by STEPHANIE WO Guest Writer This article would have taken a much shorter time to write if I hadn’t been checking Instagram and Twitter for no reason while trying to think of how to word something. A habit that you and I most likely have in common is checking our beloved social networking sites so frequently that doing so defines our generation. Behind the incessant need to check what’s new with our friends’ lives and have them like what’s new with ours is a result of the basic human desire of acceptance and belonging. Nothing fundamental has really changed from generations before us, and now – the only difference is how we go about fulfilling our natural desire to belong and be accepted by our peers. Similarly, in his article “The New Greatest Generation: Why Millrnnials will Save us All”, TIME Magazine writer Joel Stein says that the behavior of millennials, or people born anywhere from 1980-2000 “is more a continuation of a trend rather than a revolutionary break from previous generations.” With ever growing ways to check when someone has seen a post or message, we are becoming obsessed with the now. The ability for us to verify that people have seen something we posted takes social media to a new level by making everything seem like it is happening in real time. With that being said, ‘likes’ have replaced our peers’ vocal acceptance of our pictures and words. As a result, all causal positive feedback has streamlined into the universal ‘like’ or in the Twitter world, a ‘favorite’. The value of a ‘like’ comes from the aforementioned desire of our peers to accept us. It is common to post things for the approval of others and the satisfaction that approval garners. “I remember freshman year whenever I got likes on a status I was all giddy and stuff,” says senior Matthew Dobromilsky. Even companies know that the more ‘likes’ from consumers bolsters their image of popularity and appeal. Ironically, I have seen many advertisements advertising various companies’ Facebook pages and instructing consumers to ‘like’ them. The development and success of social networking sites highlights the preferred method of communication for youths. All successes of inventions and developments lie in making its predecessor seem cumbersome and outdated. Social media sites such as Instagram and Snapchat do just that by making things such as face-to-face conversations seem like too much effort compared to a simple follow, like, or picture to renew or reinforce a friendship. “Different social media is available for different things. Facebook is for big news and twitter is just for what you’re thinking at the moment. There’s something different for everything,“ says senior Emily Jones. Our understanding of the power of a ‘like’, as well as our decadence when it comes to maintaining friendships, has created an ideal environment for social media to swoop in with the intention of saving us from becoming socially withdrawn. Unfortunately, these networking sites have only seemed to cause the opposite effect: what was once supposed to be a facilitator for communication seems to be completely replacing traditional ways we reach out to friends. Senior Zach Levine says, “Well yesterday, I realized I hadn’t talked to one of my friends for a while. I just went on twitter and favorited one of his tweets, it was a funny tweet but at the same time it reminded him I still existed. Social media can provide us with external validation that we’re all still involved socially.” Television shows such as “iCarly” and “Victorious” indoctrinate tweens into accepting technology and social media as a way of life as they grow up. Transitions between scenes in “Victorious” feature a smartphone updating a status while “iCarly” is centered around teenagers running a popular web show on the internet. Even if you do not watch these shows, it is almost impossible to escape the slew of advertisements and frequent emphasis put on advancements in technology to solve our problems. However, it is important not to blame social media users today for indulging in new technology that makes connecting with friends easier. Our ancestors most likely would have done the same thing had Snapchat been available during the Renaissance. Scott Heiss, senior vice president of human intelligence for SparksSMG, says in Stein’s TIME Magazine article: “Can you imagine how many fricken Instagrams of people playing in the mud during Woodstock we would’ve seen? I think in many ways you’re blaming millennials for the technology that happens to exist right now.” The bottom line is that yes, we like getting ‘likes’ because, well, it makes us feel liked. All we are doing is utilizing the technology available to us in order to do what we need to. If there is an easier way to reach out to a distant friend other than meeting up with them face-to-face, why not embrace it? Two options: hate ourselves for using what is available to us or accept that we are only changing with time as it goes on. #StephanieWo #Facebook #socialmedia #Instagram #twitter #SocialNetworking

