Inkblot Issue 2 2017-18

Page 8 NFL kneeling is protected protest

ARTS

Page 5 Stables offer horesback riders a home

OPINION

Page 4 Driving means freedom, fear for students

SPORTS

FEAUTRES

November 15, 2017 Page 10 NYFW boasts newfound diversity

Inside: Higher education comes at a higher cost BLOT GRAPHIC BY ANDREW WANG

Volume 16, Issue 2

Communications High School, Wall, New Jersey

www.THEINKBLOTNEWS.com

Skills USA debuts homecoming dance

Despite lack of football team, students partake in twist on American high school tradition

BLOT PHOTO BY ALYSSA RASP

Juniors Alex Hermann of Brielle, left, and Tali Petto of Marlboro dance together at Skills USA’s first Homecoming Dance. Hermann and Petto were two of over 250 attendees of the dance, according to Skills USA vice president Connor Martin, who also reported that the event raised more than $2,000 for the club. The money will be used for competition and travel fees for the organization.

By ISABELLA ANTOON Despite not having a football team, students at Communications High School attended the school’s first homecoming dance on Friday, Nov. 3, in the cafeteria. The dance, which Skills USA President and senior Emma Wilenta of Wall said was conceptualized over the summer, featured many similarities to other schools’ homecoming dances, yet still had some unique aspects.

“It’s different because there’s no homecoming football game to go with it like other high schools have,” Wilenta said. “Our court has a king and queen chaperone and a student in each grade as a prince or princess.”

In the week prior to the event, students nominated members of their grade for the homecoming court. They had the opportunity to vote for the court at the dance, and

the Skills Council announced the results toward the end of the night.

Eight students, two from each grade, were selected for the court, with math teachers Scott Stengele and Justine Lane crowned the King and Queen.

Freshman Steve Ostrom of Monmouth Beach was a member of the court representing his class, with fellow freshman Zoe Connor-Bennett of Ocean.

“It was such an honor to be one of the two that my classmates chose to be on the court,” Ostrom said. “It was a great night and I’m so glad I was able to go.”

Other members of the court included sophomores Matt Emery of Ocean and Brian Schade of Tinton Falls, juniors Kathryn Jemas of West Long Branch and Kyle Wheeler of Wall and seniors Jackie Geller of Manalapan and Kyle

Galvin of Middletown.

Skills USA Vice President and junior Connor Martin of Spring Lake Heights handled the finances and marketing for the night, including ticket design and sales.

“I led the tickets committee, designing the tickets, printing advertising material and organizing the sale of tickets. In total, we sold over 250 tickets and made more than $2,000,” Martin said.

Wilenta said the money made from the dance will help with the costs for the members of the club to attend and compete in competitions.

“All of our money goes directly to members. We would never want someone to not join Skills USA for financial reasons,” Wilenta said.

See HOMECOMING. page 2

TV students get full live studio experience at “Harry”

By AUDREY MANNION Laughing, clapping and dancing as an audience member doesn’t seem too difficult until you’re put on the spot to do it for national television.

TV teacher Jennifer Cornine took her Live Studio Production and Advanced TV classes to a taping of Harry starring Harry Connick, Jr. on Tuesday, Oct. 10. The portions of the show recorded that day aired on FOX 5 and My9 Thursday, Oct. 12 and Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Cornine’s classes were invited to the taping by the show’s producer. Cornine said it was the first time CHS students had taken a trip like this.

“I was contacted by the producers of the ‘Harry’ show asking if I would be interested in bringing a group to see the production,” Cornine said. “I thought that fit perfectly with what we do, obviously, so I worked with the producer

PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIANNE SACKETT

Students were visible in the Oct. 12 and 25 episodes of “Harry.”

to make it happen.”

When they arrived at the CBS Broadcast Center, 530 W. 57th St., New York, N.Y., the students were placed in the audience in small groups. Senior Kyra Lally of Freehold sat in the front row.

“I had a lot of fun,” Lally said. “I did get to interact with Harry a little, he actually hugged me at the start of the show because I was seated near his family.”

Junior Lauren Arnao of Tinton Falls said audience reactions were a big part of the show.

“There were overhead mics everywhere so they could catch us laughing and clapping,” Arnao said. “Some of the reactions were a little forced but that changed when Tyler Perry came out.”

Arnao learned a lot from the trip.

See TV TRIP, page 2

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the inkblot november 15, 2017

Pack, Harczuck, Cole dunk on the competition

Class of 2021’s first fundraiser a success, Clevenger says

By MADISON BEEKMAN and ERIN CARR The Freshman Class held the annual 3v3 basketball tournament on Oct. 25. It was their first event organized as a class.

Freshman Class President Brigid McCarthy of Manasquan said adviser and fitness teacher Ginny Clevenger took control of the event, for the most part.

“Since this was our first fundraiser, Ms. Clevenger kind of held our hands through the process so we could see what it’s like,” McCarthy said.

Freshman Vice President Olivia McCarthy of Howell participated in the tournament and said she was very happy with the way it turned out.

“I thought it was a really great opportunity to get to know the other classmates in other grades,” McCarthy said. “It actually went extremely smoothly, despite our alleged lack of sports abilities, and it was really fun.”

Sophomore Zachary Weisentein of Freehold said that he had a lot of fun in the 3v3.

“I’m definitely going to do it next year. It was a good time,” Weisentein said.

Junior Kiera Gill of Wall and teammates juniors Kyle Wheeler of Wall and Parthesh Patel of Freehold prepared a little bit for the 3v3 this year.

“This year we played some basketball during lunch. It was interesting. But yes, we practiced a little bit, but not a lot,” Gill said.

The final game went into a shootout with juniors Marisa Harczuk of Tinton Falls, Jackson Pack of Asbury and Ron Cole of Neptune City emerging the victors.

Cole had the winning shot.

Sophomores Jack McHugh of Manasquan, Riley Rademacher of Wall and Brian Schade of Tinton Falls came in second place.

Clevenger said that even though there weren’t many teams, people still had fun.

“In 2007 we had 33 teams… This year we had nine teams total. Not much money was raised but I think the nine teams had fun, and that was the point,” Clevenger said.

BLOT PHOTO BY LAUREN DEFELICE

From left, juniors Jackson Pack of Asbury Park, Marisa Harczuk of Tinton Falls and Ron Cole of Neptune City emerged victorious over the eight other teams that participated.

McCarthy and McCarthy triumph in freshman elections

By OLIVIA CONKLING and RILEY FORRESTER Posters, pictures, and personalized pencils filled the freshman halls for weeks. Of course, that means it’s freshman election season.

This year, 10 candidates fought to represent their grade in the freshman class council election on Oct. 3.

Each year, elections determine which five students the class chooses to lead their class in activities, fundraisers and other events during its first year at CHS. According to class adviser and fitness teacher Ginny Clevenger, 18 candidates ran initially, but a primary election narrowed the group down to 10. In the back of the cafeteria, each student gave a one-minute speech to try and convince their classmates – who have only known each other for a month – to vote for them.

Freshman Rachel Fisher of Ocean Township voted in the election.

“I think it was kind of cool how we voted for people we barely knew because then people voted based on who

was the better candidate, not who was their best friend or the most popular person in the grade,” Fisher said.

The 10 candidates who gave speeches were Ryan Kudless of Marlboro, Steven Ostrom of Monmouth Beach, Brendan Finnegan of Millstone, Brigid McCarthy of Manasquan, Riley Forrester of Spring Lake Heights, Meagan Ellis of Freehold, Olivia Conkling of Marlboro, Elliot Topper of Ocean Township, Zoe Conner-Bennett of Ocean Township and Olivia McCarthy of Howell.

After the speeches were given, ballots were passed out and each of the 81 freshmen cast their vote for their top five choices.

At the end of the day, the five elected council members were announced over the loudspeaker.

Brigid McCarthy was elected president, Olivia McCarthy was elected vice president, and Forrester, Ostrom, and Conner-Bennett make up the new Freshman Council.

Brigid McCarthy said she is inspired by the Class of

2017 and has plans for the upcoming year.

“I admire how the Class of 2017 raised enough money to make a lot of senior expenses free, and I am hoping for the same for our class,” she said. “I’m planning to focus on making sure that the Class of 2021 feels comfortable in the school, and that we have a lot of fun.”

Olivia McCarthy said she enjoyed the experience.

“The process was incredibly efficient,” McCarthy said.

It gave me an opportunity to meet the class. Although a little nerve wracking, it was a lot of fun.”

Clevenger noted the ease of the process.

“It ran very smoothly with no problems, and everything went well. No tears,” Clevenger said.

Freshman Chad Fruscione of Marlboro expressed his optimism about the new council.

“This year’s council will do what they can to value everyone’s personal opinions and work together to make everything in the school the best it can be,” Fruscione said.

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[HOMECOMING] so all of our fundraisers, especially the dances, are super important because they have the potential to make a lot of money for Skills,” Wilenta said.

