May 2012 Edition

theCOURIERMarjory Stoneman Douglas High School Volume 24 No. 7 May 2012

IndexNews.................1-3

Feature..............4-7

Editorial.............8-9

Entertainment...10-12

Sports................13-16

Five year district

championship

streak comes to

an end

Page 16

Next year faculty must teach extra class

MEGAN ROBBNews Editor

Photo by Fallon Birke

Cafeteria lunch items forsale in vending machinesMEGAN ROBBNews Editor

On Monday, May 6, a new vending machine appeared towards the back of the cafeteria.

This vending machine, unlike the others located throughout campus offers students a variety of new, healthy lunch options.

The vending machine will help relieve the congestion in the lunch line, and will allow students who buy their lunch start eating faster. It will not, however, replace the lunch line entirely.

To buy from the

machine, students must have a lunch account set up. If they do, they simply punch in their birth-date on the keypad, push the button next to the entrée they wish to have, and retrieve their meal. Choices include a variety of salad wraps and come with a yogurt parfait and milk. Students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch can also buy from the machine.

“I like the machine,” sophomore Mikayla Rosen said. “It gives me healthy lunch options instead of pizza and fried chicken.”

10 schools to implement the new vending machine and lunch options. All high schools in the county will have one by June 4. Next year, new items other than wraps and yogurt parfaits may be available for purchase as well.

Senior Ari Kravatsky gets help buying a wrap from cafeteria manager Suzanne Smith. The new vending ma-chine offers four new lunch options: two wraps and two yogurt parfaits.

Photo by Amanda Gaines

MSD will followstraight seven period schedule

douglascourier.com

According to a memo released by Superintendent Robert Runcie on April 19, the Broward County School District exercised its “management right to establish a uniform class schedule for high schools with seven periods,” meaning teachers will teach six out of seven periods

compensation. “Students will remain

strive to be the best teacher I can be within these dire circumstances,” language arts chairperson Donna Amelkin said.

Currently high school teachers are contractually

out of seven periods. Approximately 30 teachers at Douglas High elect to teach an extra sixth hour for additional pay.

With this planning time eliminated, teachers lose an hour to grade papers, plan and prepare for lessons, write letters of recommendation,

respond to parents, attend conferences, and complete necessary paperwork. Not only will teachers lose an hour to plan but also that

an additional class of 25-40 students.

Core classes will remain capped at 25 while elective classes will be larger. Some teachers have said they will not take on extra duties such as sponsoring a club or write recommendation letters next year because of this loss of

Visitors leave

their mark in

Page 6

Science teacher Dianne Melita (left) casts her vote on the school schedule next year while Broward Teachers’ Union representative and Social Studies teacher Fran Wernersbach oversees the process.

Boy bands

return to the

music industry

Page 12

SCHEDULE CHANGEContinued on Page 3

Page 2 The Courier News June 2012

ELYSSA RONIKStaff Writer

Junior Zoey Spiegelman (far right), along with the rest of her Relay For Life team, Sugar Rush, juniors (right to left) Ryan Gross, Samantha Sprott, Tori Ford, Julia Sadar, Sarah Ojalvo, Alyssa Duany, and Mary Vogel attract attention to their booth where they sell an assortment of candy to raise money for cancer research.

Photo courtesy of Mary Vogel

Sugar Rush raises money for a ‘sweet’ cause

SABRINA EISENBERGStaff Writer

Douglas DECA had the privilege of attending DECA Nationals in Salt Lake City, Utah from April 28 to May 3.

the trip, and among those, 40 plan to compete.

“The students compete in

various events, either industry based or topic related,” DECA advisors Sharon Cutler and Phyllis Study said. “They compete as a group or independently in a role play in front of a DECA corporate business partner. They also take a test, that is either one-third or 50 percent of their grade, depending on whether

they participate in role play as a group or as an individual.”

Sophomores and Florida DECA Vice Presidents Zack Schaja and Gabe Lam have spent all year preparing for these events by studying and working hard to gain their positions and know exactly what is necessary to win their competitions.

“I did well enough to make it to states, where I realized what a great organization it was and that I wanted to be a part of it. It made me realize that I wanted to go into business,” Schaja said.

According to Cutler, the importance of these events is not only to spark a students’ competitive nature but also to

broaden their horizons. “Internationals opens

the students to meeting and networking with others that have similar interests,” Cutler said.

“They are exposed to other cultures and interact with people from other countries, like Guam, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.”

DECA sends fifty-two students to national competition

Relay for Life, the nationwide fundraiser where team members of all ages walk around the track and participate in many activities throughout the 24-hour period during which they camp out

cancer, was once again hosted by Stoneman Douglas this past April.

Each year, students take the initiative to start their own teams this year, one being Sugar Rush. Juniors Mary Vogel and Zoey Spiegelman came up with the team name when they decided to sell candy as a form of raising funds. Although the actual event was held on April 26th, Relay started much earlier for this team.

