February 2011 - Brooke Point High School

The
HAWKEYE
Brooke Point High School
1700 Courthouse Road
Stafford, VA 22554
(540) 658-6080
Fax: (540) 658-6072
Volume XVII • Issue 4 • February 11, 2011
“The Zen Substitute” takes first at district competition
By Natalie Shunk
The VHSL One-Act competition
was held on February 1 at Mountain View High School. The Brooke
Point Players earned the first place
trophy with their Kabuki presentation of “The Zen Substitute.”
Kabuki is a dramatic form of
theatre which originated in oldworld Japan. It involves stylized
movements, songs and dances with ornately costumed actors, who are traditionally male.
“The Zen Substitute” is a comical story, involving distrust between spouses and betrayal. It reveals the story of the strong-willed
Lady Tamanoi and her unwillingness to part from her husband,
Lord Ukyo, who wishes to escape
from his wife to his mistress. It
tells of a lovers’ tryst, quarrel,
and many mistaken identities.
The BP Players will now have a
new trophy for its theatre trophy
cabinet. “It’s only the second time
we’ve won districts. I have to have
it on my desk for a couple of days.
We’ll probably put it ceremoniously
in the cabinet,” commented Drama
teacher and director Lisa CoverTucci. “Mostly [the students] were
new actors, new this year or new to
us last year. Typically for a One-Act
you want to rely on your seasoned
actors. But they did beautifully.”
One of Kabuki’s most distinct qualities is the extravagant
make-up and costume design.
“The make-up can be very irritating [to] your skin. We haven’t
done as much with the costumes,
but from what we’ve studied,
they can be very restricting,”
said senior Linsey Schumacher.
“It doesn’t really take an hour
[to apply the make-up,] but if you
mess up you have to almost start
all over,” said junior Laine Korn.
A returner to the One-Act
competition, Bryan Lambe said,
“At first [performing kabuki]
was weird. I wasn’t familiar with
it. As I did it more and more, it
was exponentially more fun.”
Junior Kristian Tice had some
difficulty with her role as Lady
Tamanoi, the lead female part.
“She’s completely opposite of
my personality. It’s taken some
work, but I think I’ve gotten it.”
“I’m really nervous. Last year
I [played] a minor character, but
this year I have the male lead. I’m
nervous and excited at the same
time,” junior Bryan Lambe said.
Kristian Tice and Bryan Lambe performed the lead roles,
alongside seniors Linsey Schumacher, and Colleen Parker and
juniors Laine Korn, Marissa
Porcelli, and Lexi Whitehouse.
The set of “The Zen Substi-
Photo courtesy of Lisa Marie Cover-Tucci
Bryan Lambe (left) and Kristian Tice received recognition for their performances in “The Zen Substitute.”
tute” includes a “chorus” which
narrates the play as it progresses.
A trio of flute players and instrumentalists with blocks of wood
punctuates certain lines or scenes.
Kabuki is an unusual choice for
play competition. “As part of my
IB class I had to do world theatre.
Kabuki was something they [the
students} overwhelmingly brought
up. They were enjoying it so much,
we had to do it for a One-Act,”
said Cover-Tucci about choosing
to perform “The Zen Substitute.”
A Saturday workshop on Kabuki
was held in December. Matt Dubroff, an expert on Kabuki, was commissioned from Hampton Sydney
College to instruct the participants.
“We made it a BP Players activity. Everyone enjoyed it, so this solidified my choice [of Kabuki for the
One-Act.],” Cover-Tucci explained.
The Northwest Region Championship is scheduled for February 19
at Osbourn High School in Manassas. The Players are scheduled to
perform at approximately 4:15 P.M.
The time slot is likely to shift several
minutes either way, depending on
the length of other performances.
“I think if they can keep their focus, we have a shot. It just depends
on the judges and what other people
bring,” said Cover-Tucci about the
upcoming regional championships.
“I haven’t seen them this excited about a type of theatre in a
long time,” said Cover-Tucci, about
the Players’ success. “Theatre is a
living, breathing art. Every time
it’s performed the actors bring
something new or different to it.”
Veteran Black-Hawks recognized for achievements
Photo
Photo by
by Amanda
Amanda Ridella
Ridella
Photo by Jordan Biscardo
Bryant assists junior Taylor Nelson during his culinary arts class.
By Jordan Biscardo
“Teaching is something I do because I want to do it, not for any
recognition. So I don’t ever expect
any kind of awards,” Bryant said.
“When it was announced that I won
the award, I was very surprised.”
Bryant is a Western Michigan
University alum. She spent the last
year of her educational career student teaching for an entire year at
Portage Central Middle school. She
joined Brooke Point’s staff in 2003.
“My first year was challenging,
but I had a lot of support from the
administration. I was also young,
so connecting with my students was
never really a problem,” said Bryant.
According to Bryant, Culinary
Arts is different from an average
subject. “It all depends on the approach each teacher takes, but Culinary Arts differs from a core subject
in that a lot of activities in the classroom are extremely hands-on.”
Students participate in labs involving preparing different recipes
and are each required to take a
State-issued examination, similar
to a certification in a business class.
The Culinary Arts students
help organize and run Cookie
Day every Friday, a regular oc-
currence at Brooke Point for
several years. The CTE department sponsors the fund raiser.
“The Department nets a 35%
gain from the cookie sales with actual monetary figures varying on a
week-to-week basis,” Bryant said.
Common varieties of cookie
include chocolate chip, double
chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin and white chocolate macadamia nut. Bryant is partial to the
double chocolate chunk flavor because “[She’s] a chocolate lover!”
Bryant’s prowess in the kitchen
does not mean she is expected to
cook every night for her family. She
says that her husband is more than
capable of handling himself around
the stove. “He knows how to cook
himself, although if I left it up to
him, we’d eat burgers every night.”
Bryant’s sense of humor has
contributed to her success in her
classroom and among her peers.
She claims that she and Journalism
teacher Mary Catherine Hornung
have a plan for world domination
that has been long in the works.
While Hornung provided no insight, Bryant came through with a
sneak peek of their first steps. “We
will start by conquering all the men
Bresnahan assists students during lunch shifts.
with food. The fastest way to a man’s
heart is through his stomach!”
Bryant’s relationships with her
students extend outside of the
classroom. She enjoys face time
with her pupils at school functions, sporting events and other
out of school activities. “I try to
make it to as many events as I can
because I think it’s important to
show support for students in areas
outside of the classroom,” she said.
Her popularity among her students stems from her laid-back approach to teaching, and her openmindedness. “She’s extremely laid
back and she isn’t extremely critical,
which is really nice,” said senior culinary arts student Jennifer Hassen.
She’s also a listening ear for some
students such as senior Tony Merz.
“She helps with everything, not just
culinary stuff. She helps with life
decisions and she’s a good listener.”
Bryant’s
modest
attitude
and laid-back approach to her
work make her a very deserving recipient of this year’s
Teacher of the Year award.
“There are so many great teachers in this building, so it’s always
a surprise when you’re singled
out or recognized,” she said.
By Genevieve Bee
This year marked the first time
that a Brooke Point cafeteria staff
member has been recognized as
Service Person of the Year. Cafeteria
manager Michelle Bresnahan was
ecstatic when she heard the news.
Of course, the fact that she was
the winner of said award may have
also contributed to her excitement.
