Volume LVII
Third Edition
January 2022
Is Eastern’s grading system effective? Page 10
One year anniversary of the Capitol riot. Page 11
Eastern Regional High School
Spider-Man: No Way Home review. Page 13
1401 Laurel Oak Road
What’s up with the local hockey team? Page 16
Voorhees, NJ 08043
Broadway’s Sara Braslow brings star power to theater By ALANNA STEIN ‘24 Staff Reporter
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ara Braslow, a successful actress and dancer, will be joining the Eastern theater club for the spring musical, “Legally Blonde.” Braslow will work alongside director Dr. Molotsky, and vocal director Mrs. Akinskas, as the Head Choreographer. Among many other star attributes, Braslow brings her admirable resume to our stage. In 1997, she played Sally Simpson in “Tommy” at PCPA Theatrefest. While Braslow was involved in theatre for several years before her performance at PCPA, this was the first of many times she assumed the role of dance captain.
A dance captain is a cast member responsible for maintaining the excellence of the choreography during a show’s run. They keep a constant watch on all other cast members to ensure they stay sharp, clean, and on beat, as well as teaching the musical’s choreography to new cast members. Thus, their knowledge of one another’s choreography allows them to typically double as a swing. Braslow’s theater background, including her most notable performance in 2005, provides more than adequate preparation for Eastern’s spring musical. For four and a half years, Braslow traveled with the Broadway national tour of “MAMMA MIA!” as the dance captain and swing. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
New Eastern Theater choreographer Sara Braslow toured with the Broadway national tour of “MAMMA MIA!” for four and a half years. Photo by Tiana Cyrelson ‘22
Deadly Omicron variant spreads quickly around the world By LAURA SILENZIO ‘23 Opinion Editor
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ust as we thought we might be able to get closer and closer to stability and living in a somewhat normal state, a domino tips over the whole stack, and we’re brought back to a time of remote schooling and restrictions reminiscent of 2020. I don’t know if we will go back to the initial scare that was 2020, but it sure feels like we’re slowly retracting back to it. Omicron was first detected in specimens collected on November 11, 2021 in Botswana and then on November 14, 2021 in South Africa. It was then reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24th, 2021. South African health authorities informed the world of their discovery of the variant of Coronavirus now known as Omicron in late November and as soon as December 1, 2021, the first confirmed U.S. case of Omicron was identified, starting the fear of returned regulations again.
The new variant already accounts for over 94 percent of the cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which shows how quickly the highly transmissible variant has displaced the previously dominant Delta variant. Hospitalizations in New Jersey have blown past the peak number reported during last winter’s surge from 3,873 people hospitalized a day on January 2, 2021 to 4,715 people a day January 3, 2022, causing tremendous pressure to be placed on hospital
staff once again. President Biden again urged Americans to get vaccinated and get booster shots to prevent the further spread of the disease and to take the stress off hospitals and medical staff. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. As of January 14th, 71.42% of the New Jersey population eligible for the vaccine have been fully vaccinated. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Teacher murals in progress! Artists (L-R): Emma Parker ‘23, King Meulens ‘23, and Kadence Dumas ‘23 Read the full article on Page 2!
What’s Inside? Why Teachers Teach: Mr. Hering - 4 Activities for Winter Wellness - 5 Biden’s First Year in Office - 6
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, it feels like we’re going backwards, rather than forwards.
Photo from Innovaive Genomics Institute
Should Snow Days Melt Away?- 10 Voyager on Eastern during COVID - 12 West Side Story: 1961 vs. 2021 - 13
Eastern Book Club - 7
Eagles Season Review - 15
COVID Infographic - 8/9
Boys Basketball - 16
News
2 The Voyager
January 2022
Art 3 students create teacher portraits
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By SHREYA KOMAR ‘22 Staff Reporter
t was my favorite time of day. I hurriedly plopped myself on my assigned chair at the back table and began rummaging through my bag for my colored pencils. I was halfway through putting my headphones in when Mrs. Pedersen began to announce the new Art 3 assignment. As a current AP Art student and a former Art 3 veteran, I eagerly listened in for the next artistic hurdle my peers had in store for them. The students were assigned to paint a portrait of a teacher of their choice. The art teachers wanted students to learn about portrait techniques. When asked about the inspiration behind the project, Mrs. Jodi Pedersen, art teacher, mentioned that the assignment, which was initially Art teacher Mrs. Taylor Hughes’ idea, was inspired by the artist Chuck Close. Chuck Close was an American painter and artist whose primary work consisted of exceedingly large and hyperrealistic portraits. Drawing references from his friends and family, Close enjoyed painting his loved ones. What distinguished Close from the thousands of other portrait artists was his unique medical condition: being paralyzed by occlusion of the anterior spinal artery. His condition resulted in an unexpected blessing: a unique perspective that would shape the way he viewed peo-
ple. He often used a pixelated technique where a portrait would be constructed by millions of colored squares. Adopting Close’s art style and desire to often work on portraits of those who are important or inspirational to him, Mrs. Pedersen and Mrs. Hughes found it suitable for Art 3 students to draw portraits of those who are integral to the Eastern community: Teachers. The project has not only succeeded in unearthing novel artistic skills, but it has also made students reflect on the teachers who have been an inspiration to them. Leah Jurado ‘23 is doing a portrait of her sports coach Miss Jacqueline Cook. Jessica Wangsa ‘23 is creating a textured portrait in pen of a teacher she admires: Spanish teacher, Miss Sara ReinaNieves. Iris Smith ‘23, who is drawing a portrait of Mrs. Pedersen in a pixelated style, expressed that she was inspired by a person whom she feels played an integral part in her growth as an artist. She says, “[Mrs. Pedersen] helped me grow as an artist a lot. Art is what I want to do in my future and having a teacher that supports you is very important.” As an artist, your work often speaks for itself. It speaks louder than you ever could, and it says more than you could ever say. So, Art 3 students work patiently, meticulously painting square by square on their enormous grids in the hopes of reflecting, and thus thanking, the people who have positively impacted them.
The project has not only succeeded in unearthing novel artistic skills, but it has also made students reflect on the teachers who have been an inspiration to them.
Choreographer (cont.) from page 1
Omicron
Despite her eight-month pregnancy towards the end of her run, Braslow continued to shine on and off stage. However, she stepped down from her role in 2010—nine weeks before her first daughter was born. Today, Braslow continues her love of musical theatre through teaching. Specializing in dance, she coaches professionals and teenagers alike that are involved in the industry. Upon talking to the talented Braslow, she plans to combine her coaching skills and passion for the stage while choreographing the spring musical. Although she has prior experience as a choreographer, “Legally Blonde” is her first time working on a high school production. Braslow explains that her main goal is to strengthen students’ connection with the audience through movement. She wants to help Eastern performers thrive and improve their craft by treating them identically to professional actors. “Every person on stage plays a vital role in the production,” says Braslow after a fourhour dance rehearsal. Between her eye for detail, teaching qualities, charismatic personality, and overall talent, Sara Braslow is undoubtedly the perfect fit as Eastern’s choreographer. And, as Elle Woods would say, she looks great in pink! “Legally Blonde” will run from March 18th-26th. Stay tuned for more information about how to purchase tickets!
However, six new federal medical teams will be dispatched to aid overwhelmed hospitals in Ohio, Brooklyn, Rhode Island, Detroit, Albuquerque, and Newark. For travel, all inbound international travelers are now required to get a negative COVID-19 test no more than one day from their departure for the U.S., including vaccinated citizens. Plus, the federal mask mandate requiring travelers to wear masks in indoor areas of public transportation has been extended through March 18. Specifically in New Jersey, the interval between when people can get the Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot is now shortening from six months to five months. New Jersey has had the 11th highest positive cases with 1.89 million cases and approximately 29,634 deaths since the start of the pandemic. The cities of Hoboken and Paterson enacted a new indoor mask mandate. Meanwhile, Newark has been gearing up for a new vaccine mandate for indoor dining and entertainment venues. Many have wondered if this will soon be a mandate statewide. As New Jersey continues to see an intense spike in COVID-19 cases statewide, schools have started remote schooling. Some of those remote periods have ended while others are still going to at least midJanuary. As updated January 10, 2022, Eastern’s policy states that “everyone who tests
(continued) from page 1
King Meulens ‘23 (above) and Iris Smith ‘23 (below) draw their biggest teacher inspirations, Mr. Holmes and Mrs. Pedersen respectively.
Photos supplied by Ms. Hughes
positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status should isolate for at least 5 full days and take additional precautions during and after isolation” with Day 0 being the day you start to see symptoms and 6 being your first day returning to school. Plus, people who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 do not need to be quarantined if they’ve completed a primary series of COVID-19 vaccinations AND have received the booster. However, people who aren’t fully vaccinated or have received the primary series
Variants just keep coming back to kick us when we’re down. of COVID-19 vaccinations but didn’t get the booster are required to be quarantined. With the United States itself reaching an all time high of over one million positive COVID-19 tests this week as January 10th saw 1,433,977 people, the country has been seriously struggling in COVID-19 test distribution. Many Americans can now get at-home COVID-19 tests at no cost through their private insurance. They can obtain the tests from pharmacies, retailers and online vendors. The program, which began Saturday, is part of the Biden administration’s effort to increase access to testing around the US. Biden has announced that he plans to buy 500 million more COVID-19 tests,
following his plans last month to order 500 million tests. The website is set to launch next week so Americans would be able to order free tests. The U.S. Postal Service has since been preparing to facilitate the mailing of the at-home test kits, hiring up to 7,000 temporary workers. Past the testing issue, citizens have wondered if this would translate to another booster shot. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, whose company also made a cutting-edge, mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, said last week that a fourth dose would likely become necessary in the fall, as the efficacy of boosters will decline over a period of several months. As efficiency is declining over time and mandates are lowering the time of quarantine, variants just keep coming back to kick us when we’re down. However, though Omicron is the most transmissible variant to appear so far, it seems to cause fewer hospitalizations and deaths than previous mutations of the virus, which has made many question if the pandemic is finally close to an end. Though it is too soon to say, the buildup of population immunity could allow public health professionals to start thinking more about long term handling of the virus going forward, to include imagining how we’ll live and resume life again. A new normal. For the time being, keep your head up and do your part. If you have symptoms, the CDC says you can be around others after you isolate five days and stop exhibiting symptoms. However, you should continue to wear masks for the five days following the end of symptoms to minimize the risk to others.
January 2022
News
The Voyager 3
U.S. Government boycotts the Beijing Winter Olympics Government officials on Capitol Hill are applauding the Biden Administration for the decision to boycott; “I’m glad to see the Biden Administration take steps et the fanfare, celebration, and to hold China accountable, but this dipgames begin! As various counlomatic boycott does not go far enough.” tries get ready to send their topDemocratic Rep. Tim Ryan said in a statetier athletes to Beijing, China for ment, “China has demonstrated again and the 2022 Winter Olympics, the United again that they do not deserve the honor States has announced a new plan for its associated with hosting the Olympics, and representation. On December 6, 2021, the Games should be hosted elsewhere.” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Other officials such as Senator Tom Cotannounced that the US would not be sendton of Arkansas urged the administraing diplomats (government officials) to tion to boycott the the games. games and even “The Biden adsuggested withministration will not send any dip- “China has demonstrated holding the U.S. lomatic or official again and again that they athletes from comrepresentation to do not deserve the honor peting. In response to the Beijing 2022 associated with hosting this announceWinter Olympics ment, the Chinese and Paralymthe Olympics, and the government acpic Games given Games should be cused the U.S. of the PRC’s ongograndstanding (or ing genocide and hosted elsewhere.” attempting) to atcrimes against tract favorable athumanity in Xintention from spectators or the media.“The jiang and other human rights abuses,” Winter Olympics is not a stage for the Psaki said at a news briefing. She was repolitical show and political manipulaferring to the People’s Republic of China. tion,” said Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for Psaki stated in the press conference, the Foreign Affairs Ministry. A boycott “China has come under fire for cracking would be “a naked political provocation, down on pro-democracy protests in Hong and a serious offense to the 1.4 billion Kong for its policies toward Tibet and Chinese people.” Taiwan, and for detaining and abusing The government also announced that Muslim Uyghurs in the country’s Xinjiresolute countermeasures would be taken ang province.’’ By MADISON JOLLEY ‘23 News Editor
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The 2022 Winter Olympics will kick off in Beijing, China on February 4th, 2022, but the U.S will not be sending any diplomatic representation to the Photo from NBC Games. in retaliation to countries that boycott, but no further details have followed this message. But, the U.S. is not the only country boycotting the Olympics due to the human rights protest. Major countries such as New Zealand, Australia, UK, Scotland, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, and more have announced the same message just days after the U.S. The U.S. has decided to let athletes compete in the game and represent our country. Athletes such as American ice dancer Evan Bates have shared their thoughts on
the boycott. “Speaking on behalf of all the athletes, I can say human rights violations are abysmal, and we all believe that it tears the fabric of humanity.” He said when speaking to the New York Times, “My answer could be applicable to human rights at large, but if you’re asking what’s happening in China regarding the Muslims, it’s terrible, it’s awful.” Many others have echoed his sentiments. If you want to cheer on our country in the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing, China, be sure to tune in on February 4th-20th.