Students like Schade expressed their enjoyment of the event.

“It was a really fun night,” Schade said, “being chosen for the court was surreal to say the least, and I had a great time.”

[TV TRIP] “It was surreal,” Arnao said. “I love that we learned how professionals do it and how it compares to our studio, which isn’t that different.”

Senior Julianne Sackett of Rumson felt the trip related more to Advanced Studio Production, the senior class, than Live Studio Production.

“For this class we do a lot less broadcast, more variety shows and game shows so I think it was more relevant to seniors,” Sackett said. “Although it was still relevant to

juniors, we’re actually studying these types of shows.”

Cornine saw what she’s teaching students here is relevant in the real world.

“I was beside myself when Cole looked up and said ‘Look there’s our jib,’” Cornine said, “and then somebody else noticed that it was the same teleprompter system that we use. It made me feel so good for you guys to see that you’re using the same thing they’re using and your skill set is so, so relevant right now. It was amazing.”

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the inkblot november 15, 2017

Spirit Week updated over time

By EVAN KUO The daily themes, The noise was deafsuch as Decades Day ening as he leapt backand Class Colors, were wards, penned in by a brought over from the Fall wall of people. All around Spirit Week, but lunchhim, people clapped and time competitions were screamed his name while added. Through the years, he caught his breath. A a few events and themes single pop rang out, and have become tradition. the crowd exploded with Halloween costumes noise. He sighed with rehave been a part of the lief. festivities since the first That was the chaos Spirit Week, and all Fall that sophomore Will Carspirit weeks have taken ragher of Middletown place during the week of BLOT PHOTO BY ALYSSA RASP The seniors transformed senior Brandon Kalika of Middleexperienced during BalHalloween. town into “DJ Fri-HAY” for the Punny Scarecrow challenge. loon Pop, one of the five Halloween costumes lunchtime competitions have been a part of the of the 2017 Spring Spirit Week. Each year, the SGA de- festivities since the first Spirit Week. Other traditional votes two separate weeks to competition between the events include Penny Wars, Balloon Pop, baking confour classes. tests and Lip Sync.

Spirit Week started during CHS’s first year, in 2000.

“Lip Sync was in the very first Spring Spirit Week, For the first few years, there was only Fall Spirit Week, so that’s been there ever since,” O’Keefe said. which consisted of a theme each day without any comShe said the first two years of Lip Sync consistpetitions during lunchtime. ed of one or two people going up on stage alone. Two It wasn’t until 2009 that Spring Spirit Week was in- years later, one class performed with nearly all of their troduced by the SGA. History teacher Sharon O’Keefe members. It inspired the other groups to follow suit and said numerous events were cancelled during the fall eventually evolved into the full-scale productions that due to the swine flu outbreak. In an attempt to increase appeared in the 2017 Spring Spirit Week. Through it all, school spirit, the SGA created another Spirit Week in the students were always enthusiastic. Fitness teacher Ginspring with approval from Principal James Gleason. ny Clevenger has seen it all firsthand.

“It just seemed to make sense. We have two semes“It’s always been competitive. We don’t have ters, and there was this natural ability to have a second sports teams here, so this is our only outlet for kids to Spirit Week,” Gleason said. get team-oriented,” Clevenger said.

Autumn activities fill Monmouth County

By AINSLEY VETTER When summer ends and the leaves begin to change, new activities become popular among CHS students.

There is a wide range of autumn-inspired activities to explore in Monmouth County.

Sophomore Sidney Washington of Asbury Park said her favorite fall event is the Zombie Walk in Asbury Park.

During the Zombie Walk, people dress up as zombies and walk in character around Asbury Park. The Zombie Walk also includes a costume contest.

“It’s really fun to see everybody dressed up and get into the spirit of Halloween,” Washington said.

Senior Erica Lalor of Aberdeen enjoys Halloween-inspired activities.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COURTNEY KUSHNIR “My favorite fall activity is probably Fright Fest Students from Freehold painted Halloween murals on Main St. and the Haunted Trails,” Lalor said.

At Six Flags Great Adventure’s annual Fright Fest, and apple cider donuts. thrill-seekers and families alike experience their favorite Delicious Orchards is another popular orchard that inrides while employees dressed as “zombies and ghouls cludes a market filled with fall treats. take over the park,” according to the park’s website.

Located in Colts Neck, Delicious Orchards also holds Sophomore Sara Huang of Ocean said she enjoys ap- their annual pumpkin and apple fests which include fample picking with her family at Battleview Orchards in ily-friendly activities for everyone.

Freehold.

Monmouth County is filled with places to explore Huang goes every year. At the orchard, Huang said, during the fall. From rollercoasters to apple picking in there is a shop where people can purchase apple cider one of the orchards, there is something for everyone.

ROVING

REPORTER

Freshman Zoe-Conner Bennet of Ocean “I had a dream that all of my friends were the characters of One Tree Hill.”

Interviews by REBECCA RIPPON Photos by DELIA NOONE

Sophomore Nick Chunn of Tinton Falls “One time after midterms I dreamt that I got an 88.1... on the English one. The number was really vivid; it was so strange.”

1 in 300

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIE SCHOBEL

The college admission process is in high gear and Schobel is looking closely at Penn State’s swimming program.

Schobel swims through the recruitment process

By JAQUELINE GELLER Senior Marie Schobel of Manasquan has a reputation at CHS for being an award-winning swimmer. She has also made a name for herself by becoming the first senior to commit to a college this year.

In the fall of 2018, Schobel will attend Pennsylvania State University and she will bring her love for swimming with her.

Schobel started swimming at the age of 7 at Silton Swim School in Wall Township. She established her place on her first swim team at The Atlantic Club in Manasquan. Then at 10 years old, Schobel switched to the Red Bank YMCA where she currently swims.

Even though Schobel has been swimming for a decade, she did not know she wanted to pursue the sport in college until her sophomore year of high school.

“I have been working from there. Once I qualified for YMCA Nationals I started to love swimming. I practiced as hard as I could from that point on and college is just the next step in the process,” Schobel said.

The recruitment process for Schobel started in the summer of 2017. Schobel reached out to college coaches and accepted calls from other coaches. There were numerous emails that she sent and received until she created her recruiting trip list.

Schobel visited Penn State and Villanova universities in Pennsylvania. Those schools invited Schobel to stay at their facility for three days and follow a current Division I student swimmer to see their daily routines.

“Going on these trips really gave me a good feel for each school I visited, especially getting to know the people I’d be spending the next four years with,” Schobel said.

She was also being recruited by Ohio State University and the College of William and Mary. But, Schobel’s mind and heart were already set on Penn State.

“It was non-stop fun between a crazy football game and bonding with the swim team. I loved the academic programs, swim program, my teammates and the campus itself. After this trip I absolutely knew Penn State was the place for me,” Schobel said.

Q: What is the weirdest dream you have ever had?

Junior James Krall of Middletown “When I was four I had this dream that a bunch of crabs were pinching me. I woke up so scared.”

Senior Veronica Yaron of Little Silver “I swear I had this same nightmare every night...I’d look down and Dobby would have pulled me under the bed and told me he was going to make me an elf.”

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the inkblot november 8, 2017

Students share field trip experiences

Travel proves fun and educational; teachers help with catch-up work

By IZZY ERSKINE & ERIN BRADY For years, students have loaded onto yellow buses to visit art, science and history museums as well as theaters, zoos and historical sites. Field trips are designed to get students out of the classroom and provide them with new learning opportunities outside of the classroom, but some see them as a way to get out of class.

Many clubs and classes at CHS offer field trips for students. Photo Club takes members on two to three trips per year, senior Grace Maloney of Middletown said. Maloney, a member of Photo Club council, sees field trips as a great way to learn.

“The reasoning for the Grounds for Sculpture trip and the Botanical Garden trip is for members to be able to practice using a camera and different photography techniques.

GFS and the Botanical Garden are great places for that because there is a lot to photograph,” Maloney said.

Senior Emma Wilenta of Wall is the SkillsUSA president. The council attends a leadership conference and sends around seven club members. At the leadership conference, students listen to a motivational speaker, vote on officers and learn more about the organization. State and regional SkillsUSA competitions occur in the spring. Every club member competes.

“These are the days where we send our members to compete in the competitions that they’ve been preparing for all year,” Wilenta said.

Senior Marie Schobel of Sea Girt said CHS provides both a mixture of fun and educational field trips. She agrees that field trips are a great way to learn.

“The sound museum [the senior class] went to in NYC was definitely very educational,” Schobel said. “[Mentorship students] are going on a bowling trip next week, which should be super fun.”

Experts say field trips can cause students to fall behind in class. According to CNN, “there may be a lot of work and stress for students to catch up, so it might not be

BLOT PHOTO BY DELIA NOONE For the Class of 2018’s senior trip, students traveled to New York City for the Museum of Art and Design near Columbus Circle. The class then stopped for lunch at John’s Pizzeria in Midtown, a quick walk away. Seniors ended the trip with Broadway’s “Anastasia” at the Broadhurst Theater.

a good option if a student feels unsure about that aspect.”

