December 2014

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The Blue and Gold maldenblueandgold.com Malden High School Volume 100 Edition 3

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Collage of photos from the play production Shrek: The Musical (page 12), the Thanksgiving “Snow Bowl�

Football game, (page 24), Spirit Week (pages 12-13), the Art Mural (page 16), and more.

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SPIRIT WEEK

s an homage to the customary football game between Malden and Medford, nearly the entire student body of Malden High School participated in Spirit Week, a week that consists of three themed-days that call for

coordinated outfits. These days included Pajama Day, Wacky Tacky Day, and Blue and Gold Day, which was also the day of the traditional pep rally that occurs in the Finn Gym. Continued on page 12

maldenblueandgold.com Malden High School Volume 100 Edition 3 December 2014

Editorial

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Malden High School

The Blue and Gold 77 Salem St. Malden, MA 02148

Established in 1915

Celebrating 100 Years of School Reporting Staff Editors-in-Chief Amanda De Moraes ‘15 Casey Lyons ‘15 James Mazarakis ‘15 Sumya Mohiuddin ‘15 Managing Editors Jessica Lynn DePaula ‘15 Julie Lam ‘15 Heads of Op-Eds & World Nicholas Bramante ‘16 Andrew Cogliano ‘16 Heads of Local News Emma Ceplinskas ‘16 Manale Zouhir ‘16 Heads of Entertainment Chaimae El Adlouni ‘16 Ashley Leung ‘16 Heads of Sports Lucia Quesada Nylen ‘16 Cassandra Reyes ‘16 Lead Sports Writer P.J. Montezuma ‘15 Lead Photographers Piero Pocobene ‘15 Meagan Sullivan ‘15

Reporters Jasper Haag ‘16 Tatyanna Cabral ‘17 Maria Da Silva ‘17 Candela Diaz ‘17 Tenzin Dorjee ‘17 Felicia Fallano ‘17 Karina Matos ‘17 Julia Parker ‘17 Ana Kerr ‘18 Megan Downer ‘18 Leila Greige ‘18 Samuel Martinez ‘18 Anna Powers ‘18 Meghan Yip ‘18 Contributing Senior Reporters Julio Da Silva ‘15 Roberto De Oliveira ‘15 Jonathan DeCicco ‘15 Katie Mai ‘15 Amanda Nguyen ‘15 Advisor Ryan Gallagher

The Blue and Gold December 2014

Oh, the places you can go!

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fter submitting applications to colleges in Illinois, Maryland, and Vermont, the realizations began to set in and the questions began to erupt. How often can I visit home?

Will I regret going so far away?

How badly will I miss being in Massachusetts? I have not thoroughly thought about how difficult it may be to leave the nest.

Leaving Massachusetts was a no brainer at first. With the option to apply to colleges anywhere in the country, it was an easy decision to apply to colleges in varying states.

Many wondered if my desire to leave home is a result of wanting to escape a nagging family or being sick of staying in one location- the answer had been “no” to both.

It was actually a lot more difficult to choose to leave such a large, animated family because it is unimaginable that I will not see them as often. However, with their support, it was an easier decision.

And living by a city like Boston made it even more difficult to make the decision to leave. The thought of not riding the infamous T or taking trips to Back Bay or Faneuil Hall was saddening, yet I figured that the excitement that came from discovering the beautiful things about Boston would be just the same when exploring a new city or location. Applying to colleges out of state was a decision made based on the opportunities that would come with it.

College itself is a grand adventure, let alone going out of state.

No matter where you choose to go, you will experience a sense of independence. You can no longer expect

to come home to your parents’ cooking or be required to abide to curfew rules. There are no limitations to what you can do and only you can decide how to manage your time and responsibilities. With the reality of college settling in, it sounds easier to just remain stationary and to stay close since you can always turn to your support system when school got rough or for any reasons. But with the opportunity to further your education in a different state, who would not want to take it?

Yes, for some it is easier to pack their belongings and leave but it is a choice everyone gets to make when choosing where to apply. To me, it is one of the first bigger decisions I will make as an adult because not only am I deciding where I want to build my future, but I am deciding where I want to, essentially, live and develop.

Not everyone feels the same about leaving for college, but there are many perks. Leaving allows you to become more cultured and it gives you the opportunity to build your tolerance of adapting and accommodating to a new environment. There is also a plethora of opportunities because different areas offer different opportunities.

For instance, the fashion industry thrives in New York meanwhile politics is a significant aspect of

Editorial Policy

The Blue and Gold is an open forum for student expression. It is produced by students for the school and the community. The views presented in this paper are not necessarily those of the advisor or the school administration. The views presented in the editorials are those of the editors-in-chief or guests. The goal of The Blue and Gold is to inform and entertain students as well as the community regarding issues that we feel are important.

We strongly encourage readers to respond to material printed in the form of signed letters to the editors. No libelous, malicious, defamatory, obscene, or unsigned material will be printed.

The Blue and Gold reserves the right to edit the letters. Names may be withheld upon request. Not all letters will be printed.

Although The Blue and Gold appreciates the support of advertisers, we may refuse any advertisement that violates the above policy or that promotes products questionable to student use.

Any correspondence concerning this publication should be directed to Mr. Ryan Gallagher’s room in J387 or to his mailbox in the main office.

The Blue and Gold c/o Malden High School 77 Salem Street Malden, MA 02148

Washington D.C. Also, going away does not mean that you are stuck in that state eternally; there is plenty of time to return home- especially when you finish school. Do not fear leaving if that is affecting your decision. Reviewing the negative aspects of going out of state will only distract you from the endless possibilities and positives aspects.

It becomes more real when you make the final decision of where you want to go, but that moment has yet to come. In the end, wherever you choose to go will give you the opportunity to experience independence and start the fresh, new chapter after a long, memorable one had just ended.

Casey Lyons Casey Lyons Editor-in-Chief Class of 2015

Save the Date: March 21st, 2015

Come celebrate the 100 years of history of The Blue and Gold Newspaper at Malden High School!

The Blue and Gold December 2014

Interactive

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cDrEoCsEsMwBoErRd

PUZZLE

Letter to the Editor: The Malden Delegation Reaches Out to Malden High School

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eveloped in 1936, Youth in Government (YiG) has been a guiding factor to thousands of young adults, helping them become informed and involved on the workings of their country’s government.

By attending weekly meetings with their delegation, monthly sessions with other delegations, a multi-day conference held at the State House, and even a national conference upon acceptance, this student government allows teens to experience the processes and protocols exemplary of a true government.

Delegates are first given a choice of what branch they want to be involved in - legislative, executive, judicial, or a press component.

Step into a room named “Mock Trial” and you may be bombarded with fierce arguments for either sides of a case. Step into a room named “Bill-Writing” to see delegates collaborating together to create their own actual legislative bills, that eventually result in presentations and controversial debates between other delegates. Step into any room filled with a YiG member to see how empowering a young adult can be, simply by being given vocal opportunity.

The Malden Delegation is one of the many in the state, formed in 2012, and has been growing ever since. By attending meetings at the local YMCA, students from schools such as Malden High School and Mystic Valley Regional Charter School are able to come together to better their public speaking and leadership skills. Delegate and junior Patricia Luong began in her freshman year of high school, and believes that it has allowed her to “develop not only academically but personally as well. [She] has

gained public speaking skills that have helped in school, interviews, and other endeavors…[meeting] so many new people, [making] friendships, and [experiencing] lifechanging opportunities.” She has also held many high positions and even participated in the national conference of the program.

Recently, the Malden Delegation attended the first of three pre-legislative sessions at Springfield College, where more than 300 young adults (and even a few middle schoolers) came together to officially kick start the YiG year. The delegates engaged in networking activities, public speaking and leadership workshops, as well as group activities, meeting people from all over the state and indulging in the college’s great food. First-year delegate Allysa Tuon considered it to be a "fun and nice way to meet new friends from other cities, especially allowing you to interact with new people." She is one of the many excited newcomers that has joined the program this year.

In the end, Youth in Government feels nothing like a Government or Political Science course.

It is much more than memorizing definitions or taking tests - instead, it is a series of life lessons that teens can use for years on end after being encouraged by a welcoming family from all over the state. The experiences, skills, and bonds as a result of the program come from people of entirely different backgrounds, states, and nationalities, helping teens grow as individuals where they are no longer onlookers to their country’s government, but actual participants, fighting to make a change.

The Malden Delegation at its first pre-legislative session. Photo by Ryan Stranz; submitted by Michelle Chung.

This letter to the editor was submitted by Michelle Chung.If you have an opinion or an idea of something to cover that you have intimate knowledge about, or if you simply want to communicate with the school, submit a letter to the editor to J387 or talk to a member of the Blue & Gold staff for a chance to be featured in our next edition!

Opinion

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The Blue and Gold December 2014

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HOSPITAL LAND IN NEED OF AID

“Not to be rude but...”

The do’s and don’ts of how to navigate a diverse society (like Malden)... and why it’s important.

Andrew Cogliano Head of World A man in a store at the mall gives you exceptional service, never leaving your side, always getting you a different size when you ask, and telling you about different sales going on. At the register, the manager asks you which employee helped you today, but you never got his name.

You start to list unhelpful details, like his black hair and brown eyes.

Finally, you just say “y’know, the Asian one.”

The woman at the register next to you looks mortified, blushing a violent scarlet. Why is she so uncomfortable? The man was Asian, Vietnamese to be specific. Why does it matter? More importantly, why are people so sensitive about these things?

First off, calling somebody by their politically correct minority name is not racist, that is why it is called politically correct - it is correct. There is nothing wrong with saying that a man is black if he comes from Somalia, just as there is nothing wrong with calling a member of the Jewish faith a Jew. While informal, these names bear no ill connotation, so why do people get uncomfortable when someone else asks, “hey, your coworker, is she a Jew?” The most annoying part of this is the people who, in an attempt to not seem racist, make everything seem racist. For example, your friend who says “Not to be racist, but I really love sushi.”

