February 2012 Edition

theCOURIER

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Volume 24

No. 4

February 2012

Chorus holds variety talent show

SABRINA EISENBERG Staff Writer It’s too late for senior Anthony Ruspantini to apologize to his fellow competitors from the chorus variety show on January 27. He won $100 competing against 10 other acts, chosen by the audience through ballots.

Ruspantini sang and played the piano performing to

Senior Anthony Ruspantini (second from right) wins $100 in the chorus variety show. Chorus officers and the show’s host Dimy (right), a former Douglas student, presented the check to Ruspantini.

Photo by Fallon Birke

“Apologize” by One Republic and “Someone Like You” by Adele. Ruspantini has been playing for four years and also writes his own songs.

He recently collaborated with senior Jesse Friedman (HiRez) on a song called “It Feels Right” which they released on YouTube on January 29.

Other acts include senior

Peter Heise who sang and played piano to two original pieces and junior Jaelyn Green who tap danced to “Lose Control” by Missy Elliot.

Hi-Rez performed “Find A Way” and “Rock With You” for the crowd along with seniors Kyle Branham and David Minsky.

Sophomore Connor

Parandjuk played a piece by George Gershwin as well as Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” which he also sang.

“I’ve been playing the piano for about 10 years, but I was on the fence about the singing,” said Parandjuk. “I had never sang in front of an audience before. I’m glad I took the risk.”

The chorus members

As a child, Otero felt more American than SpanishAmerican. He and his brother only spoke English.

“I even spoke it to my grandma, who didn’t speak a lick of English,” Otero said.

Before coming to Douglas, Otero worked with ETS, or Education Technology Services, for the county. ETS works to put technology into place in schools and help the schools use that technology.

“With ETS, I just supported the tech, so the tech was ultimately responsible for everything,” Otero said.

“Now, the responsibility falls completely on me.”

At ETS, Otero helped out

the main tech workers at their schools. If the “tech guy” at a school needed extra help, ETS would send workers like Otero to assist.

Being the head of technology at a school involves a lot of added pressure, but it also has its advantages.

“Now I get to stay in one place and meet the people,” Otero said.

When asked what he actually does in his job, Otero jokingly answered “everything.”

He mainly works with computers and Internet, and aids the teachers.

“I just make sure all the TECH GUY Continued on Page 2

New technology specialist Joseph Otero configures the wiring system of the server.

charged $5 admission and a $5 audition fee to raise money for their program.

“Instead of our usual, all dance show, I suggested that we have a variety show so we can have a bigger audience,” senior Renee Pauline Perez said. “We thought it would be more interesting and more relevant to chorus.”

New technology specialist joins staff MITCHELL FELDMAN Staff Writer

Joseph B. Otero always knew his future would include technology, and his passion led him to his new job as “tech guy” at Douglas.

“I grew up with Internet and computers,” Otero said. “I first owned a Commodore 64, which is a computer with cartridges.”

Otero comes from a Mexican Puerto Rican background, but was born in the United States.

In eighth grade, however, he and his family briefly moved to Mexico, where they thought living would be cheaper.

“It wasn’t easy to live there, though, so we moved back,” Otero said.

Index

News.................1-4 Entertainment...5-8 Special...............9-12 Feature..............13-15 Editorial.............16-17 Sports................18-20

Disney charms audiences with 3D re-releases of classics Page 6

Photo by Ryan Blitzer

2012 theory intensifies thoughts of apocalypse Pages 9-12

Traditions prevail in sports Page 18

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The Courier

News Briefs

Jewish Student Union In August, seniors Allegra Lewison, Jared Tromer, and Daniel Harrison started the Jewish Student Union (JSU) which meets every other Thursday after school in room 926, to eat pizza, play games, and host programs for all students of Douglas.

“I figured our school has a huge Jewish population, and I wanted to find a way to unite them,” Tromer said.

During past meetings, members of JSU have participated in activities such as mini candy Sukkah (a hut constructed for the Jewish holiday Sukkot) making, Jewish family feud, and a Hanukkah party.

“Making candy Sukkahs made me feel like I was in Hebrew school all over again, even though I’m in high school,” sophomore Rachel Kravatsky said.

Although JSU provides an atmosphere for Jewish students to hang out and learn about their religion, students of all religious beliefs are welcome to all JSU meetings. JSU currently has 70 members, with 10 of them not being Jewish.

Some of the next JSU meetings include a Purim party (a joyous celebration of Jewish survival against all odds), and a word scramble program, in which members arranged various letters into words that would spell words relating to either Jewish traditions or Israel.

--AMANDA GAINES, Staff Writer

Health Occupations Students of America

As of the first week of November, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), officially became a club at Douglas. Senior Sina Salimy, founder and president of HOSA, wanted to bring HOSA to Douglas after moving here his junior year, from Boynton Beach, and discovering Douglas had no medical occupation club like Park Vista High School, where he previously attended.

“HOSA is designed to give back to the health care community, guide students into careers, and teach them how to achieve in those jobs,” Salimy said.

Members of HOSA meet every other Monday after school in Ashley Sampson’s room, 1303. At meetings, members of HOSA compete in competitions, such as Bio-Medical Debate and HOSA Bowl, and explore health jobs they are interested in.

“Joining HOSA allows me to get more involved in hospitals, and also helps me gain the skills I need to work in the health care industry,” sophomore Sami Delia said.

This past December, HOSA participated in a Juvenile Diabetes walk and bowling event in Ft. Lauderdale to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes research.

--AMANDA GAINES, Staff Writer

Asian Club

On the second Wednesday of each month, the Asian Club meets to participate in activities that are influenced by Asian culture.

“Usually we don’t have a set agenda, but we’ll inform the members of the club on a new activity,” senior Casper Yen said.

Some of the things that they have done in the past are play with the Chinese Yo-Yo and learn about some Asian holidays.

“Since I come from an Asian background, I like bringing Asian ideas into the club,” Yen said. “It’s nice to see more cultural awareness come from the members after a meeting.”

--ELYSSA RONIK, Staff Writer TECH GUY Continued from Page 1 technology works for you guys,” Otero said.

Otero does have one fear in this job, which he never had to face at his old job at ETS. “If a server goes down, you lose phones, Internet, everything.

It cripples everyone’s use of technology,” Otero said.

With ETS, the people he supported had to deal with problems like server crashes.

Now, Otero is responsible.

Behind all of the pressures of being in charge of the school’s technology, Otero enjoys cooking and gardening, and refers to himself as a pie

baker, but he has not yet won any pie-baking contests.

He also enjoys mountain climbing and hiking. Otero’s biggest achievements include scaling Mount Marcy, the highest point in New York at an elevation of 5,344 feet, and Half Dome in Yosemite. Although he feels Mount Everest might be too much of a challenge, he wishes to hike in Colorado and continue this hobby in the future.

His true passion, though, is technology. Otero hopes to stay at this position at Douglas for the long haul.

“I want to make my own spot at this school, fit in, and be as much of a help to everyone as I can,” Otero said.

News

February 2012

Hopscotch raises money for MS cure

MATT WALZER Staff Writer Last year Seniors Gary Wexler and David Nassau started Hopping 4 a Cure, a hopscotch event used to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This year, the fundraiser, which took place January 19, after 2nd period midterms, consisted of four events Speed, Endurance, Challenge, and Extreme.

Extreme, which was the new event for this year, is a hopscotch relay race in which teams of three to five people participate through a five-section course, ending with a wheelchair sprint to the finish with people who have MS or who are wheelchair bound. This event is considered the highlight of the day. Overall 70 people participated, raising around $10,000 This year, Wexler and Nassau focused on spreading the word not just here at Douglas but also the entire South Florida area, as they were interviewed recently by Jawan Strader of CBS 4 News.

“Hopping 4 a Cure began as a simple idea, a joke between Gary and I, as two friends obnoxiously suiting up to school and from this miniscule joke grew an organization, a foundation for future years, a legacy that began at Douglas and will spread to other schools nationwide,” senior David Nassau said. “Our goal now is to educate teenagers and young adults about this incurable disease, Multiple Sclerosis, through the almost forgotten game of

Senior Daniel Oliva wins the overall competition for Hopscotch 4 a Cure on January 19 on the Douglas basketball courts.

Hopscotch.”

Senior Jen Levick participated in Hopping for 4 a Cure last year and this year as a volunteer.

“It feels really close to home participating in Hopping 4 A Cure, helping out my friends, and raising awareness for MS,” Levick said.

Junior Brooke Denton, who participated in the events, said that it was a great opportunity to just have a good time.

“I liked the speed event because people were jumping

all around, not caring what they looked like and you could just tell everyone was having an awesome time,” Denton said. “My favorite part was probably seeing everyone out, having a good time. It was a great way to unwind and feel good about yourself.”

More information on Hopping 4 a Cure can be found on their Facebook page, facebook.com/ mshopscotch or on Twitter, @ Hopping4ACure.

Photo by Fallon Birke

Douglas improves from B to A school status SARAH PONCZEK Staff Writer

Douglas not only achieved status as an “A” school, but also received the third highest point rating in the county this year.

To accumulate points, schools are awarded a correlating amount in areas including FCAT Reading, Science and Math scores, and graduation rates.

Pompano Beach High School received the most points with 1392, Cypress Bay earned 1387, and Douglas garnered 1365.

“We were right there with the top two schools in the county,” Principal Washington Collado said. “However, I must give credit to previous Principal Ann Kowalski and [I will try my best] to maintain this high level.”

