HIGHLAND

FLING

NOVEMBER 2012

THE

INSIDE
NEWS
Hurricane Sandy p. 2
FEATURE
Ms. Martins US
History I Honors Class
p. 4
Seniors Sprit Week
Success!
p. 5
OPINION
Christie Conditionally
vetoes Good
Samaritan Emergency
Act p. 7
A&E
Red Album Review
p. 8
SPORTS
The Mind of a Coach
p. 10
Player Profiles p. 11

A Victim of Hurricane Sandy: One of the Adelaide apartments received an unwelcome surprise on the morning after the storm.
(continued on p. 2)

Dont Mess with the Top Hat

Charlotte Finegold

History has always been one of my favorite subjects, so to

me, the prospect of seeing a film devoted to the struggle to pass
the 13th amendment seemed like an awesome way to spend the
Thanksgiving weekend. However, Stephen Spielbergs look
at our most respected president is not just for history buffs.
Lincoln, despite its opening scene depicting a particularly
gross battle between the Union and Confederate soldiers, is no
action movie. The story focuses on debate, not muskets and
cannons. The movie, based in part on Doris Kearns Goodwins
book, Team of Rivals, focuses on the last year of the Civil War.
President Abraham Lincoln has given the Gettysburg Address
and Emancipation Proclamation, and is trying desperately to
pass an amendment which would abolish slavery. The film, like
Lincolns life and presidency, is filled with one moral conflict
after another. Lincoln spends most of the film wondering:
whether passing the 13th amendment in order to end the war is
purely a political move; whether he should accept the Souths
arrogant offers of peace in order to stop the bloodshed; whether
he would be a hypocrite by refusing to allow his son, Robert
(played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to join the Union Army. The
film is not simplified for the audience: one must follow intricate dialogue and speeches to understand Lincolns, and other
politicians reasoning and arguments. It causes the audience to
think themselves, and for a whopping 150 minutes.
The acting of Lincoln was the best of the year. Daniel
Day-Lewis spent an entire year method-acting Abraham Lin-

coln, and the time was evidently well spent. Every step, every
look, every word (high-pitched and squeaky) was Lincoln. I
frequently forgot that I was watching acting at all it seemed
so real. Day-Lewis conveyed Lincolns serious, plodding, and
incredibly burdened existence, which the president attempted to
lighten with stories and quotes from his favorite authors. Sally
Field (Forrest Gump, Mrs. Doubtfire) put her all into Mary
Todd Lincoln, displaying the first ladys mental instability, her
unabashed nature, her grief at the death of two sons, and her
shame at making her husbands life more difficult. The string
of politicians elucidated the turbulent political atmosphere and
racism of the Civil War. Tommy Lee Jones (Men In Black, No
Country for Old Men) was an excellent Thaddeus Stevens,
conveying the veteran politicians impatience at the stupidity of
younger congressmen and the retrogressive nature of Congress.
The ever-magnificent David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good
Luck, the Bourne trilogy) captured Secretary of State William
Sewards growing loyalty to and frustration with the president. As for the directing, Mr. Spielberg applied his staples a
dramatic soundtrack, intricate effects and costumes to a new
project with fantastic results.
Lincoln can teach the modern teen about the extraordinary
intelligence and bravery of President Lincoln and his support
staff, and about political gridlock and efficacy. No doubt it will
hang around in theatres for a while.

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

NEWS
Hurricane Sandy Hits Highland Park

Clockwise from top left: a tree fallen across the entryway of the Adelaide apartments; the
middle school gym, filled with desks, to accomodate the high school and middle school;
the remains of a fallen tree on Grant Ave; lucky cars; branches litter the ground next to
the Highland Park Police Department.

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

FEATURE
Local Love

November: Thanksgiving Edition

Andrea Boffice
November is probably the most well-known month for food because of the wonderful (food-filled) holiday of Thanksgiving. You probably did not realize it, but when you are
eating the food of the Pilgrims on the fourth Thursday, you are also eating foods that are in season. When the Pilgrims settled, they could not go to the store and buy canned
peaches like we can, so they used what was growing around them. From potatoes to yams, apple pie and even your stuffing, Thanksgiving dinner is truly a reflection of November.
While you are with your relatives giving thanks to your food and family, maybe you can spare a thank you for the farmers who grew your food.

Foods in Season for November:

Apples
Artichokes
Avocadoes
Beets
Bok Choy

Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery

Chestnuts
Cranberries
Kiwis
Pears
Pomegranates

Potatoes
Swiss chard
Turnips
Winter squash
Yams

Apple Pie

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Apple pie is one of the signature pieces
of Thanksgiving and American culture in
general. Each person has an idea of the
perfect crust: you can make your own, but,
for a product in a short amount of time,
buy a premade crust. You can use different
types of apples for different tastes and textures. I recommend Granny Smith, Pink
Lady, Fuji, and Gala, but most apples will
work in a pinch.
Ingredients:
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons flour
6 cups of peeled, cored and thinly sliced
apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter
1.Preheat oven to 425.
2. Butter pan and line a 9-inch pie pan
with half the dough, or the premade pie
shell.
3. Combine the brown sugar with the cinnamon and flour and toss with the apples
and lemon juice. Pour mixture in pie crust.
4. Roll out dough for the top of the pie
and cut out vents. Place over the fruit and
pinch into place.
5. Bake the pie for 10 minutes, then
reduce the temperature to 350F. Bake for
35 to 40 minutes longer or until the pastry
is golden brown.

Vegetarian Stuffing

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Its always good to accommodate to
different types of eaters when all of your
extended family comes together, because
of all the Thanksgiving foods, no one
wants to miss the stuffing. This stuffing
tastes goods for vegetarians and omnivores alike! Maybe instead of stuffing it
in the usual turkey, you can stuff it in a
vegetable, such as acorn squash. Feel free
to include your favorite type of nuts, or
abstain from nuts all together. Craisins
are another good addition. If you want
to make non vegetarian stuffing you can
use chicken broth, add pieces of chicken,
turkey, or sausage.
Ingredients:
5 6 pieces whole wheat bread cut into
cubes
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups of vegetarian broth
2 stalks of celery, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 apple, chopped
1 cup of mushrooms, diced
1 cup of pecans (or walnuts) chopped
1 Tbsp of Bells Stuffing Seasoning or
a combined Tbsp worth of sage, oregano,
thyme and rosemary
Salt and pepper

1. Spread out bread pieces on acookiesheet and bake bread pieces at 375 for
about 5 -10 minutes, stirring it occasionally.
2. Move toasted pieces to a separate bowl
and add nuts.
3. In a pan, saut diced onions, mushrooms and celery with olive oil. Once
onions are soft, add chopped apple.
4. When the apples have softened some,
add the vegetable broth and stuffing seasoning.
5. Pour veggie broth, onion and apple
mixture over bread, nuts and stir until well
combined and bread is evenly moist.Add
more broth or water if necessary depending on preference.
6. Gently mush your stuffing with a potato
masher or a spoon.
7. Cover and cook at 375 for about 20
minutes.

Above: Americas favorite dessert. The twist is in the ingredients.

