The Roar September 2013

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theroar September 2013 August 2013

1966 - 2013

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theroar Voice of the Students

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6SRUWV 20 Serve Up

4 Inbox

Volleyball season gets under way

Letters, surveys, tweets and more

$30 Injustice Unfair application fee discriminates

21 Cat Tales

Fixing golf’s divets to make the game better

1HZV 9 Traffic Control

Students and faculty face automotive tangles in navigating new congestion

15 Join the Club

Some clubs won’t survive the elimination of during-school club time

16 Money Matters

Florida Department of Education questions the legality of $30 application fee

ON THE COVER: Dean Stewart Photography

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)HDWXUHV 6 Mr. Melia Remembered Assistant Principal of Facilities leaves a strong impact on school community. by Felicia Solazzo and Lauren Youngson

Assistant Principal 8 The new administrator, chosen from 45 applicants, will be announced Sept. 10.

18 All Aboard

Students travel internationally during summer vacation

22 Music Review

Kanye and Avenged Sevenfold fail to impress

23 Movie Review

‘Elysium’s’ social commentary falls flat

by Keiran and Erin Sheridan

14 Different Perspective How do students of the 49th high school in the US adjust to college with average students? by Nathaniel Curtis

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6WXGHQWV VSHQG WRR PXFK WLPH RQOLQH The Internet consumes students who spend most of their time online and would rather sit inside and check Facebook than be with their friends. The amount of time students spend on the Internet is unhealthy, and parents should limit kids’ time online. Using the Internet for school is perfectly fine. What’s not OK is how lazy students are getting these days due to the web sites that consume them. I must admit I have gotten trapped by sites and have spent days doing nothing but sitting and playing on the computer. It’s annoying. Students should have to spend an hour outside each day before they can use the Internet. People who get off the Internet and actually do things are more well-rounded and athletic. One of my friends is hardly ever on the Internet and although she may be “out of the loop� she never has to worry about checking her news feed: she can focus on homework and sports. There are also too many ways to get in trouble using the Internet; it’s not even worth it. We should convince students to use less time on electronics and the Internet and go outside or be productive. Too many students waste precious time online, getting lazy as they do. This generation revolves around technology, but sometimes our technology use should be limited. -FFBOO )VULFS UI (SBEF

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twittersays I have to go to west shore tomorrow for cheer practice... It will not feel the same without seeing Melia come into the gym to say hi.

-Maddie, @MaddieLeary

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Two days in a row I wake up before 12... This must be some sort of sick joke -Jonathan Wakim, @JJWakim

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1R 0RQH\ WR %XUQ 7KH WKLUW\ GROODU IHH KDV PDQ\ SDUHQWV VWXGHQWV DQG WHDFKHU ZLQFLQJ $SSOLFDWLRQ IHH First of all I would like to say thank you for the short notice on the $30 fee for coming back to West Shore. If the Roar hadn’t put out the memo then I wouldn’t have been able to come back. In my opinion, I think the $30 dollars wasn’t that bad, but no busing is now a major problem for students living out of the school zone. For me it’s not a huge issue but I would’ve liked it if they hadn’t cut busing. Some of my friends could not come back to West Shore, and I think that’s a big loss for them as well as for West Shore, because they are all so talented, amazing, and intelligent and are leaving their dream school because of something else. I think they shouldn’t have cut the busing because of budget issues. If the school board had wanted to save money, they could’ve had a small amount of fees for riding the bus this year, not take them [the buses] out completely. Many of our students weren’t happy at this news, but once again I would like to say thank you for the notice and if there is any other information we need to know please tell the students of West Shore as soon as possible. /JLJUB %BWEB UI (SBEF

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$ GHÀQLQJ FKDUDFWHU 0U 0HOLD ZLOO EH PLVVHG Whether we choose to recognize it or not, West Shore has always been a tight community. When the boys’ soccer team won a state title two years ago, the entire school was buzzing with excitement. It was a constant conversation topic during lunch and the walls were covered in blue and white posters. Last year, when the school board proposed eliminating the buses, parents rallied upon the hearings with a vengeance. And in dealing with the loss of the buses this year, we stuck together to devise a new way to manage the increase in traffic. The students and parents of West Shore, no matter the social, cultural or ideological divisions among us, stick together through thick and thin. And when, merely a week before school started this year, we discovered that Assistant Principal Jim Melia had passed away, that bond was tested again. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all exploded with posts from graduates to current students expressing every emotion from shock to sorrow. As a school, we could’ve

easily allowed our feelings to divide us, but instead our sense of community has increased. Together, we organized a tribute to Mr. Melia and the first day outfits of many students were adorned with a commemorative tie. To many of the incoming seventh-graders, who never had the opportunity to know him, the presence of Mr. Melia will not be missed. But to the rest of us, the absence of his booming voice in the lunchroom during “Let’s Make a Delia,� his WCTZ News announcements, and his jovial friendship with Principal Rick Fleming will stand out like the tie Mr. Melia used to throw over his shoulder. Whether he intimidated you with his stringent adherence to the dress code, whether he helped you find a class on the first day of school, or whether you played against him in the student-teacher basketball games, you liked him. He was devoted to each and every student, from the athletes to the mathletes. He was one of the defining characters at our school, and he will be missed.

