Predator - September 2013 by Wharton High School - Predator Newspaper

PREDATOR PAUL R.

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WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL

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Sept. 26, 2013

20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Tampa, FL 33647

Volume 17 Issue 1

Big Brother is watching

Photo By • Alex Montgomery They’re Always watching - This past summer, 45 security cameras were installed throughout Wharton’s campus to help teachers and administration crack down on and reduce student disruptions as well as theft. These security cameras, that are monitored by administation, are located inside every hallway on campus, including the student parking lot and cafeteria.

New security cameras aim to reduce school disruptions, students question personal privacy Print Editor-in-chief ABenjaminpredator@gmail.com

D WHAT’S INSIDE

uring the summer months, a new feature was placed around the school’s campus – security cameras. The security cameras were put up around the school to deter those who carry out unacceptable acts around the campus and to catch those who act out. “The idea of putting security cameras around the school has been talked about for years,” said Michael Miller, school resource officer, “But we finally got the funding last school year.” The cameras are located

throughout the hallways, Devika Maharaj, a senior. However, teachers had a offices, outside areas and the lunchroom. Some are easily different reaction hearing the spotted but others are more news about the new cameras. “As a teacher, as well as concealed. “The cameras act as a deterrent. someone who is always here, I am glad to have T h e more eyes on our students campus,” said are aware “The adults can’t see Merrill Connor, that they are being everything but the security English teacher. “The adults can’t watched by cameras can.” see everything the cameras but the security so they are Merrill Connor cameras can.” reluctant to act out,” The security English Teacher said Miller. cameras were installed to Many students were surprised to see catch those who steal others’ the black bulbs laced around belongings, instigate fights or campus on the first day of other unacceptable acts that school. occur around the school’s “When I first took note of the campus. “I was always afraid that my cameras, I was a little shocked knowing that students could belongings were going to be be monitored so closely,” said stolen while my things were on

Hot Spot

the floor at lunch or even during class,” said Jocelynn Benton, a senior, “But now with the cameras being in place, I feel more at ease that it is less likely to happen, and if it does, the person who takes my things will get caught.” Within the next few years, with the security cameras, violence and theft are hoped to decrease. “It’ll make the school a safer place. In previous years when there was either a fight or a theft, we wouldn’t be able to tell who started a particular fight or who stole someone’s belongings. Now, we are able to catch those who insinuate fights and steal belongings easily,” said Miller. In the long run, it is hoped that the occurrence of violence and theft at school is lowered and more privileges come to the school. “I am okay with having the

Editorial

cameras around the school’s campus, but there are a lot of kids who don’t want to feel like they are being watched all day,” said Spencer Giarrizzo, a freshman. The cameras have said to be already been effective and it is hoped that they will continue to do so in future years.

REC

Did you know? There are 45 cameras located inside and outside every building on campus as well as in the parking lot.

Sports

Papalani Gelato brings Hawaiian flavor to Temple Terrace

How much is too much when it comes to school spirit?

15 New helmet study aims to prevent concussions on the field

00:13:37

By Ashley Benjamin

wildcatnews 2

Sept. 26, 2013

Predator

LGBT rights will affect everyone

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY • SCOTT SOLLAZZO HAND HOLDING - Same-sex couples are starting to feel more at ease holding hands publicly as they become more accepted by our society. In the past, homosexuals may have been afraid to enjoy this freedom.

BY XELLA DOI STAFF WRITER XDOIPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM

ith major events happening worldwide, from violence in Russia to boycotting Chick-FilA, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights are a major topic up for debate in today’s society. However, many heterosexual people do not realize the effect the new laws regarding samesex marriage can potentially have on them. “Gay rights won’t affect me personally,” said Katie Scott, a junior. “I don’t have a problem with people being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”

Scott’s view is echoed by most people and, on the surface, they are right. Same-sex marriage in itself will not affect the lives of people who aren’t interested in having a same-sex marriage. However, when one law changes, it sets off a chain reaction that will eventually affect multiple facets of our society. LGBT rights and the laws that come with them are significant because such legislation can cause changes in seemingly unrelated things such as spousal privilege, alimony and social security. These changes will affect everyone. For example, same-sex marriage will affect spousal privilege as any two conspirators, regardless of gender, can marry

to avoid testifying against each Despite the looming changother in court. es in other laws, many people Such issues may come to light are either neutral regarding more often as more people feel same-sex marriage or support comfortable with being openly it due to the fact that they realnon-heterosexual. ize how more rights will benefit “LGBT the LGBT rights are commua hot topic nity. right now “It will give them a sense of relief. “Havb e c a u s e They can do what they want and ing more people are rights will marry who they love.” making a affect their big deal quality of about it,” RACQUEL ROYER life,” said said Phillip Racquel JUNIOR Royer, a Malcolm, a junior. junior. “It “In past will give years, nobody would come out them a sense of relief. They can because it was a big deal. Now, do what they want and marry it’s more common and they just who they love.” don’t have rights.” In the United States, same-sex

marriage is currently allowed in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, Vermont, Washington D.C. and parts of New Mexico. Other states are currently debating changes in their legislation. Chad Griffin, president of the human rights campaign, claims that same-sex marriage will be legal in all 50 states within five years. “I think there might be changes within the churches or arguments and some people may never accept them,” said SarahCate Harrison, a junior. “But eventually, I think they can have the same rights as everyone else.”

Stand your ground laws protect citizens BY CATHY PAHL CLUB EDITOR CPAHLPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM A type of self-defense law that gives individuals the right to use deadly force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation. This is a definition of the stand your ground law. “I feel it’s really important for a person to be able to defend ourselves if someone wishes to hurt you, without fearing that the consequence will be overwhelming for you.” Allie Donlan, a senior, said. “If that person wishes to harm you, you have to be able to defend yourself with equal force.” In Florida, this law is officially titled statute 776.013 and it is not as simple as first stated. In actuality, this law consists of quite a few sections and subsections. This law has origins in the original Castle Doctrine which states that a person has certain protections and immunities in places designated as an abode. This can be anything from a car to a home to an office building. There is one main difference between the two laws, though. With the Castle Doctrine, it has

to be in a home, or as previously stated, an abode. With the first installment of the stand your ground law, there had been more restrictions. One of these included having to attempt to retreat from the harmful situation. If you felt in danger, it was required to at least try and get out of the hazardous condition. “I prefer the original part of the law because it gives you a chance to understand the situation before jumping to conclusions,” Nabil Moll, a freshman, said. This law has been adopted in states such as Arizona, California, Michigan, Iowa, Kentucky, and you guessed it, Florida. Although this law is adopted in as little as 31 states, it differs from state to state, even if just slightly. As this law has been becoming more known, it is common for murder cases to try to be acquitted on the stand your ground defense. “It allows me to feel confident that I can’t be penalized for defending my life, because if I didn’t instigate the situation then it is not my fault,” Donlan said. “Whatever I do to defend myself shouldn’t be considered a crime.” A well known case that in-

volved a similar law, a self-defense law, is the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman trial. On February 26, 2012, Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Martin in Sanford, Florida while working on the neighborhood watch program. Martin was in The Retreat at Twin Lakes community, a gated community, where he was temporarily staying. It was controversial because it had been claimed that the reason Martin was shot was because he looked seedy. Others believe that Zimmerman had a right to shoot Martin because it was his job to protect the community. Other cases have been brought about in Florida too, for example, the Trevor Dooley case. Dooley shot and killed David James, 41, in the Twin Lakes recreational facility in Valrico ,Florida over an argument about a skateboarder. He had claimed the stand your ground defense, lost and is now sentenced to eight years in prison. A huge leap down from what was supposed to be 30 years. “I believe we created the law because the police aren’t always there to protect us,” Moll said. “I feel safer knowing if I was in danger I could protect myself.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF • CAROLYN COLE/LOS ANGELES TIMES/ MCT FIRE POWER - The Rev. James McAbee keeps his guns in a nearly 5-foottall blue Field & Stream gun safe in the bedroom of his ranch house when he isn’t wearing them. McAbee is a pastor at the Lighthouse Worship Center in Beaumont, Texas and also teaches concealed handgun classes.

