February 2017

THE STINGER February 2017

Volume 42

stingerehs.com @stingerehs @stingerehs

Issue 4

Polar Plunge Students, teachers fundraise for Special Olympics

Photos by Delaney Gottschall.

Andrea Klick Associate Editor When a student first came to special education teacher Amy McConlogue about starting a Polar Plunge team at EHS to raise funds for Special Olympics Lehigh Valley, she felt skeptical.

“I said ‘Ok, I’m not sure that I want to do that because I don’t go in the ocean in the summer because I think it’s too cold,’” McConlogue said.

However, she helped junior Olivia Peluso create the Emmaus Eskimos, their team for the event which fundraises for the Pennsylvania Special Olympics by having volunteers raise pledge money and then “plunge” into the Delaware River in Easton. The event features free food and drinks donated by various organizations as well as music, dancing and a costume contest before volunteers line up and run into the water. Those who don’t want to jump into the cold water can raise money and receive a “Too Chicken to Plunge” T-shirt.

In their first year, McConlogue and Peluso gathered a team of four students and three adults, including themselves, who plunged into the river.

McConlogue cites some of her students and their dedicated parents, who volunteer with Special Olympics, as the main reason she decided to plunge.

“I do have a nice group of kids who are involved in [Special Olympics],” McConlogue said. “I just know they’re involved, so I thought I could do a little bit to help keep it going, so they can participate. “[The students’] parents are very much involved, and I’m the case manager for [some] of them and that got me involved and made me do something I was not comfortable with.”

Kevin Neiley, manager of Special Olympics Lehigh County, defines Special Olympics as “an athletic organization for people with intellectual disabilities.

“We provide [athletic opportunities] free, at no charge to the athletes,” Neiley said. “The Special Olympics allows this section of the crowd to really compete without judgment. They are dedicated to athletics as any normal athlete is.

They absolutely love the competition.”

Peluso’s mother works with special needs students in the high school, and Peluso began volunteerTop: EHS faculty members run into the Delaware River. Middle: Junior Olivia Neiley dances on stage at Polar Plunge. Bottom: Faculty and students prepare to take the plunge on Feb. 18.

9

A talk with Ari Bowman

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Best diners in the valley

ing in her room during study halls in ninth grade. She enjoys her time volunteering with the students and believes it has special meaning for them, as well.

“They’re such great kids and to be a part of something with regular-ed kids, it just means the world to them,” Peluso said. “I think it really means a lot to them and it especially means a lot to the families. I took a student to homecoming one year. His parents were just so touched, his mom was crying, so it definitely means a lot to them.”

McConlogue and Peluso decided to do the plunge again this year and brought another student and teacher with them, junior Abby Erdman and instructional assistant Marjorie Mengel.

According to Eric Cushing, executive vice president of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Feb. 18 was one of nine Polar Plunges held this year, which alone raised close to $100,000 with almost 500 plungers.

Neiley’s daughter, Olivia, is a junior at Emmaus, who participates in track and field, gymnastics, bowling and swimming through Special Olympics. According to Neiley, Olivia enjoys seeing her peers and teachers support her through the Polar Plunge.

“She was really excited to know that her classmates and her teachers were coming today,” Neiley said. “I mean, that’s a great source of pride for her.”

McConlogue and Peluso plan to participate in the Polar Plunge next year and hope to recruit new plungers, as well. Both encourage skeptics to step outside their comfort zones and take the plunge to support Special Olympics.

“It’s a good feeling that you’re doing something for somebody else; it’s not just for yourself,” Peluso said.

“Knowing that it meant a lot to them, means a lot to me, too.”

“Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there in a situation that’s uncomfortable to you to make a difference for someone else,” McConlogue said. “I just think that sometimes we get stuck in our own routine and where our comfort zone is and what we’re comfortable with. I mean, that’s why I did it because it really put me out of my comfort zone.”

Neiley notes the importance of fundraisers like Polar Plunge.

“Events like this raise awareness,” Neiley said. “It lets people know that we’re all the same. It also raises funds for us, so we can allow year round competitions for these athletes.

“If you’ve ever seen these athletes, when they cross the finish line, there’s no feeling like it,” he said. “They get more joy out of it, and I get just as much joy watching them compete.”

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National Signing Q&A

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Rachel-ly Diverse

THE STINGER February 2017 Editor-in-chief Rachel McQuiston @rachelmcqq

Associate Editor Andrea Klick @aklick2000

News Editor Lily Day @lilyyyy_d

Assistant News Editor Chloe Gerhard @chlo_e_g

Opinion Editor Angie Stein

Features Editor Izzy Wegner @wegnerisabella

Assistant Opinion Editor Anuj Arora @Anuj_Arora_

Assistant Features Editor Bibi Correa @_bibi_correaa

Assistant Opinion Editor Ronnie Rohlsen

Assistant Features Editor Marley Wait @Marleywait

Daniel

When hearing the name Daniel, you may think of actor Daniel Radcliffe, former Vine sensation Daniel with the white Vans, or even that weird Bachelorette contestant last year.

But I don’t think of famous celebrities or annoying Vine stars. To me, Daniel is a wide-eyed, pure child with a goofy laugh and a boyish grin. To me, Daniel is a best friend; someone who I bicker with endlessly, but who always has my back. To me, Daniel is my go-to hideand-go-seek partner, my board game-playing fiend, an annoying, yet lovable, little boy.

To me, Daniel is my little brother.

Blue-eyes and rosy cheeks, I imagine Daniel as a young boy full of endless possibilities.

But Daniel never got to be any of those things.

As soon as Daniel came into this world, he left. My brother was born prematurely with an extra chromosome and holes in his heart. He died minutes after birth in my mother’s trembling arms.

I’m going to be honest, I don’t know how to write about this. How do you write about someone you never even knew? The only knowledge I have of Daniel is from my mom, who held him in his first and final moments. Although she knew before he died that he would not make it, she still doesn’t talk about it much. To be fair, the only memory that she has of him is the one thing she doesn’t want to remember. Our only conversations regarding his death haven’t gone much past her telling me that it was a hard experience, but I don’t think that anyone needs to be told that to know that.

I can’t even fathom the excitement that my dad must have had while my mother was pregnant with Daniel. He must have been ecstatic to have a son; someone to teach baseball to and throw a football around with, both of which are things that I was never capable of. Daniel must have embodied the child that he had always wanted, which must be why he doesn’t even do as much as mention his name now.

As I write this at 17 years old, I wonder what life would be like with a brother in the sophomore class. I know that life would be different with Daniel here, but I don’t know how different. Would I still have tried every sport known to man in attempt to achieve my dad’s approval if he had a son to focus on? Would I act differently having grown up with a brotherly influence? Would Daniel have been able to hold together my parents’ marriage in a way that my teary eyes and sobbing pleas never could?

However, I’m fairly certain that I do know one thing.

If Daniel were born healthy and robust, I don’t think my parents would have been as eager to have my sister, who was born a little over a year later.

While pregnant with my sister, my mom had to be on bed rest for the months leading up to her birth so that the biggest nightmare of her life wouldn’t occur again.

Even though I have no remembrance of any of this, I can imagine that my parents lived in constant fear of the tragedy that happened to my baby brother. But on April 24, 2002, my little sister Hanna was born healthy and strong, creating what I imagine was the first true happiness for my parents in over a year.

As we’ve grown up, I see more and more of who I think to be Daniel in my sister Hanna. I think that in a lot of ways, she is Daniel.

Hanna became everything that Daniel would’ve been if he were here. Hanna became my hide-and-go-seek partner, my board game-playing fiend, my annoying, yet lovable, little sister.

In 2004 came even more happiness, when my youngest sister Danielle was born. I feel unbelievably blessed to have two amazing siblings, and although we fight all the time, I couldn’t ask for better sisters.

Needless to say, I will always think about Daniel. I will always wonder who his friends would be, what he would look like, what he would be interested in. However, I feel as though I know who he would be. He would be kind, easy-going, giving -- just like Hanna.

I know that to most people, Daniel is just a name. A classic, old-fashioned name.

But to me, Daniel is innocence, happiness, purity. To me, Daniel is that goofy laugh, that boyish grin, those rosy cheeks. To me, Daniel is those same blue eyes that I see everytime I look at my sister.

To me, Daniel is my little brother, and not even death can change that.

Culture Editor William Newbegin @Free_willy98

Sports Editor Kyle Carraher

Assistant Culture Editor Brian Mantone @Brianatone

Assistant Sports Editor James Marler

Online Editor Cathryn Seibert @athryncay

Head Copy Editor Eddie Coleman

Photo Editor Rachel Reed @Rachel_Reed19

Convergence Editor Bradley Klemick

2016 Pennsylvania Press Club First Place News Story First Place Cartooning Second Place Layout Third Place Sports Story Honorable Mention Features Honorable Mention Sports 2015 Keystone Press Awards Second Place General News Second Place Public Service Package First Place Sports Story First, Second Place Column Honorable Mention Review Second Place Graphic Illustration Second Place Layout and Design NSPA 2015 Second Place Editorial Cartoon Eighth Place Feature Writing 2014 NSPA Third Place News Story of the Year Superior Ratings in Newswriting Superior Ratings in Cartooning

Adviser Denise Reaman Editorial Policy The Stinger is a student-run newspaper published six times per year. Its content, which is the responsibility of the student staff, is not subject to direct administrative approval. The newspaper, which is designed as an open forum, serves to inform and entertain its readers as well as students interested in print media studies.

2014 Keystone Press Awards Second Place Ongoing News Coverage Honorable Mention News Story First, Second, Honorable Mention Public Service Package First Place Feature Story First, Second Place Personality Profile Honorable Mention Column Writing Second Place Review Writing First Place Photo Story Honorable Mention Website

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Make it Klick

Confessions of a reality TV addict

It was a snowy, freeze-your-fingers-off-if-you-dareto-step-outside kind of Saturday morning. Being the ever-pessimistic fifth grader I was, I rushed down the hall to whine to my mom about the horridly frigid conditions. As always, I rambled on about how I had absolutely nothing to do, only for my dad to read off his usual list of time-wasters: “Read a book, draw a picture, do some homework.

Just stop complaining.”

“That’s all boring. You just don’t understand,” I often quipped back. (Yes, even as a 10-year-old, I was sarcastic and angsty, but I digress).

So, after trudging around and making my anger known to all in the house, I did what any bored kid would do; I turned on the TV and flipped aimlessly through the channels. Soon enough I had a good rhythm going: watch five seconds of a show, decide what I hated about it, turn to the next channel (i.e. Bobby Flay: too egotistic, Harry Potter: overplayed, SpongeBob: seen it already). After clicking the channel switch at least a hundred times, I still had nothing to watch. I almost gave in and surrendered to boredom by taking a nap, when I came across a show I had never heard of before.

It was a hidden reality show masterpiece known as Dance Moms.

Prior to this point in my young life, my reality TV knowledge proved quite shallow. In fact, my only experience with the genre consisted of a few seasons of different reality competition shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and The Amazing Race, but that would soon change.

With its perfect mixture of screaming moms and teachers, crying kids, and overly dramatic background music, Dance Moms kept me entertained for several hours until my parents walked downstairs. They immediately questioned what I turned on and how I found it, but I couldn’t begin to comprehend what was wrong with a 10-year old watching grown women curse each other out in their daughters’ dance studio.

When they forced me to change the channel and declared that I wasn’t allowed to watch “that trash” ever again, I knew they couldn’t get away with this. I had finally uncovered a show that I enjoyed watching, and my parents wouldn’t snatch it from me.

Soon enough I began researching the show and found that new episodes aired every Tuesday night.

To continue viewing Dance Moms without my parents knowing, I recorded every episode at my grandparents’ house and watched it with my grandmother on Wednesday afternoons.

For the past six years, I’ve kept up this tradition, and I have yet to miss an episode of Dance Moms.

Between seasons of Dance Moms, I searched for new reality shows to indulge in. It took some more hours of channel flipping and online research but soon enough I found some shows just as good: the entire Bachelor franchise. While I’m not as obsessed as those superfans who live tweet Nick Viall’s every action or bet big bucks predicting the finalists, I rarely miss an episode and watch a decent amount of “Bachelor Secrets Revealed” videos on YouTube.

And before you say, “Why waste your time? It’s just manufactured garbage,” I know that reality TV isn’t real. It’s kind of hard to believe that any sane adult cries and screams as often as reality stars do. So knowing it’s fake, I honestly have no idea why I find “reality” programming so enticing.

Maybe I find some kind of sick joy in watching good-looking people act like complete nutcases. Maybe it makes me feel better about myself. Maybe I like to release my pent up aggression by yelling at Nick for keeping the drama queen Corinne around for yet another week. No matter what the reason, I simply enjoy watching reality TV, and I won’t stop just because other people think it’s wrong.

I don’t think I’ve warped into an overly-dramatic, attention-seeking wackjob since that fateful day when I switched on my first episode of Dance Moms, so who really cares? In my free time, I’ll watch whatever I want.

News

IN-DEPTH REPORTING ON TOPICS THAT MATTER TO YOU

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MANAGING EDITOR LILY DAY ASSISTANT EDITOR CHLOE GERHARD

Kushy crowned Mr. Emmaus 2017 For the talent portion of the show, Kushy showed off his gymnastic abilities.

Kushy has won numerous first place prizes for his talents in gymnastics. His career is now moving on, and the United States Naval Academy recruited him for his gymnastics achievements.

“I’ve only been doing gymnastics for five years now. Most people think I’ve been doing it since I’ve been two years old, that’s what the average, stereotypical gymnast does,” Kushy said. “I don’t even know how many [competitions] I’ve been in. I have one tonight and two tomorrow back-to-back at Parkettes for a home competition.”

Though Kushy has a busy schedule and prepares vigorously for competitions, reaching up to six or more hours of practice everyday in the summer, Kushy didn’t give too much thought to his routine for the talent portion. However, unlike Kushy, EHS senior Will Newbegin, spent a copious amount of time on his Napoleon Dynamite dance for the Mr. Emmaus competition.

“I can’t pin a number down on how many hours I spent,” Newbegin said. “I can tell you I spent a whole day during winter break just watching the dance, trying to get the steps down.”

Not only did the participants of Mr. Emmaus practice and prepare for the event, head coordinator Adam Lang, a junior at EHS, enjoys Mr. Emmaus although it takes hours of preparation.

“As I said at Mr. Emmaus, this is my

favorite event at the high school,” Lang said. “However, it takes a lot of time and dedication to create a show like this.”

Ryan Taranto, third place winner of Mr. Emmaus, is proud of his fellow contestant and friend Kushy for his accomplishments and congratulates his victory.

