Newspaper: April 2022

Volume LX

April 2022

New Hispanic Subgroup.

Page 2

How to Lower your Carbon Footprint. Page 7

Eastern Regional High School

Sixth Edition

Grammy’s Recap. Page 14

1401 Laurel Oak Road

Giroux Trade. Page 15

Voorhees, NJ 08043

Amidst Ukraine crisis, Eastern helps humanitarian relief

By ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Editor-in-Chief

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ussia’s deadly, catastrophic invasion of Ukraine has become one of the worst disasters in recent memory. Millions of Ukrainian citizens have been displaced from their homes, and are fleeing the country. Almost 1,000 civilians have died, and that’s just counting the reported statistics.

These people are in dire need of aid after the ruthless Russian president Vladimir Putin tore their nation open. In addition, there are countless other atrocities being committed worldwide that aren’t receiving as much media attention. Genocides

against the Rohingya people in Myanmar, as well as the Uyghur people in Xinjiang, China, also represent major ongoing humanitarian crises.

Even though we’re thousands of miles away from these disasters, Eastern can still make a huge difference in relief efforts.

After the crisis in Ukraine made headlines around the globe, Mr. McConnell came up with the idea to organize a group fundraiser open to all of the clubs and activities, students, and faculty at Eastern.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the Eastern community to come together to relieve the damage that is unfolding in Ukraine right now,” he said.

The money collected will go

to the American Red Cross on behalf of the Art Honor Society, and they will benefit Ukrainians as well as anyone in need worldwide.

Donations were collected in the main lobby on April 9th and April 14th, and they will be collected again on May 13th and 18th from 12:00 to 12:30 PM. In addition, Mr. McConnell is accepting the donations in room 314.

The fundraiser is running from April 1st to May 20th, culminating in a blood drive on May 18th in Gym 1. The drive is open to sophomores and above; they can sign up during health or gym class in Gym 4, and juniors and seniors can sign up in Gym 1 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

The blood drive is a way for Eastern students to help a global cause while supporting their local communuity.

Photo supplied by Mr. McConnell

Speaking With Steve: A tale of two kitties and has become a beloved icon among Eastern students.

The Voyager staff has voted, and we are pleased to announce ecently, Eastern has the name of Eastern’s favorite gained a new school friendly feline! The Eastern stray mascot! While walkcat’s name is now *drumroll ing around Eastern, please* STEVE! While walkyou may spot an orange and ing around white cat. This Eastern, you feline gained While walking may see Eastfame through the Instagram around Eastern, you ern’s favorfriendly account, @ may see Eastern’s ite feline Steve ehsstraycat, favorite friendly in the senior and is often spotted in the feline Steve in the c o u r t y a r d .

This little Senior Courtsenior courtyard. orange fur yard. While we ball has dedo not know veloped quite the following, where this cat is getting its food, with the Instagram account @ it seems to be thriving at Eastern

By KAITLIN SWIFT ‘24 Staff Reporter

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Steve boldly eyes the camera while in his favorite hiding spot in the senior courtyard.

Photo from @ehsstraycat on Instagram

ehsstraycats having a total of 182 followers. But you may be wondering, why is this account named @ehsstraycats instead of @ehsstraycat? Isn’t Steve Eastern’s one and only stray cat?

It has been recently discovered that Eastern has not one, not two, but five stray cats! However, only two were willing to interview with the Voyager’s certified animal whisperer, Kaitlin Swift.

The Voyager staff is pleased to announce the name of the second Eastern stray cat! Steve’s new feline friend’s name is *drumroll please* SLIM SHADY!!!

Slim Shady is a white and gray striped cat, as well as an avid Eminem stan. He says he is unfortunately not the real Slim Shady, and will be sitting down instead of standing up. He is very tired.

Slim Shady uses he/him pronouns and his Hogwarts house is Ravenclaw. He is a Libra and has an ESFJ personality type.

When asked if there is a rivalry between him and Eastern’s newfound furry friend Slim Shady, Steve was happy to say that he and Slim Shady get along well, and that there will not be a desert shootout between the two cats.

However, they may have a CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Seniors return from their magical adventure in Orlando! Photo from Leah Snyderman ‘22

What’s Inside?

Is Senior Trip Worth it?

- 10

AP Exam Season - 2

Do Jobs Overwhelm Students? - 11

Academic Challenge - 3 College Acceptance Rates - 4 Spring Lifestyle Changes - 5 Parental Influence on Music - 6 Electric Cars - 7 Earth Day - 8/9

Voyager on Gym Uniforms - 12 “Legally Blonde” Cappy’s Review- 13 Bridgerton Season 2 Review - 14 Phillies’ Power Duo - 15 Track Season Preview - 16

News

2 The Voyager

April 2022

Cultural Diversity Club offers new Hispanic subgroup

By MARCELA TORRES ‘24 Staff Reporter

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s a minority group at Eastern and in the United States, Hispanics and Latinos can oftentimes feel alone as they don’t have many people to relate to them fully regarding their culture, trauma, etc. This is exactly why Isabela Morales, a sophomore here at Eastern, decided to make her own Hispanic club. Her co-leader in this group is Lisania Valencia, who is also a sophomore.

Due to Valencia being a Mexican who was raised in Mexico and Morales being a Dominican-Puerto Rican who was raised in America, the girls found it best to partner up together to make this club since they could relate with other Hispanics with their different ethnic backgrounds. Their different perspectives and Hispanic stories could help others feel less alone.

The process of creating the club for Morales was quite simple. She first emailed one of the teachers in charge of the Culture Diversity Clubs, Mrs. Fannon, to see if it was possible to even create this club. Mrs. Fannon emailed back saying that it was a great idea and that she would

love to advise the club.

When people hear about the club, many minds will go to the immediate thought that only Hispanics or Spanish speakers can join, but this is false.

“This club is for everyone! There is no exclusivity here because separation is why people aren’t fully educated in our culture, so it’s best if diverse people with different backgrounds educate themselves on the Hispanic/ Latino culture,” Morales said.

The positivity that Morales and Valencia give off to their fellow peers makes the club feel welcoming and safe for people to join.

When asking the leaders what others can take away and benefit from the club, their response was to help others have a good time while learning about the beauty of Spanish culture. An example of this was by bringing in Spanish snacks that kids in the club can enjoy.

Currently, the meeting schedule is still being experimented with to accommodate the club member’s needs. The meetings are on days 1 and 3 during Lunch A located in room 34 for general meetings. If you choose to participate in the dancing

“This club is for everyone!

There is no exclusivity here because separation is why people aren’t fully educated in our culture” Isabela said.

Isabela Morales gracefuly demonstrates the choreography of a dance with Señor Datis.

Photo by Marcela Torres ‘24 portion of the club, the time schedule is 2:30-3:00 at room 46.

The dancing portion of the club is optional. The dancing instructor is Señor Datis who is a Spanish teacher at Eastern.

The club will be practicing Bachata, and will perform the dance at an expo which will occur here at Eastern on May 24th.

The expo will contain all of the Cultural Diversity Clubs where they will be dancing something that is included in their culture. This expo is being used to show

appreciation for all the diversities.

The club is being promoted to Eastern students by the leaders personally advertising to their peers, posts on the Culture Diversity Google Classroom, and on their very own public instagram account, @ hsu_eastern.

If you want to reach out to either of the leaders, their instagram social media handles are @izzy_b_busy and @_lisaniavalencia.

AP Exam season is here

By LEAH SNYDERMAN ‘22 Co-Editor-in-Chief

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t’s that time of the year. The weather is getting warmer; the end of the school year is getting closer.

But, before the celebrations begin, many juniors and seniors have one final obstacle.

AP Exams are the culminating tests for all Advanced Placement courses run by the College Board, the same company that administers the SAT. AP courses are the highest level classes offered at many high schools as they are seen as the equivalent to a college course. They help students stand out on college applications, earn college credit and placement, and boost students’ GPAs. But college credit and placement can not be earned without taking the AP Exam.

Exams take during the first two weeks of May — towards the end of the school year. All exams (excluding courses in the AP Capstone program and AP Art and Design program) consist of a multiple choice section and a free response section, lasting for two to three hours. They are scored out of five, with a three or higher typically being awarded college credit. For most AP classes, the entire year is spent preparing for this single test.

Historically speaking, Eastern typically scores higher than the national average on the majority of AP Exams taken. Teachers are sure to build in review time in their lesson plans, and students put in the work outside of school.

“I think my teachers did a good job in preparing me,” senior Dara Hammel said.

Hammel is taking four exams this year and will be attending Washington University in St. Louis in the fall. “I’m especially ready for English, Microeconomics, and Spanish this year.”

For juniors, nerves are high; many are experiencing their first ever AP Exam season, and the scores they receive can impact their college admissions. For seniors, there is a little less pressure. AP Exams fall after the May 1st deadline of making a college decision, so these exams have no impact in the admissions process; they

can only save them from taking a few less courses in college.

Seniors Valora Wong and Vikram Meyyappan are feeling the difference in this AP Exam season.

“I don’t care as much as I did last year because [the scores] aren’t used in admissions,” Meyyappan said. He is the Valedictorian for the Class of 2022 and will be attending Princeton University — after he finishes his four exams for this year.

“I don’t have a ton of motivation to study, but my teachers prepared me well enough that I don’t have to do much outside prep,” Wong said. Wong will be attending New York University and is taking five exams this year.

“I really only care about Calc BC this year because I don’t want to take it in college again,” she said. Placing out of difficult college courses such as Calculus is one of the main reasons to take AP Exams.

While AP credits received from earning a three or higher on the AP Exam are taken at almost every college or university in America, there are other ways for Eastern students to earn college credits.

Eastern offers dual enrollment with Camden County Community College for select courses. These credits will transfer to most in-state colleges or universities, and many public schools will also accept them.

Senior Jaclyn Nyce took advantage of this. She will be taking one exam this year and is attending Pennsylvania State University in the fall.

“I need to take Biology to get the dual credit. I did dual credit through Camden County for most of my AP courses instead of signing up for the exam. It was cheaper and the credits will still transfer, and it saves me the stress of studying for the exam,” Nyce said.

The next two weeks at Eastern will see high stress levels amongst the AP students. Keep in mind the students who have worked towards this exam for the past eight months when you walk by the Media Center during passing periods, as exams are being held here at 8am and 12pm almost everyday until May 13th.

AP Exams are administered from May 2 to May 13 by the College Board, the same company who designs and administers the SATs. Photo by College Board

Amidst Ukraine crisis, Eastern helps humanitarian relief (con’t) during those classes.

Sophomore class president Aden Falk supports the idea of a blood drive to show solidarity for the Ukrainian people.

“Our efforts here are going to help the people in Ukraine; mothers without their children, wives without their husbands. I highly encourage all sophomores to show their support during this truly heartbreaking conflict,” he said.

Aside from the Art Honors Society fundraiser and blood drive, other people and groups at Eastern are making separate contributions. The book club Book Buzz and the Fashion Club are partnering to design and make Ukraine bookmarks, and the AAPI (Asian-American Pacific Islander) union is planning to hold a fundraiser at Mr. Wish.

Mr. Isshak, who teaches the Genocide, Holocaust, and Crimes Against Humanity course, is also giving back in a big way.

He collected donations from all of his classes up until spring break, and personally matched the $650 that was raised by generous members of the Eastern community.

“Every cent counts; it’s one more teddy bear, one more blanket for a child in need,” he said.

The proceeds are going to the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), which has a large footprint in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and helps people of all nationalities.

Regardless of which charity or organization you support, make sure that you chip in and do your part to support the brave people in Ukraine and all over the world who are dealing with horrific circumstances.

“Bad things happen when good people do nothing,” Isshak said.

“‘Bad things happen when good people do nothing,’ Isshak said.”

News

April 2022

Academic Challenge brings trivia to the extreme

By NICK VITALE ‘22 Staff Reporter

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on’t let the name scare you; there are very little academics involved. Run by Mr. Lindenhofen, Academic Challenge is our school’s premiere club for anyone with a nose for trivia.

“It is a quiz bowl, trivial style competition,” Mr. Lindenhofen says about the club. “It’s like “team Jeopardy.”

As far as the team itself, the club’s equivalent to a star quarterback would come in the form of senior Valora Wong, who was a key player in the team’s success this season.

“We actually didn’t have a season last year due to COVID. We continued to meet over Zoom and did trivia questions with each other, but did not compete with other schools. However, we were undefeated this year and conference champions,” Wong said about this season. “I believe two years ago we had 2 or 3 losses, so I was really proud.”

Finishing with an undefeated record, it’s safe to say that the team is back and better

than ever. Although the team may not get varsity jackets or posters on the wall, their camaraderie and passion makes it worthwhile for each member.

However, one problem the team faces heading into next season is the amount of seniors on the roster, as the team is losing eight.

