The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

Issue Number 8 http://somersschools.org/domain/995 Fall 2018 Dr. Seuss’ friends Arrive at SMS!

By Andre Possante you can talk to Mrs. Williams or Tusker Tribune Staff Mrs. Malara and they will get Last Tuesday, Oc- you filled in on the information. tober 23rd, the first SMS Auditions will be held Drama Club Meeting for during the following week on 2018-2019 was held. Everyone Tuesday, Wednesday, and was excited about discovering Thursday. (November 13th, what this year’s play was. 14th, and 15th). The auditorium was Also, when you talk to packed with familiar faces, and Mrs. Williams or Mrs. Malara, new, incoming 6th graders joining they will invite you to the SMS the Drama Family. And then the Drama Schoology Page, where big moment was uncovered. This year, the play you’ll find the Audition Songs, Character List, is... (Drum Roll please!) …The Seussical! and info about what’s going on in the Seussical That’s right, Dr. Seuss’s friends, such as Universe! Horton and The Can in the Hat, are coming to So if you haven’t signed up for auditions SMS! But if you’re not in Drama and you want to yet, and have a passionate for music like me and participate, don’t fret! All you need to do is go to everyone else involved, then what are you waiting Room 111 or downstairs to the band room, and for? Tribute to WW2 Veteran Bob Reidy Girls’ Modified Field Hockey Undefeated And By Joseph Gherardi Tusker Tribune Staff UnScored Upon! Bob Reidy was a World War II Veteran who served for By Kaeleigh Picco many years. He was my neigh- Tusker Tribune Staff This past Friday, Novem- bor. He was a great man who loved tell- ber 2nd, the Somers Girls Modified ing stories of war days, his life as a kid, Field Hockey Team accomplished and he loved to paint. something incredible. Bob would give beautiful paint- After beating the number one Lake- ings to everyone on his block on Lee land Bobcats 3-0 at Somers HighSchool turf Road. Bob lived to be 95 years old. He field two, the team is officially undefeated and his wife Jean were co-founders of and unscored upon throughout the whole season! Deans Pond Association. Bob loved our However, the win was bittersweet visits so much that he had a slate path put in to bridge our for the fourteen 8th graders that will not be adjacent homes. playing for the team next year. Being an Bob went to Cornell University and became a civil eighth grader myself on the team, I think I engineer. He then became a lieutenant in the US Navy. He speak for everyone when I say that this year mostly toured the Pacific Islands. He would tell us about the was a special one, and we couldn’t have times he built the barracks and roads in the Philippines dur- done it without teamwork, determination, and Tusker pride. ing WWII and during which, at times, his unit was under A special thanks to Stacey Lock- enemy fire. He built so much more, such as a 62 year mar- hard, an amazing teacher and coach, team riage with his wife Jean! Bob had so much love for his coun- captains Lauren McCartin and Gretchen try. Gilroy, our goalie Kamryn, and every single His patriotism was contagious. Even at ninety, Bob player, all of whom did awesome. Go Som- was an active member of the Somers Veterans of Foreign ers! Wars. Continued on Page 4 The Tusker Tribune Page 2 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

Somers Cheer Team Rocks Jets/Broncos Game

By: Eva Weinberg Somers cheerleaders' parents. All the parents, Tusker Tribune Staff cheerleaders and siblings ate food for about an On Sunday, October 6th, the Somers hour. cheer teams' grades 3-12 went to MetLife After that, all the cheerleaders had to go stadium to cheer at the Jets-Broncos NFL back into the building where the football players Football game. run out of. They The cheerleaders preformed with many stood back there for other cheer and dance teams which were all led around 20 minutes by the NY Jets’ own Flight Crew Cheerleaders. waiting for the Jets All cheer and dance teams had to be in and Broncos play- New Jersey at the MetLife Stadium by 7:00 AM ers to finish practic- in order to start practicing. All cheerleaders for ing. Somers had to arrive in their uniform. When the The Flight Crew went over the routine players ended their three times with the music. The cheerleaders practice, all the practiced running on the field (before we did the cheer and dance dance) and off the field (when the dance was teams ran onto the done). field. All the cheer- After the Somers cheerleaders finished leaders/dancers practicing, they all went back to the parking lot looked at the crowd where all with smiles across their par- their faces. Some ents were Somers cheerlead- located. In ers were shown on the park- the stadium’s Jum- ing lot, botron! there were After their performance was done, all hundreds cheerleaders and dancers ran off the field. After of people that, all the cheerleaders went up to their seats tailgating where their families were. From that point on, including they enjoyed the game! all the