“I’ve been friends with Jason since I moved into the neighborhood we live in,” Taranto said. “He’s an incredible person and being recruited by the Naval Academy is very honorable.”

Kushy’s respect for his fellow contestants is shown through his acknowledgement of the talent that Emmaus High School students have to offer.

“I think [the contestants] did a great job. I think that, overall, this year probably had the most talented people than any other year [of Mr. Emmaus],” Kushy said.

“There was juggling, bass playing, the solving of a Rubik’s cube while rapping. I can’t even solve a Rubik’s cube, let alone rap. It was all amazing, I’ve never seen any of that in previous years.”

The audience showed their agreement through a crescendo applause for the boys.

The judges of the competition, Wesley Barrett, Becca Lynn and George Draklellis, chose the top five boys, who would go on to compete in the interview portion of the pageant.

The finalists included Kushy, Kevin Williams, John Wimble, Brian Mantone and Taranto. All of the contestants were asked heartwarming and thoughtful questions created by the judges.

Photo courtesy of Jason Kushy.

Makayla Frazier News Contributor Senior Jason Kushy took home the first place crown after 12 contestants competed to see who would reign victorious in the 3rd annual Mr. Emmaus competition on Jan. 31.

“I was surprised that I actually won,” Kushy said. “I didn’t think I’d actually pull off a first place win.”

Though Kushy was shocked to receive the 2017 title of Mr. Emmaus, a competition in which senior male students of Emmaus High School participate in a parody of a classic beauty pageant, his hard work prepared him for victory.

To start off the night, all 12 contestants wore black-and-white matching ensembles while dancing to a medley of well-known radio hits such as “Black Beatles” by Rae Sremmurd, Zayion McCall and Zay Hilfigerrr’s “JuJu on that Beat” and “Lip Gloss” by Lil Mama.

Each contestant was accompanied by an escort in the formal wear portion of the pageant. Escorts included an alien blow-up toy and Kushy’s skydive-loving grandmother.

“I thought about some things that would be cool and different, I had fun with [Mr. Emmaus],” Kushy said. “Because I knew everyone would have their girlfriend or significant other as their escort, I thought ‘why not bring my grandmother, she’s beautiful, young 89 years old, loves to skydive; I think she’d be great to be my escort.’”

Kushy proudly wears his Mr. Emmaus sash and crown with his grandmother by his side.

To award the winner, Kushy’s grandmother personally crowned him and presented him with flowers. Kushy claims he will remember this moment for the rest of his life.

“I’ll remember this wherever I go in life,” Kushy said. “And always remember I won Mr. Emmaus with the best grandmother [that] I could have.”

District considers new mental health services Andrea Klick Associate Editor Depression. Self harm. Suicidal thoughts. A rise in the number of Emmaus High School students who reported these or other mental health issues have prompted administrators to take action.

Last month, members of the Behavior Support Subcommittee presented the results of a crisis log in which district guidance counselors and psychologists documented the number of students who self-reported cases of suicide ideations, self harm, threats to others, depression and anger.

From August 2015 to June 2016, students reported 97 cases of suicide ideations, 61 cases of self harm, 48 threats to others, 22 cases of depression and five cases of anger. As of December 2016, the reported cases of depression exceeded last year’s with 97 cases, and similarly high numbers have been documented in the other categories.

The crisis log shows 58 incidents of suicide ideations, 27 cases of self harm, 31 threats to others and four cases of anger.

According to Director of Special Education Linda Pekarik, the committee of counselors, administrators, principals and school psychologists was formed last school year to address “the volume of behavior and crisis intervention in the district.”

Guidance counselor and committee member Kristen Grim explains that the committee set out to find how other Lehigh Valley schools are tackling a rise in students’ mental health concerns and the specific issues facing East Penn students.

“So, in that research we found that different schools are doing a lot of different things, but the majority of the schools in the Lehigh Valley have some sort of outside resources to address specific mental health concerns, whereas we currently do not,” Grim said. “With that research, we also looked at some other programs that those schools have been using, so we know members of the committee did visit different schools as well as had some of these other agencies come give presentations for the committee itself.”

One issue that committee members noted was that after students visited school psychologists or counselors, they lacked necessary follow-up care. Pekarik believes this happens for a variety of reasons.

“So, sometimes parents had insurance issues, and they couldn’t get follow-up care,” Pekarik said. “Sometimes they had difficulty accessing services, so they didn’t know where to get the services, there were no appropriate programs related to their child’s needs. There were transportation issues, and so on.”

After assessing the district’s needs and issues, the committee heard a variety of presentations from outside

services and decided Communities in Schools (CIS), a national organization with a Lehigh Valley branch, is a plausible solution. Pekarik initially presented to the board about CIS and on Feb. 13, representatives from CIS provided more details about the program.

If CIS is included in the 2017-2018 budget, it will bring a site coordinator to the high school, at a cost of $85,737, who works in the building and is tasked with making a school-wide survey to understand school needs, meeting with individual students in need and creating programs to educate all students on mental health.

The program is currently used in districts across the Lehigh Valley, including Easton Area, Allentown, Bethlehem Area and Whitehall-Coplay. When committee members looked into CIS, they discussed the program with staff and students at Easton Area High School, who, according to Pekarik, had positive feedback regarding the program and its impacts.

coordinate outside services, so if a student self-refers or a parent refers their child, that coordinator works directly with the students,” Schilder said. “So there is a significant amount of counseling that goes on between the coordinator and the student. It’s not as if the coordinator is just there to handle paperwork and find services. They’re actually counseling the student, they’re touching base with the student, maybe each and every day, especially if the student has suicide ideations.”

He believes the site coordinator will help lessen the workload for guidance counselors, who also help students with scheduling and college and career planning. “[Our counselors] wish they could do everything, but they can’t. So I think this CIS coordinator becomes a perfect complement to the jobs that our counselors are doing, and they certainly can still work together and talk about the students,” Schilder said. “But a counselor sometimes will see a student, will see that a student is struggling from stress, anxiety, depression, not have really enough time to deal with it; now that can be complemented by the services of CIS. I see the two working very closely together.”

The committee originally asked to have site coordinators at EHS and Eyer as well as a case manager at the high school, who would help with “individual and group case management,” according to Pekarik.

Schilder has currently included an EHS site coordinator in next year’s budget. However, he thinks that, if CIS proves successful, there could be room for expansion.

“It’s a way for CIS, almost seeing it as a pilot, we can get them into the high school, we would start in the high school, set them on it, and I’m very convinced and “We actually had the opportunity to visit Easton High I’m very confident that they would be successful. Once School, and we met with their assistant superintendent and we can show success, then we can expand,” Schilder said. the CIS site manager and case manager,” Pekarik said.

Grim believes implementing this program is “crucial” “And we also got to speak with a panel of students, and to help students facing mental health issues because CIS basically the one student said that the program saved her can monitor students inside as well as outside of school. life and that she wouldn’t be sitting here talking to us if it “It’s terrifying to think about the students that we wasn’t for that type of intensive intervention.” have lost and to think about losing more, and if you look Grim points out that the site coordinator would also around the room, you don’t want to see an empty seat work closely with teachers, counselors and administrators and think that you could’ve done something about it and inside the building. didn’t,” Grim said. “You don’t want to have to live with “[CIS] wouldn’t be an agency where we have to be that, no one does. And so if we don’t do stuff like that, if calling and trying to match our office hours with their we don’t get them the help we think they need, then we’re office hours to find out how to help this student,” Grim not teaching them and we’re not keeping them safe. It’s said. “They would be in the building with us. We could that simple.” go down the hallway to see what was going on, we could Schilder feels that, if the district does not help students work together to really meet the students’ needs.” with their mental health issues, it is not doing its job.

Superintendent Michael Schilder recognizes the various “If a student is so debilitated by depression, by suicide roles the site coordinator could play at the school and how ideation, that’s something the student lives with each and this could benefit students. every minute of his or her life, and if that’s the case, we’re “Well, I think the [site coordinator] first of all can not able to teach that student,” he said.

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THE STINGER

FEBRUARY 2017

NEWS

EHS to host Shave for the Brave in March Lily Day News Editor On March 24, EHS will host its fifth Shave for the Brave, a charity fundraiser to collect money for pediatric cancer research.

The Emmaus Pediatric Cancer Club (PCC) sponsors this event, during which volunteer “shavees” offer up their hair to raise money for St. Baldrick’s, a foundation dedicated to fighting childhood cancer. As the date of the event approaches, organizers are selling items such as T-shirts and bracelets during lunch periods; proceeds from the sales will be donated to St. Baldrick’s as well. The event also relies on the support of local businesses and members of the wider East Penn community. During the event, along with the shave itself, families of honorees-local children or teens diagnosed with pediatric cancer-will share their stories and be recognized.

This year’s event, which will be held at 5 p.m. in the EHS gymnasium, will be the fifth Shave since it was pro-

Photo by Rachel Reed.

posed in 2010 by Shannon Petrunak, a former EHS EngHow to get involved: lish teacher, along with the track and field team which Submit someone to be an honoree: contact Elizabeth Del she coached. Each Shave has exceeded the amount Re at delre12@hotmail.com of money raised by the last. In 2015, Emmaus’ Shave Sign up as a volunteer or shavee or make a donation: for the Brave raised $65,831 in donations and brought visit www.stbaldricks.org/events/Emmaus5 together 50 volunteers, 19 honorees and 113 shavees.

Have questions, or want to contact Declan Schoen about Senior Julia Dunn, president of PCC, explains why being a shavee?: DM @DeclanSchoen or @EmmausPCC she believes the event continues to flourish. on Twitter “Each year, more and more people hear about it, Keep updated: text @SFTB5 to 81010 to sign up for and when an event is successful it gets recognition, so Remind 101 messages people just find out about it,” Dunn said. “In past years, to doing so again for this year’s event.

Shave for the Brave has been very successful and is a “Two years ago I decided to shave my head for a known event for our school and community.” couple reasons,” Schoen said. “The two most significant Senior Declan Schoen, vice president of PCC, agrees with Dunn, attributing the event’s success to its hardwork- reasons being I wanted to help others any way I could, and that I thought it would be a fun way to change up my ing organizers.

“The people who have run the event in the past, as well hairstyle. I never regretted my decision even for a second.

So far my life has two highlights that stand above the as those running it this year, are some of the most motirest. The first being summiting a 12,000-foot peak in New vated and determined people I have ever met,” Schoen Mexico at 4:30 in the morning just in time to see the sun said. “And so, as a result, every rise. The second was shaving my head in 2015. It is an year we find more ways to raise money and to recruit more shavees experience I wish everyone could have.”

For anyone who is “on the fence or unsure if they and volunteers.” want to shave,” Schoen said he would “strongly encourSchoen notes that anybody can age they reach out to me. I would love to talk it through get involved in the Shave--not with them.” However, Schoen acknowledges that shavjust those in the East Penn School ing is not for everyone, and emphasizes that people can District. contribute in other ways. For example, even if someone “I have personally recruited is unable to attend the event on March 24, they can still people from Parkland, Southern raise money for the cause.

Lehigh and even Jim Thorpe to The goal for this year’s Shave is to raise $66,000. participate at our event,” Schoen “It’s a very large amount, but with the help of the stusaid. “So this event is very much dents at Emmaus along with the community, I know we not limited to Emmaus High can do it,” Dunn said.

School or even just the East Penn Schoen agrees, and is confident that “we already have community. Ideally, in future years, it in the bag. this will be an event that reaches “There is a lot of support for this event and people the entire Lehigh Valley.”

Schoen volunteered to be a sha- are already getting really excited, and the event is still a month away,” Schoen said. vee in 2015, and he found it so rewarding that he is committed

Shavees from EHS’ 2015 Shave for the Brave event.

Lunch policy causes controversy at Willow Lane Elementary Rachel McQuiston Editor-in-Chief Many Emmaus High School students know what a debt lunch is -- and recently an incident at Willow Elementary School prompted outcry and criticism from some parents in the district about the policy.

The event unfolded when a group, The Friends for the Protection of Lower Macungie, posted on its Facebook page about one Willow student’s experience. The post told how a cafeteria worker took away a girl’s lunch after realizing the student had insufficient money in her account.

The story, which was posted anonymously, alleges that “The child’s lunch tray full of food was removed from the kid’s hands by the lunch lady and all of the food on the tray was thrown into the garbage in front of the child.” The post went on to explain how the student was then given the elementary debt lunch, which, according to the 2016-2017 Food Service General Information sheet, is a cheese sandwich, a fruit, two vegetables and milk.

When in debt, the student can buy the equivalent of three lunches, $7.20, before receiving the debt lunch.

On the post, many people criticized the actions as insensitive. Others blamed the parents for having a negative balance in the first place. The post generated 99 shares and 121 comments.

Superintendent Michael Schilder thinks the district’s current debt lunch policy is fair, “but it’s unfortunate in the sense that at the elementary level, it’s really the parent’s issue and the child has to be put in the middle of that.”

However, to avoid placing the student in the middle of the problem as much as possible, the district contacts the parents directly through phone calls and notices.

Food Service Director Paul Vlasics believes that although fairness is a concern, the district must have a procedure in place regardless.

“It’s not whether or not I think it’s fair; we need a system in place to make sure that we’re collecting any money that’s in debt…” said Vlasics. “It’s not a Nutrition

Group policy or procedure, it’s a district procedure.”

Regarding the incident at Willow Lane, Schilder believes the situation was handled in the best way possible.

To clear up any misconceptions, Schilder denies that the child’s lunch was thrown away in a “flamboyant, dramatic way,” but instead as discretely as possible. In addition, Schilder also looked into claims that the student was humiliated upon receiving the debt lunch, and has found this to be untrue.

However, the event at Willow Lane is not an isolated incident.

Emily Womack, an EHS graduate, claims to have experienced a similar occurrence when she attended Shoemaker Elementary.

When Womack was 10 years old, she gave her teacher a check for lunch money to reimburse her negative balance. However, the check never made it to the office and was never put in her account, which was something Womack realized at lunch that day when she was given a debt lunch.

“It was just really embarrassing because I had to hold up the whole line,” she said.

“Everybody had to stand there and wait behind me and watch this happen.”

Similar to Womack’s situation, the Facebook page also notes that the student did have lunch money, but the cafeteria staff “admittedly put the money into the wrong account.” However, Schilder asserted that no evidence was found to support this claim.

Jefferson Elementary Staff Assistant Paula Dooley has never seen the occurrence happen at her school, but explains that she would pay for a student’s lunch who is in debt. Dooley, who believes that there are better ways to handle the situation, feels that the debt lunches come with a negative stigma.

