The Roar April 2015

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APRIL 2015 ROAR VOL. 17 NO. 5

OPINION

4 Your  turn:  Letters,  surveys and  more  6 Columnist  Joe  Along  on  post-­Prom  activities 7 Seniors  Jeremy  Hoffower,  Brianna  Silvestre  on  presidential  college  attendance,  Hillary  Clinton’s  personal  email,  Oklahoma  closing  SAE  fraternity Â

NEWS

8 State  legislatures  protest  APUSH  curriculum 9 AP  Capstone  becomes  college-­prep  staple  10 Envirothon  team  moves  on  to  states;͞  eighth-­ grader  makes  it  to  state  geography  bowl

19

Upperclassmen SPORTS 16 Student-­athletes  frustrated  weigh in on with  quality,  experience  level  of  referees Prom-­posals, 17 Spring  sports  athletes  discuss  team  atmosphere,  dance dates inspiration Â

FEATURES 12 Hands tied (QIRUFHPHQW RI GUXJ XVH GLIÂżFXOW IRU VFKRRO ODZ RIÂżFLDOV _ E\ (Y\ *XHUUD DQG .DWLH *DUZRRG

14 Tricks of the trade Find  out  how  your  substitute  teachers  spend  WKHLU GD\V DW VFKRRO_ E\ 7LD %UXQQHU

15 Paint the pitch

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ENTERTAINMENT

19 3UHVVXUH WR ÂżQG D GDWH adds  stress  to  Prom 20 Seniors  go  above  and  beyond  project  requirements 21 “Chappieâ€?  and  director  Blomkamp  disappointing 22 “Croak’sâ€?  high  expectations  end  in  dissatisfaction 23 Fan  Fight:  Students  weigh  in  on  Nick  Jonas,  â€œInsurgentâ€?  and  â€œThe  Dressâ€?  controversy

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What is the most stressful part of preparing for Prom? 3LFWXUHV

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,VISIT WESTSHOREROARCOM TO:

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Project graduation lacks parent help We as the co-presidents of Project Graduation agreed to take on this leadership position with the sole intention of providing our seniors a memorable, safe party on their graduation night. However, we have had only a handful of parents get involved on the committee. We are still short of funds. We have attempted various fund-raisers throughout the year, all of which were minimally supported. All these efforts at fund-raising have been to lower the admission price and to provide great refreshments and prizes for our graduating seniors. Both senior and underclass parent volunteers are also needed for the night of Project Graduation, May 27. At our last meeting, we had a few parents step up to volunteer for the evening, but many more are needed. There are two-hour shifts between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. that need to be filled, and a set-up shift prior to 10 p.m. We will need a new board of directors to be in place by May in order for the event to continue next year. If no new board is in place, we will spend the remaining money on gifts for this year’s graduates, and there will be no event next year. It would be a shame to be unable to continue this worthwhile tradition due to noninvolvement by the parents. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the parents that have been helping this year. We would not have been able to get this far without you. Donations can be made on our GoFundMe page, http://dm2.gofund.me/qrfx98. Feel free to contact us at wildcatpg@gmail.com to volunteer or with comments or questions.

3RZHU EUHDN (DX *DOOLH VWXGHQWV PXOWL WDVN GXULQJ WKHLU 3RZHU +RXU RQ 2FW Power hour deserves added coverage I think the Roar team is doing an amazing job this year with all the news updates. I enjoy reading the Roar, especially the opinions on music and books that are popular. I think you guys should do a article on the subject matter of “Power Hour.â€? Many other high schools have this program where they have 60 minutes built into the school day for leisure time, lunch, club meetings or just to catch up with friends. The article should have opinions from various students on whether it is a good idea or bad. These are some recommendations from me, thank you for taking the time and reading about my recommendations. 1LNLWD 'DYGD WK JUDGH (GLWRUVÂś QRWH 6HH 1RY LVVXH SJ IRU LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK (DX *DOOLH +LJK 6FKRRO $VVLVWDQFH 3ULQFLSDO &KULV +LQNOH RQ 3RZHU +RXU

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(GLWRUV LQ &KLHI .DWLH *DUZRRG 0ROO\ 0LQWD 0DQDJLQJ (GLWRU (Y\ *XHUUD 2SLQLRQV (GLWRU (YHOLR 6RWRORQJR 6SRUWV (GLWRU %HQ 0HFKDFKRQLV (QWHUWDLQPHQW (GLWRU -RH\ &URZQ %XVLQHVV 0DQDJHU 6HDQ &DVH\ &RS\ (GLWRU -RH $ORQJ 6RFLDO 0HGLD (GLWRU +DQQDK %UXVFD 'HVLJQ 7HDP .HYLQ -RQHV -DPLH 0F,QW\UH 6WDII :ULWHUV 7LD %UXQQHU /L]]LH *XHUUD 1DWDOLH 0DQQ 1RHOOH 0RRUH -DFN 1HYLQV 6KDQH 3RWWHU %RQQLH 5LFH $QD 5RVDO 5RED 6DEDZL $XWXPQ 6FKHHU 6WU\NHU 6LQFODLU &RYHU GHVLJQ 5DQD .DU\FNL ,PUBLICATIONS POLICIES The Roar recognizes itself as a public forum and encourages letters from West Shore students and members of the community. The Roar cannot print ads promoting activity illegal by Florida law, ads opposing any religious beliefs, ads written in poor taste, ads with racial or sexist comments, ads considered inappropriate by the staff, advocacy advertising or ads containing libel. The Roar is not responsible for web sites viewed through links found on pages mentioned in the publication. The Roar values letters from our readers: the maximum length for letters is 200 words. No more than one letter a semester will be published from a writer. Letters and columns are edited for length, content and clarity. The Roar maintains the right to edit all submissions for poor taste, length, grammar and libel. Views expressed in the “Opinions� section do not necessarily represent the views of the Brevard County School Board, the West Shore administrators, faculty, student body or The Roar staff.

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STAFF EDITORIAL

Rocky roads

It’s 7 a.m. and a local government official wakes from a deep slumber. A crisp blue-collared shirt, khaki jeans, leather belt, coffee, and he’s out the door. He gets in his mid-sized sedan, revving the engine as Glenn Beck begins to speak on the radio. His ride to work is pleasant, with all the panhandlers off the streets, their “Homeless Vet, Please Hire Me, God Bless” signs no longer creating the feeling he believes some people refer to as “sympathy.” Everything would have been perfect if it wasn’t for “Susan, I hit a stinking pothole and now my back-right tire is ripped and dragging on the ground. Please call AAA.” The local government official looks back at the pothole and thinks, “They really need to do something about these roads.” Brevard County is home to 1,110 miles of roads. Roads which, like anything that is subjected to unabated heat and corrosive salt, as well as the travel of approximately 550,000 people a day, will eventually begin to deteriorate. Weathered roads are a problem on multiple levels, the most important obviously being aesthetic value. Dirt roads attract horses and wheelbarrows, not major businesses. It’s a “qualityof-life” issue, and not just because poor roads can cause increased automobile accidents and mechanical problems, but that they look and feel unpleasant. We’re the Space Coast, and if

we truly want to jet away, we need to understand the meaning of “curb appeal.” And gaping holes in the middle of the road? That’s just not sexy. So in order to prevent our dear bureaucrat from getting a flat tire, 55 miles of roads need to be resurfaced each year. But according to Brevard County Public Works Director John Denninghoff, there is only enough money in the budget to resurface eight miles a year. In order to “just … hold ground” on its roads, Brevard County will need an additional $4 million to $6 million. Brevard County spends about one-quarter to one-half as much per mile of road as compared to neighboring counties. Not only does this lack of funding mean Brevard County is unable to resurface its roads on schedule, it also means that Brevard County must be choosy with the roads it can resurface. This decision is made, according to County Commissioner Trudie Infantini, not on “risk” or “the priority of how deteriorated something is,” but on the “makeup of the commission,” i.e. the richer the riders, the nicer the roads. And that is how ghettos begin. The local government official fumes over his ripped tire. He has no idea how the pothole got there, and wants it fixed immediately. He wonders who to call, as it’s certainly not his job to keep Brevard beautiful. ,