“We participated in a giant garage sale,” Spiegelman said. “Also, we went to Starbucks and asked people for donations about ten times before Relay

for Life happened.” Before the 17-member

team stepped onto the track, they had already raised over $1000 for the battle against cancer, and they continued to fundraise throughout the 24-hour fundraiser.

“At Relay, my team sold candy and water, and we raised about $700. All together, we raised about $3800 - my co-captain [Vogel] and I are so happy about our performance.”

When it became dark, a luminaria ceremony was held, where people who had personally been affected by cancer, lit a candle and place it in a decorated bag. The

total darkness, while all of the survivors at the event walk a lap in silence.

“My favorite part of it all was seeing my team come together as a whole to help

“It affects so many people, and is really important to help raise awareness, and money for.”

June 2012 The Courier News Page 3

Digital marquee streams breaking news

One year ago the school received an advanced piece of technology that students and faculty know little about, the new electronic marquee. Our marquee is the electronic information board facing Pine Island Road.

Former student Shane Randall presented the idea of purchasing a new marquee last year to SGA president, Nicholas Kuhl, advisor Danielle Driscoll, and the rest of the SGA.

“It was embarrassing to be one of the only schools in the county that still had its original marquee,” assistant principal Max Rosario said.

Once administration agreed to Randall’s proposal, SGA was asked to raise money to pay for half of the marquee,

thousand dollars.SGA had recently hosted

FASC, Florida’s state student government convention, which 800 students from across Florida attended.

At the convention, participants were charged a $175 registration fee. After paying back their contribution to

was enough to assist in paying for the marquee. The total cost of switching marquees came to $30 thousand.

Assistant principal Rosario and technical assistant Joseph

Ortero operate the marquee regularly. Unlike the old marquee, which had letters that were placed manually, our new marquee is controlled by a wireless LCD controller.

The marquee’s internal computer can receive rolling scripts, videos, and pictures. Rosario and Orterto usually update the information presented on the marquee every Friday.

“We like to put information on the marquee that the community would want to know about, such as holidays and dates of meetings that are open to the public,” Rosario said.

“By having this marquee, our school is no longer part of the dino age.”

AMANDA GAINESNews Editor

The new marquee’s electronic screen displays announcements to the community, such as its Twitter username and upcoming school events.

Photo by Amanda Gaines

Two students receive regional recognition for writingMATTHEW WALZERStaff Writer

“I would not have as much time to grade assignments,” AP U.S. History teacher Lisa Hitchcock said. “I will have to assign less work because I have to grade on a college level.”

According to Runcie’s memo, school faculty had an option to choose a variation of the uniform schedule. Broward County schools follow one of three class schedules, A/B block schedule, rotator schedule, or straight seven.

On May 16, 2012, Douglas teachers voted for the schedule they would like to see followed next year.

Thirty-one voted for the rotator while 62 voted for the straight seven. On a typical straight seven, each class is 50 minutes long, while lunch is

41 minutes. “A lot of my friends are

upset about having a straight seven schedule next year,” sophomore Haley Kondaki said. “I don’t care too much because that’s what I had at my old school before I came to Douglas. It wasn’t that bad.”

During the 2010-2011 school year the Broward County School Board began to reinforce the Class Size Reduction amendment, implemented in 2002, which limits the number of students allowed in core classes in all elementary, middle, and high schools. Broward County faced

being in compliance with the

later reduced to $8.5 million. According to Runcie’s

memo, having high school teachers instruct an extra class is an effective scheduling option for meeting class size.

From more than 200 thousand entries, senior Abigail Hummel and junior Elizabeth Miles are among the 820 receiving regional recognition for the Scholastic Inc. Art and Writing Awards for 2012.

Hummel’s winning entry was “An Apple for the Teacher,”

wrote for her AP Literature class.

Her assignment was to write a story that showed at least one symbol and theme of love and longing.

Miles received an honorable mention for a personal essay she wrote about playing violin.

She also won a Silver Key for an essay she originally wrote for her AP Language class which talks about how “Teen Paranormal Literature,” such as the Twilight series,

has been a major contributing factor in the decline of literacy and critical reading skills in the American youth.

“I felt really honored and excited that my piece was awarded a Silver Key,” Miles said.

“It gave me a greater

writing skills.” “These two young women

are among the best and the brightest that MSD has to offer, and when they put their thoughts on paper, of course

teacher Donna Amelkin said.

Sid Chabus Student Affairs

Jackie Harris ESE

Diane Melita Science Teacher

Rena Rantz World Language Teacher

Terry Silva Math Teacher

Student government spends $15 thousand on replacement process

SCHEDULE CHANGEContinued from Page 1

Five staff members retire “I’ll miss the

kids, they keep me young.”-Sid Chabus

Page 4 May 2012The Courier Feature

May 2012 The Courier Feature Page 5

VICTORIA MALCOLMSports Editor

Siblings cope with ‘empty nest’ syndrome

The Hutchinson siblings (above, from left) Haleigh, Emaleigh, and Kenny are transitioning to not having each other around all the time. They have been close since they were little.

