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The hawk’s eyeNews Briefs

The Hawk’s Eye would like to send our condolences to the friends and family of Gabe Riley and Mr. Ronald

Dillingham

APRIL VACATIONNo school from April 10th

through April 15th!

JUNIOR PROMThe Junior Prom will be on

Saturday, April 29

SENIOR BALL Senior Ball will take place on Saturday, May 20th

GRADUATIONGraduation is currently

scheduled for Friday, June 16th, assuming no more snow

days

JOIN THE HAWK’S EYEIf you would like to join the

Hawk’s Eye, you are welcome to come to our next meeting! Meetings are Mondays after

school, 2:15, in room D111. If you can’t make it, email Mr. Stebbins or Mr. Thorn. We

hope to see you there!

Into the Woods We WentBy: Stephen BoucherStaff Writer

By: Amanda WintersStaff Writer

environment, teachers and staff take the responsibility of a par-ent. This includes the responsi-bility under law to supervise the students. State law requires that children must attend school up to a certain age, and hall passes allow school authorities to keep track of where students are to ensure they are in school receiv-ing an education. In other words, the hall pass policy allows the school to confirm that students are where they are supposed to be. It also allows school authori-ties to better handle a situation. For example, if a teacher or fac-ulty member encounters a student outside of a classroom with pos-session of a hall pass, it means they were permitted to leave the classroom for whatever reason; if a student is caught without a hall pass, the teacher or faculty mem-ber will assume that the student is not where they should be during that period of time.

Aside from state law require-ments, hall passes also enable the school to manage student be-havior. By enforcing the usage of the hall pass, the school is aim-ing to maintain a school environ-ment where students can thrive. Requiring a hall pass prohibits students from coming and going from location to location as they please. The purpose is to prevent students from distracting oth-ers by walking around, banging lockers, waving at peers through windows, and other actions that threaten to disrupt the classroom environment. While Dr. Neagle understands that students don’t mean harm by these actions, he explained that there can be no ex-

ceptions to these rules. “Students may view it as harsh or strict, but it’s our responsibility to prevent behavior that may harm the suc-cess and well being of others,” he stated. Neagle believes that if school authorities were to allow a few students to have free reign to walk around and wave at their friends who are in class, the situ-ation would escalate from a few students to dozens. He explained that dozens of stu-dents wandering the halls would be a dis-ruption to the environ-ment and a distraction to other students.

Lately, members of faculty and admin-istration have noted numerous instances where students were caught in situations where they did not have a hall pass when it was required. “They noticed there were kids in hallways with-out passes for numer-ous reasons,” Neagle shared. Some instanc-es included students who didn’t have lunch periods and would go down to get lunch dur-ing their class periods. When a student comes down to the cafeteria without a pass from a teacher, they aren’t allowed back out, which can be problematic if they have a class they should be in. In response to these numerous situations, facul-ty and administration concluded that enforcement of the hall pass policy was not as formidable as

them out, and they’re also an-noying to carry around and keep track of. Since hall passes set limitations of where students can go, some also view hall passes as a restriction of free reign. While the hall pass policy is widely un-popular amongst students, Neagle expressed his own opinion on the policy. “I understand a student’s distaste for a hall pass,” he said. “However, school rules and pro-

cedures are written for ev-eryone and with an eye for order and discipline, which is true of all organizations or institutions. ” According to the school handbook, the current consequences for being caught without a hall pass is one detention, and misuse or forgery of a hall pass results in two deten-tions. School administration will continue to enforce this policy in order maintain a proper learning environ-ment and keep student be-havior in check. However, this shouldn’t have too much of an impact on stu-dents. Aside from stronger enforcement of the policy, no new rules or regulations have been established. Stu-dents are still able to leave class to go to the bathroom, their lockers, the cafeteria,

and other locations around school as long as they have a valid hall pass. As long as students remem-ber to ask their teachers to issue a hall pass before they leave the classroom, they shouldn’t run into any issues with the policy.

Recently, it has come to the attention of students that the ad-ministration is suddenly cracking down on the usage of hall pass-es. Upon our return from winter break, students started to notice that many teachers and faculty members began enforcement of a stricter hall pass policy. More teachers with typically lenient policies now require students to carry hall passes for simple trips to the bathroom or to their lockers. The cafeteria has also cracked down, prohibiting stu-dents from taking food out of the cafeteria to their classes without a pass from their teachers. Many students are unhappy this sudden change; in the past, many have been able to get away with walk-ing the halls without a pass. Now, due to stronger enforcement of the hall pass policy, students are finding that simple trips to the bathroom, lockers, or the caf-eteria are not permitted without a hall pass. Many students are questioning the rationale behind the recent reinforcement and how this new change will affect them personally.

“The purpose of the hall pass has to do with the legal respon-sibility of school authorities to know the location of students,” explained Dr. Neagle. “State law defines that school authorities are required to act in loco paren-tis.” “In loco parentis” is a legal concept meaning that in a school

Volume XX, Issue III A Bird’s Eye View of GHS April 2017

it once was, resulting in the de-cision to tighten enforcement of the policy. “Every once in awhile we find students doing stuff in lavatories and stairwells doing stuff they shouldn’t,” Neagle ex-plained. ”If we allow kids to be out and about without passes, we are allowing a situation where students are able to do stuff they shouldn’t, which can ultimately create a disruptive environment

for them and their peers.”While the concept of the hall

pass is an effective method for school authorities, some students simply see the hall pass system as unnecessary. From a student standpoint, hall passes are some-times an inconvenience; it takes extra time to ask a teacher to fill

Hall Pass Crackdown

Though the weather outside begs to differ, spring is here, and with it came the annual spring musi-cal. This year’s selection was Into the Woods, a Broadway play that combines several classic fairy tales into its own creation. Into the Woods was chosen because of a combination of relevance (the original play was adapted into a major motion picture in 2014) and the results of a poll among Drama Club members. According to a member of the GHS Tech Crew, “Into the Woods has challenging dance sequenc-es, and straddles the line be-tween lightheartedness and seriousness...We feel like this really put audiences in the seats.” While most people may not be familiar with Into the Woods itself, the sto-ry weaves together sev-eral classic fairy tales, which include Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Rid-

ing Hood, Cinderella, and Han-sel and Gretel. The plot centers around a baker and his wife, who have been cursed by a witch, making them unable to have a child. The witch explains that in order to break the curse, they must gather four ingredients: “the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold.” This leads the couple

to begin their titular journey into the woods.

Into the Woods is a unique mu-sical due to its ability to balance the fantasy of Disney’s fairy tales with the darkness of placing its character in mortal peril. The tech crew also faced numerous chal-lenges, such as the dilemma of how to cram the sprawling scen-ery of Broadway and Hollywood

onto the GHS stage. Compared to the previous play, Lend Me a Tenor, which only required two sets, Into the Woods was a tre-mendous undertaking. It wasn’t difficult just for the tech crew, either. I spoke with Max Moore, who played the Mysterious Man. “Everyone’s excited, but a little nervous at the same time,” he said. Despite the numerous ob-stacles, the cast and crew put on

a show for the ages.

The schedule followed the same formula as last year: Friday and Sat-urday nights the show began at seven o’clock (March 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th), while on Sun-day the 5th, there was be a matinee at two o’clock. Being a member of the tech crew, I had a back-stage pass into the inner workings of the play. In my opinion, it was a re-sounding success, with audiences filling the seats every night.

