Hoofbeats february 2018 pdf by Jason Boland

In danger of ending District puts an end to progress reports by Maritsa Koutsouras Editor-in-Chief

Progress reports are oﬃcially being removed, so don’t expect to see them around anymore. As of the second marking period, students and parents will no longer see comments such as “Work is satisfactory” or “A pleasure to have in class” in the middle of a marking period. While progress reports were meant to show how a student is doing halfway through the quarter, giving failing students a chance to turn it around, reports always came out later than they were expected, sometimes even at the end of the quarter. This is one of the main reasons Principal Nicole Hollings and administration decided to scratch progress reports for the next semester and the following years. Getting rid of progress reports also makes it easier on administration and teachers because it is one less thing to worry about. “Because the Infinite Campus portal is open and grades are readily available all the time, progress reports are no longer necessary,” Ms. Hollings said. She and many other teachers believe that since grades change frequently and can now be seen online, progress reports aren’t necessary and that checking the portal is a better option. “Progress reports were there to give parents an understanding of where their child was performing,” said Mr. Brian Moeller, a social studies teacher. “With the open portal, parents can see all the

Students attend Women’s March page 3

grades daily which made the progress report redundant.” Since the portal is consistently open (except for the two weeks before grades come out), many teachers believe that it is a more eﬃcient way to assess how a student is doing. Yes, the parent portal does only show grades and not commentary as to how hard a student is working, but it is important that students also take initiative to see their teachers if they feel they

are doing poorly. The loss of progress reports won’t have a huge impact on many. The real issue is for those who wouldn’t check either one. English teacher Mr. Sean Formato said, “I think one of the big things the district needs to look into is tracking portal log-ins.” This would definitely help solve the issue of parents and or students using the excuse that they don’t know their grades when

most teachers always post them. Also, if a student is failing or doing poorly, teachers can always communicate by phone or e-mail. Many students believe that progress reports are redundant and most who care check up on things digitally on the portal. One complaint many students had is that the portal shuts down two weeks before grades come out and they aren’t able to see their grades when it matters most.

Ready to rock

(photo by Kate Derwin)

Seniors Megan Parr and Rachel Roth as cast members for On Tour’s production of “We Will Rock You,” a musical featuring the music of Queen.

It’s our time: Generation Z page 4

Fans battle over ‘The Last Jedi’ pages 8 & 9

Hoofbeats

February 2018

NEWS

Buddies step it up by Jessica Lin News Editor

Faculty and students celebrated unity and acceptance by showcasing their talents at the first “Step Up Stand Up Challenge.” Hosted by the International Buddy Club (IBC), the afternoon’s acts varied from singing and dancing to slam poetry and speed painting.

that were nothing short of empowering, motivating, and informative. Freshman Kacie McKeever, recited a speech she wrote, titled “People with Disabilities.” Treating it like a TED Talk, she managed to engage with the crowd on a personal level. McKeever shared her experience with art and drawing, connecting it to Vincent Van Gogh’s. She earned the audience’s

relationship that is suppressed because it is seen as socially unacceptable. The performers’ emotions were evident and the meaning behind the song fit perfectly with the theme on the show. Foo achieved “Best Overall” with her performance of “Warrior,” by Demi Lovato. She said she chose to perform this song to “motivate others to be okay with

(photo by Jessica Lin)

The International Buddy Club hosted the first-ever “Step up Stand up Challenge” and featured singing, dancing, and slam poetry.

The event also included a plethora of informative videos that shared the international students’ experiences in the United States. For Ms. Heather Glick, club advisor, the SUP SUP event was designed to provide students who are “frustrated with inequality, abuse, racism, discrimination, and perjury they might see around them or in society or politics,” with the opportunity to voice their beliefs and make a change. The show started with juniors Senya Huda and Erin Foo, who MC’ed, introducing “P.S. I Love You Day.” This awareness day coincidentally fell on the same day the club planned to hold its SUP SUP Challenge. “P.S. I Love You Day” was created to spread love in order to decrease bullying and promote mental health awareness, some topics that IBC strongly supports as well. The audience and judges enjoyed a diverse set performances

applause, as well as the “Most Inspiring” award. McKeever participated in the SUP SUP event because she “loves standing up for what I believe in.” Omar Alvarenga and Francisco Villatoro presented their video, “Central American Immigration.” They strived to reach the audience by way of information. The spectators learned about how Central Americans immigrate to the United States, including their struggles along the journey. Alvarenga and Villatoro expressed how significant the topic of immigration was to their past experience, present development, and future growth. Spectrum, a freshmen group composed of Stefanie Giannuzzi, Rebecca Sirof, and Tali Gekhman, sang “Secret Love Song, Part II” Little Mix. Stefanie, who played the guitar, stated that she enjoyed the feeling of “standing up for what [she] believed in.” The song delves into an LGBT

who they are.” Certainly delivering, she stunned the audience with her belts and deep emotion. Foo, who has overcome her stage fright, continues to share her talent and while empowering peers through the lyrics that

she sings. When Foo performs, it is clear that she is reaching a certain part of herself to convey a genuine feeling, which is why she connects with the crowd so well. Maya Persaud and Sarah Encarnacion of the group NOBYL were accompanied by Jessenia Mejia on stage; they shared an original remix of “Doo-Wop (That Thing),” by Lauryn Hill. Persaud rewrote and sang the lyrics, Encarnacion played the cajón (a percussion instrument original to Peru), and Mejia played the piano. Eduardo Fernandez and Sammy Ponce, both English as a New Language (ENL) students, ended the event with a silent comedy and magic combo act. Titled “Humor is Universal,” the students covered their mouths with tape to express how humor transcends all language barriers and needs to translation. The crowd laughed out loud, intensely watching their every move. The two won “Most Creative” and shared that their favorite part of the show was the audience and the pressure. After the show, sophomore Katie Ferrugia said, “I really enjoyed it. Everyone was super passionate about their pieces.” Ayana Oancea, who came to support her friends, described the SUP SUP Challenge as a show where “people got over their fears and anxiety about performing in order to exhibit their opinions, share their culture, and have their voices heard.” Aside from the audience, the teachers invited to serve as judges thoroughly enjoyed the performances, describing them as “moving” and “inspiring.” Ms. Christina Clarke recognized the (See BUDDY on page 15)

(photo by Jessica Lin)

Eduardo Fernandez and Sammy Ponce performed a silent comedy and magic act.

News

February 2018

Hoofbeats

Marching forward Students proudly attend Women’s March by Faith Maldonado Staﬀ Writer

When asked to describe her personal experience at the NYC Women’s March, junior Sabrina Schmitt had but a one word reply: “invigorating.” On January 20th, over 200,000 protesters took the streets of Manhattan for the second annual Women’s March. Donning pink hats and brandishing colorful posters, the proud marchers walked from 72nd Street down to 43rd on their quest to raise awareness for feminist-related issues. While each poster carried the same underlying feelings of empowerment, the subjects of each varied greatly. Many focused on the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. Some veered more towards racial issues in the feminist movement, tackling “white feminism,” the wage gap (specifically for women of color), and DACA. Others used figures in pop culture for a more humorous stance (“This episode of Black Mirror stinks” and “No one ate Tide Pods until the Cheeto became prez” being the most notable). And others matched this year’s “Power to the Polls” theme, reminding marchers that “A woman’s place is in the House (of Representatives).” There were plenty of vendors peddling pins, flags, and t-shirts along the way in the event that anyone forgot their poster at home.

