2012-02-15 - Union Catholic Regional High School

The ProphetUnion Catholic High SchoolISSUE 04 February 2012UC Indoor Track and Field are ChampsThe Union Catholic Indoor Trackand Field Team boys placed first inthe County Relay Championship atthe Jersey City Armory on January6, as well as Placing first in CountyIndividuals at the Jersey CityArmory on January 29. Also theteam placed second in the nonpublicstate relays at the BennettComplex in Toms River. The girlsplaced sixth at the County Relays,and fourth in County Individuals.This is the second year in arow UCs’ boys track and fieldteam won County Relays. Thepoint total was 62. The 55mShuttle Hurdles relay teamconsisting of Tom Wang ’13,Colin Johnson ’12, ChristoffeScott ‘13, and Zach Ghizzone ’13, set theschool record and won the race with atime of 30.8. The DMR placed first as wellas the SMR which set a meet record with atime of 3:38.Welcome Class of 2016!Anxiouseighth gradersfilled UnionCatholic as UCheld its annualAccepted StudentsDance, welcomingthe Classof 2016. UChosted an AcceptedStudents Reception,wherestudents’ familieswere also invited,prior to the dancefrom 5 pm to 7pm. Followingthe reception wasthe Accepted StudentsDance, whichlasted from 7 pm until 10 pm.At the Accepted Student andFamily reception, families of the acceptedstudents were given a chance toThe boys’ team placed second at thenonpublic state relays that washeld in the Bennett complex inToms River. Final score for theUC boys’ team was 53 withChristian Brothers Academytaking first with 77 points.The sprint Medley relay placedfirst and set the meet recordwith a time of 3:33.36At the County Individual Meetthe boys’ team placed firstwith 60 points. Cristoffe Scott’13 set the school record forthe 55 HH with a time of7.91. Allen Eke ‘12 wonthe 1600m with a time of4:23 and he also won the800m with a time of 1:56.93 breaking theprevious meet record. This is the second timein a row that UC has won Counties.Click on the shield for footagefrom the track meet!UC student encourages incomingstudents to dance.By: Alex LedetBy: Roxanne Daleremeet administrators, faculty,parents of currentUC students, and UC students.Families were alsoable to ask questions andreceive direct answersfrom administrators andfaculty. At approximately7 pm, accepted studentsleft the receptionand went to the dance;parents were given a listof local establishmentsthey could go while theywaited to pick their childup from the dance.At the dance,students were able to minglewith future classmatesas well as current UC studentsin a social setting. The dance helpsincoming students feel a part of the UCcommunity right from the start. “Thedance helps the incoming students knowIn this issue:Catholic Schools Week P.2Pro Life Rally P.2PAC P.3Ski Trip P.3New Year’s poll P.42012 P.5New Year’s Around theWorld P. 5Fashion P. 6Leap year P. 6North Korea P. 7NDAA P. 7Mitt Romney P.8Rick Santorum P. 8Tolls P. 9NBA P. 10UC Basketball P. 11MLB P. 12Superbowl P. 12Megan’s Movie Mania P. 13TV P. 14Music P. 15Tanning Laws P. 16Valentine’s Day Gifts P. 16GlamourGals P. 17that ‘UC is where you want to be!’”said Mrs. Thornton, Director of Admissions.The Class of 2016 was welcomedby approximately fifty UC BigBrothers & Sisters, Ambassadors, andEmerging Leaders. For three hours,future students and current studentsalike danced the night away. “Eventhough I’m already a senior, that wasprobably the best UC dance I’ve beento yet,” said McKenna Dick ’12.“Seeing all the eighth graders mademe remember how I felt as an incomingfreshman.”With over three hundredfifty people in attendance at the AcceptedStudents Reception, and approximatelytwo hundred students atthe dance, the Class of 2016 shows apromising future. Up next for theClass of 2016 is UC’s Lock-In onMarch 9.

UC Celebrates Catholic Schools WeekBy Danielle GruskiewiczIt is Catholic Schools Week time! Union CatholicHigh School celebrated the 39 th Annual National CatholicSchools Week, which took place between January 29 andFebruary 5. The theme of this year’s celebration was“Faith, Academics, Service.”The week includeddifferent events and activitiesthat showcasedwhat Catholic schools areall about.The week beganwith a dance for the UCClass of 2016 acceptedstudents. Many currentUC students lent a hand at the dance and aided in its runningsmoothly. “I had a great time at the dance,” said AnnieCierpial ‘12. “The Accepted Students Dance is alwaysmy favorite dance of the year.”During the week, UC students were treated totheir annual donut breakfast. The faculty were given acomplimentary breakfast as well. The administration alsogave the students two tag days. One tag day’s money wentto help needy families in honor of the Superbowl. In addition,the UC Environmental Club aided their fellow studentsin a locker cleanup. All of these events celebrated the“service” aspect of the Catholic Schools Week theme.In an attempt to honor the “academic” aspect ofCatholic Schools Week, UC held a Q&A session for theClass of 2016. Along with questions about academics, UCfaculty and students also answered questions about campusministry, athletics, and performing arts. “The parents andstudents seemed really interested in what we had to say aboutUC,” said Marty Davidson ‘12. “I love to answer incoming students’questions and tell them about all my favorite parts ofUC.” At the Q&A session,UC representatives stressedfacts such as since UC is aprivate Catholic school, itcan provide students withacademic luxuries such aslaptops for every individual.UCTV held a special prayerservice on January 30 aspart of the “faith” aspect of Catholic Schools Week. The prayerservice was not only to celebrate the event of Catholic SchoolsWeek, but also to remind students of the privilege they have tobe attending a Catholic school. “I have been attending Catholicschools all my life,” said Anna Mutuc ‘12. “Sometimes I forgetjust how lucky I am to have been able to go to Catholic schoolall these years.” During the service, UCTV played a slideshowof students and faculty to honor the entire UC community beingjoined together by their common faith.For many students at UC, it may be a common yearlyoccurrence to celebrate Catholic Schools Week. Most studentshave been attending Catholic schools for many years and forgetwhat the objective of the week really is. Catholic SchoolsWeek is a designated time for students and faculty to reflect ontheir ability to practice their faith in an educational institutionand how they can make the most of this opportunity.UC Community Rallies in Washington D.C.By: Katie NolanThe Right to Life club participated in their annual march inWashington D.C.On Monday, January 23, half a million peoplemarched together through the streets of Washington D.C.advocating pro-life. Of the 500,000 supporters, 42 were UnionCatholic’s own students and faculty.Monday morning UC students gathered in theschool’s chapel for mass at 6:45 a.m. presided by Father JoeMancini, pastor of St. Stephen’s Church in Kearny. Followingthe intimate service were bagels and donuts to fuel the groupfor the long day ahead. They loaded onto the bus and leftUnion Catholic shortly before 8:00 a.m. They arrived in thenation’s capital at noon and congregated in the middle of theNational Mall listening to congressmen and congresswomengive arousing speeches promoting the right to life. HouseSpeaker John Boehner, one of twelve children in his family,was the key speaker. He told the crowd “I’ve never considered‘pro-life’ to be a label or a position. It’s just who I am.”He also said that Congress is listening to the voice of the peopleand standing up to restore the damage of Roe vs. Wade.Although it was 32 degrees and sleeting for most ofthe day, the spirits of students and faculty were kept alivewhen the walk started at 1:30 p.m. “Before the walk started Iwas really cold and anxious,” said Allison Allmer ’12. “Butonce everyone got moving I was much more excited. Andwarm!”The march began near the Smithsonian Castle andended at the Supreme Court building. Along the route fellowpro-life supporters sang chants and cheers. There were alsopictures and demonstrators on the side preaching right tolife. At the Supreme Court many people stopped and prayedin large groups.UC’s day was organized by Michael Pego ’12, a PeerMinistry leader, with religion teachers Mr. John Becht andMr. Elito Tanyag. Fr. Joe also accompanied the group to themarch. This was Union Catholic’s first time bringing a groupto Washington, D.C. for the March for Life Day.The first March for Life took place January 22, 1974,exactly one year after the Roe vs. Wade decision. Roe vs.Wade helped keep abortions legal. The March for Life’s missionis to put an end to all abortions. Next year’s march hasalready been scheduled for January 25, 2013.