wildcatnews

Predator

Sept. 26, 2013

Busch Gardens to build Falcon’s Fury at the park, which stands at 200 feet. STAFF WRITER “I expect the ride to be the suWKINGSLEYPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM per tall and heart-dropping. I love these kinds of rides,” said ow would you like Matich. to fall face first from Falcon’s Fury is the first ride 335 feet up in the of its kind at the park, in Florida air or fly as high as or anywhere, turning at a 90 dea bird? gree angle before falling straight Such an exhilarating experi- down at 60 mph. The fall will ence can be had on Busch Gar- last as quickly as about five secden’s newest attraction, Fal- onds. con’s Fury. The new ride is likely to attract “I cannot wait for this ride to thousands of people, from far come out,” said Erica Matich, a away and especially local resijunior. “I go to Busch dents. Gardens all the time “I am with my friends begoing “I think this ride will be just to try cause I have had season passes for years and be as great as the others at now.” there Falcon’s Fury is Busch Gardens, if not better.” o p e n a 335-foot drop i n g straight to the botHENRY HAVRE w e e k tom while riders to ride SOPHOMORE F a l will be facing the ground. It is taller con’s than any other ride Fury,” at the theme park including said Lexi Vegafria, a sophomore. SheiKra, the tallest roller coaster “I hope the ride is fun and lives

BY WILL KINGSLEY

up to my expectations. I have been excited for it ever since I heard it was coming out.” This free-fall ride will be the tallest in North America, beating out other standing drop towers in the United States, such as Drop Tower: Scream Zone from King’s Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. Falcon’s Fury is also taller than Super Scream at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. “This ride is taller than many others like it, and I cannot wait to ride it for the first time,” said Henry Havre, a sophomore. Falcon’s Fury provides 3.5 GForces on the way down, which is as many as an air force pilot could feel while flying a plane. When this ride opens in the spring of the year 2014, many amusement park goers will want to be the first to ride the new attraction. “I think this ride will be just as great as the others at Busch Gardens, if not better,” Havre said. “It could even be the best falling ride in the country.”

Thrill rides for the adrenaline junkie

PHOTO BY • KEEGAN MCKAY POP, LOCK AND DROP IT - Cranes set to construct the new drop tower Falcon’s Fury at Busch Gardens. The ride is projected to open in spring 2014.

2. El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure

1. Bizarro (Superman) at Six Flags New England

Ranking in at number two, El toro frightens its passengers with an 181 foot drop with the steepest angle of any wooden coaster at 76 degrees.

Holding slot number 1, Bizarro drops its passengers 208 feet. It was ranked the number one steel coaster in the world 5 times since 2003.

Roller coasters everywhere are constantly fighting to claim the title of “thrill.” It’s a title every theme park wants to earn and for a lucky few, it can be achieved.The Roller Coaster Critic’s top five thrill coasters are listed below. 5. The Beast at Kings Island

http://public.wsu.edu/

4. The Voyage at Holiday World

http://www.themeparkreview. com/

3. Apollo’s Chariot at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

http://blog.hostelbookers. com/

http://bestrollercoasters. wikispaces.com/

http://www.themeparkreview. com/ Infographic by Cathy Pahl

Source: http://www.thecoastercritic.com/

Apple unveils new mobile operating system, draws global attention with innovative iPhone features firm purchases in iTunes, iBooks and the App store. STAFF WRITER “You check your iPhone dozXDOIPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM ens and dozens of times a day, probably more,” says Apple’s fter the usual antici- press release. “Entering a passpation in the iPhone- code each time just slows you enthusiast world, the down.” latest iPhones rolled The iPhone 5s will come in out at Aps i l ve r , ple’s Sept. 10 space conference g r e y “It’s cool that you can choose the a n d in Cupertino, Calif. colors, but I wouldn’t want to buy g o l d . Although either of the new iPhones because I P r i c e s this is a gap w i l l year be- already have an iPhone.” start at tween big $ 1 9 9 iPhone refor the models ac16 GB BRIANNA HUGHES model. cording to the usual JUNIOR If the pattern, color Apple has v a made some significant changes. rieties of the iPhone 5s aren’t Besides the usual speed and enough, Apple is starting a camera improvements, the completely new branch of the iPhone 5s will also sport a home iPhone family tree—iPhone 5c. button that doubles as a finger Whether the c stands for print sensor that can be used to cheap or color doesn’t matter beunlock the iPhone and to con- cause the iPhone 5c is both. The

BY XELLA DOI

PHOTO BY • KEEGAN MCKAY IPHONE OR BUST - Iphones are thrown in the trash to make way for new iPhones. They will be a great improvement and difference from the previous iPhones, with new amenities such as a fingerprint scanner. new line will start at $99 for 16 GB and will be available in blue, green, pink, yellow and white. As other cellphone manufacturers try to disguise their plastic phones, Apple has decided to make a phone that is “beautifully, unapologetically plastic,”

said Jony Ive, senior vice president of Design at Apple in a release. In addition to the new iPhones, Apple is going to start making cases. There will be a $39 premium leather case for the iPhone and

a soft matte plastic case will be available for the iPhone 5c designed with holes to make color combinations pop. The iPhone 5c case will cost $29. “It’s cool that you can choose the colors,” said Brianna Hughes, junior, “but I wouldn’t want to buy either of the new iPhones because I already have an iPhone.” For those that cannot buy a new iPhone any time soon, Apple is also making a new software version, iOS 7, which is the biggest change to iPhone operating system since it originally came out in 2007. iOS 7 will have many new features, including a complete graphics redesign, improved multitasking and a male Siri voice option. They will also be starting iTunes radio, which is basically the Apple version of Pandora. Both new iPhones became available Sept. 20. iOS 7 and iTunes radio both launched Sept. 20 as a free update for iPhone 4 and later.

health 4

Sept. 26, 2013

Predator

Tired? Blame your electronics By MArielle Gomez

that the blue light from electronics has an effect on a person’s sleep cycle and pattern. According to Webmd.com, the light that is used in electront’s challenging to find a ics like phones, televisions and teenager today that doesn’t computers prevent the body have an electronic device. from producing the hormone Whether it’s a cell phone, melatonin, a hormone that helps laptop, tablet or music player, regulate when people sleep and you can be sure to find someone wake up. “Every time I wake up I always attached to their device at all feel tired, probably because times. “I use my phone every day,” school doesn’t allow me enough said Sara Kouchakzadeh, a se- sleep,” said Allison DePalma, a nior. “I only use my computer senior. A lot of students tend to soleto do homework.” It’s already known that using ly blame school for the lack of sleep and the phone feeling while driving is ex“I think it’s a good idea to give tired, but tremely (phones) up before bed but I’m itnot bemight the dangerous. How- probably not going to be able to.” only thing to blame. ever, many In addition people to staying are not Nadia Warden up late doaware of the risks of Senior ing homework and using their waking up phones before the and electronics in the middle of the sun is shining, electronic use night in the comfort of their own may also be causing these feelings of tiredness. homes. According to Health.Harvard. “I feel like death when I wake up for school,” said Nadia War- edu, numerous studies have den, a senior. “On weekends, I shown that the alterations to the wake up in the afternoons feel- sleep cycle and exposure to light at night is linked to some types ing refreshed.” Using electronics at night can of cancer, diabetes, obesity and have a huge negative impact on heart disease. In addition to the actual light, a person’s health due to the fact

Co-Managing editor mgomezpredator@gmail.com

Photo by • Alex Montgomery Power off before sleep - Students like freshman Laura Montgomery often spend time texting and using other electronics right before going to sleep. The light emitted from these electronics have negative effects on sleep, including making it more difficult to fall asleep. according to Webmd.com, the activities themselves have an effect on our sleep. Activities like talking to friends, playing video games and watching television, stimulate brain activity when people should be relaxing and taking part in more calming activities like reading a book before going to sleep.

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Of course, due to the attachment to social media, texting and the Internet, it’s almost impossible to tell students to stop using their phones before going to bed. “I think it’s a good idea to give them up before bed, but I’m probably not going to be able to,” Warden said. “It’s an addic-

tion.” If completely giving it up for at least an hour before bed seems impossible, taking steps like diminishing the brightness on screens can greatly improve health and sleep, allowing students to feel more alert, more refreshed and more awake during school.