According to Collado, Douglas moved from a “B” to an “A” school specifically because of the significant increase in the FCAT scores of the lower 25 percent of students. Due to this factor, a school can achieve a high point rating, but remain a “B” school. For example, Pompano Beach High School remains a “B” school because of the 25 percent factor although it obtained the highest point rating in the county.

“I have always thought that Douglas is an awesome school and I didn’t agree with the criteria regarding the lower 25 percent that made us a ‘B’ in the past,” Language Arts department chair and English teacher Donna Amelkin said.

“I’m glad we are now an ‘A’ school because the Douglas staff and students should have

an incentive to take pride in what they do.”

According to English teacher Lisa Gray, teachers will receive a monetary bonus, but the exact amount has not yet been announced.

According to Collado, status as an “A” school signifies the quality work accomplished at Douglas both nationally and statewide.

“Douglas stands out as a school with high proficiency and this title solidifies our good standing,” Collado said.

Douglas’s new “A” status contributes to students’ esteem as well.

“It feels great to attend an ‘A’ school because it forces me to work harder academically,” senior Jamie Schwartz said. “I am proud to say that I attend Marjory Stoneman Douglas.”

February 2012

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News

Page 3

Nine seniors nominated for Silver Knight award SAM BALL Staff Writer

Nine senior nominees will represent Douglas in the Silver Knight awards this year. Nominated by Carla Verba, AP Geography and International Relations teacher, and participating in their own service project that they created, each person has the chance of winning the award.

Sonali Argade, a singer/ song writer has taken her love for music and thought she should share it with other people so she created an album for the Make A Wish Foundation.

Natalie Atyeo, wanting to spread the word about Debate, started a Debate club at a school that does not contain one. She set up her club at Bair Middle School in Deerfield.

Ian Harris created Project Leadership, a program that has inspired teen involvement within our local government and has taught strategies for leadership and success. It has hosted six four-day events attended by over 350 teens.

“Each event has featured community leaders, ranging from motivational speakers to elected officials,” Harris said. “These lecturers discuss topics such as government participation, community involvement, business tips, and personal development tools in order to inspire teens to achieve their goals.”

New to Douglas is a club called JSU, which is the Jewish Student Union. This service project was founded by Daniel Harrison, consisting of Jewish students coming together and participating in fundraisers and other activities.

Liz Myers, very involved in dance, set up a program for children with mental and physical disabilities as well as Make A Wish Children. Her fellow dancer, who is a Make a Wish child, and her brother helped inspire her to create the program. Douglas graduate and Silver Knight winner, James Myers created Parkland Flag Football Buddies for their neighbor who has muscular dystrophy. Dance Buddies is a weekly class in which she holds full responsibility for instruction and supervision.

First in his class, Pratheek Nagaraj, wanted to create a project that meant a lot to him: helping underprivileged kids in India. He created a water purification system that distributes clean water to different places in India.

“I’ve been to India a couple of times and I noticed clean water was a problem that could easily be solved, so I grouped up with other people and we went to local events and fundraisers to raise money to help them have clean water,” Nagaraj said.

Michael Ross noticed that using cell phone while driving can be very distracted, so he

Courtesy of Pratheek Nagaraj

Senior Pratheek Nagaraj (right) presents his project on October 9, 2011 at the Coral Springs Center for Performing Arts at the Indian cultural event, a fundraising event for Sujal, a nonprofit organization run by three high school students. Nagaraj serves as the vice president.

“We coordinated the fundraising events through local organizations and deployed our filters in India working with the manufacturers and our relatives,” Nagaraj said. created a project called TTYL. This is a program that raises awareness about texting while driving and how dangerous it can be.

“We’ve presented at a few schools with information about texting while driving, and we’ve also talked to the Parkland and Coral Springs Commission about our program and what it’s about,” Ross said. “We also did a presentation in front of the Tallahassee Legislative and visited Washington D.C. for a distracted driving summit.”

Erica Turret, also participating in Debate, wanted to share her debate passion by setting up a Debate club at Westglades Middle school.

Turret set up this program to give kids the chance to learn about Debate and certain techniques that may help them.

Chess player, Edward Yin set up chess club at the Northwestern Library, wanting to teach kids how to play chess and the fundamentals of the game, naming the club Learn to Play Chess. He teaches

them how to play or some techniques that may help them while playing.

The Silver Knight Ceremony will be held on May 17 at 7 p.m. at James L. Knight International Center, where the winners will be announced.

The winner in each category will receive $2,000, a Silver Knight statue, a medallion, and a free airplane ticket to travel to any location in the US. Three honorable mentions in each category will receive engraved plaques and $500.

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The Courier

News

A Day in the Life of...

February 2012

Math teacher Mr. Sanders

LIZ MYERS News Editor

Since the second year of Douglas’s existence and for the past 32 years of his life, Joel Sanders has taught mathematics, this year teaching AP Calculus AB, Geometry, and Analysis of Functions.

“I didn’t want to be a teacher when I was really young; I wanted to be an engineer because I liked driving trains,” Sanders said.

“It wasn’t until my second year of college. I like working with kids and helping people.”

His love for teaching translates to his students.

“He is a fabulous teacher and makes sure his students understand the material, if they want to,” senior Keelin Bielski said. “He injects humor into his class on a daily basis and makes the problems more fun by adding interesting details. Even if kids hate math, they love Mr. Sanders.”

In addition to teaching, Sanders tutors about five days per week.

“It’s hard to balance everything because so many kids that struggle with math want to be tutored,” Sanders said. “I have to make sure that I don’t say yes to too many. Strange as it may sound, teachers do have lives.”

His daughter senior Shelby Sanders and son freshman Josh Sanders both attend Douglas.

“It’s extremely convenient, especially for my wife, because she doesn’t have to take them to school,” J. Sanders said. “Taking them to school was a little weird though but it’s easier to keep track of what’s going on in their classes and to talk to their guidance counselors.”

Shelby enjoys having her father at her school.

“My friends and I use his classroom as a locker which is nice when you don’t want to carry textbooks, notebooks, or folders back and forth,” Shelby said. “He loves his job and cares about all of his students. He wants them to gain as much knowledge as possible, math and health related.”

J. Sanders sometimes advises his kids on health because his entire family adopted

healthy eating habits. When Shelby was eight years old, she had high cholesterol even though she was thin, which inspired the change.

“We realized we weren’t doing our job as parents,” J. Sanders said. “At first it was hard to break habits like McDonald’s because it was so convenient. Once we were used to eating healthy, it becomes a habit in itself.”

J. Sanders, Shelby and Josh, as well as Bielski, and 14 other students, share another common trait by participating in Purdue Friday.

J. Sanders, who attended Purdue University as an undergraduate, began this tradition about 10-15 years ago to show school spirit.

“It used to be only him wearing his Purdue sweaters on Friday, but now with Shelby and Josh here, a lot more kids have gotten in on it,” Bielski said. “I have at least six Purdue shirts and one sweatshirt. We even started a Purdue Hall of Fame on the back whiteboard in his classroom for the kids who have worn them on Friday this year.”

In addition to being on the Purdue Wall of Fame, Bielski is close friends with Shelby and her entire family. She also had J. Sanders as her teacher last year for AP Calculus AB. “Everyone I talk to asks me “Isn’t that awkward having Mr. Sanders as your teacher?”

But really it isn’t at all,” Bielski said. “A lot of people get scared seeing their teachers outside of school, but they have lives too.”

Bielski enjoyed having Sanders as a teacher and believes he gives out the best advice to people who ask for it.

“He is a great friend or maybe mentor is a better word for it,” Bielski said. “My friends and I joke that he is not only a math teacher but a life coach.”

Math teacher Joel Sanders instructs his fourth period Analysis of Function Honors class.

Sanders also teaches Geometry and began teaching AP Calculus last year. According to senior Keelin Bielski, a family friend and former student, he is also an incredible chef in addition to being a great teacher.

“He actually made us pancakes last year after the AP exam,” Bielski said.

Photo by Fallon Birke

February 2012

The Courier

Entertainment

Page 5

Photo courtesy of spreadartculture.com

Street artist Ron English stands in front of his contribution to Miami’s Wynwood Walls, located in the Wynwood Art District. Artists from all over the world were invited to paint their own wall.

Local talent shines in South Florida art shows ROXANNE ZECH Staff Writer An entire street of large windowless warehouse buildings was transformed into a canvas covered in the underappreciated genre of street art. The Wynwood Walls, a project located in the Wynwood Art District in Miami, turned six warehouse buildings and a parking lot into an outdoor museum. Artists from all over the world received a wall as their canvas and went to work.

The district is now

surrounded by modern street art murals, creating a one of a kind atmosphere. According to the Wynwood Wall’s website, the murals and spirit of the project attracts thousands of people to the Walls each year.

It is an inspiring revitalization of an abandoned historic community and a must-see destination.

“Personally, I’d like to see more modern art and art through different mediums versus just paintings,” sophomore Katie Hediger said “There’s more to art than just color on canvas.

There’s so much more and not a lot of people know about it.”

The second Saturday of each month, the Wynwood District in Miami allows the public into every gallery for free, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The monthly Art Walk showcases more than a dozen artists, while gourmet food trucks line the streets with vendors selling food from Boba bubble tea to Bocaditos microsandwiches.

