Garden City High School ECHO Spring 2015

2014 - 2015

Echo

Volume: 87 Issue: 3

Afternoon Tea for Senior Citizens Alexis Gogh

The sixth annual senior citizen Afternoon Tea took place on Thurdsay April 30, 2015 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30pm. The tea is held every year, and is open to all Garden City senior citizens. The event is also open to any other senior citizens of Garden City. The event’s food was supplied by the owner of “A New Leaf ” (152 Seventh Street, Garden City), Kimberly Orlic, and included tasty finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts.

Previews of productions by the Stewart and Stratford Elementary Schools, as well as the middle school’s preview of The Beauty and the Beast, provided entertainment for the evening. The GCHS Masquers also sang a few songs from their spring musical, Once Upon a Mattress.

The music department provided their entertainment by having Vocal Jazz and Chamber Orchestra perform.

Despite all of this entertainment, this event would be nothing without a Ladies’ Hat contest! The winners received wonderful prizes for the hats they created for this contest. This event would be nothing without the help of the Garden City community; because of the help of more than thirty students who volunteered to be servers for the Senior Tea, the event went off without a hitch! If any student is interested in participating in the Senior Tea next spring, they can contact Mr.Perotta, assistant principal, or Mr.Arena, the Key-Interact advisor, for further details.

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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Editors in Chief: Michael C. Arianas and Alexis Gogh Editors: Kaylah Bozkurtian Nicole Crilly Elizabeth Butler Brendan Dolan Jamie Silk Michael Snyder Seungmin Woo Contributors: Daniel Clark Sophia Coyne Caroline Ferri Matt Lombasso Hallie Mallozzi Kenny Nygaard Mary-Vivian Schott Lauren Sikorski Seunghyun Woo

Faculty Advisor: Ms. Samara Skolnik Send feedback to: skolniks@gcufsd.net Garden City H.S. 170 Rockaway Ave. Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 478-2000

Assistant Principals: Mr. Dave Perrotta Mr. Kevin Steingruebner Principal: Ms. Nanine McLaughlin Superintendent: Dr. Robert Feirsen

The GCHS community is encouraged to contribute to ECHO. Submissions may be emailed to Ms. Skolnik at skolniks@gcusfd.net

Editorial Michael Constantine Arianas

Wow. That really flew by. The last four years feel like a blur, and they definitely went by too quickly. Doesn’t it feel weird? Everything we’ve worked for, not only over the past four years but for the past eighteen, is finally over. We’ve all been though so much together, from all those elementary school recesses at Stewart or Stratford to walking to Seventh Street in middle school, that it seems strange knowing that in just a few short months, we’ll all be scattered around the world. As we head out into the world of college and beyond, remember to look back at the good times in GCHS. Remember the Homecomings and Opinions expressed are those of the writ- Pep Rallies and Winter Wonderlands, but most importantly remember the time ers and do not rep- spent with your friends. Whether it was in your favorite class with your favorresent the opinions ite teacher, or after school on the field, don’t forget your friends and the times of the school board, you shared with them. We all learned a lot in highschool, both in and out of the the advisors, or the classroom. Most of it will come in handy, some won’t. Friendship, however, is administration. by far the most important, because friendship will last you a lifetime. With that, I wish everyone who still has time here at GCHS the best of luck. As for the Class of 2015. . . we did it!!

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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Ghosts Field Trip Kenny Nygaard & Matt Lombasso

On April 23rd, 2015, students from Ms. Skolnik and Ms. Oriani’s English classes went to a theatre at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) to see the play Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen. The students took the Long Island Rail Road to Atlantic Terminal Station and then walked over to the iconic theater to watch this marvelous production.

The play, which first premiered in 1882, starts out with Jakob Engstrand trying to convince his supposed daughter, Regina, to come work with him at the sailor’s establishment he wants to open. Regina refuses though because she is too proud of her job as Mrs. Alving’s maid and wants to remain. He tries to convince her a little more but after still facing her refusal, Engstrand has the Pastor come over to talk to

her. During this time, Mrs. Alving’s son, Oswald, enters the scene. He and the Pastor quickly have a disagreement, which turns into an argument over living out of wedlock. The Pastor blames Mrs. Alving for having left her husband and causing her son to grow up in such a poor environment. Mrs. Alving defends herself by saying that her husband made her miserable and she sent her son away to make sure the same didn’t happen to him. She admits to the Pastor that Regina is the daughter of her husband and their former maid. This shocking revelation was met with audible gasps from the audience. The play becomes even more shocking as the plot moves forward and it becomes clear that Regina and Oswald are romantically interested in each other.

The plot continues

to unfold, and many more shocking revelations are made. Oswald admits that he has come home because he has been diagnosed with a controversial illness, the orphanage on the Alving grounds catches fire, and Mrs. Alving must battle with a great ethical and emotional question regarding her son’s wishes regarding the progression of his illness.

This play, put on by a cast from England, was outstanding. The passion the actors put into every scene was something that will never be forgotten. The set was also incredible. The stage was transformed into an elaborate sitting room, bordered by a translucent wall that gave glimpses of a dining room and garden behind. Actors carried out parts of their performances in the shadows behind the wall, subtly

mirroring the many hidden secrets around which the play’s plot revolves.

After the curtain fell at the conclusion of the play, the actors came back out to answer questions posed by the audience. The cast addressed questions about what it was like to perform such emotional roles, how they prepared to play their parts, and whether or not they found it difficult to perform in a play that was written so many years ago. The students loved every part of the experience, especially the question and answer session with the cast at the end. It was a perfect ending to a magnificent day.

Physics Trip to Six Flags Jamie Silk

One Friday in April, all of the Physics students in the school, Regents, Honors and AP, boarded buses and headed to Six Flags Great Adventure for the day. This trip has been an annual one taken by students at Garden City High School to celebrate the fact that students have survived the year. Physics is known as being the hardest science class, so a celebration is definitely needed at the end of the year. On the trip, students are to complete a packet of physics problems that deal with the physics behind the specific roller coasters at Six Flags such as

Kingda Ka and El Toro.

Most students complete the packet on the bus so they can spend all their time in the park on rides. This year, the weather was perfect for spending a day at the park. Every student had an amazing time going on all the roller coasters they had just learned about. The trip was even a good time for several students who do not enjoy roller coasters. They instead spent the day playing games and hanging out with friends. The trip to Six Flags Great Adventure was once again a giant success this year!