Pictures capture new form of social networking RACHEL EPSTEINFeature Editor Time

Students deal with life after graduation, moving

Page 6 May 2012The Courier Feature

RACHEL EPSTEINFeature Editor

Front desk security personnel Velma Flowers (left) adds to her ball of stickers which parents

America’s Funniest Home Videos

YAELL LIVNIStaff Writer

Get a bite at

Time to tutorStudents seek help from various sourcesRACHEL KAHNStaff Writer

Review

Flowers creates ball, collects months worth of visitor stickers on display

May 2012 The Courier Feature

Clubs get out of townSchool trips expand horizons, provide opportunitiesSABRINA EISENBERGStaff Writer

Students (from left) Brandon Turner, Daniel Harrison, Ameen Mettawa, Michael Ross, Kathleen Liu, Adar Livni, Jared Tromer, and Tamar Nir attend the Model United Nationsconference in New York. The trip included sessions where students discussed world issues while representing Greece. The conference’s ending ceremony took place in the United Nations Conference area. Stoneman Douglas has attended 19 Model United Nations conventions since the opening of the school.

Page 8 The Courier Editorial May 2012

Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Miami high school student, was shot and killed on February 26 in Sanford, Florida. The shooter, George Zimmerman, was patrolling the neighborhood as a volunteer watchman when he came upon Martin, an invited guest in the gated community.

Martin had just returned from a visit to a convenience store to purchase a bag of Skittles and an iced tea when Zimmerman reported him to a 911 dispatcher as looking suspicious.

Sanford police initially did not pursue Zimmerman on the basis of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense law, which states that citizens have the right to use force in public if they feel threatened.

The courts will determine what ensued after this phone call, as prosecutors arrested and charged Zimmerman with second degree murder on April 11.

The Florida “Stand Your Ground” law, which came into effect in 2005, has come under scrutiny since the shooting

more than 20 states. Until 2005, if a person felt threatened

but could safely retreat, he was required to do so.

According to the law, a citizen has

“no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground.”

The “Stand Your Ground” law was

the time of its enactment. Last month, in the New York Times, former

Miami police chief John Timoney stated that “the law has been used to justify killings ranging from drug dealers’ turf battles to road rage incidents.” The number of homicides

three-fold since the law went into effect. The law encourages vigilantism by

removing the requirement to retreat if possible when threatened, instead of resorting to force. Dan Gross, the president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, suggested in a recent interview that a better name for “Stand Your Ground” would be “Shoot First, Ask Questions Later.”

State Senator Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced a nationwide campaign to undo self-defense laws like “Stand Your Ground.”

“I’m trying to protect people across this country,” Bloomberg said in an interview with the Sun-Sentinel. “Plain and simple, this [law] is just trying to give people a license to murder.”

Although nothing can make up for the loss of a young life, something good can come from the Trayvon Martin tragedy if the Florida Legislature reexamines “Stand Your Ground.”

This law is a threat to public safety and should be repealed.

LAUREN HALPERTEditorial Editor

Stand your ground threatens public safety, must be repealed

Illustrated by Jack Atyeo

Drop off Letters to

the Editor in Room 236 or

submit them on

douglascourier.com

Let your voice be

heard in The Courier!

Straight seven schedule considered unfair

Erik Steinman, sophomore

Letters to the EditorLack of cleanliness in school on the rise

Matt Serwinowski, sophomore

I’ve noticed MSD is rather dirty.The janitors and personnel hired to clean the

school do a great job. The halls, classrooms, and lunchroom are clean and not much of a problem, but I still notice a lot of issues outside the classroom.

Outside there are lots of blackened pieces of gum, messes of hair, leaves, and dirt swept to the side, spiderwebs in those concrete spaces above our heads and frog feces on the stairs.

Cleaning the outside of the school would be

up to clean the school and possibly earning a lot of service hours in the process.

Although the “straight seven” bell schedule does have a few positive points, when compared with Douglas’s traditional rotator schedule, this new system will cause more problems than it solves. With shorter class periods, more classes per day, and less teacher pay, it would be simply unfair to students and teachers to use the “straight seven” schedule at our school.

Currently, the rotator schedule at Stoneman Douglas provides students and teachers with a perfect balance of classes per day to allow for proper time management.

Illustrated by Jack Atyeo

The rotator schedule also allows students an extra day to complete certain homework assignments if they did not visit the class that day. However, under the straight seven schedule, students will need to complete even more homework every single night.

Instead of only being required to complete homework

assignments from seven classes. Students will also need to turn all of their homework in the day after it was assigned since they attend all of their classes every day.

The straight seven schedule creates other problems for students as well. In order to visit seven classes each school day, each class will have to be cut short

every day, students will only attend each class for 40 to 45 minutes.

This can cause problems for teachers who need to teach long lessons, or students who need the extra time

be required to re-write many of their tests as they were designed to be completed within an hour, not 45 minutes. The shorter class periods will only cause unnecessary chaos, while in theory we are still seeing each class for the same amount of time each week.

