Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School at Donna Klein Jewish Academy
9801 Donna Klein Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33428
INDEX
Sports............1-2, 11 Feature................2-9 Editorial...............10 Entertainment.....12 Volume V | Issue I | June 2018
Rosenblatt High School 2018 Sports Recap By Michael Sherman and Chase Moed Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School’s Eagles had an outstanding sports year. The soccer, volleyball, cross country, and golf teams all had strong seasons, with the flag football team ending their season by winning its second championship in a row. The team has gone undefeated for the past two seasons. The volleyball team finished in the Florida High School Athletic Association State Final Four for the second consecutive year. The cross country team completed a long and rigorous season, ending with their participation in the District run. Not to be outdone, the golf team had a successful season as well. The Eagles soccer team, led by seniors Dylan Joseph, Adam Salama, Adam Saitowitz, Robbie Shinder, Matt Lipson, Dov Colman, and Justin Hier, soared to greater heights this season than ever before. The team brought
home the school’s first ever Florida High School Athletic Association District Championship by defeating cross campus rival Katz Yeshiva High School. Yeshiva took an early 1-0 lead until star defender and team captain Dylan Joseph took advantage of a handball and perfectly placed a penalty kick to tie the game at 1-1. To-
ward the end of the first half, junior Avi Mayron converted on a corner kick to score the eventual game winning goal. “I saw a corner kick was coming, so I just tried to position myself the best I could. Got into the right side, back post, hit it in. Simple,” Mayron said after the game. After a near perfect
season last year in which they made the State Final Four, the Lady Eagles volleyball team had another near perfect season, returning again to the Final Four this year. The team has been playing together for several years and the chemistry is evident. Olivia Galel, a middle hitter and defensive specialist for the Lady Eagles, said, “The Continued Page 2
Senior Adam Salama drives the ball down the field against a defender.
Photo courtesy of David Trell
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Sports, cont’d from page 1 team’s chemistry over the past years has contributed to our success, as we all gained a sense of trust and confidence for each other on and off the court.” Cross Country was mostly comprised of middle school students but was led by Juniors Ethan Kamber and Noah Siegel. In the District run Kamber beat
his own personal best by running a 5K in 21 minutes and 35 seconds. “The weather was nice and the competition was better, so I was motivated,” Kamber said, when asked how this race seemed different from the others. No runners placed in the races, but with all the middle school student talent there is
a hope for the future. Sarah Louis, a freshman, had a stellar performance in the High School Girls District Golf Championship. Louis shot two under par 70 and won the event by seven strokes. She defeated 13 other high school girls golf players from American Heritage, St. Andrews, and Grandview Prep.
Through the leadership of Athletic Director David Trell, Rosenblatt High School Athletics had a year for the ages. The DKJA Eagles plan to continue building on their successes in the 2018-19 season, in the hopes of promoting a winning culture at the school, and keeping the fans excited.
Room 130 converted into multipurpose room with testing, activity space By Ariel Magin
This past year, Room 130 in the high school was converted into a new multipurpose space. This redesigned room can now facilitate many unique classes, including Biomedical Engineering, Mathematics, the Robotics Club, and Pre-Med Club, in addition to many more. With the state of the art ClearTouch Interactive board that have access to the internet, the room allows teachers to incorporate their curriculum with technology. Mr. David Adejunmobi, who teaches Biomedical Engineering levels 1 and 2 and oversees the Robotics club, said the room, “ [Is] definitely useful. The clear touch board is very convenient and the room offers
plenty of storage area.” Many of the students are very pleased with the way the room turned out, such as Noah Rubin, a member of the Robotics team and student in Biomedical Engineering class. Rubin said about the room, “I was astonished by how nicely the renovation came out and the space encourages productivity and creativity.” The tables have wheels on the bottom that can be locked or unlocked, making it very easy to reconfigure them according to a teacher’s needs. Tables can be pushed together so teachers and students can work together as a class or they can be separated and students can break off into smaller groups. This encourages
many different teaching styles that can influence a student’s learning. Biomedical Engineering student Gil Elkarif said the new room, “[is] pretty good. I like it.” Elkarif and many other students see the potential of the room and hope faculty will build on it in the future. The room doesn’t just serve as a class-
room; It can also be used as a place to administer tests to a large group of students, or hold large gatherings. Room 130 has been popular among the high school teachers and students, as it offers something for everyone to enjoy, from the opportunity to learn in a flexible space to the ability to explore new technology.
