February 2009 Blue & Gold Malden High

Swim team breaks records on page 17 Happy 200th Birthday Lincoln and Darwin on page 3

Student features, pages 6 and 7

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Malden High School Volume 94 Edition 5

Our 94th Year February 2009

greenroom’s The Odyssey

Stimulus package may aid malden Dan Holmqvist Reporter

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Alex Mathieu as Pete and Michael Veino as Odysseus. David Riemer Head News Writer

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N JAN. 30, 2009, the Greenroom Dramatic Society took the audience on a journey through an adaptation of the epic Greek classic, The Odyssey. The original Odyssey was a serious tale, filled with actions and moral rectitude, but subsequently somewhat of a “dry book for many

LOCAL NEWS Page 6 WORLD NEWS Page 9 ENTERTAINMENT Page 12 SPORTS Page 16 Parker’sWorld

high school students,” stated junior Herman Tse, who read the story his freshman year. To overcome this aridness, the students transformed the script into a hilarious expedition through many of the story’s major events. The curtain opens, revealing a shipwrecked Odysseus, played by Michael Veino, being found by Nausicca, played by Sarah Rose on

Photo by L. Tran

her way to do the laundry. Together, they go to Nausicca’s parents, Alcinous, played by Matt Weldai, and Arete, played by Patti McClenthen, in the hopes that they might aid Odysseus on his journey back home to Ithaca. Before they agree to help him however, they ask to hear how he became shipwrecked on their island. continued pg 15

Girls’ Basketball

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RESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, focusing on the economy in the early days of office, has devoted his efforts in trying to pass a gargantuan $820 billion stimulus package, aimed at helping America’s lagging economy. The package, passed by the Senate with a 61-36 vote on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, directs billions of dollars towards tax cuts, rebuilding infrastructure, health care, education, and energy, all the while creating new jobs. The bill still needs to go through the House for a final vote. Although the President called for bipartisanship and unity during the January 28th vote in the House of Representatives, the package was not voted for by a single Republican. Nevertheless, the bill was still passed with a 244 to 188 vote. Supporters of the bill say it will help stimulate the economy, create jobs, and lay the foundation for a successful future by improving education and infrastructure. Representative Edward Markey from Malden hailed the plan as “an opportunity to create millions of new jobs, invest in vital priorities, and position our economy for future growth.” Republicans who opposed the bill say that the new package will drive the nation into even deeper debt, and that too much money is being spent on government programs rather than being put toward tax relief. There are even divides within the Democratic Party as to how the bailout money should be spent. Some insist that more money should be geared toward long-term restructuring rather than short-term relief. Malden has also submitted plans to Congress, in hopes of receiving federal aid for several projects. One such plan is calling for a $6 million renovation of the Jenkins Auditorium into a “1,600 seat artdeco performing arts center at Malden High School.” The proposal, if it is approved, would create 76 construction jobs and be part of the comprehensive $70 million renovation of MHS. continued pg 10

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Editorials

The Blue and Gold February 2009

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BUSINESS TEAM Brandon Knight Cera Nolan

HE FIRST DAY of Justice and Government class, Mr. Tivnan asked us to define justice. “Easy enough” we all thought, but as our pens and pencils hit the paper, we realized that there was no simple way to respond. Once we began to discuss it as a class, we discovered that every student had his or her own idea of justice which made me beg the question: how do we define justice today? What might seem fine and fair to one person could seem like an injustice to another. Is it fair that an unemployed woman with six children is given treatments to have eight more children when the average family can barely send one child off to college? Is it fair that the owners of large banks are living lavish lifestyles while hundreds of workers are being laid off? Is it fair that teachers may be laid off due to budget cuts while thousands of dollars are being placed into what some people believe to be unnecessary renovations of the high school? On Jan. 26, 2008, a woman in California gave birth to octuplets and started a media frenzy. Soon it was discovered that not only had she given birth to octuplets through artificial insemination, but that she already had six children through artificial insemination as well. She is single, unemployed, and living with her parents in a small three-bedroom house. According to information obtained by the associated press, Nadya Suleman has collected more than $165,000 in disability payments between 2002 and 2008 for an injury at work, which has been supporting her and her family these few years. People question whether doctors should have implanted Suleman with six embryos when they knew that she already had six children at home. Some people feel that Suleman has every right to have as many children as she pleases but it is difficult to imagine that she will be able to support them all and love them all. Another question that has come up is who will support Suleman and her 14 children. If Suleman is unable to work and must go on welfare, then should the taxpayers have to support her and her family? At a time when the economy is so bad and families everywhere are struggling to get by with just two children, should hardworking men and women be expected to give part of their paychecks every month in order to support an unemployed mother of fourteen? Also in the news, but not so recent, was the over $700 billion bailout given to major American banks and corporations. It was discovered that shortly after the bailouts were handed out, some of the owners of