(photo by Faith Maldonado)

Dozens of Calhoun students were among the 200,000 protestors who took to the streets of Manhattan for the Women’s March.

Marchers ranged in age — some being more experienced veterans and others, protest rookies. Both types of protestors were equally as lively, with countless children holding up “Future president” signs and older folks carrying weathered posters they had made years before. No matter the age, race, or gender, the whole crowd seemed to move to the same beat. Chanting the same slogans and cheering with the same enthusiastic spirit, protesters were able to truly unify

with their like-minded counterparts. “It was a great feeling, being with all those women and standing for the same cause,” Schmitt explained, to which junior Maggie Joseph added, “It was truly an empowering experience.” Chants became one of the most unifying factors of the march; when one was started, the surrounding protestors were sure to chime in. The classic “This is what democracy looks like” mantra was most frequent, but marchers were

not afraid to get creative. Some focused on cohesiveness and acceptance (“Say it loud, say it clear. Everyone is welcome here”) while others attacked specific political issues (“Money’s for jobs and education, not for walls and deportations”). And of course, many involved prominent government oﬃcials (“Donald Trump has got to go” and “Don’t forget Pence. He stinks too”). One thing is certain: the 2018 Women’s March was an incredible, humbling experience.

(photos by Faith Maldonado)

Students who attended, like junior Maggie Joseph, said they felt good “standing for the same cause” as everyone else. “It was truly an empowering experience,” she said.

Hoofbeats

February 2018

NEWS

Gen Z: The next generation into the lives of the current teenager, and it is not something that can just be pushed aside. Did you know that 71 percent of Gen Z uses Netflix? As prices go up, and instant streaming services provide all the entertainment you could ask for, cable television is becoming a thing of the past. Younger people are watching on diﬀerent types of screens like iPads and iPhones, cutting the cord of cable that can only be seen on television. Cable is moreso used by Baby Boomers and Generation X, as it’s something that they’re used to. While older people need the news, younger people need a narrative. Social media is quite the phenomenon among Gen Z, even if

print” is less likely to be seen. By Gen Z is very open on mental society unintentionally putting up illness, and it’s helping to break barriers between kids and adults down the stigma surrounding it. Last but not least, it’s time for through the concept of technolo- As such, this statistic is likely to Generation Z. gy, children and be more truthful Labels have been used to difteenagers have “The world is changing at an than any other ferentiate time periods, groups of a lot more free- alarming rate, and today’s generation. Howpeople, and so on. dom than what youth want to make as much ever, one statisThese labels help in finding would be given of a difference as generations tic that might be simple divisions in order to easily to them if every- that came before.” more uplifting is understand history and the moone had to share that 88 percent of tions that it goes through. As time a website like GenerationZ are moves on, newer terms need to be Facebook. optimistic about made to define these spaces. And Statistics on Gen Z show a group their personal future. as we leaned towards a new genmore open to change, yet also inBut why? How can a group so eration of peoples, Generation Z credibly damaged. According to shrouded in mental illness, so inwas born. VisionCritical, 42 percent of Gen- sanely open about their personal Generation Z encompasses the erationZ are happy; only 34 per- lives, yet live behind masks and today’s youngest age of people. cent feel confident. screens, be so sure of what’s to The years of Generation Z are esThis is incredibly upsetting, but come? Well, it all comes down to social change and how Generation Z is on its way to revolutionizing the world. Generation Z is shown to be spoiled and “whiny,” but many teenagers find themselves in situations that call for an incredible amount of independence. Many are self-educated and are the ones who are slipping away from the point of view of their elders that don’t follow the current, new-age mind-set. They aren’t afraid to be rebellious, which Gen X and Millennials can relate to. Gen Z is more likely to stand up for causes and be outspoken. By looking at history repeating itself, this current generation is ready to reverse that cycle and break the mold. The root of all of this is that of firsts and lasts. The world is changing at an alarming rate, and today’s youth want to make as much of a difference as generations that came before. For instance: Z is the last generation to meet any Holocaust survivors, the first to be a part of a nationwide change in the education curriculum (the infamous Common Core), the first to see the election of an African American (illustration by Samantha Koffler) president in Barack Obama. Generation Z, the name for the current generation of teenagers, is all about social media and social change. Time continues to move forward, timated to be from 1995 to 2014. most don’t realize it. This technol- not surprising. Yes, this statistic and it seems that Generation Z is That would then mean the current ogy has grown with today’s teens. can certainly be linked to teenage ready to move with it. The ability high school population at is part of Only during retrospection does the hormones. However, growing up to reach a multitude of people in this age. reality of how new this technology in such a radically divided politi- an instant has not gone unnoticed. It’s a common misconception is put the world into perspective. cal climate with an uncertain way Breaking the mold was easy—now for teenagers who thought that According to ScienceDaily, 76 per- of income for college and housing all that Generation Z needs is for they were on the younger side of cent of American teens age 13 to 17 doesn’t do wonders on the psyche. the clock to keep ticking. millennials. Generation Z has its use Instagram. 75 percent of teens own unique characteristics that use Snapchat. are creating a force to be reckoned Twitter is more often than not with, even more than the Millen- used by Millennials, and Facebook nial movement. has been deemed out of date as Gen Z (as it’s more commonly soon as adults flocked to the platreferred) is what you could call the form. Instagram and Snapchat “radical millennial,” both in social are so incredibly popular due to change and social interactions. the availability of the platforms, Technology has become ingrained and how a person’s “digital footby Samantha Koffler Staff Writer

To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail the staﬀ at hoofbeatseditor@yahoo.com

News

February 2018

Hoofbeats

Do actions speak louder? by Sam Fortmeyer Contributing Writer

The world of social media has challenged teen influencers to step up their game — morally. Apps such as YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter allow teens to have an insight into their favorite star’s life and more access to their work. Social media is a powerful tool that can help popstars succeed and find their way to fame, but it can also harm a person’s reputation forever. Take Logan Paul for example. The Paul brothers have always had a large fanbase on YouTube, and they were both successful in the YouTube revenue system. The YouTube community was shocked when a Logan Paul video was released that showed a dead body in the “Suicide Forest” located in Japan. The Aokigahara Forest in Japan is known to be the place of the most suicides worldwide. You are not supposed to wander through the forest or take

video footage, but Paul made the decision to show a suicide victim’s dead body on camera. Gathering a large negative response, Paul took down the video. He later released an apology and had his revenue cut, with his YouTube red series being cancelled. The opinions of Logan Paul are now sweeping the Internet; should the public forgive him and continue watching him, or should the they keep him from their lives? Many of Paul’s fans forgive him after his multiple apology attempts, but others say that he cannot be forgiven after making such a brutal mistake. Whether you believe everyone makes mistakes or Logan shouldn’t be on YouTube anymore, Paul is still suﬀering from major consequences. Can society separate a creator’s work from his or her actions — or do we just choose not to? Paul is not the only recent case. Melanie Martinez has also suffered from an Internet disaster. In a chilling statement on Twitter

from ex-best friend Timothy Heller, Martinez has been accused of sexually assaulting her friend. Once this tweet was published, “#melanieisoverparty” spread like wildfire. The singer then put out a song and denial letter speaking of why Heller would accuse her, and she regained a part of her fanbase, with a large amount of her past fans still vowing not to listen to her music anymore. Saying that Heller was untruthful, or that everybody makes mistakes, Melanie’s supporters stand by her and continue to listen to her music. Although Martinez denies the incident, a large portion of her fanbase still doesn’t support her anymore because they don’t know what to believe. This is just another example of the modern generation deciding that a person’s past work is restricted content now that the celebrity has made a mistake. One of the strongest and most recent stories of judging a person’s work and their actions together

is shown through Mark Salling. Salling played the character known as “Puck” on the show “Glee” for about five years. After that, he went on to much worse things. Salling pleaded guilty after police said he had a thumb drive of more than 50,000 images of child porn. He faced up to seven years in prison, but before sentencing started, he took his own life. This whole story has shocked “Glee” fans, and there are two sides. Many people are sad that an iconic actor died and say the character of “Puck” will be missed. Others say that we should not miss Salling because of what he did criminally. Can you separate this man’s work from his actions? Will you call him Mark Salling or Noah Puckerman? There are countless examples like these people who made mistakes that ruin careers and lives. Only time and the public opinion can decide whether mistakes can be forgiven, or if we forget about their body of work forever.