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college

Predator

Sept. 26, 2013

SAT prep takes toll on student body BY BRANDON GOLDMAN ONLINE EDITOR IN CHIEF BGOLDMANPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM Every year, juniors and seniors across the nation sell their souls to the SAT. Many spend months on end preparing for the four-hour test that is a critical factor to the college admissions process. Such preparation comes in many forms, such as after school tutors and weekend prep classes. While most students feel that test preparation will cost them an arm and a leg, there is an endless number of free SAT study tools available to students online and through the Wharton guidance office. “For most students, price isn’t the only factor holding them back from preparing for the test,” said Magda Rodriguez, Wharton’s college and career counselor. “All students learn differently, and for most prep methods, students need discipline to keep them on track and focused on the test.” This year, Hillsborough County Public Schools is hosting free SAT prep classes for four of the seven test dates. Additional courses are also being planned for January to help prepare students for the February test, when most juniors take the

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY • MARIAH HENDERSON HIT THE BOOKS - Kallie Golicher, a senior, studies for the SATs on her own at home. WIth an infinite amount of free test prep options, students do not have to break the bank to get ready for their test. exam for the first time. “Every year, the county offers students the ability to take free prep classes at local high schools to help students build test-taking skills before they go in to take their test,” Rodriguez said. At these classes, which occur every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the month preceding the SAT test date, certified Hillsborough County

teachers will be walking students through the Official SAT Online Course and will be available for students to ask questions as they progress through the course. “The members who came to help us at each class had helpful tips and the online practice gave me an idea of what it (the SAT) would be like,” said Kenya Wright, senior. This online course, which nor-

mally costs students $69.95 for a one-year subscription, is given free to those who attend the weekend prep classes. “It’s a great deal for sure, and students have access to the course outside of the prep classes so they can log in to their account anytime throughout the year if they choose to take the exam more than once,” Rodriguez said. For students who don’t plan to

take advantage of the free weekend prep classes, the Internet is a valuable resource for preparing for the SAT. Websites like MajorTests.com and iNeedaPencil.com are beneficial to students by hosting practice questions, dozens of text and video-based SAT lessons and an abundance of full-length practice exams. “There are a ton of really helpful tools online that help you prepare for the SAT.” said Michael Riccardi, a senior. “You just have to search for them.” In today’s society, many teenagers are more comfortable with applications running on their smartphones or tablets. As such, many app developers have created test prep software that can be loaded up on an iPhone or Android device. Applications like the Official SAT Question of the Day (free), SAT Score Quest by The Princeton Review ($4.99) and SAT Connect (free) all offer a wide variety of test prep tools like guided practice problems, sample questions and short video lessons in the convenience of your own pocket. No matter the studying method one takes, spending time and making the effort to prepare for the SAT will help improve test scores tremendously and can make the college admissions process a little less stressful.

President Obama works to reduce college costs BY MADISON GIARRIZZO COLLEGE EDITOR MGIARRIZZOPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM On August 22, President Barack Obama announced his widespread plan to help reduce the cost of college. This multi-faceted initiative is part of his Better Bargain for the Middle Class plan, which not only includes plans for making college more affordable, but also has broader aspect of education, the economy and housing. The plans for other facets of the Better Bargain will be released in the coming weeks. According to the White House, average tuition at public fouryear colleges has more than tripled during the last 30 years. The average student today will graduate with more than $26,000 in debt. In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and The College Board have indicated that while public four-year college tuition and fees have increased 257 percent during the past 30 years, the typical family income has only increased 16 percent. “It is definitely important to

Unusual College Scholarships

BY MADISON GIARRIZZO COLLEGE EDITOR

me that the President is interested in reducing costs for college, mostly because I am about to attend one,” said Gloria Truongcao, a senior. “It’s also important for society as well because we are the next generation, and if reducing costs of college means that more people would go to become more educated. It would be definitely benefit our future.” The Better Bargain for reducing the cost of college is broken up into three main parts: Promoting Innovation and Competition, Paying for Performance and Ensuring that Student Debt Remains Affordable. Promoting Innovation and Competition gives consumers clear information on a college’s performance and encourages colleges to offer students more options. Paying for Performance ties financial aid to the college’s performance, new college ratings will be published before 2015 as part of this plan. Ensuring the Student Debt Remains Affordable involves helping ensure that borrowers can afford their loans and helping out struggling borrowers. “I think it’s great that the President is doing this because it will

ILLUSTRATION BY • DON COKER /MCT give more students the opportunity to go to college,”Lily Jarabeck, a freshman. These plans add on to the President’s other initiatives to reduce college costs, something he has pursued strongly his past five years in office. “Paying for college definitely stresses me out,” Truongcao

The looming fate of paying for college weighs on students more and more as they further approach graduation, and scholarships are a great way for students to pay for it. Not all scholarships out there are your run-of-the-mill essay or recommendation letter scholarships; there are tons of scholarships out there that are a little wacky and unconventional. Some of the most unusual scholarships are listed to the right.

Stuck at Prom Duck Brand Tape offers a $5,000 scholarship for the person who most creatively uses duct tape on their prom outfit and wears it to prom. The winner’s school also receives a $5,000 scholarship.

said. “I come from a middle class family, and although money to pay for bills, etc. isn’t an issue, paying for college and the loans from it is going to stress me out.” College has a direct effect on future employment. According to the White House, Americans with a college education earn

Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest This $2,000 scholarship is open to any senior in the United States who can call ducks. They must follow the rules of the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest. Each student has 90 seconds to use four calls: hail, feed, comeback and mating.

more and are more likely to be employed. Only 4.5 percent of people with bachelor’s degrees are unemployed compared to 12.4 percent of people who have less than a high school diploma. “(Attending college is important) so I can have not only a better future but a job as well,” Jarabeck said.

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship ScholarshipExperts.com offers a $1,500 grant to the student that best answers the prompt “Imagine that your high school/college has been overrun with zombies. Your math professor, the cafeteria ladies and even your best friend have all joined the walking dead. Use your brain to flesh out a plan to avoid the zombies, including where you would hide and the top five things you would bring with you to stay alive.”

opinion 6

Sept. 26, 2013

Predator

Administration cracking down EDITORIAL By Yvonne Bertovich Co-Managing Editor ybertovichpredator@gmail.com

ROVING REPORTER

t is awfully easy to imagine the discourse that would occur if Wharton was an anything goes, lawless wasteland. The Wild West would have nothing on students running more rampant than cattle, destroying everything in their paths with stampede-like execution. OK, maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. Perhaps new policies instituted this year were made as a preventative measure for the chaos detailed above, or even less extreme occurrences. The most noticeable change of all is the security cameras scattered along both indoor and outdoor ceilings. For the time being, before the cameras catch any true criminal or shady behavior going on, their presence just seems to make even the most innocent students feel like they are being breathed on by Big Brother. Then again, maybe catching crime isn’t their intention at all. Maybe it’s simply to make everyone feel watched and scared straight. This is beneficial and yet a bit deterring for those who want to feel at home, rather than at school. The recording of dress code in-

fractions has also been brought into the 21st century with a computerized system rather than some notebook, unfortunately for some. Conversely, there have been more witnesses of those getting reprimanded for sagging trousers and exposed shoulders, which is, without question, a great way to beautify the landscape. We don’t hate to break it to you, ladies and gentlemen, the sight of too much exposed skin or underwear makes us want to gouge our eyes out with ballpoint pens. Perhaps the harshest and most refuted of all new policies is that toward cellphones and electronic devices. Students, for the most part, understand that these devices are not acceptable at all times or everywhere around school, yet the rebel in everyone comes out to text their “beau” back or even just their mommy or to check their all-important Twitter feed. Because what is learning, anyway? The solution for dealing with these new policies, among others, put bluntly, is to just suck it up, buttercup. Students cannot honestly expect to attend an institution and have everyone fly by their personal rules. It’s simply irrational. Irrational like the Wild West, riddled with random theft, saloon fights and stubborn, uneducated cattle. Rules are the best and worst part of our society, but they are what make it just that.

illustration by • CRISTINA ARGUELLO

What’s a new school policy you would make?

