ALL NOV ROAR PAGES

Voice of the students | November 2020
PANDEMICIZED
COVID-19’s impact on
academic integrity, Page 8
West Shore Junior-Senior High School | 250 Wildcat Alley, Melbourne, FL 32935

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WHAT’S INSIDE
Dilemma Social media changing the way we
process the world around us.
Winner Junior Lila Iwanowski finishes
first in district golf tournament.
Break a leg Theater troupe prepares for One Acts
despite losing longtime sponsor.
Editorial
04 Our words
Tired of the pandemic? Then take it seriously
Opinion
05 Letters to the editor
Directional hallways are a disaster
Campus Connect
06 Scholarly six
National Merit Scholar Semifinalists named
Entertainment
20 ‘Save Yourselves!’
The alien invasion 2020 needed
21 Blockbusted?
Theater owers hopeful despite small audiences
22 Ratcheted up
‘Cukoo’s Nest’ prequel warps into extreme thriller
23 The show must go on
Thespian one-acts adjust for new restrictions
News
10 [Re]making history
The 1619 Project’s complementary view
of America’s past stirs controversy
12 Taking to the streets
Teens join rallies, protests to make their
voice heard
13 Social media manipulation
Misinformation causes public polarization
14 Poliltics
First-time voters share their views
Sports
16
Pandemic protocols
Coronavirus upends fall sports routines
17 From gurney to greens
Golfer rebounds from surgery to finish first
18 The next wave
Crew team rebuilds with new athletes
Staff
Editor in Chief
Sophia Bailly
Managing Editor/Business Manager
Laith Rukab
Design Editor
Sami Ramadan
Adviser:
Mark Schledorn
Staff Writers:
Aytek Abdulla, Violet Chace,
Joshua Dexter, Gavin Litchfield,
Raven Morgan, Chloe Osborn,
McKenna Slaughter
wstheroar@gmail.com
@wstheroar
@wstheroar
Student News Source
“Roar” recognizes itself as a public forum and encourages letters from West Shore students and members of the community. “Roar” cannot print ads promoting activity illegal by Florida
law, ads opposing any religious beliefs, ads written in poor taste, ads with racial or sexist comments, ads considered inappropriate by the staff, advocacy advertising or ads containing
libel. “Roar” is not responsible for websites viewed through links found on pages mentioned in the publication. “Roar” values letters from our readers: maximum length for letters is 200
words. No more than one letter each semester will be published from a writer. Letters and columns are edited for length, content and clarity. “Roar” maintains the right to edit all submissions
for poor taste, length, grammar and libel. Views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily represent the views of the Brevard County School Board, the West Shore administrators,
faculty, student body or “Roar” staff. Send your opinions to wstheroar@gmail.com. Visit westshoreroar.com for more content.
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 3

Editorial
ILLUSTRATION / JOYCELYN LOI
Pandemic won’t end until we take it seriously
Living in a county with more than
9,000 Covid-19 cases and the
highest ratio of positive to negative
tests taken in the state, one would
think students would take the pandemic
seriously. And yet, scrolling through
Instagram or even looking around campus,
there are myriad examples of students
in large groups, no masks and without a
care in the world. In fact, looking through
social media, it would be near impossible
to tell there is a pandemic at all.
Parties have not ceased, even with cases
in the 15 to 24 demographic rising by
over three times, according to the World
Health Organization. Students who still
attend large social gatherings might not be
severely affected themselves, but they are
putting others around them at risk. This
selfish outlook of, “if it doesn’t affect me,
it must not be important” is emblematic
4 I NOVEMBER 2020
of a greater issue. By potentially exposing
yourself to COVID-19, you are putting at
risk everyone around you and rendering
their attempts at social distancing futile.
This is also an issue for the local
Our Words
businesses that
provide the
area with such a
distinct, living culture. Many businesses
are attempting to wait out the lowered
numbers of patrons, but this can’t last
forever. Countries such as New Zealand,
which have successfully kept national cases
low, have been able to return to life as
usual, and their economies are working on
rebuilding. This cannot happen as long as
cases continue to rise, and the effects could
be long-lasting.
It goes without saying that politics
also have a hand in people’s opinions
of COVID-19, but it cannot be stressed
enough how irresponsible of an idea
this is. Allowing politics to control the
public opinion during a health crisis is a
dangerous concept, and one we need to
pull away from if this is to end any time
soon. No matter where you fall on the
political spectrum, lives are at risk and you
could potentially harm someone else.
With this in mind, it becomes clear
that it is better to take the pandemic too
seriously in retrospect than not seriously
enough. Ignoring the individual impact of
attending social events is inherently selfish
and reckless.
Deciding the social distancing guidelines
simply don’t apply to you could hurt you
or someone else. We are being presented
with a situation where one poorly thoughtout
decision in your youth could have
consequences that follow you forever. So
ask yourself, is that party really worth it?

Opinion
Your Words
ILLUSTRATION / ABBY STIRNA
Lessons learned in quarantine
Empathy is lacking in 2020. There’s
plenty of sympathy. Parents feel bad
for their children missing out on school
festivities, such as homecoming and
Powderpuff. Students feel bad for their
teachers being forced to attend campus
during a pandemic, putting themselves
and their families at risk. Teachers feel
bad for the administrators having to battle
parents over contact tracing guidelines
and quarantine.
Sympathy is passive. It makes the victim
feel acknowledged, but not necessarily
understood. It’s empathy that’s active and
tells the victim, “I understand, and will
help in any way I can.” Deciding to follow
the rules and take COVID-19 seriously
doesn’t make you a goody two shoes — it
makes you a decent human being.
When sent home on Oct. 13 to
quarantine for 14 days, I was both
startled and distraught. My parents took
COVID-19 seriously since it first made
headlines in February. My sisters and I
tried to keep ourselves and others safe.
I will admit, we are not perfect. We still
attend school in-person and see relatives
and close friends. But we take masks and
social distancing seriously, and pay close
attention to who we allow into our contact
circle. There’s a difference between trying
to live your life safely, and simply being
reckless. So I kept thinking to myself, “If
only people were more empathetic. If only
others followed guidelines. If only others
took this seriously. If only I could be at
Sophia
Bailly
My Words
school.”
If only.
In this new normal, empathy is our
greatest weapon. Being able to think
beyond what your wants and needs are
is critical. Take caution in what you do,
where you go and who you see. Because as
safe as you try to be, there’s no telling how
seriously others around you are taking
the pandemic. Everyone needs to lead by
example. We can’t afford to have outliers
who treat COVID-19 as a joke, or don’t
think it’s “a big deal.”
Quarantine was out of my control. I
thought I’d followed all of the rules and
listened to every guideline. But at the
end of the day, I was still sent home. The
lesson learned: the only person you can
control in this situation — is yourself.
Hear it from someone who loves being
on campus: Being forced to learn from
home is miserable. So take COVID-19
seriously and follow what you’ve been
asked to do. If you need to get tested,
stay home. If you try your best to check
every box and still find yourself being sent
home to quarantine: then you can act as a
warning to everyone else.
One-way halls
just don’t work
strongly disagree with the
I implementation of one-way hallways
and stairways. They seem to push students
closer together rather than allow for social
distancing. If a class is right next to your
previous class, you would come close to
more people going the long way than if
you could walk a few feet in the wrong
direction. It’s inconvenient and timeconsuming.
Transmission of the virus is
already less likely outside while wearing
a mask, so the one-way walkways feel
unnecessary to me.
Enforcing the flow of traffic is inefficient.
In the areas where there is administrator
policing, the students are more likely to
follow the rules, but it isn’t working across
the entire campus. At the end of the day,
not many students follow the directional
hallways. I think this precaution is more of
a hassle than it is worth.
— Caroline Scott, 9
Digital arts gets it right
The school’s digital art program is
amazing and the programs they provide
are some of the best. Due to the recent
changes in learning at the school for
COVID-19, they also have to provide the
students at home with the programs used
in the class. Although I’m not sure how
they were able to provide the students with
the necessary programs, it seems the class
is still running as smoothly as it did before
the pandemic hit.
The activities that take place in the class
are extremely helpful in learning how to
use all the tools properly while being able
to express your creative side as well. One
of my favorite activities was where we
picked our favorite music artist and then
design an album cover for that artist with
your favorite songs as part of that album.
It was one of the most fun activities in that
class in my opinion, and I’m excited to see
what the other digital arts classes will hold.
— Armani Catti, 9
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 5