NewsThe Hawk’s Eye2 April 2017

Valentine CabaretBy: Gillian Cameron Staff Writer The GHS orchestra and chorus hosted

their annual Valentine Cabaret in the GHS café Monday, February 13th. The members of the Chamber Orchestra and Madrigals performed a number of amazing pieces. The concert was beautifully conducted by Dr. Nola Campbell, the Orchestra Direc-tor, and Dr. Ethan Nash, the Choral Direc-tor. The performances included songs and pieces about love. Amazing renditions and talented musicians performed once again for this Valentine’s Day.

The Chamber Orchestra, a smaller or-chestra, included 1st and 2nd Violins, Vio-las, Cellos, and Basses. There were seven 1st Violinists, eight 2nd Violinists, seven Violists, seven Cellists, and two Bassists. Section Leaders include Michelle Franklin (1st Violin), Leonard Tang (2nd Violin), Patrick Ding (Viola), Ethan Descoteaux (Cello), and Runbo Guo (Bass). Some of the pieces included “I’m Gonna Be” by Char-lie Reid & Craig Reed, and “Someone To Watch Over Me” and “Embraceable You” both by G & I Gershwin. The orchestral pieces ranged from older and more clas-sical pieces like “Sleeping Beauty Waltz” by P. Tchaikovsky to more modern pieces

like “Come Together” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Some songs even range to very recent like “All of Me” by John Legend. Chamber Or-chestra also performed some well known songs from Dis-ney including “Colors of the Wind” by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz and “Beau-ty and the Beast” by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Many of the songs during the concert featured soloists that performed. Some solos in-cluded Evan Mitchell in “I’m Gonna Be”, Emily Daddona and Sahith Obbu in “Body Gold”, and Grace Poliner in “Here Comes the Sun”. The GHS Chamber Orchestra’s many different songs were all beautifully performed during the Valentine Cabaret this year.

The Madrigals are a smaller group of singers from the chorus. They in-clude Sopranos, Altos, Tenors, and Basses. There were six Sopranos, five Altos, four Tenors, and five Basses. The Madrigals performed a variety of different songs, along with the Chamber Orchestra. Some songs include “My Funny Valentine” by

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, “In These Delightful Pleasant Groves by Hen-ry Purcell, and “This Marriage” by Eric Whitacre. Some of the songs performed are more modern like “Bridge Over Trou-bled Water by Paul Simon and “One Hand, One Heart” from West Side Story by Leon-ard Bernstein. Some of the songs were also much more traditional like “Oh My Love is Like a Red Rose”, a Scottish Traditional. Throughout the Madrigals performances, there were many soloists that sang. Some include Thomas Ersevim and Kate Savi-

nelli in “One Hand, One Heart”, Ezra Brook and Emma Soaft in “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, and Janeese Carmona, Hannah Hervieux, and Jane Yolaf in “Fix Your Arms”. Many other soloists also sang in some very well known and/or modern songs like “Give Me Love” by Ed Sheeran featuring Ezra Brook, “Can’t Help Fall-ing in Love With You” by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Cre-atore and George David featuring Emma Soaft, and “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen featuring Konnor Hickey. The GHS Madri-

gals gave outstanding performances during the Valentine Cabaret.

This year’s Valentine Cabaret was full of beautiful songs and amazingly orches-trated talent done by both teachers and students. The music chosen for the per-formances was all wonderfully performed. The teachers’ and students’ hard work and dedication towards the concert showed a great amount of musicality performed by the Chamber Orchestra and the Madrigals.

Empowered, an indoor cycling studio, opened its doors in Glastonbury on Decem-ber 19, 2016. This state of the art facility was co-founded by Jocelyn DeMaio, a cy-clist instructor and Neil Parisi, a software engineer. They are joined by other cycling instructors who lead a variety of classes.

DeMaio has been teaching cycling classes for sixteen years and has always dreamed of opening her own studio. As she was teaching classes at other gyms she always felt she could make them bet-ter, and with today’s technology she de-cided to pursue her dream. Empowered has 25 state of the art Stages SC3 bikes that track speed, RPMs (revolutions per min-ute), watts, distance, and calories burned. These stats are related to your body weight so your accomplishments are personal-ized. These bikes also are connected to a TV screen and cyclists can compare them-selves to others in the room while also competing with their own best times. After class your results are emailed to you and past performances are stored in your ac-count.

Although this competitive aspect might be intimidating for some, the real competi-tion is with yourself, DeMaio says. “We’re all busy and have little time for exercise, so these classes are about hitting it hard and focusing on you.” The competition aspect is more motivating and fun than scary and intimidating. However, if you

New Cycling StudioBy: Alyssa EdelheitStaff Writer

are really anxious about others seeing your performance you can choose to have your stats remain private and not display on the screen.

Cycling is a great form of exercise be-cause it is low-impact on your body, causes very little strain on joints and knees, and is high intensity with low pain. These classes are beneficial for all ages because you are in control and can go at your own pace with as little or as much tension as you want. Sports teams would also benefit from these cycling classes. As DeMaio says “they are good for groups and sports teams would love it.” Cycling classes would improve team’s athletic abilities and encourage fun and competitive team bonding. A student at Glastonbury High School, Kennedy Wil-liams, participated in a cycling class with some members of the cheer team and said, “it was really fun and challenging and you didn’t feel the pressure to go overboard because of my supporting team.”

In addition to group classes, there are be-ginner classes, theme rides, rise and shine rides, happy hour rides, and a sweaty 75 which is a fun and challenging 75 minute class. Also, DeMaio’s favorite, the throw-back Thursday ride is a cycling class to the tune of the 80s.

Empowered is a great choice of exercise at a state of the art facility. If you’re look-ing for a fun way to burn a lot of calo-ries, sweat a lot, and challenge yourself, reserve a bike and sign up for a class.

Last month, the GHS Student Council hosted a fundraiser for World Water Week. This event took place from March 20th to the 24th, and its purpose was to spread awareness about the need for water, espe-cially in developing African countries. It also raises money to help those in need. However, World Water Week is part of a collection of national organiza-tions that also sup-port conservation efforts here in the U.S.A. This was the Student Coun-cil’s ninth year of participation in the fundraiser.

Many events took place to promote Water Week, including a Water Bottle Flip Contest, a “Wear Blue Wednesday,” and a Pop-Up Bake Sale.

The Bottle Flip Contest was held during the lunch waves on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week. Participants paid one dollar for the chance to win a prize by flipping a water bottle repeat-edly for thirty seconds. The winner was the person who could flip the bottle the most times. Needless to say, this intense contest raised a lot of enthusiasm for the fundraiser.

On the same token, the halls of GHS were flooded with a sea of blue on the Wednesday of that week. Posters around the school called for this event, along with an encouragement to donate to the Clean Water Initiative in the cafe whenever pos-sible.Wear Blue Wednesday helped many students become aware of the fundraiser. One student, when asked what he thought of the day, put it very accurately, saying “I think it allows our school to come to-gether and realize our need for clean water around the world.”

One event most students may not be very aware of, however, was Friday’s pop-up bake sale. The sale took place during 7th and 8th period, and was supplied by do-nations from Student Council members. Many baked goods were sold such as cup-cakes, homemade rice krispie treats, cook-ies, bags of mini cookies, and brownies.

