Issuu

Volume LV

February 2020

20 years of Voyager coverage. Pages 10 and 11

Eastern Regional High School

20 years of editorial cartooning. Page 14

1401 Laurel Oak Road

Third Edition

Bowling had a remarkable season. Page 19

Voorhees, NJ 08043

New math course on the horizon BY MATT STEINSALTZ ‘20 Editor-in-Chief

an’t get enough math? Want more calculus? Well, multivariable calculus is coming, starting in the 20212022 school year, according to Supervisor of Curriculum Dr. Borda. The course has been on the table for some time. “It’s been in process for a long time,” Dr. Borda said. When BC Calculus was added to the curriculum years ago, it was the “natural progression.” Over the years, more and more students showed an interest in the course, so administration delivered. Both Mrs. Ryan

and Dr. Borda said they wanted to meet “There are all kinds of ways to be a student demand. stronger candidate,” said Mrs. Ryan. She Mrs. Ryan, the math supervisor, said that did say that she hasn’t yet spoken to adstudents have taken multivariable calcumissions officers. Ryan said it depends on lus outside of Eastern, so they knew they what interest you have in college. had interest. Dr. Borda went a litMultivariable calculus At this time, it is diftle deeper. She doesn’t ficult to predict how think it will hurt, addis coming. many will enroll. ing more rigor is al“Guidance is finishways helpful. Howeving up scheduling, and they are worker, she said some of the Ivy League issues ing to get students on the right track. We Eastern has faced are due in part to the should have a better idea after that,” said high population density of the area. Mrs. Ryan. The density leads to high competition, While administration is excited about the and isn’t an indictment on Eastern. new class, they don’t think it will change “For some students, this could help in Eastern students’ admissions probability. certain majors, but I can’t say it will solve

all of the issues,” said Dr. Borda. The math track, starting all the way in the middle schools, was not a concern for them. Mrs. Ryan said that all schools pretty much do it the same. “We have made it easier to double up on math and reach the level necessary,” said Dr. Borda. “We have tried to ﬁnd pathways to reach higher levels of math in four years.” Multivariable calculus is a mix of AC and BC calculus, and is the next in the progression of math. Students will be required to take AP AB or BC calculus, but that is logical anyway. “We are excited to provide students with this opportunity,” said Dr. Borda.

The inﬁnite possibilities of poetry

6th Annual Poetry Out Loud performed to a packed hall BY AVA HANCOCK ‘20 Managing Editor

oetry lovers gathered in the Recital Hall after school on January 9th to watch the 6th annual Poetry Out Loud competition. In front of a packed audience of students, teachers, and parents, senior Kaylee Braidwood, junior Bryce Dershem, and junior Ariana Reischer recited two poems each. The winner of the competition, Reischer, will continue on to compete at the Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition among around 20 other students from the Burlington/Camden County area on February 6. During the school wide competition,

Ariana Reischer and Bryce Dershem Poetry Out Loud.

Braidwood recited “The Coming Woman” by Mary Weston Fordham and “Little Father” by Li-Young Lee, Dershem recited “One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII” by Pablo Neruda and “Break of Day” by John Donne, and Reischer recited “The Tables Turn” by William Wordsworth and “Limitations” by Henrietta Cordelia Ray. “I picked ‘The Coming Woman’ because it had more of a prose-style that I really enjoyed and I thought the ending packed a punch that I really wanted to deliver,” said Braidwood, referencing the lines, “O! how could a civilized woman/ Exist, without a man cook.” This is Braidwood’s second year competing in Poetry Out Loud, but she still gets nervous before her performance. “You black out. You just kind of focus on the wall and just go for it,” she said. Reischer offered a similar sentiment. “I was nervous I was going to forget stuff,” she said, “but once I got on[stage] it was just an elevated normal performance.” Braidwood, Dershem, and Reischer spent the last few weeks rehearsing their poems after school, seeking out the advice of their cofacilitators, Ms. Steller and Mrs. Pomerantz. Competitors are advised to make the tone and pace of their performance match the meaning of the poem, as compete in CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

Cars line up outside VMS where the school was evacuated on January 2.

Bomb scare evacuates Voorhees Middle

Students were safe, protocols followed, but many wanted phones to communicate with loved ones BY ARIANNA MORALES ‘22 Staff Reporter

ertainly no one expected a bomb threat. But that was the New Year Surprise for students at Voorhees Middle School. It is difﬁcult for most students coming back to school after fourteen days of rest for Winter Break, complete with holiday cheer and resolutions. But did that resolution include walking as an exercise? The staff of Voorhees Middle found a bomb threat in the school. Mrs. Calabria, the principal, instructed the students to evacuate to the location, according to typical evacuation procedures: Lost Tree Hill. However, a new situation arose: the students were instructed to continue to The Performing Arts Center at Eastern. It

was 1.5 miles away. The walk took over a half an hour. They were told to stay there until further notice. My sister attends VMS. So I was anxious. Mixed feelings of relief and fear loomed over VMS students. The handwritten threat was screenshotted, spreading like wildﬁre on Snapchat. VMS has a no-phone-in-the-classroom policy, which encourages students’ phones to be kept in their lockers. However, emergency situations like the evacuation help students justify their need for their phones to accompany them at all times. One 8th grader said not having her phone made her nervous and anxious, even when they had arrived at Eastern. It seemed nothing could ease their fear: gripped by an overwhelming force in CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

News

2 The Voyager

February 2020

By ADAM SALADINO ‘20 Staff Reporter

olorful ceramics fill Room 903. Tiles from past students, some from decades ago, plaster every inch of wall. Shelves overflow with mugs, statues, and vessels, patiently waiting for the bisque firing. Every pottery wheel has the remains of its last test subject smeared all over it. Amongst this beautiful mess, you’ll find a hidden gem: Mr. Dennis Thomas. Chill to the core, Mr. Thomas is the conductor of the Orchestra of Pottery. Each day he keeps the symphony flowing with finished art and teaching new lessons, all while finding time to help those whose instrument may feel out of tune. He is a man with a wildly unique story that is relevant and inspiring to anyone trying to chase their dreams. Mr. Thomas was born to a poor family in Williamsport Pennsylvania, a town famous for the Little League World Series, but is “pretty dead other than that week in August” as Mr. Thomas will tell you. As a child, he spent most of his time in the woods, hiking and fishing with friends. He was always in tune with his artistic side. “Some of my earliest memories include sitting at the kitchen table and drawing comic strips,” Mr. Thomas said. In high school, he double majored in academics and art, but by the time graduation rolled around he, like many

seniors, lacked direction. In his own words, he mentioned quite frankly how, “I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.” Fueled by his desires to live a better life, Mr. Thomas ultimately decided to go to college for academics rather than for art. “I grew up poor,” he said, “so I didn’t want to continue to be poor, I wanted to have a middle class existence.” After five years at Temple University and a degree in journalism under his belt, Mr. Thomas ventured in freelance writing and later in the world of business, yet he still felt that there was something missing. He needed to go back to his roots, back to what he was passionate about: art. He said his business work was very cut and dry, easily understood, linear, simple progression from here to there. “Art making and creative thought are different,” he said. “It’s holistic. There are challenges coming at you at all different times. I was determined to get a job to live off of in art.” After speaking with his wife, Mr. Thomas decided to take a chance. He created an art portfolio and was accepted into the Tyler School of Art, his old stomping grounds of Temple University. He earned a Bachelor in Fine Arts with a license to teach, graduated with honors, and with a child on the way, began his job search. Mr. Thomas started by teaching people of all ages at community art organizations. Would a better job provide for his family? He seized the moment when his friend mentioned an opening at Freehold Regional. He taught

Opening the eyes with a window into adulthood

DECA commands numerous awards and accolades By ETHAN MACK ‘21 Staff Reporter

in DECA for three years, hopes to pursue a career in marketing. When asked about being stressed out during the competition, DECA event coordinator and senior Wesley Andrews was initially, but over time, it stress turned into confidence. “I was really anxious when I started, but over the years, once I get started talking, all my nerves go away. I just remind myself that the competition isn’t life or death. I just take a few deep breaths and I just start going,” said Andrews, who has been doing DECA for three years and wants to pursue a career in sports marketing. DECA vice president Brenna Masterson, a senior, like many other students, was required to take DECA because she took marketing honors. Masterson too marketing honors and Eastern required to take DECA. She was initially hesitant to join DECA, but she has grown to love it over the past three years,” said Masterson. She feels proud of herself when her financial consulting presentation impressed the judges and got her into States. Mrs. Lowery, who’s been the lead advisor of Eastern DECA for twelve years, stresses the sheer importance of DECA for students. She said it opens the eyes of students on how to interact with an adult other than their parents or their teachers. It lets them apply concepts learned in class and it helps the school create a community. “DECA brings the students an abundance of opportunities,” Lowery said. “It also helps that it looks great on your resume.” States will take place from March 2nd to March 4th at the Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City.

n the latter part of 2019 at Regionals, which took place at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, 65 of Eastern’s students placed (received a medal) and 67 of Eastern’s students advanced to States. President of DECA Taylor Ruiz, a senior, was excited, as it was her third time she advanced to States. “I took a lot of practice tests and I was able to prepare ahead of time,” said Ruiz, who has been doing DECA for three years. Ruiz initially joined DECA because she wanted to put it on her resume, but as time flew by, she eventually grew passionate about DECA and her presentation topic - hospitality and tourism. When it comes to a future job profession, Ruiz hopes to pursue a career that has to do with management. Marissa Nissley, the vice president of DECA, who also chose hospitality and tourism as her presentation topic - was excited as well. “I’ve made it all four years and it feels great. I joined DECA because I have an interest in business and it helps me achieve the goals I need to thrive,” said Nissley, who has been doing DECA for all four years of high school. To prepare for States, Nissley took a couple of helpful practice tests and practiced her presentation to her dogs. Nissley hopes to pursue a career in corporate law when she gets older. One of the secretaries of DECA, Sahil Doshi, says that it’s pretty cool that he will be able to stay overnight in an Atlantic City hotel and hang out with the competitors. “I have an interest in business and DECA is a good way to learn about different fields,” said Doshi. He has prepared his online portfolio management presentation by looking over a separate pre-made presentation. After that, Doshi practiced presenting it to other people, so he could receive feedback to make changes. Doshi, DECA stands proud, shoulder to shoulder. Photo supplied by Taylor Ruiz ‘20 who’s a junior and has been

Photo by Adam Saladino ‘20

Mr. Thomas: A gem hidden in a field of clay and pottery

Mr. Thomas works on his latest pottery piece. there for six years. After commuting from his home in Pennsylvania, Mr. Thomas decided to apply for a job closer to home. Over 100 applicants applied, but Mr. Thomas was the one chosen. He has been at Eastern for nineteen years. Now, after two decades after that leap of faith, Mr. Thomas can still be seen commanding the orchestra. So what can be learned from this? Find that passion. Take that leap.

Ms. Snuffin is already enjoying her time as an English teacher By LIZZIE BERG ‘23 Voyager Correspondent

s. Snuffin is no stranger to Eastern. After being a student here, she has recently returned to give back to her former school and community as an English teacher. Ms. Snuffin is loving her new position, and she enjoys being back at the school where she once was a student. She has always loved reading and writing, which drove her to her success as an English teacher at Berlin Community School and she has already shown much success here at Eastern. Q: What made you become a teacher? A: I had always known that I wanted to help people in some way, but I could never really figure out how I could serve that purpose and make an impact on people. It wasn’t until I really got to college and I started to do more studying where I realized that teaching was the right avenue for me. I love literature, I love interacting with the students every day, and I think that it’s really important that I use every period of the day to reinforce learning, to help kids grow, kind of discover new things about themselves, so I kind of figured out that was my purpose.” Q: What subject do you teach? A: English 4, British Literature Q: Why this subject? A: I’ve just always had a really deep appreciation for books and writing; I think it’s a great way to express yourself, but also to kind of transport you to other places. One can experience a lot through literature. Q: How do you like Eastern? A: I love Eastern. The staff and students have been very welcoming. Q: What college did you attend and what did you study? A: I attended Rowan University and have dual degrees in English and secondary education Q: What brought you to work at Eastern?

Ms. Snuffins is no stranger to EHS. Photo by Lizzie Berg ‘23

A: For the past couple of years I’ve been working in a middle school and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. I liked the kids, but I just didn’t feel like the content was right for me; I wanted to kind of take it to the next level.” I wanted to step up own game and try something new, I looked around for open high school positions and was really grateful when I heard Eastern had a job opening Q: What do you do in your free time? A: I like to read. I’m a really big fan of the Philadelphia Flyers, so I watch a lot of hockey, and I go to hockey games a lot. I also like to run, so right now I am kind of training, even though it’s been a little cold for a half-marathon. I like to hang out with friends and family as well. Q: Do you have a goal in mind that you would like to accomplish before the end of this year? A: I would like to entrench myself in all aspects of Eastern and what it has to offer. I want to get to see it from the other side, get involved in clubs, sports, and just all aspects of the community so I can be a fully immersed member of the staff. Q: What stands out to you the most at Eastern? A: How caring students, staff, and administration have been to me and how helpful they have been. They truly care and they want to see me, and each other succeed.

February 2020

News

The Voyager 3

Bring your teen and meet with directors of a wide variety of summer enrichment programs, from local day programs to worldwide adventure and travel. There will be options for every interest and budget such as community service, academic enrichment, college prep, language and cultural immersion, the arts, sports, leadership, internships, STEM, teen tours and gap year programs. It’s FREE and open to everyone.