Sophomore Brian Schade of Tinton Falls loves field trips since they provide a unique learning experience outside the classroom. Although field trips may cause a student to miss work, Schade believes the teachers at CHS do a great job in helping students catch up.

“I have never been on a field trip that got in the way of school work,” said Schade. “They have all been a nice

break from the classroom.”

Biology and health teacher Jeanine Gomez says she assists students who miss class due to field trips.

“I always work with students to avoid them falling behind in my class,” Gomez said.

She believes field trips are opportunities to expand on ideas relating to the classroom and said they are “lifelong memories.”

Themes, rules filter into social media feeds

By MIA GALLO Prime posting time, follower ratios, post frequency, filters, hashtags. All of these are essential to truly mastering Instagram.

According to Vogue, there are many “rules” to Instagram for maximizing likes.

Such include a “prime” posting time, appropriate follower to following ratio (hint: make sure you have more followers than accounts you’re following) and maximum amount of posts per day just to make their feeds appear better to their followers.

According to junior Tali Petto of Marlboro the “prime time” to post is at night.

“If you want to be more specific, Sun-

day nights from 8:30-10 p.m. are ideal. People normally posts at those times because it is when everyone is scrolling through their timeline before bed,” Petto said.

Having a theme for your Instagram profile is an idea that is becoming widely used among social media influencers and millennials according to Socialfly. From black and white, to a specific filter, the possibilities are virtually endless. Petto personally favors colorful and vibrant feeds over dark and dreary ones. But, Petto also believes having a theme to your profile is not essential to social media survival.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily import-

ant to keep up with a theme but I know that I do just because I find it fun. It’s just another way I can express myself,” Petto said.

Sophomore Brian Schade of Tinton Falls believes that high school girls are held to a different standard when it comes to having an aesthetically pleasing profile than that of their male counterparts.

“Girls’ feeds are taken more seriously, in my opinion. I think that they are judged a lot harder based on their Instagram profiles,” Schade said.

Schade is a fan of comical posts so an Instagram theme is not as important to him.

“I feel my Instagram really portrays

my life because there are a lot of things that I don’t take seriously, Instragram included,” Schade said.

Both students agreed that there is social pressure to uphold a certain number of likes and to make your profile presentable.

Curating a “personal brand” of sorts on your social media pages is another medium used to express one’s personality to the world, according to socialfly.com.

“I know so many people who will delete pictures that they like just because it didn’t get enough likes. They want their followers to only see the best of them,” Petto said.

Students driven to either get behind the wheel or not

By EMME LEONG Freedom, flexibility, fear. All of them come with the ability to drive.

A handful of upperclassmen at CHS drive to and from school for a variety of reasons, ranging from convenience to independence. Nonetheless, the majority of the senior class chooses not to drive, occupying less parking spaces than the faculty.

Senior Robert Denny of Keyport is one of the upperclassmen who prefers taking the bus over driving.

“I have not even started to learn how to drive because I have a fear of driving. I’ve seen accidents and I really don’t wanna be a part of that,” Denny said.

Many students are in the same frame of mind, reluctant to get behind the wheel because of what could go wrong.

“I think that the only pressure there would be [to drive to school] is underclassmen wanting to get rides home,” Denny said.

Despite the dangers and unwarranted requests for rides, there are upsides to teenage driving.

Since athletes must return to their home high schools for sports, many CHS students arrive late to practices and games because of the bus.

Senior Anika Pepsin of Middletown is one of the

BLOT GRAPHIC BY EBBIE SHIM

Survey of 46 students from Oct. 24, 2017 to Oct. 27, 2017.

athletes who benefits from driving.

“Driving gets me to field hockey around 15 minutes earlier [than my bus does], which is much better,” Pepsin said.

Driving cuts down time spent in transportation, getting athletes to their designated locations more efficiently than buses. Students’ cars have proved to be more

efficient than taking the bus, swapping out time for travel with valuable playing time.

“It’s good to not have to rely on somebody else to get somewhere,” Pepsin said.

Another incentive for students to drive is Senior Mentorship. This class is an opportunity for all seniors to partake in a work experience outside of the classroom for most weekdays.

Senior Emily Brzozowski of Brielle said she believes driving to her mentorship site is her only option.

“For me, at least, my parents both work or are busy during the day, so no one would be able to drive me,” Brzozowski said. “We can’t really carpool because two people can’t go to the same place, and [there are] no businesses or other modes of transportation within walking distance.”

While for many it is inconvenient to have a parent drive his or her child four days of the week, Pepsin says it is possible.

“I know there are kids that have parents who would be able to come and pick them up to drive them to wherever they need to be,” Pepsin said.

Whether it be because of dignity or danger, students have their own reasons for wanting or not wanting to drive.

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the inkblot november 15, 2017

Can sports make you a better person?

By LAUREN ARNAO When people hear about high school sports, they automatically think they are about winning or losing. They think that the numbers on the scoreboard make a difference. Though to some that’s true, to most, sports are about the lessons that are learned throughout the years.

Between teamwork, leadership and personal reflection, sports are statistically proven to make you a healthier and better version of yourself. According to a Pennsylvania State University study done in 2014 in which 400 corporate executives were interviewed, of the 94 percent who played a sport at one point in their lives, 61 percent said that playing the sport had a positive impact on their success.

Freshman Maddie Beekman of Neptune dances outside of school but doesn’t play a high school sport. She supports the idea that sports make you a better person.

“You learn how to cooperate with all different people and you sort of become a family.

You’re always there for your teammates and they’re there for you. It helps you understand

different situations that you might not have had before,” Beekman said.

Junior Marisa Harczuk of Tinton Falls, who plays both field hockey and softball for Monmouth Regional High School, said playing sports has definitely made her a better person.

“Not only have I learned to communicate and work with others better, but making a team ... teaches you responsibility ... you always have to try your hardest,” Harczuk said. “I’ve learned skills that cannot be taught in a classroom and made memories that I’ll remember forever.”

Junior Tali Petto of Marlboro used to play soccer, but decided not to play in high school.

She said that playing sports does not change your morals as a person for the better.

“I think that playing sports helps you by keeping you in shape and keeping you busy, but I don’t believe that sports can make you a better person,” Petto said. When asked if she regrets not playing a sport for her home high school, she responded, “No, I’m glad I didn’t participate in sports because it’s very time-consuming and very involved.”

BLOT GRAPHIC BY EMME LEONG Survey of 163 students from Oct. 24 to Oct. 27, 2017.

Horseback riding provides home CHS athletes answer: why did and family for its student athletes you begin to play your sport?

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY MCNEILL McNeill competes in both Western and English style horseback riding competitions, which base scores on speed and form.

By MIA GALLO Horseback riding feels like more than just a another sport to its participants.They make it a lifestyle, an activity in which they find a family and a home.

Junior Emily McNeill of Colts Neck knows this to be true. McNeill started to ride when she was 12 years old. She began after she went on a ride on vacation in Colorado, during which she fell in love with the sport. Since her best friend rode at the time, McNeill decided to start at the same barn.

McNeill currently rides anywhere from three to four days a week. Her favorite part of the sport is the relationship you can build with the horse.

“They’re such amazing animals and once you trust each

other you can accomplish so much,” McNeill said.

There are two kinds of competitions in which McNeill participates: Western and English.

In Western style, riders compete for the fastest time while performing certain patterns. In English riding, judges base their scores on the form of the rider and horse duo in comparison to the other competitors. There are timed jumping competitions in the English style as well.

Junior Phoebe Drummond of Little Silver, a competitive horseback rider for the past 10 years, agrees with McNeill on forming a relationship with the horse. Drummond says that she loves to spend time with the animals and develop a bond with her horse. These bonds have led

her to be nicknamed “Horse Girl.” A name that Drummond originally welcomed now doesn’t make much sense, considering as of this year she no longer competes in the sport. “‘Horse Girl’ has become pretty iconic especially because I posted so much horse stuff on social media. I think it’s funny even though I’m not competing right now,” Drummond said.

Neither of the girls own their own horses but they both lease them, which is a common alternative in the equestrian world due to the high price and upkeep, McNeill said.

Although horseback riding requires commitment and dedication, it creates lasting memories for riders, both on and off the horse.

By LUKE SASSA, MICHAEL LAROCCA and MICHAEL RAU One may not normally associate athletics with Communications High School, but that doesn’t mean CHS isn’t filled with athletes passionate about what they do. And all of them have a distinct reason for why they began to play their sport.

Sophomore Joseph Matthews of Middletown was influenced by a parent.

“I wanted to follow in [my dad’s] footsteps,” Matthews said, referring PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSEPH MATTHEWS to his father’s passion Matthews (pictured) plays baseball for Middletown for baseball.

