“A beacon of truth.” Issue 2, Volume 35 HuntingtonDispatch High School Oakwood and McKay Roads Huntington, NY 11743 Internet 08 CLOSED CAMPUS FOR 2010 Restrictions by JENN SZILAGY APRIL Recent discussion of Hinder Research PHOTO: MIKE DIVUOLO whether or not senior privi- by HENRY BAUGHMAN news in short leges will be taken away at National History Day Huntington High School has Providing America’s children with a In March, several HHS caused strong controversy safe place to learn is the number one duty students distinguished them- amongst its students and staff, of all schools. Computers have opened up selves in the National History particularly with the Class of an entirely new pathway for danger. In the Day competition. Five students 2010. 21st Century, a time when upwards of 40 who went to the Long Island Because of fatal accidents percent of Internet traffi c appeals to the Regional History Day contest that continue to occur on Long prurient interest and a great deal more is of will be moving on to the state Island by teen drivers (the questionable content, censoring the Inter- competition. most recent of which killed net takes a Herculean effort. GRAPHIC: MIKE MCCOURT Caitlin Etri, Kirsten Frei- one and injured two students Huntington High School uses an au- man, Rebecca Silverman, Col- on April 10th in West Hemp- tomated system to ensure that any Internet leen Teubner, Jeffrey Bishop, stead), administrators feel it browsing bears on education. Unfortu- Aliyah Cohen and Mia Rienzo may be necessary to close the Doyle’s state- nately for the administration, the Internet will take their projects the the campus completely. This deci- ment. “I don’t think it would resists; as the open-source geek motto goes New York History Day compe- sion has produced varied opin- be wise for the school to wait omore class also expresses -- “information wants to be free.” tition. ions throughout the building. for something tragic to happen her questions, “Shouldn’t our The question of what to censor is a Poetry from the HART “I hope underclassmen before taking action to insure parents decide whether or not hard one, especially considering the In- can see this initiative for what our safety,” said one student. we are allowed to go out? We ternet’s ever-changing nature. Most insti- Seniors Mia Parziale and it truly is, an act out of con- The sophomore class has need a good compromise; the tutions have decided to err on the side of Jiordan Castle were two of 15 cern for their safety, not just as the most to say about the pos- lunchroom is already crowded caution. Huntington’s censoring software, winners in a Huntington poetry an arbitrary revoking of privi- sible withdrawal of privileges, as it is.” the St. Bernard Web Filter, blocks things contest. Their winning pieces leges,” explains Huntington because their senior year is the The biggest concern for a number of reasons ranging from las- will be featured on Huntington High School President Megan one currently threatened. “We among upperclassmen is not civious content to science, politics, news, Area Rapid Transit (HART) Doyle. “I know it seems unfair need more privileges,” states whether or not they’ll be al- and technology. buses that run through the town. to close campus, especially Kirsten Freiman, an active lowed to leave the school cam- This hits the Forensics classes espe- Mia’s poem is called “Sleep” since going out for lunch is a member of the class of 2010. pus for lunch, but whether they cially hard laments Edward Florea, a teach- and Jiordan’s is called “Termi- senior privilege underclass- “We might as well close cam- will gain another privilege in er of Forensics. While acknowledging the nal.” Jiordan’s poetry is being men can’t wait to have, but pus now before more kids are exchange for this one. Most system’s benefi ts and the ability to “block honored for the second time: student safety is the adminis- injured or killed, but someone of the other schools on Long specifi c images, while allowing others,” she was selected in the HART tration’s fi rst priority.” has to come up with a good Island, including Kings Park he wishes temporary privileges could be competition as a freshman as Surprisingly to some fac- solution.” Dayna Reyes, a bestowed for particular sites. Most of the well. BY CARRIE FANTE ulty, many students agree with second associate of the soph- see CLOSED on page 2 year, crimelibrary.com fails to fulfi ll the INSIDE requirements for approval, but it proves a fantastic resource when researching serial FEATURES HHS Students Give Aid Abroad killers, a relevant topic in the class. As Ms. Decanio, the school librarian, attests, a system through which sites could be temporarily unblocked would be ben- efi cial for many student research projects, though any system of this