March 2013

The Blue and Gold maldenblueandgold.com

Malden High School Volume 98 Edition 6

Our 98th Year March 2013

junior varieties get real

Left: Junior host Haley Sutera plays Honey Boo Boo in the 73rd Annual Junior Varieties. Right: The cast of the 73rd Annual Junior Varieties does the Harlem Shake at the end of their sold out first night showing on Mar. 15, 2013. Photos by Amanda DeMoraes and Grace Stathos. Go to our website www.maldenblueandgold.com to watch our video covering the event.

Few people realize the art about television screenwriting.

It’s a talent, as is writing a novel or directing a movie.

There are many things to consider -- the audience’s interest, how many cliffhangers to set up, adjusting to the loss of a crucial actor. These are all factors that are very challenging to keep up with, especially in this day and age. But with the overwhelming influence of corporations comes the ultimate power of the networks, which is taking away the quality of television. More, new shows are losing steam quickly, wasting potential, and are failing to live up to their legendary predecessors.

Costa Rica

Pages 6-7

James Mazarakis Reporter

T

hink back at the first sci-fi or fantasy television series you remember watching. Perhaps Lost, Heroes, Alias, or, if your parents made you watch some older television like mine did, any Joss Whedon series. Now think of today: FX’s American Horror Story is currently made of 26 story-packed episodes -- many of which vacationed for several weeks in December, leaving their viewers biting their nails for the next episode in January. By the beginning of Whedon’s second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it had already surpassed the story content of AHS -- which is an extremely successful series, from the standards of critics and many viewers. But what would happen if the story had nine more episodes

Featured Articles: Drama Fest

Pages 18-19

In This Issue: Editorial Page 2 Letter to the editor PAGE 3 Opinion PageS 4-5 World pages 8-9 Local Pages 11-15 Sports Page 22-24

Celtics

Page 24

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Editorials

The Blue and Gold March 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

Money, Money, Money Malden High School

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

Editors-in-Chief: Print: LAUREN BENOIT ‘13 Online: JOSHUA KUMMINS ‘13 Print: SHARON LEE ‘13 Online: CATHERINE POIRIER ‘13 Managing Editors: Online: KAYLA BRAMANTE ‘13 Print: NATALIE FALLANO ‘13 Social Media: MEGAN KELLY ‘13 Head Copy Editor: AMALIA QUESADA NYLEN ‘13 Head of Local: VICKI NGAN ‘14 AMANDA ROSATONE ‘14 Head of Sports: KRISTEN LEONARD ‘14 Head of World: MEGAN KELLY ‘13 Head of Entertainment, Style, and Lifestyle: HALEY DOWDIE ‘13

S

equestration (noun) – The action of taking legal possession of assets until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met. Some of you have probably never heard this word in your life.

Some of you have vaguely heard of it but never cared to know what it means. I am here to tell you that this word impacts your life more than you think.

So first, let me explain a few things: One – Congress is the legislative branch of government, just like the definition you learned in third grade. This includes setting tax rates and passing budgets that do not lead to a deficit. And this year, due to pure bureaucracy, partisanship, and frankly, stupidity, they failed to do this.

Two – Prior to this failure congress passed the Budget Control Act to raise the debt ceiling and avoid the deficit that they created. Meanwhile, President Obama proposed something called sequestration, in which if a compromise on ways to control the budget and manage spending were not made; there would be an automatic spending cut of 1.2 trillion dollars over the course of the next ten years. And three – shockingly, the debt ceiling was reached, putting sequestration into action.

Sequestration may sound like a sure fire way to decrease excess government spending, but it’s really just avoiding the problem. The plan leaves 64 percent of the federal government untouchable; these programs are called mandatory spending programs, like Medicare, Medicaid, social security, and mandatory salaries. The rest of the budget is discretionary spending, which includes the defense budget, and funding passed by congress (also known as the important mon-

Head of Business: JOHANNA LAI ‘13 _____________ Reporters: NICHOLAS BRAMANTE ‘16 EMMA CEPLINSKAS ‘16 CARMELLITE J CHAMBLIN ‘14 ANDREW COGLIANO ‘16 AMANDA DE MORAES ‘15 JONATHAN DECICCO ‘15 JESSICA LYNN DEPAULA ‘15 CHAIMAE EL ADLOUNI ‘16 JULIE LAM ‘15 ASHLEY LEUNG ‘16 PATRICIA LUONG ‘16 CASEY LYONS ‘15 JAMES MAZARAKIS ‘15 AREFIN MOHIUDDIN ‘13 SUMYA MOHIUDDIN ‘15 PHILLIP MONTEZUMA ‘15 MYLE NGUYEN ‘15 LUCIA QUESADA NYLEN ‘16 GRACE STATHOS ‘15 MANALE ZOUHIR ‘16 Advisor: Ryan Gallagher Established in 1915 Check out our online edition:

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ey, the money which impacts the lives of students everywhere).

Due to this, eight percent of all government programs, projects, and activities will be cut. Cuts will not be made to the mandatory spending programs where money needs to be conserved. Congress has basically created a solution to a problem that didn’t exist in the first place. It’s like putting a band aid on your knee when the cut is on your finger.

And this new band aid isn’t going to do anything except cut the programs that most affect the progressive development of the future in our nation. As a senior figuring out where I will be going to school next year, and how I will be paying for school, these eight percent cuts across the board are directly effecting me. Federal funding for financial aid to colleges and universities is going to be reduced. Along with any government funding for school related activities, including research opportunities, advancements in technology, and other programs.

Students across the nation are going to be feeling these setbacks, if the very government that is supposed to be supporting us, helping us strive for success and innovation, isn’t helping us achieve what we are meant to, what kind of standard is congress setting for us? How are we supposed to support ourselves?

Almost half of students in college are currently receiving some kind of financial aid from funding supported by the government. The young people of our nation are already struggling to afford the high price of education, when this aid diminishes over the next ten years, we will be left to face the difficult question: is the debt worth the education?

So next time congress, please try to think a little more about the future of our nation when neglecting to compromise. Sincerely, a concerned student, the future of our nation.

Catherine Poirier Editor-in-Chief

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

Charts showing what makes up the 2012 U.S. federal budget and sequestration cuts for the 2013 fiscal year; discretionary defense spending makes up about 19 percent of the 2012 fiscal year budget, but accounts for half the scheduled sequestration cuts. Chicago Tribune 2013 With BC-OBAMA-SPENDING-1ST-LEDEADV28:TBW, Tribune Washington Bureau by David S. Cloud

Corrections: p.-23 Coach John Furlong’s first name was omitted

The Blue and Gold March 2013

letter-to-editor maldenblueandgold.com

Dear Editors of the Blue and Gold, Most recently there has been some publicity and coverage given to our “designation” as the most racially diverse high school in Massachusetts. The data supporting the proclamation comes from the demographic breakdown within our school, where four major groups of fairly equally distributed numbers of students account for the majority (almost 95%) of our students. Those four groups include Caucasian, Black, Asian, and Hispanic students.

While I am honored to be the Principal at Malden High School I do not base this honor on the fact that we come from a balance of assorted races and ethnicities. Our diversity is certainly unusual and it helps to define us but we have to be careful not to focus on a racially balanced school as an endgoal. What if we had a racially balanced school and nothing we did worked?

What happens within Malden High School is more important to me. We have tried to establish a school environment and school norms where students are valued for who they are; as a school staff we listen to our students and sometimes even change our practices to make sure we are meeting the needs of all students. Students have reported that they feel physically and emotionally safe here. When you don’t we take action. The fact that we can do it within the changing make-up of our student body defies reason in many cases. We are pleased about this.

I have heard some of my friends and members of the extended Malden community marvel about the racial and cultural diversity at Malden High School, stating that our students will be prepared for the ”real world” because the students have lived an academic, social, and emotional life at Malden High School with all types of students. I am not so sure and I caution you as you move forward from Malden High School. Many colleges and universities that you will attend won’t look and feel like Malden High School. Some businesses, organizations, and teams that you become part of will not look like MHS in your future. Perhaps a neighborhood you move into or a church or temple you join will not look like MHS. That’s the status of the “real world” in many places. The good news is that I am confident that you will help prepare the “real world” for the next world. What you have learned here about race, culture, differences, and similarities has you better prepared to make positive changes than most. Your viewpoint and attitude toward race and culture will be valued and sometimes challenged. While it is normal to celebrate our diversity I think it more important that we figure out what we can do collectively to make sure that wherever we go next we take with us the lessons learned about how different groups of people can live and work together when the focus is on a common good and not on what we look like.