4 The Voyager Amy Klobuchar

Election 2020

my Klobuchar is Minnesota’s ﬁrst female senator and now a democratic candidate in the 2020 presidential race. Her platform, “Amy for America,” is moderate with stances that have earned her a 3.2 polling average, ranking her seventh out of all Democratic candidates. A major aspect of her platform is her plan to address the climate crisis, aiming to get America fully carbon-neutral by 2040. She says that America needs to “start doing concrete things, and put some aspirations out there on climate change.” Though she remains liberal on ideas such as abortion and gun control, Klobuchar has criticized Bernie Sanders’ plan to give free, universal healthcare to every American, opting for a non-proﬁt public option built off of the Affordable Care Act. At the January Iowa Democratic Debate, Klobuchar showed passion. She spoke the second-most words out of any candidate on the stage, and wasn’t afraid to pull punches, attacking her opponents 19 times while avoiding any attacks on herself. In her closing argument at the Iowa debate she said, “Donald Trump thinks this is all about him… I think... it is about your lives and your future… [and] we need a candidate who’s going to bring people with her.” By Clare Fitzpatrick ‘20, Ava Hancock ‘20, Joseph Loverdi ‘22, Faith Mendelson ‘21, Arianna Morales ‘22

Bernie Sanders

February 2020

ormer Vermont governor Bernie Sanders is currently polling second amongst the democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential election. Previously seen as a longshot for any chance in the election, Sanders has risen above the mainstream democratic candidates. Sanders is attracting voters with his new appeal for “Medicare for all” and support for drastic measures to combat climate change. Sanders’ plan for climate change includes transforming our energy from fossil fuels to make it more habitable and healthier. He also plans on rebuilding the state department and the United Nations, further claiming to “undo what Trump did.” Most political analysts agree that Sanders had a good debate performance. Some of his most notable moments include boasting about his opposition to the Iraq war, calling for stronger international coalitions and rebuilding the state department, pledging free college tuition, and promising to tackle climate change more aggressively than any other candidate. He hopes to implement fossil fuel alternatives to make the country “more habitual and healthier.” He is the former governor of Vermont, a Congressman since 1991, the longest-serving independent in U.S. congressional history, a Senator from Vermont since 2007, and among the most progressive of any democratic member of Congress. Sanders claims he is “able to bring people together,” boasting about his ability to speak civilly with Republicans. By Jacob Saﬁer ‘20, Jake Fritz ‘20, Nate Grifﬁn ‘23, Laura Silenzio ‘23

Iowa Caucus results

Graphic by Arianna Morales ‘22

Tom Steyer

nown to not have any political experience, former hedge fund manager and current philanthropist, environmentalist, and liberal activist Tom Steyer joined the other five Democrats on the debate stage. A graduate from Yale and Stanford Graduate School of Business, Tom Steyer made his wealth from a lucrative investment firm called Farallon Capital in 1986. During his time there, Steyer was successful in making investments. During the Democratic debates, even though Steyer has appeared to be overshadowed by the likes of Biden, Sanders, and Warren, he is still holding his own on his views. His recent poll surge showed 15% in South Carolina and 12% in Nevada, but only totals to 2% across the nation. Early on he is posed with the question, “Why do you think you are qualified to be president with no political experience?” Confidently, he answers that he worked internationally around the world for decades and understand the interactions of the US with other countries. Regarding the biggest affairs around the world, Steyer feels that he would need an ally with him if he was to meet with North Korea for peace. He also believes he needs to put sanctions on Iran, a country who has caused problems for the United States in the last couple of years. Steyer also has strong opinions on health care. He feels that it should be affordable to all citizens by moving and developing this affordable care act through the government. Steyer wants to take back the power that big corporations currently have in the government. “We have a broken government,” Steyer said. On climate, the democrat would declare a state of emergency on what he thinks is the world’s biggest priority and would also create jobs to fight against it. Overall, Steyer views the American people as his teammates and wants them to decide the truth of whatever goes on in the country for themselves. By Josh Meyers ‘21, Victoria Lapinson ‘20, Adam Saladino ‘20, Leah Snyderman ‘22

Pete Buttigieg

ollowing his graduation from Harvard College and Oxford University, 2020 Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg became the 32nd mayor of South Bend, Indiana. As mayor, he used a combination of effort, creativity, and boldness to help revitalize the town. In order to gain the Democratic Party’s nomination and defeat incumbent Donald Trump, he will need to expertly utilize those very same attributes. Currently ranking in fourth place nationally, Buttigieg is polling at 9% and gaining popularity in the early voting states. He has a need for readiness, to avoid the mistakes of the past, and hopes to be a candidate who can turn a page on American politics. Some of his most passionate topics include the electoral college, single-payer healthcare, labor unions, background checks for guns and addressing climate change. “That’s why we have to ﬁght climate change with such urgency,” said Buttigieg during the January Democratic Debate, referencing the ongoing Australian wildﬁre crisis. He feels as though President Trump has made the next president’s job harder for whoever is to follow him. On the topic of medicare, Buttigieg coins his policy as “medicare for all who want it,” saying that if a citizen prefers their plan over his, he will not force a change, just encourage one. His opinions on Iran are close to heart, as he served in the Navy for eight years, and thinks that the United States should continue to remain engaged in Iran without having all of the troops there. Ensuring that Iran doesn’t have nuclear powers is high on his to-do list, and wants to move towards a world with fewer nuclear weapons. He’s the youngest candidate, and feels like he’s the guy for the job, wanting to put the past in the rear view mirror and move on to better things for our nation. Buttigieg said, “I am a Democrat because I believe in protecting freedom, fairness, families, and the future.” By Evelyn Steele ‘21, Andrew Shinkle ‘22, Faith Sirdashney ‘20, Allan Belizaire ‘20

Election 2020

February 2020 Joe Biden

Elizabeth Warren

th Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa was the smallest debate stage yet. The debate featured six candidates: Obama’s former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, billionaire Tom Steyer, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of Indiana. Joe Biden had the most talking time during the entire debate. This is quite opposite in comparison to the December 2019 debate, he deﬁnitely had a change in participation and approach. Foreign policy became a principal issue for the ﬁrst time in this debate. Considering commander-in-chief is an additional responsibility when becoming president, foreign policy is an issue that would need to be discussed. Given the situation with Iran, many of the questions and answers were involving that. Biden argued that “there’s a difference between combat troops and leaving special forces in a position.” He continued, “I think it’s a mistake to pull out the small number of troops that are there now to deal with ISIS.” To continue the debate on handling

O foreign affairs, Biden discussed how he would handle the North Korea strategy. He said his administration would work alongside China to pressure North Korea. And without hesitation, Biden said would not meet with North Korea or in any way meet with Kim Jong Un without taking precautions. Biden closed the debate with a ﬁnal statement, “The American character is on the ballot. We can do anything if we do it together.” Contributors: Jenna Preston 22’, Valerie Nguyen ‘23, Abby Love ‘21

Thoreau writes, “All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing of right and wrong, with moral questions.” Is this an apt analogy? “Comparing voting to board games involving morality is an appropriate analogy. When people vote, they lead themselves to believe that their vote is inﬂuential; they choose to factor in morals to their thought process. In addition, they believe that voting completes their duty as a citizen. However, their votes are insigniﬁcant in reality, especially in the popular vote of the American Government (has no impact compared to the Electoral College).” “This analogy is apt, especially in American politics. Many politicians and issues up for vote bring up issues, but do not ensure any action. To most, there is a right and wrong. People will choose what they believe is right, however there is corruption in politics and words do not always turn into actions. This is facilitated by the two party system in America, which makes most people choose the lesser of two evils

The Voyager 5

when voting.” “I believe this is an another analogy because voting is an inﬂexible choice where you make a decision and it’s just another move in the grand scheme of things. You place a vote in the hopes of achieving a certain goal that would be considered a win. In deciding a vote one’s morality is introduced as that inﬂuences your choice subconsciously for what your voting for and whether your vote is right or wrong in your opinion. A vote is simply a vote; the stripped down version of your desire.”

n Tuesday night in De Moines, Iowa, the ﬁnal Democratic Debate took place before the primary and caucus season begins. One of twelve candidates left in the race, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren had the opportunity to express her ideas and goals if she were to be elected president. Senator Warren may not be polling ﬁrst at the moment, but with her recent poll numbers at 15% in Iowa, she is right in the thick of the race. During Tuesday’s Democratic Debate, Warren gave her take on many of the current political issues that surround the country today. Her platform advertises her focus on issues such as the military, healthcare, and ending the governmental corruption that exists in Washington D.C. She expressed her admiration for the U.S. troops currently overseas, and would take militarily-stationed troops out of the Middle East if she were to become president. She also stressed her plan to make healthcare more affordable, and potentially free, for all Amercians. While supporting the Affordable Care Act, known to some as Obamacare, she would increase taxes for the top one percent, along with the huge corporations, in

Thoreau writes in “Civil Disobedience: “I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.” How does apply to today? “This applies to today’s federal government because when citizens ask for change, they aren’t asking for no government, they are simply asking for a government with better laws and enforcement. For example, citizens aren’t asking for the government to stop regulating on minimum wage, they just want the government to pass more suitable laws to raise the minimum wage and make it more fair for citizens who spend long, hard hours working.” “We challenge the government to be better, but then we are called unpatriotic.”

“Compared to today’s AP Lang and situation, we would be “Today, a lot of politicians Comp debated lost without a government. As and candidates who search “Civil Disobedience” much as we complain about for votes, do so in very imTrump’s tweets, we would be moral ways and alfailing, the economy would be ways play dirty. It seems that tanking, and America would be circling the morality in politics and votthe drain. We ask for a better government ing has faded away as the times instead, sending in new representatives have progressed in America.” and senators with the midterm election in 2018, hoping to help the government be “However, the stakes of these better suited for the needs of the Amerigames are much higher as polican people.” tics carry more weight that those of normal games. The thinking behind voting is overwhelming as rather that thinking about whether the move was right or wrong one must decide whether it is morally justiﬁed.”

“Thoreau is trying to portray the reality of how voting works. The power goes back and forth and back and forth, one small step at a time until someone cannot make another move or drops the shuttle to the ground, which would mean that the other person wins. It is extremely passive, usually does not come to any decisive conclusion until much later, and requires way too much effort than what it accomplishes.” Graph by Arianna Morales ‘22

order to carry out her nationwide healthcare plan. She also explained her comprehensive plan towards ending corruption throughout the ranks of the U.S. government, and will continue to work towards those goals as she will serve in President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial beginning on Tuesday. In her closing statements, Senator Warren emphasized the importance of the 2020 Presidential Election: “I see this as our moment in history. Our moment when no one is left on the sidelines. Our moment when we understand that it comes to us to decide the future of this country.” Contributors: Samantha Frankel ‘20, Aaron Arnstein ‘20, Ethan Mack ‘21, Antonia Zong ‘22

“One topic that those of every political background can agree on is that the government is ﬂawed. Where for some there is too much, others there is too little; each issue carries with it the weight of millions of opinions. In the days of Jefferson and Hamilton, the main political argument was states rights versus the rights of the federal government to regulate various items. For the most part, this debate has subsided. Altogether, barely a voice can be heard in support of the lack of a government; a better one, however, is up for much debate.” “No government would be anarchy, and that applies not only to today but to the world in general, in the present, past and future. But our government today also needs to be reformed in order to be better. Currently, lobbyists essentially own

Congress, therefore rendering our own meager votes useless. Politicians are devious and deceptive, trained to be professional actors on stage and master manipulators in office. Their promises are never kept and their agendas carried out at the expense of either the taxpayer or the national deficit. There must be some reform so that reasonable, economic, and logical leaders do not go into finance, medicine, or law, but into politics. Their good mind would be thwarted at every turn because of bureaucracy, something else that also needs to be removed. All these changes need to be made in order to make government more efficient and effective.” “Many people are unhappy with today’s federal government, and want Trump out of office. These people don’t want to not have a president, seeing as that wouldn’t end well, but instead want a better president, who will lead the country better.” “Today’s government appears to constantly be under duress from scandal and corruption. Simply, the government causes more bad than good right now. The two party system has divided our country, and serious changes need to be made, so the entire government works together.” “The three branches that we see today in the American government are the legislative, executive, and judicial. Of course the government can not go from mediocre to outstanding overnight, but simple corrections such as redirections of past laws would help immensely. Some laws are quite outdated, and do not adhere to the standards of present day. If the government would take circumstances such as gun safety and sexual assault to heart, the government would see positive changes.” “This applies to the corruption of modern federal government and what it has become over centuries. Instead of repealing government, Thoreau is asking for reform in government to address citizen’s needs and wants for their society, rather than self political gain.”

6 The Voyager

The Environment

Opinion

By ARIANNA MORALES ‘23 Staff Reporter

billion animals die because of a never-ending Australian forest fire, roaring earthquakes that eliminate electricity in many homes in Puerto Rico, terrible tornadoes in Texas and Arizona-- all of these events seem to coincide with the rising issue that humans are responsible for; is it just an odd coincidence, or is it really climate change? It was 1925 the idea of “...that a slight change of conditions might set off a self-sustaining shift between climate states” was introduced by Brooks. But from that point on, the challenge for scientists would be how to counter relentless skepticism and with experiments. the planet. James E. Hanson expressed his concerns about the My faith says no, they would assume responsibility and environment to the Senate in 1988, which also wasn’t research everything to confirm or deny this theory, but taken completely seriously. Scientists continued to pureven so, the health of our world is a concern that needs sue extensive research exploring this topic for the majorto be addressed. ity of the 20th century. But why isn’t anyone doing anything about it? All In 1993 scientists were blown away when experts over the news, they talk and talk and talk about climate from Greenland concluded that the change but who’s going to be the What’s Your Issue? average temperature had increased person who’s going to not only Students share their most around 45º F in less than five derepresent the United States but also important topic for 2020. cades. The idea that changes in our exert significant effort to commuclimate could occur within the span nicate with other world leaders and of decades and not over a period of a thousand years actually address the problem beyond their presidency? worried scientists. Amongst other qualifications for presidents, a plan to If scientists were right, and could prove that climate solve this problem should be considered when a citizen change would occur over a slow process that would take is debating which candidate to choose. thousands of years, would they sigh from relief and reThis planet gave a lot to us and we should respect the tire on the spot and assume that the scientists in the fuland we live on. ture would assume the daunting responsibility to save Not to mention, more states have recently approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which alleys once again. can be as early as six weeks into a By LAURA SILENZIO ‘23 “Under the Alabama law, a doctor pregnancy. Six weeks? Many women Staff Reporter performing an abortion could be sen- don’t even find out they’re pregnant ithin the first three tenced to 99 years in prison. That is a until long after that time. The 24 week months of 2019, more longer sentence than most convicted option is more reasonable because it than 300 restrictive rapists get in Alabama, where the gives women more time to make the abortion bills were in- sentence for rape can be as low as 10 decision without rushing, especially troduced. Five states years. Nationally, even many murder- if they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t abort. passed laws banning abortion before ers get lesser What’s Your Issue? s e n t e n c e s And how in good most people even knew they were Students share their most than 99 years conscience can pregnant. important topic for 2020. behind bars,” lawmakers conAlabama passed a ban on the procedemn some desperdure at any stage of pregnancy, with said Leslie Marshall in the article, “Leslie Marate women and girls to serious injury, no exceptions for rape or incest. shall: Alabama law banning abortions inability to bear children in the future, In Ohio, lawmakers introduced a won’t stop abortions and is wrong – and even death at the hands of backbill that would create a crime called Here’s why.” alley butchers? Don’t these women “abortion murder,” punishable by life We should take a second to think and girls have a right to life? in prison. This entire situation is quite hon- about this. Doctors who are ignoring I personally don’t think I could ever estly unreasonable. Expecting wom- the law for what women want could see myself aborting my future baby, en to carry children even if they are possibly have them charged for a but that doesn’t mean that I think othgoing to resent the baby is horrible. felony. In my opinion, this is an all er women shouldn’t have the right to The abortion law is not going to stop time low. Men know they will never decide. That is my own personal opinwomen from getting abortions. It is be victimized in this way, but women ion, and other women should have the only going to make it less safe and know it is a terrifying possibility for right to make a decision because it’s their body. We need a change. make women resort to going to back us. curred. Why is a law unable to pass if its sole purpose is to protect Americans from harm? It took one mass shooting for New Zealand’s prime minister to initiate stricter gun laws. After 417 mass By SASHA TUDDENHAM ‘20 shootings in 2019 alone, Americans have seen no action. Features Editor As thousands gathered at the pro-gun rally in Virginia, it is evident civilian gun ownership should not be entirely nother day, another shooting. outlawed. However, required background checks, licensOne man open fired on a barber shop in Chiing, or even classes about gun safety would not deter cago, injuring seven. Eight people were shot in those with a passion for guns without ill intent. Seattle simple strolling One Army Officer told The American that he is an addown a busy street. Five were injured and one vocate for the second amendment, being a gun enthusiast killed in San Antonio. These tragedies all occurred less himself. However, he explains than a month into 2020. What’s Your Issue? how those that idolize the miliThis inhumanity is unacceptable. It seems Students share their most tary’s weapons enough to buy as if each day brings about another news important topic for 2020. the same gun are not discistory of gun violence. plined or taught to handle such However, the government is seemingly iga powerful weapon with care. noring this day to day violence. It is a depressing thought “How can so many enthusiastic gun owners say that they that Americans, especially policy makers who are elected hold the military as a model, and yet not accept the strict to protect these very Americans, are becoming accusregulations that go with the military’s use of firearms?” tomed to gun violence. the Army Officer said. Gun law changes have been virtually nonexistent due The United States needs to come together and realize to the extent of the Second Amendment. Gun laws have that no one is trying to dismantle the Second Amendment. been made stricter, yet none have been passed to prevent No one is trying to dismantle the Constitutional rights of injury or death to innocent civilians. American citizens to own a gun. The United States last discussed editing gun laws in Policy makers are simply hoping to help all Americans 1994 when President Clinton passed a 10 year ban on feel safe, whether or not they are gun advocates themautomatic weapons. President Trump mentioned the posselves. sibility of background checks, but no change has yet oc-