Engineering teacher David Adejunmobi (right) uses room 130 to demonstrate design principles. Photo by Robbie Shinder
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Katz Yeshiva High School Students: How Do They Like Their New Campus? By William Levenson
Students at Rosenblatt High School welcomed a new neighbor this year, in the Katz Yeshiva High School. Yeshiva arrived to the campus of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County with hundreds of students, and now has a beautiful new home for learning and practicing Jewish traditions and customs. As students at Rosenblatt High School, most of us can’t help but feel a little bit jealous while gazing at what was built for the newcomers, but how do those who’ve inhabited the school next door feel about it? Unsurprisingly, they love it. Dovid Zak, current junior at Yeshiva, said, “I happen to love the new campus. I like the fact that we’re so close to the other schools,” adding that he finds it significantly more convenient to interact with other kids around the campus. Zak mentioned that now, because all of the schools are so close, he has the ability to carpool with other kids in the area. Convenience is something that would certainly affect a move like this, and many Yeshiva students can now be
on the same campus as their younger siblings at Katz Hillel Day School of Boca Raton, or their friends at DKJA. Inter-school rivalries are a key component of every high school experience, and Yeshiva’s move may have just greatly intensified one. In mid-October, Rosenblatt High School played Yeshiva in the flag football championship on the DKJA campus. Rosenblatt High School won handily with a score of 32-8, but there was no shortage of energy on the sidelines. A month earlier, we beat Yeshiva in a much more hotly contested 19-13 win. Both exemplified an unprecedented amount of passion and emotion, as there were many spectators, making every player put every bit of effort into the intense contest. Dovid Zak agreed. “Since the move, in the last couple of games we’ve played against Donna Klein the atmosphere has been so much more intense,” he said, alluding to the aforementioned football games, in which he played. The Donna Klein Yeshiva rivalry is in full effect, and both
teams are all for it. Many of us at Rosenblatt High School have often wondered how Yeshiva’s new campus compares to their old one. Zak has an answer: “The new building is both much bigger and better,” adding that the spaciousness of the campus as well as access to their own gym and sports fields is something they didn’t have the luxury of in past years. This might also be something DKJA students take for granted, given that they have most of these amenities. The new building is certainly a major upgrade for Yeshiva, something that may come as little surprise considering the building’s beauty. Almost all those visiting campus would agree on their thought process while they pass Yeshiva’s building. “Wow” is a common reaction, and it’s hard not to admire it. It is likely wondered, what do Yeshiva students feel when they pass by our school? “Every time I pass [Donna Klein] I think about some friends I have that go [there] and what they’re up to.” The move certainly makes the campus feel more commu-
nal and convenient now that everyone is so close. Ask yourself, what’s your favorite part about the DKJA campus? The bridge? The fountains? The JCC? For Dovid, his favorite part of Yeshiva’s campus is the new gym. He describes it as “huge” adding that Yeshiva students can use it during lunch and PE. “I also love it because we have the opportunity to use the weight room in the mornings.” With the new state of the art building, Yeshiva students have the convenience of weight rooms and a basketball court on campus. Overall, DKJA is glad to open our arms and welcome some new friends to campus. The addition of Katz Yeshiva High School to our campus allows for shared events between the two schools and makes the sporting events more intense. This move brings two formally unconnected Jewish schools much closer together, creating a joined community of students working toward the common goal of learning. So to our new neighbors, welcome. We are more than thrilled to have you with us.
