January 2016

News

Feature

Berner Middle School: new home of sixth graders?

Page 2

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

Editorial

Are the locker rooms equal at MHS?

Instagram gives followers fasle image

Page 3

The

Sports

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Winter sports teams show promise this season

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Chief

Vol. 64 – No. 2

January 14, 2016 www.thechiefonline.com

Massapequa High School’s Chief Source of News

In wake of terror attacks, how safe is Massapequa?

BY KAITLYN LUCEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ANDER WOTZKE // FLICKR

“At any one time, there are people plotting against us,” Congressman Peter King said to Advanced Placement Government students in a seminar at Massapequa High School.

“New York and Long Island are the most targeted [places] in the world.”

King’s words came just one day before the vicious terrorist attacks on Paris, France, and less than a month prior to the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. These attacks raised questions, internationally as well as domestically, about the power and progress of the radicalized Islamic state, ISIS (also known as ISIL).

Standing for Islamic State of Syria and Iraq, ISIS promotes jihadist actions, wherein radicalized Muslims have a “responsibility” to engage in warfare against non-believers.

Over the last few years, especially in the past few months, ISIS and affiliated radical extremists orchestrated violent attacks on non-believers. On November 13, 2015, over 130 people were killed by jihadists around the city of Paris. Although the attacks happened overseas, the repercussions of attacks on Paris were felt around the world.

“When I first heard of the attacks, I was not aware of the scale on which they had been carried out,” senior Kristen Moldovan said. “As more information was released and I realized the extensive fatalities, the only question running through my mind was ‘Why does this keep happening?’”

Less than a month later, yet another act of terrorism occurred; in San Bernardino, California, fourteen Americans were killed by radicalized Muslims at the Inland Regional Center on December 2, 2015.

Following the attacks, President Barack Obama gave a rare speech from the Oval Office on December 6, addressing his fellow Americans

Prayers for Peace in Paris | Solidarity after the November 13 attacks. on terrorism. The President supported continued air strikes in ISIL’s landholdings, opposed the use of land troops, and called for national unity on fighting against terrorism without discriminating against peaceful Muslims.

“Our success won’t depend on tough talk, or abandoning our values, or giving in to fear,” President Obama said.

Obama’s speech was watched by millions nationally, including students and staff at Massapequa High School.

“President Obama was trying to use the bully pulpit [using his position to speak on an important issue] to reassure Americans that his administration is doing something to combat ISIS and other terrorist threats,” Advanced Placement Government teacher Suzanne

Borger said. “In my opinion, what he said was nothing new.”

At large, students at Massapequa High School are concerned with the growing numbers of international and domestic terrorists. In a survey conducted by The Chief in which over eighty Massapequa High School seniors were polled, a definitive 69 percent felt that “dealing with

ISIS and terrorism” was one of the most important issues to be addressed in the upcoming 2016 presidential election.

ISIS thrives on fear and paranoia— how can one know that they are safe when it is increasingly possible that attacks can happen at any time, at any place?

In order to prevent such attacks at any scale, MHS takes several safety precautions in order to keep its students and faculty safe each school day.

When asked how the recent attacks on Paris and San Bernardino affected his approach to school safety, Dean of Students Mr. Patrick Howard adamantly stated that they have not. “[It is possible that] someone could walk in, it’s an open campus,” Mr. Howard said.

“We monitor the flow of students, we check all doors periodically...we have heightened security everyday.”

Teachers at MHS are also prepared in case of emergencies, such as school wide lockdowns.

“The school trains us and prepares us in case something happens,” Spanish teacher Karen Oliveira said. “With everything that has happened, I want to make sure my students are safe.”

Thus, Massapequa High School students need not constantly worry about possible terror attacks. However, it is imperative that students must remain informed and aware of the possible threats to their safety.

Ultimately, the United States needs to do what is necessary to deconstruct ISIL abroad while simultaneously preventing attacks domestically. Although it is unclear how the government will accomplish these objectives, it is clear that if not enough is done, the very values that the United States cherishes—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness— are in danger.

THE CHIEF LOCAL NEWS District considers reconfiguration of middle school in 2017

JANUARY 14, 2016

BY SAMANTHA BLASCO STAFF WRITER

Many current and graduated students clearly remember their transition from elementary to middle school — making new friends, learning a new language, and changing classes each period were new and unforgettable experiences.

Without doubt, the graduation of sixth grade marked the beginning of students’ teenage years.

Recently, rumors about

a possible reconfiguration of the school district, wherein sixth graders would be moved up to Berner Middle School, have swirled around the Massapequa community. As a result, members of the community have either showed their support for the plan, or rejected it altogether.

While it is still unclear now what will happen, there are possible plans in the works.

According to Superintendent Lucille Iconis, On February 9,

SAMANTHA BLASCO// THE CHIEF

Berner Middle School | BMS may soon house sixth graders.

2016, she plans to deliver her “executive summary” to the Board of Education, who in turn may decide to either pass or deny the reconfiguration of Berner Middle School.

Though reconfiguration remains a contentious issue, the reconfiguration process itself will not be jarring or haphazard. For starters, this reconfiguration will not be implemented until at least 2017.

Additionally. board members, parents, teachers, and administrators have visited a number of middle schools with the final visitation on January 14 to see an example of a sixth through eighth grade middle school set up as part of an “investigation” into the possible reconfiguration.

Many parents see only the downsides to this possibly polarizing action. “[This is an] emotionally charged issue.

The fact is that...for [other districts on Long Island] it’s the most common structure,” Mrs. Iconis said.

However, Mrs. Iconis believes that this change will very much benefit the district all around. Massapequa is one of only four districts in Nassau County to not have sixth through eighth in one building.

This is not the first time that the Board of Education

has considered moving the sixth graders into the middle school. When reconfiguration was last attempted in the 1990s, enrollment at Berner was extremely high— meaning that the process could not be done because of space issues. Today, the numbers have decreased, thus, making it more feasible.

This combination of grades has many benefits, such as the opportunity to hire more teachers and further departmentalize Berner. Mrs. Iconis strongly feels that “...we have a phenomenal school system and it could only be better with this kind of movement.”

Furthermore, sixth graders are developmentally closer in age to eighth graders than they are to third graders, whom they currently interact with each day in elementary school.

A ten year old child can relate more to a thirteen year old than to an eight year old, and this movement would help “tweens” grow and develop appropriately for their age.

Moving sixth grade to Berner opens up opportunities for these students tremendously by offering them guidance counselors and also giving them the advantage to start a language earlier in their academic careers. Since there are

240 minutes per day in an elementary school and 320 minutes in a day for Berner students, it is likely that six grade students would be able to expand their knowledge bases.

Some parents in the district are supportive of the reconfiguration.

“A child needs to be nurtured and heard in order to be successful,” Massapequa parent Laurie Trojanowski said.

“If this change goes through, which I hope it does, it needs to happen with much thought and planning.”

Although eighth graders are closer to the sixth graders in age, many parents believe that the they may have a bad influence on them.

“I don’t think that the sixth graders are mature enough yet to handle the middle school,” Massapequa parent Karen Ranallo said.

No matter what the district decides, education will remain as a focus.

“I believe that education is power and if you give people the information, then they can weigh the pluses and minuses,” Mrs. Iconis said.

Ultimately, this decision will determine the future of Massapequa School District for the better or the worse.

said. “From an English teacher’s perspective, you can write with your students in real time.”

Forging closer relationships between teachers and students is a major benefit in that it can create more time for individualized editing and revision, helping the student grow stronger in the process while helping teachers learn and promote optimal teaching methods. “....With all of these amazing sites, it’s a very exciting time in education regarding technology because applications are out there for teachers to interact with students and teach in a way that it effective and meaningful, which is great,” Mrs. Colgan said.

This technology contact in class agrees with students at the high school. ¨I think that that despite nearly constant but improving network malfunctions, the Chromebooks have a lot of potential,” junior Wendy Roque said who will be receiving a Chromebook for the first time during the 2016-2017 academic year .

