By Michelle Conde Staff Writer

m a y 2 0 0 7 • v o l u m e 4 4 • i s s u e 0 7

A PublicAtion of MonMouth regionAl high school

“Over the past few years this tragic plague of stealing has infiltrated the

very locker rooms students use every day for phys-ed.”

– page 05

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“A high tuition cost does not have to be the one

thing keeping a student from attending the college

of his or her dreams.”– page 03

“[Jackie] Kavendek finds nothing wrong with play-

ing like a girl, since for her, that is pretty good.”

– page 04

“Prom is that magical time of year when graduating students cause themselves

unnecessary amounts of stress to organize an elaborate night that will ultimately end in sore feet, massive headaches, and tragically bruised

egos.”– page 06

Pinkus, McLaughlin, & L... Oh, My!

The Buzz At MRHS

The latest from the May Principal’s Advisory Committee meeting

By Asia Johnson Martin Staff Writer

• The bathrooms next to the commons are finished af-ter being renovated.• Due to the increase in theft in the boys’ and girls’ locker room, students and the administration are frustrated. Mr. Teeple is asking that students help prevent thievery by watching out for one another’s stuff.• The LIFE Club asked if they could raise money for a solar panel for a building. Teeple says that one solar panel is not going to do anything and asked the LIFE Club to re-evaluate their proposal.• Teeple gave out homework to his committee mem-bers. He asks that the students analyze the 2006-2007 school year and tell him what they liked and disliked about this year and what they would want to change.• Dates To Remember: o May 22: Leadership Awards o May 24: WLHS Inductions o May 28: School Closed o May 30: Rude Awakening o June 1: Senior Prom. No School for Stu- dents!

“Seeing the teach-ers all dressed up and with

make up on, singing and dancing, just really surprised me,” said junior Caitlin Ri-gney, “It was a side of them that I’ve never seen before.” The cast of this year’s “Wizard of Oz” consisted of Monmouth Regional’s very own faculty. Sci-ence department supervisor Ms. Blair played the roles of the flying monkey and the head of the munchkin city, while the drama department’s very own Mr. Liebenberg played the role of the cowardly lion. Rounding out the cast were science teachers Mrs. McLaughlin as the callous tin man, Mr. Pinkus as the dull scarecrow, and Mrs. Wolver-

ton as the green villain, the wicked witch. However, stu-dent Alyssa Gentile, a junior, played the role of Dorothy.

Director Anthony Greco, a senior, organized

the rehearsals with the fac-ulty. “We held rehearsals ev-ery day for four weeks,” said Greco. “I think it was a little overwhelming for the teach-ers, but the outcome of the

hard work was worth it.”The money

raised by the tickets went to the senior class. “It’s good to know that the students are help-ing the senior class,” said senior Danielle Garcia. “I am glad that they students went to the play because the entertainment

“”

The teachers were silly, but it was very entertaining to see them recite lines from the movie.

– Joey Junay, sophomore

benefited our class,” said fellow senior Elena Faagai. The play was a big hit due to the students’ enthusiasm of watching their teachers in funny costumes, which were borrowed from the commu-nity theatre in Marlboro.

“I thought the teachers in their costumes were just hilarious,” said junior Hollie Joaquim.

Above: The players, Mr. Pensabene, ALyssa Gentile, Mr. Pinkus, Mrs. Mclaughlin, and Mr. L, all want to go home.

Left: Alyssa Gentile and Mrs. Famelio are not in Kansas anymore.

blood driveOn April 26, Monmouth Regional held its annual blood drive sponsored by the Central Jersey Blood Center. Over 67 students and faculty donated blood, generating 53 pints. Although this ties the record set in 2005 for the most pints, MRHS nurse Therese Cahill says, “We have bigger and better plans for next year.” Principal Teeple enjoyed donating blood to the cause, saying, “I like to give blood at least twice a year.”

Above: Junior Ryan DalyMiddle: Mr. TeepleBottom: Junior Joe Yglesias

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Photo by Luke Hall

Photos by Francesca Martelli

FalconaireEditorial PolicyThe Falconaire will accept written and graphic material for publication in the Falconaire

from students, faculty, and administrators provided it is of interest and value. We reservethe right to reject any material that we consider inappropriate. The Falconaire reserves theright to edit any material received for publication.

Statement of PurposeTo provide a graphic forum of dialogue and expression. To provide the school and

community with information concerning the important issues and activities pertaining tostudents, facultyandadministration.Topublishaninteresting, readablenewspapersatisfy-ing the needs of the students and the Monmouth Regional High School Community.

Editor in ChiefSarah BoydSports EditorMatt DenBleykerAssistant EditorsAsia Johnson-MartinEmalee RodriguezHead of PhotographyFrancesca Martelli

Layout EditorsMichelle FuterfasCJ PrattAdviserDawn Collett

2featuresMay 2007

Falconaire

WritersJacqueline BuiMichelle CondeMatthew ConteJoseph DejesusAlyssa GrossmanLuke HallSophonie HilaireMatthew McIntyreThomas MillingtonCorinne OppitoJulie RutanVirginia Sanchez

Michelle TurliCourtney WyvilleWilliam YadlonContributorsCaitlin EnsLeah MorenoMike PerssonJanet VeneziaJessica Wessels

Text Mess-age Love By Michelle Turli Staff Writer

Caffeine the Fair WayMRHS alumn opens fair trade brewery

By Bill Yadlon Staff Writer

Slang 101By Emalee Rodriguez, Michelle Turli, Michelle Conde, and Matt McIntyre Staff Writers

The widespread addic-tion to text messaging among teens can make

it difficult to put the phone down. Cell phone bills cer-

t a i n l y do not l e a v e parents happy, a n d o f t e n this is charac-teristic of dat-

ing relationships in this day and age of technology. All hours of the night, and throughout the day—has this become a means of emotional abuse for teen relationships?