We will rock you

(photos by Kate Derwin)

On Tour recently finished production of “We Will rock you,” featuring the music of Queen. The cast, led by seniors Julia Bremer, Rob Gallo, and Anna Kirby, the cast rocked out and completed their successful run of the musical.

Hoofbeats

February 2018

Colture

Jaden Smith keeps it fresh by Sarah Encarnacion Staﬀ Writer

Experimental is an understatement when it comes to Jaden Smith’s debut album “SYRE.” The album is stunningly weird. It starts oﬀ with four tracks named “B,” “L,” “U,” and “E.” Side note: these four tracks were purposely written in iambic pentameter for all you Shakespeare nerds; Jaden describes the songs as a poem being sung by two angels. Each of these tracks has a turning point around halfway where the song almost completely disconnects from itself and sounds like we’ve started a new song. When the song actually does change, it’s clear that they were all at one point one song. He’ll literally start a sentence at the end of one track and finish it at the beginning of the next seamlessly. This theme of each track being

a prelude to the next continues throughout the album, but nothing is compromised. Even though every track seems to introduce the next, each track is still its own song and doesn’t need to be heard within the context of the album. About halfway through the fifth track, “Breakfast” (feat A$AP Rocky), I realized that Jaden isn’t really consciously rapping; his words seem to be just introspective rambling. Not that there’s anything wrong with this type of rap. It definitely has its place in music, but you can hardly call “SYRE” lyrically “enlightened.” This is not to say he doesn’t have his outbursts of really good flow. Track 6, “Hope,” is a great example of his ability to keep a consistent and captivating flow. The only thing that isn’t consistent is his message. What is this kid talking about? Jaden cannot keep the same subject for more

Each track on Jaden Smith’s first album has a diﬀerent feel to it.

than three bars at a time. album — as deep, or just random, Now this scatterbrained style is up to you. just goes back to his rambling. He Maybe Jaden’s album wasn’t touches on a lot of good topics and all that deep, and it was just a ideas in his lyrics but never really jumbled mess of ideas that didn’t develops them. necessarily belong together. It defOne of my favorite tracks oﬀ initely isn’t a bad idea for someone the album, “Ninety,” is completely to try to keep a certain consistency worthy of the near eight minutes in their music. it’s given. Instead of boring us Something that I find Jaden fell with adding to short on was fulthe collection of “Even though every track ly developing his repetitive heart- seems to introduce the next, ideas. Whether it break songs pop each track is still its own be his backing music has given song and doesn’t need to be tracks or his lyrus, Jaden takes heard within the context of ics, he may have a really diﬀer- them album.” gone too much ent route to talk for an all-enabout love. By compassing type incorporating his usual rambling/ sound, which doesn’t always alspoken word style and a backing low a person to grow and be great track reminiscent of Kid Cudi and in any one particular genre. Frank Ocean, Jaden quite literally Jaden Smith may have made the paints a picture for his listeners. smartest move any debut artist can “Batman” and “Icon” take a possibly make. The trouble a lot of more strictly hip-hop approach, seasoned artists have is expressing which is definitely needed and re- themselves in a creative and origifreshing after a slew of songs that nal way while still allowing their can’t be classified as any one genre. new music to be classified with The instrumental in “Watch their old music. Me,” could easily be mistaken for Cohesion is important in an arta modern rock song. Jaden again ist’s catalog, and keeping your mudemonstrates his versatility in the sic all within a certain vein doesn’t mostly acoustic “Lost Boy.” necessarily show a lack of creativAnother personal favorite, “Fall- ity; it’s just a good way to please en,” remains in the genre that the your fans. entire album can probably be most But Jaden Smith literally can’t identified with of atmospheric, run into this problem. Jaden can Frank Ocean-esque hip hop. release a jazz song, a hard rap “The Passion” goes from a hip song, a completely instrumental hop song to a straight up piano bal- atmospheric song, an acoustic folk lad about three minutes in. “Rap- song, a pop song, a strictly piano per” almost sounds like something ballad, and about a hundred othyou’d hear on the radio; Jaden defi- er types of songs, and it’ll still fit nitely took a more mainstream ap- the image he’s created because he proach on that track. showcased all of those skills on Finally, Jaden wraps up with “SYRE.” a track titled after the album itExperimentation is usually seen self, “SYRE.” This song is less of more on EPs, as there’s less presa song and more of Jaden just tell- sure on an EP than there is on a ing a story to music. He seems to full-length album. Jaden made a be narrating his own life story in power move though. He decided third person. Whether you want to to make “SYRE” exactly what it interpret what he’s saying on this needed to be to get attention: diftrack — and pretty much the entire ferent.

Colture

February 2018

Hoofbeats

Being skin care savvy oily skin, face masks are a go-to product since they provide immediate results. Since winter is hopefully endProducts like the Umbrian Clay ing soon, most people make the Mask from Fresh ($23), the Kiehl’s resolution to start working on their Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing skin in the spring, so they can be Mask ($30), and the Glossier soglowing this summer. lution ($24) as a toner to lessen The skin care world is expand- the redness of the blemishes you ing immensely, and some really have and to prevent more from regreat products are being created, emerging. as the trend “Skin care as Makeup” After you’ve treated the blememerges in 2018. So here’s a cheat ishes, finish up with the Watermelsheet for all of you who aspire to on Glow Mask from Glow Recipe have sun-kissed, clear skin. ($22) for an unbelievably bright One important finish. note about using “Since not everyone has the For those who any and all skin same skin type, you have to have dry skin, care products: be especially careful about you should try check with your how you treat it and what m o i s t u r i z e r s dermatologist to that have ilproducts you use.” be sure that none luminating efof these skin care fects. For examwill interfere with ple, the Laneige your current skin care prescrip- Water Sleeping mask ($25), the and tion. the Tatcha Pore-Perfecting MoisSince not everyone has the same turizer And Cleanser ($25), or the skin type, you have to be especially Super Bounce serum from Glossier careful about how you treat it and ($28). what products you use. Be sure to To securely seal in your newly look for your correct skin type be- hydrated skin, use the Milk Makefore you treat your skin and give it up Cooling Water stick ($24). what it wants. And now for people with norFor everyone with combination mal skin, who don’t have much skin, don’t worry. Choose one of oiliness or dryness, here are some your favorite items from the oily recommendations for you. and dry section and alternate each The Super Glow serum from night so you can address all of Glossier ($28) and the Origins your skin’s needs. Original Skin Retexturizing Mask For people with breakouts and with Rose Clay ($27) are great by Jordan Novak Contributing Writer

(photo by Jordan Novak)

Neutrogena’s toner will help clean your skin without tightness or stinging.

picks for you. Also, since even the most hydrated skin still needs moisturizer, the Origins GinZing EnergyBoosting Gel Moisturizer ($28.50) will be good for your skin. Just so you all know, the Glossier products can only be purchased online or at their showroom in New York City. The rest of the products mentioned can be purchased at Sephora. Here are two of my drugstore favorites. Beauty 360 Hydrating Water Gel is great because it feels and absorbs into your skin like a gel, but has the moisturizing eﬀect that lasts like a cream. You can find

it at CVS for under $12. Another great product is Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner is another aﬀordable product that can be found at CVS for $6. The great thing about this toner is that it gives you clean and refreshing skin without the dry eﬀects that many other toners can give you. You also won’t feel the tightness or stinging that other products might leave you with. There are many products, so it can be overwhelming walking into a beauty store or a CVS. Be sure to educate yourself, speak with a dermatologist, and enjoy your glowing, gorgeous skin.