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OPINION

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Prom fever

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%\ -RH $ORQJ Ah, spring time. Men’s Wearhouse looks like any mall store on Black Friday. The tandem of pollen and floral businesses flourishes. Thanks to the former, noses abroad run wild; a cause of the latter, hormones run even wilder. It is Prom open season. Traditionally, consistent with the theme of la primavera, inhibitions are naturally released as professions of love (or desperation for companionship) are whispered, written, performed or demonstrated in some otherwise generally unacceptable fashion. It’s crazy, perhaps a bit dated and certainly expensive, but it’s fun. Well, it’s supposed to be. But what if it isn’t the warm breeze or budding flowers that releases those inhibitions? It is purely hearsay for me to accuse the Class of 2015 of anything more than claiming to indulge in alcohol. For all I know I could be completely wrong to think that any of what I hear is true, from either the group of 30 or so people who have at one point indifferently discussed their illegal pastime, or the others who detest it. After all, what more do children want than to feel like adults? Yet it is all too likely that they are not lying, and are in fact on their way to falling into the stereotype of college freshmen a year early (if they haven’t already). Take note, there are juniors and even sophomores whom I would equally condemn, if I knew them as well as I do my class. In a vacuum, underage drinking itself is not much of a concern (well, it is, but there are parents for that lecture). What is concerning is that those who claim to participate in alcoholic

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'DQFH UR\DOW\ 'DQFLQJ WRJHWKHU DW ODVW \HDUÂśV 3URP VHQLRUV *DEE\ -HIIHUVRQ DQG 5REELH %UHLQLQJHU HQMR\ WKH IHVWLYLWLHV festivities have more than implied that it is requisite to have fun. They pretentiously shrug off their actions as just a means to a good time, disregarding or completely ignoring the consequences for themselves and those surrounding them. This attitude is not merely concerning—it’s frightening. Cyclical in nature, just like the biological processes of springtime, are the news stories surrounding prom. Every year it’s the same old story, something along the lines of a group of friends under the influence who suffered a car crash on their way home. One would think that the mere existence of such precedents is enough of a deterrent for even the most edgy, jaded or rebellious teens. But it’s not. As with any other high-risk behavior popular among those our age, the perception is always, “It won’t happen to me.â€? Their utter fascination with inebriation suffocates their rationality and conscience (not too surprising—it is a drug). Prom is a tradition that will intrinsically see its fair share of drinking, drug use and other risky

behavior. It’s fallacious to say that West Shore is a good school and we don’t have people who do bad things. Our proportion of deviants is lower than other schools’ most likely, but there is not a complete absence of the typical high school gamut of illicit extracurriculars. Therefore, West Shore’s Prom faces the same imminent threat every other school faces year after year. Yet two attitudes prevail and lead me to feel considerably anxious as the date approaches. First is the accepted normality of the “getting blitzed is fun and funny� outlook. Why is it not unsettling, why does it not incite sheer paranoia to engage in an explicitly illegal activity with myriad legal alternatives? Sounds like immaturity. Second is the idea that alcohol consumption or drug use is the only means to enjoy a social event. At the root of deviancy is often a perfect storm of circumstances that creates the feeling that it is necessary and therapeutic, or perpetuates a predisposition to a similar feeling. Sounds like an issue for a professional to me. No matter the underlying cause, participation in the standard set of risky and mostly illegal activities is a pervasive problem for which awareness has not been raised to any noteworthy level recently. We don’t have continued reminders of what responsible behavior is or what the repercussions are for irresponsible behavior. I have no idea whether or not the Class of 2015, and perhaps the Class of 2016, are anomalies. But I don’t want to see any diminished concern for the overall safety (and legality) of major social events, particularly Prom, just because we’re at West Shore. It’s Prom open season. The hunt is on for a date or a good deal on a dress. It’s a battlefield ridden with bouquets of flowers and cheesy love notes. I have one piece of advice for all the cowards and brave soldiers out there, ready to defect or fight. In this battlefield, like any other, you don’t want to be taking shots. ,

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OPINION

Cat Fight

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I think that fraternities and sororities should be shut down for hazing. No one should humiliate or discriminate against anyone else.

She’s a smart and trustworthy woman, and she uses her personal e-mail for multiple reasons, just like any other person. If she wants to use her own personal e-mail, she should be able to do that.

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A college degree makes them more wellrounded, and a little more knowledgeable and credible, but I don’t think it should be required.

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With the hazing at the University of Oklahoma, the removal of the fraternity, along with the expulsion of all involved, is very reasonable. Hazing has caused many problems, and to handle these actions with anything less than removal and the force of the law is a disservice to society.

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Potential presidential candidate Republican Scott Walker, if elected, would become the first president since Harry Truman to not have graduated college.

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used a personal rather than government e-mail while in office, prompting debates over privacy versus security.

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After the release of a video showing members engaging in racist behavior, University of Oklahoma’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter was shut down.

The use of personal e-mail for political actions is a concern to the security of the United States that a presidential candidate would neglect basic protocol.

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I believe a college degree should be a prerequisite to become president, because I would feel better with an educated man or woman running the country that is demanding me to earn higher degrees to make a living.

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April 2015

NEWS

Pushed to the side

Oklahoma votes to defund A.P. U.S. History;; other states may follow By Autumn Scheer

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Photo: E. Guerra

In 2013, 442,890 students nationwide took the Advanced Placement U.S. History exam. So what did the Oklahoma legislature do to the second most popular AP class? They voted to defund it. On Feb. 16, an Oklahoma legislative committee voted 11-4 to pass a bill that will take away funding for APUSH in public schools until the College Board changes the curriculum to align with proposed standards. The main argument laid out in the bill is, according to its author Rep. Dan Fisher, that the APUSH curriculum emphasizes “what is bad about America.” Lawmakers have not revisited the specifics of the bill, even though a Change.org petition has garnered over 34,500 signatures against the bill. The new bill includes a provision that requires every U.S. history class to study 58 specific documents including two sermons, three speeches by Franklin D. Roosevelt and three speeches by Ronald Reagan. History teacher James Pustay said there is a reason for these changes in Oklahoma. “This is just another example of political bureaucracy, administrators and educators who haven’t been in the classroom long enough, or maybe too many years earlier that don’t totally understand how APUSH is taught,” he said. Testing coordinator Mike Drake said if a similar bill passed in Florida, students would be just as upset. “I know a lot of students here, when they go to college, have their sights set on a technical degree, like engineering or medicine,” he said. “A lot of them like to use APUSH to get that college requirement out of the way so they don’t have to take U.S. history in college and they can focus more on things that are geared towards their major.” The bill has been criticized for being politically motivated due to the inclusion of speeches from Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, but nothing from the past three Democratic presidents. Sophomore Colin Moor is taking APUSH this year. He said it is important for history to be covered fairly and evenly. “I feel like considering that Oklahoma has been historically a more conservative

History lesson Gesturing to his presentation, APUSH teacher James Pustay gives a lecture to his class of sophomores. southern state, they’re more likely to have more of that American pride feeling and be less open to new ideas,” he said. This year, the APUSH curriculum underwent changes for the first time in a decade. Teachers are now required to teach their students “critical thinking” skills, defined as objective analysis of an issue so students can form their own judgments. APUSH is now being compared to Common Core, which has been banned in many states, because it pushes the importance of critical thinking as well. “[APUSH has] totally changed,” Pustay said. “It used to be about 60 percent recall and 40 percent recognition on the questions. It is now almost 100 percent recall.” Moor said the curriculum for APUSH this year is more difficult, but it makes it more of a college-level class. “I feel so far it’s good that the material stresses more synthesis and understanding instead of just regurgitation of facts, but at the same time, that’s a lot tougher for the students,” he said. According to Pustay, teachers need to teach what they think is important. “The teacher is the key,” he said. “The teacher has to act as the facilitator that gives the guidance and tells people where to go and what to look at.”