While there is some uncertainty surrounding next year, it surely isn’t enough to warrant any real distress. The bottom line is that if you’re interested in joining, don’t hesitate. The club could use you, and it truly is a blast to be a part of.

While I don’t know that from experience, take it from Valora.

“Academic Challenge is actually a lot of fun, especially if you like Jeopardy and trivia. It’s relatively laid back too. There’s no studying or preparation needed, nor is it based around a specific topic.” says Wong.

“I’m really going to miss it though. It’s been so much more fun and enjoyable than I could have expected or hoped.”

So there you have it. Academic Challenge is a club at our school that is not only a ton of fun, but one that could use you. Feel free to swing by Room 205 to see Mr. Lindenhofen with any questions.

Finishing with an undefeated record, it’s safe to say that the team is back and better than ever.

Water bottle chandeliers: Ms. Hughes’ brilliant idea to save the environment

Dale Chihuly’s chandeliers.

Hughes collected water bottles from Eastern students and staff for about three s you enter Ms. Hughes’ classweeks in order to have enough materiroom, you may notice a very als to use for the project. Chicken wire, unique piece of artwork above string, and paint are used along with the her desk. It appears to be some water bottles in order to make these spisort of chandelier, made of spirals in alrals of plastic into beautiful chandeliers. most every shade of blue you can think of.

“I like that we’re using what would be But how was this masterpiece made, and considered trash to make art,” said senior what is it made of?

Chloe Spence.

Ms. Hughes is one of Eastern’s wonderBoth teams have taken unique approachful art teachers. She has been teaching at es to decorate their chandeliers, using difEastern for five years, and teaches Art 1, ferent colors and techniques in order to 2 and 3, AP Studio Art, Pottery, and Art create their artistic vision. of Crafts.

“We are using a sunset gradient, with Ms. Hughes’ Expression 6 class, Art a mixture of yellows, oranges and reds,” of Crafts, has been said Sharp learning how to “The project was When asked about communicate and their thoughts on the inspired by a goal work as a team project, this is how to recycle materials through their envithe class responded. ronmentally friend“This project has used in art projects ly upcycling projseriously been a blast. from the class. A lot I’ve had a lot of fun ect. For this project, the class is split of waste is typically and I hope everyone into two teams, and made from different gets a chance to take tasked with creating this art class and do projects throughout this project,” said a colorful chandelier made of water sophomore Braxton the year.” bottles.

Brown.

“I think the proj“I really like this ect is a really interesting as a concept, and project! It’s a good way to upcycle somea great way to reuse materials. You just thing that’s otherwise really hard to reneed a good group of committed people use,” said senior Annette Kroes. to make it beautiful,” said senior John “It’s calming, it’s fun, it’s confusing, Sharp. but all in all it’s pretty great. The difficult “It is extremely important for everyone part is attempting to paint the inside of the in our group to contribute. A huge factor bottle and it doesn’t want to spread,” said of this project is collaborating and team sophomore Alvaro Rea-Morales. work,” said sophomore Selin Cagatay.

Overall, Ms. Hughes’ upcycling project “The project was inspired by a goal to has taught her Arts And Crafts class how recycle materials used in art projects from to work as a team and collaborate to crethe class,” said Hughes. “A lot of waste ate a gorgeous, environmentally friendly is typically made from different projects product. The photos speak for themselves, throughout the year.” She was also inand I, for one, cannot wait to see what spired by the designs of Seattle glass artist these young artists create next.

By KAITLIN SWIFT ‘24 Staff Reporter

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The Voyager 3

News Briefs

EASTERN

Scholar of the Month: Leah Snyderman A scholar is a student striving for intellectual activities and pursues academic achievement. As a sincere student of Eastern Regional, there was no doubt when Leah Snyderman received Scholar of The Month for April. Something with such responsibility takes an immense amount of balance between personal life and education. When she is taking breaks from her studying, Leah dances, hangs out with family, and volunteers as a teaching assistant in the Jewish community.

As an active student, Leah is committed to The Voyager, Student Council, Model UN, National Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, and many more activities.

The tedious workload can cause stress onto any student. To relieve any tension, Leah enjoys “family dinner…almost every night…just knowing at the end of day that I get to sit with them.” Having her family as her biggest supporters leads Leah step by step into success. Striving to become a journalist, Leah will continue being a wonder in the making for our high school, even after she graduates in June and leaves for UCLA in the fall.

Eastern congratulates you, Leah!

- Alana McLeod ‘25

REGIONAL NYC’s Eric Adams’s Protection of Mask Mandate The Big Apple is implementing big mandates. The city’s mayor, Eric Adams, placed a mandate that toddlers ages two, three, and four wear their masks while in public. He defended the health of New York City’s vulnerable youth, but the city’s attorney, Daniela Jampel, could not have disagreed more. She took to Twitter to claim that Adams “broke [his] promise to unmask our toddlers.” Jampel’s degradation of Adams certainly was not taken with a grain of salt. It wasn’t long after Adams found the tweet among the populated crowd of Euphoria retweets and Grammys claims when he took action to fire her from her position. The 38-year-old woman is no longer a 38-year-old attorney.

So, to answer Jampel’ concern, the toddlers will not be unmasked, while her job most certainly will be.

- Molly Smith ‘25

GLOBAL Energy Crisis in UK and Asia The energy crisis has taken the world by storm due to COVID and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The International Energy Agency has warned that the energy crunch would last for about two years. Energy prices have risen, and they will continue to rise because of this ongoing crisis. Countries like Germany, who have been suffering, are expanding the amount of energy it sources from Russia. Russia has 40 percent of the energy that Europe uses.

Gas prices rising have also been an effect of this energy crisis. In Asia, Kazakhstan had a 100 percent gas increase. In Uzbekistan, there have been ongoing severe power black outs. Climate change has also been a factor in the energy crisis. The government’s failure to enact proper policies to diminish the severe environmental effects of global warming has caused the natural gas prices to rise. Before the war, prices in Europe increased throughout the winter. This goes to show that COVID, war, and climate change are the reason the energy crises have occurred in Europe and Asia.

- Areeba Mehmood ‘22

This project taught students that having fun and being creative may just be one bottle away.

Photo supplied by Ms. Hughes

Features

4 The Voyager

April 2022

The Class of 2022 faces record-low college acceptance rates

BY ANTONIA ZONG ‘22 Managing Editor

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s March or April of the new year comes around, the warming weather is often accompanied by something much livelier than blooming flora: college decisions.

However, this liveliness doesn’t account for positivity only. While many cry of happiness at being accepted into their dream school, many also shed tears of disappointment and sorrow from harsh rejection letters.

2022 has been no exception, with college acceptance rates across the nation plummeting to record low levels. Schools that once sat in the 20%-30% range now boast acceptance rates less than 10%.

The infamous Ivy League schools now have a RD acceptance average less than 5.375%, with Cornell University leading the top at 8.3%.

So why have acceptance rates in 2022 fluctuated so much?

Much of the answer actually lies in the previous year’s graduating class, the Class of 2021. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, many students of the previous class were unable to participate in enough extracurriculars to make up a polished resume.

With academic clubs closing and com-

munity events canceling, 2021 saw a dramatic decrease in live volunteer opportunities.

As a result, many students of the previous year took a gap year, and resumed their college application process with the Class of 2022. Not only did this raise the competition between individual students, but colleges also received record high application numbers.

After the 2022 regular decision round ended in late March, UCLA saw a 10% increase in its first-year applicants, tallying up to a total of 150,000 applicants.

New York University breached 100,000 applicants for the first time, displaying a 5% increase to a total of 105,000 applicants.

This influx in applications has caused additional competition in specific majors of a college; while U.C Berkeley had an overall acceptance rate of 17%, the acceptance rate of its computer science major was a mere 8.5%.

To add to the ambiguity of college decisions in 2022, SAT scores have continued to remain optional for most colleges. On one hand, submitting a college application and a SAT score could lead to a more critical review of a single application. On the other, it could be a positive attribute if everything else on the application is competitive and strong.

Schools that once sat in the 20-30% range now boast acceptance rates of less than 10%.

SUCCESS Club Spotlight

By CASSIDY GOLIN ‘24 Features Editor

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uccess can mean different things to different people. To some, it can mean achieving high grades, scoring the winning goal, or earning large amounts of money. But, to the Eastern community, success represents bridging the gap between students of every ability.

In a world of adversity, it can be difficult for special needs students to find a place that truly accepts, includes, and caters to them. Eastern’s SUCCESS Club is a place “for all students, regardless of ability, to feel like they belong.” said Kim Sherlock, Co-Advisor of the club.

The SUCCESS club was established in 2000 by Fran Miller “to find a way to connect Special-Ed students with their typical peers.” Said Co-Advisor Lorraine Krul. “The club is a social group focused on activities that foster interactions between members.”

According to AutismNj.org, extracurricular activities for kids with special needs help students to focus on strengths and interests, develop skills, build self-esteem and socialization skills.

The SUCCESS Club has grown to include a myriad of activities. From dance parties to exciting trips, there is never a dull moment with this group. “We like to go to the movies, play miniature golf, and we have a lot of in-house activities around the holidays,” said Mrs. Krul. The group never misses a chance to throw a party filled with music and pizza. “It’s a nice way to come together,” she said, and a way for the members to interact in an environment that is comfortable and safe.

Earlier this month, the club hosted a karaoke/bingo night which included tons of One-Direction throwbacks and candy bars.

Mrs. Krul and Mrs. Sherlock have been educators and friends for over two de-

cades; Mrs. Sherlock as a Job Coach and Mrs. Krul as a school phsycologist. Additionally, they both work in the Special Services departement and have long histories with the SUCCESS club. So, when the former advisor Mrs. Schmidt retired, they were delighted to take over as coadvisers for the club.

Mrs. Krul’s goal for the SUCCESS Club is to receive more involvement from the general student population. For example, she said, “We have access to the students in our classes and Special-Education programs, but it’s harder to get the word out to General-Education students.”

Likewise, Mrs. Sherlock hopes to see a true “buddy system” between general and special education students, such as “Lunch buddies in the cafeterias, at sporting, and special events.” Furthermore, she hopes to see an overall increase in inclusion towards students with special needs at Eastern.

“I often see on the news and social media a “feelgood story” that involves the student leaders (athletes/club leaders) of a high school, including a student with special needs, into their circle.”

She said, “I would love for those stories to be more than just stories at our school.

I would love for that to be the way of student life at Eastern.”

Members of Eastern’s SUCCESS Club get the opportunity to learn firsthand about diversity, inclusion, and friendship while having fun and receiving volunteer hours. Jacqueline Suglia, a sophomore at Eastern High School and a volunteer in the club, said, “being part of the SUCCESS club is a rewarding experience that combines important lessons with the opportunity to give back to the community.”

Eastern’s SUCCESS Club is a place “for all students, regardless of ability, to feel like they belong.”

If you are interested in joining the SUCCESS Club or have any questions, contact the student representatives @jacquelinesuglia2024@eccrsd.us @cassidygolin2024@eccrsd.us

2022 showed a record low in acceptance rates. What does this mean for the current graduating class and future ones?

Photo by Canva.com Even when qualified students apply to less competitive schools, they might end up being rejected because of a policy called yield protection. While no college actively admits to this, admission panels will reject or place an applicant on the waiting list if the student is “overqualified” for their school.

Thus as application numbers increased, yield protection similarly increased for many schools.

This increase in applications can also be attributed to a new wave of international students vying for a spot. After President Joe Biden stepped into office in 2020, a more relaxed foreign immigration policy

has allowed increased opportunities for international students to pursue higher education in the U.S. According to the Common Application site, there was approximately a 34% increase in international applications since 2020.

The effects of Covid-19 delays will be felt even in the 2022-2023 application round, as more changes to the SAT have been made as well as adjustments to the application review process.

Despite this, Eastern’s Class of 2022 has found themselves committing to colleges all over the country.

Investments for Dummies: Top 5 Stocks you should be investing in

By TIANA CYRELSON ‘22 Media Editor

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or new investors, the stock market can be scary. It can be challenging to know which stocks to invest in, which to drop, and when to do all of it. Mr. Sherman teaches a full-year investment course for students interested in learning and covering taxes to day trading. As Eastern’s only Investments teacher, Mr. Sherman was asked which stocks he is investing in currently, and which ones he would recommend.

While Mr. Sherman may be the Investments teacher, these stock suggestions are for informational purposes only. One of the first lessons in Sherman’s class is that each investor should do his or her own research and analysis before making any decisions.

The first stock recommended is WarnerBros Discovery, a streaming option idea formulated in 2021 by former parent company AT&T. A year later, the idea has come into fruition, and WarnerBros Media has joined with Discovery to “create a new streaming platform that includes HBO, CNN and the Discovery Channel, as well as the Batman and Harry Potter franchises.” According to Sherman, the stock itself has strong buy ratings across the board from most investment advisors.