by MACKENZIE MATIKONIS Staff Writer A possible ballot question in the near future would be if the state of New Jersey should spend 200 million dollars a year for the next 30 years on open space. Open space is the preservation of land, farmland, and historic sites forever, so that it can never be developed. The Green Acres Program preserves land, so it can be used for outdoor recreational purposes, such as parks, athletic fields, trails, etc. It cannot be used for indoor recreation purposes. Green Acres also uses land for the conservation of the unique ecosystems of the Garden State. Farmland Preservation prevents farms from being bought and built up. Preserved farms can only be used for agricultural purposes. Historic land preservation is important for protecting our past. Bonds were sold by the state to raise money to preserve land, and it was successful, bringing in 400 million dollars. However, that money is gone as it was used for other purposes. According to Senator Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), there is no more money. “The pot is empty,” Smith said. The 200 million dollars to be spent is equivalent to about 1/35 of the state sales tax income, and 1/5 of a cent of sales tax. The money will be used to buy the land and build trails, athletic fields, and anything else that will help the community. Yet some people think that this is too much money to spend on open space. Jeff Tittel, director of the Sierra Club in New Jersey, which promotes environmental conservation, opposes spending that much money because it is “fiscally irresponsible” and will lead to cuts in other programs. However, the majority supports spending on open space. The vote was 4-1 in the Senate; Senator Jennifer Back (R-Monmouth) rejected it because of the current financial situation of the state. “I think open space is a good thing, because it protects nature from the greedy builders who want the money. It helps the environment,” said sophomore Jennifer Rodriquez. Open space lets the state live up to its name. Because of open space, the Garden State stays green and beautiful, rather than ugly and built up. Preserving farmland encourages more locally grown produce, creating a healthier and more prosperous community. Open space used for recreational purposes also benefits the community. It gives kids something active to do besides starting gangs and selling drugs. People can go out and spend a relaxing day at the local park, or just go for a walk. Preserved land can also benefit the economy by raising property values and attracting tourism to the beautiful sights of New Jersey. “It’s a good thing if they’re going to use the land for like a historic site or sports fields or something, but if it’s just going to sit there, then that’s just stupid,” said sophomore Victoria Marino. Even if it is stupid to have literal “open space”, at least it is better to look at grass than houses that are 20 feet apart or crowded strip malls littered with trash. What do you think? Should NJ spend the $200 million to preserve open space? #environment #MackenzieMatikonis #NewJersey #openspace

by BRIANNA SICILIANO Staff Writer The fourth season of “The Vampire Diaries” finally came to an end on May 16, 2013, and there are only great things for which to look forward. The successful New York Times best-selling series, written by L. J. Smith, was brought to life by directors and script writers Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson. The series premiered on The CW Television Network on September 10, 2009, and grew into the hearts of many fans. Since then, the show’s audience has expanded and received numerous awards. “The Vampire Diaries” is not an easy show to understand, unless you have watched every episode of every season. If you miss five minutes of an episode, you will have a hard time understanding the plot of the next episode. As you may have guessed from the title, “The Vampire Diaries” is not just about ordinary people. Characters vary from werewolves, vampires, witches, immortal vampire hunters, ghosts, and humans. There are also two doppelgängers (one is revealed in this episode). If there is one thing you can look forward to from the season finales of “The Vampire Diaries”, it is unexpected cliffhangers that leave you wanting more. Bonnie, a young witch who died in the 22nd episode of season four and is played by Katerina Graham, has been brought back to life, along with every other dead supernatural. This means that every monster that has ever ‘lived’ is back and as strong and angry as ever, and they are not going anywhere unless Bonnie’s spell is completed and the veil to the other side, where the diseased supernaturals stay, is back up. This episode’s title is “Graduation.” After many ups and downs, five of the main characters are finally graduating high school together, but that is too easy. Hours before graduation, the only human friend out of the main group, Matt (Zach Roeri), has been captured by Alexander (Paul Telfer), an original Vampire Hunter, and is trapped in a bomb device. One step off the device and he will be in a billion pieces. Rebekah (Claire Holt) is one of the six original vampires and has had a crush on Matt. She and Alexander were romantically involved many years ago. During this scene, Rebekah stays with Matt and saves his life. While kissing him, she puts herself onto the bomb and lets him run away and get ready for graduation, alive. Another original vampire, Kol Mikaelson (Nathaniel Buzolic) brings together many dead hybrids (half-vampire and half-werewolf) and witches to come together and persuade Bonnie to not put the veil (a spell that brings supernatural beings back to life) back up. They want to ‘live’ again and not return to the other side. The witches come together and try to kill Caroline (Candie Accola), Elena (Nina Drobev), and Stefan (Paul Wesley) who are all vampires. Original vampire and hybrid, Klaus (Joseph Morgan), comes to the rescue and beheads the head witch. Klaus has had feelings for Caroline and he intends to give Caroline exactly what she wants, whether she knows what that is yet or not. He gives Caroline a speech after revealing her graduation present: her boyfriend, a hybrid that was disloyal to Klaus, freedom to return to Mystic Falls after being banned from returning. “[Tyler] is your first love; I intend to be your last, however long it takes,” he says. Since season one, there has always been a love triangle between Elena and the two Salvatore brothers, Stefan and