Campus Connect
BOOK
BUDDIES
Seniors Monica Castellanos and Aislinn O’Neill managed the illustration and production
of a children’s book, “Maddy May Rides a Bicycle.” The project took about six months,
beginning in January, and ending in September, due to COVID-19. The children’s book
was a collaborative effort, drawing on the talents of Jim Finch’s art students.
MONICA CASTELLANOS (12)
“I think it would be really
cool to have directed the
creation and management
of a book in your resumes
for college applications.”
55
Total number of West Shore
students quarantined because of
possible exposure to COVID-19 as
of Oct. 19.
“E-learning isn’t all bad but
it’s hard to stay focused and
actually want to learn when
you’re not in the classroom.”
— Ana Gent, 11
6 I NOVEMBER 2020
MAXIMUM
CONFLICT
State Amendment 2 would
increase the state minimum wage
incrementally from $8.56 currently
to $15 by 2026. Proponents say the
current minimum wage doesn’t align
with the cost of living in the state.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce
and the Florida Restaurant and
Lodging Association say the increase
could lead to job losses and worker
hours being cut .
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
PHOTO / LAITH RUKAB
PHOTO / CATALINA PELLI
CLUB MINECRAFT
Thirty middle-schooler Minecraft
enthusiasts meet virtually each Thursday.
“Out of context [the hardware depot
and bank] seems off, but the bank and
hardware depot were made as a part of
the town we started in order to form a
currency and economy, so everyone got
some gold to start with and they could
buy and sell stuff in the hardware store,”
eighth-grader Catalina Pelli said.

FOO’S
FORTE
PHOTO / MCKENNA SLAUGHTER
Oboe player Nathan Foo
recently was selected to the
National Association for Music
Education’s 2020 All-National
Honor Ensembles. Foo had been
slated to join 556 musicians
from 49 states to participate in
a convention in Orlando this
month. Because of COVID-19,
the convention will be virtual.
“It feels good to
represent the band
being among the first
to ever do this. I had
never thought I could
display my talents on a
national scale.”
— Nathan Foo, 12
DRAMATIC ENTRANCE
Following Maureen Fallon’s sudden
retirement, Breana Davey stepped in
as the new full-time theater teacher in
October. “I chose to teach in Brevard
because I have ties to Brevard. I went to
school here,” she said. “It’s been great
so far, West Shore is really welcoming.
Everyone is super-helpful and I love the
kids, I love the staff. Everything’s been
great so far.”
The popular whodunit video game came out
in 2018 but only recently gained traction
when it was popularized by streamers and
influencers. Crewmates do tasks and try to
expose the imposters while the imposters
try to eliminate the crewmates. Everything
in the game is anonymous which creates a
mysterious atmosphere.
“I like playing because it’s an
extremely exciting game to play
with friends or groups of people. It’s
also enjoyable because it’s always a
mystery when playing the game.”
— Jackson Ehlers, 10
TRICKY TREAT
A study from candystore.com ranks
Skittles as the best Halloween candy in
the state of Florida, with Reese’s peanut
butter cups coming in second and
Starburst placing third. However, at least
one senior disagrees.
“My favorite is Reese’s because it’s freaking delicious.
Chocolate by itself is usually too much for me, but
chocolate with peanut butter adds a flavor I love.”
— Shannon Kay, 12
PHOTO / PICCOLO NAMEK
SCHOLARLY
The National Merit Scholarship
Corporation released recently
the names of national
semifinalists. Six West Shore
6students earned the distinction.
Brayden Cheek
“Pick the right
answers, don’t be
dumb.”
Reily Afflerback
“Practicing
examples from
previous exams can
help you.”
Sean Regan
“Do a ridiculous
amount of practice
problems.”
Abigail Johnson
“I wasn’t stressed or
anything. I was just
taking another test.”
Julien Wakim
“You don’t want
to be tired taking
the exam. When
I’m tired, I’m
cranky.”
Christopher Jenkins
“Taking multiple
practice tests to
understand the types
of questions they ask.”
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 7

UNDER
E-learners face
skeptism over
academic integrity
CHLOE OSBORN / STAFF WRITER
BY THE NUMBERS
50/50
Ratio of on campus
learners to e-learners
at the beginnng of the
school year
60/40
Ratio of on campus
learners to e-learners at
the end of October
16
Number of students who take
some classes on campus and
others from home
8 I NOVEMBER 2020
SUSPICION
As the student clicks on her online algebra test, she realizes she didn’t study
enough. She doesn’t feel prepared and becomes stressed. She takes a deep
breath and thinks for a minute, then comes up with a solution; she opens up a
new tab, without any way of getting caught, and types in a Google search to find the
algebra formulas she needs. She passes the test with flying colors, but her advantage
over the other students in her class makes her feel guilty.
With the new school year offering the option to learn and work from home
follows multiple opportunities to cheat on assignments and tests, students across
the nation are coming up with their own creative ways to do so. Because students
are no longer closely monitored in person, they now have the freedom to open up
another tab and search the web to finish assignments, without putting forth much
effort.
“I think that cheating is unfair and not morally correct,” Eighth-grade e-learner
Lillian Gustafik said. “Someone studied hard [for] the test, and here is someone just
lying to themselves that they are smart and are doing the right thing just so they
can get a better score.”
Despite opportunities to dash through schoolwork and still earn a high grade,
West Shore aims to protect its reputation for having an honest and hard-working
student body.
“I wouldn’t say that cheating is ever expected,” Algebra 2 teacher Patrick Pittenger
said. “I always expect students to try their best and learn from their experiences.
I would agree that students have much more autonomy this year, especially
e-learners, however I don’t think that the expectations have changed.”
While on-campus students may be skeptical of e-learners cheating their way
through assignments and lessons, Gustafik said such skepticism is unfounded.
“I feel that it is unfair that [people] would think that just because we can cheat,
that we would,” Gustafik said. “It’s very unfair, as I would never cheat.”
Although the school’s faculty and staff trust students to show their knowledge and
not what they found through a quick Google search, the policies and reprimands
are still upheld, in case the honor code is broken.
“According to the West Shore handbook, you can be suspended from one to
10 days depending on factors,” guidance counselor Hannah Smith said. “Many
teachers, if they suspect cheating, have their own policies for first-time offenders,
zero on the assignment, the possibility of re-doing it with points taken off, et cetera.
The policies have not changed. Yes, it is a pandemic, it’s hard, but in the face of
adversity is when we dial in resilience and grit.”
While the stakes seem to be high for students to complete tasks unfairly, it is
possible that the stress and competition of keeping up with the school’s expectations
could push them to eventually take the risk anyway.
“West Shore does have high standards and there is also the possibility of removal
from the school if a student does not maintain their grades,” Pittenger said. “These
factors may encourage students to try to take an easier route to get a grade they
didn’t earn, however those are not the students that I have met at West Shore.”