Showcasing pieces of art to accommodate every person’s taste, from graffiti to wooden sculptures, the Art Walk provides a nice change of pace to the nightlife of suburbia. “[Art shows and galleries]

can help us understand the world we live in, as well as other cultures and history,” art teacher Lauren Rosa said. “Art makes for a more well rounded person.”

The West Palm American International Fine Art Fair at the Palm Beach County Convention Center from February 4 to 12 displays work from more than 80 international dealers representing fine arts from classical to contemporary styles, and the world’s finest collection of high-class and period jewelry.

The fair has more than just art. A full schedule of activities

go alongside the exhibitions, including lectures from museum curators and art experts, as well as social events.

On March 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ft. Lauderdale hosts the 24th Annual Las Olas Art Fair Part II. The free entry event showcases lifesize sculptures, exceptional paintings, jewels, photography, and ceramics.

Leading artists in the country bring their finest work, representing an array of mediums, making for a truly diverse exhibit that is ideal for collectors and art enthusiasts alike.

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The Courier

Entertainment

February 2012

Reality television exploits tragedy Commentary

DANIEL HARRISON Staff Writer

Beauty and the Beast was released in Disney’s RealD on January 13.

Photo courtesy of fanpop.com

Disney re-releases classics in 3D RACHEL KAHN Staff Writer Childhood memories will emerge in a new dimension.

Walt Disney Studios plans to re-release some of its classic movies on the big screen in 3D in upcoming months, in addition to those that have already been released in theaters.

The first of Disney’s 3D re-releases, The Lion King, hit theaters on September 16 and played for only two weeks, yet it made about $80 million, according to Walt Disney Studios.

“I have always loved [The Lion King], but the 3D made it more interesting,” freshman Casey Martin said. “The lions and all the other animals would pop out at you, and I felt like a little kid again in the theater.”

With the success attained by re-launching The Lion King, Walt Disney Studios decided to add a third dimension to Beauty and the Beast, released on January 13, Finding Nemo,

coming to theaters September 14, Monsters, Inc., which will hit theaters next year on January 18, 2013, and The Little Mermaid, being released on September 13, 2013.

“I was excited to see how [The Lion King] would look in 3D because it was one of my favorite movies as a kid,” sophomore Catherine Zhao said. “However, there wasn’t much difference. Most of it just looked a lot clearer.”

The advanced technology that Disney Studios uses to enhance their movies and their Pixar remakes is called “RealD.” With over 30 years of advancements, RealD is a leading technology developer and supplier of high quality 3D visualization tools for science, research, and product development, according to RealD Incorporated.

RealD’s products bring images to life, popping them off the screen and bringing out the details that were otherwise

unattainable in 2D. However, some object to Walt Disney Studios’ 3D movie remakes.

“3D will change viewing experiences in a negative fashion,” sophomore Drew Simkins said. “The third dimension distracts kids from the important morals of the plot.”

Young adults will have the opportunity to rejoice in reliving childhood memories recreated by these classic movies, and new younger viewers will have the chance to experience them in a new dimension and on the big screen.

“Great characters and great stories are timeless and at Disney we’re fortunate to have a treasure trove of both,” Walt Disney President Alan Bergman said in a press release.

“We’re thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D.”

Russel Armstrong, husband of Real Housewife Taylor Armstrong, committed suicide only three weeks before the second season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premiered on September 5, 2011.

Initially the show tried to exclude the Armstrongs, avoiding any controversy, but after the fourth episode of the season, Russel and Taylor’s marriage became the central focus.

The first episode of the season opened with a special acknowledgement of Armstrong’s death, so the producers have not ignored the situation, but it seems as though they are now exploiting it.

Armstrong’s failing marriage and arguments with the other Housewives has become a main plot point in several episodes. When news initially broke, some cast members called for the cancellation of the season, but the news also “sent shock waves” through the media and reality-television television, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“We talked endlessly. In

the end, we decided to capture what happened as sensitively as we could,” Andy Cohen, VP of programming at Bravo TV told the Hollywood Reporter.

But the coverage of the Armstrongs’ marriage has been anything but sensitive.

Fellow cast members have accused Russel Armstrong of domestic abuse, and an entire episode centered around the fact that he threatened to sue another cast member for slanderous remarks.

Obviously Bravo could not have predicted such a horrific event, but they did have knowledge that the cameras captured the embarrassing decline of his marriage and friendships, and the network could have either canceled the season, or heavily edited it to exclude the delicate events that unfortunately led to Armstrong’s death.

VH1 dealt with a similar situation in 2009 when a contestant on the short-lived Megan Wants a Millionaire was charged with the murder of his ex-wife, and committed suicide.

The network immediately canceled the series after only two episodes, as well as preempted the premier of the third season of I Love Money, in which he allegedly made it to the final round, according to Yahoo! Entertainment.

In an unfortunate circumstance, VH1 took the high road by not exposing the victim’s emotional instability on national television in order to continue collecting ad revenue. Bravo prides itself on its successful The Real Housewives franchise, but it cannot possibly have pride in how it covers the events leading to the horrible death of a cast member.

February 2012

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Entertainment

Page 7

Midseason premieres bring unique stories to TV

AMANDA GAINES Staff Writer

Jane By Design ABC Family’s newest show, Jane

By Design, premiered January 3, following Switched at Birth. Jane By Design tells the story of Jane Quimby (Erica Dasher), a teenager in high school who is mistaken as an adult and lands a job as an assistant at a trendy retail company. Jane must learn how to balance her life and keep her newest identity a secret. Jane By Design airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

“I like how Jane has a double life at school and at work, and watching how she manages them both,” junior Samantha Sprott said.

Napoleon Dynamite Based on the 2004 movie with the same name, Napoleon Dynamite, an animated sitcom, premiered January 15 on FOX. The show will depict the adventures of Napoleon Dynamite, Kip Dynamite, Pedro Sanchez, and others in their small town life in Idaho.

The star of the 2004 film, John Heder, is the voice of Napoleon Dynamite.

Smash The next American musical to make its way to the TV screen, NBC’s Smash tells the story of the drama that occurs behind the scenes of the production of a Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe.

The talented newcomer, Karen, played by Katherine McPhee (American Idol season 5 runner up), makes her way to Broadway to compete for the lead role of Marilyn Monroe against Broadway veteran, Ivy, who is played by Megan Hilty (Broadway star in Wicked).

The next musical sensation airs on February 6 at 10 p.m.

The Firm NBC is introducing a new show, The Firm, which is a sequel to John Grisham’s novel of the same name and the 1993 movie.

The TV show is set 10 years after the book. The Firm tells the story of Mitchell Y. McDeere (Josh Lucas), his family, and issues through his law firm.

The first season describes a conspiracy in a McDeere client murder.

The Firm airs on Thursdays at 10 p.m.

Touch On January 25, FOX aired a special preview of its new supernatural show, Touch. Widower and single father, Martin Bohm, played by Kiefer Sutherland, is unable to connect to his emotionally challenged son, Jake (David Mazouz ).

Soon he realizes that Jake is able to predict events before they occur, which changes his life. Touch will officially begin airing on FOX on March 19.

Are You There Chelsea?

Based on her best-selling novel, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea, the series depicts the life of Chelsea Handler, through the character Chelsea Newman, played by That 70’s Show star, Laura Prepon. Chelsea Handler will also star in Are You There Chelsea? as her older sister, Sloane. Are You There Chelsea? airs Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.

“Once I watched it, I thought it was really confusing because I thought Chelsea would be playing herself, but Laura Prepon played Chelsea. I had no idea what was going on throughout the whole episode,” freshman Haley Flum said.

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Entertainment

February 2012

Computer programs stop procrastination

LAUREN HALPERT Staff Writer You sit down at your computer to research the question your history teacher assigned last week that is due tomorrow.

With the best intentions, you open your web browser to begin, but first you take a moment to check your Facebook notifications and update your Twitter profile.

You check out your friend’s photo posted with Instagram and decide to add it to your Tumblr dashboard and, before you know it, an hour has gone by. You are all caught up on the celebrity gossip on Hellogiggles, but your history assignment is still not done.

According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, 81 percent of young adults report that they use the Internet as a source of diversion, at least occasionally.

This diversion of entertainment options on the web is often too tempting and can affect success in school or

Photo courtesy of lifehacker.com

LeechBlock allows users to block certain distracting websites for certain times during the week. at work.

For social networking, Facebook is the most popular site among teens aged 13 to 17, according to a survey last April by online gaming site Roiworld. Other popular sites include YouTube, MySpace, Twitter, and Tumblr.

Although these websites may seem like harmless ways to pass the time, the reality is that they are major

procrastination causers.

One possible solution to eliminating the negative effects of these websites is to download a program called LetMeWork.zip, which allows you to temporarily block distracting websites while working at your computer.

SelfControl is an application for Mac computers that also can block these websites.

LetMeWork.zip allows

users to turn off the blocking of websites at anytime. However, programs like SelfControl and Freedom allow people to set periods of time during which distracting websites will be blocked.

Once a person sets that certain duration of time, he or she cannot turn it off until time runs out. Not even deleting the application or turning the computer off will cause the timer to shut off.

If a user is distracted by ads, an application called Add-Art will cause all advertisements to be replaced with art, allowing the user to be less tempted by commercial advertising when researching on the computer.

Those who use Firefox as their Internet browser can download LeechBlock, which allows users to type in certain websites they would like to block, along with the days and times when they would like to block them.