Candy Apples

Cooking time: 1 1/2 hours

These are not the cheap, red, hard,
candied, stale apples that are sold in the
store. If you use crispy, in-season apples
with this gooey caramel, the result will be
delicious. You can put other things on the
apples like chopped nuts, dried fruit, dried
cranberries, candy, sprinkles, or chocolate.
Ingredients:
1 1-pound box dark brown sugar
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, room
temperature
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup dark corn syrup
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 medium apples
1. Combine first 8 ingredients in heavy 2
1/2-quart saucepan.
2. Stir slowly over medium-low heat until
sugar dissolves, about 15 minutes.
3. Increase heat to medium-high and stir.
4. While caramel cools, line 2 baking
sheets with foil; butter foil. Push 1 chopstick into stem end of each apple. Set up
decorations.
5. Holding chopstick, dip 1 apple into
caramel.
6. Place coated apple on prepared foil.
Repeat with remaining apples.
7. Chill apples on sheets until caramel
is partially set, about 15 minutes. Lift 1
apple from foil. Using hand, press pooled
caramel around apple; return to foil. Repeat with remaining apples.
8. Firmly press decorations into caramel;
return each apple to foil.
9. Cover and chill.

Above: stuffing that will please your entire dinner party, not just the vegetarians.

Above: a healthier approach to this childhood favorite.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

FEATURE
First Year of High School: Sophomore Year?
John Yang

As all students of Highland Park resettle

into an altered school routine - with a
brief intermission courtesy of Hurricane
Sandy - a daunting realization has swept
across the sophomore class; this year is
nothing like the last. For those sophomores who are sitting in Mrs. Martins
US History I Honors class this year, your
upperclassmen send their regards to you.
Good luck! As a veteran of the course, I
can promise that you are definitely going
to learn, but you are going to work hard
for that knowledge. But dont worry, one
day you will look back on those sleepless
nights, sitting into the most silent hours
of the night, mulling over every single
detail, cursing yourself for not starting the
assignment sooner, and remember it as the
true beginning of high school.
Freshman year is akin to waddling

course. A student in this class will find

knowledge that extends far beyond the
history of the United States; he/she will
find the work ethic required for the future
and a course that will truly test his/her grit
in the face of hardship.
By now this years sophomores with
Ms. Martin have survived their first chapter overview and the infamous Native

highlighting every other big word is not

going to cut it anymore. The message is
simple: as the difficultly level increases,
you must spend more time and effort
on your work. You can no longer write
for the sake of filling up the paper; you
instead write to explain and to persuade
with a purpose. You can no longer take
notes for an easy grade; you take notes

John Yang represents the grueling but rewarding burden of US History I Honors.

Well, I saw the first two

blank columns and I
thought that was a lot of
work;, then I realized it
was like ten pages of blank
columns we were suppose
to fill in completely.

Expectations are getting

higher, and you must
meet it - when you do ...
well, theyre just going to
get even higher.
- Ms. Martin

- An anonymous sophomore
lazily through shallow waters unwittingly
close a steep drop. Some may hear of the
existence of this fall from the passing
words of upperclassmen and friends, but
not much thought is generally given to
it. The more ambitious among them may
swim dangerously close to this drop with
Mr. Krugers Honors Biology class, but
the workload that weighs down the older
students simply does not exist there. Yet
come sophomore year, all previous beliefs
about the ease of high school abruptly
vanish from the unsuspecting students
minds when they step into their sophomore honors classes unprepared. The
sharp fall has come, and woe to the ones
who are not equipped for it; for they will
plunge a long way into the abyss before
they have a chance to retain a grasp on
their school life. For many sophomores
this year, this is the first time in their
lives that they will be expected to do so
much in so little time, to have to study a
subject for hours and still feel unprepared,
to glean bits and pieces of information
from a insanely dense block of text even
after losing interest. No class personifies
this higher expectation of students better
than Mrs. Martins US History I Honors

was when they first started her course,

they departed her class with more than
just knowledge of American history; they
left her class with the work ethic that will
set the foundations required for the work
ethic one needs in AP courses in the latter
two years of high school, and eventually,
college.
With all this in mind, what exactly can
you do if you are falling behind in said
class? You must unlock the gateway to
your mind and build an internal, strong
work ethic. The old habit of glancing over
the scribble you call notes minutes before
a test and still pass must be eliminated
completely to make room for a new normal of in-depth preparation. The tradition
of highlighting your handouts for the sake
of looking busy must be disposed of and
replaced with reading and annotating with
an active mind. Shallow reading the text
answers and interpretations cannot define

Americans Packet - a mere taste of the

work ahead of them. Many may have just
barely squeaked by, and perhaps there are
even a rare few history buffs that excelled,
but for those who are falling behind and
overwhelmed by the work, what can be
done? It may be surprising to know that
despite the reputation this course has
gained in Highland Park, it is not the monstrous dispenser of failing grades that one
might expect. It is, simply put, the first of
many rising of the standards one should
expect from high level courses for the rest
of high school and beyond. The workload
may seem cruelly heavy, but its aim is to
convey a better work ethic to students.
It surprises many new sophomores that

because the information is so thick that

without notes one will inevitably fail.
When asked for her thoughts on the
apparent infamy her sophomore Honors
class has gained among underclassmen
pretty much every year, Mrs. Martin
answered, Its wonderful. She says that
she loves what she does and although
incoming students may feel scared,
intimated and very likely unprepared,
she hopes that the reason that they took
an honors class in history is because they
have a genuine interest, or perhaps even
a passion for it. Ask any upperclassmen
who has taken this class, and after a few
quips, most upperclassmen will tell you
that no matter what their interest in history

your work; you must go deeper to read

in between the lines for what the author
implies, then even deeper still to find the
purpose and reason behind the writing.
From the simplistic common words of
Thomas Paines Common Sense to the
old dense writing of John Winthrops A
Modell of Christian Charity, you must
apply yourself fully. All of these writings
are famous for a reason, and are brimming
with implications and purpose that a quick
skim can never hope to exhume. Take
your work seriously, even if you do not
plan on a career as a historian, hard work
is a fundamental part of life. Instead of
desperately trying to finish that chapter
overview in the small hours, build up a
more responsible work ethic. You will
thank yourself in junior and senior years
and beyond high school.

Fearless? More Like Senseless

Amy Wang

If someone ever asked me to jump down

from 24 miles above the Earth for ten
gazillion dollars, he (or she) would
receive a resounding, No! Are you
crazy? followed by a look of disbelief.
On Sunday, October 14, 2012, however,
Austrian skydiver and daredevil Felix
Baumgartner shattered all the records in
the official book of crazy people, along
with the sound barrierand he did it for
free. According to The Huffington Post, as
the climax of Red Bull Stratos seven-year
project, Baumgartner floated twenty-four
miles away from earth in a capsule
attached to a thin helium filled-balloon;
in order to lift just Baumgartner and his
pod, the balloon needed to be fifty-five
stories high (remind anyone of Up by

any chance?). After a few long hours of

ascension, Felix could see earth from the
height of satellites and was ready to jump.
Although he seemed calm enough before
stepping off the pod, the risks involved in
one step off the capsule would have turned
even the most daring daredevil back. For
example, if Felixs spacesuit even touched
the capsule as he fell, it would have ripped
open and left him without oxygen and in
up to negative 70-degree temperatures for
the duration of his fall. For a professional
daredevil, however, beating all the odds
is a part of the job description and that is
exactly what happened.
A few seconds into his descent,
Baumgartner began tumbling uncontrollably, spinning and twisting violently.
When I was spinning the first 10, 20 sec-