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After sifting through more than 40 applications in the past two weeks, an interviewing committee narrowed its search for a new assistant principal to two finalists. “There was a lengthy list with dozens upon dozens upon dozens of resumes submitted,� Principal Rick Fleming said. “We had 40 to 45 resumes submitted for the position. A committee made up of myself, [Assistant Principal Jackie] Ingratta, a parent and a teacher leader narrowed the list from 45 to 10. We )LOOLQJ LQ 3ULQFLSDO 5LFN )OHPLQJ DQG DFWLQJ $VVLVWDQW 3ULQFLSDO &KXFN .HHQHU interviewed them as a committee GLVFXVV SURFHGXUHV 6HSW along with the area coordinator who was a central office person. In worked at 11 different schools in Brevard addition to the profile, we came up with a County, and they were all good schools, but rubric for scoring the individuals. There when I came here I realized how special it were two individuals out of the 10 that rose was. I think it is not a surprise to people to the top and had what we were looking what a good place it is to work.� for.� All of the applicants are experienced After being interviewed by the administrators. committee, the two finalists were “We had some school-level interviewed again by Fleming and the administrators and even some county-level superintendent at the district. administrators that came out,� Keener said. “Time is of the essence,� acting Assistant “We had a lot of administrator experienced Principal Chuck Keener said. “There is a expertise. I did not hear the names, school board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 10, but I heard the finalist were really good so Mr. Fleming would like to have a person candidates.� chosen by then so that it can be put before Fleming said he was looking for more the board that night. � than administrative experience alone. Keener, a retired West Shore guidance “Naturally I am going to be looking counselor, signed a one-month contract for someone who is Mr. Melia-esk in to temporarily fill the vacancy left by the terms of relationships with students, sudden death of Assistant Principal Jim the relationship he held with the Melia in early August. Keener will remain community and within the school,� he on the job until Sept. 12. said. “I am also looking for someone “It is a really short turnaround,� he said. who had a background in athletics, “They want someone chosen soon so that activities and is actively engaged in when I leave, there will already be someone those things. I need someone who has here. Hopefully, this way, I will be able a relentless pursuit for excellence both to teach the new assistant principal a bit personally and professionally in terms of about West Shore before I go.� instruction for students, and was a stellar Keener said the high number of initial classroom teacher prior to becoming an applicants derives from the school’s administrator.� reputation. Junior Michelle Maldonado knows the “Everyone wants to work here because new hire will have a strong impact. this place is so unique,� Keener said. “I have

“I think the assistant principal needs to be very student-orientated,� she said. “They will need to be able to understand the students and find the best solutions to their problems.� Speaking from experience, Keener concurs that it will take a special person to play that role. “This is a job that requires a very diverse background because you have to combine two assistant principal roles here,� he said. “One is the principal in charge of facilities. West Shore’s drawback is that it is a old school. I found out in a month that there was a lot of things that were wrong. To do this job, you have to have knowledge of facilities. One of the keys to this is having really good interpersonal skills because you have to relate to all those maintenance people coming in. If you can get them on your side, they are much more likely to work hard for you.� The person who fills this position also must be able to act as a dean. “Being a dean is a whole different skill set since you to deal with student discipline,� Keener said. “You kind of have to do what Mr. Melia did, be able to carry the big stick and still be very personal too. Also, because there is such a small administrative staff, there are other things Mr. Fleming will assign them so it has to be someone who is very adaptable. It has to be someone who does a lot of things on time and apparently West Shore draws that kind of people.� After acting as assistant principal for a month, Keener said he now realizes what big shoes the new assistant principal has to fill. “Since I have been here there have been problems with the fire alarm, telephones, elevators, air conditioning, intercom and with bells,� he said. “Sometimes you do not appreciate the job someone else has done until you step into their place. I thought the world of Mr. Melia, but I have gained a larger appreciation for how much he meant to this place and what he did for this school.�

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%XV HOLPLQDWLRQ IRUFHV VWXGHQWV IDFXOW\ WR DGMXVW %\ 1LFN %DNHU 6WHSKDQLH (YHUHVW DQG (Y\ *XHUUD Worried he would be left behind, eighth-grader Benjamin Everest ran frantically from bus to bus during the first week of school looking for someone or something to signal which vehicle was home-bound. Once familiar yellow school buses now lacked any drivers he recognized. Parents hired a new set of private buses after a school board decision last spring that cut buses from choice schools in an effort to save district money. The privatized busing company, Schoolwheels Direct, charges $1,350 per student annually, which may be why Everest is one of 59 students riding a bus this year. “I’ve had the same bus since elementary school,� Everest said. “The same kids who live near me used to always ride with me, and I got confused.� Everest left his bus receipt including the route number at home earlier that morning but said he did not think much of it until everyone he went to for help kept asking for it. “I was rushed so I rambled something about living in Riverside Landing, and the lady turned me down immediately saying that she wasn’t going river-side,� he said. “One bus driver was nice and got out a list but said

I wasn’t on his bus and another just sat and watched.� Giving Up, Everest stayed at school until his mother could pick him. “I was worried that if I went on the wrong bus my mom would never be able to get me because the buses go all over,� he said. “The bus I’m supposed to ride starts off going the opposite direction from my house to go to Satellite Beach and then drops me off like an hour later.� Along with longer rides, the drop in the number of students riding buses nearly doubled the number of cars driven to school, causing a crowded student parking lot and a demand for an additional car loop. “The first day of school, about 10 to 15 minutes after the bell, there was an accident in the student parking lot,� Student Resource Officer Chuck Landmesser said. “It looked like one student had pulled through a spot and another student backed into him.� Despite the initial chaos, Assistant Principal Jackie Ingratta believes the schools is beginning to adjust to the new transportation plan. “The car loop situation has gone beautifully recently, with everyone getting off campus in about 12 minutes,� Ingratta said.