In “Teen Dating Abuse Made Worse by Technology,” Dr. Jill Murray, a psychothera-pist, told ABC News that this harassment caused by technol-ogy is an “electronic leash.” Teens are definitely using the technology as means of com-munication, but perhaps it is overdone. When they are

In a world where most high school graduates go on to nine-to-five jobs, it is sat-

isfying to know that one of MRHS’s own alum, is cur-rently fulfilling a dream. Ali Kennedy, a graduate of the class of 1994, recently opened her own coffee house, Asbury Park Roastery. Not only is the business intended to benefit herself, but to ensure the in-tegrity of fair trade, an idea she feels passionate about.

For those who do not know, fair trade is the idea

of protecting the producers in international trade by pay-ing a fair price for imported goods such as sugar, rice and particularly coffee. This way, poor farmers in foreign, pov-erty-stricken nations are able to get out of poverty through quality commerce. The stock market normally regulates the price paid for a foreign crop, but the fair labor union, which licenses companies such as the Asbury Park Roastery, con-trols the price, and insures the integrity of international trade.

For Kennedy, her inter-est in organic and artisan coffee began six years after graduating high school. Her new store had an extremely successful grand opening on Saturday April 14, and she hopes to continue her success. “It’s not all about the money,” says Kennedy, who in addition to paying more for the coffee, also pays licensing fees to the Fair Labor Organization. “When you are doing something you love, for a living, the mon-ey doesn’t mean all that much.”

The Asbury Park

Te a c h e r s may hear students,

but do they know what they are saying? Af-ter asking teach-ers at MRHS for phrases that they have heard, the Falconaire was able to compile a list of the most frequently used slang terms from MRHS. For all the teachers out there, and students, who feel left in the dark, here is a lesson for you:

Now that the hall-way slang has been decoded, you never know what teachers will be caught “chill-axin’” one minute and “droppin’ it like its hot” the next. MRHS’s very own prin-cipals already seem to know the lingo. As-sistant Principal Larkin, thinks he is “fresh,” while Principal Teeple, advises students, “You go get jig-gy with your bad self.” Who says that teachers can not be sweet too?

Slang Translation

Drop it like it’s hot

A dance move in which an individual should quickly drop to the floor as if they were holding something that was on fire.

Word is bond reassuring someone that you are telling the truth My bad

Roastery offers qual-ity, affordable coffee guaranteed by fair trade and most of Kennedy’s blends are organic. She also offers loose leaf teas. Kennedy says her only regret is that she wishes she could have started this project soon-er. Anyone interested in supporting an MRHS alumnus or learning more about fair trade can visit w w w . a s b u r y p -a r k r o a s t e r y . c o m .

not actually talking on the cell phone with their girl-friends or boyfriends, they are often text messaging them.

An article by Dory Devlin, “Cell Phones Can Aid Teen Dating Abuse,” points out a survey by Teen Research Unlimited about teens and dat-ing. The statistics show that available technology may be causing more controlling and manipulative behavior in teen relationships. The survey found that one in four teens in a relationship said they com-

municated with their partner by cell phone calls or texting hourly, between midnight and 5 a.m. One in three teens say that they receive text mes-sages either 10, 20, or 30 times an hour by a partner asking questions such as, “Where are you?” “What are you do-ing?” and “Who are you with?” according to Devlin.

In an MRHS survey of 118 students, 45 responded “yes” to being in a relationship, and 95% of these students in the relationship responded “yes” to having text messaging. Out of these students who are both in a relationship and have text messaging, 58.14% said that

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“I am sorry.”

Chillaxin’ A combo between “chillin’” and “relax-ing;” The ultimate term for laying back.

Psych! “Just kidding!”

What’s good? “What is not bad in your life right now that you would like to talk about?” Or “What’s

up?”

True Dat “That is true.”

That’s so gay “That is so _________ (Insert anything negative not regarding homosexualuality).”

Hot mess

Hater “Why do you have to rain on my parade?”

“You look tacky.”

Fresh “You look clean-cut.”

What’s poppin? “What is happening?”

Slang Translation

Wilin’ out! Synonym for “buggin” Faked ya out! “I was kidding and you fell for it.”That’s busted! “That is not cool.”

He was buggin’ “He/she was acting crazily.”

Sweet “That is cool.”

Dipset 1) referring to the hip-hop group 2) stating the fact that one must leave

Ballin’!1) when one is engaged in a game of basketball 2) a great accomplishment

Feel me? making sure that one comprehends another person Beat

G’ed ‘em/Broke ya neck!

1) the act of fooling another person or to dupe 2) the act of stating a fib, creating another person to look in a certain direction

1) not wanting to follow another’s directions 2) losing in some sort of way

Frontin’ the act of denyingWord up “You are right”; a term of agreement.

Chuck Deuce a gesture one would make when leaving or a gesture to imply the lack of desire to engage in conversation

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they text message their girl-friend/boyfriend 5-10 times a day or more, and 64% of these students said that they do ar-gue through text messaging.

Teen arguments through text messaging could be enhanced by the fact that words across a screen are often miscommunicated and misin-terpreted. A few text messages here and there are a decent way of communication. However, when it gets to the point that an entire relationship seems to have become one long text message that barely fits the character space limit, tex-ting could become a problem.