Sincerely,

Dana F. Brown, Principal

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Anita Caceda, Will you go to prom with me?

-Curtis Johnson

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opinion

The Blue and Gold March 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

The Great Television Recession James Mazarakis Reporter Continued from page 1 per season? Buffy artfully depicted 144 episodes across seven seasons, never taking a break more than once or twice a year.

Writers are not the lazy ones.

As a creative writer myself, I can verify that, between several writers, a good story can be drawn out quite successfully. Rather, the problem lies more within the confidence of the producers in their future. The networks have the right to cancel a television show, regardless of its success or quality, and without warning. Why write 22 episodes when it might go to waste?

During the Great Depression of the 1930’s, culture lost its glamour from the previous decade on account of the global economic turmoil. Could a similar, but more subtle, situation be happening to the television culture after the Great Recession? Every producer is afraid to be cancelled, and every network has their finger hovered over the eject button each year before cutting costs. Few networks are brave enough to take risks -- for the fear is that, if viewers do not respect a show’s unique style, they would have to abandon ship. That is why American Horror Story is one of the few intelligent, unique shows that air today. They took what seemed to be a leap of faith, and it worked. In reality, there are more leaps that should have been given a chance as well.

It all began with aforementioned Joss Whedon. A brilliant artist, as a writer, producer, and musician, Whedon created Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the 90’s, beginning a new cult fiction series that created a comic series and a spin off, Angel. In 2002, his newest sci-fi series aired: Firefly, a story of space explorers in a western-style solar system. Despite its massive fan base, its earning of an Emmy in 2003, and a subsequent movie, Fox network cancelled the show before the first season was complete. Whedon claims that all of the ideas he created for the show, which was cancelled with little warning, were crushed, and it was “the greatest grief [he had] about his career”.

Whedon’s case had one great television show’s potential wasted.

But the problem of network intervention progressively got worse as the 2000’s came along.

Upon the time of its first season, Heroes was the most famous show that has ever aired on NBC. A mixed story with a bomber crew of characters, the series was acclaimed for its creative use of cliche ideas and its intriguing characters, like Sylar, a super-powered serial killer, and Hiro Nakamura, a playful Japanese comic geek who could control space and time. What happened between the first and second season can best be described as a plane crash. While the show was somewhat interesting to watch, characters began to change in unrealistic ways, new and confusing plot lines took over the stage, and somehow every character was back where they started as in season one.

Heroes was not alone. Alias, The Office, and even Showtime’s Dexter suffered from similar problems. More than ever now, television shows lose steam. Some even lose it before the first episode is over.

There are many explanations to this, but it all ties back to the network. Tim Kring, creator of Heroes, originally had the characters be dispensable -- thus, the cast would be changing constantly. But as fans began to cling to the existing characters, he changed his direction.

As you could imagine, this sent the writers of the show scrambling to make sure the script still made sense with the original dozen characters.

Additionally, NBC fired a some of the show’s essential officials, including Greg Breeman, director and

p r o d u c e r.

Kring himself fired many other officials -- most likely due to their indignation during the Writers’ strike and failure to keep ratings up

-- which only made the situation spiral down.

Yet some shows are striving.

Despite its cliche concept and its ever-so-constant adjustment to audience reactions, The Walking Dead has remained with the top shows on television. Its survival strategy, perhaps, is that it is following a comic book that began in 2003, and has done a thorough job of deriving from it in a creative way.

American Horror Story adapts every season to a new plot line, preventing plot and character corruption. The Americans, a new FX series about Soviet Union spies living in America, uses its 1980’s setting to create an intriguing feel. These are all ways that television series can remain artistic and entertaining without the need for the networks to demand unnecessary changes. One could predict that television will be back on its feet once the economy is thriving once again; allowing individual producers and writers to pay less attention to the network’s needs.

Writers and producers are trained and practiced for their jobs.

They spend years working their art, and many (if not most) went to school to improve their talents.

Network officials are not writers, nor are they producers; they are only trained in business. It is inconceivable for the network to have control of industries they have no knowledge or training of. It seems to be a trend in this time and age -- why should authors be at their publishers’ mercy to get their story on the bookshelf?

Why should artists have deadlines when their best works of art come to them on a whim? Why are musicians forced to squeeze out songs that aren’t their own style? These producers, publishers, and dealers have a job to serve these people. They should be committed to their client’s whims, not the other way around.

In a recent survey, it was revealed that 75 percent of MHS students believed that television was not the same as it used to be, and only 15 percent of those were sure that it was for the better, praising specific

networks that - coincidence? - have been airing creative and interesting shows (particularly FX and AMC), as well as pointing out that graphics and special effects were much better. Over twice that data mark, 38 percent, believed that television was in decline.

The rest were not sure -- likely because not many students in high school watch decades-old television.

On this survey, many respondents condemned television for being inaccessible, inappropriate, and even immoral.

Unfortunately, this is another side effect of the network’s autocracy.

In order for their television to “get views”, networks call upon their producers to include more violence, sex, and nudity to appeal to a larger audience. This necessity is almost shameful; television takes advantage of women -- and many men, of course -- who are forced to “show more” on a routine basis, essentially, to make more money when -- in the literary world -- sex is meant to be a plot device, a necessary asset to a story, or simply off the screen. While violence on the network is not necessarily offensive, it makes many television shows less accessible to younger or weak-stomached viewers who would have been interested in the series but are disturbed or even traumatized by such visuals.

F X , AMC, and HBO have the right ideas. It’s time for the rest to step up. The networks’ involvement in writing and production of screenplays has destroyed its consumer reliability and turned television into a cautious system of wasted potential. For this reason, I challenge the networks to up their game and give new, unique stories like the ones that used to flourish in the nineties into the early twothousands. These are the stories that worked the best on the small screen, and it should all to be taken to the tech-savvy display of the 2013 television.

The Blue and Gold March 2013

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TRAVEL

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Natalie Fallano Managing Editor

F

The Blue and Gold March 2013

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Costa Rica:

Jonathan DeCicco Reporter

rom the moment I stepped out of the San Jose airport, I began to sense a change - not just in the smell of air or scenery - but the culture and way of life. On our first of many bus rides to the hotel, our tour guide Alvaro summed up our entire trip in two words before it had even started. Pura Vida.

It translates to “pure life,” but the connotation varies from “plenty of life” to “this is living.” To sum it up, pura vida is the essence of the people and atmosphere of Costa Rica - to live happy, relaxed, and appreciative of life.

These ten days were some of the most fun days of my life and became a trip I will never forget. We had four amazing group leaders: Shauna Campbell, Sarah Jones, Kristen Kirby and Jamie Green overseeing a group of about 30 students. We traveled across the country, province to province and were busy sunrise to sunset with activities. The most memorable included horseback riding in Monteverde, coming within feet of monstrous and very much alive crocodiles, swimming in a waterfall, and having our lunch stolen by monkeys.

But what brought us all closer was everything we did not planned, like cannonball contests at the hotel, impromptu soccer games and frantic card games at night. It was the bonfire nights and watching the sun go down at the beach that made this trip a once in a lifetime experience. I will not forget the “crew boys” attacking our white water rafts like pirates or watching everyone come barreling and somersaulting out of the craziest water slide known to man.

I recommend the Costa Rica trip or any school trip to every student at Malden High School because it is a great way to make amazing new relationships and learn a lot about yourself, as well as discover and grow to love a new culture.

“The trip was hands down the best experience I ever had, I loved everything about it! My favorite part would have to be horseback riding through Monteverde because riding up the mountains - so close to the cliffs, was exhilirating and a once in a lifetime expereince!”

-Senior, Joyce Ly “I formed really great friendships with people and ate some really delicious food. Swimming in the waterfall was a very surreal feeling and something I will never forget.

I would reccomend this trip to lowerclassmenwhen the opportunuty arises agin in a few years because it is a great opportunity to get closer to a new culture and I promise once you go there, you will never stop saying Pura Vida!”

