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TABLE OF CONTENTS Student Spotlight (starts on p.3)
Mina Woo, Editor, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
Community News (starts on p.7) Julia Remick, Editor
National News (starts on p.16) Matthew Fiore, Editor Brandon Noll, Editor
Sports (starts on p.19) Caroline Dolan, Editor Meghan Galligan, Editor
Reviews (starts on p.21) Gabby Yepes, Editor Paige Accetta, Editor
Kaylah Bozkurtian, Editor-in-Chief & Design Editor Ms. Skolnik, Faculty Advisor NOTE: The opinions expressed in the following articles DO NOT represent the opinions of the administrative staff at GCHS, merely those of the writers themselves.
ECHO ECHO
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Dear Reader, This past winter of 2017 has been one spent sheltering from the blistering cold. Considering we’ve braved some of the lowest temperatures predicted in recent years by the Farmer’s Almanac and witnessed some of the highest snowdrifts Garden City has seen in quite some time, the natural reaction has been to hunker down beneath piles of blankets and weather the storm--preferably with a cup of hot cocoa. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting a little comfort in these conditions, but I think there’s a lot more for us to learn from this experience than the appropriate degree Farenheit for heading outside to shovel. Cold fronts can come in many more forms than a flurry of snowflakes, and it’s important to bear this in mind even when the weather isn’t so hostile, especially for those of us who are about to head off and make tracks of our own in the snowfalls to come. It’s very easy to turn to the things that are faniliar when confronted with ideas or circumstances that might be upsetting or challenging. Security and comfort can save us from a lot of things: failure, wounded pride, or even unwelcome revelations about ourselves. Escaping that “danger” can be a tempting prospect, but it’s not always the right one. Sometimes, “hunkering down” can be the greatest possible enemy of personal growth. Other times, it can have far more serious effects. Some of these--political polarization, dogmatism, and fear of our own shadows--are widespread in our world today. In striving to make our realities better suit our own boundaries, we’ve run the risk of isolating ourselves, boxed in by snowdrifts of our own invention. The remedy for this self-imposed exile may not be as simple as rock salt and snowblowers, but it isn’t any less valuable. We need to branch out, and if that means bundling up in layers of principles, patience, and understanding in our dealings with others, so be it. Let’s go into 2018 with a desire to look outward, and not hide from the beautifully diverse world in which we live. They say no two snowflakes are exactly alike, and the same can be said for the human experience. Wherever you may go in the future, be sure to bring that unique perspective with you. You just might succeed in drawing someone out of their own “cabin fever”. Sincerely,
Kaylah Bozkurtian Editor-in-Chief
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Student Spotlight
3 Photo Credits: Alan Jian
Alan Jian:
Long Island Scholar-Artist by Mina Woo Demonstrating dedication and passion in clarinet, Alan Jian, a senior at Garden City High School, received the honor of being named a Long Island Arts Alliance (LIAA) Scholar Artist. According to LongIslandArtsAlliance.org, “LIAA’s Scholar-Artist Awards program recognizes students judged to be ‘the best of the best’ on Long Island in both academics and in the arts.” For Alan, the long application process included the submission of his perfect NYSSMA scores and an essay about the meaning of music. Alan has always been zealous about music, and is enchanted by the emotional and intellectual impacts that music can have on people. He first dipped his feet into the musical world by taking private piano lessons. In the fourth grade, he began to use the clarinet as an additional medium to engage in his musical passion. When asked what encourages him to practice and continue
playing the clarinet after so many years, Alan replied, “I love everything about music: the intricacies of the melodies and harmonies weaving together, the give and take of playing music in a group, and its ability to transport listeners to new places.” Reflecting on his persistent passion for music, Alan explained, “I really enjoy music in general, and I’m always looking to improve my technique, either to better serve the bands and orchestras I’m a part of, or to better execute my repertoire.” This gifted student harbors an impressive array of musical accomplishments. He was accepted and participated in the All-Eastern Honor Band and AllState Symphony Orchestra, won honorable mention at the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, performed in the New York Music Festival’s Wind Ensemble, participated in the LIU Post Wind Band Festival, and currently
serves on the GCHS Tri-M Music Honor Society Executive Board as a representative of band. Outside of music, Alan enjoys spending his time playing tennis with his dad and playing video games. “My diverse interests make me who I am. I enjoy pursuing my passions across all different fields, from science to music to even video games. I believe there’s always something that I can do better, and I always strive to improve as an individual by doing what I love.” As many students at Garden City High School can confirm, Alan Jian is outstandingly talented. His high level of musicianship and leadership within his artistic field are truly encouraging to the students in the school. There is no doubt that Alan Jian, a gifted, committed, and inspiring scholar and musician, has a promising future ahead of him.
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Student Spotlight
Alana Campbell:
Polyglot-in-Training by Kaylah Bozkurtian
This past summer of 2017, Garden City High School language student Alana Campbell was afforded the opportunity to study abroad in Cádiz, Spain, for several weeks in July; the opportunity came through the organization Abbey Road, which focuses on sponsorship of cultural and linguistic immersion programs for high school students over breaks in the academic year. Living in an apartment with a native Spaniard of seventy-five years and her daughter of thirty-five years, both incidentally named Adriana, Campbell spent her time roughly a minute’s walk from the beaches of the Pacific. The experience, according to Campbell, was a full firsthand encounter with the sights, sounds, and culture of the Spanish coast, not
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the least of these an overabundance of pigeons. According to Campbell, she has become much more confident and proficient in the Spanish spoken word, having even received compliments from her College Spanish teacher, Mr. Peter Giacalone, stating that she has developed something of a native accent from the region where she resided. When asked about standout experiences from her time in Cádiz, Campbell replied that she couldn’t choose just one--all of her time in Spain was engaging and enriching on both a personal and academic level. She believes that she has grown as a person, and that this trip has further encouraged her to pursue her study of language through to college and beyond.