3the cOllege yearsMay 2007

Falconaire

By Matt Conte Staff Writer

Fear How to Deal

“Adapt-ing to new social atmo-sphere.” -April Hug-gler

By Jackie Bui Staff Writer

Going off to college may seem like heaven to an underclassman. But take it from the standpoint of a senior; someone who is actually going

through the process of preparing to live on their own. Here are some of the fears seniors feel towards leaving this fall and venturing off into the world of college, and words of comfort from alums who have been through it.

“The way I adapted to the new social atmosphere was to always leave the dorm room’s door open to meet people, go to the social events and join some of the clubs, hang out at the campus center all the time, go on the trips they provide. Just be yourself and hang out with people with your major. It’s not that different from high school, you have friends that are in your classes and then people from the dorms that you can make friends with. Don’t go home on weekends. That really helps the social life and gets rid of homesickness.”-Dan Stecz, class of 2006

“Gettingalong with my room-mate.”-NicoleDaniel

“Usually you and your roommate won’t see eye to eye on certain things, but you need to learn to deal with each other and to respect each other. You’re going to need to give in on certain things and compromise. But if you are willing to do that, you will be fine.”-Jerry Cheng, class of 2005

“Level of dif-ficulty of the classes.”-Sarah Lipari

“Yes, the classes you take in college are hard but if you budget your time well you shouldn’t have a problem. Remember that for every hour you spend in class its two hours or so of homework. So if you budget your time well and don’t goof off you should do fine. Just remember that there are thousands of people going through the same thing so try not to worry about it.”-Kyle Cappelli, class of 2006

“Losing touch with old friends.”-Rob Lyon

“You can stay in touch with anyone you want to, facebook and AIM make it extremely easy to drop someone a quick hello and you can always call. Plus, every-one comes home for Christmas and even when you don’t talk for a few months the second you see each other, everything just goes back to how it was.”-Brielle Danko, class of 2006

College Fears

“I’m afraid that my expecta-tions towards college will be too high and when I get there, I will be disappointed.”-AngellinaVargas

“A lot of people feel that way at first about going to college, but once you get into the full swing of things, you’ll get used to it. It might take a little adjusting to, but college is going to be the best time of your life. So make the best of it, and don’t waste your time fearing disappointment—you might miss out on all the exciting aspects of college!”-Marni Herskowitz, class of 2003

Recently my family and I have gone on many beautiful day-

trips where we have had the luxury of watching and enjoying such delicacies as equestrian societies, cricket clubs, gourmet food, and professional-grade fitness facilities. What is more, we were graced with the privilege of being able to sit through a breathtaking performance held in a world renown musical theatre and a pulse- pounding sporting event carried out in a 50,000-seat, domed stadium. Who would have thought that all this could be done just by visiting college campuses?

Then again, in today’s world where the average private university/college costs around $40,000 a year, it seems as though people are paying more for

Paying the Pricethe above mentioned “country club” perks rather than for an education. And being that most higher educational institutions can smell the money in your pockets like sharks can smell blood in the water, an “extras” and “perks” rat race of sorts is booming among colleges all for the sheer intention of getting students’ money.

Never more obvious is this fact than during college/university open houses. For instance, during an entire day filled with activities, only about an hour of it is actually spent listening to deans and professors discuss what goes on in their classrooms. Once that is over the “Sugar Daddy” effect begins and the schools try to extract a deposit out of ya by showing off multimillion-dollar assets. From Olympic quality swimming pools, to free concert tickets, to

European exchange programs, to prime rib slicing stations in the cafeteria, to Roman-esque inspired architecturally designed buildings, by the end of the open house one can easily feel as though he/she has just entered “Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous.”

Although I must admit that I, like many, was mesmerized and sold on the perks offered by various colleges, my family and I would always take a deep breath and come back to a simple philosophy: We are paying for an education.

The cost of tuition for a four-year college averages

from around $20,000 to more than $40,000 a year. The price of a college education is not going down any time soon. In fact, tuition tends to increase from one year to the next. “Many parents do not have this money,” says Mr. Zorski, Monmouth’s volunteer financial aid counselor. He says that there is a tremendous amount of funding available. The problem is that many families are not aware that this help is available.

Financial aid can be broken down into three categories: scholarships and grants which do not have to be repaid; loans, which are paid back over a set period of time; and work study, which allows students to attend school while working to pay for an education. However, Zorski warns against taking out more than $10,000 a year in loans, since students have only ten years to pay them off. Students and parents who would like to see

how much money may be available to them should go to Hessa.org. The site has a Tuition Aid Grant Estimator along with other information about paying for college.

A family of four who makes $40,000 a year or less is eligible for financial aid. Students who have single parents or receive free or reduced lunch are also likely to have this opportunity available to them. For families making $50,000 to $75,000 a year, financial aid is not quite as

available. However, there is an abundance of scholarships available to anyone with any income. Many colleges have their own scholarships which a student is automatically considered for upon acceptance.

A high tuition cost does not have to be the one thing keeping a student from attending the college of his or her dreams. With the right advice and enough time and research, college-bound students will find that help is available.