Courtsey of Google Images

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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo The Euro Challenge: Consecutive National Semi-Finalists Seunghyun Woo

Garden City High School’s Euro Challenge team has participated in the national semifinals for two consecutive years. Please join the new Economics Club (Euro Challenge, Fed Challenge and more!) for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year!

The Euro Challenge is an educational competition where students give a presentation at the BNP Financial Center in New York City about the recession in the European Union. The European Union is comprised of 28 members, and this unique alliance is coordinated through a standardized currency system, the Euro. However, many of the members underwent an economic recession throughout the years because of high unemployment and debt along with slow gross domestic product. This competition encourages students to create and research solutions that a member country could implement in order to regain its economic strength.

At the end of each presentation, judges question the members about their opinions and facts about the European Union and the selected country. Strong speech and presentation skills had to be called upon for such professionalism.

The winner of the program acquires a monetary prize along with a funded trip to Washington D.C. After the presentation, the students get to eat lunch at Shake Shack and explore remarkable landmarks such as Times Square.

The presentation team for Garden City, run by Mr. Robert Wiedenhoft, was chosen from the tenth grade. It was made up of: Gabrielle Frandi-

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na, Seunghyun Woo, Mairead Pfaff, Julia Foxen, and Susan Pelczar. These students met during lunch periods but conducted much of their research outside of school, dedicating much ofo their time to this task. They decided to analyze and create solutions for the critically struggling economy of France and its strikingly high unemployment rate.

Seunghyun Woo recounts her experience: “The Euro Challenge allowed me to go beyond the realms of the confined Social Studies class.

It was a fun experience and I learned so much about a topic that I previously had little to no knowledge about.”

Susan Pelczar shares: “My Euro Challenge experience helped me learn so much about the European economy and expand my knowledge about the current world.”

They presented their PowerPoint on Wednesday, March 25th, 2015 at Credit Suisse for the Preliminary Round.

Because of their hard work and dedication, the Garden City Euro Challenge team advanced to the national semifinals, which took place on April 30th, 2015 at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The top 25 national Euro Challenge semifinalist teams were selected among more than 100 teams judged across the country.

Gabrielle Frandina describes her experience as a member of the Euro Challenge team: “Euro Challenge was such a fun experience.

I learned so much and I can connect it with things that I hear every day.”

Eurovision: Pop Music & Politics Sophia Coyne

Every year in late May while Americans continue with their usual Saturday routines, Europeans gather in front of their televisions to observe an event that racks up more viewers than the Super Bowl: Eurovision, a singing competition slightly less complicated than Quidditch.

Eurovision is a bizarre occurrence with the eccentricity of a bedazzled American Idol.

Each country submits a representative, or representatives, to sing a carefully rehearsed and prepared entry. Much to the tune of a highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime show, the performances are as powerful and elaborate as one could imagine.

Most of these submissions get lost in the elaborate extravagance: outlandish costumes, confetti cannons, and multicolored lights that eclipse the music itself all attempt to dazzle the audience.

Ironically, it’s hard to imagine Eurovision as anything other than a colorful exhibition that just so happens to have the contestants singing, even though singing is its actual purpose. Although Eurovision is a singing competition, whether it is a powerful ballad that casts a yawning spell, or a dance number that pulls at your hips, it hardly seems so once the voting starts. After the final performance, the viewers of each country submit their votes for their favorite performance. This is when the regional alliances or Eurovision blocs become apparent. On a continent with a long and perhaps not so unblemished history, it is clear that unspoken alliances exist: for example, between the two Iberian powerhouses, Portugal and Spain, or in Scandinavia, between Denmark and Sweden- when a large amount of points shift between them.

However, a voting jury was introduced to decrease this regional bias, which could determine 50% of where each country’s final points go. Not

confusing enough? Countries that participated can then vote for any country other than their own on the performance from a scale based on the number 12 to grant their appreciation to the performer.

Each performance must be under three minutes long, a rule that the audience of 200 million is never hesitant to enforce. If a contestant wants to win a unanimous vote from the entirety of Europe, their performance must be sung in a language that can be understood by all of their viewers. While it is not required that the entry be sung in English, it is definitely encouraged. Because of this, over the years most performers have ditched their native language that would be lost in translation, instead choosing the more universal language of pop music. English is the language that made Beyoncé, The Rolling Stones, and even made Eurovision champions ABBA famous. The reality is, viewers in France wouldn’t vote for a ballad in German that they couldn’t understand.

So, why hasn’t the USA gotten involved in Eurovision yet? Though the United States is a long way from Europe, geographical distance has certainly not prevented non-European countries such as Australia from competing before. Besides, Eurovision has all the makings of an event that Americans love: it is highly competitive, it has English pop music, and it even has a massive decision concluded by tele-voting! Usually the United States is first in line and first in show when it comes to a world’s stage, but for some reason, the United States has yet to catch the Eurovision bug. Maybe one year, Eurovision will see the likes of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Until then, the United States will carry on with its ordinary Saturday routine, while Europe powders its face and prepares for the exaggerated competition.

cho Echo Echo Echo Echo Ech Spring Fling Seungmin Woo

On Friday, May 8, the freshmen and sophomore classes enjoyed an evening at Spring Fling. The dance took place on a beautiful evening in the courtyard of our high school. While dancing and singing, the underclassmen all had a great time bonding with each other. There were many delightful treats, including panini sandwiches and Baked by Melissa cupcakes, which everyone undeniably loved. Not only was there dancing and eating, but there was also a photo booth to pose for comical snaps with friends. Throughout the night, raffles were called by the DJ to claim various gift cards. Spring Fling was definitely one of the most memorable highlights of freshman and sophomore year.

Spotlight: Valedictorian and Salutatorian Nicole Crilly The Garden City High School Community is very proud of our high-achieving valedictorian and salutatorian! Get to know them them by reading the profiles complied by our ECHO staff.

Michael Crapotta: Valedictorian

College: Undecided Hobbies/Sports: Running, Baseball, Football, Music, and Reading.

Favorite Movie: Rocky Favorite Food: Steak Summer Plans: Seeking a patent for a recent idea, off-roading with my Jeep, fishing, and golfing.

What are you most proud of about being valedictorian?

I was able to honor my two late grandfathers and one late grandmother and make my whole family proud.

What is one of the most important things you have learned in high school that you will carry on to college?

Make friends with as many unique people as you can because these relationships will make all of your experiences worthwhile.

Kerri Heuser: Salutatorian

College: University of Pennsylvania Hobbies/Sports: Varsity Cheerleader and Varsity Swimming & Diving.

Favorite movie: Harry Potter Favorite Food: Tacos Summer plans: Lifeguarding and hanging out with friends.