Campbell, when asked about a potential major and minor, discussed Spanish, Anthropology, and Arabic (which Campbell took classes in during the summer of 2016), among others. This year, she has added Italian to her course load in order to beef up her language roster. Without a doubt, linguistics will play a major role in Campbell’s life in the future, regardless of her future field of expertise; she has even expressed a desire to either study abroad for a year during college, or even complete the entirety of her university education in Spain. When asked which languages she would like to learn in her lifetime, she replied, without hesitation: “All of them!”
Photo Credits: Alana Campbell
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Community News
HOMECOMING by Alexandra Kopcak
The halls of GCHS were buzzing with excitement as homecoming approached. The festivities started with spirit week. Each day the school dressed up for pajama day, America day, color wars, and finally maroon and gray day. It was entertaining to take part in and watch. The week ended with pep rally on Friday, and was extremely fun for the whole school. Each grade worked hard on their section and by Friday, the gym was filled with elaborate posters and the bleachers were covered in colorful paper. Each class had some interesting themes such as: Freshmemes (freshmen), Surf’s Up Sophomores (sophomores), Future so Bright We Gotta Wear Shades (juniors), and finally, Life is a Highway (seniors). Everyone got really into the GC spirit as they participated in cheer-offs and watched each sports team perform a hilarious skit. The event ended with the announcement of the Spirit Award (awarded to the seniors), and the Decoration Award (awarded to
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the sophomores) and the announcement of Homecoming Queen and King. Lauren Durand was Homecoming Queen and Matt Flanagan was Homecoming King. Saturday the whole town gathered for the parade, featuring the Homecoming King and Queen. The parade ended at the school and shortly after, the football game started. The game was really exciting with a final score of 38-0! Not only did the football team have a great game, the town seized the opportunity to contribute to charity. There was a bake sale for breast cancer, courtesy of the volleyball team, and the Miracle Club sold seat cushions to benefit childhood cancer. The halftime show was amazing. Kickline and cheer dazzled the crowd with their amazing routines and marching band gave a magnificent performance. Homecoming is always an exciting time of year, and this year was no exception.
PEP RALLY
Photo Credits: Kaylah Bozkurtian 8
Community News
Marching Band Pays Tribute to
BOBBY MENGES by Liam Dougherty
Earlier this year, the Garden City community was rocked by the tragic loss of a beloved member. Bobby Menges, an admired alumnus of both the High School and the Marching Band, passed away. In honor of Bobby’s memory, the Garden City Marching Band, along with the Cheerleaders and the Kickline, dedicated Homecoming to him. Once the performance was concluded, I, as Drum Major, lifted Bobby Menges’ shako (the hat that is a component of the marching band uniform) and handed it to Brittany Costa, the previous Drum Major. Brittany then presented the shako, which has been preserved in glass, to the Menges family. On the shako, the names of Bobby’s peers in Marching Band were inscribed, immortalizing the impact he had on every single one of us. It has been tradition in the Marching Band that
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every practice ends with a student yelling “We are…” and the band responding with a cry of “G-C-M-B.” The people who are in the band, currently or in the past, are what the Garden City Marching Band is and this tradition reminds us of that. To remind everyone that Bobby is and always will be GCMB, I yelled “We are…” and “G-CM-B” was yelled back, not just by the current members of the band, but by all of the Marching Band alumni in the stands who had come back to Garden City to participate in this remembrance and celebration of Bobby. Bobby’s impact was deeply felt while he was a member of the Marching Band community and it is clear from this touching and powerful ceremony that it will continue to resound for years to come.
“We are GCMB.” “We are GCMB.” “We are GCMB.” “We are GCMB.”
From November 16th through the 18th, the Garden City High School Masquers put on the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This comedic musical follows the story of a wacky spelling bee filled with some unusual characters. The bee is hosted by Rona Peretti, an enthusiastic real-estate agent who lives vicariously through the spellers (played by Annalise LoBiondo). She enlists the help of Vice Principal Douglas Panch who gives some out of the ordinary words as the announcer (played by Will McLaughlin). The kids in the spelling bee range from a lonely, quiet girl to a boy who uses his foot to spell. First we meet last year’s winner, Chip Tolentino (played by Liam Dougherty). Chip is extremely confident in his chances of winning but is surprised when his ‘unfortunate distraction’ causes him to misspell a word and flunk the bee. Next is Miss Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre (played by Amanda Nastasi). Logainne is the youngest competitor at the bee, but don’t let that fool
you! With her fathers’ support she becomes one of the fiercest spellers in the show, only to fail when she overcomplicates a word in the finals. Leaf Coneybear is quite the oddball (played by Brian Ingegno). He is homeschooled in a small, woodland part of Putnam. Although he seems like he is not that smart, he proves his place in the bee. Sadly, Leaf is eliminated by misspelling the word “chinchilla”. Miss Marcy Park is the bee’s smartest speller (played by Lexi Spera). She succeeds at everything she does and is not allowed to experience failure. Eventually this becomes her downfall when she has a spiritual awakening with Jesus and decides it is time for her to fly! She purposely misspells the word ‘camouflage’, causing her to leave the bee with immense joy. Next we have the bee’s most timid competitor, Miss Olive Ostrovsky (played by Lara Abruzzo) who is a shy girl whose parents have left her alone at the bee. We see her sadness unfolded in ‘The I Love You Song’ with her parents (played by Alex
by Annalise LoBiondo
Davidson and George Arianas). Olive comes in second in the bee after misspelling the word “elanguescence”. Mr. William Barfee is the strangest competitor at the bee (played by Anthony Boccia). His spelling technique requires the use of his foot, or as he calls it, the Magic Foot. William ends up winning the Putnam Bee and becoming good friends with Olive along the way. The end of the show is a ‘where are they now’ segment in which we see where the adults and kids have gone in life after their time at the bee. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was a light, refreshing show that satisfied both kids and parents. People gave rave reviews and the crowds went wild with laughter every night. The feeling onstage that weekend was pure electric, bringing a new and exciting feeling to the cast and crew each night. Overall, the show was a complete success. May it go down as one of the best shows in Garden City High School history!