According to Sophia Ladyzhets, a member of the Student Council, “The cupcakes sold out in five minutes!” and the rest of the baked goods soon followed. The bake sale raised more than $70 in total.

Benefits of the fundraiser were plenti-ful. Not only did the national proceeds of World Water Week go toward funding the digging of over forty wells in Ugan-dan villages, they’ve helped benefit the economy of America as well. Accord-ing to waterweek.org, “1 job created in water+wastewater adds 3.68 jobs to the national economy.”Additionally, it stated that “Every $1 invested in water + waste-water infrastructure increases long-term GDP by $6.35”.

So next year, when the Student Council brings us through another wonderful round of World Water Week, make sure to donate to the cause.

For more info visit https://www.water-week.us/ or email info@waterweek.

World Water WeekBy: Erin GoodridgeStaff Writer

OpinionThe Hawk’s Eye3 April 2017

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.By: Sophia LadyzhetsEditorMonday, January 16th. A Monday like

any other for the countless students wo-ken by their alarms blaring their inces-sant message to “get up, get up, get up.” This Monday, however, the buzzing is met with a sigh of relief as students silence it quickly and return to their dreams, filled with nightmares of failed tests or fantasies of summer vacation. However, there was another man with a much grander dream, a dream of brotherhood and democracy and equality. That man is Martin Luther King Jr.

January 16th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but to most students, the immediate significance of this day is a lack of school, rather than a reminder of MLK’s birthday. In fact, MLK Day isn’t even celebrated on his birthday. King’s birthday is January 15, 1929, while the holiday is simply the third Monday of the month, in order to turn the single day off into a three-day week-end. This is how most students think of MLK Day: a much needed break in order to study and prepare for midterms. A day which is supposed to honor the life and values of King becomes nothing more than another holiday, and loses all meaning.

Instead of celebrating MLK Day with a day off from school, another option would be to have an in-school assembly, followed by a regular or shortened day of school. This transition has occurred already with another holiday, Veteran’s Day. Veteran’s Day is observed on November 11, and is a day to honor everyone who has served in the United States military. Similarly to MLK Day, people took the day off and

used it to relax, likely not even consider-ing the veterans whose sacrifice made such a luxury possible. The assembly is de-signed to provide opportunity for students to honor veterans, instead of just enjoying a holiday. However, the reaction to this change was not all positive, and more than for just the expected reasons of students wanting to sleep in later. Veterans saw it as disrespectful for people to be working and spending time in school on a sacred day which is supposed to honor their sacri-fice. Furthermore, the decision to mandate school on this day came from educators, rather than veterans themselves. These ed-ucators primarily saw the change as a way to increase time in school, not to honor veterans.

Although veterans might see time in

school as disrespectful, the assembly which accompanies Veteran’s Day at-tempts to counter this notion and honor veterans; however, it is ultimately unsuc-

cessful. At Glastonbury High School, the Veteran’s Day Assembly features members of GHS staff who are veterans, and invites veterans and their family members to come speak about their experience. This assem-bly is broadcast to the entire school, so all students can watch and listen to the vet-erans’ stories. Unfortunately, the reality is that not all students pay attention to this assembly. It is especially easy for students who are watching the video through only a broadcast to space out and stare past the screen.

If this assembly were to be adapted for MLK Day, it would be even more unsuc-cessful.

There would be few people who would be qualified to speak at such an event, and instead of learning from different stories students would be bored by an extended lecture. Some question the effectiveness of assemblies at all in encouraging stu-dents to live by the values they promote.

Dr. Neagle, for example, worries that one day of assembly will not do anything to change the way people live their lives. In fact, attending a one day assembly about King may lead people to believe that this action is enough, and take no steps to ac-tually consider King’s message or values. As such, Dr. Neagle argues that it is much more important for people to question themselves on a daily basis, asking “what are my values and how can I attempt to live by them?” and follow through on the response.

No assembly can force students to live

by their values, but they can raise the question of what they are. One way GHS could attempt to do this is by having an advisory period to discuss King’s life, and, more importantly, his values. Homerooms should consider King’s speech, “I have a dream,” and how the values of respect and understanding could be applied to their lives, community, and country. Students could then spend the next day, whether in or out of school, reflecting on what values are most important to them and how to live by them.

At the end of the day, one advisory pe-

riod or assembly or day off of school will not make a considerable difference in how people remember Martin Luther King Jr. and choose to live their lives, but at least it is a step in the right direction. What re-ally matters are the actions people take ev-ery day to attempt to live by their values. King dreamed that there will come a day when people are judged not “by the color of their skin,” but “by the content of their character.” Let this day be today, and let our character make King proud.

With all that students do and how busy they are, wouldn’t it be nice if there were a way to lengthen the day? Obviously, lengthening the day is impossible, but what if we could change the day, change an hour, change the hour that students begin their school day? Teenagers are in a horrible cycle of jam-packed days and little sleep. This epidemic of sleep-depri-vation is not taken seriously enough and schools need to take action. High school-ers and middle schoolers need more sleep to be the best versions of themselves and American schools need to change and start later to allow them this possibility.According to pediatrician Judith Owens, “The average adolescent in the United States is chronically sleep-deprived and pathologically sleepy.” The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 8.5-9.5 hours of sleep a night; however, they have found that 59 percent of 6th through 8th graders and 87 percent of high school students in the U.S are getting less than the recommended hours of sleep. To fix this problem, the AAP recommends that middle and high schools delay the start of class to 8:30 a.m. to allow growing students to get the recommended hours of sleep.

Similarly, in a study to understand the benefits of a later start time, an econom-ics professor at Colby College, Finley Edwards, used Wake County, a district in North Carolina, to test the effects. He

School Start TimesBy: Alyssa EdelheitStaff Writer

found that students improve academically with a later start time. Edwards compared middle and high school students that be-gan at 7:30 and 8:15 and found that the effect of a later start time impacts math scores on standardized tests. For exam-ple, Edwards found a decrease in roughly 14 percent of the black-white test-score gap. Also, students who had an hour lat-er start time in eighth grade had an in-crease in math and reading scores by 2 to 3 percentile points in tenth grade. These test score im-provements are astro-nomical and prove how later school start times are a neces-sity. Edwards also found that changes in start times had no effect on elemen-tary school students. This data proves that elementary school students could start school earlier and high school and middle school students could begin later. This would allow the students that ben-efit from more sleep to get it.

Those who oppose changing school start time argue that the shift would bring

problems to students who play sports after school, participate in extracurriculars, and have jobs. Parents and athletes worry that shorter practices would negatively impact the competitiveness of a school’s sports teams and of the athletes themselves. However, some studies showed just the opposite; according to The National Sleep Association, students’ participation in sports increased and improved with later

start times. Even if there were a nega-tive effect, the excuses of sports and extracurricu-lars have to be compared to the necessity of a sleep-deprived stu-dent’s edu-cation. The priorities of administra-tors and par-ents need to change so that children lead-

ing academically successful lives takes precedence over club meetings and sports practices.