May the Bard Be With You!“To be, or not to be; that is the question!” Well,here at UC we have a group of students who are morethan capable of answering it. Over the summer, membersof our performing arts company delved into the genius ofWilliam Shakespeare. In their production The CompleteWorks of William Shakespeare (Abridged), our very ownUC Reduced Shakespeare Company took the stage on amission from ‘God and the literary muse’ to condense all ofShakespeare’s work into a two act show. Starring MaeveLynskey ’12, Juliette Kelliher ’12, Megan Roberts ’12, SallyBeriont ’13, Emily Dzioba ’14, Cassie Weaver ’14, ParnikaCelly ’14, Will Marsh ’14, Gabrielle Pais ’14, Kate Carolan’15, and Neil Lynskey, this show really brings the complexityof William Shakespeare’s work down to somethingmodern and funny that almost anyone can understand.As the curtain rises, we meet all of the members of theReduced Shakespeare Company. The audience is told thatthe performers are going to attempt to condense all 37 ofShakespeare’s plays into an hour-and-a-half show, somethingnever before done. As the company sails through theall the comedies, histories, and tragedies, the audience isrewarded with a hysterical analysis of the Bard’s finestshows. As we close Act 1, tragedy ensues as one of the performersruns out of the theater, insisting that she won’treturn to tackle the biggest project: putting on Hamlet. Thecrowds are left anticipating the return of her as Act 2opens. Luckily, she returns, and Hamlet is performed…albeit with interruptions. The performers even call upsome of the members in the audience to make sure that wecompletely understand the dimensions of Shakespeare’scharacters. As Hamlet progresses, it’s obvious that the actorsknow their Bard. The show finishes with an unexpectedtwist; the cast actually performs Hamlet in perfectorder, backwards!Written and performed by the three-man ReducedShakespeare Company, The Complete Works of WilliamShakespeare (Abridged) definitely a show unlike any otherPAC has ever put on. “This was my first straight play inPAC, and it was definitely a kind of show I’ve never seenbefore,” says Parnika Celly, ’14. “The fact that we takeBy Emily Dziobasome of the most highly regarded plays in the literary worldand basically make fun of them is such a lucky opportunity.”Incorporating the audience into the show was something thatboth the actors and spectators enjoyed. “I thought the funniestpart was when Gabby pulled a guy up onstage to play Ophelia,”Cristina Bonner ’14 says. “When the actors were talkingto us, it made me feel like I was a part of the show. It felt awesome!”Other funny bits of the show involved Scottish accents,sword fighting, puppets, inflatable dinosaurs, and an onstagefootball game. No matter what age you are, everyone can understandand relate to at least one of the actors in the show.The performers in PAC have once again put on another successfulshow. Sophomore Catherine Coughlan says,“Shakespeare (Abridged) was probably the funniest show I’veseen here. I really hope that we do another show like thissoon.” All of the actors greatly enjoyed the opportunity to putonaUnion Catholic students performed The CompleteWorks of William Shakespeare Abridged in the summerof 2011 and January of 2012.farce show, and to spread the genius of William Shakespeare tothe people. The show was enjoyed by all who saw it; it managedto be educational and hilarious at the same time. As quotedfrom the show, “May the Bard be with you!”Ski TripOn January 19, a group of 21 Union CatholicRegional High School students went on the annual skitrip to Smugglers Notch Vermont. The trip was run byscience teachers Mr. and Mrs. Boyar. All of the studentsreturned to UC around 9:30 pm on Saturday January 21.The drive to the mountain took around sevenhours, and for entertainment along the way, most of thestudents slept or watched movies. “I thought it was themost exciting trip UC has,” said Arnold Majano ’13. Thegroup enjoyed great weather conditions during the trip,some snow the night before the first day on the mountain,and snow showers throughout the last day.Even those who cannot ski or snowboard, werestill able to go on the trip. Lessons and equipment rentalsBy : Alex Ledetwere offered at the mountain, and there were many beginnerfriendly slopes. The last lifts closed at 4:00 pm. because therewere no lights for night skiing. After a day on the slopes, therewas a lot of free time for students to participate in certain activitieslike swimming, relaxing in a hot tub, watching movies,and exploring the games in Teen Alley.Smugglers Notch is a ski resort with three mountains:Morse, Madonna, and Sterling. The lodging for the UC studentswas slope side on Morse Mountain. Morse Mountain hasprimarily beginner trails and the bunny slopes. Madonna, thetallest mountain, and Sterling have more advanced and challengingslopes.

New Year, New You!By: Jillian GonzalesThe New Year is a perfect opportunity to improveyourself by sticking to a New Year’s Resolution. “New Year,new me” is common motto because everyone wants tochange the things about themselves that they do not like,and January 1 st is the time to do it. However the most challengingpart of a New Year’s Resolution is to continue withit throughout the year.Improve your GPA. There are a few ways to get bettergrades before the marking period ends. By paying attentionin class and taking notes, your test scores will improve.Be organized, hand in assignments, and show an interest inclass, teachers will see that you are making an effort.Spend more time with friends and family. Take atleast one day out of a busy work week to meet up withfriends or relax with family. These loved ones are the mostimportant people in your life so if your New Year’s Resolutionis to spend more time with them, then set aside certainactivities to do with friends and family.Eat healthy. There are two main factors to successfullyeating healthy throughout all of 2012. Theseare to set reasonable goals and stay focused. By settingreasonable goals you can eat healthy but not limityourself. Surround yourself with people who that eathealthy and can support you in times struggle.Help Others. Volunteering is a great way tohelp those in need. Volunteer at a food bank, mentorchildren, or help out a neighbor. Another way to helpothers is to donate to a charity, either money orclothes, to help out the poor or local hospital.Any New Year’s Resolution can be followedthrough dedication. By working hard and staying focusedany resolution can become successful. MakeNew Years a time to change, and continue the changethroughout 2012.Which New Year's Resolution is MostImportant to You? SeniorsWhich New Years Resolution is mostimportant to you? Juniors14%23%Be more Physically ActiveBring up my grades27%9%Be more Physically ActiveBring up my grades15%Stop procrastinating28%Stop procrastinating12%23%13%Get organizedSpend more time withfamilySmile more9%9%18%Get organizedSpend more time withfamilySmile moreWhich New Years Resolution is mostimportant to you? SophomoresBe more Physically ActiveWhich New Years Resolution is mostimportant to you? FreshmenBe more Physically Active24%11%Bring up my grades13%16%Bring up my grades24%Stop procrastinating10%Stop procrastinating8%Get organized10%29%Get organized11%22%Spend more time withfamily22%Spend more time withfamilySmile moreSmile moreGraph by: Adrianna DeGazon

