March2007

BuccaneerBulletin Volume 10 Number 5 March 2007

Bulletins Students Pay the Price For School Absences

Recently several California school districts passed a policy which bills parents for every day their kid is out of school due to a vacation. The district says that when students miss school, they lose state aid, so in a way to discourage parents from taking their kids out of school, the districts are now billing parents $36.13 per day.

These bills are actually just a request, but some parents find these “requests” offensive because in California $66 billion dollars is already devoted to public schools. Some parents however, are paying the bills in an attempt to ease their guilty consciences from taking their kids out of school.

Could this happen in Oswego?

Tom Dunn from The State Education Department stated that this would be a stretch. Though New York State aid is provided according to daily attendance, the districts do not have the power to charge for missed days.

--The Associated Press

SAT Deadline Nears

Oswego High School’s Student Voice

Nothing New

By Chrissy King Managing Editor

Page 18

language, and math courses, require a closer look and need to get approval by the state, not just the teacher, school level and district level administration.

“It takes at least a good year to get the okay from the state, and it absolutely cannot be done last minute,” said Myles.

There are other obstacles too. “I worry about a lot of things,” continued Myles. “With new courses comes new teachers or a cutting of something else.

It also comes down to whether or not the budget can support it.”

Earlier in the year, there were several classes in the running to be offered at OHS next year. They included social studies, math, foreign language, and technology electives. Each class offered something different to broaden and enhance the curriculum for the

In our “advanced society” one would like to believe that racism and prejudice are a thing of the past. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Likewise, many people have the misconception that racism is only prevalent in the Deep South among the “rednecks” and in the urban areas where rappers are always using racial slurs in their lyrics. But recently, racism has shown itself not only in the Deep South and or South Central L.A., but right here in Oswego.

Recently Mr. Robert Burt, a social studies teacher at OHS found a handdrawn picture of an African-American person being lynched on the wall of the school. Burt stated, “I found the drawing on the wall and I took it down and brought it to (principal) Mr. Myles.”

This act may be thought of by some as merely a rude act or prank, but on the contrary. It is a very serious very bigoted hate crime. A hate crime is a crime motivated by prejudice against a social group.

Executive Principal Mr. Peter Myles also commented, “The case is pending, the student has been removed from school as I recommended and there is a Superintendent’s Hearing scheduled.”

Hate crimes are often portrayed on TV as large scale felonies such as burning crosses or someone being beaten because of their sex, race, religion, or creed. However, using racial slurs and drawing inappropriate symbols also are hate crimes. Burt commented, “I think the person who drew it was someone who doesn’t know anything about Civil Rights in America and didn’t realize what a heinous hate symbol a noose around a black person’s neck is.”

This is not the only incident of prejudice that has occurred in recent memory at OHS. Mrs. Janice

See “Technicalities” page 2

See “Hate Crime” page 2

Photo By abby Martin

Ashley Scaccia (center) and Mike Hibbert (right) sell a cookie to Christy Kinney as a part of the Economics class bake sale at Open House recently.

No Courses Added in 2007-08

By Abby Martin

Chief Photographer

Oswego High School will not ofThe deadline for the May and fer any new courses next year due to a June SATs are fast approaching. The technicality in submitting the necessary registration deadline for the May SAT information to the district offices in a is due April 3 and registration for the timely fashion.

June SAT is April 27. Students can According to Mrs. Cathy Chamberregister for the SATs online at www. lain, the Assistant Superintendent for collegeboard.com.

Curriculum and Instruction, there was a --The College Board deadline for OHS to submit the required information for the new classes to the Local Essay Contest education center. “We have a process The Oswego County Bar Associa- for new courses, scheduling, and enrolltion is sponsoring an essay contest with ment,” Chamberlain said. “We didn’t the theme “Liberty Under Law: Em- receive the information on the particular powering Youth, Assuring Democracy.” date,” she added.

Entries must be postmarked by April 20.

According to Executive Principal There are two categories, ninth and tenth Mr. Peter Myles, the deadline wasn’t the grades, and eleventh and twelfth grades. only issue that posed a problem. Classes Prizes will be awarded. For more that deal with graduation requirements, info, see Mrs. Eve Phillips, English such as the social studies, foreign Department Team Leader in room 103.

Lacrosse vs Dance

Racist Drawing Found at OHS

Point of Entry Changed Page 12

Kangah is Athlete of the Month Page 19

Also Inside ...

. . .Clublicity . . .Naked Walls . . .Sports

2

News

Hate Crime Results in School Suspension

Continued from page 1

ice Caroccio an English teacher stated, and values can be taught,” she stated. OHS commented, “I was on a summer “I once had a student who was homoEven with stronger family values it trip with some friends, and most of us sexual and he wasn’t afraid to show it may be hard for some people to distin- are Jewish. While we were walking and let people know, so one day right guish appropriate behavior from inap- my friend saw a quarter glued to the outside on the corner he was beaten propriate behavior because of modern- ground and he said “that’s a Jew trap”. I to a bloody pulp. It was horrible and day media. Well known “music artists” laughed because I thought it was funny, it made me sick to my stomach.” and comedians like Richard Pryor and but after, I realized that if someone However, is suspension the an- Eddie Murphy who use racial slurs in else who wasn’t Jewish had said that, swer? Is it harsh enough?

True, it gets a point across “We are a microcosm of society and as long as the to the person being susproblem of racism and hate continues in society there pended that what they did was inappropriate, but will will be some issues here as well” a five-day suspension do Mr. Peter Myles anything to change their Executive Principal misconceptions about people of a different race, sex, creed, or religion?

Probably not. According to Caroccio their lyrics and in their comedy are I would have been really angry.” The “The economic strata of Oswego is highly popular. Some people believe debate rages about whether or not some that of the have nots, the will nots, that words like the “n-word” used be- terms, phrases, or references are acand the don’t knows, so people may tween two African American people ceptable within a group. There are also not know any better. I think that we is okay because they’re of the same people that believe that no one should need to put money and credibility race and they use it as a term of affec- use such words ever because they are so back into family time. Therefore, there tion but when used by a Caucasian, is derogatory. Waruguru Gichane, also a will be some strength in the family taboo. Sophie Rosenbaum a junior at junior at OHS, stated, “I think that rap-

pers and others that use racial slurs is wrong because I think that they’re trying to make it okay but instead they’re really just empowering the words. Then it makes it seem to other people that the words are okay, and they’re not.”

There is no easy way to answer the question of whether it is okay for some people to use racial slurs and not for others. There is no quick fix to wipe out hatred. As much as people would like to deny it, hate and prejudice are a part of our past and our present. In order to stop hate in schools hate has to be stopped outside of schools as well. Myles commented, “We are a microcosm of society and as long as the problem of racism and hate continues in society there will be some issues here as well.

We’d like to think that in the year 2007 everyone would know that this type of behavior is inappropriate. People are entitled to their own opinions however, what they do with their opinions is something completely different.”

Technicalities Kill Proposed New Courses Continued from page 1

enthusiasm from both students and staff.

One of the new courses was “Build Your Own Computer.” Mr. Warren Shaw and the Technology Department created the class to provide some businesslike electives that are now lacking from the curriculum.

“The course consisted of taking computers apart, building them from parts, and installation of software,” said Shaw, photography teacher and technology department team leader. “It is basically what a person would be looking to do if they were in computer building and repair.”

Another proposed new course was a math elective called “History of Mathematics.” According to Mrs. Mary Beth Fierro, “It is a half-year elective for average or above average students who already passed at least the B1 regents.” The objective of the class was also to offer a more upper-level math elective. The idea was initiated by Mr. Kurt DeAngelo and was to be taught by him and Mr. Robert Vayner.

A foreign language class was expected to be considered as well. “Everyday Spanish” was a basic conversational course intended for students that have not been successful in Spanish I,” said Ms. Karin Button, Spanish teacher and foreign language team leader. “You need to take and pass at least one year of foreign language to graduate,” she added.

Finally, the business class was a recent idea of Mr. Ben Richardson, social studies teacher, in attempt to fill in the gap created by the absence of a business program in the district. “The class was designed to cover

Buccaneer Bulletin

both economics and government curricula for seniors through a corporate business format,” Richardson said. “The ultimate goal was to run a school store and it would fulfill requirements in a nontraditional course setting, involving a lot of hands-on activity.

“It’s a tangible thing,” he continued. “Those practical lessons are much easier to manipulate and create teachable moments and it will elucidate things that are too hard to explain in words.”

According to Myles, the course was not approved by the state education department to replace economics and participation in government.

The process is slow. According to Myles, the information on new courses first comes from the high school and must get approval by the state. Then, it must be submitted to the district officers by a certain date.

From there it goes to the superintendent of schools who will then propose it to the Board of Education.

The process for the previously-mentioned courses was halted at the district level this year. “Our intent is for the classes to continue going though the process next year at the appropriate time,” said Chamberlain.

The fact that the classes are not on the agenda for next year has frustrated some the teachers involved. “It’s disappointing,” said Shaw. “Next years students lose the opportunity for many experiences.

Hopefully it will be approved for the following year.”

“The Spanish teachers and I turned in the proposal and description of the new course on time,” said Button. “What happened af-

ter that and with the others, we do not know.”

Myles commented that there was no evidence that the SED would actually accept this as a requirement for graduation.

“I have had to submit information about new classes in the past,” said Fierro. “The deadline was unclear this year, but in past years it has been January 31, and the information was given to the administration here at the high school well before that.”

Also, according to Ms. Susan Piasecki, House 2 principal, “In all my work in the past, we’ve never had this problem. Nobody ever gave a specific date this year. Whoever was in charge of it at this point did not specify when things were due,” she concluded.

Due to the difficulty this year, Myles is planning on doing everything in his power to ensure this does not happen again. “I’m going to set up a calendar for next year with Assistant Superintendent Chamberlain. The deadline will be July 1 so we will have plenty of time,” he said.

He also mentioned the importance of building the business program. “The business program for upcoming years is a top priority and could account for an entire series of electives.”

When it comes down to it, the classes will not be offered in 2007-08 due to administrative miscommunication. “Maybe it was my fault; I should have hounded the teachers like I have in the past to submit the information,” Myles said. “The whole system is not good or bad, it’s just the way it is.”

March 2007

Columns

3

Smokers Move Inside from ‘The Corner’ I’m sure you have all heard of the infamous “Smoker’s Corner.”

Located at the corner of Liberty and Mohawk streets, kids gather there to gossip about who wants to fight who, who’s cheating on their boyfriend, who got kicked out of their house, or to just smoke the pain of a rough school day away. Occasionally you will see a police officer parked nearby just in case it’s not cigarettes the kids are passing back and forth.

It seems that our harsh winter has forced smokers indoors, as smoking in school bathrooms is now all the rage.

Hooray for our students (wait, you actually have to go to class to be a student) who find it necessary to meet up with their buddies, hide in a stall, and drag on a ciggy in the bathroom. Cool man! Let’s stain our teeth yellow and get cancer! Answer this:

Buccaneer Bulletin

can you honestly not make it a whole school day without a cigarette, or do you just smoke them to kill off five minutes of the class you are skipping?

Though your nicotine dependant body may need a cigarette, it’s an inconvenience to those who just want to use the bathroom and not smell your smoke in the bathroom.

According to Spanish teacher Mr. Tim Bishop “I don’t condone students leaving school during

life self outside and do it.

Senior Andy Himes stated, “I think the point of smoking cigarettes is to show us who the stupid people are in our school.

Not only is smoking in school bathrooms disgusting, it is against the law. If a student here at OHS gets caught smoking in the bathroom, it’s an automatic two-day suspension. OHS security officer Anthony Allison stated, “Asking me how I feel about smoking in Answer this: can you honestly not make it a school bathrooms is like asking me how I whole school day without a cigarette, or do you feel about speeding; it’s against the law.” just smoke them to kill off five minutes of the Smoker’s corner class you are skipping? isn’t that safe either.

Since there is a bus stop there, the corner the day. However, which is more considerate to the is school property as well. Yet we have our share health of others…smoking outside or smoking in of rebels here at the high school who think they our already ventilationally-challenged, windowless, are above the law and their craving for a cigarette small bathrooms?” is stronger than the risk of being suspended from If you’re going to have a cigarette drag your low school.

March 2007

Clublicity

4

Juniors Busy with Variety Show & Prom Senior Class

Recently, the senior class had a lot of preparation to do for the 100 Days to graduation celebration. The celebration was on Thursday, March 22.

