The ABINGTONIAN - Abington School District

The ABINGTONIAN
Abington Senior High School, Abington, PA, 19001 January 2013
SOUNDWAVE 2013! We’re Back....And We
By: Aleksandra Cvetković
In the midst of Keystones, SATs, and midterms,
what Abington students need more than ever is a
way to let loose and forget about tests, if only for an
evening. Fortunately, H2O is hosting Soundwave, a
benefit concert featuring Abington’s finest musicians.
This year’s bands include Lucy Spacehead, Better Than
Silence, The Flattened Soles, The Cosmic Islanders,
Drummers With Attitude, and Klokwirk. The ASHS Male Step Team and
MCA Steppers will also perform. With such a diverse lineup, Soundwave is
sure to have something for everyone’s musical tastes.
Better Than Silence, who performed covers of Arctic Monkeys, Foster the
People, and The Killers at last year’s Soundwave to a wildly cheering crowd,
is looking forward to acing their encore performance. Jimmy Lennon, lead
vocalist and keyboardist, says, “BTS is very excited to play at Soundwave
again, this time as the H2O House Band.” BTS members Jimmy, Joe Mernyk,
Robbie Baranov, and Billy Mettinger are also all involved in H2O. “We’re also
excited to hear some great talent from the other bands,” says Jimmy.
“Seeing my favorite buddies [BTS]
headlining the show was truly a great
experience because they knew how to
attract all kinds of music fans,” says
HoJun Yu, who attended Soundwave last
year. He is planning on attending again
in 2013, this time as guitarist and singer
of the Cosmic Islanders. “When I saw
my good friends playing at concerts, I
wanted to play in a band. I used to feel miserable about the fact that I couldn’t
really find the right people with a similar taste in music.” Now he plays in
a band with Harry Weckel, Frankie Tang, Robbie, and Joe. “After all,” says
HoJun, “Cosmic Islanders are a music project created for jamming out with
my best friends.”
Quincy Morgan, president of H2O, promises an unforgettable night
at Soundwave 2013. “It’s going to be a metaphysical mind blast. Everyone
should come.” Proceeds from this event, as well as all of H2O’s fundraisers
this year, will go toward building latrines and a rain catchment tank for the
Mlazo Primary School in Tanzania. This project will improve the students’
health and raise attendance at Mlazo.
Soundwave will take place at the North Penn VFW on Jenkintown Road on
February 1st, from 7-10 PM. Tickets can be purchased for $8 at the door.
“Soundwave last year was a great time,” enthuses Jimmy. “The VFW is an
awesome venue to play for an event like this. Soundwave 2013 is going to be
fantastic, and we can’t wait until February 1st.”
Are Ready to Sing!
By: Leah McLaughlin
Inside This Issue:
Rejection Letters.........p.2
B&B At The Movies....p.3
Order in the Court!....p.4
Point/Counterpoint....p.5
Cuckoo’s Nest..............p.6
Do grades Matter?......p.7
Hoops For Hope.........p.8
They’re walking through
your classrooms, snatching
your classmates up, tryna
sing, so you better hide your
friends, and hide your teach.
Bad parody aside, those
reading the last, somewhat
run-on and fragmented
sentences probably fall into
the following three groups
of thoughts: “I hate when
they do this”;“THIS IS
THE BEST DAY OF THE
YEAR!”; or “What does this
even mean?” Let’s clarify.
Every year, the Select
Choir performs Singing
Valentines. There are five
different songs to choose
from and the songs are
personally sent to whoever the giver desires. This event is arranged
by Abington students and is one of the most student-run showcases
the music department has to offer. Everyone gets the enjoyment of
listening to awesome music, getting out of class work, and watching
classmates become completely mortified when subjected to a
Valentine. It’s totally embarrassing when it’s you, but totally hilarious
when it’s not. Abington students who showed up on December 21st
got a taste of what Singing Valentines are like from the Holiday
Grams, but we did not come close to eating the full meal.
So here’s how it works: Singing Valentines will be up for sale about
two weeks before the lover’s holiday in Cafeteria A during all lunch
periods. Unlike Holiday Grams, the groups for Singing Valentines
are strictly male and female. Those who wish to buy them will need
to pay $5 and fill out a slip stating their name, the recipient’s name,
preference of male or female group, the song, and the room and class
period of the person whom they wish to serenade. The boys will belt
out some classics such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “In the Still of the
Night,” “What Makes You Beautiful,” and “As Long as You Love Me.”
The girls will also be sampling a variety of time periods with “Can’t
Help Falling in Love,” “Crazy,” “Call Me Maybe,” “We Found Love,”
and “You Belong With Me.” Singing Valentines are lighthearted, silly,
and fun. Remember that they are not strictly for couples, but perfect
for friends as well!
