T H E C O LT C H R O N I C L E
GRAD 2018
COLT CHRONICLE M AG A Z I N ETHE NAM E &O R U R L | 1
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FEATURES SCHOOL NEWS OPINION SPORTS
KATIE GORALSKI Features/Photography
SARAH DOUGHERTY Editor-in-Chief
NINA SANTY Opinion
CAMILLE BALO Editor-in-Chief/School News/STEM JULIANA MARSTON School News/Features
CAROLINE LAVALLEE Arts and Entertainment/ Sports EMILY MAZURKIEWICZ Arts and Entertainment JOSEPHINE JOYIL Sports
DEANNA FANELLI World/Local News/Opinion
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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
LAUREN ABDERHALDEN Senior Editor-in-Chief
JULIA HACKNEY World/Local News
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A LET TER FROM THE EDITOR
ALANA VAN DER SLUYS Adviser
P L AT F O R M S
CONTRIBUTORS
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WEBSITE
WWW.COLTCHORNICLE.ORG KINNELON HIGH SCHOOL 121KINNELON ROAD KINNELON, NJ 07405
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, It has been a privilege to serve as Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper this year. My hope for this paper is to open your eyes to the stories untold. We aim to feature the unseen. This year is pivotal as the staff learned tremendously about interviewing, writing, editing, timeliness, responsibility, and leadership - all crucial aspects to craft a successful online site and paper. I am proud to leave the newspaper with a new name, face, and purpose. Ms. Van Der Sluys’ dedication and great enthusiasm for our small newspaper jumpstarted the future of the Colt Chronicle.
would like to thank Ms. Van Der Sluys for presenting her passion for writing, and bringing her marvelous knowledge of journalism to KHS. I wish Ms. V and the editorial staff the best of luck in the future.
X LAUREN ABDERHALDEN SENIOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I would like to thank The Colt Chronicle staff and the editors for making my senior year special, engaging, and wholesome. Secondly, I THE COLT CHRONICLE 3
Cutthroat Gangsters That Will Pull On Your Heartstrings: ‘Peaky Blinders’ Review By Nina Santy, Opinion Editor Fiery smoke fills your lungs, every breath a sharp inhale of coal dust. The scent of industrial factories always present in the air, the pain of recent war always lurking in the shadows and the dirt of the slums underneath your feet. It can be hard to see through the thick cloud of smog erupting from the factories, but every once in awhile, the roar of flame illuminates the street. In that brief flash of light you can see, you can always see, the most powerful men in Birmingham. They stalk down the allies in a ruthless and calculating pack. The caps upon their heads are a reminder of their violent capabilities. These caps are rimmed with sharp metal plaques able to effortlessly slice through the skin of their opposers. No one dares even glance at the men in fear of drawing their attention; even the dogs and the rats scurry away as they approach . Anyone not already aware of their sovereignty over this town will quickly learn their name. A name for the men who stalk through the flames, who inhale the polluted air like they enjoy the sting in their lungs, these men who are Birmingham…
“Peaky Blinders” gives viewers a look into the culture of the 1920s, as well. It contrasts the atmosphere of the poor neighborhoods with those of the rich, and shows the deep struggles for proper wages and adequate working conditions. It also shines a light on the inequality between men and women along with the deep division among the classes. “Peaky Blinders” allows viewers to take a look into the past from a very unique perspective that is not often represented in our history books: the criminal point of view. The Shelby family pulls on the heartstrings of watchers and cause the audience to sympathize with them despite the fact they are indeed, a criminal gang. Never before has a show been able to so deftly force the viewer to connect with the characters and to become utterly immersed in the plot. Peaky Blinders allows its watchers to witness the triumphs and pitfalls of the unlawful men and women living in the 1920s in a way that has never been accomplished before.
The Peaky Blinders. “Peaky Blinders” is available on Netflix streaming on demand. “Peaky Blinders” is critically- acclaimed and has received five awards and been nominated for 10 additional awards. There are currently four seasons, but the show remains in production and due to its success you can expect more on the way. The show about this group of gangsters in the early 1920s is a riveting and exquisitely executed masterpiece. Viewers are unable to resist “Peaky Blinders.” It predominantly follows the story of the Shelby family, who are the gang’s leaders, particularly Thomas Shelby. “Peaky Blinders” shows the two sides of this British gang: the cruel, quite literally cut throat business front, along with the intimate and personal side of the family few ever see.