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As a result of the school board’s decision last spring to end corridor busing to choice schools, the number of students driving themselves to school has grown by at least 40, placing a premium on choice parking spots. One outcome has been an attempt by some to mark their territory by leaving less-than-friendly notes on parked cars. Principal Rick Fleming said there could be consequences. “That could not only be suspend-able but that can be criminal in nature when you’re talking about doing damage to somebody’s property, so I would have [School Resource Officer Chuck] Landmesser in there as well as myself when we’re dealing with a discipline situation and we might suspend somebody’s parking privileges,� Fleming said. The principal added that students receiving threatening notes should take them to an administrator. “If it’s discernible in terms of who wrote the note, then we will deal with that person from a disciplinary standpoint, but do not take matters into your own hands that can only exacerbate the situation,� Fleming said.

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Nicholas Stelter 9th grade “I’m upset because it’s just another cost that my parents have to pay.�

Amanda Moscrip 11th grade “It’s very inconvenient. I have a little brother so when I have cheer or something, he doesn’t have a ride home.�

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Jackie Ingratta Assistant Principal “My shoes melted while I was on car loop duty. I told Mr. Fleming that I needed more pay to fund my shoes.�

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Most high-schoolers dream of going off to college, getting away from home and finally being an adult, but how many really have any idea what college life is like? Take it from these members of the West Shore Class of 2013 — it’s not as scary as you think, except when it’s way scarier.

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CULTURE: $ “So far, fall term at UF is equivalent to rush hour in Times Square.� — Jade Mulvaney via Twitter $“The people are nice, and we get along very well. I like how I have place for everything and it feels kinda like home and a hotel at the same time.� — Nicole Marmol $“College is a lot different than high school. It’s the first time I’ve been on my own and you have to be responsible now that you don’t have your parents telling you what to do.� — Tyler Moscrip CULTURE SHOCK: $“People that are rushing for sororities are wearing really funny/cool hats.� — NM ACADEMICS: $“I guess I didn’t realize how big [the lecture halls] were but I’m really enjoying the discussion classes so we can get some questions answered.� — NM DORM LIFE: $“The people are nice, and we get along very well. I like how I have place for everything and it feels kinda like home and a hotel at the same time.� — NM MISSING HOME: $“[I miss] my boyfriend, and high school. And having home cooked meals from my dad.� — NM

CULTURE SHOCK: $“I was walking around campus ... and some guy ... asked if I wanted to work for FedEx ... [I] replied ‘I’m not sure’ to see if he would hand out free stuff. Then, he replied ‘Well you should because you’re really working that package.’ I shouted ‘Ew no’ ... The last thing I would expect was a cheesy pickup line.� — Vianca Rivera $“[Weird things go] from raccoons living by the bike rack to people trying to sell me the weirdest things to the crazy people willing to do anything to be in a sorority.� — Andres Maldonado ACADEMICS: $“On average, I have two hours in between my classes, so ... [I end up] watching Netflix.� — VR $“Two of my classes have like 200 kids plus and the other two [have] 25 kids.� — AM DORM LIFE: $“[My roommate] is my sister Maria ... We can share the cooking and cleaning duties.� — VR $“My roommate has been one of my best friends since seventh grade ... We usually jam out to music a lot. We are more like brothers.� — AM MISSING HOME: $“I miss little things like the TV Guide, reliable wifi, and a ceiling fan.� — VR $“Honestly, I miss my mom’s home cooked meals and being able to walk like three feet away [to eat].� — AM

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CULTURE: $“Everything here ... is basically free if you have your FSU card.â€? — Alex Colon $“My voice is gone, bags are under my eyes from late nights and early classes ... jumped in a fountain after a good workout and found two partners in crime. I’d say my first week of college was a success.â€? — Carleigh Walter CULTURE SHOCK: $“Larping ‌ I tried to avoid all eye contact as these grown men whacked each other with foam swords.â€? — CW $“Had to deal with a drunk guy yelling at usâ€? in the parking lot at 2 a.m. “Overall it was a good introduction to the college lifestyle.â€? — AC ACADEMICS: “The biggest surprise so far is how nice all of the teachers are. The rumors that they are old and heartless have been completely false; they want you to do well.â€? — Lanie Baney DORM LIFE: $The dorm is a “cold, damp chamber just barely big enough for two people to sleep in but definitely not live in.â€? — CW $“My dorm is suite style and much bigger than I thought it was going to be.â€? — LB MISSING HOME: $“I miss having an unlimited supply of food the most out of anything ... I can’t exactly zap food in my belly when I’m getting hungry.â€? — CW

CULTURE: $“Is bringing 7 pairs of heels to school appropriate? #USF17� — Rachel Kershaw, USF via Twitter CULTURE SHOCK: $“I’m wearing black today in mourning of all of the friends I’ve lost to big universities this week.� — Ana Guerra, EFSC via Twitter ACADEMICS: $“In my philosophy class we were looking at logical fallacies. My professor’s example: if all dogs are poop eaters and Bambi is a poop eater, then Bambi is a dog...� — Nathaniel Curtis, Jacksonville University DORM LIFE: $“[My dorm is] an industrial loft, but it has a huge window that makes it feel huge.� — Robert Edmiston, USF 1. As a part of UF Common Room, Nicole Marmol enjoys a kitchen and a desk for study groups. 2. With a dorm designed to show off her personality, Vianca Rivera shares her space with her sister Maria, who’s a junior. 3. Showing off her Seminole pride, Lanie Baney and her roommate Rachel Chesnover model with two very spirited classmates.