Lastly, teachers are very unhappy with the straight

having two planning periods, all teachers will be required to teach six classes a day and will only have one planning period each day. More importantly, teachers will not be receiving any extra pay for teaching this extra class.

These changes also affect students, as many teachers state that they will refuse to participate as club sponsors if they are required to work more for less money. Some teachers may even stop writing college recommendation letters in order to protest against the changes made by the Broward County School Board.

The straight seven schedule simply should not be

Christina Sileo & Robbie KravecEditors in Chief

Amanda Gaines & Megan RobbNews Editor

Adar Livni & Rachel EpsteinFeature Editors

Roxanne ZechEntertainment Editor

Mitchell KaufmanOnline Editor in Chief

Lauren HalpertEditorial Editor

Victoria MalcolmSports Editor

Alex NewmanAds Manager

Mitchell FeldmanCopy Editor

Ryan BlitzerSabrina EisenbergRachel KahnYaell LivniElyssa RonikMatthew Walzer

Michelle GideonAdvisor

Staff

The opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of the advisor, administration,or advertisers. The Courier welcomes letters to the editor which can be turned into Michelle Gideon in room 236 or online at douglascourier.com. These letters can be edited for content but these changes will not affect their meaning. The publication abides by the scholastic press and is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. If you would like to advertise please call (754) 322-2150.

Contact us at douglascourier.com

May 2012 The Courier Editorial Page 9

Stand your ground threatens public

Beginning with the class of 2015, students must complete at least one online class. During the course of their high school careers, students complete this requirement by taking a course offered by Florida Virtual School (FLVS) or a dual enrollment course at a local college.

The Florida legislature passed a law this year requiring the completion of at least one online class during high school

in order to expand course offerings and lower the cost of education throughout the state.

According to FLVS, the state can save about 25 percent for each online program that replaces a traditional class, but the new legislation poses many problems for public schools.

Opponents of the legislation point out that this mandate separates students with access to computers from those without and forces schools to make accommodations for students without Internet access at home. This causes

school districts that are already low on money to spend money on new computers, while the online industry reaps the

By replacing the everyday face-to-face contact of the classroom, even for only one class, teachers lose the ability to monitor growth. In fact, according to the National Education Association researchers found college students who take online courses are more likely to fail or drop out of the course than students who take the same

course in person.Replacing teachers

with computer screens will reduce personal contact and assistance when students require it.

If this holds true for college students, how can we expect high school students to stay committed? Online classes also open an uncharted area for cheating that is completely uncontrollable. Students can resubmit work and retake tests in order to earn a passing grade. Unlike traditional schools, virtual companies such as

FLVS receive money from the state for each course a student passes, putting more emphasis on passing the course instead of learning the material. The state is supporting rampant cheating and allowing students that would not otherwise pass a class to slip through the cracks.

Although the bill will offer great opportunities in terms

offerings, the negative aspects of the bill greatly outweigh the

Legislators need to greatly

reexamine this new policy.

ROXANNE ZECH Entertainment Editor

problems. It cost $450 million for each launch, and upwards of $1 billion for the shuttles themselves.

Additionally, the Challenger and Columbia shuttles malfunctioned in 1986 and 2003, respectively, with a combined death toll of 14.

These accidents, though, created a deeper respect for astronauts and a need to continue exploration to ensure that the deaths were not in vain.

But after 30 years, and 135 missions, the Atlantis landed on July 21, 2011, signifying the touchdown of the entire program.

schoolchildren and the sense of wonder in inquisitive

childhoods.NASA feels our pain, though. The workers there

as well as Barack Obama want to continue America’s passion for space.

According to Obama, “nobody is more committed

than I am,” and we can thank our lucky stars for that. Although the Constellation program, which sends

Obama plans for us to visit an asteroid after 2025 and Mars before 2040, and create a heavy-lift rocket by 2015.

Space is an important part of our culture and pride as Americans, particularly as Floridians, and needs to be continued after this brief hiatus despite the cost.

Taking up just .0011 percent of the national

our time and focus.

I can still remember the excitement I felt the moment before witnessing a shuttle launch. My dad told me the exact launch time, which I anxiously awaited.

a loud rumbling and the sight of a small speck in the sky. That small speck, however, meant much more to me than just an image.

In our childhoods, space exploration impacted multiple aspects of our lives. Many of us dreamt of becoming one of the idolized astronauts seen in movies and on T.V. Space was one of the only topics in school that kids could actually get excited about, as it represented the uncovering of the unknown. The large, intangible

with the possibility of life on other planets.The shuttle program also provided

entertaining and educational opportunities for us as students, through the Kennedy Space Center

I can picture the meal with the astronaut hosted at the Center. It did not matter how lesser known he was; I was just in awe of being in the same room as someone who had been to space. And who can forget the space ice cream, the freeze-dried ice cream novelty that made us feel closer to an experience we had only dreamed about?

Admittedly, the shuttle program did have its

MITCHELL FELDMAN Copy Editor

Space shuttle missions must return as top priority

Requiring all freshmen to take one class will create many problems for schools

Provided by NASA

Should all freshmen be required to take an online class?