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‘ISLE OF DOGS’ MOVIE REVIEW By Lauren Lee, Staff Reporter
“ This action-packed, stop-motion movie released in March managed to score a 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. ”
Heartwarming and comedic, well-developed characters, and hard work- that’s how to describe the new movie “Isle of Dogs.” This action-packed, stop-motion movie released in March managed to score a 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. It has a combination of English and Japanese speaking actors, including Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson, Akira Ito, and Akira Takayama. The movie tells an endearing and suspense-filled story in which infected dogs overrun Japan’s streets. They begin to dump the canines on Trash Island (the name speaks for itself). The plot continues as a young boy named Atari Kobayashi (Koyu Rankin) ventures onto the island in search of his dog, Spots (Liev Schreiber). He is found and accompanied by a pack of dogs on the island, led by a reserved and aggressive leader with street dog origins named Chief (Bryan Cranston). With well put together mystery, action, and comedy, this dystopian-esque movie is a definite recommendation. One of the major things about this film that made it so impressive was its use of multimedia to tell the story. Not only did it showcase impressive stop-motion animation (which is hard and grueling enough), but there were snippets of 2D animated scenes in the movie in places such as TV screens for added creative flair.
The characters and humor were a huge part of why the movie was so endearing, as well. Each had his/her own different, contrasting personalities that were easy to take a liking to, and the subtle jokes weren’t forced onto the audience. The whole show tied together exceptionally well with each character contributing to the success of the whole film. There weren’t too many cons to the movie at all, and the few that were present weren’t a big issue. One major one was that it was a little too predictable how it would turn out (no spoilers). This however, was not as much of an issue as it would have been in a film that was not crafted as well as “Isle of Dogs” overall. There were very few negative aspects of the movie at all, which explains why it had such a high rating and positive feedback. Since the movie is rated PG-13, it would be advised for parents not to take their young kids to see this, having mild violence and explicit language. That being said, teens and older children would enjoy this movie. Even adults could be entertained by this movie. With a positive message from the majority of people who watched it, this movie is a highly-recommended watch.
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F E AT U R E S Man, Myth, Mr. Kinnelon By Julia Hackney, Local/World News Editor
Throughout all of the talented performances during Kinnelon’s very own male beauty pageant, only one contestant truly captured the crowd’s hearts. After a heated competition, the official title of Mr. Kinnelon was awarded to senior Jake Stubbs. Stubbs dazzled the judges by boldly eating a raw onion on stage, along with performing a bongo serenade. The competition was tight, which was why the Colt Chronicle met up with Stubbs to find out the secret to winning Mr. Kinnelon.
JH: Overall, what do you think gave you the edge over the other contestants, and enabled you to win? JS: The support of my awesome friends and family. Congratulations goes out to first runner up, Dominic Trapanese, and the rest of the participants and managers for putting on a spectacular show. Though only one can wear the crown, each talented contestant has the spirit of Mr. Kinnelon within him, and will surely each go on to achieve amazing accomplishments.
Julia Hackney: What motivated you to run for Mr. Kinnelon? Jake Stubbs: I was just looking to get a little crazy and have a good time. JH: It looked like a lot of fun. Which part was the most enjoyable? JS: Definitely dancing with all the other contestants. JH: Out er guys, who
of was
JS: Dom Trapanese. he was going to win.
all your
of greatest
the othcompetition?
I definitely thought that He’s just a lovable guy.