-Senior, Ashly Brun

The Blue and Gold March 2013

TRAVEL

ยกPura Vida! maldenblueandgold.com

Photos submitrted by Jonathan DeCicco, Stevie Klein and, Joyce Ly.

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WORLD NEWS

The Blue and Gold March 2013

maldenblueandgold.com (Left) Profile of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who died Tuesday, March 5. MCT 2013.

(Right) Profile of acting president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro.

MCT 2013.

VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT’S DEATH LEADS TO POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC ISSUES Carmellite J Chamblin Reporter

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n Dec. 6, 1998 Hugo Chavez was elected President of Venezuela. Now, after nearly fifteen years in power he has lost his battle with cancer that he has been fighting since 2011. On his last trip to Cuba in December for surgery related to his cancer, he pronounced his vice President, Nicolas Maduro as his replacement, stating “he is one of the young leaders with the greatest ability to continue if I cannot.”

Doubts about the future has caused panic and chaos in the streets since news about his death. The country, according to the constitution, will have to elect another president in thirty days. “We, your civilian and military companions, Commander Hugo Chavez, assume your legacy, your challenges, your project, accompanied by and with the support of the people,” Maduro stated to the nation.

A controversial leader, Chavez had a unique brand of leadership that will be difficult for the Venezuelan people to replace. Chavez was a revolutionary hero to many; he helped the poor and limited the power of the rich. He took control

of Venezuela’s great oil wealth, and with its proceeds, used it to fund many things to help the Venezuelan people, such as funding social and anti-poverty projects. But his actions have taken another darker route in dealing with the “resource curse” that has affected many developing countries; in developing countries the oil and mineral based wealth has often led to political corruption, conflict, and, in extreme cases, total civil war.

Though problems in the Venezuelan economy remain, since Chavez’s presidency there has been a constant economic growth of 3.5 percent each year. In order to raise funds for public projects, the government under Chavez has had to reduce the value of their currency, the bolivar, by one third; government intervention with price control has also led to shortages in a variety of goods. Chavez created great social divisions, but he also empowered the poor who had felt peripheral and excluded. While Chavez had spent great amounts of effort to help his people, he has left behind a nation in economic and social turmoil.

OBAMA’S PLAN FOR EDUCATION REFORM

PRESCHOOL A REALITY?

Jessica Lynn DePaula Reporter

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resident Obama’s State of the Union revealed his intentions of implementing a national public preschool system. The White House expressed that this program would be a “continuum of high-quality early learning for a child, beginning at birth and continuing to age 5.”

While education for young children seems to be a great idea in any sense, some are saying that this is also only a good idea in theory. Many Americans have been questioning the rationality of this idea.

Preschool is very expensive; ask any parent of a 2-5 year old child. Even with a stable income and some money to spare,millions of families yearly struggle to place their children in preschool due to the overwhelming cost. Families with similar predicaments are applauding President Obama’s efforts to assist young children and give them

an early education. While there is already a successful early childhood education program, Head Start, not everybody can qualifies. Head Start has benefited more than 27 million children since its birth in 1965, with 904,153 enrolled in just 2009. However, Head Start is primarily geared towards the children of low-income families, who would not have the opportunity for a preschool education otherwise. With only a few over-income slots available per year, thousands of children are unable to benefit from this program. “The size of your paycheck shouldn’t determine your child’s future,” President Obama said in his State of the Union.

“Let’s fix this. Let’s make sure none of our kids start out the race of life already a step behind.” He used successful programs that have existed in Georgia and Oklahoma since the 1990’s as a reference point; programs

which have given children all over the state the opportunity to attend pre-kindergarden classes.

However, others worry: where is the money for this too-good-tobe-true program coming from?

Teachers must be paid, equipment must be purchased, equipment must be built. America’s economic health is already in jeopardy; why make it worse? With no support, it will be incredibly difficult for the administration to accomplish this plan. On Feb. 17, Fox business host Gerri Willis blasted the idea, saying, “Preschool for everyone, are you kidding me? We don’t have the money for that! … This is just crazy talk and I think it’s immoral to put this across as something that’s actually doable, when it’s not.” Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn took a similar stance during an appearance on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal:

“I think so many of our educators when they hear about these programs coming from the federal government, they’re just thinking, uh, that’s another book of paperwork that I’m going to have to do and teachers are so weighed down with that. The teachers I’m talking about, they want state and local control…

They would just like the states with control of education.”

Only time will tell if President Obama’s admiral concept of Early Childhood Education will ever see fruition without the support of influential figures like Willis and Blackburn.

The Blue and Gold March 2013

wORLD nEWS maldenblueandgold.com

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new pope is elected

Catholics world wide welcome Pope Francis I AS THEIR NEW HEAD OF CHURCH Andrew Cogliano Reporter

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n March 13, 2013, catholics around the world rejoiced as white smoke poured from the chimney of the Vatican. This iconic symbol can only mean one thing; the new Pope has been chosen. After an entire day of being shut behind the doors of the Sistine Chapel in the state of papus interruptus, Pope Francis I graced St. Peter’s Square with his presence. Originally Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, Francis I has now assumed the empty throne that Pope Benedict XVI left behind.

Already, preparations are underway for the coming ceremonies of the Palm Sunday and Easter holidays. Pope Francis has made his first appearance as pontiff to pray at Santa Maria Maggiore, and Argentina’s faithful have rejoiced in the cathedral at Buenos Aires. Strangely, Francis has also said that he will not be visiting his predecessor, Benedict XVI, but he plans to within the next week.

Francis has already put the

gears of the church in motion, giving his opinions and official standings on the hot-button issues the Catholic church faces, including gay marriage and child molestation. Before he was elected Pope, Cardinal Bergoglio (as he was known at the time) said that the Argentinian government’s bill on gay marriage was “an attempt to destroy God’s plan”.

But others have said that Francis is now burdened with the “responsibility of opening the church’s eyes to other views, even if he is conservative” said a Vatican official with CNN. From his first days as pontiff, Francis has shown his firm standings on issues that have faced the Catholic church in the past; things like priest celibacy, homosexuality, and women’s rights. CNN has heralded Francis as “no herald of big changes” and has reported that he has “aligned himself with powerful conservative politicians” to assert his dominance as “an agent of God”, in his own words. He has also

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The newly elected Pope Francis I stands on the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica on March 13, 2013, in Vatican City, Vatican. Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pontiff and will lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics (Alessandro Di Meo/Ansa/Zuma Press/MCT) bashed NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) as being “pitiful” in comparison to the church, angering organizations like the Red Cross and Amnesty International. Although he seems humble, Francis cannot resist claiming superiority based on religious beliefs.

Aside from the fact that his political style is less than holy, the new bishop of Rome has been chosen nonetheless. With the seat of Pope filled, the church can now move forward to face external issues

in the world. Francis is admired by many, and the fate of one of the largest religious institutions in history now rests in his more than capable hands.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW THE POPE IS ELECTED? CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

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LOCAL NEWS maldenblueandgold.com

Blue & Gold Art Gallery Grand Opening April 11th @ 350 Main Street

ep AP Science Pr ere Session at Rev High School April 6th ep AP English Pr lsea Session at Che High School March 23rd

Ask The Principal Night April 8th Jenkins Auditorium

MICCA April 5th -April 7th Good Luck MHS Band and Chorus!

Teacher Profile: Yahaira Márquez Nicholas Bramante Reporter

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oing on her now fifth year at Malden High, Yahaira D. Márquez has been part of the high school’s team for a while now. Currently, she teaches Reading/Writing Workshop to 9th graders, English 10 Honors, and AP Language and Composition. Before bringing her skills to the MHS table, Márquez worked at Virginia Beach, and in New York. New York is where Márquez originally comes from.

After getting an undergrad degree from Boston University, and majoring in English, Márquez completed her Masters Degree at Old Dominion University in Virginia Beach, and majored in Instructional Design and Technology while there.

Márquez is the adviser to the Literary Society Club, and speaks very highly of it. She really enjoys the chance to work with students, whom she describes as wanting to be “creative, write, discuss different literature, and find new inspiration in a completely different setting than the traditional English classroom.” This club allows Márquez to explore different literary talents in the classroom, that don’t necessarily shine “ when having to discuss a classic text or when writing for

English teacher Yahaira Márquez posing at her desk in room J282. Photo

by Nicholas Bramante strictly academic purposes.” According to Márquez, a common misconception about the club, is that it is meant for, and populated by, A-grade students, who academically excel. In fact, the club is for “anyone who may be inspired to write off of a painting, a scene clip, another text, an idea that came up in conversation; it’s for anyone who feels they are better creative writers than academic writers.”

