Vol. 2 Issue 3 February 2011

Anyone who has been to a Vikings Football game in the past few years knows that Naim Cheeseboro is an amazing football player. A number of colleges recognized Cheeseboro’s talent as well, namely Akron, University of Maine and Stony Brook University. On February 2nd, Cheeseboro signed on to play varsity football for Stony Brook University. On choosing Stony Brook, Naim said, “It was a right fit for me. The campus was beautiful, it was close to home...it has a great coaching staff put together so I felt that they would really help me succeed at collegiate level.” Stony Brook University is a Division 1 school, located on Long Island, New York. The football team was named the Big-South Co-champion for the 2009-2010 season. Upper Merion Athletic Director Earl Burnham commented, “Naim is very deserving of the opportunity presented to him to play football at Stony Brook University and will be a fine student athlete for them based on the way he has performed here at Upper Merion.”Cheeseboro was named as the 1st team All League linebacker this past season, and 1st team All League running back for his junior and senior years. He was also named as Upper Merion Football MVP earlier this year. “Our Upper Merion Football family is very proud of Naim and his acceptance of a full scholarship to Stony Brook University,” added Upper Merion Football Coach Joe Powell, “It is a direct result of the hard work he has put forth both on the field and in the classroom…He will be missed not only as a player but as a leader on the field and within the school community. We are sure he will make all of us proud as a Stony Brook Seawolf.”

The Viking CallSeasons of Love page 6 Where Were They Then? page 8 Dangerous Energy page 2

Bob’s Burger’s is Terrible page 7 SAT Terror page 4 A Symbol of Football Excellence page 3

Marijuana is commonly associated with lazy, unaware teenagers and is not usually seen in a positive light. However, the use of medicinal marijuana is on the rise. In November, Arizona became the fifteenth state to approve the use of medical marijuana. New Jersey was the fourteenth state, and made the use of the drug legal last winter. In addition to being back by many doctors groups, the legalization of medical marijuana also provides the possible revenue boost for states that tax the purchase of the drug and related paraphernalia (estimated to have a wide range from between $45 billion and $120 billion). The FDA has approved an active ingredient in marijuana called THC for the treatment of certain chronic pain and illness. This ingredient is reproduced in labs, and currently sold legally under the names Marinol and Dronabinol, which both require a doctor’s prescription. The FDA has not approved the smoking of marijuana as an approved drug because the many dangers of smoking the drug may outweigh its benefits. The Body: A complete HIV/AIDS resource, supports

the fact that Dronabinol has been successful in “treating HIV-related weight loss and for managing nausea associated with the use of chemotherapy.” In other words, patients are “better able to control drug effects with medical marijuana.” While the pills are legal, marijuana itself remains a banned substance in most states, forcing some doctors to continue their push toward legalization in order to help ease difficult side effects of HIV and cancer drugs. Although marijuana has been used as medicine for centuries in other countries with moderation and proper control, the United States continues to grapple with the issues of legalizing the controlled use of the drug because of the many concerns about the negative effects of legalization, including the possibility that more marijuana would make it into the hands of people who use it recreationally. Although medical marijuana can be beneficial, when its side effects are sought for the wrong reasons, they can be harmful. Marijuana is a mind-altering substance that contains up to

I know most of you immediately associate snow with sleeping in, making snowmen, getting a cup of steaming hot cocoa, or sitting on your butt in front of the TV all day long. The only thought of school pertains to getting another day to “work” on that project that was technically due yesterday while you were home with an imaginary stomach flu watching an NCIS marathon. It’s winter and with temperatures ranging from the cold to the absolutely freezing, we’ve already had two snow days. And while Spring Break just might be shortened if we get another, we can’t help but pray for another blizzard. So when can we expect the snowpocalypse to strike this year? The weathermen never seem to know anything for sure, but at the beginning of every week, it seems as if it’s supposed to come just about Tuesday…or Thursday…or maybe next week. But that’s not always a good thing, especially when the snow actually comes - just enough for a 2-hour delay. Just enough to slush up the roads to the point of causing misery. I don’t know about you, but my neighborhood roads are never clear after those two measly hours, and watching the school bus try to make it up the big hill is terrifying. Quite frankly, at 9 in the morning, the last thing I want to do is call 911 to report an accident. Add in the joy that the bus was running 10 minutes late to begin

four hundred carcinogenic substances. It impairs an individual’s ability to concentrate and retain information, and, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, its effects “include… distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.” Effects of marijuana and other substances do not only affect the individuals using it, it can also affect the entire community. Illegal sales of drugs and the associated violence have helped to drive up American prison rates to numbers six to ten times higher then Western European countries (About 5.9 million Americans). When used improperly marijuana can weaken the immune system and lead to lung infections, but, when used under the supervision of a doctor for the appropriate reasons, marijuana can provide a relief medical technologists have been searching for, for decades. Politicians, economists, and the American public will continue to debate the exact measures that should be taken to properly control the substance, and perhaps one day we will find a solution that most of us can agree on.

The Debate over Medical Marijuana

by Callie Rosenfeld

Photo courtesy of Flikr user Digitalshay.

Cheeseboro to be Stony Brook Seawolf

For select swimmers and divers, the regular season is only the beginning, a step in the grand scheme. From here, they proceed to the next stage: District competitions. “Districts are what we train for and where we try to go our fastest. It is also great to know that all of your hard work during the season will be showcased at this meet,” Junior Taylor Mateja states. Mateja, along with Courtenay Willcox, Taylor Jacobs, Heather Krick, Jason Lamoreaux, Nick Eppinger, Kevin Soong, Peter Soll, and Zak Elarbi, have qualified for this year’s Districts, reflecting the dedication and skill of the entire 2010-2011 Swimming and Diving team. In fact, our aquatic Vikings have become regulars at this prestigious meet, with some frequenting the event every year of their high school career. This achievement is even more impressive when considering the smaller size of Upper Merion’s team in comparison to competing schools. Mateja explains “We hold are own in individual events,” but notes, “We lack enough swimmers to fill all the lanes, which is a huge disadvantage.” Though, by the number of Vikings participating in Districts it is clear that this was a simple adversity to overcome. This success can be attributed to the experience and commitment of the team. Many of these athletes have been participating in swimming and/or diving for several years. “I dove for the Upper Merion Aquatic Club [Marlins] for about 5 years, on and off,” says sophomore Will Stevens. “This is my second year on the high school team.” Junior swimmer Michaela Kiczula has been swimming since she was four and joined the UM team her freshman year. Other members, including most of those attending Districts, have similar track (or rather, swim) records, and pass their knowledge of the sport on to newcomers. As a result, although size is not in their favor, the Vikings certainly benefit from experience. As the district qualifiers prepare for their upcoming competitions, they remember to stay focused, and keep their eyes on the prize.