Seniors dressed up for the celebration and the senior class picture took place in Leighton Gym on that day. Other activities that took place during 100 Days were a catered breakfast, a final diploma check, cap and gown measurements, hypnotist for entertainment, and voting for the senior superlatives.

Also, they are beginning to plan the Senior Dinner Dance which will take place during regents week in June. Please contact an advisor or class officer to assist.

If you have any pictures you would like to see in the senior slide-show on Senior Night, please send them to James Bates or Colin Lea.

National Honor Society

National Honor Society competed in the first annual NHS volleyball tournament at a benefit sponsored

by Mexico High School. The team competed against Sandy Creek and Mexico High School to raise money for a scholarship presented at Mexico High school for a student who died from cancer. The team included Kathryn Lazarski, Kevin Kearns, Theresa Emond, Ali Finn, Shelby Persons, Morgan McNamara, Andy Lloyd, Abby Dixon, Greg Lyons, Katelyn Bateman, Ryan King, Ian MacDonald, Chris Sova and Zach Fayette.

At the end of March or early April, NHS will be partaking in the St. Jude’s trivia challenge. The money will go towards St. Judes Children’s hospital. Over the past seven years, NHS has donated over $12,000 to St. Judes.

Junior Class

The Junior Variety Show will take place on April 20 and 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Faust Theatre and admission will be $5 per person. Auditions were held on February 21 and a number of talented individuals now make up the 2007 Junior Variety Show Accepted Acts (see graphic).

The Junior Prom is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 in the Hewitt Union Ballroom from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Tickets will tentatively be sold on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from April 16 to May 2.

Students can pick them up in the morning from 6:45 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. and after school from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. in Room 240. Tickets will only be sold to juniors and seniors, although freshman and sophomores may come as guests of upperclassmen. Prom guests from other schools require prior approval and forms will be available in the house offices. Tickets cost $24.00 each and a portion of the money will be donated to the Post-Prom Party. If anyone has any questions, they should contact Junior Class advisers Mrs. Jennifer Dempsey and Mrs. Heidi Sweeney.

All students are also reminded that the Prom Project has been brought back this year. Anyone who is interested in taking advantage of the organization can pick up their dresses, dress shirts, jewelry, or other Prom-related items at Mary Jean’s at 122 West Second Street, P & C Grocery Store, or Paul’s Big M.

2007 Junior Variety Show Accepted Acts Jessica DeLapp and Nina Ramos - singing DeLapp Sisters - singing Jeff Blum - comedy Christina Burnswick - singing The Crew - dancing Abby Martin and Chelsea Wahrendorf - singing Abby Martin and Dustin Pecora - guitar/singing Dustin Pecora, Dan Crisafulli, and Brian Graves - guitar/singing Liz Schultz and group - pop JV Cheer - dance Tiffany Yanez - singing Graphic by Katie DiVita

Clublicity was compiled by Katie DiVita, Morgan McNamera, Waruguru Gichane, Pat Dougherty, Kailyn Gray, and Chelsea Waters. Anyone wanting to post a clublicity announcement should contact Sophie Rosenbaum at: srosenba@ oswego.org

Foreign Exchange

The Foreign Student Club has done a lot of planning in the past month. The club, advised by Ms. Janet Bernreuther, began compiling phone numbers and contact information of the club’s foreign students so as to allow members of the club to continue to communicate after the foreign students return to their respective home countries. Planning continued for another club outing, with sledding and ice skating being popular ideas. Members of the club hope to continue to participate in similar activities throughout the remainder of the year. Anyone interested in information on the Foreign Student Club can contact Ms. Bernreuther in the Media Center.

Drama

Drama Club recently put on the show Wonder of the World by David Lindsay-Abaire at the Harms Festival in Syracuse. They preformed in front of a panel of judges, and high school students from around Central New York.

Wonder of the World is a play that appeals to both fans of comedy and suspense. The main character, Cass, embarks on a journey of self discovery after she discovers a life altering secret about her husband on her honeymoon. The show takes place in Niagara Falls and features a variety of interesting characters.

Cass meets a suicidal alcoholic, a lonely tour boat captain and a quarrelling pair of private detectives.

Buccaneer Bulletin

March 2007

Alumni

5

Brothers Pay Tribute to Olympians After college Tom moved to Boston where he one seeking a similar career is to, “Find what you held a position as a sports publicist for the Boston love and go about trying to get paid for it.” Jerry has Alumni Editor Every four years, athletes from around the Red Sox for eleven years. Seeking advancement, he finally found the job that he always dreamed about. world compete in the Olympic games; giving their began working for the USA Network. He covered Striking Silver had been in the making for as long all for a lifetime of glory. However, some Olympic sporting events such as the Master’s Golf Tourna- as Tom and Jerry can remember. Mr. Peter Sears was victories go unnoticed, and the heroes are forgotten. ment, and the US Open. During the four years that Tom and Jerry’s hockey coach during high Mr. Thomas Caraccioli and Mr. Gerard Caraccioli, he held a position at the USA network, he covered school. He served as their greatest OHS class of ’85, were adamant about not letting many sporting events alongside his twin. He describes inspiration during their youth. this happen to one of their Olympic heroes. So the their interactions as “friendly competition.” When During their visits identical twin brothers published the book Striking at an event together, they would help each other. with Sea rs Silver in honor of the 1972 American Olympic team Tom’s next position was with NBC Sports. He t h e y that brought a silver medal home to the United States worked there for two years, but was just not satisnoticed fied. He decided to start his own his silpublic relations company. Lion’s ver medal Roar is the name of Tom’s public f rom the relations firm. They cover golf 1972 Olymtournaments, and yield a clienpic Games. tele in New York and PhilaTom and Jerry delphia. Tom also teaches were in awe of his clients how to conduct his achievement themselves in front of the and knew that media. His expertise in the story had to public relations has led be told. Jerry said, him to a position as “We weren’t writan adjunct professor ing it to make a milat Drexel University lion dollars. It was a where he teaches courspassion project for us.” es in publicity and promotions.

They began by interJerry was also a scholar-athlete viewing the twenty men during his years at OHS. He shared the who were on the team. The split up the Photo Courtesy of Tom and Jerry Caraccioli Brennan Student Athlete Scholarship book and each worked on a section. When they with his brother Tom. After he gradufinally put the book together it seemed to fit together Tom (left) and Jerry Caraccioli (right) promote their book on ated, he attended SUNY Oswego, perfectly.

Tom noted, “We have similar writing styles, the 1972 silver medal hockey team, Striking Silver. Their book was released in January 2006 and has enjoyed big sales. where he majored in Communications. it wasn’t very difficult.” The book took about a year and Jerry did not graduate from SUNY half to write, and was published in January of 2006. and home to Oswego around the neck of Pete Sears. Oswego; instead he transferred to California State UniTom commented, “It has gone beyond our wildest The Caraccioli brothers come from humble be- versity in Fullerton. That is where he made is his break dreams.” It’s currently in its second printing and the ginnings. The identical twins are the last of seven into sports public relations through an internship with brothers say the publishers seem quite pleased with children. They share a deep connection that spans the California Angels and with the Oakland Athletics. the sales. It sold out at “river’s end bookstore,” and across many arenas. In their adolescence, Tom and As a young man Jerry always dreamed of a job where made it on to the shelves of bookstores in Boston, New Jerry played on several sports teams together. They “He didn’t need an alarm clock to wake up.” In his search York, Lake Placid and Philadelphia. Mrs. Phillips, played on Oswego High School’s varsity soccer, and for this position, he made several stops. He worked as who is reading the book penned by her former stubaseball teams, but their hearts were always in hockey. the director of media relations for Major League Base- dents said, “It’s [the book] interesting and engaging.”

Although identical in appearance, Tom and ball in Sydney Australia for two years. Soon after he The twins have gotten a great feeling of fulfillment Jerry are not identical in character. Tom was one moved to from writing this book. of Oswego High School’s top student-athletes. His ConnectiThey have developed a love for sports and journalism earned him the title cut where “We weren’t writing it to make a million close relationship with of Sports Editor for The Buccaneer Bulletin. His he worked dollars. It was a passion project for the ’72 Olympic team. flair for writing was not limited to sports. Mrs. in a sports “They brought us into Eve Phillips, Tom’s tenth grade English teacher, marketing us.” their world and made said “Tom was contentious and dedicated. He f i r m . He Jerry Caraccioli us a part of their team,” wasn’t enTom stated. Tom and was an eager learner, and full of curiosity.”

After high school, Tom attended SUNY Oswego tirely satisJerry did not write the where he majored in Communications. He was very fied, so he moved on to a position at CBS Sports book to become famous, they wrote it so that the active during his collegiate years. Through his major in Manhattan, NY. He has worked there for the team would not be forgotten. They plan on writing he earned an internship with the Boston Red Sox. His past ten years. Jerry has covered a variety of sports similar books about unheralded Olympic athletes. involvement with hockey did not end immediately events including several Superbowls, the ’98 Winter T he Caraccioli brothers are simiafter high school. He played on the college hockey Olympics, NCAA basketball tournaments, the US lar to Olympic athletes; they are proof of what team with Jerry for a year and was also as a coach in Open and PGA championships. He also teaches a hard work and determination can accomplish. sports marketing class at NYU. His advice to anythe Oswego Minor Hockey Association.

By Waruguru Gichane

Buccaneer Bulletin

March 2007

6

Columns

Are Your Parents Pressuring You to Succeed?

their children to excel in school (92%). beyond ones’ peers, being socially rec- that academic success is important, not When parents believe that high achieve- ognized by getting into top-level colleg- for personal reasons, but to please othReporter ment is important, they are more likely es and later on getting high-paying jobs. ers. “My parents do pressure me to a In our day and age the pressure to to get involved with their children’s This could have its advantages certain degree. They always encourage succeed is at an all-time high. Many education. A majority of me to do my best, but kids are pressured every day to do the parents also believed that they don’t tell me to be best in everything they do, not only it was extremely important the best or anything like by themselves, but by their parents as for their child to attend a that,” said Katie DiVita, well. Many parents push their children top-level college/univerwho is currently ranked to the limits to make their lives sucsity (73%). Many people number one in the class cessful. Some kids do well under such would think that the kids of ’08. “I think a certain pressure, but some do not. The question of these parents would feel amount of parental presis, how much pressure is too much? sure is good because it pressured by their parents’ Not many people would disagree keeps kids focused, but expectations, but only 39 that parents play an important role in parents should make percent of students agreed their children’s achievement. Some peosure their kids are still that they feel “a lot of presple, however, would argue that parents sure from their parents to being able to enjoy of some students play a harmful role, by always be an exceptional themselves,” she said. pressuring their children to try and reach student.” Researchers be These studies help unrealistic goals to satisfy their parents’ lieved that this percentage us understand the role dreams. Though in some cases parents was so low because so that parents play in with academically talented children have many of the students felt children’s academic positive contributions to their children’s that their parents’ expectaachievements. Most parsuccess, it can also create pressure tions could easily be met. ents with academicallyand performance anxiety in children.

According to Parents’ Photo By www.mvschools.org talented students do not Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Conceptions of Academ- Parental pressure to succeed sometimes has the opposite seem to play a harmful University, Center of Talented Youth ic Success: Internal and affect on kids. This child’s drawing shows some of the role in their children’s (CTY), examined parents’ thoughts External Standards by feelings young students encounter when over-pressured. lives, but that does not about the importance of high achieveAblard, parents’ behaviors mean that kids do not ment and the achievement of goals with and messages to their children about because it encourages students to dem- feel pressured. A balance of pressure is their children. They based their study achievement could filter down to stimu- onstrate high performance in school needed to make sure their child is peron about 800 families of academicallylate feelings of pressure. When a group by getting good grades, which could forming to his/her ability but not enough talented students. Many of the parents of parents were asked to write down lead to entrance into top notch colleges to make the child feel overwhelmed. studied were highly involved with their their definitions of academic success, 56 and eventually leading to a successful Such a balance, especially when acchildren’s education which was reflected percent of all parents definitions includ- career. However, excessive focus could companied with support and guidby agreement that it was important for ed external standards like performance pressure children, sending the message ance, is unlikely to stimulate pressure.

By Morgan McNamara

Buccaneer Bulletin

March 2007

Features

7

Experts Discourage Hometown Roommates

By Katie DiVita

Entertainment Editor

College can be one of the most exciting times young adults will experience in their lifetimes. It’s an experience laden with new challenges, fresh opportunities, and an overwhelming sense of empowerment.