How can that possibly be taken as racist? It is not like you are offending the entire nation of Japan by saying that you like their food, if anything that would be a compliment. The remarks only become racist when those who say them express prejudice towards another group of people, contesting that they have a certain (usually negative) characteristic. Saying that all people from Iraq are terrorists, or that all Mexican-Americans are illegal immigrants, are truly racist.

This tip-toeing is especially heavy in the LGBT community, where, for some reason, everything makes everyone uncomfortable. “I’m not trying to be rude, but is your friend a lesbian?”

There is no need whatsoever to try and cover up whatever rudeness you think you are conveying; it is a simple yes-or-no question. You want to know if she’s a lesbian? Ask her, it won’t offend anyone as long as you are polite.

Being polite changes everything when someone asks a question, so long as the question is in good taste. Asking your Iranian friend “Hey, are you a terrorist?” is not going to sound nice no matter how hard you dress it up and make it seem friendly, since it reinforces a stereotype. Another equivalent is asking every gay person if they have AIDS - it’s just not cool. Asking the same Iranian friend if they are Muslim or not is the better route to take, since a yes or a no offends nobody.

In conclusion, just be politically correct and polite when you ask questions, and no, you’re not being racist towards Italians for saying you don’t like pasta. Opinions are completely normal and natural, but using them to cover up actual racism isn’t. Having the “opinion” that all black people are criminals is not an opinion, it is racism, and therefore deserves no legitimate respect. In a world where apparently everything is now “racially charged”, I believe it would be better if we worried a little bit less.

An artist’s rendition of the Malden Hospital when it was still in a working status. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

Julia Parker Reporter

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ecently, there have been questions about what is going to happen to the former Malden Hospital on Savin Street. Shut down and abandoned for nearly fifteen years, the building has held a lot of space in the west end.

I got a notice in the mail a couple weeks ago, saying that there was going to be a meeting about the hospital. I was interested in the fact of what they planned on making the space.

It has been discussed that the building would be taken down and made into apartments or condominiums. However, there are some flaws to this plan. The hospital does need to be taken down, but is more housing the best we can make of the area?

First of all, bringing more children into the schooling system will be difficult, and it will only hurt us eventually. With exist-

ing problems with our school budget under Chapter 70, the cost will certainly catch up to us even if we get more financial aid for having more students - what with the cost of resources and limited space at Malden High, we may struggle to bring in new families. Why should we bring children and parents into this situation?

Also, if we are filling the entire area that the hospital currently resides with apartments, there are going to be a very large amount of units that will not likely fill quickly.

The amount of the housing there, combined with the anticipated 245 housing units that will be coming to Pleasant Street when city hall finally comes down, there are going to be many empty places for a while. The cost of keeping those empty units up while there is no one paying the rent is a very high one.

We would be losing so much money if things don’t work in our favor with real estate.

There are so many other options and opportunities for this space. If we were to fill the space with businesses or recreational facilities, there is so much more potential. First, where there aren’t many businesses in that end of Malden, those places would be used a lot by those in the neighborhood. A walk to the nearest convenience store is 45 minutes alone.

Also, with the space being so close to Medford, that makes whatever would be there accessible to those people too. That makes people come into Malden, and has even more people using the services we would provide.

The point is, if we make these apartments, the city of Malden could be cheated out of something great.

Something that pleases both the government and our citizens is worth it, and should be considered.

Opinion

The Blue and Gold December 2014

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Living with the ribbon: Deconstructing the myths surrounding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as told by experience Jessica DePaula anaging Editor of Print

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OCD is, first and foremost, an anxiety disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not a synonym for germophobia; it is classified as an anxiety disorder, which means that, along with the plethora of symptoms that are unique to OCD, additional signs can range from general feelings of panic or uneasiness to chronic sleep problems to withdrawal from social situations. An irrational fear of becoming desperately ill and physically sick is a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but it is not even a partial definition of the disease. On the contrary, it’s not unheard of for one to ignore personal hygiene as their condition worsens; the late film director, Howard Hughes, who suffered from one of the most infamous and cases of OCD, died weighing barely ninety pounds with dirty, unkempt hair and uncut fingernails.

I’m not organized or particularly neat in the slightest, but I have been experiencing some of the most obvious signs of OCD for as long as I can remember, and like anyone else with a chronic mental illness aspires to, have learned to live around it rather than through it.

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Life is ruled by inexplicable, horrific thoughts…

Contrary to popular belief, the “obsession” in OCD represents intrusive thinking, not germophobia.

Intrusive thoughts are unwelcome It’s similar to the feeling of having a song stuck in your head, only instead of a song, it’s a graphic image of your entire family being brutally murdered, your car tipping into the freezing cold river as you’re driving into Boston, an endless loop of Holocaust concentration camp prisoners, home invasions, cat burglars,

nuclear warYou get the picture. While nearly 90% of people report experiencing some form of intrusive thoughts in their lives, it’s much more difficult for a person with OCD to banish these images and what-ifs from their mind. Their brains are wired for this, literally programmed to allow these thoughts to thrive.

These thoughts can also include constant feelings of self-doubt; in other words, many of those with confirmed diagnosises of OCD are often plagued by the notion that they may not even have OCD.

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...as well as bizarre, repetitive behaviors that reduce you to both a punchline and a public nuisance The only way most sufferers of OCD are able to squash these intrusive thoughts are through repetitive compulsions. While these rituals are very effective in quelling obsessive thinking and unwanted feelings of anxiety, they can also become counter-productive in that they draw you away from socializing with friends and family, as well as prevent you from fulfilling work or school obligations. Some have described feeling the urge to perform seemingly pointless tasks, like washing their hands a specific number of times or counting the number of leaves on every tree on a particular street, that they oftentimes dedicate hours of their day to. Enter the image of the token OCD sufferer: a nervous eccentric with a dire need to cleanse any environment perceived to be unhealthy or germ-infested, or else avoid these areas altogether. This is often played for laughs in the media and, consequently, by those who have been misinformed about OCD their entire lives. This is why few are aware that the completion of these tasks feels like a life and death situation for people like me. Someone with OCD having to accept something as minor as, for example, eating dinner off of a plate that had a food thought to be “wrong” on it is the equivalent of being handed a plate of raw meat soaked in bleach.

Imagine how frustrating eating out can be; hurtful comments about being a picky eater or wasting time seperating foods are pretty much a guarantee. I’m that person, the one with the overcomplicated order in front of you at McDonald’s, not because I’m trying to ruin your day but because if I even think there’s been onion near my food I can’t eat it without feeling sick.

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Comorbidity is a reality The unfortunate thing about mental illness is the likelyhood of comorbid diagnoses, or the presence of two or more mental disorders at once. There is a high comorbidity rate with OCD; it’s not difficult to imagine a person becoming depressed or developing an additional anxiety disorder or phobia

of something relating to a particular intrusive thought or image. I’ve always felt that this is because one of the most frusturating things about OCD is knowing that the thoughts, numbers and images that play out in my mind in a continual loop are completely irrational while feeling powerless to stop or control them, which is what causes so much distress in the OCD sufferer.

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You know this isn’t actually helping, but you do it anyway The worst thing about having OCD for me has always been this: compulsions offer instant relief from anxiety but also bring to the surface drastic feelings of self-loathing. Unlike personality disorders, where the person always believes they are correct in every scenario, or autism, where the person often is unable to comprehend why their actions are unacceptable, one who is diagnosed with OCD is fully aware that their compulsions are illogical and maybe even counterproductive, but they need to do them anyway. This goes much farther than cleaning the kitchen or alphabetizing your bookshelf, too. I’ve spent hours copying over my notes for school because they weren’t symmetrical, because I didn’t use the write color-coding system, because I didn’t like the way some of the letters looked.

Imitation is not the highest form of flattery If I had a penny for every time I’ve heard someone say, “I’m/he’s/ that’s so OCD,” I’d be spending my life locked in my house repeatedly counting through thousands of coins because I, unlike the person with the flawlessly organized locker next to mine, actually have OCD. A major reason why there continues to be such a negative stigma relating to mental illness lies in the trivialization of serious conditions like OCD. Television shows, most notably the USA Network’s “Monk,” are guilty of dismissing the severity of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder through the use of stereotypical characters who display no symptoms of OCD other than an overwhelming fear of germs, a symptoms which many patients, myself included, have little to no struggle with in the first place. This hasn’t helped the already grossly inaccurate public perception of OCD; when I overhear “OCD” in conversation, it’s being used as a describing word more often than not, and that will never not upset me. Please refrain from using my debilitating chronic illness as an adjective; the dismissal of OCD as a quirky personality trait is representative of a general ignorance of the importance of mental illness, but it doesn’t make it any less hurtful to hear teachers, friends and family who prefer to color code their closets erasing the complexity of this illness.

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Political Opinion

The Blue and Gold December 2014

maldenblueandgold.com

Don’t Get Caught Up on Words S

adly, there are people who are bad at their jobs. The average American may encounter a doctor losing a patient, a lawyer throwing a case, or a Dunkin’ Donuts employee forgetting to add cream and sugar.

This average American is entitled to his anger - after all, he lost his friend, or his land, or his luscious dosage of caramel swirl in his morning coffee.

The difference of the latter, though, is this: at best, a lack of caramel swirl will only cause mild and fleeting disappointment. The former two damage lives, break marriages and separate families.

Let’s take this to the next level.

If the president overreacted and declared war on Russia, would we excuse him for the reason that he has the most stressful job in the world? No. He would be torn apart — because he has a responsibility to look after his people, not shy away from blame whenever he is accused of wrongdoing. This goes out to the police, too. Respect does not supersede accountability. As officers of the law and leaders in our community, the police should be held to the same standard of behavior that we are, if not a higher one. I trust that police officers who believe in their work will not find this a difficult expectation, either.