The Abortion Debate

Gun Control

February 2020

College Debt By VICTORIA LAPINSON ‘23 Staff Reporter

e cannot ignore student debt. We cannot ignore the college system sending countless young people into inevitable debt. We cannot ignore that the expectation having a college degree trumps personality and skill. College is an institution that has grown widely out of control. Here’s the thing: college should not be viewed as such a Shahgra-La, it should be an optional higher education route. Trade is extremely important. You can go into heating and air conditioning and be making ninety grand a year, compared to an education degree from a college, making sixtyﬁve grand a year. A degree doesn’t guarantee a better salary. Next there’s the cost. Education Colleges are super expensive. They is the place shouldn’t be. But we also need to where the understand that the United States government practices free enterprise capitalism. has stepped Education is the place where the govin before, and ernment has stepped in before, and should step in should step in again. again. Public education should be extended to the college level. Just like public high school is free, community and state school tuition should be free. If you want to go to a private college, just like a private high school, the school should charge tuition on their terms. Again, because college is optional, service fees, books, room and board, and other extra expenses are rightfully on the bill. College costs money to run. The government should step in to make it accessible at the public level, but shouldn’t spend every tax dollar for students to go to prestigious schools. Many liberals such as democratic candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren call for free college. I don’t think that is possible or necessary. The more moderate view, without spending so much government money, or allowing schools to drink you dry, is to make public and community colleges exempt from tuition by law.

Israel

By AARON ARNSTEIN ‘20 Staff Reporter

he relationship between the United States and Israel is always at the forefront of American politics. It is especially prevalent at this time when the U.S. is dealing with heightened tensions throughout the Middle East, from Turkey to Iran. For over 30 years, the U.S. has provided almost three billion dollars in annual aid to Israel, most of which is militarily-based, according to the Congressional Research Service. The United States also provides political support to Israel, as evidenced by using nearly half of their vetoes in the United Nations Security Council on Israel-related issues. Despite large amounts of American aid being provided to Israel, both sides disagree on Israeli settlements in the tension-filled West Bank. The West Bank is home to nearly three million Palestinians, but Israeli settlements are being built there since the land is Israeli-occupied territory. Israel claims its possession of the Maintaining a West Bank is necessary for security promising and religious reasons, as many holy U.S.-Israel sites are located inside of the West relationship is Bank. However, the U.S. believes crucial towards these Israeli settlements have made the existence it increasingly difficult for any of Israel. peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. Relations between Israel and America have improved since President Trump took office, headlined by his controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the American embassy there, which previous presidents have restrained from doing so, believing that Jerusalem does not exclusively belong to Israel. In recent news, President Trump has stressed the importance of protecting Israel from an imminent Iranian attack following the American drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Iran realizes it is not in their best interests to launch a major attack on the U.S., but a smarter idea may be to go after Israel, a longtime American ally. Maintaining a promising U.S.-Israel relationship is crucial towards the existence of Israel, a country surrounded by Arab nations intent on wiping them off the map. With the continued support of the American government, Israelis can safely go to sleep knowing that they are backed by the most influential and powerful country in the world.

Opinion

February 2020

The Voyager 7

Climate change and national security By ADAM SALADINO ‘20 Staff Reporter

he mission under the Department of National Security at the Army War College mentions how students learn “the academic disciplines of international relations, politics, economics, regional studies, history, and national and international security studies to prepare students for senior positions in the national security establishment.” Whether there is a War College, student learning about the issues of national security from a professor, or a senior in high school doing independent research, an issue of national security that cannot be overlooked is climate change. The topic has been debated for decades, and its effects have been felt in and out of the United States. Most recently, the engulfing fires in California and Australia have brought to light the detrimental consequences at stake for the population, infra-

College costs and the pathway to debt

extreme weather. If extreme weather like the California wildfires and Hurricane Katrina continue to take place, more lives will be lost, and America will continue to suffer. On top of its impact on American wellbeing, climate change has damaging effects on the economy and infrastructure. A Harvard Business Review article mentioned how in 2025, “$2.2 trillion in economic output [is] at risk” if climate change continues at the expected rates. A large factor at risk is agricultural businesses. The United States Environmental Protection Agency explains that “if temperature exceeds a crop’s optimal level, if sufficient water and nutrients are not available, yield increases may be reduced or reversed.” This means that the more the temperature climbs, the more crops are at risk. If climate change is such a severe issue, is there a sufficient solution? Climate change is complicated and filled with valid opposition. The two opposing points against the change is the amount

structure, and economy. The greatest facet of national security is the wellbeing of Americans, and the rapid change of climate directly impacts that. With every natural disaster, our lives are put at risk. According to USA today, 85 people died in the California wildfires, and according to CNN, 1,833 people died in Hurricane Katrina. These natural events are increasing dramatically because of climate change. According to a National Geographic article, scientist Gerald Meehl explained a potential cause of this hazardous weather, stating “by adding just a little bit more carbon dioxide to the climate, it makes things a little bit warmer and shifts the odds toward these more extreme events.” Meehl’s claim is reaffirmed by NASA; “temperature has risen about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere.” It is obvious to see that there is a direct correlation between climate change and

By JOSEPH LOVERDI ‘22 Staff Reporter

he average cost for college for the 2017-18 school year was $20,770 for in-state public schools and a staggering $40,940 for out-of-state public schools, with private schools costing around $50,900. College costs have increased every year since 1977. Back then, it only cost $8,180 to get a four-year degree from a public school. Now, students have to worry about amassing huge student debt just to get What’s Your Issue? through college. Hot topics for 2020. The student debt crisis has been brought on by colleges unnecessarily raising their tuition fees. This leads students to rely on loans to pay said tuition, and when they can’t get jobs after college (or jobs that don’t pay them enough to help pay off said loans) to pay off these loans, they get into debt. In fact, The Democratic the current student loan debt (owed by 42 million Americans) is a stagcandidates have gering $1.6 TRILLION. all pledged to fight It really shouldn’t be this way. the student debt Higher education is necessary for system, with both learning (well, that’s kind of obBernie Sanders and vious), but also to help integrate young adults into the workforce. Elizabeth Warren pledging to erase it College provides the necessary training to help these young men entirely. and women get into the fields of their dreams, and if they can’t pay the exorbitant $55,788 per year tuition to get into Bucknell, their favored college, then where do they go next? Community college? Those prices have also been rising as well. Colleges routinely raising their tuition costs are pricing minority students and students from poor backgrounds out. Hell, these students may be smarter than the rich kids who paid their way into these highcost, high-prestige schools. The Democratic candidates have all pledged to fight the student debt system, with both Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren pledging to erase it entirely. Joe Biden has said that he’d support a free 4-year college plan, but has a complicated history with the issue. Pete Buttigieg would pledge to make college debt-free for low-income students; Amy Klobuchar is against a free four years of college but would be willing to help ease the burden of college costs and debt. While all of the major candidates have proposed viable solutions, the main one is a clear one, and that’s to lower these costs. Students can get into loan debt quickly if their parents can’t pay for them to get through all four years at a pricey college like Villanova (costing a cool $52,578 per year). Free college for all is a bit too drastic of a step, but lowering the costs and pumping in more scholarship money in makes college much more affordable. This way, minority and poor-off students don’t have to worry about being rejected from the school they’ve eyed since a kid. Colleges don’t have to raise their costs every year. Just lower them. I’m sure enrollment rates will increase.

of prominent issues already surrounding the country and the amount of change America will have to follow in order to solve climate change. National Security encompasses a wide variety of issues, and many feel that there are more pressing ones than climate change such as terrorism, health care, etc. In the 2016 and current election, the question on how to fix climate change has been debated, which has resulted in many plans to be spewed out. However, each plan must overcome the fact that reversing climate change will take an extreme amount of effort, innovation, and money to turn away from the heavy reliance on nonrenewable resources. With more extreme weather occurrences and their harsh impacts, climate change has been in the minds of citizens across the country. It is evident that the issue of climate change will take time, innovation, and cooperation from the current generation and generations to come in order to be solved.

Affirmative Action By ALLAN BELIZAIRE ‘20 Staff Reporter

widespread political debate among Americans today has been the topic of affirmative action. Put into action in 1961 by President Kennedy, the purpose of affirmative action was to provide help favoring individuals belonging to groups known to have been discriminated against previously, in terms of employment or education. When putting the plan into effect, Kennedy stated “The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin.” For decades, it has helped many minorities find jobs that they may not be granted the ability to have due to their race, but many Americans today strongly oppose the plan. People believe the plan should be based upon class, rather than race. Former president Barack Obama has stated his belief in its unfairness when a wealthy African American or Latino applicant

What’s Your Issue? Hot topics for 2020.

receives a preference over a low-income white or Asian student. Furthermore, the topic of affirmative action creates a sense of reverse discrimination for many as it can be viewed as a discrimination against non minorities, which in turn can keep stereotypes and negative racial views. The positives of affirmative action include creating a more diverse working environment and education system and exposing people to all backgrounds and races. Additionally, it provides help for people who may not have the resources to succeed and haven’t been given these opportunities in the past. For many, it is unfair for Asian Americans to have to work harder to get into schools that others may not have to succeed for, especially considering when the plan does not take class or wealth into account. However, the plan provides a much needed diversity among schools and in the workplace that is desperately needed for years to come. Overall, affirmative action will continue to be an ongoing topic of debate as it helps many, while simultaneously negatively impacting others. What’s Your Issue? Hot topics for 2020.

Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs Jacob Safier ‘20 Opinion Editor

ith the 2020 election coming up, there have been unseen issues come before us. The Democratic platform is shifting from the mainstream platform to initiatives such as making dramatic moves to combat climate change, provide “medicare for all,” and raising minimum wages. While the right is moving more right and the left is moving more left, my issue (and most Americans’ issue) is the economy. As President Trump has famously said, “JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!” We can talk about abortion, climate, gender, foreign policy, but at the end of the day, what do Americans care most about? Money. For me and most Americans, the biggest issue of the election is a strong economy and financial stability. President Trump has proved to combat these issues. After Reagan’s first 35 months in office, the unemployment rate was 9%. After Clinton, it was 6.2%. After Obama, it was 9.3%. And after Trump… 3.9%. The US is at an unprecedented rate of employment. The stock market is also off the charts. Since President Trump took office, the stock market has risen almost 10,000 points. Who wouldn’t want that? Most of us have heard the saying, “money can’t buy happiness,” but that couldn’t be more false. Money allows people to live comfortable and healthy lives.

A Princeton University study showed a strong correlation between wealth and happiness up to an income of $75,000 per year. After that point, more money does not increase happiness. But the lower someone makes under $75,000, the less happy they showed to be. With Democratic candidates such as Bernie Sanders promising to increase spending in the trillions, he says he will increase taxes on middle and upper class Americans. This will destroy the progress we have made in unemployment and income. Higher taxes will crush the middle class and destroy the entrepreneurship of the wealthy. All in the name of free stuff. President Trump is running for reelection on a strong economy. Unemployment is at an all time low for not just white men, but almost all groups of Americans. We are in a bull market and incomes are rising. It is essential that we keep the President in office so the economy will stay on its current track. Then we can tackle other issues such as abortion, healthcare, or climate. But while the Democrats are working overnight to remove the President from office, he is working for us and getting things done. So for me the answer is easy. Do we want to continue to grow? Or do we want to halt our progress for candidates that are making unattainable promises. Initiatives such as universal healthcare, the “Green New Deal,” and Universal Basic Income will destroy the economy. In 2020, I will be voting for a strong economy. All Americans deserve to enjoy the prosperity that will continue to grow over the next four years.