onds, I never thought I was going to lose

my life, but I was disappointed because
Im going to lose my record. I put seven
years of my life into this, he recounted to
The Huffington Post. Yet, he was able to
stop turning a few seconds later and continue his fall without any further disturbances. At 5,000 feet above ground, Felix
opened his parachute and landed safely
on his feet in the New Mexico desert after
a fall of over nine minutes. Thousands
cheered at his success and when asked
about his experience, Baumgartner replied
enthusiastically, Sometimes we have to
get really high to see how small we are.
The one record he did not break on this
jump was the longest time spent in freefall; he fell short of Joe Kittingers record
one minute and fifteen seconds. Uninten-

tionally, Baumgartners jump landed on

the sixty-fifth anniversary of a jets first
success in breaking the sound barrier.
How did Felix Baumgartner come to the
point in his life where he willingly jumped
126,720 feet off a balloon? Well according
to his biography on the Red Bull Stratos
site, he began skydiving and dreaming
to break records at the age of sixteen. In
1988, he partnered with Red Bull Stratos to achieve his dream of achieving
new heights. Want to follow Fearless
Felix in his path of being a professional
daredevil and spend over four minutes in
a never-ending roller coaster drop? Suit
yourself; Ill just watch your antics from
the comforts of my couch and a bag of
potato chips.
OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

FEATURE
Spirit Week: Seniors Secrets to Success
1

1 - The Class of 2013 as Freshmen

2 - Daniel Padgett and Michael Ehrlich as sophomores
3 - Florie Bicaj, Melshawn Taylor, and Anna Nedashkivska as juniors
4 - Seniors celebrating their third Spirit Week victory. Back row
(from L to R): Thulani Hove, John Marin, Homero Balbuena; front row
(from L to R): Jacob Ervin, Elvin Rivera, George Chavarria,
and Tyler Morris.
Photo Credits: 1 - Jacqui Psolka; 2, 3, 4 - Sarah Rozaidi

Gregory Burdea

The Senior Class, a.k.a. the Class of 2013, has now won
Spirit Week three out of four times, along with taking
the gold for Spirit Hall all four years. Intrigued by their
success, The Fling asked senior members to spill their
secrets to success:

Take Spirit Week seriously (it takes like one minute to

find something related to the theme), because 500 points
is half of the win. Be the best class ever. And, most importantly, win. John Yang
Peer pressure; hassle enough unenthusiastic students,
and theyll comply . . . add in a bunch of reasonably creative and determined individuals to work on Spirit Hall
and you have a recipe for victoryCasey Horne
People bringing in extra stuff [for others to get points].
Were really good at that.Will Callahan

I think one of our secret strategies is making sure we

have as many 3-dimensional props as possible. We also
make sure we have a lot of artistic people that participate. And we build everything which gains the appreciation of the judges Maggie Crisafulli
Something that comes to mind about spirit hall is
remembering to bring in extra props/reminding others to
bring in extrasGigi Ager
As a class, were great under pressureJessica Reyes
Have an extraordinarily alpha and impressive individual on your team. Anyone named Alex Vanarthos will do
Alex (of course)

The worse it seems and the less organized you are, the
better it will be. Pressure will pull everything together. Be
a diamond grade in the rough. BE THE ALADDIN OF
CLASSESAriel Glueck
I believe that for one week, our class came together as
a whole, and there has always been that group of about
20 students who has awesome imaginations, and the best
artists that bring it to life. I believe that we have always
tried to bring out every detail in our hallways. We stay
after every day and do work at home. Also, I love how
the students that would not usually participate, give in
and dress since the rest of the class is so pumped up.
Also our class has one crazy advisor with lots of energy
Ms. Harper (the advisor for the Class of 2013)
Every Spirit Week, the senior class has united to compete and prove ourselves as deserving of sweet victory.
Next year, who will claim the throne?

What Are You Thankful For?

Sarah Cheng

Autumn is not only the season of harvest, crunchy

leaves, and pumpkin pie, but is also the season of thanking others. Our modern holiday traditions have, however,
evolved greatly from the original celebration in sevenTHE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

teenth-century Plymouth Colony. While many families

today do not celebrate harvests or hold a religious link to
this holiday, one component has stood the test of time
the act of giving thanks. Nonetheless, even this factor can
vary from person to person depending on their point of
view. This year, The Fling interviewed several different
HPHS students and faculty to find out what different
people are thankful forwe received many interesting
answers.
The most popular and obvious response to the inquiry
is summed up very well by Seor Estebans one word
reply: family. This answer is understandable because
family is an important aspect of everyones lives and
is the basis of our support system. Another common
response was friends, because they are the foundation
of our social lives and can connect to our experiences.
Freshman Adriana Diaz says that she is thankful to have
a shelter, a family that loves and cares for her, and
friends (they know who they are) who are always supportive. Sam Guerrero, sophomore, on the other hand,
is thankful for simply being alive, being able to live
every day to its fullest, and being able to see everyone he
cares about. Emily Merino, junior, is thankful for having
two amazing parents who have persevered and given
her everything they can to make her happy. She is also
thankful for her family, siblings, and friends who have
always been there for her. Finally, Will Callahan, senior,
is thankful for his education, friends and family. He is

especially thankful for his new baby cousin and the men
and women who serve and protect this country.
As Thanksgiving approaches, students should begin to
think about which aspects of their lives they value the
most and how grateful they are that these
opportunities are available to them. On the
fourth Thursday of the month,
you hopefully paused in your
eating to remember what
we have; after all,
we should be
thankful
for

simple things
like family and
friends every day.
What are you
thankful for this
year?

FEATURE
New Year, New Faces
and soccer. Ive always put a lot of importance on sports I take them seriously. At
the moment, I play varsity soccer, and I
will certainly try out for varsity tennis.

Rucha Phadtare & Stefana Voicu

There has been an influx of new students
in the Highland Park School District this
year, and several of these new faces have
made an appearance in the high school.
The Fling got to chat with some of these
students and learned a bit about who they
are.

Highland Fling (HF):Tell us one interesting/unique fact about you.

EB: I like paragliding and Ive done it
before in the Alps. Also, Ive traveled a
lot; Ive been to Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy,
among other countries.
SG: I practice cultural dancing and Im
looking to take classes here too, outside of
school.
PT: I enjoy making origami and have
been learning since I was in first grade.
DZ: I care about other people and I have
always liked in whichever way I can.
In Mexico, I was involved in a program
that helped special-needs kids, and I am
continuing this in HP by participating in
Buddy Ball.