How is XXXTENTACION Still Releasing Music? The Tusker Tribune is the online Somers Middle By Noah Volkman mored that an entire album will be School Student Newspa- Tusker Tribune Staff coming out by X (which if it does, per. Jahseh Onfroy, A.K.A. you know I’ll be doing a review on It is published weekly XXXTENTACION, passed it). (except during school away June 18, Song highlights of his vacations) on the Somers 2018 after being post-death music include shot several times in the “Falling Down” with Lil Middle School Website. chest in his black Lam- Peep (who is also deceased), It is entirely student- borghini while leaving a “Arms Around You” with written by 6th, 7th and Fort Lauderdale, FL mo- , and Rae 8th grade students from: torcycle shop. Sremmurd member Swae Somers Middle School Although Lee, and “Don’t Cry” with 250 Route 202 XXXTENTACION, also Lil Wayne. None of these Somers, NY, USA. referred to as “XXX” or songs sounded like his style Any SMS student is eli- just “X”, passed almost when he was alive, and all gible to write stories. If five months ago, many have a different style. interested, please e-mail songs have been released “Falling Down” has an emo Advisor under X’s name, and it is -rock-rap fell, while “Arms Dean Pappas at his voice. Around You” sounds like a poppy DPappas The rapper/singer has had Miami-dancehall bop, and “Don’t @somersschools.org music released posthumously with Cry” is a fiery track with pain in other musicians, and honestly, this X’s voice as he weeps, “Don’t cry, music is still amazing. It’s even ru- don’t go….” The Tusker Tribune Page 3 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Hip Hop’s Love of Spongebob By Noah Volkman Tusker Tribune Staff On April 30, 1999, the first epi- sode of SpongeBob Squarepants aired on Nickelodeon. And with the begin- ning of the show, also came the begin- ning of SpongeBob’s rap career. `According to data, the cast of Sponge- Bob has made hundreds of appearances in hip- hop lyrics since the series premiere. So, I de- cided to revisit a few of my favorites. The main character of the show is SpongeBob Squarepants, the energetic fry- cook and jellyfishing enthusiast. The earliest hip-hop reference to SpongeBob was in 2004 on D-12’s “Keep Talkin’.” Since then, SpongeBob alone has been ref- SpongeBob’s best friend Patrick also has a few erenced over 100 times in songs ranging from cameos in hip-hop lyrics. SpongeBob’s neighbor Smokepurpp to Wu-Tang. Producer Izak even and coworker Squidward has several hip-hop sampled SpongeBob’s voice directly as his produc- mentions himself, even though he probably would- er tag, most famously in YBN Nahmir’s “Rubbin n’t be too happy to hear them. Off the Paint.” Other character references include Mr. During an interview on this topic, Izak Krabs and his daughter Pearl. In late 2017, the said, “Like, every time I, like, see reaction videos “SpongeBob Squarepants Musical” premiered on on YouTube and people be like, is that Sponge- Broadway. The play featured musical credits Bob? And then the beat comes and then they’ll be from T.I. and was nominated for a Tony Award for like, ‘Oh! Okay, cool,’ ” he says. Best Original Score. But SpongeBob isn’t the only person in Bi- So it’s safe to say that hip-hop’s love for kini Bottom who’s made it in the rap game. ‘SpongeBob’ is definitely mutual. MISS KNOW-IT-ALL ‘Cell’ - ebrate New Books!