What are you most proud of about being salutatorian?

I am most proud that I was able to keep up good relationships with my friends, play two sports, and still have this achievement.

What is one of the most important things you have learned in high school that you will carry on to college?

It is important to build relationships and reach out to others for advice and help.

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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo GCHS Speech & Debate Team Lauren Sikorski

Under the guidance of social studies teacher Allison Wallace, GCHS has recently formed a Speech and Debate team. Students in grades 9 through 12 now have the opportunity to compete against other schools’ teams in a variety of categories, including Declamation, Original Oratory, Dramatic or Humorous Performance, Duo Interpretation, Oral Interpretation and Extemporaneous Speaking.

In some of these, students prepare and deliver original speeches. Others involve the delivery of a speech written by someone else or the reading of a work of poetry or prose. Dramatic and humorous interpretation categories provide an excellent opportunity for young actors and actresses to benefit from their passion for performance.

In the Lincoln Douglas Debate, one student argues the affirmative side of a stated value-based resolution, while his or her opponent defends the negative side.

Public Forum Debate consists of teams of two students facing off against each other on the Pro and Con sides of a given current events issue.

Both forms of debate involve the presentation of prepared cases, as well as questions and responses in impromptu cross- examination by both sides. Students gain the ability to form persuasive, logical arguments and to defend them effectively. Students may also participate in Student Congress, in which a group of students debate legislation proposed by the various teams. Students make speeches in favor of or in opposition to each bill, and may also question each other regarding their respective positions.

The newly formed team is a member of the New

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York State Forensic League as well as the Long Island Forensic Association. Team members have already competed in local debate tournaments and look forward to participating in more events next season. Sophmores Lauren Sikorski and Gabrielle Frandina qualified for and competed in the Lincoln Douglas Debate at the New York State Forensics League tournament at SUNY Oneonta in April. About 80 schools from all over New York participated in the state tournament. Gabi and Lauren placed 23rd and 26th, respectively and were very proud to represent Garden City in the team’s first year!

In today’s society where so much communication occurs on a keyboard or cell phone, proficiency in face-to-face, interpersonal contact can be lacking.

Participation in speech and debate is an excellent way to acquire great communication skills. Team members learn how to present clearly and effectively, how to persuade others, and how to connect with their audience, all life lessons which produce effective and successful leaders.

The GCHS Speech and Debate team meets on Thursday afternoons. New members are welcome. The team looks forward to growing next year.

Summer Reading Alexis Gogh

When students think of summer, they usually think of tan lines, Ralph’s Italian Ices, and the beach. Let’s be honest-- few students are thinking about summer reading. This negative stigma is probably due to the fact that during the school year, when students are forced to read required texts that they do not find interesting, the joy of reading is diminished. To change this, each student should head on over to the library or the book store and find a fun summer reading novel that captivates his or her interest. Wondering what book to carry in your beach bag this summer? Well how about: Paper Towns by John Green, Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen, Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, or The Wright Brothers by David McCullough? Fans of the thriller Gone Girl will fall head over heals for The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.

According to the Barnes and Nobles bestseller list, these novels have become the most read books of the summer,

among other great reads.

There are so many novels out there that students are bound to find ones that satisfy their every whim.

However, while you let your mind explore the wonders of an interesting text don’t forget to check the high school website for required summer reading for the 2015-2016 school year. Don’t let that discourage you though! The pros outweigh the cons when it comes to summer reading. The benefits of summer reading include preventing the loss of learning and increasing the literacy rate.

Summer reading programs held at libraries and at local bookstores enhance the reading experience for students, which increases the desire to read. So, as you jet off to the beach this summer, make sure you’ve not only packed your sunscreen and water, but also a great novel to get lost in this summer. Happy Reading!

Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Mrs. McMahon Beloved art teacher Mrs. McMahon retires after many years of creative teaching.

Interviewed by Hallie Mallozzi

Mrs. Fabrizio Magistra Fabrizio says ‘vale’ after a long and passionate career.

Interviewed by Hallie Mallozzi

Q: How long have you been teaching?

Q: What got you into teaching?

Q; How long have you been teaching?

Q: What is your favorite part about teaching?

A: “I first started teaching in 1974.”

A: “I’ve always had a passion for it; when I was young, I used to play school.”

A: Many years!

A: Sharing the cool stuff with others and watching them “get it”.

Q: What grades have you taught?

“I taught 5th and 6th grade ELA, middle school art, and grades 9 through 12 at Garden City High School.”

Q: Where did you go to college? What was your favorite part of college?

A: “I got my Bachelor of Arts degree at Queens College and my Masters at Adelphi University. My favorite part was taking art classes and spending time with friends.”

Q: What is a guiding principle or mantra that guides your teaching?

A: “Treat students with the respect you would like them to treat you with.”

Q: What is your favorite part about teaching?

A: “The kids!”

Q: What are some favorite memories while teaching?

A: “Seeing former students come back and tell me how I influenced them.”

Q: What do you enjoy outside of school?

A: “Spending time with my family and hiking.”

Q: What are your plans for retirement?

A: “To help take care of my grandchildren.”

Q: Who is your favorite artist?

A: “The sculptor Bernini; his pieces are delicate and beautiful”

Q: What grades have you taught?

A: 7th grade through college, and adult education.

Q: Where did you go to college? What was your favorite part of college?

A: University of Maryland, College Park. My favorite part of college was learning so much about many things from good professors and learning how to improve my thinking.

Q: What is a guiding principle or mantra that guides your teaching?

A: Give them your best and remember why you are doing this job: to inspire, to share a love of learning, and to encourage students to do their best always.

Q: What got you into teaching?

A: The many exquisite aspects of the Latin language and learning about the Romans and Greeks. It’s all so cool!

Q: What are some favorite memories while teaching?

General ones: 1. Laughter in the classroom!

2. Watching students improve after months of hard work.

3. Seeing how much HS students like to go to the costume box & dress up.

Q: What do you enjoy outside of school?

My delightful grandchildren, Andrew now age 3, and Marianna,age 1. I also love travelling, especially to Italy.

Q: What are your plans for retirement?

A: Just answered it! Grandchildren and travelling, as well as reading and dancing.

Q:Who is your favorite Ancient Roman leader?

A: Without a doubt, JULIUS CAESAR!!

Courtsey of Alexis Gogh

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cho Echo Echo Echo Echo Ech Boys Baseball Brendan Dolan

After a strong showing during the regular season, boy’s baseball concluded its 2015 season with another playoff berth after finishing with a 12-10 record overall.