Business
News
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION / SAMI RAMADAN
Principal Rick Fleming said it means
more for students to do their best and
honest work, in regards to long-term
effects.
“What we’re trying to get across to
students is that when and if you do cheat,
you are only cheating yourself,” Fleming
said. “The content you are missing,
although you may get a decent grade in
the class and your GPA is high, when you
hit the next level of rigor, whether that be
the next level of math, whether it’s here at
West Shore or at college, you are cheating
yourself out of content that needs to be
mastered. At some point, it’s going to catch
up with you. You may get away with it
today, you may get away with it tomorrow,
but you’re not going to get away with it at
some point in the future when you have
to demonstrate those competencies and
those skills necessary for completing that
next level of [a] difficult subject matter.”
According to Gustafik, cheating violates
West Shore’s goal of “academic excellence.”
“If [e-learners] cannot get good grades
or good test scores, then they shouldn’t
be in West Shore, as they can’t handle
what they need to do so they can succeed
morally,” Gustafik said.
Cheating yields psychological
implications, according to Smith.
“The way our brains works is that we
need to see information a few times to
develop a new schema,” Smith said. “The
more you exercise that schema, the more
organized your brain gets; thus creating
a network of tightly organized networks
that can quickly retrieve information
and knowledge. By not exercising your
brain, you’re not learning, you’re not
allowing your brain to organize itself into
those networks, so down the line you are
actually hurting your own knowledge
base.”
While teachers have to keep an eye on
their students for dishonest completion
of tasks, they do assume the best of
each individual first until the trust is
potentially lost, according to Fleming.
Teachers continue to hold students to high
standards because they believe they can
meet them through perseverance, with full
confidence that they can achieve academic
success using their own skill set.
“I would say [it is] our accelerated
graduation requirements and what we
require of students from an academic
standpoint, as well as the Senior Project
that holds our students to a higher
standard in terms of what we expect,”
Fleming said. “By being held to a higher
standard, and having the majority of
their time taken up either doing work
or preparing for college or things like
that, I think [those things] set us apart
individually between us and some
comprehensive schools about the focus
on the future of our students and their
personal intrinsic focus as well.”
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 9

News
[RE]MAKING
HISTORY
Controversial
1619 Project
hasn’t impacted
BPS curriculum
— yet
“The 1619 project is an ongoing initiative
from "The New York Times Magazine"
that began in August 2019, the 400th
anniversary of the beginning of American
slavery,” according to the 1619 Project
website. “It aims to reframe the country’s
history by placing the consequences of
slavery and the contributions of black
Americans at the very center of our
national narrative.”
This differs from how history is currently
taught, with the Sunshine State curriculum
requiring an overview be given of all
perspectives from certain time periods.
“It’s a big ask, and a big difference from
how we teach now,” said AP United States
History teacher Athena Pietrzak. “The AP
gods, or gurus, or whatever, tell me what
they want me to cover, and I do my best to
fit it all in the time we have. We’re taking
things like slavery as a theme, and teaching
10 I NOVEMBER 2020
them through the time period. We’re not
particularly focused on one perspective
from beginning to end.”
The 1619 Project has been surrounded
by controversy since its creation, notably
by historian Leslie M. Harris, who said she
fact-checked it before its publishing. Her
corrections were largely ignored.
“The job of historians is to investigate
and not only look for clues to our past but
also to seek to understand and interpret
them,” said Kimberly Garton, curriculum
supervisor for social studies at Brevard
Public Schools. “History is alive. For the
1619 Project, the biggest positive is that
all of the written and collected works can
force us to think. I think that some of the
curricular elements of the 1619 Project, if
used in conjunction with other materials,
could really help students think about the
connections between current events and
American History.”
Pietrzak said she tries to provide a
balanced perspective on the controversial
periods of American history.
“I always say education is power," she
said. "So many people don’t know how
important slavery was in the founding
of our nation, and I think that’s a shame.
Having this sort of knowledge in your
background is so important.”
In September, President Donald Trump
issued a statement promising to remove
federal funding for schools that taught
material from the 1619 Project, and issued
his own 1776 Commission in response.
The comission has yet to release material.
“Teaching about the history of America
and what facts, opinions, and perspectives
to include is always going to be dramatic,”
Garton said. “Remembering is not an
easy road to travel. The particular drama

surrounding the 1619 Project and the 1776
Commission comes from the fact that
these two ideas stand very far apart on a
spectrum of the American story. Drama
also comes when the ideas behind these
projects are taken up into the political
quagmire.”
Sophomore Warrick Floyd said the
significance of the 1619 date is being
overly emphasized by the project.
“I don’t think [The 1619 Project] is
accurate,” he said. “I’m definitely for
recognizing African Americans, but I don’t
think the date 1619 signifies anything
about America. I believe that 1776, when
the Declaration of Independence was
signed, is the founding of America. On the
other hand, with the 1776 Commission,
I’m not entirely sure what patriotic
education is. I support nationalism, but I
also understand the extremes it can go to.”
The 1619 Project also aims to teach
about racism and capitalism in the modern
day, and traces much of it back to slavery
in America. Floyd said he sees an issue
in the way this could influence students’
opinions.
“History should include a lot of things,
the number one thing I am against is
revisionist history," he said. "Parts of
history should never be left out because it
does not fit a specific agenda. Should the
date 1619 never be taught? I don’t think
so, it’s just another date, another time
stamp in history. I think it shouldn’t be
exaggerated.”
Pietrzak said the 1776 Commission
could set a dangerous precedent for the
influence politics has on education.
“I think the issue here is that we
absolutely need to be funded,” she said.
“Without federal funding, teachers don’t
get paid. I see a problem with current
conditions in the way we teach things, but
this is a borderline control of information.
I think allowing the president, or
government, to decide what can and can’t
be taught in schools is absolutely not OK.
It doesn’t matter if I agree with it or not.
I think knowing the history before you
decide where you stand is an important
part of being an American patriot.”
According to the Pulitzer Center’s
annual report, the 1619 Project is taught in
over 3,500 classrooms around the United
States, but Pietrzak said it's unlikely to
arrive on campus.
“Neither of these projects are able to
get any attention this year because of
the pandemic,” she said. “Our history
department meetings are on Zoom, there’s
very little communication. Because of that,
ILLUSTRATION / JOYCELYN LOI
even when things like a new project get
mentioned, we have no time or resources
to implement that. Add to that business
that it’s my first year teaching AP, and
it's impossible to even consider adding
something like that. It’s a shame our hands
are tied with the 1619 Project. It’s not even
a possibility because of the decision that
we’d lose funding if we taught it.”
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 11