Olaf Scholz voted German Chancellor, replaces Merkel after 16 years By JOSEPH LOVERDI ‘22 Sports Editor
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or sixteen years and ten days, Angela Merkel served as Germany’s chancellor. She led Germany longer than most Eastern underclassmen have been alive, which is insane. But Merkel is retiring, and Germany has quickly found her successor. Olaf Scholz, leader of the liberal Social Democratic Party, was the favorite to be elected, as he positioned himself as the next Merkel in terms of governance, favoring a style of continuity. And the German Bundestag seemingly agreed, as they elected him Chancellor over rivals Armin Laschet of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and Annalena Baerbock of the Greens. Scholz quickly became one of Germany’s most popular politicians when Merkel appointed him as Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Finance in 2018, and his popularity over the boring Laschet and
the unproven Baerbock served him well in the public eye. While his approval still lags behind that of Merkel’s, Scholz was widely seen as the best possible candidate to replace the beloved Chancellor, and his election proved that. This could not have happened without the clever tactics from the SDP, who formed a three-party coalition with two other liberal parties, the aforementioned Greens and the Free Democrats. It is known as the “traffic light coalition” due to the colors of each party (red for the SDP, yellow for the Free Democrats, green for, well, the Greens). The coalition is historic, as it is the first Germany has seen since 1947; it also shows that there is some semblance of unity between the center-left in the country, as they’re willing to work together to pass Scholz’s agenda. It is hard to imagine Germany without Merkel’s steady hand at the helm. After all, she led Germany for almost twenty
After more than sixteen years in charge, Angela Merkel has been succeeded as Chancellor of Germany. Her time in office was chararcterized by steady leadership and high approval ratings. Photo from Wikimedia Commons
years, with consistently high approval ratings to boot. As such, there’s likely to be change with Scholz and the Traffic Light coalition in charge (as a thank you for their cooperation, Scholz named Robert Habeck, who is co-leader of the Greens with Baerbock, his Vice-Chancellor, and FDP leader Christian Lindner as Minister of Finance). They aim to legalize marijuana, lower the federal voting age to 16, create more affordable housing, and expand citizenship rights. These reforms are modest,
but they’re likely to be a major shock to many Germans if they are passed through the Bundestag, as it’s a shift away from Merkel’s steady hand. It’s going to be interesting to see how Germany fares under Scholz’s leadership, but the popular former mayor of Hamburg looks likely to liberalize the country a bit more. And with the power of the Traffic Light coalition and the decline of the far-right AfD (the party most likely to oppose Scholz’s proposed policies), we can expect reforms to be implemented in the near future.
While his approval still lags behind that of Merkel’s, Scholz was widely seen as the best possible candidate to replace the beloved Chancellor, and his election proved that.
Olaf Scholz has been elected as the new Chancelllor of Germany, and plans to make reforms such as legalizing marijuana, lowering the federal voting age, and creating more affordable housing. Photo from Pixabay
4 The Voyager
Features
January 2022
Why Teachers Teach: Mr. Hering’s Betsy Ross flag By ARIANNA MORALES ‘22 Co-Editor-in-Chief
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or twelve years of their education, students meet new teachers and with that, new guides on the journey to find themselves: to learn, to uncover their calling, and to let it grow. However, in order to guide others they must first be guided themselves. This leads to the question: Why do teachers teach? It’s certainly not for the money. I interviewed Mr. Hering, the one who inspired this series on why teachers become teachers and their start to change the lives of numerous caterpillars on their way to becoming butterflies beyond their lifetimes. When did you graduate high school? I graduated from high school in 1999. Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher? It was roughly halfway through my Senior year of high school when I knew I wanted to be a teacher. What did you major in in college? I graduated from Rowan University with a BA in History along with a certification in teaching secondary education social studies. I later went on to get my MA in Educational Instruction and Curriculum. When was the moment you knew you wanted to be a teacher? Was it one mo-
ment or a series of moments that led you here? There were a number of teachers and coaches that inspired me to become a teacher. However, it all started with two social studies teachers, Mr. Burt and Mr. Becker, having a conversation with me after school one day about teaching. They told me that I had the right personality to be a good teacher and shared reasons with me why they thought I would enjoy teaching as a career. Not too long after, in January of 1999, Mr. Burt died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 42. It was a huge shock for everyone at Eastern and the loss reshaped many of my life decisions from that point on. That is when I knew I was going to become a History teacher. Mr. Burt’s Betsy Ross Flag still hangs in my classroom (Room 203) as a tribute to him. How long have you taught at Eastern? I have been teaching at Eastern for 19 years and was fortunate enough to be hired at Eastern immediately after college. What have you taught and are teaching now at Eastern? I have taught United States History I, Sociology, History Through Media, and AP United States Government and Politics. I currently teach United States History I and AP United States Government and Politics. Why are you a teacher? And what’s
your reason for becoming a teacher? had or worked alongside of has believed Has it changed over time? If so, what’s those two things. your why now versus in the past? My motivation to teach has always been Now Mr. Hering’s vibrant Betsy Ross rooted in the positive relationships that Flag sits quietly in his room, encouragI had with teachers and coaches when I ing him to teach and students to learn of a was in high school. I like to think that I history greater than themselves. It serves am carrying their legacies forward while as a reminder to everyone to carry on the also adding my own personal touch to the legacy of those who came before them teaching profession. They taught me that and find their own red, white, and blue. good teachers love what they teach, teach it with passion, and try as hard as they can to build positive relationships with their students. Even with all of the beneficial 21st Century technologies to help us make learning more of an interactive experience for students, I will always believe that the best experience for students comes from showing them that what you are teaching matters and treating them with respect and dignity. Every good teach- As an homage to Mr. Burt, Mr. Hering hangs the Betsy Photo by Arianna Morales/Canva.com er that I have ever Ross flag in the classroom.
Dear Viking: how to embrace yourself and your feelings Confidence is a difficult subject. During high school, adolescents are in the midst of finding themselves and where they fit in with others. There’s a constant pressure ear Viking, to appear perfectly put-together. High School is commonly There are two major steps towards inknown as the most exciting creasing confidence. The first: fake it. years of one’s life. Between While you may not feel it inside, by holdclasswork, sports, school events, and deing your head high and speaking with veloping a social life, the four years after conviction, the appearance of confidence middle school are jam-packed and can be will feel increasingly natural. Square your hard to navigate. While the school counshoulders, smile, make eye contact, and selor’s doors may stay open, it can be inno one can tell the difference. While faktimidating to walk in and ask for advice. ing it is possible, it is not a permanent soEven with a foot in the door, there are lution. some questions that continue to fall outThe second, and most important step side the scope of a counselor’s job deto increase confidence is to figure out who scription. Through an anonymous quesyou are, and who you want to be. Without tionnaire fellow Vikings could ask some knowing who this ideal is, you will be unof the more difficult questions. While I happy with the way you present yourself. am unable to answer all of them, I will By figuring out, and becoming, the person do my best to answer a few of the most you want to be, the confidence within will important ones. shine through. “What can a person do to help with “How can I be less depressed?” their confidence?” Unlike confidence, depression is not something to be faked. High school is a whirlwind of emotions, and without the proper tools to regulate, it can become overwhelming. Unfortunately, there is no cure-all for depression. It is an individual struggle, and what may work for you may be detrimental to another. That being said, there are a few comFinding who you are and what works for you is a journey mon strategies. every highschool student takes, but that doesn’t mean you’re As simple as Photo by Tiana Cyrelson/Canva.com alone. By TIANA CYRELSON ‘22 Media Editor
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it may sound, a morning routine can be “the happy chemical.” Like an addict, in key to maintaining a healthy mentality. It order to get over this, you have to quit. By doesn’t have to mirror the ten-step “Get continuously interacting with the person Ready With Me” video you might’ve seen of desire, the dopamine reaction is furon a vlogger’s TikTok. This morning routhered, and the cycle continues. tine could be as simple as making your While a key factor, space is not the bed, brushing your only solution. You teeth, and washneed time. It can Between classwork, ing your face. By be tempting to try sports, school events, completing simple to rush the soluand developing a social tion, but this is one tasks each morning, it allows the brain life, the four years after that can’t be sped to reset and prepare up. Allow yourself middle school are itself for the upcomthe time to truly get jam-packed and can be over the feelings. ing day. hard to navigate. Keep in mind, In the meantime, it is important to know that it might, prioritize happiand most likely will, ness. This should not come at the expense hurt. The deprivation of a major source of of necessary tasks such as school, but a dopamine is naturally unpleasant, and is mindset focused on happiness as a goal compounded on by resurfaced memories can cause great strides in working toyou may hold. In the end, love is not exwards it. This can manifest itself in many act, nor predictable. It is a rush, it’s excitforms, whether it be scheduling a hangout ing, and it’s addicting. with friends, or setting aside time for hobBut, in the long run, space may be necbies, such as setting aside time to curl up essary. It is an arduous journey, but it will with a good book. This is not a guaranteed eventually pay off. Most importantly, the instant solution, but by setting a schedule distance does not have to last forever. for yourself, and moving happiness up on With enough time, when the feelings are the list of priorities, it can become achievresolved, it’s possible to remain in conable. tact. “How do I get over someone?” Like snowflakes, each love is different As the season of love approaches, this and beautiful in its own way. The snow question involves one of the most commay not last forever, but when it melts, it mon struggles in the world of romance: will re-shape into something new, and the lingering feelings. When dealing with a cycle may begin again. breakup, or even unrequited love, it can While my advice may be in print, that be difficult to put away feelings. Whether does not guarantee it is “fact.” My opinit was a breakup, a failed talking stage, or ions are based on my experience and the even an unfulfilled crush, it can be difexperiences of those around me. ficult to put away those feelings but the High school is not easy, and a majorrecipe is the same: space and time. ity of that is due to the process of figuring The world of feelings is complex and out what works for you. While awkward, difficult to navigate. In this world, howevthis can be an exciting process, and is not er, there appears to be one constant: space to be shied away from. These four years is necessary. This could be a hard pill to are your time to focus on you, putting you swallow, as it can be disheartening to realin the best place possible to take on the ize. Cutting off, or even distancing from, world. someone you fancy can feel nigh imposSincerely, Your Fellow Viking sible, and that isn’t your fault! When you develop a crush, your brain views them as a source of dopamine, or,
January 2022
Features
The Voyager 5
Activities for maintaining winter wellness
ing, despite the seasonal sadness you are experiencing. Take in as much sunlight as possible. When the body doesn’t get enough sun, here’s something about the the brain creates less happy hormones change of seasons, particularly and melatonin levels rise. The sun is at its the transition to frigid winter brightest between noon and 2 p.m. If it’s weather, that can throw your too chilly to go for a stroll, opening the entire routine and perspective off. The curtains in your home or office to allow cold weather and few hours of sunshine the light in might provide a nice mood make it difficult to maintain enthusiasm boost. and stick to your daily routines. It might Exercise can also be beneficial. Even put you in a constant state of sadness or if you don’t think you’re up to it, you’ll grumpiness. thank yourself once you get started. Aside When your body receives less daylight from the physical benefits, it is extremely on a regular basis, you may feel slugbeneficial to your physiological health. gish and gloomy. Because of this, some Thirty minutes of exercise can help the people are more depressed than normal. brain by increasing serotonin release. Because of the sunset around 5 p.m., you Put on your favorite music, TV show, or might want to go to bed early or feel like podcast and enjoy those thirty minutes! you don’t have enough time in the day to It may truly improve your attitude, and if get everything done. It’s tough to go from you’re doing it every long, hot summer days day, you’ll have someto shorter, cold winter thing to look forward days. Create a self-care Not to add that cold regimen that makes to. During the winter, and flu season coinyou happy. it’s easy to forget to cides with darker days look after your skin and unpleasant weathand lips. Self-care has er. The combination the power to completeof all of these factors ly improve your mental health. Your mind might make you feel down and unmotiwill feel more confident and at peace with vated to follow your passions in life. You everything if you feel good about yourmay feel dispirited, have difficulty focusself. Winter is a difficult season for your ing, lose interest in things you normally skin because of the dry air outside and the like, or notice changes in your eating and moisture-sucking heat indoors. Your skin sleep routine. is begging for some hydration. If you think you have seasonal affecCreate a self-care regimen that makes tive disorder or have been diagnosed, you happy. It will make you feel a lot better your symptoms may go away by the time whether you buy new skincare that works spring arrives. However, if you begin for you or just moisturize your body every implementing some activities into your day. Look for new lip balms or scents that daily routine throughout the winter, you you like. You could give yourself a facecan begin to regain some sense of wellbeBy JENNA PRESTON ‘22 Associate Editor-in-Chief
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Activities to help you beat the cold and feel like yourself again. mask as a treat, a conditioning hair mask, or introduce a new serum into your skincare. Find self-care items that you love to treat dry and chapped lips in the winter. It’s a considerate gift for yourself. Not only does your skin need moisture, but so does your entire body. Keep yourself hydrated! In the winter, we usually forget that we need eight glasses of water — just as much as we do in the summer. If you have a hard time shying away from coffee and caffeinated drinks, try adding a dash of lemon or herbal tea to your water to make it more interesting. Your body and skin will reward you if you stay well hydrated. Try something new! This is your sign to pick up for something you’ve maybe never tried before, or something you’ve been wanting to try for a while. Whether it’s a new exercise class such as Pilates,
Photo by Jenna Preston ‘22
Soul Cycle, or Yoga, this is your chance to include something different into your everyday routine. Sometimes we need a push to start something new, it can be a tad bit scary to introduce yourself to things you’ve never done before. However, once you do, new hobbies can really offer a moodlift and you could find yourself really enjoying it! Maybe you’re more interested in building some new skills. Creative activities can open your mind and inspire you. Inspiration is a great motivation, especially if you’ve been feeling blue lately. There are so many different things You could learn how to crochet, yarn, dance, or play the guitar in your free time. If you go to a class to learn these skills, it might be fun to change your environment and get out of the house. You might even make some new friends during the process!