Damon (Ian Somerhalder). In this episode, Elena finally chooses the brother she is in love with, leaving the other heartbroken. “I am not sorry that I am in love with you. I love you, Damon. I love you,” said Elena. As Bonnie puts the veil back up, her last spell succeeds. In her death, Bonnie said a spell to bring Jeremy (Steven McQueen), her past lover and best friend’s brother, back to life. While Bonnie takes her last breath, Jeremy gets an entire new outtake on breathing. He is alive again. “Bonnie and Jeremy are so cute together, and it’s great that Jeremy can still speak to and see ghosts. Maybe Bonnie will find a way to come back to life and be with Jeremy,” said sophomore Corinne Franchette. Jeremy is not the only character who is alive again. After hundreds of years of being on the run and being a vampire, Katherine (also played by Nina Drobev) is finally human again. Elena force-feeds Katherine the only cure that transforms a vampire into a human again. Another plot twist is only seconds away. Stefan, a vampire, is on Silas duty. Silas is impossible to kill. In the previous episode, Bonnie transformed Silas into stone, but that was before she died. Silas found a way out of the spell, but there is a twist. He is now Stefan’s doppelgänger. He looks like Stefan and has the same voice as Stefan. To any ordinary person, Silas is Stefan. And Silas knows that. Silas stakes Stefan and whispers, “Do you have any idea what it is like to starve for two thousand years?” before locking Stefan into a safe and throwing it into a body of water. How will he be found? In the fall, a spin-off show called “The Originals” will air on The CW. More will be revealed about the Original vampires and their family, as well as the other major characters involved in this series. “I can’t wait for ‘The Originals’. I’m team Klaroline and I can’t wait to see what happens between Klaus and Caroline,” said an anonymous source. What do you think about “The Vampire Diaries” season finale, and the seasons to come? #BriannaSiciliano #seasonfinale #thevampirediaries

by ANTHONY TAGLIAFERRO Staff Writer The 2013 Monroe Township Baseball squad will advance to the Greater Middlesex County Championship against John F. Kennedy Iselin High School at TD Bank Ballpark on Thursday, May 30 at six o’clock P.M., after topping South Brunswick 1-0 in the semi-finals. For the first time in many years, the Falcons have made it to the County Finals. In years prior, the baseball team has been stopped short with losses in either the semi or quarter-finals. The Falcons had recently been eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Group IV State Tournament by higher seeded Marlboro High School in a 2-1 fight. It was a great game, where both sides played exceptionally well on the defensive and offensive sides of the ball. Monroe threw their dominant, power right-hander Andrew Cohen, while Marlboro set up a combination of two lefties on the mound. Unfortunately, the home team Marlboro topped the Falcons, scoring on an RBI ground ball and a wild pitch. Cohen said, “We all played well, it’s the game of baseball. Anyone can win any day, at any time, at any place, that’s the beauty of the game. A few executed plays on their half had won them the game. Now, we worry about Thursday.” The GMC Championship will be the Falcons’ last game of an “okay” 13 win and 12 loss season as described by head coach Pat Geroni. “The boys are a great group. I’ve been with most of them since they were in grade 7. We have a tough obstacle ahead against JFK and their ace Adonis Hernandez, but I’m sure Danny Marsh will take care of their lineup,” said coach Geroni Senior captain and ace pitcher Danny Marsh threw a two hit shut out in the GMC semi-finals against the tough opposing line-up of South Brunswick High School. On the season, Marsh has let up seven earned runs in 40.2 innings pitched. He has four wins and a no decision in six starts, with 49 strike outs. Marsh is committed to Division One ball club of Wagner College for his years post high school. Marsh said,”I’m going to pitch to win the game. I’m going to try to throw a lot of strikes and get ahead. I trust the guys behind me and my catcher. We did it against South Brunswick. I have faith in doing it again, together.” All year, the struggle for the Falcons has been beyond obvious. They are said to have the best pitching staff in the county, and the stats can prove it, but their Achilles heel has been their offensive production. The games this season have been low scoring when the Falcons play because of their oppressive, talented pitching staff, and their low productive offensive line-up. The Falcons just have trouble driving in runs, and capitalizing in key opportunities. Senoir shortstop Jeff Htam has one of the highest batting averages with a .305 and 18 hits. Htam has played exceptional defense and is a major leader for the squad. He possesses the rare ability to be a passive, yet strong leader on the field, which is going to be key in winning the GMCs. The Falcons need to be calm and collected, and be sure not to get rattled or nervous. “The combination of pitching and scoring a couple runs, while maintaining composure, will win the game on Thursday,” said Coach Geroni. The game is to be played at six o’clock at TD Bank Ballpark on Thursday, May 30 against JFK. It is going to be an evenly matched duel, coming down to whoever makes the least mistakes. Will you be there to support the Falcons? #AnthonyTagliaferro #baseball #GMCTournament #mths