Senior Yasemen Turkmen took APUSH as a sophomore. “I thought the APUSH class that was taught here went over all the important parts in history,” she said. “I do feel like some stuff was excluded, just because they weren’t really available on the APUSH exam. But I wouldn’t say it was entirely biased, or in any way sexist or racist.” Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Colorado have been seeking changes in the APUSH curriculum. Drake said a similar bill could be proposed, and even pass, in Florida. “Knowing what the political climate is here, it probably wouldn’t surprise me,” he said. According to Turkmen, the Oklahoma Legislature hasn’t handled the situation well. “I think they are taking it a little too far,” she said. “If they had expressed their concerns to College Board and said that they needed to focus more on other events, then that would have been better.” Pustay said he disagrees with what the Oklahoma lawmakers have done. “I’ve taught honors [U.S. History], and you cannot cover all of American history,” he said. “You just can’t. The big expectation is that it asks kids to think, and you cannot study history and politics without talking about the good and the bad.” c

April 2015

NEWS

Capped off

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The first year of AP Capstone and each go out and conduct the has proved challenging but research and write a paper on that successful in college prep. individualized topic. [Next,] they Seminar teacher Jeanie Griffin have to bring back their individual and Principal Rick Fleming research and put it into a cohesive said that the program teaches new paper.” students valuable skills that Junior Gracie Parish feels the class colleges are looking for in helps build team working skills. future applicants, while students “It teaches you to put more effort feel the class is a worthwhile into your work because not only challenge. does your own grade rely on it “AP encourages access, and they but all your team members grades feel strongly that all students rely on it to,” she said. “It’s not just should have the opportunity to a class grade, its for an AP exam take this course because it really is grade, so it’s worth a lot more. It the new direction of what colleges teaches you to open your eyes and want,” Griffin said. “This course listen to other people’s opinions was created based off college more because in order for the team needs.” paper to flow you have to all be Fleming said the new Capstone agreeing the whole time or else program is the next improvement it will be super choppy and won’t in getting students into their work.” Polished Glancing at their slide show, juniors Gillian college of choice. It addresses The first course, AP Seminar, Foster and Sarah Hinshaw give their team project the skills that colleges have includes two tasks that both help presentations. asked College Board to teach build foundations in the skills boring class?” junior Malika Shahzad said. the students, such as skills colleges are looking for. Griffin says “But I personally learned how to hone my of presentation, command, filtering Task 1 encompasses an individual paper paper and make it better so I feel like I’m information and problem solving. and reflection, as well as a team paper and prepared for college.” “When I saw that colleges were telling presentation. In Task 2 students research a AP Capstone consists of two classes— College Board that and that’s what the topic inspired from several AP documents AP Seminar and AP Research—both of seminar course is going to be based on, I they were given. which are designed to enhance the AP was like ‘That is what we are going to do, Task 2 presentations begin April 8 in the program and prepare students for college. that’s what I want our kids to know and auditorium. AP Seminar, which is a prerequisite for AP to be able to do,’ ” he said. “So that’s what “For Task 2 it’s a lot easier because for Research, requires students to complete a attracted me to the program because the Task 1 a lot of it was learning how to do it group project, develop presentation and colleges have endorsed this, they have said and what the program wanted, but Task writing skills, and take an end of year AP this is what we want.” 2 you kind of just jump into it and know test. Junior Killian Thrush said AP Seminar is where you’re going from the get-go. It’s a “Colleges really want the students to a unique opportunity. lot easier because they give you a general understand how to do extensive research in base on what you can do and how you take “It’s definitely not like any other class the sense of argumentative type of papers I’ve taken,” he said. “It’s a lot of solo work, it from there is up to you,” Parish said. where they have to take positions,” Griffin but Mrs. Griffin is always there to help. In AP Research will be taught by current said. “They want students to be able to most classes, the teacher kind of just goes AP Literature teacher Mary Nelson. All 58 reflect and actually critically think about over things and you take notes, but in this students in AP Seminar are signed up to what they’ve done.” one you’re on your own making your own take AP Research, taught by Mary Nelson, Colleges are also encouraging skills questions and finding your own documents but 18 of those 58 are taking the AP in team building and product creation and writing your own paper.” Research science course taught by Mary through the Capstone program. Students in the inaugural year of AP Anderson. “[Students] have to come up with their Seminar feel so far the class is challenging, “I believe this is the next phase of own research question,” said Griffin. “Then but provides good college prep. reinvention so now I am very excited as they have to split that research question “When we were starting out we were we move forward to the future to see what into four or five different parts, depending skeptical about like is this class a good fit the fruits of this labor will now be for our on how many team members they have, for us, is there a lot of homework, is it a students,” Fleming said. c

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NEWS

April 2015

Thriving in their environment

Envirothon team dominates county competition, moves onto states By Bonnie Rice “Our group just had a lot of fun and just kind of laughed and goofed off while still getting work done,” Tanke said. “The group worked really well Victory shot Celebrating their victory, together.” Envirothon team “Plant Touch This” lifts their Goffinet also trophies. said that she believes the group dynamic is a major factor in the success of the event. “I really like the fact that it’s kind of an odd group,” she said. “Once a year we get together kind of randomly and do really well together. Some people are better at some things, and other people are better at other things. For example, Robbie is really good at wildlife. My topic was soil, so I had to memorize all the types of soil. In my three years, I have learned a lot about soil. So if you ever have any questions, I got you.” c Photo: S Tanke

Complete with flower chains and cupcakes, Envirothon is a competition for high school students based around environmental science. The Envirothon team, “Plant Touch This,” traveled to Adams Ranch in Fort Pierce to compete in the event on Feb. 27. The team took home first place in Brevard County, as well as in the Current Environmental Issue category. Senior Sarah Tanke said she looks forward to going further in the competition. “We won last year but we weren’t able to go to states because it fell on a test day,” she said. “We’re hoping that we can go this year.” The state level competition will be held on April 25 at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala. The team includes seniors Tanke, Robbie Breininger, Claire Goffinet, Claire Rauchfuss and Sara Tennant. Club sponsor Paula Ladd helped prepare the team for the competition, which tests knowledge on a variety of topics in environmental science. “They compete in six different events, and the teachers can’t be out where the students are so they’re competing [against each other],” Ladd said. “They’re given written and verbal questions and they’re shown things that they have to identify and show how to use.” For Tanke, the event is more than answering questions. It’s a chance to work with other students who share similar interests.