JH: What do you plan to accomplish during your reign as Mr. Kinnelon? JS: I plan on being a friend to the people of this town. JH: Obviously this title comes with perks; what do you plan to take advantage of? JS: I’ll get a free prom bid, and best of all: bragging rights. THE COLT CHRONICLE 6
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Above: Dominic Trapanese saying his pick up line to Hayden Burt. Below: All of the Mr. Kinnelon Contestants. All photos by Lauren Lee, Staff Photographer
Catching Up with Arianna Cacioppo on the KHS Spring Musical By Juliana Marston, School News and Features Editor Music is a very important part of society today. It is a highly-used form of expression and can be showcased in concerts, songs, musicals, and more. At Kinnelon High School, the traditional spring musical fits this as the cast, crew and orchestra performed “The Sound of Music,” by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. This musical takes place in 1930s Austria, where navy captain Georg Von Trapp writes to the covenant asking for a governess to watch his children. Maria, a young woman who is attempting to become a nun, ends up taking that role. The mischievous children, who are first wary of Maria, learn to accept her as she educates them and teaches them music. Eventually, Maria and Captain Von Trapp fall in love. They all face many problems throughout the musical and must overcome them all. Senior Arianna Cacioppo played Maria in KHS’ production of this piece, and the Colt Chronicle was able to catch up with her to talk about about her experience in this activity. “I have been involved with the musical since I was a freshman. I do it every year because of the amazing people I’ve made through it,” she says. “And I’m definitely happy to be performing in ‘The Sound of Music’ this year.” Every year, the musical changes, and it has varied greatly throughout the years. “My favorite musical is a toss up be-
Arianna Cacioppo getting ready for the stage. Photo by Lors Photography
tween ‘Grease,’ my freshman year, and ‘The Sound of Music’ this year. Both hold really special memories for me,” says Cacioppo. Although the cast is a crucial part of the musical, so are the stage crew and pit orchestra. “Stage Crew and the Pit are essential to the success of the performance,” she says. “There would be no show without them, and they deserve all the respect in the world for their hard work.” When asked about any favorite scenes, lines, or experiences, she said she enjoyed the second act most of all. “I really love the entire second act. It moves at such a quick pace that the show is over before I even have a moment to realize it.” As a senior, she and multiple other members of the cast have had their last KHS performance this past weekend. “I will definitely miss the friends I’ve made the most,” says Cacioppo. “My advice to anyone looking to try out is to absolutely do it! I have made so many amazing friends and some of my favorite high school memories on or through the KHS stage.”
The cast and crew of KHS’ ‘The Sound of Music’ Photo by Lors Photography
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Intergenerational Prom: Suda Speaks of Second Annual Success By Juliana Marston, School News and Features Editor The Intergenerational Prom, presented every two years here at Kinnelon High School, is a party hosted by the Student Council and a large committee of KHS staff and citizens alike for the elderly. This year, senior citizens from the Cedar Crest Retirement Home came as guests, along with students, relatives, and other residents of Kinnelon. “I love that it connects the senior citizen community to our school,” said Student Council Advisor and KHS teacher Hannah Sappio. “I feel the most important part of it is having the high schoolers give back to the community.” Still, there is one person to thank for bringing this event to KHS: Principal Gary Suda. “When I came on board at KHS three years ago, I was informed we could improve relations between the school and community. In my past experiences, I had organized what’s called an Intergeneration Prom, where our students and staff work together to facilitate a prom for both our students and senior citizens within our community,” said Suda. “It provides a unique and fun opportunity for our students and staff to give back to a generation that has provided lifelong support to the Kinnelon School District.” There were numerous people that helped out with this event, ranging from students to sponsors. All devoted their time to make this prom possible.
from the school, HSA [Home and School Association] and community organizations, as well as local merchants, including A Taste of Reality and Lakeside Deli. We communicate the prom via posters in the community, social media, cable commercials and word of mouth,” said Suda. Although the prom has made substantial progress from when it was first held two years ago, there is still room to improve. “We would like to see an even greater increase in attendance. Our goal is to reach between 250 and 300 total participants. This year we estimated about 100 senior citizens, 50 dignitaries and 75 students. Our dignitaries included Mrs.[Diane] DiGiuseppe; Board of Education members Dr. [Marcy] Pryor and Mr. [Jason] DeAlessi, Mayor [Robert] Collins, Council Members, KPD [Kinnelon Police Department] and KFD [Kinnelon Fire Department] to name a few…..This year we expanded to a local DJ/MC who was graciously funded by our incredible HSA,” said Suda. “If anything you try to improve each year to make it a little bit bigger and a little bit better.” This event would not be possible without the support of the school, and help from various parts of Kinnelon’s community. Both the young and old of the town can agree that such a wonderful event will hopefully be around for years to come.
