Primus Inter Pares THE Hastings High School October 2013 Vol. 64 No. 2 The Voice of Hastings High School HURRICANE SANDY’S ONE BUZZERBOND IS A NO-GO YEAR ANNIVERSARY by Rosie Moss & Amelia Pollard When Hurricane Sandy hit in October 2012, Hastings was one of many Northeast towns that was taken aback by the severity of the super storm. Many families lost power, the waterfront was bludgeoned and several parks were damaged. The catastrophic event devastated many people in Hastings and caused them to realize that events like this could happen to anyone. However, the village came out of the super storm with improved communication and new programs to help storm victims. Bryan Healy, recreation assistant of Hastings-on-Hudson, said, “Hurricane Irene caused people to be less concerned and prepared for Hurricane Sandy, since Irene was made out to be a much bigger deal than it actually was.” The staff of Hastings-on- Hudson Recreation Department, including Lisa O’Reilly, Rafael Zaratzian, Bryan Healy, and Kendra Garrison stated that while Hurricane Sandy definitely brought negative effects, it also forced Photo Courtesy of Sophia May residents to come together as a by Richard Berman community. They explained that Senior Editor vote in exactly three months time. The other necessary as a result of the hurricane they Unfortunately, I think there was a lot improvements the bond addressed created the “Are You OK Senior” After the voting booth closed of misinformation surrounding the will likely be in the new bond that the ...continued on page eight at 9 PM on October 22, the line of bond, which influenced the vote a Board of Education is going to draft voters streaming in and out of the lot.” in the coming months. What’s the Buzz on the Cochran Gym finally dissipated. The The Hastings Police The Board has promised to Buzzer? controversial bond referendum was Department has dealt with several “use information from that survey to defeated by a decisive vote of 1595 to cases of vandalism on both sides modify the plan.” by Max Elias 1060. of the debate and even personal Litvin said the students can Countless letters from altercations between community still have an impact: “The best thing athletes, parents, runners, and Ever since the Sandy Hook members. the students can do is stay involved; shooting, Hastings High School students published weekly in This schism has transcended even though many of us can’t vote, we The Enterprise had informed the has become more conscious of an the utility poles and street signs can still have a voice.” increased need for security. community of the various credible into the Internet as well—strongly points of contention in this much Recently, the administration worded (and even profane) has instilled a number of changes in heated debate. Facebook comments have shown This vote culminated months the school’s security. The Cochran disappointment for the bond’s defeat. Have an opinion? Gym entrance is now closed at all of proliferated campaigning - flyers “There has been immaturity pasted to every telephone pole, and times, and a buzzer system has also on both sides - and from adults too - been installed at the main entrance. signs placed in countless front yards. mean comments, bragging and even The Buzzer accepts Letters Now that the bond has been This is meant to prevent anybody cyber bullying. Much of this behavior to the Editor or op-eds, who shouldn’t be in the school from defeated, what does this mean for came after voting was finished,” and always welcomes your Hastings High School students? How entering. Litvin said. A greeter has also been hired will a vastly pro-bond student body One of the most significant feedback. (confirmed by a recent school-wide to sit at the entrance and speak to parts of the vote was the exit poll. anyone who comes into the school, poll, the results of which were 181 for This poll was conducted by the Send your thoughts to the bond to 30 against it) respond to making sure they have a right to be Board of Education to determine buzzersubmissions@gmail. there. this result? what pieces of the bond influenced Senior Jesse Litvin, who com. These security measures residents to vote against it. “may slow [intruders] down, but not wrote a letter to The Enterprise The environmental harm and spearheaded much of the pro- necessarily hinder them from causing of building a turf field – removing Want to be anonymous? Just harm,” Mr. Adipietro said. bond campaign said, “Of course I’m natural grass and replacing it with disappointed about the bond. But Request it! He believes