2012: Behind the MythDecember 21, 2012, iscommonly referred to as theday the world is supposed toend. The amount of media attentionand propaganda generatedaround the myth has garneredmoreawarenessfrom societythan anyother apocalyptictheories.Peoplehave questionedscientistsandhistoriansabout the accuracypredicted in the Mayancalendar seeking guidance onwhat actions to take. Theyhave been consumed by fearand are seeking comfort.Think this will happen?Many theories exist asto exactly how the worldwould come to an end. Themost popular one is the theorythat the earth will undergo apole shift due to a gravitationalpull on the planet, forming arare “galactic alignment” toheat the earth’s core and causethe crust and mantle to shift.The movie 2012 depicts thisscenario with the seas swallowingcities, erupting volcanoesand a crumbling earth.Scientists have dismissed suchtheories, though they said asubtler shift could occur if allthe ice caps were to melt. Continentshave been proven tohave moved over time, but theprocess takes millions of years,slow enough that humanitywon’t notice.Other predictions saythat a planet, commonly referredto as Nibiru, will collidewith the earth and obliterate it.However, there has been noplanet sighted for a collisionwith the earth. Even if it wereBy: Tim Leachto come in three years’ time, scientistswould have been studyingit for the past decade. Some saythe sun will flare up and producelethal eruptions of solar flares.These flares operate on 11-yearcycles and canindeed damagecertain forms ofcommunication,but scientistshave no indicationthat the sunwill unleashstorms strongenough to heavilyaffect theplanet.The true purpose of theMayans behind the fated date iswhen the largest grand cycle inthe calendar (1,872,000 days)comes to an end, bringing aboutthe beginning of a new cycle."The idea is that time gets renewed,that the world gets renewedall over again—often aftera period of stress—the same waywe renew time on New Year's Dayor even on Monday morning,"said Anthony Aveni, author of TheEnd of Time: The Maya Mystery of2012.Kids remain skeptical ofthe 2012 mythos. “It just happenedto be blown out of proportions,”said Kevin Marques ’12.“But this is just like Y2K, that neverhappened. Unless there's actualproof that the world is ending, Iwon't believe it.” Scientists havereassured Kevin’s doubts by beingunable to detect any major changesthat could lead to a global catastrophe.Historians and membersof society continue to arguewith their interpretations of theMayan calendar. “The date waspretty far in the future,” said GregKramkowski ’12. “People probablybelieved it could actually happen.”Despite the fear and propagandabuilt around the myth, it isnothing more than another conspiracytheory.New Year’s Around TheWorldBy: Megan RobertsChu Shen Tan, Scastny Novy Rok, BonneAnnee, Feliz Ano Neuvo, Happy New Year! Nomatter it is said, the New Year is celebratedaround the world in many different ways.“On New Year’s Eve, I like to spend timewith my family and watch the ball drop on tv.”Cassie Weaver ’14. Every year the United Statescelebrates the New Year with parties. The biggestcelebration of the New Year takes place in NewYork and is broadcast live around the world. Peopletend to get together with friends and familyand party until they see the ball drop in TimesSquare. When it is finally midnight the tradition isto kiss someone to ring in the New Year.The Australian New Year is very similar tothe American New Year in the ways that it is celebrated.Australian’s celebrate by having parties,picnics, and carnivals on the beach. Most partieswill start on December 31 and continue until midnightwhen the country rings in the New Yearwith whistles and bells.Fireworks explode near the Sydney Opera House on NewYear’sThe Chinese New Year takes place betweenJanuary 21 and February 20. The exact dateis fixed by the lunar calendar. Families clean theirhouses and rid themselves of the bad luck from theprevious year before they start their celebrations.The Chinese New Year is a time for families to betogether and to visit friends and relatives. In thecity, thecelebrationstake place. There are parades and festivitiesin the streets which many people gather forevery year.Though the world celebrates New Years indifferent ways, everyone celebrates a new beginningand a chance to change things for the better.Almost all cultures have some tradition that peoplemake a New Year’s resolution and try to betterthemselves and put all of the bad things and feelingsbehind.

Spring 2012 Fashion Cheat SheetThe New York Spring Fashion Trend Reports for2012 are here to stay. From sporty layers and high-waistedshorts, to floral dresses and neon colors, here are a few waysyou can get the “straight off the runway” look this spring.Floral Dresses: Some people believe that florals are justfor the summer. However, spring fashion just wouldn’tbe the same without floral patterns. Throw on anice pair of flats or switch things up by adding a pairof lace-up leather boots with your favorite dress.Even for chilly spring days, just add a long-sleevecardigan.Faded Denim Shirt: There are several ways to incorporateyourdenimshirtintoanyoutfitthisspring.Layeryourdenim shirt with a sweet floral dress to toughen’things up a bit, or button it up and tuck it into a flirtyhot pink skirt. If you do decide to wear your denimshirt with a pair of denim jeans, make sure yourjeans are a drastically different wash than the shirt(you don’t want to make the two washes clash). Evenadd a bright color bandeau under the button up forthe perfect spring look.By: Nicole PietrapertosaHigh-Waisted Shorts: When you think of high-waistedshorts, something that may come to mind instantlycould be 60’s fashion. However, high-waisted shortsare making their way back to stores everywhere.Slip on a neutralcolor tank topwith a blazer to goalong with yourfavorite pair ofhigh-waistedshorts, or pair theshorts with alaced tube-top.Both styles arecomfortable andclassy.Large Tote Bags: Big totes are back again, but if you arehaving trouble choosing the best one for yourself,just make sure you can pair it with some of yourfavorite spring outfits. Keep in mind that the bagshould have little touches of bright color to enhancethis year’s spring trends.Shoes: Ladies, this season it is all about the shoes. Yetagain, when has it not been? From flats to heels,there are millions of different styles to choose from.This spring, make sure you have a pair of simpleopen-toed booties, like the ones shown below.Match them with your floral dress, and you will bewell on your way to a spring filled with fads andfashion.Leap YearThis year there is an extra day in February calledLeap Year which only happens once every four years. Usually,there are only 28 days in Februarybut during leap year February 29 isadded to the calendar. There is aLeap Year in order to keep the calendaryear synchronized with the astronomicalor seasonal year.A birthday is not the annualarrival of a birthdate. It is the celebrationof you being one year older,which is one complete revolution bythe earth around the sun. This is equivalentto 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46seconds.Leap year happens onceevery four years.When a person is born on February 29, they celebratetheir birthday 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46seconds after their birth. For example, if you were born February29, 1972 at 10 pm, then the first anniversary of yourBy: Jillian Gonzalesbirth hour would be on March 1, 1973, at about 4 AM. Thesecond and third anniversaries would fall on March 1, at 10am and 4 pm respectively. Year four (1976)your anniversary would be back where itstarted, February 29 at 10 pm.Most people do not know aboutadding 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and46 seconds each year to their birth time tofigure out their birthday. Because they areunaware of this, most people that are bornon leap year, called Leaplings, usually celebratetheir birthday twice; on February 28and March 1.Usually years divisible by 100 are not leap yearsunless the year is also divisible by 4, which was why 2000was a leap year. The reason behind this is to keep the calendarlined up with the solar system.

Big Changes for North KoreaIt was on December 17, 2011,that Kim Jong Il, communist dictatorruling over North Korea, passed awayon his train due to a heart attack. Thenews of his death was kept secret fortwo days, a possible indication thatthere was a struggle for leadership beforethe past dictator’s youngest son,Kim Jong Un took up the role. Despitebeing accountable for the numeroustragedies in North Korea, citizens openlymourned and prayed for the deceaseddictator.Not much is known aboutKim Jong Un, which is making theKim Jong Un: What impact will hemake?United States and South Korea wary of their enemy’sactions. He is speculated to be in his late 20’s and hasbeen claimed to be a “military genius”, ruling overNorth Korea’s 1.2 million man army. The North Koreanmilitary has made several aggressive moves againstits southern neighbor since Un was chosen as the successor,including the sinking of a South Korean warship,killing 46 sailors.North Korea remains an enigma in the eyes ofthe world. Its economy is collapsed with over 2 milliondead from starvation. Droughts plague their crops,power shortages lead to all electricity being shut off atnight, and little to no cars occupy even the largesthighways in the country. And everyone worships KimII Sung, the country’s founder, as a god. Speakers areBy: Tim Leachstationed in every home broadcastingcensored news and state-sponsoredslogans. The country insists on cuttingitself off from the outside world.Lucy Yoon ’12 visited NorthKorea when she was younger, duringthe time it and its southern counterpartwere on good terms with one another.She was not allowed to gowherever she wanted and had to followcertain rules and only go to certainplaces. Some North Koreans shetalked to wished that North andSouth Korea would make amendswith one another. “Overall, it wasa remarkable experience. I’m sureI’ll never have that chance again in my life,” said Lucy.South Korea and the United States have technicallybeen at war with North Korea for over 60years and are wary of the potential danger due to itsnuclear capabilities. “Expect the unexpected,” saidTom Finocchio ’12. “Un can make all of California awasteland that will make Hiroshima look like a sandbox.He’s ready to show that North Korea isn’t a jokeand they will do what it takes to prove that.” Soldiersare stationed well within range of any possible attacksNorth Korea could launch against them. “Iagree with having soldiers there,” said Ankit Sheth’12. “We need to be ready for whatever the case.”NDAA: The Power to Detain AmericansOn the last day of 2011, President BarackObama signed the NDAA bill, also known as the NationalDefense Authorization Act. While the timing ofthe signing guaranteed limited coverage by the media,Americans are still protesting the signing of theNDAA. Other years, the annual signing of the NDAAhas come and gone without much debate; however,this year was drastically different.Overall, the NDAA expands the power andscope of the federal government to fight the War onTerrorism and includes detention of terrorism suspectsand U.S. citizens without trial. These new requirementsin the bill have angered millions. Indefinitely,Obama has declared the entire planet a warzone and has declared that anyone who is suspectedof plotting against the U.S. can be locked up withoutBy: Nicole Pietrapertosafair notice or trial. American citizens now see the NationalDefense Authorization Act to be the greatest threatto civil liberties that our country is facing.“The bill that came before the Senate still includesseveral troubling provisions, the worst of whichwould allow the military to detain Americans indefinitely,”said Minnesota Senator, Al Franken. “What’s more,provisions like these could ultimately undermine thesafety of our troops stationed abroad.”In a letter to the public released shortly after thesigning of the document, Obama explained that thesigning of the bill would be necessary to continue fundingmilitary and national security interests. If this is true,then why are so many people concerned? The signing ofContinued on p.14