8 The Voyager

Election 2020

February 2020

Thousands of Trump supporters flock to Wildwood for historic rally

By JACOB SAFIER ‘20 and AARON ARNSTEIN ‘20 Opinion Editor and Staff Reporter

hated the socialist policies of President Obama. “The only hope we had was the change he was talking about because he ended resident Trump agreed to hold a rally on January up bringing us down so 28th in Wildwood after Representative Jeff far,” he said. The Pocono Van Drew’s in the 2nd Congressional District native continued that he after Drew switched to the Republican Party. feels Trump cares about Drew had been upset with the Democratic America. “He is the first Party. president in my lifetime It was the first time Cape May County hosted a president who has not only kept his since the 1890s. promises,” he said, “but Over 100,000 tickets had been issued, placing the “wild” has actually kept many, in Wildwood. many of his promises.” We originally planned to leave around lunchtime, but Hazlet, New this rally was different. We knew that wouldn’t work. Jersey resident Gary Our suspicions were confirmed when word spread that Weightmann has been thousands of supporters were already lined up for the to Trump’s inauguration rally the night before, some even two days before. and four of his previous What should have been a lunchtime departure from rallies, but no crowd Voorhees ended up being a 5:30am departure. We arrived pales in comparison to the just at dawn. We parked at a friend’s house and walked Wildwood crowd. “I neverHomemade signs show the spirit of the wild day in Wildwood. twenty minutes to the convention center. saw 6,000-7,000 people 10 like worms. We finally made it to the homestretch of the We could not find the end of the line. The parking lot hours before a rally. I never saw that before at any of the line, but it was now 6:20PM and the rally was starting line was full with thousands. The line looped around the other rallies,” Weightmann said. soon. block. This was all before 7am. He also believes Trump has done an We were no more than 100 feet away from the entrance Our nearly “fourteen hour standing “I never saw outstanding job in office. “Trump is the when the line came to a halt, ending our hopes of getting journey” began. It was a cold, breezy day greatest president in my lifetime. Win one 6,000-7,000 into the convention center. However, there was a huge with overcast clouds. The cold from the more term; he’ll be the best in history,” he people 10 hours video board outside of the venue. ocean did not help the wind chill, but we said. before a rally. I When Trump stepped onto the podium, the atmosphere came with what we thought was good – Seven hours into the line, we were was electric. Everyone around us cheered and Trump gloves, coats, and heavy socks. never saw that starting to get impatient, but the fervent posters were being handed out. The line seemed to have doubled behind before at any of crowd around us maintained the buzz Throughout the speech, chants of “USA, USA!” and us, all within ten minutes. We were lucky the other rallies.” of excitement. An elderly Chinese “Four More Years!” echoed both in and out of the enough to find Duke Reale, a Galloway immigrant, who went by Alexandra, was convention center. The speech was about an hour long, resident. He had never been to a Trump passionately waving a Trump banner but every minute was filled with unwavering excitement Rally, but arrived for this one at 2PM Sunday, just over while chanting Trump’s two days before the start of the rally. name. She attended with “I didn’t know I was gonna be the first,” he said. “I’m her daughter. They had happy I am.” He was the first to arrive. For a time, he been camped out since the was alone with the barricades. “But it’s a chance to see previous night in hopes the president, shake his hand, or tell him he’s doing a of getting into the 7,000 great job and thank him so much for bringing our country seat venue. The two had forward,” he said. emigrated from China to Since Sunday, he said he “froze.” He described the the United States because closeness of the community. “We got back and forth of the socialism that to the cars but we’ve been sleeping on the ground,” he engulfed China. said. “We’re keeping our spot in line. We’re just waiting After Trump was for the president. We’re sitting here, we’re all talking, elected, Alexandra’s networking, and it’s great.” daughter quickly realized Throughout the next twelve hours in line, we felt his why many Americans pain and his commitment. As the line progressed, the enthusiastically support cold ocean breeze grew. We realized we were not dressed Trump. “I didn’t know warm enough for the weather. much about him before A family formed around us. A kind woman, Stefanie, he was elected,” she said. A local motel proudly displays its enthusiasm for the President’s visit. brought donuts and gave us handwarmers. We made “After he was sworn in, conversation with everyone around us for hours. I read more about him. I from the crowd. At around 8:30PM, the speech ended. We met many different types of people from all different know more about him; I know he’s the chosen one. He Droves of Trump supporters headed to their cars. After backgrounds. came out to save this country. I witness this country had nearly a half an hour of stop-and-go traffic, we were on Pocono native Mark Jones voted for Obama in 2008 been going down for a while and I hate to say that. Now the Atlantic City Expressway heading back home. but has been riding the Trump Train since the 2016 I’m glad he came out and that’s why I support him.” Despite getting shut out of the Convention Center, the election. He said he voted for both sides, Democrat and At 3:00PM, the doors finally opened. The line slowly rally was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Republican, for the last 20 years. Part of the reason he crept its way towards the front. We remained confident Some may assume a Trump rally consists of protesters, likes Donald Trump is that he is so unlike George W. that we would get into the Wildwoods Convention Center. violence, and disrespect. However, the Wildwood rally Bush and “Barack Hussein.” “They were the two worst As the sun went down, the line continued to crawl. was just the opposite. “I met all the people around me and presidents in history back to back,” he said. “Bush took us Our hopes of getting in started to look bleak. they’re great people,” one supporter said. “They’re not into Iraq, which was a minor thing, but would take us 100 The line became increasingly crowded. We were canned people of hate; they’re people of hope and love.” years to get back from and them not hating us.” Jones also

A small look at the thousands of Trump supporters waiting in line for the rally.

Photos by Jacob Safier ‘20

February 2020

Features

The Voyager 9

Crossing one of the world’s most dangerous intersections By LEAH SNYDERMAN ‘22 Staff Reporter

was sitting in a terminal on the Israeli side of the Erez Crossing, the only entrance and exit between Israel and Gaza, stuck in the middle of one of the biggest conflicts in the Middle East. It was the first full day of my Hebrew School confirmation trip to Israel last December as me and 49 other teens sat together in the terminal. We were at the Erez Crossing to get a sense of what it is like to live with this ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza every day. Sitting in the front row, I listened to the head of the Israeli border security at the Erez Crossing, Vadin, speak to us in broken English about the struggle and burden of his job. He gave us a rundown of his day so far. Keep in mind: it was only 2pm. It was a typical morning for him; Vadin was doing a border check of a mother and her baby coming to Israel from Gaza. They were coming to Israel for life-saving medical care for the baby, a very common reason for Gazans to cross the border. When checking her bags, the border officers found something unusual: a bullet in the baby formula. They asked the mother about it, and she broke down in tears, claiming she did not put it there

Leah rides on a camel with her friend and had no idea. Now Vadin and other officers had to make one very of tough decision. If they denied the mother and her baby access to Israel, the baby would most likely die from not receiving the medical attention he needed. If they let them in, they risked putting other lives in danger because there was no way to know if the woman truly didn’t know about the bullet. The Israeli border officers needed to determine whether to send the mother and baby back, knowing the baby would likely die without humanitarian medical access, but also knowing that this woman may have been complicit in Hamas terror activity. These types of situations happen every day at the Erez Crossing. Since the beginning of time, the Israelis and Arabs have had disputes over the land. The Jewish state of Israel was officially established in 1948 after the Israelis won the Six Day War. Just 45 years later, Israel signed the Oslo Accords, agreeing to relinquish control of parts of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. By 2005, Israel had completely withdrawn its settlements in Gaza and the terrorist group Hamas took control of the land. Vadin explained to us that in order

to cross the border to Israel, Hamas makes it difficult. Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist political organization and militant group. Since 1987, the group has waged war on Israel. When leaving Gaza, they need to get permission from Hamas to leave, usually arranged by a hefty fee or bribe. Then, because Israel and Gaza have no diplomatic relations, Hamas will contact Fatah in the West Bank, and Fatah Pictures are not allowed nside the building, only outside. will forward the information to We watched one set a chair down on in Jerusalem with her son. Her son had Israel. the side of the road, sit down in it, and never left Gaza before and was so excited Israel then investigates each individual, then tumble down a hill backwards. He to go to Jerusalem and see all of the running background checks and ensuring zoomed in on the place where the Hamas people and the Dome of the Rock. The that the medial need is real before fires the rockets. bags were filled with clothes and toys approving entrance to Israel. When This sparked a question I’ve been that would most likely be confiscated by crossing the actual border, Hamas takes thinking about Hamas when she bags into another room and searches for a while: if the would try to reThe Israeli border officers them. It was determined by the Israeli Israeli army, AKA enter Gaza. the Israeli Defense Because of her needed to determine Forces (IDF), whether to send the mother job, she would knows where the be and baby back, knowing the probably rockets are being considered more launched from, baby would likely die without of an upper-middle humanitarian medical why don’t they class citizen in just blow it up or Gaza. She lives access, but also knowing shoot back? in a house located that this woman may have Vadin explained right outside the been complicit in Hamas that the IDF city of Gaza and terror activity. could easily take her children attend Gaza within 20 school everyday, minutes with their just like us. The far superior technology and military, but brief conversation I had with this mother there’s a reason they haven’t. The Israeli and her kid helped remind me that the army is quite literally called “a defense vast majority of those crossing the border force.” Israel will only use violence as a are just people going about their daily last resort to defend, never to attack. If lives and are not terrorists. they won’t attack Gaza itself, why not just Ever since this day, I’ve been wondering attack the people firing the rocket with a about what happened to that mother and sniper? One of the IDF’s policies is that her sick baby whose formula was found they will never fire at innocent women with a bullet in it. and children, so when launching a rocket, Vadin did tell us they were allowed in Israel. the Hamas uses women and children as a entrance to Israel, but that’s all they know. Photos by Leah Snyderman ‘22 protective shield because they know the I also keep thinking about the smile on border officers that the woman truly IDF won’t fire. the boy’s face and how happy he was didn’t know about the bullet and the When leaving the Erez Crossing, a woman after what he described as “the best day Hamas had placed it in the formula when and her son approached us on their way of my life” in Jerusalem and at the French they took her bags. back home to Gaza after a day-trip to embassy holiday party. Moments like Hamas likely did this to test whether Israel. She was a Tunisian born Gazan these are why the border between Israel it would be a way to smuggle other w h o worked for a French consultant and Gaza remains open. contraband across the border. Vadin has in Gaza, in part because she grew up “We will never punish innocent citizens been doing this for a while now and speaking French. She was coming back for the actions of terrorists they can’t knows how to recognize true versus fake from the French embassy holiday party control,” Vadin said. shock when he tells Gazans about various things they find in their bags. By reading her facial expressions, tears, and shakiness, Vadin knew this woman was not likely involved in Hamas terror activity and allowed her and her baby to cross and receive the medical attention needed. It was surreal to think that an issue like that happened only a few hours ago in the same building I was sitting in, but it was even more surreal to watch a video of the exact place I was sitting being blown up by a rocket. Vadin then pulled up the live surveillance cameras, which were able to zoom into Hamas soldiers miles away. A group photo on the beach in Tel Aviv. Photo supplied by Leah Snyderman ‘22

10 February 2020

The Voyager is essential for the survival of student voices for the school and for the local community In today’s society, local newspapers are dying. The days of strong investigative journalism are diminishing, with technology and mergers to blame. Small-scale journalism is essential to the free world because big news publications can be biased and focused more on money than reporting actual news for the people. Small publications report on things that affect the community and because they have a smaller scope, they can focus on things they know matter to readers—not topics that will just make them money. While large corporations are more focused on proﬁt and agenda, smaller publications exist to serve their communities and seek the truth. What better example of an essential small publication than The Voyager. At The Voyager, we are not driven by proﬁt and we do not seek to spread disinformation. The younger generation rarely gets news from small publications but

20 Years of T

rather large websites. Among the most common news sources we use are CNN, Fox News, NBC, ESPN, Instagram, and Snapchat. Consequently, local news publications have seen a drop in readership. Many are either shutting down or joining forces with larger corporations and harming their independence. With the expanding inﬂuence of elitist’s agendas, the integrity of local journalism is at stake. Coverage of local news and relatable articles are being overshadowed by national politics and agendas. When people only seek news from large websites, they are only getting the one, popularized opinion throughout large media rather than everything there is to offer in small publications. Large media companies do not seek the full truth but rather promote a certain agenda. AT&T—they give you phone service, but they also recently acquired Time Warner. With the acquisition, the gained ownership over many TV networks, including CNN. Aside from movies and theme parks, Disney also owns ABC, ESPN, and FOX. Even local news stations are owned by national companies,

limiting the extent of what they agendas. This is why small pub essential to the freedom of the pr People need to know what is h in the community. Foreign polic important, but what about our economy? The Voyager is a perfect exampl that is essentia The Voyager, w politics and iss truth and what a for-proﬁt co serve noorganiz We are here t relating to th community. Ou and we do not p ideology, party, The prot

The Voyager

y can report and holding them to larger blications and independent journalists are ress. happening around them and what matters cy, the economy, and immigration; it’s all local economy, schools, ecosystem, and

le of independent, non-partisan journalism al in our world. At we are impartial to sues. We report the matters. We are not orporation and we zation or cause. to report any matter he school or the ur ideas are our own promote any speciﬁc , or opinion. tection of student

The Voyager 11

journalism is essential in our world. The Voyager is important because it lets students report on things they think matter. The content is what students want to see because it is run and written by students themselves. Journalism courses like The Voyager breed a new generation of journalists. It teaches students to care about the news, and help spread news around the school and to our community. A bill is being proposed in the state government that will expand freedoms for student journalists. The “New Voices bill” states that “a student at a public school or a public institution of higher education who gathers, compiles, writes, edits, photographs, records, or prepares information for dissemination in schoolsponsored media has the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press, and is responsible for determining the news, opinion, feature, and advertising content of the school-sponsored media.”

Small publications are losing readership as people gravitate towards the bigger, more intriguing national headlines. It is important that all freedom-loving Americans support this type of legislation so that student journalists have the same inﬂuence and freedoms as professional journalists. With increasing presence of technology and social media, people have unlimited access to all types of news and media around the world. Smaller publications and independent journalists need to adapt to the highly competitive internet market as print readership drops. Local media does the work no one else wants to do. Local newspapers are the only publications that report on local matters. The Voyager is the only publication that reports on school issues. People need to value all types of journalism, small and large, so that they are informed on all matters that affect their lives.

Features

12 The Voyager

February 2020

Would raising the minimum wage help or hurt? By ALLAN BELIZAIRE ‘20 and CLARE FITZPATRICK ‘20 Staff Reporters

ince first being passed in 1938, minimum wage has been at the center of many debates. Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25, a number many believe needs to be increased. Over twenty-one states have increased their minimum wage, but there have been no public plans for a federal increase. Despite this, it is estimated that two thirds of America favor $15 per hour as a set minimum wage. In February of 2019, Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey signed a bill that will increase minimum wage by $1 every subsequent January 1st until reaching $15 in 2024. The first increase took place on January 1st, 2020 as wages increased to $11 an hour. Murphy’s bill followed many other states as Democratic lawmakers have long favored a federal minimum wage boost.