At 3 years old, his father’s love for the game rubbed off on him, and he soon began to play the sport that has become his favorite pastime.

Other athletes were inspired by their peers to try a new sport.

“I started [to play tennis] in middle school. A lot of my friends did it, so I did, too,” said freshman Liam Umbs of Monmouth Beach.

“Over time I really liked it, and I started to get really serious about it.”

Another tennis player, sophomore Colin Martin of Middletown, found his inspiration when he watched the U.S. Open 2015 Women’s Final.

“It’s a really fun game. It’s really awesome,” Martin said, conveying that his enjoyment of the game inspired him to play.

R.J. Franzen of Allentown also finds fun in sports. The football and baseball player also revealed that a love for his hometown has kept him attached to his sports, stating, “Allentown is a great place to play sports.”

Whatever their reason for starting, all of these athletic commitments have been long term, too. Umbs has been playing tennis since 6th grade, and Franzen has played since he was around 7 years old.

One thing is clear: although CHS doesn’t have its own sports teams, the school still has dedicated and talented athletes who are passionate about their sports.

Coaches inspire student athletes in different ways

By EMMA BAROFSKY and ERIN BRADY Not only do coaches help athletes to improve their physical performance, they also encourage them to improve themselves as people and to exceed their own expectations. Whether it’s field hockey, soccer, tennis or football, players say they learn from coaches in many ways.

Junior and field hockey player Kate Dickenson of Spring Lake Heights had a coach who inspired her to push herself more.

“When I wasn’t trying hard, my coach took me out of the game and put me back down to JV,” Dickenson said.

Because her coach showed her the negative consequences

of putting in minimal effort, Dickenson learned that she needed to push herself in order to succeed.

“Once I realized that, [my coach] put me back up to varsity, so it taught me a really good lesson,” she said.

Sometimes, coaches can change the lives of their players with their overall ability to motivate.

Sophomore Sawyer Barth of West Long Branch plays for varsity soccer for Shore Regional High School. He said that his coach makes him more competitive. Because his coach enjoys winning, Barth said this encourages him to try harder when playing. When his coach drives him to win, it helps him “get into that game headspace.”

Athletes who may not love their coach are still able to find ways in which they have benefited them. Freshman Isabelle Erskine of Holmdel swims competitively. A few years ago, she had a coach with whom she did not get along. Since they were not compatible, Erskine said it taught her “to deal with disagreements.” Those controversies that she had with her coach helped her grow as a person.

Coaches are the key element to every single team. In addition to coaching, they help athletes reach their greatest potential, encourage them to put in their best effort and provide encouragement along the way.

6

the inkblot november 8, 2017

How college costs are affecting the

Class of

2018

Abigail Karl

Kyle Galvin

BLOT PHOTO BY DELIA NOONE

BLOT PHOTO BY DELIA NOONE

of Monmouth Beach

Key Top school choice or school attended Total annual cost of attendance in 2017Projected or Actual Payment plan for college Average combined annual financial and merit aid package

of Middletown

NYU Tisch

Syracuse University

$73,088

$62,313

Multiple Student Loans

Limited student loans

$38,314

$37,433

Would be unable to attend her top schools due to their cost without aid or student loans.

Looking to limit his student loans to avoid having to pay debt long after graduation.

C

Can for mo

A Megan Berkowitz

Cayla Harris

Class of 2010

Class of 2016

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN SOARES

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEREDITH ROATEN

Allison Kowalski Class of 2012

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARQUITA BROWN

Tufts University

George Washington University

George Washington University

$70,600

$70,793

$70,793

Financial and merit aid and student loans

Merit aid package and student loans

Financial/merit aid and student loans

$43,828

$33,764

$33,764

Had to take out student loans in order to cover the gap that her financial aid did not cover.

Worked several jobs in order to cover the additional cost of living in D.C. on top of tuition.

Received a large amount of financial and merit aid that lowered the cost of her tuition.

the inkblot november 8, 2017

Caroline Savage of Brielle

BLOT PHOTO BY DELIA NOONE

Princeton University

$67,100 Currently unsure

$45,224

n attend Rutgers University no tuition because of her other’s employment there.

How college costs have affected the

Alumni

of CHS The average

monthly

student loan payment in September 2017 is

$351

200 percent

growth in total student loans in

2004

The Higher

Cost

How CHS students and alumni are dealing with the expense of a higher education.

By ANDREW WANG

For the average American, the issue of attending college is a matter of numbers. As reported by Forbes, for 44 million Americans as of February 2017, that number is $1.3 trillion, the total amount of student loan debt. For the graduating class of 2016, that number is $37,172, the average amount each student carries in debt.

For American teens, the issue of paying for college in America is unquestionably a daunting one, one that has sparked an unprecedented trend of growth in the student debt industry marked by a $31 billion increase in the fourth quarter of 2016 alone, as reported by the New York Federal Reserve. So for the average American hoping to attend college, these numbers represent a challenge. But for the average American already in college or who has graduated, these numbers represent their reality. When it comes to the students and alumni of CHS, this is no exception.

For the class of 2018, who are just beginning to grapple with their imminent debt, the question of paying for college is a personal struggle, a struggle that balances hopes and dreams with hard financial realities.

“This is actually a thought I’ve been struggling with a lot recently,” said senior Abi Karl of Monmouth Beach. “Should I be accepted into my top schools, unless some miracle gets me thousands of dollars, chances are I won’t be able to go solely because of the cost.”

For Karl, one of those top schools is New York University (NYU) Tisch located in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. As one of the premier film schools in the country, Karl dreams to attend, as she hopes to explore filmmaking as a career. But attendance to NYU Tisch would cost her $73,088 annually, according to the school’s website. This is no small matter either, and according to Karl, Tisch does not give out purely merit-based aid. Students can obtain financial assistance in two forms: financial aid, also known as need-based aid, and merit aid. According the Princeton Review, financial aid is based on the student’s financial need. On the other hand, merit aid is blind to financial need and purely considers the student’s academic qualifications.

Because of the high cost, Karl has had to search for other options for schools besides NYU Tisch.

“It’s definitely increased the amount of schools I’m applying to. I don’t know how much money I’m gonna get from where, so I’m applying like everywhere to see what my best option turns out to be,” Karl said.

For senior Kyle Galvin of Middletown, the issue of cost over choice also plays a major role in his decisions about higher education, to the point where it has become the ultimate deciding factor in the verdict of where he will attend.

“It has impacted my choice of schools completely, probably in a negative way,” Galvin said. “If I hear that a school isn’t known for giving out a lot of money, it’s been pretty much completely axed from my list.”

Unlike Karl, attending a “reach school” or going to a top school on his list is not a priority for Galvin. Instead, Galvin is searching for schools with the most potential financial benefits.

“I don’t really have a reach school because I don’t have like a 4.0 GPA or a perfect SAT score, so I’m just looking at good schools that I would be competitive for merit aid,” Galvin said.

But for both Galvin and Karl, the only current foreseeable solution is taking out student loans, and lots of them.

“I’ll be paying off loans for years. I can imagine it will take a huge

“Unless some miracle gets me thousands of dollars, chances are I won’t be able to go solely because of the cost.” – Abi Karl chunk out of my income. I don’t know what my monthly loan payment would be yet, to be honest I’m terrified to find out,” Karl said.

Worries about paying for college have also been on the mind of senior Caroline Savage of Brielle, whose top school is Princeton University with an annual cost of attendance of $67,100, according to Princeton’s website.

7

$1.3 Trillion

in total student debt Statistic Courtesy of Princeton University

500 percent

growth in total student loans in 2011 While Princeton remains a top contender on Savage’s list, it is overshadowed by the prospect of a different kind: attending the more local Rutgers University for next to nothing. Should Savage choose to attend Rutgers, she would be eligible to receive free tuition because of her mother’s employment at Rutgers, a factor that has had a major impact on her college search.

“The opportunity to have free tuition at Rutgers because of my mom’s job has definitely impacted my search. My family is a ‘Rutgers family’ in that many of my family members have attended or are attending the school,” Savage said. “The cost of paying hasn’t really affected my choice in schools, just because I know that if everything else costs too much Rutgers is always a viable and amazing option.”

While the time to make choices with regards to paying for college is still available for the seniors of CHS, for CHS alumni, their time is now spent living with those choices.

For alumna Megan Berkowitz, class of 2010, those choices turned out to have a major impact after graduating from Tufts University and changing career paths.

“I received financial aid and the closest to what Tufts does offer in terms of merit scholarships,” Berkowitz said. “That being said, there was a gap between what Tufts considered to be my ‘demonstrated need’ and what my family could actually reasonably afford.”

“If anything, I don’t think it’ll be undergraduate debt that gets to me.” – Cayla Harris In order to close the gap, Berkowitz had to take out student loans that were initially intended to be paid back over the course of 10 years.

However once Berkowitz graduated from Tufts and looked to pursue graduate degrees as well, the plan had to change.