A
s
h
s

The Abingtonian January 2013 Page 2
Creative Writing Club
Presents: “Mucking Around”
By: Susan Braverman
If it was you that struck,
keep your apologies,
sit Shiva, deplore and weep
but lack of tact leads to combat
in which armies will muck around.
brandish the big stick if you aim to displease
you can, with ease, hit the back of my knees
and force cumbersome curtsies and courtesies,
that you’ll have a hard time trying to read.
Key Tips to Lose
Weight and Keep that
Resolution
By: Josh Seong
2013 has just begun, and one of the top resolutions for the
new year is to lose weight. New Year’s Resolution statistics reveal that
about 75% of people keep their resolution after the first week. After
two weeks, about 71% are still following through with their goals for
improvement, but after a month only about 64% have kept to their New
Year’s pledge. Six months later, about 46% of people are still trying to
lose weight or have accomplished it.
One great tip to losing weight is
to track your progress. Start off with a
reasonable goal – don’t go crazy and make
a resolution to lose 10 lbs in a month, or
something along those lines. Decide on
how you want to lose weight, whether it
is a diet, an exercise program, or another
method. Choose according to however
you can fit the program into your
schedule. Lastly, the most important thing
is to throw out all of the unhealthy food in your pantry and refrigerator.
It won’t help you at all when you are on your diet and you are tempted
by that donut on the counter.
Two noteworthy diets are Weight Watchers and the Paleo
diet. Weight Watchers, although not free, lets its users eat anything
within their point limit. The Paleo diet is not for everyone – users are
restricted to foods that are unprocessed, such as lean meats, seafood,
fruits, and vegetables, and must avoid all processed foods and dairy
products.
Hopefully, these tips will inspire you on the path to
accomplishing your New Year’s Resolutions. Good luck!
FEATURES
What Not to Do When
You Receive a Letter of
REJECTION
By: Rebecca Newman
It’s that time of year again, folks. College hopefuls all across the country
will soon receive their glorious letters of acceptance, by way of snail
mail, email, and the occasional owl. Unfortunately, not all of us can be
so lucky. This is a very specific example of what not to do when you’ve
been faced with a letter of rejection.
Dear Mr. *************,
As your rejection letter was extremely vague, I was just
wondering if there is something I can change about my application so
other colleges won’t, you know, reject me. Otherwise, I’ll never know
what exactly was wrong. Was it my grades? My poorly written essay?
No passion? My claims of alien abduction? All of the above? I might be
forced to float around in admissions purgatory for the rest of my life.
Your personal bio conveys that you’d be more than willing to provide
assistance to me as I “conduct my college search process,” so throw me
a bone here! If you could hook me up with other schools that would
be happy having someone with noteworthy “academic and personal
accomplishments” like mine, that would be great. Outstanding even.
You seem to think I have potential, which makes me swell
with pride. I hope then it will console you to learn that your rejection
was not “especially disappointing” for me, just mildly so. In any
case, I’m glad you noticed my “impressive personal and academic
accomplishments.” There you go throwing around “accomplishments”
again. It’s almost as if you don’t really care about me. Say it ain’t so!
Regardless, I wish you all the best in your continuing dream ruining
teenagers’ lives.
Warmest Regards,
**************
P.S. I’d like to make a slight correction to your beautifully worded
rejection letter (seriously, it was gold. I might steal it for my next
common app essay). I was going to defer a year, thus making me the
class of 2018, not 2017. Not that you care enough about me to tell the
difference. And I thought we were above acting like petty children.
P.P.S. I’m sorry I called your campus ugly. Was that it? I take it back.
Why can’t we just be friends?
P.P.P.S. Due to your lack of response, I’ve forwarded this to the rest of
the admissions staff. And to everyone else on the additional guidance
webpage. No hard feelings, ya know?

The Abingtonian January 2013 Page 3
FEATURES
B&B At The Movies! “Heard This Month”
Welcome to B&B Movies! Each month, Brendan and Breen will discuss
great movies that you might have missed in theaters. This month, as we
gear up for the second semester, we are discussing high school movies.
Take your seat before the bell rings, and read on to see our picks for high
school screen favorites.
Ryan’s Picks:
The Last Picture Show (1971)
Peter Bogdonavich directs this brooding masterpiece depicting the fallout
of a group of small town friends at the end of senior year in the 1950’s.
Following two best friends, co-captains of the high school football team,
the movie explores the dreams and disappointments of living in rural
America. The boys must come to grips with the foreclosure of the town’s
movie theater as well as with their own personal lives and relationships.