“It kind of embarrasses the student a little bit,” Dooley said. “I think that they should have given the student a [regular] lunch, and then contacted the parents or the family privately and separately after that.”

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FEBRUARY 2017

OPINION

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YO U R T H O U G H T S , O U R S . . . I N O N E B I T E - S I Z E PA C K A G E

MANAGING EDITOR ANGIE STEIN A S S T. O P I N I O N E D I TO R S A N U J A R O R A & RONALD ROHLSEN

Why we should have off for Chinese New Year Kaylee Ruiz Opinion Contributor Lunar New Year is the most significant holiday in various Asian cultures; however, it is often overlooked. Why? Because more often than not, it’s spent

behind a desk.

This year, like every other, I’ve received the infamous question: “Chinese New Year? Is that even a real thing?” And every time I feel my IQ slowly sinking in response to the comical ignorance. I don’t blame the people for their lack of worldly knowledge. I blame a society that doesn’t prioritize equal celebration of major cultural holidays.

On June 23, 2015, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio implemented Lunar New Year -- also known as Chinese New Year -- as a legitimate holiday warranting a vacation day in schools across New York. Furthering progression and the celebration of cultural diversity, an additional vacation day allows Asian students across New York to adequately memorialize a holiday that is pivotal to their culture.

Unsurprisingly, two years later, Pennsylvania remains behind the times. Although students in the East Penn School District are allowed to miss school for cultural observances, there is a large difference between excused absences that come with make-up work and actual acknowledgement of a holiday. While I can’t speak on behalf of all Asian students in our district, my parents take education incredibly seriously and would be reluctant to allow my absence from school, excused or not.

America is an undeniably diverse nation. We have no official language in this country because even with different kinds of speech, we share one voice. Lunar New Year is not just a foreign holiday, it is an American holiday, and an integral part of

Asian-American culture. While it is observed by Asian students, by allowing this holiday to be spent at home, students of other ethnicities and cultural backgrounds have an opportunity to appreciate centuries of traditions and festivities. Although our district grapples with cultural diversity in many ways, it is crucial that they not only encourage tolerance, but actively help students maintain their traditions.

When minor holidays like Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Halloween get more recognition than the single largest Asian celebration in the world, you can’t expect people to not be offended and controvesy not to rise.

Cesar Chavez, a Mexican-American activist, once said, “We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community -- and this nation.” Recognizing and prioritizing all cultural celebrations equally is a crucial step in encouraging children to pursue and evolve the knowledge of family traditions.

Several friends and teachers of mine have brought up a familiar sentiment:

Lunar New Year isn’t a religious holiday like Yom Kippur or Easter. Therefore, it shouldn’t be a vacation day. To those who believe this, I must mention a holiday known as President’s Day -- because last time I checked, patriotism isn’t a religion.

I understand that President’s Day is a national holiday, and showing gratitude towards the founders of our nation warrants a vacation day. However, the significance of President’s Day revolves solely around respect and patriotism, neither of which are religions. Many people fail to realize that preserving Asian culture and centuries of tradition while honoring an entire subculture of American citizens is just as, if not more, important. It is argued that not all Americans observe this holiday and are invested in the traditions; however, not all Americans are interested in the history of our presidents. While there are large parts of the population observing either holiday, only one is awarded a vacation day.

Additionally, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not a religious holiday, but is still considered a monumentally important day

by a large portion of Americans. Similarly to Lunar New Year, many Americans take pride in this holiday, regardless of any religious attachment to it. As an important celebration to so many individuals in our community, it seems ridiculous not to allow Chinese New Year the same luxury as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. They both hold a large place in cultural and ethnic history, yet only one is a national holiday warranting a day of observation. While it’s impossible to say which is a more significant celebration, both holidays are unarguably American and both should be respected as such.

A recent announcement from our school principal preached about cultural diversity and maintaining tolerance. While inclusiveness is a heartwarming sentiment in theory, it’s impossible not to note the irony when late presidents get a day off in the spirit patriotism, while the entire Asian-American population in this district is ignored in their celebration.

But that’s none of my business, cue Kermit.

Alternative fact or fiction?

Ronald Rohlsen Opinion Editor Less than 24 hours after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, White House press secretary Sean Spicer erroneously reported that the crowd for Donald Trump’s inauguration was the largest crowd in presidential history. When MSNBC’s Chuck Todd pressed the President’s Counselor Kellyanne Conway about the matter, she responded in an eerily Orwellian manner by stating that Spicer was using so-called “alternative facts.”

First and foremost, the idea of “alternative facts” is clearly oxymoronic, as you can’t have two facts that directly contradict each other, especially in a simple statistic about the size of a crowd.

Claiming that a crowd is much larger than its actual size in order to make support for Trump seem larger than it is is similar to me claiming on a dating website that I am 6-foot-4 when I’m actually 5-foot-7. Then, when my unsuspecting suitor realizes that I’m not as tall as I led her to believe, I respond by saying “Well, maybe I’m 5-foot-7 to you, but I’m using alternative facts, so I’m actually 6-foot4.”

The idea of something like alternative facts sickens me to my core, because I

am a staunch opponent of opinions without facts and reaching conclusions not because facts led you there, but because another entity (such as a political party) tells you that you should have that opinion. Naturally, because I was so angered

by Conway and Spicer’s denial of facts, I began to put more thought into the is-

sue. I realized that the doctrine of using “alternative facts” is far more common than anyone knows, and must be stopped in order for a solution to ever occur.

Upon my ponderance of Conway’s comments, I realized that politics are full of people bending the facts to fit their narrative, no matter which side they are on. For example, I was never a big fan of Hillary Clinton during her presidential run, and oftentimes in debates about Clinton’s character people would blatantly deny facts. Some Clinton supporters would claim that there was no

classified information found in any of her emails, despite the director of the FBI James Comey explicitly stating that classified information of all levels, even top-secret information, was found in her unprotected email servers.

These denials and rationalizations for things such as Clinton’s previous negative stance on gay marriage and her flip-flopping on many major issues were not exclusive to the left, as Trump supporters, as well as Trump himself, appear to be using “alternative facts” to their advantage.

People still claim that Trump would have won the popular vote if not for the number of illegal immigrants, dead people, and fraudulent voters who cast a ballot for Clinton. The thing that really gets under my skin about this is that there is no evidence whatsoever to back up this claim.

The first person to propose the idea was a random Twitter user who refused to disclose his source for the information, and now people are perpetuating a myth that is contradictory to the fact that Clinton fairly and legally won the popular vote.

While these are just a few examples, it’s quite clear that alternative facts are used

to fit every narrative regardless of which side of the political spectrum you belong to.

At this point, you might be wondering what the problem is, as it’s expected that both sides bend the facts sometimes to better fit their side of an argument.

That is exactly the problem. We live in a world so divided by parties and identity politics that arguments are no longer about facts, but “proving” whose side is right by any means necessary.

People are moving away from factbased opinions and toward whatever opinion their party wants them to have, and rather than compromise and debate issues, they fling insults at the other side and refuse to see anything from their point of view. Because people stopped using facts to generate opinions, we are doomed to live in an America without compromise and in which nothing gets done because people are more concerned with which side is making the argument rather than the argument itself.

The only way we can get past this petty stalemate of ignorance is if we stop parroting party leaders and start doing our own research. All of us have to stop using alternative facts and start looking into things ourselves and forming our own opinions. Only then, when we’ve considered both sides, will we be able to properly have debates on our own views and be swayed by facts, rather than live in our political bubbles which prohibit progress and trap us in echo chambers.

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THE STINGER

FEBRUARY 2017

2016: Worst year ever (for you guys, anyway)

Angie Stein Opinion Editor I think we can all agree when I say TGI2K17: Thank God It’s 2017. We all have our own reasons to hate the past year. It’s possible that you’re upset about the outcome of the presidential election. Perhaps a celebrity near and dear to your heart passed away. Maybe you consider yourself the number one Toblerone fan in the world and the change in the chocolatey treat’s design was enough to make you toss 2016 in the toilet. Or maybe, just maybe, you and I share the same, special feeling towards ringing in the new year. It’s not relief, excitement, or hope, though those may be present. What I’m talking about - to invent another acronym - is called OMGFEWSTEHUA2K16: Oh My God, Finally Everyone Will Shut The Everloving Heck Up About 2016.

Sorry to go Banksy on everyone, but we all need to understand one thing first: time is a human construct. The concept of a year, 365 days to match the Earth’s rotation around the sun, was invented by us, the only species on the planet to keep track of such a thing, scream and whine about anything bad that happens during it, and then get embarrassingly drunk every time a new one comes along. Therefore, nothing and no one holds responsibility for events that happen during a certain year, especially not the abstract concept of the year itself.

2016 did not kill David Bowie, Prince, Gene Wilder, John Glenn, Harambe, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. It did not make climate change reach an alarming high.

It did not make Britain exit the European Union, make people commit shootings and terrorist attacks, or make the most recent election one of the messiest and most embarrassing in history. I hate to insult anyone’s intelligence here, but going by all the ceaseless memes and filler Daily Mail-level “Why 2016 sucks” articles, I feel like this message needs to get out.

Otherwise, when something bad happens or a famous person dies in 2017, enough minds will be blown to completely level the entire United States. At least then the Trumpster won’t have anything to “make great” again.

Now that we have that out of the way,

I’d like to talk to those of you who do not childishly blame a year’s happening on the year itself, but still feel the need to say 2016 sucked, oh my God, worst year EVER, I bet no one during the Great Depression or Jim Crow era suffered as bad as we did because Brangelina broke up. If you really think 2016 was The Worst Year Ever, fine. Perhaps you have less general, more personal reasons for your opinion.

But to shout it from the rooftops and make such extreme generalizations about a year, a length of time that is incredibly different for each individual, is inconsiderate, to say the least. And don’t even get me started on the immature and rude behavior I’ve seen towards those who dare to say 2016 was a good year for them.

Allow me to sacrifice myself to the flock of anti-2016 seagulls: I loved 2016.

Do I disregard the truly terrible things that happened over the past year? Of course not. But during 2016, I had some amazing

personal experiences. I went to China for the first time since I was eight.

I got to attend my dream school through a summer program and made some of the most precious memories and friends I think I’ll ever have. I survived one of the worst depressions of my life and finally got the help I needed. On a universal scale, can we define a year as good or bad?

Sure. If only we drew the line at that, I would have no problem with everyone saying 2016 sucked.

But the phenomenon of (sorry) 2016-shaming exceeds anything I’ve ever seen. I have witnessed people straightup attacking others who dare to say that the past year was a great one for them, personally. We have completely forgotten that a year is not just a length of time in a global perspective but a length of time in our very diverse, very complex, very specific lives.

Also, to touch on something very prominent in 2016, but not exclusive to it at all: we need to stop handling celebrity deaths the way we do. Social media is freaking great and any jealous baby boomers who disagree can walk up and down a hill through the snow right out the door. However, the ability to instantly Tweet our thoughts and feelings gets real ugly real fast when a public figure passes away. There’s the extremely selfish people who use the guise of grief to express their sadness not over the loss of the person, but the loss of whatever music/movies/et cetera they can no longer provide

What should really be banned from America Anuj Arora Opinion Editor President Donald Trump’s initial executive order on immigration, dubbed “the Muslim Ban,” has spurred chaos not only in America since it was signed into order in late January, but also created around the world. For those of you who simply do not care about politics, or for those who have been living under a rock, the original version of this executive order has several parts to it.

The order bans all national admissions to the U.S. for 90 days from seven Muslim majority countries: Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

This also applies to people with nonimmigrant or immigrant visas.

Contrary to what one may think, this article is not merely a rant on why the ban is morally wrong and promotes Islamophobia. Instead, what we should focus on is a ban to the real killer of American people; the killing machine that has killed over 60 Americans per year in the last 10 years.

With its revolving blades, the beast has more power than a .357 Magnum pistol; a gun with the energy to fire a bullet through the engine block of a car. Within a few seconds, this savage barbarian can cause deep cuts, crushed and broken bones, amputated fingers and toes, and for over 60 Americans a year, fatal injuries.

Yes, I am referring to the innocent-looking lawn mower.

Even more so than a lawn mower, Congress should seek to ban the assassin that is taking the lives of Americans as we speak. This two piece exterminator has caused the death of almost a thousand Americans

in the last ten years. From falling out of the modern bed, which consists of a mattress and bed frame, 737 Americans have lost their lives.

The irony is that Trump is banning these seven Muslim majority countries when, in the last 10 years, more Americans have died from falling out of bed and injuries sustained from lawn mowers than at the hands of all Islamic Jihadist terrorists.

To clarify, lawn mowers have killed more people in the last ten years than Islamic Jihadist terrorists.

On a serious note, Trump’s fear of terrorists is incorrectly associated with all people who choose to believe in Islam. In my opinion, this irrational fear is what caused Trump to give the order. The statistics are definitely not in Trump’s favor.

From the seven countries banned, since 1975 to 2015, zero citizens from any one of those seven countries have killed any Americans. In the last 10 years, nine Americans have died at the hands of Islamic Jihadist terrorists. In retrospect, 11,737 Americans have been shot by fellow Americans.

The most surprising aspect of the executive order was the fact that green card holders that may have traveled to one of the seven countries included in the ban, were also unable to re-enter the U.S. This was caused by the Trump administration’s lack of knowledge and further thinking.

On Feb. 4, the Department of Homeland Security suspended Trump’s travel ban citing the fact that a federal judge halted it in accordance to the constitution. Coming soon, Trump’s new travel ban will have the same basic policy according to Senior White House Policy Advisor Stephen Miller, and will be “responsive” to the federal court rulings that halted the original order.

Illustration by Kaylee Ruiz.

for our consumption. Then, there’s the people who simply vomit out streams of “SCREW 2016” and “2016 TAKES ANOTHER ONE” instead of accepting that it was the person’s time and offering actual condolences. Personally, I was devastated

by Carrie Fisher’s death because we lost a wonderful actress, author, and advocate for mental health. Whether she finished filming her scenes for Star Wars: The Last Jedi was not on my mind, and I sure as heck wasn’t shaking my fist at the abstract concept of the year 2016 that apparently “took” her.

I’m sad that the world lost so many historic and talented people. I’m devastated that so many hateful and violent attacks took place. I’m angry and afraid that our nation has to bow to a racist Cheeto Puff for at least the next four years. And I am incredibly disappointed that most of us chose to deal with these things by kicking and screaming about the year in which they took place, creating a pointless atmosphere of negativity. 2016 was not the best year ever, but it wasn’t the worst, either. All it was and is, objectively and definitively, is a year. Everyone expresses relief over its end, but if we continue to make such massive blanket statements about years of our lives, 2017 will be exactly the same, as will 2018, and 2019, and on and on until the sun finally burns us to smithereens and we realize, in death, that we should not have spent our time whining and moaning over the totally random events of a specific year, but making lasting memories, creating meaningful relationships, and working to better ourselves and human society, or we flee to one of our several space colonies where we can safely whine and moan about the year 6047 A.A. (After Adele).