Human beings have always struggled to decide whether one can be excused for a crime based on the positive work they do. But the American justice system is designed to be such that people are equal under the eyes of the law — everyone is accountable for their mistakes.

So why, as a society, do we always struggle to even consider standing beside people of color?

You may not agree that Darren Wilson or Daniel Pantaleo committed a crime, and that is fine. But there is a live stream of similar cases happening each day and cabinets full of others locked in our past as well. What I want to discuss is why people are bringing race into this discussion - and to put into perspective why the conversation is becoming so controversial and vital to the people of Ferguson and beyond.

In 2004, a young woman named Victoria Snelgrove was struck in the head with a pepper spray projectile launched by police forces in Boston following the Red Sox’s World Series win as she passed through a riot in the streets. Eight other people were arrested and sixteen were injured in this craze, but none of this mattered: the tragedy hit Boston hard.

After all, this woman, a 21-year-old journalism major from Emerson College, lost her life in an inevitable riot. She was also white.

Over ten years later, I watched CNN’s coverage of the riots following the decision not to indict Darren Wilson. A panicked black woman is screaming and shouting in the background, and the reporter asks what she is angry about. The only online source I can find of the incident is on

crooksandliars.com (I can only attest to the accuracy of this quote) and the transcript of the exchange reads: “I’m upset that this girl just had a heart attack down here, five, six people carrying her body and they tear gassed the girl! They throw gas on the girl, on top of her body, she’s passed out! And they started throwing tear gas at the crowd. We’re tired of this.”

I cannot find any more information on this woman. She could be dead. She could be alive and well.

She could be hospitalized. She could also not exist. It doesn’t matter why can’t any credible source be bothered to find out? Does she not deserve to be followed up on?

We react differently towards different instances of disorder, too.

The night I was watching the riots on CNN, I felt like I was watching something different from what the reporters were telling me. They were desperately running around, searching for misconduct, focusing in on the few actual crimes that took place and lingering on those, and remarking about how disappointing the disorder was and how it violated Brown’s family’s wishes.

I will not overlook the crimes that did occur that night - the instances of violence and store breakins are facts, of course - but take a moment to consider what they were there to cover and what they chose to focus on. They spent little to no time giving context about the case, explaining why there were protests, or making any effort to balance their critical remarks with the facts of the case. Instead, they swarmed to the most action-packed vicinities, point-

ed out every burning trash can, and lingered the camera frame on every moment of violence. It is almost as if the media wanted there to be chaos - that’s what makes a headlining story, after all - and they had all the right shots to make it one.

I hear the argument that many of the people rioting are taking advantage of the chaos, and sure, this is probably true. But that’s not why the riots are happening. The people of Ferguson are angry, and if their allegations are correct, they are being outright abused and silenced. Historically, when people are vehement and sick of being treated poorly, they riot. Do I support that sentiment? No, I do not think violence is the answer. But I am not a black resident in a city run primarily by white officials, and I cannot say whether this is an issue worth fighting and rioting over. For that reason, calling the violence a “disgrace” discredits the racial tensions and ongoing problems - which we do not fully understand - and replaces it with our disapproval of civil disobedience and perpetuates a false negative view of the people of Ferguson and black people as a race.

We gasp and bemoan about what happens in Ferguson now, but riots have been looked at as positive turning points in social movements time and time again. The Stonewall riots were a result of decades of tension between LGBT people and the police in a New York City bar; it climaxed in a three-day riot that included throwing objects, destruction of property, fires, and many, many arrests. Maybe violence was not the only way they could have

James Mazarakis Editor-in-Chief protested, but they felt so trapped, so ganged up on, that it was the only way to take their rights to a national stage. In effect, it no doubt served as the turning point in LGBT history.

Unlike the disorder at the 2014 Pumpkin Fest in New Hampshire, the mayhem at Ferguson happened for a cause. When drunk college students in New Hampshire - primarily white, mind you - cause mayhem for virtually no reason, people disregard it at silly, foolish, and “stupid.” I think the media had a responsibility to be consistent in the way they cover different kinds of riots - if what happened at Ferguson is a “disgrace,” then the Keene State riots deserved an even more critical name.

What scares me the most is the line drawn between the nearsighted white world and the voices of the rest, something that is being actively profited on by the news media platforms. By treating the riots like war zones, they make a wildly sensational story. This cannot distract us from the real problems at hand. When we talk about Ferguson, we are not talking about those people, or whether they are going to invade another street and cause destruction. They are Americans, and they are upset. It is not mandatory for us as a nation to act on their demands, but we need to listen to our own people and hear what they are demanding. This is what causes “disgraceful” riots like the ones in Ferguson.

Don’t feed the media. They won’t bite your hand - they will bite the hands of the people who are powerless in the public view.

This is “Disgraceful”

This is “Out-of-Hand”

Ferguson, MO

Pumpkin Fest, Keene, NH

Concept by James Mazarakis. Illustration by Nicholas Bramante.

The Blue and Gold December 2014

Political Opinion

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Obama’s Executive Order Fuels Bipartisan Fire, But What Else Does It Do? Jasper Haag Reporter

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n November 20, 2014, President Obama stood in the West Wing of the White House and presented his plans regarding immigration reform, the use of executive orders on his part to make up for a lack of congressional action. This move is a highly contentious one as it brings into question the very constitution which the president swears to uphold, for no place in the 226 year old document are such unilateral executive actions mentioned. But before the politics of the issue can be spoken about, the facts and logistics of the executive order President Obama announced must be understood.

Some of the less brazen reform measures being taken by the administration include the restructuring of the “Secure Communities” program which previously allowed federal agents to ask local officials to hold illegal aliens, even for trivial crimes and infractions they would otherwise walk away from, so they could be picked up and deported. The general focus of deportation in the US is also being overhauled to focus more specifically on immigrants who have been convicted of serious crimes and those who were ordered deported or entered the US in 2014.

The opportunities for obtaining a visa have also been expanded to include easier processes for foreign entrepreneurs and for spouses of current visa holders. The Optional Practical Training program, which allows foreign students to remain in the US after graduation for work, has also been expanded to include an extended stay period for those in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

However the flagship of these changes are massive expansions to DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) eligibility.

The program allows those covered to get temporary protection from deportation as well as work permits. Currently only a small group (1.2 million) of people are covered, those who meet a very specific set of prerequisites regarding their age, their date of arrival to the US, their criminal record, and their place of residence among other things. But President Obama intends to expand the program to provide eligibility to a wider range of people under the current regulations as well as the parents of current citizen or greencard-holding children who’ve been in the country for 5 or more years, expanding the number covered to an expected total of approximately 5.7 million.

Compared to the more modest reform action being taken by President Obama noted earlier in this article, the changes made with respect to DACA are astronomical, but its success is dubious. While the numbers say that 5.7 million immigrants will gain the benefits of temporary work permits and will allowed to temporarily remain in the country, it is unknown how many will choose to, as President Obama said, “come out of the shadows.” The executive order’s changes may seem like a godsend to many immigrants living in fear of deportation, but it is not true legislation, and because of this any future president (or even congress should it pass comprehensive immigration legislation) could end the program, conceivably even using the information gained about illegal immigrants from this new process to deport them more aggressively and specifically. This

means that many who may benefit from President Obama’s executive order will not even take advantage of what it provides them.

Aside from the ethics and success of this executive order, many people and politicians are now bringing economics and logistics into it in an attempt to weaken and hopefully destroy the President’s plan before it can even begin. While there are of course opponents to the action on both sides of the aisle, Republicans are most vocal about the issue claiming that any changes similar to the ones drafted by President Obama are direct affronts to the constitution and shall lead to only more problems for hardworking Americans as well as the country as a whole. They claim that jobs will be stolen away by the new pool of immigrants eligible for more “white collar” work and that many will game the system and stay even when they aren’t covered by new rules. Of course there is also the angle on National Security, or the lack thereof should President Obama go through with his executive order. But in the end what we see again is more fear-mongering by politicians.

Of course it is reasonable to consider all the implications of such a far reaching policy at home and abroad, but the claims being made are erroneous and oftentimes blatantly untruthful. Take for example the recent relabelling of the plan as one meant to provide “amnesty” for immigrants flouting the law, something President Obama never said in his speech. In fact, he said himself that “mass amnesty would be unfair” and that while “some of the critics call it amnesty … it’s not.”

Many are also calling attention to the legality of such an action by the President, and are stating

Above: A demonstrator advocating against illegal immigration. Right: A chart showcasing the declines of illegal immigration into the U.S through various years. Photos courtesy of Wikimedia.

outright that it is unconstitutional.

But somehow all of the interviews and statements and articles that those opposed to the action are putting forward conveniently leave out the fact that executive orders are exceedingly common, and that even executive orders pertaining to immigration are seen quite often.

President Bush even took action on immigration through the use of executive orders, unchallenged during his presidency. It is admittedly necessary to discuss the constitutionality of such a far reaching action, but it is just as duplicitous to make unsubstantiated and unsupported claims to the American people in attempts to convince them to oppose the action as it is to avoid discussion altogether.

In the end, all of this is expected in the highly partisan system that the United States has today, and it has consistently been seen on both sides, but that doesn’t make it right or just. Politicians sitting in their ivory towers can fight back and forth ostensibly for the protection of their constituents and the country, but they are oftentimes fighting only for themselves. They want to gain power if they don’t have it or keep it if they do, and that means that they are willing to mislead the public and unnecessarily attack legislation and actions coming from the other party, even if it means hurting those whom they are sworn to serve.

Without seeing the executive order implemented no one can fully and accurately predict its results, but for that same reason without trying to push the boundaries of our political and legal system, nothing would ever change, for better or for worse.