Bresnahan began working with
Stafford County School Nutrition
in 1997.She became Brooke Point’s
cafeteria manager two years later.
She first got involved in school nutrition because she needed something to occupy her time while her
children were in school. “I thought
‘Oh, something easy,’” Bresnahan said. “Boy, was I wrong!”
Despite the unexpected difficulty, Bresnahan stuck with
it because “I needed a job that
revolved
around
my
kids.”
Even though all of her children
are now out of high school, Bresnahan continues to make sure
Brook Point’s cafeteria is running
smoothly. “She’s just great,” said
assistant cafeteria manager Martha
Tolson. “Great with the employees
and great with the kids. If the kids
don’t have money, she makes sure
they’re fed. I love working with her.”
Even as she deals with such daily crises as broken dishwashers,
steamers, and refrigerators, cancelled deliveries, and short staffing, Bresnahan still enjoys her
work. “I love my job,” she says.
“The job,” as Bresnahan understands it, involves more than cooking lunch every day. “She [Bresnahan] helps out with all kinds of
events, like Renaissance feast, the
underclassmen awards, the faculty luncheon, or any other school
event that needs food,” said Brooke
Point principal Wendy Payne.
Bresnahan’s efforts to go beyond her duties as cafeteria manager and work with the students
are part of what makes her an
outstanding service person. “It’s
neat having a cafeteria manager
who is really involved in our academic programs,” Payne added.
Even while under the spotlight, Bresnahan is quick to point
out that she owes her recognition to others. “I wouldn’t have
been chosen if it weren’t for the
staff,” she said. “We work together
as a team. There are no titles in
our names. We’re like a family.”
News 2
February 11, 2011
Students “endorse” safe driving
Brooke Point students address a danger often ignored by Hollywood’s
elite: texting while driving.
By Joanna Newcome
Celebrities and athletes have forever been idolized as icons of hard
work and talent. Just as memorable
as their fame and fortune are their
downfalls due to destructive behavior. It is almost impossible to forget
eight time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps’ drop from Kellogg’s after a British tabloid printed
a picture of him partaking in drug
use or the end of the DoubleMint
ads featuring singer Chris Brown
after domestic violence allegations
arose from pop star Rihanna. The
public eye has been quick to reprimand poor conduct. Texting while
driving has failed to qualify on this
list of offenses, until now that is.
Big name offenders
According to the Governors
Highway Safety Association, thirty
states and the District of Columbia have banned text message usage while driving. Among these
is the home state of Jersey Shore
star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi. After
making a plea deal to avoid a disorderly conduct charge in a Seaside
Heights courtroom in September
2010, Polizzi tweeted a complaint
from her cell phone about being
stuck in traffic. In the process, she
broke the law yet again. Her defiance did not go unnoticed, though.
According to MTV, Newark Mayor
Cory Booker was quick to reply with
a tweet of his own. “Snooki! I’m the
mayor where R U so I can give u a
ticket 4 texting & driving…” he said.
Polizzi is not alone in her actions. Numerous other big names,
including soccer star David Beckham and actress Hayden Pantiere have been caught texting
behind the wheel, receiving little
to no consequence as a result.
YOVASO takes charge
Until recently, little public attention has been paid to the destructiveness of texting while driving. In
2009 Oprah Winfrey broke the ice
on this silent issue by starting her
nationally publicized “No Phone
Zone Pledge.” While the program
has received over 400,000 pledges to date, car crashes continue to
be the number one killer of teens.
The true danger of distracted driving continues to gain a stronger
voice through student run groups
like Youth of Virginia Speak Out
About Traffic Safety or YOVASO.
“Peers educating other peers
is what we’re striving for,” said
YOVASO sponsor Deputy Carol
Burgess. “I want to take a step
back and allow our YOVASO students to educate and empower
others to practice safe driving.”
Since its initiation in 2009, YOVASO members have striven to
involve the Brooke Point com-
Courtesy of AP Images
6,000 people die each year from accidents caused by distracted driving.
munity in developing positive
solutions to the serious problems like texting while driving.
“YOVASO has definitely helped
get the word out about the dangers of texting while driving, but
I’m looking forward to getting everyone involved to better spread
the word!” said YOVASO supervisor senior Cassondra Salyers.
YOVASO runs off a force that
Winfrey and other celebrities lack,
the student voice. Throughout the
school year, the group hosts tailgate
parties, school wide pledge events
and demonstrations that involve
student drivers directly. The response from the student body has
been positive, showing the group’s
message has made an impact.
“Texting while driving is extremely
dangerous. In just a second, you can
get hit from taking your eyes off the
road,” said senior Casey Franklin.
Senior Ashley Lugo concurs.
“When you’re texting while driving,
you don’t know what you’re actually
doing. Your judgment is skewed!”
Pledging to “X the TXT”
In the spring, YOVASO will
team up with the Allstate Foundation to kick off the “X the TXT”
event. Like other publicized safe
driving campaigns, “X the TXT”
revolves
around
encouraging
drivers to take a pledge promising not to use a phone behind the
wheel. Big names like American
Idol winner Jordin Sparks and
NFL player Larry Fitzgerald along
with 80,000 other Americans have
already taken the pledge. However, the true power of the event
comes through the student body.
“‘X the TXT’ is about teens empowering other teens to put down
their cell phones. It goes along directly with what YOVASO stands
for. Students can relate and learn
from each other,” said Burgess.
To read more about the dangers
of texting while driving and how
teens across the country are working to stop it, visit KeepTheDrive.
com.
Danger in Numbers
1
Car crashes are the number
killer of teens.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Behind the wheel
1
text equals
4
beers.
A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver
and the Drunk Driver, University of Utah
Each day
Photo by Joanna Newcome
Alana Davis, Kiarra Robinson and Jalia Brayboy work the YOVASO pledge table
during lunch shifts.
Photo by Joanna Newcome
Freshman Tariq Felder signs a pledge to always observe safe driving practices.
YOVASO’s Top Five Rules to Safe
Driving
1. NEVER text and
drive. That’s the
most important deci- 3. Ignore peer pressure to drive wrecksion you can make
lessly. When you’re
behind the wheel.
behind the wheel,
YOU are responsible
2. ALWAYS buckle up. for your actions. Stay
It takes four seconds focused on the road!
to fasten your seatbelt.
4. Don’t drink and
drive. It’s a lethal
combination.
11
teens die in auto accidents.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
6,000
In 2008,
people died in accidents
caused by distracted driving.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The average text takes
At
5
seconds to send.
55
mph that’s equivalent to driving blind for
100
yards.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
5. Obey all speed limits. They are there
for your safety.
450,000
teens are injured in car accidents annually.
Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediactrics
Find more teen driving facts at KeepTheDrive.com!
BP bids a fond farewell to Wall and Johnson
By Courtney Karr
The Brooke Point students
and faculty bid a fond farewell
to Career and Technical Education instructor Amy Wall and to
Security Guard Owen Johnson.
Wall has been teaching at Brooke
Point for nine years. During her
tenure, she has sponsored the
SCA, coached JV Field Hockey
and taught the Manufacturing Systems, Advanced Manufacturing
Systems and Architectural Drawing classes. Her goal is to become
a middle school principal. Wall
has accepted a teaching position
at George Washington Middle
School in Alexandria. Her last day
at Brooke Point will be February 21.