Like us on Facebook: Hoofbeats (photo by Jordan Novak)

Hydrating Water Gel has the lasting moisturizing eﬀects of a cream.

Hoofbeats

February 2018

COLTURE

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi by Julia McKenna Staﬀ Writer

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” was wildly anticipated by both casual and dedicated fans after the cliﬀhanger ending of the previous film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.“ After its release, “The Last Jedi” was met with critical acclaim, but was divisive among fans. Some found it to be a welcomed addition to the saga, while others felt it was not faithful to the universe and the characters within it. I want to analyze what some believe went wrong with the film and provide an understanding that will lead to a greater acceptance of the movie. (Warning: This review contains spoilers for “The Last Jedi”). One aspect of the movie that many viewers found unnecessary is the plot point that contains Finn and Rose finding the master code breaker to sever the First Order’s ability to track the Resistance ships through hyperspace. While the plot seemed to be filler, as it proved to be inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, Finn’s arc holds a greater purpose than many may realize. The message “The Last Jedi” aims to send is that Star Wars is expanding on just a simple story about good vs. evil to shed light on the grey area in between. The journey to Canto Bight places empha-

Rey’s journey to seek out Luke Skywalker is central to the storyline of “The Last Jedi.”

about the mission of the Resistance. We see him still in this mind-set of preserving both himself and Rey at the start of “The Last Jedi”; he tries to abandon the Resistance in order to ensure Rey’s safety. It is not until he meets Rose that he begins to see what truly matters and that only saving both himself and Rey is not the right thing to do.

Luke Skywalker’s internal struggles are nothing new to true fans.

sis on this, as it shows that no side of a conflict is purely good or evil. In regards to Finn as a character, the Canto Bight storyline has a huge impact on Finn and his values. While we all view Finn as a hero for his contribution to the destruction of Starkiller Base in “The Force Awakens,” his motivations for doing so were selfish: he wanted to save Rey and didn’t care

This development of Finn’s character culminates in a line spoken to Captain Phasma when she refers to him as “scum,” and he corrects her, saying that he’s “Rebel scum.” Previously, he was not dedicated to the Resistance, but through his interactions with Rose and his exposure to the grey area that exists within the galaxy, he truly earns the title of a Resistance hero.

Though Finn’s storyline with Rose is often questioned by fans, his character development in “The

COLTURE

February 2018

Hoofbeats

i’ awakens fans’ interest

Captain Plasma (left) plays a bigger role in “The Last Jedi” than she did in “The Force Awakens.”

The biggest problem that many have is the characterization of Luke Skywalker. Many who grew up watching Star Wars viewed Luke as a hero, so it is understandable to see that a childhood hero in just a defeated and cynical state. Many argue that it is not in Luke’s character to do the things

It is perfectly in line with his character to — for at least a moment — consider taking out Ben to save the future of the Jedi Order. He comes to regret this immediately, feeling ashamed that he had even considered it. This shows that Luke — while still a hero — is not the perfect and legendary Luke Skywalker that even he views himself as; he is human, and is not immune to temptation. It is important for his character development for him to learn that while he is not perfect, he can still be a good person and a worthy Jedi, which is why his arc in “The Last Jedi” does justice to his character. The final criticism of “The Last Jedi” is that it strays from the classic Star Wars films we know and love to do something unique that does not fit in within the universe. While it is great to see beloved characters from the original movies (I am in no way saying that Han, Luke, and Leia should not have a role in the new trilogy), Star Wars is not all about nostalgia and fan service. “The Empire Strikes Back” is often regarded as the best film because it took the universe crafted by the first film and expanded it. The role of every Star Wars movie should be to craft its own story that is not too dependent of the events of the past and shows us a new aspect of the Star Wars universe.

The side storyline with Rose and Finn is one area of the movie that many criticize.

e Last Jedi” cement him as a true Resistance hero.

he did to lead him to exile; however, if you watch the original trilogy, you find that Luke has always experienced temptation from the dark side. In his most heroic moment, in which he stands up to the Emperor, declaring that he is a Jedi and will not fulfill Palpatine’s wishes and kill his father, he at first struggles with the dark side before overcoming it.

While Force Awakens and Rogue One — movies that relied heavily on nostalgia — were incredible movies, the reliance on what fans recognize constricts the story. Director Rian Johnson created a balance between the old and new, giving us a universe that is familiar, but shows something we’ve never seen before, which should be the goal of all Star Wars movies.

Hoofbeats

February 2018

Editorial

Time to stop being numb O

n Thursday, February 15, Ms. Hollings got on the loudspeaker and spoke to the building about the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. This shooting left 17 people dead and 15 injured. Since then, the aﬀected students have advocated for stricter gun laws and regulations, starting a movement and planning to march on Washington. These are all good ideas and scream for change; it is important that we don’t just talk about change — we take action. It is only February, and we have seen countless school shootings. They happen so often that many high school students are numb to them. Students are used to hearing that other students in some other state have been killed or hurt by guns and don’t even think twice when another shooting occurs. It

has become a norm in our society lar statements and some classes stopped their normal instruction for school shootings to occur. As young students, being accus- to discuss this very important sotomed to school shootings and gun cial issue. This conversation must violence is scary. This sort of reac- continue. Speak about the shooting at tion isn’t just found in students, but in many Americans. We react Marjory Stoneman Douglas High and head to soSchool and other recent mass cial media about Staff Editorial shootings like our thoughts and Las Vegas and prayers, but nothing changes. Not after Columbine, Orlando. Speak about the gun stanot after Virginia Tech, not after tistics: according to Politifact, there have been over 280,000 AmeriSandy Hook. We forget for some time about cans killed by guns in the last dethe last school shooting until we cade. Speak about the fact that we hear about the next one, and the haven’t made any progress on gun legislation and that it is always a cycle continues. Then we hear Ms. Hollings on bunch of talk after a shooting has the loudspeaker telling us to be occurred. Speak about the political obkind and compassionate humans. To make sure we take into account stacles that don’t allow us to make that we don’t know everyone’s change, such as how many govstory or what is going on in their ernment oﬃcials are funded by lives. Many teachers make simi- the NRA. This personal interest

gets in the way of them being able to make change. Not only that, but the two major political parties never get beyond their diﬀerences. Having these discussions and thinking about others is only the first step. We all have the potential to take the next step and continue those conversations outside the school building. Take a cue from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students and take action. Write letters, make phone calls, send tweets. Be heard. Perhaps the loudest we can be will be each November when we turn 18 and have the ability to vote. If you disagree with how your local representatives are handling the gun issue, vote them out of oﬃce. Most people don’t even do anything about gun violence are numb to it all. It is time for us to stop being numb.