News
Teens awaken to social activism
KEIRA COLEMAN /
SPECIAL TO THE ROAR
George Floyd, a black man from
Minneapolis, Minnesota, was arrested on
May 25 for allegedly passing counterfeit
money. He was dead within minutes.
Some claim racial profiling and
subsequent police brutality were the
cause, while others say his death was
the unfortunate result of drug use and
underlying health issues. What most
Americans agree on, however, is that
his death was a tragedy that led to a
wave of national unrest.
Teenagers across the country have
witnessed this upheaval on the nightly
news and in their social media feeds.
Some have even been participants.
Amelia Knotts, a 17-year-old from
Oxford, Mich., said she felt safe where
she lives but knows that other cities
have been heavily affected by Black
Lives Matter protests.
“In terms of good cops versus bad
cops, I think that there are racist police
officers but that there are racist people
[in general], too,” she said. “I don’t
think that George Floyd was murdered
with racial motives. I think that the
[main] officer would have done the
same thing if [Floyd] was white.”
Andy Carlos, a 17-year-old, lived in
Melbourne before moving to Chicago
three years ago. He sees BLM protests in
his city almost every day.
“My own neighborhood has had
protests,” he said. “Other sections I go to in
Chicago, like Little Village and downtown,
have had riots, looting and heavy police
activity. I’ve seen a few protests first-hand,
and I have classmates that regularly attend
them. I also know people on social media
that have organized them. If you are a teen
in Chicago, you think protesting is cool.”
Some teens believe the BLM movement,
with calls to defund the police and the
unauthorized removal of historical statues,
has become politicized.
“Ninety-nine percent of people have
no problem with the phrase 'black lives
matter' because they do [matter], plain
and simple," Luke Johnson, an 18-yearold
from Melbourne Beach, said. "The
12 I NOVEMBER 2020
movement is where things get tricky [since
the protests] that turn violent very quickly
overshadow the ones that are peaceful.”
A couple of months ago, Sarina Barot-
Martinez, a 16-year-old from Laguna
Niguel, Calif., and her friend were
attending a protest at an intersection in her
affluent town when they had an aggressive
exchange with a driver.
“My friend and I were there peacefully
protesting,” she said. “At one point, a guy
pulled over, rolled down his window,
and started arguing with us. We didn’t
engage except to say ‘Black Lives Matter!’
He got out of the car and began to harass
my friend. Things escalated fast, and he
pulled a knife on her. Obviously we were
not trying to get stabbed, so we left for our
own safety.”
Karishma Patel, a 16-year-old from
Ellicott City, Md., said she hasn’t been
personally affected by the movement but
still tries to find ways to support it. In
August, Patel saw an opportunity to get
involved at a peaceful protest four hours
away from her in Virginia Beach.
“On the boardwalk, [we walked]
in support of the Black Lives Matter
movement,” Patel said. “It was one of
the most life-changing experiences. I’ve
seen videos and posts [of protests] on
social media but actually participating
in [one] allowed me to see the emotion
[and] passion in the eyes of the African
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION / CREATIVE COMMONS
Americans I was marching alongside. It
brought my friend and I to tears because
people should not have to prove that their
life matters. Everyone around me was so
kind. It ended with speeches in honor of
African Americans who [were] killed by
police officers.”
Junior Logan Jenkins questions if
African Americans are the main target of
police brutality.
“I’ve personally talked to many people
who said that they thought thousands of
unarmed African Americans were being
killed on a yearly basis,” Jenkins said.
“According to [the ‘Washington Post’],
though, that number has not exceeded
two dozen in any of the past five years —
including 2020.”
— Editor’s note: For more on this story, visit
www.westshoreroar.com

DIGITAL DYSTOPIA
SOPHIA BAILLY /
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Sophomore Adrian Delia scrolls through his social media
feed, chatting with his friends and staying up-to-date on news.
But unknown to Delia and his friends, social media accounts
have a mind of their own.
A recent Netflix documentary, “The Social Dilemma,”
delves into the horrifying addiction social media platforms
cause. The documentary elaborates
on the social, mental and physical
impacts these platforms have; but
above all, one strikingly eerie topic
leaves viewers questioning their
social-media usage: the political
misinformation these accounts
mediate.
“I’ve lost friends due to other
people’s political views because of
what type of information they tell
me,” Delia said. “I’ve seen different
political parties using their political
bias on social media to get young kids
to believe what they’re saying.”
While social media appeals to audiences as a base to
connect with like-minded people and share ideas and
opinions, is it possible that these platforms are out-of-control?
“I think people will get too far down a rabbit hole and
believe whatever they are told without looking at if the info is
true,” Delia said. “I’ve seen a rise of political topics on social
media, and I think it’s because we are close to the election.”
With 2020 ushering in an unexpected pandemic, national
racial reckoning, economic downfall and a controversial
presidential election, social media takes center stage.
“The speed with which information spreads on social media
is notably different from the way the media operated in the
20th century,” said Beth Rosenson, associate professor of
political science at University of Florida. “False information
can spread incredibly quickly and often people do not read
the corrections, if any are made. Sadly, most people don't
necessarily want to be challenged or informed. They want to
have their preconceptions confirmed and validated.”
According to Rosenson, political misinformation can
originate in other countries. One example of foreign political
interference via social media occured in 2016, when a
Macedonian teen, who requested to be named “Dimitri” in an
NBC article, posted false news.
“[Dimitri] didn't care who was benefiting,” Rosenson
said. “He got more hits on his stories when the stories were
anti-Clinton as opposed to anti-Trump. One of the stories he
Social media saturation takes growing toll
on physical, mental and civic well-being
ran had the headline ‘Breaking: Obama Confirms Refusal to
Leave White House, He Will Stay in Power.’ Fake news stories,
such as one saying the pope endorsed Donald Trump, came
not just from Russia but from individuals in other countries.
There is a lot of money to be made from the advertising and
traffic associated with fake news.”
According to Heidi Hatfield Edwards, professor and chair
of the communications program at Florida Institute of
Technology, political misinformation
can yield polarizing controversy.
“Even though there are scientific
guidelines and data out there, the
politicization of issues creates
problems when we make decisions,”
Edwards said. “If we don’t have the
right information, we may go down
the wrong path.”
According to Edwards, social-media
platforms maintain ever-changing
algorithms, intended to produce
content appealing to individual users.
And with twenty-four-seven direct
access to any topic or issue of interest, users remain captivated
by the glowing screen of their feed.
“[Social media] has certain characteristics that makes us
want to keep going back,” Edwards said. “We post something
so we want to see what people have liked. It gives us a little
bit of a high, when we see people are responding to us. It’s
interactive, so in that way people are able to engage with the
media, rather than passively being fed information. People
don’t always know who they are getting information from.
Something can go viral without anyone actually even reading
what is in the actual post.”
Independent fact checking organizations, such as Politifact
and Snopes can be used to expose incorrect allegations.
But these outlets do not help to purify the misinformation
spreading through social media.
“There is an infinite amount of information out there at
your fingertips,” Rosenson said. “The kind of gatekeeping
in the old days before the internet, where news outlets
were staffed by people with experience in journalism, is
over. Today, a lot of the people who share news have a very
partisan agenda and may have no commitment whatsoever to
providing accurate information.”
Identifying misinformation can require in-depth research.
“Individual citizens also need to take responsibility for
themselves and do the background research,” Rosenson said.
“Consume news from multiple sources. And if a story seems
outrageous, do the research.”
ILLUSTRATION / SOPHIA BAILLY
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 13