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&DWV /HDYH WKH &UDGOH *UDGXDWHV XQSUHSDUHG IRU FROOHJH OLIHVW\OH %\ 1DWKDQLHO &XUWLV A great source of school pride lies in college preparation. While it is true that the school tops the charts academically, the students who graduate might be unprepared for the culture shock of college. “West Shore didn’t prepare me for college at all,” class of 2012 alumna Tori Johnson said. “It was far too sheltered. I live on the ‘party floor’ so we have everything an illegal party needs. Once a girl passed out drunk and naked in my bathroom.” Even seemingly harmless events that are held by the student body would be considered too extreme for West Shore, according to Johnson. “All the stuff at UCF like Pegasus Palooza or Zombie Run would have been unacceptable at West Shore,” Johnson said. “It’s harmless, but people would have gotten expelled anyway. It’s the overprotective mind set that makes it hard to adjust to college life.” Johnson’s opinion is not rare. Mikayla Larson, 2011 graduate, was shocked when she arrived at Florida Atlantic University. “You find out that there are people your age out there who are into hard drugs and who sleep with different people every night,” she said. “Certain lifestyles that I had never even considered are the norm for others, and that makes me grateful for the bubble that West Shore put me in.” This bubble prevented Larson from experiencing what may have been a typical occurrence for her fellow students. One such occasion came up when she walked into a bathroom and saw a group of girls doing cocaine off of the toilet seat. Jordan Nixon, who also graduated in 2011 and attends University of North Florida, has similar memories. “I am very liberal, so I was not shocked when I got to college and saw some of the things people did,” Nixon said. “Once when I was working as DJ at one of the clubs, the kids backstage were tripping on acid and drinking vodka. No one said

anything.” Drug users and young alcoholics might sound shocking, but those stories were not from “party schools.” In the state, Florida State University and University of Florida are nos. 8 and 9 respectively on Princeton Review’s 2012 list of top party schools nationwide. However, this information doesn’t stop some seniors from wanting to attend these schools. “I think I’m ready for college,” 2013 graduate Alex St. Pierre Pesant said. “I

6HWWLQJ XS *UDGXDWH 0LND\OD /DUVRQ WKLUG IURP OHIW VWDQGV RQ WKH )$8 IRRWEDOO ÀHOG ZLWK KHU VRURULW\ VLVWHUV know some people say that it’s totally different at West Shore, but I’m pretty open- minded about people. I don’t plan on doing anything illegal or extreme, so I don’t think these social changes are going to bother me.” Nationally, college drinking contributes to 1,700 student deaths, 600,000 injuries and 97,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year. The total number of students enrolled in Florida State, University of Florida, Central Florida, South Florida and North Florida four times over. Even prestigious schools such as Yale are taking part in the developing party culture. Yale’s “Sex Week” is an annual event in which the school calls in members of the pornography industry to talk about sexual relationships, ranging from safety to techniques.

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“Even though I’m trying to stay focused on my academics, I know I’ll be tempted to stay out late with new friends I’ll make,” Pesant said. “I’m not too concerned about the parties. The worst part about it will be if I have a roommate that parties all the time.” Although Pesant may not be too concerned about the social changes, the same cannot be said for his mother, Diane Baker. Parents such as Baker are generally apprehensive of letting their child leave the house for good, and now even more so because of the rise in illegal and dangerous activities. “I don’t want Alex to go,” Baker said. “A lot of bad things happen in college, and I don’t want my son to get caught in it.” College has always had temptations such as illegal parties and hook-ups, but recently these have become more commonplace. Psychology teacher James Pustay explains that these actions are the result of a more liberal generation combined with newfound independence. “Colleges are very liberal, and often encourage experimentation,” Pustay said. “They are laid back about enforcement. Some campuses even sell beer in the commons. Another factor for these hookups with the opposite sex is that students are at their sexual peaks. Combined with not needing to report back to parents, the freedom of college would naturally be a breeding ground for experimentation and discovery.” Judging by the reactions of alumni and the expectations of current students, college will be more shocking than anticipated. For Spanish teacher Luis Martin, who has a recently graduated daughter and another at FSU, this expectation is validated. “We are preparing students for the academics of college for sure,” Martin said. “There could be a few surprises with the new culture of college, but most often West Shore kids are smart enough to adapt or get through it.”