“To organize, we conducted monthly committee meeting over several months. For the event, the committee members and students set up the new gym to accommodate up to 250 guests in addition to our thematic accents, red carpet, DJ, photo booth, etc.,” said Suda. “The committee is critical; Mrs. [Kristin] Nieto, my administrative assistant, is critical in organizing the prom along with Mrs. Sappio who also organized Spirit Week. [Mrs. Sappio] is very involved, along with our Student Council, Peer Leaders and Give Back Club, decorating and pulling the entire event together. It takes all of the students and committee we have.” A big part of the Intergenerational Prom was the advertising. “Advertising is critical; the Intergenerational Prom is made possible by the generous donations THE COLT CHRONICLE 8
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Prom goers walking into their prom Photo by Lors Photography
Hayden Burt and the Tigers By Emily Mazurkiewicz, Arts & Entertainment Editor It’s not everyday that a seemingly ordinary person from an ordinary town gets the opportunity of a lifetime, but that’s exactly what happened to KHS senior Hayden Burt. Not only is she humble, kind, and smart, she also recently got accepted to Princeton University, an Ivy League school. Since this is such a hard feat to achieve, the Colt Chronicle caught up with Burt to see how she feels about possibly going from a KHS alumna to a Princeton student. Emily Mazurkiewicz: Do you have an idea of a profession you’re looking to go into? Why? Hayden Burt: Probably engineering. It’s very difficult to switch into engineering,but if I hate it I can just drop it. If I later think, ‘Oh, maybe this is something I want to do,’ it’s very hard to switch in. Engineering also has many problem solving elements involved. I like puzzles, so it’s kind of along those lines. Plus, if I go into a different field within STEM, it’s a more confined region of jobs. With engineering, I can go into a bunch of different fields, if I want. EM: Who or what inspires you to be such a good student, both inside and outside of school? HB: Oh, that’s really hard...growing up in Kinnelon definitely helps, though. It’s a really encouraging environment, and it’s the kind of school where if you are a good student, you’re praised for it. All my teachers are super encouraging also, but if I had to pick one thing, it would probably be my parents. EM: What were your thoughts when you first applied to Princeton? HB: I totally did not expect to get accepted, like when you buy a lottery ticket, you don’t expect to win. I was hoping to go to Rutgers for their honors program there, so I applied to Rutgers. And so, while I was writing all these essays, I thought I might as well give it a shot because if I didn’t write an application, there would be no chance of me going there. So, in all honesty, I wasn’t that concerned when I was sending in my application because I didn’t really think it would work out.
minutes, I was like, “Mooom!” *laughs* I was really excited. I also didn’t immediately know that was where I wanted to go, though, because I hadn’t considered it as a legitimate option until after I got accepted. The whole college process is so weird, though, because you have to watch your friends either get accepted or not get accepted. It was at the point where a few of my friends had already gotten accepted to places, and I hadn’t heard back from anyone yet, so I was getting really nervous. Hearing yes from anybody is a huge relief. EM:What is the first thing you plan on doing when you get there? HB: I haven’t thought this far ahead yet, but every time me and my family go on college tours, we would get ice cream to make things more exciting. So the first thing we might do is go to look for ice cream places. *laughs* EM: Finally, what advice would you give to underclassmen who are also hoping to achieve great things? HB: Well, first of all, being in Kinnelon is a huge advantage. Obviously, I’m not the only student in my graduating class who’s gotten into an Ivy League school; Heather Ginsburg is going to Cornell, and I know plenty of other students who are going to really great places, so I’m clearly not the only one. All the underclassmen already have a huge step up just by being in Kinnelon. Also, I’d say don’t stress out too much about it. It’s easy to stress out about all the ‘what if’s, but you’re going to end up where you belong in the long run. If you get rejected somewhere, it’s not the end of the world cause you’re goinng to end up somewhere, and, honestly, you just have to make the most out of wherever you go.