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Quiet study rooms, tutoring spaces added to high school By Aaron Brenner
Quiet study rooms have helped students at Rosenblatt High School throughout the year. In the 2016-17 school year, the faculty formulated a plan to install rooms that are strictly meant to help students learn more efficiently. At the beginning of the school year, the teachers and students started to use the quiet study rooms to give them an outlet to destress and focus on their work. Many students and teachers have expressed their feelings regarding the quiet study rooms. Many students are excited about the rooms
because it provides them with a quiet place to remain focused. While discussing the topic with students and teachers, they indicated the quiet study rooms have been helpful in a number of ways. Noah Rubin, a freshman said, “I love the experience that the quiet study rooms allow. It gives us more freedom to learn how we like to learn.” Rubin also mentioned that it gives him a valuable learning environment in which to study from. Sophomore Michelle Nathanson noted, “It’s a better learning environment not just to study,
but also to study with other people.” Freshman Jake Haskin articulated his feeling on the quiet study rooms saying, “It’s a great place to study and get focused on what you need to do.” Expanding on the idea, Haskin mentioned that he would like the rooms to be just a little bit more comfortable place to concentrate. Teachers from the Rosenblatt High School have also said that it has created more learning and studying opportunities. English teacher Mrs. Lisa Grandovic mentioned, “they are small rooms with no distractions so
it is good for studying.” Mrs. Freedman, a teacher currently instructing all grades said, “The study rooms allow smaller groups of students to take notes, highlight, and view videos at the same time, which enhances learning in all subjects. In addition, she said it’s a time saver, because you can complete work in a convenient space. Study rooms for students and teachers benefit both, and have very few setbacks. From these endorsements, we can conclude that the quiet study rooms are a game changer.
Advisor
Mr. Cory Laub
Team Editors
Andrew Behmoiras - Editor-in-Chief Justin Hier- Managing Editor Robert Shinder- Photo Captain
Staff Writers Noah Bookstein Ariel Magin Aaron Brenner Chase Moed Benjamin Grabelsky Adam Saitowitz Jaim Hirschman Michael Sherman William Levenson Alexandra Starr
Donna Klein Jewish Academy 9801 Donna Klein Blvd. Boca Raton, FL 33428 t. 561-852-3300
Special thanks to Head of School, Mrs. Helena Levine and Principal, Rabbi Marshall Lesack
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An exploration of different branches of Judaism in America By Noah Bookstein
Despite its relatively small following of about 15 million people, Judaism has a very rich history, as it dates back more than 3,000 years and has picked up many different traditions and customs as the religion traveled from place to place. As a result, there are many different interpretations of the Torah and Jewish practice, but in America, there are three primary branches, particularly Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Judaism. Reform Judaism is the largest branch of the religion in America, comprising nearly 35 percent of American Jewry. Holly Lebowitz Rossi, a freelance writer for My Jewish Learning, an online platform for Jewish discovery, says that Reform Judaism’s “theological basis is that, while the moral teachings that Moses received at Mt. Sinai are eternal, Judaism is an ever-evolving set of
practices meant to be explored anew in each generation.” Reform Judaism’s liberal approach to Jewish life goes all the way back to the 1870s. Rossi says, “Reform Judaism was characterized by non-Hebrew services and a general shedding of what [practitioners] saw as practices no longer relevant to a vibrant Jewish life, such as keeping kosher and worshipping in Hebrew.” Today, though, she tells us that “the movement sees itself as remaining true to its foundational principles as a progressive, social justice-oriented approach to religion, while also reintroducing a panoply of practices that were considered anathema to the first Reform Jews in America.” Conservative Judaism is another branch that seeks to balance tradition and change. Daniel Septimus, executive director of Sefaria and former CEO and editor-in-chief of My Jew-