by EMILY SZPAK Staff Writer Lately, it seems all of our favorite movies are coming out with sequels, such as “Anchor Man 2” and “The Hangover III”. Classics are being rewritten to tell us another tale, bringing the same characters back to life. However, is it ever worth it, or are they just making the first movie worse? Sure, it is exciting to see your favorite characters back in action, but how could it possibly live up to the expectations? Part of the whole thrill of a movie is meeting new characters and not knowing what is going to happen next. The bar for the movie is already set so high, it cannot compare to the first. I am not sure how “The Hangover III” is going to be, but judging by “The Hangover II”, there are not high hopes for it. “The Hangover” was hilarious, taking in almost all good reviews, and everyone has seen it. “The Hangover” was raunchy and has great potential to be a classic. When everyone heard of part 2, there was a frenzy of fans planning big things for this movie. If the first one was hilarious, the second one should be too, right? Wrong. I was less than impressed with “The Hangover II”. The story just gets old. “The Hangover” was maxed out with its jokes and story, and doing it all over again was too much. I know it was not as successful as part one; however, it must have been somewhat intriguing because for some reason they decided to get another one out of it, which came out May 24, 2013. “It was alright, not as good as the first,” says sophomore Carrie Earl. Whenever I hear sequel, I think really successful movie writers have writer’s block and cannot think of anything new. What makes a movie good is that there is nothing else like it, or at least has not been for a while. Do not juice a movie and try to get everything out of it that you can. Start fresh, let go, and let your legend live on. Speaking of legend, it seems there are plans to make the legend of Ron Burgundy live on. This in particular worries me. “Anchor Man” was one of my favorite movies and still is. That stupid humor never fails to get a laugh out of me. I get the fact that it has been nine years and it is bringing something great back. They are not planning a fourth while releasing a third, like “Iron Man”, I will give them that, but sequels just do not have the odds in their favor. “Anchor Man” was funny and quotable, and America loved it. Do not get me wrong, I am excited to see the gang get back together, but you cannot blame me for being apprehensive of the second not living up to the first. “It’s true, [sequels] never live up to my expectations,” says sophomore Michelle Barclay. It would be impossible for me to go into detail about every movie that was just awful, so here is a list of them. • “Lion King” 2 and ½ was pathetic • “Mean Girls 2” was an hour and a half of my life wasted • “Legally Blonde 2” had no purpose • “Step Up” 2, 3, 4 and then a 5TH to be announced, when will they stop dancing? • “Dumb and Dumberer” was dumbererer • “Grease 2”, how dare they • ANY Disney/Pixar movie they decided to continue • “Shrek” 2, 3, 4… however many they made There is a strong distinction between stupid sequels, and movies made to continue. If you know from day one, and make the movie around the fact that this story will continue, it is fine, like any book series, and perhaps superhero series. case in point, “Kick Ass 2.” The end of the movie was set up for a sequel! Leave the movie on a cliffhanger and you can write another one. Also, horror movies do not really fall under sequels that are not good, because America loves to watch people die over and over again. Basically, my point is that movie sequels should not be made, excluding all that fall under any specific category I mentioned. Note that prequels, spin-offs, and remakes should also not be made and are subject to criticism, but I am not going to get into that. Can you name one sequel you actually liked? I bet you can’t. #Anchorman #sequels #TheHangover #IronMan #EmilySzpak #Kickass

by RAKSHA DONDAPATI Staff Writer As 3-D printing technology is advancing, it has accumulated many uses, some of which are quite odd or unexpected. 3-D printing, or additive manufacturing, creates solid three-dimensional objects using a digital model. This occurs through a process in which layers of material are added in small amounts. This form of printing is said to have to ability to make virtually any object, and some odd and fascinating things have definitely come out of it, like one innovative mode of transportation. The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company has created the Airbike with nylon powder using a 3-D printer with an added laser. The bike is about 65 percent lighter, but has the same amount of strength as a regular bicycle. Weapons have also been produced through this type of manufacturing. Cody Wilson, an law student at the University of Texas, printed the Liberator gun, made completely out of plastic except for a metal nail. The gun can shoot a .380 caliber bullet. Wilson and his team distributed the blueprint online, but were forced to remove it by the U.S. State Department. The guns are now on sale for $25. 3-D printing is apparently quite helpful in the medical world as well. An artificial lower jaw was made by metal parts manufacturer LayerWise from titanium powder. It has bioceramic coating and is completely working. It has been given to an 83-year-old woman. The artificial jaw is about one-third heavier, but doctors say the woman will become accustomed to it in time. False teeth were added in a follow-up surgery. Surgeons replaced 75 percent of a man’s skull with a plastic substitute produced from a 3-D printer. The implant is called the OsteoFab Patient Specific Cranial Device. The company that created it, Oxford Performance Materials, has plans on making implants for the rest of the body. “I think this is going to be very helpful in the medical world and really help a lot of people, even save their lives,” said freshman Raghavi Nimmala. Scientists have also developed a 3-D printer for stem cells. The printer creates small drops of living embryonic stem cells early enough in development that they can develop into any kind of tissue. Researchers use the cells to test drugs and to build scraps of tissue. Doctors hope to use 3-D printing to print organs in the future and use printed stem cells to grow organs from scratch. It can also benefit the music world. Designer Olaf Diegel works with customers to create printed guitars. They are able to choose color, wood, and other personalized aspects. He claims that these guitars have a great sound. It has reached the fashion world, too. The Voltage collection, designed by Iris van Herpen, went down the runway during Paris Fashion Week. Both hard and soft materials were incorporated into the design of the clothes, which included a form-fitting dress and cape-skirt combination. 