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Philae Lander:

A Four Billion Mile Mission

Jasper Haag Reporter

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n Nov. 12, the Philae lander, after being released by its transport, the Rosetta Spacecraft, made its descent to the surface of comet 67/P. Upon impact, the lander was supposed to deploy harpoons to secure itself to the surface of the comet; however, this system failed.

This resulted in the lander bouncing off of the surface and landing back on the comet in a different location.

This new resting place is for the foreseeable its last, as it is unable to get the sunlight needed to recharge its limited battery supply. Before its charge was depleted, it was able to relay some scientific data regarding the comet back to Earth, but it was unable to do as much or as intensive work as it was designed to do. However, the landing was merely the beginning of the closing sequences for a mission started a decade ago and nearly four billion miles away.

Approximately 10 years ago, the launch of a rocket was not uncommon, but this rocket carried something unique in its payload, the Rosetta Spacecraft in conjunction with the Philae Lander. The pair was destined for the orbiting comet 67/P with the mission of gathering scientific information regarding their target.

Unlike previous missions involving comets, the ESA planned on sending a spacecraft to and landing on the surface of 67/P, and taking

samples and data directly from it, a first for mankind.

People don’t normally think of comets as having any significance in our lives, other than the occasional spectacle brought about with one such as Halley’s Comet, but as Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s director general, previously mentioned, “with Rosetta, [they] are opening a door to the origin of planet Earth and fostering a better understanding of our future.”

As they are free from the chemical and physical effects present on planets such as our own, comets provide an invaluable snapshot of the beginning of our solar system, and many scientists believe that they hold keys to the origins of life on earth in the form of complex organisms on their surface. This belief, in light of the newest reports regarding the data Philae transmitted back to Earth that contain signs of “carbon-containing organics,” seems to be gaining traction every

day. The implications of such a discovery are vast, and could mean major advances in mankind’s understanding of the origins of life on Earth, and of life in the Universe.

Beyond this, the mission is proving, just as the Apollo moon landing mission did in 1969, that humanity has made a new step in technological capability. A feat of such magnitude could only have been imagined before, and now with the successful navigation of the Rosetta spacecraft over a 10 year period, future missions of equal or greater difficulty are conceivable and feasible.

We can only expect to see more Rosettas in the future, and while many may fail to complete their

original goal as Philae appears to have done, humanity will still be reaping the rewards of their ventures just as we are now.

For now, Rosetta will maintain its orbit around 67/P, collecting various data from above its surface.

Those working on the mission hope that in the coming months, Philae will be able to charge its battery enough from sunlight to power up once again and begin the process of scientific research with more time and security. But even if it does not, the mission stands today as a triumph for mankind and an opportunity for even further advancements.

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Astral Assassin: Meet Russia’s “Satellite Killer”

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n early November of this year, American astronomers began tracking an unknown piece of “space junk”, object 2014-28E, that was launched off of the Earth’s surface. Many believed it to be another satellite or communications device, but upon further investigation, it was deduced that the object was in fact an anti-satellite weapon, or ASAT. These weapons are launched into space with the sole purpose of destroying enemy satellites and downing communication across a specific area.

Surprisingly, little is known about the Russian ASAT, even though countries all around the

world have their eyes trained on it. Many modifications have been made to the ASAT design since its first use in the 1950s, and different countries have obtained ASAT schematics and design plans. “It could have a number of functions, some civilian and some military,” sai US space security expert Patricia Lewis.

Some speculate the device will be used to repair other Russian satellites, but the more skeptical believe it has the potential to do real harm.

The concept of “killing satellites” has stayed relatively dormant since the 1980s, when Russia and the US began to demonstrate their ability to fill the atmosphere with

Andrew Cogliano Head of World News

satellites, laser grids, and other extreme long-range systems. The first notable activity came from China in 2008, when the nation took out one of its own aging weather satellites with a mid-range ballistic missile that was mounted on another, newer satellite.

The event sent a message to major world powers, namely the US and Russia, that there was to be a new space race, except with weapons, not people. As the push to weaponize land, air, and sea on Earth increases, weaponizing space is fledgling industry. Still, skeptics in the US and the rest of the world believe that there is nothing to fear.

Brian Weeden, the technical advisor to the Secure World foundation, says that the fear is “hugely over-

blown” and that “there’s absolutely zero evidence available right now to support it.” As for the launch being a mere display of power, there is more evidence to support this idea than any other.

Max White, an astronomer who, along with others in the 1960s, pinpointed the location of various Soviet spy satellites, believes that “whether the Russians feel they need to demonstrate [the capability to destroy satellites] is a matter for debate.” Indeed, considering that prior to China’s 2008 launch, Russia was a major force in attempting to create a worldwide treaty to prevent the weaponization of space, a goal that has since fallen out of favor with world leaders. Until object 2014-28E actually does something, be it fixing a damaged satellite or destroying an American one, speculations remain up in the air.

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Cooking Up a New Lunch Program

James Mazarakis Editor-in-Chief

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ith a direct goal to provide more nutritional school food, the school utilized its new staff members and transformed the lunch program into a more healthier option for students. The addition of a new Food Service Director and Head Chef allowed the school to venture out of its comfort zone and try new ideas.

Food Service Director Elinore Perry, hailing from Topsfield, Massachusetts, hopes to bring her rich past with food to Malden High School. Perry has “loved cooking” since she was young and took many opportunities to take internships with restaurants, colleges, and Whitman’s, the company she now represents at MHS. With juvenile intentions of entering the world of culinary arts, Perry earned degrees in culinary and culinary nutrition. Her love for cooking was evident at a young age when she “[tried] to make food for [any] project... even if it [was not] a requirement.” Through the work of her company, Whitmans, she continues to use her expertise at MHS. The school also welcomed Omar Hernandez, a native of California and a new visionary at Malden High School, with open arms.

His background in cooking at hotels helped him adjust to the school setting. His old schedule consisted of working days and nights, with Monday and Tuesday as his weekend, but working in a school gave him the same breaks as students.

For Hernandez, “it was a change of lifestyle.”

Growing up in southern California, in a small town of Bonarelli, Hernandez gained a strong appreciation for culinary arts. Since the sixth grade, Hernandez “knew [he] wanted to be in the food industry.”

Although cartoons were a part of Hernandez’s past, cooking shows were more prevalent. With his early

Sumya Mohiuddin Editor-in-Chief interest in cooking, Hernandez developed his career and gained a strong appreciation for the arts.

Joining the MHS crowd ensured that he worked closely with the students, which is a main focus for his company, Whitsons. The company focuses on producing a “complete meal” for the student body, and Hernandez has a vision of students and staff working together to achieve that.

Both Hernandez and Perry value the opinions of the students because afterall, it is their lunch.

For them, “every month is trialand-error... [They are] trying to find out what students like and [do not] like.”

For many students, lunchtime is an opportunity for them to catch up with friends, do some last minute homework, and most importantly, enjoy some food before the last haul of classes. With the exception of some privileged seniors, most students have only thirty minutes to eat lunch- the last thing they want to eat is an unsatisfactory meal, which the new management wants to avoid.

The new program met positive feedback with some students. Senior Frank Cruthird thinks the new food is an “upgrade from last year because there is more self serving stations, which makes eating lunch a lot more quicker and a lot more efficient.” Boyle House principal and Jenkins House principal, Chris Mastrangelo and Kevin Kilbride respectively, add to Cruthird’s statement, saying that “there is a lot more variety in the lunches,” which includes more healthy alternatives.

The options for food has increased: with lines that bear the names “Coyote Grill,” “La Cucina de Italiana Bistro,” and more, students can look forward to lunch everyday.

Although lunchtime leaves most students feeling better about

Clockwise, from top: Group photo of the Malden High School lunch team.

Susan Shey cutting food in the kitchen; Lori Mason serving MHS students; an array of kitchenware with Rossana D’Agostino working at the oven; Elizabeth Flores posing by the oven; Food Service Director Elinore Perry posing with Head Chef Omar Hernandez and Assistant Director Terri Tusa-Pelosi. All photos by Sumya Mohiuddin. the rest of the day, terminating breakfast in Cafe B sparked anger among students who enjoyed thoroughly it in the past few years. The reason is simple: state guidelines encourage schools to not serve coffee to students.

As a country, there are “gray” areas concerning the coffee question, “but in Massachusetts, they try not to do coffee for students at all..., so [the new management goes] by

state rules first…,” Perry stated.

Changing the rules about serving coffee to students was the first statement the new management made, and because of their firm hold on state policies and the continuous change of requirements for school lunches, the student body, and school as a whole, can expect a great things from the lunch program’s new management.

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Spirit is For the Despite a tough challenge from the was triumphant! This spirit week grades, with contests, banners, Meghan Yip Reporter

Ana Kerr Reporter

The pep rally opened with MHS’s newest dance team, the Malden High Lions. Entertainment continued with the MHS Step Team and the cheerleading team, and then closed with the wildly popular dance group, Airbound.

Constructing a human pyramid, pull ups, basketball free throws, and tug of war were just a handful of the activities that took place at the pep rally. Each grade’s representative team competed for the most points and at the end of it all, the seniors took first place with the sophomores in second, the juniors in third, and the freshmen in fourth.

Top to Bottom: Seniors assembling their pyramid with class advisor, Berenice Diaz. MHS step team performs at the pep rally. Cheerleaders perform their routine at the pep rally. The choir sings the National Anthem. All photos by Piero Pocobene and Meagan Sullivan

Each class created banners to encourage the football team and presented them at the pep rally, where teachers judged them and rewarded points to their overall score.

Freshman Cindy Siu stated that, “participating in spirit week gives students an opportunity to have some fun and take a break from all of the gruesome work [they have] been having,” regarding the importance of spirit week.

Senior advisor and math teacher Berenice Diaz added that this year her favorite part of spirit week was “[the] pep rally and the banner making. The banner was something [she] was really looking forward to

Scan the QR code on the left to view a video on Spirit Day!

