Events Insert - Beachwood City Schools

BEACHCOMBER
THE
25100 Fairmount Boulevard Beachwood, Ohio
THE OFFICAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF BEACHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
VOL. 49 NO. 04
February 14, 2008
www.beachwood.k12.oh.us
Renovations
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Page 2
NEWS
The Beachcomber
Superintendent
proposes
renovations
by Sam Lowenkamp, Staff Writer
At The Board of Education meeting
on Monday, January 28, Superintendent Dr. Richard Markwardt proposed
a plan to renovate the high school.
This proposal calls to install new
plumbing and electrical systems, to
enhance security, and to replace old
windows and ceiling tiles throughout
the entire building. The plan also includes upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
system. Along with these overall up-
grades, the proposal also calls to completely fix up the
band and choir rooms and to add a “Multi-purpose
room” onto the South Gym. This room could be used
2
as a new weight room, and possibly as a place
for the wrestling team to practice so that they
aren’t taking up the entire gym. This “Multipurpose” room would extend out towards the
football field, and would possibly have an indoor
concession stand and restrooms for the use of
anyone watching the football games.
The process currently being used to
keep the school intact was described by Dr.
Markwardt as a “band-aid” approach. Every year,
some of the money from the school budget goes
towards keeping the building running. With this
approach, only the most important problems
can be dealt with. Dr. Markwardt imagines a
school that has a “new” shine in all areas. This
plan has an estimated cost of around $15 million.
By using a “bond levy,” Dr. Markwardt hopes to
raise money for this project. However, there
hasn’t been an official needs assessment done
on the buildings by an architectural firm. Without this “needs assessment” there can’t be a levy
on the ballot.
There has been an anonymous email sent out
to the entire Beachwood staff that was critical of
the potential renovations and of the levy that
would be necessary for the renovations to take
place. Dr. Markwardt has responded in another
email to the staff saying that it was odd that
there was opposition to a proposal that is only
in its preliminary phases and that he had never
seen such opposition before in Beachwood.
Meanwhile, students and staff are excited by
the prospect of the renovations.
Mr. Luzar,
Be our Valentine.
Evan Goldstein and Julian Abramof
An expensive year: students cope with senior fees
by Akilah Porter and
Aaron Kahn, Staff Writers
Senior year is one of the
biggest years of a student’s
life. It is one of the most
expensive years as well.
Granted, it is not as costly
as a year in college, but for
all the activities and special
events that take place
throughout senior year, an
average each senior (and
their family) spends about
$1,000. Very few of the fees
that seniors are expected to
pay are mandatory, but most
students would like to be able
to participate in class events
during their last year of high
school.
Senior photos represent
one of the many costs
that senior families face.
Scott Gloger, proprietor
of Myron Photographic
Elegance Inc., is the preferred
photographer for the Oculus.
Gloger commented, “I have
been fortunate enough to
have been working with
Beachwood seniors and
their families since I became
the preferred yearbook
photographer in 2003 – 2004.”
He went on to explain that
he photographs about four
hundred high school seniors
each year, many of whom
attend BHS. He charges based
on the number of poses
selected, the number of
prints ordered, and for photoshoots.
Holly Okpala, a BHS
senior and one of Gloger’s
clients, said that her family
spent about $400 on senior
pictures. Okpala is not alone,
as almost all seniors who get
photographed at Myron buy
packages that cost hundreds
of dollars.
Seniors who take portraits
with Gloger can see their
pictures featured in the
Oculus’ Senior Section. This,
and the fact that senior year
is often the most nostalgic
year of high school, prompts
more students than usual to
purchase yearbooks during
their senior year, which cost
$75.00.
The expenses associated
with school dances increase
during senior year, as on
top of the cost of the annual
Homecoming and Snoball
dances (admission to each of
which costs $10 per person)
seniors are burdened with the
cost of Prom.
In addition to her
considerable spending on
senior pictures, Holly Okpala
has also invested a significant
amount of money in school
dances this year. She reports
having already spent $500
on dresses, hair, makeup,
and nails. Okpala has yet to
begin shopping for Prom, but
as the event grows nearer
Okpala and her classmates
can be sure to be spending
large sums on dresses (or
tuxedo rentals) and all the
other indulgences that are
typical of Prom. Admission to
Prom in itself is an expensive
investment, with single tickets
costing $50 and couples
being charged $85.
On top of the costs for
memorabilia and dances,
seniors and their families are
expected to spend $35 for
the annual Senior Spaghetti
Dinner. Caps and Gowns will
also cost the seniors $35 each
(and females are expected
to pay an additional $10 for
a half-dozen roses to carry at
Graduation).
The high cost of senior year
is not unique to Beachwood
students. Wael Elhalaby,
a student at Heights High,
commented, “As a senior,
I’m more active. I have more
stuff to do and more fun to
have.” Elhalaby is not only
paying “senior fees” like those
that Beachwood seniors
are expected to pay, but
also for his orchestra and
choir trips. He also notes the
financial burden of applying
to college, as entrance
exams, transcripts, and
application fees all amount to
a considerable sum.
Taking a positive look,
Elhalaby maintains that the
fees are worth their costs. He
is looking forward to going
to special events this year
and to college next year, and
feels that although he has
to put up with many hassles
involved with school events,
“You’re supposed to be there,
it’s your obligation.”
It is true that senior year
is expensive, but many BHS
seniors, like Elhalaby, are
taking it in stride. While many
seniors and their families
cringe at the fees they are
paying, they remember
that they are investing in
memories that will last a
lifetime.
every two seconds – 5
million people receive blood
annually. A patient may
need blood because of a
blood disorder, cancer, or an
automobile accident.
Senior Molli Kopit received
donated blood at the age of
two, when she was diagnosed
with leukemia. Molli is
grateful for the blood that she
received. “People don’t realize
that it can really change lives,”
she said. When asked what
she would say if she could
send a message to her donor,
Molli replied, “I would thank
them for my life.”
The Red Cross is plagued by
a constant shortage of blood.
Only five percent of the
eligible population actually
donates blood, and less than
30% of first time donors ever
donate blood again. To qualify
as a blood donor, one must
weigh at least 110 pounds, be
at least 17 years old, and be in
generally good health. If you
meet these requirements and
are willing to give up an hour
of your time and a pint of
your blood, you can save lives.
The next blood drive in our
area is on February 19th from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at John Carroll
University. To find other blood
drives or to find out more
about donating blood, visit
www.givelife.org.
BHS blood saves lives
by Sam Kay, Staff Writer
Last month, Beachwood
High School hosted a blood
drive in the North Gym.
Approximately two dozen
people donated blood,
including teachers, BHS
students, and community
members. Several BHS
students also worked as
volunteers, helping donors
check in and assisting them
after donating. Senior
Roxanne Lipscomb donated
and worked as a volunteer.
When asked why she donated
blood despite the slight
discomfort she had to endure
in order to do so, she replied
“You’re saving three lives, and
it could be one of your family
members who needs blood
one day.”
According to the American
Red Cross, somebody needs
blood in the United States
Lindsey Smith,
I’m the luckiest guy in the
world -- because I have
you.