ish Learning says, “The movement professes obedience to halakhah (Jewish law), but at the same time is open to making normative adjustments in response to societal changes.” Rabbi Louis Jacobs, one of the early leaders of Masorti (conservative) Judaism in the UK, says that “Conservative Judaism is the form of the Jewish religion that occupies the middle ground between Orthodoxy and Reform.” Rabbi Jacobs explains Conservative Judaism as “a third movement [that] was thus established and since its chief motivation [was] in reaction to Reform’s untraditionalism. It gave itself the name ‘Conservative Judaism’ namely a movement adopting a more conservative and more traditional approach than Reform.” My Jewish Learning says that “Orthodox Jews are defined by their adherence to a tradition-
al understanding of Jewish law as interpreted by rabbinic authorities over the centuries.” They tell us that “Hallmarks of Orthodox religious life include strict observance of Shabbat (no driving, working, using electricity or handling money) and of kosher laws.” According to Michael Kress, a My Jewish Learning author, “The Orthodox world often divides into two major categories, generally referred to as Haredi and modern Orthodox.” Modern Orthodox, “Also known as centrist Orthodox, was established as an “effort to harmonize traditional observance of Jewish law with secular modernity,” says My Jewish Learning staff, while the Haredi “are the most stringent in their commitment to Jewish law and tend to have the lowest levels of interaction with the wider non-Jewish society.”
Rabbi Baruch Plotkin address the school during a Rosh Chodesh Tefillah. On Rosh Chodesh, the entire school comes together to worship. Photo by Robbie Shinder
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The reemergence of anti-semitism affects Jewish Americans By Ben Grabelsky
Anti-Israeli sentiments have been on the rise lately on college campuses thanks to movements like Boycott Divest and Sanction (BDS). With high profile destruction of multiple Jewish cemeteries in places like Philadelphia and the emergence of the altright, a group of people who seemingly demonstrate a belief in white supremacy and anti-smitism. This has become more of an issue for the Jewish community recently, and much more pressing for Jewish teenagers.
One way Jewish people are fighting the rise of anti-semitism is through their own campaigns to push back against the lies spread by anti-Semites about Jewish people. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is one such entity that is actively trying to fight against hate speech of all kinds. They do this through information campaigns and peaceful protests, on college campuses like George Washington University and the University of Miami. Meanwhile, AIPAC, a political action committee k
that promotes ties between America and Israel, is also on a mission to inform college students and others of Israel’s assets, like their technology, and that an American-Israeli relationship is a good thing. One member of both the ADL No Place For Hate Club and AIPAC is junior Maxwel Supovitz, who took a recent trip to an AIPAC conference in Washington, D.C. to learn more about Israeli-American relations and anti-Semitism. Supovitz’s visit helped him understand how to inform peo-
ple of the positives of the Israeli-American relationship while fighting against the spread of misinformation. Asked about what he learned he said, “Most people have no reason to hate Jews other than the fact that they are Jewish. Many of these people have never even met a Jew.” About what policymakers can do to help, he said, “Policymakers can stop this by combatting the hateful speech spread by Anti-Semitic activists and by making sure we keep up a healthy Israeli-American relationship.”
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High school tudents at the annual AIPAC conference in Washington, D.C. had the chance to sit down with congressman Ted Deutch, representatice of Florida’s 22nd District in the United States House of Representatives. Photo courtesy of Rabbi Baruch Plotkin.
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Rosenblatt High School: A year in review through photos By Alex Starr, writer and Robbie Shinder, photographer
Jon Pritikin, world record holder for rolling the tightest circumference of two aluminum frying pans with his bare hands in less than 30 seconds, came to DKJA to speak to students grades 5-12 about his difficulties being bullied as a child. Before he shared his inspiring tale, Pritikin demonstrated his great strength by picking up two youngs students on a crowbar, and spinning them around in circles. As seen by their smiling faces, the two middle schoolers had a great time! The Lady Eagles varsity volleyball team finished first in their district and finished fifth in the Florida Class 2A, with a season record of 153. This is the second year in a row that the Lady Eagles have won the Regional Championship and advanced to the State semifinals. Pictured here are (L-R): sisters Liv Ball (8th grade) and Maddy Ball (11th grade), as well as Samantha Beauparlant (11th grade) and Rebekah Beauparlant (8th grade). The Lady Eagles hope to advance to the finals again next year.