All of these apps are free of charge and can be downloaded from websites such as macupdate.com.

Another strategy to prevent grades from suffering is to set a time limit for web browsing and social networking, and to stick to it. If a student can show true self control, he does not need a program to set times for when he can explore the Internet once more.

“When you’re doing homework, you often need to go online, so you have to show self-discipline or you’ll never get anything done,” freshman Gabriella Martin said.

According to medindia.net, a study completed by Open University in the Netherlands involving 219 students found that the typical Facebook users had an average GPA of 3.06, while non-users had an average of 3.82.

Even though applications for blocking time wasting websites are not popular, I urge students who tend to use distracting websites while doing their homework to try downloading the applications.

They could lead to an accumulation of more free time and less time doing work.

Entertainment Calendar Movies

The Vow - February 10 This Means War February 17 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengence - February 17 Wanderlust - February 24 Gone - February 24 Dr. Suess’ The Lorax March 2 Project X - March 2

Concerts

Sleigh Bells - February 11 Drake: The Club Paradise Tour February 14 Kelly Clarkson: Stronger Tour February 16 Andy Grammer - February 22

The Vow stars Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams.

Oscars celebrate 84th birthday

YAELL LIVNI Staff Writer There was little suspense when the first Oscars Awards were given on May 16, 1929. The recipients had been announced three months earlier and the 270 guests waited patiently as Academy President Douglas Fairbanks handed out the statuettes.

Officially named the Academy Award of Merit, the statuette is better known by its nickname, Oscar. Although the origins of the name are not clear, a popular story has it that upon seeing the trophy for the first time, Academy librarian Margaret Herrick remarked that it resembled her Uncle Oscar. The Academy did not adopt the nickname officially until 1939.

The first award ceremony was the only one that escaped media attention. Ever since then, it was either broadcast live on the radio or televised. Last year, the Oscars attracted about 37.6 million viewers. This year the ceremony will take place on February 26.

“I love watching the Oscars. I get really into it and watch it every year,” freshman Erica Kovitti said. “I’m always surprised by who wins.”

The Artist The Descendants Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close The Help Hugo Midnight in Paris Moneyball The Tree of Life War Horse

Drake comes to the BankUnited Center for his The Club Paradise Tour on February 14.

Photo courtesy of planetill.com

Photo courtesy of amazonaws.com

Nominees for Writing (Original Screenplay) The Artist Bridesmaids Margin Call Midnight in Paris A Separation Nominees for Best Picture

DVD Releases All Released February 21: Amazing Earth Collection Weeds: Season 7 Tower Heist

Nominees for Animated Feature Film A Cat in Paris Chico & Rita Kung Fu Panda 2 Puss in Boots Rango

Nominees for Leading Actor

Demian Bichir (A Better Life) George Clooney (The Descendants) Jean Dujardin (The Artist) Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) Brad Pitt (Moneyball)

Nominees for Leading Actress

Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) Viola Davis (The Help) Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn)

February 2012

The Courier

Special

Page 9

THE

BEGINNING

OF THE

END

As teenagers, we all think that the world is about to end with every incoming crisis. But what would we do if the world were actually about to implode, sweeping away all that we know about ourselves and our surroundings? With 2012 being a prolific year for apocalyptic theories, we should all challenge ourselves to live life to the fullest throughout this year, no matter what happens on December 22, 2012.

The Mayan calendar system predicts a major astronomical disaster sweeping away life on Earth while other conspiracy theorists have predicted the coming of rapture or a zombie attack. While 2012 may not mark the darkest hour of the apocalypse, in many ways this year can signify the beginning of the end. With a presidential election, an increasingly polarized American public, an exploding worldwide debt crisis, and massive violent protests as developing nations struggle for democracy, the world increasingly seems like an unpredictable and scary place where drastic transformation can happen in an instant.

Each generation faces the difficult task of re-shaping the world to fit a new, youthful vision, but what if we waste our opportunity to make a difference by sitting around waiting to be inspired? The age old saying goes that we should live every day like there is no tomorrow, so let us not be scared by thoughts of an apocalypse, but be inspired, to take action on the myriad of problems that we can control.

-- ERICA TURRET, Editor in Chief

10

The Courier

ApocAlyps or la

2012: propaganda or possibility?

CHRISTINA SILEO & DANIEL HARRISON Entertainment Editor & Staff Writer The world ends on December 21, 2012, at least according to the ancient Mayans and modern bloggers.

This impending doom is already common knowledge, but the government propaganda machine known as NASA would like you to think otherwise.

The Frequently Asked Questions page on NASA.gov addresses the issue, spewing ‘facts’ they can support with ‘science’.

The secretive government agency tries to assure us that “Dec. 21, 2012, won’t be the end of the world as we know. It will, however, be another winter solstice.”

The origins of the 2012 prediction come from the Sumerian legend that a rogue planet Nibiru–which has yet to be found, or at least that is what NASA tells us–will collide with our planet.

Nancy Lieder of the website ZetaTalk, who claims to have had a correspondence with “grey aliens” since 1993, first made the prediction. When that never happened, the prediction was originally set for 2003, but was postponed to 2012 where it happened to coincide with the Mayan doomsday.

NASA has addressed concerns of polar shifts, collisions with planets or violent weather by deeming them “impossible” and stating these events would have been tracked “for at least the past decade.”

These apocalyptic predictions come from the Mayan Long Count calendar, thought to have been created 2,000 years ago. According to the Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco’s website, the Mayans used two different calendar systems, with the Long Count calendar lasting 5,200 years, which has been calculated to end this winter solstice.

But how does NASA explain the fact that the Mayan calendar simply ends? They make the claim that “just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012.”

This is just what the propaganda machine NASA tells us. Whether the world ends or not on December 21 will have to be up to the Mayan gods.

Filmmakers bring humor to apocalyptic horror LAUREN KANDELL Editor in Chief

The continuous pop culture obsession with the post-apocalyptic Earth has infused itself into the movie industry long before this decade’s blockbusters such as Zombieland and 2012 have depicted the aftermath of an apocalypse. However, most recently, films tackling this topic include those which are taking a comedic spin on the semi-serious theme of the end of the world.

In 2013, Seth Rogen will make his directorial debut in The Apocalypse, an adaptation of the short “Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse,” in which he stars alongside Jay Baruchel. In addition to the two stars of the original short, the film will include actors such as James Franco and Jonah Hill.

The franchises that have formed out of poking fun at the apocalypse are plentiful, not only contained to movies but also including novels such as World War Z and television shows like The Walking Dead. Only time will tell whether this trend will continue on past 2012 – assuming that the rest of the world does.

Scan hear of the 21 so Decem

Special

se now... ater

this code to see and the rest of our “End e World” playlist – all ongs in preparation for mber 21st!

History shows apocalyptic theories false MITCHELL KAUFMAN Editorial Editor

Despite the hype of the apocalyptic theory of 2012, this is not the first time people have predicted the end of the world. In fact, apocalyptic theories date back to 2800 BCE.

1499

In 1499, a respected German scholar and priest, Johannes Stoeffler, predicted that the world would be flooded again on February 1, 1524 because all six of the planets known then would be in conjunction in the constellation of Pisces. Since Pisces is represented by a fish, Stoeffer assumed it meant water would be responsible for killing all of the Earth’s inhabitants.

Due to his well respected reputation, people listened to his prediction and braced themselves for the second Great Flood. People sold their waterfront property even if they lost profit and an elevated fortress was built at the Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great with two months worth of necessities.

1919

One notable failed apocalyptic theory originated from respected Swiss meteorologist Albert Porta, who predicted that on December 17, 1919 a conjunction of six planets would “cause a magnetic current that would pierce the sun, cause great explosions of flaming gas and eventually engulf the Earth.” This prediction led to widespread mob violence and a handful of suicides.

1994

Another failed theory was when Harold Camping, an American radio broadcaster, in 1994 applied numerology to the Bible and predicted that Christ would return between September 15 and 17 of 1994. This was known as the Rapture. When nothing happened Camping said he had made a mistake in his calculations. He apparently had not considered the Book of Jeremiah.

After recalculating, he decided the world was actually going to end on May 21 of last year.

1997

Another false theory was in 1997 when amateur astronomer and Houston area radio broadcaster, Chuck Shramek “observed” a companion object following the comet Hale-Bopp. This led many to believe a variety of “end of the world” theories. The Heaven’s Gate cult felt this was their signal to commit mass suicide in March of 1997.

The cult believed the companion object was a spaceship coming to pick them up only to be reached by leaving their Earthly vessels behind.

2000

In 2000, an apocalyptic theory that computers would shut down completely when they reached 00 due to the use of two digits for years raised panic throughout the world.

People bought gas-powered generators in case of massive power outages and stocked up on canned food and water because they were convinced that without computers running companies could not operate and the world would fall into chaos. This theory was known as Y2K. The Christian Coalition even speculated that Bill Clinton would take advantage of the chaos to take over as dictator of America.

11

Page 12

Final days: a personal bucket list

The Courier

Special

February 2012

ROBBIE KRAVEC Sports Editor

With all the talk of the world ending in a little over nine months, I have taken time to reflect on life. Although I don’t believe the world will spontaneously combust or be invaded by aliens on December 21, 2012, it’s impossible to resist thinking about what I would do if I knew that I only had such a short time left to live.