However, there is one element of these crossroads which can make or break the college experience – roommates. It is well known that dormitory life has a pivotal role in how college students remember their first few years away from home. Roommates can define the mood of an entire semester; whether it’s remembered fondly or looked back upon as a nightmare.

One way many college students avoid a potentially-upsetting roommate experience is by rooming with a best friend from high school. But is this preemptive strike really the wisest decision? Many college directors and counselors don’t think so.

They believe that college students living with their friends from their hometowns takes away from the full college experience. Chuck Weeks, Director of Residence Life and Housing at SUNY Oswego said, “It’s part of the residential learning experience to room with someone different from you ethnically, geographically, or in any other way.” He explained that it’s important for college students to stray from their “comfort-zone” and immerse themselves in new ideas and cultures. College and university consultant Susan Fee said, “Only hanging out with a friend from high school can hold both students back.”

Weeks also believes that students can benefit in numerous ways from getting to know a roommate. He said, “Rooming with someone new gives you an opportunity to learn new skills which you’ll use for the rest of your life.” By learning to adjust to a roommate, students are able to enhance their problem solving and compromising skills. These will be useful in the years to come, since students will unfortunately not be able to choose their professors, bosses, or co-workers in the future.

Still, many students believe the benefits of living with a friend outweigh the valuable experience of living with someone new. For one, friends living with one another in college already know they are compatible and have similar interests. Oswego High School alumnus Josh Flett, a student at Castleton State College who is living with a friend from his hometown said, “Neither of us wanted to get stuck with someone who we didn’t like and we figured if we roomed together, then we wouldn’t take that chance.” He knew adjusting to college was going to be a challenge, and decided that having a roommate from his hometown would ensure at least one comfortable aspect of his college experience. Oswego alumnus Ryan Grulich, a student at SUNY Oswego who is living with an old friend said, “I think it’s easier to live with a friend than a complete stranger because you never know who you will be paired with. It’s possible you could have to live with someone you just can’t stand. That’s one of the risks you take by rooming with a stranger.”

Buccaneer Bulletin

Friends obviously get along and are able to work out problems better, since they have been doing it for years. For many students, the obvious college roommate choice is a best friend they already know everything about. Carly Scranton, a student at SUNY Fredonia who is living with a high school friend said, “We definitely understand each other better. We’re more in tune with how the other works, so we wanted to room together.” Grulich also agrees and stated, “There is a sense of trust and understanding with a friend.” This allows the roommates to avoid misunderstandings simply because they are from different cultures and backgrounds.

But who is to say there won’t be just as many conflicts with a friend than with a stranger? Fee said, “Rooming together in college can easily ruin a friendship. Living together is way different than hanging out a lot.” Being so close to someone can bring out new, sometimes undesirable traits. Even traits someone once loved about their friend before rooming with them may become annoyances when they are magnified and present 24/7. Scranton said, “My roommate and I definitely know how to push each other’s buttons… sometimes it’s almost like we know each other too well, and we can annoy each other.”

Fee believes the combination of demanding college courses, social pressures, and homesickness can cause friends to turn on one another, something they wouldn’t do with a stranger. Often students’ stress-induced, less charming sides, which used to be saved solely for their families, are exposed to their friends. This can change friends’ perceptions of one another and leave painful scars in previously healthy long-term relationships.

According to Weeks, only about 200 of the 1200 freshman at SUNY Oswego choose to live with someone from their hometown, and about half of them switch roommates by the spring semester.

There are obvious pros and cons of living with a

friend and a stranger in college. It can be reassuring for students to room with someone who understands and accepts them, rather than start from scratch with someone they’ve never met. On the other hand, rooming with a different person gives them the chance to experience something totally new and possibly make another great friend. Students should keep in mind that college is all about growing as people, adapting to new situations, and finding their place in the world.

Whether they choose to live with an old friend or start a new friendship, it’s only one of many major decisions that will shape their college experience.

March 2007

Features

8

Winter Break Cancellation a Tough Decision Kevin Kearns Editor-in-chief

After an entire week of snow days, in which the Oswego City School District used up all of its emergency closing days, Superintendent David Fischer along with other school officials, had to make the decision of which vacation days should be taken away to replace future excess snow days. The decision ended up being unanimous, in which the winter break (February 19-23) was cancelled instead of the April spring break.

“I certainly didn’t want to cancel the break,” commented Fischer.

“However, after five straight days of extreme snow conditions, in which we made national news…after discussing it with various school officials, we decided it would be best to take days away from the February break.”

President of the Oswego school board, Mr. Dave White, who was also a large factor in the decision, believed that taking vacation days away from students was inevitable. Both White and Fischer believed that the thing which convinced them to cancel winter break was an “overwhelming majority,” on which break to cancel.

When asked what made up the “overwhelming majority,” Fischer admitted he didn’t hear from any parents or students. “I consulted with union leadership and the school board before making the decision,” Fischer stated.

“It seems that the more sacred break is spring break in terms of family vaca-

tions and other scheduled events,” said Assistant Superintendent William Crist.

However, many found fault in the timing of the school district canceling the break three days beforehand.

“I thought it was r idiculous for them (the school officials) to cancel break at the last minute like that,” said junior Emily Oleyourryk.

implemented in the district calendar along with the staff calendar to help avoid as much confusion as possible.

Fischer also pointed out that he made sure that if someone had pre-existing plans they could still go on their vacation, by taking such actions as legalizing absences for vacations over the week.

Mr. Mark Mirabito, and Mr. Al-

“It seems that the more sacred break is spring break in terms of family vacations and other scheduled events,”

Assistant Superintendent William Christ

“Among those people who made the last minute decision to cancel the break, how many of them have been teachers in a classroom within the past five years…with almost no adequate time to plan my lessons and little chance to get a substitute knowledgeable in my area, my choices were definitely limited,” said one teacher at OHS who asked to remain anonymous.

The decision which, Fischer said “definitely could have had better timing,” was justified by most school officials because of the note on the staff calendar. The note reads “...in the event that all six (6) emergency days are used prior to the February break, additional days will be taken as follows: February 20, 21, 22, 23.”

White stressed that he hopes that next year this same note will be

len Hallet, both teachers at OHS, supported the decision made by the Superintendent and the school board.

They both felt that if the days were to be taken off sooner in the year it would be a lot more beneficial.

The main problem many had with the cancellation being only three days before the break was that it forced some people who had pre-existing plans to make a tough choice of choosing whether to cancel a vacation (which could be costly due to airline tickets etc.), or miss school for the week. In the case of a student, that would mean possibly falling behind, or for a teacher, it would mean having a week of class with a substitute.

One teacher was particularly troubled by the decision because canceling his vacation would have cost nearly

five-hundred dollars, and going away would take away from his personal days. “…I, like other faculty members, decided to continue with my travel plans and furthermore “pay” by using up four personal days (each worth money upon retirement). Knowing well that the week would be laden with stress and negativity, it was worth every penny of the hundred of extra dollars to take the relaxing time away from Oswego…I felt sorry for my colleagues and students not able to get away…”

Crist said that because the decision was discussed with the teachers union, it was justified that the teachers would have to use personal days if they wished to still attend their vacation.

Over the week, attendance levels were significantly lower than the average. Fischer pointed out that attendance was excellent over the week in elementary schools, which had around 84 percent attendance (about 10 percent less then average), but only 73 percent of students in the high school attended classes. Although, on February 19, 621 out of 1700 students missed school. Also, normally this time of year approximately 35 employees will be out on any given day, yet over the break, an average of 74 missed.

In total, four days were restored to replace emergency snow days.

Fischer said that if those four days are not used, they will be given back by having no school on May 25th, April 16th, May 29th, and April 25th.

Disappointing Turnout for Senior Trip to Florida Lindsay Marsh Reporter

With the maximum capacity of a Boeing 747s airplane, being two hundred and thirty four passengers, you would have expected that most of the plane carrying the Oswego High School seniors on its trip to Florida would’ve been filled with students. But only 62 seniors out of 331 had chosen to fly to Orlando, Florida, on March 3, 2007 for the Senior Class Trip. “I think that’s pretty pathetic, it must send some kind of message that people weren’t interested. The rest of us should’ve got to miss school too,” stated senior Alicia Canale.

You would have expected the reason for so few participants would have been the price of the trip, which was $795 though this could all have been raised with the fundraising that was offered. But many seniors seemed to have other excuses for not attending the

Buccaneer Bulletin

trip. Alicia Canale, who did not go on the trip, stated Other reasons for seniors not going were because that she would rather not have missed any classes and some had already been to Disney World or had been didn’t want to be “chaperoned like a sixth grader.” on vacation already this year. Money wasn’t on the Annoying chaperones was far from the truth. top of the list for reasons not to come, although StephMost of the time spent in the parks, only once or anie Osetek felt that if she had planned on attending twice were the trip, she would have the chaper- “I thought it was great; there was never been “discouraged” ones seen, a little, since it was, and it was a dull moment and everyone got along “quite a large amount.” only pass- very well” “I thought it ing by. “The was great; there was Senior Eric McCrobie chaperones never a du ll mo just told us ment and ever yone when to be back and that we could roam free (wher- got along very well,” stated Eric McCrobie. ever in the park) that we would like. They also had Overall the outcome of the trip seemed flawless. an understanding curfew which was 11:00. Overall, Each student who went to Florida had only positive things they were very lenient and I didn’t at all feel like to say about their experience and returned to good ol’ I was being watched,” Geoffrey Loughery stated. Oswego with pictures and memories to last a lifetime.

March 2007

Features

Artwork Removed from OHS Hallways

9

up soon,” said Mrs. Melissa Martin. This will hopefully help raise morale around the school and will be remembered and appreciated by visitors and students alike. She will be deciding on which pieces to put up

this is that we will be able to view new artwork without it being outdated, and dismal. The artwork Ever since late last summer, the student-painted will be framed and if possible have protective glass murals on the first and second floors have been in front of it to secure its safety from vandals who gradually disappearing from the walls of OHS, might want to damage a certain piece from study halls, to the C-hallway; however of art. For those there is an explanation and a new idea on the who would like to horizon for showcasing new school artwork. create a work of art Those who attended OHS last year (and for the school, the before) should have noticed that when you came usual rules of good back to school the walls in the nurse/athletic taste and school apdepartment hallway had become dull, blank, propriateness apand the similar to the rest of the school. “This ply to the artwork. is because the artwork that had been displayed Regrettably, the for years, was deteriorating and had become school budget might grimy, discolored, and out-dated,” stated Mr. not have enough Peter Myles, Executive Principal. Because funds to provide the of this, he had most of the murals painted necessary materiover by the custodial staff for a fresh start. als (frames, glass, Myles came up with the idea to create an art etc.) to display the gallery all around the school that can be rotated Photo Illustration by Samuel-Graeme Austin artwork effectivethrough the years. The gallery will not be in one specific location; like the murals it will be in Once adorned with student paintings (right), the C-Wing hallway now has a fresh, ly. The Art Club various areas around the school. The rotation but barren look without the artwork. or local businesses of each piece will vary by how long the artist might be able to wants to leave it up, but there will be a limit of two around the school and will begin asking the students help raise funds for the necessary supplies. Neveryears. “It will take a while before we can get enough in her classes and other art classes if they would like theless there will be beautiful artwork back up on artwork to display pieces all over the school, but with to contribute their artwork to the school gallery after the walls before you know it for everyone to enjoy. enough time and talented artists we’ll have artwork the Salmon River Show, in April. The idea behind

By Samuel-Graeme Austin Ad Representative

Use of Fake ID Cards Results in Stiff Penalties

By Abby Martin

Chief Photographer

Becoming of legal age apparently doesn’t happen fast enough for some people. For decades, those who cannot wait to blow their candles out for the 21st time, resort to the use of false identification cards to gain privilege reserved for those who actually qualify.

Fake ID’s. They are the tempting carrots on the strings, the forbidden fruit, and kids just can’t keep their paws off them. Also, they are relatively easy to obtain. Just type “Fake ID” into Google and within seconds, dozens of websites appear before your eyes.

Realistically, just how clever is this? Let’s slap a picture of someone with the same color hair as you onto a card full of BS information and see who is dumb enough to fall for it. The sad thing is, I wasn’t being sarcastic.

People say it’s that easy. The person who checks it doesn’t have time to stop and study the ID as well as the face of the person who handed it to

Buccaneer Bulletin

them, let alone think rationally when they have a long line at their liquor store. They merely check to make sure that annoying “UNDER 21” red label is not camping out next to the picture.

complete embarrassment. Imagine those “Uh-Oh” feelings multiplied by about a million and having everyone laugh at you, with the exception of your parents, of course.