Who’s Who?: Republican Presidential Canidate ContendersBy Greg Gagliardi and Cameron GourlayMitt RomneyThe current frontrunner in the Republicanprimary elections, Mitt Romney was born in 1947outside of Detroit, Michigan. He is the son of formerMichigan governor George Romney. After graduatingfrom Brigham Young in 1971, he earned his lawdegree and MBA from Harvard. After a very successfulbusiness career, Romney ran for MassachusettsSenate in 1994 as a Republican but lost to DemocratTed Kennedy. Romney was elected governor of Massachusettsin 2002, and ran for the Republican Party’spresidential nomination in 2008, but lost to SenatorJohn McCain. Now Romney is running againand is having much more success; some believe thathe has the ability to defeat President Barack Obama.Romney has a strong opinion when it comesto the national budget; he believes that less spendingis more. Romney asserted, “instead of thinking in thefederal budget, what we should cut—we should askourselves the opposite question. What should wekeep?” Romney would like to see to see the federalgovernment spend less.Throughout the campaigning process, Romneyhas been under fire for his healthcare policy. Hedefends the mandated healthcare that he createdwhile he was governor of Massachusetts, but hewould not apply it to the federal level, as withObama’s healthcare plan.Because of his background as a CEO, it is notsurprising that Romney dislikes government interventionin business. He believes that it is by the powerof the businesses themselves that many jobs can becreated, not by intervention. Romney proposes loweringpersonal, investment and corporate taxes. “TheRick SantorumRepublican contender Richard John Santorum wasborn in Winchester, Virginia, a small colonial town tuckedbeneath the shadows of the Appalachian Mountains. Theson of two Italian-Americans and median of the three children,Rick spent his youth growing up scattered across thecommonwealth states of America. Between Pennsylvania,West Virginia, and Illinois; it was while attending the ButlerCounty (Pennsylvania) public schools that he obtained astandout reputation for both a cowlick strand of hair and astubbornly confrontational nature. Santorum graduated obtaininga B.A. with honors in political science from PennsylvaniaState University in 1980, an M.B.A. Master’s from theUniversity of Pittsburgh in 1981, and a J.D. with honorsfrom the Dickinson School of Law in 1986. He was admittedto the Pennsylvania BAR, but decided to leave private lawpractice taking his first strides to pursue a career in politics.In 1990, a 32-year-old up and coming politicianran for political office, for the first time, as a long-shot candidateseeking a position among the United States House ofRepresentatives. Representing the Pittsburgh suburbs wherehe had been raised, Rick Santorum won the election, takingdown the seven-term Democratic incumbent DougWalgren. Already renowned as a rising star within the RepublicanParty, Santorum pursued a higher office and wonelection to the United States Senate in 1994, at the youngage of 36. Half a decade later, Santorum gained reelectionfor a second term, and in the year 2000 was elected by acouncil of his peers to the position of Senate RepublicanConference Chairman. One of the most successful governmentreformers in history, Rick Santorum has had an immediateand significant impact on Capitol Hill and aims to emulatethat success in the Oval Office.Senator Rick Santorum has formulated his politicalidentity derivative of his faith based Christian upbringing inwhich he is against both same sex marriageand the right for

first lesson of Reagonomics,” Romney stated in 2008, “isthat you cut taxes to grow the economy.”On the issue of education, Romney has not had adecisive stand on any particular aspect in the primaries.However, in his past, he has been known to back charterschools and support performance pay for teachers. Onthe other hand, when it comes to energy, Romney backsalmost all types of alternate sources. He believes that weuse too much oil and we need to turn to source such asbiodiesel, ethanol, and nuclear power.Romney is also very religious. A devout Mormon,he once stated that “freedom requires religion justas religion requires freedom.” Although at times underspeculation because of his religion, he has made it clearthat he believes that it is wrong for a politician to use thespotlight in order to be a “spokesman” for his or her religion.Toll Booth Increases Plague CommutersBy: Adrianna DeGazonOn January 1, the northbound side of the GardenState Parkway was filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic ascommuters approached the Essex County toll booth. Manywere very upset as this particular toll plaza had increased by50 cents, making the toll $1.50. All throughout New Jersey,there was a 50% toll increase on the Parkway and 53% increaseon the Turnpike, two of the busiest roads in the Mid-Atlantic region.This increase is credited to former New Jersey governorJon Corzine in 2008. The toll increase is primarily to fundmaintenance of bridges and roads, yet many drivers are upset.“I don't have money now and paying the extra 50cents extra togo the same place as before,” said Karen Kizili ‘12.The first phase of the program was executed in 2008,which brought a 43% increase to the Parkway tolls and 40% tothe Turnpike tolls. The increase was instated before the economiccrisis of 2008. Prior to the 2008 increase, there hadonly been one increase on the Parkway—in 1989. In contrast,the Turnpike has had five increases before 2008.The hike in toll prices has prompted many people toresort to carpooling and public transportation. This was seenduring the first price increase. Yet, NJ Transit prices are alsoincreasing. For most car commuters that frequently travelalong these toll roads, the increase will cost them an extrahundred dollars or more for the year. “I currently take EZPass, so the increase isn't affecting me...yet,” said Mr. MikeConte, Guidance Department.Many have decided to use local roads, and even resortto taking longer routes in order to avoid paying money thatthey could use for other things. There is also an “Occupy TollBooths NYC/NJ/CT” group on Facebook protesting the tollincreases throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Howies, a commenteron NJ.com’s article “Your comments: Huge Turnpike,Parkway toll hikes send some drivers in search of alternateroutes” said, “I wish that commuters will continue to avoidusing the Parkway and Turnpike until the legislature repealsabortion. Santorum believes immigration is only a detrimentalinflux of a foreign work force that injures both thesocial and economic fronts of the United States of America.In a correlating matter regarding to the foreign policy ofthe U.S. government, Santorum stands behind a countrythat lets the rest of the world govern itself. He clearly outlinesa direct approach; one, which he would institute ifinaugurated next February, and that would prevent theU.S. from engaging in any conflict that does not hold directimplications upon the state of the union. Maintainingthe United States’ notoriety for policing the world, as anyworld leader should, Santorum believes abandoning theprogress that has been made in the Middle East over thepast ten years would be an enormous mistake. SenatorSantorum specifies, “Every American wants our brave menand women home safely, but we cannot let those, who'vegiven the last full measure, die in vain by abandoning thegains we've made thus far. We must be squarely focusedon succeeding in Afghanistan rather than on politicallymotivated troop withdrawals.”As an influential member of Congress, Rick Santorumhas played an active political role in the movement ofcontemporary fiscal entities. Santorum has made his impactby voting for the Bush tax cuts (which actuallyjumpstarted a Post 9-11 ailing economy), favoring a balancedbudget amendment, and striving to adjunct restrictionsto earmarks, entitlements, and big governmentprograms. The Senator has also stood solid ground againstliberalistic healthcare policy encompassing the Obamacaresystem and has strongly advocated its repeal. Santorum iswidely known as a man of action with a confrontationalstyle of personal polity. “I just don’t take the pledge. I takethe bullets,” Santorum alleges. “I stand out in front and Ilead to make sure the voices of those who do not have avoice are out in front, and being included in the nationaldebate.”Senator Santorum has taken his share of bullets.Discounting the heated debates headlining the RepublicanGOP, the Senator has taken fire from all fields of the politicalbattleground, as well as the media, for being a“hometown boy.” It has been no secret that Santorum hasexercised his political stature by frequenting the utilizationof earmarks in order to fund Pennsylvanian projects.He has also notably endured much criticism for supportingcostly federal programs in education and transportation.Despite efficacious outcomes, Santorum’s greatestoffense lies within the financing of his ideals that createdexpansive spending totals for the federal government onthese home-state endeavors.Rick Santorum campaigns for the 2012 PresidentialElection in hopes of representing the Republican Partyon the frontlines of those who are vouching for the positionof Commander in Chief. He seeks to redirect the interestsof the government heading in a sharp U away fromthe current cabinet and unifying the House and Senate inorder to create a progressive approach to rehabilitating acrawling economy. The head first, securely bolstered, partisanideology of the presidential contender Senator RickSantorum embodies his approach to the success he hasenjoyed thus far in his political career. It is such demonstrativecharacter that exemplifies the captivating signatureof the Senator’s current campaign for President of theUnited States of America.