Suggesting five hot stocks for investments 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. Without any further ado, here are Sherman’s suggestions for five stocks to invest in right now.
The first stock mentioned is the SPDR S&P 500 ETF. Sherman highly recommends Exchange-Traded Funds as their expense ratio is fairly low. In layman’s terms, an expense ratio is the fee to invest in an ETF. Unlike mutual funds, the expense ratio of an ETF is significantly lower. “To paint a picture, the expense ratio of this ETF is less than 0.01%. Which means that a $10,000 investment into this ETF with an average return of 9% over 30 years will result in a future value of 130k and only cost you approx $3500 in fees. As a comparison, a 10,000 investment into a mutual fund that tries but usually fails to beat the S&P 500 and has a rate of return of around 7% over 30 years will result in a future value of $76k and cost you over $5k in fees. Sometimes, it’s just smarter to put your money into these indexes and let them work.” The second stock on Sherman’s list is Shopify. Like Ebay, Shopify is an online
Although the stock market can be scary, here are the reasons why you should invest. Photo by Tiana Cyrelson ‘22
buying and selling website, where users can price and list their own goods for sale. “Shopify is one of the fastest growing growth stocks out there. They have taken a bit of a hit, as have other high-growth stocks, due to the Omicron variant and the possibility of higher interest rates from the Fed, however, I believe this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are going to result in a big earnings win for the company when they announce in February.” Third up is Ford. The well known automobile company has recently come into the limelight due to their announcement that the F-150 Lightning electric pickup was on track to ship in the spring of 2022. “Getting into this giant in the auto industry at these prices seems like a steal. Over the next few years, I think their revenues grow nicely as they continue to revamp their product line.” The fourth name on this list is American Eagle Outfitters. They are a popular clothing brand among the teen and young adult demographic. Like Shopify, this investment decision is based on the holiday sales. “Yes, there were supply chain issues, and a new COVID variant to battle but I think they will end up reporting stronger than expected sales in the 4th quarter and a healthy profit for the year. With two acquisitions in 2021, there is a lot of upside in this stock for years to come.” Last, but most certainly not least, is the SPDR Bloomberg SASB Corporate Bond ETF. While this may be a mouthful, it is important for each profile to have an appropriate level of diversification. This should be based on age, income-level, risk tolerance, and other similar factors. The fund’s current top holdings are Bank of America, Cisco Systems, and
Investments for Dummies Dynatrace Inc., as well as many others. “You don’t invest in bonds to get rich, they are there for one of two reasons, to diversify your portfolio so you can weather the storm when your riskier investments underperform, and/or to provide you with some investment income.” With each of these suggestions is a recommendation towards personal research, as no investment should be made without consideration to one’s own personal profile. Smart investing can be a helpful secondary source of income, but each investment should be carefully evaluated.
Featured Stocks 1. SPDR S&P 500 ETF 2. Shopify 3. Ford 4. American Eagle Outfitters 5. SPDR Bloomberg SASB Coporate Bond ETF
January 2022 Features The Biden Administration: one year analysis of the presidency so far
6 The Voyager
By TIMUR MARKOWITZ ‘24 and KYLE GOLDSTEIN ‘24 Staff Reporters
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ne year into Joe Biden’s presidency, the United States is just as divided as it was before. The polarization of politics continues to rise within the government and the populace, as the division of the right and left prepares to shape, or deconstruct, the future of the nation. Biden, won 51.3% of the popular vote; however, since his inauguration, Americans have dialed back their support, with now only 43.1% of the nation satisfied with his actions and policies. This sudden shift in presidential approval causes many questions to arise concerning the catalysts of this decline. A major part of analyzing the success of a presidential term comes from the approval rating, as a lower approval rating signifies a more unpopular president, making it difficult for a leader to win a second term. Tasked to maintain the pandemic following the work of the Trump administration, Biden signed various bills and executive orders after taking office, as COVID relief was a major focus of his campaign. The primary component of his COVID agenda contained a 1.2 trillion bill, with many distinct elements. Nearly half of this money is for new investments in infrastructure, which will assist in job creation. This massive bill has a large focus on infrastructure for roads, water, cybersecurity, public transportation, the environment and more. This instance was considered the first major success of the Biden administration, and widespread alleviation has been reached from the bill. It allows for stimulus checks during CO-
VID and aiding in making vaccines more accessible. However, Biden’s first year has shown few bills enacted in terms of quantity, and most deal with handling COVID-19 and related issues. In his first hundred days, he had signed merely 11 bills into law, which is certainly on the lower end. Comparatively, Obama signed 14 in his first hundred days, and Trump approved 28 bills. The American Rescue Plan Act will assist in limiting the effects of COVID on the economy, and is additionally meant to build on the Affordable Care Act. However, higher taxes will not help the ongoing inflation issues. The prices of goods have risen over 6.8% in the last year, which is the largest increase since the 1980s. Biden claims this issue is due to the recent supply chain crisis and that the increase will die down eventually. A major turning point in Joe Biden’s presidency centered around the removal of American troops from Afghanistan after nearly twenty years. Biden’s delayed evacuation provoked the Taliban as the departure of American troops allowed the takeover of Kabul, the capital, on August 15. Poor execution also caused major complications, including the bombing at Kabul International Airport and the overall failure of a safe retreat. The absence of U.S. influence further triggered the Afghan refugee crisis. Biden’s foriegn policy focused on repairing relationships that were broken by the preceding administration. He signed executive orders on his first day in office to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization, goals of his presidency following Trump’s withdrawals. However, he has also taken significant military action, ordering airstrikes in Syr-
ia targeting Irainian militias following attacks on U.S. operatives in Iraq. With stress between the United States and its main adversaries China and Russia, the President explained his goals to establish a stable relationship, absent of domestic threats, with Russia at a summit in June; he also made an agreement with China to mitigate climate change. Future Biden plans concern limiting the growth of climate change and creating paying, union jobs to build and maintain infrastructure for clean energy. One year into his presidency, Joe Biden’s term has been Additionally, the divisive. Photo from Wikimedia Commons White House website states be expected to lower over time. he is attemptDespite the seemingly positive effects of ing to help in mitigating issues such as his Presidency, national approval for Joe health care disparities, racial equity, and Biden is quite low, which doubts the biproblems within the immigration system. partisanship and acceptable nature of his Biden’s presidency will most likely result plans. Furthermore, this statistic hurts the in higher inflation rates, lower COVID possibility for his reelection or another rates, less legislation passed than other Democrat victory in the 2024 Presidential recent presidents, and while foreign relaelection. tion tensions are currently high, they can
Volunteer Opportunities: How can you be effectively charitable?
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By KAITLIN SWIFT ‘24 Staff Reporter
t’s a new year! After a booming and successful holiday season, with millions of kind souls donating their time and money to volunteer organizations nearby, these nonprofits should have enough supplies for the next year! But unfortunately, that is not the case. The post-holiday season is extremely tough on these organizations. The volunteers that were so plentiful during the holiday season have vanished; the giving spirit of the holidays gone, and these facilities once loaded with people donating their time are now void of volunteers. Contrary to popular belief, time from volunteers is a lot more valuable than donations for nonprofit organizations. The food drives that are held almost everywhere during the holidays often hurt more than they help, overworking the few volunteers at these organizations in the post-holiday season. So, where can those looking to donate their time volunteer? The Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees is a great place for students who love animals and want to help the community! Volunteers
at the Animal Welfare Association help with many important tasks, such as walking dogs, socializing with cats and other small animals, sorting donations, and helping with the events held by the Animal Welfare Association. Contact volunteers@awanj.org for more information. The Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill has many opportunities for those looking to volunteer. Volunteers help at their community events, celebrations for Jewish holidays, and with their ACHaD program. Volunteering is important for teens to get involved in their local community, and there’s no In this program, volun- better time than the post-holiday season. Photo from camdencounty.com teers build relationships Their meal plan provides over 100,000 lynch@forkidcare.com for more informawith individuals with spemeals a year, and helps feed the commution. cial needs, and help nity. Volunteers can help to prepare and Lion’s Gate Retirement Community them develop physiserve meals for those in need. The volunis a great place for students looking to cally, socially, and teer calendar can be found on their webvolunteer. No experience is needed, and emotionally. Volunsite, and contact alex@cathedralkitchen. volunteers spend time visiting, entertainteers help with the org for more information. ing, and bringing joy to senior residents. ACHaD events and The Voorhees Pediatric Facility is anContact cpedersen@lionsgateccrc.org for conduct activities other great place for students looking to more information. for the special needs volunteer. There are many ways volunThese are only some of the many volunpeople in the program. teers can help at the facility, such as helpteer opportunities for students. So, if you Contact newmaning with clerical duties, reading stories to have a few hours to spare, please donate teaches@gmail.com children, creating art, and creating friendyour time to one of the many local volfor more information. ships with the children and providing unteer organizations. In times like these, The Cathedral Kitchen in Camden is them with the love they deserve. Contact they truly could use some more help. another great place for student volunteers.
The volunteers that were so plentiful during the holiday season have vanished.
