November - South Brunswick School District
Transcription
November - South Brunswick School District
the v king vibe INSIDE THE VIBE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GIRL POWER! page 2 page 10 World AIDS Day 2008 an interview with Georgia Foulds Volume 10 - Issue 2 November 2008 South Brunswick High School 750 Ridge Road Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 SBHS SOCCER wins third straight red division title page 12 “LEONARDO DREAMS” TAKE FLIGHT Alissa Messibov 2009 Glimpses of the SBHS Marching Band./PHOTOS COURTESY OF Bill Gaze, www.bgsportshots.com vibe:culture Coming soon! Look for our new entertainment section in future issues. Writers meet on Tuesdays in A205 with Mr. Honig! On November 1, the Marching Band traveled to Allentown, PA, where it competed and won the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) Northern States Championships. The road to victory required a great amount of work from both students and teachers. While Mrs. Ginny Kraft designed the visual aspect of this year’s show, Mr. Brian Toth designed the vocals. A collaborator in North Carolina, Mr. Walter Moore, created the percussion. “With the effort of our staff and band members, we created a beautiful show that told an amazing story,” said drum major, senior Michael Roche. The show is entitled Leonardo Dreams, based on a choral piece performed last year. “Leonardo DaVinci was an artist, inventor, musician,” said Mr. Mark Kraft, “but the show focuses on his desire to fly.” The marching band enjoyed many first place scores in Piscataway and Edison. Though the band received the highest score at the Tournament of Champions, the annual show at SBHS, its score did not count due to host status. At the USSBA Championship, the marching band received first place in colorguard, visual performance, and individual music, in addition to their overall win. “I couldn’t be any more proud of this band,” said Roche. http://www.sbschools.org/ schools/sbhs/school_information/ communications.php 2 November 2008 The Viking Vibe news From the Editor’s Desk: World Aids Day 2008 The Viking Vibe 2008-2009 Staff Editor-in-Chief Anita Modi E-vibe Editor Hannah Green Visual Coordinator Jovelle Tamayo Managing Editor Amy Rowe Sports Editor Tom Dunleavy Illustrator Amishi Desai Editorial Staff Zohrain Hassam, Natalie Twerdowsky, Saadia Ahmad, Samantha Orlan, Roshni Shah Staff Corey Allen, Riya Arora, Justin Berger, Matthew Brown, Alexis Bruno, Emily Campisano, Tori Capps, Prerana Chatty, Jaya Chinnaya, Alyssa Chrysafis, Zachary Cohen, Maxine Deines, Jennetta Dellapa, Brooke DelGuercio, Mark Desmond, Kevin DeVito, Timothy Doehler, Sukanya Dutta, Tajah Ebram, Rachel Finklestein, Georgia Foulds, Rosalia Gambino, Breona Garrison, Andrew Gong, Joshua Gonzalez, Kristen Huang, Brandon James, Bhanupriya Jayarangan, William Johnston, Cassandra Joiner, Cassandra Kot, Melissa Katz, Aaron Lassin, Minna Liu, Catherine Lordi, Gregory Madia, Ramsha Mahmood, David Mariano,Cody McHugh, Gunjan Mehta, Alissa Mesibov, Mona Mostafa, Michael Muha, Monika Nandi, Suman Naringrekar, Sidney Nelson, Kayla Noll, Alexa Padovano, Ashna Pai, Danilyn Parlow Tanvi Parmar, Ellen Plocic, Ektaa Sanghvi, Priya Shah, Kevin Shiraldi, Miranda Sirimis, Jordan Smtih, Jacob Stern, Morgan Sturgeon, Nicole Tyburczy, Jeffrey Veith, Jessica Warner, Michael Weber, Krystal Wilson, Keith Zients. Advisor Andrew Loh The Viking Vibe welcomes article submissions and letters to the editors, which may be delivered to Mr. Loh or dropped off in his mailbox. Submissions can also be sent to [email protected]. The Vibe reserves the right to edit, shorten or comment on any material submitted to the publication. The opinions expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily represent the views of the advisor, editorial staff, faculty, administrators or the Board of Education. Students interested in journalism are also encouraged to join the Newspaper Club, held every Tuesday in room A204. When the AIDS outbreak first occured in the United States, as early as 1981, the condition was quickly classifed as a ‘GRID’ (Gay-Related ImmunoDeficiency) virus, and even more quickly dismissed by the American public as an irrelevant, taboo problem plaguing the ‘social outcasts’ of San Francisco. But as the condition spread amongst homosexual men and, yes, even heterosexuals--finding new victims in hemophiliacs and Haitians--awareness spread as well. The ‘GRID’ virus was eventually reclassified as ‘AIDS’ (Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome), as we know it today, and the government soon began to invest in the research of the condition that would kill over 25 million people to date, as tallied by USAID, an organization involved in various global issues. In the time it took for this country to open up to the condition, comfortably address the social issues surrounding it, and acknowledge December 1st as World AIDS Day--a full seven years--the disease had spread to all parts of the world and affected at least eight million people. And though admirable progress has been made in the development of medicines for AIDS patients since the first World AIDS Day in 1988, we must remember that as of yet, AIDS has no cure. On World AIDS Day 2008, HiTOPS will be collecting money for AIDS treatment and research, to be donated to a local HIV/AIDS organization (the Hyacinth Foundation) based in New Brunswick. As a member of HiTOPS, I might be slightly biased in directing your participation in World AIDS Day to our fundraiser. If nothing else, though, this December 1st, take time to reflect on those who have died of and those who are still affected by AIDS--a condition that has stumped the seemingly-invincible human race. Anita Modi (‘09), Editor-in-Chief Letter to the Editor re: Paranoia? Many freshmen find it easy to comply with school guidelines on many security issues. However for those seniors who have been around for a full four years, it is remarkable to see how much has changed – and I’m not talking about personal character. The security measures in our school have changed drastically in these last four years, and sometimes it is debatable if all these security measures are necessary. Those who entered South Brunswick High School in 2005 may remember the privilege of traveling from the old building to the annex via the school entrance near C stairs and the main doors of the annex. Following freshman year these exits were presumably locked due to safety reasons. It is true that this exit allows for the chance to cut class, but yet there are other exits by which to leave the school. Therefore the only logical rationale for blocking this passage is to prevent strangers from entering the school. Many of us wonder who would even want to arbitrarily infiltrate South Brunswick High School in order to, knock on wood, hurt those who attend here. Does closing this entrance really protect us, or does it simply give the image of safety? Also due to the crowding of hallways, does it make sense to keep a valuable passage closed? We pride our administration’s policy that keeps us safe, but does it err on the side of paranoia? Couldn’t the doors simply be opened for passing time and then shut? The decision remains up to the administration, but we may wonder if safety is a worthy trade off for convenience. Shaun Pande (‘09) news November 2008 The Viking Vibe 3 America’s Youth Helps Bring Change to America Amishi Desai 2009 The youth vote of the 2008 presidential election has remained an omnipresent entity in the media for over a year. In fact, analyses of the youth vote and its importance have repeatedly permeated the newspapers and television news broadcasts with the insistence that a new “youth movement” or a growth in youth political interest has commenced. At a time as early as the state primaries, the significance of younger voters, defined as those from age 18-29 by CNN, remained apparent as their prevalent involvement helped certain candidates, most notably President-Elect Barack Obama, gain instrumental wins. According to the TIME article, “The Year of the Youth Vote” published on January 31 , “[Obama’s] campaign has been the first in decades, maybe in history, to be carried so far on the backs of the young. His crushing margin of victory in Iowa came almost entirely from voters under 25 years old.” Numerous other state primary results, such as New Hampshire, and South Carolina, similarly exemplified the impact of the youth vote in determining the parties’ presidential nominees. Moreover, the number of young people who participated in the state primaries appreciably rose according to the Washington Post article, “This Time We Mean It: The Youth Vote Matters,” which noted, “the number of young people voting quadrupled in Tennessee and tripled in states such as Iowa, Missouri and