Obviously, I’d drop out of school, stop lifting weights, and eat all of the foods that I know I shouldn’t, but these basic changes would not suffice. I would have to maximize my last remaining shreds of life, experiencing the most incredible three quarters of a year imaginable.

After clearing myself of all possible wastes of time, I would immediately get to work on completing my bucket list.

Hopefully my dearest friends and family would join me on my adventures because companionship makes most activities far more enjoyable.

European Adventures I’d spend time exploring Europe, eating foreign cuisine, like authentic thin crust Italian pizza and decadent crepes from Belgium, that I’ve only heard and dreamt about but never tasted.

I’m usually not one to crave a good round of sightseeing, but I believe that attitudes can change, especially when one hears that life, as a whole, will end shortly. I wouldn’t allow myself to die without taking a gondola ride in Venice, climbing the Eiffel Tower or walking through the streets of Madrid.

Baseball I have always yearned to travel to all thirty Major League Baseball ballparks and watch a game from the stands, absorbing the culture of the city and its fans.

I think I would learn just as much about the world through watching a couple of months of baseball as I would from journeying for weeks around Europe. Sports bring peace into life by producing a relaxing, enjoyable atmosphere and would be an intricate part of my transition toward death.

Thrill Seeking Sensations

Finally, I could not leave this planet without skydiving and bungee jumping. As a thrill junkie, I cannot wait to experience the adrenaline rush that comes as a result of these activities.

Defying death in epic proportions would at least give me closure that I had gotten the maximum amount of exhilaration possible out of life.

In the end, aside from my bucket list, I would spend a great deal of down time with loved ones, conversing, playing games, and even just watching television. For me, making the most out of life isn’t always about accomplishing the impossible; it’s about finding a group of people to enjoy the world with, even when things get tough.

If I knew the world were going to end in December, of course I’d work towards achieving my goals, but I wouldn’t forget about the people that had gotten me through the first wonderful seventeen years of my existence.

Photos courtesy of Google

Zombies infiltrate pop culture ADAR LIVNI Feature Editor The first zombie movie created, White Zombie, was filmed in 1932. The modern zombie was defined by the movie Night of the Living Dead.

In American culture, a zombie represents fear. However, in Haitian culture, zombies represent a loss of will.

According to umich.edu, the concept of “zombiism” stems from Haitian Voodoo culture.

Voodoo priests studied the application of magic and were thought to possess the ability to resurrect the deceased.

The priests would give a person a powder that made them seem dead. The public, thinking that the person was dead, would then bury the person alive. According to legend, the powder would erase the subject’s mind and transform him to a mindless drone.

“I didn’t believe in zombies until I read The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection

from the Living Dead,” senior Alex Stricoff said. “The book opened my eyes to the seriousness of the living dead.”

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks provides insight on zombie physiology and behavior, illustrates the most effective defense tactics and weaponry, includes ways to secure your home, and discusses ways to survive and adapt in any territory or terrain.

A zombie apocalypse is the widespread rise of zombies hostile to human life and engaged in an assault against civilization.

“I believe that a zombie apocalypse could happen.

There are many ways [it could occur], like a mutation of a rebel virus, mass radioactivity, or a government plot to convert people,” junior Jeffrey Greenberg said.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDS) published an article “Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse” providing tips on preparing to survive a

zombie invasion. Some tips include having an emergency kit including necessities like water, food, and other supplies, locating a zombie-free refugee camp, and creating an emergency plan.

The University of Glasgow has a program called the Zombie Institute for Theoretical Studies (ZITS). The ZITS team is dedicated to use real science to explain what could be expected in the event of an actual zombie apocalypse.

ZITS studies the effect of zombiism on the human and how to prevent and cure it.

“During an apocalypse, a bicycle is the best way to travel because it doesn’t run on gas, it’s easy to navigate, and if you mow down zombies they won’t get stuck in your gears,” Greenberg said.

“To protect myself against a zombie apocalypse, I would use a crowbar and a gun, preferably an AK-47 because they’re reliable. Versatility is very important when selecting weapons.”

February 2012

The Courier

Feature

Page 13

Review: Battle of the burger joints RACHEL EPSTEIN Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Kali Kahn

Junior Kali Kahn sells her designs at Indie Craft Swell in Deerfield Beach on January 28.

Student combines art with activism AMEEN METTAWA Staff Writer

Vegan, feminist, activist: junior Kali Kahn sees nothing wrong with asserting her views and challenging the norms around her.

The defiant stance of rock music, specifically that of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, was the initial catalyst in the development of Kahn’s political attitudes.

“Red Hot Chili Peppers have been my favorite band since I was 11,” Kahn said.

“An aspect of their music that I really enjoy is the way that they talk about women.

They don’t objectify them, but talk about women as beautiful and majestic creatures.”

Despite this early interest, Kahn did not begin to identify as a feminist or espouse her beliefs until she began high school.

“I’ve always felt too masculine amongst girls, and

too feminine amongst guys,” Kahn said. “I never understood why this large gap was mandatory, or why I had to be one extreme.”

“With feminism, I don’t feel that I need to be any ‘extreme’, I can be whatever I want to be, and so can other women. While people think that feminism is defined by female superiority, it’s just a fight for gender equality.”

Kahn expresses her views and interests by selling homemade, screen-printed material, ranging from patches with Jawbreaker and Youth of Today logos to feminist aprons to patches advocating animal liberation.

This last topic is one of Kahn’s more recent concerns.

“I became vegan about 3 months ago,” Kahn said. “It’s a fairly new revelation for me. I had always planned on it, I just found it more difficult than I had originally thought it to be.”

Despite this difficulty, Kahn sees veganism, which entails eating absolutely no food products that come from animals, as a necessity for any person who wants to live ethically.

“When we watch videos in school about the food chain and they show animals eating to survive, a lot of kids will freak out,” Kahn said.

“But many support the murder of animals by contributing to the meat industry. A lot of people don’t see the parallel.”

Kahn hopes to further her activism in the future through the publication of zines.

“I’ve been wanting to print one for a while, I just haven’t had time,” Kahn said.

“It’s extremely tedious but worth it to get your opinions out there with people who share them.”

Find Kahn’s patches on etsy. com/shop/ratqueenprintshop

The burger joints have taken over. In addition to Five Guys and Elevation Burger, two new burger eateries have opened up in Coral Springs and Parkland.

On June 21, 2011, CG Burgers had its grand opening, celebrating by giving out free burgers to its new customers.

Following CG, Smashburger launched its restaurant on November 15.

Both offer similar food, but each restaurant has a unique taste of its own.

Smashburger “Smash, sizzle, savor.” If you’re looking for a burger, salad, chicken, or simply a scoop of Haagen-Daaz ice cream, Smashburger is the place to go.

Located on University Drive next to Big Bear Brewery, Smashburger offers a variety of delicious food choices.

Unlike traditional restaurants, you order at the counter, receive an order number, sit, and the friendly servers bring out your food.

Having to decide between indoor and outdoor seating, my mother, brother, and I chose to eat inside because we wanted to get a feel for the atmosphere.

For a black bean burger, a cheeseburger, a hamburger, two sides of fries, and three sodas, the total came to $25.36, reasonable for three people.

Overall, the fries were tasty and the black bean burger was delicious, but the

classic burgers, juicy but not filling, could have been better.

In addition to these items, Smashburger offers a wide range of chicken sandwiches with flavors such as buffalo, barbeque ranch, avocado club, and spicy baja.

Other than classic french fries there are regular “Smashfries” and sweet potato “Smashfries” cooked with rosemary, olive oil, and garlic.

CG Burgers When I walked into CG Burgers, located on Wiles and 441 near Chipotle, I immediately said to my friend, “This is a lot nicer than Smashburger.”

While CG and Smashburger have the same concept, CG Burgers has a better atmosphere and better food overall.

Like Smashburger, you order at the counter, receive an order number, and someone brings your food.

Along with burgers, CG offers a small salad bar, wings, milkshakes, and a variety of sides such as fresh hand-cut french fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, and zucchini fries.

There is a unique touch screen soda machine with every flavor of soda imaginable, ranging from Vanilla Coke to Fanta.

My friend and I agreed that the burgers at CG were more filling than Smashburger.

However, the fries at Smashburger were better.

CG Burgers offers combos so my meal, consisting of a classic burger, french fries, and a drink, was just $7.37, cheaper than Smashburger.

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The Courier

Feature

February 2012

Keeping faith may mean giving up favorites Religion influences dietary restrictions, traditions YAELL LIVNI Staff Writer Imagine never eating a cheeseburger, or giving up chocolate for forty days, or not eating or drinking a thing from dusk until dawn for one month.

Food restrictions during all or certain times of the year are often part of keeping faith to the way students were brought up.

Different religions have different rules and requirements.

Kashrut In Judaism, the act of keeping kosher is when someone follows dietary laws including not eating meat and dairy foods together during meals, waiting a certain amount of time between meals that include either meat or dairy, not eating certain animals because they are not killed in accordance with Jewish law or because of the animal itself.

Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa.

The reasoning behind not eating meat and dairy together is that meat symbolizes death and dairy symbolizes life.

The mixing of the two results in a spiritual clash of life

and death. All grains, fruits, and vegetables are permitted.

There are varying degrees of strictness a person may choose to follow, depending on their upbringing.

For example, some people wait hours between eating meat and dairy while others choose to simply not eat them together during meals. “[Keeping Kosher is not hard because] if something is important to you, you will find a way to make it work. I’ll most likely always keep Kosher,” senior Emily Rieders said. “I feel like this part of my lifestyle connects me on a deeper level with my religion. It’s the only way I have ever known to live, and it’s important to me.”

