The Independent Voice of George W. Hewlett High School HEWLETT SPECTRUM Volume LXVI No 2 60 Everit Avenue Hewlett, New York Friday, December 23, 2016 Inside: SAFETY CONCERNS CLOUD HEWLETT by Samantha Stern scribbled across the Virtual Enterprise bulletin Nassau and set them to go off’” the next day, In a span of two weeks, G. W Hewlett board as students went to their first and second Nov. 21, according to the email. Since the threat High School experienced an intrusion, van- period classes, but it was later covered up and was both unspecific and unconfirmed, school dalism and a bomb threat that inspired fear removed. With rumors of an intrusion circling resumed as planned, but some students opted in students, parents and faculty. Even though the building, administration sent out emails to to stay at home. Other students were nervous students and faculty were in no imminent district faculty and parents to inform them of about the bomb threat, but ultimately decided danger, some students have expressed nervous- the morning’s events. that the school was safe to attend. ness and fear regarding the safety of the school Later in the week, on Nov. 18, another “I felt initially nervous but I was okay Courtesy of Christine Abajian environment. incident prompted administrative response. because it was a threat for every school on On Monday, Nov. 14 in the early morn- A swastika was found faintly etched into the Long Island,” Michael Shapira ‘17 said. “When ing around 5:20 a.m., an intruder entered the front of the stall in the upstairs men’s faculty I got to school the atmosphere was warm and BREAKFAST & POLITIcs high school through an upstairs window. The bathroom. After a faculty member reported the accepting and everyone seemed okay with unnamed man walked through the art and Eng- swastika, the administration spoke with other the threat.” lish wings of the building and wrote “art” on teachers to gather more information. A few Some students were not frightened by PAGE 6 one of the art boards. He continued downstairs staff members reported that the swastika had the bomb threat, confident in the administra- into the social studies wing of the school, look- been there for some time. As a result, the ad- tion’s ability to ensure the safety of the building. ing around at the walls. When he approached ministration carefully reviewed all of the video “Hewlett High School is a very safe the Virtual Enterprise class’ bulletin board with recording up to six weeks prior. Although the place,” Danny Mizrahi ‘17 said in response photographs of the class’ officers, he wrote on investigation ended inconclusive, the adminis- to the bomb threat. “I completely believe in the board. His message read: “No 1 is black.” tration assured the district that they do not and Dr. Fulton’s ability to keep us safe and secure He also drew an arrow pointing to one of the will not condone such activity. within the confines of Hewlett High School.” student officers. “Symbols of hate have no place in our About two hours after the initial email, The head custodian, who arrives at society, and acts such as this run counter to the at around 9:00 a.m., Superintendent Dr. Ralph school early to prepare the building for the values we seek to instill in our students,” the Marino sent an email to update the district. day, encountered the man. After seeing the high school’s email said. “Please know that our buildings have custodian, the man left the building and was A few days later, on Nov. 21, another been thoroughly checked for any suspicious subsequently caught and arrested by the local safety concern appeared. The school alerted the packages and activity,” Marino said. Art by Gillian Moser police just 23 minutes after the break-in. district at 6:26 a.m. of a message from the Nas- While three separate incidents invoked By the time the students began to ar- sau County Police Department. Late the prior both fear and angst within the community, the rive at the school at 7:00 a.m., the man had night, the NCPD received a message “from an district was quick to respond, inform the com- been taken into custody and the building was individual who claims he heard an unidentified munity and ensure the safety of all students SNApchAT SPECTACLES deemed safe for students. The message was still male say he ‘put bombs in every school in and faculty. PAGE 9 FIRE RAGES THROUGH WAREHOUSE by Rachel Miller dozen people have been reported deceased, the building and was unable to confirm the Amanda Allen Kershaw: a 34-year- and since the entire building has not yet complaint of illegal construction, therefore old photographer known by her friends as been scoured, the death toll is expected to the investigation was left open. “the best of humans.” Nicholas D. Walrath: rise. Rescue workers have been working While the building had safety con- a 31-year-old lawyer with a passion in life tirelessly, but since the condition of the cerns, the people inside the building felt to help others. Vanessa Plotkin: a 21-year- building is not stable, it was too dangerous safe with their close friends, whom they old student at the University of California, to send in firefighters and rescue workers in considered family and shared a deep pas- Berkeley who worked for the campus the days following the fire. Late on Sunday, sion for the arts with. radio station in the music department. Dec. 4, workers had to halt the rescue effort “Although the building itself was not Travis Hough: a 35-year-old educator at after a straight 52 hours of heroic work. physically safe, the community of beauti- SPECTRUM/Gillian Moser two elementary schools who specialized ful people felt safe with each other,” Jack in psychological counseling. Michela Bohlka, father of 33-year-old fire victim Angelina Gregory: a 20-year-old studying Em Bohlka, said. communication disorders at San Francisco Since the fire, Oakland Mayor Libby GYpsY IS A HIT! State University, with dreams of pursuing Shaaf has pledged $1.7 million to create a career in helping children with special “affordable, safe spaces” for community needs. Draven McGill: a 17-year-old high artists and arts organizations. This new PAGE 12 & 13 school junior, a baritone in the school choir initiative will be called Keeping Space - and son of a deputy in the Alameda County Oakland. Sheriff’s Office. “The arts are at the center of vibrant All of these young lives were among Art by Gillian Moser and diverse communities, and are critical those that were tragically cut short on The building had long been a to neighborhood health and well-being, Friday, Dec. 2 when a fire blazed through concern of safety, as it had previously yet artists and cultural organizations are a warehouse known as the Ghost Ship been questioned as to whether or not the increasingly vulnerable to instability and in Oakland, California. The Ghost Ship warehouse was up to standards. In 2014, displacement,” Mayor Shaaf said. was both a home and performance space the building was reported to a fire marshal President Obama released an official and known as a safe space for the LG- because it was feared that the building statement in wake of the fatal fire. BTQ community. As the deadliest fire in was vulnerable to fire. The current lease- “...We do know that an American Oakland’s history and one of the worst in holder of the building, Derick Ion Almena, community has been devastated, and many California’s history, the tragedy claimed received a citation in November, which people - including young men and women Courtesy of Abby Samlin the lives of 36 people. claimed the building had hazardous trash with their whole futures ahead of them - The building that has been known as and debris surrounding it. On Nov. 13, have tragically lost their lives,” Obama the Ghost Ship was converted from an old it was reported to the city that there was said. “Oakland is one of the most diverse EVERY BUDDY DANCE NOW! warehouse into an arts space. At the time of unpermitted interior construction inside and creative cities in our country, and as the fire, the venue was hosting an electric of the building. The city of Oakland had families and residents pull together in dance party, where popular DJ Golden sent an investigator to the property on Nov. wake of this awful tragedy, they will have PAGE 19 Donna was expected to perform. The fire 17, shortly before the fire. That day, the the unwavering support of the American ignited around 11:30 p.m. At least three inspector was not able to gain access to people.” 2 Opinions SPECTRUM Friday, December 23, 2016 Hewlett High School is Not Free From Hatred The atrocious acts of There are no easy an- one person; it revealed a total who took the time to discuss the from which we all thought we anti-semitic vandalism which swers. Some people have said lack of respect for our school vandalism with students should were free in the Five Towns have recently stricken this com- that the graffiti that defaced and for an entire culture as well. be commended. still exists among us. Nor can munity have shocked many Hewlett High School was mo- The fact that this was Some people might agree we suppress our reactions for people into an awareness of tivated by a personal vendetta probably the act of student, that incidents of hatred and fear of exposing ourselves to against an administrator.