The bill immediately received support while others raised opposition. With minimum wage continuing to increase in increments many questions were raised. What will happen to small businesses? How will minimum wage impact the economy? Mrs. Lowery, a business teacher, said she believes an increase in minimum wage “will help people get people out of poverty, it will allow people to no longer work two jobs, therefore it might help some people lower the costs of their childcare.” Raising the minimum wage ensures low-wage workers the ability to keep a standard of living with the cost of goods and services rising. Others argue that increasing the wage will boost economic activity due to higher income and ultimately driving consumer spending. In contrast, others believe it is not an effective tool to reduce poverty or income inequality. One of the biggest questions is whether minimum wage will drive inflation. Raising the minimum wage could place

pressure on inflation, but continuing to increase wages to remain at pace with inflation will reduce the effects. Those in opposition to the increase in wages assert that stress is placed on the unemployment system. Higher wages create tighter budgets which may cause employers to begin laying off their staff. Small businesses will see the biggest impact with increases in minimum wage. Mr. Murphy, a business owner and economics teacher, described small businesses’ profits facing pressure due to costs rising, possible layoffs, and businesses will try to increase prices. Mrs. Lowery asserts that “small business owners are the ones that generally employ at minimum wage because that’s what they can afford. They might have to let those people go.” “The reality is that there is a good chance the price levels will rise faster than nominal wage causing the real wages to decline,” Mr. Murphy states, meaning. businesses will absorb the new costs and put them on consumers through higher prices. Another worry that has risen with wage

increases is the idea that many youngadults and teenagers will find themselves shut out of the workforce. Businesses will find themselves hesitant to hire younger, less experienced workers. Chelsea Fanz, a senior who works at a local clothing store, said “It’s hard enough trying to find a job as I’m graduating in June, but the fact that minimum wage is going up has made it more difficult. I see people’s hours getting cut and businesses trying to keep a smaller staff so they can stay afloat.” There may even be a shift towards more technology run businesses, with selfcheckout and computer ordering already replacing service employees. Mr. Murphy said, “Businesses will move to a more kiosk, less labor dependent business model,” with stores such as Sam’s Club and McDonalds already moving towards technology. Minimum wage impacts everyone, so it is expected to face opposition in light of its support. With each year more states are passing legislation to increase the set wage.

The walk to Eastern after bomb scare Continued from page 1

Credit is Cruel (but it doesn’t need to be) BY VICTORIA LAPINSON ‘20 Associate Editor-in-Chief

o you want to buy a car? A house? Get a job? Take out a loan? Do any of these responsible things at any point in your life? Well, there’s good news and bad news. Good news: I’m glad you look are looking forward to a prosperous adulthood! Bad news: You have no credit and will likely dig yourself into a bottomless pit of bad credit. Sorry, but it’s true. And it’s particularly common among young people. Experian reported the national average credit score for Baby Boomers is 709, whereas it is 625 for millennials. Lucky for you, you still have youth on your side, and with that, the time to set up a healthy and growth-filled financial future. The first step to obtaining good credit is understanding credit. So, what is a credit score? Essentially, your credit score is a numerical representation of your credibility as someone to pay off a debt. For example: if you want to get a loan from your bank to buy a house, they want to make sure you will pay them back. Your credit score reflects how likely you are to do so. If you use a credit card regularly and pay it off on time really well, it will be seen in that score so the potential lender knows you will make good on paying them back. Good credit can help you secure better deals like less interest on mortgages, car payments, and some employers use it to gage job candidates. Bad credit can hurt you severely. If they don’t trust you, you can have high interest rates, jeopardize your loan approval, or be sucked into a loop of debt. Sounds scary, right? Good thing you don’t have a bad score at the moment. Oh wait! No credit is sometimes just as bad as bad credit! If a lender has nothing to go by, it can be extremely difficult to weigh whether or not you are trustworthy. The only option you have to invest in your financial future early. So let’s see how we can build a good foundation for credit starting in high school.

In fact we can do it in a few simple steps. Step 1) Source of Income- Whether it’s a summer job, part-time job, regular babysitting gig, or mowing lawns, make sure you are ranking in some green. Step 2) Accounts- Get yourself a checking account and a savings account. Most banks will set up free accounts for minors and students. It’s good to have one of each: checking for spending money, savings for the rest. Step 3) Choose a Credit Card- Find a credit card that fits your lifestyle. If you are absolutely clueless, I recommend getting one straight from your bank. They will probably start you off with a low limit. Like, $500. Step 4) Know When to Use It- Even though your limit is $500, DO NOT USE $500. Only use 5-10% of your limit. If your limit is $500, use $50. Guess what? That’ll fill your tank at the beginning of the month. Use it for gas once or twice a month, with consistency, not going over that 5-10%. After that, leave it in the back of your wallet until next month. Step 5) Pay with Perfection- if you got the credit card through your bank like I suggested, you will probably have access to it through you Banks’s mobile app. Pay it off on the app right away, or set it up to take it from your checking account on a regular basis. If done correctly, your payments won’t roll over, and you won’t be dealing with interest. If you make a habit of steps 4-5, you will begin to build a positive credit history. Eventually you get a credit card with a higher limit and throw your phone bill or your gym membership on it. Then your rent, then your Netflix, etc. As you get older, you’ll be showing you can handle borrowing money. And that’s all! Your credit score will reflect your good borrowing and spending habits very quickly. It is not the answer to every financial problem, but it will make a big difference in the long run.

which they could only express through their tears. Many students became hopelessly focused on the chill of the day and the length of the walk that diluted the beauty of their surroundings as they were repainted as a dull landscape that represented the distance between VMS and Eastern. Those who obeyed VMS’ policy because they couldn’t contact their family or friends only heightened this fear. The explanation for this unease is called separation anxiety. It is only heightened during situations of increased stress. In an era in which Internet connectivity seems absolutely vital to our survival, an addiction per se, to said connectivity allows for separation anxiety to create a sense of unease when we are disconnected from not only the Internet but also the actual devices themselves. 72 % of teens feel the need to immediately respond to texts, socialnetworking messages, and other notifications. 78 % of teens check their devices at least hourly, according to a 2016 Common Sense Media Report. One 8th grader said he doesn’t leave his phone in his locker for this very reason. “I feel that students should have their phones in case of emergency,” he said. Having their phones on them during the entire event, seemed to offer a sanctuary opposed to a cauldron of overwhelming uncertainty that was difficult to digest at that moment. A few minutes later, Eastern sent an email to the entire school, stating Eastern initiated shelter-in-place while VMS students were transitioned into the Performing Arts Center. Eastern students received no further email detailing the situation at VMS. About 30 minutes later, my parents contacted both of us about the situation. Anxiety bloomed at the back of my mind. Although I knew my sister was Anxiety bloomed cooped up in the Performing Arts Center, at the back of my I continued to worry. mind. Although When the young students reached their destination, she noted that the atmo- I knew my sister was cooped up sphere was notably warmer and more comfortable than the former embrace of in the Performthe cold outside. ing Arts Center, One 8th grader said everyone just sat in I continued to the theater. Mr. Winsett, a vice principal, worry. told everyone that they would be called by row to go to the bathroom. The lock-in-place was thus no longer needed. Eastern students were released for their next class. I remember speed walking to my next class. It didn’t register that I would pass up one of the side entrances of the Performing Arts Center. Luckily, a few older obnoxious boys reminded me: they made some ‘hilarious’ joke while I recognized the glare of my former teachers; my fear abated at that moment, but it didn’t ease the yearning to see my sister’s face. Even for a few seconds. I hastily scanned the auditorium, but to no avail. But I knew she was there along with her friends and the teachers. According to CBN News, after the police completed a thorough search throughout VMS, along with the aid of their K-9s, no evidence of a bomb was found in which “The on-scene investigation was turned over to Detectives from our Criminal Investigation Bureau.” After an hour of sitting, students were told that busses were going to pick us up. “The busses were filled as tight as possible,” an 8th grader said. “Once we got back to VMS we went to our home rooms. Then we ate lunch at about 2:00. We got dismissed as normal.” The 8th graders finally felt at ease. Their phones waited for them. Welcome, 2020.

Features

February 2020

The Voyager 13

Once our savior, plastic is now the villain By SASHA TUDDENHAM ‘20 Features Editor

e are drowning in plastics. Plastic has infiltrated the Mariana Trench, the deepest known part of the Earth, and can be found covering Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. It has even been found encircled by Arctic Ice and ingested by sea life. Plastic waste pollution is mainly due to plastic’s inability to biodegrade. A plastic bag only begins to decompose 100 years after it is thrown away. Yet, the bag never decomposes entirely; it simply becomes pieces of plastic too small for the human eye to see. These microplastics have become hazardous to human health. AP Environmental Science teacher, Mrs. Praesel, teaches her classes about the lifecycle of a water bottle. She also explains how the plastic is becoming hazardous, as it ends up in food and the atmosphere. “The plastic is fused together unnaturally so it is bound to come apart,” she said. Scientists are beginning to discover copious amounts of microplastics in remote areas of Greenland and the Arctic. With no inhabitants for miles, studies published by Science Advances show that the microplastics were brought to the desolate areas through precipitation. Although the banning of plastic in some areas is effective, microplastics are still transported through water and air all over the world. Without widespread action, plastic buildup will continue until microplastics infiltrate every aspect of nature. Taking action against extensive plastic use does not mean making plastic obsolete. Single-use plastic is the primary component of pollution. Commonly found pollutants include plastic bags, straws, and water bottles because they are only able to be recycled a few times. As a result, the United Nations has classified single-use plastic one of the world’s most pressing environmental crises. Member of the Voorhees Environmental Commission, Lawrence Spellman, believes recycling has become somewhat of a hassle for many and this needs to change. He explains how even as recycling becomes imperative to the health of the planet, it is “unfortunately becoming more cost effective to throw everything away than to recycle.” However, Spellman continues to encourage people to recycle as he explains, “Until someone figures out how to take recycled plastic and turn it into something useful, like shampoo, this increased cost has to be a short term thing.” The essentiality of recycling for the health of the planet

has intensiﬁed as singleuse plastic has increasingly become more common. The United Nations Environmental Program found that out of the 8.3 billion tons of plastic created since the 1950’s, only 9% of all plastic waste has been recycled. As irresponsible plastic use continues, plastic will continue to invade natural wonders. To try and suppress the plastic crisis, many governments are placing restrictions on the use and availability of plastic. The Mount Everest region has instituted a plastic ban on straws and soda bottles. “If we start now, it will help keep our region, the Everest and the mountains clean long terms,” Ganesh Ghimire, chief administrative ofﬁcer of the region, told USA Today. California, New York, and Hawaii have all passed statewide bans on single-use plastics. The European Union has also outlawed all single-use plastic and require 90% of all beverage bottles to be recycled by 2029. Over 18 countries in Africa have banned plastic bags. A majority of countries in Asia now refuse to accept shipments full of plastic waste from countries like the United States. After receiving barrels of nonrecyclable plastic waste, China decided to take a stand and end the shipments. Many other countries followed suit. China has decided to phase out plastic bag use in all major cities by the end of 2020. The country has also taken extensive action against plastic straws and has implemented extensive restrictions on the production of plastic. Camden County is beginning to decrease single-use plastic as all county run events or buildings will now become plastic free. As Camden County takes positive steps towards bettering the environment, they ensure to remind people of the importance of recycling by sending pamphlets to all residents. Still, as recycling slows in the United States, the government will soon have to decide on how to proceed. The ultimate issue remains: What will replace single-use plastic if it is outlawed? Mrs. Praesel explained how there are tons of alternatives

AP classes should not deﬁne you By JONAH GUTTERMAN ‘21 Staff Reporter

are Advanced Placement classes simply a label? These two letters may seem relatively minor and not a big deal. However, for many high school students, enrolling in these rigorous courses during high school is believed to be the “golden ticket” to getting into a prestigious college or university. Many academically-ambitious teenagers dream of one day being accepted into elite and selective universities such as Harvard, Duke, Princeton, or Yale. However, despite all of the hard work and hundreds of hours put into essays, tests, note-taking, and studying textbooks, only an extremely small percentage of the tens of thousands of applicants are actually accepted into these ‘Big Name’ schools. Although AP classes could very well signiﬁcantly improve a high school student’s odds of getting into an Ivy League school, taking these challenging courses are by no means an automatic guarantee of getting into a top university. What many teens may fail to realize is the fact that there are thousands of other high schoolers taking these same types of courses with a similar mindset and academic goals. When beginning the process of submitting applications to those dream colleges, having AP courses on a transcript can only get a student so far. There are a large number of factors which come into play when college applications ofﬁcers ultimately make the decision of who gets accepted. One of the most

signiﬁcant of these many factors when applying to college is “stacking your resume.” Many times high school can often feel like a game. I do not mean “game” as in a sporting event or Monopoly. I am referring to the ongoing competitiveness in academics, athletics, and the arts. Many students ‘play’ this game of tactics, as evident through nosiness when it comes to grades and frequently trying to “one-up” the next person, all simply to get into the best college possible. In my own personal high school experiences, it has felt like a four-year-long competition of who can rack up the most academic, athletic, or extracurricular accolades. Now, of course, many of my aforementioned statements could be regarded as good things. Students should work their hardest to strive for the highest level of success they can achieve. There is certainly nothing wrong with doing that in the slightest; in fact, someone who puts effort and commitment into anything should be commended. However, in some cases, there is a sense of extreme intensity, anxiousness, and an absurd level of competitiveness that is associated with simply “trying one’s best” in the classroom. In short, AP-level classes can lead to stress. So, is it really worth it for students to have one or even multiple AP classes on their high school schedule? Honestly, I don’t have an answer. I have nothing negative or controversial to say about AP courses. I just feel that taking or not taking an AP class does not change the way people should view someone within society.

Graph by Sasha Tuddenham ‘20

for single-use plastic and it deﬁnitely has a place in soci ety’s increasing awareness of climate change. “A plastic bag ban brings an awareness that people don’t normally have because they have to think about something like bringing a reusable bag,” she said. “It’s a two fold effect.” Spellman believes glass and aluminum are viable alternatives. He said that people need to look past the stigma at “the biodegradable abilities of hemp” as the key to abandoning plastic. International companies are also willing to give alternative options to plastic a shot. PepsiCo is selling Tropicana orange juice in glass bottles. Disney stores have stopped giving out plastic bags. Starbucks is phasing out plastic straws. Member of the Voorhees Environmental Commission Natalie Sutherland has followed suit, refusing to use any plastic bags and instead brings along her own reusable bags. “Single use plastic is something we can learn to live without again. I think as a society in this culture we have become creatures of habit and convenience,” Sutherland said. “Instant everything in a disposable world. This is not feasible anymore.” Many others like Sutherland are trying to go single-use plastic free. However, without a worldwide effort, recycling will continue to diminish as single-use plastics continue to build irreversible pollution. Sutherland summarized, “Every little change adds up to a big change and everyone needs to do their part.”