Lent Lent is the period preceding Easter which, in the Christian Church, is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and repentance in commemoration of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness.

In the Western Church it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (the Saturday preceding Easter Sunday).

Students celebrate Lent in various ways such as attending Mass or giving up something they particularly enjoy doing for the 40-day period.

The act of giving up something you enjoy is an act of discipline for learning selfcontrol and as an act of sorrow over wrongdoings.

“I’ve celebrated Lent since I was four years old. It is hard because I give up sweets and I love them. I know I will always celebrate it because it is tradition and the way I was brought up,” junior Jasmi Vathielil said.

Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which one is not permitted to eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset.

The Muslim calendar is based on moon and so every year Ramadan is eleven days earlier than the previous year.

This year, it starts on July 20 and ends on August 20. Fasting during Ramadan is shown as an act of faith towards Allah, as well as atonement for sins and mistakes.

“The first few days I celebrated Ramadan were hard but you get used to it. I used to go to an Arab school where we had the month off for the holiday,” junior Daniella Abdin said. “It ends on the first day of the next month called Eid and it is like our Christmas.”

FOOD LAWS IN OTHER RELIGIONS • Most Hindus are vegetarians because they practice ahimsa, or non-injury to animals. In Hinduism, the cow is considered to be sacred and is never consumed.Strict Hindus also abstain from garlic, caffeine, and alcohol.

• Buddhists are allowed to eat meat (as long as it is not suspected to have been killed by a monk), but vegetarianism is encouraged. Buddha advised monks to avoid eating 10 kinds of meats for their self-respect and protection: humans, elephants, horses, dogs, snakes, lions, tigers, boars, and hyenas.

• Mormons (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) cannot consume alcohol, coffee, or tea. Meat is to be eaten sparingly, and grain is considered “the staff of life” *according to www.all-encompassingly.com

February 2012

The Courier

Feature

Page 15

Ain’t afraid to show it, if it’s music then teens know it NATALIE HEIM Staff Writer In the world of adolescence, teens have a language of their own: the unifying and influential medium called music.

Teenagers on average listen to 2.5 hours of music daily, according to a health article in the New York Times. “ I honestly can’t go a day without listening to music, it really is what keeps me going” senior Katie Taddei said.

According to research from UCLA Graduate School of Education and Informational Studies, music can be a positive force for mental health.

It is calming, relaxing, and can be intellectually stimulating.

Music has also been proven to help scholastic and academic performance.

In an analysis by the U.S. Department of Education, researchers found students

who had taken courses in music performance or music appreciation scored higher on the standardized tests such as the SAT than students who did not take these courses.

“Every time I took the SATs I would listen to my iPod before and I swear it helped calm me down and probably made me do better than I would have done without it,” senior Chris Scoppettone said.

The research found that the students in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal, 41 points higher on the math, and students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on the verbal and 44 points higher on the math than students with no arts participation.

“Music can be a perfect outlet and release for teens in addition to the various other health benefits it has,” Sue Mercer, local family psychologist said.

“However, it is important for parents and children, together, to choose the type of music listened to wisely, especially at a young age.”

Although music can be extremely beneficial, pop culture has drastically affected the music industry, especially

Teenagers, on average, listen to about 910 hours of music a year. in the lyrics of many songs.

One in three popular songs contain explicit references to drug or alcohol use, according to a report in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

This means adolescents hear an average of 35 references to substance abuse for every hour of music they

listen to.

“It would be more unusual to hear a song not have some inappropriate references in it than to hear one that does,” junior Paige Fitzsimmons said.

“I feel like singers feel the need to have that kind of stuff in it for teens to actually listen.”

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine studied the 279 most popular songs, based on reports from Billboard magazine, which tracks popular music.

The study revealed that 9 percent of pop songs had lyrics relating to drugs or alcohol, 14 percent for rock songs, 20 percent for R&B and hip-hop songs, 36 percent for country songs and 77 percent for rap songs.

About 14 percent of songs spoke of marijuana use, while only 4 percent of the songs contained anti-drug and alcohol messages.

“I listen to all kinds of music and it seems like most of the songs are about a lot of the same things anyways, but it is obvious that rap is going to have the more explicit lyrics,” Taddei said.

Research from the University of Pittsburgh also found a correlation with Major Depression and the amount of time an adolescent spends with popular music.

The study showed that the students that listened to music the most were 8.3 times more likely to be depressed than the students that listened to music the least.

“I know a lot of people use music to get over something, when you’re sad it’s a good place to escape,” Fitzsimmons said.

Music is a prevalent part of adolescence, whether or not this influence is beneficial or consequential however, remains controversial.

What effect has music had on your life?

“It has an impact on people.

It’s artistic I guess. In lyrics and songs people can relate to them and draw conclusions about their own problems.”

“I’m a song writer, so music and song writing have made me what I am and hopefully what I will be in the future. It’s the cheese to my macaroni.”

-Charlie Rowe, junior

- Marissa Smith, senior

“Music, I’d say, definitely entertains me when I’m driving.

Other than that I don’t listen to music.”

-Stefan Sasson, junior

“Music helps me concentrate at school and in sports. Music keeps up my endurance and it keeps me up when I’m feeling tired.”

-Briel Hay, freshman

Page 16

The Courier

Editorial

February 2012

Colleges must crack down on hazing

Illegal practices pose fatal dangers to naive students LAUREN HALPERT Staff Writer Hazing has recently resurfaced as a recurring form of abuse within college programs.

Robert Champion, a drum major for Florida A&M University’s famous marching band, lost his life in November after being repeatedly beaten as part of hazing, on a band bus. Just hours before his death, he had marched with the band at a football game between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman University.

According to the SunSentinel, although most universities have maintained anti-hazing policies for years, students continue to underreport the potentially fatal incidents occurring, afraid of being marked as traitors by their fellow fraternity, sorority, or club members.

A 2008 study at the University of Maine found that most college students involved in organizations, such as clubs and teams, experience hazing, but 95 percent never report it.

Last year, a student in a fraternity at Cornell University who was blindfolded, tied up, and forced to drink alcohol, died.

According to the New York Times, hazing was formally banned at Cornell in 1980 and has been a crime under New

York state law since 1983. Yet, it has continued through the generations.

The banning of hazing in court has not proved to provide a conventional solution to the problem.

Hazing will never end unless students choose to take the initiative and fight for an end to the practice.

In 2009, a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Florida Atlantic University went to the emergency room after being bound with duct tape and forced to binge drink.

In Florida, the Chad Meredith Act of 2005 specifies that any hazing done on the high school or college level may be charged as a criminal offense.

It is named after a University of Miami freshman who drowned in a fraternity related hazing incident in November 2001, after being encouraged to take a pre-dawn swim in a campus lake after drinking.

Nobody is genuinely surprised that hazing continues on college campuses. It has become accepted as a common pledge initiation for fraternities and sororities, but has evolved from innocent childish pranks into dangerous practices involving physical assaults, humiliation, and alcohol.

According to the University of Maine study, many students

I can’t wait for this to end so I can drink a gallon of paint to join the art club!

You are the minds of the future

come to college having experienced hazing in high school.

More than two-thirds of students are aware of hazing behaviors in student groups on campus. Advisors and coaches are often aware of student hazing as well.

Instead of making appropriate and life saving decisions, students continue to participate in hazing practices,

resulting in intoxication or death.

College administrators and student organizations must commit to eradicating hazing from all student clubs and organizations.

No hazing should be tolerated as seemingly innocent hazing can escalate to tragedy.

After Champion’s death, Florida A&M president James Ammons referred in

Illustration by Phoebe Hughes

a statement to “a culture of secrecy and a conspiracy of silence” which allows hazing to continue to exist.

As future college students, we should refuse to participate in organizations with hazing, and report hazing when we are aware of it.

It is up to colleges and students to create an environment where we feel safe and empowered.

Letters to the Editor Negative campaigning harms political process

Installing red light cameras poses unnecessary costs

I recognize that for almost as long as our country has existed, political campaigning was less about what a candidate could do for the country but rather why the other candidates could not lead our country or who was the most charismatic.

But, in the state that our country is in right now, I think it is about time that the Republican candidates tell us what they can do and what the other party can’t do.

The immense and increasing amount of mudslinging between candidates doesn’t make those people who are undecided want to vote for either candidate, and what is most important right now is that our country elects somebody that can be respected at all.

Somebody has to give the Republican candidates for the office of presidency a wake-up call and remind them that the goal right now is not to make the others look bad but get the current administration out of office.

That being said, the Republican Party has taken major steps in electing the candidate that is most likely to beat the incumbent in the upcoming election.

As though you may not agree with many of his political stances, it is quite obvious that the moderate businessman Mitt Romney is the most likely candidate to defeat the Democratic candidate.

So, with the need to rally around the party rather than attack the allies in it, it is time recognize the necessity of rallying behind a single candidate and take back the white house.

After witnessing the great “success“ of Coral Springs’s new red light cameras implemented last September, the city of Parkland now hopes to imitate these strides against dangerous driving.

The cameras have, admittedly, reduced red light running by about 40 percent, as well as crashes by as much as 25 percent.

These cameras are quite costly to install, totaling about $100,000. Though these cameras are claimed to be able to maintain their upkeep with the collected violation fines – $75 per violation goes toward the city– aren’t there better uses of such large sums, especially since this was never a huge issue anyways?