“That plan changed, in part because I did not want to keep the full burden of the debt for the full term of the loans, and in part because I then decided that I did want to pursue graduate degrees within the first few years after completing my undergrad,” Berkowitz said. “I ended up working several jobs in the three years after graduating [from Tufts] and paid off nearly 85 percent of my loans in that time.”

The prospect of having to take additional jobs in order to help cover costs proved to be the same for alumna Cayla Harris, class of 2016. Harris, who currently attends George Washington University in Washington D.C. with an annual cost of attendance of $70,793, received a hefty merit-aid scholarship that allowed her to attend.

However it turned out that the cost of living in Washington D.C. proved to be the most challenging of all.

“D.C. is just an incredibly expensive place to live. Don’t get me

“If the cost of a college education could be lowered that’d be fantastic but I don’t see that happening.” – Abi Karl wrong – I love it here and truly wouldn’t want to be in any other city – but it’s a really costly area,” Harris said. “So, my initial idea of working a part-time job through college turned into a full-time job my freshman year and two jobs over the summer.”

Harris, who is also taking out student loans to help pay for college, hopes to pay off her debt in college so that her decision to take out loans won’t weigh her down later in life.

“If anything, I don’t think it’ll be undergraduate debt that gets to me – I’m still deciding whether I want or need to go to graduate or law school, for which I’d have to take out a lot more loans all at once. So we’ll see,” Harris said.

For alumna Allison Kowalski, who also attended George Washington, her college and financial decision entailed looking specifically at the monthly payments she would take on for her loans.

“My advice would be to look at what your monthly payment breakdown would be and what starting salary you’re likely to have to see if it would be manageable to work into your budget or hold you back from paying for things you need,” Kowalski said.

For both the current students and alumni of CHS, the challenge of paying for college remains a pressing issue whether or not they are hoping to attend, are attending or have graduated college.

“I think it’s ridiculous to charge this much for something that is so widely expected of job seekers,” Savage said. “We’re told that college is the next step and that it’s the best time of our lives and that we won’t be able to make good money without it, but at the same time it’s made inaccessible for the majority of the population.”

For Karl, there is still room for a change in the future.

“Obviously if the cost of a college education could be lowered that’d be fantastic but I don’t see that happening anytime soon,” Karl said. “Maybe by the time I have my own kids, you never know.”

Interviews of CHS seniors provided by Isabella Antoon, Allie Beekman, Kate Dickenson, Mia Gallo, Lauren Arnao and Kaitlyn Delaney. Annual college costs provided by indivdual college websites. Average aid package statistics provided by collegefactual.com. Student debt growth chart provided by the Century Foundation.

8

the inkblot november 8, 2017

Always follow the “Work hard, play hard” motto, even after CHS CHS students like to live by the motto “work hard, play hard.”

Most of us know the importance of striking a balance between our academic, social and extracurricular endeavors.

But once we leave the sheltered and structured environment of Communications High School and enter the world as college students, striking that delicate balance becomes much more tricky.

An unproportional scale of work and play could cost you a pretty penny.

With high school comes parental supervision and only the slightest taste of independence and freedom. Living under your parents’ roof might come with a curfew and some ground rules.

But these small tastes of autonomy become full doses of self-sufficiency the minute you move into your college dorm.

In college, nobody imposes restrictions on how late you go to sleep or how often you spend time with your friends. In college, you pay good money for your ability to attend class and use any amenities at your school.

Basically, someone is making a risky and hefty investment in your future, and your behavior determines the payoff. You would be doing them, whoever they may be, an enormous disservice, if you wasted their investment.

With all this new freedom comes a choice: to work hard and play hard, or to simply party hard? Social media has popularized the prominence of partying in college. After all, whole Instagram accounts are dedicated to showing off beautiful people having the time of their lives, and the pictures don’t exactly show them studying for exams.

I’m Shmacked, a brand devoted to posting pictures and videos from college parties, has over half a million followers on their Instagram, @imshmacked. Almost all of their 8,714 and counting posts boast illegal substances, scantily-clad women or all of the above. Business Insider wrote an article about I’m Shmacked, and the headline speaks for itself: “I’m Shmacked: Inside the Brand that Glorifies the Worst Parts of College Partying.”

Partying hard on the weekend can easily bleed into your academic life during the week. Maybe you just can’t bring yourself to make your 8 a.m. lecture after a game day. Maybe, despite your best efforts, that happens a few times too many.

USA Today College did a study that found skipping class can cost a student upwards of $24,960 over the course of four years, if they attend a private university. That student would be wasting about $104 per class skipped. So every class you skip you’re wasting around 14 hours of work, if you get paid the national average minimum wage at $7.25.

The same study actually found that 25 percent of students miss an entire year’s worth of classes by skipping here and there.

Your money, money that could have taken years of careful saving, is being tossed aside with the ease of pressing the snooze button.

Nobody will be holding your hand out there in adult life.

Making class, finishing homework on time, taking care of yourself both physically and mentally are responsibilities all your own.

The prevalence of party culture blasted throughout social media from peers and brands like I’m Shmacked paint an unhealthy and inefficient picture for young students taking their first breaths of adulthood at college.

When you graduate from CHS, don’t be afraid to work and play hard. Social events like parties, sporting events and the like certainly are integral to any college experience. But, with today’s exorbitant college tuitions, you’d waste a lot of money by letting the play outweigh the work. So treat your college career like an investment. Work hard to learn and gain all the experience you can.

After you graduate, you want to make money on the investment you made in yourself, not be stuck lost and in debt. Though it may seem important in the short term, your success won’t be measured by how many frat parties you get into, or if you end up posing for I’m Shmacked.

NFL Practices Protected Speech

By MADISON VIGDOR It all started with a kneel. Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers at the time, took a knee during the national anthem at a home game against the Houston Texans on Aug. 14, 2016 to start a conversation about police brutality, which had been previously avoided.

In a press conference, Kaepernick said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people, and people of color.”

Kaepernick was not signed onto the team the following season because teams did not want to take sides on a political issue, as stated in an article by Sports Illustrated. But, nobody could bench the protests. To spread Kaepernick’s message, athletes of nearly every sport, especially football, have taken part in this demonstration by kneeling while “The Star-Spangled Banner” played.

These professional athletes use their fame and positions of influence to speak for those who were and still continue to be affected by police brutality, such as unarmed black Americans, who are 3.49 times more likely to be shot by police than unarmed white Americans, according to a study

by Professor Davis of the University of California.

Athletes stand up for what they believe in when others are not allowed the same opportunity.

On Sept. 22, 2017, while this impactful political statement had settled for a year, President Trump called attention to his dislike of the protests at a rally in Alabama. After receiving backlash, he followed up his comments with a tweet, saying that anyone “disrespecting our Flag & Country” by kneeling should be fired or suspended.

He suggested that the NFL establish new rules to prevent any future incidents from occurring.

“We are proud of our players… the vast majority of whom use their NFL platform to make a positive difference in our society,” the owners of the New York Giants, John Mara and Steve

The Inkblot is published by the students of Communications High School.

The Inkblot is a public forum for student expression and encourages all sides to voice their opinions.

Our writers will honor the highest standards of journalism by striving for truth, accuracy and fairness first.

Tisch, said in an official statement, in response President Trump’s comments made the day before.

However, in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, it is both clearly and exactly written that “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech… or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Ultimately, this historical document shaped the foundation of our country. No organization acting under the color of state law is permitted to make such rules that violate Constitutional rights.

“Our personal beliefs,” said Master Sgt. Pete Mayes, who fought in the United States Army for twenty years, “do not and should not supersede our professional duty and obligation to defend the Constitution of the United States.”

If America truly is the “land of the free and home of the brave,” citizens, including professional athletes, should be given the right to express their opinions without being condemned.

Take away costumes, take away fun A Halloween tradition that schools should permit

By SALLY EHLERS It’s finally the Halloween season and the fall festivities have begun: pumpkin picking, hay rides, haunted houses, candy shopping and costume selection. Costumes are the most iconic parts of Halloween, but some elementary and middle schools are now considering banning kids from wearing their costumes to school.

Arguments have been made stating that there are endless reasons why costumes should be banned, including two major reasons, classroom distractions and economic concerns.

According to NBC News, a Wisconsin elementary school that has banned Halloween costumes told an NBC reporter, “We want to be inclusive of all families including those families who don’t celebrate Halloween

Attention: c/o Communications High School 1740 New Bedford Road Wall, NJ 07719 (732) 681-1010

CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO by KEITH ALLISON San Francisco 49ers kneel during the national anthem, 2016.

The Inkblot welcomes letters to the Editor.

Please send your letters to Editor-in-Chief Courtney Kushnir at cokushnir@ctemc.org or Editor-in-Chief Isabella Cavazzoni at iscavazzoni@ctemc.org.

The Inkblot reserves the right to edit for length and content.

or find purchasing a costume a hardship. Also, there have been behavior and time management concerns related to changing into and out of costumes.” But these issues either have easy solutions or are ridiculous.