Students who start school an hour later are also safer because they are more fo-cused. For example, according to a Uni-versity of Minnesota study, motor vehicle crashes plummeted by 70 percent with a

delayed start time. Other benefits of a later start include healthier students. Students attending earlier starting schools are more likely to skip break-fast. Missing the most important meal of the day also contributes to a lack of focus in the morning. According to the CDC, when students get less sleep there are higher rates of obesity and an over-all lower quality of life. Students who begin school an hour later watch 12 fewer minutes of television per day and spend 9 minutes more on homework. These changes seems small, but the days and weeks of a school year quickly add up, making these numbers substan-tial. Edwards also found students are 25 percent less likely to be absent with later start times. The benefits of a later start are important and as a community we need to change to better the future generation of students.

School start times need to begin later to ensure the safety and well-being of our nation’s youth. The excuses of ex-tracurriculars are an impediment to the cure of this epidemic in our country. The evidence is substantial. Studies are giving our nation an action plan, and experts are encouraging doctors, edu-cators, and children to make the right choices; now we just need to listen and execute. As pediatrician Judith Owens MD explains, “Chronic sleep loss in children and adolescents is one of the most common and easily fixable public health issues in the USA.”

OpinionThe Hawk’s Eye4 April 2017

Echo Chambers are Bad for EveryoneBy: Stephen KapustkaGuest WriterMost people are familiar with

the concept of echoes. Not to get too much into the physics of it, but echoes occur when soundwaves bounce off an object(normally a flat surface), and come back to you. This process takes a long enough time that you can hear yourself afterwards. You can try this for yourself if you go to the gym by yourself and say some-thing loud.

This leads me to talk about something called an echo cham-ber. Echo chambers exist when you are only hearing one side of the argument, and not the other. You hear your own thoughts and viewpoints being shouted back at you, but nothing else. When this happens, the viewpoint being heard becomes more radicalized because there is nothing to check it. As Nicholas Kristof writes for the New York Times:

“Whatever our politics, inhabiting a bub-ble makes us more shrill. Cass Sunstein, a Harvard professor, conducted a fascinating study of how groupthink shapes federal judges when they are randomly assigned to three-judge panels. When liberal judges happened to be temporarily put on a panel with other liberals, they usually swung leftward. Conversely, conservative judges usually moved rightward when randomly grouped with other conservatives. It’s the judicial equivalent of a mob mental-ity. And if this happens to judges, imagine what happens to you and me.”

Kristof is correct here. And in academia, the bias skews wildly left. As he wrote in an earlier article, it is easier to find a Marxist than a Republican in many fields of study. Some on the left seem to take pride in racial and sexual diversity, but not intellectual diversity.

So what effect does this have? The an-

swer is bad, for the left and the right both. For the right, the result is social stigma-tization, censorship, and in some cases escalation to violence. To start, Clinton backers had a significantly harder time re-specting Trump supporters than the other way around. According to Pew Research, a full 56% of Clinton supporters said they had a hard time respecting someone who supports Trump, whereas only 40% of Trump supporters had a hard time respect-ing someone who supported Clinton. An example of this is the case of Chadwick Moore. Moore, a lifelong liberal journal-ist and gay man, penned a profile for OUT magazine on the controversial right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos. Moore made a point to be as objective as he could. As he writes for the New York Post on the reaction he got:

“After the story posted online in the early hours of Sept. 21, I woke up to more than 100 Twitter notifications on my iPhone. Trolls were calling me a Nazi, death threats rolled in and a joke photo that I posed for in a burka served as “proof” that I am an Islamophobe. I’m not. Most dis-concertingly, it wasn’t just strangers voic-

ing radical discontent. Personal friends of mine — men in their 60s who had been my longtime mentors — were coming at me. They wrote on Facebook that the story was “irresponsible” and “dangerous.” A dozen or so people unfriended me. A petition was circulated online, condemning the maga-zine and my article. All I had done was write a balanced story on an outspoken Trump supporter for a liberal, gay maga-zine, and now I was being attacked. I felt alienated and frightened… My best friend, with whom I typically hung out multiple times per week, was suddenly perpetually unavailable. Finally, on Christmas Eve, he sent me a long text, calling me a monster, asking where my heart and soul went, and saying that all our other friends are laugh-ing at me. I realized that, for the first time in my adult life, I was outside of the lib-eral bubble and looking in. What I saw was ugly, lock step, incurious and mean-spirited.”

This is to say nothing of the response Yiannopoulos himself receives. Conserva-tives facing protests on college campuses is nothing new. Earlier this month, violent protests forced Charles Murray to cancel a speech at Middlebury college in Ver-

mont. A professor was hospital-ized due to the violence. When Yiannopoulos went to speak at UC Berkeley, the reaction made national news, as it was less of a protest and more of an outright riot. Rocks were thrown, people were assaulted by violent protest-ers dressed in clad black known as antifa (short for anti-fascist, hold the irony). As David French writes for National Review:

“In the United States of Amer-ica, rioting to stop free speech is unlawful and reprehensible. Period. Full stop. It’s not “un-derstandable.” It’s not excus-able. There should be no toler-ance and no sympathy for people who pepper-spray young women, beat bystanders senseless, and tear up property because they’re mad that another human being is speaking.”

This is the extreme case of the echo chamber, so hyped up on their own ideas, the rioters at UC Berkeley became so en-trenched in their ideology that they felt it necessary to use violence to shut Yian-nopoulos, and anyone that could mildly be construed as supporting him, down.

Echo chambers hurt those on the left as well. As I talked about earlier, if you don’t know an argument, it’s much more difficult to refute it. You could see this in the aftermath of the debate, 3 categories (expanded background checks, use of the “no fly list” for preventing firearm owner-ship, and the assault weapons ban) showed a double digit increase in support for the gun rights. This is probably because stu-dents were not exposed to a good argu-ment in favor of those things before. The “shy Trump voter” was something that was talked about a lot during election polling, and there appears to be a bit of evidence to back this up. This suggests that the social stigma associated with supporting Trump led to underpolling his support, which led of overconfidence on the left side of the aisle, which in turn led to a brutal slap in the face come November 8th.

With all that students do and how busy they are, wouldn’t it be nice if there were a way to lengthen the day? Obviously, lengthening the day is impossible, but what if we could change the day, change an hour, change the hour that students begin their school day? Teenagers are in a hor-rible cycle of jam-packed days and little sleep. This epidemic of sleep-deprivation is not taken seriously enough and schools need to take action. High schoolers and middle schoolers need more sleep to be the best versions of themselves and American schools need to change and start later to allow them this possibility.According to pediatrician Judith Owens, “The average adolescent in the United States is chronically sleep-deprived and pathologically sleepy.” The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 8.5-9.5 hours of sleep a night; however, they have found that 59 percent of 6th through 8th graders and 87 percent of high school students in the U.S are getting less than the recommended hours of sleep. To fix this problem, the AAP recommends that middle and high schools delay the start of class to