Good drivers will continue to drive safely and attentively, and should be able to detect an oncoming red light runner especially since they were just stopped at a red light.

Parkland Mayor Michael Udine has maintained an ambiguous position, criticizing high costs of installation but praising the potentially life-saving benefits, and wishes to discuss the matter further, though several city commissioners have already conveyed their overwhelming support.

Well, that’s good for him; our nation’s leaders could use a lesson from Udine in conducting thorough, levelheaded analyses of the nation’s status.

Noah Peskin, junior

rs to ff Lette r Drop o 6o oom 23 R in r o it the Ed em on th it m b su com courier. s la g u do be r voice Let you he Courier!

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Victor Mia, junior

February 2012

The Courier

Editorial

Page 17

Affirmative Action: socially justified or reverse racism?

Affirmative action policies first originated in the United States during the 1960s under the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. These policies sought to make college and job application processes race neutral. In recent years, controversy regarding the sustained use of affirmative action policies by colleges has led to renewed discussion of the merits of such policies. Today, although affirmative action policies are still in place, the American public is split on the issue, with 49 percent favoring the policies while 43 percent are opposed, and eight percent have no opinion.

Institutional racism still prevalent AMEEN METTAWA Copy Editor All of us who plan to attend college spend a great deal of time attempting to make ourselves into appealing applicants.

We prepare for the SAT and ACT, participate in extra curricular activities, and challenge ourselves with honors and AP courses, all in the hope that, if we put in enough effort, we will stand out in the admissions process based on our merit.

However, institutional racism, meaning the systematic denial of opportunities and resources to individuals based on race, puts most minority groups, regardless of socioeconomic status, at a demonstrable disadvantage. This fact makes the continued use of affirmative action policies by colleges necessary.

A 2004 study by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found a striking disparity in standardized test scores between races, with white students performing significantly better than blacks and Hispanics, even when the NAEP corrected for socioeconomic differences.

To conclude, from this data, that whites are inherently more intelligent than blacks would be entirely baseless. Thus, one must conclude that external factors are at play.

Stanford professor Claude M. Steele and NYU professor Joshua Aronson conducted a 1995 experiment demonstrating that this is the case. The experiment found that black students exposed to stereotypes regarding poor test performance by blacks tended to perform worse than white students on standardized tests, even though both the white and black students had equal intellectual capabilities.

The media reinforces anti-minority stereotypes by broadcasting a disproportionate amount of negative stories involving minority individuals, as shown in the 1998 study “The Treatment of Persons of Color in Local Television News” published in the peer-reviewed journal Communication Research. Thus, minority students are regularly exposed to stereotypes regarding their ethnic group. This psychologically diminishes their ability to perform to their full potential.

This means that a black or Hispanic student will, on average, score lower than a comparably capable white student. This does not mean that minority students are less intelligent on average than white students, but rather that tests like the SAT which claim to objectively measure intelligence do not yield valid results due to the psychological influence of stereotypes.

A 2004 study published by the American Economic Review found additional evidence of institutional racism. University of Chicago professor Marianne Bertrand and Harvard University professor Sendhil Mullainathan found that individuals with “black-sounding names” were 50 percent less likely to be contacted for interviews regarding their resumes than equally qualified job applicants with “white-sounding names.”

The results of this study can accurately be generalized to the college application process, meaning that certain minority individuals are inherently at a disadvantage due to racist social perceptions regarding minority groups.

These experimentally verified examples of institutional racism are significant enough to justify the continued use of affirmative action policies.

Such policies ought to give minority students applying to college a boost which offsets the negative impact of institutional racism. This boost will not unfairly aid under-qualified students but will simply correct the biases inherent to our current systems of determining qualifications.

Without affirmative action, whites have an absolutely unfair advantage when applying to colleges. Affirmative action levels the playing field.

Merit based admissions best MITCHELL KAUFMAN Editorial Editor For most students affirmative action plays a significant role in college admissions, by adversely affecting their chances of acceptance. Affirmative action serves to favor those who are considered to be part of a racial minority on the basis that they have been hurt by discriminatory policies in society and thus need an extra advantage. The process of implementing affirmative action policies in college admissions should be reformed because it serves to create an unfair admissions process, does not accomplish its intended goal, and increase racism.

According to Professor Sidney Buchanan at the University of Houston, applicants of racial minorities receive “plus points” in the college admissions process, meaning that some applicants will be rejected in circumstances where they possess better qualifications than students of racial minorities. She finds that affirmative action violates rights of equality and steals opportunity from one to give to another. This serves to adversely affect applicants that are not considered members of a racial minority and applying to college.

The Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action was not justifiable and caused reverse discrimination. Three white women sued the University of Georgia after being rejected from the school in 1999, arguing that they would have been accepted if they had been black men. The court agreed that the admissions process in place at the time violated race equality and gender equality by “intentionally discriminating against them based on race and gender.”

Even the most liberal state, California, passed legislation to ban affirmative action. In 1996 the state passed proposition 209 which repealed affirmative action. It prevented racial and sex preferences in public hiring, contracting and education.

Affirmative action not only creates negative repercussions, but also does not accomplish its intended goal of decreasing racism and providing opportunity for underprivileged racial minorities.

According to a study in 2004 by the Cato Institute, affirmative action does not offer real benefits to disadvantaged groups, because beneficiaries of affirmative action are middle class or upper middle class citizens and not the people who have truly experienced disadvantages.

The study concluded that affirmative action cannot solve the disparities in our country and thus serves no beneficial purpose.

It also serves to give a false impression that it is actually solving racism. William Zerhouni, editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, stated that affirmative action is the ultimate “Band-Aid” solution in that it deals with the symptoms of social illnesses and not the illnesses themselves. He further argued that it masks the true problems facing minority communities and, in so doing, it does an injustice to those it should be aiding. This is because it enables people to use affirmative action as an excuse to ignore modern racism.

Affirmative action increases the very problem it is trying to solve: racism. The Education Resources Information Center concludes that the very existence of affirmative action implies that members of racial minorities are not qualified enough to have obtained acceptance to a college and that an individual accepted under this policy would not have been accepted otherwise.

In particular instances affirmative action helps applicants in need.

However, for most students, affirmative action increases stigmatization and racist sentiments. Because of these adverse effects, we should remove it from the college admissions process.

Michelle Gideon Advisor Lauren Kandell & Erica Turret Mitchell Kaufman Editors in Chief Editorial Editor The opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of the advisor, administration,or advertisers. The Courier welcomes letters to the editor which can be turned into Michelle Gideon in room 236 or online at douglascourier. com. These letters can be edited for content but these changes will not affect their meaning. The publication abides by the scholastic press and is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. If you would like to advertise please call (754) 322-2150.

Contact us at douglascourier.com

Liz Myers News Editor

Robbie Kravec Sports Editor

Adar Livni & Kim Moran Feature Editors

Lauren Friedland Ads Manager

Christina Sileo Entertainment Editor

Ameen Mettawa Copy Editor

Staff Fallon Birke Ryan Blitzer Sabrina Eisenberg Rachel Epstein Mitchell Feldman Amanda Gaines Lauren Halpert Daniel Harrison Natalie Heim

Rachel Kahn Yaell Livni Victoria Malcolm Alex Newman Sarah Ponczek Megan Robb Elyssa Ronik Matthew Walzer Roxanne Zech

Page 18

The Courier

Sports

February 2012

Lacrosse season previews

Boys’ lacrosse strives to uphold unity, strength FALLON BIRKE Staff Writer

Although the boys’ lacrosse team finished last season with a winning record of 10-7, this fails to satisfy the team’s driven players.

Senior co-captain Bobby Steinman has played lacrosse for seven years and has been on Douglas’s varsity team all of his high school career. Steinman feels this season will be an improvement due to newly acquired head coach Chris Kuhn.

“We have a new no-nonsense coach who will keep us much more disciplined than last year,” Steinman said.

Discipline in practice translates directly onto the field as well.

According to Steinman, if you execute and perform in practice, you are more likely to be successful in the following game.

Team unity also plays an important role for the team. Their

strong bond helps keep the team cohesive and performing as a whole.

“Our biggest strength may be the familiarity of our players,” Kuhn said. “Most have played together on club teams for the past 4 or 5 four or five other and can anticipate one another’s movements.”

Kuhn feels the team is poised for a successful season but will face a challenge competing for the district title in April.

According to senior co-captain Craig Herbst, like any relationship comparable to siblings, fighting occurs, but it is for the best.

“We’re all friends. We fight sometimes, but that’s what brothers do,” Herbst said. “When you get along and you play as one, everything is in sync and it creates a better chemistry which in the end is necessary for any team to be good.”

Photo by Fallon Birke

Senior co-captain Craig Herbst warms up by practicing drills including catching the ball at tryouts at Pine Trails Park in preparation for the upcoming season.

Girls’ lacrosse gains new coach, hopes to continue winning streak

SAM BALL Staff Writer As the 2011 Florida IA state champions, the girls’ lacrosse team looks to maintain success with a new coach and set of strategies.

“It’s always hard losing a coach you’ve been taught by for years, but I can tell that our new coach has new skills to offer all of us, to keep us at number one,” junior captain and attacker Carli Marsh said.

Former head coach Ivy Warren transferred to Pine Crest so Ryan Weiss has taken over the squad, attempting to uphold their status as state champs.