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Not just Week sophomores, the Class of 2015 was one to remember for all performances, and competition!

this year because [she got] to see everyone’s perspective and what different things they can do- [she finds] it very cool.”

Diaz added that her favorite part in past spirit weeks that she misses are the hallway decorations.

“Hallway [decorating] is really something [she wishes] the school brought back. It was way more intense than it was [that day].” She also thinks it is important for spirit week to exist because “it brings the whole school together. It unites us and kids who don’t really participate in school, usually do when it comes to spirit week.”

This year, Diaz had many

favorite moments but the one she could definitely say was memorable was the “[the] pep rally, no doubt, and when everyone dressed up in blue and gold. Various students get to meet one another and have great experiences through them. It was great seeing a lot of different people.”

Spirit week is important because “it shows MHS as a whole community and it is a way of expressing your creativity,” sophomore Alicia Devereaux stated. It is no doubt that the spirit week tradition brings MHS alive for the week of Thanksgiving, and it will continue to do so for coming years.

Top left, clockwise: Senior class banner. Sophomore class banner.

Freshman class banner. Junior class banner. All photos by Piero Pocobene and Meagan Sullivan

Top to Bottom: NHS members at the pep rally. The MHS football players and cheerleaders celebrate their spirit. Sophomores and seniors battle out with tugof-war. Airbound performs at the pep rally. All photos by Piero Pocobene and Meagan Sullivan

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Malden High School’s Play Production put on a performance show with comedic relief that is suitable for everyone. the show, putting in many hours of hard work and dedication Meghan Yip Reporter

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Ana Kerr Reporter

his year, Malden High School Play Production has gone out of their comfort zone and presented a comedic and vibrant show, Shrek the Musical, to the community as one of their yearly plays. The play was enjoyed on the nights of Dec. 4th, 5th, and 6th by the Malden community.

Shrek the Musical tells the story of an ogre, Shrek, (senior Dominic Pappagallo), who sets out on a quest to save Princess Fiona, (junior Sarah Bendell), in order to reclaim his swamp from the short tempered and just plainly short Lord Farquaad, (senior Sebastian Patino). On his journey, Shrek is accompanied by a humorous talking donkey, (senior Elijah Jean-Baptiste), and encounters all types of fairytale creatures, including the big bad wolf, played by MHS math teacher Evan Mauser, the three blind mice, a fairy god mother, the gingerbread man, and many more.

The seemingly heartless ogre

is transformed after rescuing and spending time with the beautiful Princess Fiona on their way back to Duloc. However, the princess must hide her curse of turning into an ogre after sundown from the world.

“I think the show has a great message about acceptance, beauty and being one’s true self.”

- Sean Walsh By true love’s kiss, Fiona will be freed from her curse. She believes Lord Farquaad will relieve her, but the story takes an interesting twist when feelings develop between Fiona and Shrek.

The award winning troupe opted for a more lighthearted, spirited show but in turn had to overcome challenges with technology,

Top, left to right: Lord Farquaad (Senior Sebastian Patino) being carried by the Duloc dancers; Pinocchio (Kasya Jensen) and Gingy (Angelica Carberry) start the song “Freak Flag Fly”; Duloc residents protest against Lord Farquaad; Three blind mice (Michelle Foley, Robyn Jones and Alana Burdine) have their solo; Shrek (Dominic Pappagallo) and Fiona (Sarah Bendell) reunite at Lord Farquaad’s wedding; Fiona thanks Shrek for rescuing her; Lord Farquuad and Fiona’s wedding; Shrek’s parents (Sarah Viera and (Paul Araiza) sending him off into the world; Donkey (Elijah Jean-Baptiste) and Shrek sharing a laugh; the fairy tale creatures dancing to “Freak Flag Fly”; the whole cast gathering together for the ending scene; fairy tale cratures complaining about Lord Farquaad; the three Fionas joining together for their song; Gingy being tortured for information; the dragon (Jennifer Alves) and her prisoners. All photos by Meghan Yip, Piero Pocobene, and Meagan Sullivan.

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of the classic and beloved Shrek the Musical, a family friendly The staff spent three months preparing for during and after school as well as over the weekends. set designing, and costumes. The cast and crew agreed that this show was definitely one of the more techheavy, and required many costumes and sets.

Senior sound technician, Corey McFeeley, has “been doing sound for all three years of Play Production and the thing about sound is that [it is] like learning a second language,” McFeeley explained. “I was self taught at the board. I did not take any [sound designing classes or sound execution classes] prior to Play Production. I sat at the board and [asked myself], ‘what does this button do?’” McFeeley also added that this is “just one aspect,” and that “making friends and meeting new people is just another rewarding experience.”

The last week of rehearsal, also known as “hell week”, as senior light operator Ashley Yung stated, “[the group stays at the high school] until nine or ten just perfecting the show. Seeing all of the dedication

and work come together was really wonderful.” Ultimately, the hard work put in to the show was worth it when they see it all come together.

On casting roles, junior Bailey Reed, who plays the captain of the guards and a Duloc dancer, stated, “it does not really matter what role [anyone gets]. As long as [the person is] a part of it, [it is] just like the best feeling.” Though people may sometimes not get the roles they expected, they always end up enjoying and fitting into the character that they presume. Senior Patino, who plays Lord Farquaad, stated that he wanted “to be cast as Shrek in the beginning, but after a while, [he] realized that, personality wise, Lord Farquaad [fit him] so well. [He is] Farquaad.”

Though the play ran smoothly all three nights, that does not mean that the crew did not face any challenges. As Play Production director and Lead English teacher at MHS Sean Walsh expressed, “one thing

Top: Duloc dancers perform a song for visitors of Farquaad.

Bottom: Guards are afraid of Shrek because of his grotesque qualities.

All photos by Meghan Yip, Piero Pocobene, and Meagan Sullivan.

Video of Shrek The Musical coming soon to the Blue and Gold website!

[that is] tricky about this play is that it has a bunch of moving pieces.” He also added that they “have never really done a children’s theatre before so [he] wanted to do something that could appeal to all ages, and [he] always [tries] to mix up doing different kinds of shows.”

For junior Sarah Bendell, who plays the lead as Fiona, “Shrek has always been one of [her] favorite movies growing up and [she] had always loved the musical as well.”

She also confessed that Fiona had always been one of her dream parts, making her excited because she “saw so much of [herself] in her.”

Benell also remarked that “during practice, [she] loved to discover more and more about Fiona and really get to create her world and make it a world [they] could share.

Participating in Shrek the Musical proved to the Play Production cast and crew that it not only about hard work, but also an enjoyable ex-

perience, with bonds and memories that will not soon fade away. It is evident that the cast and crew, both in and out of character, had a chance to find themselves and accept the people that they are.

“I actually did want to be cast as Shrek in the beginning but after a while, I realized that, personality wise, Lord Farquaad fits me so well. I am Farquaad.”

-Sebastian Patino

Shrek - Dominic Pappagallo Donkey - Elijah Jean-Baptiste Fiona - Sarah Bendell Lord Farquaad - Sebastian Patino Dragon - Jennifer Alves Mama Ogre/Mama Bear- Sarah Viera Papa Ogre/Theolonius - Paul Araiza Baby Shrek - Itilo Alves Pinocchio - Kasya Jensen Fairy Godmother - Aigul Fitzgerald Wicked Witch -Alana Burdine Elf: Ali Fletcher Big Bad Wolf - Mr. Evan Mauser Humpty Dumpty - Michelle Foley Ugly Duckling - Meghan Brown Papa Bear - Marino DiPietrantonio Baby Bear- Kamila Regalado Mad Hatter - Michael Lane Peter Pan - Joylyn Norris Young Fiona / Dwarf - Yusra Tafraoui Teen Fiona/ Gingy / Sugar Plum Fairy -Angelica Carberry

Captain of the Guard/Guard: Bailey Reed Pied Piper: Mr. Chris Giordano Bishop: Sajeanah Cadet Three Pigs: Jennifer Alves, Maggie O’Callaghan, Sabrina Kumar Three Blind Mice - Michelle Foley, Robyn Jones, Alana Burdine Four Knights - Paul Araiza, Michelle Foley, Alana Burdine, Michael Lane Guards: Carlos Zeledon., Kevin Irungu, Danielle Herrera., Amari Wilson, Samantha French, Anjayla Boyce., Richard Melgar., Brayan Angulo, Kiara Swann, Danielle Lauritzen Featured Mouse Dancers: Maggie O’Callaghan, Aigul Fitzgerald, Joylyn Norris, Kamila Regalado Puppeteers: Carlos Zeldon, Daniela Herrera, Kevin Irungu, Amari Wilson, Robyn Jones

Stage Manager: Ellie Cordero Assistant Stage Manager: Jilian Molokwu Costume Design, Acquisition and Construction: Jilian Molokwu, Sajeanah Cadet, Illana Rivas Set Design and Master Carpenters: Zsvhary Barreto and Thomas Hannafin Carpenters: Zach Foster, Alex Silva Jonathan Flores-Martinez, Louis Vargas Additional Scenic Painting by Ali Fletcher Shift Crew/Fly System: Zachary Barreto, Alex Silva, Thomas Hannafin, Jonathan Flores-Martinez, Louis Cargas, Zach

Foster, Connor Fitzpatrick, Gabbi Onessimo Prop Master: Lyndsey Martin Properties: Daryl Satterwhite, Connor Fitzpatrick, Gabbi Onessimo, Christine Bordeau Sound Design and Operation: Corey McFeeley and Stacey Wong Lighting Design: Ashley Yung Lighting Execution: Tenzin Tseyang Spot Lights: Samantha Drapinski and Kaitlyn Weng Poster Design by Ashley Yung

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The Blue and Gold December 2014

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Art Students “Bike To The Sea”

Left to right: Mural painted by MHS art students; Mural painted by Malden Catholic art students.