No More HomeworkBy: Christopher PenningtonStaff Writer

8:30 a.m. to allow growing students to get the recommended hours of sleep.Similarly, in a study to understand the benefits of a later start time, an econom-ics professor at Colby College, Finley Edwards, used Wake County, a district in North Carolina, to test the effects. He found that students improve academically with a later start time. Edwards compared middle and high school students that began at 7:30 and 8:15 and found that the effect of a later start time impacts math scores on standardized tests. For example, Edwards found a decrease in roughly 14 percent of the black-white test-score gap. Also, stu-dents who had an hour later start time in eighth grade had an increase in math and reading scores by 2 to 3 percentile points in tenth grade. These test score improve-ments are astronomical and prove how later school start times are a necessity. Edwards also found that changes in start times had no effect on elementary school students. This data proves that elementary school students could start school earlier and high school and middle school stu-dents could begin later. This would allow the students that benefit from more sleep to get it. Those who oppose changing school start

time argue that the shift would bring problems to students who play sports af-ter school, participate in extracurriculars, and have jobs. Parents and athletes worry that shorter practices would negatively impact the competitiveness of a school’s sports teams and of the athletes them-selves. However, some studies showed just the opposite; according to The Na-tional Sleep Association, students’ partici-pation in sports increased and improved with later start times. Even if there were a negative effect, the excuses of sports and extracurriculars have to be compared to the necessity of a sleep-deprived student’s education. The priorities of administrators and parents need to change so that chil-dren leading academically successful lives takes precedence over club meetings and sports practices. Students who start school an hour later are also safer because they are more focused. For example, according to a University of Minnesota study, motor vehicle crashes plummeted by 70 percent with a delayed start time. Other benefits of a later start in-clude healthier students. Students attend-ing earlier starting schools are more likely to skip breakfast. Missing the most impor-tant meal of the day also contributes to a

lack of focus in the morning. According to the CDC, when students get less sleep there are higher rates of obesity and an overall lower quality of life. Students who begin school an hour later watch 12 fewer minutes of television per day and spend 9 minutes more on homework. These chang-es seems small, but the days and weeks of a school year quickly add up, making these numbers substantial. Edwards also found students are 25 percent less likely to be ab-sent with later start times. The benefits of a later start are important and as a commu-nity we need to change to better the future generation of students.School start times need to begin later to ensure the safety and well-being of our na-tion’s youth. The excuses of extracurricu-lars are an impediment to the cure of this epidemic in our country. The evidence is substantial. Studies are giving our nation an action plan, and experts are encour-aging doctors, educators, and children to make the right choices; now we just need to listen and execute. As pediatrician Ju-dith Owens, M.D. explains, “Chronic sleep loss in children and adolescents is one of the most common and easily fixable public health issues in the USA.”

EntertainmentThe Hawk’s Eye5 April 2017

Nintendo Switches Up its GameBy: Isaiah ScottEditor

Know it or not, the next gen of Nin-tendo’s home console line was revealed on October 20th. Even more exciting, the Nintendo Switch was recently released on March 3rd! The console’s launch marks a new era of gaming for Nintendo. Fans of Nintendo, and even those who aren’t, should be excited for the console that promises to bring new, innovative mecha-nisms to the world of gaming. So, it’s time to make the Switch!

The Nintendo Switch has been hyped up for a while now. For months, rumors of it’s features and graphics were all to be heard about Nintendo’s console to be. In fact, one of the reasons so much mys-tery has surrounded Nintendo’s newest console is the fact that the actual name of the console was not released until the day of it’s reveal, October 20th, 2016. Be-fore the announcement, fans and Nintendo themselves dubbed the switch the “NX”.

After months of endless anticipation, the Switch’s reveal brought forth a tidal wave of new information, from classic Nintendo titles to 3rd party support and, of course, the release date.

Features are a major factor to the con-sumer, and the Nintendo Switch is chock full of them. While other gaming compa-nies like Sony and Microsoft choose to focus over having the most powerful ma-chine, Nintendo has chosen to “[focus] its attention on interesting controllers and 3D displays.”

First off, the Switch is a multi-facet de-vice, able to be played both as a home con-sole in its “docked” position and a portable or handheld device when “undocked”. This feature alone differentiates the Nintendo Switch from other current gen consoles. Nintendo, as usual, sets itself down the more unique path compared to their com-petitors. Techradar states that the handheld configuration of the Switch is used by “attach[ing] two controller portions to the side of a 6.2” 720p multi-touch screen,” capable of being used anywhere, just like a traditional handheld device. But the por-tability of the console does come with it’s negatives.

Although the ability to stay mobile with console games like Skyrim and Zelda, both announced for the Switch, is a boon, the mobility brings a reduced battery life of 2.5 to 6.5 hours. The range of battery life is varied due to the dependance on the game being played, low power games us-ing much less battery than high graphic ones. However, this portable charge is quite similar to that of Nintendo’s 3ds, so the issue of limited charge should not be that much of a detracting factor. In addi-tion, Techradar states “the Switch doesn’t have a dedicated charger and instead uses

a modern USB-C connector so it should be easier to charge on the go”, meaning that there is a rather simple solution to the re-duced mobile charge.

Speaking of games, the Switch’s flag-ship title, Zelda Breath of the Wild, is groundbreaking. The game is considered a masterpiece, scoring a 10/10 from IGN, Polygon, Destructoid and Trusted Re-views, in addition to a 5/5 from Games-Radar, amongst others. After waiting with bated breaths, this open world gem has people stunned. The game is praised for it’s vast and beautiful world, a land full of danger and mystery. Kotaku goes as far as to call the game “Open-world perfection”. With reviews like that, the game is simply flying off the shelves. Gamers will be hard pressed to find a copy of Nintendo’s new breathtaking game. With Zelda as a huge selling point for the Switch, although it is available on Nintendo’s Wii U, the system has simply blown up in sales. However, it should be said there have been some com-plaints about Nintendo’s limited launch

line up. The Switch launched with major titles

such as Breath of the Wild, 1-2-Switch, Fast RMX, Super Bomberman R, Skyland-ers: Imaginators, Just Dance 2017, and

Snipperclips. Some argue that this selec-tion of title is either poor or limited, while others are quite content. In addition to the games already mentioned, there are some less known titles that also launched on day 1 of the switch. These include I am Set-suna, and Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove. It’s up to the consumer to consider if these titles are worth buying the Switch so soon after launch. But for those who may be tee-tering on the edge, it should be noted that a multitude new games are scheduled to come out in the coming weeks

The Wii U’s time in the light draws to an end as Nintendo makes a Switch into the new world of gaming. As one door closes and another opens, Nintendo begins its next generation of gaming.

By: Sean HumphreyEditor

Yes, Hoverboards Exist If you’ve ever dreamt of flight, whether by

levitating above ground or just being able to soar through the skies, you can now thank one of the world’s most underrated inventors, Franky Zapata. Branching off from the original Flyboard, a device attached to a mechanism which uses water propulsion to help glide the user through the air, Franky modified it in a way never thought possible. Instead of using water

propulsion, his new product known as the Fly-board Air uses turbojets to help rely solely on air propulsion - thus creating the world’s most practical hoverboard.

Do not be mistaken by the “self-balancing electric scooter” hoverboards; the Flyboard Air does far more than just hover. It can fly so far

that it actually won the title of the world’s far-thest flight by hoverboard by Guinness World Records. Considering the name of the product, though, they most likely took into consideration the word hoverboard would be far outdated -- the Flyboard Air is a much more deserving title. A recent demonstration in Naples, Florida, by the creator himself, showed off the capabilities of the board in the air, including curves, turns, and glides.