Editor’s Note: The article “Girls Who Start returns with renewed vigor” from the December Edition incorrectly stated that Reshma Saujani founded Girls Who Start in 2016. Ariel Beck started the organization in 2012. Spot an Error? Submit corrections to The Voyager at ehsvoyager@gmail.com, Mr. Bowne in Room 605, or Mr. Kemery in Room 804
January 2022
Features
The Voyager 7
Eastern’s buzzing to read at the new book club By MAHAWA BANGOURA ‘23 Arts and Culture Editor
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ou wouldn’t know Eastern had enough readers that could fill up a classroom until they hit you in the face with their five hundred paged novels. “Why aren’t there more readers in school?” Wrong question to ask. “Do readers have a place in Eastern?” Now, that’s a better question. They do now. Welcome to Book Buzz: a book club for all the avid readers in Eastern. But reading is not my thing, you’re probably thinking as you turn the page to the next article. Hear me out. You might just find your place knowing that you’re not reading alone. Too many times have I found myself needing to gush to someone about that one insane plot twist in my current read. I know I’m not the only one who vividly imagines these characters blossoming to life right in front of me and I got tired of talking to myself about them. I just knew our school had to have a book club, because… need I explain? Books. School. Those two words are practically best friends. So, imagine the way my jaw unhinged when I found out that Eastern didn’t have a book club? Book Buzz is a glowing beacon in hopes of attracting all readers alike to come and share their thoughts. Set in Mr. Isshak’s history class, Room 303, Book Buzz aims to spark conversation about character development, themes, plot development, author message, and so much more as we
all read the same book. No, this isn’t English class. Reading doesn’t have to be hipto-hip with your notorious least favorite subject. Think about the movies you watch: they’re just like books with less thinking. An example of character development is Sokka from Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. In the beginning of season one, Sokka is an arrogant, sexist, teenager who believes it’s a man’s world despite his younger sister washing his dirty laundry and saving him throughout the series. By the end of the show, Sokka has grown up to be a humble young man who has ditched his toxic masculinity for human decency. Yet, his charms and humor still won the hearts of audiences. All this to say, elements of reading are everywhere. In a book club, readers hone these skills in activities and discussions that will still leave a smile on your face long after the meeting has ended. What’s even better is the fact that some books are movies! Our book club will take advantage of this book-to-movie adaptation to talk about the differences between them. As we all know, having conversations with people not only teaches you about them, but it teaches you about different experiences. Books have the ability to take you around the world without having to worry about the price of a plane ticket or how much gas you have. All you need is time and the discipline to. If you have that, it takes you on a journey to a life that could possibly be different from yours. In a book club, you’re surrounded by others
The Book Buzz club officers (L-R): Laura Silenzio, Mahawa Bangoura, Gowri Manem, Destiny Robinson Photo by Clarissa Weaver who may live these different perspectives and will help you understand it too. In our book club, we just finished reading They Both Die At The End, a speculative young adult novel set in a day about two boys in New York both on a countdown to the time they die, by Adam Silvera. The club as a whole didn’t really vibe with the book as some saw it as “overhyped” while others commented that the author was trying too hard to relate to teenagers.
Guess what? That’s completely fine! The point of a book club is to read books and discuss why they liked it or why not. We had a lot to say about They Both Die At The End. What will be Book Buzz’s new read? Come and find out or even participate in the next picking! Meetings are mostly held on Wednesdays and run by our four club officers: Mahawa Bangoura, Destiny Robinson, Laura Silenzio, and Gowri Manem. We’d love to see you there!
Gone, but never lost: America remembers Bob Saget For a role that could have easily become lost amidst the chaos and comedy in the series, Saget made sure to bring sincerity and authenticity to the character of Danny ever again will the words of Bob Tanner. Saget touch his comedy audiIn fact, Saget’s portrayal of the responence. Never again will Danny sibilities of parenthood may very well Tanner appear in another “Full have been the 70s generation’s first look House” adaptation. And never into adulthood. Beneath the comedic reagain will his hugs bring unparalleled lief and slapsticks was adult life through warmth to America. a clearer lens. On January 9, 2022, America’s cherAside from filming the family sitcom, ished TV dad passed away in his Orlando Saget debuted as the first, regular host hotel room at the age of 65. While foul of ‘America’s Funniest Videos’ in 1990. play and drug use have been ruled out To add to his “Full as potential causes House’ episodes that of death, the official For a role that could were already filled death has yet to be have easily become lost with hilarity, Saget revealed. amidst the chaos and began to cultivate Best known for quite a comedy fancomedy in the series, his role as the “Full base from his seven House” franchise’s Saget made sure to years at ‘AFV.’ Danny Tanner, his bring sincerity and Years later, Saget presence in Hollyauthenticity to catered to his audiwood has accompathe character of ence by performing nied two different in many shows as a Danny Tanner. generations through standup comedian. their teenage lives. Veering away from Teens born in the a younger audience, many of his jokes 1970s to 80s remember Bob Saget as the were of the controversial variety, where single dad to his three daughters on the the freedom of enjoying “edgier” comedy show: DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle Tanbecame more and more evident throughner. Each episode of “Full House” was out his career. brimming with life lessons, of which For the early 2000s generation, Saget Saget took the audience through the trireprised his old role of Danny Tanner in als and tribulations of single fatherhood 2016’s “Fuller House,” only this time, as in the 90s. a beloved grandfather. By ANTONIA ZONG ‘22 Managing Editor
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“Rest well, my dear friend. I have no doubt you are making everyone in Heaven laugh until their cheeks hurt, just as you did here on Earth.” - Andrea Barber (Kimmy Gibbler on Full/Fuller House)
“I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete and utter shock. I will never have another friend like him. I love you so much Bobby.” - John Stamos (Jesse Katsopolis on Full/Fuller House)
His hugs were the same as ever, his smile as warm as ever, and his comedy was still able to accommodate the newer generation. Even as Danny Tanner’s three daughters had grown up to be parents themselves, Saget’s character was always there, ready to lend a hand when the weight got a little too hard to carry. For many, Saget’s reprisal of the role was a joyful nostalgia of their teenage years. For others, Saget was an introduction to 90s comedy that had Americans rolling in tears. One thing is certain; anyone who watched him will Though Bob Saget passed on January 9, his legacy lives always remember on in the many Americans who have followed his career in Bob Saget as a dad, Photo from Wikimedia Commons the spotlight. as Grandpa Danny, believing there’s some grand scheme or as one of America’s most influential where your story is already inscribed in comedians. the Book of Life. He once said, “I think things just hap“Books get rewritten.” pen to people. That’s healthier, I feel than
“There aren’t enough words to express what I’m feeling today. Nor are they big enough to capture even a slice of who he was.” - Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie Tanner on Full/Fuller House)
“We are deeply saddened that he is no longer with us but know that he will continue to be by our side to guide us as gracefully as he always has.” - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (Michelle Tanner on Full House)
COVID-19 A
8 January 2022
Opinions on COVID-19 at Eastern?
1313%% Yes Yes 45.7 45.7%% Maybe Maybe
People and teachers are still getting sick and I feel like I’m not learning as much since the substitutes don’t know what they’re doing.
Connor Adams ‘25
I get you can’t enforce it, but people, no matter what, do not wear their masks properly.
COVID Hotspots Jenna Pliszczak ‘25
We probably shouldn’t have lunch with that many people with their masks off in a room. Also a large amount of students wear their mask under their nose or mouth which just makes the masks much more ineffective.
Michelle Shih ‘24
41.3 % No
At Eastern
The Voyager 9
Student Vaccinations
77.4 %
By Antonia Zong ‘22
U.S CASES
Vaccinated
33,130,027 total adolescent COVID-19 cases
Safer During Half or Full Days? 11.8% FULL
88.2% HALF
10,603,034 total child COVID-19 cases
I don’t believe so. Remote learning often makes students a lot less motivated than they would be in the classroom. Hybrid learning, with a testto-stay program and an online option for students that are sick would be much more beneficial.
-Kaitlin Swift ‘24
I cannot say. It is not ideal, but it is safer. This IS a pandemic. -Jason Entrekin ‘24
No, because I myself get distracted easily when at home, and it’s clear there’s a lack of interaction between students and teachers while online.
-Luke Hoffmaster ‘25
Responses of 93 Eastern students, from survey
10 The Voyager
Opinion
January 2022
Should snow days melt away from school calendars? By ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Editor-in-Chief
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here’s no other feeling like it. After a nervous evening of anticipating the weather forecast’s validity, you jolt awake in your pitch-dark bedroom and reach for the windowsill. As your vision comes into focus, it’s unmistakable — a thick blanket of snow has enveloped the outside world, creating a winter wonderland in your backyard. It’s calm and quiet outside, and you feel just as peaceful inside, as you realize that you’ll be staying home all day. Waking up on a snow day is one of the sweetest, most treasured experiences of youth and adolescence. However, technological advances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have placed their livelihood in danger. Ten years ago, snow days were called due to the perceived inability to safely transport students to and from school, as a result of excessive snow. Now that the pandemic has ushered in remote learning via Zoom as an easy, accessible alternative to in-class instruction, snow days have little practicality. Regardless, they still live on in many school district calendars, including Eastern’s. At least for the moment. U.S states have been attempting to institute at-home-learning on snow days for a number of years now, stretching long before the pandemic. Ohio and New Hampshire school districts have both run “blizzard bag days” for countless years; the idea is that students are given a full day’s worth of classwork either prior to the inclement weather, or remotely on their computers. Students are then assigned to complete the work at home before they return to the
building. These days count as attendance for the school year, which means that extra days won’t need to be tacked onto summer vacation. If other states have successfully replaced snow days with remote instruction, even before Zoom became a pandemic necessity, then why does Eastern still use them yearly? According to New Jersey state legislation, school districts that are not open for a minimum of 180 days per academic year lose all state funding and aid. Public schools cannot afford to lose their funding, so the 180 day requirement must be met. However, remote learning does not count towards the 180 days if the switch is made due to inclement weather. This was not the case last year, as Governor Murphy signed an executive bill that allowed remote learning for the entirety of the 2020-21 school year. But now, Zoom instruction can only count towards the 180-day mark if schools are closed for three or more days due to a public health emergency, such as the rampant spread of the Omicron variant. These limitations explain why remote learning isn’t allowed on the grounds of inclement weather in NJ, but things are much different just fifteen miles away in Philadelphia. On Friday, January 7th, Philadelphia’s public schools switched to remote learning due to significant snow accumulation. You may remember that at Eastern, we had a snow day on the same date. Why should Pennsylvania schools be allowed to pivot to online instruction due to inclement weather, while New Jersey schools are not? The two states border each other and share much of the same climate. The only real reason prohibiting the switch is outdated NJ state legislation. Before remote learning became main-
Many students look forward to snow days as much needed breaks from the daily school grind, but the pandemic has put them in danger. Photo by Andrew Shinkle’22/Canva.com stream, the only way to achieve meaningorder to keep the tradition and nostalgia ful instruction was to gather in-person at of snow days alive. On days with lighter school, and this still represents the ideal snow that is still enough to cancel in-pereducational environment. However, times son school, remote learning days should have changed, and technology has given be held. Then, for the truly massive snowus the luxury of learning from the comfort storms that roll around every once in a of our homes. In the event of insurmountwhile here in the Mid-Atlantic, true snow able snow accumulation, NJ schools days should be awarded. should be allowed to utilize remote learnBy only using one or two snow days ing to count towards the 180-day requireeach year, the education system wouldn’t ment. be disrupted as often, and, perhaps most Of course, there would be a massive importantly to kids, spring break and sumoutcry from parents and children alike if mer vacation may be extended. There’s this becomes a reality. The past few years also something to be said about moderahave completely disrupted our sense of tion; there’s a healthy balance between normalcy, and snow days have become work and play that would be achieved one of the few lights we can look towards with a give-and-take snow day system. in this time of darkness. Snow days should never be fully reThat’s why I suggest remote learning be moved, but there are benefits to reducing implemented on an intermediate basis, in their usage in NJ schools.