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he Malden High School art department recently took its students on a field trip to the bike path across from the school where they painted a mural titled “Bike to the Sea.” The mural was in honor of the Malden Bike Club that holds over 100 years of history.

As part of a competition, MHS, alongside Malden Catholic High School and Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, painted murals by the bike path. Over 60 students were present to help out. Some of the helpers were not part of the art classes at MHS, which amazed art teacher Mary Ann Seager.

The idea behind the mural was to display the history of the city as well as to connect it to biking through Malden to Revere Beach.

Bike To The Sea is the name Malden bike club. Students included many historical figures such as Governor Alvan T. Fuller in the mural. Fuller grew up and attended school in Malden, and later became the most successful auto dealer in the country. Fuller also sold bikes and raced in many competitions as a member of the Malden team.

Katherine “Kittie” Knox is also included in the mural. Born to a free African-American father and

white mother in 1874, she was the first African-American woman to be allowed to compete in biking competitions in Boston. Next to Kittie in the mural are Principal Dana Brown with his wife Marie Brown.

The painting process took the art department several days to finish, including weekends, Professional Development Day and Veteran’s day. Students took the days off of school spending them painting, which helped to quicken the process in creating the mural. “[She is] always amazed by the students at Malden High School,” stated Seager.

Her favorite part of the whole experience was “coming down the bike path [and seeing] five or six kids [she did not] really know, [but who wanted to help with the mural].”

Because of the mural, the city and its history are connected to a club that recognizes biking as a sport and a hobby. In the quick sketches of the mural, many important figures that have impacted Malden are portrayed in a variety of positive ways by educating others and even helping out with the community.

Biking has been an important part of Malden for decades, and this mural symbolizes the rich history that Malden has to offer.

From left to right: Freshman Teresa Shi, senior Hao Lin, unidentified student, and junior Tiao Ling Wang painting on the wall; Senior Melissa Lee, junior Hong Chen, and freshman Serena Nguyen posing for the picture; Mural painted

by Mystic Valley Regional Charter School art students; Junior Rory Milan, junior Ryan Wang, art teacher Joseph Luongo, and junior Teresa Shi are hard at work.

Left to right: Senior Jenny Nguyen, freshman Lynn Nguyen, unidentified student, freshman Zariah Silva, freshman Jade Farrell, freshman Susan Wang pose for the picture. All photos courtesy of Mary Ann Seager.

Visit our website maldenblueandgold.com to view these articles that were not featured in the print edition!

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MOCKINGJAY MOVIE REVIEW Felicia Fallano Reporter

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he Hunger Games trilogy became a worldwide phenomenon ever since the first novelbased film aired in 2012. Since then, the series left fans waiting to see the grand finale of it all.

Unlike other book series, it is not necessary to read the The Hunger Games trilogy to understand the plot. The books are also so short that there is plenty of room for the directors and producers to stay true and loyal to almost all of the events in the books. Mockingjay, which is not exactly a “fan favorite,” exceeded its expectations as a film compared to the quality of the novel.

Because Mockingjay does not have an actual “hunger games”, it is a whole new experience to watch. Part I starts off with the aftermath of the Quarter Quell Hunger Games, where Katniss once again defied the Capitol’s fate for her and Peeta.

In this movie, unlike the others, we see the actual transformation of Katniss into the face of the rebellion against the Capitol.

Something that has annoyed many people is the focus

on the love triangle between Katniss, Gale, and Peeta rather than focus on the actual rebellion taking place in Panem. The first two films were filled with romance, unlike Mockingjay. Mockingjay focuses on Katniss’s transformation into a whole new person, and the Districts’ rebellion against the tyranny of the Capitol. Even though the romance can get a bit annoying, it could have helped make the first part of Mockingjay more interesting.

The special effects design of the set has been an aspect that has left many fans pleased, and it is something that is just as good in Mockingjay Part I. Despite the lack of an actual “hunger games” in the film, the scenes with explosions and futuristic technology that is used by the Capitol’s military are impressive.

The only real downside to this film adaption is that it drags on. Because there is not a lot to the story, there was not a valid reason to cut the film into two separate parts. This creates the fear that the second part will either not be long enough, or will be even longer than the first part. Part I ends where Katniss is reunited with other characters;

the movie stops where the action really begins to develop. If this was one whole movie, it would have the potential to feel more action-packed. There was only one major action filled scene that involved Katniss, where she goes to visit a district with burn victims.

Overall, Mockingjay Part I was faithful to the book, but it was definitely boring to a point because the story was split into two movies. Because of the book’s interesting plot, the movie had a large amount of potential to be amazing. Lionsgate’s attempt to make double the amount of money resulted in the film being average.

I would recommend this more towards people who have not read the book, so that they can get an idea of what the plot will be like for the second part.

Other than that, unless you are a die-hard Hunger Games fan, seeing this movie for action and battle scenes between the Capitol and the Districts is a waste of your time. After the subpar first part of Mockingjay, we can only hope the second part will at least bring proper closure to the trilogy.

Spirit Week Instagram Contest Winners Thank you to those who submitted to our Instagram contest.

Congratulations to the winners and to the Class of 2015 for their spirit week win!

Pajama Day Winners: Junior Adrian Munyon nd senior Paula Armentor looked cozy in their spirited attire.

Wacky Tacky Day Winners: The boys soccer team dressed up as the Mighty Morphing Power Rangers.

Blue and Gold Day Winners: Senior boys showed their spirit at the pep rally.

Dear Nedlam, Recently, the people I’m hanging around have gotten me into trouble. I enjoy being friends with them, but I dont want to get in serious trouble again, what should I do?

-Reluctant Dear Reluctant, From your pseudonym I can tell that you already know what you believe the right thing to do is but you are “reluctant” to do it because sometimes doing what is right is less appealing than doing what you want.

If the trouble you were getting into wasn’t serious than I would have recommended that you just say you have to leave whenever your friends are doing something you don’t agree with or something along the lines of that. However, since the trouble is serious than I suggest you think about your priorities. Is it your health, safety and protection? Is it also the health, safety and protection of your friends? If that is the case, then think about the trouble and harm you could be causing yourself physically, mentally, in your health, or in your education if you continue to go along with what they are doing.

Unfortunately, as much as we wish we had the ability to change others, we cannot. It is up to your friends if they want to change their lives for the better. But you, on the other hand, recognize that what they are doing is wrong, and have seen the trouble that it can cause. I know it is hard, especially in high school, to break away from a group of friends.

However, depending on the danger you and your life could be in, I believe that it may be necessary. Measuring up to others expectations just to keep their approval is wrong because while you may have friends they will be untrue, and you will not feel satisfied with yourself because you are not living for yourself. I know its easy for me to sit here and type these words, because even if what I tell you is what you need to do, it will be a hundred times harder for you to act upon it than for me to write this.

But high school is a fleeting moment in your life, and when you look back at it won’t you feel glad that you escaped a giant pitfall in your life and kept on a better path? I’m sorry that I can’t make the answers any easier, and I can’t satisfy you with an easy way out to ease your reluctance, but I can tell you the truth and confirm that your conscience is telling you the right things. Of course, if the situation gets even more dangerous for you then I’d suggest immediately contacting a counselor, which sounds like selling out your friends, but getting them and you help now is far better than continuing to spiral downward till you have no hope left of improving. Hope this helps you!

Good Luck!

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Tis The Season

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS Things To Do In The Winter Megan Downer Reporter ith winter about to start there are a lot of activities that you should complete to bring yourself to fruition of the wonderful season. These activities are little to no cost. They only require the willingness of you to experience a great winter season.

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Build a snowman. Make your own Olaf.

Go sledding or snowboarding with friends and family.

Have a massive snowball fight.

Go out with friends and/or family to see the christmas lights Buy a new outfit. Pick out something comfy and cozy for the everlasting winter season.

Make amazing hot cocoa. Give the Swiss Miss packages a rest and make some hot chocolate from scratch.

Stay in and watch seasonal movies in your comfy jammies.

Sit by a warm fire. Nothing warms you more than a classic fireplace.

Try something new. A new year is approaching, try starting a new thing in advance.

Write a letter to someone you love/appreciate.

Read a great book. Keep yourself occupied during snow days with a story that excites you.

Wrap yourself in fluffy blanket. We all have them, grab one and get cozy.

Bake something. This is the perfect season to stay inside and bake cookies or some other delicious treat. Don’t forget to decorate your product!

Movie marathon. Bring out all those old and new movies and just relax.

Lend a helping hand and shovel snow for people, make a few bucks too. Here in New England we can get tons of snow and everyone appreciates all the assistance removing it that they can get.

Video game marathon. Grab your friends and controls and get playing.

Play board games. A timeless winter activity.

Watch cheesy Lifetime movies. We all love these movies.

Complete a jigsaw puzzle. This is fun on those days when you can’t help but stay cozy inside.

Organize your closet. Remove all those extra pairless socks and get ready for grandma’s new edition of socks for you.

Create a list of New Year’s resolutions. The new year is around the corner and what’s a better way to go into the new year than with goals to strive for.

Go watch the Nutcracker. This is a classic show to see, some families find this to be their most important tradition.

Wrap yourself in gift paper. Be silly and create the strangest shaped present.

Felicia Fallano Reporter

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he Holiday Season is approaching, and as soon as Thanksgiving is over the Christmas decorations are brought out. The thought of Black Friday sales and Holiday deals are on many people’s minds around this time of year, but there is something that most of us do not really take the time to think about. What are you actually going to buy for friends and family? What do you want to receive this year?

Do you ever wake up in the morning and realize you forgot to charge your phone overnight? If you are looking for a gift for any guy or girl who has a smart-phone, or if you are wondering what to ask for, a Mophie case is the perfect gift to solve all of your problems. The Mophie Juice Pack is a case that charges your smartphone, in case you always forget to do it yourself.