3-D printing is also allowing parents see their unborn baby in a whole new way. Brazilian company Tecnologia Humana 3D can create physical copies of an embryo or unborn baby using sonogram data. Founder Jorge Roberto Lopes dos Santos wishes to use this to help blind parents feel their baby, even though they cannot see them on a screen. “This could help families, especially blind families, get to know their child in a closer way before it has ever been born, which I think it pretty great,” said freshman Allie Hommer. Japanese company Fasotec can turn MRIs of a fetus into a small 3-D model of the fetus surrounded by a clear tummy. They can be used as paperweights, cell phone charms, or even just as a decoration. There is much more anticipated for the future of 3-D printing. NASA has announced that it will fund the construction of the first 3-D food printer with the hope that it will provide food for astronauts on long journeys. It could later become an everyday kitchen appliance, and families would be able to simply print their dinner. Billionaire Peter Thiel is giving money to Modern Meadow to create 3-D printed meat, but it may be a while until it reaches consumers. Architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars of Universe Architecture has plans to produce a 3-D printed home. He will work with Enrico Dini, creator of the D-Shape 3-D printer. They plan to print pieces of the frame using sand and inorganic binder. Then they will fill the frame with fiber-reinforced concrete. Ruijssenaars hopes that the project will be completed in 2014. “I think that what 3-D printing has accomplished so far is amazing and could lead to a lot of great stuff in the future, and I can’t wait to see what that is,” said an anonymous sophomore. Which product of 3-D printing interests you the most? Bicycle Weapon Artificial jaw Artificial skull Stem cells Guitar Clothing Model of unborn baby Future possibilities View Results #3dprinting #RakshaDondapati

by CHRYSTAL STASICKY Staff Writer The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) since 2011 has been targeting conservative groups looking for tax-exempt status with extra scrutiny. Documents that The Washington Post obtained showed that IRS staff had a meeting with senior agency official Lois G. Lerner on June 29, 2011. They spoke about paying close attention to situations where the case files judge the way the country is being run. However, the file was revised several days later because Lerner raised objections. It was on January 15, 2012 that the IRS officially decided to target the groups that are involved in limiting/expanding the government and educating Americans on the Bill of Rights and U.S. Constitution. Senator Rand Paul claimed on May 12 that there was a “written policy” that stated the IRS was targeting groups who opposed the president. “And when that comes forward, we need to know who wrote the policy and who approved the policy,” said the Republican senator on CNN’s “State of the Union.” Paul has only heard about the policy, but has never actually seen it. However, there are statements of those who have been targeted. “Well, we keep hearing the reports and we have several specifically worded items saying who was being targeted. In fact, one of the bullet points says those who are critical of the president. So I don’t know if that comes from a policy, but that’s what’s being reported in the press and reported orally,” Paul stated. “I haven’t seen a policy statement, but I think we need to see that.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the IRS was giving punishment by targeting the opposing groups. “When someone does me wrong, I get back at them by just ignoring them because that is the right thing to do instead of starting a fight, but the IRS decided to punish its opponents. However, those who opposed had their own personal opinions whether it is or is not justified. An opinion is an individual’s own thought like the IRS officials had their own,” commented sophomore Nicole Farganis. The groups tried to achieve tax-exempt status, which resulted in them facing heavy scrutiny and taking long questionnaires for the past few years. IRS officials said they made mistakes when its office in Ohio singled out groups that had names with “tea party” and “patriot” from getting tax-exempt applications. Because of these doings, both Congress and President Barack Obama have criticized the IRS. A poll that Internet users took early Sunday morning on May 12 known as CNN/ORC International survey, showed that 71 percent of Americans found that the IRS’ targeting was unacceptable. “Although I did not take the survey, I agree with those who voted that the IRS was wrong in their doings. If the groups do not agree with the way the country is being run then that is their right. But just because the IRS did not support the groups opinions does not mean the IRS should give them punishment. The IRS officials would not like it if they were targeted for their opinions. What if the groups turned around and did the same to them because they did not agree with what the IRS thought?” questioned sophomore Hiral Patel. #ChrystalStasicky #IRS #scandal