Highland Fling (HF): Why did you

move here?
Emmet Brennan (14): We moved to
Highland Park because my mom had been
working at Rutgers for two years and the
commute was too inconvenient.
Sushma Gangisetti (13): My dad
transferred to Rutgers for his job. He is a
researcher.
Pavan Yecham Thella (16): My dad decided that he wanted to work as a pharmacist in his friends business, in Manhattan.
He thought that the schools were good in
this area, so we moved here.
Daniel Zendejas (13): I moved to Highland Park to make my last year of high
school abroad, to have the experience of
living in a different culture, and to expand
my possibilities of going to college in the
U.S.
Highland Fling (HF): Where did you
move from?
EB: I lived in Colts Neck, which is by the
seaside. Its in Monmouth County.
SG: I lived in College Station, Texas.
PT: I moved from a small city called St.
Catharines, which is about 15 minutes
away from Niagara Falls.
DZ: I come from Zamora, located in
central-western Mexico very close from
Guadalajara.
Highland Fling (HF): What was it like
where you came from and how does it
compare to here?
EB: Colts Neck is a much larger town
than Highland Park. Theres more open
land there and larger properties.
SG: The weather was a lot different in
Texas. It was much hotter there. Also, the
school there was much larger; my class
had something like 600 people. I liked the
bigger class better because it meant that
students had more opportunities, like more
class options, since the school had better
funding.
PT: I lived in that city for about 9 years.
Same school, same house, and I wasnt
really used to change, and didnt know
what to expect. After I moved here in July,
I realized that this is city is very similar to
my old one, very quiet and friendly.
DZ: My hometown is small city on the
countryside in a valley located close to
major cities. It is a very peaceful, very
green city (with a lot of trees and less

Clockwise from top left: Daniel Zendejas, Pavan Yecham Thella, Emmet Brennan,
and Sushma Gangisetti

pollution). Also, it is a very family-oriented city. It is very similar to HP in all

these aspects, but the main difference is
the climate the temperature there was
temperate, without the great fluctuations
between very hot and very cold weather
we see here. Another major difference I
notice is that the U.S. society is composed
of a mix of a wide variety of cultures, unlike in Mexico, and consequently, I have
gotten to know many people with different
views of life and ways to live it.
Highland Fling (HF):What is your
background/nationality?
EB: My family is originally from Germany, from a town located near Kln. I used
to speak German, but I am no longer fluent because I havent practiced speaking it
for about four years. We occasionally visit
during the summer.
SG: Im originally from India. I was born
there and I came to the US when I was
four years old.
PT: I was born in India, and my family
had moved to Canada when I was about

two. We lived in Canada for twelve years

and now weve come here.
DZ: I am half-Mexican and half-American; my dad is from Mexico City and my
mom is from Pennsylvania.
Highland Fling (HF):What are your
interests/hobbies (sports, instruments,
etc) Will you be continuing then here as
well?
EB: I play soccer and do track and field.
Im playing soccer for the school on the
junior varsity team. I also hunt what is
in season, like deer and rabbits. I enjoy
skiing as well.
SG: I like to travel and shop. In terms of
sports, I tried tennis for a year, and I enjoyed it but it didnt spark enough interest
for me to continue.
PT: Ive been learning how to play guitar
for a few years, and karate for about five
years. As soon as football season ends, I
will continue learning.
DZ: I love to play sports and listen to music. In Mexico, I played competitive tennis

Highland Fling (HF):What did you do

this summer?
EB: I moved here and my family visited
from Germany. I also had a summer job as
a golf caddy.
SG: I moved here and I visited India.
I just relaxed there and caught up with
family and friends.
PT: In the beginning of summer, I tried
hanging out with my friends as much as I
could, and my family had started packing.
By the end of July we moved here, and
finished settling in by the start of school.
DZ: This summer I went with my family
to the Puerto Vallarta beach resort and
stayed for a week. I also spent two months
in an intensive tennis course I trained
every day and as a result, I have improved
a lot. And after all this, I came to HP and
spent a lot of time in NYC.
Highland Fling (HF):What are you
looking forward to you high-school
career at HPHS?
EB: Im looking forward to competing in
track and field and participating in Model
UN.
SG: Im looking forward to getting to
know people, especially since a small
school means a more tight-knit community.
PT: I would like to play football and do
track and field for all four of my years in
HPHS. I might end up trying out different
sports and clubs as soon as I get used to
everything here.
DZ: I am looking forward to finishing
high school and to feel more confident and
responsible, so I can go to whatever college I chose ( maybe in the U.S. or back
in Mexico) and be more prepared. I would
like to major in sustainable architecture or
civil engineering.

Not Just an Assembly

Elena Weissmann
What, exactly, is cyberbullying? The
Merriam-Webster dictionary cites it
as the electronic posting of meanspirited messages about a person, while
Stopbullying.gov, a federal government
website, defines it as simply bullying that
takes place using electronic technology.
Whatever the definition is, many students
seem to agree that cyberbullying does,
indeed, occur at Highland Park High
School.
Out of a poll of fifty students, only
sixteen disagreed, stating resolutely that
cyberbullying never transpires at HPHS.
One student surveyed, Ben Goldstein,
junior, commented, People interpret
certain things as cyberbullying that are
not actually cases of cyberbullying.
The problem here is that many people in
the school have different opinions about

the exact definition of the word while

some believe it has to include concrete,
cruel behavior in order to count, others
interpret it as including anything hurtful
said online, whether jokingly or not.
No-one really thinks its cyberbullying,
everyone just thinks its funny. But its the
little things that end up hurting people,
another junior, Bryce Eato, remarked.
Either way, thirty-four students polled
out of fifty answered either yes or
maybe when asked if cyberbullying
occurs at HPHS which means there are
people in our school getting their feelings
hurt by someone online, even if it may be
unintentional. As Bryce said, it may be
the little things that are hurting people
comments meant as jokes that end up
meaning more than that. As a Facebook
user myself, Ive come across more than a
few statuses that are clearly aimed at other
people; it may be healthy to vent, but it is

not acceptable to publish these comments

online if they will hurt someone else.
Another example of cyberbullying is when
people post pictures of others that are
embarrassing or degrading in some way.
This can cause extremely harmful effects
not only is the person being bullied very
upset, but future colleges/employers may
be able to track down this picture and use
against the person in question. The picture
you post jokingly could end up ruining
someone elses life, and all for what a
short laugh? This type of cyberbullying
does occur at HPHS: During Spirit Week
there was a really bad picture put up of
someone who didnt know about it. The
person was very hurt and embarrassed,
Jessie Dominick, a senior, reported.
On the other hand, I know that many
people at the high school are not actually
trying to hurt anybody when they joke
around on social networking sites such as

Facebook. Usually, people only intend to

make a joke or a connection with friends,
but people just get hurt in the process.
It is hard to convey mood or tone in a
comment or status, and many people often
misunderstand whether the perpetrator is
purposefully trying to be vicious or not.
Theres a thin line between joking and
bullying, especially online when tone
cannot be heard.
HPHS students just need to watch what
they post and make sure nothing could
be interpreted as hurtful or embarrassing.
You need to check what you write before
you post it would you be willing to
say the same thing in person? If not,
its definitely not a good idea to post it
online, where almost everybody in the
community can see it. The laugh you may
get out of friends when you crack a mean
spirited joke online is really not worth the
pain you may be causing for others.
OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

OPINION
Food for Thought
One out of every eleven people in New Jersey goes hungry
every night. More than 764,000 people go to bed with an empty stomach. These numbers, coupled with the number of victims of the recent hurricane that devastated the region, yield
a nasty combination. Entire towns have been wiped outlives
have been completely changed. Damages from Hurricane Sandy
may total up to more than $50 billion. This year, the Highland
Park DECA chapter is supporting the Community Food Bank of
New Jersey. The organization helps fights hunger and poverty
throughout the state by distributing food and groceries, providing education and training, and developing new programs to
help people with low incomes meet their basic needs. They act
as the central food distribution center for other non-profits in NJ
that serve individuals, soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters.
In this time of need, the community needs our support more
than ever. Last month, DECA sold ghosts that scared away hunger. Each ghost cost a dollar and was displayed with the donors
name in Center Hall. Fret not! You can still help. At the end of
the month, November 28th, DECA is planning a walkathon. The
minimum donation required for participation is $5, but you are
encouraged to raise more money. See Oscar Lee or Nina Xue for
more info. Help stomp out hunger!