The team’s success did not come without its difficulties, as this year’s group had to battle to make their way into the postseason. The first series played out the way the Trojans had hoped for, taking two of three from Jericho.

After a disappointing shutout in the season opener, Garden City’s bats finally came alive, and produced 21 runs in the final two games. While the second series yielded the same result, it was the pitching that led the way, only surrendering six runs in three games. A third of the way through the season, the team was where it wanted to be and well within striking

distance of the playoffs. Over the next four games however, the boys struggled, as they dropped three games to New Hyde Park (2) and Oceanside, and faced a crucial series against rival Carey. This brief struggle paved the way for a nice rebound, as the group swept Carey at home. Unfortunately, the conference’s top team, Bellmore JFK, was the Trojan’s next opponent, and took all three games to push Garden City to a .500 record with just three games remaining. While showing incredible poise with the season on the line, the boys swept Sewanhaka, outscoring the Indians 38-8. This finish propelled the team to third in the conference and into the playoffs, its fourth consecutive appearance. The team began the year with aspirations for a longer playoff run,

and these hopes would be tested immediately by a stout Plainedge team in the first round. In a tightly contested contest, Garden City succumbed to Red Devils 2-1, and was pushed to the brink of elimination. With only a day’s rest in between, the squad was forced to regroup quickly in order to keep its hopes alive before meeting with a strong Locust Valley team. With their backs against the wall, the boys showed resiliency by fending off Falcons, 9-8. While they were pleased with the victory, the team had come to the realization that they now were only a loss away from elimination. Garden City was dealt a tough hand, as they had to play division six powerhouse, Clarke, the following day. The Trojans dug themselves in an early

5-0 hole early, and failed to trim Clarke’s lead as the game progressed. After two quick outs in the final inning, the Trojans’ chances looked bleak. Their mental toughness was put on display when they managed to hang four runs on the board, but could not surpass the Rams. While the team was unsuccessful in reaching its goal, some individuals were recognized for their outstanding play. Ryan Smith won All County, and Richie Mattone and Justin Samardich were awarded All Conference. Garden City will look to continue its progress next season, as a strong class of underclassmen remains.

9 Years Running Caroline Ferri

For the past nine years the girls Garden City Track & Field team has brought home the County Championship plaque. Head coach, Erica Fregosi, became the head coach this year due to the retirement of Charlie Cuzzo. In addition, Gregory Brink joined the coaching staff this spring in order to focus on the distance runners. The County Championship meet was tense, being that Manhasset and GC were tied half way through. But in

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the end, the girls were able to win by roughly twenty points and claim the title. The next stage in the competition was the State qualifiers which took place June 4th and 5th at Cold Spring Harbor High School. One Garden City athlete, Laurel Fisher, was successful in qualifying for the Steeple Chase, and went on to the State Championship at SUNY Albany, NY. We wish the girls best of luck in the future!

cho Echo Echo Echo Echo Ech Señora Nuzzi’s Long Journey of Teaching Comes to a Close Seunghyun Woo

Ms. Nuzzi, or often referred to as Sra. Nuzzi, will be dearly missed by her students after her retirement following the 2014-2015 school year.

As a current student of Sra. Nuzzi, I am proud to state that it has been a blessing to have her as a teacher and mentor.

Although the learning of the language was challenging, our class was introduced to catchy Spanish popular songs as well as poignant and stellar Spanish films. It is quite obvious that we, her students, have all matured into determined students who have noticeably increased our ability to manipulate Spanish.

Below is the interview containing Sra. Nuzzi’s valediction with her usual wise advice. She is a beloved and irreplaceable Spanish teacher leaving behind a fantastic legacy.

Q) How long have you been teaching? What grades have you taught?

A) I have been teaching for a total of 40 years – 10 in Catholic school and 30 in public school. I have taught all levels of Spanish and ESL from 6th grade through 12th grade.

Q) What is a guiding principle or mantra that guides your teaching?

A) I have several “mantras” that influence my philosophy of teaching, both for me and for my students. For my students, I always say to them, “Don’t let what you don’t know interfere with what you do know.” I want them to see that there are options when expressing themselves, particularly in a foreign language, and they just need to be flexible in their thoughts. Students actually know far more than what they think they know. This

advice can also apply to other areas in their lives.

As for me, I always try to remind myself that teaching is a very powerful profession, and we as teachers are the decisive element in the classroom. We can make or break a student’s day by how we handle a given situation.

So we need to use that power wisely and compassionately.

Sometimes we make mistakes, but that shouldn’t stop us from always being aware of the influence we have and trying to keep things in perspective.

Finally, although this is not a mantra, I always try to keep a good sense of humor in and out of the classroom. It can be a tremendous help in diffusing stressful situations.

Q) What got you into teaching?

A) I had wonderful teachers who were excellent role models when I was growing up and who instilled in me a love of learning. I wanted to do the same one day for students of my own. I always wanted to be a teacher.

Q) What was the most memorable experience during your career as a teacher?

A) I am very fortunate in that I have had many, many memorable moments. A few that come to mind are the following: On a very emotional level, when I was called to active duty in my role as a United States Marine during Operation Desert Storm, several of my students gave me some of their personal possessions to help keep me safe. One was a girl’s well-used Bible to comfort me; another was an Eagle Scout’s compass to guide me; and another was a boy’s St. Christopher medal to protect

me. I was extremely touched by their gestures and their true concern for my well-being. I never forgot those expressions of love and care.

On an academic level, one recent event stands out. I will always remember the fact that every student in my last Spanish AP class received a 5 on the exam. I was so proud of all their hard work and effort, especially because I also knew they wanted to make me happy. And they certainly did!

It was an unforgettable accomplishment.

Finally, as an ESL teacher, I connected with so many students and their families on so many levels over the years. I formed bonds that go very deep and are still strong to this day, and I have memories that will last a lifetime.

I even travelled to Japan to attend the wedding of one of my students whom I taught for four years.

Q) What do you look forward to after your retirement?

A) Besides being able to wake up after 4:30 a.m. every day, I am excited about having more time to pursue different interests. I’d like to delve more into photography, read more, write more, and even work on creating some type of Spanish language book for teachers and students. I plan on tutoring in Spanish and ESL and doing volunteer work with various organizations. I also want to spend more quality time with family and friends.

Q) What will you miss the most about teaching at the Garden City High School?

A) My students, my students, my students! I will miss the special connections that we formed together throughout the years and the mutual

learning we shared. They will always hold a special place in my heart. And of course I will miss my daily coffee with Signora Brunetti! We will have to continue at a different venue!