The Soon To Be Non-Existent Cross River RivalryOn February 4, thousands of fans packed into MadisonSquare Garden to see one basketball game between twoteams separated by one river; the Hudson. What was oncea full fledge rivalry of two highly competitive teams, isnow seen as just another ordinary game. Any teams thatplay in these regions have always been competitive even inthe most meaningless games. But over the past few years,neither team has really seen any meaning to it. It’s almostas if the game has lost its meaning in a rivalry that used tobe the battle of the bests.The Knicks had always been a team of excellence,determination of success. From the beginning with WaltFrazier and Willis Reed, the Knicks began their winningways. They went on to win two championships in the1970’s and even though the city never saw another championshipagain, they were always a fierce competitorin the East. As the years went on a new stararose named Patrick Ewing. Under Ewing theKnicks reached the playoffs 12 times, but to noavail. Soon a new generation sprung and the Knickswent plummeting down. From 2000 to 2009 theKnicks reached the playoffs twice and had lost thefeeling of a genuine New York team. Then in 2010the Knicks decided to go big and sign Phoenix SunsForward Amare Stoudemire. Soon after the teammade one of the biggest moves in franchise historyand brought former Syracuse standout Carmelo Anthonyback home in exchange for a boat load ofplayers and money. That season the Knicks madethe playoffs, but were defeated in the first round byanother rival the Boston Celtics. Following the 2010– 2011 season, the Knicks signed NBA ChampionTyson Chandler completing there so called “BigThree”, compared to other “big three” combinationslike shown in Miami and Boston. The Knicks soonbecame a team that no one wanted to mess with.New Jersey Nets vs New York KnicksThe New Jersey Nets on the other hand have alwaysbeen a low key team that actually originated in NewYork. They were once the New York Nets, but soonchanged their name after moving to New Jersey shortlyafter the 1978 season. The Nets were seen as the Knickscopy to satisfy the New Jersey fans across the river. This iswhere the true rivalry began. The Nets brought in futureHall of Famer Julius Erving to make their mark as the newteam in the league. Even though the Nets have had shortstints of success, they never won an NBA Championshipover their 40 year run. Never known for having bigname, all-star players, the Nets brought in point guardJason Kidd to lead the team in the 2002 season. Makingan immediate impact, the Nets made a run to the playoffsright past the Knicks and into the NBA Finals where theyeventually lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. The next seasonthey did the same, but fell once again short of the NBA title.After their 2002 and 2003 runs, the Nets, like theKnicks went downhill fast. They lost Jason Kidd and soBy: Thomas Hartnettmany others on that Finals team, eventually leading to a 0and 18 start in the 2009-2010 season. This once Cinderellateam from the Meadowlands turned into the laughingstock of the league. Last season the Nets did some trading oftheir own after failing to get now Knick Carmelo Anthony.The Nets acquired point guard Deron Williams from theJazz in hopes of revamping the team’s and fans’ spirits. TheNets failed to make the playoffs despite a winning streak atthe end of the season. Soon the Nets looked like they maybe going back to their winning ways.But on February 4, neither team looked like theteams they were expected to be this year. Both teams cameinto the game with 8 wins, 10 th and 11 th in the standings.Both teams played hard, but in the end the Knicks came onNets Brook Lopez and Knicks Amare Stoudemire play in one of thefinal Cross River Rivalry Gamestop 99 to 92. This was the first meeting of three betweenthe teams, with only two games remaining in this rivalry.Next year the Nets will move to Brooklyn to their new arenaunder their new owner, Russian Presidency candidate MikhailProkhorov. A rivalry that has been so alive since the1970’s will be ending in the upcoming months. Sure, theNets will still be the Nets, but not from New Jersey. Soonthe Cross River rivalry will be no more between the Netsand the Knicks, only just a memory. As this season comes tothe half-way point, the Nets begin to say goodbye to theirhome of 40 years, but begin to welcome their new life inBrooklyn. Next year, the Cross River Rivalry, which manypeople grew up on, may disappear, but a new rivalry ofboroughs will emerge between two greatly competitiveteams. With only two games left between the New JerseyNets and the New York Knicks, fans from all over will cometo watch a legacy come to a close between two teams thatwill forever live in memories, history, and spirit.

Transfer Students making a Difference for UC Basketball TeamBy Ashley TitoloThe UnionCatholic Boys VarsityBasketball team is enjoyinga good year withthe help of two transferstudents. Damon Lynn’13, transferred fromHillside High Schoollast year and has been ahuge factor on the teamever since. Last season,he finished with 343points and has scoredan impressive (have todouble check on number)points thus far thisseason. This year, AshtonLofton ’14 alsotransferred to UC fromHillside High School.Thus far, Damon, andAshton have proven tobe two huge threats inthe UC arsenal.Why did you transfer toUC?Damon: So I can getmore prepared for collegeAshton: To get a better educationHow long have you known each other?Ashton: I’ve known Damon for six yearsHow does it feel being able to play together in high school?Damon: We knew we were going to wind up playing togetherDo you think having a history together gives the team anadvantage?Ashton: YeahDamon: Yes because we know each other’s strengths andweaknessesDamon, people are already predicting you to break 1,000points, what’s it like having that kind of pressure?Damon: There is no pressure, I’m just ballin’How has the team changed since you started playing?Damon: We became more aggressiveAshton: The team has more energyUC goes up for a layup against Scotch Plains.The team has suffered a few tough losses this season,how do you cope with that?Damon: Just have to have a positive attitude; if youcan’t accept losing you can’t winAshton: Play harder the next gameDo you want to play in college? If so, where?Damon: I want to go to UConnAshton: I want to go to SyracuseWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of the team?Ashton: Nobody boxes outDamon: We’re a family on and off the courtAfter a dunk the crowd goes insane – how do youremain calm after watching them/being involved?Damon: It’s just what we do – we dunk

