Avon Lake High School THE SPECTRUM Volume 93, Issue 7 “The Maroon and Gold in Black and White” March 27 , 2019 Slaughter performs exceptionally this diving season By Marcy Allen do as well I hoped to in swimming, but I was very The Spectrum Sports Writer proud of how I did in diving,” Slaughter said. Fearlessly climbing up the 1 meter The 2018-2019 swimming and diving Principally Speak- ladder onto the intimidating white plank, diver season for Slaughter consisted of 2 medals in the Michael Slaughter gears up for starting position and 200 medley relay, 1 medal in the 400 freestyle ing courageously leaps into the seeming- relay, a 3rd place award for diving page 2 ly endless swimming pool. at districts, an individual high score In 2nd grade, he started of 444.20 at SWC’s, and of course, a his exciting swimming career on the seat at the State Diving Champion- Inside editorials: West Shore Sea Turtles team. He ships. The diver has seized many op- developed an exceptional passion for portunities this school year, as well International Wom- the pool and continued to swim in as made the Avon Lake High School en’s Day the following years. Now a junior in Athletic Program greatly proud. high school, he is also a diver. Being “The sky’s the limit and there a swimmer and diver is uncommon is nothing he can’t accomplish if Predictions for for the average high school athlete. he puts his mind to it. He was top your love life & He has proven through diligent ded- 16 this year and should be top ten ication and daring devotion that it is next,” said Slaughter’s coach, Daniel more: possible to achieve the most difficult Smith. Shore-oscopes and of goals, as well as be smashingly The athlete’s senior year has ex- successful. ceedingly high hopes. Slaughter will Advice Column Slaughter, the 16th place continue to practice in the off season holder at the OHSAA State Diving as a part of the Avon Lake Summer Inside sports: Championships, is the perfect illus- Photo sourced from the Avon Lake Swim Team and practicing individu- Dance team tration of a model athlete. Twitter page ally with trusted diving coaches. After Districts, Slaughter put in extra “Next year I want to break the school re- Swimming effort to achieve his eventual goals at States. He cord for 11 dives, as well as improving my placement independently drove himself to Lakewood, a 30 at States,” said Slaughter. minute drive, to snatch additional practice time. The Slaughter will be one to watch for the Interested in writing athlete worked diligently with his diving coaches on 2019-2020 school year. The diver’s hard work and for The Spectrum? Sundays and Mondays to better himself and, more dedication paints a pathway for aspiring swimmers specifically, better his dives. and divers. Contact Mr. Arra! “This year was my best year yet. I didn’t Captain Marvel a promising preview for action to come Ever since April of last our main character discovers she particularly well in developing character year, Marvel fans have desperately had a life on Earth before her relationships and adding comedic quips tried to piece together their beloved days on alien planets. Together when needed. The plot altogether was hero team after the carnage of with a much younger Nick Fury, both exciting and innovative. In addition Infinity War. It would seem all is Captain Marvel develops her to being the first female-led movie of the lost for those heroes who are left to powers and helps in the alien Avengers universe, the film also touched face Thanos, alone and hopelessly war from Earth circa 1995. The on modern issues of war, abuse of power, outmatched, yet a beacon of light movie contains all the usual AI leadership, and refugees. It makes you arises just a month before the final Marvel trademarks: the gradual question the moral standard of the long- grudge match. Enter Carol Danvers, harnessing of superpowers, spo- time Kree/Skrull war, and of course adds or Captain Marvel, as the world will Livie Crimaldi radic comic relief, and energized the important girl power narrative. come to know her, the seemingly vintage soundtrack. However, However, in my opinion this film unstoppable feminist powerhouse and new there are a few details that separate this didn’t come without its snags. Brie Larson, addition to the Avengers superhero team. newbie from the rest, both for better and the actress who played Captain Marvel, left Captain Marvel, released on In- for worse. a little to be desired when delivering her ternational Women’s Day, details our new To start off, the supporting cast comedic lines. character’s origin story on the big screen. all did a phenomenal job in their sepa- Continued on page 2 Living as a Kree warrior fighting to protect rate roles. Samuel L. Jackson, Jude Law, her people in their war with the Skrulls, Lashana Lynch, and Ben Mendelsohn did Page 2 The Spectrum Editorial Page March 27, 2019 Editor defends Int. Women’s Day PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING: International Women’s Day is on March 8th every year. It was originally created to be a single Testing and the Know-Do “Gap” time women’s rights movement, but it was made an annual international holiday the next year. Interna- WooHoo! Spring is here! tional Women’s Day is a smaller international holiday As winter ends and the compared to Christmas and other large holidays, but year turns the corner and heads it’s one of the most important in my book. This holi- “down the stretch,” we enter, day is a day for all women and anti-sexism across the perhaps, the busiest of times. whole world. The women who live in nations where For our seniors in the Class of women are discriminated against or treated differ- ‘19 - who always couldn’t wait ently (newsflash- women are discriminated against in for it all to be over - the end will one way or another in every country) deserve to have Mr. Mueller approach so quickly that they Principal will really “never want it to end!” Elena Stojanavski at least one day a year for them to be able to stand up for themselves and their rights. Make it a great finish to your Yet for some reason every year, I see a bunch of boys getting upset over ALHS careers! International Women’s Day and are saying that it’s anti-men and that there For everyone else, we enter “testing season.” should be an International Men’s Day (newsflash #2- there is an International In addition to our in-class unit tests, we now take 7 Men’s Day, it’s November 19th). The reason why you might not have heard of OST’s (Ohio State Tests), required for graduation, International Men’s Day is because men’s rights are currently a lot better than and our AP exams the first two full weeks in May. women’s rights across the world. Even in today’s modern countries, there are still So many tests. Tests, tests, tests! Which issues with men not caring about women’s rights. Maybe they’re just scared of ones are REALLY IMPORTANT, and WHY? As long change or maybe they just want to stay in a place of better opportunity and power as you get good grades, and have a good GPA, that’s for men. all that matters. Right? Or, wait a minute, is it the This month, the first Marvel movie with a female lead “Captain Marvel” college test(s) that open(s) doors to your future. Yes! came out. “Captain Marvel” was faced by backlash by men before it even hit the- Wait a minute - so which one? aters just because of the rebranding of Captain Marvel from being swimsuit clad If a teacher says you know it, and your class- to wearing a normal superhero suit. Also, some men were just in general upset by room tests support your grade, why all these other a Marvel movie with a female being the lead. tests? Continued on page 3 The answer - as much as we either like it, or not - is really fairly simple. The Ohio assessments measure student New avenger flies in just in time content learning in State Standards across the state, Captain Marvel from pg 1 enjoyed the film. I only found problems understanding that districts, schools and teachers Yes, Fury shouldered in the areas of humor are all different. The OST’s assess student competen- most of the comedic and music because cy, regardless of location, and are used, in combina- weight throughout Marvel’s previous mov- tion with other variables, to determine eligibility for the story, but previ- ies have demonstrated a high school diploma in the State of Ohio. ous Marvel movies perfection in those Likewise, the SAT measures student perfo- have set a certain accounts. Despite any mance nationally, and provide data to post-second- standard with the shortcomings, it is still ary institutions. Colleges rely very heavily on these humor of all the other a revolutionary step for tests. So much so that a very high SAT can help over- superheroes. If given females in the Marvel come a less than stellar school GPA. So, why bother? a comedic line, it universe and film in Ultimately, all of these tests and grades should receive at least general. I still hold my help us determine the existence of a “knowing-doing a chuckle from the worries for Captain Mar- gap,” and what to do about it.