Bee-ing worldly

Eighth-­grader travels to state geography competition in Jacksonville

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By Noelle Moore Eighth-grader Viorel Silaghi traveled to Jacksonville University on March 27 to compete in the State Geography Bee with 100 other students from all across Florida. Although he will not be moving on to Nationals, he is still pleased with the results. “It was alright,” Silaghi said. “I knew most of the questions, but I got three wrong. It was Viorel SIlaghi competed in better than I expected.” Silaghi moved on to State the State Geography Bee. after winning his class Geography Bee and the school Bee. He then took a written test which qualified him for the State Bee. He believes this success comes from studying with his younger brother. “I’ve been preparing for the geography bowl pretty much

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my whole life,” Silaghi said. “My brother, Mircea, and I encouraged each other to memorize capital cities in the world and for all the states. My knowledge about geography comes from traveling around a lot and reading a bunch of newspaper articles about what is happening.” Silaghi’s “traveling around” is referencing his annual trip during the summer to Europe. He moved here in 2002, his favorite part of the trip is seeing where he is from. “Switzerland is my favorite,” Silaghi said. “That’s where I was born and I have family there, also Romania.” History teacher Anthony Raheb is the sponsor for the students who participate in the Bee, a national competition that is put on by National Geographic. The National Geographic Society. prepares the questions, and all 50 states and D.C. compete on the same day. Raheb enjoys being a part of this program because it represents the school. “I’m involved because it’s a fantastic opportunity to have students participate in the nation-wide competition,” Raheb said. “It is also a great way to represent West Shore at the next level of competition.” c

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DRUG CULTURE

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s you scroll through your various social media accounts, a picture surprises you. Marijuana. You might notify the police. But, since merely seeing a picture of something that looks like marijuana isn’t proof of anything, there’s not a lot the police can do. After all, it could be oregano from someone’s spice rack. In some ways, when it comes to taking action against drug users, law enforcement’s and school officials’ hands are tied. Drug enforcement in schools, where it is often needed most, is a difficult task in some cases. Parents at a March 4 community meeting in Satellite Beach said they feel cracking down more on drugs could have prevented the recent attack on 18-year-old Daniel Vukovich at his home near Satellite High. Three teens — Rebecca Gotay, Dylan Thomas and Jessie Umberger — have been charged with attempted murder in the crowbar attack, which police say was related to marijuana. But catching drug dealers and users is not as easy as breaking down doors, putting suspects in handcuffs and taking them into custody. According to Director of District and School Security Mike Scully, the highest priority in enforcing drug use in schools is safety. “Our objective is, first and foremost, to ensure the safety of our students, and when we become aware that people on our campus are in possession of an illegal substance, whether that is a cigarette, a joint or a Xanax tablet, to deal with that in two forms,� Scully said. “One to deal with it administratively and second to deal with it criminally.� In schools, receiving tips from students can be a good starting point for a drug investigation, depending on the specificity of the tip. If the tip is precise enough, then school administrators can take action in the form of a backpack, person or locker search. “When a student comes to an administrator and says ‘John Smith has a baggie of marijuana’ the administrator many

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7KUHH WHHQV '\ODQ 7KRPDV -HVVLH 8PEHUJHU 5HEHFFD *RWD\ KDYH EHHQ FKDUJHG ZLWK DWWHPSWHG PXUGHU RQ DQ DWWDFN RQ 9XNRYLFK ERWWRP OHIW times is going to say ‘How do you know that?’ ‘Well I heard it,’ � Scully said. “That information in itself is very difficult for us to react to. If you went to an administrator and said ‘I saw John Smith with a baggie of marijuana in my first-period English class or with a joint,’ that changes it because that is first-hand information that you witnessed and have now communicated to the administration.� The context of the tip will also be a major factor, according to Scully. “The credibility and reliability of the student; those two things are really important when you’re dealing with information,� Scully said. “Is it credible? Meaning how truthful has this student been with me in the past? How probable is it that it is accurate? And then, how reliable is this information?� Assistant Principal of Facilities Robert Farrell’s past experiences with drug tips at Bayside High School are not at all similar to what he has faced in the first year of his new job. “Since I’ve been here, there hasn’t been any issues that have arisen,� he said. “At Bayside and comprehensive schools, usually what

happens is a concerned student will come and anonymously say that someone might have [drugs] in their possession. But that’s never happened here since I’ve been here. For me, that’s a tell-tale sign that there isn’t an issue here at West Shore Jr./Sr. High School.� However, tips can only help the school resource officers and administrators if they are actually brought forward. According to numbers from Brevard Public Schools, out of 73,000 students in the county, three tips have been sent in this school year. Despite the lack of tips from students, Scully acknowledges the presence of drugs in the area. “Clearly, there are drugs in the community, and what we see here is things that occur in the community frequently blur the line between home and the school and things that occur in the community bleed over into our schools,� Scully said. “Drugs are one of those things that originates in the community and bleeds over into our schools.� Farrell recalled an instance when taking a student’s cell phone during the day led to punishment for drug possession. “One time, I confiscated a cell phone and happened to look through the cell phone and noticed some drug references within that cell phone which gave me enough reasonable suspicion so I followed up on it, and it turned out the kid had something in his possession,� Farrell said. Sophomore Holly Velie said she doesn’t see a drug problem happening on campus. “More academic kids don’t get involved [with drugs],� Velie said. “Not to be rude, but we’re more intelligent people who know better than to do that.� A drug problem may not be prevalent at West Shore, but such might not be the case at other area schools. However, when approached for an interview on the subject, school resource officers from Satellite High, Palm Bay High, Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High and deans from Melbourne High and Cocoa Beach did not respond to requests. Satellite High’s Dean Joseph Flora declined comment. Drug culture and the enforcement of it

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DRUG CULTURE

3ULQFLSDO KHOSV VDYH WHHQ EHDWLQJ YLFWLP %\ (Y\ *XHUUD is not just a problem in schools, it starts to the next step. outside of them. “Then we go in, the SWAT team—what “There are a handful of students in you see on TV—kicks their door in every school, just like there are a handful throws the [flash]bang [grenade] and of people in every community that are then, as soon as the house is secure, me involved in drug trade, drug culture, and my unit go in,â€? VanGilder said. “Then whether they’re dealers or users,â€? Scully we search the entire house. If you’ve got said. drugs on you or you admit to having Sgt. Jeff VanGilder, the narcotics drugs, then you go to jail.â€? supervisor at the Melbourne Police Testifying sources can be much more Department, described why it can be simple. difficult to catch drug dealers. A person “Testifying sources we can use all day. can report that someone is dealing drugs, Then, when they buy from them, we can but with only that information, there is write an arrest warrant,â€? VanGilder said. nothing police can do about it. When government teacher Bob Sarver “There are a couple of different aspects worked as a deputy in the Brevard to how we have to proceed,â€? VanGilder County Sheriff ’s Office, he would often said. “You got to remember that we’re try various methods. Sometimes, taking the ones that have a direct approach all the rules that Âł2XU REMHFWLYH ÂżUVW DQG by going straight to we got to follow a suspect’s home procedure and law.â€? IRUHPRVW WR HQVXUH WKH ended up being his This is because option. VDIHW\ RI RXU VWXGHQWV ´ best there are two “A lot of times, ²0LNH 6FXOO\ 'LUHFWRU I’ve knocked on different kinds of sourcesdoors when I was RI 'LVWULFW DQG 6FKRRO non-testifying at Melbourne and confidential and I would say ‘I’ve 6HFXULW\ testifying. got info that there’s “Non-confidential sources is somebody drugs in your house, would you mind if I who can go in a house and can buy drugs come in and look?’ A lot of people would for us, but for whatever reason — their go, ‘sure, go ahead,’â€? Sarver said. “Then background, their history or they just I look, grab stuff and get enough to get don’t want to go to court because they a warrant and search the whole house. don’t want the bad guy to see him — we There’s a lot of stuff you can do.â€? can’t use that buy as evidence to get an Although it may not be a preferred arrest warrant for the person,â€? VanGilder route to take, searching a suspect’s trash said. “It does give us probable cause requires no warrant and can prove to be that there is dope in the house and with fruitful. doing that a couple of times, even with “You just have to get up real early and a non-testifying source, that gives us it’s stinky and messy,â€? Sarver said. “But cause to write a search warrant. We can if someone’s dealing in dope, you’ve show the judge and the courts — who got certain size bags, there’s residue, will ultimately sign off on that — that there’s wrappers, get enough of that we’ve got a source that does not want to information.â€? testify. We can’t actually have charges on Scully is aware of the threats, but is that person, but we still know that there working to keep them out of schools. are illegal drugs in the house, and that is “We don’t want these outside threats enough for probable cause for a search of violence to permeate our campus, we warrant.â€? don’t want it to happen in the community After they are granted the search but we certainly don’t want it to happen warrant, VanGilder and his team proceed on our campuses,â€? he said. ,