Texas.” An October Gallop Poll originally indicated that the amount of young voters who would vote in the 2008 election would not be significant relative to the number of young voters of the 2004 presidential election. It acknowledged that the young voter turnout would still be large (“Update: Little Evidence of Surge in Youth Vote”). Specifically, the poll displayed that in comparison to the 80% of potential young voters with a high possibility of voting in the 2004 presidential election, the percentage of 2008 potential young voters who insisted on a great possibility of them voting was almost the same, 78%. The poll did, however, stress that the percentages could change prior to the presidential election. On election day, young voters represented approximately 20% of the total voters, 66% of which voted for the winning candidate--a percentage “much Check out the Vibe Blog for audio feeds, photo reels, and videos! http://blogs. sbschools.org/ vikingvibe/ Feel free to post your comments and thoughts on our latest issue! higher than in any previous election,” according to BBC‘s analysis, “Who Voted for Obama.” In terms of the battleground states, such as Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina, the percentages of young voters, illustrated that the youth vote had a noticeable impact on the election outcome. In the battleground states for which Obama won, the majority of young voters voted for Obama while the state percentage results were close for each candidate. Particularly, in Ohio, with an overall 51% to 47% victory for Obama, the percentage of young voters was 17% with 61% of them voting for Obama, while the other age groups of 30-44, 45-64 and 65+, showed percentages of 51% vs. 47%, 53% vs. 46% and 44% vs. 55% for Obama vs. McCain, respectively. In North Carolina, 74% of the younger voters voted for Obama while the overall percentages were 50% vs. 49% for Obama and McCain, respectively. “I think [the youth vote] had a big impact on the election. A lot of people were really apathetic towards the election and they did not really want have anything to do with it, but this time it was history in the making,” said senior Yasmeen Ragi. Even without considering the impact of the youth vote, the election was definitely different this year, which encouraged younger voters to be actively involved. According to the Washington Post, among the reasons for greater youth interest was the economy, which college students were focused on for their futures. “I think it was the economic situation [that inspired youth involvement] because college students would be in debt and, because of interest rates, would have to pay more. Celebrity endorsements were important in the voter turnout too,” said senior Catherine Rojivrivat. “I think [America’s youth was interested] because Obama was really young, appealed to the middle class, and was a minority. He made history by running and I think that motivated a lot of young people,” said Ragi. While the youth vote had an impact on the election, the election also had an impact on youth. “I just thought it was very interesting because you saw a lot of people really into the election in comparison to the past,” said Rojvirat. 4 November 2008 The Viking Vibe news SBHS Hosts Election Day Dinner 2008 Anita Modi 2009 On Tuesday, November 4, 2008, over fifty SBHS students and teachers gathered in the red cafeteria to witness history in the making. Why? “It’s epic,” senior Dan Velez summarized, to which senior Jen Luck added, “This is a big era of change. It’s going to determine a lot of things, and we’re going to be affected by it now.” Senior Corey Webb described why she decided to attend the event, as opposed to watching the election coverage with her family, saying, “There are people your age here, and a mix of ideas. In my house, everyone has the same views.” While some came sporting Obama ’08 buttons and others were decked in McCain-Palin attire, the majority of the crowd—primarily the juniors and seniors of IPLE I, IPLE II, and AP U.S. Government and Politics classes—did not publicly display their candidate preferences and instead remained content to simply wait and watch. And watch they did. CNN blared on the TV suspended from the ceiling of the cafeteria, while a projector flashed stateby-state predictions from a variety of stations onto a central whiteboard. The participants of the event, organized by social studies teachers Mr. Sean Cannon and Mr. Marc Lifland, were treated to pizza and soda as they saw each state commit to red or blue. For extra credit, students contributed to the food stash with brownies, ice cream, and elaborate cakes. Liz Butera, a senior in Mr. Cannon’s IPLE II class, brought in a cake featuring a map of the United States outlined in blue, as well as red and blue icing tubes. As each state was projected either red or blue, Butera filled in her map. Because Above: Cakes featuring symbols of the Democratic and Republican parties joined more traditional popcorn, pretzels, and pizza on the food tables at SBHS’s Election Day Dinner./PHOTO BY Saadia Ahmad (‘10) the event ended at around 10:30pm, though, the map was left partially unfilled as the race hadn’t yet finished. Each state’s projected outcome had a much larger meaning for the students of Mr. Cannon’s AP U.S. Government and Politics class, who made their own projections a week prior to election night. Correctly-predicted states resulted in extra credit points. Apart from staring at the T.V. screen with the intensity of people waiting for their lottery numbers to be called, the students engaged in heated debates about the candidates and their running mates— with President-Elect Barack Obama and former VP candidate Sarah Palin being hot topics of discussion. Above: Juniors and seniors of IPLE I, IPLE II, and AP U.S. Government and Politics classes listen to Mr. Sean Cannon’s interpretations of election projections; Left: Students decorate a special cake for election night, coloring each state based on the projected winner./PHOTOS BY Saadia Ahmad (‘10) “Sarah Palin invigorated the Republican ticket,” senior Aly Azhar pointed out to Palin-bashers nearby, “After McCain added her to the ticket, they started holding huge rallies together.” Senior Stephanie Klarer, a supporter of McCain, said, “I personally don’t agree with [Sarah Palin’s] views, but she’s on the ticket, so we’ll just have to deal with it.” Of Palin’s questionable experience as a politician, senior Craig Maltese noted, “I don’t think Obama’s any more experienced than Palin—and Obama’s the one running for the top position.” He acknowledged that any disparities in the two candidates’ experience levels were greatly exaggerated by Saturday Night Live and other media. “It’s biased,” he said, “SNL is clearly a democratic network.” Senior Brian Sichta argued that even before Tina Fey’s latest parodies of Sarah Palin aired, “Voters had already made up their minds.” Senior Bria Walton countered, “[The skits] may affect younger voters who watch SNL and think ‘Oh, she’s dumb.’ They’re totally more likely to be influenced by SNL than older voters.” “SNL had a great effect on this election,” Mr. Cannon agreed, “The media’s stereotyping of Palin solidified the public’s hunch about her character, her intelligence, everything. And once that image was set, it was very hard to change. You have to have control over your public persona.” Barack Obama maintained, as The Washington Times reported on August 8, 2008, a “carefully choreographed persona as an unassailable agent of hope” throughout his entire campaign—a persona that yielded positive effects in comparison to Palin’s negative ones. “Barack Obama is just genuine,” junior Michelle Salim said of the Democratic candidate. SBHS Principal Mr. Timothy Matheney, also an Obama-supporter, told of how he stood in line in his hometown of Montgomery on Election Day at 5:55am to vote. “Why am I so enthused? I have enormous respect for Barack Obama,” he said. Though the students attending the event couldn’t share their voting stories alongside their principal’s—not one of the students had voted on that day-SBHS’s Election Day dinner proved successful, serving as a casual place to eat, talk, wear, and share politics. news Press Conference Addresses Teen Driving Safety Brandon James and Jeff Veith 2010 South Brunswick High School and the Middlesex County Association of Chiefs of Police held a press conference at SBHS on October 21 discussing the major concerns of teen safety. The purpose of the press conference was to make people aware that teen deaths in car accidents are significant, and that measures need to be taken for prevention. The conference was a part of Teen Violence Prevention Week, which ran from October 20 to October 24. The meeting covered a variety of important points. Various speakers