JENNIFER JOSEPH

“Wear whatever we want to wear!” freshman

PAUL R. WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL

MONANDA JONES

“No dress code and being able to eat in class.” sophomore

JONATHAN GONZALEZ “No dress code and you can wear saggy pants.” junior

P REDATOR 2013-2014

ASHLEY BENJAMIN Print Editor-in-Chief

MARIELLE GOMEZ Co-managing editor

MARINA JANKOVIC Copy editor

Adviser KYLE LOJACONO

BRANDON GOLDMAN Online Editor-in-Chief

MADISON GIARRIZZO College editor

Phone Number (813) 631-4710 ext. 237

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ALEC ARNOLD

“The implementation of free cellphone use.” senior

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he newspaper informs students about events, influences its readers through responsible editorials, entertains through features and brings buyer and seller closer together. As an established open forum for the student body, truth will be the staff’s major goal. These goals are achieved through thorough and responsible reporting. Editorials reflect views of the staff and do not represent views of the school board, administrators, faculty or the student body of Wharton High School. All by-lined articles and artwork reflect the opinions of the writers and artists. Predator encourages letters which constitute a constructive avenue for all opinions. These letters must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for poor taste, space, libel and grammar. These changes will not affect the content or meaning behind the story. Ad rates are available by calling (813) 631-4710 ext. 264. Advertising which promotes illegal products as labeled by Florida law, opposes any religion, is written in bad taste, includes racial comments or which includes false statements will not be accepted. The Editorial Board has the right to refuse any such ad. Predator is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association.

Homework, friends, sports, oh my!

U G E

I E

Paul R. Wharton High School

20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Tampa, FL 33647 Volume 17 Issue 1

PHOTO BY •SCOTT SOLLAZZO BALANCING ACT - Mike Myers, a senior, finds that balancing his schoolwork and spending time with his girlfriend, Abby DeLisle, a junior, isn’t as easy as it seems. Many students today find themselves struggling to juggle a social life, extraccuricular activities, school and more.

Students attempt to find life balance BY MARIELLE GOMEZ CO-MANAGING EDITOR MGOMEZPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM

et home from school. Eat. Get ready for practice. Come home. Do homework. Don’t forget to do all your chores. Don’t get distracted. Go to bed. Not enough sleep. Tired the next day. Try to get work done during class. Try to get everything finished so you can go to bed early. The cycle of stressful thoughts of all the pending responsibilities go through many high school students’ minds every day. “It’s extremely difficult, but you just have to make sure your priorities are in order. Always think about what’s going to help you in the long run,” said

Rebecca Ross, a junior. are and do them first.” Many students pack their With all the work and activischedules with numerous activ- ties going on in their lives, how ities but a vast majority of them do these students relax and find know what the time to they’re dedicate getting to their “It’s extremely difficult, but you f r i e n d s ? into and how to “I usujust have to make sure your primanage ally set orities are in order. Always think aside my their time. “I basi- about what’s going to help you in weekends cally have for my sothe long run.” a schedule cial life,” that I folKinsey low every said. week that Not only REBECCA ROSS allows me do these JUNIOR busy teens to get everything have the done and stay focused on ev- traditional hanging out with erything,” said Sydney Kinsey, friends on the weekend option, a junior. they also have the option to soJunior Vanina Iordinova add- cialize on social media like Insed, “I know what my priorities tagram, Twitter, Facebook and

Tumblr. Students also tend to turn to music when it comes to relaxing and unwinding from such a busy and often stressful life. “(I) go for a run or listen to music,” said Olivia Giarrizzo, a freshman. Ross added, “(I) listen to One Direction and go on Tumblr.” Balancing school, extracurricular activities and a social life is not an easy task, but many people put in the effort to make it work because the activities they have are important to them and make everything worthwhile. Kinsey, involved in both varsity cheerleading and Taekwondo, said, “I love both of the sports I do, and if I have to have a tight schedule to do them, it’s worth it.” Giarrizzo, a junior varsity cheerleader added, “It helps me

stay busy and out of trouble.” Iordinova said she focuses most of her time and energy on tennis and school because they are both really important to her and she’s working towards her goal of obtaining a full tennis scholarship. Having a packed schedule can be both good and bad. Having something to do after school, like a sport, can have many benefits, like teaching dedication and responsibility and keeping you healthy. However, having too much to do can lead to unhealthy amounts of stress and lack of sleep, leading to health issues including depression. When it seems to get too unbearable, students must put into consideration if such a tight schedule is worth the hassle. Ross said, “Does homework count as an activity?”

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Sept. 26, 2013

a night under the big top Themes make night to remember A NIGHT UNDER C THE BIG TOP be the best night of a student’s life, full of food, fun and music, but, like anything, there are areas that could be improved to make the event better. hoosing a homecoming “I think it would be smart if the theme can be a challenge school held homecoming in the for those tasked with gym because they would make it the duty. look nice with the money they’ve Every school has to push aside saved, also, more people could all the overused and overrated afford to come,” said Sarah Moll, themes to a senior. come up Timeliness with a fresh is also a major “I’d much prefer something new idea. factor in picking different than before so that it With all the homecoming would make this homecoming decisions to themes. comparably better” be made, the For example, theme must the 2011 theme be chosen Sarah moll A Haunted quickly and senior Hollywood Ball with other would be less good ideas relevant if given to go along with it. in November rather than October, Here at Wharton, the the month it actually happened homecoming theme is chosen by in. the Senior Class Council (SCC). “It (the theme) would get my The group is involved in planning hopes up for holidays that aren’t and coordinating the event with near that time. (The theme) Barbara Woolley, French teacher, would be confusing, not knowing Student Government Association why you are choosing a holiday (SGA) and SCC sponsor. specific theme at a random time. Although the methods of I wouldn’t know what direction choosing the theme have been they were trying to take,” said effective, not every idea can be Daliah Lopez, a senior. the best. Something else that could be “Paris is my least favorite done to improve homecoming because it’s so overdone,” said themes is allowing the students to Natalie Santoro, a senior. vote for it. This could help prevent In many ways, homecoming can the overused A Night Under the

By cathy pahl club editor Cpahlpredator@gmail.com

Homecoming sets rules for etiquette By olivia mahanor finance manager omahanorpredator@gmail.com

omecoming is an event that happens once a year at high schools all across the nation. It’s not just a typical school dance for the students at Wharton. The dance is something that is planned months in advance. All grades are welcome to attend this school function, as well as an excuse for past students to attend a football game and remember their years on campus. There aren’t set rules to follow during the homecoming dance, but just keep in mind that a little class goes a long way. Ladies, after you’ve picked out the perfect six-inch heels that match your dress to the tee, remember the moment you put those shoes on for the night, you’re married to them. There’s nothing more gross then seeing half the girls running around homecoming with bare feet, so please choose your shoes carefully. The next topic of ladies is dresses. We spend months and months looking for the right one that nobody else will have. We cry if it doesn’t fit and celebrate when we find exactly what we’re looking for. Keep in mind that this is homecoming, not the club. Dresses should not be

Photo by • MARIAH HENDERSON SUIT UP - Jonathan Fillipi, senior, makes sure that his tie is in tip top shape to look classy at homecoming. Homecoming is on Sept. 28, 2013 at the USF Marshall Center. too revealing and should leave something to the imagination. Finally, the last suggestion for girls is dancing. We’ve all seen Miley Cyrus twerk on the VMAs, but remember you aren’t her. If you have to be on the floor, that’s not dancing.

Now for the gentleman. Asking a girl to the dance can be nerve-racking, but after she says yes, you can breathe a little sigh of relief. But it doesn’t stop there. Be respectful towards your date. Guys, at the dance, it’s not easy pickings. If you want a girl

to dance with you, simply ask her. Don’t just grab her from behind. Homecoming should be a fun, enjoyable and a remunerable experience for everyone. Just keep in the back of your head that you’re at a dance with your classmates, so stay classy.