EM: So when you received the letter, you must’ve been shocked. Describe the feelings you had. HB: I literally just sat there and stared at my laptop, thinking: ‘Are you kidding me?’ and then after staring at it for five Photo by Hayden Burt
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TACKLING COLLEGE APPLICATIONS:
SOME FRIENDLY ADVICE FROM OUR SENIORS BY JULIANA MARSTON, SCHOOL NEWS AND FEATURES EDITOR For most students, college can seem like a distant dream; except, of course, for the seniors that are attending next fall. So many decisions to make, applications to send, and all in the span of a few months. How do they do it? We caught up with some of KHS’ students to find out how they managed this daunting task this year. When do you start looking at colleges and how did you figure out your majors? Many seniors felt like a balanced approach was best when beginning their college search. “Start looking at colleges early, but at the same time don’t over stress-everything will work out,” says senior Kathleen Morrisroe. “For your major the best thing to do is find something you’re very interested in. Make sure to immerse yourself in that field, and if you don’t know, then don’t worry about it yet. You still have time.” Still even once they’re applied, some didn’t want to commit to a specific major right away. “I’ve applied to my schools as undecided business because I’m not sure what branch I want to go in to,” says senior Jessica Lisowski. “I feel most people change their mind freshman year of college; you’re still trying to figure yourself out.” Others, like senior Carly Giacoio, are following their lifelong passions and declaring right away. “When I was little, I liked writing a lot. During high school, I was debating between that and music. Eventually, I decided I would be upset if I went into music and not English, so that made my decision.” Morrisroe is considering the same.
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Abderhalden will be a member of the Class of 2022 at the College of William & Mary. Photo provided by Lauren Abderhalden
“I was always interested in music, and really liked spending time with kids, so I figured that music education would be a good choice for me.” How do may want
you choose to apply to?
colleges you How many?
A variety of factors come into play when choosing colleges. They differ from person to person, but are still very crucial. “When applying, I knew I wanted a good community that supports all aspects of the university, a reasonable class size, and the best program to fit my personality,” says Morrisroe. “Location was a deciding factor for sure, because I wanted to be in the city,” says senior Gina Lauria. Once you have found what you are looking for in a college, next comes deciding which ones and how many you should apply to. “Apply to seven to 10 colleges. More than 10 is too much, but no less than seven because you need safeties,” says senior Samantha Aberbach.
Everyone has different opinions on this total, some more specific than others. “Six is a good number because you should have two safeties/backups, two realistic choices, and two dream schools,” says senior Arianna Cacioppo. “Yeah, anything else may be going overboard-apply within reason,” agrees senior Brian Flood. What are a student?
key things colleges look for in How important are AP classes?
Now that we have discussed what students may look for in students, what about what colleges look for in students? “You have to show interest in your college. You can have the grades, and do extracurriculars, but if it’s a good school and you don’t visit, go to the seminars, or send letters, it lowers your chance of getting in,” says Aberbach. Reaching out to the college you want to apply to is helpful, but what about the grades and essay students submit in their applications? “I feel like I got in to my college because I’m a good student. I showed good grades, was a good writer, and don’t feel they looked too much at AP classes I had taken,” says Cacioppo. “Don’t worry about AP’s, they’re mainly good for showing a rigorous schedule, but that’s about it,” agrees Flood. Then, there is a matter of extracurricular activities students have the option to participate in and list. “Test scores are really important, but so are extracurricular activities,” says senior Aubrey Mulaney. “Colleges look at both when you apply.” What about the SATs, ACTs, and other forms of testing?
skip out of all finals. “Senior year being a little less stressful made college apps easier,” says Lisowski. Many students have different opinions on what was hardest about the process. Some have a harder time with the essays, others the interviews and more. Not to mention, the wait for results differs greatly between schools, and some students do not like having to wait too long for an answer. “I think writing my essay and figuring out all the activities I had done was the hardest part,” says Aberbach. “Most schools also release results relatively early, but others don’t let you know until later on in the year.” What about the interviews? What are they usually like? “One interview I had was really scary: I didn’t know what to say, but typically, the people are really nice. It’s honestly not as bad as it may seem,” says Giacoio. Some students do not find the idea of college to appealing, so there are other options to be considered. “If you don’t think you need college, you can consider it but there are other alternatives: for example, trade schools,” says senior Dominic Trapanese. Colleges may differ in many aspects for each student, but there are some similarities in the programs.“College is fluid. As long as you maintain good work wherever you go, you can always transfer to other programs,” says Flood. While some people start to plan out where they want to go and what they want to do at a young age, others are not as sure. Still, even if you start thinking ahead of time, there is no guarantee that that things will go as planned. “Don’t be disheartened if things don’t end up how you wanted. Wherever you go, you’ll get a decent education, and college will be whatever you make of it,” says Lauria.