and county leaders were at the meeting, including Middlesex County Freeholders Mr. Christopher Rafano and Mr. Ronald Rios. Topics that were also covered included teen motor vehicle crashes, drugs and alcohol, abusive relationships, and the GDL Program. Junior David Harry said, “Teen deaths in car crashes are a huge problem, I think. The sad thing is some teens act like they just don’t care.” Middlesex County Chief of Police Mr. Raymond Hayducka said, “I believe alcohol and drugs play a role in teen fatalities and the best way we can prevent that is to educate teens about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. I also think that the last of experience plays into it, which is why we have the Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program.” Junior Brendan Fitzpatrick said, “I think that teen violence and deaths on the road is very serious. I always worry someone I know will get hurt.” Freeholder Rios said, “Teen deaths on the road are very sad and happen mostly at happy times like prom weekend, football games, and parties. We, as a government, are establishing many programs geared toward solving these fatalities.” Officials at the meeting stated that forty-four percent of teen deaths are motor vehicle crashes, nineteen percent are homicides, fourteen percent are suicides, and twenty three percent are “other.” Freeholder Rafano said, “I think the most major factor of teen casualties on the road is the lack of experience. Another problem is that teens think they are invincible and take too many risks.” Generally speaking, teens are inexperienced drivers and the main assumption associated with young drivers is that they drive too fast, too dangerously, and flat out foolishly. According to an article on cdc.gov, a government funded website, posted by John DeAnnzio on October 24, 2004, car crashes are the leading death of American teens. Of these crashes, ten thousand of these deaths are passengers. Sixteen- year olds have higher crash rates and they are more likely to die in an automotive accident than any other age group, according to the CDC. This is because sixteen-year olds are the newest drivers on the road, and therefore will ultimately make the most mistakes while driving. In 2007, 3500 motor vehicle deaths were of people from ages fifteen to twenty. Sophomore Zeeshan Syed stated, “I believe that it is well known that teenage drivers are usually more reckless than adult drivers because they are less experienced.” Due to these numbers, insurance rates are extremely high for teenage drivers. Policies for males are higher than those of females because they have accounted for a higher percentage of deaths on the road, according to the aforementioned article. However, both males and females between the ages of fifteen and twenty cause thirteen percent of car-related deaths. Junior Brendan Fitzpatrick said, “Sometimes I’m afraid of the strict laws that they will eventually make for teenage drivers because teens drive so recklessly.” According to another article on cdc. gov, posted by Phil Mulhaley on June 3, 2007, more than twenty percent of new drivers, aged sixteen to nineteen, do not wear seat belts. This increases their chances of a serious injury or even death by four hundred percent. Student Assistance Counselor Ms. Pam Major said, “I believe that a lot of teen fatalities and accidents occur because teens are inexperienced, overconfident, take too many risks, and imitate other reckless drivers because it appears cool to them. I also think that drugs and alcohol play a huge role because people think, ‘Oh, it will never happen to me,’ which is not the case.” Indeed statistics state that alcohol can play a huge role in car accidents and wild driving. Of the drivers aged between fifteen to twenty who had died in a motor vehicle accident last year, twenty three percent of them had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 g/dl or higher, which is barely the legal limit. Drunk driving can apply to those under the age of twentyone, not only those individuals who are over the legal age, according to cdc. gov. Sophomore Kyle Aumack said, “I know when I start to drive I’m going to be careful and also aware of other teenage drivers because they are inexperienced.” Many leaders in the state of New Jersey feel that teen safety and violence prevention is a top priority. They urge teens to slow down, pay attention, and be safe. If they do all these things, the road will be a much safer place for teens and everyone else. The Viking Vibe November 2008 5 Ici, on parle français! We speak French here! Above: Students sing traditional French songs at the French Breakfast./PHOTOS BY Jovelle Tamayo (‘09) Reshma Erukulla 2009 Upon entering the freshman cafeteria at 7:30 am on Wednesday, November 5, a stranger would find French students from SBHS shouting French greetings such as, “Bonjour” or “Salut.” The French Breakfast, sponsored by the French Honor Society and French Club, allowed French students of all levels to enjoy the French culture and French food together. After everyone settled down, F.H.S. President Reshma Erukulla and F.H.S. Vice President Alexandra Leonardo gave welcome speeches in both French and English to welcome the French students. Following the speeches, Mrs. Maria Economides called tables to go and get the French food on either side of the cafeteria. The many French delicacies ranged from croissants to Nutella and from quiche to Madelines--just as the menu featured last year. However, there was a slight change this year with regards to entertainment during the breakfast. While the students sat at their tables with their food and friends, a slideshow by French teacher, Mr. Eric Miele played on the white screen. The slide- show featured aspects of French culture, portrayed through a series of fun facts. The breakfast additionally had a special guest from Rutgers University, Mr. Uri Eienzweig, who is a professor of French and Comparative Literature. Mr. Eienzweig joined the French students towards the end of the French breakfast, accordion in hand. With Mr. Eienzwieg’s accompaniment, the French students sang “Champs-Elysees” and “La Marseillaise.” Mr. Miele said, “ [It] was kind of disappoint[ing] when not many students came but there’s always next year.” Yet, even though not as many students came to the French breakfast as he had hoped, the ones that did come enjoyed it to their heart’s content. Attendees also received the opportunity to earn extra credit in their French classes by completing word searches and puzzles provided at the end of the breakfast. Simply put by freshman Venkat Yenumandra, “I really loved the French breakfast and I’m definitely going again next year!” Monika Nandi (‘12) also contributed to this article. Below: A prize is awarded at the French Breakfast; A musical performace with an SBHS teacher and guest./PHOTOS BY Jovelle Tamayo (‘09) 6 November 2008 The Viking Vibe South Brunswick September 11 Memorial in Need of Donations Melissa Katz remembrance fountain, reflection pool, and Ashna Pai a quiet seating area and garden. Three 2011 blocks of granite make up the fountain In front of the municipal building on Ridge Road in Monmouth Junction stands a tranquil memorial in memory of the September 11 attacks that took place seven years ago. Unfortunately, not many members of the South Brunswick community are aware that this memorial is in desperate need of donations in order to maintain it. Three years ago, on September 11, 2005, this memorial in the form of a running fountain was unveiled to the public. The ceremony had notable speakers, like the mayor and city councilmen. There was a moment of silence and a presentation from the South Brunswick Police Department Honor Guard. The South Brunswick Arts Commission held a state-wide competition to decide the on the proper design for the memorial. Out of twenty-eight designs submitted, Amado Batour of Somerset conceived the three granite blocks design. The memorial consists of a to represent the three South Brunswick citizens who died. In order to keep the memorial a place that people can go to reflect, the community finds it necessary to ask for donations to maintain the fountain, and to keep this memorial alive and proud. Two donors in Middlesex County bought two out of the three benches, for $25,000. The last one is still up for purchase. The township is also selling paving blocks that encircle the memorial for a cheaper price. Each of the paving blocks is $100 with $25 to engrave a message in to the brick. Unlike most memorials, South Brunswick does not use tax dollars to fund the memorial. It relies solely on donations. Even five dollars can make a difference and help the South Brunswick September 11 memorial live on. For more information contact the South Brunswick Township at 732-329-4000 