Cowardice with a Death Toll

Oscar Lee

On October 5, 2012, Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed Bill A578/S851, the Good Samaritan Emergency Response Act. First, a special thanks should go out
to our own Assemblymen Patrick Diegnan, Jr. and Peter
Barnes III for responding to Highland Park High School
SSDPs efforts and co-sponsoring the Good Samaritan
bill.
This bill provides legal immunity to those who call for
medical help on behalf of overdose victims. Students for
Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) defines Good Samaritan
policies as, Life-saving measures that enable people to
make responsible decisions by shielding them from punishment when they call for medical help during an emergency relating to alcohol or other drugs. Since the threat
of punitive policies can often cause hesitation during
confusing and stressful party situations, the existence of a
Call 911 Good Samaritan Policy (GSP) is essential to ensuring that people are able to stay alive and receive help
when they are in trouble. The main objective of GSPs is
not to reward or congratulate those who decide to call for
help for a friend is in trouble. Rather, the objective is to
enable and empower people to make that decision when
they would otherwise hesitate. It is a preemptive policy
that promotes responsible behavior rather than a reactive
policy that rewards responsible behavior after the fact.
People die without these policies. According to The Atlantic, most deaths occur one to three hours after a drug
user has ingested or injected, presenting witnesses with

an opportunity to seek medical help. But only between 10

percent and 56 percent of people who witness an overdose call for assistance. Most hesitate because they fear
arrest and drug charges.
Good Samaritan policies are not about the right or
wrong aspect of drug usage; that is beside the point.
Someone has made the personal choice to do drugs. As
a result, he or she has overdosed. Should that person be
allowed to liveor die? That is the question posed. This
is not a partisan issue; this is a human issue, about the
importance of human life. Governor Christie wants an
18-month study on overdose reporting. In 2009 alone,
more than 700 NJ residents died from overdoses. If Governor Christie gets his way, we will be without a Good
Samaritan Law for one and a half years.
Our own Ms. Harper has even been affected by the
lack of a Good Samaritan law. A former student of hers,
who decided to experiment with harder drugs with his
friends, ended up overdosing. His friends, frightened of
the consequences, then put his limp body on a computer
stool and rolled him down the street, to avoid blame.
If 911 had been called immediately, he would not have
ended up in the vegetative state he is now in. He was 19
when he overdosed. As Katharine Celentano, Secretary of
SSDPs Board of Directors, so eloquently put it, Governor Christies actions reveal cowardice with a death toll.
How many more lives should be thrown away?

What: Our Town, as performed by the HPHS Drama Department

When: November 29th, 30th, and December 1st
Where: Bartle Elementary School Auditorium
How: Reserve your tickets online (for the first time!) at hpdrama.org,
or buy your tickets at the door.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Red Hot
Xuewei Ouyang
Taylor Swift, the country star, charged
back into the music scene with her new
album, Red. Although she has been slowly
leaking singles from the album over the
past few months, the hype for the entire
album did not diminish. In fact, her
album shot straight up the iTunes charts to
the number one spot in thirty-one different
countries. Swift has already made a name
for herself in the music industry, but what
is it about this album that makes it so popular? The answer: its widespread appeal.
In Red, Taylor departs from her typical
country and pop roots to explore a wide
variety of genres, including rock, electronic, and even dubstep. The first song on her
album, State of Grace, clearly shows
Taylors venture into new fields. The
heavy drum set (a little too prominent for
my taste) and lack of acoustic guitar create
an alternative rock sound. Unfortunately,
State of Grace failed to impress me as
its rock-inspired instrumental seemed
forced. The acoustic version of the song
(available on deluxe versions) sounded much better and more natural. The
next song, Red, like State of Grace
combines old and new sounds. Unlike
the previous song, however, although
the catchy, electronic chorus re-e-e-ed
surprised me, it fit pleasantly with the rest
of the song. The chorus added a twist that
distinguished it from her previous pop
hits. Treacherous has hints of Taylors
country-pop roots as well as her creative,
self-written lyrics, but still has an evolved,
matured sound not found in her first few
albums.

I could hardly recognize Taylor in her

next track, I Knew You Were Trouble.
The dubstep and pop sounds characterize the song as a complete 180-degree
turn from her country beginnings. Taylor
clearly hopes to continue her fame and
popularity with her appeal to mainstream
tastes. The next song, All Too Well, as
well as I Almost Do are the only songs
that are reminiscent of her original sound.
My personal favorite, 22, is a quirky
and catchy pop song that follows the trend
of songs that embrace youth like One
Directions Live While Were Young. In
this song, Taylors maturation and growth
is evident as it contrasts with her past song
Fifteen. Also in this album is Taylor
Swifts previously-released hit, We Are
Never Ever Getting Back Together, an
addicting song with humorous lyrics
including spoken lines. The next track in
the album, Stay Stay Stay, has a lovable
ukulele instrumental accompaniment
which contributes to the overall whimsical tone of the song. Her next song is a
collaboration with Gary Lightbody from
the band, Snow Patrol. The Last Time
is an extremely mature track, not only in
sound, but also in lyrics. The other notable
collaboration on her album is with the
famous Ed Sheeran. Together, they create
a simple, yet beautifully raw-sounding
song called Everything Has Changed.
Other tracks on the album include Holy
Ground, Sad Beautiful Tragic, The
Lucky One, and Starlight. The last
song, Begin Again, ends the album well
with its subliminal message about
listening to the album again, but it also
has a mature, experienced tone which

summarizes Taylors journey well. Taylor

starts off hollow and somber but the sound
slowly transforms into wistfulness and
anticipation for the new start. Her career
is bound to soar even higher than expected
before.
In her album, Red, Taylor Swift takes a
risk by expanding to other genres. Gone is

the young teenage girl who crooned about

her broken heart in simple melodies that
nearly all sounded the same. Although her
original country fans may be disappointed,
for the majority, the new album shows that
Taylor Swift is here to stay as the queen
of pop.

Who Needs Swag When Theyve Got Gangnam Style?

Jana Choi
At the HPHS Homecoming Dance,
one song stood out: Gangam Style
drew people to the dance floor where
guys and girls alike danced to the entire
chorus in unison. Yet, aside from the line
Heyyyyyy, sexy lady that had students
singing at the top of their lungs, the lyrics
are completely in Korean, a language the
vast majority of the school doesnt speak.
With huge artists like Ke$ha, Maroon 5,
and Taylor Swift in the music business,
its a surprise how popular this foreign
song has become overnight in the U.S.,
and in Highland Park in particular.
Though K-pop (Korean pop music)
has found its niche audience in the U.S.
over the past couple years, no song has
taken over pop culture like Gangam
Style by Korean rapper Psy (pronounced
Sigh). Perhaps its dramatic success
can be attributed to the dynamic music
video that has gotten 814 million views
and counting. It has surpassed Justin
Beiber and has become the most-viewed
YouTube video of all time. The iconic
dance featuring Psys pantomime of
riding a horse has become just as familiar
and popular as 2007s Soulja Boy
and 2009s Dougie, as was displayed
by all the students who enthusiastically
replicated the moves during homecoming.
But we cannot forget that the lyrics,
though catchy, lose their meaning to those
who dont speak Korean. Many probably
dont realize that Gangnam is an actual
district in Seoul, South Korea, which is
the prestigious equivalent of the Upper
East Side in Manhattan. The video is a
social commentary that jokingly pokes fun
at the popular preconceptions about the
wealthy residents of Gangnam. Between
Psys antics on a party bus with middleaged women and his luxurious sandy
vacation on the edges of a playground,it

