Newspaper: April 2019

April 2019

voyager-online.org

Volume XLV

Eastern Regional High School

1401 Laurel Oak Road

Fifth Edition

Voorhees, NJ 08043

“The Music Man” turns Voorhees into River City

By SRISHTI RAMESH ‘19 Online Editor-in-Chief

W

Modern American Issues Page 5

e got trouble, right here in River City, with this year’s spring musical “The Music Man” performed

by Eastern’s acclaimed theatre program.

“The Music Man,” written by Meredith Willson, tells the story of con man Harold Hill, who arrives at a small Iowa town called River City, posing as a boys’ band organizer and selling band instruments and uniforms to the naïve citizens of the town.

However, his plans to scam the people of River City are hampered by Marian, the librarian of the town, who suspects CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Humans of Eastern Humans of Eastern Pages 6-11

Trip to Washington Page 13

Jonas Brothers Page 17

What’s Inside

LGBTQ legislation - pg 2 Honors Sociology CXL - pg 3 Team Theater - page 4 How to save on prom - pg 4 Bathroom editorial - pg 12 College cheating scandal - pg 14 Eastern stories - pg 15 Menstrual Equality - Pg 16 Ariana Grande review - pg 17 MLB season preview - pg 19 Spring sports - Pg 20

Senior Caleb Schneider as Harold Hill peps up the town in “The Music Man.” Photo by Maanasi Natarajan ‘19

This Life Counts recognizes suicidal behavior

F

By JOSH MEYERS ‘21 Entertainment Editor

or those between fifteen to twenty-four, suicide is the second leading cause of death.

Behind that, at third, is homicide.

Such sobering statistics brought This Life Counts, a suicide awareness program, to the Suzanne M. Gongol Learning Center on March 7th. It was sponsored by Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS).

There were many other important stats and facts presented about suicide and depression at the program.

Depression, a mental health disorder, affects a countless number of people. This illness can alter an individual’s moods This Life Counts, a suicide-awareness program, presents information on and behaviors. When undiagnosed or diagnosing depression to attendees.

Photo by Josh Meyers ‘21 untreated, depression can lead to suicide. experiencing a drop in their grades, or is to for them to get assistance. “The most Ninety percent of people with thoughts of having somatic complaints. dangerous thing we have is the fear of the suicide have a mental illness.

Risk factors of suicide include a truth,” she said.

The attendees learned many of the family history of suicide, access to lethal The program also featured a speaker, symptoms that people with depression methods, substance Lucas Wolfe. Wolfe was just a regular possess, which include abuse, history of guy, who had no idea depression was an “It was like I had a losing pleasure in depression, exposure to illness. During his junior year of high war with myself, my activities, appetite/ death, and stressful life school, he started to feel empty. He also weight loss, loss of depressed side and my events. talked about feeling two sides of himself, energy, feelings of normal side,” Lucas The panelists at This an angel and a devil on his shoulder. guilt/unworthiness, Life Counts stressed that “It was like I had a war with myself, my Wolfe said. and recurring thoughts those who experience depressed side and my normal side,” he of death. depression should seek said. When his “depressed side won out,” Parents learned warning signs to tell help immediately, whether it is through he “turned off.” if their child has depression. Those therapy or medication. One panelist, Leah Wolfe told himself it was a phase and include isolating themselves from Rosenkrantz, talked about how people try that he would get out of it, but he never family and friends, “feeling like a bad to hide their feelings and how important it CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 person”, showing irresponsible behavior,

Little Vikings get a special visitor

P

By HALEY ALLSEBROOK ’20 News Editor

enny thought the Cat was “veeeeery tall.”

Penny is a 5- year old Little Viking. And for Read Across America Week, the Cat in the Hat from Dr. Seuss made a visit to the preschool on Monday, March 4th, He was indeed tall — roughly over 7 feet.

“He had a red and white hat and a black tail,” Penny said. “He was a cat but a big one,” she said.

The cat was played by a woman who is a professional Cat in the Hat actress.

Typically, the Little Vikings don’t come on Mondays, so the children knew a surprise was in store for them that day. However, they never could have guessed who it was. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

The Cat in the Hat celebrates Read Across America with the pre-school program.

2 The Voyager

News

April 2019

LGBTQ education legislation impacting all New Jersey schools

By JESSICA BONAMASSA ‘19 Opinion Editor

dents as many options as possible. Courses run are based solely on enrollment numbers, teacher recommendations, district initiatives, and student choices,” he said.

He adds that when new standards from ew Jersey Governor Phil the state come in, districts are typically Murphy signed thirty bills on given 2-3 years to rewrite curriculum.

January 1st, but one piece of The time frame given to rewrite curriculegislation in particular has lum that will include LGBT education been grabbing headlines. has not yet been published by the state.

Law S1569 requires schools across New That is perhaps one of the most important Jersey to “include instruction, and adopt pieces of information to this bill. instructional materials, that accurately “Most curriculum writing happens in portray political, economic, and social the summer months in most districts. contributions of persons with disabilities When the state introduces new initiatives, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgentime frame is really critical to us because der people.”

I may have to budget how I plan on using How these lessons will be taught rests curriculum days in the summer,” he said. in the hands of individual school districts.

What will be added to the curriculum, Lawmakers and activwhether it is integrated lesists alike are overjoyed.

“The LGBT comsons in an existing class The law aims to promote munity and straight or whether it will be a new inclusivity. Many believe students alike will course, still remains unthat this will open students’ clear to community memsee the impact of eyes to the vitality of tolerthis new legislation bers, students, educators, ance. and administrators alike. within the school, Murphy’s spokesper“It could be across the whether they beson, Christina Lee, said board,” said Cloutier. “Evthat Governor Murphy lieve it is fair or erything is situational and was “honored” to sign this unfair.” context-specific.

Generally legislation, according to initiatives of this nature a Huffington Post article. you want to integrate perspectives.”

“Requiring New Jersey school districts LGBT education could be covered in to teach about the rich contributions and classes like psychology or health, as it reaccomplishments of our LGBTQ commulates to sociological things such as mental nity and those with disabilities,” she said. health, and social and family education.

“The Governor believes that ensuring There have been articles published relatstudents learn about diverse histories will ing to great scientific achievements made help build more tolerant communities and by scientists in the LGBT community. strengthen educational outcomes,” she Curriculum efforts in the past have said, noting that both LGBTQ individuals discussed the historical activism for gay and persons with disabilities have made rights and other movements of the sort. rich contributions.

The wide range of uncertainty prevalent When it comes time for schools to buy in the minds of many is what makes this a new books and instructional materials, the potentially very broad law. law includes that they purchase ones that There has been lots of input from accurately portray diversity and the constudents across the tributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and school.

Senior Emma transgender people.

Coyne believes those However, for action to take place in edulessons might be cation, some guidelines must be provided able to be taught in a by the state. class like Holocaust, It has been said the new policies will Genocide, and Crimes first be seen in the 2020-2021 school Against Humanity, led year, though due to technical curriculum

by Mr. Isshak, if the framework, it may be subject to change. lessons call for the Mr. Cloutier, Director of Curriculum, discussion of discrimidiscussed the typical procedures followed nation. when adding new curriculum.

Another senior, Jen “We propose a new course, students Lanter, believes health choose whether they want to enroll or not, class would be a suitthen if the numbers permit, teachers come able subject, particuin over the summer to write the curricularly to discuss gay lum,” Cloutier said. sexual health.

In recent years, administrators have “We talk about worked speedily to alter and add curricustraight sex in health. lum that supplements the frequent use of What happens for the gay kids that don’t technology in the classrooms as well as know what to do or aren’t sure of the disthe bell schedule. Often times, they look eases they are prone to? They have to look to other school districts for guidance on those things up online and risk getting in implementation and other factors. New trouble from their parents if they don’t acLGBT curriculum implementation will cept it.

It’s just horrible,” she said. hardly be a challenge with their deterThere are support groups in place, led mined attitudes. by guidance counselor Mr. Anderson, that “We try to diversify and give our stuare beneficial for any student that identi-

N

Mr. Anderson corresponds with students from his office in Guidance. He leads the Gay-Straight Alliance under the multi-faceted Cultural Diversity Club.

Poster can be found outside of Guidance, promoting the Gay Straight Alliance, which meets on Tuesdays at Lunch A Photos by Maanasi Natarajan ‘19 number of members of the LGBT comfies as part of the LGBT community, or munity that have not come out. any straight or students curious about “[The gay culture at Eastern is] pretty the group. The support group, the Gay low. I haven’t met a lot of people that are Straight Alliance, also referred to as the gay because I think they are scared to GSA, has been at the school for several come out. I think there’s years.

“There are support been situations where “As I started to get to groups in place, led people feel uncomfortable know my students, I had a few come out to me or talk by guidance counselor [to come out] here, which Mr. Anderson, that is sad,” said senior Jen to me about their friends are beneficial for any Lanter. who were in the coming The LGBT community out process,” said Ander- student that identifies as part of the LGBT and straight students alike son. “I felt like there was community, or any will see the impact of this really a need here for our straight or students new legislation within the LGBTQ students to feel curious about the school, whether they belike they have the opporgroup.” lieve it is fair or unfair. tunity to come together.”

“It gives gay people their Mr. Anderson notes that acknowledgement,” said one senior, “but the Gay Straight Alliance started off with it’s unfair to those who are against it beabout 6 or 7 people, and over the past four cause they can’t do anything about it if it’s years, it has expanded to about 20 stulaw.” dents.

Senior Anna Pietrzyk believes that our Mr. Anderson’s fageneration is more accepting, but “if vorite part about the you’re brought up one way it’s hard to GSA is that everything change.” remains confidential, Jen Lanter believes the new law requirwhich creates a loving, ing education on the LGBTQ community trusted environment may possibly make the classrooms socialfor every student that ly and or politically divided, though finds is in it. Students grades hope within the goals of the law. “I think 9-12 in the club meet it gives kids a new perspective and an every Tuesday. open mind on issues they might not have One student said, had experience with before,” she said.

“When I’m with the “It’s hard for a school to change from people in here, I can one law, but maybe within the state there come and be myself might be more acceptance,” she said 100% and not feel hopefully. judged in any way.”

Senior Jacob Katz said it will change Students, as well as the mood outside the classrooms because Mr. Anderson, feel students will have more understanding of the impact of the club. what’s going on.

Whether closeted, openly gay, transgenThis legislation has been made law and der, or straight, the students emit comis said to become effective during the plete acceptance, kindness, and obtain a 2020-2021 school year. Mr. Cloutier besense of belonging. The club’s purpose is lieves there needs to be more guidance to to give students an outlet to connect with ensure that the school covers the topics at others experiencing a similar journey, and hand properly and effectively. “Context an opportunity to be their true selves. that’s more meaningful is more powerMr. Anderson summed up the students ful,” he said. “So there definitely needs to in this club with one word-- enthusiastic. be more guidance to make sure we meet Gay culture at Eastern and in the comthe expectations that the state hopes to munity is certainly present. However, achieve.” there is an unkown, potentially large

April 2019

News

The Voyager 3

Honors Sociology will not be offered next year

By SHREYA GOWDA ‘19 Managing Editor

C

ourses come, courses go.

That’s especially true in electives, even in electives that students enjoy.

One such elective, Honors Sociology, will not be offered next year.

The Accelerated Sociology semester course, often paired with Accelerated Psychology, will still be offered.

Ms. Porrini is, of course, disappointed.

“It talks about topics not taught anywhere else,” she said. It was in college at the University of Maryland that she first fell in love with sociology.

Sociology is the study of people within a society. Sociology differs from psychology, which studies the individual and its biology, in that sociology studies groups and environmental factors affecting those groups.

What makes or breaks a course?

Various factors, in fact, determine a course offering, including schedule flexibility, total dual enrollment courses, and total AP courses.

Each October, Mr. Cloutier, Director of Curriculum, seeks new courses for the curriculum. Courses can be denied, Mr. Cloutier explained, due to lack of resources or due to too many courses being offered at that time.

On the other hand, a course can be denied because not enough courses in a department are being offered. If the administration is looking to expand courses in a department, an already existing course with an overlapping curriculum can be removed.

Mr. Cloutier also explained that courses can also be denied due to low numbers.

Eastern once offered a mythology class but not enough students enrolled.

Numbers were not the problem with Honors Sociology. The course’s first year enrolled 59 students, and even though the numbers decreased to 33 this year, it was still enough to sustain a class.

Eastern has compensated for lower numbers before. In the past, AP Micro and AP Macro were offered at the same time, but had lower numbers. Then, administration decided to rotate the two courses. Numbers increased due to selectivity.

However, Honors Sociology was cancelled in part due to other courses being offered at the time. Several new social studies courses were added in the past year: Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Modern American Issues, AP Human Geography, and History through Media.

These other courses also had higher enrollment. Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity had 74 enrollment requests for the 2019-2020 school year. Modern American Issues had 68 course requests at both the Honors and Accelerated class. AP Human Geography had 40 course requests.

It was decided that AP Human Geography would replace Honors Sociology for several reasons. One, AP Human Geography offers dual credit with Stockton University. An administrative goal is to offer more dual-credit courses to help students spend their time in college most efficiently. This is a benefit for students since it means the course can save on tuition, especially for students attending state school.

In 2017, 147 students received credit from Camden County College, and an additional 30 students were able to receive dual-credit from Stockton.

The second factor: administration decided that AP Human Geography offered a stronger, but similar curriculum.

Sociology mainly covers human

Ms Porrini discusses gender roles with relationships/behaviors, and AP Human Geography covers that in a more global scale according to Cloutier. Eastern currently offers all but one AP course recommended for a sociology major by College Board.

The third factor: it was deemed a suitable replacement course because many colleges group the two departments together.

And the fourth factor: AP Human Geography is offered to freshman, so “students strong in the humanities can now start in the ninth grade,” said Cloutier.

The Holocaust class is also offered at an Honors level as a replacement Honors level course.

Although there is said to be curriculum overlap in the other courses offered at Eastern, Ms. Porrini disagreed. “The courses have similar branches but go in different directions,” she said.

Psychology has only one chapter on socialization. AP Human Geography discusses culture, but focuses more on geographic resources than people themselves.

Ms. Porrini said sociology opens students to the extremes. “We talk about solutions and real life applications,” she said.

Her students share her disappointment.

“I really enjoy the class,” Aakriti Das, a senior taking the class, said. “We have a lot of group discussions where we can share our ideas and thoughts on different topics and we relate what we learn to current events. We also watch documentaries, videos, and do lots of other activities and projects which make each unit, and the class in general, fun.”

Senior Julia Lenhart thinks it’s a fun class because it’s rooted in discussion, debate, and the real-world. “Everyday we talk about something new and interesting,” she said, “and our class always has a wide variety of opinions or similar experiences surrounding the topic.”

But there are plenty of others who enjoy the other history electives.

Senior Jon Costa, Rho Kappa member, takes War and Peace with Mr. Colton. There is a wide array of courses offered in the department. “If you find you’re fascinated by the general classes you have to take, there’s definitely something for you,” Costa said.

Senior Julia Kirk,

her Honors Sociology class. another member of Rho Kappa, the history honor society, also takes War and Peace. Last year, she took AP Gov with Mr. Kennedy. “Often times, history is underrated because people don’t realize you learn it so you don’t repeat the mistakes of the past,” said Kirk. “Most of history is conflict.”

History students agreed that the electives enhanced and built on knowledge from previous courses. They also said they could connect it to other classes.

Senior Eric Horn said his DBQ writing skills carried over to his research essays and the courses built critical thinking skills that can be applied to anything.

Electives allow students to go more indepth. Costa said War and Peace built on his US I and II knowledge and went well into US military history.

“Taking it as an elective removes some of the stress and even if you aren’t doing well, you can always get something out of it,” said Horn.

But so many electives can handle only so many students, especially if enrollment numbers continue to decrease. The New Jersey Department of Education also wants schools to increase AP-offerings and college credit courses. But it is still sad for those who loved an elective.

The structure of the Honors Sociology course permitted students to deeply investigate issues that they were

Photo by Val Lapinson ‘20

discussing. Because it was not an AP class and occupied a full year, there was no time restraint on each topic.

Also, since it was an Honors class, it allowed for a wide array of students: AP students who did not want another AP course, students who wanted to try an honors course, and students simply interested in learning sociology at a higher level.