One of the most evocative elements is the mood present throughout the
entire film, a dreary decay that haunts every frame. The film was shot in
black and white, uncommon for the early seventies, but the stark color
scheme only adds to the bleached Texas backdrop. The film was nominated
for several Academy Awards and also served to kickstart Cybil Shepard’s
and Jeff Bridge’s careers. A fascinating look into the crossroad that every
teenager must face at the end of high school as their adolescence abruptly
ends and the pressures of adulthood quickly set in.
Rushmore (1998)
Ahh yes, Rushmore is another immediately endearing, quirky, coming-ofage
gem from the brilliant mind of Wes Anderson. This indie favorite is
a cult classic and a brilliant example of why Anderson is one of the most
innovative and fun contemporary directors. Starring Jason Schwartzman,
a staple of Anderson films, and a gloomy Bill Murray, the film follows a
fifteen-year old boy who lives solely to attend school. He happens to be
failing all his classes, but he is the king of extracurricular activities, from
bee-keeping to play-writing. The plot thickens when he and his slumping,
suburban father Herman Blume (Murray) fall for the newly appointed
elementary school teacher. Anderson’s cinematography, pioneered in this
film as well as his other early work, is as much of a character as any actor
on screen, and the witty dialogue and off-beat humor construct a highschool
fantasy unlike any other put to film.
Brendan’s Picks
Dazed and Confused (1993)
Centered around several high school students on the last day of school
and the night that follows, Dazed and Confused is an all-encompassing
look into one day in 1976. The film is to the ‘70s what American Graffiti
is to the ‘60s, both in its nostalgic tone and loose structure. Directed by
Richard Linklater, the film has the conversational feel of his other works,
such as Before Sunrise and its sequel Before Sunset, but the character’s
pontifications never seem tedious or dull. Using a great soundtrack and
authentic details, Linklater does not try to make a statement about the era
or the decade, but rather presents it as he remembers it (he was even later
sued by former classmates because they shared names with some of the
students). Despite the large cast, each character is memorable, especially
Wooderson, a long-graduated friend of the students desperately attempting
to cling to his youth, played by a never-better Matthew McConaughey.
Both a funny, intimate look into a decade past and a timeless portrait of
high school youth, Dazed and Confused is a quintessential high school
movie.
The 400 Blows (1959)
One of the first films of the French New Wave movement, Francois
Truffaut’s semi-autobiographical film remains one of the best movies to
capture the rebellious yet needy spirit of youth. Pieced together from
events from the lives of him and his friends, The 400 Blows is a beautiful
account of Antoine Doinel, a 12-year old who doesn’t feel appreciated at
either school or home. While the film does not take place in high school,
many of the film’s scenes masterfully depict both the chaos of school
itself and how school affects its students. The film’s innovative shots had a
huge influence on the French New Wave movement, while the story itself
influenced many films, such as Wes Anderson’s Rushmore. While Truffaut
continued Doinel’s story through other films, The 400 Blows remains the
only essential one, a breathtaking depiction of misunderstood youth in
1950’s Paris.
By: Halana Dash
There’s nothing like an inspirational quote or
two to add a smile to someone’s face. Books
and websites are full of ‘em – but why look
further than your own classroom? Every day
teachers shout out tons of funny quips and
serious advice – all we students have to do is
listen. Here are some candid quotes from the
last month that have made somebody smile!
“The skateboarders just stole the idea of
coterminal angles but with tricks.”
-Mr. Tinney (heard by Abbie Starker)
“Should you be nervous? Generally speaking, yes.
It heightens your senses and decreases
the chances of a sneak attack.”
-Mr. Penderghest (heard by Rachel Clayton)
“I mean, yeah, if I was Bradley Cooper I’d ride around shirtless
on a motorcycle through Jenkintown too.”
-Mr. Zanetti (heard by Christine Palazzolo)
“You’re only as strong as your weakest battery.”
-Ms. Ritterman (heard by Morgan Boetefuer)
Stylish Student of the Month
By: Liz Gassman
This month’s Stylish Student is Becca Kruger,
a sophomore known for her incomparable fashion
sense. Despite the January cold, she is wearing
cuffed denim shorts with a button up tank top,
accompanied by knit thigh highs. We can all take a
page from Becca’s book; try mixing in some skirts or
tank tops to liven up your winter fashion, and beat
the mid-school-year blues by reminding yourself that
spring is just around the corner. It is never too early
to add a little spring to your step, so if there is a great
pair of shorts or skirt, try it out with some of your
heavier tops, like a sweater or long sleeve shirt. The
unlikely combination might just be your new favorite
outfit!
So, if Becca is wearing shorts in January, will
she be sporting sweaters and jeans in June? Definitely
not! “I can’t wait for the flouncy skirts, sandals and
pastel colors that come along with spring fashion,”
she enthuses. She will also, most likely, be wearing
her Docs, which are Becca’s favorite new item in her closet. Boots are great
for each season, no matter what style. They can always look great with jeans,
shorts, and even skirts (except for maybe snow boots!)