If you really, truly hate a certain year with all your heart, try working to make the next one better, for yourself and for all. Adopt a more hopeful and positive outlook on life. Promote civil rights and anti-violence. Learn to handle the loss of your favorite singer or actor or athlete in a respectful way. Or, y’know, keep making memes that say “Me at the start of [year] vs. me at the end” with pictures of Squidward or Britney Spears or whatever. After all, TGICSP2K17HIWACY (Thank God I Can Spend and Perceive 2017 However I Want, As Can You).

Illustration by Angie Stein.

THE STINGER

The Democratic dilemma Erica Love Opinion Contributor It has been over a month into the Trump administration, and people are still surprised that he is following through with most of the draconian positions that he spewed on the campaign trail. The 73.5 million of Americans who didn’t vote for him are largely mortified, and naturally, the Democratic leadership is already beginning to think about who they’re going to run in the 2020 presidential election.

With all the energy surrounding opposition to the new president, one could think that the Democrats, (you know, the people who generally diametrically opposed to Trump and and his goons) would be going wild to find progressive candidates like Elizabeth Warren to rouse and inspire the party’s constituents. But of course, the opposite is true.

As soon as Nov. 8, pundits began to throw out some intriguing names for 2020 such as Cory Booker. People like him aren’t inherently evil, but they do carry the daring shadow of establishment politics. The Democratic Party needs to wake up if they think Americans would fall for another ordinary politician riddled with Wall Street connections and drastic private financing.

Poll averages from the last election show Bernie Sanders, who energized so many voters and called for a political revolution, would have won a 10-point margin over Donald Trump to become the president. The much smaller margin of 3.1 belonged to Hillary Clinton, a Democratic Party leadership favorite.

Obviously, establishment Democrats are not what Americans want.

Now when looking back at the era of Obama, I can’t help but feel cheated through the fact that, like Clinton, he was not necessarily a champion

for progressive ideals. Of course, Obama’s presidency brought some beneficial policies to reality, such as marriage equality and the banning of offshore Arctic drilling. However, against the Republicans, he was far too weak.

Obama had eight years to salvage the country and turn it around, but we were really only left with the shell of who we could have been. He waited much too long to put forth longterm change, and what we have left from him is to be ruined again by our new dictator and his Cory Booker (top) and Elizabeth Warren (bottom) are Democratic hopefuls for the 2020 election. Photos courtesy of GQ friends (which could have been and Africa WorldNews. stopped I’ll remind you, with The significance of this manipulation a Democratic candidate Americans is the fact that the Democratic Party rereally cared about.) fuses to be representative of Americans The Democratic Party is failing who want real change, who won’t back us. They bow down to the GOP and down to Republicans and high profile corporate donor interests instead of lis- banks like Goldman Sachs. tening to what the people want. In the The Bernie movement is still relmost recent election, the Democratic evant; we have not disappeared. We far National Committee under leaderleft-wingers are the marchers, the demship of previous chairperson Debbie onstrators, and all the anti-establishWasserman-Schultz paved the way for ment citizens that the Democratic Party the establishment pick Hillary Clinton could ever dream of. We certainly will to be victorious, and did not give Bernot stop now. nie Sanders a chance.

Down with the (education) system?

Luke Maake Opinion Contributor On everyone’s journey through the public education system, they have either complained or heard someone else complain about how the system is broken or unfair.

As with any institution that exists on such a large scale, public education has its fair share of flaws, and consequently its fair share of critics. However, an increasingly popular view of education is that the system is flawed beyond repair, and this is what I take issue with.

Some common arguments used to support this perception of the education system are that there isn’t equal opportunity for everyone to succeed, or that getting a decent education costs too much, or simply that public education is about attaining good scores and not actually learning.

While those may be valid arguments, and certainly aspects of the schooling system to be improved upon, they don’t support the narrative that public education is crashing and burning.

From a historical standpoint, the current state of public education is arguably just as good as it ever has been, and much better in certain aspects.

Recall the early to mid 1900s, in which the “separate but equal” doctrine still contaminated the social and political landscapes of America, and segregation in the education system prevented many African Americans from getting the schooling they deserved.

Since then, education has come a long

way in terms of equality; according to Pew Research Center, our students are more racially diverse than ever.

Another widely used argument is that America’s test scores aren’t as good as those of other countries, especially in the fields of math and science.

While this may be true, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center study, test scores in math and science have been improving over the past 20 years.

Besides higher test scores, dropout rates have been on the decline, reaching a record low of seven percent in 2013 among 18 to 24 year olds. Additionally, when compared with older generations, millennials are overall more educated, with 21 percent of males and 27 percent of females completing a bachelor’s degree between the ages of 18 and 33 in 2014.

These improvements indicate that public education isn’t completely failing, as some seem to believe. The fact that flaws exist within the system does not mean the system itself is inherently flawed.

However, these flaws must be addressed. For example, economic inequality plays an enormous role in schooling. According to a 2012 study from the National Center for Educational Statistics, dropout rates for students from low-income families are seven times higher than those for students from higher income families.

Students living in poverty miss more school, fall behind their grade level more easily, and are much less likely to pursue an education beyond the high school level.

Racial inequality, too, persists in many schools throughout the country; according to the American Psycho-

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FEBRUARY 2017

logical Association, black students are “more likely to be suspended or expelled, less likely to be placed in gifted programs, and subject to lower expectations from their teachers” than white students are.

Students are not the only ones facing problems, however. A 2013 MetLife survey saw teacher job satisfaction at an all time low of 39 percent, as a result of shrinking budgets and increased pressure on the teachers.

Evidently, the public education system has serious flaws, and if we spend our time moaning that the system is broken instead of working to solve them, the state of public education won’t improve.

Editorial Policy The Stinger is a student-run newspaper published six times per year.

Its content, which is the responsibility of the student staff, is not subject to direct administrative approval. The newspaper, which is designed as an open forum, serves to inform and entertain its readers as well as enrich students interested in print media studies.

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Personal expression through makeup: it can’t be beat Bibi Correa Assistant Features Editor Ah, makeup, the true essence of creativity and art in a world where few people appreciate that talent. Personally, if you can do double helix liner, I’m already pretty impressed. Yet as of late, the simple wave of a mascara wand remains insufficient for those in the beauty community. Now there’s a new trend: face beating.

Face beating, or having a beat face, according to my good friend Urban Dictionary, means when the make up applied to a person’s face is so powerful and amazing that it makes them look truly stunning. ‘Beat’ can also be used to describe any variety of things, not just one’s face. The term is popular among makeup enthusiasts and the gay community. Essentially this implies a face full of makeup, but not the kind where you can take a slice of cake out of someone’s foundation. Rather the skin is flawless yet contoured, the eyes have cut creases, the eyebrows are thick, the lips are pouty, and the highlight shines so bright, it’s blinding.

Now you’re probably wondering what I’m doing talking about makeup. No, I am not here as an Ulta representative trying to sell overly-expensive concealer to best match your complexion. Instead, I want to discuss the face beat.

People completely change. There are some girls that I can honestly say I have never seen without makeup. As if taking the layers of foundation would somewhat reveal a form of themselves they have yet to show the world.

Because of this new makeup trend, more people are transforming into this beat version of themselves. While they remain generally the same ,0they aren’t showing their natural beauty.

During the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards Alicia Keys chose to not wear makeup, and while she is not the first celebrity to do so, her movement definitely obtained the most power.

According to Huffington Post, Keys swears not wearing makeup is “the strongest, most empowered, most free, and most honestly beautiful” that she has ever felt. The songstress chose to bare it all in magazines, such as Fault, and during performances.

Hearing Keys speak up about how she felt wearing makeup, and how she prefers to be without it, is inspiring to those unable to do the same.

You will hardly ever catch me with makeup, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t spend half my paychecks trying to buy a ColourPop eyeshadow. I appreciate the creativity of makeup when I have the extra minutes to make myself feel good. But that isn’t to say that I don’t love the way I look without it. We all have ugly days, the days where you try as hard as you can but you still look ugly. When I had those days, I simply clumped on mascara in attempt to make myself feel better. But slowly I recognized that as I put it on, I got uglier. I started to become this form of myself that I never saw before and, quite frankly, never really wanted to see either.

Not worrying about smearing makeup or a shining highlight and sleeping an extra 40 minutes remains the best part of a natural face.

Also, clearer skin looks a whole lot better than caked-up foundation. Most of all, one can go outside without caring what people might think.

What most of us don’t understand is that in order to love and care for others, you must do the same for yourself. If you are not satisfied with the way you are or the way you look, how can you expect someone else to be? Again it’s not that people who wear makeup don’t love themselves, but makeup shouldn’t be the only reason for that love. While we may not have to like everything we have, our self worth should not stem from our makeup skills or our Instagram selfies. It’s our personalities. Go for at least one day without makeup. Stop caring about whether people can see acne scars or freckles. We are so much better than that. Put on makeup because you want to, not because you are compelled to.

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FEBRUARY 2017

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Features

FEBRUARY 2017

9

MANAGING EDITOR IZZY WEGNER A S S T. F E AT U R E E D I TO R S B I B I C O R R E A & MARLEY WAIT

10 months later, transgender student Ari Bowman still makes waves in the community.

tension and mud-slinging on both sides, Ari While the affirmation and support of the community and his mother felt the need to speak out. pleasantly surprised them, what the Bowmans truly didn’t “At first, I was scared,” Alisa Bowman expect was that story would go viral. says. “I really wanted to go into [the meet“I initially posted the video of his talk just to my ing] strong, but with a lot of love... I wasn’t friends on Facebook,” Mrs. Bowman says. “And somesure if we were going to be able to pull that body was like ‘Can you please open up your settings and off, and we did.” allow us to share this?’ And I was just like... ‘Okay, I’m Ari Bowman is not alone. gonna get public. If ONE person comes on here and says According to a 2016 study by the Williams something nasty, it’s done.’ But nobody did. And by the Institute, nearly 1.4 million Americans idenend of it… It went into the thousands just that day.” tify as transgender. However, not every indiMrs. Bowman’s video garnered over 43,000 views. vidual who identifies as transgender openly News outlets including ABC News, Buzzfeed, the discloses their gender identity. The Huffington Post, and The National Transgender DiscriminaMorning Call reported on tion survey of 2011 showed that 71 Ari’s speech. At first, he percent of its respondents said that was bewildered by all the they had hid their gender identity attention. because they feared discrimination.

“For a couple weeks there But as far as the number of adowere like a million people lescent teens go, there is no definiasking if they could intertive answer. view me and stuff,” he says.

Ari Bowman with mom Alisa Bowman in their Emmaus home.

The Center for Disease Control “And after a while I was just Photo by Angie Stein. and Prevention has no concrete answering the same quesnumbers because pediatricians typitions over and over again… cally do not solicit information about gender It actually got really fun at Angie Stein identity from their clients. one point… I got to meet the Opinion Editor At the September meeting, Ari, who attends governor [Tom Wolf] and it Sunday afternoon in the Bowman family’s Emmaus was at that point that I was neighborhood is almost eerily quiet, save for a cool Janu- Lower Macungie Middle School, shared his experience as a transgender boy, and Alisa Bowactually kinda glad that I ary drizzle pattering softly on the sidewalk. Inside their spoke out.” ranch-style home, things are far more warm and welcom- man shared hers as his parent. Other members of the community also spoke in support of Mrs. Bowman also felt a ing. Various paintings adorn the peach-colored walls, transgender students, including Penn Police bit overwhelmed. with books, board games and art supplies abound in the The Bowmans’ love of equality is superintendent Maureen Rush and Rev. Tim “I think Buzzfeed was the living room. evident through the small objects Dooner of Emmaus’ Faith Presbyterian Church. first outlet to write a story Ari Bowman sits at the table, amusing himself by scattered around their home. Photo by Superintendent Michael Schilder reinforced his about it,” she says. “And rolling a nickel back and forth on the colorful tablecloth.

Angie Stein. commitment - and that of the school district - to after that it was like crazy.”

Clad in a green-and-blue tee and khaki shorts, Ari looks making East Penn a safe and accepting learning At one point, her nerves the example of a carefree 7th grade boy. space for all. finally gained a cause.

Next to him, his mother, Alisa, sips from her mug, the Ari and his mom express both joy and relief over the “[Good Morning America] wanted to do it,” she says. beaming “Life is Good” mascot on her shirt peeking out positive outcome of the meeting.

“And I thought I made the biggest mistake of my life from her purple hoodie. Her husband, Mark, just left to “After the speech, I was really, really happy,” Ari says. when I let them do it, because the comments on the video walk their dogs, beagle-bulldog mix Macy and Doberman “Like, ‘wow, I actually did that.’” on the GMA site were really bad. They were... nasty Loki.

“There were so many people who showed up that [towards Ari].”

While they have all the makings of a traditional Amerinight,” his mom recalls. “And the ones that blew me However, Ari put a positive spin on the situation yet can family, to conform to such standards would be a bit away were the high school students. Especially one or again. too old-fashioned for the Bowmans. A year ago, calling “I didn’t even know he was doing it,” Mrs. Bowman them “progressive” might’ve cut it. In a turbulent time for two in particular who were so nervous to talk and you can LGBT rights, Ari’s presence as a happy, healthy transgen- tell it took everything for them to… say what they wanted says. “He was answering those comments back.” to say. And I was just like… this is a beautiful world “I finished all my homework early!” Ari says. der boy speaks volumes about the strength and fortitude where when students feel so strongly about equality, and “Then I realized it wasn’t a mistake,” Mrs. Bowof his family. However, when he and his mother spoke sticking up for the marginalized, [they will] overcome man says. “People just kept messaging me. ‘Your son’s at an East Penn School Board meeting on Sept. 12, Ari that fear… That was a beautiful moment.” amazing!’ ‘Your son’s the next Harvey Milk!’ That one I made waves on a national level. No words can quite sum screenshotted and saved, I was like…” up the phenomena.

