Where Do We Draw the Line? Examining New Security Measures at WHS Dents As Safe As Possible

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE THE WESTON HIGH SCHOOL PAID PERMIT NO. 95 OURNAL WESTPORT, CT 06880 J115 School Road, Weston, CT 06883 February 2013 • Year XII, Issue IV Where Do We Draw the Line? Examining new security measures at WHS dents as safe as possible. that the chances of any- on mental health. Wein- to achieve, where do we being able to learn. She Steve Friedman ‘14 With every action, thing similar to the New- stein adds that “there’s draw the line?” Millions mentioned that, in the Staff Writer however, comes criti- town incident happening certainly something to could be spent on secu- core belief statement of cism, and not everyone to Weston are too low to be said about doing ev- rity technology and con- the school system that Every day, people flow is happy with the new be worth the cost and the erything in our power to stant, omniscient eyes “speaks to our commit- in and out of the doors of bolstered security. Kei on every square inch of ment to providing a safe the Weston High School, Pritsker, a junior and school property, but that and intellectually chal- Middle School, Inter- one leader of the Young would be overly exces- lenging environment... mediate School, and El- Politicians club of WHS, sive, so the right bal- the word “safe” was ementary School. It’s voices concerns of many ance of efficiency and purposely placed before something that hasn’t that locked doors may effectivity is certainly intellectually challeng- received much atten- be ineffective against an a topic of importance. ing.” In the same speech tion in the history of the armed intruder (at Sandy Principal Wolak re- she pushes for additional school system until the Hook, the attacker broke sponded to some con- safety monitors at the recent and shockingly in through a window). cerns, especially those of school, noting that the close-to-home tragedy at He dismisses the locked the effectiveness of the school renovation that Newtown. No one wants doors as a “huge incon- door, saying that while took place several years anything similar to hap- venience,” and claims the buzz-in system does ago failed to match the pen again, and natu- that even one armed po- not fully address the is- expansion of the school rally, Weston looked at lice officer may not be sue, it “provide[s] a level with an expansion of its own schools to see enough in the case of of safety and control over security. In fact, there what could be improved a real emergency. That visitors in the building used to be three security in order to better protect being said, Pritsker and and prevents people from guards ten years ago, one students. Quick change many others, both in our wandering in.” She gives of them being Ms. Hicks, was administered in a immediate community assurance that the Weston the current school secre- matter of days after the and in the world, stress Police and other security tary, but the expiration of tragedy, and students at that the real issue is one experts were involved in a grant that was paying WHS soon became aware of mental illnesses, and the decision-making pro- for the third guard re- that they could only en- that the school admin- cess, and that, as they re- sulted in only two guards ter through the main istration as well as the ceive further input, there protecting the school, doors in the morning, US Government at large will be additional secu- so now there is a school and once the school day should focus on mental rity; the matter of the twice as big with fewer had commenced, anyone health instead of increas- safety of Weston students people protecting it. Ms. entering was required ing security measures. Locked doors and officers are the new normal at will not be forgotten eas- Wolak also noted that the to ring a buzzer by the Zack Weinstein, an- Weston High School. ily. In her presentation district is looking for a front to gain entrance other junior and active Photograph by Emily Weyrauch at the Board of Educa- “school resource offi- into the school. Further- member in the Young tion Budget meeting, cer,” which is simply a more, an armed police Politicians club, is also Ms. Wolak stressed the title for an armed police officer has been pres- against the new security inconveniences, while protect the lives of our important direct correla- officer assigned specifi- ent at the school every measures, but for differ- also agreeing that more high schoolers, but if tion between students’ Continued on page 4 day in order to keep stu- ent reasons. He claims emphasis should be put this is the goal we wish assurance of safety and GSA, Young Politicians team up in gay marriage debate As one of only two indi- “Marriage is already a le- ligious institution can Emily Weyrauch ‘13 viduals present from the gal matter, and the issue deprive people of that.” Sarah Gruen ‘13 non-100% supporting gay at hand is human rights.” The discussion also Editors-in-Chief marriage side of the argu- The conversation turned to property rights ment, he began by stat- started with a bang, and the of private religious or At 8:00 p.m. January ing his opinion, “What discussion continued to be medical institutions when 15, the Young Politicians does supporting gay mar- heated for the duration considering gay patrons. Club and the Gay-Straight riage really mean? Mar- of the two-hour debate. Summers said, Alliance set up a presiden- riage is when two people A climax of the dis- “When the government tial debate-style discus- come together and make a cussion was when sopho- begins to dictate what sion in the auditorium on pledge of their love-- the more Justin Summers people can and can’t be- the topic of gay marriage. government should not be said,“Our rights come lieve, that’s dangerous.” A poll of the attend- involved at all. [...] Some from something above the The debate, although ees before the debate people have the personal government [...] I don’t lacking in complete or- showed 87.5% support opinion that gays can’t get know if marriage is a ganization, seemed to of gay marriage, while married, and the govern- right, but equality is. We culminate in a great- 6.25% was against it ment has to pick a side: is A survey conducted of attendees of gay marriage debate must continue that equal- er understanding be- and 6.25% was in the gay marriage marriage or ity in front of the law tween both viewpoints. gray area. (See chart.) is it not? Either way, it will riage were very reactive. everyone to get married, since marriage is legal.” Malcolm McClintock, Kei Pritsker of the cast out the other party.” Steve Friedman, mem- there is no reason to stop Junior Ross Co- moderator of the debate, Young Politicians club To this, the sup- ber of the GSA, said “Un- it at the halfway point.” hen added, “It is a ba- Continued on page 3 opened up the debate. porters of gay mar- less we make it illegal for Izzy Kerr added, sic human right--no re- S P February break, Celebrity baby Calling all Point/coun- Blackout/ s O no more? fever non-ath- terpoint: gun Whiteout u p T t letes...we control in m u a L o c have sports Weston b I o e t a G for you! h a t d t n H s d n o o t i n a p r n u T t i o e o u p p r h a Page 3 o Page 5 s Page 7 o Page 10 t Page 11 FEBRUARY 2013 | EDITORIALS-IN-CHIEF 2 THE WESTON HIGH SCHOOL a half, we become--to ma- logical thing to do with us. We're just waiting for OURNAL ny--the “same” as the com- Because people tend something. All through J mercialized teens that the to think of teenagers as high school that's what media sells to us, that we these active hormonal we're doing: looking to- EDITORIAL BOARD see on TV and in movies. volcanoes. And that’s not ward the future instead I’m sorry, but we are necessarily true. We are of living for the moment. Sarah Gruen not the teenagers of High humans too--somewhere And that's what we are School Musical. The me- between childhood and conditioned to do. That is Emily Weyrauch dia tries to make the ex- full-blown suit-and-tie how we are taught to think perience of growing up a adulthood (here’s hoping in order to be successful. Editors-in-Chief universal one. Everything we never get there). We But were waiting for happens to everyone, and are normal people who are what? And what is success? AROUND THE CAMPUS there are a few archetypical just trying to figure our- Chances are, we won't molds from which each of selves out before it’s too one day awake from our Michael Kalmans us blossoms. But not really. late. So cut us some slack. hibernation or emerge Aaron Pomerance Emily Weyrauch ‘13 Imagine growing up in If the media is giving from our cocoon and sud- Editor-in-Chief a world without the media. us these expectations of denly be the person we Section Editors We would not know what teens, society is imposing have been waiting to be- It’s weird that we’re to expect, except maybe on us an insane amount of come, The person we in high school.

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