Porrini states that sociology is a crucial course because it helps students “expand prior knowledge on race, civil rights, the women rights movement, what dictates behavior”—all important topics. “It also provides a great background for other fields, like law, social work, teaching,” she said. “You can go into a lot of different directions based on your focus, even business.”

“It’s unfortunate that it’s not being offered next year,” said Das, “because I feel like a lot of students would enjoy the class.”

In spite of the loss, Eric Horn said don’t feel like you always have to take STEM electives.

“It’s okay to branch out into other fields and explore what you want to study in the future,” he said.

Courses come, courses go.

For now, Honors Sociology is leaving, but maybe, one day, it will come back.

4 The Voyager

News

April 2019

Public speaking, singing, and acting all wrapped up into one competition

By LAURA FRANTZ ‘20 Staff Reporter

T

heatre usually makes people think of singing, dancing, and acting. What doesn’t come to mind? Competition.

For over a decade, Team Theatre has been active at Eastern; however it still remains a mystery to those outside theatre.

This club combines acting, singing, and public speaking in a competition between seven New Jersey schools. There are 12 different competition categories.

Each category has different rules and regulations to follow in order to compete.

Each piece that a participant plans on performing must be approved and finetuned by the coaches. Mr. Colton has been a Team Theatre coach for roughly ten years. “Mr. Colton has always been a strong foundation for our team,” said Antigone Antonakakis, a third year member of the club. “I could not think of anyone better to take on the role of head coach. His hard work and dedication to Team Theatre shows,” she said.

The driving force that started Team Theatre, Mrs. O’Keefe, stepped down last year. This year, Mr. Curt Foy, the choreographer for the musical, has stepped in.

“For people who do the musicals, we have only known Curt as the choreographer,” said junior Ally Mazza, “but having him as a coach for team theatre was a whole

The team theater club poses on the stage in the performing arts center.

new experience. He’s brought so much motivation and positive energy to the team and wanted to see us all shine and do our best, whether we placed or not.”

Along with the coaches, the manager puts together the rosters for each weekend’s competition and assists members with their pieces. This year, the manager of the team was junior and former competitor Antigone Antonakakis.

“Antigone was amazing at keeping everyone organized. She dealt with any obstacle in her way and always had everyone’s best interest in mind.

Without her, this season wouldn’t have

run smoothly,” said sophomore Jillian Bollinger.

This year has been very successful.

Underclassmen, specifically freshman, typically don’t fare as well as more experienced members. However, this year they blew everyone away. More freshman placed and won this year than ever before. Many pieces placed every competition. Wins aside, the team also created a fun and supportive attitude.

“This season has been by far my favorite season,” said junior Timothy Rickey.

“And I feel like the team really competed as a unit this year.”

Costly prom prices can plummet with these suggestions

prom accessories.

Besides for simply curbing the cost of prom, Bowne urges her fellow students to act similarly as it allows for a 1. Go to Rizzieri for hair (beauty school isa Inc.’s annual prom “deep sense of ownership of in Voorhees Town Center) survey revealed that families your look in being unique.”

2.

Use self-tanner instead of getting a typically pay upwards of $919 Sophomore Mia Cohen spray tan per school dance. This price saved over $200 by making 3.

Shop for dresses in the off season multiplied by the average her own dress.

Cohen has 4.

Rent a dress three school dances a high schooler been sewing for as long as she 5.

Follow a makeup tutorial on attends yields a total cost of $2,757. can remember and decided to Youtube The money students spend on dresses, sew her own dress since it’s 6.

Wear a sibling’s old dress suits, spray tans, makeup, hair styling, always been a dream of hers.

7.

Dress swap with friends from other and promposals could be used for She only spent $50 on the schools college and other post-high school supplies and in total, the 8.

Skip the limo and carpool funds. This begs the question of what hours of labor took only a 9.

Charming Charlies for jewelry can be done to cut the “prom cost.” week.

With just a sewing 10.

Do your own nails Some students have taken to their machine and some fabric, 11. iPhones take good pictures too artistic inclinations in starting to design Cohen had hundreds and had 12.

Spare expense of prom photos and personal prom outfits and accessories. a unique dress no one else take on a lawn or by a fireplace Last April, senior Nancy Bowne faced was wearing.

“This will be 13.

Rewear your old shoes this problem in attending her junior prom. my craziest project yet, but 14.

DIY corsage Bowne recalls being baffled at the high the joy of wearing my own 15.

Have a friend do your makeup prices of boutonnières and corsages, dress that I made will be so 16.

Attend with a group of friends which typically cost $25 and $40 worth it,” she said.

17.

Go to a diner afterwards respectively. She said, “For something For non-artistically 18.

Skip the promposal that lasts only four hours for one night, inclined students, thrift 19.

Rent a suit or tux I realized that it probably isn’t that hard and consignment stores 20.

Sell your dress to make, and I could give it a try.” A year are “lifesavers” for prom later, Bowne has begun selling these paid greater than $200 for their dress. participants on a Besides this, the advent of e-commerce tight budget. Thrift stores like apps and websites, including Poshmark, the recently opened Goodwill Tradesy, and Vinted, has allowed former in Cherry Hill or Red, White, high school graduates to sell their and Blue in Berlin offer dresses online for cheap prices as well. discounts on prom dresses Cost-cutting techniques for prom can and suits in various styles. also be applied to stylistic services, Additionally, Haddonfield’s which frequently cost upwards of $100.

Lavish Loft Consignment Hair averaging $50 or more and makeup Boutique has an entire at least $30. Most Eastern students agree upstairs area dedicated to that spray tans prove unnecessary, and in evening gowns. Sophie reference to makeup and hairstyling, the Steele, Eastern graduate general consensus is to suggest asking of the class of 2018, found one’s friends or family to help. her junior prom dress off the consignment store Go to racks for $30 with a retail price of over $250. This voyager-online.org to is especially important see charts from considering that, according to polls taken of Eastern student polls about A corsage made by senior Nancy Bowne. students, approximately Photo By Nancy Bowne ‘19 prom costs.

60% of female students

By EVELYN STEELE ‘21 and BRYCE DERSHEM ‘21 Photo Editor and News Editor

V

Tips to Save Money

Photo by Laura Frantz ‘20

Team theatre is more than a club. It’s a learning experience.

Junior captain Alexandra Kauffman said Team Theatre is a great experience.

“Not only do you make talented, amazing friends,” she said, “you have the opportunity to grow as a performer and achieve a higher understanding of this art.” She also said that oftentimes, the Arts are undermined. “But at Team Theatre everyone appreciates the art of theatre in a supportive setting and all thespians have a chance to shine.”

Cat in the Hat visits preschool continued from page 1 When the cat entered the room, the majority of the children were enthralled by the giant cat.

“Some of them (the children) hid behind the toys,” said Mrs. Bowne, the preschool teacher in charge of the child development elective.

In the beginning of the year at the Atlantic City teachers convention, she won a contest where a teacher could win their class a visit from the Cat in the Hat. In preparation of the visit, the reading theme of the previous week was all Dr. Seuss. “I thought he was cool,” said Sayf, a 5-year-old.

The Little Vikings range from 3-5 years old. They cannot read yet, so the purpose of the cat visiting, besides it being a fun surprise, was to promote reading awareness and letter identification.

“I like looking at the pages and at the pictures,” said 5-year-old Dhaatwi.

It’s important to promote reading in preschool because some kids don’t have many books to read at home. Exposing the children to reading while having a fun time is important to Mrs. Bowne.

“One of my goals is for them to have a very fun, eventful day,” she said.

The Little Vikings are used to hearing someone read aloud to them. The high school students as teachers often read a book to start off their day together.

At the end of the visit, the Cat in the Hat gave them a book for Mrs. Bowne to read to them. The book, another work by Dr. Seuss, is called And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

The children were ecstatic that the cat left them something to read.

“The next day they asked if he was coming back,” Mrs. Bowne said.

Since they loved the Cat in the Hat so much, the children definitely want another visitor to come in.

“I’m thinking if they have a Paw Patrol person that can come out,” she said with a smile, “that would be a big hit.”

April 2019

News

The Voyager 5

Modern American Issues: Current Today, History Tomorrow

By NICHOLE HALL ‘19 Staff Reporter

M

r. Young gathered the history department together to announce a new class centered around studying current events. When he asked for teachers who were interested in teaching the class, Mr. McAleer’s hand shot straight up.

“So, I never really planned on it, it just kind of happened,” Mr. McAleer said. “I was more than happy to help write the curriculum and get involved because it’s been a very rewarding class.”

The class curriculum was written by Mr. Kennedy and Mr. McAleer. It centers around different topics the students choose to study such as: economics, fine arts, literature, politics, sports, entertainment, and government. Certain Modern American Issues students gather into groups to plan for their upcoming debate. topics must be covered, such as financial without getting hysterical, hoping that literacy, as the class covers the personal they’ll pass the skill to their peers. finance requirements. Some topics may “You can disagree with someone also get pushed to the wayside in favor of without being vehement about it; without more recent, important events. demonizing the other side.” Mr. McAleer “It can be local news one day, national said.

“It’s important to remember that you news the next day…” Mr. McAleer said. can’t let your emotions get the best of “I just love the unpredictability. Everyday you when making an argument.

You have is a clean slate and it keeps us on our to be sound, you have to have evidence toes.” behind you.

Otherwise, people may not Class participation plays a big role listen to you if you sound hysterical.” in making the class enjoyable and If a student is uncomfortable with productive. Students are encouraged to participating verbally in a class debate, he find news stories to address in class. The or she can turn to Google Classroom. By only homework assigned is to keep up sharing their responses as either a private with news. However, Mr. McAleer stated or public comment, they will still get that students are told to find different the required participation points. iPads sources for each are actively used in story to get different Modern American “Everyday is a viewpoints.

Juniors Tanroop Sandhu, Danny Steinsaltz, and Jarel Lunsford discuss Issues. Assignments “If you’re gonna watch clean slate and it where their group stands as they plan for an upcoming debate. are posted and CNN, you better pop submitted through keeps us on our Photos by Nichole Hall ‘19 on Fox.” Mr. McAleer Google Classroom said. “Any writer, no toes.” and students are Counts was the ask, listen, tell portion. matter how good they encouraged to surf The panelists spoke about asking a perare, every human being from page 1 the web both in and son with suicidal thoughts questions is going to have a bias. out of class for various articles. like, “I have been feeling concerned You’ve got to be able to recognize bias.” did.

Senior Rylee Evans took the class about you lately, how are you feeling?”

Mr. McAleer explained that debates This continued throughout his college last semester. She believes it to be an or “Are you thinking about hurting/killstart informally. As students learn and career. One day, when he, his father, and extremely important class due to the ing yourself?” When you ask these quesresearch more, these debates progress his brother were waiting in line at the many subjects addressed. “It was mostly tions, you should listen to the person’s into in-depth discussions between the food concessions at a Penn State game, an open discussion formatted class.” answers by using open body language entire class. Students form groups with Wolfe told them that he would be right Evans said. “We got to voice our opinions and active listening. Finally, you can tell peers who hold the same viewpoint and back. He wanted to see if he could spot on controversial matters as well as keep someone that the person is feeling suibegin researching as much as they can his father’s apartment from the balcony updated on everything happening around cidal. There are many people and conon the topic. Once a sufficient amount of of the stadium. Up there, he looked upon us.” tact numbers to access. information is collected, students get to the campus and imagined his future at Modern American Issues is available The Voorhees police also spoke at this work co-writing their formal arguments.

Penn State, but he had “turned off” and at Honors or Accelerated level, and program. They said they are available Mr. McAleer requires the students to had said he never wanted to jump so bad. lasts a semester. If interested in twenty-four seven and that they will be write pros, cons, and opening statements Still, Lucas pushed his engaging in debates about serial killers, the first people to contact to start their group’s debate, even creating illness under the rug and political hearings, has-been celebrities, for help. “We might seem counterarguments in preparation for “I think it’s reblamed it on other things, local government officials, and even aloof,” said Officer Chase others’ responses. ally important, like school. He felt that international scandals, Modern American Waldman, “ but at the end Giving both sides in the debate equal success equaled value. with social me- of the day, we are focused Issues is your class. treatment is extremely important. Even During his senior year, Mr. McAleer hopes that students take dia being pow- on people’s safety.” when the topics are controversial, all when his feelings got away lessons and skills they’ll use for erful, to spread This Life Counts had a views are respected. Mr. McAleer worse as he shut down the future. “It’s paramount that we big impact on children and wants to teach his students to learn how awareness,”she physically and couldn’t understand why the United States is the adults alike. Gail David, a to disconnect from the animosity that said. eat or sleep. He constantly way it is today,” Mr. McAleer said, “how spectator, thought Lucas’s breaks out in fights on Twitter and instead felt sick. Finally, Wolfe’s it got there, and where we go from here.” program was the most bentreat an argument with understanding parents realized he needed eficial. and courtesy. He teaches students how help and he went to a therapist.

“He gave me the feeling of what deto calmly disagree with the other side His therapist helped him understand the pression feels like,” she said. “To hear science of depression and supplied him his story and to see exactly what he was with medicine, which brought him great feeling, that’s a hard thing to describe. relief. “I took the anti-anxiety medicine, Just from listening to how he felt, I think and I felt normal. I forgot how amazing if I were to talk to someone who felt that it felt to feel normal,” he said. way, I might pick up on something.”

Wolfe feels that having faith and hope Eva, an 11-year Voorhees Middle made the difference, giving him a second School student, got a lot out of the prochance. “If you see someone struggling, gram as well. “I think it’s really imporreach out, because we should always tant, with social media being powerful, have the chance at a rich and wonderful to spread awareness,” she said. life,” he concluded.

Eva also advises people to be happy After Wolfe’s program, the panelists with themselves and to not let anyone took time to talk about protection. They change you. “Don’t try to do anything recommended that kids with suicidal to make yourself feel more happy,” she thoughts should spend time with their said. family and in the community.

The most important aspect of This Life

This Life Counts

Humans of Eastern

6 The Voyager

By VICTORIA LAPINSON ‘20 Entertainment Editor

E

Leah Rinne rocks the softball field

By JONATHAN COSTA ‘19 Staff Reporter

C

hances are you may know Vozzi. Well, maybe just not his first name.

“People started calling me Vozzi in sixth grade,” said Vozzi. “The nickname just stuck when I started middle school.”

“There isn’t one specific reason everyone knows me,” said Vozzi, “I go to many different social events in and out of school. While I’m in class, I stand out entertaining the students, and I’m just an overall nice guy.”

His favorite animal is quite unorthodox. “My favorite animal would be a dragon because they’re big, strong, and mystical.”

Vozzi isn’t one to stick to one thing.

He’s tried several different clubs and sports. He said, “I am in DECA, Interact, and Swimming, but

very morning junior Leah Rinne climbs into her grey Jeep and drives to Eastern.

She’s probably wearing her favorite black vest, white sneakers, and pearl choker.

She goes to six classes a day, like anyone else. But there’s a difference. Since childhood, Rinne has been addicted to softball.

“I started my softball career at four years old, joining as the only girl on my brother’s T-ball team,” Rinne said, “I’ve been addicted ever since.”

The seventeen year old pitcher and power hitter said softball is always on her mind, she has team group chats going on all day, she dreams about getting that winning hit at night. Lucky for

freshman year I played lacrosse.”

In his free time, Vozzi is a typical high school student. “I hang out with my friends, work out, and swim,” he said.

While in school, there are two specific things he looks forwards to.

“Hanging out with friends, and the end of the school day,” he said.

But he hates “the lunch detention, and the fact that there isn’t more recognition for swimming.”

“I think the lunch detention policy is terrible,” he said, “it’s filled almost every day and it’s not an effective punishment.”

Because of his strong opinions about the school, I asked Vozzi what he’d change to fix the school if he were in charge. He had a few suggestions. “I would try to get better lunches, recognize every sport for their accomplishment, and get rid of

Leah Rinne, that dream came true.

Her proud moment came last summer. “I scored the winning home run for my team at a tournament in Maryland,” She said.

That team, the Pitbulls, has taken her from Pennsylvania to South Carolina to Florida. Rinne also plays for Eastern’s softball team in the spring, pitching at Varsity and JV games.

“I definitely have to thank my parents and my coaches, they’ve pushed me to do better and supported me through my whole career,” Rinne said. Her optimistic attitude is shown in her everyday life, as she always makes time to talk to friends, hang out, go to school, and manage softball, even while her father fought heart problems in the hospital.

Needless to say, Leah Rinne has worked diligently at her time management skills to balance her schedule and decide her priorities.

