Inkblot Issue 3 2017-18

Page 11 Students use art to give back

OPINION

Page 5 Different sports require different diets

ARTS

Page 3 Personalized laptops ‘stick’ around

SPORTS

FEAUTRES

January 12, 2018 Page 12 Reflections on Trump, one year later

Inside: Consumers turn away from stores in favor of online shopping

BLOT GRAPHIC BY ANDREW WANG AND ALEXIS COLUCCI

Volume 16, Issue 3

Communications High School, Wall, New Jersey

www.THEINKBLOTNEWS.com

‘Wonderful Life’ takes CHS back to the ‘40s

New cast members ‘earn their wings’ in the Drama Club’s first production of the year

BLOT PHOTO BY NORA THOMSON

Clockwise from left, Jonathan Slovak of Spring Lake Heights, Cameron DeStefano of Middletown, Liam Marshall of Sea Girt and Shannon Damiano of Spring Lake Heights star in the first act of “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The play, with a cast of 24 playing nearly 70 characters, was one of the largest ever staged by CHS Drama Club, according to director and senior Lara Graney of Belmar.

By ISABELLA ANTOON The Drama Club will soon release their selection for their second production of the school year, coming off of their successful holiday play, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

For now, Drama Club members bask in the success of their rendition of the 1946 play and plan for spring.

“Our spring show is still top secret, but we’re considering a comedy,” producer and senior Izzy Cavazzoni of Wall said.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” follows the story of businessman George Bailey as he contemplates suicide. Director and senior Lara Graney of Belmar alongside producer and senior Izzy Cavazzoni of Wall chose the show, along with their assistants, juniors Summer Ward of Oceanport and Kelly Forrester of Spring Lake Heights.

“I loved being so immersed and invested in something, I loved the thoughtful questions my actors had, I loved problem solving and interacting with people who have all different sets of skills, like art, and tech, and set,” Graney said.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” starred many students familiar to the CHS stage, as well as several new faces, such as freshman Steve Ostrom of Monmouth Beach. He said his first experience with the club was a positive one.

“CHS Drama is so much more enjoyable than any of my other theater experiences,” Ostrom said.

“I think having students direct and produce the entirety of the show really causes the cast to bond more closely.”

Senior Jonathan Slovak of Spring Lake Heights

played the lead, George Bailey, in what marked his seventh show for the club.

“It never got boring to play George since he experiences just about every emotion during the play,” Slovak said. “I really enjoyed learning his traits and understanding his motives, as well as spending time with the incredible cast and director.”

Drama Club adviser Bill Bengle worked with students throughout the process to organize and produce the show.

“I’m there to give advice, and to help the production move at the pace that it should,” Bengle said. “I act as the go-between through the directors and the administration to help set things up.”

See WONDERFUL LIFE, page 2

SkillsUSA and NTHS bring in speakers, cash on Career Day

By LIAM UMBS CHS’s annual Career Day was presented by SkillsUSA and the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) on Friday, Dec. 8.

Students explored careers from many industries and listened to keynote speaker Chelsea Whittemore at the end of the day. Two of the speakers, including Whittemore, graduated from CHS themselves.

SkillsUSA and NTHS members were required to contact professionals to speak about their respective careers.

In total, 16 speakers participated.

For six sessions, students attended smaller presentations of their choice. Afterwards, the school gathered in the cafeteria to hear from the keynote speaker.

The event showcased a wide variety of professions, including design, fashion, politics, business and writing.

BLOT PHOTO BY MARISSA HO

SkillsUSA provided programs profiling each speaker’s career.

SkillsUSA adviser and math teacher Scott Stengele says that Career Day is important for students to participate in.

“I think an event like this is just really important for kids to be able to go into a classroom where someone is going to be able to answer questions about what might they want to do with their life in the future,” Stengele said.

For the first time, SkillsUSA turned Career Day into a fundraiser. They introduced sponsorships, where local businesses donated to be featured in the program among other benefits. The event raised $1,250, said SkillsUSA president and senior Emma Wilenta of Wall. The money will be used to help finance the club’s upcoming state competitions.

See CAREER DAY, page 2

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the inkblot january 12, 2018

NAHS explores new styles of art at the MoMA Clockwise from top left:

Photo courtesy of Grace Maloney

Senior Audrey Mannion of Brielle looks over the city from one of the MoMA’s floor-to-ceiling windows.

Blot photo by Alyssa Rasp

Junior Alexis Colucci of Middletown flips through one of many books hung from the ceiling as part of an exhibit.

Blot photo by Audrey Mannion

Senior Delia Noone of Middletown views Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”. The painting is one of the museum’s most well-known pieces.

Blot photo by Cailey Ruderman

Junior Sarah McNey of Freehold gets an up-close look at Edward Ruscha’s The End. The work is displayed on the fourth floor of the museum.

Blot photo by Delia Noone

Senior Michelle Etienne of Avon-bythe-Sea sits in the prismatic lights of one of the three-dimensional exhibits.

Blot photo by Delia Noone

Senior Grace Maloney of Middletown views Monet’s painting “Water Lilies.”

NHS and NTHS induct a combined 59 new members

By ALLIE BEEKMAN The National Honor Society (NHS) and National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) inducted a total of 59 juniors and seniors on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

NHS inducted 54 students, said math teacher and adviser Justine Lane. Students completed 100 service hours, 50 leadership hours and maintained a cumulative GPA of at least a 92 in order to qualify. Once inducted, students must complete a minimum of four service hours a month, earn at least 10 points annually and pay a $15 due.

Junior and NHS inductee Liam Marshall of Sea Girt said the long application process paid off.

“It was a long and fairly confusing process at times, but since I started gathering hours early the application was easier in the end,” Marshall said. “It was definitely worth the time and hard work.”

Junior Emma Hecht of Wall acquired her service and leadership hours through numerous activities.

“I was a swim coach for both the Spring Lake Recreational Summer Swim Team and the Monmouth Barracudas Club Swim Team,” Hecht said. “I was on

both Class Council and Student Government Association, I was on the Wall High School Varsity Swim, Surf, Track and Cross Country Teams, I volunteered for several CCC events and did a few other things too.”

Senior and NHS president Allison Paglia of Oceanport learned a lot from being in NHS and is excited to see the newly inducted members do the same.

“I’ve learned how to engage everyone around me so that we can all work together and get something done both effectively and efficiently,” Paglia said.

“The National Honor Society is something I am heavily involved in and something that is very important to me, so to see other people excited to become a part of it is awesome.”

NTHS inducted 16 students, said math teacher and adviser Scott Stengele. This is Stengele’s first year in this position after former CHS math teacher and NTHS adviser Deborah Maher relocated to Academy of Allied Health and Science.

“There was more to think of than I knew,” Stengele said.

“But because it was with NHS and Ms. Lane had planned

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Luke Brown The Gallo Family Lynette Silvestri The Hecht Family McHugh Architecture The Littenberg Family Meg Tracy The Macri Family Megerle Family The Matuch Family Michelle and Jonathan Rosenberg The McNeill Family Michelle Moroses The Neuwirth Family Ming Kimball The Paglia Family Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ho The Pardee Family Ottone Chiropractic Center The Rademacher Family Palladino Family The Sammarco Family Paskin DeRosa Family The Stanislowski Family Paul and Tracey Vetter The Strafaci-Maroko Family Ron and Nancy Cole The Tarigo Family Rosanne Weitzman The Topper Family Rosemarie Kushnir The Toro Family Sarah Copp The Wren Family Savage Family The Thomson Family Stefanie Dazio Tom Froehlich and Jake Sennett Tess Rempel and Family Wael Ghali The Badaracco Family Wheeler family The Cavazzoni Family William and Maria Lamb The Cottrell Family William Spiezia The Eknoian Family

it all before, I was sort of helping with the planning rather than being fully in charge which was nice.”