Politics
Q & A
BLAKE
GIFFORD, 12
Q: Who will you be voting for?
Two first-time voters share their thoughts on
the upcoming presidential election
A: I’m going to be voting for President Donald Trump.
Under his administration, the unemployment rate
for Blacks and Hispanics was at an all-time low.
Unemployment as a whole was at its lowest since 1950.
GDP growth had consistently been over 3 percent,
barring the pandemic. Taxes were cut for individuals
and companies. The wage for the average American
increased by $5,000. Crime had significantly
decreased, until the pandemic. Life has been really
good for the average American and business owner,
barring the pandemic. I also don’t support the
platform and the ideas put forth by the Democratic
Party. In my mind there couldn’t be a clearer answer.
in government and Biden being the more moderate
candidate will help solve that. I tend to oppose Donald
Trump because I feel like he’s created a culture that
celebrates the far, far right movements and I don’t
think that’s beneficial to the country currently, when
we have such a divided government we can’t get
anything done. So I believe that he’s too far in the right
direction. I generally identify with the more of the
Democratic Party. However my views on economics
tend to be a little bit more conservative.
Q: What do you find most
promising about about your
candidate?
LUKE
MARZANO, 12
A: Former Vice President Joe Biden; I think the largest
problem based in the U.S. currently is the polarization
A: I’m excited to see — assuming he gets into office —
who he nominates for his cabinet. I’m optimistic based
CORONAVOTING COVID-19 makes election feel urgent
JOSHUA DEXTER /
STAFF WRITER
At the start of the pandemic in
March, sophomore Gabby Cintron
watched President Donald Trump’s daily
COVID-19 briefs and those presented
by local officials to see what she could
do to keep her family safe. She heard
that masks were soon going to be
mandatory but she couldn't purchase
them because the government directed
most masks and PPE to frontline
workers in hospitals.
Fast forward to today. Masks and PPE
are readily available, but the pandemic
continues to play a prominent role in
our daily lives. Cintron said both local
and federal officials have politicized the
virus too much.
"How COVID-19 has been handled
alone was not enough to change my
view,” she said. “It was everything as a
whole that made me change my view.
Due to corona, I felt the public got more
information on what was going on in
the government. When people started
to say how past politicians could have
handled the virus better, it just made me
think how political people are making a
pandemic.”
During the peak of COVID-19,
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave daily
announcements on COVID-19 statistics,
information on re-openings, and how
to stay healthy during the worldwide
crisis. Since then, Cintron said, state
and federal officials have the pandemic a
political rather than a safety issue.
Sophomore Emily Oliver said citizens'
14 I NOVEMBER 2020

on things he’s said that he’s going to elect a bunch of young,
progressive and modern people who will hopefully make
strives in the government.
A: The thing that I find most promising about Trump is
that he keeps the promises he makes when campaigning.
He is the first president in recent history to keep all of the
promises he made on the campaign trail. Most of the time
politicians say things just because people want to hear them
and it will get them votes, but Trump isn’t like that. He is not
a politician, so he doesn’t make promises he doesn’t intend to
keep when elected. In keeping those promises Trump reflects
the American peoples-those who elected him at least- ideas
and wants on how the country, at least the executive branch,
should run domestically and foreignly. Trump is giving a
voice to people that feel like the government is not responsive
or cares about the people who elected them, through keeping
all his promises.
Q: What is your biggest reason for
opposing the other candidate?
A: The biggest reason I oppose Biden is because he is just
being used as a cover for the Democratic Party. It very
much seems like Biden is not the one pulling the strings and
making the decisions. Things like reading off of teleprompters
for a “town hall”, and Biden claiming he doesn’t support
the Green New Deal, when his campaign website very
clearly states that he does support it. Even his own running
mate referred to the next administration as the Harris
administration, not the Biden administration. When you put
them all together it creates a picture in which Biden is this
puppet for the party.
A: I tend to oppose Donald Trump because I feel like he’s
created a culture that celebrates the far, far right movements
and I don’t think that’s beneficial to the country currently,
when we have such a divided government we can’t get
anything done. So I believe that he’s too far in the right
direction.
Q: Why do you think it is important for
people to vote?
A: Twenty-twenty has been a pretty big year and there
has been a lot of changes as far as COVID-19 and how to
deal with that, and just the presidency in general. A lot of
people haven’t liked Trump, especially regarding the racial
problems that we’ve been experiencing. Twenty-twenty has
been a pretty turbulent year so I definitely think having a
presidential election just to top it all off is going to be pretty
important with showing how the future is going to unfold in
America.
A: I would caution people from voting just to vote. I think
it’s important that if you are going to vote that you research a
lot of information about what you’re going to vote on. Most
of the time the bills that are voted on have something else
attached to them that most people don’t read or know about.
So I think that everyone should be informed as much as
possible when voting.
INTERVIEWS /
RAVEN MORGAN / STAFF WRITER
safety is the No. 1 priority right now, but
that some officials have gone overboard.
"I believe that certain precautions
are being taken that could be a little
extreme,” Oliver said. “While being
election year, it seems like all parties in
politics just try to please the people with
safety tips rather than talk about what
they are going to do for our county."
With the election just days away, one
of the ways Florida officials have tried to
keep citizens safe is by providing voters
with various options, including mail-in
voting and in-person voting.
Sophomore Faith Collins said she
wants others to be able to vote safely.
"People who cannot go out should take
advantage of the mail-in voting because
it is important to vote, but we should
also keep our citizens safe," Collins said.
Brevard County’s Supervisor of
Elections Lori Scott’s job is to register
voters, educate them about election laws
and qualify candidates and conduct
elections.
"The challenge we face in the election
office is the spread of misinformation,
especially via social media,” Scott said.
Such misinformation is spread through
apps and sites including Instagram,
Twitter and Facebook. Another
challenge officials face, she said, is voter
confusion.
“Election laws, including laws
pertaining to voting-by-mail (absentee)
and mail ballot voting, vary greatly
from state to state and this can cause
confusion,” Scott said.
Scott encourages teens to get involved.
“When pre-registered voters turn
18, they are automatically activated
on the voter rolls and sent their voter
information card,” she said. “Young
people can also start researching
candidates and issues before reaching
voting age. Young voters may also want
to reach out to candidates running
locally to assist with their campaign.”
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 15

Sports
BACK IN THE SWING
Sophomore rebounds from surgery to place first in districts
MCKENNA SLAUGHTER /
STAFF WRITER
Sophomore Lila Iwanowski
steps onto the golf course,
takes a deep breath and
swings. She is less than four
months out of a wheelchair,
the shot is good enough
for first place in last month’s
women’s golf Cape Coast
Conference tournament.
“This is actually the first
tournament I’ve won for [an]
18-hole [course],” she said. “It
wasn’t my best game, but it
was still really cool to win. I
keep having to remind myself
that winning CCC is a big
accomplishment. It’s hard
because it feels like I could
have done better, but I’m still
proud of myself for winning
overall.”
The girls' golf team achieved
second place against 16
teams made up of three to
five girls each. To win overall,
Iwanowski had to out-play
every individual.
“This is the first time
that I’ve coached an overall
winner,” Coach Jenny Pazderak
said. “I started coaching for
Lila in seventh grade when she
arrived at West Shore, and she’s
always worked really hard. Her
drive to succeed is incredible,
and it shows in the way she
plays. She wants to be the best in everything that she does. She
has the skill, and the mindset, and when those two things line up,
she’s basically unbeatable.”
But that drive to excel hasn’t been easy for Iwanowski, who was
diagnosed with hip dysplasia, a condition which causes the hip
to frequently and painfully dislocate, in December 2019. She had
surgery in February which kept her off the golf course until July.
“My recovery was tough,” Iwanowski said. “Everybody knows
about the time I spent in the wheelchair, and with the walker,
PHOTO / DEAN STEWART
Lila Iwanowski shot an 81 at the 1A-7 District golf championship.
but after that was tough. I did
my own [physical therapy]
because of the pandemic, and
it took me a really long time to
get back to a full swing. That
was super-frustrating for me.”
In addition to golf,
Iwanowski holds a black
belt in Taekwondo. She also
participates in HOSA (Future
Health Professionals), drone
team, is dual enrolled at
Eastern Florida State College
and maintains a 4.0 gradepoint
average.
“She’s absolutely incredible,”
sophomore Aidan Meyers
said. “She manages to do so
much, and is still such an
incredible friend and person.
She’s so kind, and she doesn’t
judge or make assumptions
about people. She’s really
understanding. I think it’s
kind of unfair that anyone
could be so talented and such
a genuinely kind person all at
once.”
Those personal traits carry
over into sports for Iwanowski.
“She’s a real team player,”
Pazderak said. “She’s always
trying to lend a hand to her
teammates, and she’s a really
good leader. It’s never meanspirited.
She just wants to see
everyone around her do really
well. I think that’s part of what
makes her so special to this
team.”
Meyers said he’s excited to see what she accomplishes next.
“I’m really proud of her,” he said. “I think her growth has been
incredible, and it’s so inspiring to see someone like her do really
well. She’s worked her way back up from being unable to walk,
you know? She’s so humble about it. She always thinks she could
have done better, but I really think she’s doing something special
this season. I think it’s only a matter of time until she goes on to
do even more spectacular things.”
16 I NOVEMBER 2020