To B or not to B… that is our important question By ALANNA STEIN ‘24 Staff Reporter
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astern students alike strive for that coveted “A” when completing projects and tests, but when what qualifies as an “A” differs from school to school, what does it really mean? At Eastern, we abide by an 8-point grade scale, meaning to earn an “A” in a class, you must receive anywhere between a 92 to 100. However, at schools in neighboring towns such as Cherry Hill East and West, Haddonfield High, Lenape, Shawnee, and Cherokee, students are awarded an “A” for grades ranging from 90 to 100. Unlike the other schools—who have followed this protocol for an extensive amount of time—Haddonfield High School recently switched to the 10-point grade scale in May 2021. While grading systems tend to be personalized based on district, is the twopoint difference truly fair? Is there a valid reason behind the differing scales? How do we benefit from an 8-point grade scale
vs. a 10-point grade scale? Unfortunately, no evidence was supplied to answer these seemingly perplexing questions. Even Eastern’s Director of Academic Programs and Student Performance, Dr. Borda, agrees that the extremely sought-after research is unfindable. Before our current grading system was implemented, no numerical value was attached to a student’s work. District policy was to only report letter grades rather than numerical grades, making the worth of an “A” relatively subjective. According to Dr. Borda, Eastern switched from letter grades to the 8-point scale between 1999 and 2003. Numerical grades proved to be more precise and efficient when calculating cumulative GPAs. Upon making the change, a 10-point scale wasn’t necessarily on the administration’s mind; the 8-point scale used to be more common and the favorable choice. Yet, while more schools make the switch to a 10-point scale, Dr. Borda feels unsure if a new system will truly benefit our school. “In education, we make changes hoping for an outcome. We make the change, it disrupts a lot of things, but
Eastern’s unusual grading system classifies grades ranging from 92 to 100 as an “A.” Photo from weareteachers.com
we don’t necessarily see the outcome we were hoping for,” states Dr. Borda in a recorded interview. Although Dr. Borda sees no advantage in any particular grade scale, she firmly believes that our current scale provides consistency. “We have had a consistent grading system for a very long time. Our parents, students, and families know and are comfortable with the system,” says Dr. Borda. But couldn’t one assert that the same parents, students, and families Dr. Borda mentioned were previously unfamiliar with the 8-point grade scale, so can we truly blame Eastern’s lack of change on the need for consistency? Though it may be challenging, we must embark on the ambitious journey of improving Eastern. Remote schooling simply proves that we, high school students, are capable of adapting to new protocols or systems. If a 10-point scale increases the number of students who earn Distinguished Honor Roll, then we can readily adjust. If a 10-point scale improves our comparability and competitiveness to neighboring schools, then we are prepared to make a beneficial transition. That being said, everything ultimately comes down to college. Students’ motives behind working towards high grades like an “A” stem from the want to attend an applaudable college. Therefore, Dr. Borda claims that colleges don’t even see an earned letter grade— transcripts primarily display the earned number grade. While transcripts show our unweighted final grades, they also show our weighted cumulative GPA— the most sacred statistic to many colleges. Dr. Borda reiterates that weighted calculations “...are a way of normalizing grades and determining what an ‘A’ is when students are com-
ing from very different schools.” Thus, is Eastern’s thought process that since letter grades hardly matter in the grand scheme of things, do they think that changing the grade scale is unnecessary? Even if colleges are ignorant to letter grades, our high school is not. Many accomplishments are based on letter grades, such as Distinguished Honor Roll and National Honors Society (NHS). To achieve Distinguished Honor Roll, a student must obtain an “A” or higher in every class. To be inducted into NHS, a student must have a cumulative GPA of an “A” or higher. However, if the grade scale was shifted to a 10-point scale, more students would receive these honors, as a broader range would be accepted. Upon receiving over 115 responses to a Google Form questioning if students have an issue with the current grading system, negative feedback greatly outweighed the positive responses. More than one hundred students voted yes to having a problem with the 8-point scale, while only twelve voted that the system is fine. The 90.4% of students disagreeing with Eastern’s grade scale proves that change is not a concept among the minority; change is something many of us strongly support. Further research regarding students’ opinions will be conducted to receive a more accurate representation of the student body. Maybe our 8-point grade scale results in higher-performing students. Maybe it leads to greater motivation and determination or even increases the rigor of Eastern’s academics. But if there is no clear evidence or research to support such a peculiar grading system, why is Eastern tightly clinging to the 8-point grade scale even if our closest competitors have already moved on?
Opinion
January 2022
The Voyager 11
It’s been a year: has anything changed? Examining the state of America a year after January 6th
throw the results of the Presidential Election, and they were encouraged to do so by then-President Donald Trump. And, was naive to think that the events despite his second impeachment for his of January 6, 2021 would spark involvement with the attempted coup, change. Trump is still the powerhouse of the ReAs awful as the insurrection was, publican Party and a real potential candiI had hope that it would mark the date for the 2024 Presidential Election. beginning of a new era in the US. I had Now, there were members and suphope that it was one of those things that porters of the Republican Party who deneeded to happen in order for true change nounced the insurrection when it first to be made. I had hope that people would happened, but there has been avoidance stop supporting Trump and realize what on the topic amongst Republicans ever he really stands for. Hope that people since. would realize that he is a threat to AmeriAt the time, Senate minority leader can democracy and minority groups Mitch McConnell said, “there is no questhrough his encouragement of radical and tion that President Trump is practically white supremacist beliefs. and morally responsible for provoking the I can’t believe I was so naive to think events of that day,” but in May, he ended that change could happen in America. the chances of a bipartisan commission to Did people not realize what a big deal investigate the January 6 events. Thenthis was? There was an attempted coup Vice President Mike Pence originally actin the United States of America. An ated against Trump’s requests to overturn tempted coup. the election results, but current reports The insurrectionists wanted to oversay that he has not yet decided if he will cooperate with the current investigation on the insurrection. Even with a new president, hate still runs strong in America. And it is the same hate that motivated the insurrectionists at the Capitol over a year ago. It’s no secret that the world’s perception of the US has shifted over the past few years. The truth is, we have become a laughing stock to many world leaders — esThe insurrectionists wanted to overthrow the pecially during the Trump years. We are seen as a counresults of the Presidential Election. Photo by Big Think Edge/ CC BY-SA 2.0 try filled with gun violence By LEAH SNYDERMAN ‘22 Co-Editor-in-Chief
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and hate. On January 15, 2022, a British-citizen, Malik Faisal Akram, took 4 victims hostage in a Texas synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel. He used a gun that he bought on the street (illegally) in Texas to threaten his victims. Why did Akram come to the US to commit this crime? Did he know he could make it happen here? He could’ve chosen any synagogue in any country, even his own, but he chose the US. The fact that Akram traveled to the US to take a synagogue hostage is evidence of the changing perspective of America. We really are seen with a nation filled with hatred. The insurrectionists at the Capitol had a hatred for anyone who wasn’t them. They couldn’t find it in themselves to compromise and accept the results of a certified election. Their leader was known for his unfiltered views and comments, so they took after him to act on an unfiltered version of what happened with the election. With the unfiltered president out of office, I had high hopes for this past year. President Biden seemed to signal the start of change. He made promises during his campaign, but did he keep any? On January 24, 2022, Biden was caught on a hot mic calling Fox News reporter Peter Doocy a “stupid son of a b****.” Within an hour of the incident, Biden called Doocy to personally apologize for his words. This situation looked rather familiar. There’s a new president, but still the same name calling as the last. Now, in no way
am I equating Biden with Trump. Trump has publicly mocked and name-called several reporters, not to mention that time he incited an entire coup. His actions here are far worse than Biden losing his temper for a moment. But I’m also not justifying Biden’s name calling. Anyone who holds such a powerful position must always be more careful than the average person with their words. Biden should know better, especially after his predecessor. However, the difference here is that Biden immediately took responsibility. Trump has called multiple reporters names and fully supported an insurrection and overthrow of American democracy. But where is his responsibility? The president sets a precedent. We’ve seen it over the past four years, and really throughout history. If the President is rude to others and doesn’t own up to his words, a good amount of the general public will follow suit. If the President makes a comment but apologizes and admits he made a mistake, the public sees that. So, over a year later, where are we? Trump is still a powerful member in politics with a huge following. America is still viewed as a country with widespread hatred. We still don’t have an ideal leader. It’s time for change. It was time for change a year ago. As a country, we must do better in combating hatred and upholding democracy.
As a country, we must do better in combating hatred and upholding democracy.
Systemic racism in education has never faded By ALANA McLEOD ‘25 Staff Reporter
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nowing that only 15% of black students enroll in AP classes makes me livid. As a black student in AP and honors classes, I am constantly counting the amount of minorities that attend them: two black people (including myself) in my Algebra Honors class, one black person (myself) in my Adv Honors English, one black person (myself) in my World History Honors class. The false illusion that people of color don’t want to thrive sickens me. This delusion pressed upon black people stops us from understanding what we are capable of. By making us believe that we only have limited things to achieve, it discreetly tries to stop us from learning. Society wants to lessen our power, and it is sourced from fear. Fear that we will dominate success to the highest of heights. By placing us in poverty and forcing us to indulge in crimes, it prevents us from seeing our own potential. One black person and one white person could attend the same school. They could both get into Honors classes and both receive the same grade after high school graduation. So why is it that, when finding a job, white people have a higher chance of getting an occupation?
“Black workers were 65% more likely than white workers to be unemployed…” (State unemployment by race and ethnicity Epi.org). Society assumes that because we are so desperate for jobs, they can pay us so little. According to Stephen Miller in “Black Workers Still Earn Less than Their White Counterparts,” it is said that the median salary of a white male is $72,900 while a black male’s median salary is $71,500. Implementing drugs and violence on black people in their neighborhoods, it also decreases the employment rate; the drugs are sold at such a high price that it’s difficult to switch to an honest job. The majority of the time I’ve been at Eastern I’ve stayed in after-school assistance in order to concentrate and retain the information I learned throughout the day. Over time, though, I had to force myself to stop going. This is because there are an immense amount of people who ruin the concept of the assistance by talking loudly, fooling around with friends, ordering McDonald’s and Pancheros, and getting no work done. Although I get irritated by the fact that I’m not able to learn there anymore, it saddens me more that these kids who mess around after school are mostly people of color. It defeats me in more ways than any other person of another race would know. Seeing those people
As a black student in AP and honors classes, I am constantly counting the amount of minorities that attend them.
lack the desire to achieve greatness forces me to witness what society makes black people believe: that we will never thrive. Systemic racism starts with the mind, so society is able to force things on people of color without lifting a finger. If they force a group of people to believe in a certain way, it can change them without notice. The problems we have as black people are not our faults, but it is our responsibility to change this because no one else will. Despite systemic racism being around for 400 years, there are so many incredible black people who have paved the My only desire is that, as one, people of color can prove to way for others: society what we are all capable of. Photo by Alana McLeod/Canva.com Martin Luther “Our environment, the world in which King Jr., Maya Angelou, Barack Obama, we live and work, is a mirror of our atOprah Winfrey, Simone Biles, and more. titudes and expectations,” (Earl NightinMy only desire is that, as one, people of gale). color can prove to society what we are all capable of.