Students inducted into NTHS completed eight technical service hours, wrote an essay and will compete in a SkillsUSA competition, said junior Grace McCaffrey of Middletown.

“Applying to NTHS was similar to NHS in the amount of work required,” McCaffrey said. “But the hours required for NTHS were ones that were related to a technical skill and I found these were really helpful in determining that I was on the correct career path.”

NTHS students pay $35 dues and must also pay a $100 SkillsUSA competition fee, McCaffrey said.

Overall, Lane said the night was a success despite forgetting to call a few names during the ceremony.

“I thought it went really, really well,” Lane said.

“There were a few little mistakes, I certainly made the most mistakes out of anybody, but by that time you’re kind of tired and it’s a little overwhelming. You just go through it anyway, you know the little mistakes are what make it funny and memorable and sweet and it’s all okay.”

Corrections from Issue 2 - Tess Rempel wrote “Many jobs during the school year: more stress than money.”

- Roving Reporter photos were taken by Alyssa Rasp and Leigh Lustig.

- The book graphic that accompanied “Students overwhelmed with work, left without time to read” was made by Emme Leong.

[WONDERFUL LIFE) The Drama Club will be holding auditions for their spring show in the new year, where members of the club will have the opportunity to perform once again.

“This show will always have a place in my heart and I hope to continue performing with the wonderful people that worked so hard to make it come to life,” Ostrom said.

[CAREER DAY] SkillsUSA began planning Career Day months before the actual event, Wilenta said.

“The most challenging part was staying on top of all of our members during the process of getting speakers and sponsors, because the event wouldn’t work without either of those things,” Wilenta said.

Career day ended with keynote speaker and CHS alumna Chelsea Whittemore, a producer for the FOX Business show “Kennedy.”

“I took the same classes as you, I walked the same hallways as you, and I learned from some of the same teachers as you,” Whittemore said.

“So this is really special for me to be here to speak to you all today.”

At the end of her speech, Whittemore left students with advice for the future “Your success will be determined by how you see yourself and how others see you. But more importantly, your success will be determined by how you apply yourself, and how hard you work. I have no doubt all of you will shine in your own way, and I cannot wait to see what you accomplish along the way.”

the inkblot january 12, 2018

1 in 300

Stickers: a new form of expression

By IZZY ERSKINE Over the years, bumper stickers have become a recognizable part of the way people express themselves on the road. The sticker trend has recently expanded and can be found on, not only cars, but the faces of laptops and other belongings, too.

Sophomore Mary Eknoian of Wall started to collect stickers last year when she got a laptop for her birthday.

“I thought it would be cool to decorate it with stickers, rather than a typical case,” Eknoian said.

BLOT PHOTO BY AXL CHECO Ebbie Shim, a senior from Senior Caroline Savage of Brielle shows off her interests with stickers on her laptop.

Spring Lake Heights, began to collect stickers to cover her bike Eknoian said she cares more about said. helmet when she was in middle the quality of the stickers rather Ravenna Gemignani, a freshschool. When she got a laptop, she than quantity, while Shim tries to man from Oceanport, has another covered her case with stickers. Shim collect as many as possible. Howevunique place for her stickers. She said she gets her stickers wherever er, Shim has almost no room left on decorates her desk and door with she can find them. her laptop. stickers she creates herself using “Sometimes I buy one that I “It’s getting pretty gross and sticker paper. Some of the designs see in a store and really like, or I get broken and I might have to replace she has made include Mr. Meeseeks a sticker from someone else, like it soon but I keep stalling because I from the animated series “Rick and the ‘I Voted’ stickers I got from my don’t want to get rid of my case and Morty,” colorful monsters and Flexy, parents,” Shim said. “I also have the stickers,” Shim said. a character of her own. some stickers that I had to use for Laptops are not the only place The sticker collecting trend entrance to a place like a museum students at CHS put their stickers. seems to be very popular among the and I put them on my case as soon Freshman Ethan Hecht of Wall placstudents at CHS, whether it is by as I get home.” es stickers on his snowboard. decorating laptops or snowboards, Both girls have different “I collect stickers to remember stickers are a great way to express purposes for collecting stickers. all the places I have gone,” Hecht one’s personality and interests.

Students reflect on detention practices

By TESS REMPEL Glancing down at his phone, trying not to fall asleep, sophomore Brian Schade of Tinton Falls counted down the minutes until he could leave. Detention can often be a part of high school that students dread.

Over 70 percent of voters worldwide agreed that detention is ineffective, says Debate.org.

District Administration Magazine said many school leaders are attempting to modify or even replace the practice of detention to create an approach that would be more effective.

Models of discipline in schools vary around the country.

“We give students detentions when they come in late two times in one marking period. They have to sit here for half an hour of lunch,” then-office secretary Patricia Hynes said in an interview

in December. She is now secretary to the superintendent of schools, located in Freehold.

Hynes and secretary Catherine Kuwera have given out “about eight or 10 late detentions” this year, Hynes said.

If students continue to arrive late, the punishment is extended.

“A parent is called, and sometimes they have to do an after-school detention,” Hynes said.

Detentions cover other infractions, as well.

“Within the last semester of last year, I got detention for plagiarism,” said junior Jackson Pack of Asbury Park.

“I got my detention in October for acting inappropriately in Ms. Crelin’s class,” Schade said.

Students have a range of opinions on the current CHS detention policy.

“It’s fair enough. They don’t

ROVING

REPORTER

give detentions out lightly,” Pack said.

Sophomore Anabel Ferraro of Manasquan disagreed.

“A teacher once told me that it’s better to miss a whole day of school than go in late, or else you could get a detention,” Ferraro said.

Junior Alyssa Rasp of Hazlet agreed with the policies overall.

“I think they do have a fair policy, however, I feel like for being late, if it’s only twice and only for a couple of minutes, I don’t think you should get a detention,” Rasp said.

While there are many ways to receive punishment for disciplinary action, according to the student handbook, tardiness, disruptive behavior and plagiarism are common routes a student can take to be involved in a detention.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ISABELLA CARMONA-RAMIREZ

The freshman’s family is close to their Colombian roots.

Carmona-Ramirez uses her Colombian roots in Spanish III

By EVAN KUO Only one language is offered here so every student takes Spanish class. For freshman Isabella Carmona-Ramirez of Long Branch, it’s second nature.

As a native speaker, Carmona-Ramirez is the only freshman amongst a sea of juniors in her Spanish III class.

Spanish was her first language. She learned from her mother, a native of Colombia, as well as by reading small Spanish books. It wasn’t until Carmona-Ramirez started school that she began to learn English.

“We kind of had to figure it out ourselves,” she said.

At home, she always speaks Spanish with her mother, but keeps conversations with her older brother, in English, who was already fluent by the time she was born.

“He helped me learn, since my mother knew only a bit of English to just get around,” she said.

Her parents both moved to the United States from Colombia before she was born. At home, aspects of her cultural roots are evident. She usually eats traditional Colombian foods, including lentils, arepas and empanadas.

When asked what her daily diet is like, Carmona-Ramirez ardently replied, “Oh my god, rice and beans every day.”

She has been to Colombia multiple times, the first when she was only two months old, and the most recent visit during the past summer.

When Carmona-Ramirez took the placement test for Spanish II last May, she was wary of trying for Spanish III despite encouragement from her mother. Then, after a conversation with Spanish teacher Karen Britto, she decided to apply.

Carmona-Ramirez is now a lone freshman in a class of juniors taught by Spanish teacher Gail Plumeri.

“They’re all really sweet but I don’t really fit in anywhere, though it’s not their fault,” she said.

Given the choice, however, she said that she would still remain in the same class.

