The Roar February 2015

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OPINION

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Youth, money can’t keep us safe Kids these days. It’s getting to be ridiculous. We afford ourselves the illusion of safety and immortality due to youth, but we don’t realize the danger we put ourselves in. The attempted murder in Satellite Beach of a teenager by a trio of teenagers is a perfect example of this. You’ve got a bunch of rich kids hiding behind gated communities because mommy and daddy have all the money they could ever need. We think that youth and money keeps us safe, but we don’t realize the massive crime rate that even rich areas have because of little rich kids who get bored and decide that they want to be “street� and “thug� because they have nothing better to do. Every day you hear about a kid stealing, drinking and driving and now beating another kid with a crowbar for stealing pot all just because they’re bored. I’m not saying that all crime is committed by the youth, but I would be lying if I said that I didn’t think that the most reckless crimes aren’t committed by youth. It is its own culture these days that reckless activity is idolized. The funniest thing is, we think our age keeps us safe. Our youth is our greatest danger to ourselves. It’s a mind-set that makes us think “we can take on the world all by ourselves!� However, in a fight of one man against the entire world, the world wins every time.

5XQ OLNH WKH ZLQG 6WD\LQJ ÂżW VHQLRU (WKDQ 7DJJDUW UXQV DW D FURVV FRXQWU\ PHHW Exercise benefits stress, health People today are unhealthy, and for most, it starts when they are young. When you look at what goes on in the average young person’s day, you can understand why this is. With the stress in school to get good grades and to fit in among the popular people, many turn to something comforting, like junk food. The irony in that is instead of comforting you, the food is actually hurting you. Eating unhealthy not only will make you gain weight, but it also lowers your IQ and hinders brain function. The only true “cureâ€? to the stress of school and pressure to fit in is eat healthy and exercise. When exercising, your body releases hormones that not only relieve stress, but also help improve brain function, among other benefits. -XVWLQ /RRPLV WK JUDGH

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OUR TURN

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STAFF EDITORIAL

Asleep at the wheel The road to same-sex marriage in Florida has been ravaged by a hurricane of lawsuits, burned from the intense and persistent UV rays of bigotry and infested with reptilian politicians, who have spread themselves across it in an attempt to stop the wedding parties from travelling forward to the courthouse. Or at least it would seem. In reality, the road is more in keeping with a different Florida stereotype—the retired people, who came here to live out their days in boring senility. There was no righteous political battle in the Florida legislature, and there was no incensed media to decry Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s ridiculous attempts to extend the stay on the decision in Brenner v. Scott. In fact, this may be the first time you’ve heard of the court case responsible for the state’s legal recognition of same-sex marriage. And this may also be the first time you’ve heard of what is perhaps the most exciting thing to have happened to marriage equality this year: The U.S. Supreme Court granting certiorari—a fancy Latin word which means “to inform, apprise, show,” the legal application of which involves a superior court directing an inferior court to send a record of a

proceeding, in order that they may begin judicial review—to four cases. The result is expected to be the definitive ruling on the question of national same-sex marriage. Because the reality is, for an issue as hot as same-sex marriage, there isn’t a more drab medium through which to resolve it than the courts. In law, there’s a theory of judicial interpretation called judicial restraint, which is the idea that judges should be cautious in striking down laws and implementing change from the bench. The judges—but the U.S. Supreme Court justices in particular— should act as safeguard of the Constitution, not as advocates for a certain ideal. But that’s boring. This is the modern age. We have next-day shipping, Netflix and GradeCams. The inevitable destination of this mind-numbingly dull road trip is nationwide same-sex marriage, whether that is 100 years in the future when the most backwater state decides it’s finally time, or whether it’s this year, with the U.S Supreme Court paving the way. Waiting is so uninteresting. So please, dear justices, spare us the countless “are we there yets” and implement same-sex marriage nationwide. Do it now, too, while gas is cheap! ,

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OPINION

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Good grief, Charlie Hebdo

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%\ 0ROO\ 0LQWD Remember Peanuts, the syndicated comic strip about the nervous and insecure Charlie Brown and his friends Linus, Lucy, Sally, Peppermint Patty and, of course, his dog Snoopy, that ran for 50 years and spawned several television specials? If you were like me and grew up excited to mark the beginning of each holiday season with the Red Baron and “I got a rock,” I’ll bet you can hear the intro song in your head right now. If not, basic knowledge of the comic strip will suffice. In the wake of the January shootings on French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s offices “Je Suis Charlie ” French for “I am Charlie ” trended on Twitter worldwide, two million people and 40 world leaders rallied in Paris, the publication’s following issue sold seven million copies in contrast to its typical print of 60,000, Montreal mayor Denis Coderre proclaimed, “Today, we are all French,” and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro said, “We need to kill them. We need to kill them ... Bomb them, bomb them and bomb them again,” in reference to extremist Muslims. All that happened, and I asked, “What kind of name is ‘Charlie Hebdo’?” The “Hebdo” in “Charlie Hebdo” is short for “hebdomadaire,” the French word for “weekly.” And considering what sparked this incidentas well as numerous other controversies the magazine has facedwas a desecrating cartoon of Muhammad, the “Charlie” is ironically an homage to Charlie Brown, as the editors of the initial publication were fans of the series. However, any likeness between the two stops there, as while Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz used the medium to deftly satirize the Space Race, the Vietnam War and to represent a world where racial integration in schools and women as man’s equal were the norm, Charlie Hebdo has used its platform as a mouthpiece for France’s racism and Islamophobia. According to the Pew Research Center, 38 percent of the French public has a “somewhat” or “very” unfavorable opinion of Muslims, and 74 percent believe Islam is an intolerant religion, with values that are incompatible with French society. Charlie Hebdo does nothing more than feed the French public a myth they already believe  that Muslims are backwards, barbaric and decidedly not French.

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Which would explain the other, much less reported thing that happened following the shootings. Firebombs and pig heads were thrown into mosques. Veiled women  who, by the way, still can’t legally wear their religious clothing in public due to the French government’s ban on face covering  were subject to insults on the streets. There was an explosion at a restaurant that was attached to a mosque, and in Corsica a boar’s head and entrails were left outside a Muslim prayer room with a note that read “next time it will be one of your heads.” In the week following the incident, the French Interior Ministry reportedly received information about 54 Islamophobic attacks, numbers that according to the French Council of the Muslim Faith, are on a scale “never before seen.” Considering the large number of attacks France has already seen 110 in 2014 and 158 in 2013  that’s truly terrifying. Where do you think our country, or even France, would be if there were 158 religously motivated attacks by Muslims on nonMuslims? We had one attack, and we went to war. The media  and by “media” I mean not just the extremes of Fox News or MSNBC, but all of the media  have characterized Charlie Hebdo as “the little guy,” an enterprising and satirical magazine that’s there to offer the hard-to-swallow truth about Islam. They were doing nothing more than making light of the “problematic” Islam religion; it was the Muslim extremists who overreacted, like they always do. But, ultimately, Charlie Hebdo is no more resourceful or satirical than telling Linus that the Great Pumpkin doesn’t exist by attempting to draw a rotting squash. Charlie Brown and his friends might have a laugh, but nothing happens: Linus won’t stop believing