Opinion
12 The Voyager
January 2022
Is Eastern doing enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
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ith almost 35,000 new cases of Omicron, the especially contagious variant of COVID-19, appearing in New Jersey every day according to CNBC, is a high cause of concern for students. Eastern has experienced a surge of positive cases/quarantined students since the new year with 17 positive cases and 22 quarantined students during the week of January 10 to the 14 compared to a meager positive reported cases weeks prior. However, this is just the reported cases. How many cases are going unreported? In response to the recent cases Eastern implemented the halfday schedule for seven days just after three days of virtual learning upon return from winter break. While it worked as a temporary solution, more can be done to include quarantined students more while ensuring every student has a chance to embrace the high school experience. Eventually the effectiveness of the half day schedule will run out as students are forced to rush from class to class without a designated time to even gobble a snack, oftentimes risking exposure for a bite of sustenance across classes. Furthermore, club meetings and make-up work is paused as there is no designated time for meetings or to complete said assignments. It served its job well as a temporary pivot from remote school, but it’s time for a new solution — something new. In other words, Eastern is forced to play their cards in a tense gamble with COVID-19. What are their options? They may have a full house in hand:
hybrid learning. Another benefit of the half day schedule was the expansion of extra-help after school. 80 minutes were granted “specifically for extra-help and quarantined students to connect with teachers via email and Zoom.” This doubled the original amount of time (the original was 40 minutes). However, if a student has eight classes to make up work for, this would allow them at most ten minutes per class, assuming all conditions are met (no internet/ technological issues, all teachers available, and the student is healthy enough to focus and pay attention the entire time). Considering the high chances of one of the conditions not being met, the student’s education is automatically compromised. In design, the student is put at an academic disadvantage compared to their classmates. The problem lies in the fact that quarantined students are forcibly removed from class physically and virtually. It’s very difficult to catch up on notes, lectures, and homework in that amount of time, while their classmates have hours. If quarantined students have the opportunity to join Zoom after school, why don’t they have an opportunity to do so during school, just like everyone else? Therefore, implementing a hybrid schedule could allow both
Eastern Regional High School 1401 Laurel Oak Road Voorhees, NJ 08043 856-784-4441
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in-person and remote students to engage in class and have equal academic opportunities. Students’ disconnection from school is limited since quarantined students have a chance to participate in class for its duration. Extra help makes quarantined students isolated and they are academically disadvantaged for it. But a hybrid schedule could make students with concerns not feel obligated to attend school but still be able to engage virtually. Students who need to make up tests/quizzes and club meetings can still occur during lunch, in school and on Zoom. In the crux of a critical decision, installing a hybrid schedule provides just the option Eastern wants and needs in order to maximize on the high school experience while limiting the spread of COVID-19. Now for the first time since the new year, Eastern returned to its normal schedule, encouraging those who don’t feel well to simply stay home. As Eastern navigates a new normal, it’s important teachers and administration enforce students to wear masks properly, especially if they want to avoid remote education. Even if a hybrid schedule is never realized, the future of inperson instruction benefits from conversations like these that seek to include absent students more.
Staff Editorial
Matt Chowansky: 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, Jordan Kramer, Aiden Kremer, Jules Kurpakus, Olivia Marcantuono, Anna Langan, Lan Anh Nguyen, Rylee Pearlman, Molly Smith, Michael Sorensen, Alanna Stein, Kaitlin Swift, Marcela Torres, Nick Vitale, Mark Wang, Timur Markowitz, Julia Zeidler
Letters to the Editor: Signed Letters to the Editor should be sent to our email address at ehsvoyager@gmail.com.
Cartoon by Sophia Gambescia ‘23
Short-e-torials
People haven’t been taking COVID seriously enough It’s been almost two years since the start of the pandemic, and the United States still has more cases and deaths per day than any other country in the world at over 850,000 deaths. Why you might ask? It’s because COVID-19 was made political. Instead of it being treated as a global disease, it’s treated as a myth. The main cause of the spread and deaths in the United States is the southern states, as the conservative media is mainly based on conspiracy theories and misinformation toward COVID and the vaccine. These “patriots” care more about their “freedoms” than the lives of the people around them. The division created in this country over a scientific global pandemic has been catastrophic. There’s world-renowned scientists that have backed up masks and the vaccine, yet people refuse to take the vaccine and wear masks in stores and schools. Having the option to save the lives of countless people by wearing a mask and taking a vaccine shouldn’t be a difficult one; the severity of this crisis should not be determined by the mistakes of the right-leaning community. COVID-19 is a divider in the United States, and the only way out of the pandemic is together. - Aiden Kremer ‘23
One year after January 6th, justice delayed is justice denied A whole year has passed since the riot at the Capitol, but Congress and the courts continue to discuss it as if it were yesterday. However, instead of reminiscing on the past, they continue to discuss it because the issue remains unresolved. Since the insurrection, more than 725 individuals have been arrested, only 30 of which have been sentenced to incarceration. Hundreds of photographed criminals have been allowed to walk free in the name of “freedom of speech.” In contrast, their black counterparts have been locked up and prosecuted for participating in the peaceful Black Lives Matter protests. This clear hypocrisy has been long overlooked by the media, and thus the judicial systems do not have enough of a push to carry out the trials. COVID is no longer a viable source of blame for this delay, and has become nothing but an excuse for procrastination. On January 6th, 2021, over 725 individuals questioned the very foundation of our democracy, and it is up to our judicial systems to take a stand. - Tiana Cyrelson ‘22
The disconnections between mental health and education Just three days of remote learning after winter break, Eastern went back to in-person instruction due to the “evident disconnections” present. If last year was any indication, remote learning and obligatory education doesn’t work well. Many students opted for the comfort of turning off their camera as a release of the pressure of responsibility put on them for 12 years. Virtual education emphasizes the robotic aspects of education: productivity and perfection. School becomes associated with stress and exhaustion, among other terms. Reinstalling homeroom could provide the space for students to relax before class, besides a lunch spent running to club meetings and labs. Learning how to cope with stress and find stillness in one’s daily life is essential to success. Students should genuinely want to engage in class and learn about various aspects of life. They should want to feel connected with the school. It starts with providing them a space to cultivate a durable diligence to learn and to care about their mental health. - Arianna Morales ‘22
January 2022
Entertainment
The Voyager 13
“Spiderman: No Way Home” is more than an action movie
Spider-Man so he goes to Doctor Strange to help wipe the minds of the public. Obviously, this doesn’t work and in trying to use the Runes of Kauf-Kaul, the spell fter seeing Spider-Man: No Way was corrupted and Strange had to contain Home twice in theaters, and beit using the ancient relic Machina de Kaing an avid Marvel watcher davus. With this spell, a rift in the mulsince birth, I feel somewhat tiverse had unleashed several enemies of qualified to give my take on the biggest Spider-Man in alternate realities such as dominance of the cinemas in the entirety Doc Ock and Electro. of 2021. Making its way into the 10th That sounded complicated yet, we’re highest-grossing movie ever at the dosomehow just getting started. For startmestic box office in only its third week, ers: String theory. Multidimensional rethe beautiful callbacks to its counterparts ality. And matter displacement. All real? Spider-Man and The Amazing SpiderKnew it! An alternate timeline has been Man have been proven successful. comparatively explored in other marvel The movie started off with an almost movies as laid out by the Ancient One in direct continuation of Tom Holland’s Doctor Strange and confirmed by He Who last movie Spider-Man: Far From Home Remains in Loki, the MCU exists in a where Mysterio had just outed Spiderworld “without end.” In short, the MCU’s Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the multiverse is infinite. However, we have public. With heroes like Captain America yet to truly explore that like they did in and Black Widow, the public knew their Spider-Man: No Way Home. identity as Steve Rogers and Natasha RoNot to mention, it’s unusual not to manoff but Peter was the only hero with a know significant secret identity and cast members unin the MCU, heString theory. til after the movie roes don’t hide beMultidimensional realis released and hind pseudonyms. However, it’s an ity. And matter displace- of course, with Marvel movies, essential part of his ment. All real? Knew it! trying to get the character. cast members to Mysterio respoil something is vealing this turns one of interviewhis world upside ers’ and fans’ favorite pastimes. Which is down; Peter now has to deal with the definitely entertaining considering Tom court of public opinion. He had dreams Holland’s history of spoiling just about of living a normal life in Boston, but that everything with endless amounts of comcan’t happen now due to today’s modern plications on YouTube of him doing just world obsession with celebrity culture that. which brings a modern take to the film not This time around, however, the cast and explored in past Spider-Man’s. crew must’ve seriously trained Tom beAfter the group’s rejection from MIT cause if I’m not mistaken, he didn’t spoil due to the “controversy” surrounding anything this time around. Okay, well Peter’s true identity, all Peter wants is to actually, he spoiled kind of a lot but you take back the information that he was ever By LAURA SILENZIO ‘23 Opinion Editor
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Spider-Man: No Way Home released on December 16th, 2021, and it deserves to be recognized as more than your average superhero film.
Photo supplied by Laura Silenzio ‘23
know what? He tried. Unluckily though, the internet is the place for leaked information since people can FBI investigate anything these days. Photos and videos leaked all over social media, some real and some not. This Spider-Man in particular had such big hype and expectations that everybody was trying to gather any information possible. Everyone knew but nobody knew. Watching Peter Parker cubed (this is what I’m choosing to call the trio of Toby Maguire, Andrew Gartfield, and Tom Holland from now on) interact was hectic yet simultaneously cathartic. The writers definitely capitalized on their opportunity to make this as hilarious as possible. I mean, come on, “Cool Youth Pastor?” When Andrew’s Spider-Man cracked Tobey’s Spider-Man’s back like two casual friends before the movie’s final battle? Absolute gold. Not only did they use comedy to their ad-
vantage, they also explored Spider-Man’s past hardships commonly experienced between the 3 friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’s. Moments of the film drew you back to the previous movies, with the perfect parallel of MJ’s fall seemingly mirroring Gwen’s in The Amazing SpiderMan 2, however Andrew’s Spider-Man gets the redemption he was longing for in an emotional display of grief that made watchers quite literally cry their eyes out. Bringing these three together along with the villainous opposition of Doc Ock, Electro, Sandman, Lizard, and Green Goblin brought such a thrilling energy to the theater with fans screaming for joy as soon as Andrew’s Spider-Man jumps through Ned’s portal. The movie itself brought back so much nostalgia from 2002 (I was nonexistent then but I can still appreciate it!) and it’s possibly the start of a new era of multidimensional reality that I can’t wait to watch!
West Side Story returns after 60 years ated: from love to hate and everything in between; if it wasn’t the singing, it was the skillful dancing that painted the tense racial divide against the budding romance classic story retold. Romeo of Maria and Tony. and Juliet in the streets of New However, it did have its own flaws, one York, reimagined again. of them being, ironically, the lack of auSix decades ago, Natalie thenticity when it came to framing the Wood’s “Maria” and Richard Beymer’s immigrant experience. More specifically, “Tony” fateful love first graced the the Puerto Rican immigrant experience in screen. The audience fell in love with the New York in the late 50s. Natalie Wood story as fast as the renditions of Romeo was Russian American and George Chariand Juliet fell in love with each other. kis (Bernardo) was Greek American. Now Spielberg aims to retell West Side Furthermore, much of the singing was Story on the big screen with a new cast dubbed and the “Hispanics” were told to but the same story, along with some other wear dark makeup despite the fact that changes. Puetro Ricans can be any color, as argued How do the two films differ? Or are their by the iconic “Anita,” actress Rita Morerespective eras the only thing that sets no, one of the few actual Puerto Rican acthem apart? This review aims to answer tors cast in the original film. this question spoiler free. Ghost singing and casting regardless of The original movie adaption of the muethnic relation to the role were common sical West Side Story was an instant hit. practices in the film industry at the time. It was deemed revolutionary for its time That’s where Spielberg comes in. The because of its stunning realism: the very new version of West Side Story emphastreets of New York featured in the first sizes the Latino immigrant experience few minutes of the film as a long panthrough smooth integration of Spanish oramic shot of various iconic locations. dialect woven regularly into dialogue and “‘The realness of a travel log,’[and] ‘a the Hispanics casted both in prominent starkly realistic crime film’ [aren‘t] phrasand minor roles. es a critic would have associated with In addition, multiple characters, espemovie musicals at that point in American cially Tony and Riff contain more dimencinema,” according to Be Kind Rewind. sion compared to their counterparts. This was a stark contrast to the fantasThe placement and lyrics of some songs tical sets typical of movie musicals durhave also changed. Particularly, “Cool” ing the time. “These films were meant has a refreshed meaning as it foreshadto enchant and to glamorize.” West Side ows conflict and similarly Story captured raw emoshowcases the temptation tions while seamlessly porA classic violence while “I Feel traying the essence of New story retold. for Pretty” has new bittersweet York throughout the film. undertones. Most (if not all) songs felt Although 2021’s version was officially captivating and sent chills to the audience a box office bomb, most likely due to the as the emotions of every character radiBy ARIANNA MORALES ‘22 Co-Editor-in-Chief
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The remake of “West Side Story” is the classic story, but retold sixty years later on the big screen with a brand-new cast.
Photo by 20th Century Studios and Leonard Bernstein Office
number of anticpated films like SpiderMan: No Way Home and others taking precedence, it nonetheless enhanced 1961’s authenticity to the lives of rival gangs in the streets of New York. Both films tell the tale of the persistence of passion: vengeful hate and the sweetest love constantly at ends with each other. It describes humanity’s selfish insistence to tradition and reluctance to change.