She’s a fighter, she’s a softball player, she’s a sister, she’s a

lunch detentions,” he said. He mentioned Mac and cheese as a suggestion.

In his four years at Eastern, Vozzi’s taken something very important away. “I’ve learned the difference between the concepts and actions that matter versus those that are redundant,” he said.

Vozzi is deciding between Drexel and Boston University, and wants to go into entrepreneurship or management. When asked who he’s going to miss, he said, “My teachers, coaches, friends, and having no responsibilities.”

Vozzi has been a figure everyone at Eastern knows, and we’ll miss him when he graduates. For his last piece of advice for those he’ll be leaving, he said, “Do your homework and work hard, you’ll regret it if you don’t.”

By SAMI FRANKEL ‘20 Staff Reporter

M

Mrs. Sobel organizes the books in the library

April 2019

rs. Sobel wishes she could have the superpower of speed reading.

That way, she could enjoy even more novels than the hundreds she has devoured.

But managing the chaos that is the media center may require another superpower.

Between the reams of papers being printed, classes rotating in and out, hundreds of kids eating during lunch, Sobel has managed the hectic job of coordinating the media center since December 2010 through passion for reading and assisting others.

Prior to joining the Eastern community, Sobel has always been a local, growing up in Haddonfield. Sobel graduated

teammate, she’s a daughter, she’s a friend, and she’s a survivor. She’ll sing along to Ed Sheeran, she watches Netflix, and she’ll spend hours a day at team workouts, practices, gyms, and private coaches to refine her softball skills.

Many consider Pitching one of the most difficult positions in the game, but Leah often makes it look easy.

As she moves through her junior year, Rinne knows what teachers and policies she will miss the most.

“I definitely think Mr. Bougs is my favorite part of the school, he’s an awesome coach,” she said.

With constant playing for the school and travel teams, it’s not a surprise Rinne has big college softball plans. She has the attitude to take it on. Rinne plans to play for her college and go into coaching or athletic training.

Rinne said, “I’ve been so lucky to get where I am, but it’s taken hard work. I just can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Jacob Vozzi just keeps swimming

from Arcadia University with a BA in ancient history and certification to teach grades seven through twelve, obtained a masters degree in science from

“I feel like I have the best job in the building.”

Drexel University, worked as a medical librarian for twenty years, and worked at Triton Regional High School for seven and a half years as well.

With a close-knit family who loves to travel, she makes sure to always brings her A-game anywhere she goes. Sobel’s neatly organized media center makes sense considering she was a professional organizer for eight years.

While a love for reading is not

something that comes naturally or early in life for many, Sobel grew up going to the library with her father every Sunday afternoon. Her father set a prime example of the archetypal reader.

“If you love what you’re doing,” he said, “You’ll never work a day in your life.”

That axiom describes how Sobel developed a love for the library. She loves the atmosphere, and wanted to pursue that.

SInce arriving at Eastern in , after nine years of working at Eastern and spending nearly her whole life with books, Sobel still loves her job.

“I never know who’s gonna walk through the door,” she said, “and I get the privilege of interacting with different departments, teachers, grades, types of students, you name it. I feel like I have the best job in the building.”

Check out more Humans of Eastern at voyager-online.org

Humans of Eastern

April 2019

By ANTHONY CUTRERA ‘19 Sports Editor

S

enior Praneel Trivedy isn’t just your average student.

Currently enrolled in six different AP classes, Trivedy is an academic workhorse.

And Trivedy isn’t just getting by. He was able to post a first semester unweighted GPA of 93.

It is evident that Trivedy takes his school work seriously.

Trivedy says that he has always been naturally smart, but has worked hard to get to where he is today. “My competitive nature and will to keep learning has been the biggest contributor to my academic success,” he said.

Another key for Trivedy’s academic excellence is his personality in the classroom. He

considers himself an extrovert, yet in school he considers himself more introverted. “I do socialize in school, but I don’t let people distract me from learning.

I go to school to learn, so that’s the main goal while I’m there,” Trivedy said.

Trivedy’s focus during school has paid off. For next year, he is choosing between Villanova, Michigan, Virginia, and NYU. Trivedy plans to earn a business degree and “Hopefully, I’ll be settled down with a stable job out of college,” he said.

While many seniors are stressing over the pressures of college, Trivedy is excited to move on. “I’m ready to meet new people and learn new things. I’m ready to take initiative with my work and live independent,” he said.

School isn’t the only thing

The Voyager 7 mo Loo k r ste e Hu for m rn on ans lin e! of

in Trivedy’s life. Outside of the classroom, Trivedy is a big sports fan. He enjoys both playing and watching soccer. Recently, he has become a basketball fanatic.

“As I got into to high school,” he said “I started to learn more and more about basketball and fell in love with the game. It’s so fun to watch and even more fun to play.”

With only a few months of his senior year left, Trivedy plans on finishing his high school career strong. He hopes that the Eastern students that come after him will succeed and added a bit of advice to future high school students saying, “Take your work seriously, but try to find a balance between academics and having fun because in the end, you need to live life.”

Ea

Praneel Trivedy works on an assignment

By EVELYN STEELE ‘21 Photo Editor

A

Melanie Ervin sings her heart out

By JACOB SAFIER ‘20 Features Editor

M

ost students don’t seem to pay much attention to subs, but it’s hard to forget Mr. Cave. He is known for his unique style of subbing, such as his rules and his caring for students.

The first rule Mr. Cave always tells students is that he is “allergic to texting.” Phones can never be used in class because they are a distraction from school work. Additionally, when students ask to use the bathroom, he makes sure they do not have their phones on them so they do not waste time. “Don’t give Mr. Cave attitude,” he responds when met with defiance.

During the course of each class he subs, Mr. Cave asks who has a 92 or higher in the class. For those who don’t, he tries to motivate them to improve and take advantage of their resources.

His advice to students: “set your goals high and stay on course.”

He shows support for students by

s the stage lights settle on the actresses, sophomore Melanie Ervin can be seen singing her way across the stage. A passionate actress, Melanie masters her material and when the curtain rises, so does her talent.

Just 15 years old, Ervin has been in over thirteen shows in just 8 years of acting. Since sixth grade, she’s been doing theater.

Her first play was a villager in Shrek at VMS. Each performance has enhanced her love for acting and singing.

“I saw my first show when I was like three,” said Ervin. “And it just kind of clicked. I feel useless when I’m not in a show because

showing up to their sports games so they feel like they have support because some kids don’t have it. “Success is important to me,” he said.

Mr. Cave’s relationship with Eastern goes far back. He and his family moved to Voorhees from Bensalem in 1983.

He wanted his kids to attend Eastern so they could get a better education.

He says that back in the 80s, there were farms everywhere. The area on Laurel Oak Road near the bank was all farmland and he used to take his kids on hayrides near the current Olive Garden.

Mr. Cave graduated from Boston University in 1979 and got an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University. His experience with subbing began after college when a friend of his suggested he become a long-term sub. He did that for 2 years.

Afterwards, he went into pharmaceutical sales. After 32 years of hard work in the field, Cave decided to retire, while at the same time restarting his sub career.

Unlike many people, Cave never dreads work. He likes his job because it has flexibility, less stress, and it

I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.”

Ervin found her passion at three and she’s looking forward to it in her future. She hopes to be a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and participate in at least one Broadway show by 25.

Her Eastern mentors have helped her evolve in her performing. One mentor, Janette Fisher, graduate of 2018, helped Ervin adapt to theater in high school.

They met during a performance of Sister Act and Ervin noticed their similarities. She’s been an inspiration to Erin. “I just really look up to her and hope to be more like her.” said Ervin, “She’s so awesome, sweet and talented and she kind of looked out for me.”

With classes including choir, Intro to Music Theory, and Page

is enjoyable. “Kids invigorate me,” he continued, “they keep me young.”

Mr. Cave has enjoyed the past couple years as a sub. He is not stressed and feels accepted at Eastern. His subbing methods also seem to pay off; kids will go up to him in the halls and tell them about a good grade they got and he will congratulate them.

This is just one example of how Cave’s caring has had a positive impact on the student body.

“I’m enjoying this phase of my life,” Cave said. Jobs are about “self-satisfaction” and that is why he says he never works. “I’ve never worked a day in my life because I’ve loved every single thing I’ve done.”

to Stage, Ervin has continued to grow in her acting and singing abilities. She says she struggles with underestimating herself and doesn’t always work to her full potential.

If Ervin could choose one show for Eastern to perform, she would choose Rent, saying that “it tells a really good story and has a really good message. Also not many people have seen it.” She also added that her dream roll would be Mimi in Rent because she is fierce and the person she wishes to be someday.

Melanie Ervin is in the featured ensemble of Music Man and performances start on March 21st.

Although Ervin must take on a new character with every play or musical she does, the stage is where she’s comfortable and her own personality really shines.

Mr. Cave really cares for students

Humans of Eastern

8 The Voyager

By HALEY ALLSEBROOK ‘20 News Editor

I

t’s already hard being a junior in high school, but being a junior that is considered legally blind, that’s hard enough standing

alone.

Marissa Nissley is a junior attending Eastern. She was born with albinism.

From a young age, Nissley has been

very insecure about her situation and often tried to avoid discussing it with others. Nissley, now 16-years-old, has no problem opening up about her condition.

She sometimes still catches peers in the hallway or people in public staring at her, because they either don’t know what albinism is or is perplexed by her appearance, but she doesn’t let that ruin her day anymore.

Nissley has a very strong support system at home and she says without that, she believes she would not have become as nearly as self-sufficient as she is today.

“I feel that my parents have played a major role in encouraging me to do well in school,” she said. “My mom especially made sure I received the accommodations I needed and made sure I was on an equal playing field with my peers.”

Nissley is fortunate enough to be able to see enough to read, she just needs to be up really close to be able to see the writing. She can see whiteboards and screens at a

Marissa Nissley admires the view on a bridge

By ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Staff Reporter

W

ho’s that 14-year-old male tearing down the final stretch of the track to complete a six-minute-mile? It’s freshman Ethan Levy!

But while he has been a star on the asphalt, Levy has made major changes to his personality.

As a key member of the distance squad, Levy is best known for running. “I’ve always been interested in running. I really started to take running seriously during seventh and eighth grade track,” he said. During the recent season, he broke personal records in the mile and 800 meter events, with a 5:30 and 2:20 time respectively.

Levy loves the camaraderie of the

team. “I just enjoy the community that track creates,” he said. “A large group of people working together to help each other get better at what we love to do.”

Aside from sports, Levy has made a smooth transition from VMS to Eastern. Biology teacher Elsann Machotka has aided him during this shift. “She has taught me that if I want to succeed, I have to do more than just show up to class. I started off the school year with a low grade in Honors Bio. I didn’t study and didn’t go to extra help. Since then, I’ve gone to extra help almost every day this year.”

Next year, Levy will prepare for the daunting challenge of AP U.S History.

Motivation is a major struggle for many high school students, but Levy has a heartwarming method of waking himself up in the morning.

distance but they are typically always blurry so she uses a monocular to help her read what is on them.

She does most of her schoolwork electronically and reads on her iPad instead of reading out of a physical book.

She said, “The hardest part about growing up with albinism was that people would often underestimate my abilities just because of my vision.”

Nissley has made the Distinguished Honors list her entire high school career for maintaining straight A’s and is also an attorney on Eastern’s Mock Trial team. She is the Vice President of DECA and just last year qualified for DECA’s National Conference where she visited Atlanta and competed with DECA members throughout the entire country.

Nissley is able to manage between clubs and academics due to time management, something she feels is the most important skill in becoming a successful individual.

“I make sure to carefully plan my days and make room for much needed breaks so that I do not burn out,” she said.

While she has admitted to being quite a perfectionist when it comes to her academics, she says that she often tries to remind herself that her grades don’t determine her value and that there is more to her as a person than just numbers on PowerSchool.

Nissley sees herself in the future attending her dream college, Georgetown University but she is also looking into the College of William and Mary along with George Washington University. In 10 years, she sees herself graduating from

“Besides my alarm, the thought of how lucky I am to go to Eastern gets me up. Eastern is one of the best schools in the country, and I’m lucky enough to go there,” he said.

Ten years from now, Levy sees himself graduated from prestigious Ivy League institution Princeton University. “After that, I don’t really know,” he said.

But in the meantime, Levy plans to continue dominating the track, and develop a winning team. But at Eastern, just being a great athlete doesn’t secure success, so he looks to maintain his above-average grades.

“First, I’m going to finish high school,” he said. “I’m just going to take my education one step at a time, and I’ll cross that bridge once I get there.”

By SOPHIE FERGUSON ‘19 Staff Reporter

V

Alexa Grabelle poses for the camera

April 2019

aledictorian for the class of 2019 Alexa Grabelle, regards these values: inspiration, motivation, and selflessness. Her foundation, Bags of Books, inspires students to read. In school she demonstrates motivation in her academics. She wants to change the world, so she started Bags of Books.

When Grabelle was in elementary school, a Camden teacher told her about the lack of books the kids had. “I put two and two together,” she said, “and I realized these students didn’t have books of their own at home.”

Bags of Books’ mission is to promote literacy and foster a love of reading by providing books for less fortunate students. Grabelle noticed the impact a young person can have, and the project made her grateful for her own books.

Outside of Bags of Books, Grabelle participates in Model UN.

law school and living in Washington D.C..

She has been seriously considering a career in law since her seventh grade history teacher told her she would a good lawyer. “I want to pursue a career in this career because I feel this field will be both challenging and satisfying. I am also considering a career in business management or marketing.”

Nissley will be turning 17 this year along with all her friends but unlike most of her friends and peers, she will most likely not be eligible to receive a driver’s license. “While I have not been officially evaluated, it is very unlikely that I will ever drive and I do not feel comfortable doing so,” she said. “I hope to ride to school with my friends once they receive their licenses and use Uber when I get older.” But on the bright side, she has never had to stand alone.

Every other year, Nissley attends a convention called NOAH (National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation). At this convention, people with albinism can connect with one another.

She has made some friends from this convention and although most of them live far away and are usually very busy, she keeps in contact with them through frequent phone calls.

When they do visit each other, Nissley says they typically enjoy visiting tourist attractions and watching movies. “I find that spending time with other people with albinism gives me the opportunity to make numerous blind jokes and bond with those who share similar experiences.”

Ethan Levy runs for his life

Model UN is challenging. “I love the team,” she said, “it pushes me to my limits.”

One of her proudest moments involved being co-secretary general of Eastern’s South Jersey Model United Nations.

As president of Key Club, Grabelle runs all of the meetings. “I am the liaison between Eastern and the state level of key club” she said. Her other duties include creating new service projects, communicating with Ellie the district leader, and working with the club advisor Mrs. Felix.

After high school, Grabelle will attend the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. “I want to study behavioral economics,” she said. “Penn is one of the only schools that has this dedicated program.”

She wants to be a consultant that designs programs and policies for nonprofits in other countries.

“It mixes my passion for community service and business,” she said.

When she has the time, Grabelle likes to travel. Her most recent trip

was to Barcelona. “We like to go beyond tourist activities and see what the locals do,” she said. If she could live a different life, she said she’d travel the world. Her life goal is to travel frequently as a consultant and get hands on experience to solve problems plaguing third world nations.

In her downtime, Grabelle enjoys watching Netflix, sometimes binge watching shows like New Girl, The Office, and Black Mirror. She gets home after Academic Challenge and uses a pattern between doing homework and watching Netflix.

Finding time in her schedule is difficult. An academically rigorous schedule has limited her electives.

Pottery is one class she wished she could have taken.

Grabelle’s top priority is to find happiness in her life. With a satisfying career and a love for travel, Grabelle sees success in her future. She hopes to leave her mark on Eastern and eventually on the world.

April 2019

Humans of Eastern

By LAURA FRANTZ ‘20 Staff Reporter

J

unior year: the most infamous year of high school; a whirlwind of SAT/ACT prep, AP classes, studying for AP tests, college tours, deciding the next four years of your life, etc.

So how does one combat the stress of junior year while not making school their entire life?

Jordyn Malmud: ambitious, extroverted, and overachiever. Currently a junior, she is a hardworking student, a dancer, a Hebrew school student, and the president of her youth group chapter.

Tap, hip-hop, jazz, and musical theatre every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6 to 9. Malmud has been dancing for 14 years, starting at age 2. Her mother first introduced her to dancing, although she herself wasn’t a dancer. Ever since her first class, Malmud has loved to dance. Whenever there is music on, she is known for saying, “I had a dance to this!” and will proceed to show anyone around.