An interesting thing about Márquez that most people do not know, is that she is quite the adrenaline junkie. She loves doing things that get her heart pumping, and events that give her a bit of a chal-

lenge to overcome. Some examples she gave of this were swimming with sharks, learning how to ride a motorcycle, and even ATVing.

Márquez has even been thinking about taking a skydiving trip, although she is “trying to get someone who’ll want to do it with [her].”

Something about the school that Márquez particularly enjoys and takes pride in, is the level of cultural diversity within the environment. She believes that there is great acceptance of this diversity among students, as people come together from “all different walks of life,” and the respect shown by both the student body and the staff

alike, shows this. This, among others, is one of the reasons Márquez started the high school’s Multicultural Week, along with a group of students. She sees it as a unique and interesting way for people to learn about other’s cultures. This year’s multicultural week will be held April 1st through the 5th.

Márquez’s biggest influence in her life growing up was her mother. Growing up in Brooklyn, the Márquez family faced a lot of challenges, challenges that Márquez’s mother always pulled through.

Márquez sees her mother, as “this pillar of strength and role model of all that can be achieved with hard work, dedication, perseverance, and family. She raised my sisters and I to be strong, independent, and caring women, so there couldn’t possibly be another answer to this question.”

As a last thought to the school, Márquez suggested that people “stop by [her] room and say hello, come by to see about joining the Literary Society and the Multicultural Week Committee or even just to chat about the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy or The Walking Dead ([her] tv favorites).”

12

LOCAL NEWS

The Blue and Gold March 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

The Class of 2013 Presents the Amanda De Moraes Reporter

Grace Stathos Reporter

GET Excited.

A

Malden tradition, the 73rd Annual Junior Varieties was as successful as anyone could have predicted. To keep up with the times, and our nation’s obsession with reality tv shows, this year’s show was titled “Get Real” and was a reality tv competition featuring several reality tv stars such as Snooki, Honey Boo Boo, Lindsay Lohan, Kevin Hart, Tyra Banks, and Kim Kardashian. In between acts, there were competition skits where the stars would compete for an alleged $100,000 prize. Snooki was the winner, much to the other contestant’s disappointment, but they were consoled when it was revealed that the prize money would be given to charity, a welcome surprise to the losers.

A touching aspect to this year’s show was a dedication to Paul “Fam” Famiglietti. An emotional slide show was featured at the beginning of the show, complete with quotes from staff and students as well as photos of Famiglietti. It was easy to see the affect he had on the school, and during the slideshows, emotions ran high; everyone was very touched. Senior Noah Nguyen states that “the video was such a nice touch; it is nice to see that although he is no longer with us, Malden High still constantly thinks of Mr. Fam and his work at Malden High School.” According to junior Annie Wooley, she believes that although it started off sad and made members of the Malden community mourn, it is also what gave them the “motivation to do their best and make him smile.” Senior James Hickey shares similar feelings, stating that he believes “[they] would have made Mr. Fam proud.”

After the memorial video, the lighthearted Junior Varieties show began.

According to junior Janet Wangoe, backstage emotions were high before the show began. Everyone felt “exhilarated and we’re counting down the minutes until the show began on Friday night. There was also some fear, including [one of which] the audience wouldn’t laugh and the entire show would be a disaster.” However, all of their fears were short lived, because from when the curtains opened, the show was fast paced, filled with extraordinary talent and made everyone from the youngest in the crowd, to the oldest laugh.

The idea came from the junior class themselves during meetings since the beginning of the year, where they all came up with ideas they thought would be “fun and creative.” The officers then compiled a list of everyone’s ideas and then, the class voted. The idea with the most votes, a reality TV show, won. As the months went on, the idea continued to be developed and eventually after many meetings, grew into what was produced on March 15th and 16th, which will go down in MHS history as the 73rd Annual Junior Varieties.

Photos by Amanda De Moraes and Grace Stathos. Layout and design by Amanda De Moraes, Grace Stathos, and Kristen Leonard.

The Blue and Gold March 2013

LOCAL NEWS maldenblueandgold.com

73rd Annual Junior Varieties

Get REAL. The show included various singing and dancing acts, as well as the always anticipated performance of AirBound. This performance was special however, especially to senior member Valentine Banor, considering this was his last performance. Banor states that “people wonder if the group will continue without [him] .[He promises] Airbound is forever,” giving the city of Malden something to look forward to every year. Hickey agrees and also states that when he “first signed up to participate in JV’s, [he] was not sure how it would turn out,” but is more than glad that [he] did it.” Sophomore Jules Skiffington, who played guitar in a cover of Decode by Paramore, stated that “[the JV’s Cast] ran through the show, practicing through every single act and performance... but it made a great show... we had a lot of fun performing and we were glad to help the Junior class.” Skiffington also added that “[JV’s] was a great learning experience, and a chance to get to know a lot of people [he might not have] met otherwise.”

Although the junior class is not yet sure of the amount of money raised between the two nights, according to junior Isaiah Clemons, who played Kevin Hart, they will be having a party to celebrate. Sophomore Michelle Foley shares that “it has been a “bumpy, and stressful ride, it turned out better than [expected],” and will be forever remembered as one of her fondest memories of her high school career. “[I am] looking forward to the class of 2015’s JV’s next year,” she concludes.

Scan this code to watch a preview of the 73rd Annual Junior Variety’s show!

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14

local News

The Blue and Gold March 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

School Uniforms Fail to appease public Nicholas Bramante Reporter

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n Mar. 6, 2013, a hearing was held within the Ferryway Public School. This public forum was based around the idea of bringing uniforms into the Malden Public School Systems. The hearing was comprised of two main groups, a board of committee members that were in charge of the exploratory subcommittee, and a crowd of people from different backgrounds all wanting to give their piece on the puzzle of uniforms. Prior to the hearing, there were various surveys handed out to all of the Malden Public Schools that had been returned and with them, statistics on the questions asked in the surveys.

Comprising the board were various different kinds of representatives in the Malden Public School systems, different Ward councillors, and even a parent. The hearing’s main purpose was to receive feedback from the community on uniforms, and to hear actual opinions on the idea in person. The hearing as a whole was around 2 hours long, and comprised of a period in which questions were asked and addressed and another period in which the speaking was more formal, so that a sort of debate-style conversation could ensue.

Over the course of the next hour, various people from parts of the Malden Community came together and asked valuable questions concerning the what, where, who, why, and where, of the uniforms. Within the population of Maldonians, there were mixed feelings, although it seems as if the dominating idea was in some way shape or form negative towards the uniforms. A significantly diverse group of speakers were present, from all over parts of Malden.

These people included parents, students, and ward members alike (ward 1, ward 4, and ward 5 committee members were present at the hearing) were present, of all ages and backgrounds.

Following a slide show presentation of statistics received from surveys sent out earlier on in the week, the questions began flowing in. Questions that were asked during the hearing started off with simple inquiries, such as “what will be the disciplinary actions towards students who refuse to wear the uniforms?” and “What will be the cost [of the uniforms?]” Although as time went on, the crowd began to become wary, and even riled up.

Statements such as “it’s not fair to take away individualism,” “why wouldn’t you want to hear from the kids”, and “I saw the survey as biased” were thrown at the committee members, one after another.

A majority of different topics were asked about, such as cost, disciplinary actions, regulations, enforcers, statistics, and why the idea

From Left to Right: Ward 7 School Councilman Kevin Casucci, Ward 8 School Councilman John Froio, Parent of three children & Ward 3 School Councilman Deborah DeMariam,Ward 2 School Councilman Maria Doucette, and Parent Representative Dorothy Le. (Bottom) Danielle Aguinaldo’s depiction of school unifomrm.

“[The uniforms] remove creativity and personalization from people...”

-Mohsin Qureshi, Freshman “[When people] dress formally they tend to work with a purpose.”

-David Londino, English teacher

was brought up in the first place. All questions of course, were answered by the committee members to the best of their abilities at the end of the hearing. While there were a few supporters of the idea and the majority of the crowd did seem to be against the uniforms, if not against, then very questionable of it at the least. At some points during the discussions it even became a bit heated in the room, and everyone needed to keep calm and remember why everyone was there: to help make the community as a whole a better place.