by PATRICK ROBERTSON Staff Writer The X Games are back and better than ever. This year, the X Games are going on a worldwide circuit for the Summer X Games, starting in the US. This X Games in Barcelona was full of awards and broken records. The first medal was won by Bucky Lasek winning the gold in the Skateboard Vert Final. The public attending the Piscina Municipal de Salts have seen how the leading contender, Lasek, has repeated gold with a score of 88.745 in a thrilling final. One of the first and most impressive records that was set was Garrett Reynolds having a six-peat gold medal performance. That means that Reynolds has won six gold medals six years in a row. Reynolds’ win puts him in the elite X Games six-peat club, which also includes snowboarder Shaun White, SnoCross racer Tucker Hibbert and the Skateboard Vert Doubles team of Tony Hawk and Andy Macdonald. Freshman Cameron Browne said, “Garrett Reynolds is now an elite member of the X Games athletes. Six gold medals in a row is a truly impressive achievement and deserves respect.” Just when you think you have seen the most absolutely outlandish, extreme event there is at the X Games, along comes Moto X Step Up. For those unfamiliar with the discipline, Step Up is like pole vault with motorbikes, except after pole-vaulters clear their bar, they at least fall into several feet of deep foam padding that adequately cushions the impact. Step Up competitors must race their bikes up a 16-foot-high, 77-degree takeoff hill, clear the bar many feet above that and then land safely (well, hopefully safely) after dropping all the way down to the ground. Gold medalist Ronnie Renner said he does think about the downside. “It sucks,” he said. “You have about one second to think about that. I’m just thinking about getting over that bar. I don’t think about the landing. This is the one I put on the line for my career, but I don’t think about it. I know I have to land on my wheels.” Renner won this event by a one foot difference over his rival, Josh Hansen. Hansen also thinks that the landing on this event is dangerous: “It is a hard landing. It’s gnarly, but these are the X Games and we’re extreme athletes. This is what they expect from us, and this is the show we give them, so it worked out well.” Another exciting event that took place was the Skateboard Park. Pedro Barros claimed the first three-peat in Skateboard Park history, fending off a stacked field of breakout concrete park riders and two-time gold medalist Rune Glifberg at X Games Barcelona. Freshman Noah Price said, “I have been following the X Games all year and Barros is one of the most talented athletes I have seen.” So what does everyone think, who is the most talented athlete in the X Games this year? Do you think there is a standout performer? #PatrickRobertson #ShaunWhite #TonyHawk #XGames

by AMY LASSITER Staff Writer Two teenage girls recently in a small Michigan town had their pictures taken out of the White Cloud High School yearbook because their pregnant bellies were shown within their portraits. Senior Kimberly Haney and junior Deonna Harris were informed on May 14 that their portraits would be removed from the yearbook because they violated the school’s abstinence-based sex education. Harris’ belly was seen in a full body picture of her sitting in a truck with some friends outside of the school. Since Haney and her boyfriend were voted “Most Likely To Get Married” by the senior class, Harris’ baby bump was visible in a portrait of him jokingly proposing to her. In the pictures themselves, Harris and Haney did not hold or promote their bellies in any way. Each of the photos were completely modest and violated no rules whatsoever. “It’s not like they were being risqué or anything like that. I think it’s wrong for them to be labeled as unfit for the yearbook just because their baby bumps were showing. The other students obviously already know that the girls are pregnant, so what’s the point? If the school board discriminates against Harris and Haney it’ll only make other students think it’s okay to make fun of them,” said freshman Brooke Fabricant. Both girls believe they are being discriminated against by school officials and declined to have their photos retaken. Currently, neither students will be included in the published yearbook. Superintendent Barry Seabrook feels that allowing the photos to be displayed would be a violation of state law. Although the state of Michigan does teach an abstinence-based course, the law does not state anything about yearbook photos. “Even if the two girls made a mistake, they shouldn’t be discriminated against because of it. High school is supposed to teach us to be accepting towards others, regardless of the choices they have made. Abstinence is a good moral to have, but trying to shut students off from the truth won’t help them grow up as people,” said an anonymous student. Angela Minicuci, public information officer for the Michigan Department of Community Health, noted that the state “strictly works just to educate students about abstinence.” It is good to teach students to stay abstinent, but it can also be potentially harmful to shelter them from other aspects of sex education. When a school teaches an abstinence-based health course, students must rely on resources such as the media for information about sex, and this is what causes teens to be misinformed about protection against pregnancies and other important concepts. “It’s extremely important to educate teens so they don’t risk becoming pregnant at such a young age. If we aren’t prepared when we’re in school, students will have a really hard time dealing with real world situations. If these girls weren’t properly taught sex education, it is partly the educators responsibility that they were unprepared. They shouldn’t be discriminated towards because of it,” said freshman Anshu Patel. It may seem right to keep old-fashioned teachings intact, but if a student’s education does not ready them for the real world, it may be time to update a school’s curriculum. Do you think the Kimberly Haney and Deonna Harris deserved to have their pictures removed from the yearbook? #AmyLassiter #Michigan #teenpregnancy