Similar to her introduction to dance, she was introduced into BBYO (a Jewish youth organization) by her cousin (Remi). They are very close. “I’m basically her little sister,” she said.

So, naturally, Malmud decided to follow in her cousin’s footsteps and enter the world of BBYO in eighth grade.

During her four years of involvement, BBYO has become a part of her identity. Currently, she is the president

The Voyager 9

(N’siah) of her chapter. Being president is stressful due to the many responsibilities, yet Malmud still sees the bright side. She knew that being N’siah would be added pressure and stress, however she wanted to “help the chapter now that we are the new generation o f leaders.”

Dance and BBYO take a fair amount of her time, though school and homework take the majority. Malmud isn’t slacking academically junior year; she is pushing herself by taking a mixture of AP and honors classes. Due to her heavy course load, Jordyn spends hours studying and doing homework.

Because of late dance classes, Hebrew school, and BBYO meetings, finding time to do homework isn’t easy. She is forced to do homework during meetings, in the car to and from dance, and often times has to stay up all night. Her schedule is hectic and a tad chaotic; however, she doesn’t regret it. “Sometimes it can be very stressful,” she said. “But I’m only this young for so long and I need to do what I want now.”

On top of everything she needs to do on a weekly basis, she has to worry about which house she will be at. “Every other Monday and Tuesday I’m with my mom or dad, Wednesdays I’m with my mom, Thursdays with my dad, and weekends are every

other.” Although being a child of divorce is stressful, Malmud doesn’t let this stop her.

Recently, Malmud’s Voorhees childhood home was sold and her mom moved to Berlin. Her dad’s home is still in Voorhees, but this move was hard on her. While most would dwell on this, she stays strong and remains as positive and peppy as she can be.

Jordyn Malmud is positive, upbeat, and never seen without a smile. Although her life is chaotic, she is never deterred from achieving her goals. She can do anything she puts her mind to, especially if Ed Sheeran is playing.

Jordyn Malmud gets elected as N’siah

By LAUREN CASOLE ‘19 Editor-in-Chief

S

Molly Greenblatt poses with a sweatshirt she made

By SASHA TUDDENHAM ‘20 Staff Reporter

A

truly inspirational teacher only comes about a few times throughout a students’ schooling. Mother of three, months away from receiving her doctorate, and still managing to remain a beloved English teacher, Mrs. Leason is the epitome of one of these influential figures.

When entering her class, it feels as if one should smell freshly baked cookies. “I wish my students knew that I understand them and their challenges more than they realize, because I was that quiet kid in class. I know what it feels like to be overlooked, to be misunderstood, and to have far too many worries to handle at such a young age,” she explained.

Still to this day, Mrs. Leason understands having to balance her time between different priorities. Although her family remains the most important piece of life, she and her family have performed a balancing act and are continuing to perfect the routine.

With this in mind, she creates an atmosphere to ensure students are comfortable to ask questions. “Each year, my students become an extension of my family; I have the same high expectations for them as I do for myself and my three sons. I passionately believe in the mantra:

See the rest of the Humans of Eastern pieces on voyager-online.org!

enior Molly Greenblatt decided to take her love of fashion and turn it into a business. She currently runs “Stitch It,” which is an Instagram clothing company that sells custom college apparel. Eastern’s fashion department, for the past four years, has taught Greenblatt everything she knows about sewing.

Originally, the company was her cousin, Melissa’s, and Molly is continuing the business. “I love to sew and my cousin needed someone to take over the business because she didn’t have time,” she said. She took over junior year and hopes to continue it college.

Greenblatt utilizes the weekends to get most of the clothes made. Typically, it takes 30-45 minutes, dependent on the clothing. She has a section in her house called her “sewing room,” which is

‘You are more than your test scores.’”

As AP student Sara Tuddenham portrays, “Our English class is really like a family.

Mrs. Leason is such an amazing teacher and inspiration, providing a level of comfort in the classroom for everyone to relate and share personal stories when writing and during discussions. The class is a challenge, but she is always there to guide and help her students along the way.”

Mrs. Leason radiates passion. Although her love of dark chocolate and Bon Jovi is not evident in her teaching, from Thoreau to Poe to Fitzgerald (especially The Great Gatsby), Mrs. Leason’s love of reading and writing is apparent to her students.

As Mrs. Leason conveys, “Both are escapes for me. I can get lost in a great novel for hours. I also love confronting a blank computer screen and a blinking cursor. To me, that blinking cursor is a dare; challenge accepted!”

Her zest for life exceeds her love of teaching as she has never let the cynics win. With education in her blood, after six years of persistently pursuing her doctorate in education, she has finished her dissertation and is on track to graduate this May. Despite the disbelief from some that she could never succeed because of her dyslexia, Mrs. Leason explains, “Some people view having a learning disability as a negative aspect of life. I view it as a gift. I do not believe, though, that being dyslexic has negatively affected my goals; just the opposite. I’ve had to work harder to prove “the haters” or “naysayers” wrong.”

Amidst helping shape the next generation of original

dedicated to all of her outfits.

“My favorite part of designing clothes is coming up with new and fun ideas to promote,” said Greenblatt.

Her friends and family also help out as models for her Instagram page. Instagram is Molly’s main form of promotion besides word of mouth. “I have modeled for Molly a couple times, and it is always so fun. Her clothes are super comfortable and made really well,” said senior Jamie Schulman, one of the models.

When asked what she has learned from this whole experience Molly said, “I have learned to manage my time and how to advertise to get customers, and I really see what clothes are instyle and what girls like to wear.” * If you want to rock any of Molly’s custom college apparel check out her Instagram account @stitch_itt

Mrs. Leason smiles in her classroom thinkers, Mrs. Leason’s mantra has yet to fail her as she begins to enter the next chapter in her life this upcoming May. “Never give up on yourself or your dreams! You can achieve anything with hard work, perseverance, and determination,” she exclaimed.

Humans o

10 April 2019

By JULIA KIRK ‘19 Staff Reporter

A

t three years old, senior Isabel Rinaldi, started dancing. She spends an average of seventeen to eighteen hours at Lowe’s Dance Studio each week.

She entered the world of dance at a young age because it runs in her family.

“My one aunt was on Broadway, my other

By JAKE FRITZ ’20 Staff Reporter

Y

ou come home to a week of lessons to plan for your high school physics class.

In addition to your lessons, you have a full scale musical production to put together, a family to raise, and a doctorate to earn. Dr. Gregg Molotsky is one hard working teacher, director, father, and student.

Having been interested in theater from a young age, Molotsky laughs when reminiscing upon his first theater experience. “I think it’s indicative that maybe, perhaps, I

aunt danced but never pursued it, and then my great grandmother was the owner of her own dance studio,” said Rinaldi.

She plans to pursue a career in the performing arts. “I’m not even going to college,” Rinaldi said. She is hoping to get a role in Cirque du Soleil in Walt Disney World, or join a company in New York City or Boston.

Though the future is still unknown and hearing about her classmates’ acceptances to college has been worrisome, Rinaldi is still optimistic about her chances in the dance industry.

She is most afraid of not making it into a company; however, regardless of whether she ends up in the professional world, she intends to incorporate dance into her life. Rinaldi added that she would be open to choreographing or being a dance instructor in order to keep herself

was going to become a director.”

He later described how his parents had taken him to a production of “Fiddler on the Roof”, and a four year old Molotsky had a few directorial comments of his own he wished to share with the director.

Molotsky initially pursued his passion for directing when he was chosen to direct his Freshman class One Act play. “Nobody else wanted the good job because they didn’t really understand what it entailed,” Molotsky stated.

Molotsky majored in Astronomy and Physics at the University of Virginia. After college, Molotsky decided he wanted to teach. He was

connected to the performing arts.

She looks up to some of her dance teachers from Lowe’s and professional dancers such as Isabella Boylston, who dances with the American Ballet Theatre.

“Not being able to dance every day,” Rinaldi said, “is something I wouldn’t be able to do.” She’s worked hard in both the classroom and in the studio, but she’s had to give up a part of her social life to compensate for her extensive training; however, she wouldn’t change a thing.

She also shares a tight bond with other Lowe’s students through their same passion towards performing.

“Dance is everything and I have always known so it’s kind of just become a part of me and I don’t know what I would do without it, Rinaldi said, “Right now I genuinely don’t know what I would do if I didn’t go to dance every night and I didn’t have the one goal–to become a dancer.”

The uncertainty of her future may seem daunting, but she intends to pursue a career that she truly enjoys. Being on stage and performing for an audience is a rewarding experience and Rinaldi doesn’t plan on changing her mind about her.

lucky enough to discover that the University of Pennsylvania offered a program which allowed you to earn an education degree after majoring in other things in college.

Upon earning his doctorate, Molotsky explained that in order to manage all of his jobs, he took part time post graduate classes online.

“It takes lots of work,” he chuckled.

“It is incredibly rewarding but demanding” he said.

He pointed at the sense that there are reflections between directing and teaching. Teaching is objective, as opposed to the physical truth of a character, and how it needs the other characters in the scene.

He compared Eastern as a whole to other schools’ academic and theatrical programs. Although it is clear that Eastern excels in academics, Molotsky mentioned that Eastern is much more supportive of its arts program than any other school. The Viking Art award is a prime example of how Eastern commends students with gifted artistic ability. “I like to think that I’ve helped by creating an attitude of excellence within the musical and theater program, by presenting that out to the community.”

Molotsky’s Papermill Playhouse award winning “Les Misérables: School Edition” is certainly a reflection of that.

By Matt Steinsaltz ’20 Features Editor

E

veryone seems to knows senior J o n Wasdick. He is the first to say “hi” to someone, and always has a big smile. Jon has infectious joy. He puts a smile on the face of everyone who walks by him.

He plays the s u s p e n d e d symbols for Eastern’s award winning Marching Vikings.

His favorite part of marching band? Seeing his friends. But marching band has also taught him a lesson. “Marching band has taught me to play in real time and always try to win,” he said.

Along with marching band, he is also a member of the Jewish youth group, BBYO. He is a fixture at all BBYO events, and is known by all. It seems as if he is friends with everyone. He can

By NICHOLE HALL ‘19 Staff Reporter

D

e n i s e Dacanay is a senior heading for TCNJ, attending for a degree in criminology.

One day, she wants to write and illustrate a webcomic. For now though, she’s focusing on her role as Captain in color guard and as an upcoming artist on social media.

Dacanay devotes countless hours to color guard, taking pride in her work as a Captain, “I assess the area, I make sure everyone is in line, and I make sure the team is together.” Dacanay said. “I make sure that people are doing their duties and everyone is having fun at the same time.”

Since she saw a demonstration show at Voorhees Middle, Dacanay says she’s wanted to become a member. She admits that the work involved is strenuous and stressful, but loves it all the same. “Color guard has really just made me into the person I am today.” Dacanay said. “Honestly, without it, I would never ever be as amicable, as outgoing as I am now.”

Dacanay travels a lot for

of Eastern

d t

e

y n

always be seen talking to somebody-putting a smile on the kid’s face.

Just like marching band, one of his favorite parts of BBYO is seeing all of his friends. Another thing he loves to do is “play football with my friends.”

This past fall, his peers named him homecoming king.

“I was shocked when I was named king. I did not expect that at all,” he said. For him it was a surreal experience.

He is also a big music fan. He is a well rounded music enthusiast as he likes rock music and rap.

His favorite rock artists are Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. His favorite rappers are Travis Scott and Drake. He will often show off his joy for the music he is listening to by digging into his marching band roots and drumming on the table to the beat of the song.

Next time you see Jon in the hallway, wave hello and he will be sure to say hello back.

The Voyager 11

OLIVIA COVINGTON ‘19 Features Editor

“I

t was my sophomore year and I let my nerves get the best of me and I ran a really bad race in the Meet Of Champs.” said Jewel Ash. She was recalling a moment she wanted to quit track.

“I was disappointed and wanted to just give up, but not giving up was the best decision because I knew I could do better.”

Other state championships and Meet of Champs (MOC) were to follow this moment, even running against Olympian Sydney McLaughlin. Ash, a junior, is now state champion of various races and on her way to the MOC for a third year in a row. Jewel has been running since she was five and has ran races varying, from the 4x100 meter relay to the 4x400 hurdles (intermediate hurdles).

This was not an easy feat.

She was even injured at one point and was diagnosed with sacroiliitis (inflammation in your lower back), but is now recovering and growing stronger.

Even though runners require physical ability, Ash believes the mental state is just as important, “if your mindset isn’t correct then all the hard work you did will not matter.”

Another challenge she faces is keeping up her performance in the classroom as well as on the track.

“Juggling track and my grades can be pretty hard, but very manageable,” she said. “You just need discipline and motivation to get through

it.”

Ash is continuing her track career in college and is deciding between institutes such as West Point, Yale, Syracuse, and more. She once planned to run in the Olympics, but decided to choose a different path to study English in college and attend law school.

For now, Ash likes to spend her free time with her friends or sleeping or eating macaroni and cheese. Keep a look out for the speedy junior as she continues to dominate the track.

Her tip to all athletes? “Choose and maintain a positive attitude.”

By AVA HANCOCK ‘20 Opinion Editor

competitions for guard, but on March 8th, she traveled for a different reason. She and her family headed to The State House in Trenton to see one of her artworks on display.

While this is her first work displayed, it wasn’t the first time hundreds had seen Dacanay’s art. Under the alias Sephyneris on Instagram and Drawing Amino, Dacanay posts her various works she describes as “a surrealist take on life.” Over one thousand accounts follow her on Instagram. Her most liked piece depicts a boy named Altair, digitally drawn in soft purples and pinks. It currently has over five-hundred and thirty likes.

Dacanay feels very pleased at the attention her pictures receive. “You know, that people actually like my art for what it is,” she said. “I just hope that it just keeps going.”

Dacanay hopes that when people look back on her high school career, they’ll remember her for her art. To all upcoming artists, she hopes they, “Keep doing what you’re doing and do not stop. I know sometimes we have art blocks... but do not stop what you’re doing.”

Her advice to incoming guardsmen?

“Guard Members: be dedicated. Don’t forget to smile and look up!” Then she laughed, “Retain, retain, retain!”

“W

hat’s up Eastern, I’m Ted Drinkwater and we’ve got a lot going on in Eastern sports,” echoes the familiar voice through the school every morning. Drinkwater is a sports anchor on ETV News and somewhat of an Eastern phenomenon, often seen highfiving underclassmen as he walks through the hallways.

Drinkwater says he never expected for everything to blow up the way it did. “There’s a lot of things that come with it, but most of of all, you just gotta be able to be a role model to people.”

Usually in some sort of school apparel and with a smile on his face, he informs students and staff about the latest sports news.

“I think I get most of my charisma from my dad, but I can be shy sometimes when I’m put outside of my comfort zone,” Drinkwater said.

His dad encourages him to find new ways to make the program interesting by saying new catchphrases.

Off camera, he loves to play basketball, go to church with family,

and hang out with his friends, who he says see his role on ETV as a bit of a joke. “I still see myself as a role model figure, though,” he admits proudly.

As a junior, Ted will be heading off to college in 2020, leaving behind his supportive three sisters- Melanie, Ellie, and Talia- and parents.

He plans to go to a four-year college and major in communications or business. These plans inspired him to join ETV. “I want to go down the communication route, so I thought getting involved with ETV News would be a good thing

to get on my transcript and just get experience under my belt,” he said.

Ted explains the process of making an episode of ETV to those who don’t get the privilege of being in the studio.

“We walk into the studio and you gotta have your ID on,” he emphasizes. “We mic up and get micchecked and just read off the teleprompter.

If I have something I wanna report, I can just email Mr. Holmes what I wanna say and go from there.”

The people on the show all get along and have a good time filming. Ted especially credits the students behind the camera for all their hard work making sure the news is ready to go day in and day out.

Though he sees himself as a sports anchor or a host of a sports talk show in the future, Ted is sticking to the school news for now.

“I just wanna spread positive energy,” says Ted, “and I want everybody to know that being nice to everyone takes you somewhere.”

Opinion

12 The Voyager

Let’s work together on solutions to locked lavs

April 2019

U

sing the bathroom should not be be a problem.

How many bathrooms are there?

Yet, on any given day, the following are generally open: the lobby, the 800 hallway, the bathrooms outside of the media center, and sometimes the bathrooms outside of the 500 cafe.