Dear Miss Know-It-All, I'm stressed having to juggle homework, tests By Alex Bian and sports. Any advice on what I should do? Tusker Tribune Sincerely, Staff Miss Stressed Cellebra- tion, Inc. is issu- Dear Miss Stressed, ing new books for chil- I know what you're dealing with. When you dren all about the 101 of have a lot of things to do during the week cell organelles including things can get tough. I know that from my but not limited to the ly- experience, panicking never works. Try cop- sosome, the nucleus, the ing with your problems by taking deep mitochondria, etc. breaths or talking to someone about it. Tell They made two yourself everything is going to be okay and if types of books for chil- it helps just walk away from the problem for dren about plant or ani- brightest children (all the 5 minutes. I hope this advice will help you in mal cells. The books even children in Mrs. Manko’s the future, feel better! have analogies to help the class). Wishing you the best, younger children to un- Sometime soon Miss Know-It-All derstand what the orga- when all the books have nelles do. been completed, the man- MISS KNOW-IT-ALL You may send your There are a varie- ager of the company (Mrs. questions to “Miss ty of analogies from hous- Manko) will distribute rd Know-It-All” at es to Hogwarts and may- the books to all the 3 be even tea mugs. They and 4th graders in SIS. Tuskertribune may look low quality, but Just saying we’re not @somersschools.org each book is made by sponsored or getting any their best and maybe money from this article. The Tusker Tribune Page 4 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Show Your Friends These Tricks! By Sam Sanz How To Make a Gyro-Copter Tusker Tribune Staff People on the 7th grade red Magic tricks are an odd sub- team know this. In this ject. Probably most of you reading trick, you can make a paper this do not know much or any magic helicopter. tricks. I didn’t know any either, but I decided 1. Take a small piece of to search some up. paper (about 4x2in.) The 3 Piles 2. Cut in in half the long way only half the For this trick you need 21 playing cards way (to the middle) and a volunteer. 3. Fold each flap to different sides 1. Fan the cards out facing them. 4. Add a paper clip to the bottom of the non-cut 2. Tell them to choose a card and section to remember that card and put it 5. Throw it in the air and watch the magic hap- back anywhere. pen! 3. Then, split the cards 1 at a P.S The more paper clips you have, the faster it time into 3 piles facing up and spins ask your volunteer to remember How to Win Tic-Tac-Toe (A lot) what pile their card 1. Go First! is in (1st card in 1st pile 2nd card 2. Pick any corner and start there in the second pile and so on) un- 3. If the player goes somewhere else til you have 3 piles of 7 cards. besides the middle, then go from 4. Then ask the volunteer to tell corner to corner until you collect the you which pile their card is in. win. 5. Sandwich that pile in between 4. If he goes to the middle go to the opposite cor- the other piles. ner if your partner draws in a corner, then 6. Do that 2 more times and gather Nerd’s draw in the last corner. You will get the win them up using the sandwich Words 5. If the partner gets a side square after the mid- technique and if you did it right, dle it will end in a tie. their chosen card will be the 11th card in the Whether you want to surprise your friends, pile. yourself or win in tic-tac-toe these tricks will help. Thank you.

Reidy neighbors. We will think of From Page 1 him always, as he left behind While Bob was a resident at The Montrose his stories, paintings, and pat- Veterans Home, he traveled to Washington DC to riotism. be honored with other WWII veterans. The cere- mony was hosted by former US Senator Robert Editor’s Note: Some infor- “Bob” Dole. mation provided by the We were able to spend Bob’s 95 birthday Somers Record. Bob Reidy with him at our annual, “Jean Reidy, Lee Road died on October 10, 2018. Block Party.” He enjoyed listening to children read to him, chatting and catching up with neigh- Veteran’s Day is this com- bors, and being around “family”. His painting of ing Sunday, and is observed The Elephant Hotel adorns our family room wall as a Federal Holiday this and many other walls in the homes of Somers coming Monday.

The Tusker Tribune Staff

Co-Editors Copy Editors Reporters Sara Hanford Noah Volkman William Underkoffler Kaeleigh Picco Sam Sanz Joseph Melillo Andre Possante Eva Weinberg Michael Aiello Andre Possante Feature Editor Noah Volkman Samuel Sanz Photography Editor Alex Bian Allison O’Connor Joseph Gherardi Sports Editor Jesse Manginelli Jesse Manginelli Olivia Soto Natalia Tellez The Tusker Tribune Page 5 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School SMS Spirit Week!

Photos by Allison O’Connor and Natalia Tellez The Tusker Tribune Page 6 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School SMS Spirit Week! 6th Graders Show Their Spir- it!!!!!!!