If you do not want to buy the Mophie Juice pack, considering that it can be a bit pricey, an alternative is a portable charger. You can take them anywhere, whether you are traveling or just going to school. It is also getting colder and colder as the days go by, so what is a better gift than touchscreen gloves?

As most of us already know, old and vintage things are making a comeback. One of these things is a Polaroid camera. You can find these at Best Buy or Urban Outfitters.

Polaroid Cameras are great for capturing family moments during the Holidays, or for capturing summer memories later on this year.

Speaking of Polaroids, did you hear about one of the hottest new albums of 2014? You can pick up the CD at Target, which includes copies of Polaroid Pictures of Taylor Swift.

If you like pop- music, you also might want to pick up the latest CDs

by One Direction, Sia and many others.

Everyone knows “America runs on Dunkins,” especially New England, and most of us are usually rushing to Dunkin’ Donuts in the morning. For all the coffee fans out there, you might want to think about asking for/buying a Starbucks or

Dunkin’ Donuts gift card. This is the perfect and simple present for a friend who cannot live without their daily cup of coffee. Also, both Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks sell reusable coffee cups, which is an affordable and easy gift to buy for a coffee-lover.

If you are stumped on what to buy for your boyfriend, brother, or guy friend, the first thing to think about is their hobbies/interests. If you are shopping for a sports fan, or if you are one, you might want to buy/ask for some sports tickets.

Another great gift is sports apparel or video games which are always a great gift for guys.

Instead of just buying clothes for your mother, sister, girlfriend, or friend this year, buy them something unique. A perfect gift for any girl that is looking for jewelry, a great place to go is Alex and Ani. The store has a wide selection of charm bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings. Another great place to go is Lush Cosmetics. Lush sells natural products from hair shampoos to soaps, many of which already come packaged with various products and ready to purchase if you do not know what to pick out.

Lastly, what do you buy for your parents? If you are not a fan of homemade gifts, there are actually a lot of things that you can buy for your parents. Mothers will love something simple like candles from Yankee Candle.

Also, Moms really appreciate a simple things so a unique decoration for the house would also be a good gift idea for her. If you are wondering about something to buy for your Dad, consider something that he really needs. Maybe he needs a new wallet or a new watch which are both useful and are a everyday necessity.

So for this Holiday season, it will help if you planned what you were looking for before you go shopping.

Remember to make sure that you know what everyone likes before buying something for them, but do not stress too much over buying gifts and maintain that holiday spirit.

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Winter Holiday Playlist Felicia Fallano Reporter

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eed background music for holiday activities? Are you missing summer and needing to get into the winter spirit? This 8tracks mix is perfect for getting in the spirit of the holidays and Winter season. When listening to this mix, you’ll find songs from various artists like Coldplay, Michael Buble, Taylor Swift and more. The mix also includes older songs like “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” Unlike the typical Holiday Playlist, it includes songs to make you excited for winter. You will hear songs from new artists like Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles, and more.

All I Want For Christmas Winter Song Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Snow Bonfire Heart Jingle Bell Rock Winter Song The Christmas Song Home Holly Jolly Christmas Northern Wind White Christmas Home Christmas Lights

Scan our QR code to listen to the playlist on 8tracks!

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe Megan Downer Reporter

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Ingredients:

he holidays are the perfect time to whip out old recipes and bake your heart out. From brownies to cakes to cookies, there are tons of different baked goods flying around everywhere. This season do something new and try out this recipe for the classic chocolate chip cookie. Decorate your cookies after they cool with edible glitter gels and frosting.

2 ½ cups of all purpose flour ½ cup of sugar 2 tsp of baking powder 1 tsp of baking soda 1 tsp of vanilla extract A stick of butter 1 egg 1 tsp of milk ¼ cup of shortening 3 handfuls of chocolate chips

PROCESS: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Take a mixing bowl and pour 2 ½ cups of all purpose flour, ½ cup of sugar, 2 tsp of baking powder, and 1 tsp of baking soda into the bowl.

Mix those ingredients together.

Add 1 tsp of vanilla extract and whisk what is in the bowl.

Add 1 stick of butter and 1 egg and then begin to knead the dough.

Pour 1 tsp of milk into the bowl and knead the milk into the dough.

Put ¼ cup of shortening in the mix and knead the dough Knead 3 handfuls of chocolate chips into the dough.

Place small balls of the dough on a cookie sheet and for the holiday effect use cookie cutters to shape the dough.

Bake the cookies in the oven for 17-20 minutes.

Let the cookies cool when done for at least 5 minutes before beginning to decorate.

StuFFIng til There is no more

Megan Downer Reporter

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hanksgiving and Black Friday recently ended, leaving everyone filled with excitement for this holiday season. Presents are being bought and are already being wrapped. As great as those bigger gifts are, there are some other items that need to be considered too. These items are stocking stuffers, the smaller gifts that are put inside stockings for Christmas.

Do you have a relative or friend that is always dropping their phone and constantly worried about breaking it? If so buy this person a phone case to serve as protection for such a precious part of our daily lives.

A common gift that will allow your family or friends to choose their own presents is a giftcard.

Do you know someone who is always drinking coffee or lattes?

Give them a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts giftcard to help them save a little money in their daily lives.

Have a friend that loves music on the go? Make their day and put an iTunes or Google Play giftcard in their stocking.

The winter season brings dry, harsh weather which can unfortunately lead to a lot of dry skin.

Include some lotion in the stocking to keep your friend or family member’s skin well hydrated.

Another stocking stuffer that will help keep their skin nourished and moisturized is aloe vera infused socks which are not only beneficial for your skin but cozy for cold weather. Chapped lips is also a common symptom of the cold and dry season. Put a package of chapsticks inside of your loved one’s stocking. This can be chosen amongst brands such as Eos, Burt’s Bees, Softlips, and Carmex which can all be found at local drugstores or Target.

A simple and easy to find gift for a stocking is a scarf. There are all kinds of scarves out there that provide different benefits. Whether it helps someone look fashionable or keeps their neck warm, the style of scarves can vary. Also, in-

finity scarves are quite popular right now and can be found in almost any clothing store.

Someone who is more into cosmetics would definitely love to see things such as nail polish, mascara, eyeliner, lipgloss, lipstick, etc. in their stocking. New cosmetics can help them establish a new look with the oncoming new year. Other accessories such as earrings, rings, necklaces, and other jewelry are small items that can easily be put in a stocking. A simple piece of jewelry will be fine, but there is also no need to buy anything too expensive.

Inexpensive jewelry can be found at T.J.Maxx or Nordstrom Rack.

Right after Christmas comes New Years and there is no better way to start fresh then to start with new everyday necessities. Another simple and appreciated stocking stuffer can be a hair brush, toothbrush, socks, or items you might use on a day-to-day basis. Overtime we all need these and sometimes we forget to replace these items so help your friend or relative by knocking these items off their shopping list.

An unnecessary but wonderful present to find in a stocking is candy. Something found all around is the plastic candy canes that are filled with all different kinds of candy. The assortments range from Reese’s peanut butter cups, M&M’s, and mini candy canes. These candy canes bring extra holiday spirit but for those who cannot find their favorite candy in the cane form then the candy wished for can be bought in boxes or other packagings.

Lastly, ever need something small to cuddle with? A small or medium plush sized animal is the perfect gift for anyone who answers yes to that question. They are cute, affordable, and easily fit in the average stocking.

All of these stocking stuffer gifts are affordable and can easily be found in a wide range of stores. This Christmas make sure you fill your loved one’s stocking right.

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The Blue and Gold December 2014

The Blue and Gold December 2014

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MHS WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW 2014

First Home Games of the Season:

Indoor Track 12/11/2014 @ 3:30pm vs. Everett Boys Basketball 12/11/2014 @ 6:30 vs. Revere Girls Basketball 12/15/2014 @ 7pm vs. Georgetown Swim 12/22/2014 @ 3:30 vs. Somerville gymnastics 1/15/2015 @ 5:30 vs. Medford Wrestling 1/20/2015 @ 5pm vs. Saugus Take a look back at the history behind Malden and Medford games and the second longest continous rivalry in the nation. For an interactive timeline scan the QR Code. The timeline below starts in 1992 with the infamous “Mud Bowl” all the way back to the football team of 1928.

Below: In 1992, the game was played in the pouring rain resulting it to be named the “Mud Bowl.” After Malden won 14-13, the players celebrating by sliding in the mud that covered the field.

Origin The Malden vs. Medford rivalry began on Oct. 15, 1889 in which Malden lost 30-0. However, Malden accused Medford of having players from Tufts University and MIT. The accusation led to a rematch after Thanksgiving in which Malden lost 4-0.

Below: Medford High School’s head coach Bud Kelly of 1983 once said “the turkey doesn’t taste the same unless you see the Medford/ Malden game.”

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SENIORS AND JUNIORS TOUGHEN After Pep Rally, the senior and junior girls headed to MacDonald Stadium to play a game of flag football against one another. Even the falling snow couldn’t stop the seniors, as they defeated the juniors with a final score of 6-0.

Tenzin Dorjee Reporter

Leila Greige Reporter

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ith the arrival of Thanksgiving, comes not only the annual Thanksgiving football game, but also the annual girls Powderpuff game. On Nov. 26th, 2014, the junior and senior girls of Malden High School faced off in the rain and snow at MacDonald Stadium.

Volunteers from the senior and junior classes who play football for MHS coached the girls, teaching them valuable skills and the rules of the sport. Seeing how it was difficult for the girls to learn all of the requirements of a new position in just a few weeks, they relied on their coaches to guide them.

With every practice, the girls on each team were able to build strong abilities and have trust in one another. Both sides expressed desires to dominate the opposing class. This determination was very evident during the game, as both teams played hard without giving up, despite the bad weather.