Many comparisons were made

to school systems which have in fact employed the uniforms, and the results from these schools, are mixed.

Many people believe they see an improvement in school functions because of the uniforms, but at the same time people begin to grow unrestful and continuously try to avoid or fight the uniforms given. The fact of the matter here, is that for every person that agrees or disagrees with the uniforms, there is always someone who believes in the opposite, so as of now the decision of whether or not uniforms should be employed is still at a standstill.

Many people question howev-

er, if it does get passed for the middle schools what is to stop it from being passed into the high school systems? As of now, the decision to bring uniforms to all Malden Public Schools been tabled, the vote will not be brought back up until next year.

The committee now intends to keep employing the uniforms in only the Linden Steam Academy, and running tests to see how the uniforms affect the school and community as a whole. The results of this will help the committee decide if the topic of uniforms, should be brought up once again, next year.

The Blue and Gold March 2013

local News maldenblueandgold.com

15

Ultimate Dream Team: Students vs. Faculty Basketball Game Julie Lam Reporter

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he dream team of Malden High shoots for gold this year! On Thursday, Mar. 14, 2013 the MHS boys and girls varsity basketball team went head to head against the faculty of MHS for the battle to see who will take the victory home this year The Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game was first started in 2009.

In 2009-2010, this event was held by the class of 2010 as a fundraiser to raise money. After the class of 2010 graduated, AP environmental and marine biology teacher, Shauna Campbell decided to bring it back.

Campbell decided in 2011 to bring this event back for as a fundraiser for the Costa Rica trip that happened this year during February vacation. As of this year, this event was helping to raise money for the Malden High Crew Team and also for the China trip.

In previous years, the faculty MHS team dominated. Last year, the two teams were tied until the faculty won by 1 point right before the buzzer. As the champion team entered the event Campbell states, “We have a good chance again this year [to win] and [it is] going to be really close between both teams.”

The teachers prepared by practicing their basketball skills after school

Manale Zouhir Patricia Luong Reporter Reporter Chaimae El Adlouni Reporter

Above: MHS junior varsity basketball player Jensen Ayuk standing at the free throw line. Right: Sophmore Regine Exume getting ready to shoot. Photos by Carmellite J. Chamblin before the event.

This year, the MHS underdogs took the winning title from the teachers with a score of 68-37.

Throughout the game the score between both teams were very close until the 3rd quarter of the game when the MHS Varsity Basketball Team boys faced the male faculty team. Senior varsity captains, Tommy Steele and Rodney Morton were great contributors to the team’s victory, scoring multiple points for the team. For the girls’ side of the team, senior varsity captains Lisa DeLacey and Norma BourquePimentel were great contributors as well. Besides the captains other outstanding players that contributed including sophomore varsity players Jamie Macdonald, Jessica

D’Esposito, Michaela Ilebode, and junior Regine Exume. Ilebode expresses, “I’ve been doing workouts for the past few weeks and keeping my basketball skills up.” There was no doubt that the students players were preparing for this event all through their basketball season during the winter.

During the halftime of the basketball game, there was a relay and also a free throw competition against Mr. Conefrey. The people who were chosen for these amusing events entered through raffles during the game. Mr. Conefrey shot multiple baskets which outnumbered the amount of junior Nick Ward’s. MHS Crew member senior Daniel Doza revealed, “It was pretty interesting and entertaining to watch; it was

an intense game.” The MHS students were in the lead all through 4th quarter with the help of their MVP player, Jacob Mire, the MHS varsity boys’ team manager and PACE student. Senior Lisa DeLacey confesses, “[My favorite part was] when [Mire] was in the game...he was the game MVP, knocking down multiple shots and having the most team spirit.”

The Students vs. Faculty Basketball Game was an overall amazing event that all students and teachers had a great time participating in or watching. For the first time, the MHS students stole the winning title and are the ultimate dream team of 2013 with the help of MVP player, Mire and all the participants of the team.

Ambience: Trendy jazz music playing, great decor, and tables are nicely presented.

Food: Ingredients were fresh and tasty, but the sushi was not wellwrapped.

Decor around the restaurant and a set table. Photo by Manale Zouhir

From left to right: Crazy Maki Roll, Shrimp Tempura, and California Roll. Photo by Manale Zouhir Service: it was hard to get attention of the waiters even if it isn’t that busy, however all workers were very charming.

Crab Rangoon and duck sauce.

Photo by Manale Zouhir

Price: Though there is not much in quantity, the quality makes up for it. Depending on what you order, you may end up paying more than you think.

Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Cake with ice cream. Photo by Manale Zouhir To view the full article and video on All Seasons Table, visit maldenblueandgold.com. To view more photos, go to facebook.com/maldenblueandgold.com

Style

16

Prom

The Blue and Gold March 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

I

t’s that time of the year...Prom Dress shopping season! For those who have not yet purchased a prom dress, take a look at these dress guidelines so you can find a dress style that suits your figure. Whether you have a slender shape, hourglass shape, curvy body, athletic build, or pear shape there is a perfect dress for you. Dresses ranging from halter, strapless, mermaid, high-to-low, ball gown, and more can emphasize different parts of your body to get the perfect look.

Emma Ceplinskas Reporter Casey Lyons Reporter

Hourglass & Curvy: Top picks: strapless corset, cinched waist, empire waist, short hem, drop waist

There aren’t many dresses that won’t flatter your frame. No matter what style you settle on, a nipped-in waist or sash tie will make the most of your build. To understate curves, try a ball gown or a-line dress. To place more emphasis on the upper portion of your body, choose a dress with an embellished neckline. Choose a drop waist skirt - one that begins lower than hips - paired with a structured corset top. Another great option is the empire waist, which gives a long, slender silhouette without compromising elegance.

Tall: Top picks: sheath; empire; A-line; ball gown

Look at your height as an advantage to show off fantastic dresses and great shoes. Find gorgeous stilettos, wedges, or flats. Buy a prom dress style that adds curves, shows off your long legs, flows gracefully to reveal your slim silhouette, and adds fullness to your chest.

Slender: Top picks: empire waist, bubble hem, trapeze A-line

Ball gowns and empire-waists add the illusion of curves, while a simple column dress will elongate your frame.

Don’t shy away from bright colors, bold patterns, and fun ruching details.

The Blue and Gold March 2013

Style

Dresses maldenblueandgold.com

Athletic Build: Top Picks: Empire Waist, Ball Gown

If you are muscular, have broad shoulders, or a large bust, choose a prom dress that will give you a feminine shape such as a ball gown or empire style dress. The full skirt will immediately add shape at your waistline. With broad shoulders, you might find that trying to cover them with wide straps or sleeves will make them look wider.

Pear Shape: Top Picks: A- line, Empire, Ball Gown

Choose prom dresses that flatter the upper half of your body such as A-line, empire, or ball gown dresses with a circular halter neckline.

These types of dresses help create a more even, straight-lined shape. A strapless dress might do the trick as well.

Dress Store Locations in Massachusetts:

Glitterati- 119 Lafayette St Salem, MA My Dress Connection- 119 Lafayette St Salem, MA Lorraine Roy Women’s Apparel- 30 Hartford St, Medfield, MA 02052 The Ultimate 168 Newbury St Peabody MA Port Cargo Formals 2071 Washington St, Hanover, MA 02339 Margaret’s Boutique 1304 Ashley Blvd. New Bedford MA Angelique’s Fashion and Accessories 347 Broadway Saugus, MA 01906 Cache 100 Huntington Ave Boston MA Sabella Couture 151 Tremont St Boston MA BCBG 71 Newbury St Boston MA Dorothy’s Boutique 190 Massachusetts Ave Boston MA

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Petite:

Top picks: sheath, empire waist, short hem

Puffy ball gowns and floor-draping dresses can look overwhelming. Instead, seek out short, sassy hemlines; anything between mid-calf and mid-knee are fabulous, flattering choices. If you have your heart set on a full-length, opt for a sleek body-hugging sheath. With a slit, you can make your legs appear longer. There are also a-line and empire styles to take emphasis off your waistline if you are short-waisted. Your neckline could be sweetheart, halter or a v-shape.