Love,
Evan
The Beachcomber
3
by Aly Presser, Staff Writer
The sound of music and laughter
drowned the silence in the library on
Wednesday, December 19th. Senior
citizens and kids in grade K-12 could
be seen walking into the atrium. At
first they might have seemed like ordinary citizens of Beachwood, but if you
looked more closely, they were not talking. They were signing.
Beachwood houses Cuyahoga County’s consortium for deaf and hard of
hearing students. Deaf students take
part in the Total Communication Program, which allows students to choose
which method of interaction to use: lip
reading, speaking or sign. For the past
three years, ASL teacher Sharon Weisman and her students have organized
the ASL party to give hearing students
a chance to interact with deaf students
and community members.
Weisman explained that each year
the parties are “something special to do
for the deaf students for the holidays.”
Each year the sign language classes
have tried a different approach to getting partygoers involved. This year, they
used a game where deaf students could
see music. It was called the cakewalk.
This game lets the deaf see the music
rather than hear it. Alex Coven, who
is a third year student of ASL, was in
charge of the technical equipment. He
explained his fear, which was that “the
music wouldn’t work. Making music
visual for the deaf was tough, but it
worked out in the end.”
The kids in elementary school enjoyed
the music and the fabulous prizes that
had been generously donated by a variety of stores. The high school students
enjoyed the free food and mingled on
the side. The senior citizens were enjoying a nice game of bingo. The party
was a huge success. Not only did the
high school staff recognize the party by
coming, but the WKYC news crew came
as well. Kim Wheeler, the news reporter
from WKYC stated that “they wanted to
bring those who are hearing impaired
and those who are not together. Not
only that, but for the first time they also
invited deaf senior citizens in the community to attend.”
Zach Morris, a deaf student and a
sophomore at BHS, explained American
Sign Language is the “best language to
learn. You don’t need to hear; you need
to watch the language.”
photo by Sharon Weisman
ASL party bridges a divide
DR. MARKWARDT enjoys his lunch and practices his signing.
Sign Language is the third most popular language taken at a college level and
it will continue to increase, even in high
schools. The ASL party has exposed
many students to the language for the
first time, and has convinced many to
sign up for the class. Each year, thanks
to the ASL party, the gap between deaf
and hearing culture gets smaller.
Class on TV? BHS Latin students learn via videoconference
by Arielle Muller, Staff Writer
For the past three years, BHS students
have had the opportunity to take Latin
classes via video conference, a method
in which the teacher is not actually in
the room. In fact, she’s not even in the
same city. Despite this fact, a great deal
of interaction between student and
teacher takes place.
It is a common misconception among
students that the virtual interaction be-
tween the students and teacher hinders
their learning; however, this couldn’t be
more wrong. Assistant Principal Paul
Chase commented that he was very impressed by the amount of Latin that the
students knew, considering that their
class was via videoconference.
“I think it’s really cool that we’re able
to talk to [the teacher] even though
she’s not actually there,” said Lisa Friedman, a freshman taking Latin 1. But regardless of the “cool” factor, there are
some disadvantages. “The time factor
and technical difficulties are problems,”
explained Mrs. Schneider, the Latin
teacher. Since not all schools have the
same daily schedule and calendar, it can
be difficult to reconcile the discrepancies. Regardless, the actual difficulty of
the class is no different. “I think it stays
about the same as my other classes,”
said freshman Jordan Kaye.
This different style has proven somewhat intimidating. Students tend to shy
away from it because it’s not taught in
a traditional manner, but it can be just
as enriching and valuable as any other
class. Seth Guren, who is proctor for
the class, thinks that “the students of
this course have done a commendable
job adjusting to the new learning environment and making it suit their needs
and styles.” Based on the success of the
current Latin classes, we can expect to
see more video conference classes in
the future.
FEATURES
The Beachcomber
Valentine’s Day
on any budget
by Lindsey Teitelbaum,
Staff Writer
Is your wallet feeling light this Valentine’s Day?
No worries, you can plan a special
Valentine’s Day without spending
more than you have.
$20.00- go to a movie
get ice cream
go ice skating/roller skating
go bowling
$50.00- one activity listed above
and dinner
$100.00- an activity, dinner, and a
bouquet of roses
Another way to spend this Valentine’s Day is a night in. You can bring
in dinner or make dinner at home,
followed by dessert and curling up
by the fire to watch a movie.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be
such a serious occasion, make it fun
and easy-going by playing board
games and just spending quality
time together.
4
Most students
have very different plans for
Valentine’s Day
and have very
different ideas
of what their
perfect Valentine’s Day would
be.
Here’s how
some Beachwo o d
High
School students
plan to spend
their Valentine’s
Day:
One student
said, “My boyfriend and I are
going out for
dinner and then
going back to his
house to watch SPENDING QUALITY TIME with loved ones can make Valentine’s Day fun and
photo by Lindsey Teitelbaum
a movie,” when easy-going.
asked what she
was doing on
Valentine’s day.
Sarah Tamarkin,
One student said that to her, “Valentine’s Day
is a time that should be spent with family, the
Because of you, mornings are
people you love the most.” This Valentine’s Day,
my favorite part of the day.
she and her family are going on a cruise to the
Carribbean.
Klz
Other students responded that they were “just
going to get together with some friends.”
No matter what your budget is, get creative
and have the perfect Valentine’s Day.
In search of guidance: counselors struggle with increased demands
by Rui Dai, Staff Writer
Last year, BHS counselors gave students their completed schedule before
the end of the school year. Though this
helped to reduce the frustration felt by
many at the beginning of the year, it
caused a new problem: how to deal
with schedule changes.
The counselors are not contracted
to work through the summer. In fact,
they are only supposed to work a few
days after school ends and a few days
before it begins in the fall. Yet, accord-
ing to guidance counselor Michele Kay,
“Families email counselors all summer.”
The influx of emails was so overwhelming that the counselors had to post an
automatic return saying they were on
vacation. Then all requests ended up
in Mr. Hardis’s mailbox. Once August
25th rolled around, things started to get
crazy. Between them, counselors saw
over fifty students per day, in addition
to responding to numerous emails and
phone calls—just to deal with schedule
changes.
This year’s college applications passing through the guidance department
have now outnumbered last year’s by
245. This number only accounts for
85% of the graduating class. Bev Zaharewicz, guidance secretary, is forced
to negotiate an endless torrent of deadlines. To make matters worse, rarely
anything arrives in guidance ready to
be sent. According to guidance staff,
students frequently come in with additional materials that must be mailed.
Both students and counselors perceive a problem. Counselors are no
longer able to interact with students at
the level of intimacy that is suggested
by their job descriptions. As each class
increases in size (the class of ’09 is currently 150 students compared to 133
in ’08), the counselors become more
fatigued. Mrs. Beeler stays “as late as
10:30 p.m.” at the high school, and
even when she returns home, she is
constantly on the phone with students
concerning college applications.
A solution to this problem has not
yet been found, but Mr. Hardis, who
said that he needs to “work on it”, along
with the other administrators, may be
able to make a difference.
assistat director Noel Bliss are excited
and enthusiastic about this year’s
trip. Goldman says that she is looking
forward to the trip and is expecting it
to be a great experience for everyone.