According to the Department

Photo Illustration by Fred Maxon

“It’s so easy,” said someone who chose to remain anonymous, “If they even ask for it in the first place, it takes all of four seconds and you’re out the door with a six pack.”

What exactly happens when you do get caught? First of all, it’s a

of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s website, the minimum penalty for getting caught with fake identification is $250 and up to 32 community service hours. You think that’s harsh? The maximum (and when I say maximum I mean the usual) is

$1,000, six months in county jail, and a year-long suspension of your license. That stuff doesn’t even include the misdemeanor for the buying, drinking, or possession of illegal substances as a minor, which come hand-in-hand with it!

Aside from the fines and punishments, the use of a fake ID could actually be very dangerous. For example, if anything happens to you while carrying your false identity, there will be extreme confusion as to who you actually are! Although not funny, I could imagine the police knocking on someone’s door and informing them that they had lost their son or daughter, when they know they are actually asleep in their beds. I don’t think that would fly for an April Fool’s joke either.

Face it, fake ID’s are an excuse to travel through the teenage years at the speed of light. I mean, whatever happened to just being a kid… Oh yeah, that’s exactly what we are doing! What is the world coming to?

March 2007

Editorial

10

Drawing Board

Buccaneer Bulletin Oswego High School’s Student Voice Editor-in-Chief Kevin Kearns Managing Editors Ashley Johnston, Chrissy King Entertainment Editor Katie DiVita Alumni Editor M.Waruguru Gichane Layout Editor Mallory Kelly Clublicity Editor Sophie Rosenbaum Desktop Publishers Sarah Dehm Web Team Pat Dougherty, Greg Lyons, Lindsay Marsh, Lindsay Usherwood Sports Editor Zach Grulich Sportswriters Kailyn Gray, Kathryn Lazarski Art Director Fred Maxon Art Staff Amanda Bingham Morgan Goodwin Chief Photographer Abby Martin Photographers Alyscia Clohecy Alyssa Holland Ad Representatives Samuel Graeme Austin Reporters Morgan McNamara, Sophie Rosenbaum, Lauren Dimarco, Genevieve Hall, Chelsea Waters Advisers Bill Reeser Mike McCrobie

The Buccaneer Bulletin, a member of the Empire State School Press Association, and The Quill and Scroll, is published periodically by the students of the Oswego High School, 2 Buccaneer Blvd.; Oswego, New York 13126; (315) 341-2200.

It is intended as a vehicle to inform, educate, and entertain the student body.

Printing services are provided by The Palladium-Times. Opinions expressed are those of the students and do not necessarily reflect those of the administration or the advisers.

Buccaneer Bulletin

cartoon by Morgan Goodwin

.....to Fred Maxon and Katie Divita, who both placed first and fourth, from a field of over 1,000 entries, in the Newspaper in Education Week writing contest for the Post-Standard. Once again our students are being recognized outside of our own community. .....to the Advantage After-School program at the YMCA/Armory. It provides students who normally wouldn’t have the chance, an opportunity to exercise and keep themselves physically fit without spending money on expensive memberships to gyms. .....to Mr. Ben Richardson’s economics classes which created a bake sale project, which won the Leavey Award for Free Market Education for 2006. It takes a committed educator, enthusiastic students, and hard work to achieve such an award. .....to the school district for asking student input on the decision for the reconfiguration of the school district. Many times in the past, student input would have been very beneficial, but no one bothered to take the time to survey the students. Hopefully the information our students provided will be used in determining what to do with the reconfiguration.

.....to the continued leaky ceiling which, despite renovations last summer, has persisted. It causes wet hallways and slippery stairs which, at times, can be dangerous and annoying. .....to study hall teachers who write passes for students to go to the media center/writing center without any permission from the people in control of their respective areas. It has become such a big problem Mrs. Bernreuther has been forced to ask all teachers to call her before sending any students to the media center. Let’s communicate!

March 2007

A

Features

Early Start Will Solve Snow Day Dilemma Oswego High School considers a plan to start school on August 17th in hopes of creating extra days in the calendar for snow days.

By Chrissy King Managing Editor

Oswego is known for the absurd amount of snow that we get in the winter. On average, the city gets around 136 inches of snow per winter. With this amount of snow coming every year, we often get many snow days.

These snow days severely hinder students’ education and they also mess up the total number of days students attend school. Therefore, a proposal has been made to the Board of Education that would push the first day of school ahead from the usual Wednesday after Labor Day in September to August 17.

This proposal was made recently to become better prepared for state- ance counselors have to do would have and, so far, has met with a lot of mandated tests like the regents exams. to be done earlier. That would leave positive feedback from members of If you look at all the positive things little time for them to spend with their the board and teachers alike. Many that would come from starting school families and just relax themselves. schools around the US have started in August, it is hard to argue against it.

After looking at both sides of the school in August and have shown great Regardless of all the good that could issue, it’s true that there are many pros success. Starting school earlier would come from starting school earlier, it is and cons. The proposal will be brought have many positive effects. One of obvious that students would be opposed up to the board and will wait their apthese outcomes would proval. The adleave room for more ministration of Many schools around the US have started the high school snow days. This would be good because as evschool in August and have shown great will be notieryone can see from all fied on April 1 success. our snow days recently, and then from closings can wreak havthere, a letter oc as they did on the musical, Les Mis- to it. This is understandable, because will be sent home to parents notifying erables and the winter sports calendar. after homework, extra curricular ac- them of the change in schedule. If there Starting school earlier might also tivities, family time, jobs, and friends, are any questions or concerns, students lead to longer breaks if we were to end students can become overwhelmed. are invited to attend a board meeting. up having a mild winter and not need- After a while they do need a break. If students are interested in attending ing many snow days. Starting early Also, many times people take the board meeting it could be helpful might also allow for teachers to take a vacations. What would happen if you in making a well rounded decision, slower pace with the material they need were on vacation when school was because after all, if the board can take to teach. This would help students who scheduled to start? Another reason away a short week-long break, what’s have trouble picking up material quick- to oppose starting school earlier is to stop them from taking away a whole ly. This would also allow for students because of all the work that the guid- three weeks off of summer vacation?

School to Adopt Kinder, Gentler Mascot

By Waruguru Gichane Alumni Editor

Due to complaints by angry parents about the violent nature of buccaneers, Oswego High School will be changing its mascot name to the penguins.

The Oswego Penguins will make their debut in the 2008-2009 school year.

The Oswego City School District has been discussing this issue heatedly for the past several months. Mrs. Dinah Soares, a parent of an OHS student and supporter of the mascot change, said, “Parents just don’t want their kids sporting a mascot who promotes violence, pillaging and robbery.”

Why the penguin? About three weeks ago in the midst of our lakeeffect storm, an Arctic penguin was found in the backyard of a home owned

by Minetto resident, Mr. Jim Nasium.

Reportedly the penguin was in the back of van coming from Rosamond Gifford Park Zoo. The van broke down in Minetto, and all the animals were unloaded and kept in Minetto elementary school while the van was being repaired. When the animals were left unattended, one of the Arctic penguins escaped from the gym

Buccaneer Bulletin

Graphic by Greg Lyons

An artist has created a preliminary image of the new helmets for the OHS football team, complete with the new Penguin logo.

and entered Nasium’s backyard. He said, “I was in complete shock when I

saw it. I knew Upstate New York was cold, but I definitely wasn’t expecting

to see a penguin in my backyard.”

Nasium immediately called Animal Control and they sent, Mr. Brock Lee, a representative from the Committee for Rehabilitation of Arctic Penguins. They picked up the penguin and brought him back to the zoo.

There wasn’t any publicity about this story to ensure the safety of the penguin. Arctic penguins are on the endangered species list, and publicizing this occurrence would have not only angered animal activist groups across the state, but put the penguin in danger of possible poachers. The penguin was returned safely to the zoo and is in top condition. Lee stated, “He’s doing fine now. He suffered a few scrapes from the escape, but he’s fully recovered.”

When the district caught wind of this story, they decided to make the final leap and change the mascot to the penguin. It was the best choice because the district would not have to buy all new uniforms and could keep blue and white as the school colors. “It will be hard to make the switch to the Oswego Penguins,” Soares stated, “but it’s time that we got rid of the buccaneer and all the negative things it stands for.”

April 2007

Entertainment

Lockdown/Lockout Terminology Modified

By Ashley Johnston

B

way. Obviously there is no confusion with fire drills, as we have practicing them since we were in kindergarten, but has there ever actually been a fire? Students don’t really take the drills seriously anymore, except for the single fire drill last year where there was a convenient fire drill while a girl’s gym class was swimming. They had to climb out of the cold pool, wrap themselves in towels, and without shoes, enter the frigid January weather shivering while many teachers were bundled in jackets and gloves.

Now the district has decided that there is one risk that the students of OHS still are not protected from.

If you have walked trough the hallways of OHS and looked up at the collapsing ceilings or run into the garbage cans placed in the middle of the hallways to catch the water dripping from the roof, you might have noticed the danger that this has caused. If ever there is a ceiling tile that falls while school is in ses-

sion Mrs. Sharkey is advised to send a message over the loud speaker holding all students and teachers in their current class, informing those in hallways to exit as soon as possible, and advising all students, faculty, and staff to find the nearest source hat, hood, or umbrella in case the entire ceiling crumbles all together.

The janitors are then informed of the danger and are sent wearing “Hz-mat” suits to clean the mess.

Once the mess is cleaned and the janitors have made sure that the ceiling is secure and at no risk to fall again in the near future, faculty and students are then allowed to leave the protective shelter and move on with their school day. This will be called the Chicken Little Drill. It shouldn’t be confused with Lock out, Lock down, Lock up, Stay in place, etc. It’s easy to remember because the sky is falling!

has not been finalized but once he saw Folgherait he knew right away it was a perfect match. He immeThe 2003 box office hit movie School of Rock diately told Folgherait about his plans and gave him earned $3,026,851 in the first six weeks, and even more his cell phone number in order to call him within the profits were earned later when it came out on video next week for a screen test. “I knew I looked like and DVD. The success of the movie has lead Para- the actor Jack Black; people I know have been telling mount Picme that for years, so I called him two t u re s a nd days later after I talked to my parents.” director Folgherait plans on flying to CaliRichard fornia as soon as the school year is Li n k later over. The shooting of his scenes will to plan a setake about quel to the a month, movie, and and if interthat sequel ested, Folis big news gherait for one can stick OHS senior. around for Part of the shootthe sequel’s ing of the plot is to rest of the show flashmov ie to ba ck s of get the full main charexperience acter Dewof producey Fi n n’s ing a Holly(Jack Black) wood film. life as a stu“I know we dent in high have a realPhoto courtesy of Jack Black productions ly great TV school. The f lashback Will Folgherait, in make-up, auditioning for new p r o g r a m shows how Jack Black movie School of Rock II here in the Dewey fell high school, in love with rock ‘n’ roll. During a recent trip to Lab- but for some reason I rador Mountain in Truxton, NY, a Paramount Pictures have never taken it. It’s unit production manager named Sam Hoffmann no- exciting that my first exticed a snowboarder that looked just like Jack Black. perience will be in a real It was Oswego’s very own senior, Will Folgherait. Hollywood production.”

Hoffmann was not actually looking to find a Folg he r a it or ig iperson for the part because the funding for the movie nally planned to go to

a SUNY college in the fall but this opportunity has changed his mind. “If I don’t end up liking acting, I’ll move back and decide what I am going to do for college,” Folgherait said.

The money involved for his appearance has not yet been negotiated but he will definitely receive a paycheck for his work as soon as he joins the actor’s union (The Screen Actors’ Guild).

So, in the summer of ‘08, look for our Oswego High School graduate Will Folgherait in School of Rock II as a young Jack Black!

Managing Editor

Friday during seventh period, the school secretary came over the loud speaker, “May I have your attention please, we are now in a code lock down.”

Now, seventh period being journalism with no one knowing the difference between the various drills, we just closed the door shut off the lights and continued with our work, making jokes about another freshman fight assuming that the drill was just another practice.

Code lock down, by the way, is the drill where we have to shut the door, turn the lights off, close the blinds, and hide under desks or in the corner. This one is commonly confused with code lock out, newly named the “stay in place drill.” This drill entails exactly what the title reveals, the door is to be closed, classes are to continue, but no one is to be in the hall

One of Our Own Goes to Hollywood in School of Rock 2

By Lindsay Usherwood Web Team

Buccaneer Bulletin

April 2007

Claptrap

C

A Day in the Life of an Oswego HS Icon Everyone can relate to feelings of being nervous, yet excited at the same time. That is how I feel as I start off my first day at Oswego High School. I’m all dressed up in my favorite color- blue- and I’m looking like a shiny new penny.