ext. 7275 or by email at rschmalz@sbtnj. org. news SBHS Hosts Violence Prevention Week Corey Allen and Jordan Smith 2009 During the week of October 20, SBHS hosted Violence Prevention Week, designated to make everyone aware of violence in schools. Ms. Cleo Lowinger, Student Assistance Counselor, said “this week highlights different issues such as dating abuse, bullying, and ways people assault each other.” The week’s goal was to make people aware of how to effectively resolve conflicts with one another, while treating each other respectfully. It is hoped that the information throughout the week will not only affect the high school students and faculty members, but the entire community as well. “I believe in the domino theory,” said Ms. Lowinger, “someone will learn something and impact someone else, and it will ultimately affect everybody.” Most students had the same idea as Ms. Lowinger. “Violence Prevention should be promoted throughout the whole year. There shouldn’t be a designated week,” said senior Omer Saleh, “Violence is never the answer.” Senior Armando Vitan said, “I think it makes our town a safer place.” There were different types of violence focused on each day of the week. To promote awareness, there were announcements made on VTN and posters with tips on how to deal with violence posted around the school. One of the posters was shaped as a stop sign and read, “Stop Violence.” The main activity was two tables, located in the cafeteria alcove and outside of the freshmen cafeteria, with materials and information about preventing violence. Here, people had the chance to sign a pledge to not insult and hurt others. After signing a pledge, students’ names were put into a lottery to win various prizes, including t-shirts, New Jersey Nets tickets and discounts to local stores. Not all students were in support of Violence Prevention week. “It makes violent students want to be more violent by knowing that people are trying to prevent it,” said senior Jeremy Zadek. Ms. Lowinger countered, “Over the past few years, statistics have shown that discussing these issues makes kids aware of them, and not want to commit acts of violence.” Ms. Lowinger said that Violence Prevention Week was successful in opening up many eyes to the dangers of violence and the importance of preventing it. Next year, Ms. Lowinger hopes to organize a speaker to make a presentation on violence prevention to the school. Vikings Await Thanksgiving Day Game Keith Zients and David Mariano 2010 South Brunswick is playing visitor to another Gobble day rivalry game. North Brunswick hosts South Brunswick on November 27 at 10:00am for the annual exhibition game, hoping for a repeat victory. There is a long-standing rivalry between these schools as they played regular season games against each other prior to division splits, after which South Brunswick moved to the larger Red Division because of the rapid increase in the populatin of students. Always a heated contest, the exhibition game at the end of every season recreates the rivalry between the two schools. Junior Jeff Goldhagen said, “Last year we lost because we came out flat and didn’t play our game. Ending the season with a loss motivated us this offseason to work hard so that it doesn’t happen again. We have been waiting for revenge.” South Brunswick is expected to win this year, despite its crushing loss last year. The Vikings stand 7-1 hoping and planning to take down the 6-2 Raiders. Quarterbacks senior Tim Doehler and junior Mike Muha lead the Viking attack. The rushing crew consists of seniors Thomas Dunleavy, Justin McLendon, and Cody Shelcusky. The receiving staff is led by seniors Danny “Ace” Acevado, Jimmy Mikedes, and Mike “Icey” Ferrara. “We prepare for this rivalry game all year. It’s the seniors last game, and we want them to end their careers with a win,” said junior linebacker Will Osley. “The coaching staff and the kids have been working hard all year and we just need to execute,” Coach Mr. Peter Jankowicz said. Defense will be key for a South Brunswick victory. In order to win, they will need to stop the run, and put pressure on the Raiders’ quarterback. Senior linebacker Devin Young leads the Vikings’ defense, with a lot of help from shut-down corners senior Justin McLendon and Dunleavy. “I cant wait for this game,” said sophomore Patrick Roy, “Every year I go to this game. It’s always fun to watch the seniors enjoy their last game.” With luck, the Vikings’ hard work this season will pay off as they face their Thanksgiving Day game against the Raiders. Football players on the field./PHOTOS COURTESY OF Bill Gaze. features The Viking Vibe November 2008 Turn the Music Up! Less Paper... More Keys The New AMPED Club Amy Rowe 2009 This year’s AMPED club has an entirely new feel to it, as noted by some of its members. In previous years, the club served as an open forum for students to play their instruments, but most of the time the meetings were loosely structured around music appreciation and topics related to music. Now with social studies teacher Mr. Justin Negraval as its new advisor, the club has been reformatted and pointed in a new direction. Mr. Negraval said, “I want AMPED to be the center for music in this community. I want it to be concerned with everything related to music, and really serve as practice space for student musicians who don’t always have access to such space at home. I also think AMPED could potentially be a place for people to learn about the ins and outs of the music industry.” The club has held a few meetings this year, and club members seem to be reacting positively. Club member and senior Adrianne Gold said, “I really like the new direction AMPED is going in. I also hope Mr. Negraval lets me play his key-tar when he brings it in!” The old AMPED seemed to only attract guitar players interested in playing some form of rock, but this year the club is trying to bring in an eclectic array of instrumentalists to its meetings, as well as students who listen to various genres. Social coordinator and senior Devin Sanclemente said, “I feel that AMPED this year has the potential to become a beacon for all aspiring musicians and music enthusiasts. [We have] an enthusiastic group of members this year, and meetings have been a lot more promising, so I think that this can be achieved.” AMPED plans to hold its annual acoustic concert in early 2009, with a new spin- a coffee house acoustic night. A second concert is possibly in the works for the end of the school year, which will resemble a festival-like atmosphere. For anyone interested in joining AMPED, meetings are held every other Thursday in room A209. 7 Aaron Lassin 2011 As newer technology begins to settle around the world, newspapers are becoming less utilized and are not a number one news priority. Almost everyone is one click away from getting all the news they may need. Once the norm for every family in the United States, newspapers have taken the back seat to the twenty first century. Newspaper companies all around, from this area to the New York Times are looking for something to save their traditional business. As almost every household owns at least one computer, just about every one has learned how to navigate himself or herself through the World Wide Web. They no longer have the restrictions of the same newspaper, that may be found outside on the driveway every morning, they can now read newspapers from Texas, India, Jamaica and even Dubai. Sophomore Zachary Crowley says, “Whenever I wake up in the morning, I must read the newspaper. Since I may get tired of the local ones, I can just surf the web and learn about other things concerning the world.” Almost everyone’s voice is heard regarding various subjects, so as each newspaper continues to put more and more of their written information on their websites, more people will want to read what others have to say. When the paper is delivered to a household, a subscription is usually mandated. For example, a weekly subscription to The Star Ledger costs $4.95 a week. The New York Times cost $5.30. Junior Ben Waller said “Why should anyone pay to read the news? At anytime of the day anyone could be reading the newspaper in seconds and paying nothing for it.” Especially because people are begin- ning to think more and more about what they’re really spending their money on, if they can find a way to get it for less or practically free, they will take it. Speed also plays a part into the evolution of newspapers. The majority of people dislike waking up as it is, and to go outside to find the same exact thing that is right in their household, just does not bode well. Speed is now an essential for finding innovation. It increases the ability for everyone to do things faster, especially reading the news. When people read online newspapers or