“Thank you for the support and
encouragement you have provided
me during my time here at Brooke
Point…it’s been an honor and a
blessing to work with you and know
you,” Wall wrote in an e-mail to
the Brooke Point faculty and staff.
Owen Johnson has been keeping the halls of Brooke Point safe
for five years. He will be moving
on to a job opportunity too good
to pass up. His last day was February 4. “I will always treasure
and value the memories of such
an esteemed group of professionals. I have fulfilled my assignment
here at BP and I have great respect for you all,” Johnson stated
in an email to the faculty and staff.
We wish Johnson and Wall
good luck in their endeavors. They will truly be missed!
Wall works toward her dream of becoming a middle school principal.
Johnson has kept the halls of Brooke Point safe for five years.
Sports 3
February 11, 2011
McGlade pursues Olympic gold
By Travis Cole
Going downhill at eighty-five
miles per hour head first with the
thought of death beckoning around
every turn is not something that an
ordinary high school student thinks
about doing in his senior year,
much less in his lifetime! But Kevin
McGlade is no ordinary high school
student. He is a member of the
Brooke Point lacrosse tam and a US
Skeletoner with Olympic dreams.
Brooke Point graduate Patrick
McGlade, Kevin’s older brother,
ran across the nation to raise Childhood Diabetes awareness in 2009
and 2010. The younger McGlade
took it upon himself to top Patrick and his feats. He researched
ways to best his brother and his
triumphs. His research led him
to the Olympic sport of skeleton.
In skeleton, the competitor
sprints down an icy path and dives
head first onto a small sled that
reaches speeds that would be considered reckless in an automobile.
McGlade and his family traveled to Lake Placid, New York,
this past year to let him try out
for the skeleton. Prior to their
trip, McGlade asked senior Luke
Grady if he could borrow his
track spikes. “Imagine having to
sprint full speed on a sheet of ice.
It’s hard,” McGlade explained.
McGlade tried out for the US
Skeleton Team at the Lake Placid
Olympic Sports Complex.
The
competitor on the trial run before his crashed and smashed
his face on the ice. McGlade’s
run was successful. When Coach
Jim Goff notified him that he
had qualified, McGlade gladly accepted the offer to join the team.
McGlade had once dreamed
of playing lacrosse in college. He
now dreams of an Olympic gold
medal in Skeleton. He will be attending Plattsburgh State University in Lake Placid in the fall where
he will major in Expedition. As a
member of the US Skeleton Team,
McGlade’s room and board will be
covered by The Lake Placid Olympic Sports Commmittee while he
trains. He trains by himself for now
by doing daily sprints and lifting.
Despite his success, McGlade remains humble in his triumph. This
will not let his new title affect the
upcoming BPHS lacrosse season.
“He [Kevin McGlade] is a freak. He
can super focus on whatever task is
at hand,” said Administrative Assis-
tant and lacrosse coach Tim Roberts.
While many would consider
McGlade’s accomplishment as astounding, his brother Patrick challenges him, “He has to get a medal
to even come close [to topping
him running across the country].”
“He is a freak. . .”
Winter Sports Wrap-Ups
By Travis Cole
Boys Basketball
Regular season district champions
Wrestling
Nine wrestlers moving on to Regional Tournament
- Lacrosse coach
Boys Track and Field
Tim Roberts
First overall in district
4x400 Relay - First
4x200 Relay - FIrst
50m Spring - First
Girls Basketball
Tykera Carter emerges in Danielle Robinson’s vacancy.
Swimming
Boys - Third overall in district
Boys - 200 Medley Relay - First
Boys - 200 Free Relay - First
Boys - 100 Butterfly - First
Boys - 100 Backstroke - First
Girls - 100 Backstroke - First
Girls Track and Field
Danielle Beranek moves on to Regionals as a freshman
Photo by Amanda Ridella
McGlade represents his new found glory.
Gymnastics
Dylana Wilhelm qualifies for Regionals
P90X proves to be X-tremely strenuous
By William Chang
BeachBody is an American company that creates at home workout DVDs. They state that P90X
is a 90 day comprehensive fitness training program consisting of dietary guidelines, physical
wellness manuals and workout
plans designed to transform the
user into the best that he can be
in terms of physical well-being.
Given this fact, I already had a
hint that the training program was
not merely some ploy to make me
look like an overgrown toad. P90X
was created to help people achieve
the “beach body.” It emphasizes
“muscle confusion,” a method of
cross-training achieved through
switching the order of exercises and
incorporating new and varied movements. Muscle confusion prevents
the body from adapting to exercises
over time, resulting in continual
improvement without plateaus.
Last winter I decided to start
P90X. I was hungry for a “beach
body.” To be honest, I didn’t know
what I was getting myself into. My
friend recommended the workout
to me because he had completed
it and he loved the results. So I
picked up the DVD and pressed play
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays were weight lifting days. Monday’s workout was called “chest
and back.” This workout included
an unnecessary amount of various
pushups and pull-ups. It had 12
types of moves repeated twice. The
second set was a repeat of the first,
but backwards. Wednesday’s were
“arms and shoulders.” This one was
not as rigorous as chest and back.
It was a simple workout used with
dumbbells to target the “beach”
muscles. Friday brought on a workout called legs and back. After these
workouts, I had trouble lifting up
my shampoo bottle in the shower.
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays were cardiovascular days.
Plyometrics, the Tuesday workout,
was the one I most feared. It was
a rigorous workout also known as
“jump training.” After I finished
this workout, I struggled walking
and couldn’t go down my stairs.
The next morning was atrocious.
I tried to get out of bed, but when
I moved one ligament, the pain
was unbearable. Overall, plyometrics caused me to walk like
a penguin. The word “soreness”
does not do justice to how I felt.
After 45 days I gave up on the
program. I couldn’t take it anymore. I was already thin so I did
gain a decent amount of muscle but
I did not bulk up. I began to get
lazy and I dreaded the workouts.
Commitment is the most important tool to P90X. At the end of the
day, I did not achieve the “beach
body” that I’ve always wanted.
Student Life 4
February 11, 2011
Black Colleges Decline in Enrollment
By Chantelle Polite
Historically Black Colleges, or HB
CUs, have been around for decades.
Established in 1837, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is the first
and oldest university of higher education for African Americans. Since
then, 105 HBCs have been established throughout the United States.
Many would think that thousands of
African-Americans have taken hold
of this advantage of attending these
universities, but in recent years
enrollment at Historically Black
Universities has begun to decline.
According to the CBS Business
Network, HBC’s with the largest decline in enrollment included Texas
Southern University, Howard University, Morris Brown College in
Atlanta, Georgia, Grambling State
University of Grambling, Louisiana,
Central State University of Wilberforce, Ohio, and Jackson State
University of Jackson Mississippi.
In October 2009, Howard University News Service announced
enrollment within their law schooland other predominantly black law
schools across the country- program had taken a sharp decline.
Congressman John Conyers, Jr. and
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs
Jones suggested the root of this issue could have been the misuse of
the LSAT, the national standardized
test law students must take in order
to be considered for law school.
Eighty-five percent of the African Americans, who scored above
average on their LSATs in 2009,
were all denied by law schools.
Courtesy of AP Images
Top-ranked Howard University was created for African American students after the Civil War.
This statistic makes many blacks
not even consider a career in law
at all, hindering applicants from
just applying to the law schools.