For more helpful hints for prom visit maldenblueandgold.com

18

ENTERTAINMENT

The Blue and Gold March 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

“Marcus”: An Original Play

Sumya Mohiuddin Reporter Myle Nguyen Reporter

A

struggling artist with a troubled past is reminded of his mistakes and broken relationship as his artwork steadily finds famosity.

Marcus, played by Ramy Riviere, is bound by his artwork, and he realizes too late that the compensation for his losses were not worth it. The play included a “backwards design, [which] allowed [the audience] to examine the relationship, and end with a mixture of melancholia and hope,” producer Sean Walsh explained.

The play begins with a party, celebrating Marcus’ achievements through his artwork. During the party, an awkward conversation occurs between Marcus and Iris, played

by Jessie Memmolo, who he used to date. As the play continues, time rewinds to when they were madly in love. Harsh words are exchanged, alcohol is consumed, and their love slowly diminishes. Throughout the play, little snippets of his friend’s death, Danny, who was played by Michael MacIntyre, was relayed, and it did nothing to help Marcus’

To check out our preview of “Marcus,” scan the QR code to the right. sanity. Work engulfed Marcus due to the demanding ways of Lucian, played by Jonathan Drapinski, and Esme, played by Christy Ringdahl.

As Marcus focuses more on his work, Iris parties more with the friends that he had forgotten. Cat, played

by Crystal Araiza, Scooter, played

by Craig Powers, and Jude, played

by Stefaun Tallent-Maldonado, constantly attempted to reconnect with Marcus, but their efforts were futile.

Before he was recognized for his artwork, he shared happier moments with his true friends. Although his work remained important to him at that time, he still managed to maintain his relationship with Iris, and kept close with his friends.

Cat described that, “deep down, Marcus is caring, funny, loving, very passionate about what he does.” At the beginning of his story, a change was evident when his friend Danny died in a tragic train accident. After he convinced Danny to tag along with him in the train station, Marcus told him to run when the cops came, which led to his fatal death.

Soon afterward, Marcus started seeing the reality of things, and his artwork became more important.

His relationships with everyone faltered however, when his art was discovered by Lucian, a patron, and his life began spiraling downward.

MacIntyre concluded that “[Danny] is the cause of Marcus’s mental problem... [and] Marcus [does not] ever really let go, and becomes insane in a way.”

It all began with a quote from Charles Bukowski: “If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind...” From here, characters were chosen, as well as themes concerning love, death, and insanity. The cast examined artwork, movies, anything that gave them inspiration. Walsh admirably singled out Riviere and Memmolo, and commended them on their ability “to speak and act as characters older than themselves and to convey life experiences that were foreign to them.” They successfully convinced

the audience that their emotions were real.

On Saturday, Mar. 2, 2013, Malden High School Play Production had the honor to perform their play at the semi-finals in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. The audience was radiant, and they were ready for a good show; MHS was as well.

They performed the play to its full potential, and the judges noticed.

They moved on to finals, which was held on Saturday, Mar. 9, 2013, in Weston, Massachusetts, where they performed a refurbished version of “Marcus”, and although they did not move on, they still put on a show that they were proud of.

The Blue and Gold March 2013

ENTERTAINMENT maldenblueandgold.com

19

by MHS Play Production Full Cast and Crew Marcus - Ramy Riviere Iris - Jessie Memmolo Danny - Michael MacIntyre Lucian - Jonathan Drapinski Esme - Christy Ringdahl Cat - Crystal Araiza Scooter - Craig Powers Jude - Stefaun Tallent-Maldonado Andy, the Agent - Will Lombard Lucian’s EntourageChang - Simon Rogers Chantrelle - Cori Malone Wren - Sarah Zeiberg Evan - Jonathan Chipman Photographer - Anthony Pineiro Waitstaff - Meghan Brown and Anxhela Vasili Guests - Elijah Jean-Baptiste, Samantha French, Kasya Jensen, Michelle Foley, Danielle Aguinaldo Subway People - Anxhela Vasili, Kaitlyn Weng, Katie Harbeck, Simon Luong, Sarah Foster Police Officers - Alana Burdine, Samantha French

Director/Technical Director - Mr. Allen Phelps Director/Script Supervisor - Mr. Sean Walsh Stage Manager- Jason Drapinski Clarinet - Sebastian Patino Art Designer- Crystal Araiza Art Work Created, Designed and Executed by Danielle Aguinaldo, Ashley Yung, Crystal Araiza, and Tammy Tan Props - Michael Howe, Gaby Rocha, Angelica Carberry, Larissa Fiote, Alana Burdine Set Design and Head Builder/Fly System - Noah Milan Sound Design and Operation Corey McFeeley Dramaturges - Fernanda Muhlbeier and Rebecca Broomstein Lighting Operation and Design Fernanda Muhlbeier Shift Crew / Set Construction and Painting- Justine Rose, Stivia Demiri, Robyn Farrell, Karen Ramirez, Julie DeSouza, Ellie Cordero, Ashley Yung

Collage by Myle Nguyen and Sumya Mohiuddin

“If you’re going to try, go all the way.

Otherwise, don’t even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind... It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation.

Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you’re going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that.

You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is.”

-Charles Bukowski

20

Lifestyle

The Blue and Gold March 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

Just For Men: Helpful Hints for Prom Jonathan DeCicco Reporter

W

ith Prom season in the air and most girls already with a dress in mind, you may feel a little behind with your search for a tuxedo. Don’t worry there is still plenty of time to find the right tux that will make you and your date happy! Not knowing much about formal dressing you are probably overwhelmed by the vast amount of different styles and necessities for prom. How do I match my date’s color dress? Do I have to wear a vest? How do I tie a tie? What’s a corsage? Where do I even buy a tuxedo?

Being a male going to prom, there is a lot of pressure on you to do everything right and make this night memorable for your date and yourself. From buying the expensive tickets to renting a limo for the night, looking good should not be another worry. With the right tips and information, your next trip to pick out a tuxedo will be a lot less stressful.

Top 5 Prom Necessities 1) Bring a Date!

Get a date for the prom! If you’re in a relationship the obvious choice is to go with your significant other. But you don’t have to be dating the person you ask to prom. Ask a close friend or go with a group of friends. Whoever it is you ask, just make sure it’s someone you know you’ll have a good time with. But remember this is something that should be done way in advance, no later than the end of March, depending on when your prom is.

Making plans with people is a crucial part of prom and you don’t want to be left out of a limousine or scrambling to find a tuxedo/ dress last minute.

2) Tickets Depending on who you are attending prom with, tickets can be a tricky thing. If you are going with a group of friends obviously everyone in the group would pay for themselves. If you are the one that asked the other to prom it is common courtesy that you pay for the tickets. But other times if you are going just as friends, you may agree that each of you pay for your own ticket. Regardless of who pays for the ticket, there is one thing that you cannot forget: Bring the ticket with you! The last thing you want is to not be able to get into the prom you just spent a fortune on. Not only that but you would have a very disappointed and resentful date. It would be a huge hassle if you left them at home so do whatever you can to make sure you bring them!

3) The Tux The tuxedo you pick out could be one of the most important decisions of prom. When attending prom you want to look good and impress all of your friends, especially your date. Occasionally, a guys date may come with him to help pick out a tuxedo. Matching colors to your dates dress is a relatively easy thing to do, just bring in a piece of fabric from what she is wearing and the tux shop will do the rest. There are a variety of different styles for tuxedos; vests, no vests, regular tie, or bow tie, but this is completely up to what you and your date like. Most people rent a tuxedo for prom and this is recommended. It is not too costly to rent and the chances of you wearing another prom tuxedo are pretty slim. One important thing to remember when getting your tux is to get fitted! If the shop you go to does not take your measurements then you should probably find another store.

After spending all this money the least you can do is wear a tuxedo that fits.

4) Flowers As previously mentioned, it is usually the guys who order and pick up the flowers/corsages. There are a variety of different styles but make sure to ask for help from your local florist. You can get these at any local flower shop or other floral places, like Stop and Shop for a more cost effective price.

Ordering these flowers for you and your date should usually be done a few weeks in advance. You should pick up the flowers either the day before or the day of and make sure to keep them refrigerated so they do not wilt.