Some people argue that in financially struggling homes, wearing Halloween costumes to school can create pressure.

According to Bankrate’s Halloween research, the average child’s costume costs $29.60, without accessories; this isn’t exactly a cheap pricetag.

To solve this issue, share old Halloween costumes within your community or offer to help a family out, if needed.

Instead of eliminating costumes altogether because some families simply can’t afford them, communities should come together.

It’s evident that wearing Halloween costumes to school can be distracting: some are bulky and make it hard to sit, some crinkle with the slightest movement and others spark excessive conversation among students. But one single day of distraction is completely worth experiencing a long-standing American tradition.

The holiday of Halloween is a custom that is meant to be fun for people of all ages. It is absurd to consider taking away one of the paramount aspects of it from American children.

Do we really want to take away rich, fond memories from our nation’s youth? Although Halloween brings about some distractions or extra effort put in throughout the community, all kids should have the chance to have some seasonal fun.

Editors-in-Chief

Managing Editor Dylan Josephson News Editor

Caroline Savage Assistant Cailey Ruderman

Features Editor

Elizabeth Klemm Assistant Phoebe Drummond

Sports Editor Emmy Macri

Opinion Editor

Lauren Spiezia Caroline Monaghan

Courtney Kushnir & Isabella Cavazzoni Web Editor

Emma Wilenta Julianne Sackett Assistant Sarah McNey

Graphics Editor Emme Leong

Photo Editor Delia Noone

InkTV/Video Editor Brigid Garrett Audrey Mannion Assistant Jillian Lynch

Adviser

Andi Mulshine

Business Manager Jacqueline Geller Arts Editor

Lara Graney Assistant Kaitlyn Hammond

In-Depth Editor

Andrew Wang Assistant Alexis Colucci

Clubs Editor Kyle Galvin

Social Media Editor Kate Ridoux Assistant Evan Kuo

9

the inkblot november 8, 2017

Celebrity activists change little in politics

By VAUGHN BATTISTA Recently, celebrities have been more active in our current political climate. Whether it’s Eminem’s attack on Trump during the BET Hip Hop Awards or Meryl Streep criticizing the president during her Golden Globes speech, many have been voicing their political opinions.

But very few actually contribute anything to the discussion itself. A vast majority of celebrities political opinions boil down to their distaste towards Trump, and considering how low his approval ratings are, they aren’t exactly breaking any new ground. While celebrities have been more active in the political sphere, they haven’t actually done much with their platforms other than voice standard liberal views.

There’s nothing wrong with this, but considering this political activism is a stretch. To their credit, many have done philanthropic work. Leonardo DiCaprio’s foundation donated over $20 million in environmental grants according to Variety, and George Lucas gave a majority of the $4.5 billion he gained from selling Lucasfilm to charity, as reported by Forbes.

But in the realm of American politics,

celebrities have actually done very little.

Most of the political work of celebrities has been either supporting Democratic candidates, promoting democratic ideas or criticizing President Trump. The problem with this is that it has done little to change anyone’s actual opinions. Trump’s approval ratings are currently at less than 40 percent, and no celebrity has had any significant effect on this. After Eminem’s Trump freestyle, Trump’s approval ratings only shifted by 0.1 percent over the next two days, as reported by FiveThirtyEight.

The reaction to it has been the same as every other celebrity speech: conservative commentators like Tomi Lahren have criticized his performance and liberal outlets like CNN praised him in their articles.

This is the inherent problem of the political “activism” of celebrities: it does nothing. It simply adds another voice into an echo chamber that doesn’t change the political discussion in any way.

Their opinions lack any nuance or even a call for action. So, do celebrities really engage in political activism? Sure, if saying what over half of Americans already say in no special or unique way is activism.

CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO by DOD NEWS FEATURES Eminem performs at the Concert for Valor, and is among the artists who criticize Trump.

Climate change needs more than government recognition

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUDREY WILENTA Junior Audrey Wilenta of Wall works part time at the Bagel Basket Cafe during the school year.

Many jobs during the school year: more stress than money

By SALLY EHLERS During the week of midterms and finals, the stress of studying often makes students think about which activities outside of school are really worth their time.

According to CentSaiAdulting.com, 4.7 million teens consider a job to be worth this time.

But is having more than one job really a valuable use of a student’s time?

Working a single part-time job can provide a student with increased self-discipline, time management skills and financial independence.

Working more than one job does not do the same.

Students with one part-time job can work shorter and more flexible hours, therefore having more time for homework and extracurriculars.

Working more than one job, however, is a

sacrifice to these benefits.

According to the scientific website NCBI, examining the benefits and risks of adolescent employment, working long hours can have numerous detriments.

The website also states that the more hours a student works, the more likely they are to have lower grades, be absent from school, drink alcohol or smoke and even drop out of high school entirely.

Although deaths in the typical workplace involving adolescents are somewhat rare, they do occur. According to NCBI, around 68 teenagers died from work-related injuries between the years 1992 and 2000.

Other stressors, such as lack of job satisfaction and feeling undervalued in the workplace can lead

to anxiety and stress, which coincides with depression and thoughts of suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds, as stated on DoSomething.org.

It is understandable that a high school student may need to work two jobs to pay for college. Yet according to the New York Times, students are more likely to complete college if they worked 15 hours a week or less during high school.

Although multiple jobs may provide you with money and benefits, it will also put you at risk of stress and anxiety.

These two things alone outweigh any possible benefits.If you are thinking about applying for a second job this year, save yourself the time and reconsider.

By VAUGHN BATTISTA Global warming is one of the most pressing issues of our planet today. The general consensus is that it exists, and people contribute to it. NASA reports that 97 percent of peer-reviewed articles about climate change claim that humans play a significant role in the growing impact of climate change.

Yet a majority of activists only talk about whether climate change is real or not. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio donated a $3.6 million grant to combat climate change according to Fox News, and organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NASA have done a lot of climate change activism. But most of this activism has been promoting the idea that climate change exists.

While this discussion is important, there’s only so much it can do. Instead, climate scientists and activists should shift their focus from debating the existence of climate change to solutions to the problem, which could influence politicians to do more to combat it.

But because few solutions have been brought up, a majority of politicians have only tried to solve the problem with carbon emission limits. Carbon dioxide makes up 82 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, according to the EPA. While this is a good idea in theory, it has its flaws. For example,

California has put a strict limit on carbon emissions, but analysts predict that most of the fossil fuel burning companies will move their businesses to areas with lighter regulations on emissions, meaning that most of the climate change reform would be ineffective, according to the Los Angeles Times.

On the other hand, alternative clean energy sources, such as wind and sunlight, seem like viable competition for the fossil fuels that contribute to the growing climate change epidemic.

The International Energy Agency reported that in 2013, renewable energy made up 22 percent of global electricity generation.

Groups like the Nuclear Energy Institute have suggested to re-investigate the merits of nuclear energy as a clean energy source. But these voices are small in comparison to the majority of climate activists simply trying to convince the world that it exists.

Acknowledging the problem is a great first step, but it’s time to advance.

If climate activists call for more solutions rather than just the fact that global warming exists, then more politicians would be able to respond and implement these ideas into the government and economy. Regardless of what the right solution is, climate change will not just stop when we acknowledge its existence.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA HECHT

Climate.org said that one of the most dire effects of climate change is the rising of sea levels.

10 NYFW diversifies both their collections and models

the inkblot november 15, 2017

By JULIA DWIGHT Observers saw sequins throughout the week in the New York turns into a different city altogether during collections of Stuart Vevers of Coach and Michael Kors. Vevers fashion week. The streets hum with a vibrant energy as accented simple tunics with copper sequin patterns, while Kors the fabulously dressed hop from venue to venue for the paired a blue button down with an ombré embellished maxi biggest runway shows of the season. skirt, as seen on the New York Fashion Week website.

This year, with new focuses in creative freedom and Athleisure also continues its reign over fashion, and diversity, fashion week is evolving with the times.

Rihanna, in another success for her Fenty x Puma label, Spring Fashion Month, spanning from mid-September showed colorful sportswear including spandex one-pieces and through October, gives designers a chance to exhibit their basketball jerseys, says Maeve McDermott of USA Today. latest line for A-list buyers.

In addition to the changes in designs and designers, the In the days of instant media access, these first models themselves are different this year. This year, many of impressions are crucial, as a celebrity photographed the shows highlighted diversity through models of varying wearing their looks can turn an unknown designer into a race, age and body shape. fashion superstar overnight.