As the credits roll and the music flows through reprisals of chilling songs like “Maria” and “Tonight,” it makes one wonder: can love break through a whirlwind of hate if it were strong enough? Both movies give ambiguous messages that ultimately leave the viewer with the final decision. A choice to love or hate others and be willing to accept its consequences.
Entertainment Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts 14 The Voyager
By LAURA SILENZIO ‘23 Opinion Editor
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wo decades after what might be considered the biggest bookadapted-to-movie franchise ever, the cast of Harry Potter has traveled back to where it all began to commemorate the film’s 20th anniversary. The Hogwarts trio Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint have now publicly reunited for the first time since the release of the final Potter film. During the nearly two-hour special, franchise alums share their memories of what many of them considered their second home. With the behind-the-scenes footage from all eight films, we get to hear about all of their feelings behind what we’ve seen captured on film many years ago. From stardom at a young age to on-set crushes, young alumni of the film practically lived as they did in the series for 10 years of their adolescence, which now has a great impact on their lives. As for the characters themselves, the actors felt as if they were their characters. Grint expressed that he saw himself as Ron in a deep way and after the films, he couldn’t differentiate Ron from Rupert. In a sense , they were the same as their characters since they grew up in their mindsets and had the same experiences. For the first two movies, the young cast admitted that they were incredibly “hyperactive and excitable” and felt thankful that their then-director, Columbus, had just let them be kids. By growing up in this environment where they could simply have fun and be themselves, they discovered that they had built a real family instead of focusing on the technical aspect of the film. They found people they could have a real familial bond with like a second family, mirroring their on-screen relationships. As filming progressed, more and more of what many would call the “British
royalty of the acting world” had joined the movies. With prominent stars such as Richard Harris, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gary Oldman, the young actors still couldn’t grasp the gravity of who they were dealing with. As they got older and the topics of the films got heavier, they expressed how they began to be Harry Potter has become one of the most popular treated as respected movie franchises of the 21st century. Photo by Pixabay actors. Emma pointed out that the late she could be vulnerable with him as Tom Alan Rickman, who portrayed Severus also admitted to having a soft spot for her. Snape, always took her thoughts and Their deep connection on set sparked opinions very seriously, which touched into a mutual, but platonic love for each her. other, which still holds up to this day. I As soon as the death of Cedric Diggory felt as if I could feel the love they had was flashed across our screens, viewfor each other through the screen which ers felt a darkness that would continue was quite touching and definitely what throughout the film. Before they faced my 10 year old self would have excitedly huge spiders in the forest, Fluffy the screamed at. monstrous three-headed dog, amongst As we got to hear about the hilarious deothers, but the death, especially of a stutails of things like their “homework” from dent at Hogwarts, was something that the director that Rupert didn’t do under transitioned the franchise into a spiral of the guise of “acting like Ron” and Daniel morbidity and sadness that would follow Radcliffe’s hysterical bote expressing his through the next films. love for Helena Bonham Carter, we also By the time they reached the Goblet of heard many tribulations the cast faced in Fire, the young actors were also expereal life. riencing the beginning of their teenage Whether that was an identity crisis from years while simultaneously being uberplaying a character for that long period of famous celebrities. As their characters time or feeling like they couldn’t handle dealt with crushes and dating, so did the the spotlight Harry Potter was shoving cast in real life. them into, we couldn’t begin to compreWhat could have been many of the fans’ hend how that really was for them at the highlights of the reunion was Emma Wattime. son and Tom Felton’s discussion of their However, what we know is that they had bond during the film. While Watson had each other to lean on, and in many ways previously revealed her crush on Felton the cast will always be a family, even 20 while filming, she expressed her youthful years later. admiration for Tom in that she always felt
The dark side of media influencers
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By CASSIDY GOLIN ‘24 Features Editor
t’s a sunny day, palm trees sway, and a beautiful mansion stands alone in Moorpark, California; this is the setting for Netflix’s new reality series. Hype House gives a glance into the lives of your favorite “influencers” living in the renowned content house. Founded in 2019 by influencers Thomas Petrou, Kouvr Annon, Chase Hudson, Alex Warren, and Daisy Keech, the Hype House is a collaborative content house made up of teenage TikTok personalities. The house has changed since it first opened. Aside from it’s new locations which split between the main location in Moorpark and Chase Hudson’s mansion in Encino, the overall mood of the house was noticeably shifted in the series. This is partly due to the departure of many members. “We were like a family… It was so much
Hype House makes it clear that there is a dark side to influencing. Photo from Seventeen Magazine
fun just creating content every day, and now times have changed,” said Thomas Petrou, the manager and self proclaimed “dad” of the house. The once cheer-filled presence of the Hype House seems duller, with many of the remaining members revealing they have lost passion for what they do. The house is falling behind on their brand deals — their means of living, and Thomas Petrou weighs the option of closing the house for good. Though they live in a mansion rent-free and have more sports cars than countable, creators living in the Hype House don’t seem to be having any fun. In fact, they seem miserable. But why? What happens when the vlogs stop filming and the TikTok videos stop rolling? Behind the backflips and Bang Energy videos is a dark side to influencing. Staying Relevant During the series, Alex Warren struggles to produce new content. “Recently, in the last month or two, my numbers have been going down,” he says. “What am I doing wrong, and how can I get those people back?” Warren admitted to spending $50,000-$70,000 a month for his prank videos in hopes of going viral. Staying relevant is crucial to their careers. “Very literally, social media is a numbers game,” said Warren. “Your money depends on the numbers.” The pressure to continuously produce good content is a lot of pressure for young adults, which causes a loss of passion, especially when constantly met with hate
and criticism. Hate and Criticism An influencer is no stranger to hate and criticism, even if they are a generally well-received creator. Hype House members’ ages range from late teens to early twenties — a very young age to be subjected to such amounts of hate. “It really takes a toll on your mental health,” said Kouvr Annon. When Alex Warren and Vinnie Hacker’s prank went wrong due to jealous fans, many were left unsettled. “A lot of fans were very jealous and upset with the girl [Nati] for kissing Vinnie. So they started sending her death threats and her whole world kind of came down from a video that I made,” Warren admitted. Strained Relationships “The hardest part about making relationship content is separating the business from the relationship,” said Warren. He and fellow Hype House member Kouvr Annon have been dating since 2018. “The line between social media and our relationship definitely blurs,” said Kouvr. Social media’s effect on their relationship is displayed numerous times throughout the series. In the end, when the cameras stop filming, the lives of influencers living in the Hype House seem pretty depressing. It’s hard to believe that these creators are still teenagers and young adults while being subjected to so much criticism with so much pressure put on their relationships and careers. Hype House is just another example that what you see on the internet isn’t always true.
January 2022
My Favorite Albums from 2021 By JENNA PRESTON ‘22 Associate Editor-in-Chief
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olar Power, Lorde’s third album, returns us to our most fundamental level, paying homage to nature and the planet. While the power of ‘Solar Power’ comes from Mother Nature, its creator does not sugarcoat the fact that the world is deteriorating. This album is inspired by the Earth not only thematically, but also musically. It’s mainly reliant on organic sounds, with enchanting instrumentation. Although this record will not appeal to everyone, with each listen, the music rises in quiet stature. Only a few musicians can create musical masterpieces in their careers, but Lorde has done it three times in a row. I already knew how much I loved Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, but I had no idea how much I needed them together. One of the greatest things to come out of 2021 is Silk Sonic. They complement each other brilliantly, resulting in “An Evening with Silk Sonic,” an incredible record. They write songs influenced by 1970s funk, soul, R&B, and even a hint of disco. It’s a place to come down and dance to velvety rhythms, silky passionate sounds, and stylish rhythm. This new album encourages people to feel eager going out and having some normal fun again. “To Hell With It” by PinkPantheress is a collection of upbeat, catchy songs that have been stuck in my head all year. Many people praise the songs on this album, and the bulk of them have received a lot of attention on TikTok this year. This debut embodies the essence of the time. She crosses genres by including popular samples from the 2000s. While the Y2K beats in many of her tracks are easy to get lost in, her voice is what sets her apart from other singers in this new “cyber” genre of music. This is an excellent start to her career, and I’m looking forward to hearing more from her. Summer Walker’s “Still Over It” is a compelling and life-affirming journey, with each song revealing a new aspect of a breakup. Her sadness and fears aren’t theoretical, and when she sings about this emotion, her songwriting is the most detailed. Summer Walker captures her soulfulness amid her rage in the greatest moments on this album. These songs are honest about her relationships, and the collaborations full of female empowerment. When Summer Walker sings for herself and the grief of so many other women who have been hurt, she displays that she is a brilliant storyteller.
January 2022
Sports
The Voyager 15
A Game to Watch: MLB vs. Players Association By KYLE GOLDSTEIN ‘22 Staff Reporter
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hose planning on watching any baseball games this year might be forced to put that desire on hold. On December 2, 2021, the Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the Players Association expired. The CBA is the arrangement between the two groups on rules, employment, and financial structure. After most of these terms conclude, the MLBPA and MLB negotiate and agree to a new deal. However, this year, the owners of the teams initiated a lockout of the players, something not seen since 1990. This is the fourth lockout in the history of the MLB and the ninth labor stoppage, the last of which was a player strike that led to the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. The owners aren’t forced to lock the players out and could’ve instead continued negotiating without a CBA in place. However, it is evident they were trying to prevent a repeat of the previous strike, which occurred following continued debate over the CBA that expired at the end of 1993. MLB views a lockout as a defensive measure; Rob Manfred, the MLB’s commissioner, claimed “an offseason lockout is the best mechanism to protect the 2022 season.” During the lockout, players receive signing bonuses or deferred payments but
they will not be paid their base salaries if the lockout continues into the regular season. Transactions have stopped, players are barred from using all team facilities, and clubs can’t contact players during this offseason until a resolution occurs. Furthermore, the Major League portion of the Winter Meetings, a convention for discussing business and trades including the Rule 5 draft, was already canceled indefinitely last month. Players believe that the previous CBA was not in their favor, despite last November producing over $2 billion worth of deals. Highlights of this spree include the Texas Rangers’ over $516.2 million in deals, with shortstop Corey Seager getting $325 million for ten years. Moreover, pitcher Max Scherzer signed a three year contract with the New York Mets for $130 million, which is the highest average annual value in baseball history at $43.3 million. Recent MLB proposals offer some compromise to player-addressed issues, including an increase to the minimum player salary and Collective Ballance Tax threshold, so teams will be incentivized to give free agents more money. They also are prepared to eliminate the free agent draft-pick compensation rule and institute a draft lottery. Other topics like universal designated hitters and an extension to the playoffs are goals sought after by MLB. However, these are all minor points of discussion that can be easily resolved, un-
Despite messy playoff exit, Eagles headed in right direction
Of course, those stats aren’t entirely his fault. The Eagles’ receiving corps was underwhelming this year, with the exceptions of rookie WR DeVonta Smith and et’s not talk about what happened star TE Dallas Goedert. Other players on January 16th in Tampa. such as WRs Jalen Reagor and Quez WatNo Eagles fan wants to relive kins left more to be desired, and Reagor in that embarrassment of a football particular has not lived up to the potential game; it’s safe to say that this matchup that made him the Eagles’ first-round pick against Tom Brady in the playoffs didn’t in the 2020 NFL Draft. go quite as well as the While the Eagles’ last one. running game reached While the Birds’ seanew heights as a team, son didn’t end in the thanks to the contribufashion that many had tions of Boston Scott, hoped, there’s still reaJordan Howard, and son to be excited about Kenneth Gainwell, where this team is headlead RB Miles Sanders ed in the future. had an underwhelmFor starters, nobody ing year. He only acexpected anything out cumulated 754 rushing of this 2021 Eagles yards, and didn’t score team, except for maybe a touchdown the enthe Eagles themselves. The Eagles lost in the playoffs, tire season. To put that They were widely probut the future is bright. into perspective, Hurts jected to be a bottomPhoto by Andrew Shinkle, Canva.com had thirty more rushing third team in the NFL, yards and ten rushing as they had just finished touchdowns. 4-11-1 the year before. 2021 was supWith one of the NFL’s top offensive posed to be a rebuilding year to evaluate lines, the Eagles should be primed for QB Jalen Hurts and other promising playan improvement on offense next year, as ers. long as Hurts continues to develop and The Eagles then proceeded to finish the improvements are made to the wide reseason 9-8 and win seven of their last ten ceiver room. games in order to clinch the #7 seed in the On the defensive front, Javon Hargrave NFC. A lot of people underestimated this and Josh Sweat broke out as premier playteam, and the Eagles proved them wrong. ers on the defensive line. CB Darius Slay In his first season as head coach, Nick maintained his superstar play, and should Sirianni bounced back from a 2-5 start to be able to round out his career strong. LB lead this team to the playoffs, and there’s Alex Singleton went under the radar and something to be said about that. After should be given more recognition. receiving criticism about his under-utiliHowever, the Eagles’ defense was largezation of the run game, Sirianni adapted, ly average, and it’s the number one area and helped develop the Eagles into one that the team should address in the 2022 of the league’s top rushing teams. The NFL Draft. They have three first round Eagles look to be solid in the head coachpicks in the draft, with two of them coming department for the foreseeable future. ing from shrewd trades with the Miami Jalen Hurts’ passing game was serviceDolphins and Indianapolis Colts. April able this season, but his stats don’t exactly 28th will be a franchise-altering date. jump off the page. 3,144 passing yards The 2021 Eagles made a statement this with sixteen touchdowns and nine interseason. They’re ahead of schedule in their ceptions is fine play, but he will need to rebuild, and they’re not to be taken lightly improve in this regard next year and begoing forward. yond. By ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Editor in Chief
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It’s hard to see the MLB and the Players’ Association finding an agreement any time soon. Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images like some of the larger dividing factors. This year, the MLBPA is seeking major changes. The union wants to lower the service time rules restricting younger players to teams for the first six years of their careers down to five, as they do not want teams to grow complacent with power. Meanwhile, MLB argues that doing this makes it harder for teams to compete. The MLBPA also wants to see a significant reduction in revenue sharing, which would hurt the competitiveness of small-market clubs. Super-two eligibility, where the top twenty-two percent of players with two to three years of service are eligible for salary arbitration, is looking to be altered by the MLBPA, after being constantly included in every CBA for the
last 32 years. The first discussion concerning core economics since the lockout was held on January 13. However, the players were less than pleased by the proposal made by the MLB, which missed key subjects the Union was hoping would be addressed; no follow up session was immediately scheduled to continue negotiations. With spring training nearing, there is an incentive for a resolution in the near future. In a recent statement, the MLBPA announced they were determined to reach an agreement “that is fair to all parties, and provides fans with the best version of the game.” However, nothing is guaranteed, and although unlikely, the baseball season could still have to be delayed or suspended, which is the last thing the fans want.