Pandemic shakes up fall sports
GAVIN LITCHFIELD /
STAFF WRITER
In a year where it seems almost
everything is banned, it might come
as a surprise that the fall sports season
ever happened. While the Florida High
School Athletic Association gave a
return to sports a green-light, new rules
and regulations had to be put in place
for the safety of the participants.
Those protocols included mandatory
temperature checks before any
participation and enforced social
distancing among teammates. And
the most controversial rule of all: the
requirement to wear face masks at all
times except during vigorous workouts.
Swim coach Kyle Berry called the new
regulations a necessary evil.
“I do not believe that the regulations
are too strict,” Berry said. “Our job
as coaches is to protect our studentathletes,
now more than ever.
Regulations can always be relaxed as
things change.”
Berry added that the changes exposed
improved ways to run practices
brought about by social-distancing
requirements.
“In order to abide by the socialdistancing
rule, we will have four
swimmers in each lane, two on each
side of the pool,” Berry said. “During
a normal year we have six to eight in a
lane, however I have found that four per
lane gives the swimmers much more
practice space. I may even continue this
practice when we are back to normal.”
Although Gov. Ron Desantis has been
cutting back guidelines, sports teams
have been shut down for not following
rules set by the district.
The school district in coordination
with the Brevard Department of Health
has placed Melbourne and Merritt
Island high school football teams in
quarantine for not following regulations,
resulting in a surge of positive cases.
In addition, all Eau Gallie High School
sports were temporarily suspended
when BPS closed the school for a week
due to an uptick in exposures.
Other COVID-19 impact included
limited capacity for meets and games,
a shorter season and reduced junior
varsity opportunities. But junior
cheerleader Ashley Hilmes decided to
make the best out of the situation.
“The changes do not ruin the season
for me,” Hilmes said. “I am just happy to
be able to do my sports.”
Because some team members attend
school each day while others learn
from home, less time is available for
building chemistry through sharing
time together.
“The team aspect has remained as
strong as ever,” said senior Layla Auter,
who is captain of the swim team.
“However, I definitely miss seeing
the team outside of the pool, and as a
captain, it’s a huge bummer because I
love seeing these guys. Sadly it’s been
hard to meet all of the new swimmers
and really get to know them, but this
team is so supportive and caring.”
That separation becomes even more
frustrating when an athlete must
quarantine. Junior cross-country
runner Alex Hilmes missed two weeks
due to COVID-19 exposure despite
testing negative himself.
“It ripped a hole through my season,”
Hilmes said. “It’s a lot harder and more
boring running without the team. My
quarantine period definitely negatively
affected my season.”
ATHLETES TO WATCH
BOWLING
Josh Dexter, 10
Years of Varsity: 3
Average: 203
Approach: right-handed
Favorite Ball: Motiv Villian
"I've practiced so much to
this point and every day I'm
getting better. Soon I'm going
to start local tournaments
so hopefully my practice will
pay off."
CROSS COUNTRY
Sam Oliver, 12
Years on Varsity: 4
Personal Best 17:07
Season best 17:11
Highlight: First Place
at Hawk Invitational
“Though I’ve had to
push hard through many
workouts individually, it’s
really my team that’s been
keeping me successful this
season.”
VOLLEYBALL
Grace Kirschner, 12
Years on Varsity: 3
Kill Percentage: 32.2
Save Percentage: 83.3
Ace Percentage: 16.7
“Our team fought during a lot
of games and had a whole
lot of fun when we could win
after pushing through the
end.”
SWIMMING
Katelyn Owl, 12
Years on Varsity: 6
Team Status: Captain
Best Times
• 25.3 50 freestyle
• 100 butterfly 59.6
“I’ve made so many friends
through swimming and I’ve
gained people skills to use
in the future. The swim team
has really made me a more
social
person.”
GOLF
Alex Bercea, 7
Years on Varsity: 1
Season Averages:
• Par 3 - 3.4
• Par 4 - 4.8
• Par 5 - 5.3
“I am proud of him honestly.
He is representing
boys’ golf very well.”
– Lila Iwanowski (10)
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 17

18 I NOVEMBER 2020

Sports
PHOTO / MAX ARONSON
Space Coast Crew is in a reloading phase after losing 21 of 78 high-school rowers to graduation last spring.
Crew team looks to youth movement
MAX ARONSON /
SPECIAL TO THE ROAR
As junior Anastacia Devlin and her
teammates reflected on the end of last
season, they realized that Space Coast
Crew had just gone through a dramatic
change. More than a quarter of the
high-school crew team graduated, along
with their capable leadership and strong
contribution to team performance.
“[The team] honestly feels a lot smaller,
especially because it’s my fourth year on
the team,” Devlin said. “And a couple of
the guys that graduated last year were on
the team the same year that I joined. It just
feels really small when I think about all of
the people that left.”
Twenty-one out of 78 high-school
rowers graduated and the club is now
learning to adjust to a different team
demographic.
“We lost a [quarter] of our team, but
then ironically we got a [quarter] of a team
that joined in from the eighth-graders
coming up as freshmen,” said Bryan Little,
director of rowing and head coach at
SCC. “Really, we’ve flexed from being a
really mature team to a more novice team,
a younger team. It’s got its pros and its
cons, but I wouldn’t say we’re rebuilding. I
would just say we’re reloaded.”
Little said he believes SCC is lucky.
“I mean if we were rebuilding instead of
reloading it would be much different,” he
said. “If we had lost 20 seniors but gained
20 novices, or brand new kids, I think
it would be a whole different story, and
right now we have a lot of experienced
freshmen, and that’s really helping us.”
Devlin said she also believes having new,
experienced freshmen on the team is an
advantage.
“I love having more girls on the team,
because I just want the team to get big and
get fast,” Devlin said. “There are already a
couple of freshmen who are getting really
strong and getting really good.”
Little said that while SCC lost many
of its leaders last year, he is confident
the team will continue to find internal
guidance from rowers.
“We have Thomas Eastwood right now
who’s stepped up to the plate on the men’s
side, who’s a team captain this year,” Little
said. “And then you also have Anastacia
Devlin, who’s stepped up as a team captain
with Riley Gilman on the women’s side.”
Junior Joseph Derenthal also said he has
seen teammates step in and lead.
“A lot of people had to step up to
become team captain and basically just
leaders of the team,” Derenthal said.
“There’s definitely a big hole in the team
because there were like 20 seniors last year
[who left].”
Devlin said she became a co-captain
with Riley Gilman because of how
important captains are for the younger
rowers.
“I kind of just realized there needs to be
at least a couple girls on the team who take
initiative, otherwise some stuff just won't
get done,” Devlin said. “I think that having
captains is really important for the team
because, especially for the newer kids. It
can be a little intimidating for them to talk
to the coaches. It’s good because we want
to make them feel comfortable, and if they
have any questions that they are nervous
to ask a coach [about], they can come to
us.”
Little said he has high hopes for this
season.
“Every year since I’ve started with this
team we’ve progressively [kept] getting
better,” he said. “The senior class right
now is really stepping up too and doing
their thing, and if [the team] can continue
to develop in the right manner and have
the right culture, we’re going to come out
of the woodwork here and just scare the
state of Florida.”
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 19