When it comes to online learning, teachers control the assignment students complete,

but completing it individually allows a student to explore varying avenues that diverge from the central assignment.

This type of thinking —once regarded as extraneous and unfocused— can help students discover a skill that they might want to pursue more or in a more rigorous manner.

Online learning makes individualized learning between the instructor and student a possibility. More one-on-one communication with teachers can provide students with a customized plan for utilizing available resources.

The Chromebooks have many proven and theoretical applications serving social studies and history teachers as well.

“Chromebooks create more options for social studies classroom teachers, whether it be through simple applications like Google Docs or through more interactive tools like Peardeck,” AP Government and law teacher Mr. Daniel Bachman said.

A more individualized education in secondary school would serve as a better preparatory school for higher education institutions, making American students afforded

with this opportunity more competitive in the ever more cutthroat international job market.

The recent recall of Chromebooks was one hitch in Massapequa’s overall plan for a more twenty first century-style learning experience.

According to Mr. Schilling, Executive Director for Assessment, Student Data & Technology Services, the recall was issued because “an internal component was heating up enough to cause melting of the back cover” of two Chromebooks. These two Chromebooks were purchased at the same time, part of a larger order of 800 individual devices.

Chromebooks have since been reassigned and the plans for increasing the number of people in the district with Chromebooks have not been altered.

All in all, the general reception of this technology in Massapequa seems overwhelmingly positive as a district. Massapequa is moving towards twenty-first century learning methods and seems to be enjoying the transition as well.

Twenty-first century learning arrives in Massapequa

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS MANAGING EDITOR

Massapequa has announced that every secondary student in the district will be issued his or her own Chromebook starting next September making it a turning point in Massapequa’s technological history.

Massapequa arrived on the digital learning scene when Chromebooks were distributed to Berner Middle School students last February in accordance with the “Learning...

Anytime, Anywhere” program. The subsequent expansion of the number of students who use them marks Massapequa’s efforts, and successes, with preparing students of all ages for the increasingly online world of college and careers.

This decision has been a long time in the making, and now classroom teachers and students will have to adapt their teaching and learning processes, respectively. Subsequently, the switch to an online classroom, while seemingly far away, may not be all that unrealistic afterall.

When it comes to mathematics, many people call to mind the image of years past—

pencils, erasers, and paper in hand; substituting into formulas and erasing constantly.

However, online education at the secondary level has revolutionized this. Teachers are looking forward to continuing the implementation of applications and websites they have tried, tested and used. “[Massapequa’s Chromebook program] works well with Khan Academy and I am able to engage students in class,” math teacher Ms. Jessica Yandoli said.

The Chromebooks also have potential in LOTE (Language Other Than English) classrooms as well.

“I think that having Chromebooks next year will allow World Language students to experience different people and cultures beyond the classroom wall, ” Spanish teacher Mrs. Jeanne Nagel said.

Moreover, as eBooks and Kindles continue their climb to dominating the way in which people read, the English department can also can find them useful learning tools.

“There are some fantastic applications out there for a Chromebook,” English teacher Mrs. Teresa Colgan

2

JANUARY 14, 2016

The Chic Chief arrives

BY EMILY KEUCHLER STAFF WRITER

BY ANISSA CHERUBINI STAFF WRITER

March Awareness Week at Massapequa High School is a week in which students, along with their parents and teachers, are able to witness the surreal and overwhelming aspect of emotional health through various techniques and presentations.

Awareness Week will be March 21 to the 23. During the three day event, there will be multiple seminars that are based around anger management, mindfulness, alcohol and drug abuse, relational aggression, and the effects of drunk driving.

Regardless of age, these seminars have an impact.

Student Sydney Cassano had the ability to take part in the yoga activity last year as a sophomore. “It was an enjoyable way to relax and get in touch with my inner self during the stressful school day,” she said.

These group activities left students with a better perception and knowledge of themselves and of the choices that they will have to make in the mere future.

For most, the Fatal Vision activity was more than surreal.

From the direction and observation from YES Community Counseling, students were able to safely feel the effects of drunk driving by wearing goggles that varied from simulating small amount of alcohol to being dangerously intoxicated.

These goggles obstructed students’ sense of coordination.

The workshop was “a creative way to understand the effects that alcohol can have on the body” according to junior Brianna DeLuna.

After the goggle activity was finished, YES Community Counseling provided a short video on drunk driving

and the possible outcomes for either the person driving or for innocent bystanders. The video has an immediate impact to those who witness it. For others, it is life changing.

The video was traumatizing; it made you realize that accidents from drunk driving can happen to you or to a loved one,” DeLuna said.

Awareness Week is a beneficial event that allows students to become in touch with their personalities, relieve stress, gain a better understanding of the world, and simply become aware.

BRETT JORDAN // MCT CAMPUS

Interested in Fashion?

Join The Chic Chief!

According to industry analysts and the Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress, fashion is a $1.2 trillion global industry, with more than $250 billion spent annually on fashion in the United States. Fashion and apparel industries employ 1.9 million people in the United States and have a positive impact on regional economies across the country. Many do not acknowledge how large and how important this industry is in our world. It is almost always overlooked and underrated when considering future career paths.

There are over one hundred electives available at Massapequa High School, but only two of these fall under the category of fashion and textile career preparation. Massapequa is fortunate enough to even just have two, considering that many high schools do not even have one. Clearly not every career is going to be covered by these extra elective classes, but it is just another variable that contributes to how this industry is not giv-

en much attention. Students, should have the opportunity to learn more about this vital and innovative industry and gain a better understanding of what it has to offer.

MHS has just welcomed its first ever Fashion Club, The Chic Chief. This club is opening the doors and opportunities for many students to explore the fashion world, connecting those who who love fashion but may not have had a chance to pursue their interest.

The club’s advisors are Fashion Marketing teacher Ms. Marianne Conte and Mrs. Denise DeLury of the Career Exploration Office. The club has put a lot of thought and hard work into creating this groundbreaking club, and with the help of motivated students from The Chief Online’s fashion blog, they were able to make their vision a reality.

The club has plenty of amazing opportunities in store following kickoff including, events, field trips, career exploration, and interaction with fashion insiders. If you have a passion for fashion and want to learn more about the industry, make sure to come to the next meeting in Room 219!

THE CHIEF 3 FEATURE Awareness Week returns this March

Awake and Aware | Blue Ridge HS drunk driving assembly.

Instagram allows users to create a false reality with posts

BY DAVE MARQUES COPY EDITOR

ogists describe the network’s power to create “relative deprivation” in its users, a dissatisfaction with one’s social standing relative to others of the same socioeconomic class.

“It gives people a false sense of who you are,” said MHS senior Jack Latini.

“Some people try to make others jealous, but you end up with a false image of yourself.”

While viewing a barrage of immaculate pictures can

lead to feelings of inferiority and envy, trying to maintain the appearance of an art-directed life is often just as stressful, as users can tie self-esteem to social media presence. Many place undue importance on “ratio” (the number of followers compared to following) in order to resemble celebrities, who may have thousands of followers but only follow a handful of accounts, and often “likes” can become a form of social currency.

For Essena O’Neill, this conflation of social media fame with self-worth was too much to bear.

“It’s a system based on social approval, likes, validation in views, success in followers.

It’s perfectly orchestrated self absorbed judgement.”

The fact remains that social media is expanding, not shrinking, but users should remember that what they see is not the reality, but merely falsified perfection.

KIERA PAGANO // THE CHIEF

She had it all, or so it seemed.

That’s why Essena O’Neill’s 574,000 loyal followers were shocked to find out that the 18 year old Australian model had given up on Instagram for good. Seeking to “expose the harsh… reality behind the instafamous culture,” O’Neill deleted several of her accounts and around 200,000 photos, leaving up only a few with new captions exposing the “truth” behind her seemingly glamorous life.

Like many teenagers and young adults, Essena O’Neill longed to create an idealized image of herself through social media, though in the end she felt empty and unfulfilled.