Senior Chantel Hankins does not
desire to enroll in Howard’s law program, but does wish to attend Howard after graduation. “It’s a great
school academically,” Hankins said.
“And has a lot of prestige behind the
school name. When you hear the
name Howard University you think
of a lot of powerful black figures.”
The U.S. Department of Education
profiled eighty-seven Historically
Black Universities and recorded
a decline in enrollment between
1995 and 2004. Talladega College
in Talladega, Alabama suffered a
loss of fifty-four percent of students.
Some experts believe the reason for
these declines are because many
black universities are suffering
from economic cutbacks from the
recession. Dorm life suffers. Living quarters can’t afford to be kept
up to par. Bad plumbing and filthy
dormitories deter students from
wanting to even attend the colleges.
When HBC’s were first established in the South, they received great amounts of funding
from wealthy whites in the place
for universities that’d previously shut out African Americans.
Senior Chelsea Bromet wishes to
attend Virginia Commonwealth
University after graduation but
may find herself at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) against her will.
“My mom wants me to go there,”
Bromet said. “I already have a
scholarship there but I don’t want
to go because the dorms are filthy.”
Factors such as rising tuition costs
and harder application costs also
seem to have played a role in the
declining enrollment. In 2003
the Supreme Court required that
colleges such as the University of
Michigan reconsider their admissions procedures. The colleges
were to admit students based on
who they were individually and
not just the fact that they were
blacks or minorities. In 2005, the
University of Michigan welcomed
their smallest African American
freshmen class in fifteen years.
When colleges report a record
like this, it sometimes plays a big
role in a student’s decision to go
to an HBC. Senior Roderque Gray
has no desire to attend any black
university. “Statistics have shown
that a lot of African Americans
who graduate from HBCU’s have a
hard time finding jobs afterward.”
Gray said. “In my opinion, Historically Black Colleges don’t have as
higher learning as regular colleges.
And I feel the African American
students who attend them always
feel as if they’re entitled or as if
the world owes them something.”
During the 20th century many
previous HBU’s closed as they
began to merge with predominantly white colleges. The future
of historically black universities
looks no different as some of its
students come from low-income
families and the colleges themselves receive limited funding.
Some African Americans choose
not to attend HBCUs because
they prefer diversity over living and learning with people who
look like them. The enrollment of
white students has now increased
as they have learned that tuition
costs at HBCs can cost less than
half of traditional universities.
HBC’s losing their African American students then make the effort
to recruit students of other races.
Bluefield State College, an HBCU in
West Virginia now has the largest
white enrollment with 91 percent of
the students and 96 percent of the
faculty. White enrollment at HBC’s
has risen to about 30 percent.
Traditional universities looking to diversify their campus then
make the effort to recruit black
students. If the competition continues and these colleges continue to lose its African American majority, these institutions
for higher learning may suffer.
Higher education: Looking ahead to college options
By Krysten Marshall
Deciding which college is the appropriate fit is an extremely intimidating task. There are
many factors that help shape this decision, including location, price, environment, and focused curriculum. This month turns the spotlight on one of the top Virginia public universities according to a 2010 University Web Ranking, James Madison University. Coming up next
month will be a look at the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth University.Basic Information:
Basic Information:
Location – Harrisonburg
Environment – Small city
Nicknames – JMU, James Madison, Madison
Mascot – Duke Dog
Academic Departments within JMU:
College of Arts and Letters
College of Business
College of Education
College of Integrated Science and Technology
College of Science and Mathematics
College of Visual and Performing Arts
The Graduate School
Outreach and Engagement
Breaking JMU Costs Down in Numbers:
$7,244 – In-State Tuition
$19,376 – Out-of-State Tuition
$7,386 – Room and Board
Average SAT Scores:
$876 – Books
Section
Verbal
(25th - 75th Percentile) 520 - 620
Math
540 - 630
Writing
520 - 620
Odds & Ends:
The James Madison campus is said to be haunted by a former student.
The legend, which has been passed down for over fifty years, tells of a
female student who had an affair with one of her professors. The relationship eventually ran its course and the professor broke things off.
Devastated by the break-up, the girl supposedly entered the cupola in
Wilson Hall and hanged herself. Students claim that on the some nights,
the body of the young student can be seen swaying at the top of the tower.
Entertainment 5
February 11, 2011
Future 2011 box office busters
vs.
By Will Chang
Movieinsider.com profiles many movies that are going to make some noise this year. New superhero movies
like “Green Lantern” and “Thor” will hit the box office in the spring. “The Hangover” makes a comeback that’s
bound to be full of laughter. “The Smurfs” are back with an Alvin and Chipmunks animated feel. And a highly
anticipated Sci-Fi thriller, “I Am Number Four” makes its way into the theatres.
Sci-Fi: “I Am Number Four”-PG-13
Comedy: “The Hangover 2”-Not Rated
Synopsis: Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug travel
to exotic Thailand for Stu’s wedding. After
the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch.
However, things don’t always go as planned.
Synopsis: The storyline revolves around a group
of nine earthbound aliens who escaped their planet just before it was destroyed by a rival species.
The group hides out on Earth, disguised as teenagers. The title character soon discovers, however, that he is still being hunted by the enemy.
Action: “Green Lantern”-PG-13
Children: “The Smurfs”-PG
Synopsis: A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep
intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a
ring that grants him superpowers. When a new
enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the
balance of power in the Universe, their fate and
the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest
recruit, the first human ever selected, Hal Jordan.
Synopsis: When the evil wizard Gargamel
chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world and
smack dab in the middle of Central Park. Just
three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple,
the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their
village before Gargamel tracks them down.
By Logan Ritchie
Stafford County now has two
major wing joints competing
for dominance of the wing trade
on 610: Wings-to-Go Buffalo
Wild Wings. Brooke Point students are split on the decision as
to which restaurant is superior.
“Wings-to-Go is a homey, more
family oriented restaurant than
Buffalo Wild Wings. Although both
are chains, Wings-to-Go has a more
personable feel and friendlier atmosphere. Wings-to-Go focuses
more on flavor while Buffalo Wild
Wings seems like a factory cranking out an endless amount of what
they excuse as wings with no love
or care,” said senior Alex Garcia.
Another Wings-to-Go loyal customer is junior Tyler Beiswanger who
says that “Wings-to-Go is like a family with friendly faces everywhere.”
According to senior Robert
Harris, Wings-to-Go has “better sauces and better service.”
On the other side of this epic de-
Rewind and Replay- 1995
By Krysten Marshall
MOVIEClueless is a mid-nineties film
starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey
Dash and the late Brittany Murphy. The movie, loosely based on
Jane Austen’s 1815 novel “Emma,”
chronicles the high school experiences of wealthy Beverly Hills teen
Cher Horowitz (Silverstone) and
her equally fashionable friends.
Horowitz lets the audience into
the private lives of the young and
privileged, exposing such underlying struggles as attempting to gain
interest from the trendy new guy in
school and begging “daddy” to go
to that night’s party in the Valley.
When things don’t work out
with her hopeful new love interest, Horowitz begins questioning
her frivolous lifestyle. In an attempt to right her wrongs and be
a better person, Horowitz finds
that there is more to life than
Valley parties and that true love
might be right under her nose.
Dr. Dre returns with his release of “Detox”
By Bob Edelman
Twelve years ago Dr. Dre revived West Coast hip hop with
the release of his sophomore album “2001.” Since then Dre has
spent his time signing and producing new artists on his Aftermath Entertainment record label, as well as recently creating
branded headphones, Beats by Dre.