I start my day in a dark room, I don’t really know where I am, but soon a teacher comes to get me and brings me to class. I sit in class for about twenty minutes but soon I’m wandering though the halls with a student that I’ve just met. We walk around for about fifteen minutes and then finally drag ourselves back to class. This is how my day goes for the next couple of periods. I can’t help but feeling the new people I’ve been meeting and I should be in class instead of wandering the halls going from lockers to the bathroom then

back to the lockers, and of course, stopping to talk to people in the halls along the way. However, after a long day, the ninth period bell finally rings and I can get some rest.

The next day I arrive at school and am completely exhausted. I feel like I’ve been bent, folded, spindled, mutilated, and pulled in a thousand different directions since yesterday.

My day continues similar to the previous day had and so on for the rest of the week. However, on Friday, something new happens. During ninth period I am wandering the halls again with a new friend, but I’m starting to get the feeling that he is a little shady.

The bell rings for the end of the day, but my new friend and I never return to our class. Suddenly, I’m being whisked away from the school and I don’t know where I’m going.

I’m very afraid that I will never see anything that I know ever again. I end up at my new friend’s house.

I’m sitting on his desk while he talks to his friends on instant messenger and I wait for him while he eats his

dinner. I sit there for the rest of the night and now I’m really starting to get nervous.

Monday morning has come and my friend leaves for school, but leaves me behind. I watch the clock and try to make myself believe that he just forgot and will be back to get me very soon. This never happens and I have to accept that I’m not going to get to go back to school. I wonder if anyone will notice that I’m gone and if so they will miss me. Just as I’m pondering this, the teacher that found me in the dark room the first day of school is wondering about my whereabouts. He asks his class, has anyone seen my lavatory pass?

photo illustration by Alysia Clohecy,

The Boy’s Lav pass didn’t enjoy his swirly.

Uniforms Would Eliminate Discipline Problems

By Lauren Dimarco Reporter

Superintendent David Fischer and Principal Peter Myles will address the school board to

Buccaneer Bulletin

have all OHS students start wearing uniforms. of having a new dress code is unnecessary, and I feel our Freshmen Kathy Roe stated, “It’s not fair to parents need to talk some sense into the board of educahave to start wearing uniforms now; we came to tion and let them worry about more important things.”

OHS thinking the rules would be more relaxed, but This idea came about because the administration they seem ridiculous com- feels too many students, especially girls, are abusing pared to the middle school.” the dress code and more serious restrictions will solve If the board passes, the the problem. The mini skirts and low cut T-shirts of new dress code the girls’ today will be no more should be bill pass. The boys’ uniform will consist of apparel problems stem with drug, alcohol and gang black dress references. shoes, knee A l The hope is that students won’t though socks, kilts the (like skirts)- be judged by brand names and decision is similar to the ot f i n a l , the latest trends, but by who nt hey junior varh ave sity lacrosse they are. thought of a team and a punishment white butfor students ton-up blouse. Also, a buc- who fail to comply with the dress code. Students caneer blue blazer will be who fail to follow to proper attire will get an in optional to those who want school suspension. Uniforms are normally policy to wear it. The boys’ uni- in more conservative schools or Catholic schools. form will consist of black or This has brought a lot of controversy. Even students tan dress pants and a white who aren’t abusing the dress code feel as if the new polo shirt. Sport jackets measure punishes them too. Clothing is a good way would also be an approved to express yourself if it’s in an appropriate way. The accessory for the boys. hope is that this new rule may make students look Sophomore, Jason Ned beyond the clothes, so they won’t be judged by brand reported to The Buc Bulle- names and the latest trends, but by who they are. tin, “The money and hassle

April 2007

Entertainment

D

Heads Up as Sports Helmet Law Takes Effect

By Pat Dougherty Web Team

Pending the passing of a new bill set to be decided on in April, all high school athletes in New York State may have to wear protective headgear during competition starting next school year.

The bill, originally proposed by Gene Farley, a track and field coach from Schenectady, NY, states that due to the risk of injury inherent in all forms of physical competition, protective measures must be taken to ensure the safety of all athletes, regardless of which sport they play. Farley was inspired to push for a change in safety regulations when, during one of his team’s track meets, a hurdler he coached suffered a concussion when he tripped over a hurdle. After getting a new rule which requires all athletes to wear helmets passed in his own school district, Farley set his sights on a state-wide policy.

Despite the proposal’s controversial origins, it has been met with a surprising amount of acceptance. Many school districts around the state have adopted the new rule early, before the bill has even been decided on, already requiring all their athletes to wear helmets this sports season. The new rule comes as a bit of a shock to most athletes who are not accustomed to wearing helmets. These districts saw an early adoption as a way to get problems related to this shock out of the way as early as possible.

Oswego High School, though not an early voluntary enforcer of this new rule, is set to abide by it beginning in the fall. The decision to not join a group of appealing school districts was made at a recent school board meeting. Bradford Dates, Athletic Director of the Oswego School District

said. “Beginning with the fall sports season, all OHS athletes will be required, under a revised code of conduct, to wear a helmet for protection during all athletic competition.”

The sports teams who seem most unwilling to participate are in the fall season.

Cross Country coach Mr. Dan Greene figures that the Buc runners will be slowed by 5-10 seconds per mile. “I like the safety of running with a helmet,” said Greene, who fell frequently when he was a runner in the 1970s “but we will not be setting any new school records.”

Va r s i t y s w i m m e r Picture coutesy of someone special Abby Martin also has a problem with the new rule. Oswego runner Mike Archise was way ahead of the game in 1984 when “I’m glad I’m graduat- he used a helmet as a member of the track team under the guidance of ing,” Martin said, “be- Coach Dan Greene and Erwin Dewey. cause I’d hate to do the out’ our helmets,” said Kailyn Gray, a sophomore butterfly with a helmet on.”

Gymnast Shannon Donovan expressed concern. cheerleader “plus we don’t have to worry so much “I hope they give us chin straps for our new helmets, about someone falling and dying during our cheers.”

Regardless of anyone’s opinion of the ‘helmet otherwise they will fall off during our routines.” rule,’ it will be a fact of life this coming school year.

Surprisingly, one team is eagerly looking forStudent athletes are encouraged to just accept the ward to receiving helmets to wear during the next change and concentrate on the success of their teams. sports season: the cheerleaders. “I can’t wait to ‘bling

OHS Student Wins ‘Prom of a Lifetime’ Performance

two months, she had forgotten about the contest entirely, until she got the letter in the mail. “I couldn’t believe my eyes, the letter told me I had won the Black Eyed Peas performance and I get to spend the day with them and get the prom treatment from their stylists!” Because Michelle is only a freshman, she would normally not be allowed at prom without a date of an upperclassman, but since she won this contest, she is allowed to attend.

Prom will go as normal starting at 8 pm with songs from the DJ and at 10 the Black Eyed Peas performance will begin. “Thanks to Seventeen magazine and Michelle Miller our prom of ’07 will be unforgettable,” stated junior class adviser Mrs. Heidi Sweeney.

By Morgan McNamara Reporter

People gamble and partake in contests everyday. Many come out defeated and few come out victorious. In the January issue of Seventeen magazine there was a chance in a lifetime contest to have the Black Eyed Peas perform at your very own prom. Millions of teens throughout the country participated hoping that their prom would be glammed out with their favorite music group. There was only one winner for the contest out of millions of applications. Our very own Michelle Miller won the prom experience of a lifetime!

Freshman Michelle Miller took a chance on a contest in Seventeen magazine and came out victorious.

“I never actually thought I was going to win, I don’t even know why I sent the form in, I guess I must’ve been really bored,” said Michelle. After

Buccaneer Bulletin

photo Courtesy of frontrowking.com

April 2007

Editorial

11

In Our View . . .

Who Needs an Attendance Policy?

At OHS, we have no attendance policy. This means OHS believes that students can miss more than a set number of days and still pass. We agree with the idea of not having an attendance policy.

Several years ago, our school had a rule which Sometimes, stated if you missed more are no rules. than ten percent of a class you couldn’t pass, unless you had extenuating circumstances. Eventually this rule was taken out of place, and replaced with, well, nothing. We agree with this decision for several reasons. When someone first hears about the fact that there is no attendance policy, their first reaction will most likely be that the troublemakers would skip school, because there would be no incentive to go. That idea isn’t true, because if someone skips school, because there is no attendance policy, there are still repercussions like in-school suspension etc.

The reason not having an attendance policy is such a good idea, is because if a top-of-the-class

student comes down with a serious illness and misses a month of school, why should they be put into a situation where it is up to a school officials discretion whether or not they should pass? With some hard work and the best rules extra help from the teacher, the student could get caught up and regain his spot in class rank. So, why would you make a student like him stay back when he could move on with the rest of their class?

Without an attendance policy students have the chance to succeed even if things which are beyond their control occur. Having no attendance policy does not encourage kids to skip school, so that should never be an issue when any school makes the decision on whether or not to have a policy.

We believe it is crazy for a school to have a strict attendance policy, with a set number of legal and illegal absences. Sometimes, the best rules are no rules.

Does the fact that OHS has no set attendance policy affect your decision to attend class?

Ryan Burger “Yes. It makes kids think that they don’t have to go to class to pass.”

Class of 2009

Molly Wise

Peek-a-Boo

“No. Everyone should go to class no matter what.”

Class of 2010

Mike Smith “It doesn’t effect me because I practice good education.”

Class of 2007

Matt Tynan “Yes. I’m glad we don’t have one.” photo by abby martin

A fire hydrant, less than thirty feet from the north entrance to Oswego High School near the social studies department, was finally seen on March 14 thanks to a late-winter thaw, which means it was dangerously buried since February’s storms. It’s a good thing we didn’t have a fire.

Buccaneer Bulletin

Class of 2008

March 2007

12

News

Point of Entry Moved to Buc Boulevard

By Sophie Rosenbaum Clublicity Editor

The recent change in “point of entry” for students and visitors to Oswego High School from Utica Street to Buccaneer Boulevard has led to mixed reactions among the Oswego community.

The adjusted point of entry at the OHS has students and teachers wondering “Why?” Michael Burger, a senior at OHS who participates in the “short day” program stated, “For the past four years I’ve been in this school, they’ve had the main entrance at Utica Street.

Changing it now seems ridiculous.”

Mr. Peter Myles, Executive Principal of Oswego High School, saw the change as “logical.” He pointed out the many factors that caused the expedient alteration. The Utica Street entrance is a busy, crowded, unpleasing-to-the-eye area. The cold temperatures in the winter months caused the decision about the change to be made more quickly. “It’s more inviting to our visitors” said Myles about the new Buccaneer Boulevard entrance. The entrance is much more spacious. The parking has become more convenient to the OHS visitors. Myles stated that “the whole process is just easier” and visitors no longer have to “hunt for parking spots” to visit our school.

Due to escalation of violence in schools, security has been increased. Ten years ago, it would not matter what entrance people went in.

But with the heightened security, the school needs to abide by state laws.

In the March 9 issue of the Palladium-Times, Jerry “Sarge” Stepien, a bus driver for Oswego City School District, wrote, “If the governing body of the Oswego City School District, which includes scientists, mathematicians and professors, has seen fit to declare that two objects can occupy the same space at the same time, namely civilian cars and school busses in the loading zone at the high school, who Photo Illustration by Sophie Rosenbaum am I, a college grad, retired NCO and now bus Four students try to gain access to the building from the Utica Street entrance, but are driver, to question their told to “go around” by hall monitor Mary Jean Terpening. collective wisdom. If you has made it difficult for busses at the agreed that their new posts were worse. have to ask what’s wrong with America, end of the day because parents are Seinoki explained, “It’s warmer down you need only look as far as your own parking their vehicles where the busses here (Buc Blvd. side), but I’d rather be back yard.” The point of entry switch are supposed to be loading. cold and interact with the kids than Many students who have “senior short day” are upset about the change.

A longer walk from their parking spots starts their mornings off on the wrong foot. Mr. Phil Meany, a technology teacher at OHS said, “I feel bad for the kids who are five minutes late. The scenario runs like this: Kid gets dropped off late at Utica Street. In her hurry to get to work, mom does not wait for her son/daughter to get safely in the doors and drives away. Student realizesthe Utica Street doors are locked. At that point the student is stuck. In the zero degree weather, the student has to walk all around the building. Then, he/she gets to his/her first period class late and gets a pop quiz. No matter how bright the student is, he/she is probably not going to do as well as he/she would have had his/her day not started in the way it had.”