news websites, they can find various information regarding similar topics. Some may be true and others may sound very farfetched. On the other hand, a big problem with the shift from printed papers to online papers is that they can be easily fabricated. With technology becoming easier and easier to tap into, people can write false things, regarding the news or world events. Sophomore Aubrienne Tuskey said, “When I go on news websites to find information, I look in several places at once, because at times I am skeptical with what people may write or say, and I may have trouble finding who’s right or wrong.” Also as it becomes a more web generation, the younger generation could possibly thrive. Since people now a days are better with computers, there could be more demand for online articles. In conclusion it is becoming more and more apparent that you no longer will be eating breakfast with a newspaper in front of you, but rather a keyboard. With South Brunswick High School already jumping on technologies bandwagon, you can now begin reading the new and improved online version of the VIBE, right in your household. The newspaper had a long run, but technology just does not care. 8 November 2008 The Viking Vibe Nike-A Proven High School Trend features Obesity Still a Concern for Teens Cody McHugh 2009 While walking through the hallways of South Brunswick High School, a very peculiar trend can be noticed by just looking down- a large number of students sporting Nike Brand Sneakers. “Nikes are the foundation of the sneaker culture,” says junior Jay Guo, “They’re the most fashionable and comfortable sneakers, which is why I prefer them to other brands.” Nike has emerged as a huge and evident trend at South Brunswick, and worldwide as well. Nike products such as Nike Dunks, Nike Skateboarding, and Air Jordans are some of the well known and popular styles. However many students don’t know the history of the sneaker that they wear on their feet every day as they walk through the halls from class to class. Nike started out as a small shoe importing company created by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight in 1963. It was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports and was based in Portland, Oregon. Now Nike is available in 110 countries and is endorsed by famous athletes like Michael Jordan and Lebron James. The Nike Swoosh logo, which was created for $35, is now almost universally recognized. The trend is very evident throughout South Brunswick, and it may not be going anywhere anytime soon. “Nike is my favorite brand of sneakers,” said senior Travis Hayes, “It’s the only brand of sneakers I would even consider wearing.” Guo agreed, “It’s Nikes all the way for me, I would never let another brand go near my feet.” “I wear Nikes because they’re comfortable,” said senior Ann Halmi, “I also like the way they look, too.” Style and comfort are two major qualities that a sneaker brand needs to be popular, however Hayes thinks it may be something different. “Nike has created a tradition of excellence,” he said, “Just hearing the name Nike makes you think of a good shoe.” Nike certainly has grown into a large school wide, nationwide, and even global trend. This trend has hit South Brunswick hard, and by the looks of things, it is here to stay. Riya Arora and Nicole Tyburczy 2011, 2010 According to Science Daily, the number-one health concern among teens is obesity. “The increase in the obesity rate in teens is directly related to the fact that more kids today live an inactive lifestyle, don’t have a nutritious diet, and don’t get the recommended sleep on a regular basis,” said physical education teacher, Mr. John Coppola. He said, “These factors increase the potential weight gain and health issues down the road.” “I don’t think teens are doing enough physical activity, because they’re getting lazier which is causing obesity,” said sophomore Yara Ourfali. In an article from the American Council on Exercise entitled “Teens, Fitness, and You,” posted last December, 38 percent of teens get the exercise they need, which means that the other 62 percent could be setting themselves up for obesity or other types of health risks later on in their lives, such as heart problems or diabetes. The American Council on Exercise also stated that in order to prevent child obesity, parents should begin encouraging exercise at a young age. Studies show that teens that play sports or that are involved in other physical activities are less likely to have health problems when they get older. Sports are a helpful way to get teens active because they are not only physically involved, but socially involved as well. According to www.USATODAY. com, in an article posted on July 16, “As kids get older, they drop the ball on exercise.” Specifically, American kids exercise less and less between the ages of nine and 15, meaning that fewer than a third of 15-year-olds get an hour of vigorous physical activity a day. School nurse Mrs. Susan Paris suggested that teens are becoming less and less active because of today’s technology. “It’s easier to play computer games than it is to go outside and shoot baskets,” she explained. Junior Lindsey Perry-Rawls said, “Teens don’t get enough exercise because they have found other types of outlets that consume their time.” If kids get enough exercise, it will make them stronger academically as well. However, this is not the only beneficial ‘side-effect’ of exercise. Other rewards include a better physical appearance, especially as aging sets in. Experts say that teens should set aside at least an hour a day for exercise or physical activity, such as playing a sport. “I think that some teens are afraid to tryout for sports because the competition in high school is at an all-time high,” said junior Rheanna Sessa. High school sports can sometimes tend to exclude overweight kids and lower their self-esteem. Some other ideas to get teens more active include riding bikes, jumping on trampolines, swimming, running, playing soccer, or even dancing. “Exercise at any age is important because of the health benefits you obtain through exercise and eating properly. It helps you perform your daily tasks with a greater energy level, as well as increasing your focus and enhancing your overall performance,” said Mr. John Coppola. Overall, the message that needs to be directed to teens is turn off the TV, get off the computer, and get active because in the long run, teens can only benefit. features November 2008 The Viking Vibe 9 Habitat for Humanity Helps Rebuild Lives Jaya Chinnaya 20?? Habitat for Humanity (H4H) is an organization that houses in the fight to eliminate poverty. SBHS played its part by helping to build houses in an East Trenton site. Members sixteen or older participate in the building itself, but younger members used fundraising for the organization and club as an alternative. Fundraisers held included the Friendly’s Dinner, Hot Hands Sale at Powder Puff, the Tool Drive, the Book Sale, the Car Wash Tickets Sale, and the Pancake Breakfast. “H4H benefits students and their futures because it is a great opportunity for students to be involved in community service,” said Ms. Alison Cooper, the club’s co-advisor, along with librarian Ms. Kristin Mangino “[H4H] gives students a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, knowing that they’re helping someone in need.” Ms. Cooper believes this club gives students the ability to learn the significance of giving back, and that this lesson will follow them into their college careers and beyond. Club membership has been a “snowball” effect, helping the club increase its funds and ability to build. “This is only my second year advising the club, but it seems as though the membership numbers have increased as well as the number of students at build every month in Trenton,” Ms. Cooper said. Club members and officers have a similar outlook on H4H. The club’s president, senior Monica Agrawal, believes that joining the club was one of the best decisions she ever made. “Through the organization and club, I’ve been able to volunteer and to help people in a practical but valuable way”, Agrawal said, “A home is one of the most meaningful things one can have, and helping people attain a home is precious.” She has several responsibilities as a club officer. “As president, I have to oversee the club and make sure everything runs smoothly” she said, “This means doing work wherever needed, whenever needed. All the officers in Habitat really work together as a team; sometimes the lines between our duties get blurred,” Agrawal said. “I joined because I think it is important to get involved with the community,” said freshman, Prachi Vyas. Since the freshmen are new to the school, H4H can be a way to dive into SBHS. “I think that H4H is a great