in the Great Pumpkin, and the gang will have accomplished nothing. Furthermore, telling Linus that the Great Pumpkin isn’t real in that manner isn’t funny, it’s bullying. Linus is the only one of his friends to believe this; he has no allies. It’s bullying, not satire, because satire can never be used against the powerless, against the weak or against the minority. It can be an integral method of subversion against powerful groups like government, corporations or social systems, but when it gets directed at the less powerful, like the minority Muslim population in France, it no longer becomes the tool for equality that it is. Rather, it becomes the norm, which cannot be satire as by its very definition satire does not exist to perpetuate the expected. Charlie Hebdo’s former editor, Stephane Charbonnier, said that the magazine’s editorial viewpoint reflects “all components of left-wing pluralism,” but last I checked, pluralism is defined as “a condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles, sources of authority, etc., coexist,” and “a form of society in which members of minority groups maintain their independent cultural traditions.” Pluralism is not stereotyping, scapegoating or oppressing a minority group and then attempting to pass it off as “satire.” Pluralism is letting Linus believe in the Great Pumpkin, not mocking or attacking him for not believing in Santa Claus. Take a look at Lucy’s Thanksgiving tradition of tricking Charlie Brown into kicking the football. Sure, she can do that if she wants, but does that mean she should? Does that mean it’s right? And does that mean that we should accept and encourage that behavior in her? Given that Charlie Brown has no adults to help him, and no recourse through which he can get Lucy to stop, her actions seem pretty unfair and unjustified. It’s not funny, and it’s definitely not satire, to criticize a group that not only faces prejudice from the public, but relentless discrimination from the government. Charlie Hebdo is not a brave organization that is speaking the tough truths about Islam, rather it is profiting off a racist culture that views the Muslim world as primitive and undeveloped. What would be valiant, and what would be worth defending, is if Charlie Hebdo was attempting to portray a view of Islam that was contextualized and dynamic, in an effort to show the French public the real truth: That it’s no different from any other religion. There’s no excuse for violence, but there’s also no excuse for discrimination, especially discrimination that’s masked as a joke. That is no more satirical than a rock. ,

OPINION

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Cat Fight

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I think that it’s a good idea to try to increase the number of skilled workers in America, but I think that there should be limitations and restrictions on the type of education that people receive. Maybe only in high demand jobs.

I don’t think that vaccines should be required, but I do think that there should be more awareness on the benefit of vaccines so that they’re more widespread.

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I’d hope that people had an equal opportunity regardless of their race, but I don’t know.�

)UHH &RPPXQLW\ &ROOHJH President Obama has proposed allowing students to attend two years of community college free of charge.

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I think there is a problem with discrimination, and it’s probably from the people who give out the awards. I’m sure the board hasn’t changed in a long time, so there’s probably an issue.

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A measles outbreak, beginning in California’s Disneyland, has sparked debate about vaccination requirements.

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All acting nominees for this year’s Academy Awards are white, and Ava DuVernay, the AfricanAmerican director of Selma, was not nominated, prompting those on social media to respond with #OscarsSoWhite.

I think that kids should be required to get vaccines to stop these kinds of outbreaks. People are getting this large amount of information from celebrities which they think is true.

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I think it’s a good thing to start because a lot of other countries are starting or already have been giving kids free college for a long time now, and so it’s probably a step in the right direction, even if it may raise taxes and things like that.

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NEWS

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Tropical fever

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On her many trips to Cuba, sophomore Megan Mateosky witnessed just how different life is on the island. Students in her aunt’s cramped classroom lack desks and air conditioning, and the content of their lessons is limited. Megan also saw the effect of diseases — including dengue fever and cholera — on the island, along with an attempt to prevent their spread. “People would inspect every two to three days and they would fumigate the houses and the roads, so you would have to stay outside for about an hour or two,� Megan said. “And then if you had any open water cups just lying around while they were doing the inspection you could get fined.� With President Barack Obama’s recent announcement to increase diplomatic relations and expand communication and technology, conditions for those in the country might soon change. West Shore alumna Rosalia Contreras, who now teaches in Spain and emigrated from Cuba when she was 2 years old, said she was overjoyed with the U.S. government’s new direction. “I was getting out of a tutoring session I host in the afternoons here in Madrid when I saw text messages from friends about an announcement President Obama was making about U.S.-Cuba relations,� she said. “I sat down next to the escalator on my way into the metro and cried as I watched the announcement on live-stream. I knew things would eventually start changing, but I didn’t realize it would be so soon.� History teacher Kirk Murphy said the change should have happened sooner. “I’m not sure why it’s taken so long to make relations with Cuba,� Murphy said. “We’ve been dealing with communist countries for forever, so why not deal with the one closest to us?� Eighth-grader Jacquelyn Mateosky said the U.S. has an obligation to be fair to all countries. “We can’t think about it differently,� Jacquelyn said. “If we treat one country some way, we can’t just distance ourselves from another country. We have to be equal; that’s kind of how our country is.� Those who have been to Cuba have unique

&XEDQ UR\DOW\ ,Q &XED IRU KHU 4XLQFHDxHUD ODVW VXPPHU VRSKRPRUH 0HJDQ 0DWHRVN\ ULGHV WKURXJK WKH VWUHHWV perspectives about the country. “It’s a whole lot different than America, and it’s nice to go there,� Megan said. “It’s kind of like going back in time a little bit because they haven’t had a lot of technology, like internet.� During a recent trip to Cuba, Ana C. Rosal, mother of junior Ana Rosal, said she saw few cars, not much pavement and buckets being used for taking showers. “Cuba has been repressed for 50- something years, and it’s pretty sad,� she said. “It’s a country that doesn’t have anything that we take for granted like food, clothes and your basic needs. It’s sad because a lot of people do not know what is going on over there.� According to Human Rights Watch, the Cuban government continues to punish political dissent and instill fear in the public through the use of beatings, employment termination and threats of long-term imprisonment. Kathleen Along, mother of senior Joe Along, who visited Cuba last April for a Fine and Performing Arts People to People tour, noticed a disparity. “In our hotels there was ample milk for our coffee, but there was an island-wide shortage of milk for the Cuban people and their children,� Along said. “The restaurants had lobster on the menu, but the Cuban people

can be jailed for fishing the Cuban coastal lobster for their own use. The hotel TVs gave choices of channels; the Cuban people are only permitted the four governmentsanctioned stations in their homes.� Math teacher Maria Hedrick’s grandmother once lived in Cuba. “She left Cuba after 20 years of being with the communist government,� Hedrick said. “When she came out, she couldn’t come through the U.S. because the U.S. didn’t have relations with Cuba, so she went out through Venezuela, which is where my uncle was living at the time. So, she went to live with him before coming to the U.S. She said the first thing she ate was an apple — she had not seen an apple in 20 years since Castro took over.� One thing is clear: Despite more than 50 years of isolation, new diplomatic relations mean changes in Cuba. “I emailed my cousin immediately after watching the announcement and asked if she had heard the news,� Contreras said. “Her response was a simple one: ‘Maybe I’ll finally be able to visit you and spend time with you in your country.’ There was no talk of politics, of economic repercussions, of lifted embargoes. Just a hopeful declaration of being reunited after being kept separate for so long by failed policy.� ,