Q) Any further messages to give to the Spanish students at Garden City?

A) Be confident in your abilities and never stop learning.

Be your own person, believe in yourself, and be proud of what you accomplish.

I also want my students to know that I am just an e-mail or a phone call away.

I still want to hear from them and know how they are doing. I will continue to be one of their strongest supporters now and in the future. In fact, I have formed some wonderful friendships that I continue to enjoy today with a number of students who have long since graduated. They have enriched my life and remain a meaningful and active part of it, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have taught them. It’s been a wonderful experience at Garden City High School!

We Will Miss You, Señora Nuzzi!

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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Senior College Decisions, Class of 2015 Congratulations to all those graduating! The ECHO staff and GCHS wish you well in your future endeavours.

JESSICA ABRUZZO Adelphi University

NINA BANGALORE Hofstra University

CONNOR BROWN University of Notre Dame

ANGELA COEN University of Scranton

CARA ADAMS SUNY Geneseo

GREGORY BARTON Binghamton University

THOMAS BRUGNONE University of Hartford

BRIAN COLAMUSSI St.Joseph’s University

KRISTEN ADAMS University of Pennsylvania

EMMA BASEL University of Delaware

KATHLEEN BURKE Loyola University Maryland

TIMOTHY COLLINS Merrimack College

NICHOLAS ALFAYA Villanova University

PATRICK BASEL Undecided

ELIZABETH BUTLER Adelphi University

MADELINE CONDULIS Lehigh University

JAKE ALTABEF Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

LOUIS BASILEO Quinnipiac University

TIMOTHY BUTLER Fordham University

JAMES CONNELLY Undecided

HANNAH BAUER College of the Holy Cross

LIAM BYRNES Gettysburg College

RYAN CONNELLY Undecided

KYLE BECKMANN Emory University

RACHEL CARA Hunter College-CUNY

MICHAELA CONWAY Molloy College

JOHN BENNETT Nassau Community College

CLAUDIA CARACCIOLO LIM College

CHRISTOPHER COSTIGAN SUNY Geneseo

DANA APRIGLIANO Hofstra University

CAROLINE BIANCHI Catholic University of America

BENNETT CAREY University of Delaware

RANDOLPH COX Binghamton University

TREVOR AQUINO Nassau Community College

BRIDGET BINGHAM Georgetown University

PATRICK CARPENTER SUNY New Paltz

MICHAEL CRAPOTTA (Valedictorian) Undecided

JULIA ARCIA Loyola University New Orleans

ELAINA BLAIR Pennsylvania State University

BRETT ALVAREZ University of Connecticut ANTHONY ANATRA SUNY Maritime ANDREW ANDRON New York University

JOSEPH ARDITA Nassau Community College MICHAEL C. ARIANAS University of St. AndrewsScotland LUKE ARMSTRONG University of AlabamaTuscaloosa

MATTHEW BORGES Ohio State University MACKENZIE BOSTROM SUNY Geneseo RICHARD BOUDREAU Hofstra University

COLIN CASTRO Nassau Community College JAMES CERISE Employment ELIZABETH CHESTER Boston College BRANDON CHOI Columbia University

ASHLEY CRAWFORD Marist College NICOLE CRILLY Georgetown University CHRISTIAN CULLEN Undecided CHARLES CUNNINGHAM University of Scranton MITCHELL CURIA Env. Sci & Forestry-SUNY

SPIRO ARNIDIS Adelphi University

MELANIE BOYLE James Madison University

KENNETH CHOI Rutgers University, New Brunswick

SEAN CURRAN SUNY Oneonta

SAMANTHA AURICCHIO Cornell University

KYLE BRATTAN United States Military Academy Prep School

ROBERT CLARKE Boston College

JILLIAN CURTIN University of Delaware

GABRIELLE CLARKSON Loyola University Maryland

MICHELLE D’ANGELO Fairfield University

JENNA CODIGNOTTO Bucknell University

AMANDA D’ANTONE Fordham University

RYAN AVERSANO James Madison University LAURA BACIGALUPO Pace University-Westchester

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DAPHNE BLUMIN University of Michigan

KEVIN CASTELLANO SUNY Cobleskill

JACK BRENNAN University at Albany-SUNY MICHAEL BRENNAN Nassau Community Colllege

Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo STEPHEN D’ANTONIO Fordham University

RYAN ESCHMANN Loyola University Maryland

TAYLOR GEORGE Fairfield University

JULIA HALL Lafayette College

VICTOR DANZA University of Maine

GIANNA ESPOSITO Pennsylvania State University

STEFAN GEREK Undecided

COLIN DEANGELO University of Delaware

JOHN EVANGELISTA Adelphi University

JENNIFER GERLAND Duquesne University

ANDREW HANNA Rutgers University New Brunswick

GAETANO DECRESCENZO University at Albany-SUNY

AMANDA FABUS Gettysburg College

CAROLINE GERMANO University of Notre Dame

KAITLYN DEGEARO Adelphi University

EMILY FALLON Quinnipiac University

NICOLETTE GIAMMONA Syracuse University

LAUREN DEMARCO Sacred Heart University

MICHAEL FAULISI Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

PATRICK GIBBONS Vassar College

LINDSEY DEMARS Rhode Island School of Design NICHOLAS DEMOURA Cheshire Academy - Prep School DANIEL DEMPSEY Iona College MICHAEL DEMPSEY Marist College CLAUDIA DIBERARDINO Baruch College-CUNY REBECCA DIBONA University of Delaware BRENDAN DIGAN University of Southern California JODI DILEMME Providence College DEANNA DIPIERRO Boston College TIMOTHY DOLAN University of Scranton NICHOLAS DONNER Boston University ANNEMARIE DONOHUE University of South Carolina KATHERINE DONOVAN University of Connecticut KATHERINE EIGL Adelphi University MICHAEL EMMERT George Washington University

CAROLINE FERRI Manhattan College ALEXANDER FERZOLA Johns Hopkins University

SAMANTHA GILBERT SUNY Cortland ALLISON GIRALDO Lehigh University

LAUREL FISHER Fordham University

WILLIAM GLENN Catholic University of America

OWEN FISHER Fairfield University

BRIAN GOEPFERT Gettysburg College

EMILY FLANAGAN Elon University

ALEXIS GOGH New York University

DEANNA FODERA Sacred Heart University

EMMA GONG Massachusetts Institute of Technology

ALEXANDER FRANCO University of Delaware HARRISON FUREY University of Michigan

CHRISTOPHER GORMLEY Loyola University Maryland

CARL HATCHER Nassau Community College DANIELLE HEAVEY Boston College KERRI HEUSER (Salutatorian) University of Pennsylvania LUCAS HILDRETH College of the Holy Cross ALISON HOGE SUNY Geneseo JUSTIN HOLLOWAY Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NICOLE HORN SUNY Geneseo WENTAO HU University of Connecticut MATTHEW INGEGNO Marist College VITALIY IVASYUK Undecided SAMANTHA JAEGER Siena College