Next, Sherman mentions Shopify, a complete commerce platform that lets users start, grow, and manage a business.

The subscription-based software allows anyone to set up an online store and sell their products. They recently announced a ten to one stock split, going into effect at the end of June if it is voted in. While this gives the CEO more power by giving him “founder shares”, the stock itself “shows signs of growth and possible continued growth with the appearance of lower, more affordable shares.”

The third stock is short and straightfor-

ward: an investment in Delta Air Lines.

Due to COVID, a majority of airlines experienced a large decrease in stock value due to a lack of air travel. Recently, however, this has turned around, and Sherman expects to see an increase in profitability.

Fourth is the sweetest investment recommendation: Hershey. Known for their chocolate products and other sweet treats, Hershey has maintained a relatively steady hold on the market, however, it has recently increased its profile. The price target was raised to $210 at Deutsche Bank, and with the recent Easter holiday and upcoming mother’s day, it is expected for a raise in value. By getting in now, investors can expect a “lower price than 3-4 months from now when earnings for the second quarter are announced.”

In another tasty recommendation, Sherman mentions Chipotle Mexican Grille, Inc. The Mexican food chain is an “industry leader, whether you high schoolers want to admit it or not.” Their price target was recently raised to its previous value from September, renewing the typical yearly cycle. Each spring, in the early months of the season, fast food chains typically gain some momentum back.

Additionally, the chain themselves have announced a raise in prices, blaming avocados and beef. While this is a disappointment to the loyal Chipotle visitors, it is an opportunity for investors, and one that Sherman encourages students to take.

Photo by Canva.com

April 2022

Features

The Voyager 5

Five lifestyle changes to help you spring forward

By SHREYA KOMAR ‘22 Staff Reporter

R

emember that cold day in early December where you sat, curled up in a ball of blankets, freezing your pants off and wondering how long it would be before you saw the lush green grass again?

Well, the time has finally come. Spring is coming! A new season is another chance for a fresh start to your habits, mindset, and lifestyle in general.

Here are some lifestyle changes to gear you up for the warmer days to come.

Spring Cleaning First up is spring cleaning. It’s April, and that means it’s time for spring cleaning!

It’s the perfect time to clean your workspace, home, and the environment you live in. Start with your room and places you spend a lot of time in. Organization is key in this process.

The Great Outdoors The best thing about spring is undoubtedly the warm, sunny weather. It’s the perfect time to pick up outdoor activities.

Consider taking daily walks or hikes to clear your mind. Maybe pick up gardening and plant a few of your favorite veggies and flowers.

Being caged in under artificial light doesn’t do much for our perspectives, moods, or creativity, so make time to change up your scenery—even if it’s just an open window with fresh air for when you drift off to sleep. Take a lunch break outside, have a picnic, or walk outside after dinner. Change up your usual scenery

and get the fresh, warm air of spring to energize you. Stepping outside into springtime weather (especially after a brutal winter) can quickly switch our minds to all the possibilities of a new season.

Exercise Some people feel guilty after weight gain or indulgence in comfort foods during the winter. Don’t let that be you! It’s okay, as long as you get back into the groove of healthy exercise habits again.

Step up your exercise routine. Add more time or more intensity to your exercise plans, try a new workout, or do a hard push into a new routine. Get yourself hooked on exercising more frequently, before you overthink your plans. Come summer, you’ll be smiling at your progress.

The beautiful outside weather also calls for more exercising outside. Consider taking a run outside or playing some outdoor sports with your friends. Most importantly, find a fitness routine that you enjoy.

Nutrition That’s right people, it’s time to start eating healthier if you haven’t already been doing so. It’s easy to fall into the trap of sticking to sugary holiday snacks and goodies even when the holiday season is over. Well, the spring season is a chance to turn over a new leaf, literally.

It’s easier to start eating more leafy vegetables and juicy fruits when you’re not always craving something warm or sweet.

Try to keep from eating comfort foods and eat fruits and veggies that are in season like berries, apricots, apples, asparagus, avocados, and carrots.

Spring is coming! Here are some new lifestyle changes to help you welcome this new season with open arms.

Photo by Shreya Komar ‘22/Canva Skincare The care your skin needs in the winter months is much different from the care and attention it requires in the spring.

This new season is the time to awaken your skin and get back your natural luminous glow. Give your skin a new goal and switch up your routine.

Start exfoliating to remove the dry skin from the winter, switch to a lighter mois-

turizer, and upgrade your SPF and incorporate antioxidants.

New seasons are reminders of how beautiful change can actually be. So, enjoy this transition into a new season. Watch flowers bloom and never forget to bask in the morning sun. Consider adding some of the lifestyle changes I’ve detailed above.

And now…can I get a drumroll please?…

We welcome spring!

24 ounces, and costs $2.49.

Starbucks Almost equally as popular in South Jersey is Starbucks. They have locations in Target and Barnes and Noble, as well as just Starbuck stores. They have many popular drink options, from coffees, lattes, fruit refreshers, frappuccinos, matcha, and teas. Their food is also very tasty, and they offer an array of pastries and snacks: cakepops, croissants, banana bread, to-go lunches, sandwiches, and cookies. Two other pros are their drive-thru line option and mobile app, the same as Dunkin’.

Unfortunately, one of their biggest locations for Eastern students right across from Voorhees Middle School burned down in March of 2020. Rebuilding it has gone slowly, but hopefully it will be back up and running soon. Starbucks’ biggest fault is their pricing; they are more expensive than their biggest competitor Dunkin’. The largest size they offer is 20 ounces, and an iced coffee of that size is $2.95.

Cafe Flora Cafe Flora is only a few minutes away from Eastern, so it’s a great option for students to grab some coffee, food, and hangout once the school day is over. You can purchase fruit, yogurt, and pastries there, and they have a few coffee drinks.

Another positive reason to go there is to support local businesses, an effort everyone should try to make when they are able to. An iced coffee that is 20 ounces is priced at $2.75, making it less expensive than Starbucks but not Dunkin’.

Koupa Espresso Bar Located in Haddon Township, Koupa Espresso Bar is definitely a longer car ride than other places mentioned. Regardless of the drive, the cafe offers many Greek dishes. You can get Greek-style Avocado Toast, Santorini Mediterranean Pie, Tsoureki Politiko Greek Easter Sweet Bread, and more! They have a great lineup of coffee drinks and even offer types of Greek coffee. Unfortunately, the pricing of the food and drinks is more expensive

than other places, but that can be expected when getting authentic and decadent dishes. A cold brew of 20 ounces costs a whopping $4.39. Once again, like Cafe Flora, it’s always great to support a local business if you can.

Trouble Brewing Coffee House Lastly, another great option is Trouble Brewing Coffee House, located again in Haddon Heights. To eat, many bagel toppings are offered, along with pastries, paninis, and breakfast sandwiches. They also boast an extensive coffee menu, with everything from chai tea lattes, cappuccinos, plain coffee, to their famous coffee blends. The price of these drinks are the highest out of the five shops, with a 20 ounce cold brew costing $4.50. Still, Trouble Brewing Coffee House is a great spot to grab some breakfast and a drink, and you’ll be supporting a local business.

What’s the best option?

After seeing all these options, the obvious question to ask is: what’s the best place to get coffee? The answer to that is that there is no “best” place — it’s all up to preference! Starbucks might make your favorite iced caramel latte, but the food at Koupa Espresso Bar may outweigh that.

Regardless of where you go, there are a plethora of options to choose from in South Jersey, so you’re sure to find one you love!

The best places to go to get a good cup of Joe

By JORDAN KRAMER ‘24 Co-Entertainment Editor

T

here’s nothing better than getting a delicious cup of coffee to kickstart your day, or to refuel after a long school day. Whether it be a cup of black coffee, an iced latte, or a sweet frappuccino, you’re sure to find a drink that you’ll like. The South Jersey area offers many places to get some coffee, from gas stations, chain stores, or a local cafe. Although finding places to go isn’t difficult, I’ve gathered five options that will be sure to fill your caffeine needs!

Dunkin’ The likelihood of driving past a Dunkin’ during a car ride longer than 10 minutes is extreme. There is even one right by Eastern, so Dunkin’ is a very convenient spot to get coffee, as well as their famous donuts and breakfast sandwiches. They

offer many drinks, not just coffee. Teas, refreshers, and matcha drinks are all offered, but they are not as popular as their coffee ones.

One con to getting a flavored coffee at Dunkin’ is the inconsistency of how the drinks turn out. A running joke on TikTok is that sometimes Dunkin’ drinks turn out tasting like “sewer water,” which is not ideal. An extremely important pro to Dunkin’ is the ability to get their drinks or food via the drive-thru line, which is very convenient for people who don’t have much time.

Dunkin’ also has their own app, which makes buying from them even easier. The app allows the user to order what they want from their device and pick it up in store. Rewards are also given to consumers if they buy a certain amount of their goods. The most significant pro is the inexpensive menu. A medium iced coffee is

There are so many places to get coffee it can be difficult to choose which one is right for you.

Photo by Jordan Kramer ‘24/Canva

Features

6 The Voyager

April 2022

Are students’ music tastes influenced by their parents?

By JULES KURPAKUS ‘24 Staff Reporter

T

oday, there are all kinds of music genres that somebody can choose to listen to. Often, a great ordeal searching for the right kinds of music that will satisfy us. But it’s quite interesting to uncover the reason why we listen to the music we do.

To first understand, it’s vital that external factors are taken into account, such as influence from those around us, exposure, and preference that we hold for harmony and rhythm.

Interestly enough, a 2008 Heriot-Watt study concluded that sometimes personality can predict taste in music. In fact, “classical listeners had high self-esteem and were creative, introverted and at ease.” Similarly, jazz listeners were jointly connected, however the small difference being that jazz fans were extroverted.

Another study from Cambridge led by David Greenberg and Simon Baron-Cohen found that cognitive functions can also predict our musical inclinations. For the research, more than 4,000 recruits completed a questionnaire that decided whether they possessed empathetic and systematic thinking. Afterwards, the participants were asked to rate 50 musical pieces from 26 genres.

From analyzing the data, Greenberg concluded that though there was some fluctuation, “cognitive style — whether they’re strong on empathy or strong on systems — can be a better predictor of what music they like than their personality.”

The research showed that empathizers had an inclination to sincere genres like country, folk, or soothing delicate music, such as soft rock and R&B. Those who

enjoyed more intense and passionate music like heavy metal or punk, were found to be systemizers.

A conjunctive study was also provided after researchers realized that the array of genres was too broad. In the follow-up test, a single genre was provided to candidates to rate.

The results provided fascinating insights, like how people who had high empathy had an affinity for mellow tracks, poetic and emotional depth, and melancholy components. On the other hand, systemizers were more attracted to music that exhibited positive and high-energy qualities that stimulated cerebral depth.

Systemizers were also found to score better in classical sections. Though the observation might suggest that classical enjoyers tend to stray from empathetic tones, researchers also noted that “different brain types respond more favorably to different musical attributes rather than genres.”

Coherence and arrangement might be imperative to systemizers’ attraction of a song, however, emphasizers would be drawn to expressive and emotive patterns.

This doesn’t mean that it isn’t possible to enjoy both, but it might imply that some might be stronger in certain areas than others.

Rest assured, you can always figure out what you like by simply listening to music. Experimentation is an easy tool you can use to root out what you like and what you don’t. But if that doesn’t work, there are several online tests available to set you on a path to musical discovery.

Being exposed to different kinds of music when you’re younger also helps. Parents contribute a considerable amount in the development of their children’s music taste. They can either decide whether

It’s not too late to expand your musical horizons though. It’s always possible to find appreciation for wildly different genres.

According to the 2,000 parents surveyed by the streaming service Deezer, 82 percent of parents say their kids react most favorably to hearing new music before they hit double digits.

Photo from majoringinmusic.com you follow in their footsteps or walk in Even so, the familiarization implies that the complete opposite direction when it they’ll appreciate different types of music comes to music. Generally, kids have an as they grow older. open mind to new music.

Dr Hauke Egermann from the UniverAfter the age of 10, however, children besity of York expressed the various benefits come less receptive to unfamiliar genres. to having a wide variety of musical unA vast majority of parents admitted their derstanding, which includes the ability to desire to influence their children’s musiuse music to “manage their emotions, socal inclinations. Deezer conducted recialize and bond with others more easily, search that over half of parents play music as well to have a better understanding of that reminds them of their own childhood, other cultures.” in hopes their kids will share appreciation It’s not too late to expand your musitowards it. cal horizons though. It’s always possible It also found that fathers wish to share to find appreciation for wildly different music they enjoyed more than mothgenres. ers did. Additionally, fathers also gained more positive responses than mothers did, Check out our who in comparison garnered responses that expressed exasperation, annoyance, website at and disinterest in music they shared. voyager-online.org The period of time when a parent does play their role in the development of mufor new content from sical tastes can transcend into adulthood, your friends and but as children reach adolescence they tend to drift away from the parents and classmates! lean towards what their peers listen to.