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NEWS

Final bell

7HDFKHUV OHDYH WKHLU MREV LQ UHFRUG QXPEHUV FLWLQJ ORZ VDODU\ DQG URWH VWDQGDUGV By Katie Garwood Florida: #29 in Nation for Best Schools Actively Disengaged

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Massachusetts: #2 in Nation for Best Schools Actively Disengaged

10% 26%

Engaged

Washington: #15 in Nation for Best Schools Actively Disengaged

Engaged

28%

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35% 10%

New Jersey: #1 in Nation for Best Schools Actively Disengaged

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Sr. High School, and Dana DeSantis from Golfview Elementary, formed the group to support teachers, both current and former, and to affect change at the district level. The group also formed because of “frustration� with Brevard Federation of Teachers’ lack of negotiation for teachers, they said. “We’ve met a lot of like-minded teachers across the county and we formed groups and started talking,� Hunt said. “We’ve given support to so many teachers around this county. Even if I’m not in the classroom, we made a difference.� Hayes, a former AP Calculus teacher, said the way teachers are being treated is wrong, which is why she helped form Brevard Teachers for Change. “We don’t feel society as a whole or the district respects us, because if they did respect us, we would be able to come to the table with our ideas and be listened to, and we don’t get that,� Hayes said. In Hayes’ case, the school district’s decision to have teachers instruct six out of seven class periods a day led to her eventual resignation. “I was department chair, and after the whole six-out-of-seven thing, I resigned as department chair, because I can’t stand in front of these teachers and be the positive

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It’s a job some decide is perfect for them from a young age. They pursue a degree in college. After graduation, they’re eager for their first chance to prove themselves. Then, after just a few years in the field, something feels wrong. It’s not quite what they expected. They get frustrated, disillusioned. Some of them might be in the front of a classroom right now. They’re teachers, they’re irritated and they’re leaving their posts in Brevard County and across the nation now more than ever. “There’s only so long where people will remain in a profession where they’re demeaned, demoralized and distanced from the most important decisions,� English teacher Heather Deel said. “Teachers have little say in salary, evaluation, assessments we are required to give, yet ultimately we are responsible for choices someone else forced on us. I can’t think of any other profession that tolerates it, and the only reason we do are the students.� Deel isn’t the only one who’s voiced her frustration. Teachers throughout the county are seeking reform on various issues they face every day, such as low salary, teaching six out of seven class periods, rigid teaching standards and new evaluation methods, among others. For some educators, these matters were enough for them to leave their jobs for good. According to Brevard Public Schools, in the 2013-2014 school year, 341 out of 4,950 teachers resigned or were not re-appointed to their jobs. School Board member Misty Belford said teachers have cited various reasons for leaving their jobs. “Those that have shared, referenced frustrations with the system, health issues, stress and failure in leadership,� she said. “Almost all have readily shared that it has nothing to do with their students, as they love their students and wish they did not feel the need to leave.� Three former teachers channeled their frustration with the profession and formed a new group for educators, Brevard Teachers for Change. Kim Hunt and Virginia Hayes, who both last taught at Space Coast Jr./

role model they want me to be, because I’m [angry],� she said. Teachers in various schools around the county are also displeased with the lack of a significant pay raise, and some have resigned on the grounds of low pay. Despite being responsible for regotiating teacher salary with the district, Richard Smith, president of Brevard’s teacher union, Brevard Federation of Teachers of which 50 percent of teachers are members of, says they cannot be held completely accountable for the low pay. The state legislature cutting funding is one issue, but a bigger issue may be in union participation. “The union is the members and so when someone says the union isn’t doing enough, what I say to them is ‘are you doing enough?’ Some union members are, and some are not,� he said. “If there were more union members doing something, things would be better.� For those who have left the profession, one thing—unlike paperwork or low salary—is missed. “We miss the kids,� Hunt said. “We miss the part of knowing that we played a part in that child’s education and you were important to that child.� , Roba Sabawi contributed to this report.

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NEWS

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Project participation

3RVW JUDGXDWLRQ HYHQW YROXQWHHUV GZLQGOH XQGHUFODVVPHQ SDUHQW SDUWLFLSDWLRQ ORZ By Tia Brunner “The parents should help until their child is a senior and shouldn’t have to help their last year because they should be able to attend -R\ ULGH 7KLV \HDU 3URMHFW *UDGXDWLRQ ZLOO EH KHOG DW $QGUHWWL 7KULOO 3DUN graduation instead of setting up and chaperoning,� Along said. Even though there is a lack in participation, parent volunteer Leslie Sheridan said she believes Project Graduation will continue in years to come because of what it does for the West Shore community. “There is always a few great people who will offer up their time to head the committee,� Sheridan said. “I truly hope it will continue since Project Graduation is very important not only for the students and their families, but also for the community.� ,

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Every working engine has parts that are crucial to making it run. Without them, the entire operation comes to a stop. For Project Graduation, those parts are parent volunteers. And right now, the engine is sputtering. “Project Graduation is lacking parent participation because underclassmen parents are not participating,� said senior Joe Along, whose mother is committee member. “I don’t think they understand the ‘pay it forward’ concept and feel as if they have no obligation to contribute if their child is not a senior.� Project Graduation is an adult-supervised event that takes place after graduation, where alcohol-free activities are offered as part of a post-graduation party. The idea is to keep graduates from attending events run by students that could involve alcohol, drugs or other dangerous activities. It started with Students Against Destructive Decisions, a club that focuses on helping students make safe decisions, such as not drinking and driving or doing illegal drugs. “The two partnered up because they both focus on wanting students to avoid making destructive decisions,� former SADD sponsor Susan Woyshner said. Most of the Project Graduation committee is made up of senior parents.

Don’t stop the music

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judges and will also go into a sight reading room where they will be given lines of music to sing. If chorus receives all superiors they will move onto state competition. Chorus teacher, Amy Davis said the 6PRRWK WXQHV $W WKH IDOO SHS UDOO\ MXQLRU group has a chance to advance her choir &KULV 6FKDHIHU SOD\V ZLWK WKH MD]] EDQG past the district level. “It’s definitely a process and this is my seventh year doing it,� Davis said. “I think that chorus will do really well this year, though, and hopefully we’ll move onto the state competition.� Band MPAs will be held at Eau Gallie High School on March 11. Chorus’ will be held on March 9 and 10 at Bayside High School. Orchestra will have its competition at Disney on March 4. ,

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Waking up at the crack of dawn and practicing after a long school day, musicians are preparing for the upcoming Music Performance Assessments, a district-wide music convention where bands, choruses and orchestras compete to show off their musical skills. Band director Carol Allen started preparing herself and her bands when second semester began. “It’s a whole bunch of work and lots and lots of paperwork and practicing before and after school,� Allen said. “It’s especially hard for me because I’m not a morning person, but if it makes the band sound awesome, I’m willing to do it.� The bands will play three pieces of music and sight read two pieces. They will perform in front of three judges who will evaluate their skills. These tasks are assigned to test their musical abilities, how well their sounds blend and the conductor and their overall knowledge and familiarity with music itself. Senior Zuri Lawrence has participated in band MPAs since eighth grade. “We get these really cool medals if we do well, and that’s my favorite part about it,� Lawrence said. “I’m really going to miss it next year.� Chorus will perform two musical pieces in front of a panel of