ONLINE EDITORS Kimberly Lombard Brandon Knight

Left to right: Angel Han, Anthony Nguyen, Sue Tran, and Jason Chen

Malden High School

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EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Nicole Dhruv Malisa Saksua MANAGING EDITOR Cynthia Rodriguez HEAD NEWS WRITER David Riemer HEAD ENTERTAINMENT/ OPINION Ashley Ngo HEAD SPORTS WRITER Paul Collins ASSISTANT SPORTS WRITER Alfonse Femino HEAD COPY EDITORS Tzivia Halperin Ayoub Kourikchi COPY EDITORS An Holmqvist Brittany Foley Nidale Zouhir HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHER Emily Chiavelli ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER Lynn Tran HEAD OF BUSINESS Kimberly Lombard

REPORTERS Haley DeFilippis Michael DiGregorio Jacquelyn Dillon Alexander Gennigiorgis Dan Holmqvist Shannon Howe Barbara Jerome-Athis Omar Khoshafa Erica Marangos Alexandra Mathieu Patti McClenthen Brittany McFeeley Paul McWhinnie Joan Morabito Linda Nguyen Paula Suarez Salamanca ADVISOR Ryan Gallagher Established in 1915 Check out our online edition: http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ma/malden/mhs/

these large banks and businesses gave themselves huge pay raises; some even high enough to afford new jets. It is ridiculous that so much government money (which comes from the everyday taxpayer) went into the bailout and that the executives were spending it foolishly while hundreds of workers are being laid off every day. The New York Times even reported that, “the government overpaid for banks’ troubled assets by some $78 billion”, which was all a waste of taxpayers’ money. Because he was so ashamed at the behavior of the company executives, and with good reason, Obama wants to cap their salaries at $500,000. Many of them complained of not being able to maintain their lifestyles with these lower salaries, but it seems like a small price to pay when so many workers have completely lost their jobs. On a more local note, recent rumors have been circulating of possible teacher layoffs due to the budget cuts. At the same time that cuts have to be made, renovations of Malden High School are underway. Even though the money for the school budget (which comes from state and local aid) and the money for the renovations (which comes from a grant) are unrelated, it doesn’t make sense to be fixing up the school, when teachers may lose their jobs. When asked about the possibility of layoffs, Principal Dana Brown admitted that they might happen but that no one knows when or how many teachers will get cut. He said that, “in the end the school principal and the superintendent of schools make budget decisions but those have to be approved by the school committee.” When asked about what he thought of the renovations that are going on at the same time that the cuts are happening, Brown stated that, “I think you have to have both…We are in this position because no one has paid attention to the building before.” Although the schools cannot be expected to turn down the money for the renovations, it just seems like somewhere down the line, the federal government’s priorities are a bit mixed up.

Cynthia Rodriguez The Top 10 List: Restaurants to go for Valentine’s Day

Editorial Policy

The Blue and Gold is an open forum for student expression. It is produced by students for the school and the community. The views presented in this paper are not necessarily those of the advisor or the school administration. The views presented in the editorials are those of the editors-in-chief or guests. The goal of The Blue and Gold is to inform and entertain students as well as the community regarding issues that we feel are important. We strongly encourage readers to respond to material printed in the form of signed letters to the editors. No libelous, malicious, defamatory, obscene, or unsigned material will be printed. The Blue and Gold reserves the right to edit the letters. Names may be withheld upon request. Not all letters will be printed. Although The Blue and Gold appreciates the support of advertisers, we may refuse any advertisement that violates the above policy or that promotes products questionable to student use. Any correspondence concerning this publication should be directed to Mr. Ryan Gallagher’s room in C333 or to his mailbox in the main office.

The Blue and Gold c/o Malden High School 77 Salem Street Malden, MA 02148

10. Fire and Ice 9. McDonald’s 8. Friendly’s 7. Wendy’s 6. Dunkin’ Donuts 5. Bertucci’s 4. Burger King 3. The Cheesecake Factory 2. T.G.I. Friday’s 1. Applebee’s

The Blue and Gold February 2009

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Opinion http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ma/malden/mhs/

America’s priorities

200 years of evolution and ethics reform this month colleges across MA celebrate the simultaneous birthdays of Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln

celebrities get more hits than politics Nidale Zouhir Copy Editor

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N THE DAY of President Barack Obama’s inauguration, the most searched term on Google’s “Hot Trends” list was “inaugural website.” Other terms related to the inauguration took up most of the top 100. The very next day, however, American Idol auditioner Joanna Pacitti had taken the top spot, followed by Jennifer Love Hewitt’s ex-boyfriend Rich Cronin. The changes in the Google “Hot Trends” represent the virtual generation’s obsession with celebrities, as well as its extremely short attention span. In a world dominated by websites like Twitter, on which a member posts 140-character “tweets” about whatever he or she is doing at the moment, no one takes the time to focus on full news stories anymore. In fact, CNN has a Twitter on which headlines are posted every few hours- it has less “followers” than Britney Spears’ does. The condensing of news stories into sentence-long summaries is only to be expected, however; in this over-caffeinated era, schedules are packed with working, socializing, procrastinating, and studying, leaving little time to read newspapers or even a single news article on CNN. com. When asked what they are most interested in, few tech-savvy Google-users will list “the news” or “politics” in their top three- unless, of course, their favorite celebrities are blogging. S i m p s o n - W e n t z could hardly be surprised, however, especially in a world where Yahoo! Buzz’s top searches are “Kim Kardashian” and “Elisabeth