by DANIELLE MIZRAHI Staff Writer The Monroe Township High School boys’ varsity lacrosse team finished their season on May 25, 2013, 14 – 9, ending the season right after the state championship. “We did have a great season. We have a lot seniors on the team and they made a big difference. We won the division final and played for county finals and now we played for the state championships, so this is by the far have been the most successful season,” said Head Coach Joseph Yannone. The head coach, Mr. Yannone, is a history teacher at MTHS and has been coaching lacrosse for years now, helping to lead the team to the victories of the season. “This the seventh year here at Monroe that they have had a boys team and I’ve been coaching all seven years. I started coaching lacrosse at another high school while working at Monroe, when I found out they were having a boys program here it was super exciting to start a brand new program at a school I’ve been teaching at for so long,” said Mr. Yannone. Saturday was the last game the boys played this season for the state championship against Southern Regional. Sadly, they lost 19-5. “I think the team put in a lot of hard work in the off season to get ready for the season and I think we played a tougher out of conference schedule this year against difficult teams that we normally don’t play to help us get ready for the play-offs. We have been practicing since March first, this has been the longest season on record and even though it has a been a long season the guys have had a lot of enthusiasm,” said Coach Yannone. The boys did try very hard this season. They started strong and kept dominating their competition until the very end, finishing with scores like 20-0, and 22-0. “I would say that we set very high goals especially for the seniors who we have been in the program for four years or three years. We knew this would be our most talented group so our goals were to win the county championship, even though we fell short of that we still made it to the state championships,” said Coach Yannone. The team played a total of 23 games against various teams including South Brunswick, J.P. Stevens, Robbinsville, East Brunswick, Edison, Allentown, Old Bride, St. Joseph Metuchen, West Essex Regional, North Brunswick, Rutgers Prep, Lynbrook, Preddie School, St. Peter’s Prep, South Brunswick, Hunterdon Central, Jackson Memorial, and Freehold Township. “I went to the Monroe vs. Old Bridge game because Monroe and Old Bridge are rivals, so it was going to be big game. Monroe played a zoned defense and caused Old Bridge to have a lot pressure on them. After, they were happy to beat their rivalries and celebrated. The team knew they were going to have a good season and tried really hard to make that happen,” said sophomore Tyler Turiano. They won that game on March 16, 14-13. “Both teams were really good, Monroe played hard so they could win,” said sophmore Audrey Orford. The team has five captains Andy Dooley, Joe Collins, Zachary Pace, Zachary Wilson and Steve Montes, all seniors. Are you proud of the boys? #DanielleMizrahi #lacrosse #monroe

by CASEY BENZI Staff Writer Read more here Defense secretary Chuck Hagel called for military law reform in early April, specifically concerning the power convening authorities have over dismissing serious crimes. As of now, the cases are heard by commanding officers in the military who will sometimes side with the guilty party. Many suspects of rape or other sexual misconduct have been able to walk away from court with no charges most often because their commanding officer “made the arrangements.” Some officers that have perhaps helped suspects either do not want to look bad if one of their soldiers are guilty or they may even have had a hand in the assaults themselves. Anu Bhagwati is the executive director of Service Women’s Action network and she feels that immediate action needs to be taken to make sure our troops are provided with “the same legal remedies as all civilians whom they protect and defend.” “We can start by ensuring that military crimes are no longer handled by commanding officers, but rather by impartial attorneys and judges,” says Bhagwati. Article 60 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice states that a commanding officer has “absolute power to disapprove the findings [of a military judicial proceeding] and sentence, or any part thereof, for any or no reason, legal or otherwise.” This entitles the officers of separate military divisions to be able to dismiss serious charges against their subordinates. Government officials such as Hagel are trying to introduce legislation to change the UCMJ. Changing the code will restrict officers from being able to dismiss any serious charges and must provide written explanation for overturning minor offenses. Hagel believes that sexual harassment in the military is an utter disappointment and betrayal of the sacred oaths that the soldiers are required to take before they enter the military and are expected to follow during their time enrolled. Also in attempt at decreasing the number of these assault