By Natalia Tellez & Sara Hanford Tusker Tribune Staff SMS spirit is in the air! Especially, in the 6th grade wing and classrooms. On Pajama Day kids were invited to stay cozy and wear their pajamas. 6th grade girls mostly wore either their PJ pants, sweatpants, or onesies. Everyone was saying that it is so cool to wear their pajamas to school because they were so comforta- ble. Color Wars Day was not the first time 6th graders competed against the other grades even though some people in the grade didn’t agree with the colors we had to wear ( Yellow and White). Even though 6th grade did- n’t win, it was still an exciting experience. On Halloween, students wore their costumes and animal ears. Also, people had panda, Doctor Suess, koala, and many more onesies. At least two groups of friends did group costumes. They dressed up as M&M’s and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Throwback Thursday made kids dress up with clothes from the 80’s and 70’s. Less people participated but many girls wore scrunchies, tie dye shirts, leg warm- ers, and high ponytails. On Somers Colors/Pep Rally day, everyone wore any colors they had. People involved in sports wore their jerseys and sweatshirts. For my grade, if people didn’t play sports, they had their siblings' clothes like football jerseys. Spirit Week in SMS is different from Spirit Week at SIS because instead of Superhero Day we have Throw- back Thursday. Also, in SIS costumes were only allowed to be worn for part of the day, in SMS costumes are al- lowed the whole day. Overall, Spirit Week was an awesome experience. Kids went all out dressing up for each special and unique day. Shout outs to Oliva Soto, Jailyn Jurabe, Kristen Strang, and the Wilke-Olsens twins who were all really in spirit each day of the week. 6th grader Deanna De- Camp says, “Spirit week is a fun way that we can all dress up in our unique ways. My favorite day was Hal- loween. I got to dress up and have a great time with my friends.” Make sure to look for photos of students in 6th grade who dressed up during Spirit Week. This spectacu- lar week was a big hit.

Photos by Sara Hanford The Tusker Tribune Page 7 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Rappers’ Words Could Mean Jail Time

By Noah Volkman Take for example. In “Hustlin’” Tusker Tribune Staff he raps, “I know Pablo Noriega, the real Noriega/ Your court rights begin with, “You he owe me a hundred favors,” Rick Ross has never have the right to remain silent” but for met the late Panamanian leader, Manuel Noreiga, many rappers, that right is already lost. saying in a 2006 interview, “I don’t know Noriega In 2010, Lil Boosie was indicted for personally, but I know people who have met Nor- 1st degree murder and prosecutors built a case iega.” against him using his rap lyrics. Prosecutors say At times, but of course not in all cases, hip- specific Boosie lyrics equal intent. hop can be more like the WWE Defense attorneys say it’s just a than UFC. It’s very much an indus- rapper doing his job. Boosie benefit- try expectation that the artist is at ted from his fame and great repre- least trying to maintain an appear- sentation and went on to be acquit- ance of keeping it real. This discon- ted in 2012. nect is what causes us to look at But many smaller artists lyrics differently. About this, Pro- aren’t so lucky. For example, a fessor Dennis says, “I think some judge doubled Dallas rapper YBN people just take the position that NyNizzle’s six-year sentence for dis- they’re just rhymed words over a tributing drugs after citing lyrics beat.” Three specific words are from his song, “Tru Gizzle,” saying what prosecutors hope will link the lines matched up with a sepa- Torrence Hatch to the alleged kill- rate crime that NyNizzle was sus- ing of Terry Boyd. Those words in- pected of, but never charged with, clude ‘187’, ‘murk’ and ‘cake.’ for ambush robbery where a victim Even when the lyrics seem- was shot. Yet these bars, having ingly line up to the crime it’s not so nothing to do with his original drug clear cut. For example, take rapper case, still affected his prison time. Tay-K. The judge cited his song, “The University of Georgia law pro- Race,” recorded and released while on fessor Andrea Dennis notices that the run from two charges of capital “most of these are just average, ordi- murder, as a partial reason for deny- nary young African-American or Lati- ing him bail and it didn’t stop there, no men. And these are cases that may as he was found guilty for these include charges of homicide, assault, charges and is currently serving jail drug distribution, threats or intimida- time for life. On this topic, Professor tion…” Dennis said, “I wasn’t surprised that She was also the author of a the prosecutor argued that “The Race” 2007 study on the practice of rap lyr- is actually an admission or confession ics in court cases. In it she found that to having engaged conduct. Prosecu- “when courts permit the prosecutor to tors often use police officers to explain admit rap music lyrics as criminal the lyrics to juries. Prosecutor Dana evidence, they allow the government to obtain a Cummings presented a Baton Rouge police detec- stranglehold on the case.” Prosecutors can use lyr- tive who said the words ‘187’ and ‘murk’ translate, ics to paint a picture of the defendant and play to and ‘cake’ is slang for money. jurors’ prejudices. “This notion that African- Professor Dennis tells us this isn’t the right American men are aggressive and dangerous and approach because cops can lack the necessary con- hyper-masculine and, in short, criminals or bad text needed to adequately explain these lyrics. men,” Dennis continues. In NyNizzle’s case, the “They’re just saying these are lyrical representa- judge told him that he was “bragging” about killing tions of true life,” she explains. In an interview someone, even though it was just a rap lyric. with in-jail rapper Antwain Steward, he was asked This, too, falls into a pattern of using racial if that since song is just a made-up story, why does stereotypes against rappers, like in the Vonte he write a story like he writes it, and he responded Skinner case in 2008. Prosecutors read 13 pages of by saying, “That’s my lane. I’m in the lane of hard- Skinner’s violent, graphic rap lyrics. These were core rap. That’s just what it is.” lyrics that had been written months and years be- Your court rights end with, “anything you fore the shooting, and prosecutors read them to say can and will be used against you,” and for rap- show Skinner’s alleged propensity for violence. pers like the above-mentioned Twain Gotti, Boosie, However, hip-hop often relies on bravado, story- NyNizzle and many others, that couldn’t be truer. telling and exaggeration, making lyrical evidence questionable at best. The Tusker Tribune Page 8 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School NBA Right Now: It’s a Busy Season!