Dre’s decade-long music hiatus is set to be broken early this
year with the release of “Detox.”
According to reports from MTV
news, Dre indicated the release will
be on April 20, 2011. He stated,
“4/20, baby, 4/20, I’m coming.”
Dre initially announced that he
had begun work on his third and
final album in 2003. The decision to push the release of “Detox”
back to 2005 was made so that Dre
could focus on producing artists
signed to Aftermath. A number of
other delays eventually landed the
album an early 2011 release date.
So far Dre has released two singles. “Kush” premiered November
18, 2010. The release was pushed
up after an unmixed version was
leaked two days prior. “Detox’s”
second single, “I Need a Doctor”
was released February 1, 2011.
“Kush is pretty excellent,” said junior Mikey Myers. “It’s good to know
that Dre is still on top of his game.”
Expectations are high for “Detox” with Dre’s earlier albums
bate is junior Billy Ramsey. He
thinks that Buffalo Wild Wings has
the upper hand because “it has a
better atmosphere for watching
big football games or fights. Also,
the waitresses at Buffalo Wild
Wings are much more attractive.”
Sophomore Miranda Merritt
sides with Billy Ramsey thinking
that Wings-to-Go is “disgusting.”
My opinion? While it is true that
Buffalo Wild Wings has a more visual appeal with its 42 giant flat
screens and hot female servers, does
this really make up for their lack
of taste, heart, and their mechanical attitude toward the art of wing
making? I think not! Buffalo Wild
Wings tries to cover up their average food and service with an over
the top atmosphere, suffocating you
in the giant crowd and loud games.
Wings-to-Go has better food, better service, better prices and they
even deliver. The one true wing
joint in Stafford County is Wingsto-Go and Wings-to-Go only!
ALBUMIn the mid-nineties, pop band
No Doubt gained popularity for
its unique blend of new wave and
ska sounds. This new mix revived
the ska genre in the midst of the
grunge era. The band’s sophomore
album, “Tragic Kingdom,” earned
the group receive mainstream success from listeners and critics alike.
Frontwoman Gwen Stefani’s hardhitting vocals stood out among the
popular fluff of her fellow starlets
Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.
Hits such as “Just a Girl,” “Spiderwebs” and “Don’t Speak” set the tone
for No Doubt’s future popularity.
The album sold over 16 million copies and was ranked 441st on Rolling
Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time.
The band continued to produce albums until 2004 followed by a fouryear hiatus. During this time, Stefani produced two solo albums, both
of which received favorable acclaim
from the mainstream audience.
No Doubt reconvened in 2009 to
play a summer tour with Paramore,
Bedouin Soundclash, Katy Perry
and others. They have not released
any new albums in almost a decade,
but the band continues to make appearances and is rumored to be in
the studio working on a new project.
“The Chronic” and “2001” selling a combined 9 million copies.
“It’ll probably sell a lot in
the first day but not much after that,” said senior Alex Garcia
With eight years of production and a number of featured
rappers including long time collaborators Eminem and Snoop
Dogg, “Detox” is set to top charts.
Junior Bryan Hodge agrees.
“Dre is ten pounds of talent in a five pound bag”.
Put your love quotient to the test
By Nicole Caliri
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Across
1) A romantic planned event with someone
3) A smooth sweet brown solid that is made from roasted and ground
cacao seeds; commonly made into bars or candy pieces 5) Lovers whisper sweet _____ into each other’s ears
7) A folded piece of stiff paper with illustrations, used to send greetings
for birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions
9) “I love _____”
11) The person to whom somebody sends a card or gift as a token of love
on Valentine’s Day
13) A colored, sometimes scented, part of a plant
15) The god of love
17) To have a strong feeling of wanting something to happen or wanting
to have something
19) One might describe a date with a lover as the “____ date ever”
21) The most popular flower bought on Valentine’s
22) Beautiful and pleasing, especially in a harmonious way
23) Moving your body to music for pleasure
24) The power of being drawn to someone for physical or emotional
reasons
Down
1) The main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening or sometimes in
the early afternoon
2) Small sweet food items usually eaten for pleasure and not as part of a
meal
4) The opposite of green on the color wheel
6) Putting your arms around somebody’s body and holding the person tight
to show affection
8) Typically doodled onto love notes or letters or commonly drawn around
a couples intitials
10) The month associated with love
12) Cupid owns one of these to make people fall in love
14) These are lit for romantic appeal
16) “_____ mine”
18) Tasting or smelling of sugar or a similar substance
20) When you pay for someone’s meal, a common phrase that is said is “It’s
my ____”
February 11, 2011
Feature 6
Romantic dining spots abound for special Valentine’s rendezvous
By Courtney Karr
While some people prefer to give stuffed animals and
flowers to their significant others on Valentine’s Day, I
lean towards the romantic atmosphere of a fine dining establishment. This year, take your date somewhere he or
she will remember. Their stomach will thank you for it!
Here are three area restaurants have captured my heart.
and pine nuts. Pizza, steaks and
seafood are also available, all served
with an Italian twist. Crème Brulee
is the perfect dessert to end a romantic evening. If you aren’t ready
to take your date home yet, talk a
walk around the Village at Towne
Centre and check out the shops!
The Log Cabin:
BRAVO! Cucina Italiana:
This Italian restaurant is located at
1 Towne Centre Boulevard in Fredericksburg. The atmosphere is very
romantic but still family-friendly.
The dining room resembles ancient
Roman ruins. I recommend making
a reservation. BRAVO! gets busy
by six pm. The serving staff is extremely friendly, but because of the
number of patrons the restaurant
accommodates, it can take a while
for them to reach your table. Despite the high-class environment,
the food is moderately priced so
anyone dining on a budget will feel
comfortable looking at the menu.
I suggest the Caesar Classico salad
with grilled shrimp as a starter or
a steaming bowl of Italian Wedding
Soup if you’re feeling under the
weather. Picky eaters will enjoy the
Spaghettini and Meatballs En Sugo.
Daredevils should experience the
Pesto Tortelloni, cheese and spinach stuffed pasta tossed in pesto
with sun dried tomatoes, jalapenos
Hawk in the Nest
Junior Bryan Lambe thrives on “the smell of the
grease paint, the roar of the crowd.” He plays the
male lead in Brooke Point’s award winning one-act
play, “The Zen Substitute.”
Q
A
-
Q
A
-
What’s your favorite song? Why?
My favorite song at the moment would have to be
Guido’s Song from “Nine.” It just speaks to me. It’s full
of contradiction and it kinda relates t my way of thinking and how I feel from time to time.
Who’s your favorite singer? Why?
My favorite singer would have to be Dean Martin. He
sang with such feeling. And every time I listen to one of
his songs, I can’t help but to sing along with him.
Log Cabin, located on Jefferson
Davis Highway by the Rappahannock Regional Jail, is extremely
popular with Stafford residents. It
is known for its excellent seafood
and cozy atmosphere, and is considered the best date restaurant by
many Stafford residents. Reservations are required. I suggest calling
the week before you dine. Bring
plenty of cash or a credit card. Log
Cabin is definitely pricey. Get the
Shrimp Cocktail as an appetizer or
wander up to the salad bar if you’re
looking for something a little leafi-
Q
A
-
Q
A
-
Q
A
-
Q
A
-
Q
A
-
Q
A
-
Favorite part of being on stage and in the spot light? Why?