“CNN has a Twitter on which headlines are posted every few hours- it has less “followers” than Britney Spears’ does.” Hasselbeck” (and “Jessica Simpson” beats out both “Iran” and “Stimulus Package” in the top ten). With only four news stories even in the top ten searches, Yahoo! Buzz is constantly full of name-drops like “Britney Spears” and “Angelina Jolie”- and, now that the American Idol season has begun, this is likely to change continued pg 4

An Holmqvist Copy Editor

A number of good children’s books have come out to celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln. There’s also one about Charles Darwin, who turns 200 on the same day. (MCT)

Two hundred years ago, in a log cabin in the rural countryside of Kentucky, and in the lively historic town of Shrewsbury, England, two great minds came into the world and would both eventually leave a lasting impact for centuries to come. This month, colleges across the United States and around the globe will be celebrating the simultaneous birthday anniversaries of Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln, both of whom were born on Feb. 12, 1809. Each of these men left huge impacts on their respective fields of biology and politics. As explained an article featured by Newsweek titled “Who was more important: Lincoln or Darwin?”, the eager celebrations of Darwin and Lincoln’s birthdays do not just signify an extraordinary coincidence, but also the fact that “the scientist and the politician each touched off a revolution that

changed the world.” Two hundred years after the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the world has seen the inaugaration of President Barack Obama, America’s first African American president. As many students across the country read daily about the achievements of the sixteenth president of the U.S.: his delivery of the Gettysburg Address, unifying a nation in crisis. Two hundred years after Charles Darwin was born, scientists around the world have been chartering new territories in many different fields of biology, including those of medicine, anthropology, archeaology, and paleontology. The Darwinian theory of evolution, though still controversial to many, has been almost universally accepted in the world of science and has single-handedly revolutionized almost every aspect of the discipline of biology. Though their two areas of

study may seem utterly remote, the two men shared the drive to create cultural revolutions and the discipline to educate and indulge themselves in their studies. Though coming from a prominent family and educated at Cambridge University, Charles Darwin led an aimless life until his famous voyage on the HMS Beagle. After years of observation and travel, Darwin returned home to England with big ideas – big ideas that led to the creation of The Origin of the Species. Although few people know that Darwin and Lincoln had a common birthday, even fewer know that Darwin himself was deeply concerned and involved in the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, who grew up in Kentucky, was an avid scholar who memorized Shakespearean poems along with Bible verses en masse while studycontinued on pg 9

“Romeo Murr ay was a charismatic young man who was always there fo r his teammate s and coaches.” Pasquale DiB enedetto

ity h School commun “The Malden Hig ic ag e senseless and tr th by ed en dd sa is ur ray. Although he death of Romeo M oes growing up, R ng le al ch y an m d face ga forward to buildin meo was looking ts I hope our studen lf. se m hi r fo e lif better any r Romeo for the m and staff remembe ol.” he brought to scho positive qualities ana Brown MHS Principal, D

In Remembrance of Romeo Murray

“I was so shocked about how long th e line was just to ge t inside the funera l home- it went ou t the door, around the corner, and down the street.” Samantha Sagges e, 2011 cond since like se y a rr u M o e wn Rom me and “I have kno ing but help th o n e n o d id anyas . He never d grade. He h im h d n u ro ened ple a e what happ rv help the peo se e d to g . ly wron g to miss him in o g thing horrib m a I e him and eart.” to him. I lov s be in my h y a lw a l il w Romeo , 2011 Kristina Katz

Get Your Own Memory Band Bracelets are RED and come in Medium or Large Get one for $3.00 SEE MR. VALENTE IN RM. C337 FOR MORE INFORMATION profits will help to fund and defray the family’s cost of Romeo’s funeral, as well as a scholarship in his name.

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The Blue and Gold February 2009

Opinion http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ma/malden/mhs/

mhs shows ITS romantic side Ashley Ngo Head Entertainment Writer

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rom year to year, decade to decade, the perfect Valentine’s Day varies from person to person. For some, it is a day where one can curl up with their significant other while watching a “chick-flick”, or a night out to the city while being treated to fine dining (where the guy pays, of course). Some use Valentine’s day as an excuse to indulge on a mass amount of chocolates without feeling that feeling of guilt. Some prefer not to celebrate Valentines Day at all, choosing to spend a day in, or out with friends instead. Either way, the Valentine’s Day spirit is active in Malden High Students, whether they are against it or for it.