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11/ ROAR

)HEUXDU\

TESTING

Up in the air

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Just weeks before tests will be administered, Gov. Rick Scott announced his plans to issue an executive order that would suspend the 11th grade FSA ELA test. This shouldn’t come as a surprise because even school board members and district resource teachers aren’t clear on the specifics of new district and state assessments, leaving teachers, students and parents asking: How are teachers supposed to prepare students for tests when they don’t know what material is going to be covered? How are students expected to prepare for tests about which they know very little? In an attempt to level the playing field among high schools by replacing teachermade finals with standardized ones, the state has tasked Brevard County School District to create more than 900 new district end-of-course exams. The backlash from Florida citizens about the new testing standards has led to petitions, school board meetings and trips to Tallahassee all in the hopes of changing what they consider to be unfair standards. Here’s what is known about the new tests: District EOC exams will count as 20 percent of students’ second semester grades and will be taken during the last week of school. State EOC exams are required for graduation in six classes: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, U.S. History, biology, geometry and seventh-grade civics. These will count as 30 percent of students’ yearly grades in their respective classes. All EOC exam requirements originated in the Florida Legislature. The Legislature’s purpose for this is to hold students and teachers responsible for their successes and failures. “This is the State of Florida deciding that they wanted more accountability in its classrooms, and with that accountability comes assessments,� high-school social studies resource teacher Christopher Spinale said. High-school English resource teacher Nancy Gray, who is in charge of compiling questions for tests in her department, said the district EOC exams are based on

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standards that teachers are required to instruct throughout their courses. “The people who have written the items have gone through various levels of training, and they’ve based the questions on the standards assigned by the district, by the [Department of Education], to that course,� she said. According to School Board member Karen Henderson, the Algebra 2 EOC that will be given this year is different from the one given last year. She said the new one hasn’t been field tested in Florida and is therefore unreliable. Due to her growing concerns, Henderson talked to the resource teacher in charge of Algebra 2, who filled her in on the details of the test. “Last year it was part Next Generation State Standards and part Common Core, or Florida State Standards,� Henderson said. “Then they switched it. This year, it will be 100 percent of the new standard. So this particular test on all new standards hasn’t been tested. It hasn’t been verified. It should be a baseline test, and shouldn’t count against students at all.� Gray said the Legislature’s intent is that students have the same quality of education no matter which school they attend. “You shouldn’t have to go to West Shore to get a good education,� she said. “So from that regard, I think it could be a good thing because if all the teachers know that this is the kind of assessment their students will have to take, then that will drive the kind of instruction that happens in the classroom.� Parent groups increasingly are unhappy with the state’s testing direction. A growing opt-out movement involves students respectfully refusing to take any end-of-course exams. However, opting out will not come without repercussions because students are required by law to take state-sanctioned exams. Districts can lose funding due to students opting out, and teachers who encourage it can lose their job. Recently, Brevard Superintendent Brian Binggeli said schools should work with parents who

don’t want their children to take district EOC exams. If there is much opt-out at West Shore, Principal Rick Fleming said he wouldn’t be inclined to expell a student. He pointed out that in order to stay at West Shore, students need to be at or above grade level according to grades and standardized testing scores. Fleming said other measurements, such as the PSAT and PLAN scores, can be used to determine grade level besides the EOC exams. “We don’t necessarily need to have a state assessment to determine grade level, at least for grades nine through 12,� he said. “For seven and eight, yes, unfortunately, any state standardized assessment determines them maintaining their grade level.� Although some parents have come to him with concerns about the new testing standards, Fleming said they haven’t been too worried. “My firm belief is that state assessments for our students are easy in comparison to what they need to do for SAT and ACT,� he said. “So I think they help our students prepare for those more rigorous assessments that will get them into their college of choice. I have had parents that are concerned, but the nature of the day and age that we live in is that standardized tests determine your success in higher education.� Gray said testing becomes a problem only when it takes over a school. “I don’t think anybody is against assessments,� she said. “I am not against assessments. It’s a part of life. I think, as educators, one of our issues is with how those assessments are used, so if an assessment is appropriate and it gets us the data that we want, then I think we’re all for it. And if the assessment is based on standards that are being taught, we don’t have a problem with that. But I think there’s just a lot. There’s a lot of these tests that are happening that I don’t know are necessarily beneficial to anyone.� Henderson said she opposes the new testing standards.

TESTING

)HEUXDU\

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“From a district perspective, it is too much, too soon, very costly and seems unnecessary,� she said. “From a parent’s perspective, because I do have two children in high school, I feel it is totally unnecessary. Kids already take finals. So, what are they trying to do? At what point do districts have local control?� One concern, according to Fleming, is how students won’t be getting their EOC scores back until the middle of the summer. “If in fact, we can’t give students their final grades until the middle of the summer, which is the case, there are a lot of implications on promotions, planning for the next grade level and planning for the next school that a child may go to,� he said. “So, there’s a whole host of problems with not giving a child a final, grading it and having the grades posted.� The way the state is going to grade the tests will not affect a student’s grade, according to Henderson. “Even if you could do the numbers in a way that it wouldn’t affect their grade, it affects kids because it stresses them out to think that one test on one day is 30 percent,� she said. “It puts a lot of extra pressure—unnecessary pressure—on students.� Junior Marissa Cruz said she’s against the testing, but not because of the effects

on her grade. Instead, she said the tests take away class time, as well as extracurriculars, in favor of studying for the assessments. “Colleges look for how much you do, so in a sense, all this extra testing is hurting us,� she said. “In years prior, I’m pretty sure the students were successful with the testing they had.� Cruz even went as far as starting a petition against the testing. At least 400 people from different schools, including West Shore, Viera, Satellite, Eau Gallie and Rockledge, have signed her petition. She formulated the petition herself after writing a speech on the subject for Lisa Rehm’s English III Honors class. “I was in government, and [teacher Bob Sarver] was saying that even if we can’t vote, we can still participate and show our views that can help change the world,� she said. “So I decided that the best way to do that with my passion—which is that I don’t like all the standardized testing, I think it’s completely unfair—is to write a petition, and I thought that a lot of students would like that too.� Spinale said that by petitioning the state Legislature directly, Cruz is aiming for the right people because nothing can be changed at a district level. “Because this is all state statute, any

changes that occur will need to come from the Legislature and the governor,� he said. Petitions could very well incite change, according to Spinale. He said it’s important to be engaged, and it’s good that both West Shore’s student body and parents are involved. “Any time a citizenry reacts to a policy, it gives our elected officials cause to reflect and ask themselves ‘did we do the right thing,’� he said. “In the Florida Senate right now, our state senators are asking that very question, and they have charged our commissioner of education to solicit feedback from the 67 school districts.� On Brevard County School District’s website, there is a petition that can be printed and passed around as well as an online one that anyone can sign. The online petition has gotten more than 1,400 signatures so far. Henderson said she thinks petitioning will definitely help because every year, when she goes to Tallahassee to complain, it’s just her. But with the petitions, she can show the Legislature that there are thousands of other people who are also unhappy. “Now you’re not just listening to me, you’re listening to the people in the county who care,� she said. “And students really need to get on this." ,