My favorite part about being on stage is that I can be so many different people. In real life,
I’m just Bryan. But on stage, I could be Elliot Nash, Reverend Paris, or even Mercutio. For
anyone who gets at least one of those references, my hat is off to you.
Theater or drama plans after schooling high school?
I really want to become a drama teacher when I’m older. Just the idea of sharing my
knowledge of theater with people who are willing to learn and get into it is appealing to
me. Maybe I’ll also become a Broadway star…fingers crossed!
If you could perform with any famous actor who would you want to perform with? Why?
I would love to get a chance to work with Gavin Lee! He is the greatest triple of
our time. He plays Bert from “Mary Poppins” with such an amazing talent. He tap
dances, sings and acts like a total pro. Hopefully one day I’ll be as good as he is
mainly because I REALLY want to perform Bert in that musical some day!
If you were given a chance to travel back in time where would you go? Why?
I would go back to the 1950s. At least at that time, my taste in music and movies
wouldn’t seem so farfetched.
If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?
I would buy a top hat, I’d get all of my friend’s tickets to a Broadway show, I would get
tap dancing lessons…and of course, tap shoes.
hostile pantry and emerged triumphantly brandishing the wok. However, this was not the only injury I
sustained in the course of my culinary exploits. I got two burns, one
on my arm from oil splatters and another on my tongue from being too
impatient to wait for the chicken to
cool. The pain was worth it, though.
My Kung Pao Chicken is so delicious that I have decided to open
my own Chinese restaurant. I’m not
kidding. It’s just that good. I added
more vegetables and spices to the
recipe for maximum deliciousness.
Kung Pao Chicken
Marinade:
1 tablespoon rice wine
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken
breast, thinly sliced
In a non-reactive bowl, prepare
the marinade. Combine the rice
wine, peanut oil, soy sauce, salt
and cornstarch. Stir in the chicken
pieces and refrigerate for 20 to 30
minutes.
Sauce:
3 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon plum sauce
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce (you
can use additional fresh garlic for
extra zest)
1 tablespoon jarred of fresh grated
ginger (make sure you peel it first
if its fresh)
In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the sauce. Set aside.
TJSH is an excellent alternative
to Kobe’s. The chefs are more personable and the restaurant itself
is less crowded. There are two locations, one at 66 Canal Center
Plaza in Alexandria and another at
2705 Metro Plaza in Woodbridge.
I prefer the Alexandria location. It
requires a 50 minute drive, but is
I live by a particular song that’s very near to my heart. That’s “I Am What I Am” from La
Cage Aux Folles. That song just says, bluntly, I do what I want and I don’t care what other
people think or say about it. The first time I heard that song I thought to myself, ‘that’s
what I do’ and that song always seems to cheer me up when it pops up on my i-Pod.
By Genevieve Bee
tually, come to think of it, maybe it
was a puppy and not chicken that
coast $7.50. At last, despairing of
finding anything truly worth eating,
I decided to try to make it myself.
After much diligent internet surfing, I found a recipe with ingredients that we already had at home.
I stuck my head into the back of
the pantry in search of the wok,
managing to knock all of our precariously stacked pots onto my
head and make enough noise to
wake the neighbors in the process.
I eventually prevailed against the
Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse:
nestled right in the middle of Old
Towne Alexandria and with a beautiful view of the Potomac River. It’s
less crowded around seven pm, so
try and get reservations for around
that time. TJSH operates the same
way as Kobe’s. You can either sit
at a regular table or reserve a tappanyaki table where the chefs cook
in front of you. Of course, the tappanyaki is the more enjoyable option. Waitresses will bring you a
ginger salad, clear onion soup and
steamed rice. As for the entrees, I
recommend the Hibachi Scallops,
Hibachi Shrimp or the Land and
Sea. The meat is always tender and
the ginger dipping sauce is delightful on shrimp. When it comes time
for dessert, the mango tempura
ice cream is an excellent choice for
anyone looking to try something
different. After you finish dining,
take a walk in the park located
down the street from TJSH and
enjoy the company of your date!
What song do you live by? Why?
Cooking avec Genevieve
Finding a decent Chinese restaurant is tricky business. I used
to order from this hole in the
wall called The China Inn, down
route one toward Quantico. Their
Kung Pao Chicken made me want
to cry, it was so good. Unfortunately, left and their food just
doesn’t taste as good anymore.
So I set out on a quest to find a new
Chinese restaurant to satisfy my
craving for a taste of the Far East.
I tried several places where the cuisine made me think of the dog food
I used to feed my puppy Megan. Ac-
er. For the main course, treat your
date to the Crab, Shrimp and Scallops plate or stay simple and order
a delicious New York Strip. The Log
Cabin shrimp is definitely the best
in town. I encourage you to order
an entrée that includes them. Of
course, there are plenty of other options. Crab lovers will enjoy the Crab
Sampler. This dish includes Backfin
Crabcake, Imperial Crab, Crab Norfolk and Devil Crab. For dessert,
the cheesecake is something anyone with a sweet tooth will enjoy.
Other:
4 tablespoons peanut oil (for frying)
1 seeded, sliced green pepper
1 sliced white onion
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/4 cup deep-fried peanuts
2 tablespoons chicken stock plus
1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed
together to make slurry
Over high heat, in a wok, bring 2 tablespoons of the peanut oil to almost smoking temperature. Stir-fry the green pepper, onion, and celery for two to three minutes, stirring
frequently to make sure they don’t burn. Add 2 more tablespoons of peanut oil and the
chicken and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, until golden in color. Add the sauce and bring
to a boil. Add the peanuts. Thicken with the slurry and continue to cook until glossy. If
you’re not sure if the chicken is cooked through, taste it to check!
Opinion 7
February 11, 2011
Question
of
the
m o n t h
What do yout think about the
senior English classes going on a
field trip to see the movie
“Gulliver’s Travels?”
“It sounds cool. I
would definitely
want to go if I
was a senior.”
Freshman Angel
Smeragulioulo
“I think it’s fine.
I’d like if I could
go on a fieldtrip
to see a movie.”
Sophomore
Emily Thompson
“I hope they do
something like
that again next
year so I can go.”
Junior
Rebekah Roller
“I think it was
absolutely ridiculous because it
had no academic
benefit whatsoever.”
Senior
Roderque Grey
The Question of the Month is a
monthly survey taken by the Hawkeye Staff among the Student Body
of Brooke Point High School
The Hawkeye
Staff
Brooke Point High School
1700 Courthouse Rd. Stafford,
VA 22554
Editor-in-Chief
Krysten Marshall
Asst. Editor In-Chief
Aidan Stewart
Student Life Editor
Chantelle Polite
Feature Editor
Joanna Newcome
Entertainment Editor
Skylar Bartley
Sports Editor
Local sanctuary spoiled by publicity
By CJ Ballesteros
Every kid has some place that he
goes just to waste time. More and
more this place is the T.V. with an
Xbox or Playstation. When I was
growing up my parents never let me
have any sort of video games. I was
the loser who would walk around
my neighborhood as opposed to sitting on a couch playing Halo. When
I moved to Aquia Harbor the summer before seventh grade, I needed
to find a new place to waste time.