Hall monitors view the adjusted point of entry with a more negative spin.

After talking with Mrs. Pat Seinoski, Mrs. Pat Crisafulli, Ms. Jackie Lundy, and Ms. Mary Jean Terpening., they all

Buccaneer Bulletin

be down here. It’s so isolated.” Along with the decrease in interaction with students, the monitors went on to say that their walkie-talkies do not work and the congestion is the same as it was on Utica St. by the end of the day.

“Basically they’ve lost a hall monitor.

If there was an on-going fight occurring when lunch gets out, we have no idea,” said Seinoski. Because of their new location, they cannot see the signs of a fight (the large crowd of people, loud discussions between students showing aggressiveness, etc.) that they usually saw. Terpening stated, “It’s about getting used to the change and adapting, although personally, I did like it better over at Utica Street.”

The point of entry revision was one of the smaller projects to take on and easier to remedy than other projects in the works (i.e. the ventilation system).

Eventually, new students will not remember that the Utica Street entrance existed and will assume that it has always been at Buccaneer Boulevard.

March 2007

Entertainment

Caution: Guitar Hero May Lead to Addiction

By Katie DiVita

Entertainment Editor

There probably isn’t a guy or girl out there who hasn’t, at one time, picked up a tennis racket, broom handle, or any other object that could double as a guitar and strummed their favorite guitar solo.

However, the pulsating rhythm and melody of the guitar have been difficult to duplicate…until now.

So put down the household objects and sports equipment, because Guitar Hero for PlayStation 2 is the newest way to “rock out” to your favorite songs.

Music video games have a tendency to occupy rainy days and be the center of entertainment at parties. But few games have actually struck that “chord” inside of us and made us feel like true musicians the way Guitar Hero does.

The main eccentricity of Guitar Hero is the Gibson SG-based guitar peripheral controller, which looks and feels as close to an actual guitar as a gaming device can get. It features five fret buttons, all of different colors corresponding to notes on the television screen, a strummer (instead of strings), and a whammy. The game can be played with a regular PS2 controller, but it isn’t nearly as interesting without the guitar. It is surprisingly comfortable to wear, not only because of its light weight, but because it’s reasonably close to the size of an actual guitar. The controller doesn’t feel awkward in position as it might if it resembled a children’s toy, so experienced guitar players and the musically-challenged alike feel at ease.

Exceptional graphics and a realistic concert experience on the television screen accompany the distinguished method of play. It’s easy to enjoy the

13

atmosphere of the performance since the notes are Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out” are also spotpresented toward the bottom of the screen and don’t lighted. Only those who are severely anti-guitar in dominate the players’ entire view. Crowds cheer their musical tastes will not enjoy playing the songs. on the band (assuming they’re playing well) and By far, the best part of Guitar Hero is that it realistic fret-noises occur when notes are missed as incorporates many of the techniques and motions they would in an actual concert. An abundance of di- that a guitarist would perform on a real instruverse guitars and ment. Guitar Hero players performers, male must use a whammy, play and female, are chords, use hammer-ons and also at the player’s pull-offs, and strum up and disposal. Once down. This makes the transithey choose their tion from a real guitar to the band name and Guitar Hero controller seem members, their minor, aside from moving career begins and from strings to buttons. Had they’re g uided the creators of Guitar Hero through the four not incorporated these condifficulty modes. ventional techniques, it would Bands begin as have been a crippling device they would in real for experienced guitarists. www.images.google.com life by playing in Just when the rhythm casual clubs and Everything you need to be a rock star is contained game genre was starting to get g radu ally pro - in the SONY PlayStation 2 game, Guitar Hero. stale, along comes Guitar Hero gressing to starto re-invigorate our senses. dom and sold-out arenas pending their musical talent. While it won’t help anyone become a better guitar Guitar Hero’s song selection features veterans player, it’s very entertaining and puts a fun spin on such as David Bowie, Queen, and the Red Hot Chili the instrument. Even if you’ve never played the guitar Peppers and range from slow ballads to adrena- and don’t have a musical bone in your body, you can line-fueled anthems. Players can buy new songs, look like you do after a few rounds of this game. So characters, and guitars with their “gig” money, so get out there and give it a try. You might find you rethe game doesn’t get boring or repetitive as many ally get into the game and enjoy bringing out your inrhythmic-based games. While the songs seem to ner rock star. Just be sure not to “kick the amp” (a.k.a. be heavy on older rock, some newer songs such as your coffee table) after the last chord of the song!

Local Bookstore to Host Best-Selling Teen Authors

By Sophia Rosenbaum Clublicity Editor

Editor’s Note: The “river’s end bookstore” will be hosting two events in the month of April. On April 1, Barry Lyga will be in to discuss his new novel, The Astonishing Adventures of Fan Boy and Goth Girl. On April 28, Laurie Halse Anderson will be at the store to discuss her new novel, Twisted. Below are reviews of these latest two novels.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Twisted is Laure Halse Anderson’s first novel directed towards teenage boys.

Her other novels (Speak, Prom, Catalyst) were more geared towards young women, yet it reached the interest of males as well.

Tyler Miller, an average high school senior, has always been known for; well actually he is at the bottom of the popularity list, and is known for absolutely nothing. He comes from an average household, leads an average life, and lives with the average dysfunctional family. He hopes that committing the “Foul Deed” of putting graffiti on the school will improve his social status. It doesn’t. Not only does his plan not work out the way he thought it would, but he spells some of the words incorrectly. Yet, he earns the “bad boy” reputation it does him some good when it comes to girls. Tyler’s secret crush, Bethany Milbury, the most popular, beautiful, every-boy’s-dream-girl, happens to be into bad boys and now she’s into TYLER! Things between Bethany and Tyler go wrong at a huge party in which Bethany is intoxicated. Tyler “wants to take things slow” and Bethany takes that as a rejection. She tries to make Tyler jealous throughout the night by throwing herself on numerous boys. It winds up getting her some indecent pictures floating around the internet. Of course, Tyler is the main suspect in the case and it is only after the

Buccaneer Bulletin

police make his life a living hell, that they realize he is innocent. Tyler’s life spirals downhill from there. Will he be able to win Bethany back and get his life on track?

Or will he just pick up just where he started at the beginning of the school year?

If you liked any of Anderson’s previous books, you’ll love Twisted. Although it’s directed towards young adult males, it’s just as interesting for females.

The Adventures of Fan Boy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

Fanboy, a smart, comic-loving, sophomore in high school hates his life. He has one friend, Cal, who ditches him all the time for his popular jock friends. He lives with his pregnant mother and “step fascist” (step father) who Fanboy hates.

Fanboy has been keeping a secret from everyone and it’s his only ticket to getting him out of his town and far away from the people in it. He has been working on his very own graphic novel and perfecting it for Fanboy’s idol, Bendis, who also writes graphic novels.

Kyra, a recovering Goth who is both witty and a comic lover, notices Fanboy.

Fanboy. Kyra A.K.A. Goth Girl, connects with Fanboy so much, that Fanboy finds himself telling her about his “secret.” As quickly as their relationship starts, it ends.

Similar to many high school relationships, a stupid little fight destroyed it. But Goth Girl still wants Fanboy to meet Bendis and she wants his graphic novel to be perfect. What will Bendis think? Will Goth Girl and Fanboy become friends again?

T h i s i s a f u n , p a g e - t u r n i n g n ovel . B a r r y Lyg a’s “ voic e ” h a s a t one t h at ju s t m a ke s t he r e a d e r wa nt t o ke e p r e a d i ng.

The “river’s end bookstore” is extremely happy to have an opportunity like this. Bill Reilly, the owner of the “river’s end” stated, “We’re very excited to have not one but TWO great authors who write books geared towards a teenage audience.

March 2007

14

Feature

Students Opt to Attend Cyber High Schools

By Waruguru Gichane Alumni Editor

Every morning when the alarm clock goes off, most teenagers roll out of bed reluctantly and hope for a school cancellation. They often relish the fact that they must attend school early in the morning. However, a growing percentage of American teenagers are opting to attend school online instead of going to traditional high schools.

The online high school phenomenon is in its formative years. Online high schools are popping up everywhere promising accelerated graduation. Ads in teen magazines are heralding graduation in as little as four months. The problem with these online institutions is the fact that not all of them are accredited. Mr. Jerry Oberst an admissions counselor at SUNY Oswego claims that the issues with these institutions is authenticity. To gain admission to a college with an online diploma, he said, “It must be registered by the state.”

Researching the school thoroughly is necessary. Most reliable online high schools have a list of the colleges and universities which accept their diplomas.

Students who attend traditional high schools get the impression that people attending cyber schools are lazy and just don’t want to get up in the morning. What they don’t know is that there is a host of reasons why these students do not attend regular high schools.

Health issues are one of the prominent reasons why attending a cyber school is an attractive option for some. Students with physical disabilities and medical problems benefit from the relaxed, in-home setting.

Social phobia is one of the medical issues that keep teens out of traditional high schools. The government organization Teen Health says, “Social phobia is shyness to the extreme, and this shyness is accompanied by anxiety that causes people to avoid doing things they might like to do or to avoid situations that might result in having to be with, or to talk with or in front of others.” Teens with this disease are unable to concentrate in school because they have an intense fear that the rest of the class is judging their every move. Teens attending traditional high schools with this phobia are often ridden with anxiety, and their grades suffer substantially, leaving online schooling as their only option.

Providing income for a family is another reason why student may opt to take classes online. The death or sickness of a

Buccaneer Bulletin

parent may force a child into the workforce. teacher face to face is a lot more helpful.

The flexible hours allow the student to finThere are several benefits that come ish high school and supply his/her family along with online high schools. Flexwith a steady flow of money. Young actors ibility is one of the major ones. There are also attending cyber schools. Their are no more alarm clocks. You can also tight schedules do not allow them work at your own pace, speeding up or to go to traditional schools. Many slowing down at your own will. This is lament the fact that they were not a great help to those who have a hard able to have a normal adolescence. time keeping up at a quickened pace.

Ashley Monk, a student attending They now can spend more time on the IQ Academies, stated, “I had to help out courses they are struggling with. Lyons with my elderly grandmother.” With stated, “The classes are much smaller both parents working, often teens Students who attend traditional are left with high schools get the impression ca r i ng for sick or el- that people attending cyber derly fam- schools are lazy and just don’t i l y m e m - want to get up in the morning. bers. Ashley misses t raditional schooling, but feels a duty to- and easy to work with. It really helped a w a r d s h e r g r a n d m o t h e r . lot.” Students who earn online diplomas Religion is a factor that plays often finish high school faster than those into the decision of going to an on- who attend traditional high schools. line high school. Mary Hunt claims Another perk is the lack of social that religion was what prompted her pressure. There are no more bullies to get to attend high school online. She is a in the way of learning. Many students member of the Church of Jesus Christ have a hard time learning with too many of Latter-day Saints. She said, “I had distractions. Pressures to do drugs and heard students using words I did not like consume alcohol are also a lot slimmer. and doing things I found inappropriate.” The student is allowed to develop their Although such language and conduct own identity, not the ones of their peers. is forbidden in high schools, there is not always an administrator to make sure that these things are not occurring.

Students who attend cyber schools log in and out of the school databases at their own leisure. They are given assignments from teachers and are responsible for handing them in on time. The schools are just as challenging and they offer a variety of subjects that are not found in traditional schools.

Online high school students are given a transcript of the courses and are treated like any other high school student. A system of correspondence through email is created between the student and teacher.

If he/she has any troubles, the teacher is at their finger tips. However internet communication may not be enough for every student. Gregory Lyons, a student at OHS took several courses online, stated, “If I didn’t see teachers face to face I don’t think I’d learn as much. He claimed that although internet communication with the teacher was easy, talking to a

Online high schools have negative aspects as well. Students will miss out on memorable events such as prom, walking across the stage on graduation and homecoming festivities. Mrs. Carol Naron, a physics teacher at OHS, stated, “Just for the average Joe, this system is inappropriate because of the lack of social interaction, which I think is a big part of high school.” Many cyber students find it hard to interact with their peers. Monk stated, “I really don’t go anywhere else so I don’t know a whole lot of people.” They have to find other ways to meet their age mates such as in church groups, community sports teams, dance classes and service groups like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and 4H. Accreditation is another problem.