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NEWS

)HEUXDU\

Put to the test

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SPOTLIGHT

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Game of Drones

6RSKRPRUH¶V SDVVLRQ IRU WHFKQRORJ\ FDUULHV KLP WR QHZ KHLJKWV By Evy Guerra

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Drones are currently being used for hurricane hunting, covert warfare and package deliveries — all of which suggests sophomore Mamoon Syed was born at the right time. Looking for a hobby in seventh grade, he landed on making drones, a pursuit that has become less of a free-time activity and more of a passion. Recently his drone project placed first out of the 13 entries in the Senior Engineering category at the The Brevard Mainland Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Feb. 14. His project involved making a craft that would take off and land like a helicopter, but fly like an airplane. It involved building an entirely new type of drone, but Syed said the hardest part was coming up with the idea. Science Research teacher Mary Anderson expressed concerns when he first brought up the project. “He did a drone project last year, but this year when he was talking about 3-D printing +ROG WKH GURQH 0DPRRQ 6\HG FUDGOHV KLV all the pieces, I was more concerned timeline ZRUN DIWHU D VXFFHVVIXO ÀLJKW RYHU WKH WUDFN wise,” she said. “He used a whole bunch of panics about anything,” Anderson said. “He 3-D printers. He printed at Florida Insitute actually sent me an email saying ‘I can’t turn of Technology, but it wasn’t keeping up so he my abstract in. I’m not done testing.’ This was farmed it out to others. He did a computerthe day before setup, and he said ‘I am going aided design program where he designed all to have to pull an all-nighter. Can I get it to the pieces, and then he printed all the pieces you in the morning?’ I said ‘just email me’ and then he was testing it.” and so he e-mailed me at 8 a.m. and then at Syed comes across as unenthusiastic when 10 again with his final abstract. He was up it comes to science fairs — and school in testing all night long.” general — but where drones are involved, he Two summers ago Syed’s father, a professor gives his full attention. at FIT traveled to Saudi Arabia on a Sophomore Juan Rodriguez, who has been business trip and Syed asked to go along. He close friends with Syed since the seventh contacted King Saud University, seeking an grade, has watched his progress. internship. “He’s not amazing with his grades,” he said. “I went over there and they said they had “They’re pretty good, but he’s so focused a broken drone that didn’t work. I said I’d on his other projects. He’s got all these give it a shot,” he said. “They were skeptical connections you don’t even know.” at first, a teenager trying to get it to work. Rodriguez said at first Syed just had a Eyebrows raised a little and they were like helicopter he built, but he has been able to ‘OK,’ and I ended up going to the university.” see his progress since their time together at Syed was able to fix the drone during his Stone Middle School. “I’m really impressed with his improvement three-month summer internship, and received a college recommendation letter in throughout the years,” Rodriguez said. “He’s return. a really smart kid. I think he can do a lot of “I was there five days a week. The most great stuff.” interesting part was figuring out how other Anderson describes Syed as composed, countries deal. They do not work the same even in stressful situations. way we do,” he said. “They take breaks for “He’s just always really calm. He never

prayers.” These days, Syed takes a couple of months and $1,000 to work on a single drone. He buys the parts from hobby shops, and then codes them himself. “Usually we have them flying themselves,” he said. “Basically, I set a mission. I say ‘OK you go here do this, if this happens, do this.’” Syed focuses on making the drones more relevant to people. “I’m a developer so I code on different things,” he said. “We work on algorithms for stabilization, making them more applicable to everyday use.” Syed’s ability to code has allowed him to have a versatile relationship with technology. In January, he found himself in what he calls a “sketchy part of the internet,” chatting with a group of people from Cyanogen, a phone company in China. The CEO of the company joined the conversation. “When you make a new phone from scratch you have to make drivers for each and every component that goes into the phone,” Syed said. “They had drivers out there, but they were garbage. They needed someone who could at least improve it. They said all right if you can make this faster for us, then you can have a discount on our phone.” Syed succeeded and bought the phone for $200 instead of the running $350. Still, he’d rather focus on his first love. “I don’t like coding, I like drones. That is my thing,” Syed said. “If you want to get a drone to do cool things — like radio control — you have to make your own stuff. For that you have to code. That’s why I do it.” While his world is tech-centric, Rodriguez said Syed possesses another talent. “He likes to talk in different accents and imitate other people, like Morgan Freeman. He’s trying to master that one,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez described their backup plan for the future, saying Syed’s future inventions will have an impact, and Rodriguez will advertise it. “We actually have this plan after college, if for some reason neither of us manage to find a job, we’re going to come together and we’re going to work on making an innovation,” he said, “something that is going to change the world.” ,

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NEWS

)HEUXDU\

A whole new world

7UDYHO SURJUDPV JLYH VWXGHQWV WKH FKDQFH WR VLJKWVHH By Tia Brunner

16/ ROAR

6RXUFH 6DUD 7HQQDQW (UQLH 5RWK

Walking the streets of Paris, senior Ernie Roth experienced the French culture side by side with her newfound friends. They explore the 986-foot-high Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe where 12 roads intersect in the middle of the monument. With travel programs such as Bold Earth and People to People, students have the opportunity to go around the world in just a few weeks, exploring other countries, learning about American government or preparing for college and a chosen career field. â€œThrough People to People I have been able to travel to Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, England, Italy and Greece,â€? Roth said. To be part of this program a student has to be invited or go through an application process that involves filling out a questionnaire, gathering letters of recommendation and completing an interview. â€œI was nominated by someone to go on my first trip with People to People,â€? Roth said. “Except I never figured out who nominated me, and then all the other times I got to travel because I was an alumna. I am really happy to have been nomnated because if I wasn’t I probably never would have gotten this opportunity to travel the world.â€? The tuition for the international program ranges from $4,000 to $7,999 depending on the length, destination and itinerary. Each year People to People provides tuition credits and scholarships to give more students a chance to experience the program. Other travel programs include National Geographic Student Expeditions, and Rustic Pathways which all have similar missions and goals as People to People: to experience new cultures. “Bold Earth was a really great experience because I did things I never though I’d be able to do,â€? senior Sara Tennant said. “The only thing about group travel trips is that you have to do certain things, like you cannot go off on your own, which is good and safe, but sometimes it is good to be alone while traveling. Through the traveltrip program I wouldn’t have been able to do

$OO DURXQG WKH ZRUOG 6HQLRU 6DUD 7HQQDQW SRVHV LQ WUDGLWLRQDO ,QGLDQ JDUPHQWV ZKLOH VHQLRU (UQLH 5RWK WRS ULJKW SRVHV LQ IURQW RI 9HUVDLOOHV the things I did by myself while traveling.� To apply to travel with Bold Earth, would-be participants must fill out an application and complete a required five-minute phone interview. Tuition costs include accommodations, activities, transportation during the trip, travel insurance to international destinations for U.S. students, meals and laundry. However, airfare to the start point, a return ticket home and personal medical insurance are not included in the tuition. Scholarships are offered and applicants are carefully screened and are based on family income. “The most recent country I have been to was India, although that was not through a travel trip program,� Tennant said. “But through programs, I have been to many islands in the Bahamas, Italy, France and Spain.� Tennant said that after traveling to many different places, it is hard to choose a bestloved place or adventure. “I am not sure I could pick a favorite part,� she said. “India was very different and more intense than anything I have ever experienced before. If I had to pick, I would either say staying at the fort in

