Bieber lovers and haters argue the success of the famed 17 year old 15 Source of energy for The teens could have negative Students’ Newspaper of Issue 5 March 18, 2011 health effects 2001 Old Lincoln Highway Langhorne, Pa. 19047 Neshaminy High 4 www.playwickian.com School Blue team claims victory at Gym Night Blue clinches 5th consecutive title on March 4 and 5 with a 13 point lead over Red By Emily Duke the colors.” Student Life Editor It was a special moment for all senior Gym Night veterans Sat., March 5 was a day of who had watched those before excitement for all Gym Night them perform the opening ritual participants, but it was the Blue in previous years. “It felt so Team who triumphed over the strange to fi nally be out there on Red Team with a 13 point lead the fl oor as a senior after I’ve in this year’s “Nesh-Flix on watched the parting of the colors Demand.” every other year,” senior Jillian Although Blue was victorious Borsos said. for the fi fth year in a row, all After students divided students, staff, captains, and into their respective teams, all spectators came together to make participants waited in anticipation the movie magic come alive at a for five special words from truly memorable event. Superintendent Dr.. Louis T. The gym underwent a total Muenker. transformation thanks to the After he exclaimed, “Let’s flashy posters, streamers and get ready to rumble,” the real balloons that the captains put festivities began. Once the up. Giant murals depicting the captains were introduced, both various themes for each grade’s Blue Team Color Captain Tom exhibitions were hung on each Katelhon and Red Team Color side of the gym. Captain Kenny Smith gave Students showed pride for enthusiastic speeches to pump their teams by wearing their up the crowd and thank those respective colors and soon the who contributed to the success Blue Team demonstrates the pride and enthusiasm necessary to dominate the Red Team. entire student section became a of Gym Night. Photo Courtesy/Redskin Yearbook sea of red and blue. The first event was the Friday night’s opening captains’ tug-of-war in which was marked by the thrilling the Blue Team captured the fi rst Challenge Day returns entrance of the seniors, who point of the night. Other By Marissa Silverman ceremoniously paraded into the Staff Writer gym hand in hand and “parted See GYM NIGHT on page 3 Challenge Day was brought to Neshaminy High School for the 5th year on Feb. 15 and 16. It continues to be a huge success every year. The purpose of Challenge day is to “Be The Change,” by presenting youth and their communities with workshops that show the possibility of love and connection through diversity, truth and expression. Since 1987, Challenge day has served more than 1,000,000 youths in 400 cities. The six and a half hour long program is to show students the diversity among each other, but this one day program is designed so it will be continued among the participants after the day is done. Student donates “Kit & Karaboodles” to patients About 100 students and a minimum of 25 adults were selected Danni McGinty, sophomore, was inspired by a service project she participated in last year in to participate in this life changing occasion. during one of Kelly Macauley’s family and consumer science classes. The project, created by As the participants walked through the door they were welcomed Macauley, called “Kit & Kareboodles,” specializes in transforming children’s storybooks into by student leaders and teachers cheering to start the day off with an activity bag with games, puzzles, costumes, etc. themed around the story. They take the bags excitement. to patients of Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children. The students were also welcomed by getting a performance from McGinty wanted to continue the project and formed a group with 20 of her friends to the Neshaminy Dance Team. These activities gave students a chance create kits. On Feb. 21, McGinty and her friends took their bags to oncology patients and to get to know people outside of their normal social group and learn their families at Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children. McGinty is planning to repeat this to appreciate the diversity among their peers. process again in the summer. “Challenge Day was an opportunity to get to know students in a new setting. I think that being outside of the classroom gave both Shannon Jones’s artwork wins Gold Key award students and adults the opportunity to get to know each other in a The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards received over 165,000 works to be judged and possibly safe, open environment.” Kimberly Aubrey said, an English teacher awarded a Gold Key, a Silver Key, or an honorable mention in their Regional Affi liate by the at Neshaminy. Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. Shannon Jones, junior, submitted an 18”x 24” drawing Throughout the day everyone had to fi nd someone they did not she did in her Advanced Art II class called “Be Still.” know and partner up with them for different activities. The awarded artworks, including Jones’, were put on display at an exhibit at Solmssen In these activities the partners were to talk about goals, dreams, Court at the University of Arts in Philadelphia. There was also an awards ceremony at Levitt fears and more. Then everyone was broken up into small groups to Auditorium at the University of Arts for the awardees. See CHALLENGE on page 2 News Special Features Sports Bullying and suicide awareness in Gym Night 2011 festivities Coach Durante keeps kids on In This ISSUE school raised 2 8-9 track 12 Op-Ed Student Life Entertainment Charter school option argued 5 Students going into military Lady Gaga’s domination over the positions 10 music industry 14 Page 2The Playwickian News March 18, 2011 Unrest in Libya leads to rebellious uprising By Emeline Jarvie The United Nations has attempted to fl y aid into Libya, although Gaddafi ’s forces Student Life Editor have largely stopped most efforts to help its people. In Washington, President Obama is still discussing America’s options. Egypt, despite having just experienced similar Zaynab Al Jareeree was a dead man the moment the shutter clicked. He was taking turmoil, has opened its borders to Libya, allowing through all refugees. pictures at a protest in Benghazi, Libya, and was subsequently killed, according to “It’s just a shame no one really knows what’s going on, or even cares to educate an online list of citizens who died during the fi rst few days of the coup. He is one of themselves. Americans would rather know about Charlie Sheen drama than abusive many. governments,” Neshaminy senior, Bridget Stanford, said. On Feb. 17, Libyan dissidents planned to protest against their brutal, repressive Through Facebook, Feb. 22 was organized into a ‘Wear Red Day,’ to show dictator of 42 years, Muammar Gaddafi . In order to silence the people’s protest, Gaddafi support for Libya’s people. Others have been petitioning and pressuring Washington has ordered a massacre of his own people, turning Libya into a shocking bloodbath. to intervene and stop the slaughter of the Libyan people. The death toll has been rising at an alarming rate, including protestors, passers-by, men, women, children, and anyone who dares to move a muscle against the Libyan government. They are slaughtering their citizens with .50 caliber bullets, which are strong enough to penetrate brick walls or puncture a vehicle. “We have reached the point of no return. We know if we don’t die in the streets they’ll kill us in our houses,” Libyan Leila Nachawati posted to her Twitter, on Feb. 21. For years, Libya has been an oppressed, impoverished nation. Children are malnourished and suffer from anemia. Unemployment rates are at 30 percent, though a majority of those with jobs are only able to work part-time. Talk of political reform is an offense punishable with imprisonment and it is uncommon to hear Gaddafi ’s name spoken in public, out of fear. The death toll estimates that at least 2,000 people have already been killed by Gaddafi ’s forces. Under his crackdown, innocent people are being slaughtered in the streets, and soldiers who refuse to kill their own people are burned alive. As Libya fights against its government, struggling to overthrow the oppressive dictatorship, the remainder of the world remains largely uninvolved. News of the coup did not even reach American news Libyan rebels show their disdain in Ras Lanuf. networks until Feb.22, five days Photo courtesy Los Angeles Times/MCT after the rebellion and subsequent Graphic courtesy of AP/MCT slaughter began. Students feel the pinch of college tuition increases By Meaghan Breitkreutz loan debt, including both federal and “I hope more of our students take Scholarships, grants, and federal aid News Editor private student loans, is constantly rising advantage of the AP courses offered at all help to alleviate some of the fi nancial at a rate of about $2,853.88 per second. NHS,” said McCollick. burden that colleges are posing on their As students settle into the third The amount of student loan debt is at For those intending to continue their students. Various options are available marking period, future college plans are nearly $900 billion and will continue to education after graduation, the infl uence for students to take advantage of when what is on a lot of students minds.