$IWHU +RXUV &OXEV ZLOO PHHW EHIRUH DIWHU VFKRRO %\ )HOLFLD 6ROD]]R At the beginning of last April, Student Last April, a student representative Government Association Sponsor Bob and multiple faculty members, including Sarver worked with club members to host a guidance counselor Glenda Lovel, gathered black-light volleyball tournament. for a club committee meeting. Lovel “There are a lot of activities that Student supported the idea of holding clubs after Government sponsors during the course school. of the year that are beneficial for the entire “For the bulk of a lot of the kids that I school,� Sarver said. “A lot of the planning have talked to, clubs are not that important for these events goes on during school.� to them,� she said. “So with everything else But Sarver and SGA may not be able to happening, I thought, maybe it’s better for hold as many fund-raisers this year. Due to a little more time in the classes.� the elimination of corridor busing and a second planning period for all secondaryschool teachers, the administration has decided to eliminate clubs days, traditionally held every other Monday, pushing those activities after school. “Unfortunately, something has to give,� Principal Rick Fleming said. “Our clubs have historically been held during the instructional day because those kids who live way beyond our attendance area were not able to participate in clubs if they were held after school. No longer bound by the constraints of corridor busing, we can have [clubs] before and after school because students are providing their own transportation.� Fleming said clubs such as National Honor Society, Student Government Association, Beta Club and National Junior Honor Society will meet on 6HWWLQJ XS 6HQLRU &KULVWLQH 6KHUU\ scheduled days with their sponsors because GHFRUDWHV WDEOHV IRU +RPHFRPLQJ they are supplemental clubs, where a teacher is paid a stipend to sponsor the Senior Ryan Robidoux, member of club. the Team Sports Club, said he will be “The clubs that I think are going to suffer unaffected by the shift. from this are the clubs that teachers have “In team sports, some people play done historically out of the goodness of basketball, some people play soccer and their heart and that they have had a passion some people play football,� he said. “We do for: Scrabble Club, Fencing Club, Rubik’s not plan events or hold fund-raisers. So, it Cube Club,� he said. “When it was done would be a waste of time to hold the club during the instructional day in the past, outside of school.� it was much easier for [teachers] to do it Lovel said it appears that members of because it wasn’t a whole lot of prep and organizations such as NHS and SGA will they were here anyway. But now, asking make it a point to participate in the club for them to stay after school or before school after school meetings, but Sarver disagrees. to do something that they are not paid to During an informal poll, half of the high do would be a stretch.� school Student Government members said

they would not participate if they had to meet after school. “If [the school] wants to have clubs, then they need to provide them the opportunity to be as beneficial as possible rather than just continue them as an afterthought,� Sarver said. Senior Keiran Sheridan, the student representative for the club committee and the SGA president, also said clubs should be kept during school.

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“[Clubs] give students an opportunity to learn a new skill, participate in something they are passionate about and join groups that make a difference in the school or the community,� Sheridan said. “Many clubs offer leadership opportunities for students which is a graduation requirement and look good on college applications.� Sheridan, the former treasurer of SGA, said the club would be deprived of the opportunity to represent the student body if it had to hold meetings outside of school. “If clubs are after school, not as many people would be able to participate, making the student government’s decisions less reflective of the rest of the student body,� she said.

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long with hundreds of other prospective parents, Karen Riffee filled out the necessary forms for her incoming seventh-grade daughter, Jenna, to be placed in the West Shore lottery last February. She also paid the newly implemented $30 application fee by the original due date. Meanwhile, another parent of a potential student sent in an application but did not pay the fee. That student’s number was drawn for acceptance into West Shore while Riffee remained number 276 on the waiting list. Controversial fees, deadline confusion and angry parents result in the perfect recipe for conflict. In January, the school board implemented a $30 fee for all

“I think they definitely need to refund everyone’s money.” — Gabrielle Reyes, 11th students applying to and attending choice schools, including those who were not selected in the lottery process. However, unbeknownst to most of those who paid, the fee violates Department of Education policy. After myriad attempts to contact the School Board and the State Department of Education, the director of the legal department provided an answer regarding the legality of the fee. “I don’t want to say the word ‘illegal’ because that makes you think you can arrest people, but it’s definitely not appropriate. They should not have done it,” Director Riley Hyle said. After reviewing the implemented fee, there is a possibility that the DOE could label it as inappropriate, resulting in the School Board repealing it. When asked last March whether or not

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to pay the allocated $30, Hyle advised: “I would not pay the fee and just wait for the official response.” The Brevard Public School’s Choice Schools Committee disagrees. “The district has taken the position that they have the right, authority and position to do it,” Director of Choice Schools Vicki Mace said. Additionally, conflicts arose as the changing deadlines proved more ambiguous than previously thought. “It’s been a bit frustrating to say the least,” Principal Rick Fleming said. “The board was faced with some very difficult budget decisions and the timing of those decisions don’t always coincide with the beginning or ending of the school year, where there can be time to digest what needs to be done.” Originally, the deadline for new applicants was Feb. 4. Once the fee was put into action, the deadline changed to Feb. 22 so that everyone could pay within the window. When not all applicants turned in the money, the deadline was moved again, this time to March 5. Eventually Fleming made the decision to allow all who applied — whether they had paid the fee or not — to be entered into the lottery. “My situation was, I’m putting everyone in regardless and then we’ll rely on the good faith that they’ll pay the $30,” Fleming said. When the acceptance letters were

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mailed on April 5, distraught parents wondered why people who didn’t get into West Shore still had to pay the fee. “Those who got in are gladly going to hand in the 30 bucks, but those who are number 600 on the waiting list, do you think they’re really going to pay it?” Fleming asked. Riffee calls the process unjust. “In my opinion, it was unethical for the school board to say one thing — that everyone gets put into the lottery — then change it without us knowing,” Riffee said. “It’s not fair because some people got in without paying the fee while I paid but am on the waiting list.” For students such as freshman Melissa Saunderson, the payment is an inconvenience. “I don’t think the fee is good because I applied to multiple choice schools out of area and they all made me pay the fee,” Saunderson said. “So I ended up paying a lot of money.” On May 1, the School Board received the names of all those on the waiting list who hadn’t paid the original $30 and they were removed from the list. As of now, the application fee stands,but if the School Board receives an official response from the state declaring that it is, in fact, inappropriate, then they might reimburse all who have paid. “That’s not our hope, but if we don’t hit our goal and we’re forced to, we will fight that position,” Mace said.

