VOL UME 6 8, Iss UE 4 NOBEMBER 2006 Raising Awareness Courtney Rogers Editor-In-Chief Day. "We chose a date in October be­ Last Friday, Darien High School cause October is Domestic Violence held its first Domestic Violence Awareness Month," stated Colli. Awareness Day. A collaborative effort In addition to the ribbons and from Seniors Kenyon Colli and Ingrid the poster, other displays were fea­ Jacobsen, and the local Domestic tured throughout the school. One of Violence Task Force, the day was cen­ the most talked about was the line of tered around the idea ofraising aware­ shoes that was meant to represent vic­ ness of an underreported problem. tims of unreported domestic violence. Throughout the day, students Senior Hilary Leblanc said of the dis­ had the oppertunity to wear ribbons play, "I thought it was really power­ and bracelets to support awareness of ful. To think of young kids as victims domestic violence, and were encour­ of abuse is sad, but it's reality." aged to trace their hands and sign a Another visual display that was purple bonner that read, "Hands are prominent on Friday was the clothes­ not for hitting." lines of tee-shirts that hung from the Colli, a volunteer at the local library stairwell. The shirts were Domestic Violence Crisis Center, pro­ decorated with writings in English posed the idea because she found that and Spanish and the sentiments in­ very few students were informed about cluded phrases like, "Home Shouldn't Domestic Violence. "Other than this Hurt." program, there really isn't a lot of in­ Classes also had the oppertunity Senior Megan Kineen traces her handprint on the "Hands Are Not For Hitting" poster formation or awareness of domestic to view videos dealing with domestic in the cafeteria on Domestic Violence Awareness Day. Over the three lunch shifts, violence." violence and abuse during select pe­ hundreds ofhands were traced in purple marker onto the poster. To change this, Colli met with riods. Colli and Jacobsen hoped that the administration several times to or­ the video would serve as great teach- ganize Domestic Violence Awareness Continued on page 7 'x Marks the Spot Underage Drinking Librarians' New Way to Monitor Computers Laws Tightened Allie Concannon and Arme Wilson StaffWriters ilOr have to pay II fine even if he or sbe is Currently in the Darien High not drinking. School library, it is not uncornrnon. It is a classic sitcom scenario; Ihe TIle fining policy does contain a while using a computer, to have your innocent teenager decides to invite a lOOphole: the minor will only receive screen taken control of and an 'X' few friends ovcr, and soon half Ihe the infraeljon ifhe orshe does nothing drawn across the screen ruining your scbool is in the house. At the end of to stop the party. Detective Boccuzzi Microsoft paint artwork, or reminding the show. the parents come bome early clarifies. "Ifguests omvc lit yourhouse you that "mirror magic" is forbidden and punish their son or daughter. The uninvited with alcohol you arc again on library computers. partiers get away unscathed. reminded to dial 9J I." Ifthe hoSI djals Throughout the library, students Unli] October I. 2006, this was II. he Or she will escllpe the infrac­ are becoming confused when their the case in Darien as well. Wben tion, and the polk-e will only fine the mouse begins to scribe an 'X' across police came to break up a party. the minors in pos!iCssion ofalcohol. their screen consisting of inappropri­ host was charged wilb a felony and the While DeteClive Boccuzzi knows ate e-mails or websites. others merely got a phone call home. that DHS SludenlS do not WlUlt to "nil This new phenomenon has caused even ifthey brought the alcohol. This out" people, he doell note Ibnt 95% of was because the party was on private suspicions to arise and questions Seniors Carly Annecchino and Kaitlyn Arcamone are "X-ed" the underage dnnlcing tip fine cnllers throughout the student body. Many property, and the homeowner WIIS re­ are kids. The new IQw makes individ­ students wondered whether these current librarians who was monitor­ writing an 'X' on their computer. sponsible. uals responsible for I.hemselves, rather strange occurrences were simply their ing their computers. Current DHS This synchronize program is not Befute October I, state law that than lhe hosl respomdble foreveryon computers malfunctioning, or whether senior, Kaitlyn Arcamone shares, "I limited to the librarians, however. Ever Oned all underage drinkers onJy in­ at \be party. a larger force was at work. was drawing a pumpkin to be fes­ since the new DHS bas been in use, Cluded public prope.rty. If tbe party Senior Kim Kunc:os does not Students eventually came to the live for Halloween on paint and she every teacher can view their students' had been on a town bench. for in.