Not into the boot trend? Lately sneakers have made a huge mark in
the fashion scene, studded or colored with neon brights. You can find the right
sneakers for you and not have to worry about which season to wear them in;
they’re just sneakers! Gear up for spring trends by loading up on bright colors,
especially emerald green and nautical blues. Also look out for the inevitable
floral prints, this year redone with an Eastern, or slightly digital, twist.
You can find Becca in H&M, or hunting for deals in her favorite
stores: Madewell and J. Crew. Head to your favorite stores to catch end of
season sales and a look at the upcoming Spring inventory, and try something
new! You might just end up being next month’s Stylish Student!

The Abingtonian January 2013 Page 4
Papa Starker’s Favorite
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
By: Abbie Starker
Ingredients:
Cupcakes:
In bowl #1:
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 ½ tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, ½
tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, 1 cup sugar
In bowl #2:
3 eggs, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 1 ½ cups shredded carrots (a food
processor is helpful. If not, some stores sell pre-shredded carrots), ½
cup chopped walnuts (optional-- I prefer them without), ½ cup golden
(or regular) raisins that have been soaked for 10 minutes in hot water
Cream Cheese Filling:
4 oz. softened cream cheese, 1 egg yolk, ½ cup sugar, ½ tsp vanilla
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Either line your cupcake tin with liners or grease them.
3. Once you have your dry ingredients combined in a medium
sized bowl and your wet ingredients combined in a large
bowl, fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients (egg/oil
mixture).
4. Make the cream cheese filling in a separate bowl. It is much
easier if you use an electric mixer for this.
5. Fill mini-cupcake cups about ¾ full. Put an overflowing
teaspoon of cream cheese filling on top of the batter in each
cupcake cup.
6. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes
out clean
Note: My dad is a big guy and usually wants normal-sized cupcakes.
Follow the same steps, filling each cupcake cup ¾ of the way, but add 1
to 1 ½ tablespoons of the cream cheese filling. They will need to bake
a little longer so check with a toothpick every 5 minutes or so. Also, I
usually double the recipe for the filling because my dad loves the stuff
and adds some on to the top after they are baked. Keep the extra cream
cheese filling in the refrigerator so it won’t spoil!
Order in the Court!
By: Erinmarie Byrnes
FEATURES
By: Halana Dash
WORDLINK
Hey word puzzle lovers! Frustrated with life? Well, sit back,
relax, and fill out a wordlink. You play by creating a chain of
compound words from the first word all the way to the last. The
first and second word link to make a compound word, like in
this example: Guitar and string connect to make guitar string,
string links with band to make string band, and band and camp
link to form band camp. Some of the words even have letters
filled in to help you out!
Think you solved the puzzle? Print your name at the bottom, cut
out your completed wordlink, and drop it off at the Wordlink
box sitting on the Abingtonian box in the library. YOU WILL BE
ENTERED INTO A DRAWING TO WIN A PRIZE! Winners
will be announced on the afternoon announcements!
Best of luck!
INCOME
_ A _
_ E _ U _ _
_ _ _ R _ _ _
_ _ O _
_ _ _ R
P _ _ C _
C _ _ _ _ N _
FAN
NAME:____________________
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school, a small but tough crowd of people gather in Room
222C. The Abington Mock Trial Team has not been around long; it’s only been four years, but one would not know
it by observing a meeting. Michael Fitzpatrick, a senior who serves as a prosecution lawyer for his second and final
year on the team, makes an objection to a leading question. Senior Jimmy Kelly helps new-comer Yegene Hong with
her cross examination questions after he perfects his closing remarks. Gudiance counselor Theresa Wallace, a lawyer
herself, coaches the team of 14 members, who are currently gearing up for the PA Bar Association Young Lawyer’s
Division Statewide Mock Trial Competition, with the first round being sometime near the end of January to the
beginning of February. One of the largest in the nation, this Mock Trial Competition gives over 290 high school student teams from across Pennsylvania the
opportunity to act as lawyers and witnesses in simulated civil and criminal trials before actual judges and panels of juries. Each year, the winning team goes on
to represent Pennsylvania in the national competition. Abington’s team, who hopes to advance to the next level, will head to the Montgomery County Court
House in Norristown for the first round of competition. This year’s case is a criminal case with two charges of third degree murder. The team has been preparing
questions, memorizing witness statements, and writing openings and closings for the past three months, with the goal of success in mind. They mastered the art
of speaking eloquently and confidently, as well as having all the necessary parts of an argument to win the trial.