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Community News
HALLOW
Holiday Helping H
The Spanish National Hono pleased to announce that mem ed a total of three hundred dollars in funds toward relie cane Maria in Puerto Rico, a cal Anti-Bullying organizatio dollars were collected throu een-themed candy-corn raffl hundred dollars were collecte holiday bake sale. From the tional Honor Society, thank y participated.
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-- Kaylah B Co
Heartfelt Holiday Party Recently, members of the Heart to Heart club took a trip to Madonna Heights, where they interacted with foster children and their families. As soon as the children arrived, their faces lit up after seeing the tables covered in multiple arts and crafts activities. Other stations had board games, and the club even set up nail-polishing and face-painting stations. The club also arranged for food to be catered, which was served throughout the party by Heart to Heart volunteers. Later in the day, Santa Claus visited Madonna Heights and delivered presents to all of the foster children. Club members also volunteered at a book station where the attendees of the party could choose age-appropriate books to take home. Books that were not already taken by the families were donated to charity. Overall, the Heart to Heart club enjoyed the trip and looks forward to their return next year.
-- Julia Remick, Club Member
WEEN AT GCHS 2017
Hand
or Society is mbers collectand fifty-nine ef from Hurrias well as loons. Fifty-nine ugh a Hallowffle, and three ed through the e Spanish Nayou to all who
Bozkurtian, o-President
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Community News
Library Tutoring Opportunities by Kaylah Bozkurtian
Many Garden City High School students, upper- and under-classmen included, remain unaware of the resources available to them in the school library. Having trouble with math, science, or even Spanish? In the designated “Homework Helpers” section— the librarians can easily direct you—both the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society offer free tutoring by upperclassmen volunteers in a range of subjects. Nearly every day, students are available during lunch periods (periods 5, 6, and
7) to assist their peers toward scholastic success. For the Spanish Honor Society, specifically, the tutoring calendar is posted on Señora Beckner’s webpage on the school website, with a list of names and lunch periods to inform interested students who is available and when. In addition to the free tutoring available during school hours, both organizations offer out-of-school tutoring options, though these are paid, and not on a volunteer basis. If students are interested in a tutor outside
of school in one of their core subjects, they should fill out the Tutor Request Form found on Ms. Young’s webpage on the high school website. For Spanish tutoring, exclusively, students should contact Señora Beckner via the email address on her webpage. Don’t be nervous to take advantage of the resources available to you here at Garden City High School. We all work to build each other up, and academic assistance is included in that promise.
Test-Taking Tip
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A large part of being a high school student is of course, test taking. Now, we have all taken our fair share of tests. Granted, some of these tests have gone (much) better than others. If foresee tests in your future, here are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable.
1) Breathe.
2) Bring a mint.
3) Get comfy.
Before you even write your name down on the test it will be beneficial to take 30 seconds to focus on your breathing. In through your nose and out through your mouth. While you’re focusing on your breathing, try and grip onto your seat gently. The combination of breathing and tactile touch will make you feel more centered and calm. It’s important to take a second to calm down and gather your thoughts before a test.
Or more specifically, bring a peppermint. Studies have shown that peppermint stimulates the hippocampus area of the brain which controls mental clarity and alertness. How does this affect you? Well, when you are about halfway through a test or find yourself becoming frustrated try this method of eating a peppermint.
It’s important that you are not distracted by factors you can control during a test. Try bringing a sweatshirt incase you get cold. If the testing room is too hot, you can use your sweatshirt as a cushion. Eating a good breakfast the day of a test is important. Foods high in protein, such as eggs, are a good breakfast choice to keep you full and focused for your test.