She mimics hysterical crying, to Ari’s “I was really nerlaughter. vous,” Ari says of the While he may have done the heavy moments before his lifting, Ari also credits his accomplishspeech. “I thought it ment to the changing attitudes towards was just gonna blow LGBT youth. over… and nobody “I think if [the locker room incident] would really care.” had happened when I was in first grade, He couldn’t have it would have flip-flopped,” he says. “It been more wrong. Ari’s would have gone [against transgender courage bloomed out of students]. And I think people would adverse circumstances. have been scared of it because they Just before the start of would have never heard of [transgenthe school year, an inder people] before, but there’s been so coming Emmaus freshmuch... positivity recently about LGBT man voiced a concern of and... equality, and I think that’s the reahers to the school board. son we got such a positive response…

She took issue with The world is changing in a good way.” potentially changing in the same locker room as a transgender girl.

Earlier in the summer, the White House issued Title IX, a directive statTo read the full version ing that public schools of this story, visit must allow transgender stingerehs.com students to use the restroom or changing room of the gender with which they identify.

The student’s statement caused a stir on social me- The Bowmans enjoy spending time as a family. Photo courtesy of Alisa Bowman. dia. In the midst of high

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send n (ing)

Cathryn Seibert Lily Day Will Newbegin Editors “Hopefully this answer doesn’t come back to bite me, but I think you have to be pretty stupid to get caught. I’m a professional sexter,” said Brady, an Emmaus High School senior who claims he’s never been caught sexting.

Brady, along with several other Emmaus students, admits to both sending and receiving nude photographs of other teenagers in school. In a recent Twitter poll by The Stinger, 83 out of 272 students admit they have sexted. Nationally, surveys are mixed - some suggest the majority of teens engage in sexting, while others reveal the numbers are lower than expected.

Due to the controversial nature of sexting, Brady and the other students interviewed request that their names be changed.

As evidenced by the recent surge of the phrase “send nudes,” an internet meme in which people -- usually teens or young adults -- will send a photo or video creatively displaying the phrase, the practice of sexting has gained a sense of normalcy among that demographic. However, sexting and the sending of explicit images remains a serious matter that affects many high school students’ lives, according to professionals. In East Penn, administrators have implemented programs and assemblies to educate students about the consequences of sexting, both legal and personal.

Brady, who said he sexts “more often than [he] would prefer,” considers the consequences of sexting and understands schools’ involvement in discipline for the action.

“I would rather get in trouble from the school as opposed from the law, even though the cops would be called,” he said.

Anne, an EHS junior who hasn’t been caught sexting, said that she has both sent and received sexually explicit messages, with the frequency varying from “a few times a week or once every couple months,” depending on the situation.

She believes high schoolers sext “because they don’t think that anyone will find out, and they definitely don’t think that they will get into any legal trouble over it.

“I am always thinking about the legal repercussions, but it doesn’t stop me from doing it,” Anne said.

According to students interviewed, sexting can play a regular role in high school relationships, particularly those in which couples are sexually active.

“I wouldn’t say you have to sext your significant other to be in a normal high school relationship,” Brady said, “but it

is seemingly a recurring practice among a large portion of high school relationships.”

Clarissa, an EHS junior, feels similarly.

“Personally, if I want to have a sexual relationship within my relationship, then I am willing and will often be open to sexting,” Clarissa said.

However, Anne notes that there can be pressure involved when it comes to sexting a partner.

“Sadly,” she said, “a few people have told me they feel obligated to sext their significant other.”

According to a 2014 study by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, almost 40 percent of teens have “posted or sent sexually suggestive messages,” with more active participation among boys than girls. Additionally, the same study found that 22 percent of teen girls and 18 percent of teen boys have sent “semi-nude or nude photos.”

Principal David Piperato, who has worked at EHS for 10 years, recalls that in his first five or six years, sexting incidents didn’t exist. He believes the problem first started four or five years ago when students began to post inappropriate photos on a sharing website.

“That [incident] was the first thing that really hit us,” Piperato said. “And then it spiked a little bit after that, and then it’s dropped off since.”

Jeff Dimmig, a Lehigh County Assistant District Attorney, recognizes the disparity between the amount of reported sexting cases and the amount that teens actually sext.

“I’m aware that though the actual number of cases is low, I don’t think it accurately reflects how often that occurs out in the community,” Dimmig said.

Piperato thinks that the development of technology, from texting to apps such as Snapchat, has impacted the nature of sexting among high schoolers. Although technology initially enabled sexting, new mediums for the dispersion of this content may cause it to go unnoticed by parents or administrators.

“As social media has changed, certainly the amount [of sexting incidents] went up. I would say in the last year to two it’s declined some and maybe that’s because...the novelty of it has kind of worn off, but also because of the medium,” he said. “So in the past, when you did it through texting, there was a record, so then it existed for on and on and on, for a long period of time. Now with some of the tools that you’re using for social media, that stuff disappears very quickly.”

In addition to platforms for disappearing images, there are other applications that enable teens to engage in sexting without fear of being caught. Some students take advantage of password protected photo storage apps, which have icons that make them look like a calculator from the outside. In these apps, users can store photographs that cannot be accessed from elsewhere on their devices or seen by anyone who doesn’t have the password.

Consequences of Sexting A minor is violating the law if he or she…

- Knowingly transmits, distributes, publishes, or disseminates an electronic communication containing a sexually explicit image of himself or herself.

- Knowingly possesses or knowingly views a sexually explicit image of a minor who is 12 years of age or older.

- Knowingly transmits, distributes, publishes or disseminates an electronic communication containing a sexually explicit image of another minor who is 12 years of age or older (with or without the depicted person’s consent).

Offenses vary for those over the age of 18.

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udes:

Clarissa recognizes that teens sext for a variety of reasons despite the risks involved.

“I think that high school students sext because they think that they have to make the other person happy, or maybe they want to make themselves happy in the process and completely disregard the legal process,” Clarissa said.

“However, I assume that most students are unaware of the consequences altogether.”

Although Student Resource Officer Al Kloss has only been at EHS for a short time, he has already seen “a few” sexting cases.

“It’s my first year, and I have nothing to compare it to, but this is the first year and we’ve had some, but the scope is incredible,” Kloss said.

Like Piperato, Kloss also recognizes the impact evolving technology has on sexting. He believes that students may continue to sext because they think their actions cannot be traced.

“Technology’s changing rapidly, and it’s harder and harder for us to keep up with it,” Kloss said. “We do have a forensics lab down at Center Valley, and what kids are failing to realize is that even with Snapchat or Kik or some of the others that say they disappear after 10, 30 seconds, it’s not that way anymore. Even Snapchat can be recovered by the forensics lab down in Center Valley.”

Piperato hopes that the decline in sexting incidents shows that the district’s sexting education has been effective.

“In addition to the [District Attorney] presentations, we did have the local police, the Emmaus Borough Police, come in and make presentations to our ninth and 10th grade classes over the last several years,” Piperato said. “So I do think that the more we educate students and the more we make them aware of the ramifications of their decisions and the lasting effect of their decisions, the more students are considering, seriously considering, those decisions.”

However, according to Dimmig, problems with sexting do not start in high schools. Rather, he believes the issues that occur at the middle school level “may almost be worse.”

“They’re not mature enough to fully understand the ramifications of their decision-making,” Dimmig said of middle schoolers. “They may not be informed enough the way high school students are.”

Dimmig, as well as others from the District Attorney’s office, will come to Emmaus in the spring to talk about the dangers of sexting. In order to prevent sexting early on, presentations have begun at the middle school level, as well.

Yet some, including Kloss, believe that it might be beneficial to start the presentations even earlier.

“I think, from my perspective, they should even start sooner, say with the elementary kids, because I have a fifth grader at home and he has a cell phone,” Kloss said. “That’s where they need to get them. They need to educate them when they’re young. Some parents might say ‘Hey, no, no, I

:

the duality of sexting

don’t want that talk with my kids’ but the kids are gonna be doing it anyway. They’re going to be doing it, and starting [to educate students about it] in middle schools is a nice attempt, but I think they should go back further, fourth or fifth grade.”

Legal repercussions do not stand as the only consequences of sexting and sharing nudes. Piperato recognizes that, in addition to legal trouble students may face as a result of sexting, there is also the possibility of long-term, emotional consequences, depending on the situation.

“It really ranges the entire gamut or spectrum, because there are some issues where we see that it was meant maybe in a humorous way and nobody was really offended by it and it was more just a disruption to what was happening to the educational setting,” Piperato said. “All the way up to it including students who become quite distraught about what is happening in their lives, and the mistakes that they made and the fact that it’s out there in cyberspace and there’s no way to pull it back in.

“So depending on the incident and of course depending on the person, it can have some dramatic effects on people,” he said. “I’ve seen students who have suffered emotional consequences as well as personal consequences.”

Piperato believes that these outcomes can be even more severe in cases where a student was a victim of another person sharing their images without their consent.

“I have seen the level of pain that students have suffered and how distraught many of them are, especially when they’re a victim and they didn’t participate, and I can imagine that the effects are long lasting... like any crime that’s committed against a person, there will be emotional damage,” he said. “And on the other side, people who did willingly participate, I do think the embarrassment is there.”

Dimmig agrees, and notes that “there’s been suicide and other tragic events that occur as a result of the shame and the embarrassment that comes from sexting.”

Despite the warnings, students say the trend will most likely continue.

“I don’t think schools should get involved…” Anne said.

“The school has other things to worry about. The law and the students’ parents can punish them, [but] kids do not need more punishment from the school.”

With sexting becoming more commonplace in society, “professional sexters” like Brady may seem to be the norm among high school students. However, experts like Dimmig caution students that the dangers of sexting should not be overlooked.

“When it’s used positively, technology can be a really great thing for your generation,” Dimmig said. “But we also have to recognize that [technology]... can also be used to do some really terrible, damaging things.”

What PA law says about “transmission of sexually explicit images by [a] minor”

“If you’re transmitting it or possessing it, it’s a summary offense. Now, if you distribute the image of someone else, this is where it becomes a third-degree misdemeanor. Finally, if you do that with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass another person, that becomes a misdemeanor of the second degree.”

- Jeff Dimmig Information from legis.state.pa.us. Poll conducted by The Stinger. Page design by Cathryn Seibert and Angeline Stein.

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THE STINGER

FEBRUARY 2017

Kinzel, Marsteller, and a long-lasting friendship

Photo by Rachel Reed.

Renee Martin Features Contributor Social studies teacher Heather Marsteller and math teacher Sarah Kinzel work well together, both as teachers and as friends, taking inspiration from each other’s teaching styles and eccentric personalities.

The pair first met in 2005 when they were each pregnant. They began talking more, and in 2013, Marsteller volunteered to help Kinzel run a day camp for local Cub Scouts. Ever since then, they have become very close. Their families have spent holidays and vacations together, including a 10day trip to Cancun last summer.

Kinzel, who has been a teacher for 16 years, praises Marsteller, who has been teaching for 15 years, for her organization and skills as a parent and educator.

Left: Heather Marsteller. Right: Sarah Kinzel. EHS teachers Kinzel and Marsteller have been friends for over 10 years.

“Mrs. Marsteller is an excellent mother, friend and teacher,” Kinzel said. “She is extremely hard working and very organized.

When she and I work together, she keeps me organized, which is one of my weaknesses. However, what I admire about her most is her ability to think on her feet under pressure.”

Marsteller is not shy about expressing her admiration for her 12-year friendship with Kinzel.

“Mrs. Kinzel is one of the most generous, kind and optimistic people I have ever met,” Marsteller said. “Her approach to life is one that I often try to emulate.”

Both teachers want the best for their students, using their unique teaching styles to improve the learning experience of their pupils.

F E AT U R E S

An occasional feature on faculty friendships

Sarah Kinzel and Heather Marsteller go on family vacations together sometimes, including this past year. Photo courtesy of Sarah Kinzel.

Stinger: What is the best part about teaching?

Marsteller: I really enjoy the daily interactions with the students and helping them understand how much we can learn from the past to positively influence the future.

Kinzel: I love my job, the best part is the students’ lightbulb moments. They make all the hard work worth every second. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Stinger: How would you compare your teaching styles?

Marsteller: I think she and I have pretty similar teaching styles.

We each have clear expectations and work to create a comfortable environment in our classrooms so that the students can focus on learning.

We both encourage our students in our classes and push them to grow, both in our content areas, as well as to develop into well-rounded adults in our community.

Kinzel: We teach different subjects, so there isn’t too much in common with our curriculums. However, we both design our lessons to make connections to previous learning or everyday life. We both aim to teach in a way that helps our students relate to their learning.

Stinger: How well do you think you know each other?

Marsteller: I think we know each other quite well. We have met each other’s families, gone on vacations together, run a Cub Scout day camp together for a few years and spent some holidays together as well.

Kinzel: Over the past two years, we have gotten to know each other very well. We share a common work environment, our kids have common activities -- Scouts and sports -- and we enjoy spending time together outside of school. She has become one of my closest friends, and one of the first people I would reach out to when I need a friend.

Stinger: Do you sometimes find inspiration in the other’s teaching style?

Marsteller: Absolutely, Mrs. Kinzel is an inspiration to me with how well she gets to know the students and help them understand complex concepts.

Kinzel: Mrs. Marsteller has great project ideas for her students! She integrates a lot of technology in her classes and is always willing to try something new.

Stinger: If you weren’t a teacher what would you do?

Marsteller: I’d probably be doing something with animals.

Kinzel: I can’t even imagine, I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl, maybe something with math.

Stinger: What’s some advice you have for your students?

Marsteller: Enjoy the small things and live in the moment but keep an eye out for the future.

Kinzel: The world is what you make of it and you’re going to be happy because you’re going to make yourself happy no matter where you are.

Culture

M A N AG I N G E D I TO R W I L L I A M N E W B E G I N A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R B R I A N M A N T O N E

Educational melody: Flynn, Warnke embrace music in the classroom Izzy Wegner Features Editor Though Emmaus High School serves as the home to a variety of excellent musical programs, the school’s musical talent lies beyond just that.

Several teachers at EHS, such as social studies teacher Michael Flynn, enjoy playing instruments in their free time. Flynn plays a variety of instruments, but his favorite is guitar.

“I mostly play guitar, but I also play banjo, ukulele, bass and a little piano,” Flynn said.

He began playing the guitar when he was about nine years old, and he picked up the other instruments one by one since then.

“I came from a very musical family,” Flynn said. “My dad, he still sings barbershop music… he also played guitar. My dad [was] a singer, and [I was] always... around harmonies with barbershop. My younger brother also sang with me and my dad. Music has always been in the family.”

Although he had a few different choices of what to play, Flynn chose the guitar because of his father.

“We had a guitar in the house,” he said. “That was easy, and we had a ukulele in the house… I think I gravitated toward that because we played a lot together.”

Like many children, Flynn started by taking lessons, but he did not realize his true passion for the guitar until a poor experience.