opportuni- ty to help others and meet new people,” said freshman, Jenny Shah, “I wish I was old enough to build, but since I cant I will still visit the site and try to help with other activities.” H4H has not seen any limitations or funding problems for the club so far. Students provide their own transportation to the Trenton site. All donations support the club and organization directly. Habitat for Humanity meets once a month in room 211; for more details about meeting dates and sign up information, contact Ms. Cooper or Ms. Mangino at Alison.Cooper@sbschools. org or [email protected]. New School Policies for Cell phones and iPODs Ashley Nelson and Jake Stern 2011 This year a new rule has been added to SBHS the student handbook in regards to Ipods in the cafeteria. The new rule states that students are able to use their ipods during their lunch period, but not during any other time in school. The Administration stated the rule after they received feedback from multiple students that they felt they should have the opportunity to listen to their music doing their lunch period. Assistant principal Peter Varela said, “The administration encour- ages students to reach out whenever they have questions regarding rules or decisions. Students should utilize the student senate, administration and faculty. We need to keep the line of communications open.” Some students think that south Brunswick High School is contradicting itself. Sophomore Utsarga Sikder argued, “I don’t understand why ipods are allowed to be in the cafeteria but cell phones aren’t” According to Mr. Varela, cell phones bring up an entirely different issues than iPods. IPods are not able to take pictures record video or send text messages to other students in class. Cell phones are a bigger distraction than a student quietly listening to music. Ipods are not allowed in hap classes because they create an issue by distracting students who are trying to utilize their time by doing work. Other students feel that the high school is being hypocritical, this year the staff is becoming stricter with ipods in the classroom and in the halls. “The administration is contradicting itself they should either allow ipods to be used during free time or not at all” Said Freshman Mike Lordi According to Mr. Varela When the administration asked students why Cell Phones should be allowed in the cafeteria, the students could not give them a valid answer. Students will always be trying to come up with convincing reasons why the administration should allow cell phones in school but the outcome looks very unlikely. The staff is always trying to prevent the use of cell phones and iPods in class because of the potential distractions they cause. 10 November 2008 The Viking Vibe sports Run, Vikes, Run! Fourth Annual Race Successful Maxine Deines 2012 On November 2, over three hundred runners participated in the fourth annual Run with the Vikings 5K (RWTV5K) at the high school, with proceeds benefiting the Vikings Athletic Club (VAC). Through the 5K, the VAC raised over $8000, thanks to the efforts of the race directors, Mr. Robert and Mrs. Ro Tona. “This year was the most successful [race] out of the four years,” said Mr. Tona. The money raised will help fund awards that are given to exceptional athletes, the annual senior awards banquet, college scholarships for senior athletes, and the needs of the marching band and sports teams. The 5K began at 10:00 on the Sunday morning, with the 1 Mile Fun Run beginning half an hour earlier at 9:30. Later at 11:00 was a Kiddie Race for children twelve and under. In the 5K, the racers followed a police car around the streets of the neighborhoods in Monmouth Junction as they ran for 3.1 miles, starting and finishing in the high school’s parking lot. Volunteers, including students from the high school, helped organize the events and cheer the runners on. They also helped time the racers in to get accurate times. Many people from both the community and the school participated in the race, and helped benefit the VAC. SBHS’s own Matt Boley, a senior, won the 5K with a time of 17:38. He, Dan, and Bill Boley also won the Fittest Family Award. First place female finisher in the 5K was Amy Buhoski from North Brunswick, with a time of 20:01. Kristen Cooney and Senior Kevin O’Laughlin won the 1 Mile Fun Run Winner of the fittest teacher award was Mr. Stefan Morehead and Mrs. Nicole Furyk. Results were calculated with help from www.bestrace.com, and results can be found there. Mrs. Furyk said that she was excited about winning an award. “[I ran in the 5K] because I teach here, so I wanted to support the Vikings,” she also said. Freshman Ian Mortiz, president of his class, also enjoyed running in the race to help the school. He jokes, “I’ve been training for years to dominate in this race.” O’Laughlin said that it felt good to get a good place, adding, “I wanted to Above: Participants of the fourth annual Run with the Vikings event stretch on the pavement./ PHOTOS BY Jovelle Tamayo (‘09) get a good time, [and] I care more about the time than the place.” All of the racers received “goodie bags,” as Mr. Tona referred to them. They contained pamphlets, prizes, and coupons donated by many of the sponsors, which included the Rehabilitation Center, Princeton Sports Center, AwardPros of Princeton, Halter’s Bicycle Shop, and Brunswick Urgent Care. They also received a T-shirt custom-made for the race. After the race, the runners enjoyed refreshments also donated from sponsors such as Dunkin Donuts. Many of the sponsors also donated prizes to the raffle held after the race, which runners from all races were entered in. Panasonic Toughbook, another of the race’s sponsors, donated a flat screen TV to the raffle. “We would not be able to put up such a good event if it wasn’t for the sponsors,” Mr. Tona said. The 5K has proven to be very popular, as 314 runners ran in the 5K this year compared to the 178 from last year. Mr. Tona said that the race is getting bigger with the addition of new awards, such as the fittest teacher award. He still, however, wants to continue with his success. “My goal is to get over 500 runners into the 5K, and we’re getting there,” he said. SBHS Gymnastics Team: Perfection in Every Performance The SBHS Gymnastics team gathers for recognition at the GMCs; Left: A stellar performance on the balance beam./PHOTOS COURTESY OF Bill Gaze, www.bgsportshots.com Breona Garrison 2010 The SBHS gymnastics team began the 2008-2009 school year by finishing fourth at Sectionals and second at GMCs, due to their hard work and perseverance throughout the season. After struggling last year, the team was able to pick up the broken pieces this year and work together towards one common goal. Even though it was a tough road, they achieved success as a whole team, and not just as individuals. Senior and Captain Marissa Liptak was injured over the summer and couldn’t contribute any more records, allowing other team members to step up for the challenge. Junior Jess Macay, for example, was the only player who took first place in an event. As Coach Mrs. Mindy Verdarami said, “the gymnasts worked together, broke records, and even broke some of Marissa’s too.” According to Coach Verdarami, their season “was almost bittersweet” because of their wins throughout the season. This year differed from last year because a lot more focus was placed on completing each event with utter perfection. “We won ten dual meets and lost one. We finished at sectionals in fourth place,” junior Ilana Berger said of this season. The team was again able to qualify for the state championship due to their admirable season. “As a team, we became a lot stronger and we really got along well,” junior Rebekah Clavin said about how close the team grew this season. Their season isn’t quite over because their current standing gives them the opportunity to participate, and, hopefully, to win at the state tournament. Coach Verdarami confidently concluded, “there’s nothing I would do differently [about this season] because we were near perfect.” sports SBHS Fall Sports Capsule Tom Dunleavy 2009 Football (7-1) - For the first time in school history, the Vikings have won the GMC Red Division (Co-champions), and are the #1 seed in the Central Group IV State Playoffs. Last Friday, the Vikings defeated (#8 seed) Pennsauken 21-12. This Friday, they will face Brick Memorial in the semi-finals at home. Boys Soccer (15-3-2) – The Vikings ended their season after losing in the GMC semi-fianls and the first round of the state playoffs. Although they had an abrupt ending, they had a great season and won the GMC Red Division for the 3rd straight year. Seniors Sean Tyree, Kazuki Yamada, and Kevin Gramata led the way for this extremely balanced team. November 2008 Girls Cross Country – The Lady Vikings continued