Though Carmona-Ramirez would not consider the course super easy, she considers her language to be a distinct advantage.

“When I have a huge exam, I can just brush by and not worry about it,” she said.

What are your biggest goals for 2018?

Freshman Vivianna Varlack of Manalapan

Sophomore Tess Rempel of Spring Lake

Junior Connor Martin of Spring Lake

Senior Brandon Kalika of Middletown

“Make more time for reading.”

“I’d like to do well in school and join more extracurriculars.”

“Get my EMT certification.”

“Basically do better in school and to also make forever-lasting friendships with friends at Communications High School.”

INTERVIEWS BY JACQUELINE GELLER BLOT PHOTOS BY ALYSSA RASP

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the inkblot january 12, 2018

Volunteers find happiness by helping others

Service opportunities abound both in and outside of school

By ERIN BRADY People volunteer for many reasons. Many do it to benefit others. Volunteers help those around them, to support people in need and to offer assistance to those who need it.

Freshman Emma Barofsky of Ocean Township goes to the house of an autistic child every week with one of her friends.

They play games and read books to him. Barofsky says that helping this little boy makes her feel like she has accomplished something by affecting the life of someone else in a positive way.

“Helping someone and making them happy makes me happy too,” Barofsky said.

Inspiration for volunteering often comes with wanting to make a difference. For this reason, students often choose to volunteer for a cause that matters to them. Many enjoy one-on-one interactions, such as Barofsky, while others volunteer in a group setting.

For Spanish teacher Sabina Campbell, the love

BLOT PHOTO BY LAUREN DEFELICE

Juniors Sidney Washington and Sabrina Gao share a blanket while volunteering together with the Cultural Communications Club.

of helping others prompted her to create CHS’s Cultural Communications Club (CCC) in 2004. Before then, the CCC was a multicultural club that met about once a month. After the multicultural club advisor

retired, Campbell stepped in and made the club more community-oriented.

When asked why she decided to make this choice, Campbell replied, “There is nothing more valuable for a young person than to learn

Students spill school lunch habits

BLOT PHOTO BY MARISSA HO

Students have many options when buying lunch, from hot meals to pre-made salads.

By EMMA BAROFSKY Junior Clare Toman of Spring Lake Heights clicks “snooze” on a deafening alarm clock each morning. She has a tight morning schedule during the school week and typically does not save time to make her own lunch, along with many other students at CHS. Some are able to fit this into their morning routine, while others rush out the door and rely on school lunches.

According to the School Nutrition Association, more than 30.4 million children wait their turn on school lunch lines each day, and others bring their own lunch.

Whether it has to do with a busy morning or food preference, there are many reasons why students decide to either buy or bring lunch.

Toman said she buys her lunch every day because she wakes up “too late in the morning.” The restricted time makes it hard for her to pack her own food.

“I get a bagel, apple and a Snapple [from school] every day,” Toman said.

Freshman Lynne Walenjus of Wall brings her lunch every day.

“I choose to bring my lunch because I don’t like standing on line for

lunch every day,” Walenjus said. “My mom usually packs me a sandwich and water… If my mom was unable to pack my lunch one day, I would consider buying from school.”

Senior Rachel Wolson of Bradley Beach brings a lunch to school every single day, but sometimes she will pay for additional food.

“Sometimes if I know that there’s pizza or smiley fries, I want some so I buy it anyway because I love food,” Wolson said.

The cafeteria staff take the students’ preferences into consideration when they decide what to cook.

“Every month, we come up with a menu and we try to pick things that are favorites to the kids. If there are foods that students tell us they like, we try to include it in our menu,” said cafeteria worker Lorraine (whose first name would like to be kept anonymous).

Students like Toman do not have time to pack a lunch. Others, such as Walenjus, do not like to wait on the long lunch line. Clicking “snooze” on a deafening alarm clock may work for those who buy lunch at school but definitely not for students who need the time to pack for themselves.

to share your time, talent and kindness with people in need in your community.”

Senior Maura DeRose of Middletown became involved with the CCC during her sophomore year

at CHS. She wanted to volunteer for the Lakewood Head Start Program and the Special Olympics bowling competition.

“Senora Campbell encouraged me to run for council and the next year

I was responsible for our involvement in the Special Olympics,” DeRose said.

DeRose attended a Montessori school from pre-kindergarten until third grade. There, she volunteered for her local soup kitchen weekly. In middle school, she organized both a caroling trip for the choir and a toy drive during the holiday season. DeRose brought this love of volunteering with her to CHS and continues her charitable work here.

There are plentiful ways that a voulunteer’s work affects the lives of others.

In 2009, senior Felicia Aschettino of West Long Branch and her family experienced a house fire. The Red Cross helped Aschettino and her family greatly during a difficult time in their lives. This motivated her to volunteer her time to others.

“Volunteering has greatly affected my life and it truly has helped shape who I am as a person, as I have learned how fortunate I am to live the lifestyle I do,” Aschettino said.

Handling hometown friends:

Students keep in touch despite distance

By AINSLEY VETTER For most incoming freshmen and Design Academy students, CHS brings a brand new group of unfamiliar faces - but students must often leave behind hometown friends in the process. Attending CHS causes many students to grow apart from their hometown friends.

Students said that not seeing those friends daily has hurt their friendships.

“Some of the people I was best friends with back then, I don’t really talk to anymore. I am still friends with them, but I’m closer with people here,” sophomore Maeve Miller of Brielle said.

Some students keep in touch with their home-

town friends through sports and other school activities at their home high school.

Design Academy student and senior Tara Sullivan of Howell stays in touch with hometown friends through color guard.

“I do color guard at my home school... I actually went to my home school for two years and then I came here for two years,” Sullivan said. “I’m the color guard captain there, so I have a lot of friends in marching band and in color guard.”

Leaving hometown friends can be a deciding factor of whether or not to attend a MCVSD school for some students such as

freshman Brigid McCarthy of Manasquan.

“Hometown friends were definitely a really important part of my decision of almost not going to CHS because my best friend goes to another school and I’ve never had to go somewhere else without her,” McCarthy said.

At first, coming to CHS can seem like a brand new world of unfamiliar faces. Despite this, attending CHS broadens students’ horizons to friendships all throughout Monmouth County.

Sophomore Sally Ehlers of Little Silver said, “I miss my home school but I’ve made a lot of new friends here at CHS.”

BLOT GRAPHIC BY EMME LEONG Survey of 144 students from Dec. 12, 2017 to Dec. 15, 2017.

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the inkblot january 12, 2018

Dickenson, Gill face off in field hockey, maintain friendship

By MIA GALLO Friendly competition takes on a different meaning from the halls of CHS to the field, court or pool.

CHS students hail from 64 different towns in Monmouth County, so they tend to face off against each other in sporting events while playing for their home high schools.

Juniors and field hockey players Kate Dickenson of Spring Lake Heights and Kiera Gill of Wall play for Manasquan and Wall High School, respectively. Although Dickenson and Gill describe themselves as best friends, the two home schools have a longstanding rivalry.

The pair are technically rivals on the field, but they said they always root for each other. If either one of them makes a mistake during the game, the other is quick to offer some positive feedback to lift her up.

“Last season in my game against Manasquan I made a silly mistake and Kate could see that I was frustrated with myself, so she said, ‘You got it, Kiera. You’re doing great,’

and it was really good to hear that because in that moment I needed a boost,” Gill said.

The match-ups between their teams are very intense and happen quite often, giving the girls time to learn how to deal with the faceoffs.

“We played each other twice this season since we were in the same division,” Dickenson said.

The girls don’t let the tension between their teams go to their heads.

“There is competition, of course, but in the end of a hard game we know that we both gave it our all regardless of the outcome, and we are able to joke about it,” Gill said.