5) A Ride Obviously walking to prom isn’t really an option. So planning ahead and working out the details of how you are going to get there is very important. If you have your license driving you and your date is a very reasonable and cost effective option. Yet if you want something more impressive or want to spend time with your friends you can always agree on sharing a limousine or party bus. This also is not as bad price wise, considering you can split the cost with at least 10 other people. Before renting a limo or bus you need to know the exact date of your prom, how many people are in the group, and how many hours you need the transportation. This should be done anywhere from 30-50 days before your prom.

The Blue and Gold March 2013

21

Lifestyle maldenblueandgold.com

Picking Flowers

T

raditionally it’s the guys who get the flowers for their date. Usually you would get a corsage, an arrangement of flowers that pins to your clothes or a bouquet on your wrist.

The corsage is used as an accessory that matches your tuxedo or your date’s dress. But picking out a corsage that matches you and your date’s style and personality is not an easy thing to do. There are a variety of different types of corsages and different flowers have different meanings.

Pin Corsages

A pin corsage uses a small bouquet of flowers that is attached to a pin and is worn on the left chest area. This type of corsage is usually more popular with men than women and also referred to as a boutonniere. Instead of a bouquet of flowers men wear a single flower and pin it to the outside of their blazer. This kind of arrangement is less popular with women as the pin could damage the dress or take away from the design and the pin tends to weigh down the dress making it more difficult to dance at prom.

Wrist Corsages

Wrist corsages can vary in design from ribbons, elastics, or bracelets. These types of corsages are more popular with women because it is easier wear. Ribbon corsages are a bouquet attached to a ribbon that ties to the wrist. These are not as liked as the other two because the flowers can untie and fall off your wrist when dancing. The elastic corsages are usually the more likeable of the two because of its easy maintenance and reasonable price.

When picking out the corsage for your date, make sure to keep in mind the color of her dress. You want the colors in her dress to match that of the flowers on the corsage. One helpful hint when trying to match the colors is to bring a swatch with you. A swatch is a piece of fabric that matches the material of the girls dress. Before going to order your corsages ask your date if they have one and the florist will take care of the rest. As for the actual flowers there are a variety of choices from roses, carnations to orchids. Most of these flowers come in many different colors so trying to find one that matches is no problem.

Local Tuxedo Store Locations

Men’s Wearhouse: -616 Fellsway Medford (781) 396-4030 -406 Boylston St Boston (617) 266-9296 100 Cambridge Side Place Cambridge, MA 02141 (617) 494-0900 Russo Tux 320 Revere Beach Pkwy Chelsea, MA 02150 (617) 889-1004 Main Event Tuxedo: 487 Massachusetts Ave Arlington, MA 02474 (781) 648-6800 Classic Tuxedo: 85 Newbury St Boston, MA 02116 (617) 424-7707 Keezer’s Classic Clothing 140 River St Cambridge (617) 547-2455 Tuxedo’s By Merian Inc 137 Main St Brockton (508) 584-3333 Bonardi’s 179 Highland St Worcester, MA (508) 754-4036 7

How To Do The Standard Tie

W

hatever special occasion it is, knowing how to tie a tie is a valuable skill that you will use for the rest of your life, and what better time to learn then your senior prom? Instead of having your mother or father do it for you this prom season, impress them by doing it yourself! Below is a simple step by step action plan on how to tie a tie. For more information got to our website to see a video on how to tie a tie, at maldenblueandgold.com.

1.) Start with picking any necktie and putting the wider end of the tie on the right side and extending about 6-8 inches below the smaller end on the left.

3.) Bring the wider end around and behind the narrow end.

2.) Next, cross the wider end over the narrow end of the tie.

5.) Take the wide end of the tie and pass it through the loop near the upper part of the collar and to the right.

4.) Then bring the wider end up, so it faces the sky.

6.) Bring the wide end over the narrow end, around the front of the tie, from left to right.

7.) Once again, bring the wide end up and through the loop towards the top of the collar.

8.) Take the wide end and bring it down through the knot at the front of the tie.

9.) Finally, tighten the knot, using both hands, slowly to draw it up towards the collar.

22

The Blue and Gold March 2013

sports maldenblueandgold.com

Spring Sports Outdoor Track Baseball

Softball

4/3/13- Away vs. Medford

4/5/13- Away vs. Lawrence

4/11/13- Home vs. Cambridge

4/8/13- Home vs. Westford Acadamy

4/17/13- Away vs. FRESH/SOPH MEET

4/11/13- Home vs. East Boston

4/25/13- Home vs. Everett

4/13/13- Home vs. Melrose

5/1/13- Away vs. Somerville

4/5/13- Home vs. Lynnfield 4/8/13- Home vs. North Reading 4/10/13- Away vs. Beverly 4/13/13- Away vs. Melrose

4/15/13- Home vs. Lawrence

4/15/13- Away vs. North Reading

4/17/13- Home vs. Everett

4/19/13- Away vs. Lynnfield

4/19/13- Home vs. Medford

4/22/13- Home vs. Sommerville

Girls Tennis

Boys Tennis

4/5/13- Home vs. Lawrence

4/5/13- Away vs. Lawrence

4/9/13- Away vs. Salem

4/9/13- Home vs. Salem

4/15/13- Away vs. North Reading

4/15/13- Away vs. North Reading

4/18/13- Home vs. Everett

4/17/13- Home vs. Everett

4/22/13- Home vs. Sommerville

4/22/13- Away vs. Sommerville

Girls Lacrosse

Boys Lacrosse

4/1/13- Away vs. Cambridge

3/23/13- Home vs. JAMBOREE

4/5/13- Home vs. North Reading

4/1/13- Home vs. Cambridge

4/8/13- Away vs. Bedford

4/4/13- Away vs. Saugus

4/10/13- Home vs. Medford

4/8/13- Home vs. Bedford

4/13/13- Away vs. Melrose

4/10/13- Home vs. Medford

4/15/13- Home vs. Methuen

4/13/13- Away vs. Melrose

The Blue and Gold March 2013

23

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A Silver Lining in Women’s Athletics Lucia Quesada Nylen Reporter

G

ymnastics, swimming, and soccer, just some of the many sports where women athletes are taking over. Whether it is 17-year-old swimmer Missy Franklin holding four world records for swimming and voted Best Female Swimmer for 2012 by FINA Aquatics World Magazine; two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year soccer player Abby Wambach; 17-year-old gymnast Jordyn Wieber, member of the 2012 US Olympic gymnastics team, and 2011 World Women’s All-Around Champion, no matter what age or sport, these females are dominating, whether it is in the pool, court, field, or gym.

History was made only a few weeks ago for all female athletes. On Mar. 3, 2013, 28-year-old Lauren Silberman attended the New York Jets Combine in New Jersey, trying out to be a kicker for the NFL, hoping scouts would recruit her. Silberman was the first women to ever registrate for the combine.

Silberman has had no football experience. She’s a former club soccer player for the University of Wisconsin. The result of the try out

ended in Silberman only kicking twice before she injured her quad.

One kick only going as far as 19 yards and the second only reaching 13 yards. And although these aren’t the most ideal kicks for someone trying out for professional football, the impact that Silberman made by registering and showing up has been a big step for female football players.

Alongside Silberman, 31 year old Kate Hnida has also made an impact in the sport of football. Hnida became the first woman to score in a NCAA Division I-A football game, playing as a placekicker for the University of New Mexico Lobos in 2003. Hnida also became the first female player in the Continental Indoor Football League, playing with the Fort Wayne Firehawks in 2010.

Another stride made in the sport of football was when 18 year old Erin Dimeglio became Florida’s first female quarterback in Florida high school history back in the summer of 2012. Dimeglio has a passion for the sport and has been playing since she was little. And since football is considered to be more of a male sport, many were surprised when she made the team, but were even more surprised when they saw

Above: South Plantation third-string quarterback Erin Dimeglio stretches before a preseason game against Seminole Ridge on August 24, 2012. (Jim Rassol/Sun Sentinel/MCT) her play. Many female athletes like Dimeglio have a passion for football but have yet to go with their gut and try out. And acts like Silberman’s and roles like Dimeglio’s and Hnida’s show how determination and hard work will result in great outcomes.

Even though the outcome of Silberman’s tryout wasn’t the most

ideal, it certainly gained attention and proved that females are continuing to dominate in every aspect of athletics. And hopefully Silberman’s courageous act to register and try out will inspire other female athletes who have a passion for the sport.