Poets perform for packed Recital Hall Continued from page 1

to emote as much as possible without straying too far from their comfort zone. Mrs. Pomerantz signed on as facilitator for the national recitation contest six years ago. “The first year we started we had 14 or 16 people come out and then it dwindled down to 8 who actually competed. Every year the numbers have gone down, so we’ve had a few faithfuls who didn’t do it this year because they had other conflicts,” said Mrs. Pomerantz. She said the small program didn’t bother her; she only feels bad for the students who are missing out. “My take is that poetry connects people at a basic level and it removes divisions between them. In essence, I see all my students as people first, but with Poetry Out Loud, I get to see them in moments where they’re attaching them- Managing Editor Ava Hancock interselves to poetry.” views senior Kaylee Braidwood after the Ever since freshrecital. man year, Dershem has been attached to poetry. “The vast emotion that poetry can express; it’s literally infinite, and it’s just so touching,” he said. Reischer remembers a poetry book she had as a child that her mom would read to her. She even writes her own poetry now, but none that she would share. Though it’s only her first year, Reischer was picked as the winner of the competition, and she’s excited to continue competing. “I’m really surprised because these guys are amazing,” she said, “but I’m really excited to keep doing this through Rutgers and wherever else it takes me!”

14 The Voyager

Editorial Cartoons: 20 Years

Voyager cartoonists have won many awards and accolades over the last twenty years: Emily Schnall 12, Sakshi Sehrawat ‘18, Alexa Garvey ‘09, Hayley Beluch ‘18, Kyle McCarty, Cynthia Pierre ‘06, Anna Desta ‘17, Jared Wilson ‘19, and many others!

February 2020

Commentary

Voyager 15

Even Republicans go to Donkey’s for best Philly cheesesteak By ETHAN MACK ‘21 Staff Reporter

s Philadelphia “cuisine” just soft pretzels and water ice? How about the world-famous Philly Cheesesteak? Are you “wit” or “wit-out?’ A sandwich which consists of thinly sliced ribeye beefsteak and melted cheese on a hoagie roll— this is my go-to comfort food. Philadelphians and food-lovers alike will say that the best cheesesteak is from Pat’s King of Steaks, Geno’s Steaks, or Tony Luke’s— all Philadelphia-based restaurants. They’re all good, but the place that best specializes in Philly cheesesteaks is Donkey’s Place. For anyone who knows of or has tried a Donkey’s Place’s Philly cheesesteak, they would tell you that it isn’t your typical philly cheesesteak. For starters, the bread is a seeded kaiser roll, which is unconventional for Philly cheesesteaks. In addition, Cheez Whiz a processed cheese spread that is offered at many cheesesteak restaurants - isn’t offered at Donkey’s Place. In fact, the only cheese offered is American cheese, which might be a turnoff for people who like a variety of options of cheese or who just like Cheez Whiz in general. Located in Camden, New Jersey, Donkey’s Place has been going strong since 1943. Though its Philly cheesesteaks received positive reviews,

it was relatively unknown. The biggest reason was its perilous location. Donkey’s Place is located on Haddon Avenue in Camden, a street notorious for its boarded up buildings, dilapidated roads, and sketchy drug transactions. This caused many people to steer away from Donkey’s Place. It wasn’t until an episode of the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs - cleverly named “Crusade for the Hoagie Grail” - where Donkey’s Philly cheesesteaks became nationally known. The Goldbergs, one of the most popular sitcoms today, stated that the best Philly cheesesteak came from Donkey’s Place. Many people were intrigued by the fact that the best Philly cheesesteak came from New Jersey. Captivated by the episode, an abundance of individuals raced down to Donkey’s Place to try “the best Philly cheesesteak”. Near-universal positive reviews instantly followed the cheesesteak. I wouldn’t get my hands on a Donkey’s cheesesteak until April of 2018. At ﬁrst, I was skeptical of trying an unconventional cheesesteak. When done right, a Philly cheesesteak is a ﬁlling, mouthwatering gift from the heavens that should be indulged at least once in someone’s lifetime. When done poorly, a philly cheesesteak is a greasy, sloppy mess that would make someone second-guess their purchase. To me, the perfect Philly cheesesteak is comprised of ribbons of steak, a small blanket of melted cheese, and bread that has a soft interior and a crispy, crumbly

Thoughts from my Subaru Forester By EVELYN STEELE ‘21 Associate Editor-in-Chief

t’s 56° on a Saturday night in January. Voorhees and Gibbsboro kids grab a friend and a bike and head up to Blueberry Hill. Who knows what the Berlin kids do—Berlin Mart? I’ve had my license for about four months now. My friends call me the “mom” of our group; I pick them up from practice, take them to doctor appointments, and even give them

rides to the grocery store. But on Mommy’s day off, I roll the windows down in my Subaru Forester and blast my favorite songs of that week, running every yellow light, not wanting to stop. And when I come to a stop sign I simply say, “Hey siri, flip a coin.” Heads is left. Tails is right. When I have a passenger, I find the destination to be more precise. Sometimes I follow the moon, other times I follow my map. So on Saturday night here I am, sitting at a skatepark, feeling, for the first time in my life, 17. Me? No, I’m not skateboarding. But watching makes you feel like you are. What Voorhees kid have you ever heard say, “Over the weekend I went skateboarding and wreaked havoc all over town”? Exactly. You haven’t. Grades. Homework. Studying. Sports. Instruments. And, occasionally, Pancheros. The most time we spend

outside is Blueberry Hill, or to our BMW’s to grab the hydro ﬂask left in there. When did we stop living in the now? Sitting on the edge of this skate park’s 12 feet deep bowl, the wind whispered to me that this was the moment I was going to look back to as an example when I told my kids to get off the couch, stop doing homework and go do something scary, something t h e y might

regret. O k a y, probably not the best advice from a mom, but I still have time— time to make more memories, and to perfect the art of youthful regret. A fun family dinner game is to ask your parents what they were doing 30 some-odd years about today. What were your parents doing in 1987 on a Friday night? What music were they listening to? Do they still keep in touch with the friends they were hanging out with then? Add onto this game by asking yourself where you’re going to be 30 someodd years from now. Are you going to remember what grade you got on your APUSH New Deal test that caps off your grade for this ﬁrst semester? Are your kids going to ask about your grade on this test? Or are they going to ponder about what you were like as a person in 2020? Drive the extra mile. Forget about your grades for a Friday night memory that you’ll tell your kids. Worry about how much gas is in your tank, not your grade point average.

The Camden landmark has been consistently ranked as the best for the Philadelphia speciality sandwich. Photo by Ethan Mack ‘21 exterior. The biggest hurdle for me was the seeded kaiser roll. I was afraid that it’s unconventionality would be a turnoff for me. After one bite, my fears evaporated. Not only was that ﬁrst bite amazing, but it also taught me something: don’t judge a book by its cover. I labeled the Donkey’s cheesesteak as disgusting even before I had a bite of one. I didn’t feel guilty for long as the more I chowed down on the cheesesteak, the more I forgot about my previous judgement.. When I ﬁnished, there were no words—

only silence. I sat in my seat for ﬁve minutes without moving a muscle or making a sound. I then paid my check, walked out of the restaurant, and sat in the car in dead silence for forty straight minutes. When I got home, I told my father it was the greatest thing I ever tasted. If you want to try a cheesesteak, try Donkey’s Place. It’s amazing, and I cannot stress that enough; just avoid the Medford, New Jersey Donkey’s Place. It’s a far cry from the Camden, New Jersey Donkey’s Place.

Save money and embrace creativity with thrifting By AVA HANCOCK ‘20 Managing Editor

owadays, you don’t have to break the bank to buy cute clothes. Shopping at thrift stores- thrifting- is a way to get super cheap second-hand clothes that are still cute! When I was younger, I used to cringe when my mom brought me to thrift stores because all I wanted were clothes from the mall. Now, I go to those same stores with my friends to buy my clothes. I had seen a lot of people wearing second-hand, vintage clothing on Instagram, but it wasn’t until I asked one of my best friends where she got her clothes from and she replied, “Goodwill!” that I decided to try it myself. There isn’t a right or a wrong way to thrift, but there are some tricks to finding the cutest clothes for cheap. My first tip is to be patient. You’re going to have to rummage through lots of ugly clothes before you find anything good, but you have to remember that you’re shopping people’s second-hand items, usually from the early 2000s, so you’re bound to come across some unfavorable items. If you only stay in the thrift shop for 30 minutes, you’re not looking hard enough. I find a rack, push all the hangers to one side, and then go through each item individually. It’s time-consuming, but it helps to make sure I look at everything. Another tip is to alter your thrifted items. You can buy oversized tops and cut them, or take in pants that are too big. Don’t just count out clothes because they look like they won’t fit! You can also find a lot of good stuff in the men’s section. The men’s section is full of t-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as good-quality denim; I’ve gotten a pair of Levi’s for $12 before.

Village Thrift in Pennsuaken by the old Airport Circle offers many great deals. Goodwill, Red White Blue, and Plato’s Closet are all great, local choices for thrifting. However, if you don’t feel like investing the time or gas money, or if you just haven’t had any luck at physical thrift stores, you can always try out online thrifting. Depop is an app that lets you shop second-hand, or sometimes brand-new, clothing, accessories, and more. People sell a lot of designer brands on Depop for way cheaper than what they retail for, and you can check the seller’s reviews/ratings to make sure you aren’t getting scammed. You can also private message sellers to ask questions or raise any concerns. On Depop, you can use filters to look specifically for certain items, brands, or sizes. Poshmark and Mercari are very similar to Depop, though I’ve never used either. Aside from being financially-friendly, thrifting is sustainable! By buying second-hand clothes, you are reducing the amount of clothing that is mass-manufactured, which is extremely harmful to the environment. You are also not contributing to the unethical practices of many mass-manufacturers including, but not limited to, unlivable wages and poor working conditions. Happy thrifting and remember to boycott fast fashion whenever you can!

16 The Voyager

Entertainment

February 2020

Gladwell is no stranger to riveting reading material we learn how complicated strangers really are. The book jumps from different examples and events of deception, opening with the case of Sandra Bland. A woman who was estselling author, Malcolm arrested after being pulled over for failing Gladwell continues to push to put on her turning signal. Sandra Bland readers’ perspectives on life ended up in police custody where she with his latest book “Talking died, and it was ruled as a suicide. The to Strangers.” His newest novel case is what sparked Gladwell’s interest after six years of not releasing work, in understanding our natural tendency to explores everyday interactions and how trust strangers and drove him to ask many quick humans are to make assumptions questions about human instincts. about those among us. Initially, Gladwell’s ability to connect Malcolm Gladwell has published five his findings to history is what drove New York Times bestsellers and has my interest in the book. He delves written for The New Yorker, and the into why Neville Washington Post. Chamberlain He also produces One of the most impactful believed he could “Revisionist trust Adolf Hitler, History” a podcast of Gladwell’s lessons was and how Fidel which examines the idea that we naturally Castro deceived events from “default to the truth.” the United States the past trying for a generation. to reach a new Gladwell ties in the understanding of stories of our past to recent scandals of the occurences. today, even discussing sexual assault on Gladwell, through his simplified campuses, the Amanda Knox trial, and language, expresses to readers “what we analyzing episodes of “Friends.” should know about the people we don’t It often felt that many of Gladwell’s know” and that the best way to approach stories were cut short, as if there was strangers, is with caution. The main idea some missing information. Many of the of the book seems simple, yet when anecdotes were sometimes very dark, but reading further into Gladwell’s findings they were critical to portray Gladwell’s

By CLARE FITZPATRICK ‘20 Staff Reporter

conceptual findings. By the end of the novel I understand his purpose in writing brief descriptions of the events he was discussing, as it moved full circle ending on Sandra Bland’s case. Gladwell’s ability to not only question himself but also readers left me with a new understanding of relationships and interactions of humans. After reading each chapter. I was left reflecting on my own conversations and relations with those around me. One of the most impactful of Gladwell’s lessons was the idea that we naturally “default to the truth.” The idea that we have a tendency to trust others, but there are times where we also struggle to detect the truth. Gladwell explores Bernie Madoff, a former investment advisor, who orchestrated the largest Ponzi scheme. Madoff’s confidence and charm deceived his clients in over $65 billion. Gladwell builds suspense ending each chapter foreshadowing what is to come and the connection to prior stories. He italicized specific words like “complicated” or “specifically” to emphasize the findings or realizations from each chapter. Through the many stories and scandals Gladwell explores, what should be learned from his intellectual findings is that simple interactions between strangers may not be so minor. He also emphasizes

“Cats,” the film that didn’t land on its feet By FAITH SIRDASHNEY ‘20 Staff Reporter

ats: an animal known for landing on their feet. “Cats” is also a well-known musical that just so happens to have been made into a movie musical. This movie, unlike the animal, did not land on its feet. It slid across the table, tumbled over backwards, and broke its neck, so to speak. Andrew Lloyd Webber composed and wrote the lyrics for the feline fanfare that originally opened on West End in 1981, with a run of twenty-one years. The musical is based on the poems of T.S Eliot. It then opened on Broadway in 1982, a run that ran for eighteen years. It had multiple successful revivals on both West End and Broadway, with the most recent in 2016. Eastern also produced the play with wild acclaim. As an avid theatre nerd, I know a lot about “Cats.” However, as much as I’ve tried to, I cannot like it. The lack of plot confuses me, and it’s essentially a musical about singing and dancing cats. Why are they singing and dancing? They don’t make that clear. The movie did an even worse job of showcasing this. The movie starts off with a shot of a full moon, with a cloud beside it shaped like a cat face. That face then hisses at you, and at that moment, I knew I was in for an interesting journey. And so sad spectacle begins. Or, let’s say: trips. It’s all songs, with hardly any dialogue. Each new song presents a new cat, with that song introducing that cat, telling their whole life story, and why they want to die and come back as a new cat (I think that’s part of the plot?). After their song, we pretty much never see that cat again. A prime example of this is Taylor Swift. As the center of advertising, you’d think she’d be prominently showcased in the movie, right?