Both girls want to play field hockey in college and agree that being able to share stories about their experiences with recruiting makes the process less stressful. They said that either keeping the rivalry or being teammates in college would be great for their friendship.

“It would be really funny to be rivals yet again,” Dickenson said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KIERA GILL Best friends Dickenson, far left, and Gill, third from left, play for opposing teams during a game.

Do colleges value athletic achievements over academics?

BLOT GRAPHIC BY EBENEEZER SHIM Survey of 138 students from Dec. 12 to Dec. 15, 2017.

By MEREDITH PRUD’HOMME 60 percent of the University of North Carolina’s football and basketball players read below the eighth grade level, and 8 to 10 percent read at or below a third grade level, according to the Huffington Post.

This statistic begs the question of whether colleges value athletic accomplishments more than academics when choosing which students to admit and how much scholarship money to offer.

Senior Skye Howes of Allentown verbally committed to Franklin & Marshall College for Division III swimming, and said she believes colleges look for a balance in academics and athleticism.

“Colleges value both; if they can get a smart varsity athlete it’s a done deal.

Well-rounded students are the best applicants,” Howes said.

Howes values academics and looked for schools that meet her drive to succeed outside of her career in swimming.

“I am using my swimming just to get into schools that match my competitive academic drive,” Howes said.

Senior Marie Schobel of Manasquan committed to Pennsylvania State University this fall for Division I swimming and believes that swimming has opened doors for her.

“During the college decision, athletics is more important. Because of my athletic ability I was able to go to more academic schools, and coaches can push my application. Once I’m there, academics are far more important than athletics,” Schobel said.

Junior and field hockey player Kiera Gill of Wall plans to apply to colleges next fall.

She thinks that although the situation differs for each ath-

lete, coaches do take academics into account along with athletics.

“Most coaches like to know [an athlete’s] test scores before they scout them athletically. However, I also believe that, depending on how big the school is and how oriented it is around sports, coaches could be less focused on grades and test scores and more interested in the amazing athlete.”

Guidance counselor Sandra Gidos is familiar with the college application process.

She said that she believes that academics are key to getting into college when athletes want to apply.

“I don’t think they value one over the other. I think you need to meet certain criteria of the academics in order to also be in that college,” Gidos said.

“Showing that you are an overall involved student is important.”

Wolson skis slopes, makes fond memories while earning money Athletes are picky eaters Student turns her passion into a paycheck

By LUKE SASSA She loves to spend her time making memories in a setting filled with pale, powdery terrain, but it is not the setting you would expect for a resident of Bradley Beach. No, senior Rachel Wolson does not plant herself on the beach. She sticks to the ski slopes.

“I was probably 2 or 3 [years-old] when I first started the baby lessons. My mom was a skier her entire life, and she has a ski condo in Vermont. She got me started as young as possible,” Wolson said.

Not only has she skied for a long time, it also takes a long time for Wolson to travel to where she has grown up skiing: Mount Snow, Vermont. A typical drive to the mountain takes nearly five hours, but this does not deter Wolson, who takes the trek just about every weekend from Thanksgiving until the end of March.

It is during these lengthy rides that Wolson catches up with her mother about life, completes any written homework and jams out with her mother to music by, as she says, “the OLD Taylor Swift!”

Due to the frequency in which Wolson skis, by her freshman year, she had gained

enough knowledge and skills to become a ski instructor.

“My first two years I was an assistant. I helped out with the lessons but wasn’t really leading the lessons. Once you turn 16 you become a pro, and [those instructors] lead the lessons, so now I do that.”

“Leading the lessons” entails teaching different skiing techniques and methods to children from ages 4 to 6 to improve their performance and ability.

“There are seven different colors based on difficulties. I teach red and yellow. I would say yellow is probably the most difficult level because you’re teaching the kids to turn. You have to come up with many different analogies to teach the kids how to turn, but it’s really rewarding to help the kids.”

Even though she doesn’t ski competitively, Wolson constantly feels rewarded by being a skier. She has even gained such an affinity for Vermont that her top college is the University of Vermont.

“My favorite part about skiing is probably being outside in the fresh air because I’m getting exercise and staying healthy while doing something I love.”

For more from our sports writers, visit our website www.theinkblotnews.com

to improve performance

By MICHAEL RAU Whether in the professional leagues or on high school teams, some athletes eat a variety of foods to keep themselves in shape for their seasons, while others adhere to no diet at all.

Professional baseball player Dominic Smith, first baseman for the New York Mets, diets to lose weight. He lost 21 pounds this past winter by eating healthier food like brown rice, broccoli and chicken instead of the hamburgers and Mexican food that he ate before on a daily basis, he told Newsday.

Student athletes also follow certain guidelines when it comes to what they eat.

Junior Lauren Arnao of Tinton Falls, a soccer player, said that she diets by eating a variety of foods like protein, carbs, fruits and vegetables throughout her season.

Arnao said she diets because, “If you put good food into your body, then your performance will be better on and off the field.”

Junior and field hockey player Kiera Gill of Wall doesn’t follow a strict diet, but said she watches what she eats, especially during the season.

“If I need a snack, instead of eating a bag of chips, I’ll eat a protein bar,” Gill said.

In addition, there’s a fair percentage of CHS athletes who don’t follow a diet whatsoever. Freshman Michael LaRocca of Middletown tried to diet when he was younger, but then realized how hard it was to watch what he ate all the time and decided not to diet anymore. He said that when he was dieting, he found that he ate too much, so he gave up. “It was just too much work to diet,” he said.

Sophomore and senior soccer players Robert Murphy of Wall and Ronan Leahy of Colts Neck, respectively, said that they don’t follow diets.

“Honestly, I just eat regular food,” Murphy said. Leahy agreed. “I pretty much just eat whatever I want,” he said.

Students diet in a variety of ways. Even though they diet differently, they do what they think is necessary for them to succeed in each of their respective sports.

6

the inkblot january 12, 2018

Shop ‘Til We Drop The transformation of consumer culture in america Within CHS of 145 responses

- HOW STUDENTS SHOP Survey of 145 students from dec. 12 to dec. 15, 2017

15%

By ALLIE BEEKMAN and KATE DICKENSON Over the past few decades, consumer culture in America has changed greatly, especially among teenagers, who now prefer shopping online and are spending more money than ever.

A study conducted by the Pew Research Center in Dec. 2016 found that approximately eight in every 10 Americans shop online. In contrast, a Pew survey in 2000 ] found that only 22 percent of Americans reported that they shopped online.

The preference of online shopping over in-store has increased even more in teens, according to another survey from Business Insider. In the past five years, the number of teenagers that prefer online shopping grew by seven percent.

However, only 17 percent of those teens said that they prefered online shopping.

The majority, including junior Greer Shanley of Rumson, still prefer in store shopping.

“I go to actual stores more often,” Shanley said. “It’s difficult for me to buy clothes online, for the sole reason that I don’t know how it will fit because of my height.”

A study by Statistics Brain in September 2017 found that over $264 billion was spent by or for teenagers, thus making this demographic a crucial part of the consumer market. Whether its online or in-store, 79 percent of teenage girls identified shopping as one of their hobbies and activities according to the same study.

Junior Mia Gallo of Aberdeen supports these statistics.

“Unfortunately I am a self diagnosed shopaholic so I’m always spending,” said Gallo. “Whether it’s dinner with friends or something quick like Starbucks before school, I always find myself splurging on myself.”

A study by the National Retail Federation showed that about a quarter of consumers plan to spend more money than last year. Half of these consumers are part of Generation Z or Millennials.

However, both Shanley and Gallo hope to spend less and be more responsible with their money.

“I think that in the future, I will learn to be more responsible with what I spend my money on and how much I allow myself to spend,” Shanley said.