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COLLEGE APPLICATIONS: COMMON APP V. COALITION APP by Meghan Galligan Applying to college can be a stressful and scary time for any senior. As the seniors begin to apply to their choice schools, they are required to fill out either the common application, the coalition or both! To many seniors, it is frustrating that all the schools aren’t on one website; “It’s stressful and adds extra repetitive paperwork.” senior Gabby Yepes exclaimed. Each website has its own specific questionnaires and essay requirements different from the other. The common app covers about 700 schools as opposed to the coalition app that only covers about 120. However, all eight Ivy League schools are included
4) Don’t go for the extremes. This tip is specific for multiple choice questions. In general, the choices that include extreme adjectives such as ‘never’ or ‘always’ can be ruled out. These answer choices typically are too specific to be true.
in the Coalition Application. The main difference between the Common Application and the later established Coalition Application is that the Coalition claims to give lower-resourced and underrepresented students more help. For example, the Coalition Application will only accept colleges and universities who agree to and prove that they provide substantial support through financial aid or scholarships. The Common App, on the other hand, does not have that requirement for schools to be on their website. Another difference between the two competing websites is that the Common App allows you to add up to 10 activities that you
5) Be confident. When you sit down to take a test, know that you have been well prepared. If you have been attentive in class, done your homework, studied in advance, and have done practice problems you are ready to conquer your test. Take your test with confidence.
have taken part in in or out of school. The coalition app only allows 8. Many seniors, including myself, have been frustrated with the small space you are expected to input all your passions into. Adding only 8 activities could potentially leave no room for some of your favorite activities. If some students are deciding on which app would be better to fill out if only doing one, the Common Application may be the better choice. It includes and represents many more schools and allows you to input more activities.
REVIEW & SUBMIT
Test taking is a part of life. If you do poorly on one test, the world will continue to spin. Testing is about learning from your mistakes and seeking out teachers’ help when you need it.
by Julia Remick
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Community News
Backpacks Making A Comeback by Gabby Yepes The first day of school is a big event. People are reunited, learning begins, and new trends emerge. Last year, popular trends channeled 90’s nostalgia with the comeback of chokers and Adidas shoes. This year seems no different. You may have noticed, while walking the hallways of Garden City High School, that girls have been wearing two-strap backpacks to carry their belongings instead of the typical messenger or tote bag. Once again, the student
body travels back in time for trends, and this one has spread through the school, especially noticeable in the lower grades. Why the switch? Maybe because it helps lessen strain on the back, or because people just find them more stylish. Personally, I fully support this trend. I find backpacks more comfortable than messenger bags or totes, especially during midterms and finals weeks when the bookload
is high. Backpacks are also appealing because they offer more space for both books and everyday items. It can be time consuming to rummage through a bottomless tote bag for a pencil or bobby pin when in a backpack, everything has a place. Next time you’re walking through the halls, look around and see if you can spot any up and coming trends!
HOPE Club: The Return of Recycling by Matt Fiore
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In 2014 recycling stopped at Garden City High School due to the expiration of a contract. Ever since, the H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Planet Earth) Club has been working rigorously to reinstitute a new program. This year the school made a deal with the Garden City Village’s recycling collection. HOPE is encouraging students to recycle throughout the building. Located in each classroom are can/bottle recycling bins. Located in the department offices are paper recycling bins, intended for teacher use. Jack McKernan, president of the
HOPE club, was disappointed when the recycling contract expired during his freshman year. Now a senior, Jack is happy to see a new initiative in school and believes that “any little difference counts,” when it comes to recycling. Mr. Wiedenhoft, the club advisor, is pleased with the new recycling program. He says that, “as long as stuff gets recycled,” he will be happy. The recycling program teaches students to be aware of what they are throwing away. Awareness of our actions will lead to better decisions and a cleaner planet.
National News
Hurricanes Harvey & Irma By: Matthew Fiore
The summer of 2017 was quite mild in New York. With only a week or two of extremely hot weather, New Yorkers lucked out from June to the very end of September. However, throughout the Caribbean and the southern United States, hurricane season was a major factor in the end of this summer. Both Hurricanes Irma and Harvey made landfall in the United States, and Hurricane Maria destroyed the entire island of Puerto Rico. In New York, we only felt the remnants of these storms in the form of rain; Hurricane Jose we felt in the form of major storm surge on our many barrier islands. These storms only showed a glimpse of what the Caribbean and the southern United States felt.
Hurricane Harvey:
From being noticed as Invest 911 on August 13, to reaching New York as a rainstorm over Labor Day Weekend, Hurricane Harvey came a long way from when it formed. As it made landfall on August 25, Harvey brought torrential rain and massive flooding to Texas. It first made landfall over Rockport, Texas, as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing 130 mph winds, as it arrived. Then, as it nearly stopped over the state, Harvey went back out to sea along the coast and made a second land-
fall near Cameron, Louisiana, on August 30. Leaving Texas in ruins, Harvey continued along leaving reports of over sixty inches of rainfall in some parts. This nasty hurricane will definitely be remembered for its devastating flooding in southeastern Texas and take years to completely recover from.
Hurricane Irma:
Not only did Hurricane Harvey have a major effect on the southern United States, but so did Hurricane Irma. As it left the Caribbean destroyed by its massive flooding and very strong winds, Irma made a turn north, headed straight for the Florida Keys. When it made landfall in Key West as a Category 4 hurricane, it luckily lost some strength, and resulted in less of an impact on the rest of Florida. Although much of the state was evacuated, the damage was nowhere near as extensive as it was thought it would be. Towns and cities were supposed to be completely flooded due to the storm surge; luckily, the damage was much less than it was predicted. As many as 20.6 million residents were without power, but many of these people were just grateful to have a home.