I found Government Island or Governor’s Island as all my friends and
I referred to it. In 2005 the island
looked completely different. It was
a pretty secluded area. There was a
lot less graffiti. There was a small
bridge that was in decent shape.
The place had no set paths or trails.
It wasn’t exactly a family friendly
park but it wasn’t a sketchy place
by any means. I spent every other
day at Government Island throughout middle school. I rarely ran into
any families or people when I was
there. It was like it was my own.
A lot of people felt that way
about the island at one point. My
friends and I did. It was like our
own personal playground. It was
big, secluded and so many ways
to kill time. Over time, however, it
became a place that kids trashed
and people went to do drugs on the
Photo by Amanda Ridella
The Government Island quarry is now a public landmark.
weekends. The small bridge that
was sufficient for reaching the island started falling apart. It was
probably these factors that lead
whoever it was that wanted to make
renovations to the area, make them.
This summer a new bridge was put
up that bypassed all the thick muddy areas and went directly to the
island. Benches were placed at specific “scenic” points. Paths were laid
down. The graffiti was washed away.
Quality of American life declines as waistlines increase
By Connor Amano
Obesity is a medical condition
in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may
have an adverse effect on health,
leading to reduced life expectancy
and/or increased health problems.
Today, 34% or almost 73 million
American adults are now obese.
Many of the obese claim that
obesity is a disease and that they
should have the same coverage
under health care as osteoporosis,
cancer, and other such diseases.
They say that obesity should be
recognized as a handicap or disability. They claim that obesity has left
them “incapable of functioning as a
consequence of injury or illness.”
Yet obese people can, for
the most part, rid themselves
of this disease, this disability, through dieting and exercise.
A mentally handicapped man
cannot restore himself to regular brain functions through exercise. A paraplegic cannot diet
and regain the use of his legs.
People with real disabilities have
become that way through an ill
twist of fate or a tragic accident.
Obesity is merely unregulated eating until a large amount
of body fat is accumulated.
Is that a disease? Is that a handicap? No, it’s a mockery of the real
pain that people with real disabilities and disorders go through.
Who should shoulder the responsibility for these upwards of 73 million obese Americans who do not
have real disorders? It could be the
the obese themselves. They could
join a sports team, go running, hit
the gym and find other such activities to slim themselves down.
Yet they choose to sit on their
couches and stuff their face with
a cornucopia of junk food at
their disposal. They watch television, browse the internet, play
videogames or any other activity that requires minimal amount
of physical activity whatsoever.
Should American society, government and school systems
take the blame? The fact that
an ever increasing number of
Americans are becoming obese
could be sending out the message that it’s okay to be obese.
Over the past few years, American school systems have been reducing the amount of recess and
physical education required. Elementary students are allowed a
recess period coupled with P.E.
In middle school an extra outside period, A.K.A. recess, is at the
teacher’s discretion. Then in some
high schools, physical education
is not even mandatory for all four
years to graduate. For a majority
of the student body who don’t play
sports, this is their physical activity and it has been stripped away.
Jordan Biscardo
X-Page Editor
Matt Flanagan
Copy Editor
Zach Byrum
Photographer
Nicole Caliri
Staff Writer
Genevieve Bee
Staff Writer
Will Chang
Business Manager
Natalie Shunk
Adviser
Mary Catherine Hornung
The Hawkeye is a cross-section of the
news and opinions of the student body
of Brooke Point High School. It is a
forum of student expression published
seven times a year by The Free Press in
Edinburg, Virginia
Editorials represent the views of the
writers and are not necessarily the
opinions of Brooke Point High School,
its administration, or staff. Unsigned
editorials represent the majority of the
Editorial Board.
Are parents responsible? What
about parents of those children
who feed their every desire and
need, who calm every tantrum with
a trip to a nearby McDonalds? How
could it not be the fault of those
who brought these children in an
environment of no discipline, of
fulfilling every wish, which would
only cause them to go live on in
such a manner as they grow older?
No matter where the fault lies,
obesity is a problem that must
be addressed. Millions of today’s
Americans are obese and while
some are taking action to get
into shape while others are doing nothing. People must take
action, no matter who, instead
of sitting idly by and watching.
Obesity is not a disease or handicap spreading through these
American’s bodies. It is a disease
coursing to the heart of America.
By Aaron Spicer
Opinion Editor
Courtney Karr
Courtesy of AP Images
An obese 25-year-old woman is rushed to the hospital to deliver her child.
Instruction must embrace students’ technology
Travis Cole
Staff Writer
When I first saw the new bridge
I felt like someone was spitting on
my childhood. Government Island
is not a place that supposed to be
crawling with families of six and
seven year-olds. There isn’t supposed to be a path or benches or a
fancy bridge. There are too many
places like that in the world. Government Island didn’t have to be
one of those places. The blemishes
are what make something spe-
cial. Everything can’t just look the
same. That defeats the purpose.
I am all for a bridge to the island. Why couldn’t renovations
just be made to the one that was
already there? People should have
to trudge through the mud and
walk through the bushes. I love
the scenic point around that area,
but benches? What’s next? Are
there going to be food vendors setting up carts? The island is a perfect place to walk around, but to
lay down a set path? Will they pave
it next? It all feels so corporate.
I’m sure a lot of people disagree
with me and think Government
Island looks 100 times better but
it’s turning into something it’s not
meant to be. The island is special
because it has a petty bridge and
a paved path. It’s special because
that’s where people got away from
the places like that. The island had
scars. But those scars were memories of the fun people had wasting
time. They’re signs of affection for
the island. It’s a terrible feeling
when someone decides that memories aren’t as important as change.
Government Island has turned
into something I hoped it would
never be: a stupid pretty park
where parents take their obnoxious kids. Aren’t enough places
like that in the world already?
Photo by Amanda Ridella
Spicer taps on his iPhone after class.
Recently, I asked my students
what they would change about the
school and one student’s answer
really stuck with me. This particular student couldn’t understand
why many of the rules concerning
technology were so absolute. The
word NO seems to be as much of a
policy as anything else here in Stafford County. NO cell phones. NO
mp3 players. NO personal media
devices. In the student agenda, the
policy outlining cell phone usage
is typed in all capital letters and
as if that weren’t enough, capped
off with an exclamation point. The
implied tone is adversarial at best.
Unfortunately, this tone is transmitted verbally when dealing with
students who are in violation. It’s
no wonder, then, that on any given day, most students have their
cell phones on their person and
their mp3 players in their backpacks, in strong defiance of rules
that aren’t clearly explained, but
instead, simply dictated. But it’s
not just defiance that keeps students glued to their electronics.
It’s an innate understanding of
the changing nature of our world.
I have to say, that in this particular instance, I side with the stu-
dent body. This generation’s success or failure will depend largely
on its ability to use a vast array of
technologies as well as its ability to
communicate through social media. The technology and business
worlds are evolving on an exponential curve that has never been seen
before and is actually quite difficult
to comprehend. But, if we, as educators fail to recognize the importance of technology in the modern
world, then we are severely limiting
our students’ opportunities. Furthermore, if we continue to treat
those who embrace technology as
deviants, then we will continue
to struggle to connect with our
students in any meaningful way.