One piece of information that should be not-

ed, however, is that Franky Zapata was not the first person to create a one person aircraft. That credit goes to the Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee, first in-vented in the late 1940s and later flown in 1957. Contrary to Zapata’s prototype product, it was a bulky rotor aircraft using ducted fans under a wide and circular platform. Performance-wise, it could only reach 32 feet above ground and 16 miles per hour compared to the Flyboard Air’s ability of up to 10,000 feet and 93 miles per hour. Another notable aircraft built prior to Zapata’s invention was that of the “2012 WASP Project”. Similar to it’s predecessor, it used tur-bo fans for flight, but because of its vertical oval shape, it would be incorrect to refer to it as a hoverboard. The closest competitor is the Omni hoverboard with a height of 905 feet.

We know what the Flyboard Air can do, but how does it work? In an interview with Franky Zapata translated to English from French by an online video source, the creator walks through it’s concept and the mechanics behind its func-tion.

Along with the aforementioned four jet en-gines in the middle of the board, he explains, “On each side there are electric fans for stabi-

lization. They manage the board’s stability and they also help control the board’s orientation with respect to my body.”

Franky was also asked for details on the fueling system, to which he answered, “The gas is kerosene, carried in a backpack with an additive. It’s a turbine oil that helps lubricate the turbojet bearings than just kerosene alone.”

Although the Flyboard Air has made its way from concept to flying in the air, unfortunately it has not been put into the market as of yet. Not long after the unveiling of the Flyboard

Air, The Implant Sciences Corporation, a US military firm, officially bought the company, Zapata Racing. However, that does not remove the possibility of it coming to the public. In the meantime, though, people can always view one of Franky Zapata’s demonstrations or try the original water based Flyboard. Everyone ea-gerly anticipates their turn on the invention of the future.

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EntertainmentThe Hawk’s Eye6 April 2017

Top Ten Memes of 2016By: Lizzie CollinsEditor

2016 was an eventful year. We elected a new president, mourned the loss of count-less celebrities, rejoiced at new albums and T.V. shows, but most importantly, we made a lot of memes. Now that we are more than a month into 2017, the 2016 memes have died out, leaving us an opportunity to look back and reflect on some of the best and some of the worst.

(note: All of these opinions belong to me and me alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Hawk’s Eye; and any discriminatory meme was not taken into account during the creation of this list. )

10.) HarambeA dead animal: unlikely meme, right?

Wrong. The meme came about because of internet users claiming how Harambe was unfairly shot and did nothing wrong; but it evolved into using his image and name everywhere, even on the write-in portion of a ballot. Though entertaining in argu-ably a few ways, the meme became unfun-ny quickly. Zookeepers and workers of the Cincinnati Zoo were upset over the death, but the meme’s online presence only hin-dered their grieving. In the end, the death of an animal is never humorous, especially when it gets overused.

9.) Damn Daniel“Damn Daniel, back at it again with the

white Vans!”A video of a boy yelling at his friend’s shoes rapidly became viral. Soon enough, everyone was saying it to their friends, even if they weren’t wearing white Vans. The meme also got overused quickly because of the lack of ways to modify and improve it. Damn Daniel also closely re-sembles popular 2015 meme of “What’re

those?”, which features teens yelling the phrase to someone else’s (usually ugly) shoes.

8.) Bottle FlippingAdmittingly, the bottle flipping was

very fun at first. Especially with it being close to the summer, there was always an abundance of water bottles to flip. How-ever, like Damn Daniel, it got overdone. When school started, everyone was try-ing it in class and at lunch. It became too much, and teachers began banning it in their classrooms. It was annoying having to watch people try (and usually fail) flip-ping a water bottle for 40 minutes straight. Bottle flipping, because of the fun chal-lenge it provided and its lack of annoyance on the level of other memes, sits lower on the list.

7.) Confused Math LadyMath Lady/Confused Lady/Confused

Math Lady originates from a Brazilian soap opera. Her facial expressions in the pictures and gifs are priceless, and perfect-ly encapsulated the emotion of being lost and confused. The added random math on her face made the meme funny, but not as funny as other memes.

6.) Bone App The Teeth“Bone App The Teeth” started with the

use of one phrase, but was able to evolve to funnier quotes like “osteoporosis” (bone apathy) or “bone apple tea”. The meme also grew to mess up food names, which wasn’t an easy thing to unscramble. The variety and creativity is what made this meme thrive, but it had a shorter lifespan than most memes.

5.) Dancing Challenges (Mannequin and Running Man Challenges, Juju on That Beat)

The dancing challenges were the more popular memes of 2016. The difference be-tween these and other memes like Haram-be is that they’re more family and school friendly--everyone can participate in them. They are also fun to be a part of and bring out everyone’s creativity, and seeing your video go viral is always an added bonus.

The downside is that these memes took work, having to learn a dance (which any dancer can say is not an easy thing to do in a short amount of time). However, they all became viral, and the earlier ones spawned later ones; dance memes are eternal.

4.) The Bee MovieLike the dancing challenges, the Bee

Movie was also more family friendly (for the most part). The best bee and more popular Bee Movie memes were the ones spawned from the video, “the bee movie but every time they say ___ it gets fast-er”. However, those were not the only Bee Movie memes: screenshots were of-ten used, and the movie plot itself (like the bee-human relationship) was also cri-tiqued. The Bee Movie meme was the ulti-mate multifaceted meme; which is why it was one of the best.

3.) Joe BidenCloser to the election of 2017, memes of

Former President Obama and Former Vice

President Joe Biden surfaced, where Biden was playing pranks on President Trump, or just being generally goofy and pure of heart. The best part was the pictures of the memes, because of how new (yet old) they were and how perfect they matched the de-scriptions. Plus, Joe Biden is a very fun person, so naturally, he’s a perfect meme.

2.) Spongebob Spongebob memes were arguably the

most varied meme of the year, next to the Bee Movie. First, they started with primi-tive Spongebob, which was used for con-fusion. There have also been memes in the past of Spongebob screenshots, though they didn’t have a common picture. Then, it evolved to Mr. Krabs, blurry and con-fused, which perfectly portrayed the emo-tion of fear and unknowing. Spongebob was also a loveable show to many as kids, so it is the most relatable and most able to be recognized or made.

1.) KermitKermit was the best meme of 2016; there

is no doubt in my mind. It all started with him sipping tea and being sassy (which a news station later dubbed “Tea Lizard”, and it became a meme within the meme), but it grew like others to various screen-shots: like the one of Kermit in a hood talking to regular Kermit, telling him not to be bad. It got even bigger when a Twit-ter user posted pictures of her Kermit pup-pet in sad or unusual positions; which was really the icing on the cake. There were so many variations and different pictures, yet with one subject; which is why it is the Meme of the Year.

There were many memes in 2016, and there will always be memes in the future; however, some are just better than others, and that’s just a fact of life.