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National News
A Wave of Populism Across Europe Populism is a political ideology centered around the idea that the politician should stand for the concerns of the common people. Recently, populism has evolved in Europe and has been more about instilling a fear of people that are not white, European, or either a Roman Catholic or Protestant. Populists have stoked fear against the Muslim refugees in Europe and Mexicans in the United States. Another idea that has become central to the most recent strain of populism is the attack on globalism, which is the planning of economic and foreign policy on a global basis. Recently, populist politicians have been creating this type of anti-foreigner fear as their main campaign message across Europe. The Le Pen name comes with a bad connotation in France, where many past Le Pens have been known to be extremely nationalistic, antisemitic, and racist. When Marine Le Pen took over the French National Front (a far right political party), she expelled her father for making controversial statements, as well as other members of the party for being accused of racism or antisemitism. Marine Le Pen claims to stand up for the “common people,” meaning only native French people, and she takes a hard stance on immigration. However, she failed to win over France with her controversial views. She lost to Emmanuel Macron, another politician who supports open borders and more traditional French policies. She lost with only 34% of the French population voting for her, but she beat out two
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other candidates, something not seen before in a long time for populists. This goes to show that populism is on the rise in Europe, where populists had little to no power at the time of the last election. Populism also failed to prevail in the Netherlands, where Geert Wilders, who falls to the far right on the political spectrum, lost to Mark Rutte, the leader of the Netherlands since 2010. Geert Wilders has said such things as “I don’t hate Muslims, I hate Islam” and many more controversial statements. As with Marine Le Pen and other popular populists, he is against the immigration of Muslims from war zones in the Middle East to Europe. The turnout for the most recent election was 82% of people living in the Netherlands, a record high turnout for both sides of the political spectrum. This contrasts the low turnout of 58% in the United States, showing that people were much more passionate in the Netherlands about being for or against the candidates. However, Rutte’s party won thirty-three seats out of one hundred-fifty seats in total. The seats have been split among eleven different parties, where a majority of seventy-six seats is required to properly govern. However, coalitions between different parties are common in both houses, lower and upper. Through all their losses in the Dutch and French elections, populists did win in their goal to separate Britain from the European Union a year earlier, a move that separates Britain from
the larger continent and is a setback for globalism. Many opponents from both sides came out to say “Yes” or “No” to the separation of Britain from the European Union. In the end, 52% of people voted to leave and 48% voted to stay. It was a close race with a win for populism. Boris Johnson, a german-born Brit, was the leading force in the movement to leave the European Union. Austria is another country where populism experienced a recent win when right wing politician Sebastian Kurz won the presidency in Austria. Sebastian Kurz, 31, is currently the youngest leader in all of Europe and he been continuously called a “wonder child” by far right politicians. Sebastian Kurz’s current goals are to form a right-wing “Freedom Party” coalition to join together all the right-leaning politicians, build a 2.5 mile fence along Austria’s small border with Slovenia, and to abolish Muslim kindergartens and schools because he claims they create “parallel societies” and deviate from the norm of Austria. Some of these attitudes should sound familiar to Americans, since another populist, Donald Trump, has a similarly isolating goal: to build a barrier along the United States’ southern border with Mexico. It is clear from recent elections that from the Netherlands, to France, to Europe, to Austria, the popularity of populism is increasing in Europe, whether you want to believe it or not.
by Brandon Noll
Calm Before The Storm? For the past few months, North Korea has been on everyone’s mind, in the United States and across the world. Whether it be a missile flying over Japan or Kim Jong Un claiming that he can hit all of the continental United States, you’ve heard of it. The conflict involving Korea and the U.S. first erupted during the Korean War. After World War 2, the Soviet Union and the Americans were dividing the conquered lands between themselves to decide who would control them. The U.S. gained control of Japan because they had made them surrender first using the atomic bombs, and the Soviet Union took China because they were making their way through China, trying to get to Japan before the Americans. However, the once unified country was split between the both of them in 1945, the North being under control of the Soviet Union and the United States controlling the Southern portion of the peninsula. Both countries built up their sides of the peninsula, rebuilding infrastructure and giving the North and South military supplies. The Soviet Union gave leadership of the North to Kim Il
by Brandon Noll
Sung, father to Kim Jong Il and grandfather to Kim Jong Un. In 1950, Josef Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, gave permission to Kim Il Sung to attack the South and try to put all of Korea under communism. However, at the same time the Americans were trying to make all of the Korean peninsula democratic. A truce was called and Korea was split at the 38th parallel. However, the war has not officially ended to this day. No peace treaty has been signed and the 38th parallel, or DMZ (demilitarized zone), is the most protected border in the world. The problems recently in North and South Korea have been the cause of increased American pressure on North Korea, with North Korea replying back with missile tests and threats to the United States. The past three presidents, Clinton, Bush and Obama, have all taken about the same definitive stance on North Korea. All three presidents have initiated military sanctions and made threats to North Korea, such as Obama threatening to use the “military might” of the United States and in all three presidencies, North Korea has done the same.
They have continued to make threats back to the United States and advance their military and nuclear programs. In these ways, the threats and tests that North Korea have been doing are nothing out of the ordinary, for the past 25 years. However, this presidency has responded differently than the rest. President Trump has called Kim Jong Un “rocket man” and has said he will come down on North Korea with “fire and fury”. Additionally, he has taunted Kim Jong Un, claiming on Twitter that he has a much bigger nuclear button than the North Korean leader. The situation escalated as North Korea responded with even more missile tests and worse threats than ever before. North Korea has threatened to “destroy” Japan, our ally, and test hydrogen bombs in the Pacific Ocean. Threats like these should not be treated like jokes. Without proper diplomatic action by both the United States and North Korea, it is a dangerous road that we’re heading down.