“What is your ideal Valentine’s Day?”

america’s priorities, continued from page 3 to names of contestants whose time on the show has been clouded by controversy. Yahoo! Buzz’s top ten list is refreshed every hour and changes constantly; this further proves the miniscule attention span that Internet users possess. Celebrities themselves even notice this; when photographs scrutinizing Jessica Simpson’s figure were released, her sister, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz posted a blog criticizing the obsessive amounts of blog posts and even news reports that followed. “A week after the inauguration and with such a feeling of hope in the air for our country, I find it completely embarrassing ... to read about a woman’s weight or figure as a headline on

“...youth of the world cannot point out Iraq on a map; all, however, seem to (eerily) know every time “Brangelina” adopts a new child.” “For my perfect Valentine’s day, all I have to do is nothing,” stated sophomore Anthony Nguyen. “My better half would be the one who plans and pays for all the ‘mushy-gushy’ stuff.”

“My ideal valentine’s day would be being encountered with so many surprises and spending time with the people I love the most,” said sophomore Jessica Vo.

“My perfect valentine’s day would be to spend the day with the many loves of my life, “ said senior Jason Chen. “But, being treated to a nice free dinner would also be great.”

Photos by L. Tran

parker’s world

Parker Stallworth

Fox News,” she wrote on her website, ashleesimpsonmusic.com. However, this obsession with all things famous can only be detrimental to those belonging to the virtual generation; at a time when the economic crisis and violence in the Middle East dominate many newspaper headlines, the Internet -- which is much more widely read by the up-and-coming members of society than newspapers -- is controlled by social networking websites and celebrity blogs. Even popular websites like Yahoo! do not feature news at the top of their website; they do, however, have a “featured,” “entertainment,” and “sports” section for all who are interested in seeing the top headlines about Mickey Rourke, Super Bowl ads, and the NBA. The top news headlines are in a box below, looking adversely unattractive and less organized. Many of the media-obsessed, Perez Hilton loving youth of the world cannot point out Iraq on a map; all, however, seem to (eerily) know every time “Brangelina” adopts a new child. Similarly, many did not realize John Roberts’ mistake during the presidential oath, but spent hours laughing at Aretha Franklin’s hat afterwards. In what seems like a hopeful twist (but is possibly only be a fluke), MTV’s Twitter has less than 8,500 followers- CNN’s has almost three times as many. This is one trend that should be followed if the hope for a less ignorant blogger generation can ever come true.

Opinion

The Blue and Gold February 2009

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are celebrities above the law? David Riemer Head News Writer

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OPULAR “GUERILLA-ARTIST” Shepard Fairey walked into his exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston on Feb. 6, 2009, expecting to meet-and-greet with hundreds of fans who had spent more than just a few pretty pennies to be there. The ideal evening was struck down before it began, when, en route, Fairey was hauled off by the police for allegedly “tagging” two areas in the city without permission. Not long after the Associated Press copyright trials, this event comes as a shock to many. Some say that the city of Boston merely charged a man with displaying his art. However, are these same people mistaking the fact that, regardless of what they personally believe, what Fairey did was illegal? How can they distinguish the Fairey from any other graffiti artist who goes around “tagging?” Suffice it to say that those who protest Fairey’s arrest are being hypocritical and playing favorites. Had the graffiti been created by an unknown, yet equally talented artist, there would be no rally to oppose his arrest; so why should Fairey receive all of this special treatment? In this light, Fairey’s cheering crowd of support faithfully falls back on him being a celebrity. Indeed, in the face of such an obvious violation of the law, fame seems to be the only force which allows those who possess it to transcend responsibility. Far too many examples have shown that celebrities are treated differently in the court systems, and if you can name more than 3 of these instances, you prove the principle that we place celebrities on a higher plane, and in doing so we cannot expect them to follow our rules. To condone what Fairey did is to actively support the idea that celebrities are exempt from liability. Fairey, in full awareness of the illegal nature of the act, tagged two areas of Boston, and as such was arrested – what is so outrageous about that? Try not to get any ideas though, if you had been arrested for the same crime, chances are you would not have a rolling sea of support. You probably are not famous, so, good luck to you.

phelps fishbowls, apologizes

Fairey, the artist of the iconic Obama image, pictured above, at work in the studio. Fairey, a graffiti artist, now has his picture of Obama in the Smithsonian. AP Photo

Nidale Zouhir Copy Editor

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OURTEEN-TIME OLYMPIC gold medalist Michael Phelps is often playfully called a fish. It is, in fact, a harshly debated topic whether he is indeed part sea creature. Even more harshly debated, however, are his three-month suspension from competing with USA Swimming, his loss of an endorsement with Kellogg, and his now tarnished reputation - all due to a scandalous photograph of him smoking marijuana that was published in the British newspaper News of the World. Many of those who argue that Phelps deserves his arguably overly severe punishment claim that the photograph sullies his role model status. Some have even recommended taking away his medals or taking him off the US Olympic team as a punishment. However, the photograph does not ruin Phelps’ role model status. It does not take away from the fact that he spent months training for the 2008 Summer Olympics and that his hard work paid off, leaving him a recordbreaker and one of the most popular people in the United States. Phelps did not become a role model because he did not use drugs - he was (and still is) a role model because he showed