Sawarda or staying on the barges in the Kerala backwaters.� Roth also said that choosing a favorite experience would be problematic. “Just being given the opportunity to travel with People to People has been amazing,� she said. “I can’t pick a favorite experience because with every place I have been to, I did so many incredible and fun things. It would be difficult to pick just one.� Roth said she has gained unforgettable experiences from travel programs, . “The memories I made and the connections I made with the random people I met and became a family with is something I will never forget,� she said. “I am really happy I traveled with those random people that I became so close with. I also gained a lot of worldly lessons that really affected me personally. I had to change my attitude and actually try in life in order to do things like that again.� Tennant said traveling changed her life. “It is all very different and really intense,� she said. “In India, everything is different. Most of the country is still Third World, and it is shocking and crazy. My way of seeing things is changed forever.� ,

SPORTS

)HEUXDU\

Sweating it out

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Warming up for the soccer match, sophomore Melissa Saunderson jogs around the field, excited to play her favorite sport but nervous to meet her opponents. Just before the match begins, the team huddles together to go over the strategy. Saunderson plays for the love of the sport, but also knows it will be helpful when she applies to college in two years. “I don’t think I’ll play it in college,� Saunderson said. “Soccer helps me with my temper, so it’s relaxing. Colleges like people who play sports, so I have a better chance of getting in.� Guidance counselor Spero Tshontikidis said colleges have their reasons to look for students who play sports, as they can help determine the type of student they want to admit. “What happens is you have a gradepoint average and test scores. Those determine where you apply,� Tshontikidis said. “Everybody applying is in the same ballpark.What comes in to play after that is the rigor of the coursework and all the extra stuff you did.� According to Tshontikidis, participation in sports, community service and theater shows the student has multiple positive characteristics that schools are seeking. “Those things show interpersonal skills, responsibility and dependability,� Tshontikidis said. “They want someone who will be an asset on their college campus and someone who will be a good ambassador once they leave. If you’re just an introvert behind a computer screen, what really do you offer their campus?� Managing a sports team is a way for students to earn a varsity letter without having to play a sport. Senior Sean Casey filled that role with the boys’ varsity basketball team for the past two years. “I managed my first year because [Coach Tony] Riopelle kept asking me to sophomore year, so as a junior I decided to,� Casey said. “As a senior, I guess I got some kind of Stockholm Syndrome and decided to stick with it. I think for sure that managing looked very good on my college application and probably helped my odds quite a bit.� Casey plans to attend the University of

5RZ \RXU ERDW *ULSSLQJ WKH RDUÂśV KDQGOH VHQLRU &ODLUH *RIÂżQHW UDFHV LQ D UHJDWWD Central Florida in the fall. Another senior, Kevin Jones, joined the bowling team last fall for multiple reasons. “I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to learn a new sport and get a varsity letter, which would look good on my college resume,â€? Jones said. Riopelle said students should not play sports to appease admissions officers. “I would not recommend [college applications] as being the primary reason you play a sport,â€? Riopelle said. “I think that getting into college is a benefit of playing sports. If that is your main reason, you’re probably going to be disappointed because playing a sport is a lot of work. If you don’t enjoy it — if you’re not out there for the love of the game — it’s going to be a bad experience for everybody. You’re probably not going to want to be there, so your coach probably isn’t going to want you there.â€? Some, such as sophomore Allie Kellner, are intrinsically motivated to participate in sports. “I cheer because I love it,â€? Kellner said.

“It’s just something that I’ve always done. It’d be weird if I didn’t do it.� According to Riopelle, the character traits developed and values learned from involvement in organized sports are a big reason why colleges emphasize them. “[Playing sports] teaches you work ethic. It teaches responsibility and time management skills,� Riopelle said. “When you’re applying, they have Student A, who has a 4.0 but has done nothing but earn that 4.0, which is a good accomplishment. Then you see Student B who has a 3.9, but was in three sports and president of National Honor Society. They’re probably going to take that [second] person.� Senior Claire Goffinet, a rower on the Space Coast crew team, said it is, however, possible to build a resume that is too full. “I feel like colleges can definitely see through that if you have 10 activities you can’t commit as much of your time to them as you would with only two or three extracurriculars,� Goffinet said. “I think they’re looking for commitment and dedication.� ,

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SPORTS

)HEUXDU\

Another shot at glory

6RFFHU WHDP PDNHV VHFRQG WULS WR VWDWH WRXUQDPHQW LQ WKUHH \HDUV Staff report

18/ ROAR

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In the end, it came down to penalty kicks. The boys’ soccer team stormed through the regular season with a 16-1-1 record and through the district and regional tournaments to advance to the Class 2A state Final Four on Feb. 11 at Melbourne’s Eastern Florida State College. The boys battled Jacksonville Bolles and the elements to a scoreless tie at the half. “It felt like we were playing against 12 men in the first half, but we were able to sustain it, and we knew that we would have the wind at our back for the second half,â€? Coach Bob Robidoux told Florida Today. The Wildcats had opportunities to score during the second half, but the Bolles defense held strong and the game remained tied 0-0 at the end of regulation. Neither team was able to score during two overtime periods and the match went to penalty kicks, where West Shore went down 4-3. While disappointed, senior Darshan Ghayal, who played as a freshman on the 2012 state championship team, remained upbeat. “I’m proud of how far we came knowing that we had such a young team.We exceeded most people’s expectations of how far we were going to go,â€? he said. “Coach told us that he was extremely proud of us being such a young team. He mentioned that our average grade level on this team is 10.5, which is really young for a varsity team.â€? Sophomore Sam Leighton said neither he, nor anyone else, saw this team achieving such a high level of success. $ORQJ IRU WKH ULGH )DQV ZDWFK IURP WKH EOHDFKHUV DV WKH :LOGFDWV SOD\ LQ WKH &ODVV $ VWDWH “Going into the season, we didn’t have VHPLÂżQDO KHOG DW 0HOERXUQHÂśV (DVWHUQ )ORULGD 6WDWH &ROOHJH FDPSXV high expectations, but we ended up doing Leighton scored early in the second half deliberately tried to kick me in the face,â€? the really well,â€? Leighton said. “Nick Burgess to break a scoreless tie, and Ghayal added a junior said. and Matthew Moscrip stepped up a lot this penalty-kick goal to lead the Wildcats to 2-0 The Wildcats’ next traveled three hours to season.â€? victory, silencing a rowdy Edgewood crowd Gainesville to take on the undefeated and topThe Wildcats opened their playoff run with that included a fan who ran onto the field, ranked Eastside High Rams. Some fans rode a a 1-0 District 8 final victory against arch disrupting the dance team’s performance. pep bus while others found their own rides. nemesis Edgewood on Feb. 3, allowing them “I saw the gap open up and they just came While the team rode its defense for most to finish the season unscored upon in the flying in,â€? Leighton said. “I shot to the back of of the season, shutting out its previous four district. the net, and that was it.â€? opponents, the offense awakened in Gator-land “It felt good to finally win districts after Edgewood tried to climb back from the and the Wildcats prevailed 3-2 (3-0 PKs) setting losing to [Melbourne Central Catholic] last 2-0 deficit with several aggressive scoring up the state semifinal match against Bolles. year,â€? sophomore Nick Burgess said. attempts. What seemed like a sure victory Junior Robert Madden summed the season. After beating Lake Highland Prep in the suddenly became tense in the closing minutes “I think there’s no difference between this team regional quarterfinal, the Wildcats wound up when star goalie Allan Joyner left the game and the last state championship team,â€? he said. facing Edgewood in the regional semifinal, with an injury to his right eye. “We all play with a lot of heart and pick each setting up a Feb. 9 rematch just days after their “I dove down to save the ball, and the other up just like the last state championship district championship encounter. ball was above my hands, so I knew they team.â€? ,

SPORTS

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All we do is win?