such measures GeoTurf – was the most powerful will be beneficial to students and to luckily there can be another bond deterrent. ...continued on page four WHAT’S INSIDE... Revealing Costumes The Spookiest Article In No More Mystery Meat! Tom’s Spooky Corner Revealed The Paper: The Parent Portal What’s wrong with being What’s in store now that the Wow! A whole page devoted Curious as to what’s up with scantily clad? And what’s Hastings Middle and High to all things spooky? It’s a the new technology? The wrong with being as covered School cafeteria is under new Halloween miracle! parent portal recieves both up as NSA files? management? page five> page seven> praise and scorn. page four > page three > Page 2 Page 3 Buzzer WhatPerspectives has been your favorite Halloween costume from childhood? Revealing Costumes Revealed EDITOR’S PAGE by Clara Weinstein OPINION allowed to dress sexy on Halloween. or the Hulk usually feature a puffy BUZZER “In the regular world, It’s a classic example of slut-shaming— princess-style skirt, while male ver- Halloween is when children dress making someone feeling ashamed or sions of the same costumes actually up in costumes and beg for candy. inferior because of the way she dresses resembles the Cookie Monster or the In Girl World, Halloween is the or behaves. A lot of people actually like Hulk. A lot of little kids love princess STAFF one night a year when a girl can dressing up as Sexy Prison Guards. A skirts and are perfectly happy with dress like a total slut and no other sexy costume might make someone feel their costumes, but any girl who girls can say anything about it.” empowered and confident, and Hallow- doesn’t like dressing girly and doesn’t EMILY BROUDE -Mean Girls een is one of the only occasions where have the time to make a homemade Editor-in-Chief A couple weekends ago girls can get away with showing more costume is out of luck. I went to Party City to buy some skin. Women should be able to wear Why do our Halloween elf ears for my friend’s Halloween what they want, on Halloween and costumes reflect the gender roles costume. Before we found them, every other day of the year, and they of the 1950s? Granted, if a woman ARIADNE BAZIGOS though, we were confronted with should never be stigmatized for dress- showed up to a 1950s Halloween RACHEL CHANG a massive wall of women’s cos- ing in a way that makes them feel good. party dressed as a Sexy Banana, tumes. There were your standard The thing is, if a girl wants to somebody would probably faint. Still, LENA RUBIN cats and witches, your legitimately buy a costume off the shelf, she really if the ideal man’s Halloween costume “I dressed up as a devil.” terrifying clowns, your devils and is funny or clever or realistic and the Managing Editors Miranda Edwards doesn’t have an option as to whether your angels. she wants to dress sexy or not. I could ideal woman’s costume is sexy (or Of course, all of these be a Sexy Cop for Halloween, a Sexy pretty and cute for younger girls), costumes consisted of miniskirts Nun, or a Sexy World War II Refugee… it doesn’t cast a particularly flatter- ALEX BAZIGOS and low-cut tank tops. but not, of course, a regular cop. If I ing picture of our society’s feelings Layout Editor This isn’t a novel ob- want to dress up like I’m ready to chase towards women. servation. Every Halloween the criminals, I’d better be able to do so in We shouldn’t be under complaints roll around about the a tiny skirt and high heels. A boy who pressure to show any more or less heavy sexualization of a holiday wanted to dress up as a cop could go skin than we want to. We should be RICHARD BERMAN that’s supposed to be for kids, buy an outfit close to what cops actually able to aim for sexy or scary or any TOMMY GELFARS and look at all these slutty girls wear. He wouldn’t have to worry about variation of the two without fear of running around, and how inap- whether he wants to dress provoca- judgment or reproach. After all, why JULIA MORRISS propriate this is, and blah blah tively, if he’ll be judged for doing so, or should the way we choose to dress Senior Editors blah. Complaints about women’s if he can find a costume appropriate for bother anyone else? So whether your At the start of every new year, The Buzzer’s editorial staff introduces itself to the student body. Halloween costumes often center idea of a costume is rocking cat ears For the next nine months, The Buzzer will be working hard to report on the most relevant and impor- the setting he’ll be in, not to mention around shaming girls for daring to the weather.