More and more bathrooms have slowly becoming off-limits, leaving dozens of kids walking far distances with full bladders. class to go to the bathroom after lunch.

Why has this been happening? Does it Stricter teachers scold students for not have to do anything with the crackdown utilizing the lunch period. Others equally on vaping and juuling? annoyed can recognize the absurdity of Within the past two years, juuling has the situation and allow students to go. become, what health officials consider, an Students highlight that faculty bathrooms epidemic. School districts are struggling are not locked during the lunch period, so to contain and crack down on this a lack of understanding and empathy is problem. apparent between teachers and students.

Some students have taken the next step The high volume of students cramming and smoke marijuana out of dab pens, into just a few bathrooms during which are easily concealable and leave lunch causes long lines that create no odor. Some even smoke blunts in the impracticality. If students choose to wait, school bathrooms. they run the risk of getting a detention for The inconvenience of locked bathrooms lateness if they use the bathroom during is unavoidable. the time allotted to switch classes.

The Voyager staff feels that the A common conflict among students administration is fighting a losing battle. is deciding whether to get detention When there is a will, there is a way. for being late, ruin your kidneys, or get Students who want to vape won’t stop just yelled at for trying to use the restroom because a bathroom is locked; students during class. can juul during any We are now seeing that period of the day. enjoying privileges like The Voyager It is believed that bathrooms comes at a editorial staff students will continue cost. Innocent students to find ways in which are forced to face the feels this new they can outsmart consequences for the a d m i n i s t r a t i v e procedure is widely actions of a handful of policies and inconsiderate students. ineffective. procedures.

A solution could Students claim that be having individual they usually don’t have enough time in teachers monitor the bathrooms, although the lunch period if they have to attend a the desire for a teacher to do that and the lab, buy lunch, eat, and use the bathroom. practicality of that solution is debatable.

Students find they end up leaving class Teachers who monitor the cafeteria more frequently to use the restrooms could be stationed outside of bathrooms. as opposed to going during lunch like There are also reports of “vaping” they used to, which puts a strain on sensors used by other schools, like teachers and instructional time. The Sterling, that send an email alert if vaping staff feels this new procedure is widely is detetced. The cost, proportedly, is about viewed as ineffective. It seems to cause $1,000 per unit or less. frustration from both faculty and student The juuling epidemic has proved itself perspectives. to be a great issue with minimal solutions.

Teachers are frequently frustrated with We just want to go to the bathroom. increasingly more students asking to leave

Eastern Regional High School 1401 Laurel Oak Road Voorhees, NJ 08043 856-784-4441 www.voyager-online.org YouTube: ehs voyager

THE VOYAGER

Lauren Casole and Maanasi Natarajan: Editors-in-Chief Srishti Ramesh and Julia Dodd: Online Editors-in-Chief Shreya Gowda: Managing Editor Ava Hancock and Jessica Bonamassa: Opinion Editors Bryce Dershem and Haley Allsebrook: News Editors Matthew Steinsaltz, Jacob Safier, and Olivia Covington: Features Editors Victoria Lapinson and Josh Meyers: Entertainment Editors Anthony Cutrera and Eric Horn: Sports Editors Cynthia Meas: Art Editor Evelyn Steele and Nancy Bowne: Photography Editors Nancy Bowne: Copy Editor Staff Reporters

Jenna Preston, Nichole Hall, Jonathan Costa, Laura Frantz, Julia Kirk, Sophie Ferguson, Jake Fritz, Ahmed Abdou, Lelah Tekhna, Sasha Tuddenham, Samantha Frankel, Andrew Shinkle, Michael Mazziotta

Walter Bowne, Advisor: Room 605

Letters to the Editor

Submit signed letters to Room 605 or email ehsvoyager@gmail.com

Awards

The Garden State Press Association, “Overall Excellence” The American Scholastic Press Association

Artwork by Srishti Ramesh ‘19

Short-e-torials NJ sheep escapes cult’s sacrificial ritual

Police officers responded to a runaway sheep in Essex County two weeks ago. The sheep was described as “just plain disheveled” by Popcorn Park Animal Refuge and had balloons tied to his ear tag and tail. The sheep, who was named Rudy by the police officer who located him, took two weeks to fully recover from his injuries, which included an ulcerated cornea and a lacerated ear. His wool was also sheared off his back.

Officers questioned those who lived in the area Rudy was found in. These residents claim Rudy had been purchased to be used for a cult’s ritual that would’ve left him dead.

Thankfully, the sheep escaped before any permanent damage could be done. Rudy has since recovered and will be introduced to the other farm animals at Popcorn Park once his quarantine time ends. Police will continue looking into this case.

- Nichole Hall ‘19

NJ legislators punt on legalized weed (for now)

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is a very vocal supporter of legalized weed. Along with his support, 60 percent of New Jersey residents would like weed to be legal. On March 25th, the state senate was scheduled to vote on this bill, however it was cancelled.

With the high support of this bill, many wonder why Murphy failed to find enough supporters. The main reason for this further delay of legalized weed is the divide between the democrats. Murphy couldn’t get support from the majority of his own party, mostly due to the generational divide. The older generation still believes that weed is harmful to public safety and is a gateway drug.

Although the bill did not pass, Murphy is still hopeful. “Certainly, I’m disappointed, but we are not defeated,” he said. One day New Jersey will have legalized weed, but today is not that day. - Laura Frantz ‘20

Trauma leads to suicide over the week Three suicides linked to school shootings have been confirmed including two survivors of the Parkland shooting and the father of one of the children killed in the Sandy Hook shooting. Sydney Aiello, Jeremy Richman, and an unnamed student at Stoneman Douglas High School all reportedly committed suicide within the same month. Aiello was a close friend of Meadow Pollack, who was killed in the Parkland shooting, and had suffered from PTSD and survivor’s guilt. Richman, father of Sandy Hook victim Avielle Richman, died in an apparent suicide.

These sudden deaths bring up a very important conversation about trauma and the detrimental effects it can have on survivors. We should not mourn these shootings for a day and only think of the victims. We need to reach out to survivors, family, and friends, who are also suffering a traumatic loss. - Ava Hancock ‘20

Video gaming arena is coming to Philly

Just yesterday the Comcast Spectacor who owns the Flyers announced that this summer the Comcast company plans to invest $50 million to build the first gaming arena for gaming fans in the U.S..

The 3,500-seat acre stadium complex, called Fusion, will be in walking distance of Citizens Bank Park, Xfinity Live, Wells Fargo Center, and the Lincoln Financial Field.

You can watch highly skilled gamers compete with each other for titles and prize money.

Joe Marsh, the chief business officer for Spectator Gaming and The Fusion said, “The East Coast does not have a hub for gaming,” and followed by saying, “on the gaming side, we think we will keep the building lit up most of the year.”

The Fusion Arena also hopes to hold TED Talks and K-pop concerts here as well.

Inside the arena will be a 10,000-square-foot training facility, two balcony bars, a broadcast studio, and premium seating that will be used for concerts and corporate events.

“We’ve reached a place now where there is a need for purpose-built esports venues,” said senior principal with architectural firm Populous Brian Mirakian.

“This project represents the prototype of the future.” The venue is expected to open in 2021. - Haley Allsebrook ‘20

MLB contract extensions In Major League Baseball, many players have been receiving contract extensions, in a trend that has taken off recently. From centerfielder Mike Trout’s record-breaking 12year, $430 million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Angels to the Houston Astros’ wise retention of third baseman Alex Bregman, these extensions have seemingly been happening every five minutes.

It seems as if MLB owners have finally come to their senses, as superstars like Justin Verlander, Nolan Arenado, Jacob DeGrom and Paul Goldschmidt should be given the money that they deserve. These players are the kind you build your whole team around.

With massive amounts of cash waiting to be spent, why let them have the chance to go elsewhere? - Andrew Shinkle ‘22

Commentary

April 2019

The Voyager 13

Students and chaperones stop for a photo at the Holocaust Museum. The trip was part of Mr. Isshak’s class, “Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity.” The trip, held on Saturday, March 2nd, 2019, also included a two-hour visit to the African-American history museum.

Museum opens eyes to the horrors of what should never have happened

By GABRIELLE KUPER ‘19 Special to The Voyager

A

s we entered the Holocaust Museum one by one, and were given the identification cards I began to think about how I had the true story of a victim in my hands. The thought of that left an unsettling feeling in my stomach. As we listened to the museum worker speak all I wanted to do was open my card and read it, but I followed the directions given and kept it closed.

As we got into the elevator I remember that someone made a joke about Issh being short. Everyone in the elevator laughed, but our laughter was quickly silenced by the video that started to play above the exit door.

The video was about American soldiers approaching a concentration camp for the first time. The last line in the video clip said something along the lines of “this is what we saw.” A split second later the elevator doors opened, and here was a huge picture of a pile of dead bodies.

No one was laughing now.

The museum floor was practically silent, and that’s when I knew it was going to be a long day in there.

As I mentioned before, the short video in the elevator set up the entire museum perfectly. It ‘welcomed’ us as people who have never seen this evidence before, and that’s how many of the

American soldiers felt as they approached camps for the first time. After exiting the elevator the information began to be presented in chronological order. It started with the rise of Hitler and then progressed all the way through the war until it ended with liberations of camps, and then stories told by survivors.

One of the most memorable exhibits in the museum was the shoes that covered the floor. I slowly walked through that room trying to look at every shoe possible. The poem on the wall also caught my attention.

It was one of the few things I took a picture of. The poem read, “we are the shoes, we are the last witnesses.

Mr. Isshak had students compile slides of photos and essays.

We are shoes from grandchildren and grandfathers from Prague, Paris, and Amsterdam, and because we are only made of fabric and leather and not of blood and flesh, each one of us avoided the hellfire.”

The people that abandoned these shoes are just as innocent as these shoes are, and the people also should have been able to avoid the hellfire. Another thing I remember clearly was the train car that was used to transport people to camps. The darkness inside the train car made me feel uneasy.

One thing I was surprised by was the amount of videos there were. I didn’t think there was that much video evidence of all of this.

Overall, this museum was very educational and should be seen by everyone. As hard as it is to look at all the information and evidence, we can’t hide from it because it did happen and everyone needs to know about it.

There isn’t a word; floor upon floor exposes the awful truth of the Holocaust

By KELLEY FOLEY ‘19 Special to The Voyager

T

he Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. is designed to begin at the fourth floor with the Nazi’s rise to power in the early 1930’s and then down to the second floor with the liberation of camps in the mid 1940’s.

When the elevator doors open, you are instantly confronted with an enormous photograph of burned bodies.

I thought I would be desensitized to pictures like this from the other hundreds of gruesome photographs of the Holocaust I’ve seen, but it struck me like I was seeing it for the first time.

You have no choice but to look at it in detail and see the remnants of bodies under the charred wood.

It was disturbing.

There was an unsettling feeling of experiencing the Holocaust almost firsthand at this one picture and throughout the rest of the museum. As you continue, political events and early discrimination are detailed. Tassels of hair varying from

black to light blonde, cards of all possible eye colors, and a tool used to measure the width of the nose is hung behind the glass.

The Nazi’s obsession with race was strict and unrealistic, it was unbelievable to think people approved of this. At the end of the fourth floor exhibit, there is a long glass bridge with words etched into the walls.

They were the names of towns and cities whose Jewish populations were partially or completely wiped out as part of the “Final Solution.”

The third floor focuses mostly on the ghettos and concentration camps. There is real (or maybe a casting) of a stone street from one of the ghettos that you are able to walk on. For some reason my first thought was of the people who had no shoes.

Even though there were plenty more worse things that occured in the ghettos, I wondered how cold the rough stones got and the damage it must have done to their feet. Being able to walk on the same stones made it feel so real. One of the most striking things to me in this museum was the Treblinka Path. The path connected the Treblinka killing center to

Students pass through the haunting Tower of Faces (the Yaffa Eliach Shtetl Collection).

a nearby forced-labor camp; it was made from the crushed remains of tombstones from Jewish cemeteries.

When you looked down at the path, you could see Hebrew letters in some of the pieces. The Jewish population and also their heritage were being destroyed. The bunks of the prisoners of concentration camps were on display.

They fit 5-6 people and had three levels.

I remembered a lesson from years ago about what happened when someone needed to use the bathroom in these bunks. They sometimes would have no choice but to just go where they were and allow urine and excrement to drip down onto the bunk underneath them.

In the museum, the bunk was inside a barrack. It was made of very thin wood and the walls had some gaps. I didn’t think much of that until I saw a picture in the next room of rows of barracks buried in snow.

Towards the end of the museum is a sea of shoes confiscated from those entering the concentration camp.

We hear the number “eleven million” when talking about the total amount of

people who died in the Holocaust, but I don’t think anyone can completely comprehend that.

Even though the amount of shoes was just a small fraction of those who were killed, standing in that room is the closest I think I’ll ever be to understanding the scale of the Holocaust.

Instead of looking at the death toll as only a number, I saw it as individual lives that were right in front of me.

Each shoe was real and worn by living people. There were so many experiences and memories and thoughts that came from the people who owned these shoes, but they were all crushed and forgotten.

There isn’t a word for the haunting understanding of how many people suffered and died in the Holocaust and there is no amount of tangible retribution we can give to the victims.

We can only work to prevent future atrocities and empathize with those who experienced them.

“For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” -Elie Wiesel Read Valentina Fajardo’essay.

Go to voyager-online.org

14 The Voyager

Opinion

April 2019

Should students be able to grade their teachers?

By JULIA KIRK ‘19 Staff Reporter

S

tudents receive grades through their test taking abilities, homework completion, and even graded discussions. They have their strengths and weaknesses, but seeing their grades allows them to see where they need to focus more of their energy.

But imagine if students were able to grade their teachers; imagine if they were able to evaluate their teacher’s success and inform their teachers what works and what does not work.

Some people think that students would provide insight not received from administration evaluations.

Sophomore Morgan Bromley said that most teachers know when they are getting observed. “So they plan to look good for the administrators,” she said.

“Having students grade teachers allows the administration to fully understand how well a teacher helps the student understand the material.”

Tenured teachers receive one announced and one unannounced evaluation per school year. The New Jersey Department of Education requires non-tenured teachers to have a minimum of three observations each year, although Eastern has four dispersed throughout the year.

Senior Aleeha Khan said the administration doesn’t always “catch the things that happen during class.”

With a school year of 180 days, a nontenured staff member would only be evaluated on 2.2% of their teaching. This means that the other 97.8% takes place in

the presence of students.

So if students are the ones primarily exposed to their teachers, why are they not the ones that evaluate their teachers?

Science teacher Mr. Douglas Berezansky said group meetings and in-service days “help improve the quality of teaching.”

‘Horizontal meetings,’ which are comprised of staff members with different field specializations, and vertical meetings, which are inclusive to faculty in the same department allow for diverse viewpoints to emerge.

Berezansky also said that while evaluations only show a few days in the classroom, “they do offer some good points.” He agreed that student feedback could pose beneficial outcomes, although it would depend on how the grading was composed.

There is a common disagreement on the issue of tenure. Tenure allows for job protection and is received after a teacher’s fourth year and a day of working at a single school. Tenure is lost if a teacher leaves that school. While this allows teachers to feel secure with their positions, can it pose a barrier between both them and their students?

Students interviewed claimed that tenure may often cause fear that teachers may become complacent. How accountable are they for teaching their classes?

Having students “grade” their teachers may insure teacher responsibility towards their work and could “improve their understanding of the amount of work students have to deal with for school and other classes as well as extracurricular activities,” said Bromley.

There is also the worry that some students would hold grudges against teachers that did not pass them, or disciplined them when they showed inadequate behavior in the classroom. “Some students could lie if they don’t like the teachers. They could grade them badly, or vice versa,” said Khan. Bromley, in agreement, said, “Some high school students are mature enough to grade their teachers fairly while others are not.”

Websites like ratemyteachers and ratemyprofessor allow students to anonymously review their former teachers.

Eastern has an average rating of 4.23, but there’s still room for improvement.

Comments range from “Coolest.

Teacher. EVVVER!,” to “Blah, there could be better,” to “the only teacher I’ve ever had that used to be a bouncer.”

With a general trend of students giving teachers high ratings, a common recommendation is for quicker grading and attainable due dates. If teachers received feedback from their classes, they could receive individual and specific advice that would benefit the experiences of both the teacher and the student.

Some teachers educate their classes by lectures, some by PowerPoints, and some by interactive lessons; but students learn in a multitude of ways.