I have been fortunate enough to be part of the Mock Trial Team for all my three years at the Senior High. My favorite moments have been nailing a
rebuttal against an objection in the courtroom and receiving the best advocate award my junior year. Overall, the Abington Mock Trial Team is looking forward
to another great year demanding some order in the court!

The Abingtonian January 2013 Page 5
By: Chris Smith
EDITORIALS
Presenting: Point/Counterpoint
No Military Recruiting
in Schools
I’m going to start by writing that I am incredibly pro-military
in almost all other arenas of controversy. I am pro-torture, and I do
not mind military tribunals. However, using teenagers to bolster the
ranks of an organization in which suicides are through-the-roof and the
war is never-ending, is absurdly wrong, and so soldiers should not be
recruiting in our cafeteria.
One day, at lunch, I managed to snag one of the recruitment
pamphlets used by the representatives in Caf A to enlist students,
despite the soldier’s intimidating glare that followed me around like
those creepy dolls great-aunts like to hoard. It sure was an appealing
piece of paper, saying things like “honor” and “integrity” and had a bald
eagle on the cover. So I wondered, upon reading this teeny appetizer
to a military career, how much of this honor or integrity would I have
after facing the line of duty? Probably not too much. More likely, those
ideals of liberty and freedom
would be replaced by PTSD
and prostheses, which is
strange, because nothing of
that sort was depicted in the
cheery recruitment pamphlet
I got. Oddly, such horrifying,
realistic details are kept from
students as they wander
through the cafeteria, and
such propaganda has no place
in Abington.
I often hear fellow
students argue that most
kids recruited out of high
school never see action,
and thus enlistments are
harmless. However, the 18-22
year old age group makes up 28% of soldiers in active duty, according
to the Department of Defense. With this in mind, the idea of selling
enlistment to students is doubly disgusting, especially since students
are in no position to make such a decision. I have heard several times:
“We’re 18 now, we can vote and drive, so we can defend America
too!” which is probably the most ridiculous statement in the history
of teenage shenanigans. You can not seriously say that the hooligans
loitering in the T are intelligent enough to fire a gun, because they are
not. In fact, I would not let half of the nit-wits frolicking around this
place look at a firearm, yet alone use one. Just the other day, Kate Stock
said 18 year olds “are still developing”, to which I fully agree. Therefore,
giving them the option to join the Army is unfair.
In light of these statistics, many enlistment advocates take the
opposite approach: It does not matter if it is dangerous; kids registering
should know what they are getting into. This, of course, is madness; the
equivalent of saying that it is the child’s fault he was lured by candy, not
the pedophile’s. Most of what the average American knows regarding
war is from Call of Duty and the opening scene to Saving Private
Ryan—neither of which depict war today. How then, can someone
be expected to know what they are signing up for if such violence is
fictionalized to the point of insensitivity? I do not know, but there were
a lot of big words in that last sentence, so I am probably right.
Despite all this, I am not asking that you spit in the eyes of the
soldiers the next time they are here recruiting. They serve this country,
and what they are doing is honorable.
Only Good Can Come
From Military Recruiters
By: Kate Stock
The military sends recruiters to high schools to give students
information about careers in the military and how the military can help
them reach their goals, and that is a good thing. Of course, military
recruiters try to get students to join the military – that is their job, after
all. But if you argue that students need to be “protected” from military
recruiters by keeping them out of the schools, what you are really
arguing is that students are too naïve to make their own decisions.
Military recruiters provide useful information about the many
career options in today’s services, from computer technicians to
doctors. In fact, 91 percent of jobs in the military are not in the combat
arms, and even though service members may be deployed in a hostile
place like Iraq or Afghanistan, most of the troops there are on large
bases that are safe.
Military service can help open
doors too – students can find a trade,
or get help from the GI Bill to go to
college while they are out. Students
do not only have to go into the active
military, either—they can join the
Reserves or the National Guard during
college like my brother did. He wants
to be a police officer after graduating,
so he is going to get trained as a medic
by the military so he can pass his EMT
exam. That is the sort of information
students would miss out on if
recruiters were not allowed in school.
Another reason the military
should be allowed in schools should
be for high school students to
someone who is actually serving. Less than two percent of Americans
are currently in the military, so most students do not know or have
never met a service member. Whether or not students are interested
in a career in the military, by having recruiters in school, they have a
chance to speak with someone who is currently serving and find about
what it is like, so they appreciate the sacrifice they make to protect us.
Finally, there is the law to consider. If schools allow any kind
of employers, college advisors or coaches to recruit their students, they
have to allow military recruiters an equal chance to as well. So the only
way it is legal to keep military recruiters out is if the school kicks out
all of the employers who are seeking out students too. This would not
serve the students at all.