The orchestra program in the
Beachwood Schools began in 1999,
with a class of 4th graders (current
seniors). The High School Orchestra
now has 72 members (in1999 there
were three), the overall orchestra
program in grades 4-12 at this time
has 255 participants.
The orchestra students have also
had success outside of school, with
several students participating in the
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra,
the Contemporary Youth Orchestra,
the Northeastern Ohio Orchestra, the
Akron Youth Symphony, and several
others.
About half of the orchestra
students are attending the trip to
London and Paris. Linda Robertson,
a junior in the Beachwood Orchestra,
said, “I was looking forward to this
trip, but when I heard how the
trip ends a few days before school
starts, I didn’t think it was the best
choice for me to go.” The trip lasts
from March 20th to the 28th, which
leaves students with little time to
do homework before break ends.
However Jessica Roth, a senior in
the Beachwood Orchestra, is looking
forward to the trip and says that her
workload during the trip will not be
unbearable.
Clearly, Beachwood Orchestra’s
trip to Europe is an adventurous
undertaking and promises to be an
educational experience for all.
BHS orchestra plans European tour
by Aaron Feldman, Staff Writer
After two and a half years of
planning, the Beachwood Orchestra
is traveling to London and Paris over
spring break. During the eight day
trip, students will play at the famous
Royal Children’s Hospital and the
Cathedral de la Madeleine.
Towards the beginning of the
trip, the orchestra will tour London,
visiting Westminster Abbey, Downing
Street, The Big Ben, The Houses of
Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, and
Trafalgar Square. To get further
insight into the history of their music,
the students will visit the buildings
and Cathedrals where the songs were
first played.
After riding the Eurostar Train Paris,
the students will visit the Louvre
Museum and see works such as the
Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.
The orchestra will fly back home on
March 28th, after touring more of
Paris, performing at the Cathedral de
la Madeleine, and eating a Parisian
dinner.
Another significant aspect of
the trip is the cost. Friends of the
Beachwood Orchestra, FOBO, is easing
the burden of this expense by helping
to support the trip, lowering the price
for all students.
Orchestra Director Lisa Goldman
commented, “FOBO and the
administration continue to be
tremendously supportive, allowing
the orchestra to develop.” With
FOBO’s help, the eight-day trip will
cost students about $2,395.
Both director Lisa Goldman and
Battle of the Bands delivers crowd-pleasing performance
by Aaron Kahn, Editor-in-Chief
The annual BHS Battle of the Bands
took place on January 12, 2008 and
featured a wide variety of student
ensembles performing both original
and cover songs.
The event featured both ensembles
and solo acts performing in a range
of styles. Senior Julian Abramof
commented that he enjoyed Coby
Ashpis’ performance, saying “Coby’s
comedic performance was a highlight
of the evening.”
Performances ranged over several
genres, including rock, hip-hop,
country and classical. Senior Uri
Magaram, who performed in both
a classical and a rap performance,
commented that he “enjoyed
working with such a diverse group of
musicians.”
The winners of Battle of the Bands
recieved a $100 gift certificate to
Guitar Center, and the second and
third place winners recieved $50 and
$25 gift certificates, respectively.
Uri Magaram’s classical guitar
ensembe won the event and his rap
performance finished second. Ashpis’
comedic performance finished third.
The event was well attended, and
all proceeds from ticket sales were
donated to SaveDarfur.org.
The Beachcomber
5
SENIOR VENCHISE WESTGLEN cuts through the water on her way to an impressive finish for the Bison.
SENIOR GIRLS show off their stylish clothes prior to the Snoball dance.
Spring 2008:
Snoball Flashback
by Nikkaia Dean, Staff Writer
February 2nd was Beachwood High
School’s Snoball Dance. Though the
music was loud and there was a lot
of movement, you couldn’t help but
notice what everyone was wearing.
Most of the guys sported a semi-casual look consisting of jeans or khakis
with a dress top or polo while most of
the ladies sported brightly colored, sequined, or patterned dresses. Others
had a more casual look consisting of
jeans and formfitting tops. Everyone
looked great.
Now that we’re almost done with the
cold weather and all those layers, it’s
time to brighten up your wardrobe with
some bright colors, snake-skinned accessories, studded bangles, belts, and
plenty of other seasonal updates.
BRIGHT COLORS
With the upcoming warm weather, there’s nothing better than a bright
color to pump up your outfit. Bright
colors can be worn with a neutral or a
fellow statement-maker. According to
Instyle magazine’s Anna Johnson, the
most popular hues are neons, pastels,
and distinct brights, but while wearing
them, you should “loosen up your hair
and wear natural makeup to keep the
look breezy.” Though brights bring attention to your outfit, why not add a
metallic belt or bangle to pull the look
together?
DRESSY LEATHER JACKETS
Metallic, neutral, pleated, ruffled?
However you decide to wear them,
dressy leather jackets will give you a sophisticated, urban look. Dressy leather
jackets can compliment any look at any
time, except for ruffled jackets, which
would fit in more with a daytime look.
A dressy leather jacket matched with a
neutral top, skinny jeans, a pair of sexy
heels or trendy flats, and a bangle or
two will be perfect for any day time
event. After six p.m., a dressy leather
jacket with a cute mini dress, heels, and
a clutch will make you look plenty glam
for that party or dinner you can’t wait
to go to.
SCARVES
Maybe those silk scarves our moms
wear with their suits aren’t as hideous
as we thought, now that they’re popular again. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and have the capabil-
ity to take our outfits from plain-jane
to pretty hot. Though they’re one of
hottest trends right now, they’re more
appropriate for the daytime, so match
them with a plain top and jeans or a
structured look, and you’ll to be ready
to face the day.
SNAKESKIN SEPARATES
Spring usually goes for a clean
and classy look, but this spring, we’re
also adding a cutting edge contrast
that we can’t help but love. Part of this
rocker revolution are the snake- skin
shoes, bags, and belts. Like bright colors, snakeskin is a statement maker so
whether you wear them with a suit,
dress, or casual jeans look, neutrals
would be the best neighboring essential.
BELTS
Belts are truly the go-to accessory to pull an outfit together, be it an
evening dress or a day- time garment,
but what’s important is differentiating
which belt goes with which look, and at
what time. Day looks appear best with
weaved, roped, chained, scaled, metal
studded, or solid belts. After 6 p.m.,
accentuate your look with a studded,
sequined, patent, leather, or jeweled
belt. Whether you want to make a state-
photo by Aaron Kahn
ment at school or be a showstopper at
an evening event, you can make heads
turn with a shiny metallic belt as well.
STUDDED BANGLES
Popularized in 2007, the bangle
has been another go-to accessory that
has managed to pull our day and night
look together, but, contributing to our
cutting edge New Year, our bangles are
now studded. Though studded bangles
seem to only work with a nighttime,
sexy look, don’t be afraid to add them
to your daytime brights and neutrals.
You’ll look femme but with a rocker
touch.
To my Valentine,
You make me so happy. I adore
you, Evan Goldstein.
Love,
Lindsey Smith
The Beachcomber
6
decision ‘08
COVERING THE 2008 OHIO PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
Survey reveals
political views of
student body
by Julian Abramof, A&E Editor
As the presidential election fervor
reaches a climax, CNN barrages us with
polls and focus groups regarding the
issues that are most important to most
Americans. But how do the opinions of
Beachwood students mesh with those
of Americans nationwide?