There are visual, kinesthetic, and auditory learners, and it’s important for teachers to understand the needs of their students and receive feedback on how to adapt to those needs. “It could be good to have a different point of view on things,” Kahn said.

Rate your teachers using this sample evaluation!

Thoughts on recent college admissions scandal In early March, it was revealed that dozens of wealthy parents had “paid enormous sums” to a man named William Singer, who then helped fake credentials to get their children admitted to the top universities in America. SAT and ACT scores were faked, as well as athletic skills and achievements. The Voyager staff asked students, parents, teachers, and college administrators questions related to the recent college admissions scandal.

Do you believe that students need to go to elite schools to be successful?

“No. I didn’t go to an elite school. A college education is important it shouldn’t matter what school it comes from.”

-Señor Garry, teacher “No, I don’t think the name of the school or the acceptance rate really matters in the grand scheme of thing because when you get into the working field, it’s more about the degree earned and working experience that counts. - Sean Smith ‘21

How will the students who did not know that they were admitted into college based on a lie be affected?

“Well I imagine it might be different in each case, and I suspect at least of few of the students might have some knowledge of what their parents did on their behalf, but either way I suspect there might be some significant embarrassment, and in the case of those who were completely unaware, incredible disappointment in their parents’ actions and maybe disillusionment with the college system. For some, this might be a life-altering event, even for those whose parents are already in the spotlight for their fame. On a practical level, I would think at the very least most would leave the prestigious school they are enrolled in, and possibly leave college altogether. Having said that, it appears in some cases, attending that par-

ticular college may have been more their parents’ dream than theirs. So hopefully each, despite this setback, will move on.

I would also think that, while their credentials might not have gotten them into one of the schools in question otherwise, they are likely well-qualified to attend one of thousands of other very good schools.” - Glenn Bozinski, Vice President of Enrollment Management Misericordia University

Could you go to a school knowing you didn’t earn it?

“I wouldn’t go because if I didn’t earn it, I wouldn’t have interest in the school.

People who have respect go to a college that they earn; nobody should pay their way into what they haven’t earned.”

-Alexandra Kauffman, student

How far would you go to get your child into college?

“I wouldn’t go far at all, I wouldn’t do anything illegal or unethical. The only thing I would do is spend money on tutors and whatever legal resources there are to buy. Beyond that you’re on your own.” - Paul Frantz, parent

Do you feel like parents paying their children’s way into college takes something away from you as a student?

“I think it’s unfair because a lot of students work really hard in school to impress colleges and go to their dream

school, but some kids just get to bribe their way in. They didn’t earn it at all.”

-Clare Fitzpatrick, student

Does this change your perception of college or make you distrust the system?

“I wasn’t thinking that even happened.

The system is definitely shady and it doesn’t help that there are people with a lot of money out there that can cheat their way. It’s not fair and all their degrees should be void. Imagine seeing a doctor who is treating you without even going through the hard work— it’s just money. It’s a lack of morals in society now, and more about greed and reputation. This is stupid and overall a new low. Colleges and coaches should be charged, too, for enabling. Don’t they get that there are hardworking people there?

People are in school to work and they deserve that diploma. Money can’t buy instant knowledge.” - Victoria Thyda Thong, student at Upper Merion High School

Do you think that these privileged families will find another way to cheat the system? How so?

“Yes. There’s always going to be more rich men and women looking to find an easy way to get their kids the best possible education regardless of intelligence, and there’s always going to be people looking to profit off of that.” - Joseph Loverdi, student

Do you feel stressed or anxious when you see students comitting to schools of higher caliber?

“To a certain extent I do, but for the most part I’m more anxious just because of the fact that I’m waiting for the schools I applied to to get back to me.”

- Mike Padula, student

Does the name of the school matter?

To a certain degree, yes. I think there’s a level of college that you should go to and as long as you’re within that level the name doesn’t matter. I would like you to go to a competitively ranked school, but the actual name doesn’t matter. -Paul Frantz, parent The name means a lot to me. A school with a good name/rank it usually means there is a great alumni association and many more opportunities. - TJ Rickey, student

What advice do you have?

Take time to pursue hobbies and interests. Find your bliss. Spend time with that which enriches your life. Read a book. Take a walk. Study the arts and sciences. Play the piano. Spend time as deliberately as Nature, as Thoreau says.

Make yourself an interesting individual at a dinner party. SAT prep never made one person interesting or engaging.

- Mr. Bowne, teacher

April 2019

Opinion

The Voyager 15

The time I was a back-up dancer to Joe Jonas

By LAUREN CASOLE ‘19 Editor-in-Chief

A

s I sat in my room and jammed out to the new song “Sucker” from the reunited Jonas Brothers, I couldn’t help but think of the time I was fortunate enough to dance backup for Joe Jonas. Although the band wasn’t the Jonas Brothers, the eight year old that still lives in me was still freaking out.

Let’s flashback to 2016. Beyonce’s “Lemonade” album had just dropped.

“Stranger Things” took over Netflix. And “Hamilton” won a Grammy. I was 16 and getting ready to fly to Miami with seven of my teammates from Jazz Unlimited to dance at the Capitol One Orange Bowl Halftime show with DNCE. Still sleepy from the early morning alarm clock, I said my New Jersey goodbyes and boarded the plane. As soon as we got to Miami International Airport, we were greeted with palm trees, sunshine, and banners that said, “2016 Capital One Orange Bowl.” My roommate Natalie and I danced around the airport for the GoPro

video we were making to document the trip. From there we were bused to the hotel to get settled and ready for our first rehearsal.

Although I was in Miami, this was no vacation. I had to learn an entire halftime show in two days and dance with 30 other people I had never met before. Once we were settled, all of the Jazz Unlimited dancers got on our bus and headed to the rehearsal venue. Dustin Phillips was choreographing the routine to three of DNCE’s most popular songs.

After a six hour rehearsal we were allowed to retire to our hotel room and relax. The next day was a similar string of events with long rehearsals and constant drilling of the choreography.

At last, it was the day of the show!

Natalie and I did our makeup in our room and got dressed in our white fringe tops and black skirts. We even had light up bracelets that would glow on the field.

The first quarter of the game was the longest 15 minutes of my life! We waited in our seats until it was time for us to get ready to take the field. After what felt like an eternity, all of the dancers went down

The Quiet Car

By AVA HANCOCK ’20 Opinion Editor

E

veryone remembers their first taste of freedom. For some, it’s getting their license. For others, it’s moving away for college.

For me, it was visiting my older sister at George Washington University for a weekend.

This trip required me to take a 3-hour train ride by myself. My electronic ticket open on my phone and my shaking hands Ava with her sister Hana in DC. were both dead giveaways to any regular that couldn’t keep their hands off each commuter that this was my first time other. It wasn’t unusual to see a people travelling alone. inappropriately kissing in the hallway of When one enters a train, they must my high school, and it’s usually gross quickly decide where to sit. I remembered enough to make me gag. But this seemed my parents telling me to take a car with sweet. I liked to imagine they had just lots of people. reunited after a period of long distance Luckily for me, the car I had walked and were now heading off on a romantic onto filled this criteria. Ignoring any trip in the capital. signs, literal or just blatantly obvious Without being too suspicious, I took considering the atmosphere, I searched a few glances at the woman sitting next for a seat. to me.

Her hair was in a messy bun as “May I sit here?” I asked a young woman she typed away on her laptop. The click with headphones in. After she nodded in of her nails against the keyboard grew confirmation, I took more irritating as the a seat.

I originally “I had no headphones, minutes bored on.

Click, click, click. She planned to do some got off in Baltimore. I no writing utensil, homework during missed the the venture with my no internet, and now eventually comfort of the clicks. headphones blasting no option to talk to Just a few seats whatever pre-curated diagonal of me sat a playlist was waiting someone on the phone, teenage boy watching for me on Spotify. My what was I supposed Big Mouth on his plans were quickly which derailed, however, to do for the next three MacBook, I watched over his when I discovered hours?” shoulder for a good I’d forgotten hour. headphones. And a When my peoplepencil. watching abilities were all exhausted, With a sigh, I pulled up my contact list I laid my head against the window and to call my— watched the landscape roll by.

We passed “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the quiet through a few more packed stations, car. Enjoy your ride,” announced the chugged through some vast fields and conductor. bustling streets, and before I knew it, we The quiet car? I needed to get on a car were in D.C. I managed to get through the with some sort of mental stimulation. If entire ride, only picking up my phone a I had no headphones, no writing utensil, few times. no internet, and now no option to talk It felt surprisingly liberating to be free to someone on the phone, what was I from the chains of technology, from the supposed to do for the next three hours? obnoxious conversations of strangers, and Once I finally plucked up enough from the distractions of the world. courage to get up and move to a different When I boarded the train again on part of the train, we started to drive away Sunday night after my fun-filled trip was from the station. I was stuck. Sinking completed, I did something I wouldn’t back into my seat, I looked around at my have done a few days earlier. surroundings.

I chose the quiet car.

Sitting across from me was a couple

into the holding area where you can enter onto the field.

Then a roar of screams echoed throughout the tunnel as Joe Jonas and the band road by us on a golf cart. As they drove by, Joe stuck out his hand for high-fives and we posed for his Instagramlive video.

Everything after that is a whirlwind. We ran onto the field and saw 67,000 people staring down at us. I don’t remember the dance or how I performed but, I will never forget being on that field.

Once we were done dancing, some of us went to the main concourse and took pictures with the University of Michigan and Florida State fans.

The next day we departed Miami and landed in Philadelphia on January 1, 2017. Looking back, being able to dance alongside The dancers pose after their performance. dance is meant to connect people. It was someone I idolized as a child was as if time stopped and I was eight again the definition of fulfilling. When I was on dancing around my room to “Burnin Up.” the field, I knew I belonged there and that

Advocating for myself

By SHARIA NA’EEMMUSIDDIQ

Special to The Voyager

T

he familiar smell of marijuana struck my nose as I walked into math. It was 8:30 AM at Richland Northeast High School, in South Carolina. The unbothered teacher started calling names for attendance.

“Keisha?”

“Here.”

“Michael?...Michael?” She repeated.

My classmates recognized that he had not arrived to class yet. In an effort to save him from Saturday school, a football jock, Aaron, called out, “Here!”

Unconcerned, the teacher marked him present. This was the third math teacher that the school had given us this year— the first teacher quit, and the second was fired for attending school inebriated.

“Today, we’re going to be learning about Linear Functions.”

“Mane, we learning ‘bout that again?”

Keisha retorted.

“Yes, it’s going to be on your final so I expect all of you to pay attention.

Especially you.” She glared at Aaron. “A function is an equation that…”

The class zoned out as she started explaining because we learned the material last year. Aaron whispered to Keisha, “Math ain’t hard baby. All you gotta do, is add the bed, divide the legs, subtract the clothes, and multipl-” “Aaron! Keep it up, and I’ll write you a referral. Pay attention, you cannot afford to fail, again.”

The warning did not threaten Aaron.

It was a phrase heard every class with different students. The following classes never differed— a teacher attempting to present a lesson with students expressing smart comments, never allowing lessons to be completed.

I hated my school and wanted to leave.

Back in December, I visited my father in Voorhees, NJ, where the principal of Eastern Regional High School, Mr. Tull, gave me a tour of the school. After six years in a stagnant, crime-ridden public institute, I was ready for change.

“You want to move where?” My mother shrieked, her eyes filled with tears.

“New Jersey!” I said, “I need to go to a better school!”

Ignoring her display of sentiment, my

mind drifted into the thought of a life where I was not ridiculed by my peers and teachers. I snapped when a cruel smile creeped onto her face as she sneered, “You ain’t never gon’ be successful without me. You know nothing about life and if you think your poor excuse of a father can raise you better than I can, you’re truly stupid. How will you pay for school? How will you compete with kids extremely smarter than you? How will you make friends? It’s all Caucasians up there, and you’ll never fit in! Besides, my military benefits certainly aren’t going to a college outside of South Carolina. You are black, broke, and clueless,” she said, starting to cackle. “You’ll never make it,” she said, “Especially without me.”

I did not let the venom of her words stop me from making a decision that was in my best interests. It was extremely difficult to leave my brother behind in a schooling system that was not designed for him to prevail, but I had to walk away.

Now, I attend Eastern where I am challenged in classes. I learn to navigate through strenuous workloads and extracurricular activities. Algebra and History were my two hardest subjects, so I set up after-school tutoring sessions to keep from failing, with an extra Math lab during study hall.

To maximize my grade in AP Lang and Comp, I talk to Mr. Bowne about my essay during office hours, and how to make corrections after they are graded.

With only AP Environmental Science left to improve, I utilize YouTube videos and tutoring sessions to stay up to date on every unit.

This experience allowed me to open myself up to new opportunities I would have never had in South Carolina.

It gave me the luxury of being successful without my mother, which saddens me, but motivates me everyday.

Opinion

16 The Voyager

April 2019

Penn student wins Oscar for her short documentary

Period. End of Sentence: Only Beginning for Menstrual Equality

By JULIA KIRK ‘19 Staff Reporter

R

ayka Zehtabchi, a 25-year-old graduate from the University of Southern California film school, became the first Iranian-American woman to win an Oscar. The director of this short documentary, “Period. End of Sentence.” addressed the struggle women around the globe face in gaining access to menstrual hygiene products.

Zehtabchi played a large role in attracting media attention to the issue; however, students at the Oakwood School in Los Angeles, California developed the pad project. It’s an initiative that raises money to supply pad-making machines to underdeveloped countries where the mention of periods is taboo.

Set in Hapur, an Indian village outside of New Delhi, the film captures the way that an $11,000 pad machine was able to transform the role of females in their town.

Although the primary focus of the project was normalizing the discussion of periods, it also played a role in providing wages for women and deviating from the traditional patriarchal system within India.

The documentary offers a shift in

perspective to show how difficult it is for women to obtain sanitary products and the effects it can have on their lives. It mentions how girls have resorted to using dirty rags, or even leaves to prevent staining, but the lack of cleanliness often leads to infection.

Some of the female villagers have had to miss a week of school while they were on their menstrual cycle and, after this occurred multiple times, they began to fall behind in their studies. Another factor that restricts the ability of females to get pads is that it’s not financially feasible. The purchase of a week’s supply of milk benefits an entire family, while the purchase of sanitary pads is only useful to the girl, even though they are the same cost—the pad project intends to make affordable sanitary products that do not cause a large burden on families.

The pad project’s mission is to spark a change in menstrual product accessibility since, “A period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education.”

ake sure you hide it in your jacket when you go to the bathroom,” said my mom, while she handed me a pad. “What? Why?” I said, confused by why it was such a bad thing.

We were in the Philadelphia Airport, crowded, filled with people who would judge a 12 year old for changing her pad.

“Period. End of Sentence,” the Oscar Award winning documentary, directed

by Rayka Zehtabchi and produced by Melissa Berton. This moving motion displays the real problems that come with menstruation in third world countries.

You go through the process of making sanitary pads in rural areas outside of Delhi and personally see the growth of the women that have to miss school or work simply because they’re going through a natural and necessary process of being a woman.

Since men and women have different interpretations of menstruation, it

results in the high marketing for pads, stigma and overall perception of women. This could make trouble for obtaining sanitary products which can lead to dropping out of school and unemployment, making it almost inevitable to depend on a husband or family.

It was painful and saddening to see that these women were taught by society to be ashamed of something that they can’t control. Some of the men were not even aware of pads, referring them “diapers” while the women could not even say the word.

Now the Pad Machine, costing around 12,000, started the embodiment of women empowerment. Not only does it provide the opportunity to make sanitary pads but to be involved with marketing, engineering, production, and business; the field that many don’t expect women be in.

Harold’s intention and with whom Harold falls in love.

“I’ve never been the lead of a show before, so I’m not used to a role like Harold Hill,” said senior Caleb Schneider, who plays Harold Hill. “It’s very tiring being at the center of the plot at all times, but it’s also sort of exhilarating.”

“The Music Man” is Schneider’s 7th show at Eastern and, being the lead, he realized, above all, the importance of an ensemble in a show. The show contains several songs in which Harold conducts the townspeople in an elaborate song and dance in order to win their approval.

“Without the ensemble, I’d just be singing to myself onstage for two hours, and that’d be kind of sad,” Schneider said.

Senior Addison Clark, who plays Marian, said that, while rehearsing for the show, she has gotten to spend time with new people whom, had she not worked with, she wouldn’t have gotten to get to know. “I have learned a lot about being an actress, and how to uncover my genuine emotions and letting that shine through my character,” she said.