Her high-profile case exemplifies a new type of social media strife that has become all too common, even among those with follower counts in the triple digits: “Instagram envy,” a phenomenon so widespread that it has caught the attention of University of Oxford psychologists.

Though Facebook and Twitter can be used for similar ends, Instagram’s format allows its users to construct the illusion of a perfect life with relative ease and a great-

er impact. Unlike text-oriented social networks, which are geared more towards conversation, Instagram’s sole focus on photography and video can lead to an overemphasis on superficial appearances while seemingly presenting a user’s everyday experiences. When pictures are of small details, such as an impeccably decorated room or a magazine-worthy dessert, imperfections are easily hidden, especially with a litany of high-quality filters at hand.

The goal is to be in the public eye at all times, with followers believing that what they see is “real,” personal life. In a sense, Instagram is the most developed form of reality-TV voyeurism; both purport to give viewers an intimate glimpse into the star’s life, and though the “stars” of Instagram might live next door, neither gives a true picture of reality. In a 2013 New York Times article, “The Agony of Instagram”, one interviewee recalls a family so determined to create the image of a perfect fall moment that they ordered bags of leaves from out of state for a leaf pile photo-op.

Instagram thus takes “keeping up with the Joneses” into the digital age, as sociol-

#NoFilter | Instagram users often appear differently on the app than in real life.

POLITICS Is Bernie Sanders the best candidate for millennials?

JANUARY 14, 2016

THE CHIEF

4

BY LIAM HIGGINGS STAFF WRITER

OLIVER DOULIERY// MCTCAMPUS

Bernie Sanders has seen his poll numbers soar in recent months. In fact, a large number of Millennials have switched their preferred Democratic candidate from Hillary Clinton over to Sanders.

In a poll conducted by The Chief, 34% of eighty three surveyed seniors supported Bernie Sanders as President, compared to 6% of those who supported Hillary Clinton. So why do millennials have such widespread support for Sanders?

Sanders has has been widely regarded as a “populist” candidate because his policies appeal to average Americans. This populist way of thinking is described by Sanders and many political pundits as “Democratic Socialism.”

“I think Democratic Socialism is an intriguing prospect. If more people listened to [Bernie] Sanders and took him more seriously as a candidate, I feel as if he is both electable and appealable,” junior Holden Valentine said.

This is most prominent in his plan for college education. Sanders has introduced a comprehensive plan to make specific colleges tuition-free.

Under this plan, public universities would be free. According to CNBC, “The high levels of student debt are also serving to perpetuate and even worsen economic inequality, undercutting the opportunity and social mobility that higher education has long promised.”

This aspect of Sanders particularly appeals to millennials, as many attend college in order to gain valuable experience that may help them in a future career.

“In Germany, Scandina-

“Feel the Bern” | Is America ready for a socialist president to run the country? via, and many other countries, higher education is either free or very inexpensive. We must do the same,” Sanders said recently.

Massapequa students support Sanders’ plan for free public education. “Free public college tuition allows those who can’t afford education to get educated and increases social mobility and makes our economy more efficient,” senior Tanner Knabe said.

However, some at MHS are a bit wary of this plan. “I think it would be cool [to offer free college], but it’s unrealistic and I’m not trying to pay

like a million dollars in taxes,” senior Thomas Exposito said.

According to Sanders, this plan to fund public colleges would be paid for by taxes almost entirely on Wall Street. Millennials may support this aspect of his plan, as student debt has risen exponentially, especially in recent years where college can leave even upper-middle class Americans in severe debt— in fact, according to the Institute for College Access and Success, the average debt of college students in New York is 27,822 dollars.

“I feel like Bernie would

HOW DO MHS STUDENTS IDENTIFY POLITICALLY?

29%

R E P U B L IC A N

14%

13%

13%

MODERATE

UNSURE

IN D E P E N D E N T

Political Identification | Republicans and Democrats are almost equally represented.

KAITLYN LUCEY // THE CHIEF

DEMOCRAT

30%

be cool if he could make colleges free because a large number of people don’t go to college because it’s too expensive,” sophomore Jake Coyne said.

With Bernie Sanders’ plan, the only aspects of college that a student would need to pay for would be supplies and living. This would save each student tens, even hundreds, of thousands of dollars. Thus, more people would be able to enjoy the advantages of higher education.

“Education is key to the true understanding of humanity. The more education we get, the more changes are inevitable,” MHS English teacher Mrs. Christine Starr said.

In addition to the implementation of tuition-free public colleges, Bernie Sanders would assist millennials in their search for jobs.

Additionally, Sanders believes in the expansion of Social Security. His plan is intended to provide an incentive for older workers to retire, and ultimately free up jobs for younger people to occupy, a potentially appealing aspect to millennials.

Another issue that would pertain especially to younger people is climate change.

Bernie Sanders contests that climate change is an incredibly real and increasing problem caused by human activity. Bernie Sanders wishes to

drastically cut emissions from carbon and methane. He also wishes to turn to more environmentally-friendly forms of energy, such as solar energy and wind energy.

The ability of corporations to buy candidates essentially eliminates the voters’ power over their candidates because politicians will almost always follow the will of their donors.

Since Bernie Sanders receives all of his contributions from average Americans, and not “PACs,” political action committees, he focuses on representing middle and lower classes. Millennials may support Sanders over the frontrunner Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, because of this fact. In comparison to Sanders’ campaign, the majority of Hillary Clinton’s campaign is funded by large banks and Wall Street corporations.

Sanders has accused her of being the “candidate of Wall Street.”

“I like Bernie Sanders because he has no major sponsors, meanwhile the other candidates are walking around like NASCAR drivers,” sophomore James Philippou said.

When it comes down to it, Sanders proposes measures that millennials deem attractive and, for this reason, he continues to be a frontrunning liberal candidate.

THE CHIEF POLITICS MHS seniors are up-to-date on significant political issues

JANUARY 14, 2016

BY RYAN MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Next fall, Americans will collectively choose the next President of the United States.

For most Massapequa High School seniors, it will be the first time that they are eligible to vote, which has increased their interest in political issues.

Often times, young adults believe that they are overlooked by candidates and the political establishment as uniformed and unlikely to exercise their right to vote. This is a fundamental misunderstanding, since young adults — thanks to the easy accessibility of the news due to social media— are very aware of the issues and have strong opinions on them. A few issues stand out as concerns of young adults— so what are these issues?

A trend is clearly visible among AP Government students at MHS.The issues that students listed as the most important in the upcoming elec-

tion fell along party lines.

According to a survey conducted by The Chief, 29% of eighty three seniors identified with the political identity of “Democrat,” compared to 30% who identified as “Republican” and the 40% who remain made up either “Moderate,” “Unsure,” and “Independent.” Students who identified as Democrat saw loose campaign finance laws and low wages as the biggest issues. On the other hand, students who aligned themselves with conservatism and identified themselves as Republican responded that terrorism and the overall health of the economy are most important.

While this does not show that the youngest voters of next year’s election are unified, it does show that they are well informed and ready to engage in healthy debate on the issues.

When asked what the most important issues were to them, conservative students most of-

ten listed terrorism, the economy, and First Amendment rights.

MHS senior Christian Buonamassa supports Donald Trump for President. “We are vulnerable to attacks from terrorists, which was proven by the recent tragedy in Paris,” Buonamassa said. “Terrorists might also take advantage of the Syrian refugee crisis to gain access to the country.”

This is a popular sentiment in the Republican Party, in which most candidates have made national security the foreground of their campaign. Businessman Donald Trump, who is the current front runner in the Republican primaries, said that the United States should not only bar all refugees, but all Muslims from entering the country.

“The sophistication of terrorists and their ability to utilize the internet is especially dangerous to America’s interests,” senior Thomas Clarke

said. This clearly shows how the recent spike in terrorism is garnering opinions from even the youngest voters.

Campaign finance laws, low wages, increased college tuition, and climate change served as the top three issues amongst some of Massapequa’s more liberal seniors.