“I was probably too young to start taking guitar lessons,” Flynn said. “I took lessons from a very mean-spirited person. One week, I remember this vividly, I didn’t practice that week, and I wasn’t prepared. He basically started yelling at me. I broke down, went home, and told my parents, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’”

“That might have been the best thing that happened,” he said. “I had to learn in a different way. I don’t read music, so everything had to be through ear. That experience led me down a different path, to a different drive, and to learn it a different way.”

He enjoys the relaxation that comes with playing the guitar.

“I’ve been teaching for 32 years, and over that time it just seems that... the noise of life has gotten louder,” Flynn said. “I’m sure anyone who plays an instrument can say the same thing. It’s kind of this little escape from everything for a while.”

In addition to playing recreationally, he strives to incorporate his music into his teaching life when possible.

“I have current event questions every day. Sometimes [they] deal with music” he said. “I’ll play records all the time. Because of my background in playing, I am familiar with things in songs, like parts of the arrangement, so I may talk about those.”

Although he does not often play for his students, Flynn will occasionally.

He also enjoys learning that many of his students play.

“There are a lot of students who play instruments,” he said. “It’s great.

If I do pick up the guitar and play, I find that there are multiple musicians [in my class]... I like to reach out to them and ask if anyone else is a [musician] and their experiences.”

Although he does not always play in class, Flynn has a history of playing guitar with his students.

“Going back to the ‘90s... Mr. Didra, who retired last year, used to run a talent show,” Flynn said. “[A student] and I used to do a couple of numbers together.”

“Over the years, I remember,… [another student] was a great player.

What is interesting is that right now there is another student, a senior… named Caleb Augustin. Caleb is a phenomenal player. [We] have played quite a lot together. I’ve had him in class for the past two years. He’s much better than me, but we enjoy just feeding back and forth a little bit.”

Augustin remembers the day when he told Flynn of his experience with the guitar.

“Last year he played a tune for the class so I stayed after class and told him I played the guitar,” Augustin said. “We played some tunes and from that point I’ve been playing there ever since.”

The two guitarists practice together during shared free time, sometimes even four times a week.

Photo by Rachel Reed.

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THE STINGER | FEBRUARY 2017

“We play stuff that we both know like Coldplay [and] Cyndi Lauper, or just made-up ideas that we put together,” Augustin said.

Flynn is not the only musical teacher outside of the music department, however. Fellow teacher Tom Warnke began playing the guitar in 1985.

“I always liked music and I just decided that I wanted to learn more about it,” Warnke said. “I started taking guitar lessons from my friend who is a guitar teacher, and really got into it.”

Though Warnke took a break from the guitar for awhile, he began playing again in the past six years. “[I started playing again because] I had a little more time,” he said.

“There were a couple of chances I had to take .... more lessons with another guy who is a good jazz player, which kind of interests me. I just took it from there.”

He chose to play the guitar because it is a vital part of the music that he enjoys.

“I grew up listening to a lot of blues [and] a lot of [what] you might call classic rock,” Warnke said.

Like Flynn, Warnke occasionally plays the guitar to help himself and other teachers with their lessons. The challenge brought on by the guitar is part of the reason why Warnke plays it.

“There is always something new to learn,” Warnke said. “It’s more difficult than you think. I never lose interest in playing.”

Warnke is used to questions from students about his playing.

“I teach humanities, so there are always a lot of musicians in that class,” he said. “We have something in common, so we both know what it’s like.”

Even outside the music department, Flynn and Warnke keep music alive in the classrom.

The Life of Brian

Democratic Division: An exercise in frustration

By Brian Mantone Culture Editor On Friday, Jan. 20 , Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America.

At this, some may cry and others may rejoice.

One thing is for sure, however; there was no shortage of controversy surrounding the inauguration.

To begin, over 50 Democrats in the House of Representatives protested the inauguration by choosing to skip it entirely. This began when Georgia Rep. and civil rights activist John Lewis declared that he didn’t see Trump as a “legitimate President” in an interview with NBC news, citing the Russian involvement in the election as his reasoning.

Supporting his claim, on Jan. 6, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released a 25-page report concerning Russia’s involvement in the election. In summary, the report concludes that Russia implemented an influence campaign with motive to “undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate former Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency.”

Despite the conclusions made by the ODNI, President Trump felt otherwise and publicly criticized Lewis via Twitter, bashing him for “falsely complaining about the election results.”

Since then, many Senators have came out supporting Lewis and condemning Trump for his comments. Supporting Lewis and rivaling Trump’s comments is one thing, but boycotting the election seems entirely counterintuitive and flawed in ideology.

While the report released by ODNI did confirm Russia’s involvement in the election, the blame for that does not land on Donald Trump. Yes, the reports of Paul Manafort (Trump’s Campaign Manager) having repeated contact with Russian Delegates leading up to the election are rather concerning.

However, given that the report concludes that there was no tampering with vote-tallying, for one reason or another, the American people have voted for who they voted for, and there is no law in place that can take away the results of the election.

While many Democratic House members have spoken out on this conflict, there is seemingly no initiative to fix what they consider both a wrongdoing and an attack on American democracy. Unless it can be proven that Manafort’s communication with the Russian Delegates directly affected the integrity of the election, nothing further can be made of the reports.

Because of these factors, boycotting the inauguration proved nothing about the legitimacy (or the alleged lack thereof) of President Trump’s election.

The ODNI report is still public information, and Trump is still guaranteed office for the next four years. What it did do, however, was create more tension in an already-hostile relationship between Trump and the members of Congress that oppose him. This could turn out to be very unfavorable to the Democrats.

Currently, Republicans occupy the majority in both the House (241 of 435 seats) and the Senate (52 of 100 seats). This presents Trump with a considerable amount of leverage that doesn’t come around all that often.

The last time a GOP President held the majority in both chambers of Congress was when Dwight D. Eisenhower took office in 1952. Trump’s potential hesitation to listen to certain House members could deepen the hole that the Democrats are already in.

Instead of worsening tensions, the Democratic House members should try to form some sort of constructive relationship with Trump. Such a thing wouldn’t be that unattainable, as Trump is already often criticized by his own party for leaning towards the left on a number of issues.

By worsening their relationship and, in turn, lessening their leverage with Trump, House members short-change millions of Democratic citizens that depend on their representatives from Congress to fight for their beliefs and ideals. Being an Independent who would have voted Democratic in the past election, I sincerely hope that change occurs for the sake of those who feel their rights might be compromised under the direction of President Trump.

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CULTURE

THE STINGER | FEBRUARY 2017

Diner Roadtrip & Rachel’s Rachel

Rachel McQuiston Editor-in-Chief Diners, a place where one would go on a Sunday morning with her grandparents, now are a frequent stop for many teenagers. Diners have become a recurrent hangout spot for many high schoolers, especially during midterms and final exams, after-school dances or for a quick breakfast before class.

Luckily, for EHS students, numerous delicious diners such as the East Penn Diner, The Brass Rail and the Starlite Diner and Lounge reside in close proximity to the school. However, countless other diners

in the Lehigh Valley, such as Letterman’s Diner, Billy’s Downtown Diner and Hometown Diner, possess foods of authentic taste as well.

Although driving to a local diner may save one a few dollars in gas, taking advantage of the Lehigh Valley’s wide variety of quality diners proves to be a worthwhile venture.

Stinger Editor-in-Chief Rachel McQuiston and Photo Editor Rachel Reed scouted out the leading meals at each of these underrated diners and provided readers with some of their personal favorite breakfast and dinner options.

3 Diners worth the drive Letterman’s Diner

Location: 242 W Main St, Kutztown Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m., closed Monday Rachel M.’s favorite: 3 egg egg-white omelet with bacon, shredded hash browns, wheat toast Rachel R’s favorite: The San Francisco Omelet (ham, onions, potatoes and American cheese) Nearly hidden next to an insurance office near Kutztown University sits Letterman’s, a bustling diner filled with KU students and breakfast-loving fiends. With only 23 seats in the small restaurant, insufficient elbow-room may be one’s only complaint. The diner contains only a few two-seater tables and a long bar with small stools near the restaurant’s

only stove, making it easy for your stomach to growl while watching the chef create the delicious food. With a wide variety of unique specialty omelets and breakfast foods, Letterman’s is sure to create an appetizing, yet cramped, experience.

Rachel Reed enjoyed the savory San Francisco Omelet at Letterman’s quaint location.

Billy’s Downtown Diner

Locations: 10 E. Broad St., Bethlehem and 840 Hamilton St., Allentown Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Rachel M.’s favorite: “Peeps”uccino Rachel R.’s favorite: PAZ’S French toast or the Billy Kristo

“Peeps”uccino and Eggs Benedict make a great combination at Billy’s Downtown Diner.

Hometown Diner

With two locations, one in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Billy’s Downtown Diner is a favorite among many EHS students. The quaint location in Bethlehem is decorated with leather seats and a cozy ambience.

The newer location in Allentown is almost completely surrounded by windows, letting the light pour into

the orange interior of the restaurant.

Along with extraordinary breakfast dishes, Billy’s also serves lunch meals, different types of coffee and rich desserts. Billy’s is a favorite among EHS breakfast connoisseurs and remains one of the LV’s most unique diners.

Location: 8732 Hamilton Blvd, Breinigsville Hours: Sunday-Thursday 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 6 a.m. -11 p.m., breakfast served until 2 p.m.

Rachel M.’s favorite: Chicken Caesar Salad Rachel R.’s favorite: Eggs Benedict Hometown Diner, which resides directly off of Route 222, provides not only enjoyable breakfast foods but lunch and dinner options as well. With a spacious dining area and affordable meals, Hometown remains a top option for a night out with friends or a morning breakfast with the family. Although Hometown Diner differs greatly from the

bustling city surroundings of Billy’s and the quaint town location of Letterman’s, its quality meals cannot be ignored. However, if you’re heading there for a big plate of bacon and homefries, keep in mind that they stop serving breakfast at 2 p.m.

The crunchy chicken Caesar salad is the perfect dinner option.

Photos by staff.

What are EHS students’ favorite breakfast foods?

53% 26% Pancakes/Waffles Eggs

Results: Twitter poll, 182 votes.

10% 11% Fruit/smoothie Cereal

15

THE STINGER | FEBRUARY 2017

CULTURE

THIS MONTH IN REVIEW Migos keep it consistent with C U L T U R E Will Newbegin Culture Editor Rain drop. Drop top. Are Migos really The Beatles of hip-hop?

Scratch that question. Let’s be real: the phrase “The Beatles of *lazily insert any non-rock genre here*” has grown exceptionally tired, because it only takes away from the talent that given artist has on display. And in the instance of their new sophomore album “Culture,” released Jan. 27, Migos bear no exception.

Perhaps no genre in music today provides as much divisiveness as trap. An offshoot of Southern hip-hop and pop-rap, this style has received backlash from rap traditionalists, critics, and fans alike for its alleged uniformity in sound as well as a routine espousal of shallow, hedonistic tendencies. On the flip-side, artists such as Young Thug, Travis $cott, and (controversially) Lil Yachty have garnered praise from some musical pundits for respectively injecting a distinctly personal flair, a more artful edge, and a light-hearted approach to a brand of music that often weighs itself down to ineffectiveness with its own drugged-out, party-hardy emphasis.

I suppose this is what also separates Migos from the rest of their contemporaries. Though the Atlanta trio -known individually as Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff -- rap their fair share about money, using and selling drugs, and objectifying women, their unique take on trap music compromises the genre’s stereotypes of being sleepy, boring and forgettable. Instead, on “Culture,” Migos deliver a set of punchy, immediate bangers, seasoned with the individual flavor that each member offers. Instead of one, drowsy rapper delivering a samesy flow over a homogenous set of trap beats, the trio purvey a playful chemistry throughout most of the album. Akin to classic rap groups like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony or Wu-Tang Clan, they take turns rapping hooks and verses, and their distinct flows and personalities create a continuously engaging listen -something countless other trap acts fail to do.

Where “Culture” also impresses is in its colorful array of instrumentals. Diverse, layered, and intricate, the series of beats complements Migos’ playful and staccatoed flows to perfection (for the most part). On the 13-tracklong LP, household names like Metro Boomin’ (Future, 21 Savage, Drake), Zaytoven (Gucci Mane, Travis $cott, Lil Uzi Vert), and DY of 808 Mafia (Waka Flocka Flame, Chief Keef, Young Thug) contribute their instrumental prowess. To keep things varied, Migos employ 20 different producers. Like Migos themselves, each producer provides their own stylistic quirks and personal touches to their respective song(s). These include the grandiose blaring of horns that carries “Deadz (feat. 2 Chainz),” the psychedelic, hypnotic guitars that weave in and out of “What the Price,” and the bouncy piano lead that backs “Call Casting.”

The track “Culture (feat. DJ Khaled)” kicks off the album with a triumphant proclamation by Khaled on

behalf of Migos. Laced with an intricate percussion arIn fact, the only force that seeks to impede Migos’ rangement, the track serves as a proper mission statement brilliance on “Bad and Boujee” comes in the form of for Migos, as they establish their dominance in multiple a cringy-at-best feature from none other than whiner facets right from the get-go. They spend more money, extraordinaire Lil Uzi Vert. The only memorable aspect they party more, they use more drugs, and they get more of his verse derives itself from obnoxious ad-libbing that women. Strap yourselves in ladies and gentlemen; these ultimately serves no purpose but to distract the listener themes will join you for from snoozer bars like the duration of your ride “Switchin' my hoes like that is Migos’ my flows / switchin' my “Culture.” flows like my clothes.”

Following the title In summation, Lil Uzi track comes “T-Shirt,” Vert should have never arguably the album’s joined Migos in the catchiest of songs. studio on this track.

Considering the exisAs alluded to, “Cultence of other earworms ture” is not without its like “Bad and Boujee” drawbacks. For one, and “Call Casting,” the lyrical content is this seems quite a feat. completely homogTakeoff and Quavo split enous. Without a strong bars on the hook about concept to string all the their high-class dopesongs together, akin to pushing, iced-out wrists, Travis $cott’s “Rodeo” and pockets overflowor Young Thug’s “Jefing with cash. The trio fery,” creative bells keep one of the album’s and whistles only do so most sleepy, entrancing much, and the topical beats captivating with uniformity grows weary their trademark flows after 13 songs. Moreand well-placed ad-libs. over, save for “Deadz Also worth noting (feat, 2 Chainz),” Photo courtesy of Genius.com. is Offset’s verse in this “What’s the Price,” “Big song. While I do acknowledge that “Culture” is not the on Big,” and “Kelly Price (feat. Travis $cott),” the second most thoughtful or lyrical of albums (a point I will touch half of the album lacks any standout tracks that replicate on later), Migos do occasionally come through with the same attention to detail that Migos demonstrate on the surprisingly-well-written sets of bars that elevate their record’s first four tracks. bangers to another level within the realm of trap music.