their successful season last week when they won the Central Jersey Group IV sectionals at Jamesburg’s Thompson Park. Freshmen Cayla Del Piano played a huge role with her 6th place finish. Seven SBHS runners now move onto Saturday’s State Group Meet in Holmdel where the top three finishing teams advanced to the Nov. 22 Meet of Champions. Look out for more news in the December issue. Gymnastics – The gymnastics team has a lot to be proud of after they advanced as a team to the NJSIAA state tournament. The Vikings compiled a score of 111.425 to finish fourth in the Section 2 meet and 7th among all sectional teams in the state. The score was enough to earn SBHS an at-large berth as one of the 10 teams in Friday’s state championship at Hunterdon Central. Freshman Lindsay Carbone and juniors Jess Macay and Shannon Martin have also advanced to the all-around competition. Volleyball (8-16) – After finishing in the top 5 in the GMC a year ago, and graduating eight seniors, the girl’s volleyball team was in the rebuilding stage this year. The team did its best to stay afloat in the highly competitive GMC. Seniors Jess Pietrefessa, Katie Rolwood, Jess Strincoski, and Emily Gabriele were great leaders for this team. 11 Girls Volleyball Team Spikes Competition Zach Cohen and Aaron Lassin 2010, 2011 While the football team and soccer teams have soaked up most of the South Brunswick glory, one team went under the radar as a solid team. The girl’s varsity volleyball team reflects on a year of up and downs, finally ending their season after winning one round of the GMC tournament, and finishing 8-16. After last season’s stellar performance both regular and post season, this years’ Vikings had a lot to prove for this upcoming season. The team ended last season at a record of 14-12 and made it into the GMC’S. Having to replace key players and leaders, the team had big shoes to come in and fill. Head coach and VTN teacher Shaun Ruy- men said, “I feel like this season we came in with a lot of good players, but a lot of young ones. I knew we had the talent to win, we just had to put it together.” As the grueling season began in August, practices and the preseason started. The players were more than ready to show the coaches what they were made of as individuals and as a team. Sophomore varsity player Jessica Sesma said, “August was a hectic time due to practice and preseason games, but we all came in feeling confident and ready to face the opposition.” As the season began, the team got off to a strong start with convincing wins against Piscataway and Edison High School. Since then it has been a roller coastar of wins and losses. As the GMC’S began the team took on a tough team of Edison. They held their own winning 2-1 and moving on to the next round. The next round would bring a harder opponent in Mother Seton High School. The girl would lose 2-0, and their GMC’S ended. Sophomore varsity player Rachel Vogel said, “We had some tough breaks here and there, but I feel like our team became one, although in a losing effort. The season may have come to an end, but this team, young and experienced now, is ready to win in the upcoming years. The GMC final is on their radar for next year. Boys Cross Country – Senior Matt Boley had a clutch 7th-place finish in the Cross Country sectionals and was the only member of the team to compete in the State Group IV. Matt completed a very successful season last weekend and is now preparing for Winter Track. Girls Soccer (13-7) – The lady Vikings accomplished a lot this year as they reached the semi-finals of the GMCT. A huge win over Monroe in the first round of the state tournament kept their exciting season alive. Their season ended after a loss to #2 seeded East Brunswick in the 2nd round of the state tournament. The Viking Vibe Team photographs of SBHS Girl’s Volleyball./PHOTOS COURTESY OF Bill Gaze, www.bgsportshots.com 12 November 2008 The Viking Vibe sports GIRL POWER! An Interview with Georgia Foulds Samantha Orlan 2010 Georgia Foulds is #10 and defensive player on SBHS’s Varsity Ice Hockey team as well as its only girl. While hockey is a major part of her life, as she plays with both the school team and an all-girls travel team, friends are also important to her. The following is an interview with Foulds in reference to being a female player participating in a maledominated sport. The Viking Vibe (VV): When did you start ice hockey and how did you get interested? Georgia Foulds (GF): I started ice-skating in fourth grade and I started my first year of travel in fifth grade for the Princeton Tigers. My mother used to play ice hockey so she brought me into the rink to try skating and I liked it. VV: Did it being a male-dominated sport impact your decision to play? GF: Not at all, it was either play hockey or do ballet on ice really. I hadn’t thought about how it was mainly guys who played at the time, I just wanted to play some sport and figure skating didn’t count to me. VV: What’s the difference in terms of how you are perceived as a girl by your teammates, from grade to grade? GF: My teammates become more and more judgmental, like when I was younger and at the same height and weight, I was always captain or assistant. I like hitting kids and I was able to take them out because we were more even. Now it’s like I don’t stand a chance, and the guys don’t expect so much from me because I’m so much smaller now. They see me on the ice and kind of judge me like, “She’s a girl, she’s gonna suck.” Or it’s like I’m like the ‘rep’ for all girls. It depends what team I’m playing on and how I compare to them of course. In travel, with my own age, I’m one of the better players and they’re all respectful and nice. Varsity freshman year though was hard because I was one of the weaker players. How good you are compared to the other players has everything to do with how they are with you, so sophomore year was easier because I was better, and I’m guessing this year will be better too because the guys coming up will be the only ones judging me. The guys already in high school already know what I can do and won’t bother me. VV: Is the school team the only team you play on? GF: Nah, I’ve been playing travel hockey since fifth grade, Princeton Tigers in fifth grade, then sixth through ninth grade Pro-Skate Stars, then I switched to girls travel last year and continue to play girls travel. High school is much tougher and serious. Travel, I love travel, because it’s all girls, so it’s not like you’re the outcast girl and you make good friends with the kids on the team. The guys are mean, they have a different mindset. Girls are like, “Let’s go win!” and guys are like “Let’s [mess] ‘em all Hockey players move swiftly on the ice./PHOTOS BY Georgia Foulds (‘10) up!” VV: What is your favorite part about playing ice hockey? GF: It depends if its girls or guys hockey. I love hitting kids, sometimes it doesn’t work out of course, but I’ve always loved it. Then also I like the whole team thing that goes with all sports. You get close with a bunch of players and work together to win a game. I love how there’s no running. I hate running and its gotta be the only sport where you don’t have to run. I don’t know, there’s a lot of things I like about it I guess. VV: How do you feel being known as “the girl who plays ice hockey?” GF: Eh, I don’t know. Like Mr. Noble refers to me as ‘hockey girl,’ and I don’t know, I’m just like whatever. It’s not bad or good, I don’t care. I’m just hoping they know that by seeing me play in a game…where I played well. VV: Was your coach surprised freshman year when you tried out, or have other girls tried out in the past too? GF: No, I’m pretty sure I’m the only girl, and yeah, the guys were giving me funny looks. I’m friends with Connor Scharff, and he said the first thing his brother (Tyler, previous captain of the team) said when he came home from the pre season meeting was “There’s a girl trying out.” Her tough exterior does not describe the entirety of her character, but it does help on the ice. Foulds anticipates this upcoming season and continues to measure up despite facing negative stereotypes as the only girl on the SBHS team. sports 13 The Viking Vibe November 2008 TEEN STEROID USE A GROWING CONCERN Tom Dunleavy 2009 In recent history, the public witnessed the problems and controversies with anabolic steroids in sports. From professional baseball and football players, to weightlifters, and track and field athletes, there has been a great amount of steroid users breaking the rules to get an edge. The issue with steroids nowadays is that not only are professional athletes using steroids, but teenagers are experimenting with steroids for a variety of different reasons. Kids are using steroids to get an edge in athletics, to make their high school teams, or to just simply