“We have seen a loss of jobs and drop in wages due to poor trade agreements such as NAFTA, and we can’t risk that with another free trade agreement,” senior Brandon Vaglio, who supports Bernie Sanders, said.

Campaign finance laws are also a noted concern amongst MHS seniors. “Unlimited political funding is subtly diminishing the power of our democracy,” senior John Merz, who supports Bernie Sanders said. “If only a few people are controlling elections, that’s not a democracy, that’s an oligarchy or plutocracy.”

This suggests that young-

5

er liberals see current financial practices and agreements antithetical to the core values of American democracy, and thus consider them the most pressing issues of this election cycle. While this has been mentioned by Democratic candidates, it is certainly not in the foreground. Instead, they have focused more on social issues such as race relations, women’s rights and climate change.

The 2016 Presidential election has so far been unique thanks to the rise of controversial “outsider” candidates like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. Seniors at Massapequa High School are fortunate in that they will be the youngest voters in this landmark election. With the ability to sway the election, young adults between the ages of eighteen and twenty five should not be overlooked.

WARE // MCT CAMPUS

Current Presidential Candidate Front Runners | Hilary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and Ben Carson.

Do political stereotypes exist among Americas youth?

BY DANIELLE ANZELONE COPY EDITOR

Are all young voters Democrats? Do all women have to vote for Hillary Clinton? Must all wealthy whites root for the Republican Party?

These are examples of political stereotypes. Stereotyping occurs when a group of people are assigned the same characteristics, even though these traits may not apply to all or any members of the group. Politically, members of the same demographic groups are believed to show support for the same parties.

For some reason, it is believed by many that teens and young adults support more Democratic and liberal candi-

dates than they do other parties’ members. Reasonings behind this claim may include that teens do not know as much about politics as older voters.

In studies administered by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) it is shown that 45% of eligible citizens between the ages of 18 and 29 participated in the election of 2012, while 66.3% of citizens 30 years and older voted that same year. This means that just 21.3% more elders participated in the election, an amount far from great. With this information, it is clear that young voters are actively involved in and interested in politics. Additionally, 71% of

these young voters (ages 1829) had attended college , thus proving that they are educated.

However, sometimes stereotypes are valid in terms of political identity. Demographics play a major role in the political views of people between the ages of 18 and 29 within the United States.

Surveys administered by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, enforce the idea that minorities support the views of Democrats, more specifically, those of President Barack Obama. About 78% of those who approved of our president were black while another 31% were white. Hispanics, on the other hand, approved of President Obama less and less over

the years, starting with an 81% approval rate in November of 2009 and finishing off with a mere 49% approval rate in October of 2014, an all time low in the study.

Another segment in the study done by Harvard students mentions young adults that are likely to vote and their change in political stance regarding the views of Congress. In 2010, 55% of those surveyed stated they wanted more Democrats in Congress, while another 43% wanted a Republican Congress. When the same poll was taken in 2014, 47% desired a Congress controlled by Democrats while 51% wanted one run by Republicans, thus causing mark-

ing a shift in the majority political stance of young adults.

To further prove that having Democratic views is not a default for young adults, a survey conducted by The Chief on eighty three seniors revealed that students are mostly split politically. Although only a third identified as Democratic, most stated that they would vote for Bernie Sanders over any other candidate.

Ultimately, although stereotyping is sometimes valid in terms of forming a broad political analysis of a population, some claims adopted from stereotyping are not always representational of the individual.

6

THE CHIEF

JANUARY 14, 2016

...you never know in which zip code your friends live. The Massapequa School district is split between Massapequa and Massapequa Park, where the zip codes are 11758 and 11762, respectively.

Confusing sections of each follow odd division lines, perpetually leaving one asking “Is that Massapequa or Massapequa Park?”

KALLEIGH REGAN// THE CHIEF

...you have to constantly explain to people that 9th grade has its own school. Contrary to the traditional high school system on Long Island, Massapequa has six K-6 elementary schools, Berner Middle School which holds 7th and 8th graders, Ames, which is only for the 9th graders, and the main campus of Massapequa High School, which is for 10th-12th graders. The traditional system would have 6th graders attending Berner and 9th graders attending MHS, but due to the sheer magnitude of each class, it would not be possible. The hallways are already crowded enough at MHS and to add another 500 some odd kids would be hallway suicide.

...your mom is a member of Massapequa Moms Group. Chances are if you’re from Massapequa, you can catch your mom spending her time scrolling through the latest posts in the highly controversial Massapequa Moms Group on Facebook. Whether you think it’s useless or a great resource in our town, the group has raised money for families in need of assistance and has spread advice all throughout our community to moms everywhere, sometimes causing fights along the way!

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

You know you’re from

...when you’ve had an argument with someone over how to pronounce the name of one of Massapequa’s most famous restaurants. Everybody loves Kirsch’s, but is it pronounced “Kurshes” or “Krishes?” Some people even argue that it’s “Kritchas”. The true pronunciation may stump the people of Massapequa forever.

KALLEIGH REGAN// THE CHIEF

OLIVIER DOULIERY // MCT CAMPUS NICKELODEON PRODUCTIONS

OLIVIER DOULIERY // MCT CAMPUS

...you, and the rest of the world, know these famous alumni: Alec Baldwin, Matt Bennett, and, of course Jerry Seinfeld. Known for his appearance in 30 Rock, Beetlejuice, and Pearl Harbor, Alec Baldwin, as well as his three other famous brothers, has been acting since the 1980s after graduating from then-high-school Alfred G. Berner.

Matt Bennett is most famous for acting in the Nickelodeon show, Victorious. Also, Jerry Seinfeld, of the eponymous TV show work Seinfeld, before becoming famous in the world of television, called Massapequa home.

...people constantly ask how you pronounce your town’s name-. “Is it Massa-peka, or Massa-peckqua?” Neither. When you meet somebody from outside Long Island, they can never seem to get it right.

...you have eaten at All American and you criticize anyone who hasn’t. Whether you like All American or not (though most do), almost everyone from Massapequa has eaten there, and at least half of those people have gone for ice cream next door at Marshall’s.

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THE CHIEF

JANUARY 14, 2016

CONAN // FLICKR

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

...you have complained about having to wear a lanyard to high school.

It may make sense to say there is no point of wearing them, considering the fact that more than half of the students do not— and get away with it.

Regardless, almost everyone can relate to the walk of shame: making a trip back to class from the bathroom because their lanyard was forgotten.

...even if you’re not Italian … you’re Italian.

m Massapequa when...

KALLEIGH REGAN// THE CHIEF

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

…everyone around you drives a Jeep and wears Vineyard Vines. The senior parking lot could easily be mistaken for a Jeep dealership, as many teens that have a car in Massapequa drive either a Wrangler, Patriot, or a Liberty. It is no lie that the preppy look is in style, which is clearly proven by the great deal of students decked in VV apparel at MHS.

...you are 45 minutes from the Big Apple and 45 minutes from the Hamptons. Massapequa is located almost exactly between NYC and the Hamptons. The only downside of living in such an ideal place is having to make the tough decision of where to go on a nice day. Spend a day in the hustle and bustle of the greatest city in the world, or enjoy relaxing on the beach surrounded by gorgeous houses? The struggle is real.

KALLEIGH REGAN // THE CHIEF

...the beach is a short 10 minute drive away. Driving to the beach from Ocean Parkway, otherwise known as an “OP Run,” is simple and easy. While many people have to drive much further to get to the shore, Massapequa kids have Tobay Beach just a short drive away.

... you have seen a cockroach in the halls at some point during your three years at the high school.

JANUARY 14, 2016

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kaitlyn Lucey MANAGING EDITORS Tim Keuchler Kalleigh Regan COPY EDITORS Alexandra Doulos Dave Marques Jackie Angelo Jennie Toutoulis EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Danielle Anzelone ADVISOR Elyn Coyle Massapequa High School 4925 Merrick Road Massapequa, NY 11758

Editorial Policy

Few districts repeatedly and remarkably put forth athletic excellence like Massapequa. It makes sense that these athletes need a facility to store their personal belongings— including uniforms, equipment, and books. However, do the differences between the facilities reflect the differences between the caliber of athleticism demonstrated by male and female athletes? We posit that both boys and girls athletics continually excel equally and therefore deserve locker rooms of equal quality.