Throughout a student’s high school career, they typically have to take certain tests that colleges look at. “SATs and ACTs are really important, even if you have good grades,” says Aberbach. “You have to take the SATs and it is very important, but that doesn’t mean your score defines you,” says Lauria. When is a good time to start though? As with any other assignment, there is no harm in getting a head start. “Be testing after freshman year. Starting the SATs and ACTs late isn’t good because the later you start, the less relevant the information becomes,” says Flood. Any other pieces of advice for people who will be applying in the future? Most students find their senior year a bit easier than others; certain classes are not mandatory, and as long as you have an A average in the class, you can
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KEA Fun Run participants cross the finishline on the KHS track Photo by Lauren Abderhalden
“As Trust Club, we get involved in the Fun Run as ‘support.’ It gets our Trust Club members active and supporting the KEA scholarship and brings students together from a lot of organizations. It’s fantastic.” — Jeanine McCune, Trust Club Adviser
LITTLE LEGS RUN FOR A BIG CAUSE: KEA FUN RUN 2018 By Lauren Abderhalden, Editor-in-Chief Leading up to the 5K race at Kinnelon High School, run by teachers Kerry Iannuzzi and Kelly DeAraujo, the Annual Fun Run takes place and donates to the charity Autism Speaks. At around 8 a.m., the participants lined up at the start for the 8:15 a.m. race. The announcer shouted, “Ready... Set... Go,” and the participants were off to start their mile run. Trust Club members and Varsity club members stood around the track, encouraging the runners with high-fives and bubbles. Trust Club adviser Jeanene McCune helped organize the annual event. She said, “As Trust Club, we get involved in the Fun Run as ‘support.’ It gets our Trust Club members active and supporting the KEA scholarship and brings students together from a lot of organizations. It’s fantastic.” As the participants neared the finish, Senior and Trust Club Executive Team Member Jack Treacy was ready to give out medals. He said, “It was a lot of fun THE COLT CHRONICLE 12
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handing out medals to the kids. They were so happy. I definitely could not run that quick at 8 a.m.!” One such participant, Tripp Olsen, ran with his family and little brother. He said, “I like when I was running and then taking a short cut. It was fun!” He had a smile on his face and glowed with pride, while wearing his medal. Although several adults and KHS students ran the Fun Run, it seemed that the majority of its participants were younger children. Catching up with the runners after the race, science teacher and National Honor Society adviser Wendy Bruffy mentioned that she brought part of her family crew. She said, “I got four out of my six here today. The kids are so fun and it’s good to get them out and exercising.”
S AT I S F Y I N G LY SWEET SYMPHONIES By Juliana Marston, School News and Features Editor
Pit Orchestra is the club run by music director Bonnie Hendricks that has students playing music every year for the KHS Spring Musical.
fun,” says senior Natalie Talamo. Performing in front of everyone may be nerve-racking, but the group is prepared for it, thanks to hard work and practicing.
A pit orchestra is a staple of most on-stage musicals and is a collection of various musicians that perform the music in a musical live for each show.
“I’m excited that it’s a classic musical that everyone knows and enjoys this year. I think it’s really important that students today have a chance to study classical music” said Hendricks. KHS has done a variety of different musicals in the past, but a classic hadn’t been done in quite a few years.