A tale of two kitties (con’t)

friendly race on Eastern’s track to determine who is truly the best stray cat, just for kits and giggles.

Steve and Slim Shady’s favorite nap spot is the senior courtyard. They enjoy napping near the patio, and hearing the hustle and bustle of Eastern students walking to their classes.

When asked if they saw Legally Blonde during its run at Eastern, Steve and Slim Shady were happy to say that they got to see an exclusive cat friendly showing.

They were impressed with the work of the cast and crew of Legally Blonde, and wanted to congratulate everyone involved on a great show! However, their one critique was that it needed more cats.

While Eastern’s favorite friendly felines will not be accompanying Eastern’s seniors on their trip to Disney World, they wanted to encourage them all to have the time of their lives. You only get one senior year, so make the most out of it!

Steve and Slim Shady also discussed the geese who have been seen around Eastern. They both coexist with the geese, and said that the geese are quite friendly until provoked. Steve and Slim Shady wanted

to advise Eastern students to respect the geese and to feed them healthy foods such as oats, birdseed, and diced grapes.

Steve and Slim Shady do get food from some of Eastern’s staff, and wanted to encourage students to, if they want to feed Eastern’s friendly felines, feed them catsafe foods. Chicken nuggets, while appearing to be safe for cats to eat, have a very unhealthy outer shell that can be harmful to cats and cause them to get incurable diseases. So, if you would like to feed the cats, feed them cat-safe foods such as cooked beef, chicken, or small amounts of deli meats.

Stray cats like Steve and Slim Shady deserve loving homes, so if you find a stray cat in your area and you have the means, take it to a local shelter!

Shelters nearby include the AWA and the Voorhees Animal Orphanage.

Steve and Slim Shady love answering questions from fans, so if you have any questions for our favorite furry felines, please fill out our Google Form. In our next edition, we will be introducing Eastern’s third stray cat! Thank you for reading our second edition of Speaking With Steve!

Stray cats like Steve and Slim Shady deserve loving homes, so if you find a stray cat in your area and you have the means, take it to a local shelter!

Steve and Slim Shady lounging and social distancing in the Senior Courtyard.

Photo by @ehsstraycats on Instagram

April 2022

Earth Day

The Voyager 7

Effective ways to lower your ecological footprint

By LAURA SILENZIO ‘23 Opinion Editor

Y

ear after year, we face the same threat and yet year after year the problem isn’t “urgent enough” to make real change. Three of the world’s most urgent environmental crises—climate change, rapid deforestation, and mass species extinction—are all interconnected problems that compound each other and their impacts on the planet. Anthropogenic sources, our man-made pollution caused by humans, is a huge factor in this.

According to the Global Footprint Network, we currently consume more resources per year than our planet can produce in the same timeframe. What does this mean? We have to change the way we live in our daily lives in order to provide our future generations with a safe and thriving world, unlike the generations before us.

Human Impact On Climate Change Humans—more specifically, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that human activity generates—are the leading cause of the earth’s rapidly changing climate today. The burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas for electricity, heat, and transportation is the primary source of human-generated emissions. Companies like Exxonmobil and Chevron corporation in the United States alone do not care to change, denying or downplaying the effects of climate change, so it’s up to us, the people, to contribute our part to the healing of the planet.

It Starts At Home The easiest thing for every person to adopt into their home is a reduction of single-use plastics policy. Simply avoiding things like plastic utensils, grocery bags, take-out boxes, water bottles, plastic straws, and styrofoam products can drastically change your CO2 output. Replace all of these things with the reusable version. There are plenty of reusable straw

and shopping bag options. Once you do it consistently, you won’t even know the difference. Add Energy-Saving Features to Your Home. Explore green design features for your building, like passive solar heating, a rainwater catchment or greywater recycling system, and recycled materials. Installing a rainwater tank alone would capture rain and conserve water and allow you to use it to water your garden, wash your clothes, and even flush your toilet.

Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products—for not only the environment, but your health too. It has polluted drinking water, increased air pollution, and has also been attributed to the acidification of the soil and mineral depletion of the soil.

Pesticides have been reported to cause several adverse health effects ranging from mild allergies, rashes, breathing difficulties, neurotoxicity and reproductive abnormalities to deadly chronic diseases like cancer.

Create your own garden, mulch garden beds, specifically, choose more native plant species like butterfly weed, wood anemone, and Great blue lobelias as they’re both more likely to thrive and also provide a habitat for native animal species. Not only will you be helping the environment but your lawn will look dazzling and you’ll attract butterflies, pollinators, and hummingbirds.

Changing Your Habits Eat less red meat/eat low on the food chain. Meat consumption is responsible for releasing greenhouse gases such as methane, CO2, and nitrous oxide.

Livestock farming contributes to these greenhouse gases in several ways, most prominently the destruction of forest ecosystems (half of global greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture). I would even go as far as to consider becoming a vegetarian, or at the very least fit a “No Meat Monday” into your week.

You also have the option to compost your food waste (turn it into an organic fertil-

Earth Day might only be one day, but environment are long-lasting. izer that your aforementioned plants will love). Adding Composting into your daily lifestyle prevents soil erosion, promotes healthier plant growth, conserves water, reduces waste, combats climate change, and improves overall soil health.

Reduce your water use. This is a huge one. Simply turning off your sink in between uses and limiting your shower time to less than 10 minutes will go a long way.

Installing a water efficient shower head is also a big help. Lessening your water usage diverts less water from our rivers, bays, and estuaries, which helps keep the environment healthy.

Invest in sustainable fashion companies.

Buying vintage or recycled clothing and purchasing items with recycled content reduces carbon emissions and saves lots of resources, water, and energy. They also prevent old clothing from ending up in landfills or incinerators. Buying secondhand clothing is great for the environment and your wallet.

Use more fuel efficient cars. Fuel efficient vehicles require less gas to go a given distance. When we burn less gas, we cut global warming emissions and produce less pollution, while spending less on gas—a lot less. When less gasoline is

your efforts to conserve the

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

burned, less carbon dioxide ends up in the atmosphere.

All of these things are adaptable with enough effort.

Taking a Bigger Step Purchase carbon offsets. Carbon offsets are a practical and effective way to address climate change and encourage the growth of renewable energy. When someone buys a carbon offset, the money goes to pay for a reduction in greenhouse gases that has already occurred. This purchase supports an existing project. Using them, you can counteract the personal greenhouse gas emissions that you cannot avoid causing —your “carbon footprint” —while contributing to a more sustainable future.

Get politically active Government research and development programs, such as the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy, can drive progress in clean energy technologies and bring them to commercial use. Congress is responsible for authorizing laws to address the climate challenge and appropriating funding for relevant programs.

With your help, you can be a part of the effort to curb emissions and protect public health by urging Congress to enact new legislation.

Electric cars are important for environmental conservation

By ANNA LANGAN ‘22 Staff Reporter

W

hile we may not be surrounded by flying cars, spaceships, and all of the inventions imagined for the future, one major change has emerged within society, and it has become incredibly common within daily life. With many technological developments and improvements in the last decades, the emergence of electric cars has begun. Electric cars are not only becoming more common, but they are becoming the future of roadways.

Many car manufacturers are releasing electric and hybrid vehicles to bridge the gap into the future of their companies.

Meanwhile, other companies are vowing to be completely electric or carbon neutral by 2050. While companies have complete freedom of their individual creations, the car market as a whole is becoming increasingly green with rising concerns for global warming and developing environmental standards.

Electric cars have been in development since roughly the 1890s, but only in recent years has this become a viable option for the public. Now more than ever, with rising gas prices, growing global warming, and new and developing regulations worldwide regarding emissions and sustainability, the need for electric vehicles has become increasingly apparent. Luckily, both traditional motor companies and new corporations founded solely for the purpose of electric vehicles have made this a more obtainable task. Everything from electric supercars to electric work

trucks are being developed for citizens to drive a piece of the future.

As of now, electric vehicles are categorized through five main forms. Electric vehicles, or “EVs” are the general term for an electronic vehicle that obtains power from motors and batteries that are charged with electricity. “BEVs” or battery-powered electric vehicles, are completely electric, meaning they use no gas and have no tailpipe or emissions.

“HEVs,” or hybrid electric vehicles, are the most commonly produced electric vehicles now. They use their batteries which can be charged from the car’s braking and energy to propel the engine. Beyond the battery power, the car can still rely on gasoline but there is a significantly less amount that’s necessary, making it cheaper and more reliable for the driver.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles, or “PHEVs” can be plugged into outlets to allow their batteries to charge, and beyond this they can use petroleum fuel to drive. Essentially they are reliant on a combination of traditional gasoline and these newly developed electric sources. The final and least common non-gas vehicle is the “FCEV,” which is not available outside of California. These fuel cell electric vehicles run on gasses such as compressed hydrogen. They can be filled at stations but this makes it difficult for them to become common due to the difficulty of installing hydrogen stations.

According to the Kelley Blue Book, as of June 2021, “Electric vehicles make up about 2% of the new cars on the road.

Still, even 1% of the 15 million new cars and trucks sold each year is a lot of ve-

Electric cars are a rapidly-growing form of transportation, and they may one day surpass fossil fuel-run cars.

Photo from Pixabay hicles.” So, while electric vehicles are just now making their emergence, it is clear they are only growing more and more popular from here on out. And with the theme Earth Day, keeping electric vehicles in mind is especially important

considering how detrimental gasoline is to our ozone layer and the growing issue of climate change.

Now more than ever, making environmentally conscious choices is of great importance.

8 April 2022

Earth D

THERE IS NO

WHAT IS EARTH DAY? Earth Day was created in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, as a movement to incentivise the issues of clean air and water onto the government’s agenda. In 1990, this movement was revisited, further boosting the use of recycling and prompting the United Nation’s Earth Summit in Rio Grande. Immediately following, Earth Day spread to a global standard, becoming internationally celebrated every year on April 22nd. 52 years later, the holiday was recognized as the largest secular observance, reaching around 190 countries and impacting over 1 billion people.

Bringing needed light and popularity to Earth Day, social media slightly altered the original meaning of the observance. While sharing pictures of your latest vacations and summer sunsets on the beach showcase Earth’s beauty, the real idea of Earth Day is to spread awareness for protecting and preserving our planet. Especially recently, given the ongoing disasters of forest fires, rising statistics of climate change and global warming, and visible pollution lution in the ocean killing our animals, action and awareness are absolute obligations for earthlings everywhere.

The problems seen

by Nelson in the 70’s are returning with more force and power than ever. Earth Day serves as our annual reminder that society needs to solve those problems for the betterment of our planet, before it is too late.

BY Alanna Stein ‘24, Maya Dunk

Day 2022

The Voyager 9

O PLANET B

Change starts with you! We all must work together to improve our planet. Here are three ways you can help:

1. reduce the amount of waste you create According to a 2018 study by the USEPA, the average person produces 4.9 pounds of trash per day. Drinking out of a reusable water bottle rather than a plastic bottle is a great way to reduce the amount of trash you create. There are many stations around Eastern to refill your water bottle throughout the day, so you can stay hydrated and save the planet simultaneously.

2. buy second hand clothes or items Buying second hand clothes from thrift stores is an easy way to save money while saving the planet! Clothes at thrift stores are often much less expensive than those in namebrand stores, and have a unique look you can’t get anywhere else. Goodwill, Red White & Blue, and St. Vincent de Paul are some of the many thrift stores nearby to get some fashionable second hand clothing, so you can reuse and look radiant while doing so!

3. opt for alternate and eco-friendly transportation Although the urge to get behind the wheel is very common for teens after getting their licenses, there are many more environmentally friendly ways to get around. For example, biking and walking are great ways to reduce pollution and reach nearby destinations! Also, Eastern’s school buses offer a much more environmentally friendly way to get to school without creating unnecessary traffic and polluting the environment.

kelman ‘24, and Kaitlin Swift ‘24

Opinion

10 The Voyager

April 2022

Is the Senior Trip really worth the cost?

By TIANA CYRELSON ‘22 Media Editor

D

isney: The Happiest Place on Earth… or is it?

Senior year is filled with highly memorable moments.

From college decisions to prom, September through June is packed with excitement. One of these, in particular, is the senior trip, which includes four days in sunny Orlando, Florida, exploring the Disney and Universal parks.

Unfortunately, however, this trip is not cheap. The 2022 senior trip came to a grand total cost of $1498, which included the flights, lodging, park tickets, and an average of $25 per day in meal vouchers. This minimal inclusion has left some wondering: is it really worth it?

In order to evaluate this, one must consider what is deemed valuable. From a purely financial standpoint, the trip is a waste of money. Mia Reischer, a senior on the trip says, “We could probably replicate this entire experience for much cheaper.”