“Algebra 2 because I failed it. I think it’s a good way to occupy my summer and keep my brain stimulated.”-James Lee, freshman

“I don’t like this. They’re making it harder for us to graduate.”-Alex Kales, freshman

“I think that it’s stupid because we already have enough work as it is.” -Anthony Giuffrada, freshman

“It’s not really necessary since we’re taking all seven classes.”-Madisyn Culpepper, freshman

Page 10 May 2012The Courier Entertainment

Sophomore forms solo indie project, Ramsey

Teen with acoustic soul emerges from suburbia

years later he is creating his own sound and producing his own music. He hopes to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts after graduating high school.

Photo illustration by Roxanne Zech

ROXANNE ZECHEntertainment Editor

Modest and charismatic, sophomore David Parra is slowly making a name for himself in the world of music.

Parra recently formed Ramsey, a solo indie rock music project resembling styles of City & Colour, PlayRadioPlay!, Bon Iver, and The Weepies.

With a melodic sound and strong vocals, Ramsey’s acoustics tug at the heartstrings as Parra uses others’ hardships as inspiration for his own lyrics.

“I write for people going through hard times; a lot of my

After receiving positive feedback on his songs from friends, Parra decided it was time to take it a step further by playing shows and promoting himself on Facebook. Since then, it has become a full time occupation.

“As soon as I get home, I grab my guitar, my whole day is

knew he wanted to pursue music professionally.“After high school I want to go to Boston to go to Berklee

said.Although he has played heavier genres and collaborated with

electronic artists, Parra feels he is better suited for indie acoustic. It comes naturally, and most of his songs are improvisation.

“It’s all spur of the moment. ‘Ghosts’ is completely improv. As

Already having played shows at The Talent Farm in Pembroke Pines since its formation in late January, Ramsey is quickly moving onto the scene.

Lots of hard work and a handful of serene songs later, this is just the beginning of what is to come from this talented sophomore. To hear some of Parra’s work visit www.reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/2457956

Incoming 9th graders: Sleeping Freshman Never Lie by David LubarIncoming 10th graders: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 10th grade gifted: Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Incoming 11th graders: The Brethren by John Grisham

Incoming 12th graders: How To Read Literature Like A Professor by Thomas C. Foster

AP English students must contact AP teachers for summer work

Cassandra Clare’s two

Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices, feature a world populated with vampires, demons, werewolves, and the Shadowhunters, a nation of warriors dedicated to cleanse the world of demons. Humans

these unnatural events.In Mortal Instruments,

Clary, a 15-year-old mundane, returns home after witnessing a murder of someone (or something) no one else sees only to discover that her mother had been kidnapped. Within twenty-four hours, Clary’s entire world turns upside-down and she is introduced to a world she had no idea existed.

Infernal Devices takes place 200 years before Mortal Instruments, even though Clare wrote it years later. Clare elaborates on the history of the series and includes some of the same immortal characters, which help tie each series

together. The characters in the series are related—literally. Surnames such as Lightwood, Wayland, and Fairchild appear in both.

Mortal Instruments series, released May 8, continues Clary’s journey in City of Lost Souls. Clare released Clockwork Prince, the sequel in Infernal Devices in September 2011.

These novels include all the different aspects of a great book: action, betrayal, mystery, romance, drama, and suspense. They simply cannot be put down once started. The only negative thing about these series is that a reader must wait two years for the next installment.

Mortal Instruments should be read before Infernal Devices because it better explains the setting and will help readers understand what goes on. However, neither series spoils what happens in the other.

YAELL LIVNIStaff Writer

Escape the mundane with new book series

Scan to listen to Ramsey’s newest songs on Soundcloud

May 2012 Page 11The Courier Entertainment

RACHEL KAHNStaff Writer

If you can’t visit the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece or The National Gallery in London, England, Google will take you there via Google Art Project (googleartproject.com).

The Art Project is an online database of over 30 thousand works from 151 different museums around the world.

Originally released with only 17 museum partners from nine countries in February 2011, the free Art Project has expanded to 30 countries.

Each selection includes a description about the artist, the type of art, and the collection it belongs to, among other information about the piece.

The Education section of the website includes DIY art ideas and quizzes to test your artistic eye.

Maps, the Art Project allows anyone to walk the halls of art museums around the world.

With high quality imaging, users can even stroll through the halls of the White House, viewing the various presidential portraits and historic artifacts. This up-close and personal view brings museums on the other side of the world to the computer screen.

“I like that the photos are so detailed, you can see the brush

collection from their favorite artists.Google has integrated features of Google+ Hangouts,

a video-chat feature, to allow users to talk with others about any art-related topic. In the future, Google plans to organize Hangouts with art experts.

Google offers virtual art museum tours

CHRISTINA SILEOCo-Editor in Chief

The Google Art Project allows viewers to take a virtual tour of the White House and dozens of museums and exhibits.