Her favorite thing about “The Music Man” is, apart from the kids in the show

and the costumes, is her own character.

“It’s a gift to get to tell her story and embody such a strong, clever, intellectual, and kind individual,” she said.

Junior TJ Rickey, who plays Mayor George Shinn, stated that his favorite thing about the show is how clever the book and music are. “There are so many subtle jokes and references throughout the show that really set the scene,” he said, “and the beautiful music is all cleverly strung together with a variety of crossovers and instrumental motifs.”

Band music is an integral part of “The Music Man,” and the pit orchestra came out swinging to support the cast. “I was excited but nervous to take on this new challenge,” said clarinet player Kena Patel. “The music is definitely more difficult and each part is really exposed, which means that there is greater individual responsibility to learn your parts.” Being in “The Music Man” strengthened Patel’s appreciation for all the hard work that goes into productions.

“For me, pit orchestra is a combination of two of my favorite things: flute and theatre,” said flute player Arianna Reischer. “Being in pit has taught me a lot about playing a different style of

By CYNTHIA MEAS ‘21 Art Editor

M

Music Man continued from pg. 1

By ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Staff Reporter

F

ilm director Rayka Zehtabchi walked under the Dolby Theatre’s bright lights during the 91st Academy Awards, on Sunday, February 24th. Her film, Period. End of Sentence, had just won the Oscar for Best Short Documentary.

The film’s recent attention hopes to bring change to a massive problem for women across the world: menstrual equality.

The introduction of feminine hygiene products to the less-fortunate is mostly an issue in nations such as India. Women are forced to find alternatives, some of which include leaves, corn husks, and rocks. Education is sacrificed for those who spend time sitting on sheets of cardboard to soak up the blood.

By LAURA FRANTZ ’20 Staff Reporter

D

o you get your period?”

Such a simple question, yet it can yield different responses depending on where you are.

In the United States it would be answered with a simple yes, however the period isn’t as accepted in other countries. Period. End of Sentence, directed by Rayka Zehtabchi and produced by Melissa Berton, tackles the stigma of the period in a village in central India’s Hapur district.

This documentary begins with interviews of Indian women and that one simple question. Most of the women laughed and said that they were too shy to answer. This is common in India, because there is a lack of knowledge and acceptance of this natural occurrence.

It’s odd to think that a woman wouldn’t accept her own bodily functions. However, in the documentary, a man explained that their periods cause women to isolate

Actively-menstruating Indian women are forbidden from entering religious temples, as they are deemed “dirty” and “unclean”.

The extent of the problem is shown by a group of four Indian men in the film.

When asked what a menstrual period is, they responded cluelessly. “Like a class period? The kind you’d ring a bell for,” they said.

Pad-making machines are being installed in many villages to help combat the issue. They provide women with a quick solution, and even create jobs during times of unemployment rates.

In our nation, women take the quick access to feminine hygiene products for granted, making life without them unimaginable. All females should have the basic rights to education, social equality, and religion; all things that we unconditionally enjoy in the U.S. Even though Period. End of Sentence insinuates the closure of an idea, the battle for menstrual equality is just beginning. themselves from the world. Women feel that they have to shut themselves in their room, because of the embarrassment. This is due to cultural stigmas, but also to the lack of affordable period products.

Women stay in bed for the duration of their period, because they don’t have the products to go to school or work. Period products are available in these countries, however, they are very overpriced. Women are also embarrassed to buy them at the store.

To combat this issue, a group of women in the village use a machine to produce low-cost sanitary pads, designed by a man who wanted to keep his wife from feeling ashamed. These women went door to door selling their new products to promote feminine hygiene. These empowering women started a female revolution in their village, and are hoping to spread it around the country.

This amazing story was documented by a group of women who recently won an Oscar for best short documentary. After winning, Berton said, “A period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education,” which stuck with many female viewers. They were shocked and ecstatic that a film about menstruation was actually recognized and won an Oscar.

The cast of Music Man sing their heart out on stage.

Photo by Maanasi Natarajan ’19

music with a diverse group of people and learning how my part fits in with the bigger picture of the show.”

Harry Jelesiewicz, who plays the trumpet, joined the pit orchestra because “I love musicals and a lot of my friends are apart of the musical in all of its aspects.” His favorite song, as well as Patel’s and Reischer’s, to play from the musical is “Shpoopi,” a fast and energetic dance song.

To a perform a musical, all parts of cast

and crew must fuse and work together to highlight each other’s parts and create a production that the audience is enthralled by. “The Music Man,” with its unique plot and catchy music, is a perfect show to showcase all the talent that Eastern has to offer.

Rickey summed up the essence of “The Music Man” perfectly. “Its iconic music will be playing in your head for years, and its feel-good story leaves you never wanting to leave River City,” he said.

April 2019

Entertainment

The Voyager 17

A song by song analysis of Grande’s “thank u, next”

By JENNA PRESTON ‘22 Staff Reporter

A

riana Grande has taken over the world this year. Her songs remain unmovable on the charts and she has now has the most followers on Instagram. She has released now two albums this year, both written in very different times of her life.

This album is categorically the best album Ariana has ever released. It is the most in touch with her emotions that her music has ever been, and this is truly what makes it great. Ariana truly comes into her own on this album. If you consider yourself a fan of her, you definitely have listened to “Thank u, Next.”

Imagine: When “Imagine” first came out. It was very different from anything else Ariana has ever done and most fans didn’t know how to feel about it. Now after listening to the entire album, it fits right in. It is simple and very vocaldependent and very vibe-y. It involves the high note (one of the only on the album).

It is a perfect opening song, welcoming listeners with warm arms.

Needy is a very simple track, however, the lyrics are like a punch to the face, this song focuses on self-awareness and admitting to your flaws. The pre released snippets on Instagram and Twitter were hyped up a lot and most found the song to be a tad bit disappointing. It is SO short (or atleast feels like it). It does not have very powerful vocals like most followers of Ariana are used to, but most of the album doesn’t.

NASA: “NASA” was another very hyped up song before the album even dropped, despite never knowing what is sounded like. With that being said, once it came out, a lot of people were disappointed in it. But despite most, it is a good song. The verses and the sound of it are great, and the chorus is pure bubblegum pop. But it gives it a certain sweetness and the play on words (orbit, stars, gravity, etc.) paints a very clear picture. It’s hard not to imagine Ariana just hula-hooping in the God Is A Woman music video. It’s definitely a song that takes a few listens.

Bloodline is blatantly badass. It is

ridiculously catchy and pumped with pure attitude and is the most upbeat song on her album. Offering many different songs within it. It makes the listeners curious for what song is going to be next and it doesn’t disappoint. This one seemed quite short as well, which could be a good thing.

There needs to be a dance routine ASAP. Fake Smile is a favorite to many, starting positive, the lyrics are very eyeopening, Ariana really opened up with these lyrics and gave an insight into her life and what isn’t so great within it. This topic is very different from most of her songs, which are about relationships, and there’s nothing not to love. HOWEVER, the verses and the chorus do not go together. It sounds like two different songs. The verses sound like early Rihanna, but the chorus suddenly does an entire 360 and changes the entire vibe of the song before going back to an edgy and rebellious sound.

Bad Idea: For some odd reason, “Bad Idea” has a “camp rock” sound to it.

Lucky for Ariana, everyone loves Camp Rock. This song has a beautiful harmonyfueled instrumental in the middle of the track that transports you to the heavens before she hits a goosebump-raising high note and slams you down to hell. Except hell sounds like heaven. But less angellike. This song has a PROPER outro with at least 45 seconds of pure beat, easing you out of the greatness you just listened to.

Make Up is definitely a song that has to grow on you. It’s very sweet-sounding and it sounds like it was produced in a Barbie house. However, the lyrics sound like it was produced in somewhere completely different than church. These lyrics are not PG and miss Ariana Grande does not hold back. That’s respectable. She is no longer the girl who works for Nickelodeon. The vocals are simple and not overdone and the beat is very mellow and chilled out.

Ariana probably listens to this song at home with a glass of champagne in her hand wearing an expensive sparkled robe.

Ghostin: Phew. This song is SAD. It is not the kind of sad song that is emotional simply because of the mediocre piano and

voice cracks. “Ghostin” does not SOUND sad. The thing is, it sounds magical and dreamy. Like you’re floating on a cloud. The sadness comes in when you listen to the lyrics.

Most fans who follow her personal life know what this song is about, and listening to her be so vulnerable and open about this makes the song absolutely gut-wrenching.

Listeners can tell that this song came from a very deep, very honest place at a very dark time.

In My Head is reminiscent of the “Dangerous Woman” album, yet it still sounds fresh and new. This is another song that is VERY obvious who she is talking about. “In My Head” has a nostalgia to it that is hard to put a finger on, a certain sadness that just barely touches the surface of the song. It is just enough to think, “oh my god, wait.” A lot of people can relate to this song and it doesn’t just apply to relationships.

A lot of friendships can relate to this.

7 Rings is definitely the most different thing she has EVER done. Ariana tried something new and it paid off. The meaning of it is something unique to Ariana, not often talking about money like she is on this track and it’s amazing that she’s acknowledging how successful she is. Just like rappers do, despite those attacking her for it. She really showed off her versatility in this song and just how far her talents stretch. However, this song, has limited replay value. After so many listens, you get sick of it (and quickly).

This doesn’t make it a bad song, though/ It is definitely still very good and pretty monumental for Ariana. I think this song might have done well on Sweetner, anyone else?

Thank u, Next: The beginning of an era. This song has brought a lot of popularity to Ariana despite not being very special vocally. This song was the first of this album to be heard (rightfully

so) and it sums up the entire album pretty well. The lyrics are what make this song popular and beautiful as it is. While the chorus could have been spruced up a bit, her honesty and her vow to self-love, and love in general, is truly empowering and has made this song, this album, and Ariana Grande, what/who they are.

Break up with your girlfriend, I’m bored: Are we going to address the beat?

Yes we are. It smacks, plain and simple.

A lot of people are popping off about the meaning of the song, however, Ariana herself said it was just a fun song. Which you can feel radiating in the beat and the lyrics. During AJAY’s reaction to this song on Youtube, she said that she thinks Ariana is singing about her soulmate who she hasn’t met yet and she’s basically saying, “break up with your girlfriend because i need our paths to cross NOW.” This song is a great closing to an amazing album.

Final Thoughts: This album is pure art and the best thing from Ariana in a while. This album was highly anticipated and Ariana Grande did not disappoint.

“Sweetener” was released only 6 months ago, but Ariana has grown so much as a person and as an artist in such a little time, and this album is proof of it. It is different, fresh, and sonically stunning with unbelievable replay value. Miss Ariana Grande: did THAT.

Jonas Brothers make return to the spotlight

By VICTORIA LAPINSON ‘20 Entertainment Editor

M

y inner eleven year old screamed when I saw the notification. Females from their late teens to mid twenties from around the globe collectively were thrown back a decade of a simpler time. A time where the debate wasn’t who’s sexist or what party to vote for, but when the only thing on our minds was which Jonas Brother was the cutest.

When the announcement came out that the family trio was reuniting in the spotlight, that debate reopened. Today, both Kevin

and Nick Jonas are married, Kevin with two daughters, and Joe Jonas engaged. The family dynamics have definitely changed, but all our fangirl dreams have come true.

At midnight on March 1st, the Jonas Brothers released their first song since their 2013 breakup. The single, called “Sucker”, is a far cry from their boyband roots. It has more of a Maroon 5 pop feel. Nick Jonas’ falsetto serves as the hook, while middle brother Joe’s more intense chest voice provides a more deep, even enticing song.

Upon their return to the spotlight, they were given a week on the Late Late Show with James Corden, playing games like “Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts” and taking part in the popular tradition of carpool karaoke. These videos and more are available on the show’s YouTube channel.

Having grown out of the obsession over Nick and Joe, it’s now come to the forefront that Kevin is probably the most funny of the group, and has a wicked sense of humor. In the interviews, he is likely the most entertaining.

It’s plain to see the quirky boy

band has grown up. Fans of their Disney Channel TV show following them around high school are now grown men making more mature content. These New Jersey natives have announced they have recorded a large bundle of songs that we should be seeing on an album in a few short months.

The spark is back, and millennials everywhere are digging up those old posters, while a new generation takes interest as well. One thing is for sure; my

Entertainment

18 The Voyager

April 2019

Elite continues the era of Netflix telenovalas

D

By LELAH TEKHNA ‘20

Staff Reporter espite what my Spanish grade might say, I’m actually obsessed with the Spanish language.

The culture has always fascinated me, and it’s no surprise I take every opportunity I can to use what I’ve learned in class and on my own. Linguistics doesn’t come easy to everyone, and many students at Eastern use TV shows to bridge the cultural gap. But this gap widens with flawed ideas of diversity and unclear ideas of what a soap opera is meant to be.

Over the years Netflix has featured plenty of telenovelas, like El Internado, Velvet, and Violeta, but the company hadn’t produced their own until the 2017 introduction of Chicas del Cable (Cable Girls). Cable Girls is the ideal telenovela because it’s set in the Jazz Age, yet reflects the diversity of modern society. It’s embodied the intersectional feminism by shedding light on sexual empowerment, how feminism has evolved abroad, and LGBTQ+ representation that we need, which is unparalleled for such a platform.

However, Morocco: Amor in Tiempos De Guerra (Love in Times of War) is entirely unincluisve. Still set in the 1920’s, except M:ATG is during the Rif War, the producers had ample opportunity to discuss historical racism abroad as well as the rise of fascism in Spain.

The series is set in Africa, but there are no major black characters. The 1920’s was a time of sexual and political revolution, but you can smell the straightness through your screen. The fashion was less interesting and exciting, and felt as if the costume designers were thirty years behind the times. Overall, not a must watch unless you want undynamic characters with even less interesting storylines.

Siempre Una Bruja (Always a Witch) is mildly more exciting, but still lacks the modernity we crave.

Centering on Carmen Eguiluz, a slave in 1800s Carthage, was burned at the stake due to an illicit relationship with one of her master’s sons on the accusation of witchcraft.

After selling her soul to keep him alive, she turns into a witch and rises from the waters around Carthage.

And while the representation for black women being accused of witchcraft, as they made up the majority of the accused, is almost unheard of, that’s about all that’s unique about the series.

Instead of taking the time to address the diverse population of the city— the majority of Tunisia (the country it’s in) is Middle Eastern and African, the majority of the cast is white, and all the characters are straight. Although it’s nice to have a black heroine, the subliminal message of black women needing to adjust to the societies around them, regardless of their needs, is a poor one. Plus the costumes are as if the Pretty Little Liars went colorblind.

Lastly, there’s ELITÉ, which has been raved about since its October debut. Such fervor has been entirely unnecessary, largely due to the many flaws within the plot. Spanish series’ have always had a penchant for focusing on rich kids in affluent environments who have everything going for them. ELITÉ is not one of them.

The main issue is that they tried too hard and not hard enough at the same time. It’s first mistake was to make all the ‘poor’ students on scholarship hate the wealthy for no reason. Then, the elitism the wealthy students had was too obvious and more like petty playground disputes than something students our age would actually do.

Next, Nadia, the Muslim student on scholarship is forced to remove her hijab and takes no legal action. She doesn’t even tell her parents. Her brother, Omar, is not fortunate enough to attend her new school, and deals drugs so that he can eventually emancipate himself from his homophobic parents and elope with his boyfriend.

And instead of supporting him, Nadia asks him if he can stop being gay until he’s of age to leave officially.

The Umbrella Academy excites viewers

By VICTORIA LAPINSON ‘20

N

Entertainment Editor

etflix is the home of many quirky titles, from Stranger Things to Fuller House, but the latest addition to Netflix Originals may top it all; The Umbrella Academy.

If the name isn’t wild enough, try the fact that it is based off of comics written by the lead singer of the Emo band, My Chemical Romance.

Still not crazy enough?

One character is a drug addict that communicates with ghosts, another is a talking monkey.

The basis of the show is that on October 1st, 1989, children were born all over the world in a strange way: their mothers weren’t pregnant. An extremely wealthy man is able to adopt the children who come from unlikely circumstances, finding they have unique abilities. Essentially, he trains them to be superheroes.

Except Vanya, the one without a power.

When their famous father passes away, the group meets back up at their childhood

home after years of separation, opening up many questions about his death, the disappearance of one of their siblings, and eventually the impending apocalypse.