Let’s Make a Big SplashBy Allison Frymoyer

with, and you’ve got the start of another wonderful school day. I realize that the drivers go slowly to be safe, but when you’re the one standing out in the cold with the snow blowing in your face, you don’t really care. For those of you who drive to school, I think we can agree that running out, scraping off the car, and warming the engine while your fingers get frostbite is not fun. Then you get to add the amusement of trying to control your car when

sliding around more than a puck in an ice hockey rink during an NHL game. Kind of disconcerting, wouldn’t you say? Enough about my cynical views of the morning, everyone who knows me will tell you that I’m no morning person. So, what

about the rest of the day? In some classes, you do all the work you were going to do that day anyway, crammed into the shorter period, and you didn’t do the humongous homework assignment because you didn’t think you’d have that class at all…poor choice. Then there are the classes where you do absolutely nothing – three periods in a row, and you can’t help but wonder, “Why did I have to come in for this?” All in all, snow is great when it actually comes in blizzard proportions (and no people, I’m not talking DQ serving sizes). Everyone loves a day or two off, but when you get just enough of the white stuff to make your day difficult, you can’t help but wonder if you really should have wished for snow the night before.

Courtenay Willcox takes the starting block. Photo by Michaela Kiczula.

Snowpocalypse?by Amanda Grace

Photo courtesy of Flikr user Juliancolton2.

“Quite frankly, at 9 in the morning, the last thing I want to do is call 911 to

report an accident.”

The United States Congress is at a point of divisiveness like we have never seen before. Ever since Barack Obama took office in January 2009, our two major political parties have struggled to effectively participate in bipartisanship. The Democrats have been trying to push legislation through Congress to no avail, and the Republicans have been blocking all Democratic legislation without any talks of compromise, leading the media and Democrats to coin them as the Party of No. W h i l e the Democrats had a large majority, the GOP (Grand Old Party a.k.a. R e pu bl i c ans ) made it impossible for the Dems to get anything done without a super-majority of 60 votes. Tradit ional ly, voters become impatient with the lack of p r o d u c t i v i t y and vote for the minority party in the midterm elections, so it came as no surprise that on November 2, 2010, the public voted heavily R e p u b l i c a n . This meant that while President Obama still had a slim majority for the Democrats in Senate, the Republican Party would soon control the House of Representatives. Even though the election was in November, the 112th Congress would not begin until January 3, 2011. So, President Obama had a countdown before he would lose the 111th Congress that had, up until that point, been very supportive of his initiatives, including Health Care Reform, a stimulus package, Cash for Clunkers and Wall Street Reform. Obama had only three months to achieve whatever he could from his agenda before Republicans

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Brandi Sims.

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State of the Congressby Corey Cohen

Imagine this: You’re at a party, everyone’s having an awesome time, and someone comes up to you and offers you a drink. It may look like an average energy drink, the one with a loud and colorful packaging, and you’re not sure of any alcohol content. Maybe it says Four Loko across the can. You debate on whether you should take it, and you finally decline. It’s a good thing too because drinks like Four Loko are not your average energy drinks. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found the drinks so dangerous that it forced all stores to remove the drinks from their shelves by December 13, 2010. Before the ban, drinking Four Loko put countless teenagers and college students in the hospital with alcohol poisoning and nearly killed several of them. It is this combination of large doses of alcohol and caffeine that makes this drink so dangerous. While an average bottle of beer contains approximately 3-4% alcohol and no caffeine, a typical 24-ounce energy drink like Four Loko contains about an average of 10-12% alcohol and a caffeine dose equivalent of about four cups of coffee.

Dangerous Energyby Sabrina Carroll

took control of the House, making it much tougher to pass anything. And meanwhile the 111th Congress had become a lame-duck session, the political term for Congress after many elections that end up leaving lawmakers little time before they must go, leading to little getting done. However, President Obama decided this was unacceptable, and began one of the most productive lame-duck sessions in history.

W i t h i n about a month and a half, President Obama a c c o m p l i s h e d much of his agenda by changing the mentality in Washington. Congress did their part to pass a military funding act, a 9/11 first-responders health bill, a tax cut bill, and the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. The tax cut bill was truly the definition of a compromise, as both sides had to give in a little to prevent a big tax hike for all Americans. However, a big win for many around the country was the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. While many Republicans didn’t support the bill that would allow homosexulas to

openly serve in the military, all of the Democrats and even a handful of Republicans voted for it, with approximately 78% of the country in favor of the repeal. This raised the spirits of the entire nation, and Obama’s approval ratings rose. The real test begins now, though. The lame-duck session has ended, and we now have a divided government with Democrats (barely) in control of the Senate and Republicans in control of the House of Representatives. For anything to get done, both parties will truly have to embrace the concept of compromise.

by Amanda Bernardini.For more about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement, see A Fantasy Engagement on page 8.

The caffeine actually delays one’s ability to feel the effects of the alcohol and increases one’s desire to keep drinking even when the body has had too much, frequently resulting in alcohol poisoning.The same occurs even with other brands of

energy drinks mixed with alcohol. Some might mix Red Bull, for example, and alcohol together, but that is no different from the consequences of drinking Four Loko. The mixture of alcohol and caffeine contents can be

threatening to your health and endanger your life, not to mention that you could face legal trouble because it is illegal to consume alcohol if you are under the age of 21. Although the advertising may make these drinks look fun, do not by fooled by the colorful, eye-catching cans or the creative names. They are not safe for anyone. So, if you are at some point reaching for an energy drink, keep in mind the statistics. Guzzling one of these drinks may seem like a harmless way to fit into the party scene, but it can actually be harmful to your health and your well-being.

“Four Loko put countless teenagers and college

students in the hospital with alcohol poisoning and nearly

killed several of them.”

A Half-Season Update: Interview with Coach Schurtz

By Dan Yarnall

Approaching the half way mark of the Lady Viking’s 2011 season, Coach Schurtz and his girls find themselves just below the 500 mark. Playoffs are still within reach and with the progress made over the course of the season, the girls may clinch a birth. The younger players are becoming more important in every game, and the leadership of the older players is guiding their team to success. The Viking Call

interviewed Coach Schurtz to get some feedback of his thoughts on the season.

How do you feel your players work as a team?

“Well I think the one thing that’s interesting is, if you look at the box score you can’t help but realize that Koenig and O’Sullivan are averaging fifteen points a game each. In girls basketball that has got to place them as the top players in the area right now. I also feel that if you ask each of the players [on the team] if they feel they get an opportunity to be successful they’ll say they do. Cassidy is a good shooter and O’Sullivan gets the ball in her hands a good deal of the time, but O’Sullivan also moves the ball to her players and gives them the opportunity to be successful where they are. Oftentimes you may have a player who scores thirty points and no assists, but O’Sullivan has thirty points and nine assists! That’s a pretty good distribution of the ball. While we do have players that are scoring, I also feel that as a team we move the ball around and everyone gets to do what they do well and be successful.”

How would you describe the season’s progress so far?

“I’m happy with the progress we have made. You can’t always measure a season in wins and losses although ultimately that’s where it ends up being measured by. We’re a young team, so I think we gave away a couple games early that, had we played now, you might see a different outcome. But if you look into the development of younger players I think we have seen nothing but a positive step forward. I would say in terms of record we’re not exactly where I would like to be, but in terms of our progress I’m happy with our effort.”