Max Verstappen wins first World Driver’s Championship
to-back-to-back wins to level the championship, Verstappen was more consistent. When he completed a race, the Dutchman finished off the podium only once ewis Hamilton had been domi.It was an absolutely outstanding season nant all night. for the 24-year-old, who joins Hamilton, From lap 1 to lap 57, the MerSebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso as cedes driver had been leading the only drivers to win the World Drivhis title rival, Red Bull’s Max Verstapers’ Championship under pen. Verstappen’s pit age 25. stop for new hard tires Mercedes appealed the failed to get the Dutchrace result, claiming that man anywhere close to Masi’s move to unlap Hamilton, who looked those cars was unfair and on course to win his directly handed Verstapfifth straight world pen the championship. championship. However, their initial apThen Nicholas Latifi pealed failed and they crashed on lap 53. The would drop it following Williams driver had talks with Hamilton. Hambeen fighting for 15th ilton, to his credit, took place with Haas’ Mick his loss in stride , with a Schumacher when he classy post-race interview spun out. A safety car congratulating Verstappen. came out, and for four However, I don’t blame laps Hamilton was in Toto Wolff and Mercedes front. Many assumed for taking the loss as they the safety car would last did; what Masi did was until the end of the race, clearly just for the camleaving Hamilton to Max Verstappen won his eras, reversing an FIA rule claim his eighth World first world championship in Drivers’ Champion- dramatic fashion. Photo: Wikimedia that had been used to keep the race order intact folship. lowing Latifi’s crash. It’s Race director Michael the first time that’s ever been done in a Masi then made one of the stupidest deciFormula One race, and it just so happened sions in FIA history, allowing five lapped to be in the title decider. It’s shameful, and cars to pass the safety car while the othbrought a horrible end to a season that deers could not. This was done so Hamilton served to have a finish free of controversy. and Verstappen could fight it out for the Verstappen and Hamilton gave us archampionship on the final lap. Verstapguably the best season in Formula One pen, on new soft tires, breezed past Hamhistory, where the title came down to the ilton through the hairpin; Hamilton tried last race and races like Barcelona and Le to move back after the next chicane but Castellet became riveting affairs rather failed. than boring slogs. We were given a shock Verstappen was now champion of the winner in Hungary, a newly-competent world. second driver for Red Bull, and a chaosBefore addressing the controversy, let’s filled Baku. There were six different winstart by making something incredibly ners, a McLaren 1-2 in Monza, and the clear: Verstappen is a deserving world emergence of the US as a F1 hotspot. champion. At times this season he was utThe 2021 F1 season was one to rememterly unstoppable, from his domination on ber, and its combination of a controversial the narrow streets of Monaco to his home ending and a new world champion will victory in Zandvoort. While Hamilton stay in the memory for years to come. had similar stretches, especially his backBy JOSEPH LOVERDI ‘22 Sports Editor
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16 The Voyager
Sports
January 2022
Ice Hockey: the Eastern sport that isn’t
and refused to officially affiliate the team with the school. This is interesting, as it’s arguable that football is just as dangerous as hockey thanks to the consistent physical contact between opposing players (in here are four major sports in the fact, football causes more concussions United States (soccer is arguper 10,000 athletes than ice hockey as per ably the fifth, and closing in on Norton Healthcare). fourth): basketball, baseball, Plus, hockey runs in the area’s veins; football, and ice hockey. The first three all the Flyers’ practice rink, the Flyers Trainhave Eastern-affiliated programs—while ing Center, is right down the block from ice hockey is an independent club team Eastern, and many past and present Flythat has no ties to the school whatsoever. ers live in the area. We’ve even produced This leads to the question:why is ice an NHLer, as Montreal Canadiens goalie hockey not an Eastern sport? It’s an inCayden Primeau (son of former Flyer credibly nuanced situation that spans Keith Primeau) is from Voorhees. across multiple superintendents who have It’s hard to see the rationale of why a refused to link the team with the school. sport as regionally popular as ice hockey The varsity team has done well in the isn’t a school-sanctioned sport. Both ice past; in 2016, an overtime winner saw the and ball hockey draw hundreds of players Vikings beat Kingsway 4-3 to claim the from the area, and it could be a tremenSouth Jersey High School Hockey League dously popular sport attendance-wise as Tier 1-B Championship, and the team towell, potentially drawing crowds similar day draws in decent-sized crowds. to that of football games due to the sport’s However, previous superintendents high-energy play. have branded the sport “too dangerous,” Goaltender Max Brzozowski sees the team’s lack of affiliation as the team’s biggest obstacle. “For the organization as a whole, it’s been a challenge to operate without the legitimacy of being a school sanctioned sport,” he said. “However, this challenge has presented a unique opportunity for us to grow together as a group and to build a community—an opportunity I believe we have capitalized on.” A lack of funding has presented itself as another challenge for the team. “Because Eastern hockey isn’t affiliated with the school, it A Viking eyes the icy terrain during a tense makes it harder to get students to matchup against the Chiefs. the game,” winger Sean PomerPhoto supplied by Tiana Cyrelson ‘22 By JOSEPH LOVERDI ‘22 AND TIANA CYRELSON ‘22 Sports Editor and Media Editor
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The Vikings and Chiefs in the midst of battle skillfully skating to obtain control of the puck. Photo supplied by Tiana Cyrelson ‘22 antz said. “It has affected the funding, as other club teams, so none of these especially this year because we are short programs are directly affiliated with the on kids that signed up, so we don’t have schools, even though they’re comprised enough funding of students who for practice.” The fact of the matter is the go to said schools The fact of hockey team has to pay out of and have fans from the matter is the their own pocket for the most their schools who hockey team expensive youth sport in the attend games. has to pay out of Overall, it’s easy United States. their own pocket to find the positives for the most exof the school recpensive youth sport in the United States. ognizing the team as one of its own. The Eastern has a very large sports fund, profits from selling tickets to the games which is what you’d expect from a largecould be massive as the hockey team sized school with a history of athletic exlooks for the audience it wants. The fundcellence. If the ice hockey team was to be ing that the school could provide would affiliated with the school, they’d get pornot only keep the program afloat, but altions of that funding, which they desperlow them to buy better equipment and afately need. ford practices to bring the best product out Eastern isn’t the only school that has an on the ice when they play. unaffiliated ice hockey team; local rivals In the meantime, go ahead and watch the like Cherokee and Shawnee have them local ice hockey team play. It’s worth it. as well. They’re all in the same league
Hopeful and Hungry: Boys Basketball
close games.” “Defensively we aren’t talking enough and teams are getting too many fast break points.” Cehki stated the opposite, saying ith just seven wins last seathat the team needs to limit “slow starts son, this season Eastern is in the game, if we come out with a slow focused on improvement start then the other team can take advanand hopeful. for a better tage of that and for us it’s gonna be hard basketball season this year. So far, they to come back from that.” are 6-7 with 13 games left in the season. The boys were excited with their vicAccording to Jason Brice (#3), the team tory against Washington TWP game with isn’t “doing as bad as we thought.”He another win. After being down 9-12 in continued to say, “We didn’t have the the first quarter, Eastern came back and best summer, we had lots of conflicts but ended up winning 69-43. According to we like each other so it’s moving onto Evan Zanetich (#10), “It was a very vithe court now.” With another 13 games, tal Olympic conference win.” With every there is hope for this season. Jason comes win comes the team in second for the most 3pts with 16 so far this With every win the team gains a little more season. gains a little more faith faith in their identity as a family and more The team has a lot in their identity as a of pride in being like family and more hope for hope for a strong season. a family. However, it a strong season. Head Coach Kevin took time for them to Crawford mentioned grow this bond. Cehki that in basketball, the most important Hill (#4) said, “The team has improved games are at the end. The Playoffs. He on becoming one, and playing as a team. is content seeing such a young team with No matter if we win or lose, we play toall of this talent. There are only three segether. At the end of the day that’s reniors on the team this year, but Coach ally what it’s about, having fun playing Crawford says that “they’ve contributed the sport you love with people who’ve a lot.” The team’s regular starters are Jagot your back till the end.” Like with son Brice (Jr.), Noah Payne (Jr.), Shane any other team sport, there needs to be a Huggard (Sr.), Damien Edwards (So.), foundation of trust and support in order and Max Portnoy (So.). With all of these for success. younger players on the court now, the Noah Payne (#11) leads the team in future shines from the opalescence of points, steals, and rebounds. Damien Edpotential the team has in their upcoming wards (#5) leads the team in 3pts, with 19 years. so far this season. The team knows what needs to be imWhile content with the team’s successproved, and with more practice, the rest es, he also said the team isn’t “satisfied of their season is looking bright. The because we should’ve won some more Eastern community rallies behind the close games.” He suggested that in order team and cannot wait to see them come to improve the team has to `` do a better back! job closing games out and winning the By DAWN BETNER ‘23 Staff Reporter
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The boys basketball team is ready to take back the courts of South Jersey in their new season. Photo supplied by Kevin Crawford
Meet the Team: Boys Basketball #1 Shane Huggard ‘22 Senior Captain #2 Isaiah Yeldell ‘22 Senior Captain #13 Grant Yezzi ‘22 Senior Captain #33 Jared Gibson ‘22 Senior Captain #11 Noah Payne ‘23 #4 Cehki Hill ‘23 #3 Jason Brice ‘23 #12 Gavin Ems ‘23 #21 Uche Okoro ‘23 #10 Even Zanetich ‘23 #23 Max Portnoy ‘24 #5 Damien Edwards ‘24 #24 Rasaan Washington ‘24