JONATHAN GRANVILLE Franklin and Marshall College

MATTHEW JONES Binghamton University

SARAH GREENE Fairfield University

TIMOTHY JOSEPHS University at Buffalo-SUNY

JILLIAN GREGORY University of Delaware

CAITLIN KACZYNSKI Villanova University

MATTHEW GREINER SUNY Geneseo

ANNEMARIE KANE Boston College

ROBERT GAVIGAN SUNY Geneseo

LIAM GRIBBIN The Citadel, Military Coll. of S.C.

PATRICK KANE SUNY Oswego

ALEXANDRA GEMMITI Montserrat College of Art

SARAH GRIFFIN Univ. Calif. Santa Barbara

NICOLE GEMMITI Berklee College of Music

JENNIFER GROCKI New York University

LISA GENADRY Catholic University of America

DELANEY HALL Dartmouth College

JENNA FUSCHILLO Marist College LISA GAINE Gettysburg College CHRISTIAN GARCIA Employment GREGORY GARDNER Quinnipiac University

MICHAELA KEAGUE Nassau Community College KRISTINA KEENAN St. Mary’s College ARIANA KERANTZAS Quinnipiac University

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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo SOKHYUN (PAUL) KIM Boston University

JOSEPH MARTIN Lynn University

MARANDA MELE Pace University-Westchester

CHARLES NGUYEN St. John’s University

EMILY KING Villanova University

THOMAS MASCOLA University at Albany-SUNY

ROBERT MENGES Duke University

LAUREL NOTHEL Fairfield University

CHRISTOPHER KOESTER Vassar College

JOSEPH MATINA Nassau Community College

ALESSIA MERRITTS Adelphi University

KENNETH NYGAARD Marist College

ZACHARY KOPKE LIU Post

RICHARD MATTONE University of South Carolina

JAMES MICHIELINI Tufts University

THOMAS LANE Calif.Polytech.State,San Luis Obispo

ANDREW MCCANN Northeastern University

LAUREN MIESEMER Gettysburg College

MAGGIE O’BRIEN Hobart & Williams Smith College

CAILEE MCCARTHY University of Maryland

SAMANTHA MIESEMER Connecticut College

RYAN MCCARTNEY High Point University

SOICHI MINAMIYA Undecided

DANIEL MCCONNELL Quinnipiac University

JOSEPH MONROE Nassau Community College

TIMOTHY MCCOYD Pace University NYC

ANDREW MOONAN Mount St. Mary College

MARC OELLRICH Pennsylvania College of Technology

LIAM MCCRANN Catholic University of America

JILLIAN MORAN Fairfield University

ANNE OSTROWSKI Bucknell University

JOSEPH MORREALE SUNY Geneseo

NATHAN OVEREND University of Michigan

JONATHAN MORRIS Roger Williams University

LAUREN PADALA Tulane University

MICHAEL MORTENSEN Undecided

PANAGIOTIS PAGONIS Employment

DEVON MCGUINNESS University of Scranton

CHRISTOPHER MOSCATIELLO Marist College

GREGORY PAHLAVI University of Delaware

ISABEL MCKEOWN Lehigh University

DANIELLE MOTTO Siena College

THOMAS MCLAUGHLIN Vocational Training

NICHOLAS MOURIKIS St. John’s University

CASEY MCLEOD Fordham University

ALICIA MUELLER High Point University

MEGAN MCMANUS Nassau Community College

CONOR MULDOON Westminster School

JOHN MCNALLY St. John’s University

ALYSSA MULLINS Loyola University Maryland

CARSON MCQUILLING Undecided

AIDAN MURPHY University of Dayton

MARGOT MCTIERNAN University of Richmond

JOHN MURTAGH University of Vermont

CHRISTOPHER LARKIN University of Scranton SAMANTHA LAROSE Georgia Institute of Technology-Eng. ALEXIS LEIGHTON College of the Holy Cross ALYSSA LEOPIZZI SUNY Geneseo JOSEPH LETO Loyola University Maryand RAYMOND LETO Univ. Massachusetts Amherst ANTHONY LIBERTI Marist College MATTHEW LOBASSO Molloy College CHRISTINA LOCOPO Pratt Institute MICHAEL LOHRER Undecided RACHEL LUDWICZAK Nassau Community College JENNA LUTFY University of Michigan FIONA MACLEOD Vassar College MATTHEW MAGE Northeastern University DREW MANCUSI University of Scranton STEFAN MARCHHART Rochester Institute of Technology

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QUINN MCDONAGH SUNY Geneseo KELLY MCDONNELL Pennsylvania State University CONNOR MCGARRY Roger Williams University

JAMES O’CONNOR Worcester Polytechnic Institute KATHLEEN O’SULLIVAN Ithaca College JEANETTE OELLRICH Quinnipiac University

TIMOTHY PAISLEY High Point University ANTONIA PALMERI Villanova University AJA PALUMBO SUNY New Paltz GEORGE PETROPOULOS Tulane University CHRISTIE PFLUME Nova Southeastern University ALEXANDRA PHILIPPAS Adelphi University DANIEL PIETROMONACO Binghamton University EMILY PITITTO Clemson University

Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo ELISA PITTELLA Ohio State University

JUSTIN SAMARDICH University of Rhode Island

JOANNA SOKOLOVIC Fairfield University

VERONICA TRZECIAK University at Buffalo-SUNY

NICHOLAS PIZZICHILLO Fairfield University

GREGORY SANOSSIAN Manhattan College

TROY SORENSEN SUNY Purchase

SAMANTHA PIZZICHILLO Fairfield University

ALEXANDRIA SANTEL Marist College

CONOR SPROAT University of Delaware

THOMAS VANWALLENDAEL Loyola University Maryland

DANIEL POLINSKY University of Delaware

HEATHER SANTUCCI New York University

CHRISTOPHER STEINER Curry College

DALE POOLE Fairfield University

BRENDAN SARFIN Nassau Community College

PAUL STEINER St. John’s University

BRANDON PUNTURO University of Michigan

EMILY SAUCHELLI Hofstra University

MADELEINE STONE University of Richmond

JAKE QUATTLANDER Providence College

IAN SCOTT Hobart and William Smith Colleges

JAMES SULLIVAN Harvard College

AUSTIN QUINN Nassau Community College REBECCA REIFLER Trinity College CHRISTOPHER REPETTI College of Charleston TAYLOR RICCI University of Delaware MORGAYNE RIX Johns Hopkins University ERIN RODE Bryant University SOPHIA ROSADO SUNY Oneonta LAURA ROSALES-DURAN Nassau Community College KATIE ROSCOE Cornell University HENRY SAENZ Nassau Community College