Wrong. As Bombalurina, Taylor finally enters at least forty minutes into the movie, riding a moon down from the sky, and spraying catnip on all the other cats, drugging FAITH ON THEATRE them all. She then begins to sing “Macavity: The Mystery Cat,” a song about diately attracted to him. They follow him ANOTHER CAT. Once that song ends, everywhere he goes, and watch his every however, we never see her again. She has move. This isn’t the only instance of this. disappeared. At random points, all of the cats would Just like the CGI in this movie. Oh get uncomfortably close together, often boy, the CGI…It was bad. Sure, it was times rubbing against each other. What somewhat impressive they were able to makes that even worse are the facial exactually do something like that. It, howpressions while endeavoring such a caever, was nowhere near purrfect. lamity. In fact, the director of the movie, Tom Meow, the performances of the actors in Hooper, said in an interview that they did the movie are overlooked. not finish the CGI until HOURS before Jennifer Hudson gave a heart-wrenching the premiere. Additionally, two days afperformance as Grizabella while crying ter the film’s initial release, they sent out out of her nose. Judi Dench, as Old Deua new version of the film to theatres, as teronomy, stared theatre goers had into our souls as she noticed flaws in discussed how cats And so sad spectacle the CGI. Like the are cats, and how cats hands and begins. they are not dogs feet sinking into Or, let’s say: trips for five excruciatthe floor, and beingly long minutes. ing able to clearly And Rebel Wilson see Dame Judi danced her heart out with cockroaches Dench’s wedding ring! that had faces, while stripping off a layer Ok, in my mind, cats should have paws, of her fur. because they’re cats, and cats also have The overlooked performances go on. Sir paws. But if the CGI on your film is not Ian McKellen gave a kooky performance complete, and you want to present quality as Gus the Theatre Cat, giving theatre kids work to the world, simply delay the rethe injustice, they don’t deserve. James lease of the film! Corden was there for fat jokes, and hasn’t Though not probable, it would be better even seen the movie yet. And Idris Elba, to lose money delaying the film than to as Macavity, magically meowed in and lose hundreds of thousands of dollars on out of scenes, and during his title number, a bad film, where a hand is the star of a made me want to magically meow out of movie about cats. the theatre. There was something else rather big that Cats is a movie without claws or teeth turned me off from this movie, and I use or fur; it’s a cat-astrophe. It is a movie I that phrase intentionally. Throughout the will never fur-get. Un-fur-tunately, not in entire movie, all of the cats began to act a paw-sitive way. a certain way towards each other. It all Bad puns are the only way a sane person started in “The Rum Tum Tugger.” leaves the theater. Just saying. When Jason Derulo first enters and begins to sing, all of the cats become imme-

Photo by Ava Hancock ‘20

that it’s critical that we continue to trust those around us and to be mindful when understanding people’s reactions. Gladwell’s book is incredibly relevant in today’s society because it pushed readers to reflect on ideas we don’t typically think of on a day-to-day basis. With the disconnect between technology and social life, it is easier than ever to misunderstand the people around us. Through his simple, suspenseful language Gladwell presents to readers the key aspects of our everyday interactions.

6 Songs to Listen to Now 1. “Purple Hat” by Sofi Tukker. From the 2019 release “Dancing on the People, this infectious beat-bomb will stick in your ear for days, and that may be a bad thing. Song starts full-on bonkers, and then changes course to a steady pop beat. It’s bubble-gum, sure, but the flavor lasts for awhile. - Walter Bowne ‘87 2. ”Circles” by Post Malone. This depressing but chill pop song hits the heart of many teenagers, as it talks about the struggles of being in a relationship. Aaron Arnstein ’20 3. “Graveyard” by Halsey This September release with stunning visuals from the songs official music video is continuing to flourish after 5 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song talks about giving toxic relationships too many chances, which resonates with many of the song’s listeners, making “Graveyard” one of today’s top hits. Laura Silenzio ‘23 4. “Make it Right” by BTS ft. Lauv. Though the original version of this song was released back in April as a part of their EP Map of the Soul: Persona, fans were more than hyped for this collaboration. The song’s official music video pays homage to their loyal fan base, the BTS ARMY. In the song, they sing about how their fans have helped them in more ways than they could imagine. - Nikitha Jeyaprakash ‘21 5. “The End of the Game” by Weezer. This song, inspired by Van Halen, is one of the catchiest new songs out there. Starting off with an awesome guitar riff, (like Van Halen), the song is followed by a chorus you can easily sing along too. - Josh Meyers ‘21 6. “Memories” by Maroon 5. This single from the timeless band, Maroon 5, did not disappoint! With a catchy beat and heartfelt lyrics, whether you want to be put in your bag or make yourself smile with nostalgia, this song is good for every occasion. - Sami Frankel ‘20

Entertainment

February 2020

Young women are going crazy for the serial killers of Netflix By JENNA PRESTON ‘22 Entertainment Editor

escribing Netflix’s second season of “You” in one word is simple: rollercoaster. It is easy to enjoy the storyline and narration of Joe Goldberg’s character and appreciate the villainy that comes with it, but at the end of the day, the main character, Joe, does not deserve the amount of love and admiration he gets from the majority of viewers. Being a serial killer should not be attractive, yet it’s somewhat understandable why teenage girls feel conflicted. The way the producers used Joe’s unreliable narration was impressive. After doing something bad, like stalking or even killing someone, Joe was given the time to explain and justify his actions— and he did it well. However, this narration does mess with your head the more you watch. Viewers find themselves pondering on how literal we take the show’s tagline, “Sometimes we do bad things for the people we love.” Through all his wrongdoings, so many sympathize with Joe. One of his redeeming qualities is his Netflix paternal nature, and his will to fight to protect children in danger, like Ellie. should ever be unconditional, especially if that Watchers have to constantly remind themselves devotion is coming from a person as unpredictable that, no, he’s an awful, unjustifiable person- that and controlling as Joe was. he kills innocent people, making him far more I hope that the writers dangerous than his victims ever were intentionally Joe does not deserve the were. making him act that This might be strange to say, but amount of love and admiration obsessive, but if the you can somewhat appreciate he gets from the majority narration was created to the accurate portrayal of how justify Joe rather than toxic, awful, and completely of viewers. tell an accurate point unromantic all ideals are of his of view of his mental unconditional love are. It’s eye state then it immediately opening to watch a show that loses all value. doesn’t showcase relationships that are all perfect Joe is not a person who should be praised or so you are aware of how people can truly be. justified, I don’t think that was the point of the show Hopefully, the watchers realize that if someone to make the watchers have a crush on him and his truly loves you unconditionally, they are not a behavior, and this applies to any other show or realperson you want to be around. No kind of devotion life situations.

If you liked “You,” check out these other killer flicks: 1. Dexter 2. Criminal Minds 3.Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile 4. My Friend Dahmer 5. American Psycho

6. Zodiac 7. Se7en 8. Heltler Skelter 9. Hannibal 10. Bird Box 11. Room 12. Before I Wake 13. Fracture

14. The Sixth Sense 15. Would You Rather 16. Basic Instinct 17. Black Swan 18. Psycho 19. Mulholland Drive 20. Double Indemity

The Voyager 17

Pilot Pete’s season of “The Bachelor” warns viewers to “expect turbulence”

By FAITH MENDELSON ‘21 Staff Reporter

he 24th season of The Bachelor premiered on January 6, 2020 and the drama is heating up. Quickly after the first episode aired, theories about the endresult began stirring, and Bachelor Nation was quickly divided, picking their favorite (and least favorite) contestants. The Bachelor this season is Peter Weber, a 28 year old pilot from California. Mere months after heartbreak from Hannah Brown’s ABC season of The Bachelorette, he is looking for love again. The first episode was a shocking three-hours long, which comprised of the 30 contestants’ arrivals, the first one-on-one date, and the first group date. It is now a tradition for the contestants of the season to pull out all the stops when emerging from the limo to meet the bachelor: this season was no different. Many women played upon the fact that Peter is a pilot, dressing up as Flight Attendants or TSA Agents, or quite literally flying into the mansion in a tiny plane. Others made jokes pertaining to Hannah Brown’s season of the bachelorette, which Peter was a contestant on: mentioning Hannah, mentioning the infamous windmill, or even wearing a windmill costume to really stand out. One contestant brought a cow with her to meet Peter for the first time: a greeting that will probably not be forgotten. However, the majority of the episode revolved around the not one, but two surprise appearances from Hannah Brown, the previous bachelorette. Hannah had returned to give Peter back the wings he had given to her when she was the bachelorette. She made this gesture as a sign of her support of his journey to find love, but the women in the house had their claws out as soon as she stepped out of the limo. Once Hannah had said her goodbye to Peter, they all breathed a little easier, with hopes to get to know Peter for themselves. However, to their surprise Hannah had not gone far. The women all became very tense when Hannah appeared at the first group date of the season. Peter and Hannah had a drama-filled chat, which after many tears and hugs ended with Peter asking Hannah to join this season of The Bachelor, in hopes that the two might rekindle an old flame. Hannah, about to begin her time on “Dancing with the Stars,” said she didn’t know how to answer. The cliffhanger-ending of the episode left viewers wondering if Hannah was going to become a contestant on Peter’s season. Bachelor Nation wasted no time going to social media to share theories and opinions about if she’d stay or not. Leaving the women of the season worried, Peter more confused than ever, and Bachelor Nation *freaking* out, the producers of the Bachelor stirred all of this drama in only episode one. Who knows what kind of drama will occur later in the season? Just like, the promotions for Pilot Pete’s season read: “Expect Turbulence.”

“Ford v Ferrari” is more than an adreneline rush Ford v Ferrari definitely meets the criteria for a steller racing movie. At times, the film can seem slow, especially if you are earing engines softly hum, foaming at the mouth for the racing scenes, tires screech for mercy on however, the wait is definitely worth racetrack pavement, and it. The racing sequences are seamless, monsters vroom across turns intricate, and comprehensible for rabid has the ability to get hearts racing fans and the average viewer. The pumping, and in James Mangold’s newest cinematic editing and sound mixing are top film Ford v Ferrari, he does that and more. notch, hence why the film is nominated for Starring Matt Damon and Christian multiple awards in both those categories. On the surface, the movie may seem like a Bale as Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, the movie takes place in the 1960’s and racing film, but the story goes well beyond ultimately culminates at the 24-hour Le that. In fact, the film really isn’t about Ford beating Mans race in 1966. Ferrari, rather it Throughout the For any racing junkies or car tells the story of film, Shelby and conncisseurs, this should creators against Miles are placed be on the top of your list. corporations, with the task of and the personal reasserting Ford as obstacles they a dominant figure in the industry through building a race car have to go through while desperately and winning, all while juggling corporate avoiding jumping through the hoops that those in power want them to go through. agendas and personal demons. By ADAM SALADINO ‘20 Staff Reporter

The acting from Damon and Bale immensely adds to the story. Their portrayals are not only captivating, they are believable. Bale shows again his versatility in front of a camera by losing weight from Vice to play a slim Ken Miles. Even in the secondary characters, it is hard to find a fault. The performances from Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts), Leo Beede (Josh Lucas) , and Peter Miles (Noah Jupe) stuck out and added depth to the film. Although the movie premiered on November 15, 2019, it is now back in theaters after its multiple Oscar nominations, the main one being for best picture. For any racing junkies or car connoisseurs, this should be on the top of your list for movies to see. It should also be up there for anyone looking for a sublime movie experience. The mix of heartpounding racing scenes, smooth editing, and compelling story makes the film open

20th Centurty Fox

to various viewers and hard to top.

18 The Voyager

Sports

February 2020

New “Bowl” games announced for 2020 season: It’s not just all Sugar and Cotton and Oranges and Roses anymore Art by Matthew Steinsaltz ‘20

By AARON ARNSTEIN ‘20 Staff Reporter Impossible Whopper Bowl Bowl season kicks off with the inaugural Impossible Whopper Bowl featuring The Rhode Island School of Design taking on Hamburger University under the lights at Frank Sinatra Stadium. Expect lots of pickle-sixes and ﬂavorful play calls. Social Media Bowl The new trend is the Social Media Bowl, which has been famously known to go viral thanks to the star-studded so-called “social media inﬂuencers” in attendance. The game, which matches up the Hollywood School of the Arts against UCLA, will be live-streamed across all major social media platforms. Bringing a vlog camera to the game is recommended. Bob’s Discount Furniture Bowl On Friday night kick back, relax, and enjoy the Bob’s Discount Furniture Bowl featuring Jefferson University and Mt. Olaf College. Just try not to fall asleep in the newly renovated stadium that includes all-new recliners and couches. MyPillow Bowl Later that night, defending IAA Big South Champion Grays Harbor College will battle Mesa Community College for the Golden Pillow Award in the MyPillow Bowl. Beanie Baby Bowl There’s no better way to spend your Saturday than turning back the clock and tuning into the Beanie Baby Bowl featuring a nationally ranked Wesleyan University, who face off against an Evergreen State College program that prefer an old-school offense in the ways of the tripleoption. Botanist Bowl The 5th ranked Fighting Okra of Delta State are pitted up against the Artichokes (yes, really) of Scottsdale Community College in the Botanist Bowl. The concession stand will feature farm-fresh foods grown inside the stadium. Rudolph the Reindeer Holiday Bowl Wake up on Christmas morning to the Rudolph the Reindeer Holiday Bowl, featuring an intriguing North Pole University running game versus the rock-solid

defense of Alaska-Anchorage. Players to watch include Santa and his helpers, and Elf on the Shelf. Education Connection Bowl There’s a bowl game for everyone, including teachers. The Education Connection Bowl kicks off at prime time exclusively on PBS between Dartmouth and Cornell, and make sure to pay extra close attention to the game, as a 100 point primary assessment along with a five-paragraph essay will be assigned (directions on Google Classroom) following the conclusion of the game. Aqua Marine Fishing Bowl Out in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, a special field was constructed for the Aqua Marine Fishing Bowl, featuring 11th ranked Johnson & Wales University versus the Coast Guard Academy. For an additional price, the game can be watched from a luxurious cruise ship. For those interested in finance, the S&P 500 Index Bowl is just for you, but beware of the “scalpers” outside the stadium grounds, who are actually loan sharks trying to rip fans off. America’s Got Talent Bowl New Year’s Day features multiple great bowl names, but not necessarily bowl games. At noon, the America’s Got Talent Bowl showcase four-win Otis College of Art and Design versus their crosstown rival, three-win Los Angeles College of Music. Forget the whole football

thing though, as the teams will stake a halftime singoff to determine the winner. Next up is the Museum of American History Bowl between George Washington University and James Madison University. Both Washington and Madison are expected to attend, and a free re-enactment of the Revolutionary War will be taking place immediately after the game. Kings Highway Route 73 Bowl On Friday afternoon during rush hour, Heisman candidate Rob Lowe leads Burlington County College against their longtime archrival, Camden County College in the Kings Highway Route 73 Bowl. Expect heavy trafﬁc on the way to the game. Toilet Bowl presented by Charmin Ultra Soft Simon’s Rock College of Bard’s title hopes went down the drain with a late-season loss, but look to end the season on a high note against Columbia International University in the Toilet Bowl, presented by Charmin Ultra Soft. The 71st annual Cereal Bowl And ﬁnally, the mouth-watering matchup fans across the country have been waiting for: The 71st annual Cereal Bowl, featuring number one Colgate University, who will try to polish off an undefeated season against the second-ranked Cornhuskers of Nebraska, two teams that are hungry for a win.