This show is not short of comedic relief, between Klaus getting into trouble and Number Five’s love for a store mannequin named Delores. There’s something for everyone in the show, action, comedy, romance, mystery, and more.

It’s fast paced approach seems daunting to the viewer, but it’s really a way to get people who watch to only pick up on the Easter eggs they want you to see.

Gerard Way, creator and frontman of My Chemical Romance, plants tributes to his former band and other comics he has worked on while also hinting at what may come in future seasons.

The star studded cast and hard working crew put together a show that can only be described as uniquely entertaining.

If anyone is found scrolling through the Netflix homepage and looking for their next television obsession, The Umbrella Academy is the show to watch.

Then his parents try to throw him into an arranged marriage, and it’s a whole mess perpetuating stereotypes of Muslims.

Then, one of the poorer students’ love interests is a rich girl, so of course a Romeo and Juliet sitch happens when his alcoholic mother and criminal brother — the latter of which has an affair with his younger brother’s love interest — get involved. Then she reveals she’s HIV positive. And pregnant. And now an addict. And convolutes a ton of issues which makes me wonder what in fresh heck do kids our age do in Spain?

And that’s not the worst of it. The love interests’ twin brother is being manipulated by his on and off girlfriend and who repeatedly violates him without consent and encourages him to trick Nadia by pretending to fall in love with her to humiliate her, and I’m sure you can guess what happens next. Then, his best friend begins a poly(amorous) relationship with his girlfriend and the best friend of the poor kid, only to violate his trust and consent. Every character is problematic, and together, they’re dysfunctional.

Three fourths of Netflix’s telenovelas have been major letdowns (technically two and a half not counting the good parts of Siempre Bruja). Hopefully in the future

“Avicii: True Stories” tells the story of a legend

By ERIC HORN ‘19

F

Sports Editor

or many of us, Avicii’s “Levels” was our introduction to House Music.

If you were like me, you didn’t even know the name of the song until much later; it was the electronic song with the “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” sample that always raised the mood of any room.

The documentary “Avicii: True Stories” shows the behind the scenes production of Avicii’s music career, and the life and struggles of the man himself: Tim Bergling.

The documentary compiles footage of Avicii starting from when he was a teen and starting to remix songs. From the beginning of his career, it was evident how dedicated Tim Bergling was to his craft.

The documentary featured interviews from Avicii’s friends from university and his former manager Ash who discussed his rise to stardom.

In addition, there are also interviews from fellow DJs Tiesto and David Guetta, two of EDM’s giants. They both agreed that Avicii was a unique talent, and they recognized how good his work would be from very early in his career.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the documentary was that there was a “show counter” in the top left corner, displaying how many live performances Avicii had played at a certain point in time. The number skyrocketed after the release of “Levels.”

Personally, my favorite parts of “Avicii: True Stories” were the behind the scenes looks at the production of some of Avicii’s biggest hits.

Watching him create the synths that

made “Levels” a hit, directing Nile Rodgers’ iconic guitar riff on “Wake Me Up,” and coaching Sandro Cavazza’s voice as they produced “Without You” (a lesser-known, but criminally underrated Avicii song) highlighted his musical talent that many people don’t immediately recognize.

There are two stories told in the film; one a comedy of Avicii’s rise to stardom, and the other a tragedy of the damage that touring did to the man behind the boards. Avicii suffered from severe anxiety when he played live shows, and became a heavy drinker to cope with its effects.

This lead to many health problems, both mental and physical.

He was diagnosed with pancreatitis. He had to have his gallbladder and appendix removed.

However, the toll of touring made his mental health far worse.

Avicii retired from touring in 2016. The documentary shows the last few months of that part of his life, including his final concert in Ibiza.

The documentary concludes by showing footage from his retirement on Ile Sainte Marie, a tropical island off of Madagascar.

The film was originally released in 2017, after the release of Avicii’s fourth EP, Avīci (01). It was to be the first of three EPs leading up to a third studio album, but sadly that never happened.

Tim Bergling died on April 20th, 2018.

It was a suicide that was a result of the mental health issues.

Watching “Avicii: True Stories” after his death is bittersweet; it was deeply saddening to know that he would never truly overcome the struggles he faced in his life, but viewers can also also find a new appreciation for his music after seeing how much he truly loved what he created.

Sports

April 2019

The Voyager 19

Excitement builds as the 2019 MLB season approaches

By ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Staff Reporter

M

arch 28th, 2019: MLB Opening Day. Ever since Chris Sale buried a down-and-in slider to Manny Machado to end the 2018 World Series, every baseball fan has been looking forward to this date. The ballpark grills begin to sizzle once again, the immense stadium gates are dusted off; life finally seems normal again for ballplayers and fans alike. To get you ready for the upcoming 2019 Major League Baseball season, here’s a look at some recent rule changes, player predictions, and the overall state of the league.

As much as I hate to admit it, MLB attendance and viewership is on a downward trend, as fans turn their attention to powerhouse sports such as football and basketball. In order to combat this, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has made increasing pace of play, the gradual shortening of baseball games, one of his foremost goals.

In past years, Manfred has instituted various changes such as the instant intentional walk, along with allowing only six mound visits per game. But more could be in the works very soon, as he has discussed implementing a pitch clock for the 2019 season. This would set a 20-second time limit for the pitcher to come set, and then deliver the pitch. The pitch clock is currently being tested out in Spring Training, and has been used in the minor leagues since 2015. With this proposed move, game times would see a drastic decrease.

Another popular topic has been salary cap equality amongst teams. Before the 1990s, teams in major media markets such as the New York Yankees have had a seemingly-endless supply of money to throw at players in free-agency and for contract extensions. In 1997, a luxury tax was created as a handicap for these juggernaut teams. But here in 2019, the effects of that change are very evident.

Eastern junior Aaron Arnstein weighed in on the upcoming free-agency periods. “Small-market teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays and the Oakland Athletics should definitely be given equal opportunities to sign big-name

stars like Mookie Betts in the coming years. For example, a 97-win team like the A’s should have just as good a shot to sign these players as perennial bottomdwelling teams like the Reds do,” he said.

In recent months, the talk of the town has been the MLB offseason; more specifically the prolonged freeagency of superstars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Now that those two have signed, we can really see which team made the biggest moves.

Eastern freshman Joseph Loverdi thinks the Philadelphia Phillies were the most productive offseason squad. “Adding Bryce Harper, Jean Segura, David Robertson, J.T. Realmuto and Andrew McCutchen more than solidifies the team. It turns them into a playoff contender. I’d say the Mets are a close second, as netting both Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz in the trade with the Seattle Mariners improved the team,” he said.

Along with the 25-man roster stalwarts you see return year after year, there’s always a handful of players who burst onto the scene with a breakout season.

Arnstein shared his picks for breakout players in 2019.

“Franmil Reyes and Manuel Margot, two of the many budding stars for the San Diego Padres, look like they are ready to help lead their team to their first postseason appearance since 2006. Oakland Athletics defensive wizard Matt Chapman, a Platinum Glove Award winner, looks to build off a year that saw him finish seventh in AL MVP voting. Joey Wendle of the Tampa Bay Rays, who batted an even .300 last season, also looks to be another potential star that is part of the next crop of young, generational talent in the MLB,” he said.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, some players do not quite live up to expectations, whether it be from

injury or simply poor performance. But through hard work, determination, and heart, they can return to the high plateau they departed from.

Loverdi discussed who might receive the Comeback Player of the Year Award for 2019. “Pitcher Danny Farquhar should be someone that everybody roots for.

To come back from a brain hemorrhage that quickly is insane, and he now has a chance at cracking the New York Yankees’ roster. First baseman Chris Davis is also an intriguing choice, as he should be able to bounce back from that horrific season last year. Troy Tulowitzki might have a good season with the Yankees after many injuryplagued ones,” he said.

Every MLB fan is eagerly counting down the days until Opening Day, and with good reason. 2019 represents a year in which baseball might return to favor among fans.

With two of its biggest stars (Harper and Machado) in different uniforms than last year, there’s definitely plenty of storylines to look out for.

Will Bryce Harper lead his new club to a World Series victory?

Will the Seattle Mariners finally break their eighteenyear-long playoff drought?

The answers lie within the 2019 MLB season. It couldn’t come soon enough.

76ers Regular Season Wrap Up March Madness Predictions

By ANTHONY CUTRERA ‘19 Sports Editor With the NBA Playoffs just around the corner, it seems to be a good time to assess the 76ers regular season as a whole.

First off, the Sixers look like a completely different team from the beginning of the season. The only starters from the beginning of the season that still start now are Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Robert Covington and Dario Saric were both shipped to Minnesota in a deal for Jimmy Butler while former first pick Markelle Fultz was traded away to Orlando. Just before the trade deadline, the Sixers grabbed Tobias Harris from the Clippers giving them another elite shooter in the starting lineup.

The Sixers are doing pretty much what everyone expected.

They aren’t the top team in the East, but they are currently sitting in a strong position at the 3 seed. With the addition of Butler and Harris, the team’s expectations increased a bit. However, the starting five has rarely all been healthy at the same time.

One concern for the Sixers going into the playoffs is their record against top teams. They have been struggling to beat elite teams all season, but haven’t really been tested with their new starting five yet. In their latest matchup with the Celtics, the Sixers pulled out a huge win, showing how dangerous they could be with their full lineup.

With a current starting lineup of Simmons, Reddick, Butler, Harris, and Embiid the Sixers are looking strong.

The chemistry with their new additions seem to be forming just in time for the playoffs. If the team stays healthy and plays to their potential, they could make a strong playoff push and maybe even an NBA finals appearance.

Winter Sports Records Boys Basketball- 21-8

Girls Bowling- 12-1

Girls Basketball- 12-14

Boys Swimming- 4-5-1

Wrestling- 16-4

Girls Swimming- 3-7

Boys Bowling- 13-2

By ANTHONY CUTRERA ‘19 Sports Editor It’s finally March, the time of year that all college basketball fans wait anxiously for. As many scramble to fill out their brackets for the NCAA College Basketball Tournament, let’s look at some of the favorites to make it to the Final Four in Minnesota.

The clear favorite this year is Duke. They are definitely the most talented in the tournament as they have three players that will most likely be top 10 picks in the NBA Draft this summer, Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish. However, all three of those players are freshmen which leaves the Blue Devils with lack of experience that could hurt them in the long run.

Another top pick to win it all is Gonzaga. The Bulldogs posted a strong record of 30-3 this year and even beat Duke this season. But besides a few games in an early season tournament, their schedule is rather easy as they play in a weak conference, so it’s hard to tell how good Gonzaga really is. However, they are known for making tournament runs and even reached the National Championship game back in 2017 before losing to UNC. The 2017 Champion North Carolina Tar Heels are looking to make a deep run in the big dance this year. UNC has proved itself throughout the season in a tough ACC defeating Duke twice out of the three times the teams met. With a lot of experience, including Luke Maye who was a big part of the 2017 team, Roy William’s squad could be dangerous.

After a devastating first round loss last year, Virginia is hungry to prove that they are a legitimate contender to reach Minnesota. Led by De’Andre Hunter and Kyle Guy, Virginia has been solid all season. They are battle tested playing the best competition possible in the ACC all season, but they cannot let the pressure of March Madness get to them like it did last year.

It’s no secret that these teams are the four number 1 seeds in the tournament this year. They are number 1 for a reason making them my top four picks to compete for the National Title.

Sports

20 The Voyager

April 2019

Boys Lacrosse team is prepared to dominate

By JAKE FRITZ ‘20 Staff Reporter

On March 1st, 2019, the Boys Lacrosse team began their season. With many returning faces, and a few new ones, the Vikings are prepared to make a run for the championship.

Head coach Steven Picot has been a crucial asset to the team’s recent victories.

Picot’s dedication to building a versatile team is certainly visible in the team’s chemistry and fortitude.

Recent commits and prominent Varsity names include seniors Dean Carnival (Lafayette) and Stephen Hanscom (Fairleigh Dickinson). The two project to be major contributors throughout the season.

Other big names include seniors Shane Baraldi, Nick Ciampoli, and Ethan Shacket. Baraldi, a long-stick midfielder, is returning for his second year in the defensive position. “I believe that we

have a strong senior class due to our great chemistry that will lead to wins in close games,” Baraldi said. Ciampoli’s athletic and powerful persona solidifies the defense, while Shacket is a major offensive threat.

New varsity faces include the dynamic trio of Mason Morano (Junior), Shane Bakley (Senior), and Michael Belko (Senior). The trio will run the attack line, and worked with tremendous chemistry on the JV team last year. Brandon Scholnick and Dom Harris are also important factors in the offensive midfield position.

Senior Eddie Capozzolo is returning in goal, and is ready to block shots when the team needs it most.

The Vikings have displayed heart and hustle in past seasons, and are more motivated than ever to go all the way with this one. With confidence, support, and chemistry, this year’s varsity squad is prepared to dominate, and bring a championship to Eastern.

Ethan Shacket manuevers through two Hopewell Valley defenders.

Photo by Nikkita Hovell

Boys Tennis aims high

rare as there have not been many junior captains in the program’s history. “It honestly felt pretty good [to be named captain],” he said “and I had a new As always, the Boys Tennis Team is responsibility which was to look after our entering their season with high goals. team, make sure we were trying to be the With a deep lineup and hard work, Coach best team we can be, and develop new Kemery thinks his squad is capable of talent.” having a successful Pranay is the playoff run. first singles player Something that is unique to this year’s “I think if everyone this year, and will have to face team, however, is that they have 11 plays to their abilities, other teams’ best seniors on the roster. everyone can be an singles player in most matches. “I “We also have a lot of freshman all star,” said Coach felt I was ready to be a good mentor leadership,” said Kemery. for some of the Kemery. freshman. I plan Kemery has been on motivating coaching both Boys them, encouraging them, and showing and Girls Tennis at Eastern since 2003, them various new techniques.” and he doesn’t usually see much of a The team’s outlook on the season is difference between male and female promising as they have the talent to win tennis players. “I like to say that the girls a decent number of games. “I think if are tougher, but that’s to motivate the everyone plays to their abilities, everyone guys,” he joked. “They’re all smart and can be an all star,” said Coach Kemery. hard-working on and off the court.”

Along with having 7 all stars, the team This year, the senior captains are Adrian would also like to have a winning record, Condes, Jaisal Khatiwala, Max Abrams, advance far in tournaments, and make the Abijiit Kulkarni, and Dom Stella. Junior Group IV Final in the playoffs.

Pranay Jaggi is also captain, which is

By ERIC HORN ‘19 Sports Editor

The boys tennis team practices on the court.

Photo by Maanasi Natarajan ‘19

Girls Lacrosse searches for redemption in next season

By ANTHONY CUTRERA ‘19 Sports Editor Coming off a tough loss in the South Jersey Finals last year, the girls lacrosse team is hungry for redemption.

The girls have high hopes for the team this year and plan on having a strong season. “I think we have a lot of talent returning this year and will have a much deeper bench than we’ve had in years past and definitely think we can compete as one of the top teams in Group IV,” said senior Tori Accardo.

One of their keys to success this year may be the teams strong chemistry and bond they hold with one another. Senior Madison Cowdin said, “I think our biggest strength as a team is our chemistry and our understanding of how to play with one another. The majority of us have been playing together for years now, so I think that will help us capitalize on each other’s strengths.”

Senior Dani Mlkvy added on the team chemistry talking about the connection the team has off the field. “We are a very close group of girls off the field so hopefully it will transfer to success on the field.”

The team is known for coming out strong during the second half; however, against good teams, a complete game must be played in order to win. Mlkvy believes that the team will be able to adjust this year and get off to a good start right away.

“One of our strengths is our effort. If we come out strong the whole game, we will put ourselves in a good position to win,” said Mlkvy.

Leadership has helped the team to success in the past and this year will be no different. The seniors know it is their job to step up and lead the team, especially with a new head coach this season. “As a senior, I have tried to step up and become a role model for the younger players.

Whether that means encouraging my teammates to finish a run, or just being there when they need me, I’m doing what I can to fill the shoes of our seniors from last year,” said Cowdin.

There’s a lot to look forward to for the girls this season, but Accardo picked out one game she’s most excited for saying “I’m most looking forward to our Smiles from Kara game because it’s one last time we can play for Kara, who we all love.”

The quest for redemption began with aa win on March 27th against Williamstown.

Tori Accardo drives toward the net against Shawnee.

Photo supplied.