Photo courtesy • Kaitlin pleasants A SPECIAL EVENT - (From left to right) alumni Kaitlyn Pleasants, Krystal Ashman, Samantha Wortsman and Summer Phillips take a moment to pose for a pre homecoming dance photo with the group’s collective date, 2010 grad Khalil Mariott. The theme for their 2011 homecoming was Mardi Gras. Stars theme. “I’d much prefer something different than before so that it would make this homecoming comparably better,” Moll said. This year’s homecoming is themed A Night Under the Big Top. Although the event has yet to

happen, the theme is definitely unused by Wharton. “I think this theme is more original and creative, everyone does Paris or A Night to Remember,” Santoro said. With this year’s homecoming on every student’s mind, it will be a theme to remember.

Homecoming is on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. USF MARSHALL CENTER

Ea d m i t o n e E Designed by Ashley Benjamin

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Sept. 26, 2013

Predator

I scream, you scream, we all scream, for... gelato? BY NIKKI MORSE SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR NMORSEPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM Whether it’s the unusual name or strong sense of island time that draws you in, Papalani Gelato is a small shop with big dreams. Located on 13312 Telecom Drive, a meer 20 minute drive from our campus, Papalani Gelato is a native-Hawaiian business that planted its first mainland-America location right here in Tampa in late August and has been watching it bloom for the last few weeks. The shop features authentic Italian-style gelato, which is like a creamier, icier ice cream, infused with the unique flavors of Hawaii. Other options include: sorbetto, a dairy-and-gluten free type of gelato; breezes, Papalani’s o w n twist on traditional m i l k shakes, allowing you to choose one or two flavors of gelato, sorbetto or yogurt; as well as chocolates and truffles that are imported directly from Hawaii. Some of their more original fla-

vors include: Lava Flow Gelato with pineapple, coconut and strawberry sauce; Kauai Crunch containing caramel, chocolate cookie sauce, caramel sauce, macnuts and coconut nut; and Salt Ponds Gelato with Hawaiian sea salt and butterscotch. Since the shop is located on an offroad culde-sac and is partly hidd e n b y trees, o w n ers Dana and James Winfrey (no, not related to Oprah) are vying for a kiosk at the Brandon Town-Center Mall. “My parents own the restaurant, it’s part of a really small franchise,” said Jamie Winfrey, a senior and son of Dana and James Winfrey. “There are only two stores in Hawaii and we’re the first ones in the mainland; It’s really nerve-wracking. Like, most of everything we have is invested in this so we got a lot riding on it.” Papalani’s is already on the social media scene. You can find them on Facebook and they are working on Twitter and Insta-

PHOTO BY • ALEX MONTGOMERY ONE SCOOP, TWO SCOOPS, THREE SCOOPS, FOUR- Papalani Gelato is a family-owned and operated franchise of handmade Hawaiian style gelato, coffee and chocolate shops which is dedicated to sharing its hand-crafted artisanal Hawaiian inspired gelato, coffees and chocolates throughout the state of Hawaii and beyond. Many customers rave that Papalani™ has the best gelato (Italian style ice cream) and best chocolate in the nation. gram. Overall, this small shop with big dreams is definitely a destination to look out for. With their unique island-themed sensation and exotic flavors and options, what may seem like just another gelato shop may actually be a

rising competitor for the everyday frozen yogurt places. Location: 13312 Telecom Drive, Temple Terrace, Florida 33637 Phone Number: (813) 975-0480 Hours: 7 am- 7 pm everyday Grand Opening: September 27

Accepts credit cards: Yes Twitter: @PapalaniGelato Facebook: Papalani Gelato Phone Number: 813-975-0480 Catering: Yes Atmosphere: ★ ★ ★ Service: ★ ★ ★ ★ Overall: ★ ★ ★ ★

P KALAHEO COOKIES o Biscotti cookie flavor with a dark chocolate hazelnut cookie sauce p HONU CHOCOLAT0E u Hawaiian Turtles—dark chocolate gelato, caramel and macnuts l BUTTER a TIGER White chocolate and peanut butter—creamy and smooth r

KAUAI CRUNCH

F Caramel, macnuts, chocolate cookie sauce and coconut l lavA FLOW a Coconut, pineapple and strawberry sauce—like you’re watching a sunset v PIE o PAPALANI™ Espresso, coconut, espresso crunch, chocolate cookie sauce and more r s sALT PONDS Salted butterscotch—rich and creamy with just the right saltiness

wildcatclubs

Predator

Sept. 26, 2013

Club costs outweigh school spirit BY YVONNE BERTOVICH CO-MANAGING EDITOR YBERTOVICHPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM

chool spirit runs deep. Many have the roar of the Wildcat within their heart and blue and white coursing through their veins. Some will stop at nothing to be the loudest and the proudest up in the stands, along the sidelines or just around campus, but like everything else, spirit comes with a price. “I think school spirit is definitely important,” said student body president A.J. Speranza, a senior. Prepping for school events can be both emotionally taxing and debilitating on the wallets of the already frugal. Like the pregame rituals of the players they worship, Wildcat sports fans prepare for a performance of their own. They often deck themselves out in all white and blue, even participating in the cheering section of themed games such as a Hawaiian or neon night. Spreading spirit around campus on a daily basis is no small task. Student government and members of leadership class, both advised by Barbara Woolley, often use chalk, banners and posters to advertise important events. “SGA (Student Government Association) tries to make going to school a little more exciting and enjoyable by planning

Photo by • Scott Sollazzo Wildcat pride - Students like J.C. Ulbrich, a senior, take expressing their school spirit to a new level. The Blue Crew is known for standing out from other schools when it comes to cheering on their numerous school sports. pep rallies, tailgates and spirit week,” Speranza said. SGA, the arguably true suppliers of school spirit provide burgers, hotdogs, drinks and chips for free at several tailgates throughout the year. Fans, with the help of Blue Crew, “pay” for these refresh-

ments with chants and cheers up in the stands. The cost of school spirit is not only monetary in terms of supplies, tickets and outfits; however, there is also often a moral cost as well. Recalling the Plant vs. Wharton volleyball game last year,

strong school pride can sometimes be portrayed in an unflattering way. “Our strong bonded student body can make other school jealous,” said Cindy Rogers, guidance counselor and sponsor of Blue Crew. “I believe we’ll continue to see this strong spirit

even though it might be different this year, particularly with volleyball, because the team is simply different.” In regards to other schools with similar Blue Crew spirit clubs, Rogers believes they are definitely beneficial to the whole high school sport experience. “Emulation is the biggest form of flattery,” Rogers said, “and having two sides going at each other benefits all fans and everyone has a better time.” Those who challenged Blue Crew directly truly did not impair our school spirit, yet quite the contrary according to Rogers. “Instead of working school spirit for themselves, they want to tear what we have down so they do not feel disadvantaged,” Rogers said. “The schools who tried to attack us, I believe their plan backfired and it has brought us together even more.” There is inevitable cost in just about everything, whether it is monetary or moral, yet for many students and fans, school spirit really is not costly at all. All one has to do is be loud and proud—and embrace the roar of their inner Wildcat. “Having school spirit helps to make taking tests and doing homework not so bad, especially during spirit week and homecoming because it gives you something to look forward to,” Speranza said.

Best ways to get involved in school BY CATHY PAHL CLUB EDITOR CPAHLPREDATOR@GMAIL.COM Whether a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, at one point in your time at Wharton, you will go through the chaos that is club sign-up day, but what do you do when it’s over? With all those papers, applications and sign-ups, how would you know what club is right for you. Club sign-ups are a breeze and can be quick and easy if you know what you’re doing as well as what each club does.

Class Council:

This cluster of clubs is divided up by classes and is a good club for those with school spirit. This club is offered for freshmen up to the senior class. Although the senior class council has more activities, all the clubs are very involved in the school, including participating in spirit week and Relay For Life. If you want to show some leadership in the school, class council could be an option for you.

Key Club:

Service hours are important in every high school students’ four years. In Key Club, you can do just that. Key Club is an organization sponsored by Kiwanis International that gets students to serve the children of the world. On college applications, Key Club is an addition admission officers love to see. So if you are up for getting volunteer hours,

Key Club could be an option for you.