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Sports
Trojans Football Cruise to Conclusion of Perfect Season by David Blicksilver
The Garden City Trojans cruised to yet another perfect regular season (8-0). They successfully captured home wins against South Side, Elmont, Calhoun and Carey and went on the road to defeat MacArthur, Bellmore JFK, Valley Stream Central and Mepham. Garden City opened the year at home as the defending LIC and Rutgers’ Cup Champions against the South Side High School Cyclones. The team wasted no time before Senior captain Andrew DeSantis ran in a 4 yard TD for GC’s first of the year and Senior kicker Steven Spirakis hit an extra point to give GC their first lead 5:26 into the new season. DeSantis would add another touchdown later that quarter before the juniors took over. Trevor Yeboah-Kodie scored two touchdowns including a 24 yard reception from Colin Hart. Hart added another TD to senior Tyler Wuchte in the third quarter which enabled Garden City to claim their opener 38-7. The Trojans headed to MacArthur next week for a matchup against the Generals. It didn’t take long for Trevor Yeboah-Kodie to find the end zone again which was assisted by two first half field goals by kicker Steven Spirakis, bringing his season total to 3. The second half saw Yeboah-Kodie get his fourth touchdown of the year on a 61 yard run as well as Colin Hart running in for a score. GC won week 2, 27-3. Garden City went into week 32 traveling to Bellmore JFK to face the Cougars where they had no issue winning
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55-7. The Trojans headed home to face the Elmont Spartans on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. Little did everyone know that this game would be one for the ages. The first play of the game saw an incredible trick play where Colin Hart was able to connect with Trevor Yeboah-Kodie for an 80 yard pass and GC was in front just 15 seconds into the contest. Spirakis added another field goal to his name and it was 10-0 at the end of the first. Garden City wasted no time scoring at the start of the second quarter, when, this time 16 seconds in, Trevor ran for 16 yards to give him his second TD of the afternoon. Then, just 1:24 seconds later, Trevor got his 3rd TD on an 8 yard run. GC wasn’t done yet. The second quarter saw a 71-yard run by QB Colin Hart as well as a 3 yard run by Trevor, those TDs coming just 2 minutes apart and giving Trevor his fourth of the afternoon. GC lead 38-0 at the half. The third quarter was when it happened, with 3:21 remaining, Trevor Yeboah-Kodie got a TD from 6 yards out, giving him his fifth of the afternoon. That 5th touchdown tied a 30 year long record set by Peter Case twice (once in 1986 and once in 1987) for most touchdowns in a single game. GC won 45-7. Spirakis was 6/6 on XP and 1/1 on FG. Game 5 was a home matchup against the Calhoun Colts where it was QB Colin Hart’s turn to put on a show. Hart threw 3 first-quarter touchdowns, hitting
Seniors Kyle Steinbach and Cole Dutton twice. The only Calhoun TD came on defense when they intercepted Hart’s pass which was returned for a TD. However, Hart quickly recovered, and 3:45 later, found Trevor Yeboah-Kodie through the air for a 65 yard TD. In the third, senior Patrick Leggett found the endzone on a nine yard rush. Spirakis once again went 6/6 on XP. Homecoming was week 6 against Carey and Warren King Field was rocking. A massive crowd was on hand to see GC play the Seahawks of Carey. Spirakis successfully hit a 37 yard field goal and Trevor Yeboah-Kodie had a 19 yard TD and Colin Hart found Justin Coppola for a 38 yd TD pass. In the second, Trevor ran a TD from 12 yards and Colin Hart connected with Cole Dutton for a 58 yard pass. In the fourth quarter, junior Joe Scattareggia ran in a TD and GC went on to shut out Carey on Homecoming 2017, 38-0. Spirakis went 5/5 on XP and 1/1 on FG. GC would head out on the road to face Valley Stream Central and Mepham in their last two games of the regular season and win 42-7 and 34-12 respectively. The Trojans clinched the number 1 seed with their win at Mepham and will host Bellmore JFK Cougars on Friday November 3rd for the first round of the playoffs at Warren King Field. The Trojans ended the season on yet another high note when they beat North Babylon to win the Rutgers Cup, establishing themselves as the Long Island Champions.
Girls Varsity Soccer Season Recap by Catherine Schick Rolling off of a trip to the State Finals last season, we knew that we were filling big shoes. Grueling summer training sessions and intense workouts created a fresh group of finely tuned machines, ready to take on the challenge. However, this year proved to be a learning experience, as we initially struggled with our structure and communication. Loss after loss came to us early in the season, delivering crushing blows to our captains and seniors. To some, the season felt over before it even began; Garden City’s luck was thought to have run out, and our competition seemed to thrive under our insecurity. At the halfway point of the season, Coaches Heedles and McAuley could sense our frustration and delivered speeches saying that yes, our luck may have run out, but at this point we needed to make our own luck. The season is what we make of it, and whether or not that ends in a county title is ultimately up to each and every
player going after those fifty-fifty balls. Fired up, we set out on a mission to prove something not to others but to ourselves; we had the skill, the power, and the chemistry to pull off something great, but all we needed was the right attitude and motivation to turn our season around. Our team took the offensive, scoring goals left and right and shocking our competition. We were determined to be taken seriously because we were Garden City, and we would not go down easily. As the wins began to add up, it was clear that something had changed, so we worked harder and pushed ourselves to our limits. It was unfortunate that this incredible turnaround came so late in the season, however, because we were not placed in an ideal playoff bracket. We had tough competition, and ended up losing much earlier than in past years. For many of us, the fact that our season was over didn’t even seem real. In my past years on the team, we always advanced to the County
Finals and defeated Southside for the title; to me, that was the way it always went, and so I felt lost for my first few days post-season without a Nassau County Championship. Halloween rolled around, and there was no practice to go to afterward. Something felt missing, and I was sure of one thing: this is not over yet. Our season ending early made us reach out to each other in any way we could, drawing us closer than we’ve ever been before. No one wanted to let go of what we had, and I don’t think any of us ever will. While losing early in playoffs is definitely upsetting, in no way would I call this season an “upset”. At this point, I continue to reflect on Heedles’ idea of creating my own luck and crafting my own experience. Looking back, the few months I spent on this team were some of the greatest of my life, and were in no way influenced by the score or our place in the rankings. To me, the true joy of this team came from the players. Without the late night pasta parties and the team bonding sessions, it would not have been the same team, and I would not have had the amazing experience that I did. So now, having finished my third and final season on varsity soccer, I understand that my love of the game is a result of the incredible girls that I have had the privilege of getting to know over the years. In no world would I trade this priceless experience for another county title (especially since I already have two, but who’s counting?)