DKJA’s annual production of the school musical this year was Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which was performed in March. The school play is a great opportunity for children to get involved in the art of theatre, allowing students to engage in creative expression and to showcase their talents in an artistic way. Pictured here is a rehearsal, in which junior Kyle Brenner portrays the villain Gaston.
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Photos, continued from p. 7 Senior Robbie Shinder speaks to prospective students and their families about his experiences in the film and technological programs available at DKJA, at the annual Open House. He was the first of many students to speak about all of the opportunities offered at the school. Also pictured is freshman Noah Rubin (center) and senior Justin Hier.
The seniors from boys varsity flag football team proudly hold their team jerseys after their win in the District Championships. Commemorating their last high school game, are (L-R) Ben Reise, Adam Salama, Matt Lipson, Justin Goodis, Justin Hier, and George Linz.
This year, high school students participated in the third annual “minimester�, a program in which students get to choose from a variety of unique courses that they take over four day period. From courses that teach students how to become CEOs to classes that instruct them how to use breathing exercises and meditation practices in dealing with stress, students learn new and creative skills found outside of the typical classroom. Pictured here are high school students who participated in the Cupcake Decorating course. Art department head Mrs. Anita Schwartz taught the students how to decorate original designs onto kosher cupcakes.
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High school takes on new technology with Clear Touch Interactive Panels By Jaim Hirschman
At the beginning of the school year, Clear Touch Interactive Panels were introduced to high school classrooms with the hope of improving students’ learning and the teachers’ ability to educate them. All of the SMART Boards from previous years were replaced with Clear Touch Panels and some white boards were swapped for IdeaPaint, which was already present in room 126. Clear Touch Panels are large touch screens that can be drawn on, and are designed to be “user friendly,” according to senior Jacob Kazinec. IdeaPaint is a special kind of paint that can be applied to any wall and then
used as a white board. So what exactly are the advantages to using these technologies? Most students and teachers think that the Clear Touch Panels and IdeaPaint are an improvement over the SMART Boards and white boards that were previously used in the high school. According to science teacher Mr. Bowman, IdeaPaint solves a problem by filling in “what would normally be dead space” by creating a surface students and teachers can write on, which can span the length and width of a wall. Bowman and multiple students agree that the Clear Touch Panels have eliminated the “everyday issue[s]” associated
with SMART Boards. The Clear Touch doesn’t require special pens to write on and it does not have “calibration issues,” said Bowman. As with any new technology, there is a learning curve before people entirely understand how to use it to its full potential. Kazinec believes that teachers should learn “how to incorporate the board better” into their classes, to prevent technical issues, such as the panel freezing or not being able to write on it, from happening during class. As some of the teachers become familiar with the technology they “will allow students to use the technology more,” said Bowman, enabling them to participate
more in class assignments or discussions. Students saw benefits from switching to Clear Touch Panels. In some classes students were able to cast PowerPoints or other information from their Chromebooks onto the screens to present to the class. In science and math classes, students are able to use the IdeaPaint to solve equations or collaborate in groups. Overall, students and teachers have found these technological additions to be beneficial. “We are just starting to tap into” these new technologies, said senior Ilan Crane, but as we become more familiar with them, their benefits will become more visible.
Note to students: The Talon staff is recruiting! Are you a writer, photographer, or graphic designer? Come join the newspaper staff and help us bring the Talon into the future!