Take me out to the Ball Game Right: Four Red Sox tickets of games I had been to during the 2012 season. Photo by PJ Montezuma.

Left: The Boston Red Sox logo.

Phillip Montezuma Reporter

I

t still seems too soon to talk about the heartbreak known as the 2012 Boston Red Sox season.

Being a huge Red Sox fan raised in a diehard Red Sox family, it is mandatory to love my team no matter what, it is in our blood. However, last season has made many fans reconsider the Red Sox Nation. The Sox faced their worst season since 1965, finishing with a record of 6993. At least they did not lose 100 games like the 1965 team did.

The Red Sox went into a downward spiral as of Sept. 2011, going 7-20 in their last stretch of the season. Which had lost them their nine game lead in the American

League Wild Card. The beginning of the 2012 season started off with high hopes, believing that new Manager Bobby Valentine would bring the team to the promise land, guess again. After lasting only one season with the team, Valentine was gone.

But along with other Red Sox key factors left during the 2012 season including: Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Jonathan Paplebon, Kevin Youkilis, and General Manager of eight seasons Terry Francona.

Being an avid Fenway visitor, I can say that the atmosphere of the stadium this season was not the same. Especially since there is no more Dropkick Murphys when the closer Paplebon comes in. Along with him and the rest of the pitchers drumming on the roof of the bullpen. Another missing factor to the atmosphere is Terry Francona standing up for his players by yelling at the Umpires until he gets his point across and ejected. Valentine stepped up to take his spot, and he did not fill in Francona’s shoes. It is hard to fill Francona’s shoes, after all he did break the curse of the Bambino (the superstitious curse Babe Ruth gave the Red Sox after

they traded him to the New York Yankees), which lasted for 86 years. He did so by winning the World Series in 2004, his first year of Managing the Red Sox, which was the Soxs’ first world series win since 1918. Then again in 2007, Francona brought the team back to the promise land as they swept the Colorado Rockies in four games.

I can not promise the Red Sox will have an outstanding season this year, or that they will bounce back from last season. After suffering such a horrendous season, it takes time for a team to not only heal, but to build itself up from the rubble. I say give it a few seasons, if that. And to the Red Sox

Nation, keep your heads up because the worst is over and the team can only improve. So who is ready for the 2013 baseball Season to start?

24 Arefin Mohiuddin Reporter

E

ighteen. That has been the mantra of Celtic Nation after the Boston Celtics had clinched their 17th NBA championship on June 17, 2008, where they dismantled the Los Angeles Lakers in six games to do it. Than it was on to #18. I was one of many who thought they had it too, back in the 2010 NBA Finals in game seven, only to watch Kobe Bryant and those very same Lakers snatch it away in the last quarter.

Fast forward another three years, while adding in the departures of Kendrick Perkins and Ray Allen via trade and free agency respectively, and the 2012-2013 edition of the Celtics bears no resemblance to the championship squad, aside from fixtures Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and franchise cornerstone Paul Pierce. Hoping to put the past few seasons, littered with inconsistency and injuries, this 2013 squad was lauded to be even deeper than the one that had taken the defending champion Miami Heat to seven games last year, and came into the season as legitimate title contenders.

While it certainly has not panned out that way, as their season as been marred by injuries and sporadic play, the playoffs is where it counts, and the Celtics seems to be getting hot at just the right time once again.

I, just like many others, thought that the Celtics were the only legitimate threat to the defending champion Heat coming into this season, in what has become a joke of an Eastern Conference. The Bulls were likely to be Derrick Rose-less once again. Indiana did not have that superstar player. The Knicks still had to prove they could win a playoff series, something they haven’t done in over a decade marked by futility.

The Celtics had pushed Miami the hardest last season, and they had done it whilst hampered with injuries. While I can not say for sure, the presence of Avery Bradley and Jeff Green in that series last year might have just tipped the scales, and it could very well have been Boston taking their talents to Oklahoma City. While they did lose Ray Allen to Miami over the summer, they still got undeniably deeper.

They got Bradley and Green back from injury, as well as sharpshooter and sixth man Jason Terry via free agency, and Terry had helped down the Heat back in the 2011 NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks.

They were also able to acquire Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo through the draft. This team looked prime to do well in a soft Eastern Conference, and of course, that is not what happened at all.

The Celtics, like recent seasons, have been agonizingly inconsistency in the regular season. It pains me and many others to watch a team’s play be as sporadic and unpredictable as theirs. Here is a team that can go out on nights and beat the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and other members of the NBA’s upper echelon. Other nights, you get

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The Blue and Gold March 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

#BleedGreen

From top left counter clockwise: The Philadelphia 76ers’ Royal Ivey tries to steal the ball from the Boston Celtics’ Avery Bradley, left, on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Ron Cortes/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT),The Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett, right, shoots over the Atlanta Hawks’ Josh Smith during the first half at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, January 25, 2013. (Brant Sanderlin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT), The Chicago Bulls’ Luol Deng, right, battles the Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce for position as Boston’s Rajon Rondo (9) looks to pass at United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday, December 18, 2012.

(Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune/MCT) , and The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tyler Zeller (40) has his shot blocked by the Boston Celtics’ Jared Sullinger during first-quarter action at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Ed Suba Jr./Akron Beacon Journal/MCT). Layout design by Kristen Leonard. a team that can be throttled by the likes of the bottom feeder Charlotte Bobcats. I can not comprehend how a team that can sometimes stifle the likes of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant can go out and get handled by a Byron Mullens led team. At times, they have looked like they could roll through the rest of the league, and at other they have looked like they could roll straight to a lottery pick.

The Celtics had struggled early in the season to stay in the playoff picture, and then when I thought the team was starting to click, the injury bug hit. Again.

Rajon Rondo. Jared Sullinger.

Leandro Barbosa. The list of players lost because of injury, and none more important than Rondo. Rondo has become a leader on this team as time as gone on, and his play has improved exponentially. He has become one of the best point guards in the entire world, and could go down as the best one to wear Celtic Green when all is said and done. Rondo was a main cog in the Celtics engine, and even with him they were struggling to stay in the playoff race, but he went down in the middle of this season due to an ACL injury. Jared Sullinger had done an admirable job supplementing the starting lineup, but the Ohio State product ended his season due to back surgery. Barbosa,

Rondo’s back up, was lost to an ACL tear too. These injures should have marked the end of the season. The Celtics should be fighting for a draft pick. But when do the Celtics ever do what people think they will? As they were supposed to fade into oblivion with Rondo’s injury, the Celtics are letting the league know that they are not going anyway, except the playoffs and possibly further.

“I bleed green, I die green, that’s what it is,” proclaimed Kevin Garnett when asked about possibly being traded. So does Paul Pierce.

So does the rest of the Celtics squad.

So do I, and so does the millions of other Celtic fans who know that this team should not be counted out, regardless of who puts on the hallowed green uniforms. They were supposed to die off with Rondo’s injury, but have over that stretch posted the third best record in the NBA, along with moving up a seed in the playoff picture. They certainly are not the poster child for regular season consistency, but the playoffs are where it counts, and the Celtics have made it count for the past half decade. Those 17 championship banners were not hung up by individuals. They were hung up by teams, and that is what these 20122013 Celtics are. They are a great team, and they have proven time

and time again they don’t follow the script. They were not supposed to beat the Lakers in 2008. They did.

They were not supposed to dethrone LeBron James in 2010 and make another finals appearance. They did.

They certainly were not supposed to take the Miami Heat seven games in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.

They did that too. They still have one of the most ferocious players to ever hit the hardwood in Kevin Garnett, and they still have a very productive Paul Pierce. Paul Pierce is my favorite player ever. No, he is not an athletic freak like LeBron James.

Heck, he looks like he is never seen a weight room. And no, he is not the prolific scorer that Kobe Bryant is, or even a machine like Tim Duncan.

And aside from a 2008 Finals MVP, he’s never won any hardware. But to me, he’s one of the elite players of this past decade this past decade, and is surely the best Celtics ever no named Bird or Russel. With Pierce, Garnett, Terry, and a stable line of role players left, this squad is still dangerous, and I guarantee nobody wants to see them in the playoffs. I’m not saying #18 is coming this June, but as Kevin Garnett said 5 years ago after they won #17, ‘’Anything is possible.” Especially when you’re wearing green.