Across3. This man was president during the War of

18126. The only person to become president with-

out being elected to either President or Vice President

7. The second president was part of this po-litical party

8. President during the Era of Good Feelings9. Holds the record for the longest retired

president11. The main president who is celebrated on

Presidents’ Day13. The current President of the United States14. This was the only president to resign from

office15. The first Republican president

Down1. The most recent US President to be assas-

sinated2. This President died one month into his first

term4. The only president to serve two non-con-

secutive terms5. This was the only president to be elected to

more than two terms9. The second president to be impeached10. Before Donald Trump, this was the oldest

president to be elected to office12. Two former living presidents share this

last name

Presidential Crossword PuzzleBy: Brendan KehoeStaff Writer

FeatureThe Hawk’s Eye7 April 2017

Lesser Known Areas of the SchoolBy: Joshua RoseStaff Writer There are plenty of us who are happy

moving around from class to class, then hopping on our bus and going home ev-eryday. But have you ever wondered what else is out there? After all, we’ve all been told that we have a huge high school, but many of us know so little about the place we spend so much of our day in. If our school is so big, then what’s it really have in store? This was just the question that motivated me to write this piece, and since then I was determined to see below the sur-face when it came to our school. So I sifted through the map of the school to find some interesting but relatively unknown parts of the school, and here they are. Hopefully you learn a thing or two, but most of all, enjoy!

The AuditoriumWe’ve all been in the auditorium, wheth-

er it be for a concert, play or some other event, but the only part of it the average student has been to is very minimal. You and I know this gigantic room as just rows upon rows of seats, but have you ever won-dered what goes on behind those curtains? I did too, which is why I contacted Mr. Thorn, who has a big role in the techni-calities of drama club, for my first of three area tours. So, without further ado, let’s start with the basics. On the left wall of the auditorium are the two dressing rooms, one for the male actors and one for the fe-males. This left wall area is where the cast of a play will usually be hanging out on their break times, as it is an area out of sight for anyone who needs a break. Like the dressing rooms, much of the stage is used by the drama club. This is true of the catwalk, which seems to be the most infat-uating part of the stage due to its heights. This area is usually off limits, even to the drama club tech crew, who only sometimes use it if a spot light or something of the sort is needed. There’s just that feeling

that comes with being so high up that peo-ple can’t get enough of, including myself. But sadly, I didn’t have the credentials to get up there. Maybe one day, though!

You’d be surprised at how much of the auditorium is used for storage. There’s the essentials- audio and lighting equipment, props and so on, but there’s also some odd-ities, like the chalkboards used for bingo night or the school’s hoard of copy paper. This abundance of storage held constant all throughout the auditorium, but I think we can agree that going through various closets wouldn’t be too entertaining, so let’s move on.

Mr. Thorn took me out of the auditorium and into the lobby. This is where people pack in on the night of a production, which was why it was strange to see it empty

and dim. A few things of importance here were the ticket booth, another feature used during the show, and the projection room, which is used from time to time for projec-tion and some lighting. This is also used for any monitoring that the tech crew may need to do in order to call some of the shots effectively.

To finish up on the auditorium, just a word or two on the play. The most promi-nent feature regarding the upcoming play would be the set, which was in the final stages of assembly when I arrived. It is built primarily by Mr. Thorn, who showed me around on my tour, and assembled by drama club students. This year’s spring play is called Into the Woods and will be shown on the nights of it features Cin-derella, Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel among others on their journey into the woods in search of objects dear to them. And if this play is like the last one, Lend

Me a Tenor, then trust me when I say it will be worth your time.

The Agriscience WingNext up is an area that has it’s own wing,

but still finds a way to be ignored by most passerbys. Nestled between downstairs D and C is none other than the ag wing, home of everything agriscience here at GHS. It’s here that you’ll find plants, (many of which are for sale!) heavy duty equipment, our school’s FFA, and most notably, the animals. One of our Agriscience teachers, Ms. Hodges, kindly agreed to showing me around the ag wing, so we’ll start our tour where I did, in the animal science section. Here is where classes like animal science and vet anatomy are held. But these rooms also house everyone’s favorite part of the ag wing, the animals. There are two fer-rets, three parakeets, three rabbits, a few chinchillas and many (truly many) more. All of these furry critters are available for rent to any ag student over the summer and other vacations at the cost of a good home. However, all the animals stay in their re-spective cages to be used in any of these animal science classes, and enjoy a long, happy life here at GHS.

Also in the Agriscience wing was the Ag library. This is a great spot available to ag students for research, class time, tutoring or just hanging out. Inside were books all about various Agriscience topics, comput-ers and comfy chairs. If I were looking to join an Agriscience class, this would be a very persuasive factor. It’s just the overall simplistic feel of the ag library that is so attractive.

Next, we ventured further out of the Ag wing some of the classrooms in the D hall-way. The first room was full of running water and smelled of algae, you guessed it, the fish tanks! These are used primar-ily in the Fish and Marine class, taught by Mr. Lawler. The whole ag team is hoping

that they can expand these tanks to include real, living plants in addition to their cur-rent residents.

Just across the sliding wall was the next room, where floral design is taught by Ms. Hodges. An interesting detail about the floral design class is their involvement in school events. Right here is where all of the floral arrangements for events like prom and ball are made, which is very cool to me. It shows how much the GHS community tries to get every student and teacher involved, and is a great reflection of our school’s self sufficiency.

Across the hall was a large room known simply as “the shop” which changed the overall scent of the area from algae to flowers to motor oil. This is where all the heavy equipment is held- tractors, welding equipment and hydraulics amongst other things. The shop classes held here are also quite interesting. I was told that Mr. Lawler purchases old machines online for cheap or for free, and then brings them in for his students to repair. Similar to all the other ag classes, this one seemed outland-ish on the outside, but was interesting to an insider.

The last room of my tour was the green-house, a temperature controlled glass box in the middle of ag wing’s ‘courtyard’. The greenhouse was split into two parts, one held the plants being grown by ag students in various classes, and the second area contained empty racks where the plants were held. Fun fact, these racks were as-sembled right here at GHS by students, an-other example of the ag department’s self sufficiency.

If there’s anything I learned from my tour with Ms. Hodges, it’s that the Agri-science department in general was far from a traditional educational environment, but

in a good way, and I think that joining one of the classes offered would be perfect for anyone who wants a breath of fresh air in regards to academics. After all, we all know how monotonous some of our classes can be. So seriously, check this place out.

The Athletic FieldsEveryone loves a good game, whether it

be soccer, football, lacrosse, or anything in between. And lucky for us, our school has it all right in it’s own backyard- the athletic fields. In my second of three tours, I got our Athletic Director and Assistant Athletic Director, Mrs. Witkin and Mrs. Kitchens, to give me the lay of the land.

We started out at the softball fields, of which there are three. One of them is used by varsity, one by sub-varsity (freshman & J.V.) and one for practices. In the same area were the baseball fields, two to be exact. The boys have a similar setup, but without a practice field. One thing that I found interesting about this area of the athletic fields was the game schedule our teams followed. The athletic department has to do their best to schedule games in a staggered manner, so that there is not a baseball and softball game going on at

once. Otherwise the school would have to pay quite a bit more in medical expenses. After all, a softball may be soft in your hand, but taking one off the head is a dif-ferent story!

From here, we headed right towards the “Baldwin” fields, named after that par-ticular area’s previous owner. These fields consisted of five fields used (sometimes interchangeably) for Soccer, Lacrosse and Field Hockey. These fields can be used for any games of the aforementioned sports of course, but also for tournaments, camps and some recreationally. And lately, there’s been talk lately of lining one or more of these fields with turf, a big de-cision which Mrs. Witkin says is “worth the investment”. It’s also worth noting that this area is the site of graduation every year, which leads to many GHS graduates and parents holding the Baldwin fields within their fondest memories- whether they know it or not.