MLB Hot Stove“It’swinter, whyare we talkingabout baseball?”onemight ask.While it is truethat baseball ispredominantlya spring andsummer sport, the winter is actually one of the most importanttimes of the year for Major League Baseball teams. This year isno different, as several key transactions have been made duringthe offseason.The New York Yankees have boosted their pitching rotation,starting with the re-signing of Freddy Garcia, who went12-8 with a 3.62 ERA for New York last year. After that, theywent a while without much activity, until they traded catcherand designated hitter Jesus Montero to get right hander, MichaelPineda, from the Seattle Mariners. The team also signed righthanded, free agent Hiroki Kuroda for a year and $10 million.Now, the Yankees go into the 2012 season with seven startingpitchers on their roster, with the return of ace CC Sabathia (whopassed on an opt-out clause to remain with New York), AJ Burnett,Phil Hughes, and Ivan Nova.By Joe PassantinoThe Los Angeles Angels made some of the biggest movesthis offseason, signing both the biggest hitter and the biggestpitcher on the market. They agreed on the second highest contractin baseball history ($254 million over ten years) with formerCardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. “I will say that Albert Pujols’age to me is not a concern,” said Angels general manager Jerry DiPoto,regarding claimsthat a ten year contract for a 31 year old is a bad decision. Theymade another huge splash when they signed C.J. Wilson, widely regardedas the top starter in a weak pitching year, to five years and$77.5million.The Tigers made some waves in late January when theysigned Prince Fielder to another huge contract, for nine years and$215 million. Now, the son of Cecil Fielder comes full circle, as hegets to play in the same city that his father did, and that he grew upin. “That just shocked me,” said the elder Fielder about hearing thenews. “He’s been there in Detroit most of his young life, so I thinkhe’ll be comfortable in that place.” Part of the reason for the move isbecause the Tigers learned that they will be without designated hitterVictor Martinez for the season due to a knee injury. Now they haveFielder to pick up the slack, along with Miguel Cabrera, who theywill likely shift to third base.Other moves include former Met Jose Reyes signing a sixyear, $106 million deal with the newly named Miami Marlins. Miamialso acquired free agent right hander Mark Buehrle, for fouryears and $58 million. Legendary Yankee catcher Jorge Posada decidedto retire after over fifteen years in the major leagues. The BostonRed Sox fired manager Terry Francona and signed Bobby Valentineto replace him.New York Giants Do It Again!By AshleyThe New York Giants took home the Lombardi Trophyfor the fourth time in Superbowl XLVI. The Giants defeatedthe New England Patriots 21-17 in a rematch from the Superbowlin ’08. Giant’s quarterback, Eli Manning, was chosenas the Superbowl MVP for the second time.The Giants were the first team to put points on theboard when there was a safety violation in the first quarter.On the next drive, the Giants scored a touchdown with a twoyard pass from Manning to Victor Cruz to give them a 9-0lead at the end of the quarter. The Giants wouldn’t scoreagain until the third quarter. The Patriots, however, scored atouchdown and a field goal to them a 10-9 lead at halftime.In the second half of the game, the Patriots would go on toscore one more touchdown and Giant’s kicker Lawrence Tyneskept them in the game with a few field goals. The Giantsscored their game winning touchdown in the fourth quarterwhen Manning dished the ball to running back, Ahmad Bradshaw,and he was allowed enough time by the Patriots defenseto stop his run, turn around, and sit in the endzone. “To me,it’s the stuff of legends,” said Giants head coach, Tom Coughlin,while commentating on his team’s comeback win.In 2008, the Giants ruthless defense allowed them towin Superbowl XLII 17-14 over the Patriots. Just like in SuperbowlXLVI, the Giants held the lead over the Patriots at theend of the first quarter and the Patriots held the lead athalftime. The second half of the game was a civil war betweenthe two teams but the Giants came out victorious after Manningthrew a 13 yard pass to ex-Giant Plaxico Burress whomade a memorable one handed catch using the side of his helmet.Manning received his first MVP title and Superbowl ringat the end of the game.During the regular season, quarterback, Eli Manning, threw for 4,933yards and wide receiver, Victor Cruz, held the number one spot for receivingyards for the Giants with 1,536 yards. “At this very moment,he's [Eli] the best. And you can't even argue it. Twice, he's led finalminutedrives to win Super Bowls. He's a prolific passer -- having justmissed the 5,000-yard barrier in the regular season -- with the rings toback it up,” says Jason Smith, analyst for nfl.com. Although the runninggame struggled, running back Ahmad Bradshaw was able to run for 659yards in the regular season. Corner back, Corey Webster, had six interceptionsand safety, Antrel Rolle, had 96 tackles. In the post-season, EliManning threw for 1,219 yards and wide receiver, Hakeem Nicks, had444 receiving yards. Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 272 yards. Line backer,Michael Boley, had 27 tackles and line backer, Chase Blackburn, hadone interception.In the regular season, Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, threwfor 5,235 yards, and wide receiver, Wes Welker, had 1,569 receivingyards. Running back, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, ran for 667 yards. Cornerback, Kyle Arrington, had seven interceptions, and line backer, JerodMayo, had 95 tackles. In the post season, Brady threw for 878 yards,and tight end, Rob Gronkowski had 258 receiving yards. Running back,Benjarvus Green-Ellis had 140 rushing yards. Mayo had 28 tackles andline backer, Brandon Spikes, had an interception.

Megan’s Movie ManiaBy: Megan RobertsThe Woman In BlackIn The Woman in Black, lawyerArthur Kipps, played byDaniel Radcliffe, lives with hisfour year old son and his son’snanny because his wife Stelladied in childbirth. Kippsmoves into El Marsh, to whichhe has been assigned to handlethe estate. Things begin to getodd at El Marsh, when, whiledoing paperwork, Kipps continuallyhears footsteps andsees a woman dressed in black.Kipps goes to report his sightingsto the police stationwhere two boys are bringing ayoung girl in, who dies in hisarms. The people of the townbelieve that she has committedsuicide because of the “woman in black,” who they believe goesafter their children.The Woman in Black is a horror/thriller and it truly makesyou jump at every turn. Daniel Radcliff’s performance was wonderfuldespite the skeptics in the media that he would not be able tobreak into this kind of movie style. The acting in the movie, all together,blew me away and it left me thinking long after the movie.The Woman in Black is defiantly a movie I would recommend,but not to those with a weak heart because it truly was terrifyingat times.Joyful NoiseIn Joyful Noise, the musical numbers areamazing and stunning, but the plot is none par. Thismovie seemed only to be made for its soundtrack andnot for the actual plot and story a movie is supposed totell.After the death of the church choir director ,Vi Rose Hill, played by Queen Latifa, takes control ofthe choir with a gospelstyle that the pastorapproves of. G.G.Sparrow, played byDolly Parton, is thewidow of the formerchoir director andbelieves that sheshould have been offeredthe opportunityto be the choir’s director.Olivia, ViRose’s daughter, meetsRandy, G.G.’s nephew,and a romance begins.Randy encourages thechoir to do more contemporary music in an effort toboost its appeal.This movie did not have a plot worthy of thebig screen. If the movie had had a better plot to supportthe music, then it would not have been so bad.But the plot was so below par that the only good partof the movie was the music if one could get past theunimportant plot line and bad writingMan On A LedgeIn Man on a Ledge, an ex-cop threatens to jump of the ledge of a building to commitsuicide, but his attempts are false and only intended to cover up a diamond heist next door. Apsychiatrist is assigned to Nick Cassidy, the man standing on the edge of the building. A romancesparks between the two, and she must choose whether to do her job or to protect him.The movie was captivating and truly original. This high passed action is not whatpeople would expect from a movie whose plot line consists of a man standing on the edge of abuilding, ready to jump. But despite the obstacles of that, they found a way to make the moviesomething no one has ever seen before. Sam Worthington, who plays Nick Cassidy, and ElizabethBell, who plays Lydia Mercer, the psychiatrist, are amazing in their portrayals of thestory and are truly believable in their characters.The acting in The Man on the Ledge was amazing and was above what I had expectedwhen walking into the theater.