the determination and ambition that people like Paris Hilton lack. Furthermore, Phelps’ immediate apology, which called his marijuana use (or perhaps the fact that he allowed the photograph to be taken) “youthful” and “inappropriate” only deepens his status as a paragon of several qualities that the Kellogg’seating youth of the world should eventually embody, like honesty (because he admitted to the marijuana use) and patience (because he did not publicly grow angry with the media and USA Swimming for blowing the situation out of proportion). Swiss watchmaker Omega, another Phelps sponsor, called the marijuana-use a “non-issue,” and Omega was right. The fact of that matter is that Phelps simply did what many 23 year-olds do: he went to a college party and smoked some pot. The only real thing he did wrong was let someone take a picture of him doing so; the photograph is the real culprit in this situation, causing so much drama that Phelps will likely never go near another party where cameras will be in use. And really, who can blame him?

tickets for revenue? Brittany Foley Copy Editor

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FTER A RECENT ORDER GIVEN by the chief of police, the residents of Malden, Massachusetts are beginning to question where the priorities of their law enforcers lie—in the safety of the people of Malden, or in the city’s wallet. According to www.boston.com, Chief Kenneth Coye of the Malden Police Department is said to be strongly encouraging his officers to write a minimum of one traffic or parking ticket every shift. In Cole’s sudden request for “one tag a day,” the urged penalizations have the people of Malden in somewhat of an uproar, because of the reasons behind the chief’s new call. As the entire nation is perfectly aware, the economy is caught in a miserable rut. Mass layoffs are growing more and more common everywhere, and the Malden Police Department is no exception. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that they are willing to do whatever it takes in working towards avoiding such an event. However, when it was announced how Coye planned on achieving such prevention, the residents of Malden were far from pleased. Suddenly, it seemed as though the city’s wealth was more important than the safety and welfare of the community. People are quickly growing outraged, with good reason. Citizens for Limited Taxation founder, Barbara Anderson, made it clear that she feels the situation is “absurd,” questioning the methods of the plan. What is to happen “if no one is doing anything [wrong]?” According to Coye, this is hardly an issue. He defended his argument by saying that Malden has been “under-ticketing” its residents for some time, and that, even though it would be beneficial in economic terms, it would make the streets and roads of Malden safer. Maldonians and should look for alternate solutions. “Look at Winthrop’s plans for the fiscal crisis,” suggested Anderson to the Boston Herald. “Lay off the police chief. Apparently, you can get along without one.”

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Local news

The Blue and Gold February 2009

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mhs seniors shine and recieve scholarships from haiti to america, chataigne’s story

banor gains a posse and a scholarship Patti McClenthen Reporter

Shannon Howe Reporter Kimberly Lombard Head of Business

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ENIOR AND HAITI NATIVE Pascale Chataigne moved to Malden when she was 14 years old. Despite all of her troubles assimilating to life in Massachusetts, she is now one of six Malden High students who was awarded the Colby-Sawyer scholarship this past January. When Chataigne was in Haiti, she encountered a life changing experience. She was in the car with her father when suddenly a few men got in their car, kicked them out, and stole the car. Thankfully, the two did not get hurt, but at this point, Chataigne’s mother decided it would be best for her to move to the United States. Although Chataigne was not physically hurt, she was mentally scarred for a long time. She was constantly very paranoid, and even the slightest movement made her think someone had a gun. Over time, she conquered the frightening experience and grew to learn that violence is never okay and she did not want to be a part of that kind of lifestyle. Since her freshman year, Chataigne has attended MHS. Her family always wanted her to go to college in America so that she would have more opportunities for the future. The school system in Haiti was very different from the one she experiences here. When Chataigne came to America it was much easier for her because it was not as strict, even though she still tries her hardest. The school system here is also different from Haiti because of the diversity, different cultures, and nationalities that MHS boasts. The school system also has more technology available to its students, while very few places in Haiti do. Chataigne explained that she is very excited that she won the ColbySawyer scholarship because it takes away the worry that she and her family had about paying for college. Colby-Sawyer College looks for students that are “solid academically, like working in collaborative settings, and are generally motivated. We also look for students who want to test out their leadership skills in an active learning environment,” claimed Vice President for Enrollment Management at Colby-Sawyer, Gregory Matthews. He also stated that “beyond the basic grades that are required, we want students to write about themselves so we can know who they are. We want expression, but that can be in the context of what is right for the students, so description of service, arts projects, athletics, academic honors, the responsibility of a job, or being at home taking care for younger siblings after school to help working parents.” Additionally, the Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Director of International and Diversity Recruitment explained, “Speaking generally and not for individuals, we found that the Malden students were superbly prepared for college level work. Study skills, writing, and time management were, on the whole, up to par.” Chataigne also said she had other schools in mind before she decided she was positive about attending Colby-Sawyer College. Howard University, University of Massachusetts (UMASS) Boston, UMASS Amherst, Northeastern, University of Miami, and Providence College were all other possible destinations. In addition, Chataigne was also a Posse semi-finalist. Overall, she is very thankful for this opportunity and hopes to take the skills she has learned throughout the years at MHS to college with a hopeful major in psychology. She also has helpful advice to offer to students applying for college. She suggests they “start early, don’t leave anything for the last minute and always be [themselves] during the interviews.” Other MHS students who earned the full-tuition scholarship to Colby-Sawyer included Laura Metellus, Amanda Rogers, Felicia Teixeira, Kristen Tran, and Kristen White.