variety would be Political ripe for abuse. A system of similar stock Centerfold was used in Huntington prior to 2005, through which different users could log Pages 6-7 into the same computer, with their respec- tive clearances. This helped teachers dole OPINION out data as they saw fi t. Unfortunately it was not long before unauthorized students Is the closed DABROWSKI LAURA PHOTO: started fi nding out passwords and abusing reduced restrictions. campus policy fair One of the major problems with Hun- to students? tington’s current system is that it is near impossible for blacklisted sites to regain page 5 membership in the ranks of the permitted. Ms. Decanio admitted to knowing of no process for amending erroneous censor- ENTERTAINMENT Senior Laura Dabrowski poses with Steven, a Nicaraguan child. ship. Mr. Gracken, speaking for the tech- cated to improving the quality to Nicaragua each trip meets nology department, said that one had to by DYLAN PAYNE of life in the town of Amatitan. the dire need of the residents, go through Dr Leonardi to get a site ap- Many of us have heard Dabrowski, a veteran member, most of whom live in extreme proved. about the meetings and fund sums up the goal of the club poverty. Monetary donations According to the policy found at the raising events hosted by the as: “to grant the people of Am- go directly to the scholarship front of Huntington High School agenda Project Nicaragua club. How- atitan with their natural rights or house-building programs, books, “Students and teachers have access ever, most students know little and necessities.” which are central to Project to general Internet tools including, but not about this organization. In Their offi cial website Nicaragua. limited to electronic mail (e-mail); List- order to learn more about it, added that they hope to “raise For as little as $250, they servs; UseNet News; File Transfer Proto- INDEX I contacted one of its veteran people’s awareness of the can sponsor a child’s education col, (FTP); Telnet; Gopher and the World Proper PDA’s...............pg. 2 members, Laura Dabrowski, needs of a third world coun- for one year: this includes tu- Wide Web.” Despite the policy e-mail ser- Facebook Dangers.............3 and asked her to share her ex- try.” This growing organiza- ition, uniforms, and supplies. vices are still blocked -- independently of Editorial.............................4 periences with two years of tion now runs up to four trips The housing program selects St Bernard. Only students the in science Point/Counterpoint............5 participating in the trip. per year to the needy town of needy families who are will- research classroom are granted access to Album Reviews.................6 Project Nicaragua is a Amatitan in order to transport ing to work and provides the e-mail, and even then only after numerous Docent Program................7 charitable organization found- all of the generous donations means to build a house. With requests. Despite the schools alleged poli- Sports..................back page ed by Our Lady Queen of and supplies they receive. cy, to those that love the service, access to Martyrs Parish, which is dedi- The aid brought down see PN on page 2 FTP is but a pipe dream. The Dispatch 2 APRIL08 NEWS Science Fiction theme inspires Playfest 2008: senior class to seek redemption by TIMO T HY O’GRADY Freshmen. The play was set in the future refrigerator at a party that alters Next came the Sophomore’s where the Juniors discussed their the personalities of students and Huntington High’s annual play “Staph Wars” written and senior prank and how they wanted makes them the polar opposites Playfest was held on Feburary 2nd, directed by Fleisig and Coneys. to do something even more outra- of their true selves. Everyone in 2008. Each grade had to create a The production mocked the infec- geous as adults. While the Juniors the Class of 2008 is affected, ex- student-run play that followed tious Staphylococcus aureus bac- attempt to execute their plan, they cept Greg James and Greg Everitt, this year’s “Science Fiction” teria that threatened the halls of run into several roadblocks. who aren’t in the room when the theme. The event was hosted by Huntington High School earlier This rather lackluster per- refrigerator went haywire. Sophomores Ian Coneys and Jake in the school year. The play was formance was highlighted by a There were many Fleisig who joked about breaking chock full of jokes, outrageous musical performance of “99 Red funny personality swaps, the precedent of having the event outfits and a rather steamy love Balloons.” After this year’s per- including Henry Baugh- hosted by a senior. interest between Space Cowboy formance many wondered if the man as a lacrosse player, The night started off with the and Steven Glansberg.