during practice. (Left) Junior Deon Times practices his take down on freshman Blake Tressler. The team competed in many competitons this year, some of the bigger ones including the Zac Jarzynka Tournament of Champions and the conference tournament. Mitchel placed second in conference along with Times taking second, and freshman Alec Shriner taking third.
all photos/AMANDA FERGUSON
basketball closes season Dance team goes to nationals Girls The girls basketball team finished their season on Jan. 26 in a
The dance team went to National Championships on Feb. 3. The competition was held at Disney. The junior varsity team placed eighth. There were 40 teams at the competition and they are divided into two sides, side A and side B. The girls competed on their side and placed tenth. The two sides then compete against each other for the title. The girls missed making it into finals only by .36 points.
Girls soccer has winning season The girls varsity soccer team started districts on Jan.17 against Seminole High School. The team was defeated 1-2. The girls however did hold a record of 10 wins, six losses, and three ties.
Faculty annihilates seniors
The student versus faculty basketball game was held on Feb. 7. The teams were made up of senior boys and male teachers. After heavy trash-talking around school and between Principal Robert Lundquist and senior student government president Sable Lee, the faculty came out on top with a final score of 74-39. “I was devastated because this was the last organized game I would play in high school with my senior class. It’s always hard to lose, but I wouldn’t want to lose with any other group of athletes,” senior Terrence Thevenin said.
On the sidelines...
game against Bishop Moore High School. The girls were defeated 59-31. The team ended with a 3-20 record for the season. The girls defeated Matanzas, Liberty, and Lake Howell High School. The girls also celebrated their senior night on Jan. 26. The team has two graduating seniors this year, Zoe Stapleton and Danielle Brunson.
Boys basketball crush East River
On Feb. 2, the boys varsity basketball team took on East River High School and won 74-63. The team is currently holding a record with 12 wins and eight losses. The boys moved on into districts on Feb. 8 with a game against Lake Howell High School. The boys walked out with a 73-72 victory. The boys made a comeback after being down by 12 points, two minutes before the end of the game. The boys moved on to play Winter Springs High School on Feb. 10.
Baseball team wins first game Boys varsity baseball played in the Pre-Season Classic on Feb. 8. The team brought home a victory of 12-2. Junior Tyler Hayden hit a double-run home run to start the scoring, and kept his rally going with a double, meaning he got a home run while a player was already on a base. The team goes on to play University High School on Feb. 10.
With
Zoe Stapleton HOOP
1. Who is your favorite superhero?
Batman, because he is awesome and he doesn’t really have any real powers.
IT IS.
2. Who is your celebrity crush? He is dead, but Heath Ledger.
4. What’s your favorite breakfast food? Chocolate chip waffles.
5. Who is your favorite Disney princess?
Sleeping Beauty, because her name is Aurora and that’s my middle name.
photo/ COLTON JAQUETH
3. Do you consider yourself an organized person? At school, I am. But in my room I have organized piles of chaos.
THERE
Senior Zoe Stapleton warms up before the game against Bishop Moore High School on Jan. 26.
Kudos goes to college atheletes
A
fter this year I have a completely new respect for student athletes, especially those who are going to continue to play in college. I give you athletes such props for being able to manage your schoolwork and still practice every day. Four Oviedo athletes have already committed to college to play different sports. Jill Loiars, Sable Lee, Kayla Joyce, and Julie Brown have already signed with schools to continue their sports careers. My friend, who plays lacrosse for Detroit Mercy, came home for the holidays and was telling me about her schedule. It went something like this: wake up at five, endurance workout, then class from nine to one, then weight training from two to four and then practice from then until about seven. Somewhere in that schedule she has to find time to write her English paper, do her college algebra, sleep, eat, and shower. This is all during her freshman year of college! I am overwhelmed just thinking about taking classes in college, let alone needing to practice. Then the team travels during the season for games! So, in addition to having to balance your schedule to make time for homework, class, and practice, you have to miss class to travel to different states. My friend told me her game schedule; literally she had a game every other week. The entire team was missing their classes. These students have a true passion for their sport; they have to pretty much devote their entire life to it. Loiars committed to University of Dayton in Ohio for volleyball, she will be spending every second of free time she has practicing her blocks and mastering calculus. Loiars is planning to major in communications. Lee signed to Jacksonville University for fast pitch softball. She will have to work on not only her hitting, but also her homework. Lee intends to major in sports management. Brown and Joyce signed to Florida State University and will be on a huge campus trying to keep up with the team and stay caught up on classes. Both are majoring in business. I honestly wish you ladies the best of luck in trying to balance your schedules. I am envious of your devotion and determination to your sports and your studies. To all the other athletes that are going to be signing in the next few weeks, I hope you enjoy your college years!
amandaf@thelionstale.com
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THE LION’S TALE
| sports | FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Rolling Away
all photos/DOBO, FERGUSON, JAQUETH, MASON
CRUISE ON BY. Junior Christina Barrowclaugh cruises on her longboard to practice her balance. Barrowclaugh can do a powerslide
LEAN TO THE RIGHT. Junior Dakota Lovell leans and turns a corner on her longboard.
and a crouch on her longboard.
Lovin’ the slide, switch, carve
by Stephanie O’Sullivan
J
unior Christina Barrowclaugh runs out the door, grabbing her longboard at the last second. Cars breeze past her on the street as she skates her way to school. “During the school year, my longboard serves mostly as my transportation, so I use it at least a couple of a times a week. During the summer I bring it everywhere,” Barrowclaugh said. Junior Dakota Lovell also relies on her long board for transportation. “I ride my longboard every day, because most days I don’t have the car,” Lovell said. Lovell started longboarding nine years ago. “My sister was the one who got me into
longboarding. She had been longboarding for five years and I had wanted to learn. I liked the tricks she did,” Lovell said. Barrowclaugh, however, taught herself. “I started at the end of eighth grade, at the start of the summer. I used to skateboard before I actually started longboarding, which made it easier to learn,” Barrowclaugh said. Sophomore David Vazquez also taught himself. “I’ve been longboarding for about a year. I just jumped on one day and started riding. I fell in love with it instantly,” Vazquez said. Lovell’s received her first longboard from her sister. “I had a Sector 9 first. I still use it every day. It’s not my only board. I love how it has glow-in-
the-dark green grip tape. It was my sister’s old one,” Lovell said. Senior Richie Mastroberte got his first longboard for his 14 birthday. “I rode my longboard everywhere I went. I knew how to ride and carve already because I also used to skateboard. Learning how to slide, switch, power slide, and easy grab is stuff you just have to practice,” Mastroberte said. Barrowclaugh loves the feeling of the wind while longboarding. “I love the feeling of it, the breeze, and it’s something I love. I’ve been doing it for so long that I’ve grown to feel kind of weird without doing it. I love the momentum and the vibes I get when riding,” Barrowclaugh said.
stephanieo@thelionstale.com
SLIDE THIS WAY. 1. Senior Richie Mastroberte practices his board slide. Mastroberte learned to board slide on the right, and is now trying to learn how to board slide on the left. 2. Senior Dylan Bartley sqauts down as he increases the thrill of longboarding.
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ON THE GO. Sophomore David Vazquez rides through the parking lot.Vazquez’s first longboard was a Sector 9, which cost him about $200.