This year, the musical was “The Sound of Music” (by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, with music by Richard Rogers), and the band, stage crew, directors, and actors were all excited for the show. “I’m most excited for practicing and then performing the music as a group,” said new member, freshman and trumpet player Gavin Hurtado. “Pit Orchestra is a lot of hard work; it’s very nerve racking to be so exposed while performing, but with everyone else being in the same position, and working hard, it’s a lot of
“Plus, Mrs. Hendricks brings us animal crackers; that’s my favorite part,” said Talamo. “The Pit Orchestra was pretty great last year,” says sophomore and cast member Alexa Giacoio. “I have high expectations for them this year!” Alessio Mennonna (left) Tyler Daniels, Scott Haupt, and Evan Lane Photo by Lors Photography
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Kinnelon Community Brings Awareness to the Effects of Drunk Driving: ‘Every 15 Minutes’ Program By Lauren Abderhalden, Editor-in-Chief
Every other year, students, administrators, Kinnelon Fire and Police Departments and other service areas come together to create a real-life crash scene to depict the events that occur as a result of the crash. On April 12-13, juniors and seniors participated in the production of “Every 15 Minutes.” On Thursday, the day began with several announcements calling select juniors and seniors out of class because they were acting as “the dead.” Their staged deaths depict the result of a drunk driving accident. Senior Clio Pallis and well as other makeup volunteers painted faces white and the selected students could not speak for the remainder of the day. Senior Katie Goralski said, “You had people trying to interact with you and couldn’t say anything. After we had a group therapy session, we wrote a letter to our parents outlining the experience.” Similarly, Senior Daniella Gadaleta said “Being dead in school was odd because you could not answer any questions in class. It felt uncomfortable and unusual, which was the end goal of the program.” The mock crash scene began at around noon, and when the tarp was unveiled, it revealed the smashed cars and bloodied students. The juniors and seniors sat on bleachers in shock, witnessing the seemingly real mock accident. Senior Katya Minervini said, “It was a lot to take in. That was the only thing that everyone talked about for the rest of the week.” TV and Film Teacher, Casey deWaal’s film crew got in on the action and filmed the stressful chaos. Students shed tears, police sirens rang, and ambulances fled the scene with victims. After the mock scene, the film crew stayed late at the school that night to edit and produce the video for presentation on Friday morning at the mock funeral. Each student worked tirelessly until the video was complete. THE COLT CHRONICLE 14
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Emily Less and Sofia Harty participate in the mock car crash. Photo by Lors Photography
The execution, production, and mock funeral was successful due to a community effort. Although it was emotionally tolling, it was a great learning and impactful opportunity. The students were moved and watching the video as a junior and senior class helped them bond together, as aquaintences gave each other tissues and friends gave shoulders to cry on. Gadaleta said, “I learned the lesson that tomorrow isn’t a promise. We should show the important people in our lives that we love them, because we never know when our loved ones or ourselves won’t be here anymore.” One such student, Haley Angelica sums up her feelings about being apart of this amazing opportunity. She mentions, “It was one of the most difficult yet moving programs I’ve ever been a part of. It will forever have an impact on my life, and I hope it touches the lives of others. Though it was difficult, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made to be a part of this program.” For more information about “Every 15 Minutes,” check out http://www.everyfifteenminutes.org/aboutus. .
The Epidemic of Sexual Harassment By Colt Chronicle Editorial Staff
Celebrities in previous years may have worn blue, red, or purple, but this year, the red carpet at the Golden Globes was dominated by one particular color: black. Hundreds of Hollywood celebrities sported black dresses or suits with the addition of a pin that read two simple, yet powerful words: Time’s Up. While this hashtag may have attracted a national following at the Golden Globes, its origin has much deeper roots. In October of 2017, following the news of Hollywood director Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault allegations, millions of women started using the hashtag “me too,” a precursor to #timesup. The popularity of #metoo spread across all forms of social media, making headlines across screens. These two words might be small, but unfortunately, the amount of women who have shared them is far from it. Hundreds of thousands of women posted this hashtag to Twitter or Facebook to show just how common sexual harassment is in society. This hashtag may come from an injustice, but the unity of the women around the world who have experienced this form of abuse are here, and they are ready to make their voices heard. The shattering number of women participating in the #metoo movement inspired members of Hollywood to start a movement of their own, the #timesup movement, which was debuted at the Golden Globes. While #metoo gave women a chance to see that they have not suffered alone, #timesup demands change. #Timesup demands action. #Timesup makes it clear that sexual harassment will no longer be tolerated, overlooked, or covered up.
forward now to share their unfortunate stories? The answer is simple: unity. The #metoo and #timesup movements have helped both women and men realize that they are not alone, that they should not feel guilty about what happened, and that they are survivors. Take Larry Nassar, the Olympic doctor for the U.S. Gymnastics team, for example. He was first reported for sexual abuse over 15 years ago, but the girls were ignored, called naive, and blamed for the events that happened. Now, the survivors have banded together into an army of over 100 powerful women to share their stories and use their collective strength to stand up to their attacker. These movements and stories have shown and will continue to show how unity is the driving force behind confronting and stopping an injustice. Senior Lauren Krauskopf offered her words on these two new movements: “I think these movements need to be talked about, because in the past, they were viewed as “taboo” topics. However, these topics are extremely important and we need to start the conversation, which is what these two movements are doing.” In his effort to take advantage of women, Harvey Weinstein actually did the opposite, making women an unstoppable force. Because of his horrendous acts, he opened the floodgates for millions of men and women to unite against injustice, fight to change sexual harassment, and ensure that the words #metoo will never be trending on social media again. Time’s up on silence. Time’s up on waiting. Time’s up on sexual harassment and discrimination.