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The last time I had $30, I wasted it. I am fortunate enough to come from a family where I can afford, literally, to use my money for nonessential things. For other families, $30 just seems to vanish somewhere between the electric bill and the mortgage. Why is it that students have to pay just to be enrolled at West Shore? I am appalled at the lack of outrage surrounding the clearly discriminatory requirement. When I contacted Ebony Callow-Spencer, a civil rights attorney at the United States Department of Education, I realized just how challenging overturning the fee would be. She explained that while the U.S. Department of Education ensures that students have access to free public education, it cannot make decisions about what fees a school board can and cannot impose. The Brevard County Schools website does explain that financially challenged students can request a fee waiver if they qualify. However, while students who meet two or more of the criteria are given priority, the waiver is not guaranteed. In today’s rapidly growing global economy, school boards and community members alike should recognize that it is in our best interest to ensure that all children have access to the best education available, regardless of how much they can afford to put towards education. Everyone gains something when students have the opportunity to thrive. I may be guilty of wasting my own $30, but if there’s one thing I simply won’t put my money towards, it’s discrimination.

(GXFDWLRQ SROLFLHV VKRXOG EH PRUH WUDQVSDUHQW WR VWXGHQWV %\ 9DOHULH )HUUHWWL DQG -HVVLFD :KDOH\ Shouldn’t everyone be provided with the equal opportunity to be informed on current issues in their school district? As reporters for the Roar Staff, we have spent months calling State Department offices 30-plus times, receiving nothing but vacant answers and pending questions. Attorneys, chancellors, and board members have dodged crucial questions, e-mails, and

voice-mails with questionable credibility as our appointed educational chairs. When we called identifying ourselves as students, the department lacked respect and interest in the inquiries. However, when we didn’t identify ourselves in a follow-up call, officials actually gave us the time of day concerning our questions. From the DOE’s biased actions, we can conclude that age

discrimination prohibits our ability to gain vital information about our education. It’s been an on-going and frustrating struggle to say the least, just to receive information access. Unfortunately, through this excruciating process, it is easy to say that we, as journalists and students, have lost a significant amount of respect for our education officials.

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Jack Moore 12th Grade Wyoming

Katherine Avrakotos 10th Grade Nova Scotia

Ilana Krause 12th Grade Spain

I went to the Wind River Mountain Range. I was there with the National Outdoor Leadership School, for 31 days, as part of a training program for my trip to Mt. Everest.

My family and I got to see whales that came up right next to our boat, it was truly amazing. Also, I did a 6k mud run with 16 obstacles going through mud and up a ski hill.

The pace of life in Spain is so different from Melbourne. It was really cool being able to interact with the natives in each area we visited. With some, I was even able to communicate.

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Abby Kawa 12th Grade Italy My favorite part was being with my dad and his brothers in Rome. Their Italian heritage definitely came out, especially after a few glasses of wine. We also toured the Vatican and the Colosseum.

Monty Karas 12th grade Hawaii It was my first time in Hawaii. My favorite part was snorkeling off one of the bays. I got to swim with fish that I’ve only seen in pictures. The sea turtles swam right up next to us; it was incredible.

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Despite losing six seniors from “I’m really excited to see how last year’s squad, the Lady Wildcats the young players have grown and volleyball team emerges with an improved,” lone senior and captain optimistic attitude after leaving its Hannah Krasny said. “This is the first preseason jamboree undefeated, time that I have been the oldest one having bested four teams at St. on the team and played with a bunch Cloud High School on Aug. 22. of younger players. It’s surreal.” “I melded with them and knew The Lady Wildcats’ have many how last year’s seniors played and we new additions to the team, including trusted each other,” junior captain Melbourne High School transfer Casey Schauman said. “Since the junior Kasi West. The team thought team has only been together and it had lost West to an eligibility practicing for a short amount of issue, as West transferred to West time, I was happy with our level 1LFH 'LJV 6HQLRU +DQQDK .UDVQ\ DQG MXQLRU &DVH\ Shore before this year. After her of play and teamwork. The only 6FKDXPDQ SUHSDUH WR UHFHLYH D VHUYH GXULQJ D parents met with the FHSAA earlier thing we are lacking at this point is YROOH\EDOO JDPH DJDLQVW (GJHZRRG in the season, West was cleared to trusting each other and knowing how play until at least Oct. 9. we play together.” “[Principal Rick] Fleming was the hero when he e-mailed Last season, the Lady Wildcats’ ended their season 21-6, and FHSAA and got me temporary eligibility,” West said. “I am really fell in the first round of regionals. This year’s team has high lucky because it would have been easy to just sit out and not play. expectations but is concerned as to how it will fare with such a I’m so happy to able to be out on the court with a team that’s this young group. close. We’re basically a family.”