The final leg of my tour had me at the Football field/ track. It was apparent when I reached this spot that this was one of the most frequently used fields of them all. I saw cross country running laps around our six- lane track, which encapsulated the field hockey and soccer players on the in-side. And keep in mind, this was the off-season. I can only imagine what that field looks like during spring training. Around this time, Mrs. Kitchens told me a little bit about the field. It is currently our only field lined with turf, which means it is costly to build but requires little mainte-nance. Even then, the athletic department is trying their best to give our athletes the best experience possible, which is why the turf is redone every ten years. And right now, we’re on year eight of that cycle, so expect a brand new football field in just two more years.

Half a track more led us to one of two grandstands. At the top of this grandstand was our press box- a large metal room used for any filming of the games and control-ling the scoreboard amongst other things. There was a great view from the press box, which was even more enjoyable when I learned that I was one of the only students allowed to go up there, because it’s always fun to feel special, whether it’s a big deal or not. But what was even cooler is that I was allowed on the roof of the press box, where the view got twice as good with no glass in the way, plus the height. Not only could I see the football field from up there, but the rest of the complex along with it. From the tennis courts to the baldwin fields, everything was right there.

This great view made me think of odd it was that all of this land could be taken with a grain of salt by so many people. That sense of being unknown, neglected even, was pretty overcoming, but I was glad that I had gotten a chance to experi-ence so much of what none of us get to see. And hopefully, by reading this article, you felt the same way.

SportsThe Hawk’s Eye8 April 2017

MLB Predictions for Spring 2017By: Will StavolaStaff Writer

Satire-RIP FroYo Machine

Spring Training has started, and it’s time to see how teams could do in this coming season. Half the teams are in Florida, and the other half are in Arizona. Lo-cally, the Yankees and Mets are look-ing to bounce back after a decent sea-son, but it left them outside the playoff race. The Red Sox are looking to get back to the play-offs after getting swept by the Cleve-land Indians in the American League Division Series. All three teams have improved in some way shape or form, and are looking to have very good seasons this year.

The NY YankeesThe Yankees have gone into a different di-

rection in the past couple of years. They’ve been trying to get young prospects and to get rid of the older players on the team. A standout in the last part of the season was catcher Gary Sanchez, who was a rookie last year and did amazing; he almost got the American League Rookie of the Year award. He hit a 0.299 av-erage and 20 home runs in only 200 at bats, which is over the top for a rookie. There is also first baseman Greg Bird, who was injured all of last season and will look to have a

strong 2017 season as a lefty power hitter; he will look to hit a lot of home runs to the short porch at Yankee Stadium. The most notable free agent signing this offseason was bringing back fireballer Aroldis Chapman. He played with the Yankees last year before being traded to the

World Series winning Chicago Cubs: now, he’s back in pinstripes. At best, the Yankees will be a Wild Card team because it’s difficult to see them being atop the division with the Red Sox. It also depends on how the Yankees pitching ro-tation will do this year. Will they be good, or will they be just god-awful?

The Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox will definitely be interesting this year without Da-vid Ortiz; but they made a lot of moves in the offseason to make sure they can get back to the playoffs. Most notably, trading for Former Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale. Sale will give them another very good

pitcher to a deep pitching rotation that also in-cludes David Price, Cy Young award winner Rick Porcello, among others. Their lineup is also decent: they have a great mix of contact and power hitters. The Sox look like a playoff team without a doubt. But, is it enough to win a World Series? Maybe. They can win a World Series if David Price can win a playoff game. Is that going to happen? At some point, yes. But right now, he’s the usual good regular season pitcher but chokes in the playoffs. Could Sale be that guy? There’s a chance but highly doubt-ful; Sale is a better pitcher than David Price, but maybe Sale cannot handle the pressure of the playoffs.

Anyways, it’s hard to see anyone challenging the Red Sox for the division. Maybe the Yan-kees or the Toronto Blue Jays could challenge them for the division but it’s unlikely.

The NY Mets

The Mets are a very under-rated team in Major League Baseball; no one really talks about them. They have of the better pitch-ing rotations in the league if they could stay healthy. Last year, the Mets were underwhelm-ing because they were decimated with injuries: a lot of key players had some sort of injury for some amount of time, though that’s unlikely to happen to again. When the Yankees have little to no injuries, they’re a scary team with a very good lineup as well with highlights such as Yoe-nis Cespedes, David Wright, and other good hit-ters.It’s possible that the Mets will have a 2015-like season where they got to the World Series, but ended up losing to the Kansas City Royals. They could challenge the Washington Nationals

for the division this year or they could be a wild card team like the old Mets were.

This season will be a very interesting and fun season to watch. There will be some teams that could be better than they were in recent mem-ory; but we shall see next month what these teams will look to do this year.

For those of you that knew the GHS Froyo Machine, you would know that he touched the lives of everyone he met, and he had an im-mense positive impact on those around him. Even though he was with us for a short amount of time, he was very im-portant to every-one that tried his yogurty goodness; after all, he was a crucial part of the GHS community.

In January 2016, after the recent holiday break, the GHS cafeteria was renovated, sport-ing royal blue walls, classy signs, and a giant compass to symbolize a new beginning for our school. Arguably the most impactful part, however, was the newest member of cafeteria family: Bob the Froyo machine. As students filed in during their respective lunch periods they couldn’t help but notice the new addition and smile, knowing that the future was looking bright.

The three-levered gray machine not only excelled at dispensing frozen goodness to all of its customers, but it unified the GHS com-munity under one single concept: our love of froyo. When he arrived, people flocked from all around to taste the sugary richness of his frozen dessert offerings.

“It was pretty cool” remarked a GHS senior, praising the froyo machine for serving its duty

well. Truly, many students felt a connection with the wonderful machine.

Undoubtedly, Bob the Froyo machine loved his job, and he was a kind soul. He loved the overall atmosphere at GHS, the excitement of watching the arrival of students, and making everyone’s day more positive. Most of all, he loved making a positive difference in people’s lives. It didn’t matter to him if he only served

one person on a particular day; to Bob, if he made a positive impact on that one person’s life, that day was worth it.

Another GHS senior told the News-paper Club about a meaningful moment she shared with Bob the froyo machine. On one winter day, she had forgotten to do her math homework, and she was stressed for time to get it done before the next period. In that moment, a spotlight seemed to illuminate the silver shine of the froyo machine directly in front of her. The chocolate froyo she received was the ideal solution for her during this stressful time, and she would never forget that moment.

A few months later, Bob suffered major in-juries that caused him to be out of commission for many weeks. Worried sick, the students wondered if Bob was ever going to return to the cafeteria family— they missed every passing day that Bob was not a part of their lives. By the end of the year, the GHS c o m m u -nity was informed that Bob was, un-fortunate-ly, not go-ing to be a part of our fam-ily any-more.

The funeral for Bob has been scheduled for March 30, 2017 in the GHS cafe, where he last stood. In addition, there will be counsel-ing available for any students or staff who need help grieving over this loss.

Crossword Answers (from page 6)

Across:3. Madison6. Ford7. Federalist8. Monroe9. Carter11. Washington13. Trump14. Nixon15. Lincoln

Down:1. Kennedy2. Harrison4. Cleveland5. Roosevelt9. Clinton10. Reagan12. Bush

By: Shannon Linsey& Morgan HeathStaff Writers