By booking the trip by yourself or with a group of two or three friends, the average senior would be able to save at least $200. This number could be even higher should the person choose not to stay in a Disney-affiliated hotel. By choosing the self-directed route, individuals would have the opportunity

to pick a trusted airline with convenient flight times, a hotel with more accommodations, and the freedom to explore other parts of Florida.

Not only would students have greater control over their wallets, but over their experience as a whole. While they are thankfully not required to travel the parks with a chaperone, there are strict rules to ensure safety and security. Each morning, students are required to leave their hotel rooms by 8:30 A.M., whereupon they are given their passes to the parks. Each day, students are assigned one park to start but have the freedom to park hop after 2:00 P.M. has passed.

Students aren’t allowed to re-enter their rooms until 9:00 P.M. After spending over twelve hours in the parks, students complained of being overtired, which left a negative stain on an otherwise good day. Additionally, this mandated park time requires all students to buy all meals in the parks: another budget consideration. “It isn’t exactly affordable for most people,” says Maekhi Yarbrough, a senior in attendance on the trip.

Despite all of this, however, the senior trip is a keystone of the year. The long days are filled with roller coaster rides, character appearances, and exciting attractions. Most importantly, it is filled with fellow seniors: a group of people you have grown with and who will soon

The flight home was filled with heavy hearts as students anticipated the gloomy Monday ahead, but none were filled with regret.

Smiling seniors gather in front of the hotel to take a photo before traveling to Hollywood Studios for day 2 of the trip.

Photo provided by World Class Vacations be parting ways. The trip stands as an opportunity to continue to make memories and have moments that will last long past moving the tassel right to left.

At the end of each night, students spend time together in the hotel pool, splashing and swimming to cool off from the Florida weather. When questioned, most students quote this to be their favorite moment of the vacation. While it is not nearly as obviously exciting as Disney, it is easy to understand why.

Ultimately, the senior trip is a testament to nostalgia. It is four days filled with references to beloved childhood movies and, often, the people you watched them with.

Each night in the pool was a chance to make a few more lasting memories before being separated by college and the world beyond high school.

The senior trip is not without its flaws.

The pricing is extreme, the hours are long, and the food is far from gourmet, but it is beyond worth the cash. “I had a great experience,” says Reischer, “I loved being able to hang out with my friends.”

For an incoming senior, the decision is difficult. Money can be tight and the price is steep, which can lead to deep consideration.

If possible, however, take the trip with your friends. The flight home was filled with heavy hearts as students anticipated the gloomy Monday ahead, but none were filled with regret. High school moves fast, but senior year moves faster.

The trip may be expensive, but $1498 is a fair price for the memories that will last decades into the future, and the trip is absolutely worth every penny.

Does it pay to plug in with electric cars?

hours of learning, the ability to charge at school reduces anxiety as well. Commonly referred to as range anxiety, EV drivers often worry about running out of battery ith Gen Z’s evident enthusibefore reaching their final destination. asm toward going green, it Additionally, installing charging stations comes as no shock that our further showcases Eastern’s commitment generation is most likely to a clean world, attracting more out-ofto contemplate investing in an electric town visitors and adding achievements vehicle (EV). According to The Zebra’s to our school’s repertoire. From reaching recently released report, around 69% of optimum energy to easing EV-induced Gen Zs have considered purchasing an stress and even promoting environmentalEV compared to the 48% of millennials. ly sustainable behavior, installing chargAs the demand for EVs increases, the ining stations within Eastern’s parking lot stallation rate of charging stations and the is significantly rewarding and convenient. accessibility to such units must increase Yet, is convenience worth the cost of as well. Charging stations must be built in paying an average of $6,000 per level II public areas such as town centers, office unit? buildings, and educational institutions to Even if the benefits of charging stations further boost eco-friendly car sales. But at our school are apparent, is the extra with the high cost of EVs and charging expense necstations in Begeneral, Chargers in Eastern parking essary? sides, not does it pay many indito plug-in? lots would provide EV viduals travThe upTesla, Nissan, Ford, and el far enough tick of electo come tric cars on BMW owners alike with to school the road is newly gained energy access, with the urundeniable.

Between the hopefully translating into a gent need to charge.

Eastern stupush for more Gen Zs to While the dent body, term “EV” faculty, and buy eco-friendly cars. refers to visitors, at models of least ten numerous popular car manufacturers, EVs may occupy Eastern parking spots Teslas specifically demonstrate this arguon any given day. By installing chargable concept. ing stations, EV owners can plug in and A Tesla takes between six and twelve walk away with the confidence of having hours to completely charge, reaching its a full battery by the end of the school day.

375-mile range capacity. Since the U.S While increasing productivity during six

By ALANNA STEIN ‘24 Co-Managing Editor

W

Electric car charging stations allow for a cheaper, greener form of transportation. Photo from Pixabay Department of Energy states that over 80% of charging occurs at home with personal units, one can assume that most EV owners plug in overnight, waking up to a full battery. Unless one lives 375 miles away from our school, charging throughout the day is unlikely.

Therefore, it is easy to say that installing charging stations is an unneeded investment… when paying full price, that is.

As part of Governor Murphy’s cleanenergy goals, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) willingly offers government grants to offset the cost of purchasing and installing EV charging stations. Upon meeting all eligibility criteria, Eastern must complete an application stating how many units will be built along with the plans for the

physical installation. Once accepted, the NJDEP will reimburse the school with a percentage of each unit. The maximum grant achieved for a level II charging station is $4,000, meaning Eastern would ideally be required to pay only one-third of the full price per unit!

Under the NJDEP’s grant, the benefits of installing charging stations in Eastern’s parking lot seemingly outweigh the detriments. Chargers in Eastern parking lots would provide EV Tesla, Nissan, Ford, and BMW owners alike with newly gained energy access, hopefully translating into a push for more Gen Zs to buy eco-friendly cars.

Even if our school colors forever remain navy and maroon, perhaps adding a pop of green wouldn’t be too bad!

April 2022

Opinion

The Voyager 11

To Revive Our Viking Part Three: The factors

By ARIANNA MORALES ‘22 and ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Co-Editor-in-Chief and Editor-in-Chief

S

chool spirit at Eastern hasn’t exactly been a strength, but there must be reasons why.

Right?

Now to be clear, our school has spirit:. athletics and activities, such as the field hockey team and the theater club, are largely successful and foster strong internal connections with their members. But the school tends to struggle to unify the student body as a whole.

To shed some light on this, here are the most influential factors contributing to why Eastern’s population may feel apathetic.

Isolated Groups of School Spirit As previously mentioned, the athletic and art departments of Eastern are extremely successful, yet one doesn’t often see the two groups interacting with each other. It’s clear there’s a rift between them, not one of tension but one of apathy.

Mr. McAleer commented on the notable passion involved students have, explaining that while Eastern students are skilled and dedicated to what they do, their focus is just one part of a larger community. They may not be “paying attention to, again, the bigger part of a community event such as spirit week.”

There’s a need for more events beyond Prom and Spirit Week “that cohesively joins [all] the student body together to make them feel like a “Viking,” said Ms. Lattimer. The diverse club selection indirectly creates pods of spirit bonded together by their goals. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the limited interaction between clubs makes these pods too isolating, even if they all gather for the same reason.

The Emotional Scars of the Pandemic

During the 2021 school year, Eastern, like other schools, relied on Zoom to give virtual education. While Zoom allowed students to connect with their teachers, the physical distance between them was evident, along with their friends. Many students wanted to be back in the classroom again, to learn and to see their friends again—to regain their high school experience.

Although students are physically back in school, they were forced to adjust to the same rigid schedule as before the pandemic. Being rushed from class to class with a small lunch period in between creates an academic environment that’s difficult to engage with on a daily basis. It’s not the ideal foundation for facilitating school spirit.

Technology Over the past decade, technology has been increasingly used in schools. iPads allow students to work digitally and remotely.

However, digital devices have not only impacted education, but radically shifted human culture as a whole. Students are attached to social media, and they don’t seem to connect to society as much as they used to.

When everyone is looking at their phones instead of being in the moment, it’s certainly hard to connect in a meaningful way. However, it’s almost impossible to erase the changes that technology has brought.

Dr. Clarke, the vice-principal of the Class of 2022, thinks that it’s not “an Eastern problem, it’s a product of the times in which we live.”

Weak Communication If you’re a student at Eastern, could you say you know what’s happening on any given school day? Mr. Hill noted in an interview that strategies to improve school spirit should focus on “Find[ing] a way

The Gazebo stands empty as a chain bars its entrance; what are the chains that hold back school spirit?

Photo by Arianna Morales ‘22 to better…more effectively communicate the results of extracurricular and co-curricular activities.”

It’s not like Eastern doesn’t make efforts to announce its students’ accomplishments, extracurriculars and events but the problem is that it’s not reaching the students’ ears. While ETV attempts to serve as a way for the school to communicate to its students, teachers are often tempted to use the extra time to continue lecturing.

If students don’t know what’s happening, then they can’t attend, and if they can’t attend, they lose that bond with their Eastern family.

Modern Culture vs. Past Culture Due to the sense of apathy within the school already, students believe it’s not popular to participate during school events, especially spirit week.

Mr. McAleer noticed that students have shifted their attitudes: “Now you get the opposite effect where... It’s cool to be edgy and not have school spirit,” he said.

On top of this, if teachers don’t set good examples for their students in terms of school spirit, then students won’t be as likely to follow suit. This decreased spirit would then make teachers feel more apathetic, creating a dangerous feedback loop.

School spirit may not be high, but there’s no time to get caught up on the negatives.

We can fix this problem by taking these factors and fueling them to create positive change within the school. Stay tuned for the series finale, To Revive Our Viking Part 4: Moving Forward!

Are jobs overwhelming for students?

based on how busy it is. Some days I get home at like 2:00 A.M.” Because Langan is eighteen years old, these hours are legal. But does legal make n the midst of their unfortunately it bearable? Generally, students without busy schedules, most high school jobs would either spend their weekends students also juggle a job. catching up on the work that has piled up Even though New Jersey laws over the week or studying for their imallow students to get a job at the age of pending quizzes and tests. The American fourteen, many teens don’t get hired until Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends they are 16, but that doesn’t stop any high teenagers to have ten hours to sleep; howschooler from filling out a job applicaever, students with shifts like Langan can tion. People say “age ain’t nothing but a kiss that recommendation goodbye. number,” and freshmen and sophomores When asked, most students said that lug their parents to drive them to work they tend to do their schoolwork before and you can find them in their work unithey go to work. It’s a smart decision in form ready to take on the day… or night. an attempt to shave If they’re feeling down the excessive really risky, some While having a job amount of work esstudents might even have two might be overwhelming, pecially since they jobs. students appreciate the reported to be exhausted afterwards.

High school stusense of independence A few of them dents already have so much on their when they are the ones stated that they also do their homeplates from the putting money in work while they heavy homework their bank. are at work when load (especially as they have some juniors), to sports downtime. Students who play sports afafter-school, and sometimes extra help for ter school take advantage of the weekend the strenuous classes they might be takshifts, so it doesn’t impede upon their ing. Getting a job means more responsipractice and games. bilities, because if you do it poorly — you Junior Aiden Kremer has a job at the get fired, or worse, tank your GPA. ChopHouse with weekend shifts. This I held an interview with a number of stugives him the opportunity to go home and dents, senior Anna Langan being one of get some rest after baseball practice from them, and asked her about her schedule.

2:00 to 6:00 in the evening. While KreWhen does she find time to work without mer might not have the same demanding letting it cause an imbalance to her and work schedule like Langan, he does find most students’ delicate schedules? himself exhausted by the end of the night.

“Right now, I work on Saturdays and After serving customers with tall orders, Sundays at Applebees,” she says. “I go in he looks forward to coming home, even around three or four o’clock in the afterif that means some homework left over noon and some days they let you leave

By MAHAWA BANGOURA ‘23 Arts and Culture Editor

I

Students are asked about the delicate balance between schoolwork and a partime job. Photo by Mahawa Bangoura ‘23/Canva.com

from what he couldn’t finish before his shift. When asked if he ever thought about quitting, he answered yes, since it can get overwhelming.

If work is another burden on the shoulders of teenagers, why do they get jobs?

“I hate asking my parents for money,” Kremer said with a small grimace. I bet many kids can agree with that. If you can make your own money, why don’t you?

While having a job might be overwhelming, students appreciate the sense of independence when they are the ones putting money in their bank. It increases their work ethic, and creates the mindset of working for things they want without having to rely on their parents.

Sometimes, jobs bring more than exhaustion. Shreya Komar, a senior, works at Kumon as a tutor. Because she spent

a painstakingly long day at school, she admits it can get tiring, but she loves helping others. When her students finally understand what she’s explaining to them, a sense of pride washes over her. She’s helping others in areas they struggle with, which is worth more than the urge of needing to close her heavy eyelids when she returns home.