The armed forces continue to need new members every
year, even though we pulled out of Iraq and have fewer troops in
Afghanistan. Service members of every branch are needed to do all
kinds of jobs. It is imperative for students to be able to hear about the
career options the military has to offer, so they can make their own
choice about whether it is right for them.
Source:
http://siadapp.dmc.osd.mil/personnel/MILTARY/history/hst1209_DMDC.xlsx

The Abingtonian January 2013 Page 6
By Tia Barnhardt
EDITORIALS
All I Want Are Some
Crayons
For Christmas this year my 5 year old sister got an iPad from
Santa... when I was five I got a jump rope, hula hoop, and some side
walk chalk. I could not help, but be jealous of my younger sister
because Santa brought me books, I concluded that I was on the naughty
list this year and was being punished. As the days went on and my
sister downloaded what seemed like every app ever invented, I realized
that I didn’t get an iPad because I didn’t want one. While my younger
sister plays Angry
Birds, I would
rather be outside
admiring the
actual birds while
playing hopscotch
or pretending
that the carpet in
my house is lava.
So maybe times
have changed, and
it is not okay to
play board games
at age sixteen,
but I am going
to do it anyway
because Words
with Friends gets
boring.
Hanging
out has become
another group
internet session at
one person’s house where everyone sits around and plays apps, pretends
to play apps, or texts someone. Streets are now left desolate inviting
only the leaves to dance in the wind of the evening because kids would
rather stay home and watch TV than leave the house. It is time to face
the facts- we have become lazy. Some days I even find myself thinking
that I was born in the wrong generation because it is rare to find a
friend to play board games with or anyone who wants to do anything
besides text
Younger kids are now born and raised attached to iPhones, so
what has become of our world? Technology is morphing us into antisocial
teenagers who spend all weekend playing apps and only getting
out of bed to eat. There is no social interaction anymore because we
just text each other “lol”, without even the slightest hint of a smile or
a laugh. If technology is such a good thing then why is every silence
awkward now? What will happen to us when we are older and still
afraid to call for takeout because we do not want to communicate with
the pizza guy? The answer is we will order online because that’s a thing
now. What ever happened to talking on land lines or knocking on your
friend’s door just to see if they could play today? Have we become so
anti social that we have forgotten our childhood habits? A text is now
that hand written letter that you could not wait to open. I had a small
taste of life without technology when I was younger, but all of that is
now gone. We now have the technology to get any information in the
world, but what will happen to libraries now that the Kindle is taking
the place of the everyday book? Or mailmen when all of the bills
become apps and emails? Just like records, VCR’s and cassette tapes,
books and mail will soon be things of the past along with a lot of other
things. Nothing can replace the feeling of finishing a long book that
you cannot put down as opposed to having a monotone voice read it to
you. If what we are going for with the advancement of technology is a
loss of emotions and social interaction, then I am scared of what may
be wrapped up for my little sister next year.
5 Reasons Why
Cuckoo’s Nest Should Be
in the Curriculum
By: Johanna Gruber
I’m pretty sure that Ken Kesey’s riveting One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s
Nest rests peacefully in the notorious Abington Book Room. Despite
its potential to complement the 10 th grade American Lit canon, or the
12 th grade AP Lit catalog, Cuckoo’s Nest is often left untouched, sans the
recognition it deserves. My disappointment at this fact has compelled
me to compile the following list of reasons why it is a must-read:
1. You don’t know a villain until you know Nurse Ratched—Sure,
Frederick Clegg was a total creep in The Collector, and O’Brien of
1984 may send a chill down your spine, but they’ve got nothing on the
heartless, manipulative Big Nurse, the antagonist of Cuckoo’s Nest. The
head nurse on the mental ward, Ratched uses her power to deteriorate
the spirit of each and every patient, without batting an eye.
2. The perspective— Kesey offers the best of both worlds: you get the
first person point-of-view of Chief Bromden, a long-time patient on the
ward, yet the story focuses strongly on R.P. McMurphy, considered the
main protagonist. The two characters are equally developed, and the
unique tone that Bromden, a schizophrenic, offers is key to the themes
of the novel.
3. The mini history lessons within the book—Personally, I love a
book whose setting (including the time period) provides something
insightful, teaches something new, and lends a new perspective to a
timeless theme. Read and learn about the rise of lobotomies in the 50’s,
and the appalling oppression found in mental institutions at the time.
4. The classic “stick-it-to-the-man” theme executed flawlessly— Kesey
expands upon this somewhat trite message, combining it with ideas
about society’s standards of sanity. Nurse Ratched acts as the puppet
master, pulling the strings and deciding who fits the role of “normal”
and who is simply “crazy.” Rebels at heart will find themselves moved by
Chief Bromden’s self-reflections, as well as his mental concoction that is
the Combine, controlling the minds of society.