What Happened to TV?By : Danielle GruskiewiczIt is a common question, sometimes by older generations.What happened to television these days? It is obviousthat the content of television has changed dramaticallyfrom the beginning of its history in the 1940’s to today.Some believe that the reason for this change has to dosimply with trends in pop culture that come with eachgeneration. Others think that the popularity of some televisionprograms is an indicator to the decline in the currentgeneration’s morals and values.One of the most obvious changes in television is thesudden extreme popularity of reality shows. Between the1940s – 1980s, Americans could count the number ofreality shows on TV with one or two hands. Today, thereare entire television networks dedicated to producing onlyreality shows, such as BRAVO and TLC. The average Americanwould be hard pressed to turn on his or her televisionand find a network that did not produce at least one realityshow. Even networks geared toward older generations,such as TVLAND, have jumped on the reality show “bandwagon” with shows such as She’s Got the Look.It seems that reality shows might have replaced theonce popular variety shows that aired between the 1940s-1970s. In decades past, hundreds of highly rated variety showssuch as The Sonny and Cher Show, The Milton Berle Show, TheGarry Moore Show, and The Carol Burnett Show would thrill TVaudiences with their hilarious skits, talented singers, and entertainingvaudeville type performers. As time passed, only one varietyshow survived to perform another day with viewer interest:Saturday Night Live. This change in television programing couldbe partly caused by the growing number of people who would doanything to get their 15 minutes of fame, even if it means makingthemselves look like fools in the process. “Most people on realityshows act stupid and make the rest of Americans look bad,” saidAnnie Cierpial ‘12. “I hate to watch most of those shows becauseit just encourages the television networks to keep making badtelevision.”The change in television game shows has also caused concernfor some people. Television game shows have always beenfairly popular with viewers, but the context of these shows haschanged over time. For example, in the 1950s and 60s the gameshow What’s My Line? was a favorite in many American households.The show consisted of a blindfolded panel questioning celebrityguests to determine the guest’s occupation. The show wasknown for being wholesome, elegant, and classy. Today, gameThe Carol Burnett Show performned live weekly skits along such as theone above titled Mama’s Family.shows such as Survivor, Wipeout, and many others featurecontestants acting ridiculous for pure viewer entertainment. “Iknow there is no point in watching these dumb game shows,but I can’t help it,” said Katie Brown ’12. “They are just so addicting.”In the midst of all this craziness, where has the skillfullycreated TV drama gone? The show Mad Men is a good exampleto use in order to answer this question. The hour-long, scripteddrama has been hailed by critics since its creation as being oneof the most masterfully created shows on TV. The show has alsowon Best TV Drama Emmy Award every year for the last fouryears. In conclusion, the show is known for having very lowviewer ratings. This poses the question: If the American peopleare not watching skill and talent filled shows, what are theywatching?It is the natural order of the world for things to change,and TV is no exception. It is thought important that the Americanpeople let natural change happen because these changescan lead to important advances in our world. The problem ariseswhen people miss the signs of change that may be pointingto a larger problem. What do you think, and what will you doabout it?NDAA Cont. from pg. 7the NDAA has been prompting discussions about the issueof how the U.S. government will respect the Bill of Rights,including due-process, while also maintaining the securityof the country.“The true strength of our nation comes not fromthe might of our arms or the scale of our wealth but fromthe enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunityand unyielding hope,” said President Obama in2008. So, where exactly does America stand currently?Now, millions are angered and asking what happened toObama’s once knowledgeable ideals.People protest the signing of NDAASource: google images

Rave ReviewsBy : Joe Passantino2012 may be here, but 2011 should not be forgotten. Specifically, the music that was released last year that interestedUnion Catholic students might not have gotten the chance to pick up. Two issues ago, this writer previewedseveral albums that were set for release towards the tail end of the year. Now, it is time to review a couple of those,as well as some that were not touched on then.First up, Drake’s sophomore album Take Care was released in mid-November. It lacked much of the hypethat his first album had, but it is equally great for several reasons. It has its catchy radio records with key featuressuch as Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, along with songs that appeal to themore hip hop side of his audience. Drake still takes plenty of opportunitiesto discuss his fame (“We’ll Be Fine,” “Headlines”) while still showinghis softer side at several key points. A particular highlight of the album is“Marvin’s Room,” on which Drake sings and raps about drunk dialing anex-girlfriend. There’s also a great Stevie Wonder collaboration (“DoingIt Wrong”) towards the end. Overall, while there are some mediocresongs, it serves as a good follow up to his first album (Thank Me Later)and represents solid growth in the young rapper’s career.Rihanna also released another one of her now huge collection ofstudio albums with Talk That Talk. Most people are aware that Rihanna’sspecialty is pop and club music, but she does it better than pretty muchanyone else. “We Found Love” is a huge banger and might be the biggestclub song of the year so far. She also has a very good collaboration withrapper Jay-Z in the title track, and other fun, fast paced songs such as“You Da One” and “Cockiness (Love It)”. She slows things down later,Drake’s Take Care with a real highlight in “We All WantLove,” a song that everyone can relateto. “Farewell” is a very fitting conclusion to the album, and continuesRihanna’s trend of having one of the strongest songs on the album atthe very end. This album probably was not as good as Loud, Rihanna’slast installment, but it is not too far behind either.Childish Gambino (otherwise known as actor Donald Glover,who plays Troy Barnes on Community) released his first major labelstudio album, CAMP, on November 15, the same day as Drake’s.While Gambino, despite being an actor, is nowhere near as mainstreaman artist as Drake or Rihanna, he put together a very good albumthat touches on a variety of topics. In songs like “Fire Fly,” heraps about how he does not fit the typical mold of a rapper who likesbig rims and jewelry. He raps about a complicated relationship in“Heartbeat,” and about staying true to oneself on “All the Shine.”That is exactly the greatnessof this album: its realness,rawness, and refusal to stick to Rihanna’s Talk That Talksimple topics like car collectionsandmoney. He ends the 13-track piece with a monologue about his supposedexperiences at camp. They might be true, they might not be, but it is avery entertaining listen nonetheless.Childish Gambino’s CAMPJanuary was a subpar month for mainstream album releases, butthings will pick up a bit in the coming months with releases fromWill.i.am, T.I., and The All-American Rejects. Music fans need not get impatient,though. There is still plenty of material for them to enjoy, includingalbums not touched on here. Taio Cruz, Young Jeezy, and Big TimeRush all released albums in late 2011 as well. While this reviewer has notheard any of those, they have loyal fan bases who may want to check themout as well. UC students should never miss an opportunity to regeneratethose iPod libraries.

Valentine’s Day is the time to show that special someonejust how special he or she really is to you. Did the gift you gave thisyear get your message across? Next year, make Valentine’s Dayshopping a little easier by considering the following gifts:A watch for him – Watches make great gifts for any guy. Get him awatch he can wear for special occasions or a watch he can wearcasually every day! To make the gift even more special, personalizeit. Have the watch engraved with his initials or a meaningful message.The added personalization will make the watch unique andmomentous. A watch is very useful and practical; he will never belate for another date again!Tickets to his favorite team or band – Is your significant other aGiants fan? There is no better way to show you care than gettinghim a pair of tickets to a game. Although you may not be a sportsfanatic, the tickets will show him you are willing to try and incorporatehis hobbies into your own. Is he more of a music guru asopposed to a sports fanatic? Get him tickets to his favorite musician!Rock out to his favorite music and have a blast at the concert.Tickets to any of his favorite hobbies will certainly show your affectionfor him and your ability to have fun.A homemade CD for him or her – Remember the song that playedin the car on the first date? Remember the song that played whenyou danced together for the first time as a couple? Gather all songsthat bring back memories and put it all on a CD. A pack of fifty CD-R’s are readily available at Staple’s for just $12.99. A homemadeCD shows you remember all special moments in your relationship.Plus, it is great to listen to in the car on the way to a date!A charm bracelet for her – Get that special someone a beautifulBy Katie NolanGLT– Government’s Tanning LawsIn the cold and dreary winter, tanning outsidein the snow is not really an option. Many people, especially teenagegirls, resort to tanning salons to geta glistening glow during the snowwhite months. However the dangersfrom tanning, natural and artificial,are becoming more and more apparentand states are taking action.California has been the firststate to pass a law that seriously preventsteenagers from tanning. The lawbans anyone under the age of 18 to usetanning beds. However it still does allowspray tanning and "a phototherapydevice ... used by or under the directsupervision of a qualified physician orsurgeon.” This is the first state thatmakes it illegal for all teenagers to usetanning beds. Previously Texas had thestrictest law which bans the use of tanningbeds for children under 16.Many states are following inthe path of California. In June 2011New Jersey’s Assembly Health and SeniorServices Committee approved a similar legislation by a voteof 6-1, with two abstentions. Under the legislation, nobody underthe age of 18 would be able to use tanning beds, regardlessof parental consent. Tanning salons would have to post signsnotifying customers of the law, and the salons would be fined$100 for a first offense and $200 for each subsequent one. Illinois,New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island are also in the works topass similar bills.These steps to pass tanning laws come after the InternationalAgency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the WorldHealth Organization, in 2009 classified "UV-emitting tanning devicesas 'carcinogenic to humans.'" Thelaws are aimed at teenagers becausethey are more likely to get skin cancerbecause the younger they start offtanning the higher the risks.Many doctors believe teenagers arenot educated enough on the dangersfrom UV rays. In a recent study studentsadmitted to rarely using sunscreen.In fifth grade half of the kidssurveyed asking if they used sunscreensaid they used it “often or always”while out in the summer sun.In eighth grade the same studentswere asked the question again, thistime the percentage dropped to 25%.Union Catholic student MeredithTimko ’12 believes the new laws area step in the right direction. ““I think[the laws] are fair because a lot ofyoung girls these days feel the need togo tanning and are influenced byshows such as The Jersey Shore but they don’t understand the dangers.”Meredith is aware of the perils because she sports naturallypale skin. However she believes her peers are blind to the risks. “Idon’t think teens are educated enough on the dangers from tanningbecause they don’t think about the bad things it can do,” said Timko.“They just think about the way it will make them look.”To stay protected from the sun apply two tablespoons of sunscreenper body part every day – rain or shine. Also wear hats andsunglasses to protect your scalp and eyes. If you feel you must go tanninggo spray tanning or use creams and lotions.The government is creating tighter laws regarding artificialtanning.Gift’s You’ll Love for the Ones You LoveBy Roxanne DalereChocolate and flowers are classicValentine’s Day gifts. 1800 flowerscharm bracelet for Valentine’sDay! Along with acharm bracelet, get a fewcharms to decorate the elegantbracelet. Charms caninclude a heart or her initialsor even a tiny charmframing a cute picture.Some charms may be engravedfor an extrapersonalstatement. Charmbracelets vary in price andcan be found in most departmentstores.Nordstrom carriesJuicy Couture charmbracelets starting at$38. Things Rememberedsells charm bracelets for $20. Prices for various charmsvary.Flowers and chocolate for her – What better way to show yourlove for her with beautiful, romantic flowers and delicious chocolates.Arrange a bouquet of her favorite flowers and personalizethe accompanying card with a sweet message. Add to the romanticgesture by getting tasty chocolates. 1-800-Flowers has a specialValentine package that includes a hand-designed bouquet ofroses and lilies in a stylish vase, a box of chocolates, and a stuffedtoy all for about $40. Flowers and chocolates are a timeless, traditionalValentine’s Day gift.