Spring Sports Q&A

By Ben Mechachonis

By Stryker Sinclair

Have any of you ever wondered why our school doesn’t have football or baseball? It’s by design. The group of educators who dreamed up West Shore intentionally de-emphasized sports in order to focus on academics. So with that in mind, why would any athletes bring their talents to Wildcat Alley? I honestly have no idea, but the fact that the boys’ soccer team almost won its second state championship in three years is a flat-out joke for Class 2A schools. How can a school with zero recruiting ability, no “local talent” and a classroom-first mentality be competitive in the quest for a state championship in soccer every year? I’m not the man with all the answers, but what I do know is that these other schools must feel pretty pathetic getting beat up on and losing to the West Shore Wildcats. I mean come on Lake Highland Prepatory School, Melbourne Central Catholic. How are you guys losing to us? You bring in talent from across the country and even throughout the world and lose to a tiny school that prides itself on highly ranked academics? This is in no way meant as disrespect to our incredible soccer players including senior Darshan Ghayal or juniors Allan Joyner, Robert Madden or any of our other champions. You are all phenomenal soccer players and athletes and I am proud to go to school with you, as the rest of our student body should be. The best part about this incredible story is that I will graduate having witnessed two state championship bids in soccer with the core of our current team made up primarily of juniors and sophomores. Sure, we will be losing seniors such as Ghayal, Noah Quinonez, Brad Mooney, Sam Kundrat, Jamie Rushnell and Steven Tenbusch, who are all major contributors to the team. But even with these losses, the core of the team likely will be right back on the state championship stage next year. So how does West Shore get these talented soccer players every year? It can’t just be attributed to good coaching, because current Coach Bob Robidoux was only the goalkeeping coach for the state championship team in 2012. Is it just luck? Perhaps soccer is just a sport that doesn’t need a certain type of athlete, and anybody can just be good if they put in the work. Maybe all the other schools just aren’t as good, even though I highly doubt that’s the reason. Whatever it is, our boys’ soccer team makes me really proud to be a student here. Even though “real athletes” would only come for football, baseball or softball, we seem to be doing just fine without them. ,

Kha Duong, 12th

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Q: What inspires you to play tennis and get better? A: I think my performance in tennis represents myself, so the better I am overall in tennis, the better I am myself. Q: What is your goal for tennis your senior year? A: I think for me, being able to compete with other No. 1s across our county would be pretty impressive.

Kristen Burns, 12th *LUOV¶ 7UDFN DQG )LHOG

Q: What inspired you to get involved in the sport? A: I first started running in second grade when my father decided to run in marathons. I participated in Hershey Track throughout elementary school. Q: Why do you continue to participate in track? A: Not only do I love sprinting and high jump, but I love my teammates. They make the long, cold meets so much better. Q: What are your goals for the season? A: I’m really hoping to make it to regionals in at least one event. 3KRWR 5RDU ÀOHV

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6ZHGLVK PXVLF SURGXFHU GRPLQDWHV $PHULFDQ UDGLR %\ $QD 5RVDO You turn on the radio Martin has also written ´6LQFH 8 ´%ODQN ´ %DE\ and listen to the latest songs for popular TV %HHQ *RQH Âľ 6SDFH Âľ 2QH 0RUH 7LPH Âľ .HOO\ &ODUNVRQ 7D\ORU 6ZLIW over-played pop song. shows such as “Loser %ULWQH\ 6SHDUV You groan, tired of the Like Me,â€? which was ´,WŇ‹V *RQQD ´+RW Q beat. featured on “Glee.â€? He %H 0H Âľ 1 6<1& &ROG Âľ .DW\ 3HUU\ What you may not has helped write and know is the catchy produce a total of 25 song that got stuck in songs for the Backstreet your head the previous Boys, including “I Want It day was most likely written by 43-year-old Swedish music producer That Way,â€? 23 songs for Britney Spears, including “...Baby One More and songwriter Karl Martin Sandberg. Professionally known as Max Timeâ€? and 17 songs for Katy Perry, including “Teenage Dream.â€? Martin, he has been writing songs for famous pop singers since the In addition Martin has even written songs for artists who claim to mid-1990s, with some of his early works becoming top hits for Swedish write all their own songs, such as Taylor Swift. He happened to take eurodance musician E-Type and American R&B/pop group 3T. part in writing nine out of 13 songs for the female artist’s latest album Martin works for multiple record labels including Capitol Records, “1989.â€? Island Records and Atlantic Records. He has written for many big “That’s the way the business works,â€? freshman Annelise Curtin name artists from Christina Aguilera and Usher to singers Justin said. “People write the songs and other people perform them.â€? Bieber and Ke$ha. Recently, Martin has written top 100 hits such There is dispute over the ethicality of many musicians not even as “One More Nightâ€? by Maroon 5, “Dark Horseâ€? by Katy Perry ft. writing their own songs, but students don’t seem to mind. Juicy J and “Problemâ€? by Ariana Grande. Martin is the songwriter “I don’t disapprove, I think it’s a good thing he’s been able to help with the third most Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles, behind only so many artists like Britney Spears and Taylor Swift,â€? senior Zuri Paul McCartney and John Lennon of the Beatles. Lawrence said. “It’s more of a collaborative effort." ,

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$PHULFDQ 6QLSHU ODFNV PHDQLQJIXO DQVZHUV By Joey Crown

With the recent release of “American Sniper,� I have felt compelled to consider the question of where the distinction between the glorification of war heroes and the glorification of war itself lies. War heroes are regarded as saviors of their fellow soldiers, and their stories can be all the more powerful when the horrors of war are exposed. Unfortunately, while the film “American Sniper� succeeds in delivering the powerful story of Chris Kyle, a veteran who saved countless lives in the Iraq wars, it ignores the larger question of why we were there in the first place. There are a number of discrepancies in how Kyle is presented, and the reading I’ve done on him portrays a different man than the one presented in the film. Due to these discrepancies, I base my judgments purely on how he is shown in the movie. In a cold open, we witness Kyle (Bradley Cooper) about to pull the trigger on a child throwing a grenade at his squad. Then it cuts to a bang, and we see Kyle as a younger person, hunting with his dad. We get to understand his background in the opening scenes; we see he’s a classic all-American cowboy type who hunts and goes to rodeos. He signs up for the military after the 1998 terrorist attacks on U.S embassies and trains to become a Navy Seal. He meets his future wife, Taya (Sienna Miller), at a bar and the two fall in love. Their romance blossoms and on their wedding day he learns his team will be deployed because of the 9/11 attacks. We find ourselves back where the film began, with a child in his crosshairs. Cooper deserves to be lauded; his portrayal of Kyle touches on all the subtleties of his character. After watching interviews with Kyle, it’s apparent that Cooper