As consumer culture continues to develop, Forbes predicts stores will stop being strictly online or offline, meaning more and more businesses will operate as both online and in-store retailers.

Forbes writer Steve Dennis, who attended Shop.org, an annual conference focused on digital commerce, was suprised by speakers stressing in-store customer service experience and online/offline integration.

“What struck me most … was that speakers mostly ignored online shopping as a stand-alone concept,” Dennis said. “Instead, many emphasized the importance of brick-and-mortar stores in delivering a remarkable customer experience. Moreover, the majority of technology providers in the expo offered solutions that were very much anchored in online/offline integration.”

Despite recent trends changing consumer culture for teens, the common goal of helping them shop for the items they want still remains. Whether it’s at the mall or online, teens will still have the option of spending as much as they want.

“Whether it’s dinner with friends or something quick... I always find myself splurging on myself.”

of students had shopped on Amazon at least once in the previous day

5%

of Students have never shopped online before

34

Students had visited and shopped at a mall in the past week

107

1.

The Current Consumers

Students shop online at least once a month

2/3 of

America’s Gross Domestic Product comes from retail consumption*

the inkblot january 12, 2018

The Fall of Our Malls

2.

By HANNAH ARBEITEL and KAITLYN DELANEY Malls and retail stores are struggling to survive as a result of the increasing popularity of online shopping among modern consumers. Because of the rapidly growing digital landscape, physical storefronts have to compete with new online platforms.

But, the battle has not been kind to malls. From 2010 to visits to malls in America declined by 50 percent, according to The

2013 alone, Atlantic.

In 2017, 8,600 stores were scheduled to close compared to the 6,200 stores that closed in 2008, according to CNN. CNN also predicted that 20 to 25 percent of all malls in America will close by 2022.

The decrease in mall visits is observable among students and faculty members at CHS, including history teacher Tom Ross .

“I rarely go to malls at all. I rarely go to retail stores except for groceries,” Ross said.

Instead, he prefers to shop online and utilize customer reviews, allowing him to be more “informed” about his purchases. Sites such as Amazon have “fundamentally changed purchasing items,” Ross said.

Ross is not the only one who feels this way. According to The Atlantic, e-commerce sites such as Amazon provide a better alternative to visiting malls, with easy return policies that make shopping convenient, risk-free, affordable and simple.

However, online shopping may not be the only reason for a decline in malls visits.

The Wall Street Journal attributes the main cause for the decline of malls over the past decade to newer shopping centers. Anchor store closures, such as Sears and Macy’s may also be another factor, according to Business Insider. These “anchor stores”, or main brand stores, play an extremely vital role as without them, it would be difficult for malls to stay profitable and attract visitors.

Retail brands and outlets also suffered along with malls across America.

In the first four months of 2017, there were nine retail closures, including the disbandment of Sports Authority and Payless filing for bankruptcy, according to The Atlantic. Stocks of stores such as Lululemon, Urban Outfitters and American Eagle also hit multi-year lows in April, 2017 while retailers such as J.C. Penney, RadioShack, Macy’s and Sears announced over 100 store closures by March, 2017.

In order to turn the tide, malls are seeking to exploit the advantage of having inperson experiences.

One tactic is adding new renovations. The Westchester Mall in White Plains, New York spent millions incorporating interactive learning with children, known as STEAM principles, in an indoor children’s daycare. The mall also created an outdoor terrace with flat screen televisions and device charging posts, according to NBC San Diego.

As a part of a modernization movement to stay relevant in the 21st century, some malls have created mobile apps to make parking and wifi better for customers. Many malls now offer fitness centers, grocery stores and medical centers.

Despite these changes, there might be some elements of malls that just may never go away, including the stress felt by visitors such as CHS freshman Anabell Mazzan.

“I see myself visiting them on occasion but I find that shopping in stores gives me too much anxiety,” said Mazzan. “It’s too stressful.”

But modernization of malls has kept them in the minds of younger generations, including CHS freshman Steven Ostrom.

“I do see myself continuing to shop at malls in the future because they’re a great and convenient way to shop for multiple things at once,” Ostrom said.

from 2010-13 visits to malls declined by

Out of Business

50%

2017 Retail Store Closures* Radio Shack Kmart Gamestop JCPenny Michael Kors

Sears Staples Macy’S

1430 stores 238 stores 150 stores 138 stores 125 stores 98 stores 70 stores 68 stores

3.

Shopping Goes Prime

By ISABELLA ANTOON and MEREDITH PRUD’HOMME

7

In the 21st century, Amazon has became the leading resource for online shoppers by reinventing itself from an obscure online bookstore to a household name with an annual revenue of over $61 billion.

While the concept of e-commerce existed in the early 1990s, it was the tech and retail entrepreneur Jeff Bezos who took it to another level, with the help of a steep down payment from his parents’ savings.

According to an article published by CNBC on Bezos, he first developed the concept of Amazon in 1993, when he drafted a list of the “Top Twenty Products” that consumers would want to purchase online. Because of their low cost and universal demand, the list mainly featured different kinds of books. As web usage rose in 1994, Bezos decided to take the risk and pitched the start-up to his parents, who quickly gave him their support.

“I told them that I thought there was a 70 percent chance that they would lose their whole investment, which was a few hundred thousand dollars,” Bezos said in an interview with the Academy of Achievement. “And they did it anyway.”

Bezos received an investment in 1995 of over $8 million from Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers, according to the New York Times. In 1997, Amazon went public in order to increase capital and, within two months, Amazon’s sales had reached $20,000 per week.

The growth of Amazon also increased the value of its shareholders, and The New York Times reported that an initial investment of $1,000 in 2002 would now be worth over $83,000 today.

Along with that, it was said that in comparison to a company like Walmart, the same initial investment would be worth just $2,250 today.

With its efficiency, low shipping prices and overall browsing experience, consumer sophomore Bella Reilly of Avon-by-the-Sea relies heavily on Amazon for her day-to-day purchases.

“I definitely prefer to buy things on Amazon over other websites because a lot of times Amazon has better d e a l s , ” Reilly said.

Junior K e l l y Forrester of Spring Lake Heights said that she and her family use Amazon daily. “ W e get at least one package delivered to our house every

“We get at least one package delivered to our house everyday because my family prefers it rather than going to the actual store,”

in 2016, global e-commerce sales totaled over $1.9 trillion

day because my family prefers it rather than going to the actual store,” Forrester said.

Igor Gorin, CEO of Astound Commerce, the world’s largest digital commerce agency, said that Amazon’s rise can be attributed to the fact that retailers can’t afford to stay off the platform.

“Amazon can be seen as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as the company is an online behemoth with more and more direct product lines and its own private label brands,” Gorin said.

As Amazon continues to grow, it also has the opportunity to shape the world of online shopping into something much bigger than it already is today.

Sophomore Jack McHugh of Manasquan believes that the company will continue to expand in the years to come.

“In the next five to 10 years I could see people relying on Amazon for everyday things like groceries,” Mchugh said, “It’s so much more convenient to have items show up at your door.”

With Amazon’s recent purchase of the company Whole Foods, customers may soon be able to purchase and receive groceries as packages at their doorsteps.

*Information and statistics not cited in the articles above are courtesy of Statista, N Channel, The Balance and Business Insider

8

the inkblot january 12, 2018

#MeToo movement exposes abusers, gives voice to victims

b

BLOT GRAPHIC

BY EMME LEONG

Political division builds tension in school, nation Nov. 9, 2016. Months of heated debate and speculation over the election culminated in one morning, a frenzy of students crying and friends consoling each other – or in sharp contrast – congratulating one another.

Few faces seemed cheerful or content. As an outsider looking in, it appeared a terrible tragedy occurred. But, the only tragedy that transpired on that chilly autumn day, which continues to this day, was the political disparity between CHS students.