A hysterical woman covered in blood stood screaming at Principal Rick Fleming’s front door on the morning of Feb. 19. “He’s been shot, they shot my son!� she wailed. The events that followed would not only change Fleming’s life, but also that of the Satellite Beach community. About the time Fleming was waking up, Daniel Vukovich, his 17-year-old neighbor, was left fighting for his life after being severely beaten in his driveway. His mother had heard her son banging on the garage door and found him covered in blood. Assuming he’d been shot, she ran to next door for help. “Scared would be an understatement, so I tear out of bed and I look out the kitchen window,� Fleming said. “Here is my neighbor’s wife just head to toe covered in blood.� Not knowing the situation, he told one of his sons to call 911, pulled his neighbor indoors and went outside. He peeked in his neighbor’s garage to find Vukovich covered with �more blood than I’ve ever seen.� “I get up to him and I kind of turned him towards me, my hand around his neck trying to support him and he is in shock, his face was completely disfigured and looked like a bullet hole, but apparently when they hit him with a crowbar, it tore half of his upper lip off,� he said. The police arrived on the scene and, not knowing if Fleming was the perpetrator, drew their guns. “I said something to the effect of ‘you’re going to have to shoot me because I’m not letting this kid die in my arms,’ by that point I was in survival mode for the kid,� he said. While her husband was outside with guns pointed to his head, Robin Fleming was in a predicament of her own. Once she knew her sons were OK, she fainted and hit her head on the tile floor. She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, while Vukovich was airlifted. “I get back to my house, covered in the kid’s blood and there’s my wife lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood,� he said. Robin ended up with stitches in her head and left the hospital the same day. The Fleming family went to Port Orange with their daughter to recover for the weekend. “You go through anger, bewilderment, disillusionment, and then you come back to reality that this is an isolated incident but just happened to be next door,� he said. ,

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$SULO

SPOTLIGHT

Artistic temperament

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By Daphna Krause, Special to the Roar for people and the plays and combinations ... it just helps you.” Matthew Henderson, art teacher and the girls’ assistant soccer coach in 2013 and 2014, said that spacial relationships that are so prevalent in art are helpful in. Murphy took art last year and is planning to take it again next year. “Abe is very interested in drawing and painting,” Henderson said. “Once he started on a project, he really kind of dove into it and would go above and beyond really my expectations. He has the drive to do the art work. He also has the endurance where once he is on a project, he doesn’t want to stop.” Junior Brandon Sepulveda plays soccer for the boys’ varsity team and also trained to play striker. He said Murphy’s competitive nature proved to be a game-changer. “Abe reminds me of a time bomb: little but will impact no matter what,” Sepulveda said. “He’s an explosive player. He will come on and do something to change the game … with creativity [of his] runs and ways to score. At regional finals, the game was pretty even … then we got a free kick about 30 yards out. Robert [Madden] put the ball in, but the keeper punched it out. It was bouncing in the air when Abe scored on a scissor kick and hung the keeper. We took control after that. They freaked out. He got everyone going after that, everyone was on their game.” Sophomore Sam Leighton, one of Murphy’s best friends, also plays on both the school and club soccer teams. Leighton met Murphy six years ago after they both signed up for the same club team, the Tsunami. Leighton plays center midfielder, a position that often interacts with the striker. “Abe’s a serious kind of guy ands he’s really good at soccer,” Leighton said. “He’s really smart, [and] he dedicates himself to what he is doing.” , 3KRWR 'HDQ 6WHZDUW

Like an artist creating a masterpiece, freshman Abe Murphy deftly maneuvers the soccer ball to his teammates across the athletic field that serves as his canvas. Murphy, a starter on the varsity soccer team, approaches much of what he does with an artistic sensibility. “Art helps me focus in on details, which is something good for soccer,” Murphy said. A striker, being on both the school and club soccer teams, only begins to describe the important spot soccer holds in Murphy’s life. His parents have taught him to stand out and make sure he gets what he wants. With this life advice in mind, Murphy is set on making the Olympic Development Program and possibly playing soccer professionally. “ I had ODP [training] this weekend, so if I get taken to go over there, that would be really fun,” Murphy said. “They take the best kids from the state of Florida and they go play in Alabama 6RFFHU VWDU )UHVKPDQ $EUDP 0XUSK\ SOD\V FHQWHU against all the other states, and PLG¿HOGHU GXULQJ D JDPH DJDLQVW 6DWHOOLWH you get known from that.” As set as he is on working of his peers have yet to realize. toward becoming a professional soccer “I know a lot of kids here do not do the player, Murphy is just as set on giving back right stuff,” Murphy said. “They just don’t to the community. He volunteered during learn discipline or the cues to stop talking the summer at the English Premier League, and be respectful. I like to have fun with the a soccer summer camp that teaches children teachers ... but I know when it’s not good.” how to play soccerthe same program that Along with all of Murphy’s soccer goals, helped to kickstart his own soccer career. he is working towards becoming a better “You need to be patient with young people artist by geting his ideas on the page and and you can’t be mad at someone for doing increasings his skill set for the work force. something wrong,” Murphy said. “You need Art also can help Murphy toward his other to show them the way, so they can see it goal of becoming a pilot, or possibly an themselves, so they can correct it themselves. architectural engineer. [You need] to be supportive of everyone.” “When you take art, it actually helps Murphy comes from a big family of nine, you in soccer,” Murphy said. “When you including six siblingsfour older and two are playing soccer, a lot of times when you younger. As part of such a large, supportive are passing, the movements you make, family with an emphasis on strong morals sometimes, if you make them wrong, it just and the proper ways to conduct oneself, cancels yourself out. But you become more Murphy has insight on life lessons that most artistic in the way you move, for getting open