is clear that the video is intended to make

us laugh. Psy says of Gangnam, It is
noble at the daytime and going crazy at
the night time. I compare ladies to the
territory. So noble at the daytime,
going crazy at the night time and the
lyrics [of my song] say I am the right guy
for a lady who is like that. However, the
songs message is not what has made it
so sensational in the U.S. So what is that
it factor that has skyrocketed Gangnam
Style to fame and made it the second
most-played song on the radio?
Though sophomore Daniel Park knows
how to do the Gangnam dance and
agrees that the video is funny, he believes
that the song itself is annoying and that
the bandwagon effect is causing it to
become famous for being famous. Senior
Ariel Glueck agrees, saying, Its new
and I think that sometimes people just go
with what other people say is popular and
interesting. Other theories for the recent
Gangnam craze include the idea of foreign
appeal because people see it as exotic and
unusual, according to junior Gabe Trevor.
Even so, the songs popularity seems
to be declining as fast as it rose in the
first place. Some students are citing
overexposure to the song being the driving
force behind their disinterest. Ironically,
the high radio airplay is becoming the
demise of Gangnam Style in addition
to the achievement that brought it fame.
Nonetheless, in the past few months, the
music industry has had to make way for
Psy, his quirky song, and his outrageous
personality as K-pop and Gangnam
Style have wormed their way into our
lives.

Seniors Rachel Kim and Jacob Choi demonstrate some of the moves for Gangnam Style.

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Not Just Your Typical Teenage Drivel
Avantika Yellapantala
As a freshmanit was intimidating,
but by the second and the third day, I
eased into it, recalls HPHS sophomore
Maverick Lin. Indeed, many students are
terrified at the prospect of attending high
school on the first day. Everything is so
different and new, as friends, teachers, and
attitudes all may have changed drastically.
Unlike Maverick, Charlie, from The Perks
of being a Wallflower, could never ease
into the fast-paced high school system
until he meets two seniors who change his
life.
In Charlies day-to-day life, no one has
a cell phone, and mix tapes are a crucial
medium for expressing teen angst the
hazy time frame merely adds to the films
feeling of universality. Charlie (Logan
Lerman) is a reticent teenager who
encounters a seemingly intimidating first
day of high school. He is more unstable
and unsure of himself than the average
entering freshman, mostly because of the
recent death of his best friend. However,
Charlies situation soon lightens up when
he befriends Patrick (Ezra Miller), a
lively, openly gay senior whose biggest
sorrow is that his closeted boyfriend does
not let their relationship go public. The
young woman who completes their little
triangle of misfits is played by Harry
Potter star Emma Watson, who ditches
the academically-obsessed Hermione
for the damaged but perky Sam. Also a

Left, Charlie (Logan Lerman) and Sam (Emma Watson) defy high school norms at a dance.

senior, Sam is Patricks stepsister. The

pair quickly recognizes Charlies outsider
status, and in no time, the three are

inseperable.
Though Charlie thinks hes in love
with the no- nonsense Sam, the drama

is not in whether they become an item.

Its in watching Charlie snap out of his
wallflower cocoon by waking up to the
real romance in his life: the one with his
newfound friends. The movie is toughminded: it zeroes in on Patricks anger
at dating a closeted football star, and it
doesnt let Charlie off the hook for his
cruelty or self-pity.
Directed by Stephen Chbosky (who
also wrote the novel), the film features the
perfect cast for this coming-of-age drama.
Logan Lermans acting flawlessly depicts
Charlies reserved and sweet nature but
still manages to convey his obvious
intelligence. Ezra Miller also does an
exceptional job when it comes to acting
as the quick-witted and gay senior-class
clown known as Patrick.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower contains
some moments of uncomfortable honesty
as well as dream-like wonder. It definitely
contains interest for anybody who would
like to know what its like to grow up in
high school, be it a teenager, parent, or
adult. It depicts the issues, decisions and
consequences that occur in the lives of
teens everyday. Furthermore, you will
be left with the feeling that youve seen
something real, subtle, and touching
instead of the typical teenage drivel in
most movies set in high school. This film
encapsulates Charlies growth in a funny,
emotional drama that will capture the
minds and hearts of those who watch it.

Not Your Usual HPHS Production

Hannah Weaver
Students, parents, and theatrelovers of all shapes and sizes always
anticipate the end of November, when
HPHSs fall drama occurs. This year
is no exception; the Drama Clubs
remarkable production of Thornton
Wilders Our Town is all set to open
on November 29th and should go on
without a hitch. However, several
aspects of the production differ
quite a bit from past years shows.
The play, which centers on daily
life in an ambiguous town, features
a cast diverse in age and quite large
in number. Darcy Thompson, a
sophomore involved in the play, cites
these characteristics as unusual. Its
different, he says, usually the fall
dramas have a smaller cast mostly
made up of upperclassman. That being
said, the diversity of this cast just adds
to its uniqueness.
Another unusual feature involves
the location at which the play will
be performed; due to the current
auditorium construction, Our
Town will be performed at Bartle
Elementary School. Several cast
members, including Jason Rudolph
(junior), and Chris Michael
(sophomore) agree that the location
change should heed positive results
for the play. Its a bit of a hassle
to walk so far to rehearsal, says
Rudolph, but getting to work in
a new environment is an overall
positive experience. Michael agrees,
asserting the seats in the Bartle
School auditorium are so close to the
stage, and surround it on all four sides.
Being able to perform Our Town in
the round makes the show seem more
interactive, at least from an actors
perspective. Riley Ernest (senior)
notes this change as particularly
personal, as his character
THE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

often communicates directly with

the audience. Its really interesting,
because my character interacts
both with the audience and the
other characters onstage. Its been
a unique experience (what with
performing in the round) and Im
excited to see how it turns out.
And its turning out well;
despite the location change, the
general consensus seems to be
quite positive. As Chris Michael
explains, although the differences
this year (as opposed to previous
productions) pose some challenges,
Our Town is coming along nicely!
The technical aspects are looking
up too, according to stage manager
Daniel Gittler (senior). The show
is progressing really well; were
adapting just fine to the technical
differences between the high
school and Bartle [such as different
acoustics and a non-proscenium
stage]. Darcy Thompson agrees,
explaining, The differences make
everything four times harder, but
four times more fun. Our Town is
going to be great! According to
those involved, the Thornton Wilder
classic is definitely not one to miss.
When asked for any last words,
Gittler immediately responded with
Tickets! Tell everybody you know
to buy tickets!

The cast of Our Town rehearsing a marriage scene in the Bartle auditorium. The director, Mr. Presty, stands
and watches (left). Photo by Daniel Gittler.

10

SPORTS
Bruises, Bashes, and Bleeding: The Ballad of High School Sports
hard next year without them especially
Ashley Lozada. Ive learned so much
from watching her play the last two years
and weve made each other better goalies. This was the last year to take on any
of her advice or see what I can do better
by watching her in games. After being
injured, I started to understand what my
fellow players such as Dierra Doyle, Elizabeth Murphy, and others felt like sitting
on the sidelines. Watching a game makes
me want to run onto the field and jump
into goal.