The juniors displayed great defense, as they had several inter-

Above: The junior girls block the seniors as junior quarterback Alexis Brown passes the ball to one of her teammates. All photos taken by Leila Greige. ceptions throughout the game. With the strength of the defensive players, the juniors were able to hold the seniors back, only allowing them to score one touch down. Junior player Brenna Murray expressed that “[it was] really fun but hard at the same time.”

Even so, the seniors girls’ one touchdown proved to be fatal as the game ended 6-0, in favor of the upperclassmen. The seniors proudly proclaimed “Attack!” and “Hit!” to be their mottos, which showed in

their playing. With that, the seniors’ offensive strength proved to be great.

To describe the feeling of how it is to play in the game is difficult because “in the game you don’t think,” expressed senior player Robyn Santo, as decisions have to be made in a split moment. Both sides gave it their all with every push, tackle, and shove, with the seniors giving just a bit more, enough to, once again, win as they always have, to the point of it being tradition for the juniors to

face a loss to the college-bound girls.

The girls aren’t the only ones to benefit from the sport of Powderpuff, the boys coaching were also able to get something from the experience. Junior coach Robert Green says that ”[he loves] playing the sport in general so coaching it is just another perspective from the sidelines.” Junior coach Lincoln Ibanda stated that the “interactions [he has] with people on the team” are very memorable and fun, especially when everyone is “on the same page” in terms of what to do and how to do it. Junior coach Djorggenson Exilhomme explained how he “want[ed] them to know how it feels like to actually get the ball on offense, defense, and score a touchdown.”

Coaching isn’t all fun and games though, as senior Jaymes Pomares admits that coaching Powderpuff can be “stressful, [as there are] a lot of girls, and [they] want to get everyone playing time.” Senior coach and MHS football captain Isaac Bethea commented how fun coaching was when “everyone [was] here,” but expressed hardships “when there’s no one there,

Peter Donahue Memorial Scholarship Winner: Mark Ortiz This essay has been submitted to the Blue & Gold by Malden High School senior Mark Ortiz. After writing this essay, Ortiz won the Peter Donahue essay and won a $1000 scholarship. The scholarship is given to any student athlete after they submit an essay about a coach at the high school that has inspired and been a role model to them throughout their high school career.

The greatest decision I have ever made was to play soccer at the high school level. I started off playing Malden youth as a goal keeper but I thought that was as far as I would go. My friends finally persuaded me to join the team. I didn’t expect anything more than to be on JV. I ended up on the JV team, and I was perfectly fine with that. Then halfway through the season, the varsity coach, Mr. Smith came to watch us play a couple of times. My coach told me that he was there to watch me play, but to not be nervous, and I wasn’t.

He watched me play a couple of times so I just got used to it.

Then during one of my practices, he set me aside for the first time. He asked me if I would come up to play a game or two on varsity for him.

Out of respect I said yes. I was scared out of my mind first stepping off of that bus with the varsity team. I was a big freshman, but they were even bigger juniors and seniors. Coach Smith set me aside, right before walking on the field to start the game. He asked me how I’m feeling and without hesitation I said nervous. He told me not to worry about it. He

Left to right: In 1978, the game was played at MacDonald Stadium in front of a crowd of over 1,400 people. Malden lost to Medford 9-7, giving Medford an undefeated season; Malden High School continues to have a Pep Rally the day before Thanksgiving to get the team and the school’s spirits up to finish the season on a high note defeating their long time rival.

said I should play just like I play every other game and that if I messed up, my teammates where there to help me. I’ve always been committed when I start something. However this was when my passion for the game actually began.

I played as good as a nervous freshman could play for those couple of games. The next year I returned to tryout again. I didn’t know why but I loved the feeling of playing on that team. While trying out, Coach Smith kept pushing harder and harder. He told me that if I wanted to make the team I had to push as hard as I could and then some. I’ll never forget how tired I was at the end of those first three days. But the hard work pulled off. I was called up to varsity and I was the only starting sophomore. This just put ten times more pressure on me.

Coach Smith found every way possible to avoid barriers between the upper classman and the lower classman on the team. With what he taught me, I actually felt that I could play correctly rather than playing like how my instincts told me to play. Even after countless errors on the

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UP FOR POWDERPUFF [because] there’s nothing [they] can really do.” Despite the stress, due to the immense desire to defeat the juniors, the whole senior team made the experience very memorable.

Even so, the sheer amount of dedication, perseverance, and determination placed into the game by the girls, made it be a truly enjoyable Powderpuff game, marking

this year as the 9th annual game, for both the junior and senior team. The senior girls who had an advantage from playing their junior year, with a combination of spending a sufficient amount of time practicing and building team unity, walked away with a fulfilling win for their last ever Powderpuff game.

Left to right: The seniors huddle for a timeout with senior coaches Isaac Bethea, Anthony Boulay, and Joseph Taglieri; the girls wore shirts for their last ever Powderpuff game in honor of Julia Vanella, a member of their class who passed away in January of 2014. Principal Dana Brown referees as the junior and senior players face off. Junior girls huddle with junior coaches Robert Green and Lincoln Ibanda during a timeout.

field, from fumbling the ball to not coming out and causing goals, he found drills that could help me. I even remember rebounding easy balls from free kicks multiple times, giving the other team easy balls to score off of. Coach Smith found a drill for the team on how to build around those scenarios.

The next year couldn’t have been better. The pressure of playing with older kids was gone. I surpassed most of the players in our league in size. Coach Smith now knew I had no excuse to be nervous.

He wasn’t taking any lazy mistakes or anything less than full effort.

He made that obvious to me when he told me there are no guaranteed spots. Of course I used this as motivation because who the hell wants to lose their starting position on the field?

During that season I learned to trust Mr. Smith, not just as a coach, but as a mentor. He constantly found ways to make me motivated without me even realizing it. But I knew I could trust him.

Even beginning this year’s season he told me once again, there are no guaranteed spots. Seeing I had competition, I kicked up my effort once again to full drive. Not only am I motivated on the field, but in school as well. To this day Mr. Smith expects nothing less than the best from me. A simple thank you cannot express the gratitude I have for his inspiration over the years. Mr. Smith truly is my mentor.

[1941]

Both pictures show drawings of the Varsity football team, as seen in 1941 and 1946.

“It was great. It’s a great event. There’s a lot of past hall of fame inductees that [were] there and it’s always nice to be there when the new classes [are] inducted and you know, how often do you get to meet a Super Bowl Champion? Breno [Giacomini, it was] good time. The mayor [Gary Christenson] was there, there were other politicians there, and it’s more of a meet-andgreet type thing and there [were] some speeches; Mark Ortiz read his scholarship-winning essay. I really appreciate the essay Mark wrote and I thought it was really nice of him and it was really special to be there with him and his family; he won the scholarship and it’s always nice to be recognized for something like that. I thought he was gonna kinda roast me a little bit [in the essay] and he was really nice; it was really nicely written.” - Coach Smith

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127th Thanksgiving Football Game: the second longest rivalry in the nation

Lucia Quesada Nylen Head of Sports

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his year was the 127th annual Malden vs. Medford Thanksgiving game. The game was played on Nov. 27, 2014, Thanksgiving day, at MacDonald Stadium. Although the unfortunate turn of events, with Malden losing to the Medford Mustangs with a final score of 36-12, the Tornadoes gave a well fought game.

The game was a scene out of movie, with cold, brisk weather and snow covering the field. Being the last game of the season, and for many of the senior players, their last high school game, the Tornadoes gave it their all. Highlights of the game included junior Danley Exihomme’s 137 yard rush. As well as at halftime, the senior football players and cheerleaders made their way onto the field with their family members, with their names being announced on the microphone as it was their last high school game.

Though the team had an upsetting end to the season, their season overall was anything but disappointing. The Tornadoes came off strong, with a 5 win streak. As the season progressed, the team faced tough competition against Greater Boston League rival Everett, as well as their 14-17 loss to Catholic Memorial, that was nail biting until the end of overtime. Ending the season with a record of 6-5 the Tornadoes have improved tremendously compared to pastyears.

The team bids their farewells to their 13 senior players. Among those are captains Joshua Bessey, Anthony Boulay, Issac Bethea, and Jarrad Accardi. As stated by head coach Joseph Pappagallo, “The down side of the end of the season is that we have to say goodbye to a great group of dedicated seniors.”

Accardi explained how “leading [the team] this year was a great feeling.” The team, like many others

at MHS this season, suffered from numerous injuries. Accardi being one of them, described how “even after coming back it really meant a lot that the team still believed in [him] to lead them throughout the season.” Pappagallo also mentioned how at one point in the season, seven out of the eleven players that are in the starting line up were injured.

Even with the unfortunate injuries, the Tornadoes were still able to make the most out of their season.

The difference of the teams’ performance from the beginning of the season to the end improved greatly.

The “team [grew] more on the mental side of the game more than anything,” explained Pappagallo.

Accardi agreed as well, with every practice and game, the team “became closer even when [they] lost games.” The attitude of every player on the team was the same, wanting to improve and strive to perform the best that they could in order to win. Pappagallo described the team as “intrinsically motivated to excel.”

As football requires constant training, Pappagallo claimed that the “team worked extremely hard in the off season and put themselves in a position to compete the best night in and night out.”

Talking in terms of next season, the team is in great position with various talented underclassmen coming up to fill in the empty shoes of the leaving seniors. Pappagallo explained how “the [Tornadoes] are postured to be one of the most dominant teams in division 1 next year if [they] continue working hard in the off season as [they] already have been.”

The Golden Tornadoes were able to maintain a steady season throughout the entire fall season and although they must bid their goodbyes to this current season, they are already getting ready to come back harder for next season.

Top to bottom: Junior Djorggenson Exilhomme runs the ball towards the endzone. Malden High School’s offensive line blocks Medford players. Malden gets ready to hike the ball. All photos by Leila Greige.

In 1929, MHS had an undefeated record going into the Thanksgiving game.