By Alyssa Grossman Staff Writer

Funding the Future

Senior Martika Bell knows all about the FAFSA form that students must fill out if they are looking for financial aid for college.

an opinion

Photo by Matt McIntyre

TCID:BW

You Play like a GirlBy Corinne Oppito Staff Writer

4SPORTSMay 2007

Falconaire

Sports NOT WantedBy Asia Johnson-Martin Staff Writer

Photo by Matt DenBleyker

Monmouth Regional students play vol-leyball and floor

hockey in gym class fre-quently almost every mark-ing period. Students give the most praise to volleyball by saying, “If we had a volley-ball team, I would join it.” Then they stumble upon the question, why don’t we have volleyball as a school sport when it’s obviously the most popular gym activity? In fact, why doesn’t Monmouth Re-gional have ice hockey and boy’s lacrosse either since there is a significant amount of people who would be up for the sports? Senior Chris Poyner is up for it, “I wish our school would have hock-ey and lacrosse for guys.” The process of a stu-dent trying to get the school to launch a new sport starts off with a student and com-munity supported petition. Next the athletic director, Mr. DeOrio would have to “investigate” the request. If DeOrio okays the request, it is sent to the administra-tion to see if there is fund-ing for it. If the administra-tion approves ot then the

request goes to the Board of Education to be voted on. If the Board of Education gives the request a “yeah,” the sport becomes a club first and then eventually be-comes a junior varsity team.

Many students have tried to petition for the imple-mentation of a new sport, like volleyball, and have failed. As it turns out, Monmouth Regional is set for school sports. The administration worries that by the implema-tion a new sport might hinder other sports, “If we started a boy’s lacrosse we might lose baseball players or track athletes,” said DeOrio. Students must also consider the many sports that Monmouth Regional has and the amount of practice and field space that is avail-able. Maybe M o n m o u t h R e g i o n a l does not have enough field space or gym space. During win-ter, all winter sports teams

practice inside all over the school at the same or dif-ferent times. When spring comes around it is the same situation with the fields. If someone out there still feels the need to peti-tion the school to institute another sport, please con-sider the most important factor, the funding. Does Monmouth Regional have money available to fund an-other team? Though it would be nice to have a volleyball team, an ice hockey team, or a boy’s lacrosse, the fact that it would put a damper on other sports teams by possi-bly taking away their players or taking up their field/gym space is too much of a risk for Monmouth Regional.

We have all sat on the sidelines and watched Mon-mouth’s best athletes succeed at their sport. But where will they continue their athletic career?

College Commitments

By Emalee Rodriguez Staff WriterHave you ever been of-fended when some-one told you that

you played like a girl? Well to junior Jackie Kavendek, it is a com-pliment. As the only girl, and the first in MRHS history on the “boys” Monmouth R e g i o n a l golf team, K a v e n d e k finds noth-ing wrong with playing like a girl, since for her, that is pretty good.

B e g i n n i n g around the fourth grade, Ka-vendek gained an interest for golf from the time she spent at the driving range with her dad. She signed up for a camp, and instantly fell in love. Kavendek played in

tournaments up until she was 12, but then took some time off for about four years. “I got back on the horse to return to all of the irreplaceable good

m e m o -r i e s , ” K a v -e n d e k s a y s , “ a n d for the p u r e l o v e of the game.”

W h e n Kaven-dek de-cided to r e t u r n to the sport in March

2006, she waited until the spring of 2007 to talk to head coach Mr. David Goode, who encouraged her to try out. “Jackie took lessons, worked hard, and when she felt con-fident enough she came out

and easily made the team. She continues to improve [daily],” Goode says. Dur-ing the first few days of try-outs Kavendek said she was extremely nervous as they set out to the driving ranges. “At first it was awkward talking with the boys, and it seemed like they were still trying to figure out if I was a serious player or not,” Kavendek said. But she continued to make conver-sation, and proved to them that she was true at heart. After the first week or so, the nerves wore off and the team accepted all the new-comers. “She is actually better than a lot of the kids who tried out [and] is very consistent,” says junior Ed Carnes of the golf team. Personally Kavendek feels that she is doing well, as she competes against the boys from other towns, and overall the team is 11-5. Kavendek says she proudly “plays like a girl.”

Thomas D’AmbrisiFootball Monmouth University

Paul ShweighardtFootball Rowan University

Jaren EdwardsFootball Gettysburg

Charles Cox Track U of North Carolina

Chris Cox Track University of North Carolina

Caitlyn ShawBasketball University of Sciences inPhiladelphia

Brittney PowellBasketball Kean University

Georgio BallentineWrestling Kutztown University

Anthony BongarzoneWrestling Rutgers University

Sam MartiniSoftball Philadelphia University

Sam RooneySoftball Brookedale Community College

Jeffrey Roche Baseball Montclair State University

Mike Sevilla Baseball Iona College

Joe Connors Baseball Brookedale Christina MonacoLacrosse Pfeiffer University

Mary SpanarkelLacrosse Rowan University

Cait SchultheisLacrosse/soccer Georgian Court University

Kate RoselliDance University of the Arts

In what baseball coach Mr. Jarmusz called a “terrific mo-ment,” sophomore outfielder C.J. Pratt became the first baseball player since 1994 to hit the free steak sign dur-ing a varsity plate appearance. The feat came during the fourth inning an April 30 game against Long Branch, when Pratt hit a soaring fly ball to deep left-center-field, which eventually came down directly upon the “Free Steak” tar-get. “I knew I hit it [the ball] well and the fact that it hit the Free Streak sign made it even better,” said Pratt.

Making good on his promise, Coach Jarmusz awarded Pratt a gift certificate to Applebee’s.