The Fashion Spot’s biannual report proclaimed the Spring This year, the focus seemed to be less on the designs 2018 shows a banner season for diversity, with people of color and more on the absence of some regular names in the making up 36.9 percent of the castings and more plus-size, schedule. American flagship brands Rodarte, Thom transgender, nonbinary and over 50 year-old models than ever Browne and Proenza Schouler all made the move to Paris, before. while one familiar designer, Tommy Hilfiger, chose to Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, spoke in an show in London, reported The New York Times. These interview for the magazine on the progress being made in the relocations left New York Fashion Week one day shorter, world of fashion. but made ample room for new designers and some high“I think that those who have spoken up in the past CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO COURTESY OF AVEDA profile comebacks. publicly should really be given a lot of credit, and I hope that CORPORATION A backstage look at a Fall/Winter piece from Aveda at NY Tom Ford made his reappearance in New York this those who did not follow suit will now recognize that fashion year. In his return to the Big Apple from a stint in his Los has a responsibility to be in step with the times,” Wintour said.

Angeles studio, Ford, hot off a Golden Globe nomination New York Fashion Week took a step forward for many for his film “Nocturnal Animals”, immediately made his presence known. His collection, designers. Long gone are the days of simplistic coll shown under fuschia lights, featured leather, metallics and neon accents. ections on only one type of women, as labels welcome bright fabrics and elaborate The show reflected many of the week’s trends- bright, playful pieces that evoked details on models from all walks of life. feelings of celebration.

Bruce: a Jersey legend moves from Stone Pony to Broadway

By MADELINE HOLOBINKO From playing sold-out arenas to winning Grammys, American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen has influenced rock music since the ‘70s. Today, he still remains a prominent figure in the music industry.

Before Springsteen reached such popularity, he was just another guy from New Jersey.

Growing up, Springsteen developed a rocky relationship with his father. In response to their constant bickering, the rock musician bought his very first guitar in Monmouth County’s own Freehold Borough.

“When I was growing up, there were two things that were unpopular in my house,” Springsteen later recalled in his biography “Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts, the Story.” “One was me, and the other was my guitar.”

Yet he soon had his father to thank for inspiration in his career.

“I’ve gotta thank him,” said Springsteen in his acceptance speech at his induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, “because what would I conceivably have written about without him?”

Using personal experiences to fuel his music, Springsteen frequented Asbury Park on the

New Jersey Shore during the 1960s. By 1972, he released his first studio album, “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” But it wasn’t until his third album, “Born to Run,” that he skyrocketed into fame, said Wall Street Journal.

“It didn’t matter that Springsteen was singing about Jersey wastoids chasing a ‘runaway American dream.’

The songs made sense to people who’d never tasted salt-water taffy or even driven a Chevrolet,” Billboard later said in an article.

His support did not waver as he continued with the release of his fourth album, “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” Springsteen “became famous for his integrity and pride as a performer, as stories of his exhausting performances and perfectionism in the recording studio became legend,” according to Biography. com.

Later albums “The River” and “Nebraska” explored stories of working class Americans for people to enjoy. “Born in the U.S.A.” only took him even farther in his career, delving in more mainstream music.

“Bruce Springsteen gave people faith in rock & roll and in themselves again. In 1975, when his song “Born to Run” was released, American rock & roll fans were still reeling from the deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison, and coping with the national tragedy of the Vietnam War… Bruce showed his audience and whoever would listen what an uncompromising will can achieve,” said Rolling Stone.

Today, his music still helps people in the face of darkness with his inspiring lyrics.

“Springsteen is not trying to write the next hit, but he has a following worldwide who shows up for everything he does,” said USA Today. Springsteen may not be your average performer, but that’s exactly what keeps his PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS career alive even today.

When people thought he would retire, his response to “60 Minutes Australia” was, “I don’t know how old I am when I’m on stage… I’ve got a long road in front of me.” Fans, young and old, help to make this possible.

Teacher Steve Godkin likes both his music and his personality.

“Even for all of his success, he still remembers where he came from,” said Godkin. “He seems like a regular, nice person.”

Springsteen also draws in a younger crowd. Senior Felicia Aschettino of West Long Branch has enjoyed listening to Springsteen’s music since she was young.

“I love his sound. You can tell he means every word he sings,” Aschettino said.

At 68 years-old, the singersongwriter’s next endeavor are shows at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway. “This is a lockedin piece of music and script that I’m going to be performing pretty much the same on a nightly basis,” Springsteen explained this new path in his career to New York Times. “It’s a solidified piece of work. And I think the intimacy of the venue is going to really affect it, to make it quite a bit different from the acoustic tours.”

“Springsteen on Broadway” will be running from October 3rd to February 3rd, with tickets costing up to $850. With such popularity, a digital lottery to get tickets has already opened.

But even with his fame, the singer has not forgotten about his roots. Recently, Springsteen has returned to venues like the Stone Pony that helped him to get his start. On May 27, he was seen at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank while on May 29 he was spotted at Freehold’s Memorial Day parade, said NJ.com. After just publishing his autobiography “Born to Run” and completing a world tour, Springsteen chooses downtime at home. Though his career has been long, he will always be the boy with the guitar.

CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO COURTESY OF RON FRAZIER

Blade Runner: sequel satisfies visually

By VERONICA YARON Sequels and revamps have always generated a collective amount of enthusiasm from fans - those who are eager to get a bit more from their beloved original. The 75-year-old action star, Harrison Ford, has been returning with a slew of sequels to his biggest and best old classics in recent years, with “Star Wars: The Force Awakes,” and then “Indiana Jones 5” set for 2020.

Now, after 35-years, Warner Brothers Pictures has released a sequel to Scott Ridley’s 1982 cult classic “Blade Runner,” a science fiction epic about a future world. In the original, a young Harrison played Rick Deckard, a man who operated as a Blade Runner. It was his job to “retire” or kill the society’s now illegal androids - robots who lacked the ability to feel empathy and only kept at bay by a series of implanted false memories.The plot follows Ford falling in love with Rachel, an experimental replicant who, in body and mind, is close to human.

Fast forward to 2049, Ryan Gosling plays a Replicant known as “K,” a Blade Runner tasked with killing off his own kind. On a routine “retirement,” he discovers that a Replicant has given birth to a child - half human, half android - which could drastically alter their society’s societal boundaries. After being ordered to destroy the child, K and his holographic girlfriend, Joi, played by Ana de Armas, set out on an adventure to get answers from Rick Deckard.

Ford’s character has been in hiding since the events of the first movie, and the search sets off a series of events that take characters down intriguing new paths. While these new elements add increasing depth to the sequel, there is still plenty of fan service and nods to the original that only help to expand on the classic universe.

The movie is visually stunning in a gritty Tokyo-esque Los Angeles, as director Denis Villeneuve litters the screen with wide aerial shots, gigantic seductive holograms and a neon-noir atmosphere. For potential viewers that have not seen the original, don’t be afraid of getting a ticket to see the sequel. There are 35-years worth of in-depth descriptions online you can read on the way to the theater, plus the movie throws newcomers a bone with an explanatory opening clip. With a running time of two hours and forty-four minutes, all I can say is try not to drink any water before you go.

11

the inkblot november 15, 2017

Anastasia better on screen

BLOT GRAPHIC BY CONNOR MARTIN

Students overwhelmed with work, left without time to read

By MICHELLE MOROSES It’s no surprise that many CHS students love reading. After all, if you want to write, you have to read first. As a whole, many teenagers drop reading independently as they grow older.

A study done by Scholastic in 2013 reported a 34 percent decline from ages 9 to 17 in children who regularly read for pleasure. While it’s easy to point fingers at smartphones or computers for distracting teenagers from reading, another problem may be that high school students are too busy to find the time to read.

The stress of building a college application, maintaining grades and participating in extracurricular activities may leave teens with very little free time to read for pleasure.

Some CHS students find that homework takes up most of their day after school. Junior Vivian DeRosa of Ocean Township used to set reading goals for herself, but now finds that she is unable to due to time restraints.

“I used to try to read 52 books a year, so about a book a week, but now I can’t because by the time I’m finished with schoolwork I don’t even have enough time to sleep,” DeRosa said.

Between time to study for frequent tests and quizzes in addition to written work, some students spend hours at a time on homework. A survey done by the University of Phoenix College of Education found that ninth to 12th grade students are assigned around 17.5 hours of homework per week, approximately 3.5 hours per day. This leaves teenagers with very little spare time, especially when put together with extracurricular or after

school activities which can take up a few hours by themselves.

Other CHS students do find the time to read. Freshman Charlotte Frick of Wall believes it’s possible to manage obligations in order to make time for reading.

“I have time to read because I get home, do my homework, eat dinner and then I usually have half an hour to read,” Frick said.

According to AfterschoolAlliance.org, students who read frequently are higher achievers than students who read rarely.

School programs like DEAR, or Drop Everything And Read, make an attempt to allot students time during the school day for reading. At CHS, this program no longer takes place. Supervisor Kelly Harmon was on Instructional Council when the decision to include the DEAR initiative was made. She said, “a lot of research confirms that students are more motivated to engage in reading when provided the opportunity to select their own material. Unfortunately, I don’t know why DEAR was eliminated. I know that MAST includes a thirty-minute reading period every day and it has been in place for over two years.”