COLETTE SEEL Fairfield University ANNA SHANE Nassau Community College HALEY SHERIDAN University of South Carolina JAMIE SILK Villanova University CHRISTINA SINGH Hofstra University LAUREN SLOVENSKY Catholic University of America PATRICK SLOVENSKY University of Tampa GERARD SMITH Villanova University RYAN SMITH Princeton University

ANDREW SWARTZ Nassau Community College CAROLINE SWARTZ Nassau Community College ALEXANDRA TERI Providence College SHANNON TIERNEY Amherst College DYLAN TOBIAS Nassau Community College KATHRYN TOMASI Bucknell University THOMAS TRABOLD SUNY Geneseo ELIZABETH TRIECE Stetson University JULIA TRIMBOLI Salisbury University

DANIELLE VENTRE Quinnipiac University ANDREW VORKAS Queens College-CUNY BENJAMIN WALSH SUNY Geneseo LESLIE WANN University of Pennsylvania SEAN WARD Sacred Heart University LAUREN WEISBURG Stony Brook University KELSEY WHITNEY James Madison University JENNA WILSON Sacred Heart University MICHELE WISE University of Rhode Island KATHERINE WORSTELL Sacred Heart University EMILY WORTMANN Colgate University THOMAS WRIGHT Pennsylvania State University STEPHANIE ZAFERIOU Hofstra University

WILLIAM TRIMMER Marist College

Congratulations to the Class of 2015!

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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo 2015 Billboard Music Awards

Royal Baby

Elizabeth Butler

The annual Billboard Music Awards were held on May 17 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

All of the biggest names in the music industry were there and the red carpet was filled with beautifully dressed stars and musicians. The show opened up with the unveiling of Taylor Swift’s new music video for “Bad Blood”, which went on to break the Vevo Record the next day with 20+ million views in just 24 hours. Other performers included Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor and Nick Jonas. Kanye West was the last performer of the night and was booed as his two songs were filled with curses that needed to be censored out for television audiences. Other notable moments included Sam Smith’s Top Male Artist acceptance all the

Jamie Silk

way from New York, where he prerecorded his speech because of the vocal surgery he had just undergone. One Direction accepted the Top Duo/Group award with gratitude, giving a shoutout to Zayn Malik who left the group just 2 months prior. Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa sang a stunning collaboration which gave good insight to the audience of what their summer tour together would be like. Finally, Taylor Swift had a big night, winning eight of her fourteen nominations and throwing the BBMA after party with Calvin Harris.

For the 11.1 million viewers at home, it was an eventful evening that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

May 2, 2015 was an exciting day for everyone in the United Kingdom. This was the day that the second child of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was born. The official title of their baby girl is Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. Her name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, has a lot of meaning to the royal family.

Charlotte is Kate’s sister’s middle name and also the feminine form of Charles, which is William’s father’s name. The name Elizabeth is the name of both William’s grandmother and great-grandmother.

Lastly, the name Diana comes from Princess Diana. Princess Charlotte is the fourth in line for the throne, following Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince George of Cambridge.

Everyone in the United Kingdom anxiously awaited the day that the new royal baby was born. The birth of Princess Charlotte was so important because Prince William had always wanted a baby girl and the birth of a new royal baby changed the line of succession to the British throne.

In addition, many people in the United Kingdom tried guessing what William and Kate would name their baby, with guesses such as Alice, the name of Queen Victoria’s daughter, Victoria, after Queen Victoria, Catherine, after her mother, and Mary, after Queen Mary. While none of these were correct, most people were happy with the name Chalotte Elizabeth Diana due to its rich meaning to the entire royal family.

Tibetan Protests Catch Fire Daniel Clark

Since 2011, well over a hundred people have set themselves on fire in Tibet.

These burnings, rather than being caused by individual motives, are protests against Chinese repression. Those who have ended their lives in protest have done so in order to send a message to Beijing in the hopes that it will liberate their fellow Tibetans.

It all started in 1950 when Mao’s China launched an invasion of the plateau.

Tibet’s small guerrilla forces stood no chance of overcoming the massive People’s Army, and so Tibet was

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quickly overrun. Contrary to its new name, the Tibet Autonomous Region has had no say in its own affairs since it lost its independence.

Currently, the Tibetans are without leadership as the Dalai Lama escaped to and currently lives in India. The Chinese government has also been quick to arrest any people who could potentially rise to power in Tibet to prevent the Tibetan people from organizing. These people have given up violence to get rid of their Chinese oppres-

sors, instead adopting more peaceful attempts to liberate Tibet. However, while these methods are intended to avoid violence towards others, they are not always the safest medium of peaceful protest. In one of the most common demonstrations, the protester, often a monk, sits in a crowded urban area and sets himself on fire. These individuals do not extinguish themselves and are without safety crews. These burnings aren’t stunts, and are often times the only way to get people’s attention.

The burnings offer a way to put the oppression of the Tibetan people into perspective. The protesters are willing to commit suicide just for the extremely slim chance that Tibet may become independent once again as a result of their efforts. Despite hundreds of deaths, the Chinese have done little to appease the Tibetans, instead turning to further violence against the protestors.

Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo The New SAT Michael Snyder

David Coleman, the new president of the 115-year-old behemoth known as the College Board, mandated a radical redesigning of the SAT reasoning test in 2012. While the change has generated much stress and many questions, the College Board has assured students that the new SAT is specifically geared towards being a more straightforward, transparent test. The test is now graded out of 1600 and, much like the ACT, has an optional essay section.

The essay has been radically changed; essays will be more similar to a prose analysis than an argumentative essay, and students will have 50 minutes instead of 25 to write their essays. The writing section has been done away

with. Instead, students have an “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing” section including two sections: a Reading Test and a Writing/Language Test. This section, according to the College Board’s website, will place more emphasis on “Relevant Words in Context” and “Command of Evidence.”