What are the key elements to your game plan?

“We take a lot of shots, we generate a lot of different opportunities. This team is currently averaging more than any team I’ve coached since 2002, when we averaged 55 points a game on a team that won 24 games. The [current] team’s averaging 50 points a game, which for girl’s basketball is a lot. So we generate shots, and when we make shots, we’re tough. One of the things we have been trying to do is make as many shots as we can. Now I’d like to see our defense get a little better because we’re also giving up a lot of points a game, which is probably from a couple different things. One of which is we’re not exactly one of the biggest teams on the floor. But I like the fact that we generate a lot of shots and make a lot of shots.”

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Many Upper Merion students and athletes have been rewarded both this year and in the past for their outstanding accomplishments. In particular, Kristina O’Sullivan and Amber McAteer received the title of Player of the Year in the Times Herald for soccer and cross-country, respectively. This award did not come easily for the lady Vikings. Such an honor only came after much practice, hard work, and dedication. They needed to commit ample time and energy towards their goals, while at the same time maintaining their academics and other factors of their lives. As O’Sullivan puts it, “You get to play with them [the same girls] everyday to strive to a common goal.” Moreover, these athletes needed to be passionate about their sports. Before becoming this successful, O’Sullivan and McAteer faced a number of struggles. “Overcoming of fearing failure to allow accomplishing things,” explains O’Sullivan. However, these athletes enjoy being part of the team. To McAteer, “Being a part of the team felt like I was a part of the cross-country family. We all…laughed and had fun times…and were there to cheer each other on at the meets.” The athletes have also made many enjoyable memories with their

Brad Scioli, an Upper Merion graduate and teacher, was inducted to the sports hall of fame on Friday, January 14th, 2011, for his excellent football playing. Born in Norristown, Scioli was raised in Bridgeport. Growing up, Mr. Scioli joined the Bridgeport Dragons where he demonstrated his potential to become a great football player. Upon arriving at Upper Merion Area High School, Mr. Scioli was a crucial member to the football program, starting varsity his sophomore year. Scioli saw both sides of the ball as middle linebacker and as quarterback. He led the team his senior season to a 9-1-1 record winning the Suburban One American conference, but just coming short of the playoffs. He also played basketball where he was a member of the 1000-point club and major part of 1993 AAAA District 1 Championship team. Scioli was given a full scholarship to Penn State University under head coach Joe Paterno. He majored in Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management. In college Scioli played defensive end and tackle and also spent one year playing tight end. Scioli was named team captain his senior year while as well as receiving First Team All Big Ten Honors. He was also named defensive player of the game in the 1999 Hula Bowl all-star game. From Penn State he was drafted to the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft. He was the fifth pick of the fifth round. He played for 6 seasons as the Colts defensive end but retired in March 2005 because of injuries. Scioli says his most memorable moment in the NFL was “When we went to the AFC championship game. We were one game away from the Superbowl. Personally, my most memorable moment was three sacks in one game.” Presently, Mr. Scioli is a health and physical education teacher and his experiences are key in helping him coach the defensive ends for the varsity football team here at Upper Merion. “His experience was a big factor for his coaching,” starting defensive end, Brandon

A Symbol of Football Excellenceby Mitchell Derby and Dan Yarnall

Players of the YearBy Jackie Nikpour

T h o r n t o n explains. “He has been in the game so long, and given the fact that he played on the professional level, it makes you want to work harder to try and impress him and make him happy.” M r . Scioli was i n d u c t e d into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, in the first class to ever get elected into the Montgomery County chapter. When asked about being recognized for his achievements, Mr. Scioli expressed his gratitude for having the opportunity to play with, “Outstanding teammates and coaches who were a great part of my success as an athlete.” By being inducted into this Hall of Fame, Mr. Scioli joins the ranks of Pennsylvania’s best athletes, such as Bill Bergey, Chuck Bednarik, and Jim Thorpe. The Pennsylvania Sport Hall of Fame has been honoring and inducting members for more than 48 years, and prides itself on continuing “to perpetuate the memory of athletes, male and female, who have brought lasting fame and recognition to the State of Pennsylvania through their athletic achievements.” The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame is not only a nonprofit organization, but is also the only community-based Hall of Fame in the country.

teams. Says McAteer, “Before each meet they would have a carbo-load for dinner the night before. It was those simple yet great times with our team that I’ll remember the most.” Because of their love for their sports, combined with lots of practice and effort, the girls have achieved numerous triumphs along the way. McAteer has previously won the League title, 1st All League Athlete, Athlete of the Year, and has twice been named Athlete of the Week in the Times Herald. O’Sullivan has been named to a southeastern Pennsylvania regional team as well as being named an all-state player. Of course, neither of these athletes could have attained their successes without the help of their coaches. Like being a successful athlete, being a successful coach requires lots of time, hard work, and dedication. But, once again, it’s worth it. “Amber showed a lot of guts and determination this year in both practice and competitions,” says Mr. Collins, head coach of Upper Merion’s cross-country team, of which McAteer is a part of. “The whole league was ‘gunning’ for her”. Collins adds that this feat is “tremendous”. Because after all these lady Vikings’ hard work and dedication, that is what it truly is.

This fall, The Viking Call was invited to send three members of its staff to a Philadelphia Wings Game on January 15, at the Wells Fargo Center. This event would give these select three students an opportunity to talk to players, sit in a press box, and take photographs close enough to the field to get wet with sweat. The staff members, who included yours truly, also got to attend a real press conference, which was a dream come true for an aspiring sports writer like myself. For sports writer Elissa Salamy and photographer Michaela Kiczula, this was also a great opportunity. We all knew that this event would give us an idea of what working in the professional field of journalism would be like. After we were given press passes (just like the actual press writers wear), and Michaela was given the opportunity to take photographs from right behind the glass where the other press writers were located, we settled into our seats in our very own press box. Because this was men’s lacrosse, the game was littered with entertaining fights, intense defense, and some spectacular offensive plays. However in the end, the Wings were unable to pull it together, and lost nine to six to the Buffalo Bandits. Elissa and I, however, had a great evening despite the loss, as we got to attend a real press conference with head

On Saturday, January 15th, the Philadelphia Wings hosted the Buffalo Bandits, in an attempt for both teams to gain their first victory of the season. Within the first quarter, it was apparent that both teams were counting on a win to bounce back in the season, as evidenced by overly aggressive behavior from the Bandits and the Wings. With the first quarter of the game tied 3-3, it was still anyone’s game. The second and third quarters were equally close, with only two goals scored by Bandit John Tavares to make it 3-5 going into the fourth. W i n g s player Athan Ianucci scored the first goal of the fourth quarter, bringing the Wings to a closer 4-5. The Bandits quickly responded with three goals in a row, bringing the Bandits up 4-8. The Wings fought until the very end with two goals scored by Alex Turner and Athan Ianucci in the last five minutes of the quarter. Bandit Mark Steenhuis scored the last goal of the game against an empty net, ending the game with a score of 6-9. The game was similar to the one the week

The Wings Game ExperienceBy Ashley Soulchin

coach John Tucker. Along with Elissa and me, several other students asked Tucker questions about the game we had just watched. It was a great experience. I myself am an avid viewer of press conferences on television, and it was awesome to get the opportunity to actually sit through one. We actually got to go down to the

basement area of the Wells Fargo Center. The area we were in was where all press conferences are held for events at the Center. I was f o r t u n a t e enough to get to ask several questions about the game. These included questions such as how Coach Tucker, planned on improving his offense, what his thoughts were regarding pulling the goalie late in the fourth quarter, and what changes he thought needed to be made in order to win a game. It was great getting some real insight

straight from the source. As Coach Tucker said while concluding his press conference, “This is a wonderful opportunity.” Of course he was right. The entire evening was great, and we are all quite grateful to the Philadelphia Wings for offering this experience to aspiring journalists like us.