Photo courtesy of The Google Art Project

Glee on FOX and The Secret Life of the American Teenager on ABC Family have two things in common. One is their stereotype of high school students, and the other is they have both ‘jumped the shark’, meaning they have dropped in ratings, viewers, and excitement, according to the entertainment industry.

The third season of Glee and the fourth season of Secret Life of the American Teenager have over 12 episodes and continue to lose some luster.

Fans across the country retreat to their television screens for yet another season of singing and relationship drama in Glee, and endless talks about sex, cheating, and raging arguments in Secret Life.

If this sounds familiar, it’s due to the fact that both of these shows have had the

Introduced in May of 2009, Glee follows high school

throughout the corridors. The show features a stereotypical outlook on Glee Club students, who may not always follow the norm, and football-playing bullies, who never suffer consequences.

According to Hollywood Reporter, after about two months off the air, viewers of Glee voted it a 2.7 out of 10, marking an all-time low for the show.

In Glee, Quinn was the popular girl in the school, cheated on her boyfriend, got pregnant with the bad boy, and went through a rebellious phase. In the episode before the season hiatus, she is driving in her car when, suddenly, a truck slams into the drivers side.

The scene leaves viewers hanging; however, the return episode shows her in a wheel chair without cuts, bruises, or bandages, giving the viewer confusion about why she looks perfect.

Stretching the truth turns fans away from the show, which can also be seen in The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

After three years of

broadcasting and almost four million viewers, the show has only brought along a few new cast members in the many episodes aired.

High school drama can raise excitement, but when the only thing keeping the show alive is one character having sex with another, it becomes a bit unappealing.

Originally, the show was based on a high school girl who deals with her unplanned pregnancy. At the end of each episode, one of the actors lectures viewers about safe sex or abstinence.

Secret Life portrays high school students who exclaim on almost every episode “I just

is the biggest mistake I have

the show may get the wrong impression, but high school teenagers and adults know that this is not an accurate account of how high school really is.

The real question for ABC Family and FOX is why they don’t realize it’s time to grow up and stop airing Secret Life and Glee.

When TV shows ‘jump the shark,’ time to abandon ship

The ratings for Glee and The Secret Life Of The American Teenager have plummeted as the networks go through extremes to retain viewer’s interest.

Page 13 May 2012The Courier Entertainment

Boy bands are ba-aack

From Bruce Springsteen, to Bonnie Raitt, to Madonna, artists who were popular back in the day are making a comeback and releasing albums that appeal to younger generations.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s most recent album Wrecking Ball includes the classic rock ballads and numbers that they usually produce, but one song, “Rocky

a rap verse by gospel singer Michelle Moore.

describes how people do not care about the people around them, which caused mass appeal to a younger high school and college age audience.

Recently covered by Adele, Bonnie Raitt’s new Slipstream is a bluesy, guitar-shredding, reggae-infused album, a hit for adults and kids alike.

The heavy-hitting “Ain’t

on a declaration of love and independence that Raitt feels.

The music maven Madonna’s new album MDNA contains 16 songs that make you want to get up and dance.

Having collaborated with artists like Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and Benny Benassi, the queen of pop has made a full comeback, regenerating fan bases of adults and their children.

Through the techno song

countless other differentiated tunes, she has proved that not only is she a hit-maker, but a versatile performer.

In a time of one-hit-wonders and excessive usage of autotune, it is impressive and heartwarming to see artists who have stayed true to the music and changed with the times to encourage audiences of all ages to enjoy quality music.

From the 1980s to early 2000s, boy bands have dominated the music scene. Recently, this craze has returned, bringing with it new heartthrobs, upbeat songs, and screaming fan-girls. Popular new bands, One Direction and The Wanted replace formed groups such as *NYSNC and the Backstreet Boys.

Despite the gap in time between the popularity of boy bands, many elements have remained the same. Boy bands consist of similar looking boys who dress in nearly identical clothes, perform choreographed dances, and win millions of girls’ hearts around the world.

freshman Delilah Singer said. “I missed boy bands, so I was really happy when new ones

Today, many boy bands begin the same ways as those before them. Most form either through an open casting audition or when friends want to form a band.

One Direction formed in a slightly different way than most bands. All members auditioned individually for X Factor, but Simon Cowell believed they would have the most success collectively as a group.

In March, One Direction accomplished something not even the Beatles could. One

one on the Billboard 200. The members will also set out on a world tour this summer, coming to the BankAtlantic Center July 1. They have tour dates planned for summer 2013 too, returning to the BankAtlantic Center June 13 and 14.

The Wanted’s single,

experienced great success on the charts, currently holding the number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

All members of The Wanted auditioned at a mass casting call in 2009, and producers started working with them on their debut album immediately after each member was chosen.

The band held several spots

2009 to 2011, but only began to gain enormous fame in the United States this year.