5. Balance of humor and sincerity—The novel at its core, and in theme,
is profound and touching, but is filled with humor at the same time.
McMurphy’s clever one-liners and wild antics so strongly contrast the
innocent coyness of the patients. Your sides may split upon reading
about Billy Bibbit on a fishing boat, and Harding as the butt of every
joke never gets old.

The Abingtonian January 2013 Page 7
Do Grades Really
Matter?
By: Eleni Driza
EDITORIALS
In high school, your life revolves around grades. Maintaining
a good GPA in order to compete with your friends, and being secretly
bitter when they out-school you, is everything, but what is a good
GPA? Students who have 4.0’s are no longer satisfied because a 4.0 is no
longer considered extraordinary. The highest GPA one can now receive
is a 4.6 on a weighted scale. Are you an over achiever if you strive for a
4.6? The answer is no, for many of the students attending Abington are
doing just that. The real question is does this 4.6 matter—what are you
really striving for? The correct answer would be college, the ominous
cloud following you everywhere. It follows you into your dreams, when
you are doing your homework, and even into the restroom. Many
believe that your GPA is what helps you get into college, but there are
multiple anecdotes about students who get into Ivy League schools with
only a 3.5. Most probably wonder how they do it, but it is called being
yourself. Colleges want students who bring something to the table, such
as passion, by exhibiting dedication to a sports team or perhaps a club.
Society emphasizes grades way too much, which puts pressure on kids
and causes them to break down if they do not achieve that A. They say
high school is the best time of your life, yet it feels like the worst. All
kids worry about are grades, but what truly matters are the memories
you make during your years in school. Your GPA does not portray who
you are. Your GPA cannot display your personality. In actuality your
grades are not everything because 20 years from now no one will care
about what your GPA was in high school, so stop and smell the roses
around you every once in awhile.
Resolutions...Why?
By: Andrew Schmidt
It is that time of year again, a new year, a fresh start, when
people all over make their New Year’s resolutions, and carry them all
through the year. Right? Wrong. Let’s correct that. It is that time of
year again, when people start whatever resolutions they think they
have and eventually give up, simply forgetting about them. What I
never understood is why people think these things in the first place.
It’s probably all just for show. “Oooh, a new year, I’m going to lose 50
pounds and write that book I’m always talking about!” No, you are
not! Here’s how things actually go down: you will go to the gym for
two maybe three months, if you get lucky, lose a pound, maybe, and
return to your regular lifestyle. Making resolutions is ridiculous! It
just isn’t going to happen.
The problem may not be solely the lack of will that most
people tend to have when it comes to things like this, but also the
unrealistic goals that people foolishly believe they can achieve in
such a short time span. Now, it’s not that there is anything wrong
with having big dreams, but there comes a limit to where those
dreams become unattainable. A year seems like a long time, and it
is, but it is not enough time to do something overly-extravagant,
such as build a vessel and fly to Mars to discover an alien race. Goals
such as these are on the same level as insanity. Reality is not always
a fun thing to consider, but it’s always there and will never leave.
Remember playing that game, as a kid, where the floor was molten
lava and you had to jump across the furniture to survive? That
would be much more awesome if reality did not exist and reality
wasn’t there when it was all over, but we have to return to real life.
Reality, like a commercial, seems to never end, except at the good
parts, when you are not there. My point is that when people make
their new year’s resolutions, they forget the standardized test-like
monster that is actuality.
Every year, there is always that one person who is so serious
about making their new year’s resolution, and sticking to it, that they
actually do. That person is a combination of Chuck Norris, Forrest
Gump, and Billy Mays: just plain awesome. As our supernatural
friend over here has his moment of glory when the year is over and
he is done with his goal, only preparing to set the next, we regular
humans are sitting at home, watching the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and
eating Doritos because we know that, as humans, that is the absolute
greatest thing we can do. All the time, effort, and money spent on
trying to carry out a resolution for a new year is fruitless.
What’s happening
in Abington???
H20’s
Annual Concert:
SOUNDWAVE
February 1st
7-10 pm
$8 Admission
VFW on Jenkintown Rd.