Entertainment
‘Save Yourselves!’ a welcome diversion
SOPHIA BAILLY /
EDITOR IN CHIEF
With all of 2020’s undeniable chaos,
“Save Yourselves!” — a film that pokes
fun at an alien invasion and the end of
the world — proves to be
surprisingly uplifting.
The film follows Su and Jack, a
technology-obsessed couple from
REVIEW
Brooklyn, who decide to take a week-long
getaway to a cabin in the woods. The trip
sounds like smooth sailing; but, the couple
agrees to a technology detox, turning
off their phones, tablets, computers and
AI assistants. While there are plenty
of humorous moments highlighting
humanity’s reliance on technology —
especially through the couple’s obvious
lack of exposure to nature — the irony of
the film is what brings the most laughter.
Starting out, I assumed “Save
Yourselves!” intended to emphasize
society’s need to disconnect from phones
and reconnect with reality. But, in an
ironic turn of events, Su and Jack’s
vacation of tranquility and self-discovery
is overturned by an alien invasion. An
army of furry, eyeless monsters, which the
couple refers to as “poofs,” are ravaging
and destroying the urban world. And
with their phones turned
off, the couple is oblivious and
defenseless. The film calls out
technological addiction and upholds the
importance of staying connected.
“Save Yourselves!” owes a bulk of its
success to the undeniable chemistry
between the lead characters. Su and Jack
define what a pure dynamic duo should
be, emulating yin and yang. Su is agendadriven
and stubborn, and her Type A
personality makes her more real of a
person. She doesn’t try to force herself into
the “perfect female heroine” role. Instead,
Su is simply human, with strengths,
weaknesses, hopes and fears just like
everyone else. Comparatively, Jack is much
more of a Type B personality and takes
pride in being more relaxed and easygoing.
Jack is happy just to be himself, even if his
abilities do not coincide with stereotypical
“manliness.”
Character development is crucial to a
strong movie. And within only 93 minutes,
“Save Yourselves!” manages to bring out
a more adventurous and powerful side to
both characters.
The film also adds diversity, with
Su, played by Sunita Mani, being of
Indian heritage. While this may not
seem revolutionary, there is not nearly
enough Indian representation in film.
Hollywood sometimes casts minorities as
side characters, but rarely as leads. “Save
Yourselves!” is taking a step in the right
direction.
QUICK PICK
Who: Taylor Swift
What: released an unexpected album, ‘Folklore,’ written entirely during quarantine.
When : July 23
'Folklore' marks an unexpected change in genre for the pop-princess as an indie-folk, alternative album.
The sonic aspect of this album featured slow-paced instrumentals driven by piano and guitar was remarkable.
Swift’s incredible lyricism and storytelling enabled her to capture nostalgia, heartbreak, innocence, insecurity,
loss and love perfectly. Despite having zero prior promotion, Folklore continues to break records.
— Aytek Abdulla
For the complete review, visit www.westshoreroar.com
PICK SIX
SONGS
Kilynn Lobley, 9
• “Watch What Happens”
(Newsies)
• “Hello”
(The Book of Mormon)
•“Oh Klahoma”
(Jack Stauber)
• “Looking Out For You”
(Joy Again)
• “Baby Hotline”
(Jack Stauber)
• “Somebody To
Love” (Queen)
“I just have a soft
spot for ‘Watch
What Happens’
from ‘Newsies.’
I really relate to
Catherine.”
VIDEO GAMES
Adrian Mahindra, 8
• “Fortnite”
• “Among Us”
• “FIFA”
• “Call of Duty: War Zone”
• “Minecraft”
• “Overwatch”
“In a video game, I like
something that I can play with
friends and go
against them. ‘Fortnite’
would probably
be my favorite
game because I
can play
with friends.”
BOOKS
Danielle Sorgenfrei, 7
• “Flush”
• “Hoot”
• “Flipped”
• “Wonderstruck”
• “Holes”
• “Maze Runner”
“In a good book I look for
action and excitement, along
with relatable plots. I think I
enjoy Carl Hiassen’s books
so much
because
all of what
he writes
takes place
in Florida.”
MOVIES
Kirk Murphy, teacher
• “Blade Runner”
• “Maltese Falcon”
• “Captain America
Winter Soldier”
• “Three Musketeers”
(1996)
• “The Sting”
• “Lord of the Rings:
Return of the King”
“These are
definitely movies I
can go back to
and watch over
again.”
TV SHOWS
Ryhann Martin, 11
• “Friends”
• “Parks and Recreation”
• “Game of Thrones”
• “Stranger Things”
• “This is Us”
• “Scandal”
“There’s no laugh tracks in
‘Parks and Recreation’ and
people who don’t like it just
have a bad sense of humor
and need to be told when
to laugh.”
20 I NOVEMBER 2020

BLOCKBUSTED?
Theater owners anxiously await
return of full-house audiences
VIOLET CHACE /
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Sophomore Deklyn’s Gardner eyes lose focus on the movie he
watches on his computer screen as he wonders if movie theaters
will become what drive-ins are to him now. Highly anticipated
films such as “The Batman” and “Bond: No Time to Die” have had
to push back release dates, delay production, or release directly to
streaming services. As with most aspects of life in 2020, the way
consumers are viewing new films has changed due to COVID-19
and health concerns.
“By releasing the movies to homes instead of theaters, it makes
movies more inclusive and could still make the production companies
money,” Gardner said.
In addition to the health benefits for viewers, junior Logan Gerhard
said he thinks streaming movies can be more cost-effective.
“I feel like it's a good option to have,” he said. “It’s cheaper, and
it allows people to see the movie without having to pay lots of
money.”
While streaming has its benefits for customers, local theaters
such as the Premiere Theaters Oaks Stadium 10 have taken a hit.
“If studios continue to skip theaters and head straight to video
on demand, cinemas will be shuttered permanently and even
more employees will be out of work,” Oaks owner Stephanie Hill
said. “After the extended closures due to COVID-19, movie theaters
are on the brink of bankruptcy as it is, and this could be the
straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Cinemaworld, another local theater, also faces challenges that
were especially severe at the beginning of the pandemic when the
state force the temporary closure of theaters.
“During that time, we had to furlough the majority of our staff,
a decision that was extremely difficult for us,” said Senior Vice
President of Operations Jim Deal.
During the temporary shutdown, the Premiere Theater Oaks
10 found a way to bring some movie magic to members of the
community.
“We eventually decided to meet up on Wednesdays to give out
free popcorn to all of our customers ‘drive-thru style’ in order to
see each other and celebrate our Free Popcorn Wednesday tradition,”
Hill said. “Even though we were several yards apart, it was
nice to be together again.”
While national chains such as AMC Theaters and Regal Cinemas
have shut down indefinitely, Cinemaworld and The Oaks
have begun to reopen with new safety and cleaning protocols.
However, audiences remain small because some customers continue
to avoid the big screen for health or comfort reasons.
“As a consumer I like being able to just watch a movie at home,
however I hope movie theaters still stay so people can go out to
PHOTO / VIOLET CHACE
The Premiere Oaks Theater 10 hs seen audience sizes dwindle.
the movies together,” Gerhard said.
Despite industry hardships, Deal remains confident that cinemas
will not simply cease to exist.
“Movie-going is a social experience,” Deal said. “For all of the
naysayers, there is nothing like seeing a movie with an audience
— the gasp of a twist-ending or the jump during a horror film.”
According to Deal, theater owners have expressed optimism
because an anticipated surplus of 2021 releases should be more
than enough to lure audiences back.
“Twenty-twenty-one is shaping up to be a terrific, if not record
breaking, year at the movies,” Deal said. “The summer of 2020
was a bust, but certainly all of those films, along with a bunch
that were already in 2021, are going to make one heck of a year at
the movies.”
Gerhard said he’s looking forward to at least one of those rescheduled
blockbusters.
“I am really excited for the ‘Black Widow’ movie because she
was one of my favorite Marvel superheroes,” he said.
After showing only flashback films for a short period of time,
theaters such as Premiere Theaters Oaks Stadium 10 now offer
some current movie releases including “The War with Grandpa”
and “Honest Thief.”
“Now that we have new movies on the big screen, we are hopeful
that our local customer support will continue to grow,” Hill
said.
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 21