have a better-looking body. Junior Raghav Ahuja said, “Steroids are not only harmful, but they give the wrong impression to the young generation of athletes coming up.” According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), steroids are synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. Although they are perceived as a drug to get bigger muscles and get stronger, they do have legitimate medical uses. Some doctors prescribe anabolic steroids to help people with certain kinds of anemia and men who don’t produce enough testosterone on their own. However, doctors never prescribe anabolic steroids to young, healthy teens to help them build muscle. So, without a prescription from a doctor, steroids are an illegal drug. According to the federal CDCP, in 2003, about 6% of U.S. high school stu- dents (roughly 300,000 students) took steroids without a doctor’s prescription. SBHS Football Coach and gym teacher, Mr. John Coppola, said, “Today, I think both athletes and non-athletes are using steroids. Teenagers are either using steroids to help in athletics or for physical appearance. Steroids are definitely something you see more widespread than in years past.” According to the article “Kids are experimenting with steroids and HGH; experts fear side effects on their health” written by Brie Zeltner, Dr. Joe Congeni, sports medicine director at Akron Children’s Hospital, estimates that about 8 or 10 percent of high school athletes in our region use anabolic steroids. Dr. Congeni said, “I think there’s a lot of pressure on these kids to experiment. They don’t care about the future; they care about the now. That’s a natural trait of teenagers.” (As quoted in the aforementioned article) According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens (NIDA for teens), the problem with steroids is that there are some very serious side effects that can really threaten a teenager’s life in the future. The typical side effects of taking steroids for men are, acne, breast development, shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, and changes in behavior such as increased irritability and aggression. For women, growth of facial hair, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, and a deepened voice may occur. Also, if steroids are taken at too early of an age, a teen could stunt his/her growth by prematurely stopping the lengthening of bones. Sophomore David Harry said, “Student athletes should not use steroids because at the end of the day, it will just destroy your athletic career and your life.” Some of the more serious consequences of steroid use (also according to NIDA) are liver cancer, heart attacks, and elevated cholesterol levels. Also, if a person stops taking steroids, he or she might experience a withdrawal with symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and depression. This depression is believed to have caused several teen suicides over the past few years. Thankfully, the government has decided to step up and make changes. In the fall of 2007, the New Jersey state government created a plan to give random steroid testing to high school athletes who have qualified for team or individual state championships. Mr. Coppola said, “The fact that the state has instituted testing hopefully will deter teenagers from steroids. It’s definitely a necessary thing to do.” “I’m happy that New Jersey is the first state to test high school athletes for steroids. It’s about time the government has stepped in to control steroid use,” junior Jordan Smith added. There is a one-year loss of eligibility for those who test positive. The state and the NJSIAA each gave $50,000 to fund this project because each test costs about $150-200. Looking back on the fall season and the first year of the random steroid testing, out of the 500 student ath- letes who were tested, only one tested positive. This was a great sign, but there are still countless numbers of athletes whose teams did not qualify for the state championships that could have used steroids and not been caught. Also, only about 2-3 players from each team were randomly selected to take the test. The problem is that if they truly do randomly select players, they may pick players who don’t even start in the games. Other states are following the success of New Jersey’s program and are creating their own plans to test athletes. Texas is about to begin the largest program in the nation, and will spend $3 million next school year to test 3.3 percent of its student-athletes. This means about 25,000 student-athletes will be tested during the regular season. That’s sixteen times the number tested in New Jersey. Although states are making the effort to get rid of steroids in high school sports, the tests are very expensive. Unfortunately, no matter how hard the government works, this problem may never go away. SBHS’s Conflict Mediator, Ms. Pamela Major’s opinion on steroids sums up a major problem involving steroids, “I think we hear about it (steroids) a lot in professional sports and in baseball in particular. And I think that we wait until we see results until we address the situation. Only when athletic performance is great is when we actually start to question if someone is using steroids or not.” DECEMBER 2008 sunday monday 1 7 tuesday wednesday thursday 2 8 3 9 Senior Parents Financial Aid Night 7pm Auditorium Fall Athletic Varsity Awards 10 friday saturday HALF DAY 4 5 6 11 12 13 SPIRIT WEEK!!!!!! 14 15 Winter Concert 16 Winter Concert 17 Winter Begins 22 Winter Concert 23 Pep Rally 24 NO SCHOOL! WINTER BREAK! 28 29 30 19 20 NO SCHOOL! WINTER BREAK! SPIRIT WEEK!!!!!! 21 18 31 25 26 27 SATs 14 BOYS SOCCER TEAM WINS THIRD STRAIGHT RED DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP Tim Doehler and Tom Dunleavy 2009 The SBHS boys’ soccer team continued their dominance in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) this year after a stellar regular season. The Vikings’ biggest wins of the season came against St. Joe’s of Metuchen (twice) and against East Brunswick. The team finished the regular season with a 13-2-2 record and were ranked #1 in the GMC Tournament. Also, for the third straight year in a row, the Vikings won the GMC Red Division, which is made up of all Group 4 schools. The Red Division is usually the most competitive division in the GMC for all sports. In the early rounds of the GMC Tournament, the Vikings defeated Woodbridge and Piscataway. Then in the GMC semi-finals, they lost 2-1 in a close battle to the eventual champions, Monroe. Following the disappointing GMC loss, the Vikings entered the Central Jersey Group IV State playoffs as the #2 seed. In another close game, the Vikings came up short 3-2, and the season came to an abrupt end. But as senior and captain Sean Tyree said, “Win or lose, we will always be a strong, devoted team.” Even though the coaches and players were very disappointed about the finish to their season, they knew that they accomplished a lot this year. The team compiled a 153-2 record, the most wins in the program since 2002, when they won a State Championship. The team was led predominantly by seniors, such as captains Kevin Gramata and Tyree. Gramata compiled 128 saves and a .94 Goal Against Average while Tyree led the team in goals (9) and assists (16). Junior Nick Goswami said, “The captains and seniors were great leaders this year and showed us how to practice and prepare the right way.” As well as Gramata and Tyree, seniors Kazuki Yamada, Walid Ahmed, Tommy Hutchko, Brian Sichta, Evan Beck, and Brian Haydon WIN OR LOSE, WE WILL ALWAYS BE A STRONG, DEVOTED TEAM. Sean Tyree ‘09 saying, “The seniors have done a lot for this program. To win three Red Division championships in a row is a big accomplishment. They were a nice group to work with and they played hard over the last few years.” Assistant Coach Mr. Jeff King added, “It was a great regular season accomplishment to win the GMC Red division for the third straight year. The season ended earlier than we wanted, but the seniors were great leaders and will be missed next season.” Even though it will be hard replacing this class, the SBHS soccer program has a bright future ahead. The Vikings had a 32-17-4 overall program record this season, and several underclassmen showed their potentials during Varsity and JV games. Coach Hayston added, “This year’s finish was disappointing, but very few teams end the season on a win. It is the way it is. We have some good young players coming up and the program will move on.” all played huge roles in the success of this team. Coach Mr. Chris Hayston recognized the importance of his senior class, Above:Students play strong for SBHS’s boys soccer team. Inset: Brian Sichta (‘09)./PHOTOS COURTESY OF Bill Gaze, www.bgsportshots.com
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