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S THE FOUR POSSE scholars prepare themselves mentally, emotionally, and academically to go off to the colleges of their dreams with a full tuition scholarship, it is surprising to find that two Malden High students are preparing to attend the same place. Seniors Cynthia Rodriguez and Victor Banor are both attending Hamilton College in upstate New York this upcoming fall. Hamilton is a business oriented college that has produced many lawyers, mediators, and other business tycoons since their establishment, and has partnered with the Posse Foundation for nine years. The Posse Foundation was based off of one student who said, “I would have never dropped out of college if I had my Posse with me,” and the foundation now uses that concept to provide support groups that will help you throughout college. In addition to Hamilton College, The Posse Boston partnering institutions including Bryn Mawr College, Bucknell College, Centre College, Denison College, and Union College. The thousands of students that made it into the first round of Posse interviews were gradually eliminated until there were only approximately ten students per college. The remaining students became part each school’s “Posse,” who will help each other achieve their goals throughout the next four years of college. This group of students will meet every week until they leave for school in order to establish a bond that will endure all of the obstacles college will throw at them. The “Posses” are composed of a group of diverse students with outstanding leadership qualities and a drive to succeed. Rodriguez, who is also the managing editor for The Blue and Gold newspaper, showed great relief when she found out that she earned the prestigious, full-tuition scholarship from the Posse Foundation. Hamilton was the only school she sent an application to, and she put all of her energy into getting accepted. As for her future career, Rodriguez wants to major in pre-law, with a minor in journalism. “I’ve always been geared toward debating and talking to a crowd,” Rodriguez confessed. “As for the journalism aspect, I’ve always loved reporting.” In addition to Rodriguez, Banor is also representing Malden High School in the Hamilton Posse. Banor plans on majoring in government at Hamilton College and is glad his college search is already over. “I was surprised [when I won the scholarship]. When you meet all of the other nominees, they all have [exceptional] leadership qualities; it’s intimidating.” Although the experience was very competitive and challenging, he knows that the Posse Foundation will help him get where he wants to be in life. The unique foundation has many connections with businesses for internship and employment opportunities, and Banor is excited to utilize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. He hopes to use the experience and knowledge gained at Hamilton to one day attend Harvard Law and become a negotiator. Most seniors are eager to leave high school by the third quarter, and Banor is no exception. He believes that the main difference between high school and college is “intellectual freedom.” He went on to explain that “high school has a very secular view, and in college you are allowed to pursue whatever you want.” Although he is excited to move on and achieve his dream, he confessed that he will miss the teachers at MHS the most and will always remember the lessons they taught him. For any juniors who intend to apply for the Posse Foundation next year, Banor advises students to keep their cool and just be personable. “Going into it you’ll be nervous, but you can’t be afraid to talk to everyone, because everyone takes notice of that.” In addition to Rodriguez and Banor, two other Malden High Students were elected for the Posse Foundation Scholarship. Stephanie Tran and Melchi Noelle are attending Bryn Mawr College and Denison College this fall through Posse, respectively.

The Blue and Gold February 2009

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Local news http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ma/malden/mhs/

Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards GOLD KEY

Emily Chiavelli- Istanbul Long Ma- Waterworks

SILVER KEY

Bao Wu- The Cross

“Getting POSSE was a weight-lifting joy. All that is left to do is to cruise through senior year.” POSSE Scholar Melchi Noel

HONORABLE MENTION PIECES Suelen Amaral- Ceu Mauricio Duarte- PERSON Mark Hortaleza- Tesselation in-lay Marina Kem- Green Alison Nguyen- Optical Counterpart Sue Tran- Tessellation Matt Zunitch- Breakfast at Grandpa’s

Senior Marina Kem.