I posed questions to eighty-seven
respondents, about some of the more
pivotal issues of the election, including
the future of Social Security, abortion,
the occupation of Iraq, free trade, foreign policy relations with Iran, and the
environment.
Regarding Social Security, the survey asked respondents, “Should the
Social Security System be privatized?
In other words, should individuals be
given control over their money that
would normally go into the Social Security program, to use or invest it as
they wish?” About forty-two percent
of respondents answered, “No,” while
about thirty-five percent answered,
“Yes.” The remaining respondents
were, “Unsure.” This seems to reflect
the lack of understanding nationwide
regarding the extent of the problem
with our current Social Security System,
which is destined to collapse and cause
great economic repercussions if no action is taken.
Regarding abortion, the survey
asked respondents, “Should tax dollars (government monies) go to fund
abortion clinics?” About sixty percent
of respondents answered, “No,” while
twenty-three percent answered, “Yes.”
The remaining respondents were “Unsure.” Though this response doesn’t
necessarily directly reflect students’
views on abortion, it shows that the
majority feels that a personal choice, in
this case, abortion, should not be paid
for with tax dollars.
Regarding the occupation of Iraq,
the survey asked respondents, “How
should the current occupation of Iraq
be handled?” Over fifty percent answered, “There should be a gradual
withdrawal of troops from Iraq,” while
twenty percent answered, “There
should be an immediate withdrawal
of troops from Iraq.” About nineteen
percent answered, “There should be
an immediate withdrawal of troops
from Iraq,” thirteen percent answered,
“Some troops should be withdrawn,
while others will remain for the long
term,” six percent answered, “Troops
should remain in Iraq,” and about nine
percent were, “Unsure.” The response
seems to reflect an admirable middle
ground between the liberal and conservative perspectives of immediate
withdrawal, and “never surrender[ing],”
respectively.
Interestingly, the opinions of Beachwood students regarding Social Security do not mesh with nationwide Gallup
polls, in which sixty-three percent were
in favor of privatization. In regards to
Iraq, national Gallup polls do mesh with
Beachwood opinions in that fifty-nine
percent of Americans were in favor of
a timetable for Iraq, and fifty percent
of Beachwood students expressed a
similar sentiment.
This survey was able to shed light on
the perspectives of Beachwood’s student body, revealing some unexpected
differences between the opinions of
Beachwood students and Americans
in general.
Beachwood students express political views
by Julian Abramof, A&E Editor
The Beachcomber
7
DO YOU KNOW THE ISSUES?
ABORTION
ECONOMY
The main disagreement among candidates
regarding abortion is whether Roe v. Wade
should be upheld. Roe v. Wade gives women
the right to an abortion if they so choose.
Liberals generally favor the decision, while
conservatives generally oppose it.
Furthermore, there is disagreement among
the candidates regarding whether or not tax
monies should go to fund abortion clinics,
and to fund the emergency contraceptives
provided by these facilities.
ENVIRONMENT
The primary concern among candidates
regarding the economy is whether to raise,
or cut, taxes. Conservatives tend to favor tax
cuts for the wealthy and the middle class,
while liberals tend to favor raising taxes to
invest more money in welfare programs.
Another economic issue of contention among
the candidates is whether to change, reject,
or support NAFTA. NAFTA is an agreement
between the United States, Mexico, and
Canada, providing for a tariff (tax) free
zone within which member countries can
trade freely. Liberals tend to favor certain
amendments to NAFTA, while conservatives
tend to favor supporting NAFTA as it is.
IRAQ/IRAN
The conflict among candidates regarding
the military occupation of Iraq is whether or
not it should continue. Liberals tend to favor
a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, while
conservatives oppose such a timetable.
A key dispute among candidates regarding
the environment is how we as a country,
and as a global community, can best help to
improve the environment. Liberals tend to
favor industrial regulation and alternative
energy sources, while conservatives tend to
favor nuclear power.
The major controversy among candidates
regarding foreign relations with Iran is
whether or not diplomatic relations should
be pursued, and on what conditions such
relations should be pursued. Liberals tend
to favor diplomatic relations with Iran, while
conservatives tend to oppose diplomatic
relations, favoring sanctions on the country
instead.
EDUCATION
The central argument among candidates
regarding education is the No Child Left
Behind Act, which mandates statewide
assessment testing, if schools wish to receive
federal funding, generally taking the form
of a multiple choice, standardized test, for
example, the OGT’s. Liberals tend to oppose
the Act, while conservatives tend to favor the
Act.
SOCIAL
SECURITY
The main disagreement among candidates
regarding Social Security is how to best
improve the current system. Privatization
of the Social Security System would give
individuals control over their money that
would normally go into the Social Security
program, to use or invest it as they wish.
Liberals tend to oppose the privatization of
the Social Security System while conservatives
tend to favor such a shift.
Appearance vs. reality: now is the time to consider McCain
by Evan Goldstein, Editor-in-Chief
Barack Obama would make an apt
president in a time of world peace and
nationwide economic prosperity.
Unfortunately, such times are unforeseeable in the near future.
In the upcoming 2008 Presidential
Election, voters, including a number of
Beachwood High School students, will
face a critical decision regarding the
future state of the country: whether to
vote for liberal change or conservative
consistency and experience.
Senator Obama, a favorite among
many new and young voters, boasts
promising personality and fervor. However, it is what the candidate does not
boast that should concern voters of all
ages: a well explained and thorough
political agenda. While charismatic,
Obama often feigns from elaborating
on his positions on key issues, such
as the U.S. economy. Unfortunately,
Obama’s youthful supporters’ general
unfamiliarity with the same issues has
helped shield the senator from those
who have expressed concern with his
inexperience.
In reality, given the United States’ ongoing involvement in international warfare, the emerging U.S. recession, and
the simple realities of partisan gridlock
in the American political system, Barack
Obama and his romanticized campaign
theme – “Stand for Change” – appear
overly simple.
The American people should, instead,
look to the proven, grounded leadership of Senator John McCain and his
well developed agenda, which blends
moderate domestic views with conservative consistency on social, foreign
policy and economic issues.
Unlike Senator Obama, John McCain,
as demonstrated in his steadfast support of the North American Free Trade
Agreement, understands the importance of maintaining free trade in the
United States’ economy. Many liberal
opponents criticize the gap that free
trade widens between upper and lower
socioeconomic classes; however, as illuminated by their idealistic demands for
more government involvement in U.S.
trade, many of these liberals are simply unaware of the facts and realities
regarding the success of this typically
conservative policy.
Granted, regulating the economy
with the intent of benefiting lower class
workers seems great. However, in reality, as Winston Churchill attested, “The
inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent
virtue of [protectionism] is the equal
sharing of miseries.” In other words,
while free trade does create “winners”
and “losers” in a socioeconomic sense,
the total amount of winnings produced
by the system greatly benefits the nation’s economy at the macro level.
Regarding foreign policy, of the presidential candidates, only Senator McCain, a prisoner of war in the Vietnam
War, is capable of both understanding
and performing the duties necessary of
the Commander-in-Chief in the event
of crisis and war. Senator McCain is often criticized for his determination to
continue the United States’ War on Terror in Iraq. Moreover, many opponents
contend that the war is but a fruitless
second-coming of the United States’
past involvement in the Vietnam War.