The future is near by Andrew Yam Staﬀ Writer

Recognized by Columbia University, ASPA, NYPA, LIPA, and Newsday for journalistic excellence

Editor-in-Chief News Editor Photo Editor Faculty Adviser

Maritsa Koutsouras Jessica Lin Kate Derwin Jason Boland

Staﬀ Members: Lauren Ameruoso, Meghan Bello, Melissa Braunstein, Adam Castella, Marc Edayadi, Sarah Encarnacion, Samantha Koﬄer, Faith Maldonado, Erin McNamara, Ali Nabi, Kevin Sandler, Kim Strull, Andrew Yam

Hoofbeats Sanford H. Calhoun High School 1786 State Street Merrick, NY 11566 (516) 992-1300 E-mail: hoofbeatseditor@yahoo.com Twitter: @hoofbeatspaper Volume 60 No. 3

February 2018

Hoofbeats is the oﬃcial student newspaper of Calhoun High School. Hoofbeats serves as a source to inform its readers of news and events and as a forum for the students of Calhoun to express their ideas and opinions. Hoofbeats accepts letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or refuse the publication of submissions. Letters should be sent to the school or placed in the Hoofbeats mailbox. All letters must be signed and include a contact number for the writer. The paper also accepts advertisements for a fee, but reserves the right to refuse advertisements for any or no reason. The views expressed in Hoofbeats do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the administrators, teachers, editors, or faculty adviser.

Technological developments such as electric cars, increased commercial space travel, and the use of robots in everyday lives are changing the world. When looking at how computers might change in the future, most will probably reply that holograms will be implemented into them, increased memory and speed will be achieved, and that such devices could become brain implantable. Although some of these might become a reality, there is a far more impactful one in the far future. This evolutionary idea is known as quantum computing, where the laws of physics are implemented into computer hardware to create a whole new breed of computers. This could change the way that they function. It is well-known that modern computers run on electricity and use binary code of 0s and 1s in order to operate correctly, but such basic principles are completely diﬀerent for quantum computers. Its basic units are called quantum bits, or qubits. Qubits are computer bits, but could be best understood if thought of as values capable of representing both the numerical values of 1 and 0 at the same time due to its property of superposition. This is because unlike normal computers, quantum computers operate based on the

rules of quantum physics. This makes them superior compared to traditional bits due to their ability to store more than information on simple 0 or 1 values. The first nation to create a complete quantum computer will become a world leader in cryptography, security, and other industries. All of this is possible due to how powerful these computers can be capable of. This will provide answers for problems that are complex to the point that transistors in modern computers are incapable of solving, called intractable problems, which will hopefully will be solved by quantum computers. Although this innovation has had the attention and development by tech giants like IBM, we can not expect a fully functional quantum computer for public commercial use to be created in the next few years. If made, many implications and benefits will occur to the global society, and people will have to expect changes to their daily lives. Think of this as the next big space race, where the first nation to achieve the goal gets to dominate the global scientific world as an intellectual leader. Except this time, the impact of winning will be more direct, meaningful, and impactful to the global economy. The result will determine whether or not if America will retain its position as a global leader of the computer industry and our position in the future.

Editorial

February 2018

Hoofbeats

Changing the narrative by Faith Maldonado Staﬀ Writer

With a smile so sleazy and sinister, tongue darting like the smitten mug of a serpent, the man who holds your paycheck tells you to dress more provocatively for work tomorrow. You hear a gnarled laugh from behind, the sound rotting in the air around you, and pretend not to feel a sweaty palm pressed against your crawling flesh. You pretend it didn’t happen. So it didn’t happen. It never happens. This was the narrative so many people faced in the workforce — a glaringly obvious narrative that we all chose to ignore because it’s easier that way. Less messy. And it worked for a while. Bosses, managers, supervisors, and coworkers slither unscathed, immortal, and untouchable, guarded by the fear of “shaking things up.” And the victims, of course, were liars, crybabies, and radical feminists who simply couldn’t take a joke. Harassment was locker-room

talk and far too damaging to a man’s career to be considered. As the saying goes, some things are better left unsaid, or in this context, unattended to. That is, until we decided to get our hands dirty and face the demon crouching behind our eyelids since the beginning of the market revolution. The #MeToo movement was a change in the narrative. The widely popular, two syllable mantra was born on Myspace in 2006, but its steady flame roared into an inferno in October 2017 after actress Alyssa Milano funneled its support onto Twitter. Since then, it has become an opera of hope, companionship, and unity of victims and witnesses alike. Two simple words — so easily dictated even infants can join in the movement — have ushered us in a harmony with an eﬀect equivocal to pages upon pages of speeches. It has become more than a hashtag, more like a mind-set, and revealed a coalition of solace in a time where each isolated incident felt one-of-a-kind. With unity comes strength, and

though I’m not a victim myself, I can’t imagine a time when these people have felt more empowered. I feel empowered just standing by their side, and assuring them that they are not alone; we are with them. The world is with them. An incredibly important but sluggish change — the lifting of these velvet curtains — took decades for people to acknowledge. Victims have been stepping forward for as long as there have been victims, but we, the audience, have finally agreed to face the music and confess to the poorly hidden secret staring us directly in the face. We are in the midst of a revolution. Not a violent one — for the most part. No, this is a mental revolution. An ascension of thought, or a tectonic shift in psyche. The world is rumbling with change, and it’s evident in everything from attitudes to politics. An increasing demand for LGBT+ rights, massive strides in equality for ethnic minorities, growing disgust for jokes with neuroatypical cracks as the punch line, blooming feminism, intoleration for Islamophobia, new

found passions for environmental conservation, you name it. And I believe my generation is leading it. Call it snowflake liberalism, call it sensitivity. I call it progress. And yet, some people are still playing the “Lighten up, sweetheart; this is the real world” card. Some deem all victims attentionseeking liars who grapple for a shred of pity, and as charmingly androcentric and misogynistic as that is, I have no intention of rolling back into the Dark Ages, thank you very much. We needed this movement, not just for those who have experienced such heinous treatment, but for the bright minds who follow in our lineage. Will this movement be forgotten, discarded, and blown through like a passing draft? I can’t believe that to be true. Progress rarely stops. It thins or falters, but it doesn’t stop. We cannot let it stop. I dream of a world where my children will live their lives unafraid, threats of sexual harassment absent in their minds. And I’d like to work for that reality.

Women rally around each other by Melissa Braunstein Staﬀ Writer

On January 20, I marched with millions of my fellow women. It’s hard to put my feelings into words because I am still overwhelmed by the experience. I marched, laughed, shouted, and cried with women who I didn’t even know. The subway station was so crowded that I decided to begin my march early and hold my sign above my head. It stated, “My body is a party that you weren’t invited to no matter what my dress says.” I had so many people stop and ask to take pictures of my sign. I even had a middle-aged woman start sobbing once she saw it, and I couldn’t help but do the same. Women are extremely powerful. I marched with millions of women to protest the actions of President Trump and the Republican Party. Countless times, Trump has expressed his misogynist views, whether it be through the “grab her by the p****” recording or his aggressive tweets toward women. Trump is the president of one of the most powerful nations, and his actions set an example for others

around the world. By acting like a misogynist, he is encouraging discrimination and violence against women. This is unacceptable behavior. Trump’s administration and the Republican Party are trying to pass legislation that legalize their misogynist views. The most publi-

cized is the defunding of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood provides an array of reproductive services to women across the country. This is the only place that many women can get these types of health services, and many that go are impoverished and couldn’t normally aﬀord them. Without

(photo by Faith Maldonado)

Millions took to the streets in several cities to protest against discrimination.