5newsMay 2007

The Falconaire

Not-so-petty TheftBy Matt Conte Staff Writer

President Bush warned Congress that he will continue to veto war spending bills, adding that they contain a timetable for withdrawal of the troops. The bill would provide $124.2 billion, $90 of which would go to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The rest of the money would fund domestic programs. The Democrats hope to have a bill ready by June 1, which requires troop withdrawal by July, depending on the progress of the Iraqi government. ­—Janet Venezia

Joan Huibers of the Netherlands has constructed an actual arc out of cedar and pine. The arc is roughly threestories high, although according to the Bible, the arc was five times bigger than Huibers’ representation. Inside the arc are life-size models of animals such as giraffes, and also a small theater. Soon the Huibers will add a small petting zoo. The family hopes that this arc will help renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where churchgoing has fallen dramatically. ­—Jessica Wessels

On April 28, a suicide bomber in northern Pakistan blew himself up at a public gathering. He killed at least twenty-eight and injured over thirty-seven others, along with Pakistani interior minister and his son. Sources say the minister’s injuries were minor and were treated immediately at a nearby hospital. Eye witnesses claim the suicide bomber detonated explosives after guards tried to stop him as he moved closer to the minister. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf called the attack “an act of terrorism.” —Caitlin Ens

Pakistan?

Netherlands?

Iraq?

Twelve months after the approval of a new development deal, Ground Zero is becoming a very busy construction site. Steel columns for the Freedom Tower, the tallest of five skyscrapers being built to replace the Twin Towers, peek above street level, and concrete has been poured for the tower’s foundation. “The believability factor now is real,” said David Childs, architect of the Freedom Towers. The complete rebuilding of ground zero is expected to be finished by 2013. ­—Mike Persson

New York?WHAT’SHAPPENINGIN...

For many students at Monmouth Regional High School, gym

class is a time chock full of such various activities as volleyball, basketball, leisure walking, and theft. Yes, that is right, theft. For over the past few years this tragic plague of stealing has infiltrated the very locker rooms students use every day for phys-ed. In fact, it is common place to enter a locker room right after gym class and find lockers swung wide open with their contents either stolen or thrown all over the place.

From cell phones, to money, to sporting equipment, locker room theft has become so rampant that it has driven many students to believe that nothing in one’s locker is safe. “I have had many things stolen from me, including two iPods, pants, and a cell phone.” says senior Ricky Persson, “Do I feel safe putting my belongings in the locker room? Absolutely not. Do I have the option of not bringing my things with me to gym? Of course not. Do I feel that the administration has been sensitive to literally thousands of dollars worth of theft? Regrettably, no.” In addition, the threat of burglary has also immersed itself into the female locker room. “I have had $100 stolen from inside my locker and I know plenty of other girls who have

also been robbed,” says senior Krislin Yosuico. Thus the question arises, is Monmouth Regional doing enough to stop these criminals from pilfering in the locker rooms?

“Theft is the worst part of my job because of the fact that it has victimized so many people and is so hard to stop,” says Assistant Principal Larkin, “We are always looking to do more in terms of security.” The problem however, is that since the locker room is such a private place for students, the administration and faculty have been stuck between a rock and a hard place, legally, in terms of security measures. “We legally cannot put eyes [cameras] in the locker rooms, but myself and Corporal McBride are always calling other schools looking for other solutions to this problem,” says Larkin, “We are taking every reasonable measure to deal with this nuisance.”

So until the infestation of phys-ed theft dies down, be careful regarding what is put into gym lockers. Mr. Teeple points out that although he is not opposed to students having ipods or cell phones in school for after-school use, these devices are not to be used during school hours for educational reasons. Such items would be more secure if placed in hallway lockers because according to Mr. Larkin, “Nothing has been reported stolen from hallway lockers.”

Monmouth’s first ever Night of the Arts had everything from live Step Team and Jazz Band performances, to the display of stu-dent artwork, to a fashion show featuring students’ own creations.

Argeline DAlupAnCoach wristlet-$90

>> ricky persson2 iPods, cell phone,

and pants-$500+

>>

krislin yosuico$100

>> nicole BuzzettAGuess purse and

wallet-$240

>>

The VictimsThe people below are just a few of the MRHS stu-dents who have had their belongings stolen in the gym locker rooms.

6OpiniOnsMay 2007

Falconaire

The Tarnished “Swoosh”By Michelle Turli Staff Writer

UnnecessaryRoughness

Imus ControversyBy Tom Millington Staff Writer

A columnOut with a Bang and a Prom

How much did MRHS really know about the reality of sweatshop

factories? Diversity Day pre-senters Jim Keady and Leslie Kretzu, the founders of Edu-cating for Justice took an ex-tra step to find out, spending one month at a Nike factory in Indonesia. Living off of an Indonesian factory worker’s wage of $1.25 a day, they gave distressing personal accounts of women, men, and children, who are the foundation of Nike’s global manufacturing.

Living under the same circumstances as the Indone-sian factory workers, Keady lost 25 pounds in one month. They went on to find that the workers are forced to work overtime, and usually work six days a week. The workers live without running water and oth-er basic needs, and with toxic waste pits from Nike assem-bly plants as their neighbors. Many workers undergo some sort of mental, physical, or psychological abuse by their

employers, said Ke-ady. Human beings just like us, surviv-ing off of so little, yet still some go on to wear “proud” Nike employee hats, probably the most disturbing fact of it all. People just like us, who yearn for decent treatment and fair wages, yet settle—because they need the jobs. The information Keady and Kretzu provided for stu-dents and faculty at MRHS was unsettling, but the responses of some students only in-creased this troubling feeling.