So, the question “are jobs overwhelming for students” truly depends on the particular student. After going to school and packing on strenuous classes along with extracurriculars, most people can conclude that students aren’t strangers to being overwhelmed.

Jobs are no different to them. Sometimes, it’s just something they’re willing to take on, overwhelming or not.

Are gym uniforms unnecessary or just simply inconvenient?

Y

ou wake up on a Monday. Coffee in hand, you jog out of the house, locking the door behind you. You get in your Honda and pull out the driveway. Pulling up to the school, you mentally prepare yourself for the week ahead and that test you have during 2nd period. You hastily make your way into the main entrance and book it to your first periodclass — gym. You left your uniform at home. 10 points down the drain just like that.

For students, gym uniforms often can be the last thing on their mind with all the other stresses that come with the day.

At Eastern specifically, uniforms became a requirement in 2019.

Both the maroon shirt and navy basketball shorts, along with sneakers, are a necessity for a gym period with full credits.

As for the students themselves — well, let’s just say putting on their gym uniforms isn’t their favorite part of their day.

Most of our staff can’t find much to like about them. Size alone, they’re split on the comfortability of the uniforms, specifically the shorts. Female staff have expressed their discomfort with the shorts because they’re an unflattering style for most and cause other uncomfortable problems with chafing, being they’re somewhat transparent as well.

For the changing itself, juniors haven’t changed since freshman year and sophomores never

have due to COVID emerging in 2020. At least one third of our staff has said they are uncomfortable/insecure with changing in the locker rooms, along with the fact it’s just plain inconvenient to do so.

The staff has also called to question the actual point of wearing the uniforms. Yes, wearing other clothes is important when you’re sweating and you don’t want to be all gross for your next class, so for that reason, it can be beneficial. However, most of the staff thinks the gym class itself isn’t really strenuous enough to require uniforms, or at least, it depends on the day.

Teachers should give the class their activity schedule and let the students prepare accordingly, in their opinion.

As for the price, the staff along with many of their parents think that if it’s required, the gym uniforms should be provided by the school. Of course, we don’t know the schools budget, but making us pay $20 for something that you are required to get is unfair, especially if your grade depends on it, which is also another point to make.

It is good that if they’re go-

Eastern Regional High School 1401 Laurel Oak Road Voorhees, NJ 08043 856-784-4441

www.voyager-online.org YouTube: ehs voyager Twitter: @ehsvoyager Instagram: @ehsvoyager

Advisors:

Walter Bowne and George Kemery

Editorial Staff: Andrew Shinkle: Editor-in-Chief Leah Snyderman: Co-Editor-in-Chief Arianna Morales: Co-Editor-in-Chief Jenna Preston: Associate Editor-in-Chief Antonia Zong: Managing Editor Alanna Stein: Co-Managing Editor Laura Silenzio: Opinion Editor Madison Jolley: News Editor Cassidy Golin: Features Editor

ing to require it it has to be enforced for everyone and taking away grade points is an enticing way to do that, but you lose 10 points every time you don’t wear your uniform/forget it, and you’re only allowed to make up 3 of those days/30 points. If the students are willing to do the gym make-ups then they should have the opportunity to makeup all of the available points.

Maybe another alternative could be giving the students three warnings before they begin taking off points, to avoid punishments for actual incidents and mistakes.

At the end of the day, as long as you’re wearing shoes that you can participate in, the requirement for uniforms for every student is unnecessary. If they insist on the mandatory uniforms, though, they should at least provide more diverse and comfortable options for the clothing, like sweatpants and regular shorts options, or even only requiring the shirt. This along with becoming more flexible with their rules and grading would make for more adaptable and content students.

Staff Editorial

Timur Markowitz: Co-Entertainment Editor Jordan Kramer: Co-Entertainment Editor Joseph Loverdi: Sports Editor Tiana Cyrelson: Media Editor Alana McLeod: Art Editor Mahawa Bangoura: Arts and Culture Editor

Staff Reporters: Dawn Betner, Basirah Corbett-Collier, Maya Dunkelman, Kyle Goldstein, Jacob Gollin, Miraal Halim, Shreya Komar, Aiden Kremer, Jules Kurpakus, Olivia Marcantuono, Anna Langan, Lan Anh Nguyen, Rylee Pearlman, Molly Smith, Michael Sorensen, Kaitlin Swift, Marcela Torres, Nick Vitale, Mark Wang, Julia Zeidler

Letters to the Editor: Signed Letters to the Editor should be sent to our email address at ehsvoyager@gmail.com.

April 2022

Short-e-torials

Cartoon by Alana McLeod ‘25

Opinion

12 The Voyager

Was the Media Attention from Will Smith’s Oscar Slap Tone Deaf?

On March 27th, the Oscars were broadcast live worldwide, and by March 28th, the media was buzzing with the big story. The wrong one. All over the internet were pictures, GIFs, TikToks, and memes about the big moment: Will Smith slapping Chris Rock. Social Media was alight and the story was quickly viral, but was that the most important moment of the night?

The 2022 Oscars featured the first all-black production team, as well as an entirely female host selection. Neither of these was highlighted, however, by the “woke media,” as teens were easily distracted by the drama between celebrities. These Oscars featured the first openly queer Afro-Latina actress to win Best Supporting Actress, as well as a Muslim actor and a British Indian director taking home Best Live Action Short Film.

Most notably, “CODA,” a movie featuring a nearly all deaf cast, won Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Adapted Screenplay, and overall Best Picture. Last month’s academy awards represented a multitude of historic achievements in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The focus of the media was disrespectful, and an unfortunate slap in the face of representation.

- Tiana Cyrelson ‘22

Daylight Savings: to enact or not to enact

Recently, the Senate has passed a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent throughout the entire United States. This bill, the Sunlight Protection Act, is receiving a lot of support along with backlash from both respective parties. Representatives in the House have stated they are in no rush to pass legislation, so it still could be awhile until we see movement from here.

This Bill was introduced by the Florida Republican Marco Rubio in 2019. While there are many detests as to why daylight saving should still be instituted into our country, the benefits of the Sunshine Protection Act out-proportion the negatives that come from it.

With a delayed sunrise, students shouldn’t have to wake up at 5:30 AM to start their day of stressful learning. Schools can begin to open at 8:30 to allow students to get more sleep and be more prepared for the next day.

Another benefit of the Sunshine Protection Act is the extended daylight hours past morning; with late sunrises come late sunsets.

Sunsets will be later, giving more time during the afternoon to enjoy the day.

Despite conerns with increasing energy usage, a test in the 1970’s by former president Richard Nixon concluded that the impacts of daylight savings time did not affect the power consumption of Americans. It was a 16 month experiment and after no definitive results, daylight savings time was reinstated. But after raising the same questions again 40 years later, we still question the outcome in hopes for less power consumption.

- Aiden Kremer ‘23

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Confirmation

In Miami, Ketanji Brown Jackson grew up with her uncle as the city’s police chief and another uncle was a sex crimes detective. Her father was an attorney. She studied government at Harvard while being a student organizer for civil rights causes, and she graduated magna cum laude.

This is only the beginning of what many would consider an admirable career. Funnily enough, she clerked for Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, whom she will replace if she is confirmed.

Although Jackson said she could never fill Breyer’s shoes, she’s determined to continue what she called his “civility, grace, pragmatism and generosity of spirit.” Serving in the U.S. Court of Appeals and having served eight years as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia (from 2013 until June 2021) are two of Jackson’s strongest accolades on her bolstering resume for her nomination, as well as her experience as a public defender.

Jackson was confirmed to be a Supreme Court judge on February 25th, which makes her the first African American woman to serve on the highest court of the land.

- Madison Jolley ‘23

April 2022

Entertainment

The Voyager 13

Olivia Rodrigo: “Driving Home 2 U” “Atlanta” The Exceptional Story Behind Sour Season 3 Review

By KAITLIN SWIFT ‘24 Staff Reporter

D

isney has always been known as a kickstarter for some of the most successful celebrities — Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, Zendaya — the list goes on and on! However, most of these celebrities appeared on Disney Channel decades ago, and have since grown so much farther from their beginnings at Disney. So, who is the new face of Disney Channel stardom?

Olivia Rodrigo is one of Disney’s most recent stars. She rose to fame from her roles as Nini in Disney + hit show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Paige in Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark. The popularity she gained from these roles helped Rodrigo to start her musical career with a boom! Her debut album, Sour, instantly reached the top of the charts, shattering records and bringing Rodrigo onto the music scene. With Sour, Rodrigo won best pop vocal album at the 2022 Grammys, along with two other awards.

With such a successful start to her career as a young female artist, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Disney would welcome Rodrigo to make a film for their streaming platform. Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U is a documentary that tells the story behind Sour and the emotions encapsulated in each song. It also includes music videos that fit the character of each song and added new elements for some additional musical flair.

Rodrigo’s hit single “Driver’s License”

By TIMUR MARKOWITZ ‘24 Co-Entertainment Editor

D Rodrigo’s Driving Home 2 U recounts her journey through heartbreak while writing hit album Sour.

Photo from Disney + generation. It was performed underneath was written as a personal tale, and, in Roa plane at an airport and has a very pop drigo’s words, it “captured devastation in punk feel, similar to that of Avril Lavigne a way I wasn’t able to capture it before.” and Paramore.

It was performed as a compilation that Rodrigo’s Driving Home 2 U ended showed the song’s huge success. From on a hopeful note with her song “Hope its first recording in Rodrigo’s bedroom, Ur Ok. It was written to describe the hope “Driver’s License” grew to break records, that goes along with ending a relationwin awards, and bring Rodrigo into the ship, turning Rodrigo’s heartbreak into spotlight, with fans eager to see what something that brings acceptance and would come next in her musical career. joy into the world. It was performed by “Good 4 U” was written as a fun, upRodrigo and her band on the beach, and beat, and angsty song to describe the anended with them all joyfully running into ger and pettiness of heartbreak in a way the ocean. that was comedic. In the documentary, Overall, Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home it was performed with an orchestra in a 2 U is a documentary that details Rodrimountain backdrop, and was easily the go’s heartbreak and how she coped with best performance in the film. It reinvented it through her music. It is a film that is the song and truly captured Rodrigo’s mueasily relatable to anyone who has gone sical genius. through heartbreak, and it captures the in“Brutal” was written to describe Rotense emotions that come with it. It was drigo’s feelings of being trapped and ena very heartfelt and emotional film, and I gulfed in the media, and truly captured highly recommend you watch it! teen angst in a way that speaks to our

“Legally Blonde” Cappys Review

E

By ANDREA ELLIS Special to the Voyager

astern Regional High School’s production of Legally Blonde was phenomenal. The cast left the audience saying “Omigod You Guys!” They truly captured the early 2000s energy of Legally Blonde and left it all on the stage. This production of Legally Blonde is “What You Want!”

The 2007 Musical, is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film. With music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Neil Benjamin and the book by Heather Hach, Legally Blonde follows the story of Delta Nu President Elle Woods (Giuliana Bruzzese) as she embarks on her journey to win back her serious love Warner Huntington III (Gabe Robayo). Throughout her time at Harvard, Elle discovers her full potential with the help of her new friend Paulette Buonafuonte (Ava Connelly), and her mentor Emmet Forrest (Nick Vitale).

By the end of the musical Elle realizes her love for the law, and that she doesn’t need Warner—now she can do it all on her own.

Emmet Forrest (played by Nick Vitale) had the audience captivated with his astounding voice and a charming personality that he executed while acting. Vitale truly embodied the character of Emmet, and oftentimes was the cause of the audience’s roars of laughter. In songs like “Chip On My Shoulder” and “Take It Like a Man,” it was hard to not watch Nick, and he made it really effortless for the audience to connect with the character. He did an astounding job and left the audience rooting for Emmet the whole show.

Elle Woods (played by Giuliana Bruzzese) had the audience enthralled with

How did Eastern’s version of Legally Blonde hold up the original story? her voice. Giuliana sang the role of Elle Woods perfectly, and even in numbers where she sang back to back she was able to carry the weight of the material. Particularly in a song like “So Much Better,” after running around on stage, she was able to hit that final note so clearly and perfectly. She is a serious talent and Giuliana took on this difficult role and gave an unbelievable performance.

Legally Blonde is an extremely difficult show for the cast when it comes to dancing and carrying energy through each dance number. Act One doesn’t feature as many big dance numbers, so the energy was a little slow to start with, but in Act Two the cast really pulled through with their energy and dancing. In numbers like “Whipped Into Shape” they used jump ropes as props and danced with them—an extremely difficult thing to do while singing since it takes stamina and endurance, and the large ensemble did an amazing

Photo by Arianna Morales ‘22

job with that number. A special shoutout to Rachel Fenseterer who played Brooke Wyndham for being able to jump rope and give off so much personality while also being able to belt out the notes at the end.