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Reviews
When Breath Becomes Air: Book Review by Mary Foxen
When Breath Becomes Air is an autobiography crafted by the neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi. The author describes his unique experience as he suffers from lung cancer in the perspective both as a patient and a doctor. He tells his life story starting from his early childhood to his years in college and training to living with cancer. Kalanithi explores the idea of the meaning of life. Paul Kalanithi is constantly reminded of death un-
til his passing at the age of 37. During his cancer, he analyzes the importance of emotion and how there will always be a lasting gap between science and the human experience. Paul Kalanithi never feels sorry for himself or wants the reader to feel pity. Despite the book being unfinished at the time of his death, it is his effort to show and explain the importance of life and how lucky human beings are to live.
Paul Kalanithi artfully brings together the paradoxical feeling of being both the patient and doctor. His words enlighten the reader giving a deeper insight into life philosophies such as love, time, and emotion. When Breath Becomes Air is a book which should be studied in all high schools. Paul Kalanithi inspires people around the world with his masterly wording accomplishing so much more than just telling his story.
Stephen King’s “It” by Lana Hess Stephen King is at “IT” again! Director Andy Muschietti’s remake of the 1986 classic horror movie is scarier, better and more nightmarish than ever! The screenplay is adapted by Cary Fukanag, Chase Palmer, and Gary Daubeman. In typical King style, the story takes place in Derry, Maine. The opening scene will have you jumping out of your seats. Immediately, the moviegoer is transported back to 1988 and begins to engage with the kids who are unfortunate enough to live in Stephen King’s world. The film stars Jaeden Lieberher as Bill, the leader of the
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“losers,” and Bill Skargard as Pennywise the dancing clown. Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Jack Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton and Jackson Robert Scott rounding out the pack of neighborhood misfits. For horror movie fans this movie is about as good as it gets. The basic story revolves around the weird occurrences in the town of Derry, Maine. The pack of kids find each other by happenstance as they investigate what happens in the town. This story is as much about friendship and growing up, as it is a horror film. That’s
what makes it engaging as a moviegoer and a Stephen King fan. It has a bit of everything thrown in: mystery, romance, creepy clowns, bullies and even a haunted house. The film is well paced with humor interspersed between the suspense and the ending leaves you feeling satisfied. The scary scenes that I managed to keep my eyes open fo, were super intense and gory. This movie is definitely not for people with a weak stomach. The CGI and special effects brings it all to life. Overall it was great, and I’m looking forward to the sequel!
by In 1981, five young, gay men from Los Angeles witnessed their previously healthy reflections grow gray and cadaverous when their immune systems suddenly failed them. In 1983, the virus spreading rapidly among homosexual men was found and identified for the first time. And in 1989, President Ronald Reagan left office without ever once having acknowledged the term AIDS. The term AIDS, standing for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, was coined in 1982 and spread almost as rampantly as the HIV virus itself, which causes the disease and has taken the lives of more than 35 million people globally. The LGBTQ+ community was, demographically speaking, the most harshly affected by the crisis, and millions of gay men and lesbians, especially those of color, entered the 90’s feeling neglected by a silent government. Aside from mainstream media and its medical, statistical coverage of the epidemic, the LGBTQ+ community needed representation of its struggle with emotions attached; ask any member of the community above 40 years old today, or most above 30, and the odds are that they have lost someone they loved to HIV and AIDS. In 1990, a gay, Jewish New Yorker by the name of William Finn opened his show Falsettoland off-Broadway at the Playwrights Horizons theatre, and the history of musical theatre has not been the same since. Falsettoland is the final one act musical in what fans of the composer, William Finn, refer to as “The Marvin Trilogy”, so called because all three revolve around the character Marvin; Falsettoland is preced-
ed by In Trousers and March of the Falsettos, which chronicle Marvin failing to come to terms with his homosexuality in high school, marrying a straight woman, and leaving his wife and son for the man he is in love with. Despite all the action of the first two musicals, Falsettoland is undoubtedly the most significant, as its characters represent nearly the entire spectrum of those in or related to the LGBTQ+ community who were and are affected by the AIDS crisis. Marvin is the link between all the other characters, and represents both the large number of gay men who take years of straight marriage to even acknowledge their true selves, and the lovers left behind to mourn by AIDS victims; it is also implied that Marvin is diagnosed with AIDS some time after the show ends. Whizzer, Marvin’s lover, is symbolic of the victims themselves; his death at the end of the musical, though heart-wrenching, is crucial to Finn’s raw portrayal of the epidemic as the tragic, life-altering event that it was and continues to be. Trina and Jason, Marvin’s ex-wife and son, respectively, are characters with which the families of gay men can identify. Even straight men who are allies can see themselves in Mendel. Finally, the “lesbians from next door”, Cordelia and Dr. Charlotte, hold a place for the lesbians and friends of gay men who stood by in solidarity while their community was wracked with devastation. This devastation is extremely potent for Dr. Charlotte and physicians like her, since they had no choice but to live in ignorance and let patients die without government funded AIDS