Wings Lose to Buffalo Bandits, 6-9By Elissa Salamy

before, where the Wings lost to the Boston Blazers after some very weak offense. “We have to find a way to generate more shots,” remarked Coach John Tucker after the game on Saturday. “This week we will certainly be working on good offense, 5 on 5,

shooting for sure.” Among the problems with offense: Some questionable passes throughout the game from the Wings. “Sometimes we just lose concentration and don’t catch and throw well…we have really experienced guys, we’re just throwing the ball to places we didn’t expect,” Tucker said. But he thinks the team played well, despite the problems with offense. “Overall, I really liked the effort…I think our defense did really well so hopefully we will continue to play [good defense].” Wings Captain

Taylor Wray added, “Our guys are giving everything they have, that’s for sure. We were very physical with the body tonight and I thought that was good.” Hopefully the Philadelphia Wings will be able to turn their offense around so their strong defense and physicality will add up to a winning season.

Photo by Michaela Kiczula.

Photo by Michaela Kiczula.

Photo by Greg Alfaro.

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Student Life

Morning after morning, students stare into their closets and dressers, scanning their wardrobes for something new and fun, but often cannot find the inspiration to put together an outfit that meets their standards. Where can we look to find this inspiration? Fashionable Upper Merion girls and guys alike suggest considering fashion magazines and websites as well as celebrities and store displays to spice up your wardrobe. Caitlin Do says her sense of style is best described as “urban or comfortable,” two characteristics many students would like their own style to be. When looking for inspiration, Caitlin turns to magazines and celebrities on TV for guidance. Her favorite starlet? Award-winning actress Blake Lively. Although it’s good to take parts of a celebrity’s style and incorporate it into your own, it’s important to be yourself. Caitlin says she doesn’t “try really hard to replicate her style.” She’ll wisely “incorporate colors that I like or just a piece of clothing [that] I like and design the rest of my outfit on my own.” Jackie Mazzi finds inspiration for her trendy casual style from magazines and TV, too. Her favorite stars to gets ideas from are Disney-born singers and actresses Vanessa Hudgens and Miley Cyrus. She agrees with Caitlin’s claim that

Some students inspire fashion at Upper Merion. Megan Wisniewski, Brett Jentleson, and Jackie Mazzi. Photo by Dana Wright.

you should alter the look. Jackie states, “I add my own accessories or look for trends that I like, like zippers!” Another junior who’s influenced by celebrity fashion is Megan Wisniewski, who finds examples from Gwen Stefani’s style. While she describes her style as being grunge, Megan takes her fashion out of the grimy 90s and into the 21st century by adding plenty of class to her wardrobe. Some of Megan’s inspiration comes from the fashion portion of the website thatkindofwoman.tumblr.com. These sites, however, are often out of a high school student’s price range, even with income from a job. Megan can relate to this problem and suggests to “shop the sale rack at various stores, such as Urban Outfitters, Levi’s, and TJ Maxx.” Magazines are an excellent place to look for fashion advice since they’re so up-to-date. With well over two million readers, Seventeen seems to be one of the best magazines to read for fashion tips and spreads. Most magazines directed towards teenage girls are perfect because they offer cute outfits for all different occasions, seasons, and body types. If you need an idea for a more glam event, try TeenVogue. The girls of Upper Merion can find fashion inspiration in anything from celebrities and magazines to fashion websites and TV!

Inspiring Fashion Excellence in Every Student, Every Day: Part 1By Lizzie Furino

vikingcall.com

On the chilly evening of January 13th, the LGI was transformed into a welcoming coffee house sponsored by Upper Merion’s arts magazine, Valhalla. The staff of the magazine converted the drab LGI into a more fun, urban room with lights adorning the back wall and student art hung all around. Kyle Laskowski, who plays local gigs at Bear Rock and Screwballs, started off the evening. He immediately engaged the audience with “Swim” by Jack’s Mannequin, to which he added his own intro, “The Only Exception” by Paramore, and “Blackbird” by The Beatles. At the end of his set, Kyle won everyone’s hearts over by playing a song he said, “my grandpa sang to my grandma while they were dating,” the classic “You Are My Sunshine,” originally written by Jimmie Davis. Instead of just the first seven verses commonly known, Kyle refreshingly played the entire song. Next, Catherine Cole showcased her beautiful voice by performing “The Rose” by Bette Midler. She then performed the 80s chart-topper “Heaven,” originally by Bryan Adams. Her song choices began high and then intensified to show her soulful voice, which filled the room. Katherine even had members

Coffee House Brews Up Fun & Funds for ValhallaBy Lizzie Furino

of the audience singing along. The editors of Valhalla, Amanda Grace, Erin Venable, Sofia Montgomery, and Teresa Rodriguez performed short comedic skits between acts. Erin and Teresa acted out a dark, comedic dialogue and even came up with an impressive a cappella version of “Build Me Up, Buttercup” on the spot. Sofia read a moving poem she composed titled “A Question and Its Consequences.” Of the poem’s origin, she states, “I had to get my feelings out on paper.” Greg Alfaro impeccably recited a dramatic reading in French of “La Déstruction” by Charles Baudelaire. Amanda also read a fiery poem she wrote herself. During the Open Mic portion of the night, it was freshman Natalie DiNenno who pleasantly shocked the audience with her impromptu singing. Accompanied by Kyle, who was happy to play another few songs, the two played “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day and a reprise of “the Only Exception.” To quote Green Day, Natalie agrees it really was “something unpredictable, but in the end is right.” Kyle agreed of their duet, “It was good! It was fun!” which describes the entire night perfectly, too. (If you’d like to submit some of your own original work to Valhalla, send it to valhalla@umasd.gaggle.net by February 15th!)