Editorial
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Advice from seniors: How to Make the Best Out of Your Rosenblatt High School Experience Staff Editorial How should a student approach the student-teacher relationship in the high school? The student-teacher relationship here is one of the most integral and unique aspects of the high school experience at our school. Unlike at other high schools, especially larger ones, students have the opportunity to develop close relationships with their teachers for a variety of reasons. Small class size, a multitude of elective opportunities, and every single teacher’s willingness to devote extra time to their students, allows for stronger relationships to form that extend beyond the basic classroom. For example, Mr. Belotto and Mr. Harris, who are history and math teachers respectively, coach RHS’s Flag Football team, meaning any student-athlete on the Flag Football team gets to know those to teachers are more than just “the teacher who taught me about Abraham Lincoln,” or “the teacher who tortures me with calculus.” Another example would be Ms. Delbo, who oversees the production of the school’s student run yearbook. Any writer or editor for this publication gets the opportunity to know Ms.
as opposed to the business club simply because it suits their interests. Colleges How important are look for students who clubs/honor societies know what they’re keen to a student’s overall on and find ways to get inhigh school experience? volved with these interests. Clubs and honor societies are just two of the high What should a stuschool’s amazing resourc- dent be doing with es and programs. Joining their free periods? While most teacha few of them are crucial to the success of students ers and administrators who are trying to get the agree that free periods most benefit out of their should be spent studying high school experiences. and catching up on as With that being signments, we disagree. said, it is better for a stu- Though we do believe that dent to get involved with some free periods should or hold a position in three be spent studying for an to four clubs as opposed upcoming test or doing to joining 10-12 that work, other free periods, they don’t participate in. especially those following consecutive classes, should When deciding what be spent playing computer club(s) to get involved in, games or hanging out with what should a student’s friends. It is important for primary goal be? Should a student’s stamina that they first try to join a they have time to socialclub that bolsters their ize and relax throughout resume or join one in a the day, and utilizing a field that interests them? free period for these ac Often, students tivities is a great option. tell each other that they should join a certain club How important is it to for the sake of putting it play varsity sports? Varsity sports are on their college applica- tion; we do not find this a core aspect of the RHS to be the case. While join- experience for many stuing certain clubs definite- dents, but are by no means ly looks great for college, the only way to particstudents should join clubs ipate in extracurricular that interest them. For ex- activities. One of the most ample, a student interest- unique facets of varsied in journalism should ty sports at RHS is that join The Talon newspaper almost any student can Delbo beyond her role as the Dean of Student Life.
participate on a team if they so desire. Due to the school’s small size, there are often roles for students who want to participate in sports, especially given the wide array of athletics offered. If a student wants to play soccer, basketball, flag football, cross country, golf, girls volleyball, etc., there is a place for them. However, if a student does not wish to participate in athletics, there are many activities that can satisfy a desire to do more activities outside the classroom, such as theatre, art, or engineering. How bad is one bad test grade? Should you worry? Almost all students can look back to at least one or two tests on which they earned a disappointing grade. That’s entirely normal, but what’s more important than the grade in many circumstances is how a student learns from the experience. Following a disappointing score, students have a couple of options: they can acknowledge the grade and move on or they can use the experience as a lesson for the future. The latter is always the better choice because using a poor test grade as a lesson will motivate a student to strive for an “A” by the end of the semester.