Alexandra Kucich
research. In 1992, March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland were combined into a two act musical, simply titled Falsettos, which was revived in 2016. This was especially brave of Finn since his work marked the first musical theatre production to deal with the AIDS issue head on; Rent would not be produced for another four years. With brilliant new set design and a cast studded with Broadway stars, the revival of William Finn’s beloved masterpiece in the Walter Kerr theatre rocked social media, earned nominations for 12 academy awards, and was even screened in movie theatres since the Broadway run was limited; the revival grew so popular that the movie theatre run sold out at AMC theatres nationwide and was extended. Popularizing Falsettos among a newer generation has served to educate thousands of LGBTQ+ youth about the AIDS crisis, and, frighteningly, the material seems more relevant than ever in today’s political climate. Just as it was when Falsettoland takes place in 1981, the government is taking a deplorable stance on LGBTQ+ issues, and though the number of yearly deaths caused by the HIV virus has dramatically decreased since the epidemic’s peak in 1995, the disease has yet to be eradicated, especially in areas where education on the topic is lacking. Now, more than ever, shows like Falsettos are needed to remind us of the reality of such recent history, keep the topic of AIDS education in the spotlight, and to serve as a warning of the tragedies that we cannot afford to repeat.
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Reviews
Artist Focus: Keith Haring
by Victoria Ferraro
Keith Haring, I feel, is one of the most influential artists ever. Haring was a social activist who had a strong understanding of birth, death, sexuality, war, and drug use. He also graduated from SVA, or the School of Visual Arts, in New York, in 1978. The very beginning of his art was inspired by graffiti on trains and buildings at the time when graffiti art was at its climax. Haring began to sketch out ideas, which then led to the birth of his forever iconic cartoons, like the crawling baby or barking dog. The murals he did usually reflected urban America at the time, which definitely caught people’s attention. Keith also made chalk drawings by using empty subway panels. I think it was very brave of him to address important topics through art, even knowing it would soon be covered with advertisements later on. Haring’s creativity could not be contained, as he had create murals on buildings and walls all over the world, like the Berlin Wall. But what really makes Haring stand out is that he himself was an HIV/ AIDS activist that had suffered and unfortunately died from the disease’s complica-
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tions. The fact that he speaks out for other people through his work, and himself, is telling of Haring’s true character: a fighter and a lover. One piece of his that I find extremely significant is his work called “Ignorance=Fear”. It touches base with the importance of having safe sex, as well as fighting HIV/AIDs, and that if you don’t speak up, it could lead to death. The art itself speaks a million words. It includes three cartoon figures, one of each covering their eyes, ears, and mouth. This could relate to the Chinese principle “speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil.” In this case, “evil” is the HIV/ AIDS disease. Hearing or seeing no evil means that no one should judge something as evil, every opinion must be listened and responded to without prejudice. If someone notices something, they should take more time to acquire knowledge, rather than calling it “evil” out of fear or ignorance. Speaking of no evil refers to the fact that our words should carry pure intentions, not be laden with hidden intentions to hurt or lack of empathy. The second piece I feel is significant is called
“Tree of Life’. This artwork is yet another message about HIV/AIDs. In this piece he depicts a tree as the “tree of life” as the leaves have cartoon figures growing out of them, representing the “unity of humanity”, probably due to the fact that Haring suffered from HIV/AIDs. Because of his disease’s challenges and society’s outlook on it, stigma surrounded anyone with HIV/AIDs. Below the tree, there are more cartoon figures attempting to intertwine with the people growing from the leaves, as if they were to blend groups of people together. The main theme of this work is the celebration of life. In conclusion, Keith Haring definitely serves as one of the most influential artists in the 20th Century because he promoted positivity, equality, and peace through his artwork. I think anyone who has a passion for social activists and standing up for rights should review Keith Haring’s work and analyze it. His pieces speak a thousand words.
Remember The Outsiders? Most of Us Do. Here’s Why It Was Such A Popular Book: by Ashyln Mullan The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton was a controversial book at its time of publication, which was the late 60’s. The book was banned in school and college libraries because the book portrayed underage drinking, smoking, gang war, and family dysfunction. However, now, The Outsiders is being used as a book to read and do work on in many schools. This book is a good
choice for young adults and teens to read in class because S.E. Hinton began writing this novel at 15 years old, therefore her young thinking, writing, and adolescent experience provides a connection with young readers. It is important for students to have an interest in what they are reading and learning. In fact, Garden City High School senior Kaylah Boz-
kurtian says, “It was the first book I bought for myself. I liked it so much that I wanted my own copy.” The Outsiders has gone from being sold as a drugstore paperback to a position of popularity and importance in the lives of students across the country. The Outsiders has made a comeback.
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