In reality, these parallels to Vietnam
are quite unfair. Communism, the supposed global threat that served as the
United States’ chief concern in Vietnam,
ultimately proved to be much less a
threat than initially perceived by the
Eisenhower administration in its faulty
“Domino” theory – that the complete
fall of Vietnam to Communism could
escalate and result in world disaster.
Most notably, no Communist threat
ever jeopardized the lives of thousands
of U.S. civilians in an extremist attack
within U.S. borders (e.g., the terrorist
bombings of 9/11).
Ironically, it was Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton who recently called for the replacement of Iraqi
Prime Minister Nouri Kamel al-Malaki,
despite the fact that it was the United
States’ wanton coup and assassination
of Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963 that severely
worsened the United States’ struggle
against the North Vietnamese. Thus,
it is important to note that, while the
United States’ involvement in Iraq has
not yet “become another Vietnam”, the
election of an inexperienced Democrat
during the struggle against the more
aggressive and more dynamic force of
Islamic terrorism could prove to be an
unwise and brash decision.
Still, it is important to note that Senator McCain is by no means a strict
right-wing conservative. Regarding
illegal immigration, the senator has
consistently favored granting amnesty
to some deserving illegal immigrants.
Furthermore, McCain’s acclaimed bipartisan legislation on campaign reform, the McCain-Feingold Bill, completely banned “soft money” campaign
contributions – unlimited donations by
wealthy organizations and individuals
who sought to gain the favor of candidates for political support of their own
Continued on pg. 12
OPINION
The Beachcomber
8
Why you should vote
by Suzanne Schiavone, Staff Writer
The United States is distinct from
vote. According to the Census Bureau, only 47%
other nations on a number of levels.
of the youngest age group of voters reported
going to the polls during the 2004 election. As
These differences manifest themselves
this age group in many ways embodies our nain our form of government, our health
tion’s future, the low percentage is a worrying
care system, and our basic civil liberfigure. Many of America’s youth may view voting
ties. While we have fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech and
as a chore, but the fact is that our votes really can
the right to vote,
make a
citizens of many
Only 47% of the youngest age group of voters re- difference
other nations do
not.
ported going to the polls during the 2004 election. in the
outAs the 2008
come
presidential election looms on the horizon, voting is
of the next election.
In Ohio, 17-year-olds can vote in the primary
one freedom in particular that should
if they will turn 18 in time for the general elecbe on the minds of those eligible to
tion. This means that a number of juniors and
vote. The coming election is going to
mark a significant change, for better or
most seniors will be eligible to vote in Ohio’s
worse, in our government. In the last
primary on March 4th. It is crucial that they know
as much as they can about each candidate in orpresidential election, a significant perder to make a well-informed decision. Although
centage of the voting population, parmany young voters may think that doing this is
ticularly those between the ages of 18 and 24, didn’t
an unnecessary hassle, staying on top of elec-
tion news isn’t nearly as hard as it may seem.
Listening to the radio in the car or simply picking up a newspaper are convenient ways to stay
informed. History is happening right in front of
your eyes: why turn your back on it?
It seems that even the entertainment industry is advocating political awareness, with the
2006 release of Man of the Year, a comedy surrounding the circumstances in which a political
humorist gets elected, and the success of satirical news shows such as The Daily Show and The
Colbert Report, which discuss contemporary
issues such as the upcoming election. The Daily
Show is particularly striking in that while it is
a “fake” news show, it gives its viewers a real
take on current events. Even some conservatives cannot help but agree with some points
made by the show’s liberal host, Jon Stewart.
The Daily Show and The Colbert Report work
effectively to draw in America’s youth and help
them to be more informed about what is going
on in the world.
The importance of being literate
by Casey Mathews, English Teacher with the student body to put down the
distractions and pick up books. And,
It never fails. The first day of school of course, I have several good reasons
I always have a student saunter into why.
my class and proudly proclaim that the
We all have those annoying friends
summer reading novel was the only who bore us with the same stories over
novel he or she has ever read. I have and over. So the next time your friend
been teaching long enough to know is retelling (for the thousandth time)
that students love reading as much as the story of when he went on a fishing
Holden loves phonies, but as a life-long adventure with this crazed, peg-legged
reader, I simply do not understand this captain, pick up a book and read.
Perhaps your neighborhood is overmentality. For me, books have always
been a source of inspiration, knowl- run with young boys who streak dirt on
edge, escape; I typically am reading their faces and chase each other with
several books at once. So, I am pleading sharpened sticks. Then staying inside
and reading becomes an excellent alternative to bypassing the pig’s head
on the way to the mailbox.
Maybe that guy down the street who
keeps his mentally ill wife locked in the
attic gives you the creeps. Instead of
walking past his house, stay in and read
a book.
I get it. Books are intimidating. Expanding your mind and considering
other viewpoints are painful processes.
Books smell funny as they get older,
and paper cuts really hurt. I also understand that reading is just not “cool.”
But, then again, neither is ignorance.
Reading. Makes. You. Smarter. Smart
enough to know that when those two
neighborhood families are warring in
the streets again, it becomes smarter
to stay inside.
Take a chance on a book. Read. I
promise there are books on every possible subject about which you wish to
know. You will find something you love.
The best part about reading is that you
never lose anything, but you always
gain knowledge. How do I know reading makes you smarter? I referenced five
works of literature in this editorial. Are
you well read enough to find them?
Fact or fiction? Students express different views on global warming
A man-made threat
by Lauren Wyman, Staff Writer
In thirty years, what do you see
yourself doing? Sunbathing in Florida?
Working in Manhattan? Partying in
Louisiana?
Unfortunately, these projections may
be impossibilities. For, in thirty years,
Manhattan, parts of Florida, and the
Louisiana basin could all be under water, due to rising sea levels caused by
global warming.
Yet, perhaps deniers of man-made
global warming are justified when they
refuse to accept responsibility for the
dire consequences of climate change.
Perhaps deniers of man-made global
warming are correct when they say the
solar cycle dictates global warming and
global cooling. Perhaps deniers of manmade global warming are correct when
they say the carbon dioxide levels in the
atmosphere are not yet dangerous.
Or, not.
In fact, these arguments are utterly
wrong.
The solar cycle is, basically, a succession of years with an increasing number
of sunspots on the Sun, followed by a
succession of years with a decreasing
number of sunspots. This cycle, from
solar maximum to solar maximum,
lasts around 22 years. Theoretically,
the global temperature would increase
slightly during Solar Maximum and decrease slightly during Solar Minimum;
A natural occurence
since the average global temperature
has been increasing for roughly 150
years, the change in climate can hardly
be explained by the 22 year cycles of
sunspots
Since the Industrial Revolution, when
humans first began to spew tons of CO2
and other greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere, global temperatures have
been rising astronomically. There was
a 70%-80% increase in the amount of
CO2, methane and water vapor (greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere from
1880-2004; during that same period of
time, the average global temperature
rose one degree Fahrenheit. Though
these statistics may seem insignificant,
it is a global average: at the poles, the
average temperature increase was five
to nine degrees Fahrenheit.