However, various differences exist between the boys’ and girls’ locker room.

One such difference is the addition of a team locker room for the boys, which is used extensively during the football season in the fall.

“Girls don’t have football…[and don’t need] extra space for 100 people,” Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation Mr. John Piropato said.

Although the fact that the football team is exclusively male is certainly true, female athletes are just as active as male athletes during the school year. During the girls fall season alone, there are five varsity and junior-varsity sports which require full-sized lockers. Yet, there is no designated team locker room for athletes in the girls’ locker room at this time.

“I think the girls should have a redone locker room because we barely have any space,” senior Sydney Tamburello said. “There’s no school spirit...the color scheme is baby blue and pink. It’s like a baby shower in there.”

In addition to maintaining the same amount of participation in athletics as males, females at MHS are just as successful. For example, the girls varsity soccer team won the State Championship the last three years and are striving to make it a four-peat next season. Additionally, the girls varsity volleyball team won counties for the sixteenth time this year.

It is only fair that these top-notch female athletes that contribute to Massapequa’s athletic tradition receive equal amenities, such as a more organized layout, benches, larger lockers, more spirited decor, and a locker room that matches the quality of the boys’.

“I think that the girls locker room should be done because it’s in bad condition and the girls deserve just as much as the boys,” senior Sarah Woods said.

Perhaps the girls’ locker room is “in bad condition” compared to the boys’ locker room because of the lack of variety in locker sizes available. Due to a lack of fullsized lockers, many girls must share lockers with teammates in order to store all of their equipment. This creates a nuisance when getting changed after school.

It is evident that the amenities available to females do not reflect their success as fairly as the boys’. “Girls have to bring their own locks...unfair...

Guys don’t have as much stuff that they need to store,” senior Pat Modica said. “Girls have backpacks and bags, guys usually just have backpacks.”

Although nearly equal in square footage, the two locker

rooms also differ in terms of amenities. This includes the little details that make a big difference, such as the lack of benches in the girls’ locker room.

Currently, female students struggle with taking off and putting on boots or tying a pair of sneakers with no bench to sit on. Others must deal with conjuring up a way to put down books before getting changed.

Unfortunately, there seems to be no plan for improving the girls’ locker room, at least for the near future.

“There are some recommendations regarding the boys’ locker room but nothing in the docket for the girls’ locker room,” Dr. Williams said.

Obviously, some aspects of the budget must take priority over others and the district must decide which projects will be addressed in a given year.

Every fall, Dr. Williams meets with various personnel who suggest and prioritize renovation plans for the upcoming budget year. “...Once we make recommendations, we can make a five year plan. Some things are addressed immediately, while others are addressed down the road.” Dr. Williams said.

Such projects would include overhauls and renovations of locker rooms. The budget allowed for the replacement of the boys’ lockers eight years ago because they “were in really bad shape” according to Mr. Piropato.

However, the girls’ lockers were not replaced at the

8

same time. Perhaps there was a lack of funds or natural wear and tear simply hadn’t run its course yet? The true cause lay in the tendencies of male and female students in the past.

“Girls don’t destroy lockers,” Mr. Piropato said.

Although it may be disappointing to some that the girls’ locker room was not repaired at the same time, according to administration, the undertaking of the boys’ locker room was not done to indulge male athletes and deprive female students on purpose. Those in charge of the budget carefully consider the consequences to every financial decision.

“We’re always looking to improve our facilities whenever it’s cost-effective to benefit our students. We take great pride in our facilities and want them to look their best,” Mr. Piropato said.

Though it is obvious that there are difficult decisions to make when choosing which projects to fund immediately and which must wait, the girls locker room could certainly use some improvements. Hope is strong that the next budget meeting includes updates focused on making the girls locker room better. It would be beneficial to female athletes and physical education students for the district to set this issue as a priority when considering renovations and budgets in the future.

All in all, what happens on the field rather than off of it is most important for these athletes. However, it is invariably essential that they are fighting on an equal playing field.

TIM KEUCHLER // THE CHIEF

The Chief, the student newspaper of Massapequa High School, is an open forum to discuss the student body’s issues and concerns.

Members of The Chief will make every effort to publish following the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy. Consistent with the first amendment of the United States Constitution, the staff also will refrain from printing material that may incite students, be a violation of MHS’ Student Code of Conduct or disrupt school operations.

The editorial board of The Chief welcomes and encourages submitted letters, stories, cartoons and any other feedback to the editor. Please send all submissions to mhsthechief@gmail.com. Letters sent by email may need to be verified by student signature before publishing.

• Although anonymous letters to the editor are not printed, names will be held upon request. The Chief has the right to deny publication of any editorial, column, review or comment.

• Grammatical and/or spelling corrections will be made; however, the content will not be altered.

• Corrections will be printed when mistakes are found or brought to the attention of the staff.

• Original stories will carry bylines, although stories rewritten by someone other than the original author will not receive a byline. Contributing writers will be listed at the end of an article. All bylined writers will be held accountable for their work.

• All columns, reviews or commentary are strictly the opinion of the writer and may not represent opinions held by the school board, administration, sponsors, parents, student body or advertisers.

However, all editorials reflect the viewpoint of The Chief editorial board.

THE CHIEF EDITORIAL Boys rule and girls drool in MHS locker rooms

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

KAITLYN LUCEY // THE CHIEF

Locker Room Equality | MHS should improve the girls’ locker room to match the quality of the boys’.

THE CHIEF OPINION Point: let Syrian refugees seek shelter whithin our borders

JANUARY 14, 2016

BY DAVE MARQUES COPY EDITOR

place, refusing them plays into ISIS’ narrative of an inevitable “clash of civilizations” between the West and the Islamic world.

ISIS claims to have established a “caliphate” (Islamic state ruled by the successor to the prophet Muhammad) that serves as a place of refuge for the world’s Muslims, and the group claims that Muslims who leave its domains will be persecuted and forcibly converted. Those who flee the brutality and barbarism of ISIS’ mythological caliphate directly undermine its self-proclaimed authority over the Muslim world. What kind of paradise cannot keep its citizens from taking up the arduous trek across the Mediterranean into Europe, fearing for their lives?

A United States hostile to Syrian refugees gives ISIS two victories. The first: it gives the Syrians opposed to extremism little choice but to return to their war-torn homeland, where they will once again be subjects of ISIS’ “caliph,” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The second, and perhaps the more dangerous: it fuels ISIS propaganda encouraging Muslims to leave persecution in their home countries for

FREEDOME HOUSE // FLICKR

There is a troubling hypocrisy in America’s reaction to the atrocities of the Syrian Civil War. We profess our horror and revulsion as images of bombed-out buildings and bloodied civilians assail our eyes daily, yet far too many of us cut our sympathy short when those same victims seek refuge in our own country.

We look back upon American apathy towards other crimes against humanity, such as the Holocaust, and struggle to comprehend our refusal to save those desperately seeking survival in the past. Why should we repeat the same fatal mistake today?

The main source of anti-refugee sentiment is fear of jihadist terrorism, a legitimate concern in the wake of the attacks in Paris, San Bernardino and Beirut. It is true that we must remain vigilant as the threat from terrorism remains high, though the Syrian refugees ultimately do not pose a major security threat to the United States.

For one, the screening process for Syrians seeking asylum in the U.S. is extremely exhaustive. The United Nations must first decide who

merits refugee status, and upon referral to the United States, a refugee candidate undergoes a rigorous background check conducted by Homeland Security officers and experts in Syrian and Iraqi refugee cases.

Syrians must then go through an additional round of background checks called the Syrian Enhanced Review Process, which takes advantage of the security procedures set in place following the Iraq War. As a result, Syrian refugee applications can take over two years to process, ensuring that those who relocate in the U.S. do not have criminal backgrounds or connections to radical Islamist groups.