The guys of Upper Merion find inspiration from different sources. Instead of looking to magazines, they mainly look to store show cases and windows and friends. Brett Jentleson, a casual and preppy styled junior, dresses undeniably well. To achieve these outstanding outfits, he looks at the “store show cases of J.Crew, Urban Outfitters, and Ralph Lauren” to find ideas for new outfits before heading inside. Instead of just glancing at their windows, he takes a closer look to see what’s current. Additionally, he looks to the quirky yet adorable TV and movie star Adam Brody for simple, but still fun, outfits. Whether it’s from a storefront or the OC star, Brett tells us that he uses “different schemes” to make it his own. Likewise, senior Malik Elarbi uses store windows to help create his style, which he states is that of “an average dude with some prep.” The long-time Aéropostale employee explains he adds his own personal touch to outfits by “roll[ing] up the sleeves and layering outfits.” Unlike the two above, James Lee doesn’t look to store fronts or celebrities for inspiration. Instead, he says it’s “usually friends and people

I see around the city” that he’s inspired by. James mentions that his sense of style is “all me” and offers an interesting tidbit, “I wear things that I’m comfortable and confident in. You can tell when someone’s clothes are wearing them, instead of the other way around.” So next time you can’t think of an outfit

to put together, just turn on the TV or open a magazine and the inspiration will start pouring out, but don’t forget James’ advice about being yourself. While these tips and tricks for finding inspiration work for

some, all students are different and should keep that in mind when deciding on an outfit. Just because one student dresses like a certain celebrity doesn’t mean everyone has to. Students and celebrities alike agree how important it is to keep comfort in mind. The beloved fashion expert, writer, and TV personality Tim Gunn has sound advice for both the girls and guys of Upper Merion: “The key to getting your fashion right is the same for men and women. First of all, know who you are and how you want the world to perceive you… If you can get that right, you’ll look great in anything.”

Inspiring Fashion Excellence in Every Student, Every Day: Part 2By Lizzie Furino

Do you enjoy the great outdoors? Maybe going for a hike, racing down a ski slope, or climbing up a rock wall? This is one club where weather isn’t an issue! The Outdoors Club can be found hiking, skiing, or climbing rain or shine. Recently the Outdoors Club went hiking at Hawk Mountain, Pinnacle, and Pulpit Rock during the fall and members skied many different PA slopes last winter. In the coming months, you can expect to find the Outdoors Club back on the ski slopes during the cold winter season. Club sponsor Mr. Joseph Heinz says the club is hoping to go white water rafting and even paintballing in the spring. Mr. Heinz started the club after telling his homeroom students about his love for the great outdoors. A student of his at the time, Amelia Feinstein, approached him about starting a club. Originally the club started as two separate clubs, the Outdoors Club and the Ski Club, but was recently combined into one. Recently Mr. Heinz taught himself how to snowboard, an experience he describes as “[a] black and blue experience well worth it.” While in college he got involved with rock climbing, which led to a recent adventure of mountaineering.

Students Ski, Climb, and Hike with the Upper Merion Outdoors Club by Courtney Smith

Photo by Pooja Parekh.

Club President, sophomore Tyler Chubb, joined the club in the hopes of participating in some of his favorite activities more often. “All those outdoor activities…are kinda my thing, ” he says. He is currently working with Mr. Heinz to plan more trips for club members so students can get more involved. Lately, the club has experienced low attendance and interest in club activities to which Tyler responds, “Maybe it’s not ‘cool’ or something but I don’t really care, I love the outdoors.” Due to safety concerns the club is not allowed to travel outside of the state or stay overnight. “I think [we] could plan some good trips if we could go out of state or overnight…but we can’t,” Tyler notes. However, the club still has fun, no matter what the activity is. Going on an outdoors adventure is a great way to relieve stress. It’s also a great way to exercise and have fun with friends, while interacting with parts of nature you might not have experienced before. Anyone interested in learning more about the Outdoors Club can contact Mr. Heinz or Tyler Chubb. All information about trips is on Mr. Heinz’s teacher page on the district homepage. “[The Outdoors Club] is a great opportunity to try something new,” says Tyler.

“You can tell when someone’s clothes are wearing them, instead of the other way

around.”

What three letters have the power to terrorize millions of high school students across the country, and exercises this power regularly? None other than S-A-T. The SAT Reasoning Test, as many already know, tests your reading, writing, and math skills as well as logic and reasoning abilities. College admission boards place a lot of emphasis on SAT scores, which puts incredible pressure on students to do well. With SAT testing dates looming in late March and May, how are Upper Merion students dealing with this stress? The most stressful aspect of the SATs seems to be in the preparation. “I think that students don’t know what to expect from the SAT or how to begin preparing for it…. They become overwhelmed by what is on the test,” says SAT Prep teacher Joan Durland. Former SAT Prep teacher Laura Ebersole advises, “Students can reduce the stress of taking the SATs by becoming familiar with the test set up, time lengths, and types of questions.” Test familiarity is key. Junior Brigid Cunnion says she “plan[s] on reading up on tips and techniques and doing practice tests” to get herself ready. Aside from taking an entire elective based around the SAT, students have found that challenging core courses, study groups, online vocabulary games, CollegeBoard’s SAT Question of the Day, Supervised Study, and even basic flash cards are all other great ways to start preparing for the big day on their own. But be sure to space out studying over a reasonable time period, CollegeBoard itself warns, “Cramming and short-term prep can’t substitute for hard work in school.” But specifically, which sections of the test seem to trip up the most students? It all depends on personal abilities and learning styles. For Cunnion, it’s vocabulary. “I struggle on the reading section, as some words just look foreign to me.” Ebersole agrees. “Students will run across vocabulary in both the sentence completion section and in understanding the reading passages. Increasing your knowledge of vocabulary will assist in overall improvement in

this section.” She offers freerice.com and other online word games as easy ways to master more of the English language. Through Durland’s experience teaching the SAT Prep course, she thinks, “The hardest part for many students is slogging through the readings… and answering questions in the short time allotted.” Time constraints can increase the pressure of the test tenfold. Another layer of stress is added to the test because it has such a great impact on the future. One junior says, “the fact that your score can affect what

colleges you attend” is the most stressful aspect of the test. While there is plenty of emphasis placed on the SAT, Durland asserts, “One test is not the best predictor of student success.” Luckily, colleges seem to understand

this. According to one University of Pennsylvania admissions officer, “We should not base your whole academic achievement off three hours on a Saturday morning.” Other factors contribute to a college’s acceptance decisions such as GPA, extracurricular activities, and community service. This is good news for those who struggle when taking tests or are dissatisfied with their

score. However, students may take the test more than once, and are even encouraged to. Ebersole and Durland both agree that taking the test at least twice would be preferable. With most colleges now accepting

your combined highest scores in each section, even if they occurred on different dates, the SAT has become more flexible than ever. All advice seems to be the same: practice, practice, practice. In order to master the taxing and time-consuming test that is the SAT, students should familiarize themselves with its format through sample questions. Review of tricky subjects like vocabulary will ensure that the harder sections don’t trip you up on test day. Above all: relax. Yes, the SAT can impact your future, but don’t stress too much over it. There’s always next time.

SAT TerrorBy Karen Hranek

“All advice seems to be the same: practice, practice,

practice.”

“Time constraints can increase the pressure of the

test tenfold.”