Charlotte Finegold
In every sports season there are triumphs.
There are also, however, many falls,
bruises, breaks, scars, casts, crutches,
and cries of pain. This fall has been no
exception; every contact sports team has
had its share of injuries, which are particularly difficult to deal with on sports teams
as small as HPHSs. If a Varsity player
becomes injured, it is almost impossible
to train another player to fill the vacated
spot. This unfortunate truth, coupled with
high school athletes implacable quest
for glory and pride, leads students to play
through their injuries. I myself suffer
from this irrational frenzy to play. During
this soccer season, I sprained my medial
collateral ligament (MCL) and pulled my
right front quad muscle. For the second
half of the season, I have had to hobble on
my injured legs and my abilities to shoot,
change direction, and take long kicks have
been greatly impaired. I cannot bear to sit
on the bench, so I play. I am not alone:
tennis, football, soccer, and cross country
players have risked their physical health
to challenge themselves and support their
teams. Any high school Varsity athlete
knows how frustrating it is to suddenly
become a spectator.
Highland Fling: Whats your injury?
How did you get it? How has it prevented you from playing this year? How has
it left you feeling frustrated, upset,
angry, etc.?
Name: Danny Sanchez
Grade: 11
Sport: Football
Injury: Punctured pancreas
I normally play Varsity, but one day, JV
needed extra players, so I filled in. I was
going in to tackle a guy, and as I pulled
his legs up to my chest, his cleat got
underneath my padding and punctured
my pancreas. I had no idea then what
happened. I just thought that I had hurt
a few ribs, or something. I went to the
emergency room the next day and had to
get an MRI and a few CAT scans. I had to
stay a whole week in the hospital, then I

Name: Michael Ehrlich

Grade: 12
Sport: Soccer
Injury: Broken fibula
I broke my fibula when I was playing
rugby. I was running with the ball, made
a weird move, and then someone fell on
top of it. I went to the emergency room
that night, stayed there for five hours, and
came out with the diagnosis and crutches. I went to Bermuda for a whole week
after thatwith my crutches. I was out of
rugby and soccer for two months. During
my time off, I felt lazy and fat, and I was
only able to get back to soccer for the last
few games of the season.
Clockwise from top left: Junior Danny Sanchez, freshman Cameron Petkov, senior Michael
Ehrlich (playing rugby)

had surgery (through the mouth) to repair

the damage. The doctors told me that I
couldnt play contact sports for four years.
Thats made me really disappointed and
upset. I cant play basketball or football
until my sophomore year of college.
Luckily I can still run track.
Name: Cameron Petkov
Grade: 9
Sport: Football
Injury: Concussion
I got my concussion during the Dunellen
game. I was hit very hard many times and
found myself under piles of guys with my
head being smashed. It prevented me from
playing the rest of the season, partly due
to the injury and also, since I had had a
previous one, my parents were stricter and

more worried about me playing. It left me

frustrated, but at the same time, Im even
more excited for next season!
Name: Kiara Weinstein
Grade: 10
Sport: Soccer
Injury: Strained Achilles tendon
I got injured in our GMC game against
Bishop Ahr. Then, I made it worse in a
game a few days later after some girl
stepped on the back of my heel. After I
got hurt, I was angry at myself for playing
in the second game because I missed the
chance to play in our states game versus
New Egypt. But after I forgave myself,
I became upset that I was missing our
last practices. This was my last year to
player with the seniors, and its going be

Name: Chris Bray

Grade: 12
Sport: Football
Injury: Laceration on left hand
As I was blocking this kid he fell so I
pushed him over and fell into him, then
someone stepped on my hand and sliced
it open. Because of this injury I was not
able to play in 3 games. I was not able to
put any weight on it and I could not take
any kind of hit to my hand. This injury
has mainly left me feeling powerless. For
two games I had to sit back and watch
my team struggle. It sucked to know that
because of this injury I could not help
them. It also hurt to see my team get our
first win without me. Dont get me wrong
- I was happy we won but it sucks that I
could not be a part of it.

Fall Sports: The Coaching Perspective

Annie McCrone
As many of you know, girls and boys
soccer, football, cross country, and girls
tennis the fall sports are wrapping up.
The coaches for these teams are Mr. Ruckdeschel, Mr. Roig, Mr. McGlynn, Mr.
Stark, and Mrs. Washington respectively.
Having met with each coach individually,
I found some patterns among the way the
coaches approach each season, along with
some surprising differences.
One fundamental question for each one
was, why coaching? While it is clear they
love the sport they coach, all coaches
mentioned their love for competition.
Ruck stated, It fulfills my competitive
nature. Similarly, McGlynn said, I love
the competition. Stark made the point
that coaching is a way to stay with it.
Coaching gives athletes the opportunity to
improve the skills of others.
Respect another factor that everyone always talks about, and my interviews with the coaches revealed similar
thoughts. A couple of coaches mentioned
the importance of giving 100 percent
effort. Ruck explained, My 100% is
always there. Students see that. McGlynn
also mentioned that they [students] have
to know that youre invested 100% in
them. This is the idea that if the coach
cares about the players and the game, the
players will give respect to the coach.
Also, as Roig put simply, I treat them
with respect. This might be the ultimate

hope they get certain things out of the seaanswer. Displaying respect for your playson. For example, Ruck wants his players
ers invites them to respect you in return
to leave the season knowing that they
Building team spirit was an area that I
pushed themselves to the limit. He said,
found to have very different approaches
by coaches. Washington explained that the Youre finding something called will. It
starts with just fighting a little bit harder
girls tennis team sold some HP spiritbecause it feels right. Wash would like to
wear, which brought the girls together.
Roig says that competition within practic- see the girls on the tennis team improve
and, like
es and
Roig,
during
wants
games
them
builds
to have
team
a very
spirit
positive
because
expethe kids
rience.
cheer
Then
for
there
each
is the
other
quesand
tion of
push
what the
each
coaches
other.
want to
McCoach Ruck watches his girls play Dunellen.
get out
Glynn
of the season, and it seems to be the same
is all for getting the team to stick together
even when off the field. The football team thing. As Wash mentions, she hopes that
everyone has fun. Stark said simply,
has lunch together, and they all wear nice
I just like to see my runners succeed.
clothing on Fridays before their games.
When the players are happy with the seaRuck had a different approach, that might
son, so are the coaches.
work just as well: I think you build team
The last thing we touched on was what
spirit by working them out so hard that
the coaches look for in a player. In terms
the one thing that they all have in comof fitness levels, the coaches agreed
mon is that they hate me.Because these
that being in shape is crucial. However,
coaches love the students so much, they

specific requirements depend on the sport.

The academic involvement discussion
was interesting. All agreed that it was
important, but some coaches stressed that
academics take priority. Wash, for example, puts academics and behavior first.
McGlynn said that he believes academics
to come first as well, citing the football
teams tutoring on Wednesdays. In contrast, Ruck, Roig, and Stark all agree that
academics are important, but they tend
to separate it from sports. Ruck said, I
want the grades to be good because I dont
want to deal with the school. Roig does
not hold his players to a specific GPA, but
instead wants to know that his guys put a
lot of effort into their schoolwork. Stark
agrees, and always thinks grades can be
improved.
Looking back at all of the discussions I
had with the coaches, its clear that there
are some varying perspectives; building
team spirit being a perfect example, and
the importance of grades another. However, there are many similar beliefs among
coaches as well, perhaps the most important being in the importance of respect.
These coaches give everything they have
and showing that 100% is what makes
them such great coaches!

OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING

11

SPORTS
Player Profiles
Name: Carolina Acosta
Grade: 12
Sport: Cheerleading
Simone Kusnecov

Carolina is a very hard-working

student, who dedicates her time
after school to cheerleading. She
is captain of the team, and puts in
110% when cheering at football
games.
Highland Fling (HF): When did
you start cheerleading and why?
Carolina Acosta (CA): I started
my sophomore year of high school.
I had done dance before and when
my friend told me to join cheer I
decided it would be fun.
HF: Do you take a lot of responsibility in being head cheerleader?
CA: I guess so. I teach cheers, and
make up routines, and I make sure
that the girls know what Coach
expects of them.
HF: How do you think youve
grown as a cheerleader since you
started?
CA: I didnt really know anything
about cheer when I started. I have
definitely learned a lot through
experience and Im a much more
confident cheerleader than I was

when I first started.

HF: Whats your opinion on the
negative stereotype of cheerleaders?
CA: I definitely disagree with it.
You cant really categorize all
cheerleaders into a specific type of
person. A lot of people assume that
we are empty headed, or simple
minded, but I know that several
girls on the team are in AP and
Honors classes and we care a lot
about our academics. Some of the
girls participate in other sports or
extracurricular activities; we arent
just cheerleaders. So it doesnt
make sense to define us all by the
same stereotype.
HF: Whats something you want
yourself or your team as a whole
to improve on the rest of the
season?
CA: The team has improved so
much already from where we first
started but I would love to see us
more united and confident as a
team.
Above, from left to right: Carolina Acosta, leading a cheer at the Homecoming football game, senior Ariel
Glueck, senior Hannah Weaver, and junior Estephany Reyes.

Name: Daniel Seigel

Grade: 12
Sport: Cross Country
Yang Xu

The Highland Fling: How long

have you been running?
Daniel Siegel (DS): Running
was initially introduced into my
life during my freshman track
season, when some of my family
and friends suggested I try to lose
weight. It never became a serious
part of my life until sophomore
year, during Cross Country season,
though, and it wasnt until very
late in the junior track season that I
realized just how passionate I was
about the activity.
HF: What do you enjoy most
about running?
DS: I most appreciate the vast variety of euphoric feelings associated
with running. Imagine a borderline
narcotic experience at the same
time as induction of a feeling of
progressive covering of distance. It
feels productive, exhilarating, and
relaxing at the same time.
HF: What is your proudest
achievement so far?
DS: My recent 19:45 time best in
a 5k; though I am now down to
a 19:13. Breaking the 20-minute
mark was an achievement indeed,
but peer review and discussion
with friends from other districts
has proved to me that I could still
strive to do tremendously better
and I hope to continuously try and
improve over the course of the
remainder of the season.
HF: How has running affected
your life?
DS: Running has affected me in
three major ways: first and most
blatantly, I lost an obnoxious
amount of weight, losing almost
50 pounds over the course of the

past two years. From a social

perspective, I now have a means
of relating with others, thus a
catalyst for enhancing my position
on the high school social ladder,
per sey. Such helped me overcome
the plague-like epidemic known
as neck-dancing. The years of
shame that have arisen from it will
probably never wane, throughout
our community at least. And lastly,
cross-country and track teams had
finally given me something to feel
truly competitive about. Prior to
my discovery of running, I would
have barely any excuse to even
leave the house. I would practically
play video games nonstop, all day
every day. Running allowed me to
get out of the chair, do something
fun, healthy, and useful. During
some races, I would even find myself getting extremely hyped over
the whole thing, cheering on teammates at the top of my lungs. Prior
to joining the team, I wouldnt
ever have expected myself to act in
such a way.
HF: How do you train for races?
DS: I try to push myself harder
and harder every practice, to the
point where the already massive
standards I have set for myself feel
almost minimal during the actual
race. Stretch a lot, drink plenty of
water, and eat pasta with veggies
the night before a race.
HF: What do you listen to when
you run?
DS: Hardcore Dubstep, what else?
Im up for suggestions of any
genre, but Dubstep always gets my
adrenaline going, thus prolonging
the amount of time it takes for me
to get tired.

THE HIGHLAND FLING, OCTOBER 2012

Above: Dan Seigel listens to his Dubstep as he warms up for a meet.

12

SPORTS
Highland Park Football: A Rebuilding Year
Sylvia Marks
Its natural to look at the record of a
sports team and automatically assume,
This team is really good, if the team
has racked up many wins, or This
team is terrible, if the wins are nonexistent. What many fail to realize is
that a team like the Highland Park High
School football team, a team that has only
won one game all season, may have been
victim not to poor athleticism of players,
but to inexperience and lack of team unity.
Looking back on the games the Owls
have played this year, one can see that
many of the points that have been scored

by Seniors Quatay Nesmith and Na-dre

Hepburn. Hepburn has scored most of the
touchdowns for the Owls this year, and
rushes an average of 87 yards per game.
Much of the Owls offensive juice also
comes from Nesmith, who has made over
30 passing attempts and rushes for an
average of 108 yards a game.
I guess you could say the season was
[full of] of missed opportunities... Senior
Melshawn Taylor commented when
reflecting upon the season. We werent
able to execute and we became a family
too late in the season. When responding
to The Flings questions about how to go
about preparing for next years season,

Melshawn added that It all starts in the

off-season, and, People need to work
hard and not fool around.
Mr. Girvan, head of athletics, also
pointed out that the program in Highland
Park does not have many kids. Referring
to the game on Saturday October 20th in
which the Owls lost 49-23, he mentioned:
Point Pleasant Beach had 50 kids on
their roster; we had 25.
This is not to mention the injury bug
that the team seems to have been infected
with... Jacob Ervin has meniscus tears
in both legs from the game on October
5 against Keansburg (he will receive
surgery after the season), Angelo Odato

was out for some time with a ruptured

elbow, and both Cameron Petkov and
Andy Powell suffered from concussions
during the season. Many younger players
without much Varsity experience have had
to step in.
Luckily, this might be exactly what the
team needsfor those younger players
to gain playing time so that they have the
experience and knowledge of plays to add
to their repertoires, to make for a stronger
team next year and in the years to come!
Below: scenes from the Highland ParkMetuchen game. Photos by Chris Bray.

The Highland Fling

Editors

Chief: Charlotte Finegold

Online: Xuewei Ouyang
News: Oscar Lee
Feature: Amy Wang
Opinion: Maddie Hehir
Sports: Sylvia Marks
A&E: Elena Weissmann
Layout: Stefana Voicu
Advisor
Brett Roche
Photographers
Maggie Dominick, Zoe Temple, Jacob
Choi, Sarah Rozaidi, Chris Bray, Daniel
Gittler, Stefana Voicu

Staff

Writers
Sarah Cheng, Belle Gabel, Boning Zhao,
Olivia Draper, Simone Kusnecov, Grace
Chong, Gregory Burdea, Sam Trub,
Andrea Boffice, Jana Choi,
Shana Oshinskie, Avantika Yellapantala,
Jake Callahan, Maverick Lin, Zoe Temple,
Annie McCrone

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Contact

thehighlandfling@gmail.com
Write, draw, and take pictures for
The Highland Fling!
Come to our next meeting!
OCTOBER 2012, THE HIGHLAND FLING