If the institution is not researched, one could find that they worked tirelessly for a diploma that has no value. Adding this to the fact private online high schools come with a steep price tag. There are a number of free public online high schools, but many students take the private route to ensure quality. With prices ranging from free to several thousand dollars, authenticity is a top priority.

Online high schools are a new and impor tant innovation. Their popularity is growing rapidly. One can only wonder if the future of education will have everyone learning from home at an online high school.

March 2007

Features

15

Senior Making a Name in the Graphics World

By Mallory Kelly Permanent Conference, which is a conference held DaVinci Code, and Casino Royale. Karlsson has Layout Editor

for the world’s leading designers. Being the youngest also contributed to Dodgeball, Wimbledon and Although we all criticize the Oswego High School designer there, he was asked to speak briefly about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to name a few.

When asked where he sees himself in 20 on a daily basis, there’s no doubt we have some of his involvement in the industry at such a young age. the most talented students around. We walk around Undoubtedly, interning at The Happycorp got years, Delaney replied, “I hope to be working in my the halls each day, and aren’t even aware that we are Delaney’s feet wet. Designers from around the globe own design agency where I will have three differknew him by name, and his work was ent locations set up. They’ll be in New York City, sharing them with some of the smartest, most unique and talented kids of published. He was featured on our area, yet we don’t even know it. the cover as well as in features of A lot of you would never guess, but Computer Arts Magazine, Photoshop Creative Magazine, Semiif you get past his jokes and carefree Permanent and The Post -Standard. in-school attitude, outside these walls, Since then, he has had clients such OHS senior Nick Delaney is one of the as MTV, HSBC banking, Fox networld’s youngest multi-talented artists. works, Vapor and BPM magazines, At the age of ten, Delaney began Nike, Nokia, and County Line graphic design as a hobby. “It started Choppers. As if this isn’t enough, off as something I did for fun, until Delaney won the 2006 Scholastic I realized a lot of people liked my Gold Key award, was a 2007 runner work and I would do it for free. Then up, and won upcoming designer of I realized I could make money with 2006 in Computer Arts Magazine. it, and started charging clients,” DelNick Delaney aney said. He began using Paintshop Typically, people wouldn’t expect Pro to do artwork, a teen to get but shortly after “I hope to be working in my own design awards like upgraded to Adothis, especialbe Photoshop, the agency where I will have three different ly when they Courtesy of www.mtv.co.uk most well-known locations set up. They’ll be in New York were raised A Nick Delaney original creation for MTV UK. program for artists in a city like today. In the sum- City, Los Angeles and London.”

Oswego. Critics Los Angeles and London.” For right now though, mer of 2005, when can be especially Delaney says he will stay focused on the compleDelaney was sixteen years old, he got the opportunity harsh on small town prodigies. At first they got to tion of Vandal, a global network he’s founded with to intern at the Happycorp Global Design Agency in him, but he quickly learned to use the criticism to other designers. (This is similar to a design agency, New York City under Doug Jaeger (dougjager.com) his advantage. He admitted, “Originally I took it as but more freelanced.) He’ll also continue to soak up who has been featured on CNN, Fortune Magazine, if they were out to get me, but at this point I realize the luxuries of being a senior, and look forward to and in the New York Times. While interning, the self- they were just trying to help. Now I can just turn it graduating alongside the rest of his class this June. made teen artist had his own apartment in the upper into something positive that will improve the quality To s e e m o r e o f D e l a n e y ’s w o r k , v i s west side of Manhattan. He had the chance to work of my work.” However throughout the good com- i t h i s w e b s i t e , a t h t t p : / / w w w. n d e y. o r g . hand-in-hand with clients and help organize the Semi- ments and bad, his family has always been supportive, Delaney assured. The biggest challenge, he says, has been keeping up with the industry and how fast it moves and changes.

After high school, Delaney plans to attend the Art Institute of New England, in Boston Massachusetts, where he recently received a scholarship. “I don’t really think college will do any good for me knowledge wise, but in networking and understanding the industry, college will definitely help me out.” He hopes to work with Jens Karlsson, the creative director of www.bigspaceship. com, later in life. “He’s a great talent with incredible potential to become one of the best in this field.” Karlsson stated in a docucourtesy of www.dior.com ment about Delaney. Karlsson has courtesy of nick Delaney designed for movies such as The Dior was the client for this 2006 Delaney design.

A Nick Delaney original graphic.

Buccaneer Bulletin

March 2007

Entertainment

16

New York City Hosts a Wealth of Music Talent

By Fred Maxon Art Director

With a population of about eight million people, New York City’s diversity gives it an equally diverse music scene. With artists in all walks of life, this music scene ensures that New York has a style of music for everyone. Two artists, Gregory and the Hawk, and The Age of Rockets add to the wealth of musical talent that is included in that population of eight million.

Gregory and The Hawk is the stage name of solo artist Meredith Godreau, an upstate New York-raised acoustic artist who was born into a musical family. Her mother used to sing a lot when she was little, and many of the games she and her brother played when they were younger revolved around songs. She played violin and viola throughout high school, but says that she tried “practically everything.”

With a guitar as her instrument of choice, she has self-released an EP, titled Boats and Birds, and plans to release a new album in the spring.

She fondly remembers her first gig.

She was fourteen. Godreau and her friend, Erica, went to a local coffee shop for an open mic night under the band name Virgo. “There were two people there and they recorded the set on this handheld thing.” She explained, “I still have the tape and we didn’t even play a whole song, we just giggled.”

When questioned about her creative process, she explained that it’s best when it happens all at once.

“I try to put myself in the situation and then objectify and simplify it until it’s just the setting and the feelings.”

As advice for musicians, she says that if it seems like work, “Do something else till you want to you want to make music again.” She also recommends that to be recognized, it is helpful to start a MySpace profile.

She really likes MySpace because “You can find all the music you want and tell your friends about it if you want.” As a last piece of advice, she tells aspiring musicians to, “Play as much as possible…just like anywhere.”

And as for the name, Gregory

Buccaneer Bulletin

Rogers and Macwilliams were not a and the Hawk, Godreau says that Gregory is her brother’s name and the part of the band when this album was hawk, well, she just “pulled out of the being made; they joined after the fact.

For his next album, his synth, a air.”

Korg MS2000B, will take a break A good friend of Godreau, and a full orchestra will take its place.

Andrew Futral, fronts the indie“With an orchestra, the specific notes electronica-rock band The Age of and arrangements are much more Rockets with Bess Rogers and Saul important than just the sound of the Simon MacWilliams joining later specific instrument. Also, it’s much on. Futral was born in the 1980s to more fun to write parts for solo cello parents he describes as “Buddhist and harp than to program them in a hippies” in New York City, but synth. I am trying very hard to make moved to the suburbs when he was it a happy album… or at least more thirteen. As a high school student, happy than the last one. Also it is he studied drums, but then picked going to be a musical palindrome up guitar as he started listening to which is just as more music. When crazy as it sounds.” he realized he He describes it as was going to be the best and worst a musician, he decision he has ever says “It wasn’t made. a big moment When he goes of excitement or about writing music, discovery, it was he starts with the more like a quiet texture of the song little click into first.“I go into the place, like, ‘Oh so song knowing where this is what the rest on the album it is of my life is going going to be placed to revolve around? and what the general Ok.’” He stated vibe needs to be.” that it wasn’t until Photo Courtesy of Jenny o.

Giving himself college that he limitations makes really understood The Indie-electronica-rock band, The Age of Rockets. it easier for him, he song writing. says. “Then, the goal is Billy Corgan and not ‘write a song’ but it’s more like Morrissey are his major influences.

“Both of them write really sad songs, ‘Ok you need a chorus that can work quietly and then loud so you can but tend to have something else in have two variations and a verse part them to help balance it. With Moz, that works in this key and blah, blah, it’s usually humor and with Corgan, blah.’” As for lyrics, he spends days it’s usually a sense of optimism,” he of what the song is going to be about explained. Radiohead, Sigur Ros, first, and reads books with a similar and classical music such as Debussy, tone. “I have been reading a lot of Satie, Stravinsky and Bach also have influenced his work. “It’s really great Italo Calvino who is nothing short of amazing. Everyone should read ‘If to see a band like Sigur Ros use that on a winter’s night a traveler’ Also vibe and those textures to create a lot of Sylvia Plath. Her collected music that feels very current.” works is essential, I think, for anyone Futral is very happy about the interested in writing lyrics.” success of his first full-length album, On his list of goals is to find The Drive Home. “People message a nice independent record label to me on MySpace all day long and help promote the band overseas and I respond to just about everyone. I know you can’t really tell much from around North America, in addition to looking for new management for someone’s MySpace page, but it’s them. “I don’t want to be all that big, nice to get notes that say things like but it would be nice to not have to ‘Hey I was having a bad day today worry about money as much as I do.” and then I heard your song on the He came up with his name radio and it put me in a good mood.’”

during a time in his life when he was wearing black v-necks and black Buddy Holly-style glasses, and so he wanted a slight 1950’s ring to it. “The Age of Rockets” is taken from one of his favorite Smashing Pumpkin songs “The Age of Innocence.” His philosophy behind band names is that “band names should kind of roll off the tongue and not be such a force by itself.”

Futral has very good advice for musicians-to-be. “Study the crap out of the music you love. Delve really deep into it. Study the syllable count between verses and the melodies.

How does the song unfold lyrically?

How do they unfold in terms of instrumentation? I see a lot of kids with solo projects out there and they always forget that songs can move and can have direction. It’s usually a guitar strumming the same few chords and the songs are boring, not because they are bad songs, but because after thirty seconds nothing much changes and there is nothing there to keep the listeners listening.

Also, and this may sound like a joke, but study a lot of pop music. Lots of Avril [Lavigne], Kelly Clarkson, Justin Timberlake, all that stuff. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like it, but those are very well-crafted songs and there are lessons to be learned inside of them. You don’t have to make music like them, but those are songs written by the some of biggest writing teams in music.” In addition to that, he says that reading a lot is key to making music. From poetry to astrophysics books, he says to read non stop. As a last piece of advice which doesn’t necessarily have to apply to music, “It is very dangerous to decide something sucks without fully understanding it.”

If you would like to check out Gregory and the Hawk or The Age of Rockets, you can go to www. gregoryandthehawk.com and www. theageofrockets.com, respectively.

Also, each has a MySpace, so you can check them out there too. By going to their websites, you can find out more about buying their CDs (if they suit your taste).

While New York may be a city of eight million, these musical artists certainly stand out.

March 2007

Entertainment

17

Should Mp3 Players be Allowed in School?

You’re sitting in study hall, you have no work left to do, and you’re bored out of your mind. Instead of talking, which you know will get you in trouble in your heavilyemphasized silent study hall, you throw the head phones of your iPod into you ears and attempt to pass the rest of the period. Soon five minutes has passed, but suddenly you’re getting yelled at and having your iPod confiscated.

Why? Because according to school rules Mp3 players aren’t allowed… even in the cafeteria and study halls. Despite the fact of these tiny music devices make no noise and are no disruption to people who are doing work, they are not allowed. School officials have various reasons for having put a ban on Mp3 players, for example they may have banned these tiny objects because less time will be spent on music rather then schoolwork, and sometimes noise can be heard from the head phones if the music is turned on loud enough.

There is a simple solution for the music which is played too loudly; tell students that if their music device gets too loud, then their Mp3 player will be taken away. As for a solution from the music stopping the student from doing homework, there is no simple answer.

Yet, most students would listen to their iPod when they have no homework, not while they are concentrating on major assignments.

You can walk into any study hall, at any time of the day and there will be students sitting there bored. If you watch long enough, they will eventually get into trouble because of their boredom. Many students don’t have enough homework at the time in which their study hall is, and they are supposed to keep themselves busy. When they don’t keep themselves busy, most students end up getting into trouble because they will start talking with their classmates. If students were allowed to listen to their music, it would most likely keep silent study halls silent.

Another reason that Mp3 players should be allowed is for athletic purposes. Not only would it keep study halls quieter, but it would allow athletes to begin getting themselves ready if they have a game later in they day. Since almost all of the athletes here at OHS listen to some type of pre-game music to get them “pumped up,” why not let them start achieving their game mind set in study hall?

It truly is pointless to ban such harmless things in study halls and in the cafeteria. If a student wants to listen to music, there is no reason that he or she shouldn’t be allowed to when it causes no distraction to anyone else. It is undoubtedly a rule which is in need of change.