Now, that takes real talent.

The Orchestra did an amazing job keeping up with the actors and going at a pace the actors were comfortable with. Finding out a majority of the Eastern pit band were students was impressive, because they played like true professionals. With the sound, it was often hard to hear the actors during songs, and there were often times the Orchestra overpowered the cast members, but overall it was beautifully done.

Each and every person who put their time and energy into this production did a phenomenal job. Eastern Regional High School’s production of Legally Blonde deserves recognition for a show well done.

onald Glover’s brilliant comedy-drama series, Atlanta, returned for its third season on March 24, nearly four years after the end of the last season. After such a long hiatus, hopes for the new season were high, and season three is another critically acclaimed addition to the beloved series.

The Rotten Tomato Score is currently 98%, and the Metacritic is currently 92% for the new season, with nearly every review on each website being positive.

The first episode of the new season once again shows the series’ distinct style of surrealism and fantasy in a realistic setting which has gripped viewers for so long as the series shifts settings from the titular city to Europe. The season will include ten new episodes, released by FX and streamed by Hulu.

The opening episode chooses to focus around completely new characters until the final scene. Just as renowned as the first two seasons, the third is another revolutionary addition to a brilliant series.

Symbolism and thematic parallels are plentiful in the season premiere, and the change to a European environment adds a fresh change to the setting.

Atlanta’s season premiere is an excellent return to form for the show, balancing the show’s comedy with the way it bends genres, switching tones between every episode.

Atlanta is a bizarre, unique examination of racism and class disparity that is as heartbreaking as it is dramatic. As characters travel from nation to nation, the audience is able to learn more about the depth of each character every single episode. Donald Glover’s performance is as excellent as always, and there is little doubt as to the excellence of Atlanta by both critics and audiences alike. Its tonal shifts, while jarring, portray interesting plotlines that oftentimes toe the line of the horror genre.

Rating: 4.8/5

14 The Voyager

Entertainment

April 2022

The 2022 Grammy Awards surprised many viewers

award was given to Jon Batiste’s “We Are,” defeating other memorable albums such as Taylor Swift’s Evermore, Billie he 64th Annual Grammy Awards Eilish’s Happier Than Ever, and Planet kicked off April 3 on ABC, Her by Doja Cat. Fans descended on awarding 2021’s most successsocial media later that night, expressing ful artists and its most notable their confusion over the lesser-known music. This week however, without a artist’s win. Thus, it must be emphasized slap. that Pop is not the only genre that reigns Artists from all over the world donned over the music industry. designer garments on the red carpet, inBest Pop Duo/Group Performance went cluding Olivia Rodrigo, J Balvin, Lady to “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat and SZA, Gaga, BTS, and much more. and even though Doja Cat was dangerThe Song of the Year category had comously close to a bathroom mishap, she mendable contenders, with “Leave the still made it onstage to deliver an emoDoor Open ‘’ by Silk Sonic claiming victional award speech. tory over ten other entries. Other notable Regarding performances, Billboard works in the category include “Drivers named BTS’ “Butter” performance as the License’’ by Olivia Rodrigo, “Peaches” best performance of the night. Complete

by Justin Bieber FT. Giveon & Bernard with James Bond undertones and ‘smooth Harvey, and “Kiss Me More” by Doja like butter’ choreography, the global senCat. sation danced their way to a standing ovaThough Olivia Rodrigo went away emption from the audience. Smooth vocals ty-handed in this category, her Grammys and sleek black suits made for an enrapdebut proved to be more turing performance, and than worthwhile. Rothe group was well on The artists who drigo snagged the Best their way to becoming made an impact New Artist award along the talk of the night. with Best Pop Solo While BTS fell short with their music Performance with her in winning the Best and artistry will blockbuster hit “Drivers Pop Duo/Group PerforLicense.” An even bigremain as victors mance category, they ger win came later with nonetheless made histoof the night. her album, Sour winry by becoming the first ning Pop Vocal Album.

Korean act to perform at Record of the Year also went to Silk the Grammys.

Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open,” along Tributes have always played a large with Best R&B Song and Best R&B Perrole in music award shows, and the 2022 formance.

Grammys was certainly no exception.

The ever-famous Album of the Year In a tribute to Ukraine and its citizens,

By ANTONIA ZONG ‘22 Managing Editor

T

Music’s biggest night showed triumphant victories and shocking disappointments. Read below to see highlights of the night.

Photo from Piqsels John Legend was joined by Siuzanna Iglidan, Mika Newton, & Lyuba Yakimchuk to sing a medley of soulful numbers to the war-ridden country. To introduce the performance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a passionate speech encouraging support toward Ukraine’s cause.

John Legend then commenced the performance with his new song, “Free,” and was later joined by Siuzanna Iglidan who played the bandura (Ukrainian folk instrument) in accompaniment to Legend.

Ukrainian singer Mika Newton sang a verse in his native tongue, and Ukrainian poet Lyuba Yakimchuk completed the performance by reciting poetry praying for the safety of her family and homeland.

Lady Gaga also provided the music

world with an emotional tribute to an old friend, Tony Bennett. Performing “Love For Sale” and “Do I Love You,” the jazzy and soulful stage featured a video montage playing in the background while Gaga paid homage to the 95 year-old currently battling Alzheimer’s Disease.

When Lil Nas X enters the stage, it’s almost certain that the stage won’t be dull. Performing a medley of three songs along with Jack Harlowe, a flashy stage of “Dead Right Now,” “Montero,” and “Industry Baby” made for a thrilling interlude between award announcements.

Though the 2022 Grammy Awards certainly had its ups and downs in its execution of an exciting award show, the artists who made an impact with their music and artistry will remain as victors of the night.

Read it or watch it: “Bridgerton” season 2 has arrived!

In the book, although Anthony is courting Edwina, neither person is that invested in one another. Anthony is simply looking orget the Duke —Anthony Bridgfor a viscountess to help him with his duerton is now the best man (and ties and start a family, and Edwina only Rake) to grace Victorian England! wants a kind and respectable husband.

That is, in the hit book seriesDue to the low stakes of their arrangeturned-television show Bridgerton, which ment, when Kate and Anthony realize finally returned for a season two on March they may have feelings for one another, 25th. Julia Quinn wrote the Bridgerton seEdwina doesn’t feel betrayed or upset. ries, an 8-book historical romance, where The television adaptation changes it up each book stars one of the Bridgerton siband has Edwina fall in love with Anthony. lings’ marriage story.

This creates a love triangle, and when EdThe first book centers around the oldwina realizes Kate’s attraction towards est daughter Daphne and the Duke’s love her fiancé, she is greatly upset. story, and that was made into an eight Oh yes, and in the show Edwina and Anepisode series. Viewers (myself included) thony become engaged, and Edwina ends absolutely devoured season 1 and were up leaving him at the altar after seeing blown away by the story, music, outfits, how he looks at Kate! The relationship, and sets! Having read both the book and if you could even call it that, between Edwatched season 1, it is clear that the writwina and Anthony in the book ends very ers of the show stuck closely to the plot of quickly. the book. There were more side storylines The second largest difference between in the television show to keep people enthe show and the book is the bee scene. tertained, but they didn’t take away from Kate gets stung in both versions, and AnDaphne’s love story. thony becomes frightened because that’s However, the same cannot be said about how his father died. In the show, he just season 2 of Bridgerton, which is very becomes very distressed, and Kate ends contrasting to the secup hugging him to ond book in the seHaving read the book calm him down. In ries, The Viscount Who the book though, first, I have to say I Anthony becomes Loved Me. Anthony Bridgerton is the oldso horror-struck he think it did a better est son in the family, attempts to suck job in telling the and he is in search of a the venom out of wife. Luckily for him, epic love story of the sting: weird, I the Sharma sisters have know. Their mothAnthony and Kate. come to London, and ers catch him doing the youngest daughthis, and it looks ter Edwina is his perfect match. Much to like they are engaging in, uh, other activithe Viscount’s annoyance, however, Edties. wina’s older sister, Kate, hates his entire Because of the time period, this means being. The two are constantly bickering that the two must wed, and that is what and simply cannot get along. This is a happens. Anthony and Kate get married big problem for Anthony because Edwina halfway through the book, so their marwants her sister’s approval of her future ried life is very prominent. In the show, husband. The set up is the same for both there isn’t even a wedding scene! In the the television season and the book, but last episode, the two confess their love for things begin to differ after. one another, and the show then cuts to the

By JORDAN KRAMER ‘24 Co-Entertainment Editor

F

With season 2 of “Bridgerton” out, fans want to know whether to watch Photo by Jordan Kramer ‘24/Canva.com the show first or read the book! future, after the two had tied the knot.

The last major difference of the two are the inner conflicts of Kate and Anthony and how it plays out in their romance.

Kate is terrified of storms in both versions of the story, although it is mentioned more in the novel. At one point, Anthony is there to comfort her during a storm, which grows the love they feel for one another.

Anthony’s reasoning for not caring about love in his marriage is explained in more detail in the novel, too. Anthony believes that since his strong dad died so young, there would be no way he could possibly outlive him, so what’s the point of trying to find true love? The Viscount’s inner conflict is entirely missed in the television show, and I think it would’ve added more depth to his character.

Having read the book first, I have to say I think it did a better job in telling the epic love story of Anthony and Kate. However, the television show has great char-

acters that are shoved to the side in the book. The Featheringtons are a hilarious family, and Lady Featherington will do anything to bolster their popularity.

Also, we know the identity of Lady Whistledown in the show, but not the book yet. Knowing that Penelope is the secret gossip writer, we see how she does it, and the secrets she must hide from her friends and family, most notably Eloise.

Eloise in the show is a much more focal character, and we see her feminist ideas really expand in season 2, something very refreshing for the time period. Once again, the sets, music, and outfits were all incredible and jaw-dropping, just as it was in season 1.

I would recommend watching the newest season and reading the book as well.

Although the two have many differences, both are able to craft a story that is hard to stop watching or reading!

April 2022

Sports

The Voyager 15

Longtime Flyers captain Giroux traded to Panthers

By JOSEPH LOVERDI ‘22 Sports Editor

T

he Philadelphia Flyers of the past decade have been associated with one man and one man only: Claude Giroux.

Giroux was selected 22nd by the Flyers in the 2006 NHL Draft, and made his debut with the team in February 2008. His early career with the Flyers was defined by his shootout win against the New York Rangers in the last game of the 2009-10 season; this fired the Flyers into the playoffs and ultimately began a run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

However, that was the closest Giroux would ever get to the Stanley Cup in a Flyers uniform. The Flyers were a consistent playoff team for most of his tenure in the orange and black, and Giroux was a huge part of that as he was an easy lock for 80+ points a season. But the Flyers could never get past the second round after 2010, despite all of the talent they’ve had since then.

Giroux has also been captain since 2011, and was the longest-tenured captain in franchise history. He led the NHL in assists with 68 while scoring 102 points in the 2017-18 season—his best season to date—and has been named an all-star seven times, winning the All-Star Game MVP in 2022. He never got that ring while in Philadelphia.

So, to see the news that Giroux waived his NTC, no-trade clause, to be traded to the Florida Panthers, arguably the best team in hockey, for prospect Owen Tippett (the 11th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft who’s struggled to crack a stacked Florida lineup), a 1st round pick in 2024, and a

3nd round pick in 2023, is incredibly sad. Giroux gave everything he had for the Flyers, scoring 900 points during his 15 years with the Flyers, second only to Bobby Clarke in franchise history.

His final game was his 1000th career game, an emotional 5-4 win over the Nashville Predators where Giroux took a lap of honor and was named first star.

The trade, while an absolute heist on Florida’s part (the return, compared to proposed packages from Colorado and Boston, is worse, and even then the Flyers could’ve gotten better prospects like Mackie Samoskevich and Grigori Denisenko), marks the end of an era.

The Flyers are no longer contending for a playoff spot, and Giroux wants a ring which he probably won’t get in a Flyers uniform. He could come back this offseason, as he is a free agent, but for now, he’s going to Sunrise, and I’m sure all Flyers fans will wish him the best.

Giroux will undoubtedly go down as one of, if not the, greatest Flyers of all time.

And so it kind of hurts to see him light it up in Florida immediately upon his arrival, but it’s not exactly a surprise. In Sunrise, Giroux is sharing a line with MVP candidate Jonathan Huberdeau, who has scored 104 points and leads the league in assists with 77, and Sam Bennett, who’s recovered from a shaky spell with the Calgary Flames to blossom into a solid top 6 forward with Florida (his 45 points are a career high, continuing the strong form he’s shown with the team following his trade there last season). Giroux himself has been a point-per-game player, scoring 11 points in his first ten games with the Panthers, who have already clinched a playoff spot and look to win the first Stan-

Longtime Flyers captain Claude Giroux’s trade to Florida signals the end of an era in Philadelphia as they shift towards an “aggressive retool.” ley Cup in their franchise history.