The election of President Donald Trump produced tears and anger in some students, many of whom attended postelection rallies like the Women’s March or posted on social media in outrage in the following months. In fact, the hashtag #NotMyPresident is in over a million Instagram posts to date.

Other students came to school that day adorned in celebratory Trump gear, even wrapped in American flags. And it seemed like neither group could reconcile their feelings with the other. All year, tensions rose until social media erupted with heated debates, even fights, while Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump seemed to split CHS and the nation into two frustrated echo chambers: Democrats and Republicans.

If any shred of doubt exists regarding the divisive nature of our two-party system, just look to national approval ratings of Donald Trump between left and right wing voters.

In a poll by Quinnipiac University, results showed that 91 percent of Democrats disapproved of the president, while 80 percent of Republicans approved.

With the sharp contrast in political opinions at CHS and across the country, it’s difficult to imagine a healthy conversation between parties and beliefs. This political unrest has caused riots, like the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in August, protests and social media movements, like the March for Science and trending hashtags such as #Resist and #LoveTrumpsHate.

Almost a year after Trump’s inauguration, the dust still hasn’t settled among voters and government officials of opposing viewpoints. Trump continues to tweet purposefully provocative statements in all capital letters, protests continue on the streets and on the internet.

For the most part, CHS students certainly lack the most dangerous feeling toward politics: apathy. The excitement shown in our school over the election indicates that many of us will do our civic duty and vote for candidates we believe in, and even try our hands at politics ourselves. But no amount of complaining or yelling at our peers can mend the fractured relationship between the two major political parties in the United States.

We may not be able to wrap our minds around someone else’s beliefs, and that’s OK, they belong to that person alone. We don’t have to agree, but it would do us good to show some common courtesy. Passion and enthusiasm don’t need to be stifled in order to have a respectful and successful debate. Nobody has to be villainized because of their views. And friendships never have to be compromised over political disagreement.

We know that healthy relationships between different party members exist. Take Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the late Antonin Scalia. The two couldn’t have voted any differently. They opposed each other completely on the political spectrum, they were perfect foils. But despite their differences, Ginsburg and Scalia remained friends, often spending time together while off duty. If we take a page from their books, the political climate could change drastically. No, it wouldn’t magically resolve all of the problems we face, but it would make things a bit more bearable.

By TESS REMPEL Alyssa Milano broke her silence and spread awareness to make a monumental change in rape culture on Oct. 25, 2017 with one Twitter post.

“If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet,” Milano wrote.

Within 24 hours, both men and women replied with powerful statements about struggles with sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape over 650,000 times on Twitter and more than 12 million times on Facebook, according to CBS. “Being raped once made it easier to be raped again.

I instinctually shut down.

My body remembered, so it protected me... #metoo,” actress Evan Rachel Wood tweeted.

The power of the #MeToo movement exposed the astounding, unspoken sexual authority that men in positions of influence have over women in

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.

As scary as the accounts are, what’s worse is the realization that sexual harassment and assault are prevalent in both the entertainment industry and the entire world.

According to Aware.org, 54 percent of those in business have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace and 99 percent of women polled have been sexually harassed on the street. Rape culture is not only real but common.

Rape, sexual harassment and sexual abuse are not meant to be joked about. Listen to, validate and speak up for victims and yourself.

According to The Washington Post, only 6 to 13 percent of victims come forward.

Teach and understand gender equality to lessen sexism.

Most importantly, break the silence.

As Gwyneth Paltrow said to The New Yorker, “This way of treating women ends now.”

“Cuffing Season” ties students down

By LAUREN SPIEZIA As temperatures drop during the holiday season, people are in a rush to find the perfect cuddle buddy. This is the result of “cuffing season,” which Urban Dictionary defines as when “people who would normally rather be single or promiscuous find themselves, along with the rest of the world, desiring to be ‘cuffed’ or tied down by a serious relationship” during the winter months because they’re lonely.

A recent poll conducted by the dating app Hinge revealed that men are 15 percent more likely to be looking for a relationship during the winter compared to other seasons and women are 5 percent more apt. Cuffing season can be seen all over social media, from an influx of posts related to relationships to jokes about being one of the few people that are still single.

While cuffing season may seem entirely rooted in pop culture, there are scientific and psychological elements to its causes and popularity, which proves that it is both legitimate and supported by factual evidence.

The phenomenon of cuffing season can be linked to the concept of Darwinian evolution, the theory that the members of a species that best adapt to their environment will prevail. Through a Darwinist lens, this can be seen as a short-term mating strategy that can benefit both people in the relationship if they choose to follow it.

These principles, although from hundreds of years ago, can still be observed today. Some possible advantages of being “cuffed” can include physical warmth and companionship, which, according to a study done by psychologists John

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

Hollywood. It served to validate and publicize accusations of sexual abuse, rather than suppress or ridicule them.

Renowned American producer Harvey Weinstein is the perpetrator in up to 57 of these accusations, according to Entertainment Weekly. “‘What are you doing?’

[Emma de Caunes] asked.

Weinstein demanded that she lie on the bed like so many other women before her… it was like a hunter with a wild animal.”

The New Yorker reported.

Despite Weinstein’s denial of such accusations, online news site Reuters said that Weinstein’s production company fired him, political figures denounced him and his wife Georgina Chapman left him.

Harvey Weinstein is among the many celebrities to be accused of sexual misconduct Other well-known individuals accused include Kevin Spacey, Matt Lauer, Louis C.K., Ed Westwick and Nick Carter.

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.

BLOT GRAPHIC BY CONNOR MARTIN

Survey of 145 students from Dec.12 to Dec. 15, 2017

Bargh and Idit Shalev, can lead to an increase in psychological warmth, or a feeling of happiness.

Also, this can reduce any social pressures from family or friends to be in a relationship. All of these can, in turn, improve a person’s mental health and wellbeing and better equip them to survive the harsh winter climate.

Wendy Walsh, a clinical psychologist, reported to MTV News that “[Cuffing season] has happened in our evolutionary history every time the days get darker. We’re walking around in DNA that’s hundreds of thousands of years old. In our anthropological past, there was less food and resources available, and hunter-gatherers’ survival happened better if ... you were coupled up.”

As humans have progressed from huntergatherer groups to members of modern society, cuffing season has modernized as well, but remains the same at its core. In other words, the phrase “survival of the fittest” has become “survival of the cuffed.”

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 january 12, 2018

College apps continue through holiday season Nearly half of the senior class must use winter break to work, forego relaxation

By CAROLINE MONAGHAN ‘Tis the season for candy canes, gift-giving, flavored lattes and college applications. College applications are another part of a process that supports a multi-million dollar business: higher education. They’re as integral to the holiday season as strung lights.

According to the University Language Services, most regular decision college applications are due between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1. This means that come winter break, students looking to apply for regular decision have a little over a month to finalize their applications.

In an online school survey from Dec. 12 to Dec. 15, about 44 percent of the senior class plan on spending their time during holiday break to work on college applications. Albeit necessary, this is yet another stressor that contributes to a month filled with pressure.

The American Psychological Association reports that 38 percent of people in the United States are more susceptible to higher stress

levels during the holidays. This stress, in combination with many daunting college applications, creates a recipe for anxiety in seniors during winter break.

Though students are familiar with this anxiety already, New York University reported that 49 percent of high school students feel stress on a daily basis, with college preparation cited as the greatest source.

Despite this evident stress, working on college applications is still strongly encouraged during the holidays. Once the school’s regular admission deadline is up, one’s options for applying are limited to rolling admission. That is the the problem with the vicious cycle of holidays, stress and college admissions: there’s little one can do to avoid it.