Planned Parenthood, millions of women would be without reproductive care, which could negatively aﬀect their lives and their health in a profound way. The constitution grants freedom of speech, and now I genuinely understand the importance of it. It allowed me to experience the power of women when we come together. Almost every night, I sit in front of my television outraged by the current administration and Congress. Now, instead of sitting there frustrated, I did something about it by standing up and marching against them. I marched against the gender roles that are imposed on us, the laws that are made to restrict us, the ones who think we are weak, and so much more. These marches took place all over the world and allowed us to persist together. They aim to unify women of many diﬀerent communities in order to bring change to the world. The march is just a part of our journey, it helps motivate women to become more engaged in their communities No matter how long they try and push us down we will always rise up, we will always resist. Never underestimate the power of us mighty, mighty women.

Hoofbeats

February 2018

Editorial

Pt./Counterpoint:

Do we really need progress reports? Parents need to check-in with our progress by Meghan Bello Staﬀ Writer

The removal of progress reports would negatively affect many people and may even result negatively in the success of students. Many people may argue that progress reports are simply a waste and can be done without. They claim that students do not abide by them, parents couldn’t care less, and teachers do not put any effort when writing them, but they are wrong. Progress reports can be exceptionally beneficial for everyone involved. Firstly, progress reports are not a complete waste; if anything, they are very helpful to students by providing them with a sense of their performance. We might not always know where we stand with a teacher in his or her class. A quiz grade here or there might not be enough feedback from our teachers. Progress reports give us two or three comments that could offer insight before it’s too late in the marking period. Teachers clearly put the time and effort into choosing those comments. They see each of their students every day and want to let parents know the good and the bad of what’s happening in the classroom. Aside from parent-teacher conferences, parents rarely, if ever, come into contact with their teachers and discuss their child’s learning experience. If parents want even the slightest glimpse into how their children are performing in school and how they act in the classroom setting, they must call or e-mail the teachers, which can be a hassle and is often forgotten about. Or they have to hope that their child’s grades and/or behavior is so bad, it necessitates a phone call home. In many cases, all parents know about their children in school is the grades that are posted on the Parent Portal, and number grades can only can show so much about a person. These reports give parents an update once a marking period (only four times a year). It’s not like a daily or even weekly report that suffocates a student or makes it feel like they are being too closely monitored. Progress reports enable parents to see the progress their kids are

making, as well as allow the students to see what their teachers think of them and how they expect them to behave in class. Progress reports can help students modify their effort and behavior in order to achieve success. If a student sees the infamous, “More effort needed” or “Disruptive in class,” they will usually be pushed to changee that. They give students a sense off where th they curhey y ccur uur rently stand in that at class classs ss and and d what wha hatt qualities they need d to change cha hang hang ngee in ororr vee results. rrees esults esul ulltss. ProgPro rogrogder to gain positive ress reports are pre prett y much reett tty mu uch h the the h unsaid reality of students’ educastud uden ud e ts’ tss’ ed educ ucauc ational experience. These reportss aare only re o nly nl y in n tthe h he best interest of thee students. stu tude tu d nt de nts. s In s. In no no way, shape, or form teachers orm do ttea each ea ch her erss want to lower the he self-esteem self lf-e lf f est stee tee eem m of students or turn them hem off to learning. Teachers want to encourage students to work and perform to the best of their abilities as well as guide them to do their best in everything they do. Progress reports should most definitely be kept because they provide students with a better understanding of how their teachers view them. I am not saying that progress reports are 100 percent useful and effective to all students, but what might be a waste of time to read for one student may be an eye-opener to what another student needs to do in order to succeed and advance in their educational careers. Sure, no one likes a parent looking over your shoulder all the time. As we grow older, we should be given the wiggle room to become independent young adults. However, some of us might need a little more parental involvement, and if a teacher marks down “Missing homework” or “Failing test grades,” parents should be aware. All anyone wants is to succeed and to make their school experience the best it can be. Progress reports should be kept because they do provide beneficial information to students and their parents. Progress reports are a great way for teachers to communicate with their students and their students’ parents. They provide a more personal, in-depth overview on a student’s habits and abilities rather than waiting for a grade when it might be too late. In the best interest of both students and their parents, progress reports should be kept in the future.

No need for them with access to grades online by Jessica Lin News Editor

Say good bye to those pesky progress reports — not like we even needed them. Up until this semester, teachers had to send out progress reports halfway through each quarter. With 20 to 30 students per class and five classe classes per teacher, that’s over ov ver 5500 00 repor reports for each teacher to send year. se out ut a yea In the th he old days, parents were In sent numerical and sentt their their irr child’s chi behavior beha be havi ha viior grade gra rad on a report card four fou fo ur times tim imess a year. With months between betw be etw twee een hose ee hos report cards, a lot can ch hange, so progress reports can change, were a g good way to get an update ood oo dw from thee teach teacher in the middle of a mark ma rkin rk ing in g period. perio marking However, with the advent of the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, parents and students are now able to view grades with a few swipes and a touch of the screen. So why would we need progress reports if parents and students can literally see the progress? Compared to using a traditional paper gradebook, this is both a much more organized and accurate form of keeping track of each student’s performance. With the district-wide change to an online grading system came several changes: for teachers, a more practical grade recording system, and for students, a greater pressure to do well in their selected courses. The most pertinent—an increase in parent and student accessibility—allowed for the elimination of quarterly progress reports, which was put into eﬀect this February after second quarter report cards were released. The purpose of progress reports is to provide parents with feedback on how their child is performing in class. This concept, at the surface, does seem beneficial, but with the introduction of an online gradebook, there seems to be less of a need for such reports. Students and parents who have the Infinite Campus app are usually notified immediately after teachers enter grades. This, along with the app’s simple design, makes it extremely useful and easy to navigate. If we have the ability to view all test, quiz, and assignment grades, parents should already be aware of how students are performing

in their courses. As long as teachers are posting grades within a reasonable time after students take tests or hand in work, there doesn’t seem to be a need for progress reports, which merely state what should already be known. Additionally, since teachers have to send out so many progress reports at a time, it is time-consuming and may even be borderline painful. The time can be better used creating lesson plans or review sheets. Most of the time, the comments given are fairly general and are variations of, “A pleasure to have in class,” “Work is satisfactory,” and “Keep up the good work.” These comments, although nice to the hear, don’t provide a suﬃcient amount of insight. If reports are as general as these, might as well not have progress reports. If there are students whose parents do need to be updated for any specific reason, it is more eﬀective to have teachers speak with or email parents directly. Teachers can better explain their concerns in a more personal manner, and they can also make sure the parents are actually seeing or hearing the message. This approach is also much easier than sending out a report for each student. Being that grades are now almost always accessible (with the exception of the week leading up to the end of each marking quarter), it is really up to students, themselves, to monitor their grades and missing work. And isn’t that what the education system wants? Smart, responsible students who are mature enough to follow their own progress and speak with their parents on their own without a note home every other month from a teacher? Removing progress reports will only strengthen students’ responsibility, maturity, and initiative. By holding them accountable, students will practice tracking their grades closely and will learn to address their teachers with any concerns. Progress reports are not necessary as this point, especially with our functional Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Parents and students have all the updates at their fingertips and should take advantage of the technology the district has implemented. Eliminating progress reports benefits all parties in the equation.