“No longer will students use flashcards to memorize obscure words, only to forget them the minute they put their test pencils down,” the College Board says. The math section has been broken down into three components of “Math that Matters Most:” “Problem Solving and Data Analysis, the Heart of Algebra”, and “Passport to Advanced Math.” This math is meant to be useful for preparing students for college,

and may even approach PreCalculus. In addition, the test has a certain Common Core mentality and will place emphasis on “Problems Grounded in Real-World Contexts,” “Analysis in Science and in History/Social Studies,” and “Founding Documents and Great Global Conversation.”

While questions will not be directly asked about these topics, a student may encounter, for example, a math question relating to solving current events issues or a reading passage written by Mohandas Gandhi. “Every time students take the redesigned SAT, they will encounter a passage from one of the founding documents or from a text from the global conversation,” the College Board says. Undoubtedly, the most dramatic

change is the elimination of point reductions. Students no longer have to struggle over which questions to omit to avoid deductions--now there is “rights-only scoring,” meaning that students will not lose points for incorrect answers. Despite College Board’s claims to the contrary, many students have made quite well supported claims that the SAT is a test designed to ‘trick’ students rather than a ‘reasoning’ test.

While some students hope this test will be more straightforward, others argue that these efforts will create the opposite effect: an even more convoluted test. We can only hope that these SAT reforms will make progress in testing students more effectively for college readiness.

Baltimore Riots Michael Snyder

April 12th was the beginning of a spurt of violent outrage in Baltimore. While in police custody, 25 year old Freddie Gray suffered a severe spinal injury, slipped into a coma, and died. This caused mass rioting in Baltimore. Many people protested to have the arresting officers face criminal charges. A great many people believed that Gray was the victim of police brutality, or a target of racism. Baltimore residents soon became incensed at Gray’s death. While many crusaded on behalf of Gray peacefully (holding aloft signs with slogans such as “You Want Peace? I Want Justice!”), many Baltimore residents seemed to have reached the height of their anger, looting stores, smashing cars, and throwing bottles and rocks at officers. CNN

even captured footage of a police officer being carried away by the crowd. During the pandemonium, 15 buildings and 144 cars were set ablaze, 235 arrests were made, and 19 police officers were injured.

As the situation escalated, the National Guard was called in to enforce a curfew for the city. The Baltimore Orioles played their game against the Chicago White Sox closed to the public, putting the safety of their fans first in the face of chaos. President Obama angrily denounced violent protesters as “criminals and thugs,” in his first statement about the situation, criticizing the violence as pointless: “when individuals get crowbars and start prying open doors to loot, they’re not protesting, they’re not making a statement — they’re stealing. When they burn down a

building, they’re committing arson.” Obama promised that all possible efforts would be devoted to the investigation of Freddie Gray’s death in hopes of quelling the storm. Recently, investigators have found what they believe to be the cause of death. Freddie Gray had been arrested and left in a police van without a seatbelt as he was driven to Baltimore’s Central Booking. When he banged his head against the back of the van, Gray received a traumatic spinal injury that caused a coma and death soon after. Whether there were malicious intentions or indifferent actions involved that caused his accident, Gray has nevertheless become another national symbol of police brutality towards black men, joining the ranks of Brown and many others. The arresting officers have been sus-

pended and are now possibly facing criminal charges. In the wake of the disastrous incident, Baltimore is now under considerable financial stress as it must pay $20 million to recover from the damages it has suffered. This money will be used in funds such as paying firefighters and police for their overtime and compensating citizens for property damage. Freddie Gray’s death, no matter how it was caused, was the spark that set Baltimore aflame and augmented the national debate concerning relations between a community and its police. Now that the chaos has settled down, Baltimore can finally work towards the road to recovery.

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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Pitch Perfect 2 Alexis Gogh

This hilarious acappella sequel, starring Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, and Elizabeth Banks, opened in theaters Friday May 15, 2015. The story follows the Barden Bella seniors as they must enter an international acappella competition in order to get reinstated as an acappella group at their university. This is due to an embarrassing incident that threatens their status. According to the Times, Pitch Perfect 2 earned more than $70 million, taking the top spot at the box office opening week-

Image Courtesy of Google Images

end. The film is directed and produced by Elizabeth Banks, who plays Gail in the film.

Fans everywhere agree that the sequel is even better than the first with new characters portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld and Snoop Dogg. Two years after it was first introduced, Pitch Perfect has been able to captivate audiences everywhere. Critics are giving it a prestigious 3.5 out of 5 stars.

So hurry on over to the movie theaters with your friends and family to see the movie that everyone has been talking about.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON – More like “Long Weekend of Ultron” Kaylah Bozkurtian

Run time: 2 hours and 30 minutes. Reading that sentence, one would think sitting through an action movie that long would constitute enduring hackneyed dialogue, buildings exploding, and very little emotional investment.

One would be wrong. There are a lot of things that this movie does right—comicbook purist criticisms aside— and it certainly manages to hold its own as the follow-up to the massively successful The Avengers (2012). And for those of you skeptical of the introduction of two new characters to the mix—twins Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, “Scarlet Witch” and “Quicksilver”, respectively—don’t be.

The additions to the cast gel effortlessly with the overall feel of the movie. (For those of you still stuck in the XMen: Days of Future Past mindset, it’s important to note that Fox and Marvel have a contract-negotiated co-ownership of the character Quicksilver. Evan Peters’

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portrayal of the silver speedster, alongside characters such as Wolverine and Professor Charles Xavier, is completely separate from its Marvel counterpart, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson (unfortunate news for those of you who were hoping to see a tie-in between the twins and their past as Magneto’s children.)

More bad news for you “shippers” out there who were hoping to see the continuation of a possible romance between Black Widow and either Hawkeye or Captain America, two possibilities that were hinted at in The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, respectively—that isn’t the direction this film follows, if you hadn’t already guessed from the trailer. It’s definitely a more action-oriented story, with less focus on the characters and more on the conflict.

From beginning to end, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster ride, with several major plot twists that left

Image Courtesy of Google Images the audiences I saw it with speechless. (That is, of course, assuming you haven’t already heard about them. Though it seems people are pretty good at keeping the secret, as the three times I saw the movie were several weeks apart, and a good portion of those watching still gasped in surprise.) I would strongly recommend that everyone, even if you’re not particularly a comic book fan, take

a look at Age of Ultron and the original Avengers films.

Thanks to Marvel’s approach to the cinematic universe, one doesn’t need prior knowledge of the comics to enjoy the flicks--that being said, Age of Ultron really does feel like an important transition film into even bigger and better things for the Earth’s mightiest heroes.