Swim team makes a splash before the season closes

By VICTORIA LAPINSON ‘20 and FAITH MENDELSON ‘21 Associate Editor-in-Chief and Staff Reporter or Celeste Lebold, a junior on Eastern’s swim team, swimming is all about the drive. She says, “In order for a good swimmer to be great they must go to as many practices as they can, be devoted to dropping time and have the drive to

Swimmers in the pool at the JCIT Photos supplied by Celeste Lebold

continue, even if they gain time in a race.” Since student athletes need to keep their grades up to par to participate in their sport, it is important that they are able to strike a healthy balance between schoolwork and the time commitments to their sport. In an interview with Celeste Lebold, a junior on Eastern’s swim team, she explained how she balances school and swim: “I manage my schedule by planning out everything— and I mean everything. My planner tells me the assignments and work I need to do each day and by what time. Still, I end up staying up late doing homework.” In a sport, like swimming, where each individual athlete has their own stroke, goals and times to beat, one might wonder Junior Jenna Cassella swims the butterfly Like any athlete, swimmers are always looking for ways if the athletes on the team get the same team to make progress, get better at their sport. A swimmer spirit that other sports have. When asked if Eastern swim sees their progress when they improve their time in their still feels like a team, Lebold said: “Although swimming specified events. is technically individual, since it’s based off of each Lebold says she improves her time by going to practice individual’s time, I consider it a team sport,” with a good mentality and being prepared to put in the She compared club swimming to school swimming: work. She says her favorite event is the 50 free because “Winter swimming for club teams is definitely more it’s “quick and fast, but satisfying to drop time in.” individualized, but for school teams it’s more of a team After high school, swimmers have many opportunities effort. Cheering for your teammates while they swim a to continue with their swimming career. Some swim in close event makes you feel so invested in their event and college, others become coaches, and some swimmers makes each event so exciting.” make it all the way to competing in the Olympics. When asked about the team’s performance this season, As for Celeste’s future in swimming, she says that she Lebold said, “The Eastern boys swim team are in a can see herself swimming club in college, but still wants higher division this year and are putting in a lot of effort. to maintain good grades and focus on her studies. For The Eastern girls swim team has won around three meets now, it’s all about the drive. this season, and has had many amazing swims.”

Sports The Voyager 19 With leadership skills from the classroom and the lacrosse field, Mr. Picot heads the powerhouse athletic department as new VP

February 2020

By AVA HANCOCK ‘20 Managing Editor

r. Picot has upgraded his math classroom in the 80s hallway to an athletic office in the 600s. Switching from teaching math to becoming an administrator doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s something that Mr. Picot always knew he wanted to pursue. “When I went to get my masters [degree], I actually got my masters to become an athletic director; a vice principal. And that’s actually been my career goal—to get to this position,” said Mr. Picot. As a high schooler, he played both baseball and football. He then went on to attend Rider University, where he participated in lacrosse. After teaching math for two years at Rancocas Valley, Mr. Picot came to teach at Eastern, where he has remained for the last 15 years. This year is his first year serving as the Vice Principal of Athletics and Activities, and it has been very eyeopening for him. “As a teacher, you’re kind of in your classroom, doing your thing--you have

one focus. On the administrative side, it’s very wide open; it actually gives me a chance to help more students than just the kids in my classroom. I get to help the whole school, which is why I wanted to go this route,” he said. In his new role, Mr. Picot creates athletic schedules and assists in events such as school dances and pep rallies. He has even helped organize a new contest at the basketball team’s home games where student spectators can win a TV. Even if his influence is indirect, he still loves the fact that he now has such a far-reaching impact on the school. One of his main goals as the Vice Principal of Athletics and Activities is to bring school spirit back to Eastern. “I know my high school was very school-spirited and I know we need to improve that here at Eastern. I really want to try and help get our students’ voices out and also have a chance for them to really enjoy [high school] more than they are,” he said. “I get asked this question all the time,” said Mr. Picot lightheartedly when asked if he misses teaching. “Because this is so new, I’m really just

Taking down the gender barrier on the wrestling mat

Photo by Ava Hancock ‘20

focused on doing the best I can at this job, so I haven’t really had time to reflect on the classroom as much,” he said. Mr. Picot is appreciating his past, focusing on his present, and looking

forward to the future. “I would never be opposed to going back to teaching if I had to, but I’m really happy in the role I’m in.”

Bowling rolls onward with no gutter balls

By EVELYN STEELE ‘21 Associate Editor-in-Chief restling builds confidence and endurance. It’s about pins and headlocks. It’s also about sweat and grunts – and being male. But that has changed: at least the male part. Girl wrestlers at Eastern are a faithful and ferocious few. Over the past two years, these few have prospered. Girls have been joining nationally, providing for girls wrestling leagues to blossom throughout high schools. Coach Worthington has been coaching wrestling for 26 years, and has been a health and physical education teacher at Eastern for 24 years. “If you’re coming to wrestle,” he said, “you’re being treated as an athlete.” He said that if girls try out for the team, they should prepare for a self esteem boost and skills that are needed in the real world. The girls wrestling team this year has a total of five girls, two seniors and three juniors. Angelina Travaglini is one of the two seniors. Travaglini said wrestling is one of the hardest things she’s ever done. It’s not just because of the physical training, but having to grasp the mental determination that’s needed to get you where you want to be. “I love the challenge,” she said. Rachel Forsman, a junior, has been surrounded by wrestling her entire life. She’s the third Forsman to go through Eastern’s wrestling program. “I finally feel like I am able to be part of something bigger,” she said. “No longer am I doing this just for myself but those before me and after me.” Forsman is the first female wrestling captain. Wrestling has not only has provided her with a family Junior Rachel Forsman placed 2nd at but physically, her the Kingsway Girls Wrestling tournament. Photo by Coach Worthington health has improved. “I have learned how to motivate and push myself to do something when I feel like I cannot do it,” she said, “It’s really cool to see how much your body transforms and how much more you can do now. I can finally climb a rope.” The Eastern Girl’s Wrestling Program looks to grow as much as possible and girls are encouraged to consider joining the team for the 2021 season.

With sports regalia in the background, Mr. Picot settles in to his new office and his new role as Director of Athletics and Student Activities. One of his main goals is to bring school spirit back to Eastern.

By ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Sports Editor

he bowling program is no stranger to success. The girls team has brought home the conference title for eight consecutive years, and both teams advancing to states last year. Even with the triumphs of the past few years, has bowling been overlooked? Has it been overshadowed? Well, perhaps no longer. Head coach Señor Eric Datis returns for his ninth year at the helm. He enjoys the competitiveness that bowling brings to the table. Datis enjoys the competition that bowling has with all of the different schools, and the different regions. “Bowling is surprisingly popular throughout the whole state,” he said, “and it’s just as competitive as any other sport.” Both teams compete two to three times per week, and play in Saturday tournaments on the weekends. A match is structured into three games, with five bowlers taking part in each game. The winner of each game is decided by the highest amount of total pins. Once the three games are over, the total pin count for all three games is added together, and the team with the higher count is awarded an additional point. Depending on how the numbers play out, a 2-2 tie is mathematically possible, although rare. Each bowler has a different story for joining. Sophomore Maddy Feldschneider, who is one of the lead bowlers, started out at a young age. She started bowling when she was five because of her dad. “I don’t really remember a lot,” she said, “but I know I

Girls bowling celebrates after winning Group IV sectionals. Photo by Coach Datis

always had fun.” Sophomore Tommy Burns, ranked 35th in the state last year as a freshman, has a particularly humorous story. When he was nine or ten, his dad let him throw a nine-pound ball with no bumpers, and he got three strikes in a row. He then realized his bowling potential, and joined a league on Saturday mornings, with tournaments soon to follow. Burns made a good decision to start bowling, as he won first place at the 2020 State Individual Championships. Although the essence of bowling lies in the team spirit, Datis understands the profound individual characteristics as well. Even though it’s a team sport, and there are five people who have to bowl as part of the team., it’s so mental and individual. “Each bowler, there’s no one who can help them,” Datis said. “They’re on their own. When they’re up at the line and they’re ready to bowl, once they let go of the ball, there’s nothing they can do about it.” Feldschneider overcomes the mental barrier by clearing her mind. “I just forget about what I did before if it was bad, and I just keep trying harder every time,”

she said. In order for such a talented team to bring its skills out onto the lanes, the team keeps a loose, laid-back dynamic, but one that’s still tightly-knit. This past season, the girls team finished undefeated at 16-0, with the boys not too far behind at 12-4. Junior Sandra Garneau explained the girls’ gameplan going into the season. “Since we’ve won our conference for the past eight years, we really just wanted to keep that tradition going, especially after we lost some of our seniors from last year. We had to go in knowing we could do well, and that we had to step it up this year,” she said. Senior Colby Ackerman only started bowling in his sophomore year, but he has improved drastically in that period of time. One of his favorite aspects of the sport is also one of the more challenging skills to master. He likes making hard splits. “I just find it interesting how many ways you have to think about the pins to try to knock them down,” he said. Datis can think of no other winter sport he’d rather coach. “I like what I’m doing, and I think I’ve built a pretty good program, so I see it going on for a while.”

20 The Voyager

Sports

February 2020

Ash sisters blaze to the top of NJ track By AARON ARNSTEIN ‘20 Staff Reporter

igh school records are in jeopardy. Yes. Even those of an Olympic gold medalist are in jeopardy. English Gardner’s indoor 200-meter record has already been broken, and numerous others may follow. The culprits: Jewel and Jailya Ash. Senior Jewel Ash and her sister, Junior Jailya Ash, have been running since age five. The early exposure has clearly paid dividends, with both girls ranked among the state’s best in their respective track events. Jewel competes in sprints such as the 100, 200, and 400-meter dash, as well as the 100 and 400-meter hurdles. “My favorite event is the 400 hurdles and I’m going to be specializing in that event in college,” Ash said. During the indoor track season, Jailya runs the 55-meter dash, the 55-meter hur- The Ash sisters compete in the 55-meter hurdles at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River, NJ Photo by Tom Smith dles, and relays such as the 4x200 meter the professional ranks, and considers Jewel and is grateful for her exceptional running relay. Her favorite event is the 55-meter When reflecting back on her high school and Jailya among some of the best he’s abilities. “It’s like a gift to be able to do dash, and for a good reason. career, one moment that immediately coached. something so good and that’s what keeps “Last year I was the Meet of Champion comes to Jewel’s mind is the adversity she “When you combine their talent and work me going every day,” she said. winner [best in the state] and I enjoy sprintfaced during last year’s outdoor season. ethic, it comes out to the success they have On the other hand, Jailya keeps it honest. ing instead of hurdling,” she said. “I pulled my hamstring, and it was pretty had on the track,” Jackson said. “I like to be the center of attention. When Hailing from a school with outstanding devastating because I had never hurt myOne thing that stands out to Jackson is I’m running, I feel like everybody’s watchathletic programs, Jewel and Jailya are self that bad. A month later at States, I the fun nature ing me and that two of the finest. Jewel holds records in earned the Wild Card entry into the Meet they display makes me want the indoor 200 meters and the 400-meter “It’s like a gift to be able to of Champs. A lot of doubt was put on top during practo keep running,” hurdles, where she finished sixth during of my name, but I ended up PR’ing [runtice and meets. do something so good and she said. last spring’s Meet of Champions. With her ning a personal best] and finishing sixth at Both girls are Both girls’ inthat’s what keeps me senior year still ahead of her, Jailya’s acthe Meet of Champs,” she said. often seen tense passion and colades already include a MOC (Meet of A successful journey to prominence has going every day.” joking with dedication to the Champions) crown in the 55-meter dash allowed the Ash sisters to rise to the top of teammates sport have paid and three school records. the high school ranks, but both girls have at practice off, with Jewel This year, Jailya has her sights set on their sights set on even bigger accomplishor bantering with runners from different recently committing to Charleston Southsomething even bigger. ments. schools before their race. ern University to continue her academic “I’m looking to break English Gardner’s Looking to follow in the footsteps of “I love their seriousness about track and and athletic career. She also received offers 100-meter time [11.49],” Jailya said. NuGardner, the 2024 Olympics are not out of field, but also their humor and their respect from the prestigious Air Force Academy merous sprinting records were set by Gardthe question for this historic duo. for my wisdom as both a coach and teach- and SEC powerhouse Ole Miss. Jailya is ner, a 2010 Eastern graduate and Olympic Look for our podcasts on er,” said Jackson. still new to the recruiting process, but her gold medalist, only to be shattered years Both girls have different reasons as to top three schools are LSU, Texas A&M, voyager-online.org and later by the dynamic Ash duo. why they fell in love with running. and UConn, all of which are known for Soundcloud. Sprinting head coach Barry Jackson has Jewel loves the feeling of finishing a race their outstanding track and field programs. coached many high schoolers who joined

Boys basketball battles in a tough division By JOSH MEYERS ‘21 Associate Editor-in-Chief

he road to the championship will not be easy. Not in their division. Head coach Mr. Kevin Crawford knows that. “We are in Group 4 of the Olympic conference,” he said. “There’s no easy game so we’re just trying to be competitive in every single one.” As the season progresses, Coach Crawford makes adjustments and helps his players get better. Crawford is proud of how his team has played this year. First captain and senior Noah Klinewski has been surprised by how well the team has been doing this year. “I wasn’t expecting us to have as good of a record as we do,” he said. “Since most players graduated from last year’s team, we’re a little inexperienced in the sense that it’s the first time playing varsity for most of our guys.” Coming into this year, as a senior and leader, Klinewski was nervous and anxious. Last year was his first time playing varsity. It was a great year but they ended up coming short at the end of the season. This season, Klinewski has the desire to be the best teammate he can be. He hopes his leadership and hustle helps push the team forward. “I try to set examples for them to always work hard, push themselves, and do the right thing on and off the court,” Kliwenski said. Klinewski is excited to get back to the big

stage. “We have a lot of potential so it will be interesting to see how far we go in the playoffs,” he said. Junior Zubair Lee hopes to continue to be a factor to the team’s success. Lee’s size and frame helps the team with rebounds, points, and blocks. However, he enjoys helping his teammates succeed as well. “Being one of the only juniors on the team, I’ve learned to humble myself after playing on varsity last year,” Lee said. Lee believes that the team can contend for a sectional championship. However, there is much improving to do. “We have to limit our turnovers,” Lee said. “Our perimeter defense has to get better as well because we give up too many threes.” Lee’s attitude remains positive. “We’ve lost some hard fought battles to other schools in the Group 4 Division, but have won a handful,” Lee said. “The main way we compete against them is by controlling the tempo, slowing the game down, taking smart shots, and shutting down our opponents’ best players with our on ball pressure.” Junior guard Noah Covone said the team is playing very good basketball right now. “I’m confident that we’re going go far.” The next big contest with Rancocas Valley. Coach Crawford has high hopes, but he knows that he has to be realistic. “We are pretty good, but the teams we play and our schedule are hard. It’s going to come down to a lot of close games where you really have to do the little things to win,” Crawford said. As of February 14th, the boys basketball team is 13-7.

Zayd Lee ‘21 heads to the basket for a dunk during practice. Photo by Josh Meyers ‘21