National Honor Society (NHS):

This club is for sophomores, juniors and seniors to display scholarship, leadership, service and character. With this club many gains can be made, such as a chord for graduation and an opportunity to serve your community. It is estimated that more than one million students today are involved in NHS clubs throughout the nation. Along with this, being in NHS may end up in leadership.

American Sign Language Club (ASL):

Sign language is a good skill to have, so learning American Sign Language (ASL) could be beneficial to many career options. Any student is eligible to join ASL and it is a skill that could be beneficial to learn. Along with benefits in jobs, it also could be good to know in social situations.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA):

FBLA is a club dedicated to preparing students for future careers in business and business-related fields. Any student is allowed to join FBLA as long as they have taken a businessrelated course at the school. It is the largest business-centered club in the world. If you are thinking of having a career in

Photo by • Keegan McKay find where you belong - Juniors Rebecca Ross and Frankie Cassisa (left to right) are the secretary and vice president of the American Sign Language Club, respectively. The school has a versitile list of clubs students can choose from to join. business, FBLA would be a good choice.

Mu Alpha Theta:

If you have a knack for math,

Mu Alpha Theta is a club that can showcase your talents. With more than 99,000 members nationwide, Mu Alpha Theta is dedicated to inspiring interest

in mathematics in teens. If you want to be a part of our high schools mathematics team, you will have a higher chance to earn scholarships.

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Sept. 26, 2013

Predator

Ariana smashes with debut album By Amanda Kidd entertainment editor amandakpredator@gmail.com Flawless. That is the only word that comes to mind when listening to Ariana Grande’s debute album Yours Truly. The smooth and soulful feel is something that has been missing on the pop charts lately. She brings something new to the table and doesn’t give you anything overrated, frilly and most of all, annoying. It seems like every teenage actress or actor on a kid’s show eventually ends up singing. Sometimes it is a success, like Ariana or Selena Gomez or it is a complete failure, like Bella Thorne’s so called “attempt” at making a song. I had some reservations about listening to this new album. I was ready for all of the songs to be about breakups and for all of them to have an annoyingly fast beat that just destroys the song. However, I stand corrected. I’m listening to the first track

and I have fallen in love. Hon- thing that I really respect. eymoon Avenue is so silky and Some songs that stood out to catchy, I just want to keep the me were Honeymoon Avenue, song on repeat. Right There, Daydreamin’, TatAs I continue to go through tooed Heart and, finally, Almost the tracks, it seems to get bet- Is Never Enough. The beats ter and better. Each song is so are outstanding and her voice different from the other. There sounds so angelic. When she was on “Victoriare no similar beats or annoying remixing in the background. ous,” I got a hint at what her It is purely Ariana’s voice and a voice is like, but it was not until jazz-like beat in the background. I listened to album that I actualI think this is what made this ally heard her full range. The runs that she creates bum so special. throughout the It was, honestly, a breath of songs are liter“This album shows that ally breathtakfresh air. I had lost all hope for maybe there still is hope ing. At times, I the pop induseven found my for the pop genre.” jaw hanging try. It was all way too much. because of the notes she can Like seriously, why would I want to listen to hit. piano being remixed? I don’t. While listening to the album, Although there are mainly I found myself comparing her slow, smooth beats, there are to a 1950s jazz or blues singer. also several songs on the album The raw quality in her voice is definitely not found in the artthat are more upbeat. The fantastic thing about that ists that are on the top charts. is that those songs don’t have an She is a diamond in the rough odd wanna-be dubstep electron- in this sell-out business, more ic sound. All of them feature ac- commonly known as the music tual instruments, which is some- industry.

I could tell that little technology enhancements were made to her voice which gives me high hopes for when she decides to tour. I have a strong feeling that she will sound the same as she does in the recording booth. If you haven’t had the chance to look up Ariana’s new album, I highly suggest that you do. Your point of view of the pop industry will be changed completely. This album shows that maybe there still is hope for the pop genre. In my opinion, Yours Truly will definitely be a contender for best debute album of 2013. It has a large amount of individuality and there are no artists that I can compare her to. She is so original.

Photo by • apega/ abac press/ mct breakthrough artist - Ariana Grande attends the premiere of Summit Entertainment’s “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2” at Nokia Theater, L.A., Live in Los Angeles, California on November 12, 2012.

Set It Off gives name for Tampa By nikki morse social media editor nmorsepredator@gmail.com

Photo by • nikki morse singing for tampa - Cody Carson serenades ecstatic fans at the Orpheum in Ybor. He sang some of his hits like Plastic Promises, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead and Dreamcatcher from their recent album.

action!

by amanda kidd

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR What happens if a person is too tied up to go get something that is farther than a

couple of steps? That’s easymake it home accessible. In the past, people had to actually walk to get food for the night. Now, all they have to do is punch in a few numbers on the handy dandy telephone, and BAM, food appears at their front doorstep. Speaking of telephones, imagine having to actually walk or ride a bike to have a conversation with someone! Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Well, it seems as though going to the local movie store to pick up a rental for the night seems to be too difficult for people,

Tampa: home of the Buccaneers and MacDill Air Force Base. Both valid reasons to be a proud Tampa citizen, but this hot, up and coming band might give you a whole new reason to love your city. The pop-punk/orchestral-rock genre of music has long been swept off the radio waves and ignored by teen girls across the country obsessed with bubblegum pop music. But behind the scenes, this style has been on a come-up of its own. Just ask members of local band, Set It Off. Dan Clermont, Maxx Danziger, Austin Kerr, Cody Carson and Zach Dewall make up this dynamic quintet. Formed in 2008, they have performed alongside bands like My Chemical Romance, A Day To Remember and We Came As Romans. The band produced their first EP, Baby, You Don’t Tripajaharda in 2008. That was followed by two other EPs, Calm

too. What with strenuous afterschool jobs, extra-curricular activities and unending homework, who honestly has the time to go out to get a movie? That’s where Netflix comes into play. Just by ordering a movie online, you are able to watch the hottest and latest films from comfort of your home. Forget dressing up to avoid an awkward, “Agh, I’m not wearing makeup,” run in with one of your peers from school, lay back and kick your feet up at home, wearing whatever you want. Not only does Netflix give you the option of watching new

Before The Storm in 2009 and Horrible Kids in 2011. The boys finally released a full length album, Cinematics, in 2012 and the four were later that year chosen to tour the country with Warped Tour in the summer of 2013. On Sept. 13, Dewall, Carson, Danziger, Clermont and Kerr played a hometown show at the Orpheum in Ybor. For those who have never experienced a rock concert, to say that you’re missing out would be putting it nicely. The concert began with three openers: Rescue Kid, Airsickness and The Musicbox. Even though no concert is as fun as it could be when you don’t know any of the songs, and having three bands before the main act is a little excessive (two should be the maximum unless the point is to kill your crowd) openers definitely jammed out. Finally, at around 9 p.m., the boys everyone came to see took the stage. The set ran about an hour and a half long, while the lead singer, Carson, sang hits like Plastic Promises, I’ll Sleep When I’m

Dead and Dreamcatcher from the Cinematics album as well as throwbacks like Pages and Paragraphs and Horrible Kids. Now forget the song aspect of it and let’s get serious- a concert with good vocals is nothing without a killer performance to go along with it, and there is something to be said about these five boys’ stage presence. Carson even went as far as stage diving and standing in the hands of the crowd. Many people crawled out of the crowd and leapt on stage, which was shocking at first seeing how it’s against the rules at many other concerts, but Carson didn’t even bat an eyelash, allowing them to climb onstage and dive into the crowd time and time again. After the show, all of the boys, as well as the openers, stayed inside the venue and met with fans to talk and get pictures and autographs. Overall, in my experience at any concert, I have never felt more like a family than in that crowd for Set It Off. The connection between the boys and their fans was one that’s unmistakable.

releases, but you also have the ability to watch those classics you seemed to have long forgotten. So, instead of rummaging through an entire store to find an oldie, simply type it into the search box. On top of being able to watch movies, Netflix allows you to catch up on those TV series that you never had the chance to watch while they were on air. Now if all of that isn’t amazing enough for you, the prices are even better. It only costs approximately $10 per month for the streaming ser-

vice. You’ll spend more than that to go the movie theaters to see just one movie. With Netflix, the amount of TV shows and movies you can watch is endless. Gone are the days of high costs, irritating trips to the store, constantly forgetting to return the rental and those annoying late fees. Here are the days of relaxation and simplicity in this world that is, well, not simple. Netflix is a sensation, and if you haven’t made an account yet, I highly recommend you do.