Editorial

February 2018

Hoofbeats

Beware of Ryan’s reforms by Marc Edayadi Staﬀ Writer

After the Republicans passed their tax cut for the rich, that will add $1.5 trillion to the national debt, Congress desperately needs to cut spending in order to match lost revenue. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is itching to pass his second dream: entitlement reform. President Trump’s budget also includes some of these ambitions. Also framed as “Welfare reform,” Republicans claim that we should cut programs that give handouts to people who are too lazy to work. Most of these programs fall under the mandatory spending category in the federal budget, and many Republicans want to cut them because mandatory spending makes up 60 percent of the federal budget. However, what Republicans don’t tell you is that this category includes some of America’s most popular programs: Social Security and Medicare. Eighty three percent of Americans find Social Security important, 77 percent of Medicare and 63 percent of Medicaid. Retired Americans rely on Social Security as a source of income, as well as Medicare as their source of health insurance. In addition, many disabled, widowed, or orphaned Americans receive these benefits. Also included under welfare reform are cuts

to unemployment insurance and payroll tax only applies to the first SNAP (food stamps), programs $127,200 of an individual’s income. designed to prevent millions of That’s right: the working class ends Americans from starving or going up paying a higher percentage of homeless. their total income in payroll taxes Republicans, however, support than the rich. Eliminating this cap corporate welfare and wish to cut would not only keep Social Secuthese essential services for every- rity solvent for decades, but it will day Americans in order to pay also allow room for an increase to for corporate tax benefits. “The reforms Speaker Ryan cuts. As an alternaThese pro- seeks would allow millions tive to cuts, some grams should of Americans to slip into Republicans adbe “entitled” to poverty. We cannot allow vocate for the Americans be- this to happen.” privatization of cause we all pay Social Security, into to it outside Medicare, and of the federal Medicaid, espeincome tax and cially Speaker earn these benefits. Both indi- Ryan. Social Security reform has viduals and employers pay a 6.2 long been sought by Republicans percent Social Security and 1.45 for decades. Privatizing Social percent payroll tax to fund these Security entails investing the revprograms. Workers also pay a 6 enue from payroll taxes into the percent unemployment insurance stock market, similar to a 401k. tax on the first $7,000 of their in- However, this plan is subject to the come. Working Americans pay for whims of the market, and when current retired Americans, with the stock market prices fall, seniors the promise of being supported could actually lose their retirement by future workers as the current funds. workforce retires. Privatizing Social Security Cutting Social Security ben- would not provide a stable income efits would violate this promise. for our desiring retirees. The last Republicans justify these cuts by push for Social Security privatizaclaiming the programs will be- tion failed in 2005, as Republicans come insolvent, as there are not could not unify. Ryan’s push for enough Millennials to pay for the Medicare privatization is his perlarge amount of Baby Boomers sonal pipe dream, and he lacks that will retire in the future. broad support. His plan entails However, there is a simple so- eliminating Medicare, and instead lution. Currently, the 6.2 percent subsidizes seniors if they choose to

buy private health insurance. This would make seniors vulnerable to the ever-increasing costs of private health insurance, and would reduce their benefits. Most Republicans do support, however, cuts to Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor. Privatizing and cutting these programs are just immoral, as they would not disadvantage the poor, but also hard working Americans that have been paying into the system for decades. The reforms Speaker Ryan seeks would allow millions of Americans to slip into poverty. We can not allow this to happen. Deriding welfare, Republicans often claim the government should let “people pull themselves up by their bootstraps” and not “mooch oﬀ the system.” However, Republicans are quick to support corporate welfare by supporting tax cuts for the rich, by providing bank bailouts, and by eliminating regulations that are supposed to protect the average American. Welfare Reform is just a facade to blind Americans from the true ambitions of Congress: redistributing wealth from the working class to the top 1 percent. Luckily, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will probably not allow Ryan to pass welfare reform because it would cause a backlash against Republicans and result in a bloodbath for them in the 2018 midterms.

Music awards

(photos by Marc Edayadi)

Students took home awards at the NMEA All-County Festival. Among the winners were Adam Gokcan and Julia Kirpalani (All-County band), and Marc Edayadi, Corey Heinlein, and Ben Shaposhnikov (All-County jazz band).

Hoofbeats

February 2018

Editorial

Letters to the editor... Fact check in need

To the Editor, The editorial titled “The forecast calls for snowflakes” [Editorial, December 2017] contains many factual and logical problems. The writer claims to speak the “truth” and recites data of police shootings attributed to The Washington Post. Unfortunately for the author, the numbers he cites in support of his arguments are completely inaccurate. The Washington Post data of police shootings is publicly available and is located at <https://github.com/washingtonpost/data-police-shootings>. Contrary to the numbers provided by the writer, the data shows that since 2015, police oﬃcers have shot dead almost the same number of minorities (1,367 people) as white people (1,441 people). In addition, if we look at only unarmed confrontations, the data shows that police oﬃcers shot dead 48 percent more minorities (126 people) than whites (85 people). Even if the numbers had been accurate, the writer would be misleading readers by providing only raw numbers. By definition, there are fewer minorities than white people, so reporting raw numbers is misleading because it doesn’t provide population context. When you compare the numbers by per-

centage of population, the statistics become increasingly skewed against the minorities. For example, when calculated as a percentage of the population in the places where the shootings occurred, blacks were three times as likely to be killed by police than whites. Ironically, the writer is also guilty of many of the same things he complains about. For example, the writer complains about not being able to have an open discussion about challenging topics. However, instead of trying to understand others, he dismisses some responses as “complete nonsense.” Most ironically, the author says “It’s disrespectful to generalize a whole group of people for something only a few have done.” In the very next sentences, though, he generalizes the character of the police force by the cops he knows personally. The writer ends by saying we should “proceed to rant and get angered by every opinion.” His conclusion undermines the premise of his article that people’s sensitivity is the reason we can’t “start a conversation” about some topics. The writer should stop repeating Fox News arguments and facts without checking their accuracy and logic. He should stop cherry picking and spinning facts to suit his political agenda. — Alessia Renna, Class of ‘19

Just click unfollow

To the Editor, I actually hate everything in the article, “Are we fine with Finsta?” [Colture, December 2017]. Finsta is my private account where I feel comfortable posting opinions. Although using social media as your “diary” doesn’t seem traditional, it’s our way of expressing feelings that we may not feel comfortable talking about in person. People’s “daily rundown of their mental breakdown” — contrary to what you might think — is actually a good thing. The amount of students who break down practically every day is a high percentage, so don’t you think talking about it is better than keeping it in? If students were to keep their feelings bottled up, it could result in an even bigger mental breakdown. There’s an unfollow button and if you don’t like my “depressing” posts, you can click it and won’t have to see them anymore. I won’t be oﬀended. — Gia Correa, Class of ‘19

I’m fine with Finsta To the Editor, Are we fine with Finsta? Yes, we are. [“Are we fine with Finsta?”

Just keep swimming

(photo by Michaela Cassella)

The Bellmore-Merrick Swim and Dive team battled against some of the top schools in Nassau County and finished third at divisions this season.