While generally solid from an instrumental standpoint, The record’s strong first half continues with “Call several of the last nine songs contribute their fair share of Casting,” where the beat (produced by Buddah Bless), as forgettable verses and hooks that fail to emanate the gusto mentioned, stands as one of the best that “Culture” has to of the first four. The lowlights of “Culture” include some offer. This catchy track solidifies that Migos most defibargain-bin braggadocio from Gucci Mane on “Slippery,” nitely bring a sense of humor when it comes to describing a bland EDM-esque banger in the form of “All A**,” and their hedonistic dominance. They drop bars likening their a closer, “Out Yo Way,” that overstays its welcome after relationship to the rap game as “Kama Sutra,” as well as the first hollow, emotionless, autotune-sung refrain. comparing their accumulation of “chickens” -- slang for But let’s cut the hate. After the hectic, drugged-out bricks of cocaine -- to that of a fried chicken fast-food club odyssey that is “Culture,” I walk away only with the franchise. opinion that Migos have cemented their spot within the And now, ladies and gentlemen, the main event. upper echelons of trap artistry. Though their mantra and Released last year, but skyrocketing in popularity thanks sonic appeal may turn off many a classic hip-hop head, to derived internet memes, “Bad and Boujee” caps off their immediacy and ability to pen an undeniably tuneful the album’s hot start. Produced by the always-impressive hook cannot be ignored. In an era of pop music where Metro Boomin, the dark, somber instrumental supplies a consistency grows harder and harder to maintain, Migos suitable background to a menacing depiction of just how continue to defy the odds. imposing Migos really are. Their collections of firearms: innumerable. Their girls: gorgeous AND rich. Their success: unprecedented.

McAvoy stars, Shyamalan returns to form in Split Eddie Coleman Culture Contributor 2017 kicks off with a well-done thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, also known as “Split.”

“Split” is directed by M. Night Shyamalan’s (“The Sixth Sense,” “Unbreakable”) and stars James McAvoy as Kevin Wendell Crumb, Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke, Betty Buckley as Dr. Karen Fletcher, Haley Lu Richardson as Claire Benoit, and Jessica Sula as Marcia.

For starters, McAvoy’s role as Kevin was one of the best performances I have ever seen by an actor because he had to play so many personalities throughout the film. He had to play a woman, a nine year old, another girl with diabetes, a creepy guy with glasses, etc. The role must’ve been very difficult to do because, at some points, Kevin rapidly James McAvoy acts as the changes personalities. persona “Patricia.” Photo While some actors courtesy of Fandango.com. struggle to get the feel of just one character, but McAvoy plays 23 different ones with seamless brilliance.

In the role of Kevin, McAvoy is a man with DID, Dissociative Identity Disorder, which means he has several personalities. In this case, he has 23.

The film starts off right away with one of the identities kidnapping three girls, Casey, Claire and Marcia. During their kidnapping, the girls have to figure out how to deal with Kevin as he changes personalities multiple times.

Some of Kevin’s personalities include Dennis, the one who kidnapped the girls, Patricia, a woman who helps Dennis, Hedwig, a 9-year-old who continuously says “etc.,” Barry, a fashion designer, and Jade, a woman with diabetes. The personalities constantly fight each other for control of Kevin.

At some points of the movie, Kevin visits a therapist, Dr. Karen Fletcher, who deals with people with DID. Barry, the fashion designer personality, emails her repeatedly when he needs to see her urgently throughout the film.

As the movie progresses, it reveals why Kevin kidnaps the girls.

To build the plot, some of the personalities are easily manipulated by the girls, and some are not. Yet what all the identities have in common is that they foretell the coming of “The Beast” -- a menacing 24th personality. This builds tension and anticipation throughout the film, which I liked very much.

Adding his usual personal touch, Shyamalan sets the movie in Eastern Pennsylvania, a nod to his hometown just outside

of Philly. As such, places like the King of Prussia Mall and Philly Zoo are mentioned.

The movie was similar to the 2016 film “10 Cloverfield Lane,” in which a young girl is taken into a bunker when the world goes berserk. Like 10 Cloverfield Lane, “Split” keeps the adrenaline running through its entire duration.

A unique thriller, “Split” doesn’t focus on startling the audience with jump scares; rather, it gets inside your head and makes you question what is truly going on.

The strong acting performances give the audience more of a connection with the characters and keeps them on the edge of their seats during traumatic events, which I thought displayed excellent direction from Shyamalan.

However, I was very confused by the end of the film because of what seemed a very forced cameo from one of Shyamalan’s other works, “Unbreakable, ” in which Kevin’s character was supposed to star. Shyamalan thought of the character 15 to 16 years ago and wrote him down. And then he made a movie about him. I guess the ending would make more sense if I had seen “Unbreakable” beforehand, but not everyone has.

The film surpassed all box office expectations. It made more than $40 million opening weekend and is currently the highest grossing film of 2017.

“Split’s” reviews have been pretty good with a 74 percent on Rottentomatoes.com, a 62 out of 100 on MetaCritic.com, and a 7.5 out of 10 on IMDb.com. Ultimately, there are many elements of the film that I liked, and I guarantee that “Split” is a must-see, showing that M. Night Shyamalan is back after his recent blunders, etc., etc.

16

THE STINGER | FEBRUARY 2017

Not-So-Patriotic Patriots Kyle Carraher Sports Editor

Sports

17

20 athletes cement their futures

Photos by Rachel Reed.

Preceding Super Bowl LI, New England Patriots’ tight end Martellus Bennett stated that if his team won the Super Bowl, he would not attend the White House visit in protest of President Donald Trump.

Well, the Patriots did win, and Bennett stood by his claim. As a matter of fact, several of his teammates followed suit.

This includes defensive end Chris Long, running back LeGarrette Blount, defensive tackle Alan Branch, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and defensive back Devin McCourty.

I completely understand these athletes’ issues with our president, and they have every right to speak out against him. And I do also believe that celebrities, at times, use their prominence for the greater good. However, many children look up to these athletes and will do all in their power to imitate them.

Sports are at their best when there are no politics involved. Sports -- a part of society that every culture shares -- stand as a common ground which can be used to unite people, no matter their background. Sports have no prerequisites to participate -- it doesn’t matter what you believe or where you’re from. If you want to play, you can.

I think the idea of protesting an invitation to a man’s house because of the divisiveness he creates is a little backwards. If one really wanted to promote unity, I think that you would still attend the White House despite differences. For me, Bennett would convey a stronger message message if the Pro Bowl tight end spoke out with his issues against President Trump but still attended the ceremony. Usually in sports, there is at least one person on the team that you aren’t the biggest of fan of. You must be willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team, if you want to succeed. Similarly, in life there will always be people you don’t like and in this case it just happens to be the President of the United States.

The Patriots are a symbol of success in professional sports. Arguably they are the greatest dynasty in professional sports, winning five world championships since the turn of the century. This is unparalleled in the history of the National Football League. The Patriots have accomplished this by a system that has become known as “the Patriot way.” The Patriots consistently cut players who are extremely talented if they bring negative publicity to the team. All they require is a player willing to do a job for the team, nothing less.

Knowing this, you think head coach Bill Belichick would do something about players speaking out, but he has let them free for now.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is also a close friend of President Trump.

I hope in the future that athletes can look past their differences with our president to unite the country instead of contributing to the division that has taken place the last few months.

To be fair, Tom Brady did not attend the ceremony at the Obama White House after the Patriots’ last Super Bowl title. He said that he had a previous family engagement (you can take that anyway you want to). Many assume that Brady was not in attendance because of a dislike of President Obama.

Honestly, I don’t think it really matters what your personal opinion is on the president; no matter who he is, you don’t have to support him, but you should support our country.

So all I’m saying is these professional athletes don’t need add to the division of late.

All Bennett and other Patriots are doing is creating a larger gap in our great country, which is supposed to be the land of the free. If you don’t agree with someone, it’s perfectly okay to share your contradictory opinion. I just don’t think not attending the White House will do any good. President Trump will not change the way he does things because a handful of athletes boycott attending his house. If you truly want to tell President Trump concerns about the state of our country, I think a face-to-face meeting provides a great place to discuss these concerns and make a much stronger impact.

THE STINGER | FEBRUARY 2017

On Feb. 8 in Emmaus’ auditorium full of friends of family, 20 athletes finalized their future by signing their National Letter of Intent.

Athletic Director Dennis Ramella addressed the crowd, listing the achievements of the 2017 graduation class.

“If this isn’t the largest signing day it has to be close,” said Ramella.

Ramella called the group “good kids,” who are special because of their exceptional athletic and academic abilities. Their total esimated amount of scholarships reaches $2.1 million. In all, the athletes, who represented eight sports, averaged a GPA of 3.32 and totalled 91 varsity letters.

The 20 student athletes include: Noah Bacon (Soccer)- LeMoyne College Alyson Bohman (Volleyball)- Kutztown University Christina Carotenuto (Field Hockey)- Temple University Eric Cichocki (Baseball)- Lehigh Univesity Tyler Corpora (Lacrosse)- University of Hartford Madalyn Dorn (Field Hockey)- Boston College Samantha Fritzinger (Golf)- Wingate University Kacper Grycel (Soccer)- Bloomsburg University David Kachelries (Basketball)- New Jersey Institute of.Technology Kira Koehler (Field Hockey)- Dartmouth College Braedon LaBar (Lacrosse)- Sienna College Carson Landis (Football)- Pennsylvania State University Ian McCardle (Football)- Kutztown University Reilly McGinnis (Soccer)- West Point Brittany Morgan (Field Hockey) Slippery Rock University Todd Moxey (Baseball)- Longwood University Drew Schwindenhammer (Football)- Millersville University Meredith Sholder (Field Hockey)- University of North Carolina Dylan Sosnow (Soccer)-Millersville University Kiyae White (Basketball)- Auburn University

Q&A WITH SIGNEES SOSNOW & DORN How was the experience of Signing Day? Sosnow: For me, one of the coolest parts was seeing all my friends up on the stage. It was just a real proud moment for me, especially recognizing what everyone went through to get that moment.

Dorn: It was cool to see 20 of us up there. I’ve been to every signing day since I was a freshman, and there were never that many people signing. I always knew we had a strong class since I was a freshman and that just proved that.

What are your goals in college?

Sosnow: Honestly, I just want to earn a starting spot; it’s a fresh start so you have to prove your worth. I hope that I can still have fun obviously too.

Dorn: I want to have a well-rounded experience at college--I don’t want to have my whole life just be field hockey and academics. I still want the whole college experience.

What motivated you to play at the next level?

Sosnow: What really motivated me to play at the next level were my coaches and teammates, especially my states team-they all just kept pushing me. I have to put my parents in there too; I wouldn’t be anywhere without them.

Dorn: [Coach] Sue [Butz-Stavin] has definitely been a huge influence, even though she’d make me upset sometimes, my dad would help me get through it. I’ve been playing with the same girls since sixth grade and they’ve always helped me along.

I just don’t really think I can say enough about how much I respect them all.

Interviews by Kyle Carraher.

Teaching and coaching: a crucial balance James Marler Sports Editor Teaching a classroom full of high-schoolers is a difficult task to take on, but to coach them as well is a whole other story.

Emmaus is a school filled with student athletes, and their coaches are many times their teachers, so striking a balance between class and the field is very important.

Social studies teacher Steven Yoder is the school’s head basketball coach and takes his teaching position very seriously.

“I am a teacher first. I try to teach all the students the same. I am sure I have more of a relationship in class with the players I teach,” Yoder says, “but they get what they earn, and the rules are the same for them.”

Yoder has been coaching for nine years and has led a very successful program, owning a 135-87 record in his tenure as head coach, but he also tackles the duties of a social studies teacher at Emmaus, which Yoder admits can be tough.

“The students are really supportive of their classmates who play all sports, and they are really supportive of their classmates who play all sports, and they are very supportive of me,” Yoder says, “I feel blessed that I was given the opportunity to coach at such a great place like Emmaus High School, but it is tiring.”

Math teacher Jacob Hildebrand, the football team’s linebacker coach, gives a

similar take on teaching and coaching.

“The hardest thing [about teaching and coaching] is balancing the time,” Hildebrand says. “Obviously teaching takes priority, and there can be many time restraints.”

However, Hildebrand takes value in seeing many of his students on the field or outside of class and seeing their development through the years.

“The best thing is definitely seeing the kids outside the classroom,” Hildebrand says. “You have a certain type of kid in the classroom, and when you see them with their friends working towards something collectively, it brings out the best in their personalities.”

Biology teacher and LMMS girls’ basketball coach Brent Landrum spoke about the trials and tribulations and also the rewards of maintaining the healthy balance of teaching and coaching. “[I successfully balance teaching and coaching] with great effort. It would be a lie to suggest that I am able to balance it in such a way that my teaching and parenting are not adversely affected,” said Landrum. “One has to weigh the benefits against the costs to determine its value, and I think that coaching is one of the most valuable and meaningful things I do in my professional life.”

It’s no surprise that teaching takes priority, but a question that many may have is what happens when coaches have their players in class. Both Yoder and Landrum have similar but contrasting re-

sponses to this issue.

“I have had many of my players over the years, and do not believe it has any effect on my teaching,” Yoder says. “It can be really nice to have them in class, because there is an established relationship that allows them to feel comfortable to participate.”

Landrum remarked on the ability to form relationships on and off the court.

“The level of trust and common purpose in coaching allows the development of a relationship in which my players will do anything for me and they know I would reciprocate for them,” Landrum says. “For lots of reasons, despite also sharing a common goal, this same relationship in the classroom is not as easy to develop.”

Landrum added that he finds time management to be difficult, especially when he is trying to keep up with his kids, team, wife, exercise and teaching, as he spends about 60 to 70 hours a week on those respective duties.

Yoder emphasized his organization in order for him to keep up on his sleep so he can stay rested and healthy.

“The better organized you are, the easier it is to balance a busy schedule.”

Yoder says. “The more rested you are, the easier it is to maintain a busy schedule and stay healthy.”

Day and night, many Emmaus teachers work to lead their students and players to their full potential, no matter on the field or in the classroom.

18

Daryn Lewis

Fast Facts Height: 6’1” Favorite Celebrity: Drake Favorite Subject: Math Photo courtesy of Wesley Works.

Izzy Wegner Features Editor Daryn Lewis began playing basketball when he was 10 years old.