Photo courtesy of Danielle Levy Weiss works with the girls on stick skills and In last year’s state tournament against Tampa shooting. He trains the girls by doing seven on seven Catholic, current senior captain Danielle Levy games, preparing them for game situations. dodges the other players and prepares to run the The Eagles are ranked eighth in the state, and ball up the field. number 169 nationally according to maxpreps.com.

The girls come into this season after winning their last 33 games in two consecutive unbeaten seasons.

“We train extremely hard because we want to continue our winning streak,” sophomore defender Remington Bauturin said. “We practice for two hours on ball control and shooting, and sometimes we do mini scrimmages to prepare us for real games.”

Aside from playing for school, 25 of the girls compete on travel teams such as High Tide and Lax Maniax. Marsh plays for Lax Maniax, which is coached by Sarah Burlingame.

“I feel like our team is very well respected at school because everyone knows how hard we work for what we want. We deserve to be where we are now,” junior defender Jen Duany said.

Traditions, rituals add spirit to sports SARAH PONCZEK Staff Writer From spirited chants to the tossing of octopi, sports rituals and traditions range from commonplace to absurd and seem to have existed since the inception of competitive games.

According to third year starting goalie and senior Victoria Danchak, the girls’ soccer team performs a multitude of traditions, including coming up with a secret acronym each season, maintaining five minutes of silence in the locker room before each game, and making ‘digs,’ which are small hearts with different sayings on them that the girls place in their shin guards while playing.

“We have these traditions because they bring us closer together and give us something to look forward to,” Danchak said. “They make it not only about soccer, but also coming together as friends and family to help us win games.”

According to senior Jeff Kaplan, the boys’ volleyball team has a tradition in which the team gathers in a circle and jumps right to left screaming a secret wildcat chant.

“We all go crazy and turn our game faces on,” Kaplan said. “Although the crowd usually can’t figure out what we’re saying, we can tell that the chant gets them pumped and more into the game as well.”

Sports traditions are prevalent at the collegiate and professional levels as well. Today,

Tebowing not only serves as Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback Tim Tebow’s prayer method and sports ritual, but has also become a trend.

Tebowing is defined as “the act of getting down on one knee and starting to pray, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different,” according to tebowing.com.

According to senior Brooke Morris, a collegeaged boy from the crowd at the Florida Gator vs. Texas A&M basketball game on December 17 made a half-court shot for $25,000 during the half-time show and started Tebowing on the court.

“The crowd went wild when he made the shot, but the noise raised even more when he started Tebowing,” Morris said. “I’ve even seen kids Tebowing at local sports games as if it’s a trend.”

Florida’s own LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat both have their own pregame rituals as well, in which James tosses powder into the air and Wade raises his arms to the fans at the scorer’s table.

The Detroit Redwings of the NHL have a practice that differs from that of any other team: the tossing of preserved, dead octopi onto the rink after a Redwing goal. The tradition began in 1952 when fewer NHL teams meant that it would only take eight playoff wins to reach the Stanley Cup. Since that time, fans have thrown hundreds of eight-legged sea creatures onto the ice as signs of good luck.

Photo courtesy of Matthew Thornburg

Senior Matthew Thornburg “Tebows” on the beach in honor of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, who formerly played for the University of Florida Gators.

Like planking, Tebowing has become a well known trend. The term was coined by Broncos fan Jared Kleinstein, mimicking the position in which Tebow prays before games.

February 2012

The Courier

Sports

Page 19

Intramural sports encourage activity, sense of community on college campuses ERICA TURRET Editor in Chief

High school athletic programs are increasingly defining the quintessential American high school experience as 7.6 million students represent their schools on fields across the country.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the number of high school students playing sports increased for the 22nd consecutive year in 2010-2011 with about 55 percent of all high school students participating in school sanctioned athletics.

Just as the college admissions process becomes more competitive, opportunities to play on varsity collegiate athletic teams have decreased.

As the New York Times reports, fewer than five percent of high school athletes end up playing a varsity college sport.

This leaves over seven million high school athletes to continue their passion for athletics through intramural (IM) sports.

“In high school, I was a varsity baseball and basketball player,” FSU freshman Stefano Cavallaro said. “I got involved in IM sports because I love playing those sports and IM offers you an opportunity to

continue that love of the game in a less stressful environment.”

The National IntramuralRecreational Sports Association (NIRSA) was founded in 1950 and has a presence in over 700 campuses and universities.

Intramural sports are mainly student run and initiated, with over 1.1 million intramural contests taking place each year nationally and over 2 million individuals participating.

“Intramurals are less competitive than high school sports. Kids learn how to calm down and have fun,” boys golf coach Darren Levine said.

At UCF, Levine played floor hockey, dodgeball, kickball, flag football and both indoor and beach volleyball through the intramural sports program.

“It’s a really good way for kids in dorms to get to know each other,” Levine said. “UCF had a great intramural program that was one of the things that got us excited [at orientation]; the intramural calendar and the new gym were focal points of the school.”

Based on a 2001 study, the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice reports that intramural sports lend themselves to increased social interaction and create a strong sense of community on college campuses.

Photo courtesy of Tanya Wlodarczyk

Emerson College students, including former Douglas student Tanya Wlodarczyk (left) rides her broom in an intramural game of Quidditch. Wlodarczyk played for the Jamaica Plain Jaguars, against the opposing Old North Outlaws.

“IM sports are so popular because it is an environment that gives some structure to the much beloved ‘pick up game’,” Cavallaro said. “FSU does a great job organizing these leagues for a myriad of sports, and it is a fun-filled experience getting to play the sport you love while not having the stress.”

The Recreational Sports Journal reports a strong correlation between collegiate recreational sports participation

and academic achievement, interpersonal and group relationships, and physical health and well being.

“I love sports and I’ve been playing sports ever since I could remember,” senior varsity lacrosse captain Danielle Levy said. “Sports have taught me about good sportsmanship, leadership on the field, motivation and cooperation; intramural sports appeal to me because they are competitive and fun but will not consume all

of my time like D1 sports.”

Intramural sports are gaining popularity on college campuses across the nation, with alternative sports such as broomball at Boston University and Quidditch at Hogwartsesque universities becoming more widespread.

College Quidditch emerged in 2004 when students at INTRAMURAL SPORTS Continued on Page 20

Page 20

The Courier

Sports

February 2012

Rugby provides fresh spin on old games

Combination of football, soccer gives players new opportunities

Photo courtesy of Peter Malcolm

Trojans Under 19 Rugby Football Club players, including nine Douglas students, scrummage against Palm Beach in their first game of the season. A scrummage, or “scrum,” follows minor penalties to restart the game.

According to senior and with other sports,” Coach Don all players get the opportunity For Fulton and eight other VICTORIA MALCOLM Douglas students, Rugby fourth year captain Peter Stramanak said. “We only to score, making it appeal to Staff Writer defines how they spend their Malcolm, although the team have one day of practice [per players from other sports who Players describe rugby as Saturdays. is accepting new players, they week] mostly, and we do the play defensive positions.

“They actually let big guys best we can to teach the game a sport that combines football These students play for already have a strong group. with soccer. Play is continuous the Trojans Under 19 Rugby “We’ve got a lot of talent and count on them to get fit by get the ball to score, and they don’t really let you do that in and forward passing is not Football Club (RFC), which and also some depth this year, themselves.”

One custom that is unique football,” Jackson said. allowed. The ball is advanced combines students from so if people go down we’ve Stramanak stresses the by lateral passing or by kicking multiple schools, mainly actually got people to replace to rugby is the team social after it forward. A ‘try’, scored by Taravella, Douglas and them. Last year, we ended up every game, where players importance of teamwork in rugby. carrying the ball into the end Pompano Beach. playing a player short a couple from both teams bond.

“Rugby is not like football.

“In rugby, you hate the zone and touching it to the According to junior and first of times and it’s hard to win ground, is worth five points. year player Andre Tapia, the games doing that. We also other team during and then you There is no superstar. You Also, a standard rugby pitch is sport has a broad appeal. have three Florida All Stars on go have a meal with them and need all 15 people to play the hang out with them. I like that game,” Stramanak said. bigger than a football field at “At first I thought it was our team,” Malcolm said.

Any students interested about 100 meters by 70 meters. scary looking and then I got The biggest challenges the dynamic, the brotherhood of in playing for Trojans RFC “If someone asks me what into it and I started liking it. team faces include frequency the sport,” Malcolm said.

According to senior and first can contact the coaches at rugby is, I say cross country Everybody gets involved and of practices and fitness. football,” senior and second everybody gets attached to it,” “Kids are playing multiple year player Brandon Jackson, freewebs.com/trojanu19/. year player Alex Fulton said. sports so we have to compete Tapia said.

INTRAMURAL SPORTS Continued from Page 19 Middlebury College in Vermont formed the first intramural Quidditch league. According to USA Today, currently hundreds of Quidditch teams have been formed in almost every state and the NCAA now recognizes the

sport, demonstrating the power of intramurals to jumpstart new athletic endeavors.

With between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents classified as obese and only 1 out of 3 teenagers engaging in the recommended levels of physical activity, recreational sports offer unique

opportunities to make exercise enjoyable.

“Intramurals should be integrated into high school sports,” Levine said. “So many kids want to play sports but aren’t on teams and [intramural sports] are such a positive thing to bring into schools, to bring students together.”