Furthermore, only 2% of accepted Syrian refugees are men of combat age, and most of these men are only seeking to avoid being drafted into Bashar al-Assad’s army, which has used chemical weapons and random bombings against their fellow civilians. Over 50% of the Syrian refugees currently residing in the United States are children, the most defenseless against the destruction, according to CNN. While there is little risk in admitting refugees under the strict system currently in

Syrian Refugee Child | Children are losing their lives daily. glory in Syrian jihad. This ap- York Times, and its atrocities pears to be working in Europe, have destroyed families and as certain members of France left survivors in constant fear and Belgium’s socially isolat- of death.

The Syrian refugees are ed Muslim populations have gone to train in Syria, believ- not “rabid dogs” or wild faing that they will forever re- natics who cheered on the demain pariahs in the West. U.S. struction of the Twin Towers; acceptance of the Syrian refu- they are real people who have gees would not only help un- been subjected to obscene viodermine ISIS’ claim to Islamic lations of human rights. authority, but would also renOn the Statue of Liberder its most effective recruit- ty, perhaps the most iconic ment tool useless. symbol of American values, a Finally, and most impor- poem by Emma Lazarus reads: tantly, while debating the ref- “Give me your tired, your ugee crisis we must remember poor, Your huddled masses that the horrors facing the peo- yearning to breathe free.” ple of Syria are not figments Today, as the tired and of a twisted imagination. Over poor of Syria yearn to breathe 200,000 people have been free, we must honestly listen killed in the four-year civ- closely to this exhortation; it is il war, according to the New our duty as Americans.

Counterpoint: Syrian refugees pose threat to our security

BY TIM KEUCHLER MANAGING EDITOR

In a post 9/11 world, or, more recently, a society after the Paris and San Bernardino attacks, the topic of terrorism has continued to remain on the minds of Americans who fear the possibility of an act of violence on the freedom of our country. However, with the most recent attacks fresh in the minds of these Americans, the entrance of Syrian refugees into the United States should be strictly prohibited to ensure the safety of our people.

Following the attacks on Paris on November 13 that killed over 120 people and left over 360 others injured, at least one of the fifteen perpe-

trators involved in the attack was revealed to be a Syrian refugee that fled to Paris, according to CNN. This person, along with the fourteen others, were involved in the rising terrorist group ISIS. This ignited the argument of whether or not the United States should shelter immigrants fleeing Syria. Ultimately, the majority of reasons for the massive amount of immigration is because of violence, a collapsed infrastructure, and the safety of children, according to WorldVision.org.

For many reasons, Syrians should not be allowed to enter the country while fleeing the violence of their own soil. Although many may be innocent

people, we should not take the risk of offering the refugees our land and hospitality because of the possibility of ISIS infiltration. As the world learned in Paris, they can easily find people of their kind and plan an act of terror.

In addition, there is also no way to know who exactly the refugees are and what background they are coming from because there seems to be no way to find out; there is no one to call nor is there anybody to get information from as to who the evacuees are. Because of this, the Syrians entering our country could have been members of ISIS in the past or could be current members; thus, there would be

SHENEMAN // MCT CAMPUS

Security Issues | Without efficient background checks, refugees may be ISIS related.

9

no way of knowing their true identities.

Floridian senator and current presidential hopeful, Marco Rubio, agrees and voiced his opinion on ABC’s “This Week,” according to dailycaller.com.

“The problem is not the background checks,” Rubio said. “The problem is we can’t background check them.

You can’t pick up the phone and call Syria. And that’s one of the reasons why I said we won’t be able to take more refugees. It’s not that we don’t want to, it’s that we can’t.”

This issue, though, is not just a national issue, it is a local one as well. After word began circulating on social media that Syrian refugees would seek new homes in Amityville, just one town away from Massapequa, it was later confirmed to be true on amityville. com which states that 10-15 Syrian families will soon be residents of the town.

Congressman Peter King highly disagrees with this proposal in a letter he wrote to President Barack Obama, urging him to stop the admission of Syrian refugees into the US. “The recent terror attacks in Paris have shown the extent

ISIS’s brutality and ability to conduct a major attack in the West,” King said in the letter.

“There is no denying that the current process through which the United States screens and admits Syrian refugees presents ISIS with an opportunity to transport operatives to carry out attacks in the United States.”

Unfortunately, it looks like those who oppose an influx of Syrian refugees, including Rubio and King, are facing an uphill battle with the fight to suspend the runaways. On November 25, a letter to the states from the Obama administration informed the states that they did not have the legal authority to deny the refugees from entering, and, any states that didn’t follow would be enforced to do so. With that, Obama has a goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees into the country within the next year, according to Fox News.

All in all, what’s to say that something that happened in Paris, which occurred in part because of a Syrian refugee, can’t happen on Long Island, or even worse, Massapequa?

Because of this, Syrian refugees should not be permitted to flee to the United States.

THE CHIEF 10 ENTERTAINMENT Comeback kids: Justin Bieber and Adele steal spotlight again

JANUARY 14, 2016

BY TIM KEUCHLER MANAGING EDITOR

lic image.

“I love the way Justin Bieber expressed his feelings in his new music,” senior Carly Soucie said. “I never used to listen to his music but it has come a long way.”

Although Justin Bieber’s comeback in 2015 was groundbreaking, it doesn’t seem to compare to Adele’s global dominance this year.

In October, commercials that aired during an episode of The X Factor in the U.K. put Adele fans, craving a follow-up to her diamond-selling sophomore record 21, into a frenzy.

Already having named the album 25, Adele also teased it earlier in 2014 in a tweet hinting that the album would be out by the end of the year.

When the album wasn’t re-

NIKOTRANSMISSION // FLICKR

Purpose | Bieber’s new album proves longevity.

JOE BIELAWA // FLICKR

While Top 40 mainstays such as Taylor Swift go through their album rollouts and release single after single every year, from 2014-2015 other artists came back to the realm of music, releasing new singles in hopes of reinvigorating their careers.

Some pop stars don’t quite connect to the audience, such as Fergie’s failed attempt at making a comeback in 2014, while others soar with flying colors, such as Miley Cyrus’ 2013 dominance with her hit single “We Can’t Stop”, along with her new style. However, in 2015, two of pop music’s biggest acts made waves with some of the best comebacks in recent memory—Justin Bieber and Adele.

After releasing his last official album, Believe, a number one album in 2012, Justin Bieber went on a downward spiral. This spiral led to a string of legal troubles, from accusations of vandalism and reckless driving to an eventual arrest in 2014, causing fans and the general public to quickly turn on him.

In 2015, though, things started looking up for “the Biebs.” He publicly apologized to the world through multiple appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and his Comedy Central “roast,”

where other celebrities deliberately made fun of him to his face. Having rehabilitated his public image, Bieber was ready to return to the studio.

The release of “Where Are Ü Now” by Jack Ü, a heavily processed dance single with an infectious hook and distorted vocals, brought him back to the top of the charts. The song eventually went Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100— his first in three years.

Bieber’s success didn’t stop at “Where Are Ü Now,” as he followed it up with a single of his own without any features. “What Do You Mean?” debuted at number one on the Hot 100, making him the youngest artist to do so. In addition, he performed the song at the VMA’s and received critical acclaim for the performance and his tears of joy on stage. Later, he told Jimmy Fallon it was because he was grateful for his fans’ support during a difficult three years.

In November, the world’s latest epidemic of “Bieber Fever” kicked into overdrive when his new album, Purpose, was released. Purpose beat out One Direction’s latest album for the number one position, and spawned two more top five hits, “Sorry” and “Love Yourself.” This solidified his comeback to pop music with a new sound and improved pub-

25 | Adele’s new album breaks records. leased, rumors ran rampant struggles [on her new album],” with guesses as to when the senior Laine Thelian said. album would drop, and with “Her words are applicable in almost no time to prepare, so many situations, including “Hello,” the lead single, was our transition into adulthood, released October 23 with an as many of us are facing the accompanying music video. reality of going off to college The song broke countless re- in less than a year.”