feature

Predator

Sept. 26, 2013

Social media affects television By madison giarrizzo college editor mgiarrizzopredator@gmail.com Success and popularity go hand in hand. This isn’t just true in life, but also for TV shows, that have life spans that are usually tied to their ratings. Nielsen Ratings, a part of Nielsen Holdings, is a global information and measurement company that provides rough estimates of how many people watch a certain show at a certain time. These ratings do not take into account all of the people watching, but strive to record at least a majority of the viewers. Networks use ratings to determine whether a show can stay on the air or not, but many involved with TV productions argue that ratings aren’t the best way to determine the success of a show. Shows on the Big 4 networksCBS, NBC, ABC and Fox- need greater ratings to stay on the air than ones on cable networks. Shows on the Big 4 need millions of viewers to stay profitable because such programs are delivered to the public for free. The Big 4 make the vast majority of their profits by selling advertising space, while cable or satellite channels make additional money from subscribers. It’s easier to sell commercial space if a show has high ratings, which will, in turn, fund the shows. A show that doesn’t get good ratings is cancelled because the show isn’t making enough money for the network to want to keep it to make money later through DVD and other. However, the Nielsen Ratings

Photo illustration by • mariah henderson Social media hits hard - A student goes onto the NBC website to check the opinions and ratings of the show The Office. Lately, the ratings of television shows have been affected by the many outlets of social media. system is often seen as flawed. Ratings are measured mostly by Set Meters, which are small devices attached to a TV that record the viewing habits of the house and send the data to Nielsen. Other methods for collecting ratings include calling residents and asking them what shows they watched the day before or having them keep journals of the programs they view, both of which can be greatly affected by people’s memory. Those involved with shows complain that the system is not

an accurate depiction of the number of people who watch the show because not everyone who’s watching has a Set Meter attached to his or her TV. Networks are now taking into account DVR playbacks and it’s social-media presence. “I think the ratings shouldn’t just be accounted for just live viewers because many people watch it online, on demand, etc.,” Gloria Truongcao, a senior, said. Nielsen announced last December that it would be part-

nering with Twitter to create the Nielsen Twitter TV Rating to help create a more accurate look at who is watching a show. Websites like SocialGuide.com match tweets to TV shows and determine the statistics of how many tweets per show on a certain day, hour or week. Shows, like Scandal on ABC, which according to SocialGuide has averaged more than 220,000 tweets per episode since January, get huge ratings boosts because of this presence. Viewers talk about the shows on social me-

dia sites in a water-cooler manner, live tweeting episodes with friends and sometimes with the cast and crew of the show. “If the show I’m watching pops up on my Twitter timeline, I’ll tweet about it too and be more likely to watch it,” Truongcao said. Networks have caught on to the boost in ratings that Twitter gives shows. According to SocialGuide, 32 million unique people in the United States tweeted about TV in 2012. In addition, a recent study by Nielsen/SocialGuide has shown that for 18 to 34 year olds, an 8.5 percent increase in Twitter corresponds to a one percent increase in TV ratings in premiere episodes, but some people are skeptical about whether these increases caused by the mentions is a good indication of the overall success of a show. “Twitter is a good place to see what’s trending, but that’s only for a short period of time,” said Arona Govindan, a senior. “It won’t give an overall count.” With the development of the new Nielsen Ratings, the system will likely be less controversial and have a better understanding of how many people are watching. The key demographic networks want is the 18 to 29-yearold crowd, and according to data from Pew Research Center, 26 percent of people in this age group use Twitter. “It depends on who’s watching the show,” said Kim Abadir, a senior. “If it’s teenagers, then social networking/media is a good way to judge if the show’s successful. But if it’s geared to older people ratings are a better indicator of the show’s success.”

Wharton welcomes foreign exchanges ing with my parents and with them. They make me feel like at copy editor home.” mjankovicpredator@gmail.com Tiekoetter, a junior from Herford, Germany added, “My host family is not that different to my home away from German family. I thought that home. The cuddly I would feel more differences. confines of grandma’s I’ve done a lot of things with my house filled with the aroma of family, and it has been all kinds freshly baked cookies. A grand of fun. I feel like at home. I love lake house overlooking spar- my host family because they are kling water that gorgeously re- really nice and try to make me flects the sunset. The comfort- feel comfortable and do everying solitude and silence of the thing for me.” library. A stranger’s house? Tiekoetter and Leclerc have The figurative phrase a home been taken from their comfortaway from home becomes a lit- able and familiar worlds and eral reality for foreign exchange placed in a new one where evstudents erything A l i d a is slightly Tiekoetter “I’ve always wanted to travel strange: the and Leonel people, the to America… I am here, I am Leclerc, culture, the happy!” both of food and the w h o m language. have jour“EveryLeonel leclerc n e y e d thing is bigjunior ger here,” more than 4,000 miles Tiekoetter from home said. “Cars to live with a family that they are bigger and stuff like that. barely know. The school is a lot bigger.” “My host family is incredAdding to the strangeness of ible,” said Leclerc, a junior from this new world is another facMadrid, Spain. “(They’re) the tor—loneliness. best people that I know. I don’t “The hardest part is that when feel the difference between liv- you get here, you don’t know

By marina jankovic

Photo by • mariah henderson welcome to america- Juniors Alida Tiekoetter and Leonel Leclerc are not only dealing with being submerged into a new culture, but also trying to get comfortable with the American public school system. Both students have traveled many miles from their home countries to take part in this exchange system. anybody. The first day of school, you don’t know anybody,” said Leclerc. “You left all your friends and all your life in Spain for here. You have to start from zero. In Spain, I have my friends and my life. Here, no. Here, I am

making my new life.” Even with this strange and lonely new world gnawing at them, it has all been worth it for Tiekoetter and Leclerc. “It’s not hard because I choose to go here. I knew that every-

thing would be different,” Tiekoetter said. “I’m so happy to have this opportunity,” Leclerc added. “I’ve always wanted to travel to America… I am here, I am happy!”

wildcatsports 14

Sept. 26, 2013

Predator

Fall sports Working hard toward triumph 1.

4. The fall sports season is underway for 2013-14 school year, and members of Whartonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football, volleyball, boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross country and boys and girls swimming and diving teams are working their way toward postseason glory. 1. Boys golfer Ricky Condon, a junior, tees off during a recent practice. Both golf teams travel to play Freedom on Sept. 26 before playing at King on Oct. 1. Both matches start at 2 p.m. Photo by Alex Montgomery 2. From left to right, senior football players Austin Tolley, Jeff Keil and Chase Litton pray before their season opener on Aug. 30 against Spoto. Photo by Scott Sollazzo 3. Junior wide receiver Auden Tate snags a touchdown catch in a 38-0 victory at home over Spoto. The football team plays its homecoming game against East Bay on Sept. 27 before traveling to district rival Newsome on Oct. 4. Both games start at 7:30 p.m. Photo by Scott Sollazzo 4. Sophomore boys cross country runner Jonathan Sepulveda competes during the Central Hillsborough Invitational at King on Sept. 10. Both cross country squads will travel to Titusville on Sept. 27 for the FL Runners Invitational. The race starts at 5:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of Paula Olson

wildcatsports

Predator

Sept. 26, 2013

Football helmets to further study in concussions test,” Kocher said. The research uses acceleromBy will kingsley eters in the helmet to see how staff writer hard a hit is and where on the wkingsleypredator@gmail.com head the player hits. The players chosen to participate were chonjuries have always been a sen at random, but based on the part of sports. position they play. Broken bones, torn liga“We look at offensive linemen, ments and surgeries happen wide receivers, defensive lineoften. However, one injury can men and the players that get hit affect everything a person does the most,” Kocher said. for the rest This of their life s t u d y head injucan also “The study will be able to diag- show the ries. Wharton is nose how many hits it takes to e f f e c t s one of the of just a get a concussion. I have had two schools regular headaches before, but never a hit on a in the county to help player, concussion.” study brain instead of injuries in one that Daniel Ibsen causes a football plays. sENIOR c o n c u s “What sion. we’re trying “It meato do is desures the termine how hard people hit, long-term effects of sub-concuswhich part of the helmet they sive hits on the players. It shows use to hit and how it can affect if there is a problem with those the brain,” said Tim Kocher, hits as well,” Kocher said. head certified trainer. There are seven players curKocher is a big part of the rently in the study, including research effort that is tracking Daniel Ibsen, a senior. how head injuries affect an ath“The study will be able to dilete. agnose how many hits it takes “We’re trying to see if the play- to get a concussion. I have had er’s reaction time gets slower, or headaches before, but never a is different from the previous concussion,” Ibsen said.