Meanwhile, Owen Tippett has immediately established himself as a fixture in the Flyers’ top 9. Tippett has long been seen as a skilled player whose path to the Panthers’ forward corps was blocked by their insane forward depth, and even then as a part-time player he looked decent, scoring 18 points in 45 games as a bottom 6 player.

The change of scenery has benefitted Tippett well, as while 3 points in 11 games

Photo from Wikimedia

with your new team isn’t the most impressive, he’s been doing all of the little things right, looking like a possible cornerstone of the lineup for years to come if things keep heading in the right direction.

Overall, it’s tough to see Giroux go. His legacy will be that of a class act who always put 110% effort in every shift and bled orange and black, but it’s undeniable that he wants a ring, and Florida probably gives him the best chance to get that.

Phillies bring power to the plate with Schwarber, Castellanos Castellanos started his career with the Tigers, and was drafted by current Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski. He’s an extra base hit t’s been a long time coming for the machine, having led the MLB in doubles Phillies. in 2019 with 58. The Phillies have lacked For the past decade, they have an all-around right-handed threat in their been stuck in a perpetual postsealineup, and Castellanos should fill that son drought with no relief. In 2019, the role wonderfully. team leveled up in a big way with face of Schwarber and Castellanos immediately the franchise Bryce Harper, but the team make the Phillies a dangerous team. Scorsomehow fell short of even a winning ing runs should not be a problem with a record. Fans are becoming exceedingly lineup this deep and potent. desperate for a postseason-bound Phillies On the other hand, defense will be a team. massive liability, and a potential blockade With two of their most recent signings, for a deep playoff run. Both Schwarber the MLB world has been put on notice — and Castellanos are poor fielders, and will the Phillies aren’t messing around. not make run prevention easy for Phillies Outfielders/designated hitters Kyle pitching. With the addition of the DH to Schwarber and Nick Castellanos both the National League, signed massive both players will not multi-year contracts A decade after the likely be in the field in Philadelphia, takPhillies were last simultaneously. ing the team’s lineup In his first plate apto the forefront of relevant in the MLB, pearance — and the the National League. they now have their Phillies’ first of the In order to make the signings happen, most exciting roster season — on Opening Day, Schwarber Phillies owner John since those days. hit a deep home run Middleton awarded to right field. It was $79 million over an electric start to four years to Schwarber, and $100 milhis time in Philly, and there are certainlion over five years to Castellanos. For the ly going to be more similar moments to first time in franchise history, the Phillies come. Castellanos struck out three times, are above the luxury tax threshold (faux but finished his day with a crucial RBI salary cap), which is listed at $230 mildouble to give the Phillies more insurance lion for the 2022 season. Middleton is in their eventual 9-5 victory. showing his commitment to assembling a However, through the Phillies’ first winning team, which is reassuring for a couple weeks of action, they were far fanbase ready to win. from dominant, sitting at a 6-10 record Schwarber, who won a World Series in on April 24th after a primetime matchup 2016 with the Cubs, brings a potent leftagainst the Milwaukee Brewers. They lost handed bat to complement Harper. Last the game 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel, which year, between the Nationals and Red Sox, was perhaps more influenced by home he had a career year, batting .266 with a plate umpire Angel Hernandez’s incon.374 on-base percentage and a .928 OPS. sistent strike zone than the teams’ abiliHe spent much of his time as a leadoff ties. Schwarber struck out looking against hitter, and will likely serve the same role closer Josh Hader in the 9th inning on an with the Phillies this year.

By ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Editor-in-Chief

I

New additions Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos make the Phillies an instant contending team.

Photo by Wikimedia/Canva.com outside pitch, and voiced his frustration against Hernandez in a fit of rage.

The Phillies are supposed to be an offense-first team, but the bats have scuffled a bit so far to start the season. Hitters all down the lineup haven’t had great approaches in their at-bats, and that’s concerning. However, there’s a long way to go in the 162-game season, and they should bounce back to being a top-flight offense in the National League.

If the lineup can continually lay waste to opposing pitching, then the Phillies have a good chance of finally returning to the postseason. However, we’ve seen that the Phillies hitting is not infallible. When the lineup goes cold, the pitching and defense

are more vulnerable and weak for opposing teams to exploit.

But with a lineup as loaded as the Phillies, those days will hopefully be few and far between. Coming off an MVP award, Harper now has plenty of complementary players at his service, and the team should bash their way into the thick of the NL East division race.

A decade after the Phillies were last relevant in the MLB, they now have their most exciting roster since those days.

With the team they have put together, it’ll be exciting to see where they end up at the season’s end. The next time you visit Citizens Bank Park, get ready to see some fireworks.

16 The Voyager

Sports

April 2022

Boys volleyball’s seniors are making their mark

Patel, Dhruv K. Patel, Pawandeep Singh, and Aadan Plank are all currently playing their final season with Eastern. So, with them gone next season, you’re going to ith a 19-4 red hot season be asking a lot out of players like Cain last year, Eastern’s volJoynes, William Noh, Satkirt Singh, and leyball team is looking to Akash Kundu. Dhruv Patel is currently send shockwaves throughleading the team in assists with 151, and out New Jersey this season.

Cain Joynes is second with 31 assists.

So far, they are off to a great 12-3 start Here’s what Cain Joynes had to say as of May 6th. The previous season, they about the team’s slow start through the took the Olympic Conference victory first few games. “We came into this seaover Cherry Hill East by three games. son with high expectations, and we still They started off slower this year with a plan to meet them. However, early in the 2-2 record, but three of those four games season, we’ve fallen behind a bit. I don’t were away games. feel like there’s anything that we can’t The volleyball team gets hot very easily overcome. A bounce back win against as it’s shown in the last few years. Last Cherry Hill West was a season, they ended 19-4 button for us, and and went on three dif“I want to become reset we look to play betferent four-game win ter, and more consisstreaks throughout the a better leader. going forward. season. Whenever they Taking on a heavy tently, I wouldn’t say there’s lost a game, it seemed a guarantee that they load as a junior has any added pressure. I know what Coach Arwere going to win the made me realize mour expects of me next four. All four of their losses last season that I’m capable, and the guys around me. We can’t let any of were on the road, but skill wise.” the outside noise into when they are at home, what we know we can you are almost certain accomplish. I’m definitely looking forthat they’ll come out on top. Another inward to the challenge of next year. I’ll be credible stat the team achieved last season a returning player, and my role will ex— they outscored all of their opponents at pand. Coach Armour will expect my best, home 22-2. and I plan on giving him, and the team, If this year’s volleyball team doesn’t nothing less than that. I want to become get it right, it might be time to look for a better leader. Taking on a heavy load as answers. More than half of the team’s a junior has made me realize that I’m caplayers are seniors; Dipam Patel, Dhruv

By JUSTIN MILLEVOIX ‘23 Staff Reporter

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Dhruv K. Patel sets the volleyball for Pawandeep Singh during a game.

Photo supplied by Shubham Trivedi ‘24 serve, while pressure pushes me to be a pable, skill wise. However, I have to be better leader,” he said. able to keep a level head. The team looks Pawandeep is the team leader in kills to me for high energy, so if I don’t bring with 128. He is also the team leader in it, we all suffer from it,” he said. blocks with 49, along with sixteen digs Joynes is leading the juniors in all staon the season so far. Since April 12th, the tistics except for digs with 48 kills, 12 volleyball team has gone on a massive blocks, and 31 assists. ten-game win streak, outscoring all of Pawandeep Singh had this to say about their opponents 20-3. They are now 12the slow start, and what part of his game 3, and are 6-0 against teams in the divihe’s trying to improve. “More chemistry sion, with their mid-season run that puts is needed, as all the seniors from last year them in first place in the Olympic Conferhave graduated, and we are building from ence. The season has four games remaina lot less than what we had last year, in ing, and it will be exciting to see how this terms of manpower. The main part of my promising season will come to an end. game that I’m trying to improve is my

Eastern Softball Preview Eastern Track Preview

By DAWN BETNER ‘23 Staff Reporter

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ith the winter sports season coming to a close, it’s time to enliven our spring sports.

The highlight here: Softball.

Last season Eastern Girls Softball ended with a disappointing 5-15 record. This season they’re looking to rebound and make it to the playoffs. Starting left fielder, Maddy Specht, mentioned the need for a stronger bond within the team last year, and many of her teammates agreed.

Third baseman Alexis Rosano, in agreement with pitchers Claire Suto and Amanda Ober, said the team needed to work on communication. With agreement on that, the girls can continue to bond on and off the field.

Many of these girls play for the same organizations outside of Eastern, such as NJ Mystics and South Jersey Gators. All of them have been playing softball for over 5 years, and many of them plan to continue playing into their college careers.

Although only 8 of the 11 girls played for Eastern last year, all of them are prepared to have a better season and make a name for themselves. Captain Bella Lynch says, “Last season went as well as it could after not being able to play the

year before because of Covid. Personally, I didn’t play my best, and as a team we could have played better, but both me and my team have improved on communication and the physical aspect of the game.”

Improvements in team chemistry are already being made, which should lead to the fall of all team conflicts.

At the halfway mark in the season, EGS has a record of 2-7. All 11 girls along with Coach Gilmore agree that Cherokee was their biggest rival of the season. The two teams faced off on the afternoon of Monday, April 25th. They ended up losing 106.

Sami Wakeley, another pitcher, is the leader in hits and strikeouts. She leads with 12 hits followed closely by Alexis with 11. She also leads in strikeouts with 74. Bella leads in RBI with a total of 9 followed by Alexis with 7 and Claire with 6. Lastly, Alexis is leading in both home runs with 2 and and runs with 9. Catcher, Jenna Haas, is tied with Alexis for runs.

Coach Gilmore says, “I am looking forward to watching how this team will compete on the field. Our schedule will never be easy. But if we can go out and play hard and compete, stay together, support each other, we can be successful.” With this in mind, there is still hope for the end of the Eastern Girls Softball season.

By JUSTIN MILLEVOIX ‘23 Staff Reporter

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he Eastern 2022 Winter Track Season has finally come to an end, and with the spring season starting up, there’s a lot to look forward to! Sprinters like returning senior and one of the many leaders of the team, AJ Brooks. Julian Jamison, a junior who tore his ACL recently, fought through rehab, and is now fully recovered and is running with the best kids in South Jersey with Jashad Kersey.

With the Spring Season approaching here’s what Jashad Kersey had to say.

“In the Spring Season I’m really looking forward to TJ (Triple Jump). I started it last year and I’m looking forward to showing improvement this year. Also I feel like we have a pretty solid spring team. I think we can get things done.”

The Winter track season for Eastern was very impressive. The bonds and connections between the teammates helped improve the season and their performances.

The meets easily showed that everyone had exceptional effort. Julian Jamison also spoke on how big of an effect the coaches had on all the runners: “The coaches helped push all the runners to their limits in practice to prepare their bodies for the upcoming meets. They each set up goals and standards that would help the team achieve personal and team records.” Ju-

”I feel like we have a pretty solid spring team. I think we can get things done.”

Track Schedule:

May 11th - Cherry Hill East Dual Meet @ Eastern May 14th - Camden County Championships @ Haddon Twp. Senior captain Isabella Lynch takes a swing during a game.

Photo by Tiana Cyrelson ‘22

lian’s fastest 50m time in the Winter Season was 6.92 seconds Overall, all the runners expressed they had a good time and they had their competitive moments. There aren’t any updates on how the team did ranking wise yet though but there’s still unfinished business. Now that the spring season has arrived it’s time for them to show off the skill and talent they gained from the winter season and showcase it here.

Spring Track is certainly more competitive then winter in some aspects so it will truly test their condition and the work they put into the winter season. Unfortunately, Eastern started off the spring season with a loss to Cherokee 84.5 to 55.5.

Julian Jamison finished 2nd in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.20 behind teammate Walter Clymer 11.10. The third place time was 11.50 run by Silas Davis.

The 110m hurdles was won by AJ Brooks with a time of 14.30. Second place was won by Carlos Oleaga with a 16.50 time.

The 200m dash top 3 was tight with all 3 being eastern runners. Silas Davis ran 23.00, Julian Jamison ran 23.20, and Walter Clymer came in third with a 23.60.

The team starting off with a loss is nothing to stress over. The 2022 team has more depth and speed than Eastern has ever had in the past few years. The Track season is young and there is plenty of time to turn things in the right direction.

May 16th - Hammonton Novice Meet @ Hammonton

May 24th - Olympic Conference Championships @ Washington Twp. May 27th - Last Chance Meet @ Cherokee June 3rd/4th Sectional Group IV Championships @ Washington Twp.