Colture, December 2017]. Finsta is a fun social platform where you can post or write whatever you feel like to a select group of people. No one uses Finsta seriously. Finsta posts aren’t meant to label an overdramatic, homeworking-procrastinating teenager as having a mental health disorder. I have had a Finsta for four or five years. In all my years of having an account, I never once said anything in a serious manner that would put my followers “in the uncomfortable position of a mental health professional.” Sure, here and there I may complain that I’m stressed about something or overwhelmed with homework, but it doesn’t take Finsta to make it known that teenagers get stressed. Stress in teens is as common as peanut butter going with jelly. In this day and age, teens are completely overwhelmed with the amount of pressure and expectations the world has for them. Between SAT prep, applying to college, doing homework, studying, getting good grades, maintaining a social life, playing sports, participating in clubs, and so much more, the stress never stops. Venting is a great and healthy way for people to let out their stress. By just writing down everything that’s on your mind you will no longer feel as much of the burden. Another reason why venting on Finsta is so great is because people are happy and willing to comment and cheer you up when responding to what you posted. It reminds people that they are not alone. Other people are going through similar issues, and it builds a sense of togetherness. If someone feels the need to post how they are sad, it doesn’t mean that they need to see a medical professional. Sometimes the support of friends is the best way to get through a tough situation. Finsta is a great platform because you can choose who you want to see it. Unlike real Instagram, your Finsta usually has fewer followers — followers you trust with your personal life and who care enough to hear about it. On your real Instagram, you usually only post the highest quality picture with five filters on it that you asked seven of your friends about. On Finsta, you can post whatever. When people post their problems on Finsta, it’s not a cry for help; it is simply a way for people to let out their stress and not feel alone. — Aly Hill, Class of ‘19

Sports

February 2018

Hoofbeats

Making a playoﬀ run by Maritsa Koutsouras Editor-in-Chief

The basketball team lost to Baldwin in the second round of the playoﬀs, 61-48. It was a solid season for the Colts, finishing the season with a 9-3 record in Conference AA-III and a 13-8 overall record. The Colts played the Baldwin Bruins tough, with Malek Graham leading the way with 18 points. Corey Jones scored 16 points, and Jalen Rosemond scored 10. As the No. 7 playoﬀ seed, the Colts hosted East Meadow in the first round game and won, 78-63. Jones led all scorers with 33 points. Rosemond and Bobby Stokel scored 12 points each, Graham scored 9, and Tom Casimano scored 8. The strong regular season had the Colts finish in second place. They won seven of their last eight games, including the final two of the season.

Long-time head coach Jay Kreutzberger’s team also made it to the second round of the playoﬀs last year. One of the more impressive offensive outbursts came in a 79-61 home win against Long Beach. Rosemond scored an amazing 34 points in the game. Jones scored 19 of his own, and Casimano had 8. Three other Colts scored 6 points each: Stokel, Jake Fielding, and Brandan Rose. Another memorable game had two diﬀerent players scoring over 20 points each. In a 79-55 win over Manhasset, Jones scored 23 points and Rosemond added 21. Four other Colts scored in the game: Stokel (13), Jason Frank (12), Rose (6), and Zac Solomon. The boys closed out the regular season with a 53-40 win on the road against MacArthur. Rosemond led all scorers again with 24 points. Jones had 14 of his own, Stokel scored 7, Rose scored 4, and Kevin Hannon had 4.

Conference champs

(photo by Doug Gallo)

The girls’ winter track team won the conference for the first time in the program’s illustrious history.

Buddy club steps it up (continued from page 2)

“courage of all the performers to speak their minds and share their talents,” while Ms. Nikole DeLuca appreciated the “diversity in performances and the hard work each performer put into their pieces.” Ms. Glick opened up about her own experience, reflecting on the event. “To be honest, when I was in high school, I didn’t feel comfortable speaking out about my beliefs, so I stayed quiet and observed things around me. Over the past few years at Calhoun, I have met students who have been gaining confidence in voicing their views about their deepest concerns, and I have seen them make change in small increments,” she said. Ms. Glick encourages her students and club members to stand for what they believe in and fight for the vision they wish to become a reality. The SUP SUP Challenge was meant to provide a safe space for students to “speak their minds freely without having to fight their way through a conversation, which seems to be happening more and more lately, unfortunately.” Leading up to the day of the event, Ardhra Denny (vice president), Melissa Lage (secretary), and Sana Iqbal (head of logistics) worked tirelessly behind the

(photo by Jessica Lin)

Judges for the International Buddy Club’s first “Step up Stand up” Challenge included (l.-r.): Principal Nicole Hollings, Ms. Christina Clarke, Mr. Sean Formato, Ms. Mae Angeles, and Ms. Beth Finneran.

scenes to make sure the afternoon ran smoothly. They created posters and flyers, organized the voting system, and promoted the event. Additionally, the leaders designed the SUP SUP tickets, invitations, and pamphlets. The members hope to perform for a broader audience of staﬀ dur-

ing the International Luncheon, which will take place in April. IBC is always striving to “cultivate an atmosphere of support and acceptance for anyone regardless of skin color, culture, or any other diﬀerence.” Ms. Glick shared her pride in the club members who organized the

first-ever event. “They really came together and worked hard for it to be a success. I believe seeds were sown as far as their confidence in not only organizing and running this type of event, but also to speak their minds more freely in any situation in the future,” she said.

Milestone season by Maritsa Koutsouras Editor-in-Chief

It was a memorable season for the Lady Colts. The team put together a strong season, made it to the quarterfinals of the playoffs, and saw senior Katie Healy score her 1,000th career point. After an 8-4 regular season, the team finished in second place and defeated Oceanside, 72-39, in the first round of the playoffs. Their final overall season record was 14-7 in Conference AA-III. Healy led the 8th seeded Lady Colts in the first round playoff game with 34 points. She also had nine rebounds and three assists. Honora Campbell had 15 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists of her own. After beating the 9th seeded Oceanside squad, the girls lost to

No. 1 seed Baldwin High School in the quarterfinals, 85-28. The team was held to only 11 first half points and was down 60-11 at halftime. Baldwin, whose overall record is 19-0, now heads to the semi-finals against Freeport. Healy scored 11 points for the Lady Colts in the loss, Lauren Pitti scored 8, and Campbell scored 4. One game earlier, Healy scored her 1,000 career point in a 48-44 victory over MacArthur. The senior posted 20 points in the game and helped lead the team’s 13-point fourth quarter. It was Campbell’s late free throws that helped the Lady Colts clinch the home win. Pitti scored 8 points, Meghan Sciaﬀo scored 7, and Christine Argentieri scored 5 points. One of the tougher losses of the season came in a low-scoring game against first place Manhasset, 38-

32. Only four Lady Colts scored in the game: Healy (14), Pitti (12), Campbell (5), and Argentieri (1). Healy led the way again in a road victory against Long Beach, scoring 19 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Campbell scored 9 and added six assists and 10 rebounds. Argentieri scored 8 points in the win, Pitti scored 7, and senior Maggie Flaherty scored 4. The Lady Colts had three players score in double digits on the road in a 51-41 victory against MacArthur. Healy was also one of two players who notched a double-double, leading with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Campbell had the other doubledouble in the game, scoring 11 and grabbing 10 rebounds. Argentieri scored 10 points, Pitti scored 9, and junior Taylor Baumann scored 9 points in the win.

(photo by Allison Trabold)

Healy scored her 1000th point this month.

(photo by Allison Trabold)

The Lady Colts defeated Oceanside, 72-39, in the first round of the playoﬀs after going 14-6 this season in Conference AA-III.