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SPORTS

$SULO

Bad call

3RRU UHIHUHHLQJ EHFRPHV UHFXUULQJ SUREOHP IRU KLJK VFKRRO VSRUWV By Ana Rosal

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At a basketball game, players are when we’re allowed to do certain running up and down the court, things and how far we’re allowed defending, stealing, dribbling. One to go. So that inconsistency kind of may hear the crowd’s roar, the coach’s makes it hard to play the game.” yell, but mostly the referee’s whistle. Usually what causes the In most sports, a referee plays a inconsistency is the lack of training key role in the game. They pay close most referees obtain. attention to the game and make sure “We all know that the referees to enforce the rules of the sport. But inside our district suck,” Autenrieb the problem occurs when a referee said. “Our referees were basically starts making unfair calls and bending made here, and so they were taught the rules in another team’s favor. by guys who were professional “It definitely affects the game when but they only have that much you go up to take a shot and you get experience and most of them didn’t fouled but [referees] coincidentally play lacrosse when they were a kid don’t see it or don’t call it. But then and haven’t played lacrosse ever so if you don’t touch one of the players, they don’t actually know the rules they call it like you did,” junior outside of what they’ve read in the basketball player Kaley Schaefer said. rulebook and what they’ve seen “It provides an unfair advantage.” on TV.” *DPH VWDUWHU -XQLRU PLG¿HOGHU 1RDK 0XUSK\ IDFHV RII Biased calls from a referee can The lack of knowledge regularly DJDLQVW DQ 0&& SOD\HU WR VWDUW WKH JDPH determine the outcome of a game. causes friction between referees “There were times in the district and players. “Our coach tells us [to not] talk to the refs final against Edgewood, which took place “Both the player and refs don’t really and if [a teammate] is talking to the ref pull at Astronaut, when it was getting down to respect each other,” Altevogt said. “Because them away,” Ghayal said. “Leave the talking the last few minutes of the game and we the refs don’t understand the game, they are to the ref just to the coach.” just had to hunker down and take whatever new refs and seem like they don’t know what Most of the time, a bad call from a Edgewood would throw at us,” senior soccer sport they are refereeing.” referee could cause distress among the player Darshan Ghayal said. “Every single According to Riopelle, the lack of officials players, making simply the idea of referees time we’d get fouled, the ref just didn’t seem for each sport could be a cause of the upsetting. to call it. [Edgewood] would get the ball problem. “It makes me feel like I’m being refereed back and we’d just have to defend.” “We need more referees, that’s the by a bunch of basketball refs, and it makes In some cases, even an injury can go problem, ” Riopelle said. “It’s a hard job so me pretty angry,” said junior lacrosse player ignored as a result of referee bias. there’s a lot of headache to it, and so not a Austin Altevogt. “Our coach tells us that “I was doing a face-off and I got this nasty lot of people want to do it.” they’re going to make some bad calls ahead cut from when a kid tripped me, and as Due to the direct effect a bad referee could of time so we are prepared to watch what we he tripped me, I fell across his helmet and have on a game, it is difficult for coaches to do and try to prevent [ourselves] from being scraped my leg across it,” said senior lacrosse prepare their players because most of the penalized.” player Alexander Autenrieb. “The referee time, they are not sure how the referee will There is a broad range of referees, some just waved it off as if I had fallen down. And be. who know a lot about the sport, others very the entire game basically, they were tripping “The other option is to not have referees little. Certain key moments of the game us and the referees weren’t calling it.” then we can’t play the game,” Autenrieb said. could go unnoticed while other referees may A recurring problem is when a referee “So on one hand it’s kind of like I don’t like scrutinize every second of the game. knows a player personally, which could be a it and I dislike the inconsistency and I think “There’s this inconsistency with the reason for unjust calls. that we should have well-trained referees, referees,” Autenrieb said. “Sometimes we’ll “We will walk into gyms where I know but on the other hand I’d rather have bad have what we call ‘New York referees’ which a referee and he’ll be like ‘Hi Coach, how referees than no referees.” are people from up North who have been are you?’ and he’ll talk to some of our kids, However, some coaches say to just play the doing it a lot longer, we basically go the then [the game] goes in our favor,” Athletic game, regardless of referee issues. entire game without a penalty because they Director Tony Riopelle said. “You just gotta go play,” said Derek just won’t call it. But other games, if we Due to the unfairness, many coaches Hamilton, assistant varsity girls’ basketball accidentally fall, it will be considered a fall prohibit their players from even talking to Coach. “Just go play, you can’t worry about or a delay of game and the referees will be the referees. the refs. You just go play.” , involved way too much so we don’t know

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$SULO

SPORTS

Spring Sports Q&A

)LQDO VSRUWV VHDVRQ RI WKH \HDU QRW DOO IXQ DQG JDPHV By Jack Nevins

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Q: Why do you play your sport? A: I needed an easier spring cross-training sport so that my knees could heal from playing soccer. Tennis is a perfect fit for me because all of my family plays tennis, and I can earn another varsity letter, which looks good on college applications. Q: What is the team atmosphere like this year? A: The tennis atmosphere is a little more relaxed than soccer. We have a lot of fun at practice cracking jokes and playing around, but during the matches we get serious and play hard.

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Nick Moore, 11th %R\V¶ /DFURVVH

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Q: What inspires you to play your sport and get better? A: My love for the game of lacrosse really inspires me to do well; lacrosse is the greatest sport ever. I work hard to make coach Dan happy, I’ll do anything for that guy. Q: How do you train for your sport outside of school practices? A: I hit the wall to work on my stick skills, working predominantly on my left hand, (weak hand) and I shoot balls to practice my 90 mph shot.

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April 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

One less prom-blem

Upperclassmen eschew traditional formal dates, attend with friends By Lizzie Guerra

Photo: Megan Mateosky

It is the week before Prom and the school is buzzing with dresses and Promposals. While many are worrying about who is taking them, a group of juniors says dates are not the most important part of the annual formal event. Junior Joy Oni said people shouldn’t stress out about whether they have a date. “I believe people are too hyped about Prom-posals and Prom in general,” she said. “There is so much hype around it that now it has lost its meaning.” Prom-posals, the extravagant ways highschoolers have begun asking each other to Prom in the last couple of years, have put a new pressure on attending the dance. “Prom is supposed to be a fun last event before the end of the school year where you go with your friends and/or a date, and have fun,” Oni said. “Everyone is so obsessed with getting a date that some people aren’t going because they don’t have dates. That is sad.” Junior Lorre-Kaye Leslie agrees that some worry too much about dates. “I just hate the fact that some people think that the point of Prom is to go with a date,” Leslie said. “The point of Prom is to dance and eat. It is supposed to be fun but people are more focused on getting dates that they kind of make it less fun for others.” Junior Hannah Montgomery knows about the pressures that come with finding a date for Prom. “I think there’s so much pressure in finding a Prom date because of the image of Prom,” she said. “When you think of Prom, you think of couples and dates. It focuses more on dates as there is a fair number of slow songs, the traditional corsages, etcetera.” A junior or senior may invite an underclassman to Prom, which is the case for sophomore Lauren McMillan, who understands the stress that goes along with the night. “You don’t need to have a date to go to Prom and have fun,” she said. “You shouldn’t miss out on a fun experience just because you might have to go alone or with a group of friends. It’s a part of high school, and you don’t want to look back

Party rockin’ Dancing, seniors Victoria Hernandez and Elissa Gilbert attend the 2014 Prom with their friends. and regret not going just because you didn’t have a date.” Junior David Freeman said Prom isn’t a high-school defining occurrence. “I think that it’s kind of unnecessary and overblown,” Freeman said. “It’s just a dance. It’s about having fun.” Senior Maddie Leary doesn’t see the need to stress over Prom, date or no date. “I think people always stress about trying to find a Prom date but they shouldn’t,” Leary said. “Why stress over a night that is supposed to be fun and memorable?” Leary looks at Prom as something to be excited  and not worried  about. “People should definitely still go to Prom with or without a date. It should be about you and your friends that you are going to have fun with.” Montgomery does not feel a date is a necessary Prom ingredient. “I honestly wasn’t stressed about having a date,” she said. “I know that either way I’ll have fun. You don’t need a date to have fun. Prom is about making memories, and

it’s something you’ll look back on. Make the most of it, date or not, and it’ll be a night to remember” Junior Hannah Struckman is looking forward to the time with friends, regardless of who goes with whom. “I’m really excited about Prom because I love stereotypical high-school experiences,” Struckman said. “It’s even better because I’ll get to share the experience with all of my closest friends.” Junior Chris Schaefer said pressure to find a Prom often is overblown. “There are a lot of people just going with friends and just going because they want to,” Shaefer said. “So, I wouldn’t say there is [a pressure in finding a date.]” Schaefer said he thinks there used to be Prom pressure, but he doesn’t agree with it. “I know in my parents day there was definitely a lot of pressure to have a date, and you didn’t really go [if you don’t have a date],” Schaefer said. “It’s going to be a good time. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Just because you don’t have a date doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go.” c

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$SULO

ENTERTAINMENT

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For her Senior Project, Johnson decided to learn to be part of a roller derby team by joining the Molly Rogers Roller Girls, a mostly female co-ed team. “There’s so much that’s enjoyable about it,” she said. “Personally, I like to go fast. I like skating fast and I like being around people who go really fast.” Although she was intimidated at first, roller derby is something Johnson plans to continue for the rest of the year and into college.