nailed his mannerisms. In this regard, his is a great performance, but there was nothing particularly striking about the character. Kyle is humble, reserved and collected. He doesn’t seem to take a lot of pride in his high-kill count, but rather in the number of lives he believed he saved. Sounds of a drill or loud bangs will immediately distract him and take him out of the moment completely, signaling he is grappling with something that he took back with him from the war. The film struggles with juggling the presentation of Kyle as a hero and the realities of war. Contrasting legend with reality is one of the main themes of the film, and it’s tough to say that it deals with it successfully. There are attempts to show how Kyle’s time in Iraq influenced his attitudes at home, such as a meeting with his brother as he is about to end his tour, but the moment is never revisited. This is his main dilemma, but it feels strained, dull and repetitive. The film follows a trite formula of Kyle dealing with drama at home, then going overseas to save more lives. It all feels the same and then the film is over. I felt like I had barely anytime to understand the characters and how they felt. There is little characterization explored when he’s in Iraq; the scenes are thrilling but lacked substance. Of all the movies nominated for Best Picture this year, “American Sniper� feels like the weakest of the bunch. Its downfall is how shallow, simplistic, and held back everything feels. It was like director Clint Eastwood had so much to say but didn’t know how to say it. I admire the portrait of Kyle for what it is, a standard modern war movie, but I’ve yet to understand the high praise. ,

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To compete, or not to compete

)LUVW QRYHO RI WKH Âł$VFHQGDQFH 7ULRORJ\ ´ MDP SDFNHG KDUG WR SXW GRZQ By Roba Sabawi The plot sounds familiar: Select orphans mysteriously pulled into a maze to train for a deadly, twisted game, with the promise of fortune and fame beyond their wildest dreams awaiting the winner. And for the losers, almost certain death awaits. Seemingly a medieval twist on a Hunger GamesHarry Potter-Game of Thrones-type story, the first novel of the Ascendance Trilogy, “The False Prince,â€? by Jennifer A. Nielsen, features a well-written plot that leaves readers astounded by its suspense. The book begins by following the narration of a mischievous 14-year-old orphan, Sage, and his encounter with Conner the Nobleman, the shady mastermind behind the ambiguous characters and cunning personalities in the scheme. Along with three other orphans—Roden, Tobias and Latamer—Sage is dragged back to Conner’s palace, where he competes to see which one of them can portray the best impersonation of the lost Prince Jaron. But everything has a catch: Their victory is within reach only if they are willing to trade their freedom for it and remain Conner’s puppet. Sage’s nerve perpetually tests Conner’s patience, though it is obvious to everyone that he has the greatest potential to

be Conner’s figurehead, with the strong likeness to the prince and the perfect medium that he possesses. His true interests and desires are instinctual and simple, but he has the least motivation of them all to survive. However, this may be the one thing that eludes Sage in his time spent playing Conner’s gambit. With a fast, witty pace, “The False Prince� is a delight to read, particularly for fans of the books it resembles. The characters’ resilience and determination, albeit varying intentions, are inspiring and thrilling. But, Nielsen focuses entirely on advancing of the plot, which is the one thing that takes away from the character depth. At times it is like she speaks for them in a way that would be unrealistic for teenage boys. Although the characters do have personalities, they could have more depth if that element was more present. There were not many minor characters. It would have been more interesting if depth had been added to those few personalitiese beyond just the role they play in Connor’s story. Additional characters may have spiced up the plot, but some prefer the focused, action-packed style. Overall, the story line is exciting, and an attachment to the characters grows as it progresses. When the final truth is revealed, all of the layers of treachery and deceit fall away, and a whole new scheme develops. In the end, readers will still be asking yourself even as you reach for book two, who really won? ,

CAT TALES

6RSKRPRUH +HFWRU &XPED LQVSLUHG E\ DWKOHWLFV WHFKQRORJ\ By Noelle Moore Q: What are some of your biggest influences? A: My soccer coach, because he’s always pushing us to do well and to be strong physically on the field and off, academically. Q: How do you de-stress? A: I play video games, hang out with friends, see a movie or go to the mall. Q: What is your dream for the future? A: Perhaps join the military and then get involved in computer programming. I’m interested in technology because it’s a huge part of our society today and I’ll be able to get a good job when I graduate. Q: What are you doing now to prepare for your goals? A: I’m hoping to take computer sciences next year. Sometimes I look stuff up about basic programming online.

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Falling into place

)DOO 2XW %R\ÂśV QHZ DOEXP D EOHQG RI SRS DQG URFN By Ana Rosal Rock band Fall Out Boy has successfully released its sixth studio album, titled “American Beauty/American Psychoâ€? (abbreviated “AB/APâ€?). With singles “Centuries,â€? “American Beauty/American Psychoâ€? and “Uma Thurman,â€? the record is a follow-up to the band’s comeback album “Save Rock and Roll.â€? “AB/ APâ€? debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 album chart and quickly became the band’s third top ranked album. One of the album’s singles is “Centuries,â€? a song about empowerment and legacy. It contains a part of the song “Tom’s Dinerâ€? by Suzanne Vega, which in an interview with KROQ-FM, lead singer Patrick Stump described as the “tip of the hat,â€? as the band strived to “re-injectâ€? it into modern pop culture. Another one of the album’s singles, “Immortals,â€? happened to be featured in Disney’s animated film Big Hero 6. In an interview with Alternative Press, bassist Pete Wentz talked about his focus on making rock music relevant to pop culture, stating, “Rock ‘n’ roll is this progressive idea, [with] room to be dangerous and futuristic. To fence yourself into this little area and chain yourself in to the doghouse has never been what I thought rock music was.â€? Fortunately, the band has succeeded in incorporating

catchy pop beats with rock melodies and heavy guitars. Tracks such as “The Kids Aren’t Alright� and “Novocaine� successfully display examples of true alternative sound with hints of fun pop flares. In another interview with Alternative Press, Stump claims his goal was to make a more cohesive album “where you pick any track, and it sounds like it’s from the same album.� The record stays close-knit and maintained a strong, energetic sound throughout. A personal favorite track of mine is “Uma Thurman�. The melody is easy to sing along to and the background features a part of the theme song from “The Munsters,� a TV show. The actress herself gave permission for Fall Out Boy to use her name after listening to the song before its release. It is apparent how pop culture inspires for the new album, such as in the track “Irresistible�. The song is the first track on the album and in a Tumblr post, bassist Pete Wentz compared the song to a scene in the 1986 biopic “Sid & Nancy.� “When I think of ‘Irresistible,’ it brings this image to my head, whether it’s fictional or real, of Sid and Nancy in an alley, garbage raining down on them in an eternal spiral of romance and poison. Sometimes it’s hard not to love what can hurt us the most,� Wentz said. The album is fun and light-hearted, and delivered a new sound that successfully blends two contrasting genres of music. The music Fall Out Boy puts out has a certain style that would be difficult for any other band to replicate, which makes it even more special and revolutionary. ,

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