Girls go weak at the sweet, encouraging lyrics sung by both The Wanted and One Direction like “You don’t know you’re

never be the same, I’m glad

“My Mom took me to see One Direction in Nashville for on Twitter and Facebook

with their pleas for re-tweets and messages from band

members. Fans of each band constantly get into debates with one another about which band has cuter members, better songs, and stronger vocals. This feud resembles the one still existing between *NSYNC

and Backstreet Boys fans of the 90s.

“I like that the bands aren’t

said. “They’re down to earth and still talk to their fans on

Two Door Cinema Club - June 5 at Revolution Live

Bon Iver - June 5 at The Filmore

Curren$y - June 13 at Revolution

LMFAO - June 22 at American Airline Arena

Coldplay - June 29 at American Airline Arena

One Direction - July 1 at Bank Atlantic Center

Reel Big Fish - July 4 at Revolution Live

Slightly Stoopid with 311 - July 17 at Cruzan Amphitheater

Dave Mathews Band - July 20, 21 at Cruzan Amphitheater

Warped Tour - July 28 at Cruzan Amphitheater

ELYSSA RONIKStaff Writer

MEGAN ROBBNews Editor

After auditioning separately on the seventh season of the X Factor, Simon Cowell believed the members of One Direction would be more successful as a group.

Older rockers still got it

SUMMER

CONCERTS

May 2012 The Courier Sports Page 13

Youth guides girls’ tennis to district championship Freshmen doubles advance to second round in state tournament

ROBBIE KRAVECCo-Editor in Chief

Freshman Kaela Bynoe prepares to hit the ball. Bynoe, who Photo courtesy of Kaela Bynoe

Dustin Forman, the girls’ tennis team won districts but fell in

After the team amassed a 10-3 regular season record, only freshmen Kellyn Abbanet and Kaela Bynoe advanced to

“The season ended a little earlier than I would have hoped

to Cypress Bay in the regional

At states, Bynoe and Abbanet competed together in doubles, while Abbanet also played in the singles

against Seminole High School but drew the top seeded team, from Miami Killian, in the next

temper, and she keeps me

bad draw at states but still won a set and battled in a three hour

Abbanet, ranked 98th in the state for the 18’s division and

recognized as 1st team all-county by the Miami Herald,

states 6-2, 6-3 against Star

on to place second in the

“It was very different,”

going to a tournament but you go with a coach instead of your

very high, but it was a good

consisted of three freshman and two sophomores, all of whom boasted winning records

According to Abbanet, the closeness in age among the girls helped everyone get

“It wasn’t as tough as it looked on paper,” Bryant

more mature than their ages

responsible, and I think it goes to show how good they are on

can compete in any given match, Bryant kept an expanded roster of thirteen girls to promote a team atmosphere

“It was a great season,

eight others that showed up for practices and matches,”

wasn’t any more important than

According to Bryant, his players will improve the most over the offseason by playing in tournaments and gaining

“I think we can work on our doubles, communicating well

“Instead of just going on to the next point and not knowing what your partner is doing, you

Tennis TermsACE A perfect serve in bounds that the opponent cannot return

LOVE The term used for no score; originated from the French indication of no score on their scorecards by an egg-shaped

began using the word, it sounded like love, and has been called

VOLLEY A shot on which the

The optimum hitting area, around the middle of

Page 14 The Courier Sports May 2012

competes during a game.

Photo courtesy of Corey Eaton

Boys’ lacrosse captures district championshipSpecial to The Courier

The boys’ lacrosse team

competing in a varsity sport

Eagles won the District 25 championship but lost to

According to coach Chris Kuhn, one of the most memorable moments of the season was when the

overtime and again for the

“My favorite part about the season was truly bonding with my team from starting off rocky and ending out the season as a unit, winning

and losing as a team,” senior

came from different walks of life but we all played lacrosse

As captain, Eaton must keep control of the team, bring players together as a family, lead practices and stretching, and relay messages from the

“I felt that the strongest part of our team was our

defenders in our district and when we needed them to step up and hold a team from scoring or to get us the ball they could accept almost any

for disabled athletes

Staff Writer

A participant in ‘soccer buddies’ plays with his assigned

with a buddy for the entire season.

Sophomore Zach Vecker volunteers for Parkland Buddy Sports, a program that allows people with disabilities from

age 4 to 18 play sports by pairing them up with buddies that help them if they need

Vecker started volunteering last year not only for service

taught his 9-year old buddy Nathan, who he was with this past season for basketball,

“I taught him how him how to shoot, because he wasn’t strong enough to reach the

proud of myself to know that I could pass on what I know about basketball to those less

on-one connection that you

Over the past year Vecker has developed a personal

mentoring him in basketball, Nathan and Zach have discovered things they have

watching baseball and taking

“If you have different people [volunteering], then you have more opportunities to help the players, and [the program] can become more diverse,” Vecker

many people there as possible,

10-2, the boys’ tennis team won the district championship and sent the doubles pair of senior Scott Koretsky and sophomore

However, the team did not qualify for states after losing

and Cody from last year, so, considering we replaced four guys and had the same record as last year, we exceeded expectations,” head coach

number one, so to maintain our

Stepping in as the team’s highest ranked player, Flanzer accrued a 6-2 record in singles