High school students miss out on a multitude of benefits when they stop reading for fun. While DEAR and other such programs try to allow students time for reading, it may not enough to make up for the hours schoolwork and other activities take up. Students with a passion for reading often find themselves left with too little time in the day to curl up with a book.

Tom Petty: music loses one of its biggest influences

By KAITLYN HAMMOND On Oct. 2, a powerful force in the music industry was lost.

Tom Petty combined his southern roots with rock music to create a new, authentic style that changed both rock and country music forever. The day after Petty’s death, Rolling Stone published an article titled “Why Tom Petty Is Contemporary Country Music’s Biggest Rock Influence”, describing Petty’s influence on both country and rock music.

“I grew up listening to his music. Petty’s music belonged to a world that reached far beyond the city limits of Gainesville, Florida, where he spent his first 25 years, and Los Angeles, his adopted home

CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO COURTESY OF XXX

Tom Petty performing live

of four decades,” the article said.

For many of Petty’s fans and followers, this resonates as true.

Fans like Junior Alyssa Rasp of Hazlet still feel the influence Petty has had on their lives.

“He was someone who

absolutely loved what he did, and I want to be like that one day,” Rasp said.

In an article by the New York Times, Petty was described as melding rock with “a deep, stubborn Southern heritage to produce a long string of durable hits”. Some of his most notable songs were “Refugee”, “Free Fallin’”, and “I Won’t Back Down”.

“My favorite Tom Petty song is easily American Girl because the lyrics are powerful and resonate with me in a way,” said Junior Kevin Clark of Spring Lake.

Petty’s death will be mourned by fans for a while, because, as Rolling Stone wrote, “It’s difficult to imagine a world without Tom Petty.”

By IZZY CAVAZZONI and COURTNEY KUSHNIR Before seeing “Anastasia” on Broadway, we didn’t think it possible to take a coup in communist Russia and make it into a musical. Though, our first mistake was doubting the theatre community and their ability to turn any idea into a full scale production (i.e. “Hamilton,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” the list goes on).

While we commend their effort, we didn’t really enjoy the play overall.

Based on the 1997 animated classic “Anastasia” directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, the musical follows the tumultuous and trying life of a street sweeper turned Grand Duchess. Anya, an impoverished woman living in St. Petersburg, stumbles upon two con men, Dmitry and Vlad, hoping to capitalize on rumors that Anastasia is actually alive. An elaborate and dangerous plan to poise Anya as the long-lost Grand Duchess of Russia leads to a tale of love and selfdiscovery.

Without leaving Midtown, playgoers travel across country borders and through time, from St. Petersburg to Paris. A single stage served as the Yusupov Palace and the French countryside. Aesthetically, Anastasia soared, with historically-appropriate costumes and set design.

But, what the musical had in aesthetic, it lacked in a compelling musical scheme. The songs dragged, too long to effectively keep the audience rapt but too short to eliminate any dialogue entirely, in the style of “Les Miserables” or “Hamilton.” The score, to us, felt like one long lullaby that gets stuck in your head and never leaves you alone. In fact, one of the first songs in the show, “Once Upon a December” pops up at least every five minutes in the show, whether sung by Altomare or played from a music box. And while we were glad to hear the familiar tune from the movie, we could have done without hearing it so many times.

Having seen the movie “Anastasia” before seeing the play, we found ourselves missing the magical aspect that the movie brought to the table. Though the musical’s communist leader was a more realistic antagonist, we longed to see the movie’s villain, a seer named Rasputin who used his powers to torture Anastasia.

The musical already teetered on the verge of being a Disney-esque princess story, we think they may as well have leaned into it and added a little magic.

The musical also incorporated a grossly out-of-place romance between Countess Lily (Caroline O’Connor) and Vlad (John Bolton). Their affair intended to provide comic relief, but took away from the musical’s true focal point instead.

Where the plot should have focused on Anya and Dmitry’s budding affections and Anya’s quest for her true identity, Countess Lily and Vlad’s inappropriate tension, namely their gratuitous stage kisses, distracted.

There have been many successful movies turned musicals by way of Broadway, but “Anastasia” on Broadway was not the smashing success that it was in the box office.

OPEN MIC NIGHTS Performed Not Performed

Not Attended Attended

BLOT GRAPHIC BY CONNOR MARTIN

Survey of 166 students from Oct. 24 to Oct. 27, 2017

Open mics give students a voice

By EMILY TORO A wooden stool sits in the foreground of a deep stage. Performers hear the sound of ice clicking against glasses and whispers in the back row. Their abdominals hurt from laughing at the witty comedian while in store for them a girl awaits to sing Whitney Houston.

The lights go dim and she steps onto the creaky floorboards.

Open mic nights give people the chance to express themselves in a variety of different ways. Whether it be through singing ballads, reading haikus or strumming guitars, open mic nights give students the opportunity to share their gifts.

Iconic stars seen on television shows and listened to on the radio didn’t always perform in front of thousands of people.

Taylor Swift got discovered at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee. Country star Garth Brooks was also discovered at this hole in the wall, according to CBS news.

Project Write Now is a non-profit organization in Red Bank that offers open mic nights every other month, called Voices and Verses, at the Count Basie Theater.

These encourage people of all ages to share their writing. Junior Vivian DeRosa participated in poem readings at Voices

and Verses in the past.

“It is empowering to go up and share your writing in a supportive and inspiring space,” DeRosa said.

The Red Bank Women’s Club also hosts open mic nights. The most recent one was held on Oct. 20. Senior Samantha LaRochelle helps organize these events as her dad helps in leading them.

“Last spring, LaRochelle had the idea to try and get area teens and pre-teens together once a month on a Friday night at the Red Bank Women’s Club for an open microphone evening,” the Asbury Park Press reported.

LaRochelle shared her thoughts regarding these nights.“It is really awesome as not a lot of places let younger kids perform . . . It is a reason to learn new songs instead of sitting with your instrument and getting nothing done.”

Open mic nights give people the chance to “test the waters.” They can try new material, practice their craft, and have a good time. Recognition from presenting material can help people to make vital connections. A person’s recognition can help them to shape a career out of one act of courage.

The little blond girl singing in a local cafe may just so happen to become the next Taylor Swift.

Fall Spirit Week 1

oct. 30 - nov 3 2017 th nd rd 4 2 3

SENIORS st class of 2018 place

JUNIORS

SOPHOMORES

place

class of 2020

place

class of 2019

BLOT PHOTO BY MARISSA HO

From left, SGA members Jon Slovak of Spring Lake Heights, Jackie Geller of Manalapan, Connor Martin of Spring Lake Heights, Emma Hecht of Wall and Sam LaRochelle of Middletown count down to the end of the competition.

monday - fancy day scarecrow contest

BLOT PHOTO BY MARISSA HO

Junior Lauren DeFelice of Wall works on the Class of 2019’s scarecrow display, dubbed “David Crowie.” The juniors clinched first place, followed by the seniors in second, sophomores in third and freshmen in last.

BLOT PHOTO BY DELIA NOONE

From left, seniors Christina Flynn of Middletown, Niki Dallicardillo of Wall and Nora Thomson of Lincroft walk for Tuesday’s costume contest. They dressed as Missappear, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, respectively.

tuesday - halloween costume contest

BLOT PHOTO BY DELIA NOONE

Freshman Beatrice Karron of Manasquan walks as Rosie the Riveter

BLOT PHOTO BY ALYSSA RASP

Martin and Geller announce the end of the positive round of Penny Wars, which lasted from Monday through Wednesday. Thursday was designated for negative points. The SGA raised nearly $3,000 from the competition.

wednesday - meme day the floor is lava

BLOT PHOTO BY ALYSSA RASP

Senior Kyle Robinson of Middletown competes in the Floor is Lava competition, a newcomer to the Spirit Week lineup. Seniors came in first, followed by sophomores, freshmen and juniors.

BLOT PHOTO BY ALYSSA RASP

From left, juniors Liam Marshall of Sea Girt, Erica Sammarco of Colts Neck and Sebrina Gao of Freehold celebrate after winning the Minute to Win It competition. Behind them were the freshmen, seniors and sophomores.

thursday - tourist day minute to win it

BLOT PHOTO BY DELIA NOONE

Thomson maintains a steady focus as she attempts one of the four activities of the Minute to Win it competition, which was inspired by the television show, hosted by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, of the same name BLOT PHOTO BY MARISSA HO

Freshman Ethan Hecht of Wall prepares to throw balls during the dodgeball tournament.

In the end, the freshmen took second place, bested only by the sophomores. Seniors came in third, and juniors fell in last.

friday - pajama day dodgeball

BLOT PHOTO BY ALYSSA RASP

From left, seniors Matt Avena of Middletown, Brandon Kalika of Middletown and Emme Leong of Freehold compete in Friday’s event, which featured new rules such as a ban on holding the balls for more than five seconds.

freshmen

place

class of 2021