Sports
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Florida Atlantic University football: Former student kicks for Lane Kiffin’s Owls By Adam Saitowitz
For years, the Florida Atlantic University Owls Football Program has been the victim of empty stands and disastrous seasons. Nobody, not even FAU students or Boca Raton Residents, could have cared if the Owls won or lost. That all changed when after three consecutive 3-9 seasons, FAU fired head coach Charlie Partridge and hired former NFL coach Lane Kiffin. Just before his hiring, Kiffin spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, where he won an NCAA Championship and was a finalist for the Broyles Award, one given annually to the best assistant coach in college football. While serving as the Offensive Coordinator at the University of Alabama is indeed a coveted position, it hardly represents Kiffin’s eloquent resume. In addition to being Nick Saban’s right-hand man at
Alabama, Kiffin held three different head coaching jobs from 2007-2013, the most prestigious of which was as the head coach of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. Kiffin’s background enticed the FAU Football program, as its previous head coach, Charlie Partridge, had served as the defensive line coach at the University of Arkansas, a position hardly considered elite, due to the fact that the program won a national championship only once, in 1964 . Even though Kiffin’s coaching resume was undoubtedly impressive, it hardly helped the Owls in their first four regular-season games as they went 1-3 with their most embarrassing loss coming from the University at Buffalo, a program with minimal athletic success. Following the loss to Buffalo in the fourth game of the season, the Owls reportedly held a players-only meeting which Kiffin credits as a being a big
Greg Joseph kicks during a Florida Atlantic University football game. Following his graduation from FAU in 2018, Joseph was signed by the Miami Dolphins, and is currently training with the team. Joseph’s mother, Illana, is a teacher and assistant principal at Donna Klein Jewish Academy’s Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School, from which his brother Dylan and cousin Adam Saitowitz graduated this year. Photo courtesy of Illana Joseph
part of their positive turnaround. In the eight games after the meeting, the team performed beyond its wildest expectations, going undefeated in conference play for the first time in its brief history. One of the biggest wins for FAU this season came when the Owls defeated rival Florida International University 54-28. Regarding the players-only meeting, FAU kicker and recent graduate Greg Joseph said, “It was truly a turning point for the team as a whole.” Joseph previously attended DKJA and currently has relatives at the school. While the Owls’ defense certainly improved since the first four games, the turnaround can mostly be attributed to their lethal offense, which ranked in the Top 10 nationally in both points scored and rushing yards. The only improvement more noticeable than the Owls’ on-field performance is the fandom. Sit-
ting at an FAU football game before the Kiffin era felt like a ghost town, where even the student section was deserted. Now the student section (and the rest of stadium) is mostly occupied, and fans can be seen cheering for the Owls while sporting FAU gear. Nationally, Kiffin has drawn attention to FAU by making waves on his personal Twitter account and by pushing for more Friday night games, which would be broadcast on national television. After just one year of excitement, the fans predict a successful future for the program, so long as Lane Kiffin remains its head coach. FAU finished the regular season with a 9-3 record (8-0 in Conference play) and defeated North Texas 41-17 to win its first ever Conference USA Championship. The Owls concluded their season with a win in the Boca Raton Bowl against the Akron Zips by a score of 50 - 3.
Entertainment
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Movie Review: Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War triumphs with excitement, fun By Andrew Hier & Justin Hier Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War had a great deal of hype to live up to, considering it is the culmination of the 18 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies that preceded it, all of which were designed to build up to this epic crossover film. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo had a monumental task to include so many big name actors and famous characters into a single film, yet they did so seamless-
ly with style in a way that neither inhibited on the plot, nor made the film feel cluttered and choppy. The chemistry that many of the big name characters (Iron Man, Dr. Strange, StarLord, etc.) had on screen is a testament to the talent of the screenwriters and actors themselves, especially because many of these characters had no prior rapport from previous movies. Infinity War also con-
tained the perfect blend of appeal to longtime Marvel fans, as well as everyday moviegoers. Super fans had plenty of easter eggs and references to catch, both in dialogue and set design, yet those same references were not made in a way that would cause casual fans to feel lost. Despite having a 149 minute run time, the movie rarely dragged on, and there weren’t scenes that lacked any function.
Each one pushed forward the winding plot in a purposeful way. The large battle scenes did an excellent job of weaving in different characters, while the smaller and more humorous moments properly balanced the different natures and personalities of the different characters. The movie, as a whole, was the perfect beginning to the epic conclusion of Marvel’s first three phases.