6

Opinion Editorialvikingcall.com

If the Internet were a person I’d be dead. It knows where I live, it knows the name of my school, my Facebook URL, and if it wanted to, it could even ask me a question on formspring. Give it a try. I dare you to Google your own name, and see what pops up. Google mine, and the first three pages of the Google search engine are dedicated to the various facebook groups I belong to and last year’s chemistry projects. The entirety of our lives is not only displayed on the Internet, it’s based around the Internet as well. This, my friends, is scary business. If this were a movie I can tell you right now that the Internet would morph into a malevolent technological entity bent on the destruction of mankind. But I guess there’s plenty of time for that later, so strictly speaking, nobody is safe. While I admit, it’s nice to be so ‘wired’; to just type in a word and sift through the thousands of results that pop up almost instantaneously. It’s made school projects, that less than twenty years ago were completed with the aid of dusty library books and newspaper records, as easy as click-click-tap. But I fear that we’ve become totally dependent. My after school routine isn’t complete until I’ve spent at least an hour parked in front of my computer screen stalking the residents of Facebook. Nobody try to deny it; we’re all guilty.

Well, bonjour there love birds! Whether you are in search of a significant other or have already found that special someone, I don’t even have to mention what colorful day is up the road that fills our head with cheap chocolates and rare roses. Yep, you guessed it: It’s the impossible-to-forget, cheesy holiday we call Valentines’ Day, and it will soon be upon us. The vast majority of us will sulk in our own misery, filled with tears and emotional suffering, while those of you who have the “best relationship in the universe” will spend the day cavorting around in happiness…well GOODY GUMDROPS for you! Valentine’s Day is either the most dreaded or the most prized day for a person, depending on who you are. At its best, it is a day when someone actually takes a whole twenty-four hours to be a selfless human being and dedicate all of their thoughts to someone other than themselves. Rare indeed. However, this sweet deed only happens to those fortunate enough to have someone to love.

Log Off While You Still CanBy Tamerah Slaughter

No matter how trivial these updates are, ranging from the uber-mundane statuses of ‘bored’ to the typical “shower, work, then so-and-so’s! Text me!”, and then to some depressing Taylor Swift lyric that is specifically chosen by the poster to get someone’s attention. We live on this junk. I’m sorry that you’re bored, that you have to ask people to text you, and I’m even more sorry that your life is a Taylor Swift song, but it’s just so repetitive. Post something new please? Not to mention the fact that no relationship

these days is considered qualified unless it’s “Facebook official.” Seriously?! We’re addicted. Scared yet? These are desperate times indeed, when, in this day and age, even school, the most un-

cool thing there is, is entirely based upon the use of the internet and computers. I miss the days before the Internet initiated its terminator-esque coup, when we would go outside and breathe the fresh air, before half the student body spent their weekends playing the latest Call of Duty game on Xbox live or cluttering up the facebook feed. Let’s make a pact with ourselves that come springtime, we’ll log off, and go outside and do something constructive, such as playing a game of Frisbee or exercising like we’ve been putting off all winter. Maybe we’ll even consider taking back control over our own lives and stop posting it all over the Internet…

Stupid CupidBy Abbie Demcher

Not to put all of you in the dumps, but this day of love can really suck for those of us lonely birds. It’s like a slap in the face from Cupid himself. What a guy, that Cupid. He has many tricks up his sleeve: Coaxing various lovebirds into purchasing expensive Lindt Chocolates for their significant others or suckering others into buying the pricey jewelry that their female counterparts may only pretend to like….Don’t let those Kay commercials fool you. There’s no better way to say “I love you” than to present your boyfriend or girlfriend with an unnecessarily large heart shaped box of chocolates. Keep in mind that these chocolates may be scrumptious, but, lovebirds, beware! Those chocolates quickly ruin a slim waistline! Ha. Beat that Valentines Day! Don’t you people know that each year these gifts will just keep getting more demanding! Next thing you know, your significant other will want a pet monkey. I mean that would be a pretty cool to have a pet monkey, but we could all say that crosses the line just like our little friend Cupid does once a year.

It is an ordinary custom to associate sports with food. Restaurants and bars overflow with fans eager to watch the week’s games, and hot dogs, popcorn, and peanuts are as common in sports stadiums as Cliff Lee jerseys in Citizens Bank Park or Vuvuzelas at the World Cup. That being said, it is understandable that The Pit, the school snack bar, is the go-to meeting place of Upper Merion. In fact, the greatest cash flow at The Pit occurs between the chime of the 2:21 bell and the whistle of the coaches, signaling the start of practice. Granted, the aroma of fresh-from-the-oven Otis Spunkmeyer cookies certainly helps in attracting grumbling bellies, but these goodies are merely one of many snacks sold at the snack bar. Athletes can stock up on energy with Gatorades (known by color, not flavor), fruit snacks, peanut butter and jelly Uncrustables, or the easiest energy source: sugar, including soda, an array of candy, fruit roll-ups, and, of course, the cookies.

Sports and Snacks: A Winning Pairby Ali Swider

Though this selection is enough incentive to visit the Pit, customers and workers enjoy the social aspect as well. Tyler (Tito) Norton, the store manager, elaborates, “Really, it’s more entertainment than work. I have the chance to meet new people and collaborate with the other senior employees.” Customers appear to think the same, regularly congregating around the counter to prolong their exits for practice or home. This service and friendly interaction is not, however, limited to just the student body; the Pit also opens for night games. Abbie Demcher, Treasurer of the Class of 2011, observes, “I get to see all different faces, especially on weeknights for basketball games. So, for me to be a part of this, while simultaneously raising money, is definitely a win-win.” Parents, siblings, teachers, faculty, students, all Upper Merion Vikings attend these events to support the players with a Pit snack in hand.

Just because Valentine’s Day is approaching does not mean that anyone has the right to suck face right in the middle of a crowded school hallway. Don’t get me wrong; it’s great that you’re all in love and everything. But when you decide to show it in the middle of the school hallway at 9 am, I’m sure the rest of us can all agree that it really isn’t the most appealing scene. The question I have is this: Why do couples feel the need to stand out by the trash cans (romantic, right?), or in front of peoples’ lockers, etc. and make out? Nobody wants to witness this. It really drives me nuts that I can count on seeing the same thing at the same spot and same time every single day (“Hey, meet me by that plaque on that one wall in the middle of the hallway before third period?”). It isn’t just an occasional thing. If it were, I could deal. But it is just so darn repetitive. It makes it difficult for me to be happy for the relationship, which is obviously going splendidly. I’m not the only one that finds this excessive PDA disturbing. Teachers get fed up with this as well. “I feel much the same as being stuck in traffic due to gapers,” said Mr. Schurtz on the matter. And of course it goes without saying that Mr. Kushner

Seasons of Loveby Sarah Howell

was in solid agreement with this sentiment. But wouldn’t it be nice if students actually followed the guidelines set forth in the student handbook? What a beautiful, unobstructed locker-filled world this could be. It isn’t that people shouldn’t kiss. It’s that they should just do it somewhere more private, and not in an institute of learning. I don’t know…maybe somewhere I can’t see them? Morgan Karas, a junior, thinks that it is cute when people hold hands or give a quick peck, but then it is time to separate. “I mean, it’s not like they’re going off to war. They’re going to second period.” Who wants to mix algebra with romance anyway? “Why would people want something that is so intimate to be so public?” senior Callie Rosenfeld astutely wonders. And fellow senior Powell Davis, well…she made a beautiful vomiting gesture. The hallways are difficult enough to traverse without the seven traffic jams we must endure due to couple happy hour, so let’s keep it out of the hallways, and really, out of school. So please people, as Valentine’s Day rapidly approaches, let’s be considerate to those around us and take our business somewhere other than school.