At first, he played games for fun with friends and neighbors in the park, not trying to join a team until seventh grade. “[I played with] friends in the neighborhood, whoever was there,” Lewis said. “I [also] played intramural in the summer.”

Although he did not succeed in his first year of tryouts for basketball in seventh grade, Lewis made the team the following year.

Four years later, Lewis stands out as a forward, guard and captain of the boys’ basketball team. He believes that this season showcased the group’s ability to succeed together.

“We’re all really close because we have all been playing together since middle school,” Lewis said. “It’s a family type of thing.”

As a captain of the team, Lewis took on various responsibilities for the Hornets, who ended their quest for the EPC title earlier this month in a tough loss to East Stroudsburg North. The team headed into the tournament with a No. 1 ranking, only to lose that game at home 52-49, bringing the team’s strong season to a quick end.

“At the beginning of [each] game, the [referees would] call us over and tell us to keep our teams in line,” Lewis said.

However, he was responsible for more

Zoe Stein

Height: 5’3” Favorite T.V. Show: One Tree Hill Subject: Sociology

Photo courtesy of Wesley Works.

than just formalities on the team. Lewis also strove to mentor the other players.

“There [were] a lot of sophomores on the varsity team this year,” Lewis said. “I try to help them by just breaking it down when they do something wrong. I tell them how they can improve.”

Boys basketball coach and social studies teacher Steven Yoder believes that Lewis was an good team captain because he is a balanced person.

“Daryn is a laid back kid. He isn’t too high, isn’t too low, and doesn’t take anything too seriously,” Yoder said. “He kind of keeps things in perspective. He enjoys the game and being around [the others]. I like how level he is.”

Not only was Lewis an effective leader, Yoder also believes he stood out as an exceptional player.

“His strength this year was that he is a senior,” Yoder said. “[He has] experience that other players don’t have. I always say seniors just get it, and Daryn is a perfect example of that.

“Here is a kid that played JV a little bit as a junior, who didn’t get a lot of varsity time,” he said. “He just kept a great positive attitude and now he [was] one of our glue guys and one of our most important players.”

When Yoder first asked Lewis to be a captain of the team, he was ecstatic. “[Being a captain] has always been one of

“I’m still undecided,” she said. “But I’ll definitely play club”.

Senior teammate Kiyae White sees Stein for the hard-working, dedicated player that she is.

“She works hard, always has her head up, and wants to stay motivated for the younger girls,” White said. “She’s a leader.

She’s funny, helpful and always motivating.”

White, who is aware of Stein’s dedication to school and other activities outside of basketball, appreciates that she is understanding of others on and off the court.

“She always makes extra passes. Zoe is unselfish,” White said.

White hopes that Stein continues to shoot hoops at King’s University this coming fall.

“She has the work ethic in what it takes to be a ball player,” she said. “We [her teammates] are trying to convince her.”

Stein and White remain close on and off the court, and their friendship has only boosted their game.

“Zoe is a little girl with a big heart, we bonded,” White said. “She helps the younger girls work hard and listen to the coaches. She helped me understand my importance to the team.”

Chrissy Lambert

DYNAMIC

over-the-top

Fitness Team

Christopher Solley Sports Contributor Exercising and fitness has always been a way for people to relieve stress and feel better, and for many, that is exactly what EHS’ fitness team is all about. In specific, the grueling team sport represents these aspects for junior Chrissy Lambert.

“I’ve loved fitness since the moment I started,”Lambert said.

Ever since Lambert joined the team, she has gotten high praise from everyone in her life when it comes to the sport. And, of course, her teammates are no exception.

Emmaus sophomore Logan Flammer regards Lambert highly when it comes to the fitness team.

“If I had to describe Chrissy I would probably say she’s an incredible athlete, extremely competitive, and extremely hard working,” Flammer said.

Emmaus sophomore Cooper Castrovillari also had nothing but good things to say about Lambert.

“When I hear the name Chrissy Lambert I instantly

my personal goals,” Lewis said.

In addition to Yoder, Lewis’s teammates agree that he is an excellent player and leader. One such teammate is senior and fellow captain Eric Cichocki.

“We both [tried] to lead on the court, and we both mostly [focused] on defense,” Cichocki said. “That’s what we took pride in. “[Lewis] has a lot of energy,” he said. “He is a really good leader on the floor. He always sets a good example.”

Junior Tommy Ross agrees that Lewis was an asset to the team.

“He is a leader because he is one of the seniors and he’s a vital part to our defense,” Ross said.

Lewis’s rise to the top came from many years of hard work and training, both in and outside of the school gym. “[The neighborhood park] definitely helped a lot,” Lewis said. “Especially after I got cut in the seventh grade from the middle school team. So I played a lot more and practiced a lot harder.

“Whenever I can, I’ll just go to the rec center and shoot around with friends,” he said.

More than anything else, Yoder appreciates Lewis’s overall outlook on basketball.

“He realizes that while this basketball is great and important to the kids in the moment, it’s bigger than basketball,” Yoder said.

“He leads by example.”

Photo courtesy of Zoe Stein.

Fast Facts

Eddie Coleman Copy Editor Senior Zoe Stein excels in the sport of basketball; she has since she was just eight years old. However, before discovering her talent for basketball, Stein experimented with various sports.

“When I was young I played different sports,” Stein said. “Other people thought a short girl must not be good [at basketball].”

However, the 5-foot-3 basketball star has proven her doubters wrong as she dominates the courts this season. Although Stein is an all around seasoned player, she finds her biggest strength to be giving her teammates good passes.

In addition to her assets, Stein believes that the game has positively impacted herself as a person. In fact, she even states that her favorite part is that it showcases her “competitive drive.”

Unsurprisingly, her love for basketball didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Stein, an avid Boston Celtics fan, was inspired to play basketball when watching their passion and drive on the court.

As the end of high school approaches, Stein still holds the option to play in college.

Four

think of her incredibly tough work ethic and determination to become the best she can be,” Castrovillari said.

But the person who gives Lambert the most credit is probably Marine Fitness coach George Gibbs who is returning for a 45th season.

As competition season nears, Lambert hopes to win her first fitness award.

“I have not won any awards yet, but I’m expecting to go to California this year, but this time as an A team member,” Lambert said.

Lambert looks forward to her future with fitness team and the experiences it will bring.

Lambert poses on teammate Jill Brays’ s back.

Photo courtesy of Lambert.

Faces

19

Kelly Harvey Bibi Correa Features Editor With practice six days a week year-round, the rigorous routine of swimming proves no easy task. However, senior Kelly Harvey has managed to endure the workouts.

At a young age, Harvey knew she wanted to swim since her older siblings both competed with Emmaus Aquatic Club (EMAC).

And while she tried other sports, Harvey never quite enjoyed them as much as she did competing in the pool.

However, during her early teens, Harvey began to question her commitment to swim.

For her, the sport proved extremely difficult and challenging.

One day she googled, “Is Swimming a Sport” and discovered that it is considered to be one of the hardest sports. With that in mind, Harvey ramped up her training. However, during her junior year, she suffered a concussion that kept her from reaching her true potential. While all of her friends dropped time, Harvey didn’t since she was sidelined. As a result, she decided to dedicate more time to the sport once she got back in the water.

Her hard work definitely hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Junior Michael Brennan recognizes Harvey’s commitment to not only the team, but herself.

“Kelly is different from other swimmers because she never gives up,” Brennan said.

“Swimming is grueling and monotonous, but Kelly never throws the towel in. She stays strong and finishes the job.”

Indeed, that is one of Harvey’s strengths: endurance. Since the sport is so vigorous, it’s hard for swimmers to maintain a strong pace in longer distances. And while it is scored as a team sport, each swimmer is responsible for his or her individual times. There are no time-outs or quick substitutions for one’s performance. Whenever the pressure intensifies during a meet or practice, she has persevered.

Swim coach Timothy O’Connor notices that although Harvey has put in a lot of mileage and hours during the team’s intense practices and meets, she enjoys the sport at the same time.

“She is really relaxed and having fun this year and that demeanor shows in her training,” O’Connor said. “And as a result, I feel is helping perform better.”

Harvey often swims 500-yard freestyle during meets. While the event remains one of the hardest in swimming, she never doubts herself. Harvey tries just as hard every single time, never losing confidence in herself, indifferent to the frequency of the meets. Although swimming the same routines every meet can become become repetitive, she said she strives to do her best each time.

Encouraging others is another one of Harvey’s best qualities. While her teammates are in the water, Harvey is on deck cheering them on, according to Brennan.

“Kelly helps the team by being a great teammate and swimmer,” Brennan said. “She is a strong distance swimmer that can score us points, but she is also a motivator for the other swimmers and myself.”

Junior Kelsey Schneider agrees with Brennan, as she has noticed that the girls’ team became closer and closer during the season which brought success since both teams captured the East Penn Conference title in their win against Parkland on Jan. 16.

“The girls’ team is close; the junior girls and senior girls get along really well and whenever we have swim events, we stay together,” Schneider said.

Although her high school career will soon close, Harvey said she is experiencing an early case of senioritis; but according to senior Kaitlin Hur, it is the good kind.

“She’s ready to move on from high school to something that presents more opportunities with a new environment,” Hur said.

Harvey committed to Clarion University, a Division 2 school in western Pennsylvania. While Harvey hopes to keep swimming throughout her life, she does not want to overwhelm herself with it and make it her whole life. She hopes to study nutrition, something she is really passionate about.

Along with her career, Harvey is thinking about possibly coaching swimming after college, which is something she already started at with the Lower Macungie Lazers and now at Brookside Country Club.

Noah Brown James Marler Sports Editor A broken leg couldn’t stop senior hockey player Noah Brown from bringing a positive and fun attitude to the ice.

Brown, finishing his third year in varsity hockey, has tallied 52 points over the span of his high school career. The winger has netted 26 goals and assisted an additional 26, along with finishing 2nd in points this season. Brown also owns the team’s longest points streak, at five games. Brown hasn’t been affected by his late start in the sport, picking up with the high-speed, hard-hitting

Photo courtesy of Noah Brown.

action of ice hockey.

“I started in 8th grade, and played for the Emmaus JV team,” Brown said. “They were letting middle schoolers on the team.”

Coach Jamie Reider spoke about his alternate captain Brown’s best quality off the ice.

“His personality keeps the locker room light,” Reider says, “Basically, it makes it easy for his teammates to relax and have fun.”

Brown, according to junior teammates Zakk Foster and Shane Miller, uses his good personality to bring a positive mood to strenuous training.

“He brings a sense of humor to every practice and game,” Miller says. “He makes practices fun and interesting.”

“He can make everybody laugh and have a good time,” Foster says. “He has a great personality and can make practices very enjoyable.”

Brown said he tries to bring a positive attitude to every event. “[My favorite part about hockey] is joking around with my friends,” Brown says. “I love being around people.”

It’s not just off the ice, it’s on the ice as well. Brown shows a proficiency in puck

control and deking, showing his talent in the attacking role. “[Noah’s best on-ice ability is] his communication with his teammates,” Foster says. “He is able to organize the team and execute on the attack.”

Coach Reider added on Noah’s on-ice abilities.

“He always gives his best on the rink, and has a way to get the team to work together and strive for a common goal,” Reider says.

Reider also joined Foster and Miller in praising Brown’s personality.

“He doesn’t let things get him upset,” Reider says. “He is such a light hearted and laid-back kid, he is always a good presence to have on a team.”

Along with the Emmaus team, Brown has also been a member of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms youth team. Brown finds his biggest influence from his travel coach, Mark Spease.

“He’s been coaching me for a while,” Brown says. “He taught me how to play real hockey, and gave me the road to reach my full potential.”

Brown has made his mark on Emmaus, and hopefully will continue to grow in the sport of hockey in the years to come.

Duo

underclassmen

Joe Eckstein Sports Contributor Caden Wright has been one of the key pieces to the success of Emmaus’ wrestling team.

Wright, a freshman, competes at the 152 weight class and has regularly earned high ranks from area sports writers for his consistent performance on the mat. It’s been a long time coming: he started wrestling in kindergarten after his father, a former wrestler, got him involved.

Wright admits that he was a bit skeptical to wrestle, but he finally decided to give it a go.

“My dad wrestled in high school, and he was begging me to do it for awhile and I kept saying ‘no, no, no,’” Wright said.

“Then one day at school they gave me a paper, and I said I wanted to do it, so I tried it out.”

Since then, Wright has become quite the

Fast Facts Height: 5’6” Favorite Artist: Kendrick Lamar Worst Food: Olives Photo courtesy of Wesley Works.

Fast Facts Height: 5’7” Favorite Show: How I Met your Mother Favorite Food: Peanut Butter

Photo courtesy of Wesley Works.

Caden Wright experienced wrestler, achieving numerous impressive accolades.

“Last year in junior high I took second at States, I won FloNationals, I took fifth at a different national tournament at Virginia Beach,” Wright said. “I’ve gone undefeated at many national dual tournaments.”

So far this year, Wright has earned an impressive 23 wins with only three losses.

Wright’s successes aren’t just given to him, he works every day to improve himself and become a better wrestler.

“Every single day we have practice and usually the days before matches are light days so we don’t get tired for our matches, but the days before that are usually pretty tough,” Wright said. “A lot of conditioning, weight lifting.”

Wright is fierce competitor on the mat and he feels that his best attribute is that, he “nevers stops pushing the pace.”

Despite his early successes, Wright still

feels that he has parts of his game that he has to improve.

“I think I have to work more on my feet,” Wright said. “Last year I was doing pretty well on my feet, but this year I’m falling apart. I’m not doing too good.”

Head coach Jeff Shubzda feels that the Wright has a lot of maturity as an athlete, despite being young.

“He’s got leadership qualities, even as a freshman,” Shubzda said. “He loves winning, but hates losing. He tries to better himself which is a good quality for a freshman.”

For Shubzda, coaching Wright has been anything but a struggle.

“It’s pretty easy to coach him,” Shubzda said.

Wright has high aspirations after high school, and wants to “get a scholarship to a Division 1 school to wrestle and keep going with it.”

Wrestling

Photo courtesy of Caden Wright.

20

THE STINGER | FEBRUARY 2017

Ski

the

East

James Marler Sports Editor

T

he unseasonably warm temperatures caused for another lackluster winter for snow sports enthusiasts. Ski resorts in eastern Pennsylvania have been forced to deal with yet another unfortunate season and have had to pump more manmade snow onto their slopes, which don’t create the best conditions for skiing and snowboarding. Nevertheless, riders at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie hit the slopes daily. The resort is an attraction for many students, including those of Emmaus High School.

Photos by Rachel Reed.

SPORTS