Some students were slouched back in their chairs, checking their watches and desperately awaiting the as-sembly to end. Others made comments such as, “They don’t have to work there,” or, “Just find another job,” –as if it were that easy. Some even shrugged their shoulders and laughed when they that they were wearing Nike attire at that

As the school year draws to an agoniz-ingly slow conclu-

sion, there is one thing that weighs heavily on the minds of seniors everywhere: prom. For those of you who do not know what life is outside of a video game, prom is that magi-cal time of year when graduat-ing students cause themselves unnecessary amounts of stress to organize an elaborate night that will ultimately end in sore feet, massive headaches, and tragically bruised egos. From trying to find a limo, bus, or Gold Rush-era wagon train to transport you to the event, to figuring out which group of people will be able to coex-ist throughout the night and avoid slaughtering each other in a gladiator-esque fight se-quence, the fun and joy of prom time never seem to end. The first step is finding out who to spend the evening with. If you already have a significant other, you are half-way home, but for the other 94% of students who do not, it can be trickier. The most commonly used meth-ods for obtaining a date are asking a close friend, blackmail, dressing up a home-less person in shiny clothing and dousing them in cologne/perfume, or bribing some-body to be your arm candy. After you have accomplished that feet, you then have to find a group of people that you and your date do not hate or owe large amounts of money. Unless you both have the same friends, this can destroy a rela-tionship. If you are of the male gender and you decide that you will be sitting with your friends, you will have to en-dure a night full of silence and subtle hints about how much more “magi-cal” the evening it would be if you were with her friends. If you are a female and you sit

with your friends, you will have to suffer through your date try-ing to break the ice with your friends the best way a man knows how: the rampant tell-ing of fart jokes, or simply just farting. If they do not appreci-ate flatulence, your date will not appreciate their friendship.After your group is decided upon and your date is in tow you must then find a means of conveyance. There are a fewgood options, such as a lim-ousine or a party bus. A few bad options are a tandem bi-cycle, oversized gerbil wheel,

or your mom’s minivan, espe-cially if your mom is driv-ing. Regard-

less of how you get there, it is important to arrive in style and hopping out of a Ford Windstar while your mom is yelling at you and your little brother is crying because he is missing Spongebob and flinging ice cream onto your dress/tux is pretty much the

opposite of stylish.Finally you

have made it to the event you have been giving your-self ulcers about for the last several months. You are looking the shnaz-ziest you will be looking for a while seeing as you just spent more money than you have made

your entire life on your formal wear. While prom is techni-cally a dance, most promgo-ers will probably avoid this as high heels and awkwardly fitting dresses make dancing an extremely awkward, un-comfortable, and sometimes

inappropriate e x p e r i e n c e . But in the end, its not about dancing, ex-pensive clothes or a fancy ride. It is about how many hours you will spend bagging grocer-ies and stock-ing shelves to pay it all off.

On April 4, Radio talk show host Don Imus caused a national up-

roar when he referred to the Rutgers Women’s Basketball Team as “nappy-headed ho’s.” The team had just came off of a tremendous tournament run which ended with a loss in the championship game against Tennessee. The comment came in response to a producer’s re-mark about the Tennessee team.

Imus’s comments were both ignorant and repulsive, not to mention unwarranted. These girls came off of a dis-heartening loss after a dream season and are treated to rac-ist and sexist remarks by a 60-something shock jock. While Imus is known for his outra-geous, often times inflamma-tory comments, he admitted it was a joke gone too far and it was a bad choice of words. However, the interesting thing is that these talk shows are unscripted. Other than having pre-picked topics, what Imus and his cohorts say comes off the top of their heads. They do not have time to think about what they say, so what they say comes straight from the heart. That leads listeners to believe that this was not just a bad choice of words, but that it was more likely a reflection of how Imus truly views these women.

CBS and MSNBC,

who aired his radio show and TV simulcast, respectively, both originally suspended Imus for two weeks. On April 12, after MSNBC announced they were dropping the simul-cast, CBS followed suite by firing Imus. While this may initially seem like a victory, it opens a Pandora’s Box of questions. Imus’s termina-tion because of his comments brings up the question of free-dom of speech. His comments were disgraceful, but his firing draws a line at where freedom of speech ends. When free-dom of speech is restricted, it ceases to be free. No one is or ever was forced to listen to his show. A person makes a con-scious decision to tune into what he is saying. If listeners are offended by their choice of listening material, the blame falls on them. Basic motor skills, allow them to change a radio station. Imus’s com-ments crossed a line, but the line is not supposed to exist.

This raises another interesting point. Scores of people were offended by these comments. However, an infi-nite number of rap stars say far worse things in their lyrics and instead of being ridiculed, they are considered artists. I am not blaming hip-hop for what happened or for the degrad-ing lyrics of some individu-

als. To blame an entire genre and culture would be almost as ignorant as Imus’s original remarks. However, this inci-dent should call into question those who regularly use racial and misogynistic slurs in their music. Rappers are celebrated for committing the same acts as Imus did. The question is why? Is it because of the com-munication mediums they em-ploy, or could it be because of something more significant, such as race? This brings us to a sensitive area. Is the accept-ability of these terms based on the race of those who say them?

Race is one of those issues that really is a sensi-tive subject, but it seems that there is a double standard here. Most rappers are black, and they are allowed to say what they will, but Imus is white and he loses his job and faces national ridicule. Is it because they are black and he is white that things unraveled this way? No one can answer any of these definitely, but it raises many questions and hopefully it will inspire the a dialogue. Hopefully people will come to their own conclusions and gain some closure on this topic. The important thing is to real-ize that these terms and racial slurs are always degrading no matter who says them or what context they are in.