Managing to succeed in the balancing act between college applications and holiday stress is a present on its own, and many high school seniors choose to do just that exactly.

BLOT GRAPHIC BY AMELIA JOHNSON Survey of 43 seniors from Dec 12 to Dec. 15, 2017

High school stereotypes in media hurt teens

By SALLY EHLERS The stereotypical portrayal of American high schoolers in media is a problem. This very unrealistic ideas of teenage behavior, both cliques and physical characteristics that our modern society accepts are hurting teenagers.

A Psychology Today article explains how parents react to teen behavior. Parents expect teen behavior portrayed in media: acting out, breaking curfew, sleeping in, or losing all interest and motivation in school, partying and drinking. According to a Science Daily article about teen misbehavior, stereotypes can become an excuse for poor decision-making because the media commonly portrays it as a normal teenage characteristic.

In high school there are the standard cliques. “The Breakfast Club” represents each clique with a different character: the criminal, the athlete, the basket case, the princess and the brain. At first glance, cliques in high school don’t seem like a problem, but there is a very

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS The cast of “Riverdale” embodies high schooler stereotypes.

obvious snag to them.

According to ABC News, counselor and violence prevention consultant Jay Bass said, “The downside is that there are some groups that are valued more highly than others … those who cannot fit into these groups are somewhat disenfranchised.”

Students left out of a group may feel that

they don’t have power in high school politics.

The media also sets beauty standards that are practically impossible for the average high schooler to achieve. Girls seem to have tons of makeup, perfect facial features, a thin figure and flawless hair, while boys have abs, perfect hair and a tall stature.

Many of these standards can only be met by adults, as high schoolers are often not fully physically developed. The majority of actors that play high school students are in their twenties. Some examples include “Riverdale’s” Jughead Jones, played by 25-year-old actor Cole Sprouse, and Olivia Newton John, who was 28 years-old when she played Sandy in “Grease.”

These unrealistic depictions of teenage behavior, cliques and physical characteristics in media negatively affect teens. In order to combat this, take full control of your high school years and make them into a movie that you want to live in, not one that society and the media want you to simply conform to.

Health insurance companies must provide birth control

By MARIA MAROKO Whether birth control should be provided to women by health insurers has been a point of great controversy. It is clear that birth control is in fact essential to women’s health, and that it should therefore be universally provided to whomever requires it.

According to BBC News, many people that oppose birth control

argue that it encourages sexual promiscuity. They also argue that it should not be seen or regarded as a part of women’s health, arguing that sex must take place in order for it to be useful.

There are numerous other benefits to birth control besides preventing pregnancy. According to WebMD, birth control can help diminish painful menstruation

cramps and migraines. It can also help with symptoms of Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) by making periods more regular. Also, it can decrease the risk of endometrial cancer if taken regularly.

More than half of Viagra prescriptions are actually covered by insurance, while many women have to pay for birth control outof-pocket, according to ABC news.

Both birth control and Viagra are related to sexual issues, but on the other hand, the one men use is considered essential to personal health by insurers.

Despite what oppposers claim, there are uses to birth control, and it should be covered by health insurance providers because it is indeed medically necessary to a woman’s health.

10 Summer 2018 signifies the end of Warped Tour

the inkblot january 12, 2018

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINE MONAGHAN

A crowd formed around singer Garrett Russell of Silent Planet at Warped Tour 2017. The music festival’s last run will be in 2018, after its founder Kevin Lyman announced that the tour would come to an end.

By KHUSHI KADAKIA Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman announced to Twitter followers on Wednesday, Nov. 15 that Warped Tour’s 24th run next summer will be its last.

Lyman is ending the tour because he recently found it difficult to compete with other music festivals, according to Spin.com.

He noted that ticket sales have declined and the average age demographic of the tour has jumped from 16 to 19 years old in the past few years. He also stated that he feels tired, since he has been on the road for the past 26 summers.

Many past attendees are sorry to say goodbye to the tour, such as junior Jackie Siminerio of Manalapan, who

went to Warped Tour twice.

“Some bands I liked were Neck Deep, Tonight Alive, Real Friends… It was a good time. The crowds and the mosh pits get pretty intense, but it’s nice being around people who have the same interests as you… I was planning on going [next year] so that’s kind of upsetting to me,” Siminerio said.

Junior Amanda Lavery of Marlboro, on the other hand, attended Warped Tour four times and is happy that the tour is ending.

“I liked it more before… I was kind of bored of it. Personally, the artists I’m interested in, not as many have been playing Warped Tour recently,” Lavery said.

Warped Tour has traveled across North America ev-

ery summer since 1995, primarily showcasing pop-punk, pop and rap artists and bands. It kickstarted the careers of musicians such as Katy Perry, Eminem, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Blink-182.

Although 2018 will be the last year of Warped Tour, Lyman announced that there will be a commemoration for the tour’s 25th anniversary in 2019.

Musicians that got their start at Warped Tour will likely be re-invited for the tour’s final year.

Lavery plans on attending the tour’s last year, and she hopes for exactly that.

“Maybe because it’s the last year, they’ll have some better bands this time to celebrate… I don’t know yet, but we can hope,” Lavery said.

MoMA puts first fashion exhibit in 70 years on display with Paola Antonelli, asking question “Is Fashion Modern?”

By JULIA DWIGHT After 70 years, the Museum of Modern Art is re-entering the fashion world with its exhibition “Items: Is Fashion Modern?” designed by senior curator Paola Antonelli.

The installation, which the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) visited on Nov. 21, is the second of its kind in the museum’s history, with the title paying homage to its predecessor, “Are Clothes Modern?” said Alexandra Lange of The New Yorker.

The exhibition includes 111 pieces that showcase decades of evolution in fashion.

Visitors can find everything from a 1940s zoot suit to futuristic plastic headpieces by Anne van Galen for her “Warriors of Downpour City” collection.

The exhibit also features examples of recent innovation in fashion, such as designer Richard Nicoll’s collaboration with Studio XO, an optic slip dress with LED strands.

NAHS member and senior Katie Gibson of Wall, who attended the NAHS trip to the MoMA, enjoyed the variety of fashion pieces.

“The exhibit completely exceeded my expectations,” Gibson said. “It was so large and diverse and had every type of clothing you could think of.”

BLOT PHOTO BY AMELIA JOHNSON The National Art Honors Society visited the Museum of Modern Art this year on a field trip, and were able to view the new fashion exhibit on display. Pictured are two of Paola Antonelli’s designs for the piece.

In sharp contrast to the haute couture-centered Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which NAHS visited last year, the MoMA show also includes everyday wearable objects.

These items, like a Hanes T-shirt and a surgical mask, appeared throughout the gallery. Many were common items that represent a period of American culture, such as a pair of original Converse sneakers.

Senior Michelle Etienne of Avon-bythe-Sea did not agree with the inclusion of these ordinary pieces.

“There were some things in there that I didn’t expect to see,” Etienne said. “Like a regular Champion jacket. Some of them just weren’t creative.”

The exhibition offered a wide range of both couture and everyday items spanning a century of American design.

Featuring both culturally significant and technologically advanced pieces, visitors will find something unexpected around every corner.

“Items: Is Fashion Modern?” runs through Jan. 28, 2018 at the MoMA in Manhattan.

11

the inkblot january 12, 2018

Students give back to community by creating art

By SARAH McNEY On a hot July afternoon, Sebrina Gao painted the final brushstrokes on a wall. The project, a floor-to-ceiling mural of colorful zoo animals for the Lakewood Head Start branch, is the culmination of 164 hours of work.

Art serves many purposes, from communicating an idea to evoking an emotion. It can also strengthen communities. Whether it’s through murals or portraits, many CHS students use their artistic talents to give back to the community.