5XQQHUV RSWLPLVWLF XQGHU QHZ FRDFK %\ .RQXU 2\PDQ With the girls’ appointment of a new big deal.” coach, the graduation of top tier runners, Another story of the upcoming season is and the potential development of young the loss of star runners Jacob Smithe, Luke stars, the boys’ and girls’ cross-country Redito and Sarah Day, who graduated in seasons are off to a fast start. last spring, leaving behind questions as to One of the biggest headlines of the how they will be replaced. upcoming season is the naming of former “[Jacob and Luke] were very good, but boys’ varsity soccer coach John Krehbiel as we have some up-and-coming stars. They the new varsity girls’ cross-country head are in seventh grade, and they are already coach. Krehbiel said his background would trying to make their way into varsity,” said prove to be his greatest asset. cross-country veteran Ryan Bellone, a “I have experience coaching a variety of senior. “I think that they’re going to give sports, although this is the first time I have Jacob a run for his records, but both Jacob coached cross-country,” Krehbiel said. “So and Luke had great personalities, so that I think I know how to motivate studentcan never be replaced.” athletes and bring a team of athletes Last season, the boys finished seventh in together to accomplish more than they the district and the girls finished fourth, thought they could.” advancing to regionals and placing 10th. Krehbiel’s daughter, Lexie Krehbiel “I am expecting a good year. We did great seemed both happy but also unfazed by last year and, like I said, there are a bunch 3KRWR -DFN 0RRUH of talented seventh- and eighth-graders the prospect of her father being the new 6SHHG\ 6WDUW 6HQLRU &KULVWLQH coach. who are die-hard runners,” Bellone said. “I’m glad that he is the coach,” Krehbiel 6KHUU\ WUDLOV +RO\ 7ULQLW\ 7LJHUV “I have high hopes but generally crosssaid. “He has done a pretty good job so UXQQHU LQ D FURVV FRXQWU\ MDPERUHH country isn’t really super competitive. It’s far, but it really doesn’t matter to me that he’s my dad. It isn’t a all about being close and being one big family.”

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Sam Lack 'HIHQVH UXOHV 7ZHDNLQJ JROI ZRXOG KHOS PDNH VXPPHU EHDUDEOH %\ 6DP /DFN Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to another fun school year. It will be my final year, but as sad as that must make all of you, I am graduating this spring. To kick off my summer-concluding column, we’ll start with some trivia. The Boston marathon bombing was a tragic event for the city and nation, both inside the sports world and out. In honor of that city, what, I ask you, do the Red Sox call the massive wall in left field of Fenway Park, where they play their home games? Is it the “Blue Behemoth,� the “Orange Obstacle,� the “Green Monster,� or the “White Wall of Doom�? The answer will follow the column. As autumn fast approaches, sports fans no longer have to pine and yearn for football. It is officially back, both college football and the NFL, blessedly. Baseball season, though it has its moments of enjoyment, is seemingly endless, with each team playing 162 games spanning eight months. The other prominent sport of summer is golf, as the PGA tour drags on throughout our long-awaited break from school. 3KRWRV 'HDQ 6WHZDUW &UHDWLYH &RPPRQV Other than the Kentucky Derby, 6ZLQJ $ZD\ *UDGXDWH 2OLYLD (VFDQGHOO no athletes move faster than a light WDNHV SUDFWLFH VZLQJV DW WKH GULYLQJ UDQJH jog over the course of summer, and the lack of excitement can certainly be draining. and still miss 3 feet to the left. I, of course, have a solution. No longer can we deal with golfers I can’t really fix baseball, it’s America’s complaining about each other, but having favorite pastime after all. no means to handle their issues. Golf, on the other hand, needs some My main proposition to improve the serious help, and I have a proposition. gentleman’s game of golf, is to add defense. No longer can we suffer through hours Why is it fair that Deion Sanders (see: of agony watching Tiger Woods and Primetime) could, for years, pound his Arnold Palmer traipse across the fairways competition but Mickelson can’t so much at Augusta, all without making a sound as cough loudly when his opponent is because it’s not proper “golf etiquette.� chipping out of a bunker? No longer can we wait 15 minutes for Why can Dikembe Mutombo (See: Geico Phil Mickelson to line up an 8-foot putt,

commercial) block shots for more than a decade, but Tiger Woods is involved in a national controversy simply for pulling out his golf club before his partner tees-off? Golf needs a way for opponents to level the playing field, and I think it involves the equipment of another country club sport, tennis. Give each pair of golfers a tennis racket, let them try and smack the golf ball before their opponent’s ball lands. Give them water balloons, letting them pelt the competition mid-putt. Let players, officials and spectators alike yell and scream and create distractions. Instead of silencing the crowd, make them part of the game. Tell me that wouldn’t make for mustsee TV. Now to address the bunkers and water hazards. Let’s make golf balls float, and instead of golf carts, buy golf boats. If the player slices a ball into the water, instead of a stroke penalty, make them drive their golf boat out to the ball and try and chip it out. The sand hazards are, simply put, in need of renovation. I say we put big crabs in the sand pit, so the golfers have to rush their shot before they’re pinched in the leg. That would lead to some pretty exciting swings, if I say so myself. I know, all of this is probably preposterous, and the at-times pretentious sport of golf really isn’t all that flawed. But I can actually imagine some of these ideas and they truly would increase the sport’s popularity, as well as ease us through the summer months that truly lack sports-excitement. By the way: The wall in Fenway Park’s left field is aptly named the Green Monster, standing 37 feet, 2 two inches tall. The White Wall of Doom is good, though, so any architects out there, take note.