As a result of this increase in temperature at the poles, Antarctica is losing
three square miles per year due to global warming. With melting ice inevitably
comes rising sea levels (within the next
century, sea levels are projected to rise
from 11 to 77cm); with rising sea levels
comes intense flooding and powerful
storms, like Hurricane Katrina; with intense flooding and storms comes new,
potent diseases and mass extinctions.
Those who deny man-made global
warming endanger the planet and the
entire human race.
by Matt Baron, Staff Writer
It seems that man’s contribution to
global warming is accepted as fact
by the media and the general public.
Well, I’m sorry, but you’ve been hoodwinked. Ever since the release of An
Inconvenient Truth, concern about the
so-called epidemic of manmade global
warming has swept the world. But what
is man really doing to nature? According to some climatologists, absolutely
nothing.
Why would Al Gore blame global
warming on humanity when there is
not a scientific consensus? Well, let’s ask
Dr. William Gray, the foremost American
expert on hurricanes. He says that Gore
is “one of these guys that preaches the
end of the world type of things. I think
he’s doing a great disservice [to science]
and he doesn’t know what he’s talking
about.”
According to an anti-global warming
web site, the atmosphere currently contains 370 parts per million of CO2. According to the Centers for Disease Control, to reach levels dangerous to animal
life it would have to exceed 50,000 parts
per million. They also stated this could
not be achieved even if every fossil fuel
on Earth was burned. But then, you may
ask, how could we have global warming
in the first place if we didn’t cause it?
Well, for that, we have to look beyond
carbon emissions, greenhouse gases,
and even the Earth.
Over the course of Earth’s existence,
the global temperature has had amazing accuracy when compared to the solar cycle, or how strong the sun is at that
certain point. According to the Institute
for Solar System Research in Germany,
sunspots are reaching a 1,000-year high,
and almost every time the sun has gotten stronger, the global temperature
has risen, and vice versa.
Spending our nation’s time and money on this fallacy is tragic, and we must
pursue ways to end actual environmental risks, such as water pollution or deforestation. So, what can we do now?
Well, let’s start off by finally dispelling
the myth of global warming.
Scott Winer,
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Anonymous
The Beachcomber
9
the editors’ take:
god or graduation?
All unsigned editorials appearing in The
Beachcomber represent the opinions of
the editorial board. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the student body,
the staff, or the administration of Beachwood High School.
At the senior parents’ meeting on
January 29, many parents of graduating seniors voiced concern over the
fact that the Jewish holiday of Shavuot
begins at sundown on the very same
day as graduation. Graduation was
originally scheduled for Sunday June
8, 2008 at 7:00 p.m., but outcry over
the conflict with Shavuot prompted
administrators to move the start time
of the ceremony to 6:30 p.m.
It seems quite ridiculous that in
this community the high school administration would overlook a significant Jewish holiday. Beachwood
has historically been home to a predominantly Jewish population, and
to ignore the religious commitments
of a large demographic in the community is absurd.
That several seniors may be forced
to decide between attending their
one and only high school commencement ceremony and fulfilling
a religious obligation is a situation that
could have been easily avoided. Many
other local school districts, who like
Beachwood hold their graduations at
Severance Hall, have their ceremonies
at many times throughout the day on
both weekends and on weekdays. Restricting the ceremony to a Sunday
evening was not necessary.
Additionally, while done with good
intentions, moving the start time of
the ceremony to 6:30 p.m. will have
little effect in enabling students to attend both Shavuot and graduation.
The email that informed parents and
students of the change in schedule
stated that the graduation “program will run from 6:30 – 8:00 pm,”
and with the June 8 sundown and
candle lighting taking place around
8:30 p.m. and many evening services
beginning before 9:00 p.m. it seems
that the adjustment in the schedule
has amounted to nothing more than
a symbolic gesture, as it still seems
logistically impossible to both attend
graduation and meet all of the requirements of the holiday.
This oversight in the scheduling of
one of the most significant events
in a high school student’s career is
outrageous.
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
‘Childish’ policies limit student growth
The author of this editorial chooses
to remain anonymous.
I turned 18 several months ago. I am
now a legal adult.
I am old enough to vote, buy cigarettes and lottery tickets. I can go to jail
for a criminal offense. I can be drafted
into the armed forces and have a credit
card under my name. But there is one
thing I still cannot do.
I cannot leave a Beachwood High
School dance early without the principal talking on the phone with my
mother.
Next year I will be at school halfway
across the country, making any and all
decisions for myself. What classes do I
take, what do I eat for meals, what do I
do tonight, when do I shower, do I skip
a lecture? I will be living on my own,
reporting only to me.
I’ve been trying to transition for next
year – cook more, do some laundry, just
basically do what needs to be done for
me. But Beachwood makes this transition difficult.
A school administrator needs to talk
with mommy before I can leave the
dance. How old am I again? Maybe I
should bring a note next time.
Dear Principal, If my child wants to
leave the dance at any time, I will allow
this. Signed, John and Mindy Smith.
How does this prepare us for college
and beyond? Treating us like children,
The Beachcomber Staff
In defense of leadership
rather than the maturing young adults
we are. It leads to dependence on
mommy and daddy or rebelling against
these ridiculous childlike restrictions.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve had a great
experience in high school – academically and athletically – and feel more
than prepared for college in these senses. But it’s the independence, maturing
issue where Beachwood fails. Needing
mommy’s permission to leave a dance,
not being allowed to leave the cafeteria
before the bell rings, assigned “advisory” seating in the auditorium. I can
only hope that Beachwood will rethink
some of these childish policies, policies
that ultimately limit us in our growth
towards responsible adulthood.
Danny Rose,
You are the man. You make
me tingle.
Greg Marmaros
Senior Nate Lash responds to “Leaders? We think not.” -- an editorial published in Volume 49, Number 3 of The
Beachcomber.
I am writing in response to last issue’s
article entitled “Leaders? We think not.”
The leadership conference, a highly attended event, was quoted to be “laughable.” Perhaps only attending the three
day event will show how meaningful
the weekend is to the attendees. Look
at the majority of students who have
attended school events this year. Dances and sporting events are filled with
students who have attended a leadership conference. Don’t forget the blood
drive, spaghetti dinner, book drive,
battle of the bands, fall play, and other
events where leadership conference
attendees were present. If there is one
quality that this event does inspire in its
attendees, it is a sense of community
and involvement in school.
This is why we need our student leaders to continue their efforts to
improve our school. We should support
their efforts rather than criticize them,
as last issue’s article did.
The leadership conference has
often been attacked by students who
question its success, and thereby its
purpose. When originally designed its
intent was to create proactive students
who bring positive attitudes to both the
academic and non-academic sides of
school. School involvement and overall
comradery has increased dramatically
since the conference’s birth seven years
ago.
Recently, the purpose of the leadership conference has evolved. No longer does the conference focus as much
on promoting school spirit. Rather,
the weekend creates an environment
where students in all grades can express themselves free of judgment or
criticism. It attempts to channel these
ideas in order to produce positive
change. This environment is why students return year after year.
Yet there may be attendees who don’t
represent the leadership conference
appropriately in and/or out of school.