Key Club’s 8th Annual
Bowling for Darfur
February 8, 10-12pm, $12
Thunderbird Lanes
1st Annual
HOOPS FOR HOPE
Basketball Game
February 1, 7pm

The Abingtonian January 2013 Page 8
SPORTS
Swimming: Midseason Notes HOOPS FOR HOPE
By: Michael Tershakovec
Led by Coach Lennon, Coach DiMassa (former Abington swimmer),
Coach Mermelstein (former Abington swimmer), and Coach Moritz,
the Abington Swim Team has gotten off to a great start. Boys’ senior
captains Juan Muñoz, Liam Sweeney, and Dakota Korn, and Girls’
senior captains Julie Chiodo, Shannon Staerk, Maddie Perkins, and
Sara Briker expect this to be a terrific season. With decisive wins over
Upper Moreland and Bensalem, the Ghosts are off to a good start, both
as a team and in individual performance. Sophomore Frances Erney
qualified for District Championships in the first meet of our season,
against CB South, in the 500 Freestyle. Freshman Emma O’Neill has
qualified for District Championships in the 200 Individual Medley.
Senior Liam Sweeney looks to qualify for Districts for the second year
in a row in the 100 Backstroke, as well as part of the 4x200 Medley
Relay. Already halfway through the season, the team looks like they
will have a strong finish to their year, which closes with their Senior
Night at home against Cheltenham on February 7 th at 6pm. With
strong freshman and sophomore classes, the Abington Swim Team will
continue to be a force to contend with in Suburban One.
Girls In the Game:
A Sports Update with Alex
Brusha and Kath Welsh
By: Alex Brusha and Kath Welsh
The winter season is off to a good start for most of our sports teams.
The boys basketball team is currently in first place in their league with
a 6-0 record. They are one game ahead of Bensalem. The girls’ team,
which suffered a bit in the beginning of the season due to injuries of
key players, is also in first place with a 6-0 record. The teams held
a home double-header against Neshaminy on December 20th. In
between the games, our girls team and the Neshaminy girls presented a
deserving family with donations collected by all four teams. Together
the teams collected gifts, food, and over $1,000 for the family selected
by Hartrandt Elementary School in Philadelphia. All teams enjoyed the
experience and for a more in-depth article, you can visit the Suburban
One Girls basketball page. The boys bowling team has a record of
1-0, while the girls unfortunately have a 0-1 record. The Abington Ice
Hockey team is currently in third place in the league, only three games
behind Council Rock South with a 5-4 record. Both the boys and girls
swim teams are in second place, two wins behind Council Rock North.
Finally, the wrestling team has a record of 1-2. We congratulate the
teams on all their victories and wish them luck in the future! We look
forward to the rest of the winter season and encourage EVERYONE to
go out and support their teams! Go Ghosts!
By: Jessie Marinucci
Key Club has tackled Breast
Cancer, and now wants to shoot out
Pediatric Cancer. This will not be the
usual football game, however - this
year, the boys’ basketball team is
stepping up to face off against William
Tennent in the first ever Hoops
for Hope event. Spearheaded by Key
Club co-advisor Miss Ritterman, the
game will raise money and spread
awareness for the fight against pedriatic
cancer. Similar to the Breat Cancer game, Key Club will sell T-shirts
during the week prior to February 1st. Wearing the gray-and-gold
T-shirts will grant free admission into the game. Students can also bring
a gently used teddy bear for free admission. The bears will be used in
the “halftime teddy bear toss.” Admission alone is $10, and kids under
twelve get in for free, with or without a T-shirt or teddy.
The Hoops for Hope game will be full of fun, food, and freethrows.
Come on out and support the boys’ basketball team and pediatric
cancer awareness on February 1st at 7pm in the gym. Any questions,
see Miss Ritterman or Ms. DiMassa.
Abingtonian 2012-2013
Published by:
Abington Senior High School, Abington, PA
Editors-In-Chief:
Christine Palazzolo & Halana Dash
News Editor:
Grace Pak
Editorial Editor:
Chris Smith
Features Editor:
Alex Rosenbaum
Sports Editor:
Mike Tershakovec
Writers:
Liz Gassman, Andrew VanBuren, Elana Waldstein,
Alex Brusha, Kathleen Welsh, Aleksandra Cvetković,
Rachel Clayton, Christin Manilal, Becca McGarry,
Ana Zeneli, Johanna Gruber, Sabrina Farmer, Ryan Breen,
Brendan Malone, Paul Sanchez, Leah McLaughlin, Gabriella Lopez, Erinmarie
Byrnes, Sarah Gleason, Rebecca Newman, Vincenza Rico, Stephen
Costello, Rebecca Kruger, Chae Eon Jang, Nia Karasavas,
Josh Seong, Tom Higgins, Tia Barnhardt, Andrew Schmidt, Madison
Bradley, Isaac McDermott, Rachel Maizel, Julianna Lowenstein
Point/Counterpoint:
Chris Smith, Kate Stock
Faculty Advisors:
Mr. Bryan Quigley & Mr. Albert Saylor
Administration:
Dr. J. Fecher, Mr. R. McCuen, Mr. E. Johnson, Mr. C. Fiorino