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cultureshock

:HVW JRHV VRXWK ŇŠ<HH]XVŇ‹ ZDONV ² RII D FOLII %\ %UDQGRQ %DLOHU I don’t think anyone, Kanye West included, really cared when his album “Yeezusâ€? came out. Unless you follow Kanye West on Twitter, you probably didn’t have so much as a clue when the album would be released, and the album itself looks just like a bootleg . After the weak intro “On Sight,â€? comes “Black Skinhead,â€? which, while fun, forebodes content problems when one of the verse is revealed to be a second chorus.

It’s worth mentioning, because only a fraction of songs have Kanye’s verses last longer than a minute – and, as it happens, it’s our main problem with the album: too much dead air. I’ll give you that Yeezus is nothing if not consistent, but that’s little consolation to a listener wondering why Kanye seems to only stay on the song for a minute (“Guilt Trip,� “Hold My Liquor�) . Few verses are particularly good, and even if they are, there’s little to no follow-up (or for “I Am a God� a terrible one), so the instrumentals end up feeling wasted and the album feels much longer than 40

minutes. There are only two songs that can be considered “pretty good.� One is “New Slaves� (though the beat doesn’t go with the song at all), and the other is “Blood on the Leaves,� a confessional, pop-song, and lyrical endeavor, that doesn’t waste any of its six minutes. Unfortunately, it’s the only song that’s holistically great, and for the most part, Mr. West is too little a presence for Yeezus to work. Overall, it’s passable, but only a few songs are worth hearing more than once. For Bailer’s track-by-track review, please visit Westshoreroar.com.

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Being an Avenged Sevenfold follower from its origins, I think this band has clearly created a plan. Every album shows the progressive evolution of Avenged Sevenfold, also known as “A7x,� whether it be through a more lyrical sound or the addition of more instrumental segments. A7x’s sixth studio album “Hail To The King� hosts familiar notes similar to that of the legends of heavy metal (Iron Maiden and Guns and Roses) and shows the band’s new direction. “Doing Time� has the classic Sevenfold

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appeal. The mischievous laugh, disturbing lyrics, all typical A7x. This song makes use of an electrifying guitar and drum essence, with Shadows’s unmistakable growl at the beginning. His voice shifts from a blueslike melody to full-out metal. The song captures feelings of imprisonment and having to wait to finish one’s “time.� “This Means War� starts off somewhat slowly. Heavy drums break the sound barrier in the foreground of this beast, and the beat just repeats itself over and over again. This song probably is my least favorite on the album; the lyrics are not that interesting, and Shadows does not execute the lyrical portion very well. This

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exhibits my deepest fear for the band; if they try to change their sound, they may lose the popularity they currently have. This album was a let-down. I was expecting a more complex composition of demented and twisted lyrics and instrumentals from the band. This album is a far cry from the 2010 gem “Nightmare.� Granted, this album is still fairly decent. I suppose this is A7x’s way of progressing to a more alternative scene. Avenged Sevenfold has an excellent holding in the heavy metal field, and I just hope they stay that way. For Blanco’s track-by-track review, please visit Westshoreroar.com.

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cultureshock

1RW DQ RDVLV ŇŠ(O\VLXPŇ‹ VHQGV IDXOW\ PHVVDJH %\ -RH\ &URZQ Following up from one of the best science fiction films of the 2000s, “District 9,â€? Director Neill Blomkamp attempts to recapture what made his directorial debut so great. While “District 9â€? was a direct metaphor for the South African apartheid, his newest film “Elysiumâ€? again tries to offer a unique social commentary which instead of making the film smarter, just makes it more preachy. “Elysiumâ€? refers to a giant space station in the sky where all the wealthy fled to once the world’s resources were depleted. The greatest thing about this floating ring in the sky is the existence of beds that can reconstruct people based on their DNA and completely heal them of any illness. These beds drive desperately poor and ill

people to try and get their sick to Elysium and heal them. However, the people on Elysium do not like anyone invading their glorified country club so they just decide to destroy any unknown spacecraft. The main conflict arises when main character Max (Matt Damon) has an accident at his blue collar job, that leaves him with radiation poisoning and an estimated five days to live. Max realizes his only hope is to team up with a group of underground rebels and travel to Elysium. The stakes become pretty high, and with Max dying in five days, they have to act fast. While all of this is happening on Earth, Elysium is experiencing some corruption, and we meet Delacourt (Jodie Foster), who plots to become the president of Elysium. I don’t understand why she and everyone else on Elyisum hate the poor and don’t just let them board to be healed, considering it takes a minute or so to cure

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cancer. They also never explain why they don’t just put a few of the beds on earth. There’s one in every single house, so they must have some to spare. The greatest obstacle for Max is Kruger (Sharlto Copley), a government brute who works on earth doing various brutish things, like shooting down cargo ships full of poor people. His character almost saves the action, but not quite. The message of “Elysium� makes sense when in context to the struggles of today’s world, but when you have the futuristic technology to cure cancer in a minute and there are no limitations on how many people can use it, there is no reason to be denying up poor people. Why not cure them and send them back to Earth? “Elysium� has good action but a shallow message that, while a cut above what most action movies say about society, doesn’t really add to the movie at all. For full review, visit Westshoreroar.com.

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