The leadership planning committee is
neither a law enforcement agency nor
parent or guardian. We hope that our
members will make the right choices,
but we must realize that even leaders
make mistakes. To dismiss the success
of the leadership conference based on
one incident is short-sighted and counter-productive. After all, it’s continual
self-improvement and willingness to
change that creates successful student
leadership.
The Beachcomber Editorial Policy
Beachwood High School
25100 Fairmount Boulevard
Beachwood, OH 44122
Editors-in-Chief
Op-Ed Editors
News Editors
Features Editor
A&E Editor Photographer
Adviser
The Beachcomber, through its editorial pages, provides an open forum for student expression. This newspaper is equally dedicated to affording an opportunity to all BHS students,
staff, alumni, parents, and community residents to express their opinions on these pages.
Evan Goldstein
The Beachcomber welcomes all letters to the editor, whether critical, complimentary, or
Aaron Kahn
informative. They must be signed, although names will be withheld upon request in cases
Matt Baron
that may be awkward or embarrassing to the writer. Letters should be addressed to The
Sam Kay
Beachcomber, 25100 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, OH, 44122, or delivered to the editors
Suzanne Schiavone or a secretary in the main office, attention editors-in-chief Evan Goldstein and Aaron Kahn.
Lauren Wyman
To contact Beachcomber adviser Josh Davis, please email him at [email protected].
Rui Dai
oh.us.
Brynne Sekerak
Julian Abramof
Akilah Porter
WANT YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD?
Sara Regal
Marc Eisenberg
THE BEACHCOMBER WELCOMES NEW WRITERS!
Josh Davis
CONTACT MR. DAVIS, EVAN GOLDSTEIN OR AARON KAHN FOR MORE
INFORMATION.
ARTS
The Beachcomber
10
Gee’s Bend a
story of hope,
family
by Julian Abramof,
A&E Editor
If you’ve heard about Gee’s
Bend already, a “play based on
the world famous quilters of
Gee’s Bend, Alabama,” it probably didn’t sound too appeal-
ing. In reality, though, the play is so much more
than that; it is a story of Civil Rights, of ignorance,
violence, and abuse, but most of all, it is a story of
hope and self-reliance.
Showing at the Cleveland Play House through
February 24th, 2008, Gee’s Bend begins in the 1930s,
and is the story of an impoverished black girl, Sadie,
played by Erika LaVonn, who marries her older lover,
Macon, an enterprising farmer, played by Wendell B.
Franklin. A few decades later, Sadie and Macon have
had several children together, and though Macon is
able to provide for his family, they are still struggling
to get by. When Sadie and her sister, Nella, played
by Shanesia Davis, hear of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and of his ideas of Civil Rights, they decide to travel
to hear him speak. But when Macon discovers that
Sadie has gone to see Dr. King without his permis-
sion, a cycle of abuse and
contention between the
couple begins, ending in
tragedy.
Sadie is able to triumph
as an individual through
her quilting, a skill her
mother, Alice, played by
Wandachristine, passed
on to her as a young girl.
Her quilts end up being
symbolic of self-reliance,
freedom, Civil Rights, and
independence, and are the
central motif of the play.
It is truly a moving experience not to be missed.
Though you may not usually think of seeing a play,
to me, Gee’s Bend was a
great experience full of
emotion and heart, perfect for a date, or a night
with some friends.
Tickets start at $10 each,
and are available at their
website, www.clevelandplayhouse.com, where
you’ll find more information about the Cleveland
Play House and the many
upcoming plays this 20072008 season.
LILLIE MAE PETTWAY’s quilt, “Housetop”, symbolizes selfreliance, freedom, and independence.
Juno tells story of teen pregnancy, adoption, and love
by Jordan Kaye, Staff Writer
Juno depicts a young girl struggling
with an unwanted pregnancy. Young
Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) finds out that
she has become pregnant, and decides
to give it up for adoption to Vanessa
Loring (Jennifer Garner) and Mark Loring (Jason Bateman).
The acting in the movie was truly
amazing, with Jennifer Garner perfectly
portraying a born-to-be mother, and
Juno’s relationship with Paulie Bleeker
(Michael Cera) is cute and just awkward
enough. Ellen Page was even nominated for an Oscar for her performance.
Along with the killer story-line, many
people enjoyed the soundtrack, which
reached number one on the billboard
charts. Bands included in the soundtrack
are Moldy Peaches and Kimya Dawson.
The soundtrack became widely popular
for its captivating songs and comedic
nature, perfect for the movie.
The adoptive father’s odd relationship with Juno is first-class creepy.
Adoption is a humongous part of the
movie, and a prominent issue in today’s
society. Originally, Juno wanted to have
an abortion, and pretend that nothing
had ever happened. But when one of
her fellow classmates (Valerie Tian), an
anti-abortion protester, tells her that
the baby is human enough to have fingernails, Juno decides she wants to give
her baby up for adoption. She finds the
Daniel Day-Lewis shines in There Will Be Blood
by Julian Abramof, A&E Editor
Have you ever seen a movie whose
starring actor had such a powerful impact that their performance overshadowed the movie itself? Such films are
few and far between, and when you
happen upon one, it is certainly not to
be missed.
There Will Be Blood takes place in
The
BISON
BEAT
Beachland Ballroom
February 27, 2008
They Might Be Giants
8:00 p.m.
Agora Theater
March 1, 2008
G Love & Special Sauce
9:00 p.m.
early 1900s California, and follows the
story of an oil drilling company owner,
Daniel Plainview, played by the riveting Daniel Day-Lewis, and his adopted
son, H.W. Plainview, played by Dillon
Freasier. Plainview and his son travel
to the town of Little Boston, California, pursuing a tip from a resident of
the town, Paul Sunday, played by Paul
Dano. H.W. verifies the oil claim when
Grog Shop
February 17, 2008
Chip tha Ripper
8:00 p.m.
Quicken Loans Arena
March 1, 2008
George Strait
7:30 p.m.
Quicken Loans Arena
March 10, 2008
Matchbox Twenty
7 p.m.
he stumbles upon a pool of oil as he
explores the town with his father. As
Plainview tries to establish a positive
public image for his oil company in the
town, he struggles against the preacher
of the local church, Eli, also played by
Paul Dano.
Day-Lewis’s performance is incredible, revealing emotions that are so
powerful you cannot help but feel
deeply connected to his character.
The
BISON
scramble
perfect family in the back of the local
newspaper, and things are looking up.
But when the adoptive father leaves
his wife, Juno is faced with a difficult
decision about what will be best for
her child.
Juno really did love her baby, or else
she wouldn’t have had him. The movie
provides a strong message to adopted
kids, showing that sometimes putting
a baby up for adoption can also be an
act of love.
Furthermore, the dynamic relationship
between Eli and Plainview is even more
powerful. Through their relationship,
the ubiquitous battle between religion
and atheism is embodied, and the harsh
realities of human nature are exposed.
If you’re looking for much more than
a popcorn-muncher-- for a movie that
will stay with you for your whole life,
There Will Be Blood delivers.
THEME:
“Valentine’s Day”
SORES
TEASEWRETH
_ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
LOOSECATCH
UPDIC
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
CAMERON
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Think you have what it takes to unscramble these
words?