Just how common is sexual harassment? According to End Sexual Violence a website dedicated to ending sexual assault, one in four women and one in six men will experience sexual harassment in their lives. Statistica, an analytics company, also conducted a recent survey, showing that 60 percent of women have been sexually harassed in the United States. Even more concerning is the fact that many cases of sexual assault often go unreported. These numbers are frightening, and these two new movements have made it clear that a change is needed. Furthermore, sexual harassment statistics are equally alarming for teen victims. According to Teen Help, teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 are 3.5 times more likely than the general public to be victims of sexual abuse. These victims are a diverse group of males, females, and transgender adolescents. Sexual harassment knows no boundaries, and time is up for this to end. So here is the big question asked by many skeptics of these new movements: why now? Why are millions of women coming
Many celebrities wore black to the 2018 Golden Globe Awards to make a statement against sexual harrassment in the entertainment industry. THE COLT CHRONICLE 15
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Kinnelon Takes a Stab at Fencing
By Julia Hackney, Local/World News Editor When the term “sports” is used, popular pastimes like football or baseball may initially come to mind; many would not immediately think of fencing. As a result, of its stereotypical elegance and grace, however, fencing is deceptive, and one must attend a meet or tournament in order to witness its true competitiveness and entertainment value. Kinnelon High School’s most recent edition to its wide variety of school-run sports is its fencing team, which then further divides into different categories. Foil, epee, and sabre are the three types of swords most typically used, each of which requires a different skillset and style of competing. Brianna Doward, a junior on the team, fences using a foil sword. She says that she chose this type because she was “...afraid of being whacked with a blade in the head.” This is the smallest type of sword, and usually targets the upper body (with the exception of the arms and neck). Doward mentioned that she would definitely recommend fencing, and thinks that all blades have their benefits. Epee swords are larger than foil swords, and when fencing with one, the opponent’s entire body is the target. Freshman Maya Vaitovas says that she “...likes that epee is very strategic, and not too fast. During
Taking a Swing at Interviews: KHS Golf Team By Lauren Lee, Staff Reporter
sabre you’re just running at each other, and trying to get the point first, and with foil there are so many complications. I’d recommend foil for beginners because it causes less injuries.” Senior John Kay fences with a sabre blade. “It’s definitely not the easiest sword, but it’s a lot of fun.” Kay says that anyone who is considering fencing should “...make sure that they’re flexible, and watch videos online and look at the different types of styles.” All of the fencers interviewed strongly recommended joining the team. The whole team is looking forward to wrapping up a fantastic first year and even more eager to start their second.
Golf Team Practicing (All photos by Lors Photography) Golf may seem simplistic and easy to master, but while experiencing what the golf team was like and what the members had to say, it suggested more of a challenge than originally perceived. The members of the golf team, instructed by teacher James Soules, all gathered on campus to practice, which was an opportune moment to have an inside look on the team. The team includes students from all grades and ages, and here are what different members on each ends of the spectrum had to say about the team. Freshman Emily Mazurkiewicz mentions that a significant part so far of just starting out is “getting into matches, because I haven’t done that before. So it’s not much as challenging as a new experience, because it’s a lot more walking and strategizing more than it’s just hitting the ball.” Freshman Jason Meenan also adds that starting out in his first year now, what he would advise others just joining next year to “just have fun, don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
Freshmen Christina Matinelli (left), Maya Vaitovas and Lauren Lee at a Varsity Fencing match on December 27, 2017.
Lindsay Naugle, a senior who has been on the team for three years says, “The advice that I would give would be if you’re on the cusp about thinking about joining, definitely do it, because it’s one of the few sports you can actually play until late in your years, and it’s a skill you can use in all aspects of your life.” Nick Carlson, as a junior, says a few things about the team’s expectations for the rest of the season and also for the next years continuing on. “Well, we want to win conference this year, and we want to shoot every shot well and continue to get better as we play.” Overall, the feedback from the golf members were positive. While challenging in some aspects and unexpected scenarios as they continue through their years, they would all
agree that joining the golf team was, in fact, worth a shot.
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