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s April showers bring May flowers and students begin to prepare for end of the year exams, seniors look forward to senior boards, the final step in the Senior Project. With graduation in sight, many are left to ask 'what's next?’ "Now it's just a matter of utilizing it in their future," senior project adviser Jessica Hartman said. "Hopefully they all chose a project that's meaningful to them and they can take to college and use for something other than a grade." On April 22, seniors will be giving a presentation to a panel of community members that follows their project from start to finish. “They’ve already done the hard part,” Hartman said. “And now they just get to share it with the community. That should be the easiest part. This year many students chose to learn a new skill or complete a humanitarian project., such as seniors Eva Johnson and Savannah Wheat, respectively. “Helping charity is one of the ones that just make you feel good,” Hartman said. “You can put that on your resume, it can follow you to college, it will help with community service, and it’s a more of an internal fulfillment. You feel good doing it.” As for advice, Hartman stressed the importance of choosing a project that will be meaningful to you. “Take your time to choose something that will be useful to you,” she said. “This is an opportunity we’re handing you to really expand your horizons so it take it and make it something that will be meaningful to you in the future.” ,

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For Duong, his project was a chance to better himself while teaching others a new skill. Duong taught a hip-hop dance class in the auditorium for anyone in the school to attend. “By learning how to choreograph a dance and teach it, I could really improve myself as a dancer,” Duong said. Duong said seeing his dance students progress was the best part of his project. “Seeing my final product together was a great feeling,” he said. “ I loved seeing my hip-hop routine polished and performed and also how far my group has come.”

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Wheat used her Senior Project as a way to make a few peoples’ days special. She held a seniorcitizen prom for the residents of Atlantic Shores Nursing and Rehab Center. “I learned that some nursing-home residents don’t have families or anyone to visit them, and I thought that was really sad,” Wheat said. “I wanted to brighten up their days somehow.” Wheat said the residents were thankful and it was a rewarding experience. “Atlantic Shores’ council gave me a a box of petit fours as a thank-you gift,” Wheat said. “It was really sweet of them to give it to me and to let me hold my dance at the center in the first place.”

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Choppy work

Âł&KDSSLHÂśV´ PLVFDOFXODWHG GLUHFWLQJ IDOOV Ă€DW By Joey Crown

I’m starting to think that director Neill Blomkamp might be a one-hit wonder. His first film “District 9� was a wonderfully refreshing piece of science fiction, but while his second film “Elysium� played with pretty cool ideas, it was ultimately weak compared to his debut. I thought he may be able to make a comeback with the release of “Chappie,� but it suffers from the same problems “Elysium� did. “Chappie� looks like it has a lot to say on the subject of consciousness and artificial intelligence, but any depth is hidden behind poor filmmaking choices and an undeveloped narrative. In the near future, weapons manufacturer TeleVeer has created a robotic police force that led has to a dramatic reduction in crime. These robots, or “scouts,� were invented by computer engineer Deon Wilson (Dev Patel), whose next project is to develop a fully sentient intelligence program for droids. He’s shown working on the program for about five seconds, at which point he magically figures it out. This begins the trend in the film where things happen with zero explanation. He then presents his program to the CEO of TeleVeer Michelle Bradley (Sigourney Weaver), who rejects the proposed firmware. Deon also finds himself up against Vincent Moore (Hugh Jackman), who wants his “moose� design to replace the “scouts.� The moose design is a complete reflection of Vincent: big, brooding and complete overkill. The film also features members of the musical artists Die Antwoord, Yolandi and Ninja, who essentially play themselves, except instead of rappers they are gangsters with music personas. I thought it was cool they were given an opporuntity to act, but they did a pretty poor job, adding very little to the flim. When Deon finally brings Chappie into the world, Ninja immediately wants to use him to pay off his debts to other gangsters, rather than for his intended purpose, which is to stop crime. Outlandish moments plague the runtime of “Chappie,� including a scene where Vincent uses binoculars to spy on Wilson and Yolandi as they teach Chappie how to paint. Except he’s standing 20 feet away. There’s another moment when he holds a gun to Deon’s head in the middle of the office, then proceeds to play it off as a prank. I guess when working at a weapons manufacturer people turn a blind eye to workplace threats? These moments had me lauging quite a bit, and I’m positive they weren’t supposed to. The only thing the film had going for it is Chappie himself. Sharlto Copley assumes the role, and succeeds in making Chappie seem like a child new to the world around him. This innocence makes Chappie an incredibly sympathetic character. When Ninja decides to show him the real world by dropping him off in front of a bunch of gangsters, whose first reaction is to throw a molotov cocktail at him, Chappie’s reaction to pain makes him much more human. But his development as a character takes a huge leap, and he seems to become incredibly intelligent for no reason. The film’s idea of intelligent science fiction culminates in a sequence where Chappie gains consciousness by downloading the internet. But bringing up an idea is not the same as addressing it, and the film ends the dicussion is should be having on consciousness as soon as it starts. I felt like a lot of this film got left in the cutting room, scenes where it felt like Blomkamp was doing something smart got cut way too short, leaving me confused. One can only hope that Blomkamp doesn’t turn into another M. Night Shyamalan, but I don’t see myself getting excited for any of his future projects. ,

21/ ROAR

$SULO

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Croaked

'DPLFR¶V ZULWLQJ VW\OH VODVKHV FKDQFHV IRU JUHDWQHVV By Roba Sabawi After reading so many books, I have come to the point where I love cliches. The one catch is that they must be done well, with their own creative twist. It is normal for a book to echo familiar plot tropes and character stereotypes. But when the characters have all been in other books before (many, many times) under different names, the reader can always tell what’s coming  the humor is redundant and tacky, the rules of an imaginary world make no sense, and it seems like the author is making up loopholes and exceptions to flaky, unclear, overlycomplicated rules every other page to fit the story, then that’s when alarm bells should start to go off. That is what I was seeing in “Croak,” by Gina Damico. It was almost as if the words were screaming out that the author was inexperienced and trying too hard to appeal to teen readers. I saw yet again the feisty female delinquent, mysteriously gifted above all else, whisked away to a remote area to stay with a cool, daredevil, eccentric-genius relative. She was stubborn with heroic intentions when it came to newfound friends (who she somehow clicked with so quickly after being an outcast in the real world), and those friends were also very commonplace: They included perfect and handsome roommate with the dark past who instantly falls for her, his sarcastic, comic-relief friend, an overly-friendly blonde, the ditzy yet sassy girly-girl who competes for the love

interest, and the enigmatic, arrogant and experienced girl who is eldest. These are just some of the major characters, the minor ones being only slightly more shallow. However, even as I write negative things about this book, I am currently reading the final book in the trilogy. Somehow, this just makes it more aggravating, as quitting now is out of the question. The writing style is simplistic, the plot grows more and more ridiculous, and yet I need to find out what happens to the characters  or rather, what new escape clause the author will spring with another lengthy, nonsensical explanation. I also believe that every book has both good and bad components, and “Croak” is no exception. If the plot kept me coming back, and the constant jabs at humor were funny once in a while, then maybe this could be somebody’s favorite book. The one thing that can be said about the character development, though their predictability is a bore, is they somehow, toward the end, begin to grow on you. Overall, I think I was so harsh reviewing this book because I had big expectations for it. I was disappointed, mainly because I felt like it was such a great idea and so much more could have been done with it. If a different author had written this book with the same central idea but in a more grounded, creative style and with less by-the-book plot twists and characters, then it might have been one of the best books I’ve ever read. Reading on through the trilogy, I can already tell the patterns will repeat with this writing style, but the need to know what happens is stronger than the writing critic inside me. If a book’s purpose is to keep readers engaged, then regardless of any other aspects, “Croak” is a success. ,