Be the first to e-mail the correct answers to Evan
Goldstein , Editor, and win a free smoothie courtesy of
The Beachcomber Staff.
Congratulations to last issue’s winner!
11
SPORTS
The Beachcomber
SOPHOMORE ALEX DRONZEK notches a key win for the Bison at a meet at University School.
photo by Sara Regal
Swim team strong in spirit, tradition
Bison basketball: Seniors provide leadership
by Sarah Tamarkin, Staff Writer
by Denise Eddie, Staff Writer
When you first step into the swimming area of Beachwood High School,
the first thing you notice is the smell
of chlorine and the intense humidity.
However, once you find a seat and
begin to watch the meet, you can see
the intensity of the swimmers and the
closeness of the team.
Senior Adam Ganz describes his team
as, “a family I can depend on,” and Venchise Westglen claims that, “everyone
knows everyone so well.” When asked
whether or not the closeness of the
team affects how the meets go, Ganz
responded, “If it’s a close meet or a
close race, the energy level increases
ten fold.”
Westglen explained that although
the team is not particularly superstitious, they do have certain traditions
such as dying and cutting their hair before certain meets. She also explained
that eating foods such as pasta is important in order to boost one’s energy
to prepare for a meet. “Before a meet,”
says Ganz, “most people just stretch
and listen to music.”
In the regular season, the swim team
won 13 of 26 meets (boys won 7, girls
won 6). At sectionals last weekend, six
swimmers did well enough to advance
to districts.
Although camaraderie among a
group of people as diverse as those on
the swim team can be hard to come
by, most on the team would say that
they are a close group of people who
push each other to perform their best
at every meet.
Arielle Muller,
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Despite undersized roster,
Bison wrestling remains strong
by Aaron Kahn, Lee Axelband,
and Ben Reisman, Staff Writers
At first glance, this year’s six-man
wrestling team appears to be undersized compared to its predecessors, but the Beachwood community
should suspend its judgment, as it is
quite apparent that the team is very
strong.
Several meets into their season,
the Bison have had many remarkable individual and team victories.
Senior Captain Greg Marmaros, junior A.J. Rabovsky, sophomore Alex
Dronzek, and freshman Alec Jacober
have each succeeded this year.
On February 7, Marmaros, the
team’s only senior, was honored before the Bison’s meet against Twinsburg began. Going into the meet the
130-pound senior had 123 career
wins and had placed at states twice.
Marmaros and junior A.J. Rabovsky
dominated their matches from start
to finish, with Marmaros winning
20-2 and Rabovsky pinning his opponent in the second period. Dronzek
and Jacober had impressive finishes
Knobs
as well, both notching on key wins
for the Bison. These promising results came after a strong win in a
dual meet against Collinwood, and
the momentum the team seems to
have gained makes the Bison optimistic going into their district tournament, which will be held at BHS
next week.
Coach J.D. Bentley is very pleased
with the team’s recent progress.
“The team is peaking at the right
time,” he remarked. All six wrestlers
are hoping to qualify for states this
spring, and the team seems to have
a good dynamic as a whole. However, the Beachwood wrestling program is still in the midst of gaining
stability, as the team has had three
different coaches in the past four
years.
After putting in lots of hard work
over the summer and after school,
the team’s efforts have been paying
off. However small, the Bison wrestling team is very strong.
With great leadership both on and off
the court from seniors Chris Johnson,
Corey Terman, Brian Wright, Nate Lash
and Evan Luxenburg, the Bison have
worked hard to maintain a respectable
record. With the help of these “quality upperclassmen,” the coaching staff
agrees that their job was made a lot
easier this year.
Although the varsity basketball team
will suffer the loss of five seniors next
year, head coach Jason Pecjak believes
that point guard Max Sheridan will lead
the juniors and the team to the next
level. As far as the younger classes go,
big things are expected from freshman
Jeremiah Townes. According to coach
Pecjak, “He is a young man with very
high potential to be a great high school
basketball player.”
Pecjak understands the importance
of pushing his players to advance dur-
ing the off-season, both on the basketball court and in the weight room. He
expects the athletes to “train, practice,
and play at a very high and intense level.” These habits will help contribute to
his goal of a winning season.
Senior captain Brian Wright understanding the importance of a good
work ethic. Wright, who trains year
round to stay in shape and to continuously improve his skills, knows that,
“the off season is the best time to get
your game together. The actual season
is where you bring everything you’ve
practiced in the off-season into action
and perfect it.”
Players, coaches, and fans alike eagerly anticipate a victory against Gilmour in
the first round of the state tournament
on February 16, 2008 at Lakeland Community College. Although the season is
almost over, junior Levi Weiszner firmly
believes, “This may actually be one of
our biggest games this year!”
The Beachcomber
12
Senior Spotlight
by Anna Freidman, Staff Writer
The members of the class of 2008 are in the midst of selecting from a wide variety of schools and
Majors. Six seniors were randomly selected and interviewed about their college choices.
Tamar Lisbona
College choice/colleges considering: University of Pennsylvania
Intended major: Economics, Arabic
What do you look for in a college? A variety of activities, excellent academics and diversity
How do you feel about becoming a college freshman next year? I’m very excited, but at the same time
I’m nervous because I don’t know what to expect.
Shali Mahna
College choice/college considering: Georgetown University, Ohio State University
Intended major: International relations
What do you look for in a college? A good sports team and a good program for my major
What extracurriculars would you like to be a part of next year? Indian dancing!
Ramie Schneider
College choice/colleges considering: Boston University
Intended major: Undecided
What do you look for in a college? A big student body and a good liberal arts program
What extracurriculars would you like to be a part of next year? Greek life, study abroad programs
Greg Marmaros
College choice/colleges considering: University of Connecticut, Florida State University, West Virgina
University, University of Oregon, University of Massachusettes
Intended major: Sports management, marketing
What are your feelings about being a college freshmen next year? I know it will be tough, but no matter
where I end up, I’ll be happy.
Brad Goldberg
College choice/colleges considering: Coastal Carolina University
Intended major: Business Administation
What do you look for in a college? Nice weather and a good business program
How would you feel about going to college with some of your friends? I’m indifferent; either way, I’ll be
happy.
Yuhjung Han
College choice/colleges considering: Case Western Reserve, Northwestern University
Intended major: Pre-med, chemistry
What do you look for in a college? A diverse student body and an excellent medicine program.
How would you feel about becoming a college freshman next year? I’m anxious!
“McCain” cont’d from pg. 7
private interests – giving all voters, no
matter how rich or poor, equal influence over a candidate’s campaign.
It is these more moderate views, despite being criticized by some staunch
right-wing conservatives, which are
heralded by independents and moderates alike. It is these views that could
help consolidate and unite both a
more politically diverse Republican
party and, ultimately, the American
people come November 2008.
But it is necessary to understand
that now is not the time to simply follow fancy, unrealistic liberal rhetoric.
Now is the time to get educated on
the pertinent political issues at hand
and to realize that, unlike his competition, Senator John McCain would
make an apt president during even
the most trying of times.
Anna Friedman,
Happy Valentine’s Day!
To my beloved,
You are the light of my life.
Carl Johnson
Bangs