According to Bryant, contributions from underclassmen such as

Boys’ tennis team exceeds expectations during rebuilding year

Continued on Page 15

ROBBIE KRAVECCo-Editor in Chief

May 2012 The Courier Sports Page 15

Special to the Courier

this season 14-1, before losing

“To begin the season, our

defense also played really well, considering we only had one string,” freshman defenseman

incident looked as if it was going to end a season-opening

After a home game against North Broward, senior starting defenseman Eryn Kuchenrither

Kuchenrither suffered a concussion and missed the

“It’s always tough losing a senior, but the girls stepped up their play, and we didn’t lose a game while she was out,” head

According to Marsh, junior defenseman Alyssa Duany replaced Kuchenrither on defense and was a big reason why most of the games she played in were decided by a

“Alyssa knew the size of the

back from injury, the team

loss of the regular season to Pope John Paul II High School,

After advancing to regionals as district champions, the team faced off with Pope John Paul

as a big underdog, and we were able to make it all the way to regionals,” freshman

Flanzer and sophomore Andrew Ianescue, who played eleven matches on the year, provided stability

“Andrew did well considering he didn’t play so

“These are the 10th graders that are coming back next year that really hold the team

In order to reach states, Flanzer and Koretsky had to win the top seeded doubles bracket in district play, defeating rivals Taravella

serving and my steady play

Upon arriving at states, the duo defeated opponents from Palm Harbor High School 5-7, 6-1, 6-3, but fell in the next round to Christopher Columbus 6-1,

According to Koretsky, the victory against Palm Harbor was incredibly satisfying due to the levels of talent and experience in the

“You see the best players in the country up there because Florida is a hotbed

“You’ll be seeing some of those kids professionally on

Next year, the Eagles will

players and have high hopes

Skye Catena, and Ianescue will occupy the top three

“In general, this was going to be a rebuilding

out to be as good a year as

is losing their top player, so I expect we might be able to take it one step further in

Continued on Page 14

the ball during a game.

Flag football provides options for athletes

Eleven of the seventeen

team have participated in at least one other sport during high school, including

“Our team works just as hard as the lacrosse players, tennis players, and any other student-athletes at Douglas,” senior Staci

the same goals of a state championship as every

Special to The Courier

Page 16 The Courier Sports May 2012

Photo courtesy of Julie Leonard

Sports Editor

Finishing the regular season 12-2, the softball team played this year with only two seniors,

co-captains Trissja-Rey Lehtio

“The juniors had to step up and be role models to the younger players,” junior left

According to Lehtio, the lack of seniors allowed for

“Last year, it was separated into two teams,”

were the seniors versus the

Lehtio and Johnson worried that the team would lack the

“Our biggest challenge was probably that we were a really

season, we weren’t as strong and I know we were kind of nervous about it, but we came through and everybody brought

According to Coach Jennifer Morris, the key moments of the season were the games played against their main

Throughout the year, the Lady Eagles played the Trojans three times, winning once and losing twice, including the

with some with some fantastic

home run and Hailey Leonard

Then we played Taravella again at districts and Allison Johnson had a multiple run saving play, but unfortunately that alone wasn’t enough to win

district champs, the ladies felt obligated to continue the

“It was a big pressure on our shoulders to keep that up,”

going and we just couldn’t make

baseman Hailey Leonard, motivation comes naturally to the team, with help from

“If we do something wrong, we run, but usually the girls are

According to Morris, positivity is the most important tool for coaches when it comes

“Even though there are moments when we get frustrated, as a whole we try to be really positive and help them learn from their mistakes rather than dwell on them,” Morris

positive, it gets really easy to start picking each other apart and that can be the downfall of

Check out the softball team online on Eteams

The boys’ volleyball team

undefeated record and the

According to assistant coach Austin Clubb, junior Matt Archambault was a key part of

“Matt has been committed to the team since his freshmen year and is essential to the

athleticism is what sets him

player with that size, strength

Archambault considers himself to be a big hitter and big blocker as well as an emotional

“I started playing volleyball in eighth grade and have loved

of the game, and that I can use my brain as well as my physical abilities while playing,” said

Archambault has found success as a travel player as well, winning four tournaments, and being named MVP in the

According to Clubb, Archambault has a leadership role on the team and is loved by his coaches and teammates because of his abilities and

“I have been coaching

Matt contributes to the team

only is he a skilled player, but also he has experience under pressure, leadership, and an ability to intimidate other teams with his court presence,” Clubb

Archambault represented Team Florida in the USA High Performance Tournament,

named onto the All Tournament

“Matt is very passionate

it to be a very positive activity

has allowed him to form a great bond with his teammates,”

Archambault especially enjoys the camaraderie that is

“My teammates are like my brothers and no matter how much we argue I love them, and they are my best friends,”

Special to the Courier

Archambault returns a

According to assistant coach Austin Clubb, Archambault played a

undefeated record this season.

in the top

tournament.Photo courtesy of Sybil Archambault