Entertainment
Netflix puts gruesome spin on ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’
VIOLET CHACE /
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
The new Netflix original series “Ratched”
follows a nurse who manipulates her
way to the top of a psychiatric hospital. It
tells the origin of nurse Mildred Ratched
from the 1975 film “One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest.” Through unusual and
REVIEW
sinister characters, the show
explores a gruesome world
of discovery surrounding mental illness in
the late 1940s.
Created in part by Ryan Murphy,
“Ratched” features his unique and
somewhat obscene style. Viewers
unfamiliar with his work, such as
“American Horror Story,” may find the
amount of extreme violence excessive.
Murphy consistently finds ways to give
viewers a kind of history lesson by
graphically displaying the inhumane
treatments used in a time when mental
illness was a foreign idea and patients were
treated like lab
rats. The series
feels more
like a season
of "American
Horror Story"
than it does
like a prequel
to its source
material, so
fans of “One
Flew Over
the Cuckoo's
Nest” might be
disappointed.
“Ratched” portrays its subject in a way
that contributes to a stigma surrounding
mental health. Because the show is rated
TV-MA, it targets an older audience that
should understand the unrealistic portrayal
of characters with mental illnesses such as
dissociative identity disorder and posttraumatic
stress disorder.
In contrast to thegrimey and more
realistic “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's
Nest”, “Ratched” features a cartoonlike
exaggerated aesthetic of the 1940s
asylum. The production and costume
designs make the show unforgettable.
The cinematography along with unusual
lighting choices help develop a sense of
understanding for what the characters are
going through. There are multiple scenes
where green or red lighting is cast over a
sequence to build up or influence tone.
The creators also fit in clear references to
classic horror including “The Shining”
and “Psycho,” proving they know their
audience.
Sarah Paulson outshines the rest of the
outstanding cast, bringing her own twist to
the classic title character.
Despite a few writing choices and some
predictable plot moments, “Ratched” is well
worth watching if you are a fan of drama,
horror or psychological thrillers.
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22 I NOVEMBER 2020
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THE SHOW MUST GO ON
District One-Act casts
adjust to restrictions
caused by coronavirus
AYTEK ABDULLA /
STAFF WRITER
In the dew-filled mornings of theater
districts, sophomore Grant Newcombe’s
medals clink against his chest as he
excitedly walks with the others to watch
their fellow troupe members perform their
respective events.
For avid participants, districts is a wellanticipated,
annual event. It’s a chance for
students from throughout the county to
compete and showcase their talents from
monologues to pantomimes. One of the
events performed at districts is the One
Act, an entirely student-directed show.
The middle-schoolers will perform
“Bedtime Stories (As Told by Dad) (Who
Messed Them Up),” a comedy centered
on a father telling his children bedtime
stories and straying away from the source
material. The high-schoolers will perform
“Oz,” a comedy/drama that serves as a
cynical parody of the beloved story, “The
Wizard of Oz.”
However, due to the ongoing pandemic,
several changes in the rules and structure
of this competition have been instituted.
In order to maintain safety, socialdistancing
and other COVID-19
regulations will have to be enforced.
According to senior Ethan Rebec, director
of both of the One-Acts, performers will
wear masks at all times, keeping six feet
apart when they are not in the scene, and
will have their own scripts so no one has
to share.
Senior Genevieve Archibald, who is
performing in the One-Act, said the
changes will make districts frustrating.
“Singing with masks on is hard because
you can’t catch your breath,” she said.
“It will also make dance rehearsals hard
because many people will be short of
breath while dancing. A critical part of
the One-Act is the ability to project and
masks make it even harder to do so. We
will have rehearsals about projection and
articulation, though, so none of the show
will be lost to the masks.”
Newcombe said he worries the quality of
the performance will suffer.
“I think social-distancing during
rehearsals is logical. However, with the
masks, it is harder to hear people and
see their facial expressions,” he said. “It
will definitely make things more difficult
because staging-wise, we are required
to stage the play so that no one touches,
which will make stage chemistry much
more difficult. It will also be much harder
to see someone’s characterization, so the
director will have a harder time helping
and giving tips to the actors.”
But senior Meghan Matthys said she
doesn’t see a downside when it comes to
social-distancing during rehearsals.
“COVID-19 is a very big issue and can
even be deadly for some people,” Matthys
said. “I think it is worth it to socially
distance if we are able to save a life in the
process. I don’t think it will negatively
affect our performance at all and it actually
may allow people to feel safer when
coming to rehearsals.”
Additionally, the performances will be
recorded and submitted to judges rather
than being performed live. The final
submissions are due Nov. 3.
“Recording a submission will make the
performance easier to master because you
PHOTO / MCKENNA SLAUGHTER
Drea Cumba (12) , Grant Newcombe (10) and Meghan Matthys (12) rehearse for “Oz.”
can record it as many times as you wish
so that it is perfect,” Newcombe said.
“However, it takes away from the overall
experience of it, and the troupe will not be
able to support everyone’s events. It will
not be the same enjoyable experience, but
it will likely improve the quality of our
performance.”
Although the one-acts are directed and
run by students, adult presence is required.
After former theater instructor Maureen
Fallon retired suddenly in August, English
teacher Thomas O’Bryan stepped in.
“We are unable to practice without a
sponsor, so he has always shown up for us,”
Newcombe said.
This year, the competition will be broken
into regionals, rather than one district.
“Winning will be more difficult this year
than any other previous years because we
will be up against four times the number
of schools as we normally would be,”
Archibald said.
Despite these changes, the students said
they feel confident.
“I’m feeling super-confident that we
will do well this year,” Matthys said. “Our
whole cast is so talented and I think we
definitely have a shot at qualifying for
states or even winning Best-of-Show.”
WESTSHOREROAR.COM / ROAR I 23

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