All in all, Justin Bieber cords, becoming the most viewed music video in 24 and Adele returned to music in hours on Vevo and the most 2015 breaking various records downloaded song in one week and setting new standards for with over a million purchases. what other artists will need Adele’s reign didn’t stop to do in order to make their there. 25 broke tons of records comebacks stand out.

“I’ve always been one for as well, including most copies sold of an album sold in one a good comeback, and this week, an astonishing 3.38 mil- year Adele and Justin Bieber lion. According to Billboard, did just that,” senior Michaela 25 was also the first album to Fader said. “Their new music sell a million copies in two is better than ever.” separate weeks.

“Adele has once again found a way to so eloquently pinpoint some of our greatest

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: did it live up to the hype?

BY TIM KEUCHLER MANAGING EDITOR

of top movie critics enjoyed the film and of the 49 reviews, only five of them were “rotten.” The average rating by the general public on the site was positive as well, with an average rating of 4.4/5 by 172,900 users.

Still, some argue that the film wasn’t all it was cracked

up to be.

“Overall I would say that the movie was good,” senior and Star Wars fan Sal Corallo said. “I enjoyed it, but then there were parts I didn’t really like. I don’t think it was as good as how everyone had it hyped up to be, and that was kind of a let down. It was a

great movie, but to me, the original Star Wars movies were better.”

Regardless of what people thought of it, two more installments of the series, Episodes VIII and IX, will arrive in theatres in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

HANDOUT // MCT CAMPUS

On December 18, 2015, in a galaxy not so far away, the seventh installment of the mega popular Star Wars saga landed in theatres everywhere, a full ten years after its preceder, and quickly became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set thirty years after the events of the chronologically last installment of the series, Return of the Jedi, which was released in 1983.

The last Jedi, Luke Skywalker has disappeared at the time of the rise of the villainous First Order, whose goal is to eliminate the Republic. Luke’s twin sister, Leia, and the rest of the Resistance attempt to locate Skywalker throughout the movie for assistance in destroying their enemies, The First Order.

The Force Awakens introduces many new characters, including heroes Poe Dameron, Rey, and Finn, while bringing back old favorites such as Luke Skywalker,

Princess Leia, Han Solo and Chewbacca. The flick also introduces the series’ new antagonist, Kylo Ren (portrayed

by Adam Driver), and his never-before-seen three-sided lightsaber.

“I liked the movie because there hasn’t been a good Star Wars movie in a while,” junior Thomas Anderson said. “The movie was very similar to the first ever Star Wars, especially the ending battle scene.”

Being one of the most anticipated films in recent memory, it’s no surprise that it broke a slew of records— it shattered the record for biggest opening weekend at the box office, reeling in an unprecedented $248 million in North America. In addition, the film broke the records for biggest Thursday night debut and biggest December opening, according to CNN. Clearly, when a film has fans this excited, the general public has to wonder, what’s all the hype about?

Rest assured, the hype isn’t for no reason. According to RottenTomatoes.com, 90%

May the Force be With You | Star Wars: The Force Awakens shatters box office sales.

SPORTS Spotlight: Joe Gramegna, a winner on and off the ice

JANUARY 14, 2016

BY KAITLYN LUCEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

cation program. Over the last three years, he has played both the tenor and bass trombone.

Additionally, during his junior year, he received All County distinction in full orchestra as well as concert band. His experiences in the high school music program led to his participation in Tri-M— a na-

tional honor society for high school musicians.

When he is not on the ice, inside the boxing ring, or marching for the band, Joe enjoys spending his time outdoors.

“I [fish] in both fresh and salt water, and mountain bike,” he said. “..I enjoy go-

11

ing off-roading on my ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle).”

Ultimately, Joe Gramegna is a “triple threat.” His success in the classroom, in sports, and musically makes him one of the brightest students that Massapequa High School has to offer— even so, his future looks even brighter.

DAVE MARQUES // THE CHIEF

Skates slicing across the surface of ice, the brassy melodies of his trombone, the thump! of boxing gloves making contact with each other— these sounds embody senior Joe Gramegna’s daily life.

A gifted athlete as well as a diligent student, success is nothing new to Gramegna.

As a junior, he was selected as All County in ice hockey; additionally, he received the Scholar-Athlete award the last two years at the conclusion of the hockey season. “...Being [chosen as] scholar-athlete was definitely fulfilling,” Joe said.

Yet his numerous achievements do not speak fully to the extent of his character. Charismatic, yet humble, Joe is the type to fly under the radar. In addition to balancing hockey and music, he aspires to succeed in the difficult classes he is taking his senior year. One of these classes, Advanced Placement Physics C, is widely considered to be among the most challenging that MHS offers.

“I plan to go in the career field of mechanical engineering,” he said.

Joe cites his determination to succeed in sports as his inspiration to achieve in other

facets of his life. In addition to being a starting forward and captain for MHS’ ice hockey team, Joe is a competitive boxer— in fact, he has won several bouts locally.

“Both hockey and boxing have helped me gain confidence,” Joe said. “Through playing sports at a high level since a young age, I have become more competitive and more ambitious in obtaining my goals.”

He has certainly succeeded in securing goals for the Chiefs. During the 2014-2015 season, Gramegna had the leading number of points for MHS. As a captain, he is optimistic yet focused on the current season.

“We have to start gaining momentum,” Gramagna said, “..and keep working hard each day.”

As a testament to the strength of his character and dedication to serving the community, Joe spends his summers spreading his love of hockey to others.

“I am a [summer] counselor at a hockey camp where I help young campers with various tasks and demonstrate the drills,” he said.

Moreover, Joe is a talented musician, representing Massapequa’s highly regarded marching band and music edu-

THE CHIEF

Hat-Trick | Gramegna masters three skills in different areas of life.

Massapequa’s finest athletes commit to sports in college

BY JUSTIN MCGOWAN STAFF WRITER

This year, over twenty six of Massapequa’s finest athletes have committed to play a sport in college; several at the Division I level. Many more are expected to commit before the end of the 2015-2016 school year.

The college recruitment process is different at every level. For Division I athletes, the standards are more rigid and strict. According to the NCAA Eligibility Center students must maintain a 2.3 GPA, have a score on the combined SAT or ACT that matches the student’s GPA according to a scale, and complete 16 NCAA core courses, 10 of which must be completed before the student’s seventh semester of high school.

Ryan Tierney, who is a committed lacrosse player, is in a very unique situation as his father is coach of the lacrosse team at Hofstra (Division I), the college he will be attending. “[My Dad] never really pressured me into committing, he allowed me to go on and explore other colleges which

was really nice,” Tierney said.

Division II standard are relatively the same except with less restrictions regarding GPA and SAT or ACT scores.

Athletes that are currently in Massapequa High School and are committed or are planning on playing in Division II sports will be the last group of students to undergo the current standards for this division as they will be changed during the summer of 2018 to raise GPA requirements. As far as Division III sports go, each school has set their own requirements.

Though only Division I athletes are really “recruited” by scouts to play in college, anyone who wants to play a sport in college must start the process as early as possible.

This includes maintaining good grades, being involved in clubs and the community, as well as training and remaining active in their sport. According to the NCAA Eligibility Center student athletes should be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center by sophomore year. Junior year is perhaps the most important and at the same time stressful for

students who plan on playing a sport in college because while the average student is just looking for a place to be comfortable and at the same time maintain good grades, athletes must be able to do all of those things and at the same time perform in front of scouts and other college officials.

It is very easy to fall into the trap of not caring about one’s grades after they are committed because, essentially, they are already on their way to that college.

“No student athlete should ever come close to jeopardizing their eligibility by neglecting academics,” Massapequa Public Schools Athletic Director Mr. John Piropato said.

With the United States not even being in the top 10 in education among the rest of the world, in recent years, concern has arisen pertaining to the emphasis that America’s institutions have placed on athletics over education.