~tnnee, think that thill is II good idea. "I think conclusion that it had to be one of the was moving around my mouse from work in the computerlabs to make sure all minors with alcobol wouJd have lit'sl unfair oo(''lIuse it'6 (the home- her computer. It was the 'X Lady,' I they are doing the designated assign­ been fined. This stale law has been wner's) responi>ibilily...They're lhe swear!" ment for class. amended to include private property. ones that notify peoplc before (the Students referred to the sup­ This program allows for teach­ PrIor to Ibis dale. many Connecticut party], so it shouldn" be u surprise... In This Issue posed librarian who was monitoring ers to monitor their classes, allowing towns bad their own laws thaI includ­ thut people arc corning in." Detective their computers as the 'X' lady. Many for much more disciplined classes. edprivate property. bul Darien did not. Boccuzzi preilict.q tJlnt partJes will be people were wondering, what Carly Students in the library, however, are Now. any minors caught with aJcohol less frequent and smaller than they Roving Reporter .3 Annechino states, "Where you at 'X' normally there for free periods and on private property, according to the have been in the past. "(The lawJ lady?" After investigation, the "X don't have a regimented class cur­ public sct, "shall have committed an shouJd (also] cuI down 011 uninvited Lady" has been identified as librarian riculum to follow. Therefore, some infraction." guesls showing up." Pharell: "In My Mrs. Bennett, whose desk is located in students feel the restrictions in the li­ "An infraclion," Darien detec­ Adults are also faced witb in­ Mind" S the back left comer of the library. The brary are unfair. tive Sam Boccuzz.i explains. "is a fine fractions for firs. offenses if I.here is computer sitting on her desk contains Although the act has recently which is payable by mail," and it is 1CSl> an underage paTty al their house. Past the program, "Synchronize" which become more frequent, she claims to serious than a misdemeanor. Though tJU1I. adults can (lice huge fines and/or Darien-Qingdao allows her to view all screens ofpow­ not enjoy "Xing" screens. She says, the new law bas Ihe ability to punish jail time. According to the law, "Any Exchange 6, ered computers in the library. "I really don't want to, I have better more people. it can take some of the person who sells, ships, delivers or This synchronize program then things to do with my time than moni­ burden oft' the party-thrower. Earlier gives alCOholic liquor 10 a minor, by allows her to discipline the students tor student's computers." In response, the minor would have been charged any means...shall be fined not more Volleyball's 100 Win that are not doing school work by Arcamone questions Bennett's mo­ with a felony and an:e8ted, but now thlln one thousand five hundred dol­ freezing their computers, taking con­ tives, stating, "Why? It's an invasion he or sbe will only receive an infr.lC­ lars or imprisoned not more than eigh­ Streak 8 trol of their mouse, writing a message of privacy." tion. if it is his or her lirst offense. teen months, or both." The DUl law, telling them to focus on schoolwork, or Continued on page 7 The minor ,throwing the party will nrinued on /XIfle 7 , " 2 NOVEMBER 200 6 NEIRAD OPINION Neirad is a monthly Darien High School student pub­ lication. The publication is a forum for student The Scoop on Local Candidates thought and expression, and its content is decid­ ed solely by the editors Diane Farell: Democrat Chris Shays: Republican and advisors. Circulation is approximately 1,000. Diane Farrell, the Democratic vocated for sufficient funding for the In the Congressional elections voting with his own conscience in­ be candidate for Connecticut's 4th dis­ public schools, developed the town's this year, Darien voters will surely be stead of with the official Republican A subscription can or­ trict, has been involved in local poli­ recreational facilities, and improved comfOJ;1ed by a familiar face: the ac­ line. Analysis ofShays' Congressional dered for $25. All com­ tics for much of the last decade. She the quality of life in Westport. commodating visage ofRepresentative voting record reveals that he has voted ments should be mailed first ran for Congress in 2004, but with In fact, Farrell insists that this Christopher Shays, who is running more often with liberals than with con­ 48% ofthe vote she lost to Republican monetary prudence is one of the most against Democrat Dianne Farrell servatives. During the Reagan years, to the editors at Neirad Christopher Shays in one of the coun­ important issues in the 2006 election.