By Tom Millington Staff Writer

very moment. Though Keady and Kretzu were not necessar-ily condemning those wearing the Nike attire, because there are numerous companies who enforce sweatshops, it was still disturbing to hear students ignorantly laughing, clos-ing their eyes and ears to the real information being given about not just “their” world, but “our” world, and its fate.

Nobody says you have to fight for a cause you do not believe in. Nobody can make you listen to the information they are dying to get across to you. But perhaps the most dam-aging mistake it making the choice to block out this infor-mation, to walk on uninformed and careless—to be ignorant.

TCID:BW

By Alyssa Grossman Staff Writer

Mandy Moore: “Wild Hope”

Mandy Moore is ready to reintro-duce herself on the

music scene. At first glance, it seems as if this pop singer who started her professional career back in 1999 has gone in the opposite direction of most young artists today. Virtually every teen pop star goes from parent approved to parent appalled in no time at all. But Moore is more concerned with staying true to herself. She was deter-mined to write her own ma-terial and did just that on her newest album, Wild Hope, which debuted January 16th. The first song on the album is “Extraordinary”; an upbeat and honest statement of what this self-titled “shy, and often introverted,” per-former wants to be. “Noth-ing you are” is a mix of anger and forgiveness, as she sings about the end of a bad rela-tionship and the importance of not dwelling on the nega-tivity for too long. “Most of me” is my personal favorite on the album. In it she says that she is not ready to reveal everything there is to know about herself, but hopes that in the future things will be different. The lyrics read, “feel like I know where this is going and I might know

how it ends, but I’m still willing to begin.” It is clear that Moore’s lyrics are com-ing from the heart and it is difficult not to relate to her words on some level. “There is nothing better than finish-ing a song, and being happy with it, knowing that I nailed it and [I am] confident that it was completely what I wanted to say,” she says. Compared to eight years ago when her al-bum So Real was released, Mandy Moore is almost un-recognizable. She became well-known for her acting career, which taught her the importance of having com-plete control over her work. I admire Moore for taking a chance and exposing her true identity to the public. Wild Hope is lighthearted and powerfully genuine. I recom-mend this album to anyone who has a love of pop music as well as a love of words.

7ReviewsMay 2007

The Falconaire

By Bill Yadlon Staff Writer“Spider-Man 3”

By Tom Millington Staff WriterGuitar Heroes II

Guitar Hero 2 is the follow-up to the massively suc-

cessful game, Guitar Hero.While the game itself actu-ally came out a few months ago, it was only available on the Playstation 2. It has recently been re-released for the XBOX 360.

Guitar Hero 2,quite simply, belongs among the greatest games ever made and while this is a claim I normally try to avoid making, it fits here. The reason is because it does not stray from the original. It offers the same addictive game play as its predecessor. Guitar Hero 2 gives people with ab-solutely no musical abil-ity the chance to rock out royally and, in the end, is there any greater pursuit for mankind? People like myself, who would never, ever have the chance to know what it feels like to be idol-ized by thousands of scream-ing fans, can now have a somewhat similar experi-ence in front of their friends in their own living room. The song selection in Guitar Hero 2 is outstanding, again, much like the origi-nal. It offers a lot of different types of rock from tons of different artists. From punk, to classic, to new wave, there

is something everyone will like and enjoy playing over and over again. That is the beauty of the game. Gamers will want to keep playing it over and over until they are so sick of the song, the only way to get it out of their heads

is a lobotomy. You can rock out to the screaming licks of Van Halen or jam with the smooth sounds of The Police. There is a song for whatever mood you are in. Both games in the series offer multiplayer op-tions, but Guitar Hero 2 takes it one step further. In the original Guitar Hero, players would have to play on the same difficulty level and they would take turns playing parts of the song.

Guitar Hero 2 offers a simi-lar option, but allows players to pick their own difficulty, so if a more skilled player is playing with a novice, one can play on hard, the other on easy. There is also a co-operative mode that allows

one player to play lead guitar and the other to play rhythm guitar or bass. Again players can pick their own difficulty level and are able to play bass or rhythm, which gives players a whole new look at the songs. There is one final multi-player option which al-lows both players to play the entire song on lead guitar. However, play-ers must be on the same difficulty as they com-pete against each other. Truly, this is one of the best games to come

out in years. The only apt description for this game is righteous. It is like nothing that has come before it and treads new water with inspir-ing fervor. You can spend hours playing this game, or maybe just hammer out a few tunes. This game is great by yourself or with your friends. The final verdict:

As the recent trend of Marvel comic-book-heroes-turned-mov-

ie-stars continues, the one thing movie goers can count on is the “Spider-Man” se-ries. The web slinger contin-ues to please as Sam Rami’s latest installment in the se-ries lived up to the hype. The story begins with Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) enjoying his hectic life, what with balancing his life as Peter Parker, a college student, Spider-Man: super-hero, and managing to find time for the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). After discovering the true identity of his hated nem-esis, Harry Osborn (James Franco) has been busy ful-filling his father’s wishes of avenging him and destroying his once best friend Peter.

The characters be-gin to face rivals for the first time as new freelance pho-tographer, Eddie Brock (To-pher Grace) is looking to take Peter’s job. However, the greatest conflict is within Pe-ter himself. As he prepares to ask Mary Jane to marry him, he is consumed by a black symbiote from a foreign planet. The new spirit gives Peter a black Spider suit giv-ing him additional strength, but also revealing his dark, evil side. Soon upon discov-ering his wrong, Peter trav-els to nearby church and rips the suit and its power over him, off, the remains of the symbiote attack a distressed Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), giving him the super powers resembling all the bad sides of Spider-man. He soon be-comes the infamous Venom.