Photo by Greg Alfaro.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Steve Keys.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Paul Joakim Olsen.

Photo by Iman Salam.

“We live on this junk.”

(Dis)Agreeing with the GlobesDan Oates

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMAWINNER: THE SOCIAL NETWORK

SHOULD HAVE WON: BLACK SWAN Black Swan should have won because the film work was excellent and the acting was phenomenal

across the board.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA WINNER: NATALIE PORTMAN (in Black Swan) Natalie Portman was the right person to win. She played her character perfectly, capturing the stress ballet dancers feel when they are chosen for a big role. And, as the film progresses, it is clear that Portman worked extemely hard, taking ballet classes so that she could actually perform all of

her own beautiful dances in the film.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA WINNER: COLIN FIRTH (in The King’s Speech) SHOULD HAVE WON: JAMES FRANCO (in 127 Hours)James Franco should have won because he did a great job portraying Aron Ralston as he worked up the courage to amputate his arm and free himself from under the large rock that trapped him while hiking in a national park in 2003.

BEST MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICALWINNER: THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

SHOULD HAVE WON: ALICE IN WONDERLANDAlice in Wonderland was clearly the best choice in this category and ought to have won it. Tim Burton didn’t soften this version for kids like Disney did, and it made it all the more interesting.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL WINNER: ANNETTE BENING (in The Kids Are All Right) SHOULD HAVE WON: EMMA STONE (in Easy A)Emma Stone should have won because anyone that watches the movie gets to enjoy the adventure

that her character goes through during the film in a unique way.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL WINNER: PAUL GIAMATTI (in Barney’s Version) SHOULD HAVE WON: JOHNNY DEPP (in Alice in Wonderland)Johnny Depp should have won because he played the Mad Hatter humorously and well. Also, he worked wonderfully with Tim Burton for, as we have seen in the past when these two get together,

they make magic happen.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILMWINNER: TOY STORY 3

There was never any doubt that Toy Story 3 would win. This film was great. It was a good end to the Toy Story saga, showing the final adventure of Andy’s toys, and while there was a hint that there is more to come, I hope that Disney doesn’t do anymore Toy Story movies because it will

only ruin the entire franchise.

BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE WINNER: DAVID FINCHER (of The Social Network) SHOULD HAVE WON: DARREN ARONOFSKY (of Black Swan) Darren Aronofsky is a great director and should have won. The style of filming and how it was done so delicately as to capture the high-intensity and chilling confusion that was happening in

the mind of Natalie Portman’s character was fantastic.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTUREWINNER: “YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE LAST OF ME” in BURLESQUE

Music & Lyrics by: Diane Warren SHOULD HAVE WON: “COMING HOME” in COUNTRY STRONG

Music & Lyrics by: Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges. Even if you’re not a fan of country, this is a great song. It’s nice that (unlike plenty of music

nowadays) the singer is not dubbed or faked, and the music suits the lyrics well.

As television season finally picks up, many scramble to find the good shows early. Let me give you some advice: stay away from Bob’s Burgers. For those of you who don’t know, Bob’s Burgers is a television show is about a man named Bob and his family, who recently “re-re-re-reopened” a fast food restaurant. Just about every n e w s source and FOX had hyped it for weeks until it first aired on J a n u a r y 9. The p r e m i e r e s a t waiting on my DVR until the 19th, when I finally watched it. And promptly destroyed the DVR, TV, and all of my possessions that I could connect to the event. Bob’s Burgers shouldn’t be this bad. In theory, it should be hilarious. Along with a few other mild celebrities, comedian Eugene Mirman voices Bob’s son, and The Daily Show writer (also known as Mel on Flight of the Conchords) Kristen Schaal provides the voice of Bob’s older daughter. Where did Bob go wrong? Clearly, these two are not on the writing staff of the show. The jokes, if they can be called that, fall flat, and the conversations between Bob and his family and friends are tired and uninteresting. I smiled not once, not twice, but zero times during my first viewing. Not that I ever reached a second. People of Upper Merion, do not watch Bob’s Burgers. You’ll die of not-laughter.

Arts

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viki

ngca

ll.co

m

UM’s Arts MagazineComing in the Spring

Deadline for Submissions: Feb. 15

To submit your poems, prose, photos, and other artwork,

send them to valhalla@umasd.gaggle.net

Ah, how refreshing. What better way to regain consciousness after experiencing the premier of Bob’s Burgers than to listen to the new album, Outside, by indie greats (in my book) Tapes ‘n Tapes. Outside references Tapes ‘n Tapes’s past two a l b u m s . T h e relaxed yet chipper g u i t a r s t rums of “SWM” a n d “ M i g h t y L o n g ” h e a r k e n back to the feel of W a l k It Off, the b a n d ’s sophomore a lbum. “Freak Out” does so as well, in w h i c h the yelps of vocalist Josh Grier a r e b a c k e d by a f o r w a r d - pushing r h y t h m section. B e c a u s e Walk It Off is one of my favor ites , I have listened to it enough t i m e s g r o w impatient with it. O u t s i d e is a welcome replacement. In all its similarity, the album never sounds derivative of the band’s earlier works, as this article purposely does to the Bob’s Burgers one. Though at first listen the songs run together, with repeated spins it soon becomes clear that Tapes are evolving.

“Where did Bob go wrong?”

“What better way to regain

consciousness after experiencing the

premier ofBob’s Burgers than to listen to the new album, Outside by

Tapes’n’Tapes?”

Outside is Not TerribleBy Nir Shtuhl

Bob’s Burgers is TerribleBy Nir Shtuhl

The Viking CallEDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Amanda Grace

Managing Editor: Tamerah SlaughterWeb Editor: Mounika Muttineni

ADVISER Jenny Williams

NEWS Callie Rosenfeld*, Sabrina Carroll, Pamela Vega, Corey Cohen

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Nir Shtuhl*, Dan Oates

SPORTSAshley Soulchin*,Ali Swider*, Jackie Nikpour, Dan Yarnall, Mitchell Derby

OPINION EDITORIALTamerah Slaughter*, Abbie Demcher, Sarah Howell

PHOTOGRAPHERSGreg Alfaro*, Dana Wright, Michaela Kiczula, Iman Salam, Pooja Parekh, Hannah Fairley

STUDENT LIFEKaren Hranek*, Erin Venable*, Lizzie Furino, Courtney Smith

LAYOUTSara Symoczko*

WEB MASTERDavid Galban

INTEGRITY EDITORElissa Salamy

BUSINESS MANAGERSCallie Rosenfeld, Powell Davis

Editorials reflect the view of the writer and not that of the staff.