According to Forbes Magazine, “America’s universities have brazenly created a perverse incentive for kids to focus on athletics from a very young age… Not surprisingly,

both students and parents are willing to sacrifice academic achievement and growth to get into a good college.”

Though this may be a national concern, many are not worried at MHS as many of the senior athletes have quite the course load which consists of AP and college level courses.

“It is important that the athletes keep their grades up.

The NCAA and college coaches get a copy of the student’s final transcript that includes updated grades from their senior year,” said Mrs. Parkes.

“Playing sports combined with the academic workload is a challenging task to excel at,” said MHS gym teacher Mr. Tim Radomski, who is also the coach of the lacrosse team which had eleven players commit to play in college.

Massapequa takes great pride in its committed athletes as the program continues to put students on the collegiate level each and every year.

“It’s special when you have a group of players that have worked very hard to make themselves the best stu-

dent athletes they can possibly be,” said Coach Radomski.

Though more athletes are due to commit before the end of the year, the fact that 26 have already renewed s the excellence in coaching and academics that Massapequa puts out each and every year.

“I think that we have good, talented players but the coaching staff has turned us into the players we are now and into a great team. Without the coaching staff we wouldn’t be the players that we are now,” senior Nick Jelovic said, who is committed to play lacrosse at Dominican College.

It is clear that many Massapequa athletes feel the same way.

Senior Kyle McLernon, a varsity baseball player at MHS, is committed to play at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue.

“Being an athlete in Massapequa has taught me what it means to be a champion, work hard, play hard, play with respect, [and] play with pride,” he said. “..and most importantly, [to] have fun.”

SPORTS Inside the winter sports season: post season bound?

THE CHIEF

JANUARY 14, 2016

BY JUSTIN MCGAWAN STAFF WRITER

The fall sports season of 2015 at Massapequa High School was as successful as ever. The girls varsity soccer team won their third straight state title, boys and girls varsity volleyball both won county titles and the football team found itself in the “Nassau County Big 4” for the fifth year in a row. The winter sports season hopes to bring in as much success as the fall sports as the Chiefs will see action on the court, on the ice, and on the track.

Boys Basketball The Boys Varsity Basketball team took the court for their opening game of the year on December 3 at MacArthur, though it wasn’t the Generals who they played. They played and beat Hjemly, a team of students from Denmark. The Chiefs came out victorious,

winning 72-40. Kevin Voigt scored fifteen points, Tommy Amendola scored twelve points and Chris Wasson and Justin Lynskey each scored thirteen points. After beating Hjemly, the Chiefs were right back at it the next day at MacArthur as this time they beat the Generals 49-32.

Tommy Amendola was the lead scorer with twelve points, Kevin Voigt had nine points, and Gary Rettig had seven.

The team is coming off of a 2014-2015 regular season which saw them go 10-7 through seventeen regular season games. Unfortunately, they were knocked out by Elmont in the second round of the playoffs. Coach Voigt, who is also a gym teacher at MHS, remains optimistic about this year’s team despite the team’s inexperience.

“Our goal each year is to reach, compete, and win in the postseason,” Coach Voigt said.

“This year’s team will be inex-

perienced at some positions, but all of our players have been working hard every day.”

Senior Mario Festante is also looking forward to this season though it will be his final season on varsity.

“We just have to work hard and we should be successful. We have a lot of guys that can play and play well,” he said.

Most Massapequa sports fans know that Massapequa holds its biggest and most entertaining rivalry against Farmingdale. Never is this more evident than during the football season, but it is also present during the basketball season.

“We want to beat Farmingdale, they’re our biggest rival and we want to make a statement to the rest of the conference,” said Festante.

As seen in all sports, young teams, though inexperienced as this team, are always poised to compete. The leadership of the seniors on this team will be key as ten of the team’s seventeen players are juniors and sophomores.

Girls Basketball

PROVIDED BY SUE HINGHER

Slam Dunk | Senior Melanie Hingher takes a shot.

The Girls Varsity Basketball team has also had a pleasant start to their season as they also won the first two games defeating St. John the Baptist 63-53 and North Shore 66-57. Of the Chiefs’ one hundred twenty-nine points total scored in both of those games, senior Melanie Hingher had sixty seven of them. Hingher is definitely a player to look out for on this year’s team, as she also led the team in scoring last year.

The team is coming off of a 2014-2015 season that saw them go 18-2 in 20 reg-

ular season games. They also went 10-0 within their conference. Unfortunately they suffered a heart -breaking loss to Baldwin in the Nassau County Championship game. The team is also under new management this year as Lockhart gym teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Shackel-Scott will be taking over the head coaching position, a spot previously held by MHS gym teacher Mrs. Shari Roessler. The new coach has a very optimistic outlook on this season since it is her first as head coach.

“Massapequa Girls Basketball has a winning tradition,” she said. “I anticipate that this tradition will continue this year if they remain dedicated and play with passion and pride.”

The Chiefs look to bring last year’s success into this year though they are under new management.

“There is a quote that says ‘success is never owned, it is rented, and the rent is due every day.’ Every day they step on the court they have to be the best teammate and become the best basketball player they can be, which involves a level of hard work and commitment.”

Coach Shackel-Scott said.

Ice Hockey The Ice Hockey team took to the ice on November 24 to open their season. They are coming off of a rough 20142015 season which saw them finish with a 3-11 regular season record through fourteen games played. Senior Doug Smith, who is playing varsity for a second year in a row and also one of three captains, remains optimistic about this year’s season.

“We don’t want to look

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too far ahead, we just have to focus on each individual game,” Smith said. “This year we have a special group of kids who, with hard work, are poised to accomplish big things.”

This year the Chiefs lost their first two games 4-1 and 6-1 but remained optimistic.

“In my final season playing Chiefs Varsity Hockey I would like to make it to the county championship game.

Our team works very hard and hopefully we will see an outcome with our remaining games,” said senior and captain Corey Hutchinson.

Track and Field The track and field team will look to carry over its success from the fall season into the winter season. Although track is more of an individual sport, the team must work together with the ultimate goal of going to the counties and beyond.

“We are definitely trying to make sure everyone has a place on the team. Going to counties would be great,” said senior Matt Danielsson.

The team also has many seniors and they are led by captains Aidan Smith, Joe Tesoriero, Tom Clarke, and Leon White.

“I want to have memories of all the athletes in their prime, I want to be able to look back and say ‘I did that, I made that,” said Danielsson.

The winter sports season at Massapequa High School will be as exciting as ever.

This season will run from December through February.

Spring sports tryouts begin on Monday, March 7, 2016.

Girls soccer wins third state consecutive championship

BY JENNIE TOUTOULIS COPY EDITOR

the final win of the season.

Victoriously, the Chiefs Girls Soccer team continued to

make history with their third consecutive state championship. With so much drive and

determination, the 2016 season already looks promising….did somebody say “four-peat?”

PROVIDED BY OLIVIA ROHRECKER

The much anticipated fall season has come to an official end. However, the girls soccer team made sure they ended their 2015 season on a good note. The Chiefs brought their “A-game” to SUNY Cortland to defend their title as state champs, a title that has belonged to them for the past two years.

The girls soccer team, which went by “The Tribe” this season, undoubtedly fought to keep their 19-1-1 record. The determination and drive of ‘The Tribe’ was most evident during their state championship game against Baldwinsville. Despite trailing

by one goal in the first half, senior Mikayla Pugliese delivered the moment her team needed the most.

Pugliese headed a shot into the net after a corner kick, evening out the score. This goal helped “The Tribe” regain momentum and took back control of the game. At that point, they knew it was time to play their game, regain focus, and reach the coveted threepeat status.

The Chiefs used this burst of energy to secure their title once again. To make sure the team was successful in doing so, junior Hope Breslin sealed the deal with two goals. Breslin put the Chiefs up 3-1 for the rest of the game, guaranteeing

Three-Peat | The MHS girls soccer team celebrates third straight title.