UC GlamourGals Work Towards Fashionable FutureBy: Katie NolanOn Saturday, November 19, members of Union Catholic’s GlamourGals attended the 8 th Annual GLTI:GlamourGals Leadership Training Institute, an all day workshop held at the Helen Mills Center in New York City.Anna Mutuc ’12, Katie Nolan ’12, and Kirsten Nolan ’15 had the opportunity to meet GlamourGals from otherchapters, hear inspirational speakers, and meet Rachel Doyle, the founder of GlamourGals.The workshop revolved around the theme “Your Fashionable Future.” Throughout the day the attendeesheard from speakers like CEO Lauren Berger, fashion designer Karen Darby, Michelle Savage of EvolvisCorporation, and Katherina Ansink of MQS Capitol. They also worked within groups to connect with one anotherthrough skill building workshops, and other special presentations. The goal was to empower and inspire the mainlyfemale organization to be leaders.Most of the speakers spoke to the GlamourGals about determination, morals, and the importance ofserving your community. “Each speaker shared something different but equally important,” said Anna Mutuc ’12.“They all made me want to start working on my dreams that day.”Lauren Berger, better known as Intern Queen, gave an arousing pep talk to the girls on beginning their futurethat day. Sheshared a storyfrom her freshmanyear of collegewhere she was toldshe needed towait until her senioryear to get aninternship. Becauseshe was toldno, she was more de-termined toget one. During herfour years ofcollege she had 15internships.She is now the CEO ofIntern QueenInc, an online intern-ship destinationthat helps stu-dents find andapply for internshipswhile also educatingthem on howto make themost of their experi-ences. KarenDarby Scott designerof the fashionline Darby Scott spokeon the importanceof commu-nity, familyand friends, andstrength fromwithin during diffi-cult times.Katherina Ansink,Director ofMarketing for MQSCapital, sharedher thoughts on theimportance ofgood morals. Withouthumility shebelieved successmeant nothing.InUC students pose with Rachel Doyle, founder of GlamourGals on the pink carpet.betweenspeeches the GlamourGals worked in smaller groups on various projects. Each workshop assignment was meant toteach girls different skills important to every day work situations. They pitched a new name and logo for GlamourGalsin one minute and created a unique way to attract more members. When the girls were not listening tospeakers or planning presentations they were bonding and discussing the things they were learning.“Getting to talk with girls that participate in the program was definitely my favorite part,” said Sarah Dow,chapter president at Newfield High School in New York. “As a chapter founder and being new to the program, itwas extremely helpful and rewarding to interact and speak with teens that have been in with the organization for awhile.”GLTI 2011 had the largest number of attendees in GlamourGals history and more alumni team leaders. Thiswas also the first year to have a group for advisors and parents. The theme, “Your Fashionable Future”, was thoughtby the GlamourGals board. They developed the idea from surveys after last year’s GLTI. “A lot of people were interestedin learning more about how their volunteering could affect their career goals and their future,” said Julia Porter,Director of Programs. “We choose speakers based on people we think best fit the theme and would most inspireour volunteers.”GlamourGals is a nonprofit organization that empowers teenagers to reach out to women in nursinghomes by providing complimentary makeovers. The goal is to bridge the gap between two unique generations andprovide companionship.

...All you need about Financial Aid and more!SENIORS!: The Undecided BluesBy: Adrianna DeGazon“What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question is asked of many seniors every year. Some seniorsknow they want to be a doctor, a physicist, teacher, or police officer. Many students do not know. In fact, about twothirdsof college freshmen enter undecided and 55 to 60 percent change their major at least once.If you have no idea, look at the colleges you applied to. See which departments have strong academic programsand compare them to what yourstrengths are, as well aswhere your passions lie. Go totheir websites and click onspecific department pages. Readabout some of the prerequisitesfor entering certain majors.Also check out some of thenews featured in the depart-ments. Depending on thesubject, some college depart-ments publish some recent,interesting research findings.classes this spring and sum-requirements or distribu-teresting. By doing this,of interests to pursue. Also,and credits, which cancareer very stressful.When registering former, select classes that will fulfilltions. Pick classes that seem inyougive yourself a wide-rangeyou aren’t wasting your timemake the rest of your collegeWebsites like Coin3.com and Collegeboard.comhave great resources to help youwith your search.Before heading to col-lege in the fall, take one ofthe many career and major testsonline. The guidance departmenthas a partnership with COIN3.com. On this website, there are personality tests that can guide you towardswhat you personally are more suited for based on your answers. Stop by the guidance office and pick up a card withusername and password information. The Collegeboard also has great resources that can guide you in the right directionfor majors and career choices.Another way to figure out what you may be interested in studying is to get a job! Jobs and internships are stellarways to gain experience and see how you would like to spend your time at a job. If you like it, then it may be a futurecareer choice. If the job is horrible, at least you know what you do not want to do! Getting a paid job or internship isalso a great way to save some cash for spending in college.Talk to parents and guidance counselors if you truly are worried about entering college undecided. They probablyhave similar stories about changing majors in college. If their advice doesn’t comfort you, speak to recent graduateswho are currently in college and see how they are dealing with the situation. They probably will give you a perspectivethat you can relate more to.Finally, make sure to record all these findings down somewhere where you can easily access them. It will helpyou remember what you’re good at, what you like, and also what you do not like. When selecting courses for college,refer to your records, so that you are interested in your courses next year, allowing you to also be motivated.The ProphetThe Official Online Newspaper of Union Catholic High SchoolThe 2011– 2012 StaffEditors-in-Chief: Adrianna DeGazon and Danielle GruskiewiczSenior Copy Editor: Katie NolanEntertainment Editor: Megan RobertsAssignment Editor: Joe PassantinoReporters: Alex Ledet, Nicole Pietrapertosa, Roxanne Dalere, Tim Leach, Jillian Gonzalez, and Ashley TitoloContributing Writers: Greg Gagliardi, Thomas Hartnett, Cameron Gourlay, and Emily Dzioba