By Jesse Manginelli until late Tusker Tribune Staff November Los Angeles Lakers ‘superstar play- due to an er, LeBron James, has scored more than ankle inju- 25 points in 7 out of his 10 games in the ry. Devin regular season. He even scored 35 points when the Harris also Lakers played the Spurs. James Harden from the from the Rockets has also had some outstanding stats. He Mavericks scored more than 20 points in 4 out of 8 regular will be back season games and scored 30 or more points in 2 of soon (Nov. his games. 10 proba- Russell Westbrook is also having his fair bly). Isaiah share with amazing games. Russell Westbrook of Thomas of the OKC Thunder got 15 rebounds and 8 assists the Denver against the Celtics. The OKC Thunder are 5-4 as Nuggets of right now. has been The two out since March and will most likely not play for best teams how- the whole season due to his hip. ever are the Some Warriors stars are out as of right Raptors and the now. Andre Igoudala, Draymond Green, and De- Warriors. The Marcus Cousins are all out. Igoudala hurt his calf Raptors 10-1 and will be resting this Monday. Green injured his and the Warri- foot and his return will be day-to-day. Cousins in- ors are also 10-1 jured his Achilles and will be out definitely. Rus- Injuries sel Westbrook of the OKC Thunder hurt his ankle Dirk and his return will be day-to-day. Nowitzki of the Stay tuned for future editions of “NBA Mavericks is out Right Now”. The K-Pop Phenomenon

By Andre Possante Tusker Tribune Staff Well, there comes a time in your life when you learn about very unnecessary hard math. Then there’s the time that you’ll learn about stocks and taxes. And then there will be a time when you learn about K-Pop. Oh wait, guess you’ll be learning about that today! I bet that most of you have heard some- thing about K-Pop. You’ve probably heard about it and said something along the lines of, “Oh isn’t that some dumb Korean type of pop?” Well today, this article is go- ing to teach Second, South Korea is a country up there you all you with the US that has a popular lis- need to know. tened to around the world (K-Pop). First you Third, you might think nobody listens to it, should obvi- but that’s not true. People in America love it, and ously know K-Pop bands like “BTS” and “BLACKPINK” have what it is. K- made songs that have hit high into the Billboard Pop is Korean charts. Some of these songs are:“DDU-DU DDU- Pop. As sim- DU” and “Kiss and Make Up” by BLACKPINK ple as that. “Fake Love” and “IDOL” by BTS.