The Cultural Communications Club (CCC) works closely with the New Jersey Head Start program, a federal program that “promotes the school readiness of children from birth to age five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development,” according to Benefits.gov.Head Start recently opened a second location in Lakewood and asked the CCC to paint a mural, said junior and CCC council member Sebrina Gao of Freehold.

“The building was pretty empty so they wanted us to paint something to make the environment more welcoming,” Gao said.

Over the summer, Gao and nine other CCC volunteers painted a 7-by-36 foot mural. The project took over a month to complete.

CCC volunteers were also asked to paint street art for Better Block Asbury Park this year, a festival that celebrates community.

Freshman Meg Ellis of Freehold was one of five volunteers involved with the project. She said the event helped to bring the community together.

“There were plenty of people that weren’t from CHS who helped with making the design,” Ellis said. “I loved seeing everyone get together to make something truly beautiful.”

Every year, Illustration and Design students participate in The Memory Project, a program that sends portraits to children in poverty around the world. Each student in the class draws a portrait of a child based on a photograph, which the charity then sends to the child along with a monetary donation, said art teacher Shelley Ortner.

“A lot of times the money goes to a community center that benefits kids as far as having playgrounds and organized activities,” Ortner said. “It’s a really great program.”

Junior Ally Weitzman of Marlboro drew a portrait of a 9-year-old Syrian refugee for The Memory Project.

“This project was different than the rest. It felt more important,” Weitzman said. “These kids are a lot less fortunate than us and to them this will be a meaningful keepsake to document their childhood.”

Art such as murals plays a key role in fostering stronger and more connected communities. According to a 2016 poll by the Toronto Arts Foundation, 87 percent of those surveyed said that art positively impacted their neighborhood.

Along with beautifying cities, public art can create opportunities for conversation and increase understanding of historically underrepresented groups, according to the Americans For the Arts organization. “[Art] is something universally understood, and it

can bring people closer,” Gao said. “I aim to inspire others and I hope to make others happy through art.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN DEFELICE

Students Nicole Molnar and Sebrina Gao were two of nine volunteers who painted a mural for Head Start

Artists create in face of tragedy Art of all kinds can help people through coping process after harrowing events

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Rachel Brosnahan, who plays the title role of Miriam “Midge” Maisel, shines as a jilted 1950s housewife and aspiring comidienne.

“The Marvelous Mrs.Maisel”puts spotlight on women in comedy

By VERONICA YARON My entire life I have never been able to stand comedies; anything involving slapstick humor or something painfully embarrassing makes me cringe in my seat. For years, I avoided watching anything labeled funny, and it was only due to extreme procrastination that I originally started watching “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” on Amazon Prime.

For the first time in my life, a show had me howling, red-faced and near tears.

From the creator of “Gilmore Girls,” Amy Sherman-Palladino, comes the story of Miriam “Midge” Maisel, played by Rachel Brosnahan, a stereotypical 1950s Jewish housewife living in New York’s Upper West Side. Her life seems truly perfect: the perfect husband, the perfect children, an elegant apartment and she just got the Rabbi to come to Yom Kippur.

Midge goes out of her way to play the supportive wife to Joel (Michael Zegen), a businessman trying to make it as a comedian by playing shows in the hip Greenwich Village, shows that Midge helps him land.

Yet, her life falls apart when she realizes her husband is not the comedic genius she believed and has been stealing others’ work for years. After a particularly bad performance, Joel admits to her that he has been having an affair with his secretary and is leaving her.

Just like that, her perfect bubble is popped and she finds herself on stage drunk in her nightgown performing an outrageously vulgar and hilarious bit about being a spurned housewife. It is then that her life takes a turn for the better as she discovers her previously unknown talent of being a stand-up comedienne, taking the clubs of Greenwich Village by storm.

Even in 2017, women struggle to be seen as funny, but the upbeat drama fights back at the stereotype by producing the unfiltered and witty Midge. While she comfortably fits into the stereotype of a housewife, she also has quite the mouth on her that continuously delivers sharp one-liners and gets her arrested for obscenity.

The stark contrast between the bright glamour of the 1950s Upper West Side and gritty club life demonstrates Midge’s flexibility to work any crowd. Not only is the series genuinely funny, it is empowering to watch a woman get behind a mic and see her not just wow her on-screen crowd, but wow the real-life viewers as well.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

The 9/11 memorial in New York City features the names of the people who lost their lives in the tragic World Trade Center attacks.

By MICHAEL LANDOLFI Whether they be bombings, earthquakes, mass shootings or hurricanes, large-scale tragedies are inescapable in the present day. This awareness can cause intense stress in people, whether they’re personally affected or they simply hear about these events on the news. Every time a tragedy is reported, it brings with it sensational headlines, incensed political debates and endless blame games. With this pattern in dealing with tragedies, people may not know where to turn.

Many would argue that the best way to handle tragedies is through art. Be it tributes to those lost, art therapy sessions or simply artists reacting to these events, these solutions have been popular for quite some time; it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that it’s rooted in the common idea that the best art comes from pain.

“Artists are the observers of our culture,” says Brooke Seidelmann, co-director of ths 9/11 Arts Project.

Seidelmann’s project and gallery is a collaboration between numerous collections to hold events such as art and literature displays, galleries, concerts, movie showings and more, according to the Washington Post. The art shown is all related to both the grief felt after 9/11 as

well as the nation’s aftermath of paranoia and security.

While the aforementioned project is meant as a way to help healing on a large scale, that’s not to say that art can’t help heal on smaller scales either.

“I think that art is a valuable way to help people heal and to let them know that what they are feeling doesn’t isolate them, because other people feel that too,” said senior Kyle Galvin of Middletown. Galvin also voiced his support of art projects such as public memorials and charity singles.

“I have personally used art to portray emotions whether negative or positive and I believe my best work comes from a passionate background,” said sophomore Jill Tracy of Belmar. Tracy said art can also be used to represent one’s emotions and send a message to others.

It’s entirely possible that humanity will never grasp the full scope of creative expression, and how it relates to suffering.

But one thing shown is that sculptures, paintings, songs, books and more continually demonstrate their use as a reaction to the world.

The simple act of expressing oneself helps many to heal on levels ranging from personal to worldwide, and will likely continue to do so for a long time.

42 Number of bills signed

by President Trump according to whitehouse.gov

Junior Will Dean of Middletown “Overall, I think Trump is sort of a mixed bag. A metaphor I’ve heard is ‘he’s a hammer in search of a nail’. Sometime he hits a nail, sometimes he hits a kitten. But, overall, I think he’s kept most of his promises. I don’t want to say he promised things he couldn’t fulfill, but there are certain things that are out of his hands. . . People just feel better, and that’s why I think the economy is booming.”

Senior Caroline Savage of Brielle “He’s been largely ineffective, and what he does manage to get done is generally rooted in either bigoted ideals or complete reversal of previously helpful policies. I also think he’s been completely disrespectful to the office of president and he’s embarrassed our country by tweeting erratically and throwing all decency and diplomacy to the wind. I think people are starting to realise that . . .this is our reality.”

39% Trump’s average approval rating as of Jan. 2018 according to Gallup News

Junior James Krall of Middletown “I think he’s done a great job so far, and the economy is booming, stock markets hitting record highs, and unemployment decreasing rapidly. . .

My reaction to those opposed to him is to look at the economy . . . you may not agree with his politics, it’s irrational to say he’s done a bad job so far due to how the economy is growing and the fact that he’s keeping his campaign promises.”

Senior Matt Avena of Middletown “ I think people on both sides, whether the people that were scared thought a lot was going to happen, the people who supported him thought a lot was going to happen, and there hasn’t really been any big policy changes and there hasn’t been any big votes that have gone through yet, so not much has changed. . . I don’t think that year two will be better. I hope for the sake of our country that it is.”