CAT TALES

-XQLRU 0LFKDHO 7KRPDV VHWV VLJKWV KLJK IRU WKH IXWXUH By Noelle Moore Q: What are some of your biggest influences? A: I would say that my sister has had a big impact on me because her academic success has motivated me to achieve similar accolades. Q: How do you de-stress? A: I like to play basketball in my free time along with video games and listening to music. Q: What is your dream for the future? A: I see myself attending the University of Florida and becoming a radiologist. Q: What are you doing now to prepare for your future? A: I take many AP classes, including AP Capstone, which I feel are preparing me well for the road ahead.

22/ ROAR

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Not too late for Drake

5DSSHUÂśV QHZ DOEXP IXOÂżOOV H[SHFWDWLRQV ZLWK DXWKHQWLFLW\ By Ana Rosal So far, 2015 has been a great year for music, with disco-inspired anthems like “Uptown Funkâ€? by Mark Ronson, and memorable collaborations such as “Four Five Secondsâ€? by Rihanna, Kanye West and Sir Paul McCartney, dominating Top 40 radio. The same rings true for Canadian recording artist Drake, who released his fourth studio album, “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late,â€? on Feb. 13. Although the “mixtapeâ€? came out with no previous publicity or fanfare, Drake’s record debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200. In the rapper’s previous album, “Nothing Was The Same,â€? he wrote, “This is nothing for the radio/ but they still play it though/ cause it’s that new Drizzy Drake/ that’s just the way it goes.â€? Interestingly enough, none of the songs from the new mixtape have been featured on the radio. This lack of exposure could be due to the record’s somber tones and low-key beats. Compared to the theatrical tracks from “Nothing Was The Same,â€? this new album is more of a late-night anthem. The melodies are dark and the lyrics are psychological, delving straight into cognition. There seemed to be deep negative emotions felt when recording the mixtape, which Drake never fails to portray in his lyrics. There’s a sense of desolation in each of the songs as Drake laments the struggles of fame and the alienation that it causes. In the track “Preach,â€? the rapper hints at the negative impact fame has had on his relationships with friends and relatives, which

seems to be a consistent theme throughout many of his songs. Listeners hear what is an imitation of music style entitled “deep house,� a sub-genre that combines 80s jazz funk with soul music. That style of music is typically difficult for modern day artists to convey, which displays Drake’s musical talent. Another track, “Energy,� describes the rapper’s constant paranoia and the issues he deals with in his daily life concerning his enemies. He exemplifies his continual need to look over his shoulder and his nonstop worries about people out to get him. Listeners can feel that Drake is rapping straight from his heart. He holds nothing back, which makes for phenomenal lyrics that really rip through the edges, putting all his feelings and thoughts out in the open. In the track “Used To,� featuring Lil Wayne, Drake depicts how problematic it is adjusting to the level of fame he has achieved. He states, “They never told me when you get the crown it would take some getting used to,� tying in the idea of how strenuous his lifestyle can be. Drake’s music never fails to give off a sense of regret and remorse, but also a feeling of truth and authenticity. Many rappers will often glorify a rich life full of money, drugs and alcohol, whereas Drake captures that idea and illustrates its long-term effects, displaying how even though somebody may have achieved that way of life, it will not necessarily make them happy. He shows off his principles in each track with melancholy tones and profound meaning. It’s the type of album listeners can reflect upon in late nights, and the worthwhile lyrics can get them to ponder their own values. ,

23/ ROAR

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BBN Vol. 31 No. 24

June 17, 2013

Brevard

Business

News

$1.00 A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine printed in Brevard County, Florida since 1984

Senior Foll i e s

The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse establishes a foundation By Ken Datzman

BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth

The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse has established the ‘Broadway on Brevard Legacy Foundation’ to help ensure the long–term future of the organization that presents a range of arts and cultural entertainment for the community. The Legacy Foundation is seeking pledges from businesses and individuals. From left: Staci Hawkins–Smith, executive director, Cocoa Village Playhouse; Susie Wasdin, founder, Legacy Foundation; Delores Spearman, founding member; Dee Dee Sheffield, founding member; Rashmi Shah, founding member; and Charlotte Houser, founding member.

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS, INC.

COCOA VILLAGE — The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, a cultural pillar of the community for more than two decades, has established a fund–raising vehicle for the organization as it prepares to position itself for the future. The facility was recently renovated increasing seating capacity to 595 people, and those seats were all filled for the world–premier performances of Tony Macaulay’s “Build Me Up Buttercup — The Musical.” Now, the Cocoa Village Playhouse is looking to build on its successes and is reaching out to the business community and to individuals in support of its mission. The new “Broadway on Brevard Legacy Foundation” has been set up to provide long–term funding for operating expenses and special programs that the Cocoa Village Playhouse hosts and runs on a yearly basis. With grants being sliced and other arts resources dwindling, a group of community leaders decided it was the perfect time to rally around the Cocoa Village Playhouse and create a foundation that would help ensure its longevity in the community. “The launch of the Broadway on Brevard Legacy Foundation I think is one of the most exciting things to happen for the Cocoa Village Playhouse,” said area businesswoman Susie Wasdin, the founder and chairperson of the Legacy Foundation and a longtime supporter of the Cocoa Village Playhouse. “We’ve had a successful year. We’ve completed the renovation of the facility and we’ve made the ownership transition from Brevard Community College to the City of Cocoa. Now, through this foundation, we are focusing on keeping the funds flowing long–term for the Cocoa Village Playhouse. We have come together as a group and stepped up to the plate to create this foundation.” Wasdin singled out the City of Cocoa for its leadership during the transition phase and for its ongoing support of the Cocoa Village Playhouse. The Legacy Foundation hosted a kick–off party on May 19 at the Merritt Island home of Mike and Rashmi Shah, local entrepreneurs. “We had this unbelievable recognition event and introduction to the foundation at the Shahs,” said Wasdin, who sits on the Cocoa Village Playhouse board. The host committee for “An Evening in Paradise” included Guy and Delores Spearman, Tom and Susie Wasdin, Barbara Halgren, Jerry and Dixie Sansom, Harry and Dee Dee Sheffield, and Charlotte Houser. Rashmi Shah said she attended a fund–raising event last year at Rockledge Gardens and was invited to become a member of the Cocoa Village Playhouse board. “Our family has always enjoyed the performances at the Cocoa Village Playhouse,” said Rashmi Shah. “It’s an outstanding organization. I told Staci (Hawkins–Smith, the Cocoa

Please see The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, page 19

Friday, April 10 6 p.m. West Shore Gym You probably know what students think of teachers. But do you ever wonder what teachers think of students? Come to Senior Follies to find out!

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