brockton man commits hate crime Barbara Jerome Reporter

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UST ONE DAY after the historic inauguration of our nation’s first African-American president, a day when people truly believed that the nation has improved relations between different races, local news reported a hate crime. Keith Luke, a 22-year-old Brockton resident walked through the streets of the City of Brockton with the determination to kill as many non–white people and Jews as possible on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. Luke murdered three people and injured others but was stopped by the police before he had the chance to go to a Jewish synagogue near his mother’s home on Pleasant Street and subsequently commit suicide. Rabbi Joshua Cohen of Temple Beth Emunah stated on CNN news, “As much as we like to think we’ve moved forward in our society and culture, hate and racism still exist, and it’s really unfortunate.” On Wednesday, Luke first raped and shot a woman in an apartment he had barged into, but she survived and was sent to a hospital in Boston. He also shot her younger sister who appeared at the door while her sister was being abused by Luke. Two men attempted to help her, however Luke shot at one of them and drove off. Afterward, he shot neighbor Arlindo Goncalves, whom he knew from his neighborhood. As the police pursued him, Luke shot at them, missing, and kept going until he got into a car accident. “I’m sorry I shot at the cops,” Luke said, according to a police report. “But I am not sorry I shot those people at the house.” How could it be that after all the progress this nation has made that racism still exist? It was the question asked by many after these horrible crimes. A Malden High School student, junior Diana Joseph, said, “As an...African-American citizen, this incident sort of makes me feel a little uneasy or even unsafe. Not that I would expect that to happen in Malden, because we’re a pretty good community; but you never know,” after being asked how she felt about Luke and the crimes he committed. MHS is a diverse school where students often respect others despite differences in race or culture. It is, however, unfortunate that MHS is one of a small number of schools that have a high percentage of diversity. After discussing the incident with a student, Junior Daniel Callahan responded, “Malden High School is very diverse and I think it’s valuable to all of us. I myself have friends from different cultures and to hear about all discrimination and racist actions in the nation is a terrible thing.” Malden sets a good example, however it is not perfect and has its own issues to deal with. History teacher Marsha Healy said, “Malden is a microcosm of the world as it should be where people see people for who they are and not for their ethnic cultural differences.”

Senior Matt Zunitch.

Senior Sue Tran. Photos by L. Tran

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Valentine Day Messages Yo sup Omar!

9/11 serves peabody as a holiday

Mahoney is my homie – Mike S. I love Nidale, Andrew, and Rachael. Have a Palahniuk-filled Valentine’s Day. I love Brittany Foley and Alex Mathieu, love Jeri. Check

myspace.com/eclipsenow.

Alex, take a bath. I love you! LOVE LOVE LOVE THE B&G. I love Nidale, love Brandon. Happy Valentine’s Day PS ILT Tzivia and Emily are the best people ever! Love, Ahmed

MHS news brief: nhs secret santa T

he annual Secret Santa event, held this past Christmas 2008 by the MHS National Honor Society at Housing Families, was declared a success by Director of Housing Services Joan Sinner in a letter to advisor Paul Marques. NHS students each raised money for a homeless family to provide food and gifts for them during the holidays. Sinner thanked the students, stating that this Christmas, “children were able to feel the “magic” of the holiday season and parents felt the support of the community.”

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Tzivia Halperin Head Copy Editor

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HE MOST HARMFUL shots taken at the Peabody police department as of late have been from critics rather than criminals. Since the paid 9/11 police holiday was enacted on Jan. 24, 2009, the police department, City Council, and even Peabody mayor Michael Bonfanti have been fighting off the flak. The holiday, which was accepted with City Council’s vote of 7-4, grants the Peabody police department a day off on Sept. 11, or if they choose to work, a 25 percent raise in salary among other stipulations in their new four-year contracts. Across the nation this has been the first of such holidays recognizing an attack, not even honored in New York City. According to City Councilor James K. Liacos, quoted on Boston.com, its purpose was to honor and “recognize 9/11.” However in light of the fact that this is the only American attack honored, many have deemed this a hollow recognition. “I don't think that 9/11 should be a holiday. Sadly, our country has been attacked numerous times e.g. Pearl Harbor, the Lusitania, and the U.S. Maine in Havana, Cuba. It should be a day of solemn remembrance” noted Malden Chief of Police Kenneth Coye in an interview. He went on to say that the holiday was merely a “labor contract benefit.” Coye’s disdain is shared by many, especially by those who are vocal about its enactment in Peabody rather than New York City, the location of the attack. The Peabody police

force did not directly aid or provide relief during Sept. 11. Senior Daniel Melo, noted “out of all the days I want cops to be on duty, it’s that day,” emphasizing a lingering fear of terrorism. In spite of it, proponents of the holiday, including the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, contend that it represents a general day of remembrance and a means of honoring enforcement officers who lost their lives during the attack. This innate patriotism has not been reflected in the attitudes of those involved however. In an interview with the Boston Globe, Peabody Mayor Michael Bonfanti commented, “Time to get on a . . . real story. We're moving forward. It's time to focus on the problems that we have with the economy.” Similarly, when asked if they felt that the Sept. 11 holiday should be extended to firemen as well as police officers, the Peabody fire department reacted defensively. Peabody fireman Jim Wronkowski initially stated, “I can’t comment on it,” but then elaborated that receiving a holiday for Sept. 11 “wasn’t anything discussed,”-it simply was not considered during the renewal of their contracts. The Peabody police department could not be reached for comment. Senior Ginny Do, dazed by the holiday, reflected on the conflicting motivations of patriotism and money. “It seems like good intentions but an unnecessary gesture.”