Photo by • Alex Montgomery Head to head - Two linemen line up before contact drills during practice. Wharton is currently conducting a study on concussions using accellorameters in the helmets. Defensive ends like Ibsen undergo multiple hits on the head every game. He thinks this is why he was picked, but he doesn’t mind. “The helmets are more comfortable and newer,” Ibsen said. Jeremy Jefferson, a senior safe-

ty, had the same opinion as Ibsen, believing the study helmets are a more comfortable style and fit. “I’ve never had a concussion either, but I still think we’re going to reduce head injuries and make them happen less,” Jer-

emy Jefferson said. There will be injuries as long as athletes compete, but studies like this will allow for better understanding of head trama. “In years down the road, we are just trying to prevent head injuries,” Kocher said.

Wharton volleyball team undergoes rebuilding process By Giovanni orabona

2012-2013 stats

sports editor gorabonapredator@gmail.com

harton volleyball looks to improve upon last year’s 25-3 season, but the losses of players to graduation will likely play a major factor. Ashton Stocker and Caci Andreychuk, who are now playing at Furman and West Florida, respectively, on scholarship, were key components in the Wildcats’ offence last year, combining for 631 assists and 396 kills. Their play helped lead Wharton to the postseason. “It was kind of a big impact (losing Stocker and Andreychuk) but we’ve had a couple new freshmen come and help us a lot, and our team together has grown more,” said libero Chanelle Hargreaves, a sophomore. Senior Kylie Paul will move from defensive specialist to setter to fill in for Stocker, while freshman Kathryn Attar looks to replace Andreychuk as outside hitter. Attar said making varsity was a big deal for her, much less starting. “Making varsity volleyball was definitely a huge accomplishment,” Attar said. “I am very excited to be playing with this team because it’s by far one of the best teams I’ve ever played with.” The 5-foot-11 Attar brings a lot to the squad with her height and volleyball experience. “I think I can bring something different,” Attar said. “Really

non-returning key players:

Wharton volleyball 2013-2014 schedule

C. andreychuk- 396 kills, 5.3 k/s

Sept. 26, at Bloomigdale, 7:30 p.m.

K. stocker-42 kills, 0.6 k/s

Oct. 1, at Riverview, 7:30 p.m.

a. stocker-79 kills, 1.0 k/s Retruning key players: C. Hargreaves-76 sets played K. Paul-76 sets played L. Schaible-76 sets played, 89 kills

Photo by • Alex Montgomery

A. day-76 sets played, 114 kills

Building back up - Chanelle Hargreaves, a sophomore serves the ball at the game against Riverview on Sept. 9. She played 76 sets last year and is a key component this returning year. good coaching is what I’m looking for, and Coach Barber is doing a great job with everyone, and I think I can bring strong offence and defense.” Repeating last season’s domination will prove tough for the

Wildcats, not only with players lost, but also the pressure to make back-to-back postseason berths. “I think people are expecting a lot out of us since we did so well last year, so we kind of have a

lot of pressure, but we’re just trying to play as a team and do as best as we can,” Hargreaves said. Attar added, “There is a little bit of pressure, but I’m confident that we’ll all be able to make do with what we have.”

Oct. 3, vs. Alonso, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10, vs. Newsome, TBA. Oct. 15, at Freedom, 7:00 p.m. Class 8A-District 7 tournament, at Plant, Oct. 22 to Oct. 24. Regionals at TBA, Oct. 30 to Nov. 9 States at Silver Spurs Arena, Kissimmee, FL, Nov. 14 to Nov. 15

gameday 16

Sept. 26, 2013

Predator

Wharton Football then and now Keil and Litton have accomplished a lot the last few years, but the senior duo plan to make their final high school campaign their best along with a new offensive line, returning receivers and a ruthless defense. “Auden Tate (junior wide receiver), I can throw it 10 feet over his head and he’ll go get it, and he didn’t play in the spring, and he didn’t do anything all summer or our kickoff classic,” Litton said. “But when he came back (from a broken leg) his presence was known, and you could see it. I mean he had the first touchdowns of the (Spoto) game. When we’re working with that guy it’s a wrap.” The outside expectations are far beyond when the duo were freshman on that 2-8 team, but Keil and Litton said they plan to play every game as they always have. “It’s the same expectations as a freshman, that’s how I see it,” Litton said. “I want to be the best on the field, and if I walk off the field feeling like I’m not then I did something wrong.” Keil added, “There’s probably more expectations for me, but I went through all the nerves last year and I played 12 games last year, so at this point I’m just going out to have fun, earn myself a scholarship to some school.”

The game for Wharton football has just changed tremendoussports editor ly.” GOrabonaPredator@gmail.com Litton took over as a starter for the last two games of his freshman year, and since then harton football, now he’s become the Wildcats’ caa playoff contending reer leader in passing yards and team, has come a long touchdowns while leading his way from its 2-8 season four squad to a 20-15 record. years ago. Wharton’s offense is not reliCountless things went wrong ant on Litton’s strong arm alone, for the Wildbut also the cats in 2009, quick cuts but and elu“I want to be the best on the sive speed senior quart e r b a c k field, and if I walk off the field of running Chase Litton Jeff feeling like I’m not then I did back has made Keil, who something wrong.” forgetting was a mathat year a jor factor in lot easier the Wildby leading cats’ 8-3 Chase Litton season last the Wildcats to consecuQuarterback year. tive playoff Last year, berths the Keil racked last two seaup 701 sons. yards on the ground, giving “We had two good running Wharton a potent ground-andbacks my freshman year. They air attack. were basically like a run team. The senior plans to improve (We) didn’t have the threat at on his 2012 performance while quarterback and threats at re- propelling the squad to its third ceiver,” Litton said. “But ever straight playoff appearance. since my sophomore year we’ve “I mainly broke out in the last had big guys step up like Keith half of the season, so I’m lookHopkins, Vernon Hargreaves ing to continue that momentum and Deon Sampson And now, for the rest of the season,” Keil we have Austin Toley. said.

By Giovanni Orabona

Photo by • Scott Sollazzo “L’s” Up - Senior Chase Litton rolls out for a pass, scanning for a open reciever. The quarterback threw all around the Spoto defense to lead the Wildcats to a 38-0 victory in their season opener at home.

OCTOBER Sunday

Monday

Wednesday Thursday

Tuesday

23 Western Day

24 Senior Citizen Day

25 Character Day

Progress Reports

Saturday

Friday 2PM 27 Prowl Pep Rally

80s Throwback 6PM-10PM Football vs. East Homecoming Day Bay @ USF @ 7:30 pm Marshall Center Class Color Day

Boys Golf vs. King @ 2:00 pm @ Temple Terrace

JV Football vs. Steinbrenner @ 7:00 pm

SAT @ 8:00

@whartonyearbook 6

Swimming @ Copeland Western Conference Diving Meet

Only $75 Until

Thanksgiving break 18

25 730PM Football vs. East Bay @ 7:30 pm

Halloween

End of First Grading Period

Club Day

NO SCHOOL

Home Volleyball vs. Newsome @ 6:15 pm

Columbus Day

facebook.com/whsyearbook

Price will increase to $85 after Thanksgiving break. For more information and to turn in yearbook payments, be sure to visit Ms. Phinney in room 236 during 7th/8th period or directly after school.

Seniors! Senior Ads Are Due Before Winter Break!