Buccaneer Bulletin

Distraction. That’s all that an Mp3 player is to students. We come to high school to learn not to listen to music. If you want to listen to music you should sign up for one of the many music classes offered here at OHS. Some students claim they cannot work without their beloved tunes but honestly getting inspiration from Fergie “making the boys go crazy” or Justin “Bringing Sexy Back” but these songs won’t get you an A on that English essay you’re writing. Although Beyoncè is “irreplaceable,” I don’t think she can teach you trigonometry.

If you are someone that has been blessed with the gift of multitasking, then I’m sure you can complete your schoolwork while listening to your favorite songs on your iPod, but at a cost to your fellow classmates. There are some disrespectful people who hum along with what they are listening to. They may not realize they are doing it, but still annoying. If you don’t listen to music you can’t hum, problem solved.

Then there are the future American Idol contestants who attempt to inanimate Kelly Clarkson belting out a few high notes while being judged by your peers, who I’m sure are thinking you are the equivalent to William Hung, the infamous “She Bangs” Idol contestant.

Lastly, you have those who don’t sing or hum, they play their music so loud that even if you are on the other side of the classroom you can still Photo by Abby Martin hear it. Their devices are not personal music players, it’s like they are carrying a “boom box” around.

Though you may think that there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to listen to your iPod during a study hall, let me remind you that there are on rare occasions the students who use those study halls to study, which can’t possibly be done sitting next to a Whitney Houston wannabe hitting that high note. Sorry, but with-out Mp3 players at school, there is no problem.

It’s only a few hours without your beloved iPod; I’m sure you can handle it.

Is there a hot topic here at Oswego High School that you would like to see debated in this Point/ Counterpoint forum? If so, e-mail Editor-in-Chief Kevin Kearns at kkearns@oswego.org and we’ll consider it.

March 2007

Sports

18

Coach Rowlee and Dancer King Mix It Up

By Chrissy King Managing Editor

Some people may say that one sport is better than the other or that one is harder than another, but in all honesty, they have never tried the other sport. This was the situation between Mr. Chuck Rowlee, a technology teacher at OHS and girls’ lacrosse coach, and me, a dancer.

Passing, checking, and running are all exercises associated with playing lacrosse. These things are very different from exercises associated with dance such as pliets, arabesques, and jetes.

All of these exercises are difficult to master. However, a month ago according to Rowlee, the exercises performed in lacrosse were way harder than those performed in dance because dance “is not a real sport.” Obviously, I had to disagree and in order to show Mr. Rowlee that dance is not only a sport but an art I thought it was about time the he give it a try. In return, I would try lacrosse.

So, in keeping my end of the bargain, I went to open gym at the middle school with all the girls who play on the girls’

lacrosse team at OHS. At open gym, the girls run drills to work on skills that they will use in their games (this is similar

but after a while I got the hang of it. I was nowhere near as good as the other girls who could run, catch, cradle, and

Photo By abby Martin

Always a good sport, Mr. Chuck Rowlee (center) takes a dance lesson at Lisa’s Centre of Dance Artistry.

to how dancers take ballet classes to work on their technique so they can use it in their dances.) At first I was a little rusty at catching and throwing,

pass all within the matter of about five seconds (it probably took me at least a minute to do all of that). After open gym I realized how much of a strenuous

sport lacrosse really is. I now have a new respect for lacrosse players because it really is a tough sport. However, Rowlee did comment that I did well and I could try out for the team if I wanted to.

Rowlee kept his end of the bargain as well and accompanied me to dance class. Although he was a little late, he still was a good sport and gave the class his all. We started off in the center of the floor with a warm up that consisted of jumping jacks, stretching, and running in place. We then went across the floor learning step ball changes, a jazz square, and grand jetes all of which Rowlee did very well. As a dancer, I have to admit; Rowlee wasn’t all that bad; he honestly did really well with the class and picked up the choreography quickly. After class, Rowlee commented, “My muscles are all sore now, I never knew dance was so demanding.”

So in the end, I believe that Mr. Rowlee and I both have a better understanding of each other’s interests and the sports that we play. Both are difficult, but also both are rewarding and (most importantly) fun.

Returning Coaches Should Keep their Jobs

Anyone who follows sports has seen a time in which a coach took a cellar-dwelling team and turned it into a national powerhouse. This happens all the time in movies, most notably Hoosiers and Coach Carter. But this also happens in real life, for example George Karl’s turnaround with the Denver Nuggets in ‘05. The Nuggets were in eleventh place in the Western Conference with a pitiful record of 17-25 – which put Denver six games out of the playoffs. Karl ended up leading the Nuggets to a 328 (.800) record and a seventh seed in the postseason.

Time and time again miracles like Karl’s Nuggets occur, so the notion that a coach is as important as any player is well justified.

Unfortunately, any coaching miracles at OHS have an obstacle that complicates everything.

According to the rule at our school, a teacher has the preferred right to any coaching job, over anyone outside the school district. Personally, I think this rule is acceptable, however the fact that once a coach outside the school district takes an Oswego

Buccaneer Bulletin

coaching job, that job can also be taken away at the applied at OHS to coach basketball if an opening end of every season, by a teacher. I believe part of occurred. Would a teacher be given the job over the rule is unacceptable.

Boehiem just because he’s a teacher? The answer is The overall goal for any school varsity team yes. is to ultimately win and be respected by their A perfect real life example of this is the varsity opponents. Many times, someone who is not a swim coach Mr. Rick Klien. Klien took over a teacher may be more qualified and simply a better struggling swim program seven years ago at OHS. coach than a teacher. Yet, it is justifiable that when Soon he turned that around and went as far as an there are coaching vacancies that teachers have first undefeated league championship in 2004, during dibs. But why, if someone outside the district claims which, Klien’s team ended Liverpool’s unbelievable the job, should any teacher be able to take it away?

56 meet wining streak. Unfortunately, despite all of The necessary action his success, there is by our school, should The overall goal for any school almost no job security be to “grandfather” because any teacher varsity team is to ultimately win and could take the team in coaches unless they are not fulfilling be respected by their opponants. over if they wanted expectations. to, even if that teacher There are plenty of times that the better coaches didn’t know the butterfly from the doggie paddle. will be found outside the school district. For Putting in a “grandfather” rule admittedly example, let’s say that the recent football coaching wouldn’t solve everything, but it would stop any vacancy had been filled by a non-teacher instead of coach from taking a successful program, away from

by Mr. David Gryzca. If this teacher had brought someone who had built it up. Rarely if ever will a about an undefeated season in 2005, which included new coach take over a successful program and keep a run at the state title, how would everyone feel if it on the same level as his predecessor. Allowing for the next season a teacher took away that coaches teachers to fill a vacancy is going far enough; a job? This situation may be a little extreme, but it rule which stops teachers from just deciding to could happen. coach and taking away a good coach’s job, is almost Equally extreme would be, what if Jim Boehiem necessary.

March 2007

Sports

19

Kangah Called ‘The Fastest Buc Runner Ever’

By Kathryn Lazarski Sportswriter

In its 154-year history, Oswego High School has had thousands of athletes. Some of whom have even gone on to play for Division one college programs and a rare few have even managed to make it to the professional ranks. So, when veteran Track and Field coach Mr. Erwin Dewey, who is very familiar with Oswego’s past, classified Charles Kangah as “the fastest person to ever run for OHS,” one knows that Kangah truly is a rare talent.

This year, Kangah attended sectionals for three events during the indoor track season. His events included the 55 meter dash, the 300 meter dash and the 4 X 400 relay. At the sectionals, he placed second, first, and fourth, respectively in those events. Although Kangah did well at sectionals, he was still disappointed with his outcome. “I went in thinking I was going to do better than that,” he stated. “I’m not upset, I just wish that I did better.”

Although Kangah only ran in three events at the sectionals, he wishes he would have been able to participate in the 200 meter dash, which happens to be his favorite event. “I like it because it’s not too long, but not too short…I can have a bad start, but I still have time to make up for it before the race is over.”

Kangah’s best time in the event is 22 seconds, even though he thinks, “I could have gotten that time down.”

For the past four years, Kangah has been run-

Buccaneer Bulletin

ning strong for Oswego High School.

This year all, of his hard work paid off by being recognized by the Section III committee. Kangah was named a First Team All-League runner for Track and Field, meaning that he basically makes fast people look not so fast. Along with the Section III honors, he also placed third in the State and fourth in the federation meet.

Although Kangah is unsure where he is going to attend college or what he wants Photo Courtesy www.tullyrunners.com to major in, he said Charles Kangah has represented OHS in teack & field throughout his high that he will “def ischool career, with tremendous success against the best runners in NY. nitely be running.”

“I’ve loved running “I’m going to miss everyone here,” stated Kangah. “I since I started…It’s a great stress reliever and ran with a great group of guys and it won’t be the same I’m not sure what I’d do if I wasn’t running.” without them...The only thing that they have to rememKangah will be missed by the Track and Field team, ber is, ‘You haven’t got a future if you live in the past.’” since they are losing their MVP for next year’s season.

March 2007

Buccaneer Sports Volume 10 Number 5

Score:

Oswego High School’s Student Voice

Mother Nature 1 Spring Sports 0

March 2007

Buccaneer Flashback 20 Years Ago (1987)

For the first time, Oswego High School fielded a varsity boys’ lacrosse team after the success of the “trial” junior varsity team the previous year. Due to the JV record of 14-7-1, the former All-American Mr. Dave Gillmeister was appointed as the head coach of the new team. Although the lacrosse program had not yet won the support of the majority of the community, the boys’ team still made progress in their first year as a legitimate spring sport.

10 Years Ago (1997)

photo by alyssa holland

The softball field wasn’t ready for real practice on March 12, so the team played “Shovelball.”

Winter Wreaks Havoc with Sports

Kailyn Gray Sportswriter

Oswego was hit hard by snow this year, everyone knows that. We’ve dealt with the hordes of news stations in town trying to get the latest scoop, the loss of our winter break, and of course, talk of where to put all the snow. To the athletes who participate in a spring sport here at OHS, it could be even more of a headache. The record snowfall could have an adverse affect on the high school’s spring sports teams.

Despite the fact that most of our athletic fields are still buried by snow, some athletes and coaches are optimistic that the start of this spring season is no different than past years. “Our early practices were in the gym,” says sophomore JV softball player Carley Carson, “they won’t postpone them.”

Baseball coach Mr. John Finch also seems unconcerned about the snow affecting his season. “Every year we start off indoors anyways…it seems like this year we’re going to be inside a little longer.”

Regardless of the ext ra time spent indoors practicing, Finch says that tryouts were not postponed, and no practices were cancelled.

“We’ll always practice; we’ll just have to adjust to being indoors instead of outdoors,” he said.

Even with the confidence of some, others are concerned whether or not they’ll be able to

start playing on schedule. “There’s a possibility that if it doesn’t melt, we’re not going to be able to play outside. We’ll have to play in the gym,” said freshman lacrosse player Maia Czarnecki.

Softball coach Mr. Mike McCrobie has seen all kinds of weather in his years at OHS, but is more concerned this season. “The grounds crew did a great job with the mild weather in November and December. In fact, our field was playable in December. My worry is that the snow that was removed from parking lots was placed in mounds on or near our fields. When those piles melt, it will cause problems for the varsity and JV softball fields,” he said.

With some teams stuck indoors for the first few weeks of practice, a schedule has been made up of when and where to put everyone. “There’s a whole practice schedule with everyone slated where they’re supposed to be and when,” said Athletic Director Mr. Brad Dates. This seems to be nothing new for Oswego High School’s spring sports teams.

Not only is the snow going to have some affect on the spring season, but it also interfered with the end of the winter sports season. According to Dates, some winter teams’ games were postponed several times, and some games were completely cancelled due to snow days.

Hopefully for our spring coaches and athletes, it won’t be too long before we can say “let the games begin!”

Oswego High School student Todd Caroccio was given an all-expenses paid trip to the ESPY Awards in New York City. Caroccio wrote and submitted an essay about an athlete who inspired him and he ended up winning tickets for the sports world’s equivalent to the Oscars.

While in NYC, Caroccio was able to meet Gregory Hines, George Steinbrenner, and Tyra Banks. Caroccio was the only student who submitted such an essay from OHS, and he was proud to say that he received no assistance on his award-winning piece.

5 Years Ago (2002)

The OHS softball facilities underwent major renovations for the 2002 season. The varsity field received new block dugouts with permanent benches and security gates as well. Oswego Youth Softball program and Lady Buccaneer program representatives met to plan the joint venture. Businesses throughout the city helped to create the new “Home of the Lady Bucs,” and also made arrangements to equip the JV field with the new dugouts later as well.