Letters to the editor are welcomed and can be directed to The Viking Call at:

Upper Merion Area High School

435 Crossfield Road

King of Prussia, PA 19406

8

Happy Valentine’s Day from all our

staff atThe Viking Call

& Remember...We’ve gone digital!

All your favorite Viking Call articles are now available online at www.vikingcall.com

Reminiscing on the past may bring about a wistful nostalgia for the high school days, but it may also invoke a sense of disgruntlement or even nothing much at all. For Mr. Montalvo, an Upper Merion Area High School Physics teacher, those days were not a pleasurable experience. For Ms. Newhart, an Upper Merion Chemistry teacher, high school represented something important yet enjoyable. However, as with any marriage, it is the life after meeting each other that holds the greatest importance. Here’s what Mr. Mont and Ms. Newhart had to say about their high school career and their life as a married couple here at Upper Merion:

Q: What stereotype would you say you belonged to back in school?Mont: Nerd or an in-between, I wasn’t a burn-out and I wasn’t athletic, so I just fell into the middle portion. Newhart: It was a weird combination, but basically I was a brainy kind of athlete.

Q: What other kinds of clubs were you involved in?Mont: I didn’t do many clubs, but I was involved with yearbook senior year. Early on I was in the AV club. Newhart: Cross-country, swimming, track, and National Honor Society. I didn’t really have time for other clubs because of all the sports I did.

Q: What else did you do outside of school?Mont: I always read, and listened to music. My friends and I would always go to junkyards and look for parts for their cars, it was just a thing we did.Newhart: I was pretty typical. I would go to the football games, the basketball games, go to the movies, hangout at people’s houses, and we did a lot of concerts.

Q: What kind of music did you listen to?Mont: I was always behind because my best friend Doug was always into the old music, and I only caught up after college. But in high school I basically listened to ‘classic rock’ and the ‘oldies.’Newhart: There were people that were into the popular music but I was into the ‘new wave’, or ‘synth pop,’ and alternative 80’s music.

Q: What did you want to be when you were a kid?Mont: I actually had no idea what I wanted to be; I was a mess in high school. I figured it out later in college when a professor suggested I should be a teacher.Newhart: I think I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, and I knew I’ve always wanted to go into science, but I didn’t know that I wanted to pursue chemistry until I took the class.

Q: What was your best high school moment?Mont: There weren’t any, I really did not like high school.Newhart: In the league cross-country race, I placed in 7th or 8th in a pretty competitive group of people. It was a good moment because my time dropped and it was my senior year.

Where Were They Then?By Mounika Muttineni

Q: What was your worst high school moment?Mont: I got a detention once. We had the long cafeteria benches, it was a thing for my friends to move back whenever one of us got up; I was trying to push them back and fell, and I got a detention.Newhart: I got a C in physics by .007 of a point, I still remember.

Q: How did you guys meet?Mont: The very first day Ms. Newhart showed up to sign her contract, I was talking to Mrs. Cilio and she introduced us. I was the first teacher she met in Upper Merion. But we didn’t start dating until a year later, after we became hall duty friends. Q: Where would you usually go out to on dates?

Newhart: We didn’t really go out that much, I was busy coaching swimming, and Mr. Mont did the timing; we ended up doing our normal things together.

Q: Did you travel anywhere together?Mont: Yes, the first time we travelled to Colorado and the southwest, and the second time to northern California and to Seattle, and we also drove to Canada.

Q: How did you feel when you were dating?Together: Somehow we knew it was serious. The first week we started dating we knew we were

getting married. Newhart: It came as a complete surprise to me when he proposed, I knew we were going to one day, but I never could have suspected when.Mont: Yes, I spoke to her parents about it the old-fashioned way, before I proposed to her. A month later, I took her out to dinner at the White Horse Tavern and got down on one knee and proposed.

Q: Do you generally do anything special for Valentine’s Day?Mont: Not anything particular. We do special little things throughout the year. For instance, Ms. Newhart was looking at a Lego Harry Potter set and how it would be nice for the kids, and I went out and bought it for her. It ended up being a nice family thing.

Q: Any advice you would like to give high school students?Together: Wait for the right person. Both of us had enough relationships until then, and so we knew what we were looking for. We were grown up. It’s also a bad thing if you don’t date enough people. Mont: I made that mistake of thinking every relationship had to be the one. You just have to let things naturally occur.

Q: And finally, what is it like working together?Together: This is actually ideal. We can understand each other perfectly when the other is talking about their day and we share ideas frequently. But at the same time, we’re not working so seriously together so we don’t get irritated with each other.

A Fairytale Engagementby Pamela Vega

As rumored and expected, Prince William finally popped the question to Kate Middleton after an eight-year relationship last fall. And finally, Britain is getting its new princess. Prince William, second in line to the throne of England after his father, Prince Charles of Wales, met his Bride-to-be at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. They lived together as roommates and became friends. After a few years, they started going out. Their college relationship is not known, as His Royal Highness signed an agreement with the press to leave him alone during his college years. After they graduated, then continued their life still consumed with deep affection. A short breakup happened early 2007, but months later, the couple rekindled their love. After attending several royal events, family outings and dates, William decided it was time for the next step. He proposed to Kate during a private holiday in Kenya, in October of 2010. The ring was his mother’s, the late Princess Diana, engagement ring with an oval sapphire stone and bordering diamonds. William told the Associated Press, “Well as you may recognize now, it’s my mother’s engagement ring and it’s very special to me, as Kate is very special to me now as well. It was only right the two were put together,” William said. “It was my way of making sure mother didn’t miss out on today and the excitement and the fact that we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.”

Their engagement was made public on November 16th, 2010, nearly a month after their real engagement date. After it was announced, the couple attended a photo shoot and interview. At the interview, Kate was asked if she had any interest in filling Diana’s shoes, now that she wore her ring. The Prince answered for his fiancée, insisting that no one is asking her that. “There’s no pressure,” he said, “It is about carving your own future. No one is trying to fill my mother’s shoes. What she did was fantastic. It’s about making your own future and your own destiny, and Kate will do a very good job of that.” Many wonder if this is true. As of now, the royal wedding will take place at the Westminster Abbey, the same cathedral where many royals have stood at the altar and exchanged vows, on Friday April 29th, 2011 at 11 am. The royal family will pay for all cost of the wedding, including the reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The wedding will be broadcast on television and is expected to be viewed by millions of people around the world. This royal event will boost the British economy as well as British spirits. Kate will arrive at the cathedral by car, passing several monuments including Buckingham Palace itself. After the wedding, the newlyweds shall parade around a carriage like Princess Diana and Prince Charles did after their ceremony.

Photo by Hannah Fairley.