Part of the problem, then, is that
the burden lies with the student
body to inform teachers and administrators about the educational
value of technology. According to
industry experts, by the year 2012
the mobile computing industry will
outpace the PC. More and more
students will carry smartphones,
Kindles, iPads, and media rich
personal devices. The truth of the
matter is that the technology we do
have in the classrooms is already
horribly outdated and oftentimes
does not work properly. Why then,
would we punish students for being self-reliant? If my students are
discussing postmodern literature,
and we need clarification on a literary allusion, I would love to have a
student pull up Project Gutenberg
on his phone, while the rest of us
carry on with our discussion. Or
perhaps Foursquare users could
hold a monthly competition to become the Mayor of the Library. We
could eliminate the need for agendas and encourage students to use
electronic task managers. Willing
teachers could allow students to
type notes, or even record lectures.
But for all I know these could
be horribly lame examples, as I
am but an out-of-touch teacher. It
is up to you, the students, to show
your teachers and administrators
how technology can be used effectively and responsibly in the
classroom to create a more rich
and meaningful high school experience. If you, the students, can
show your teachers how beneficial
technology can be, then it will be
our responsibility to embrace it and
welcome it into our classrooms.
Have an opinion?
Submit a letter to the
editor to rooms 220 or 213!
X Page 8
February 11, 2011
Single Black-Hawks search for sweethearts
Compiled by Skylar Bartley
Pictures by Nicole Caliri
CM
asey
DL
arien
aporta
cleod
15
15
Likes: Shopping, basketball, beach, math
Dislikes: Red, skate shoes, video games,
lobster
Favorite Restaurant: Kobe
Favorite Movie: Titanic
Ideal Date: It’s at a nice restaurant,
where everyone is dressed nice, he gives
me flowers, and manners are a high
priority.
Looking for: Someone not lazy, honest, courteous, doesn’t care m ore
about himself than everyone else,
and has good grades.
Likes: Skateboarding, soccer, t.v.,
being outside
Dislikes: Hypocrites, posers,
football, the color yellow
Favorite Restaurant: Olive
Garden
Favorite Movie: Brother Bear
Ideal Date: Movie
Looking for: Someone nice,
pretty, sweet, and not
critical.
PN
A
C
nna
reston
ewsom
15
Likes: Sports, cars, video games,
girls
Dislikes: Annoying people, being
called Justin Beiber, heights,
broccoli
Favorite Restaurant: Chili’s
Favorite Movie: Salt
Ideal Date: The movies
Looking for: Someone
shorter than me, athletic,
brunette, and not stuck up.
DB
KT
ristian
ice
onovan
aker
By
William
Chang
16
SB
SS
hayne
rayshaw
ohane
tills
18
Likes: Myself, music, funny faces,
yellow
Dislikes: Bad appetites, people,
popularity and those who don’t
appreciate music
Favorite Restaurant: Home
made
Favorite Movie: Secret Garden
Ideal Date: something spontaneous and unexpected
Looking for: Someone just
like me. And someone who
plays the drums and is older
than I am.
A little history on
the day of love
15
Likes:
Swimming, music, tea, independence
Dislikes:
People who talk about others meanly;
those who are condescending and Gazpacho
Favorite Restaurant:
Guru Indian Cuisine
Favorite Movie:
Darjeeling Limited
Ideal Date:
Doing something outside alone
Looking for:
Someone who treats me like a person and not an accessory, who’s
honest and will tell me when I’m
wrong and who accepts me for
who I am
Likes:
Cowboy boots, dance, horses, pickup
trucks
Dislikes:
Meanies, math, the cold
Favorite Restaurant:
Kobe
Favorite Movie:
Gone with the Wind
Ideal Date:
Just driving around with him, going to a field and doing something
reckless
Looking for:
Someone tall, into sports, determined and has good hygiene
16
Likes:
Sports, girls, rock music, brown/hazel
eyes
Dislikes:
Shyness, IB classes, mac & cheese,
loquaciousness
Favorite Restaurant:
Olive Garden
Favorite Movie:
The Hangover
Ideal Date:
Watch a movie at her house and
then go
to the mall and bowling
Looking for:
Someone smart, athletic,
brunette, funny
and has to like sports
lemens
Saint Valentine’s Day celebrates
love and affection. According to
Arts and Entertainment, one legend contends that Valentine was a
priest who served during the third
century in Rome. When Emperor
Claudius II decided that single
men made better soldiers than
those with wives and families, he
outlawed marriage for young men.
Valentine, realizing the injustice
Flowers bespeak love
17
Likes: Manipulation, tea, the ocean,
Zach Braff
Dislikes: Meat, men, unintelligent
people, gossip
Favorite Restaurant: Don’t have
one
Favorite Movie: Wrist Cutters: A
Love Story
Ideal Date: Anything as long as
it’s not a long walk on the beach
Looking for: Someone with intelligence, musical knowledge
and morbid humor.
of the decree, defied Claudius and
continued to perform marriages
for in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius
ordered that he be put to death.
Valentine’s Day was deleted
from the Roman calendar of saints
in 1969, but it is still celebrated
around the world. In the Norfolk region of England a character called “Jack” Valentine knocks
on the rear door of houses leaving
sweets and presents for children.
In South America, February is
called "Día del Amor y la Amistad." That translates into “Day
of Love and Friendship,” a day
of doing kind acts for friends.
In Asia, Valentine’s Day is celebrated almost exactly as in the
United States. Valentine's Day
started catching on in India in 1992
with special TV and radio programs
and even love letter competitions.
Not all countries celebrate Valentine’s Day. In 2002 and again in
2008, Saudi Arabian religious police banned the sale of all Valentine’s
Day items. Shop workers were told
to remove any red items, as the day
is considered a Christian holiday.
Single? Escape Valentine’s Day loneliness
By Matthew Flanagan
By Zachary Byrum
Existing for centuries, Floriography or Hanakotoba in Japan, is
the art form of giving names and meanings to flowers. Today, we
use heartfelt floral arrangements as a romantic gesture towards
others. With Valentine’s Day approaching, here are a few flowers to woo your romantic other or to impress that secret crush.
Valentine’s Day can be a very loving, exciting time of the year. However, for a few lonely
souls it will be a very depressing holiday. Here are ten ideas to help those few who don’t
have a partner this upcoming holiday get through the day.
1. Invite a group of single friends over to play Twister.
2. Dress up like Cupid and throw candy hearts at people
while screaming “LOVE ME!”
Daffodil: This yellow symbol of
new beginnings represents good
fortune when in a bunch, but foretells misfortune when presented as
a single bulb.
3. Avoid department stores decorated with pink and red.
Carnation: “Flower of love” or
“flower of the gods.”Symbolizes
love and distinction. White means
pure love, light red is admiration,
and dark red symbolizes deep love.
However, purple carnations signify
unreliability.
4. Log in to Facebook and admire your friends’ love lives.
5. Write a poem about how lonely it is not to have a date.
6. Play Dungeons and Dragons with your uncle.
7. Pig out on chocolate, ice-cream and gummy bears.
Chrysanthemum: Symbolizes
optimism and joy. The Japanese
believe that delicately unfolding a
chrysanthemum’s petals represents
perfection.
8. Watch all of the “Twilight” series and read the books...
...Shakespeare can’t beat that awesome writing.
Rose: Classic flower of romance
and passion. Red for enduring passion, white for innocence, yellow
for friendship, pink for gratitude
and admiration, purple for enchantment and love at first sight.
9. Waste your life away on World of Warcraft.
10. Find a date.