In order to seek re-venge on Peter Parker for wronging him, Venom teams up with the Sandman, an es-caped convict named Clint Marko played by Thomas Haden Church culminating in a thrilling battle scene ending .

In a quality movie such as this one, there is little to find fault with, but there was an excess amount of small humor scenes, most of which should get a chuckle but draw away from the se-riousness and passion behind the story. Also, those who are die-hard fans of Venom in the comic books may be disappointed by the ending. All in all, Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire, and the rest of the cast has thrown anoth-er knockout punch to the rest of its summer movie com-petition, even the third time

around; Spider-man continues to please. This movie can be appreciated by all different types of movie fans, whether they enjoy love stories, action movies, or com-ing-of-age, the-matic flicks. I was thoroughly impressed with the film in ev-ery aspect and I only wish it was way longer. Spidey fans can rejoice and the only thing left to do is wait and hope for a fourth. No doubt five stars.

8VarietyMay 2007

Falconaire

By Michelle Conde Staff Writer Inspired by www.glamour.com/horoscopes

Horoscopes

It’s a Nick ThingBy Matt Conte Staff Writer

GeminiMay 21 – June 20Happy birthday, Gemini! What a better birthday present than the attraction of the opposite sex! It may be the glow of the candles on the cake, but this particular month, there is a cer-tain spark in your desirability. Enjoy the spotlight and work your magic!

CancerJune 21 – July 23Cancer is the busy bee of the month. It might feel like you need an entire army to get all your work done, but stick it out and learn to swim with the tides. However, do not over-work yourself. Splash around while you are at it – you will need the break!

LeoJuly 24 – August 22This month, you are on a love high, but caution when proceeding: is your special someone who they really say they are? It is a love trifecta with Venus in your sign and Pluto and a new moon in your houses of romance and desire.

VirgoAugust 23 – September 22This month, expect a reward for all your hard work on the job. But that is not all that is expected on the job! The cutie on the job may be bad news for you…especially if you are single. Nice and steady, Venus!

LibraSeptember 23 – October 22Party, party, party! Your charm is amazing everyone so call up some friends and throw yourself a little party! It is time to explore your world, so try and plan a trip you have never been to before. It will open your eyes to new ideas!

ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21It is fun cracking the whip, isn’t it? At work or at home, nobody is pushing you around this month. However, keep in mind what is im-portant. Prioritize your to-do list and learn to delegate! No one likes a perfectionist!

AriesMarch 21 – April 19Your confidence this month is at full speed, but your patience, however, is running empty. Try to swerve from demanding to asking. It is easy to reach your goal if you just work your charm.

TaurusApril 20 – May 20Dollar signs are flashing everywhere as your financial picture gets a whole lot prettier. Money may be easy, but for single Bulls, love is hard. Dating someone dramatic will only resemble a soap opera!

SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21A whirlwind of parties, fun, and flirtation – this is your best ’07 month yet! Do not let anything bring your momentum down. Right now, a “no-strings” dating situation would best fit your lifestyle and would go with your flow.

CapricornDecember 22 – January 19Ever heard of instant karma? Whatever you do will boomerang right back. Think peaceful thoughts – someone may try to pick a fight with you at home or at the office but just remember: what goes around, comes around.

AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18What freaks out Aquarius more than relationship strife? Answer: nothing. Buckle up for a bumpy love ride. Just keep an open mind until the dust settles you can see things a lot more clearly. Hint: if it was easy, it would not be worth it.

PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20You are dreaming of a two week massage treat here alarm clocks are illegal. Take a mental health day (if not, a week!); your full in-box and 42 unanswered e-mails can wait. Focus on yourself right now and deal with the stress later. Clear your head so you can be ready to take on your battles.

7. What was Doug’s father’s

profession on the show “Doug”?

5. What was the name of Clarissa’s brother on “Clarissa Explains it

All”?

3. Which monster carried his eyes in his hands on

the show “AAAHH! Real Monsters”?

2. What was the name of the group whose members

told the stories around the campfire on “Are You

Afraid of the Dark?”?

A.FreddyB.FergusonC.WilliamD.Wadsworth

From “Doug” to “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”, it seems as though students around Monmouth Regional High School are always reminiscing about the “Golden Age of Nickelodeon.” So let’s take a trip to the past and see how well you really know your classic Nickelodeon.

A.Sporting GoodsB.BeepersC.WatchesD.Clothes

A.Twilight ClubB.Darkness ClanC.Midnight SocietyD.Nightmare Guild

A.Limo DriverB.PhotographerC.AccountantD.Writer

4. What was the power of Alex Mac on the

show “The Secret World of Alex Mac”?

1. What did Helga’s father sell on the show

“Hey Arnold”?

A.She could flyB.She could teleportC.She could turn

into liquidD.She could run at super

speed

9. What was the name of little Pete’s mermaid tattoo on the show “Pete and

Pete”?

6. Who of the following was not a host on the

show “Wild and Crazy Kids”?

A.Annette ChavezB.Omar GoodingC.Rob GeorgeD.Don Jeffcoat

A.PetuniaB.MatildaC.DakotaD.Lanette

8. Who was the original host of

the show “Double Dare”?

A.Marc SummersB.Grant StevensC.Dan WintersD.Tim Roberts

A.OblinaB.KrummC.IckisD.Gromble

An

swer

s: 1

b; 2

c; 3

c; 4

c; 5

b; 6

c; 7

b; 8

a; 9

a

comic cornerVideoGames: The Sourceof Violent Crimes

By Leah Moreno Contributor