cases, Hagel announced the Air Force’s Sexual Assault Prevention Initiative, and wants more people to take action for this cause instead of just speeches suggesting the need for change. For some reason, more and more sexual assaults are happening in the military, to female and male soldiers alike. For example, any contact from groping to rape, has risen 37 percent in 2012 alone. This means in 2011 there were 19,000 reported cases of sexual assault and in 2012 that number climbed to 26,000 cases. “I feel it is no one’s right to use their stature to commit any such acts of crime!” says freshman Alexis Land. A recent case that startled many officials was when Sergeant First Class Michael McClendon videotaped fellow female colleagues in the showers and bathrooms where they were not aware of the cameras. Many citizens feel that cases like this are usually committed by insane, disgusting suspects and it is unusual to be committed by a military sergeant. “When I hear there are sexual assaults in the U.S. military it makes me feel like we are losing trust of some of our troops. They were trained to do a specific job and that’s to protect the United States, not harm others. I think when the command officers hear of this they should do something about it instead of leaving it alone so the people don’t get in trouble. There are plenty of trusted troops that can replace them,” says freshman Victoria Kauffman. If you were in a governmental position with adequate power for change, would you take any steps to help end sexual assault in the military? What would they be? #ChuckHagel #Pentagon #CaseyBenzi #SexualAssault #Military

by DARIUS LEWIS Staff Writer There has never been a science fiction movie in recent memory that could capture the humanity of its characters while still containing exhilarating action quite like “Star Trek: Into Darkness”. When first walking in to see this movie, my expectations were fairly average. I had general knowledge of the original TV series, a vague memory of the first “Star Trek” from 2009, and absolutely no memory of its villain, frankly because he was boring and easily forgettable. I did, however, remember James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) as very real and fleshed-out characters with their own distinctive personalities, and with the help of the talented actors who portrayed them, were a joy to watch on screen. Kirk, the brash and arrogant captain of The Enterprise starship, and Spock, the logical and apathetic half-human and half-Vulcan, produced a unique character dynamic that has helped them stand the test of time for over 50 years. Luckily, this  dynamic is not lost in the sequel. The first few seconds of this movie open up with an unrestrained bang, as Kirk is being chased through a dense forest by a primitive tribe on an unknown planet while Spock risks his life to stop a volcano from erupting. Sound awesome yet? Don’t worry, there’s more. When a former Starfleet agent (Benedict Cumberbatch) murders Starfleet commanders and flees to the dangerous planet Kronos, it is up to Kirk, Spock, and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) to track him down and kill him. The action in this movie definitely delivers, and there is hardly ever a dull moment. Junior Jakaran Sadhar said, “This movie is action packed with a great hidden twist.” However, as with many action movies, the middle act of the film does drag on, and a couple plot points tend to get murky, but maybe these wrinkles will be ironed out after a second viewing. Junior Jordan Brennert said, “This was an overall good movie and I’m glad they focused more on Kirk in this one. However, I thought the ending was unsatisfactory.” With a $190 million budget, the special effects are expectedly top-notch, with every warp through the blackness of space and explosive spaceship rocket seamlessly integrated into the film. There is an especially notable scene about halfway in where someone is in a race against time as they propel themselves from one spaceship to another, dodging asteroids and space debris in the process, which perfectly captures the viewer’s attention and illustrates J.J. Abrams’ directing talent. His love for the material and passion for the genre manifests itself in every shot and every action sequence. Now that may sound good and all, but what about the performances? After all, studios should not just expect audiences to be captivated by special effects and unshaken by mediocre acting (I’m looking at you “Avatar”). Well, the entire cast deserves praise; however, Quinto as Spock and Cumberbatch as the villainous agent were especially amazing in their roles. Playing as a character who displays no emotion on the outside, but is tortured by his suppressed feelings on the inside is a daunting acting challenge, but Quinto pulled it off with flying colors. He constantly appears as a stoic and logical being with no feeling, which only makes the scenes in which he is emotional that much more poignant. Cumberbatch portrays a manipulative, angry, and ruthless antagonist who will not hesitate to personally kill anyone who gets in his way. He has the perfect balance of real emotion and cold viciousness as he slowly reveals his bigger scheme. I have not seen a villain with that amount of raw savagery in a long time, and it was awesome to see Cumberbatch show it in full effect. “Star Trek: Into Darkness” is a fun time, filled with dazzling special effects, great acting, and decent writing. While some plot points may be extraneous or unclear, it is nevertheless a great film and the perfect start to the summer movie season. So, have you seen Star Trek: Into Darkness yet or are you excited to see it? Tell us in the comments below. #DariusLewis #StarTrek #ZoeSaldana #SciFi #ZacharyQuinto #ChrisPine