MHS Bulletin Valentines Day Dance Feb. 13, 2009, at 4-7 p.m. Indoor Track Greater Boston League Tournament - Feb. 17, 2009 Weymouth Shoot-Out-Tourney - Feb. 16-17

MHS Class of 2009 presents the Senior Fashion Show Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 6 p.m. Anthony’s of Malden Tickets available mid to late February. For additional info, Please see Ms. Vona in the nurses office, or Mr. Fam in C223. Send events to: [email protected]

The Blue and Gold February 2009

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store givaway surprise Lynn Tran Assistant Photographer

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Illustrated feature graphic about the life and theories of English naturalist Charles Darwin; 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth is Feb. 12, 2009. MCT 2009

continued from pg 3 ing Euclidean geometry on his own. His rise to politics eventually led him to save a troubled union and to the abolishment of slavery from the United States forever. The coincidence that both of these men were born on the same day, and that current President Barack Obama was inaugurated two hundred years after their two hundredth anniversary is truly astonishing and is not being ignored. Professor Jonathan King of the Biology Department at MIT (which organized its own Darwin symposium in January) noted that “Barack Obama has become the president of the United States and he himself has [been compared to Lincoln and his team of rivals]… human equality continues to be a problem with us today. The spirits of Lincoln and Darwin still live with us today – they are both very much with us, and not just historically.” Festivals and celebrations across the world will commemorate the achievements of these two extraordinary indi-

viduals. On the local level, the Hingham, MA Historical Society will be holding yearlong celebrations involving parades, music, and lectures by, Gov. Deval Patrick, in addition to others. Salem State College and Framingham State will celebrate the workings of Charles Darwin this year. Salem State is holding Darwin Day celebrations that will involve video viewings and interesting lectures through Feb. 9-13, 2009 while Framingham State will be holding events in early March. The question that the Newsweek feature poses does not easily find its answer. Both men have left their mark on world history in their respective fields and have impacted society. In the coming weeks, historical societies, colleges, and numerous other organizations involved in science and history alike will gather to celebrate the bicentennial. Along with the anniversary, a fourth version of the penny will be released in honor of the sixteenth president.

Holocaust denier reinstated Tzivia Halperin Head Copy Editor

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AN. 27, 2009, which marked the 63rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, should have been a day of remembrance and mourning for Jews and non-Jews alike. However, with the recent comments of reinstated bishop, Richard Williamson, suggesting a denial of the Holocaust, a recent pall has been cast over Judaic unity. Bishop Richard Williamson, who was excommunicated in 1988, made anti-Semitic comments only days before his appointed reinstate-

ment, noting in a well-documented interview, “that the historical evidence is strongly against - is hugely against - 6 million Jews having been deliberately gassed in gas chambers as a deliberate policy of Adolf Hitler.” He went on to say, “I believe there were no gas chambers.” In Auschwitz alone, three million people were murdered, especially through the use of intentional gassing. Reaction to his comments has been strong indeed, especially by those concerned with its ramifications on the delicate Catholic-Judaic relationship. Abraham Foxman, in

HOSE WHO SERENDIPITOUSLY visited the mall from Jan. 20-26, 2009, left with a free bottle of Vera Wang perfume, Chanel lotion, or Ralph Lauren body wash. No one ever asks why when receiving free stuff, but this 175 million dollar giveaway that occurred in 14 different retailers including Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s Dillard’s, Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and other department stores across the nation, was a result of a settlement on December 18, 2008, from a lawsuit that was filed six years ago. The rules were first come first serve, and only one per customer. Nine manufacturers were involved, including Clinque, Estee Lauder, Lancôme, Clarins, Guerlain, Boucheron, L’Oreal, and Christian Dior. All supplies were limited and retailed to about $25 each and anything not given away was given to charity. The aforementioned law suit initiated from accusation of conspiracy to fix retail prices of these upscale cosmetics, since fixed prices allow prices and competition to stay high. In 2003, eleven women filed a law suit in California because they thought the department stores were overcharging their customers and agreeing to sell beauty products at the manufacturer’ suggested retail price, as well as guaranteeing a forty percent profit for manufacturers for nay unsold items. Nordstrom Incorporated spokeswoman Julee Kraus believes that they had “done nothing wrong” and have “chosen to settle this [giveaway] to avoid a long and costly trial process.” Neither the retailers not manufacturers will admit that they are wrong. Although it was a giveaway, there was fine print that everybody missed. The qualifications said that consumers had to have signed a waiver saying they purchased an item from their store from May 29, 1994, to July 16, 2003, and had to be eighteen and older. Select stores gave teens a hard time, and stopped them from receiving their free item for being underage, which was not specified anywhere. Some stores even quizzed some teenagers about which products were popular in the early 1990s. Any settlement resulting in free Chanel or Dior is usually a good thing, but all good things have long lines, crabby customers, grabbing and fighting. In today’s plunging economy, anything free can spark the worst and greediest part of people. Some people even got in the lines twice. This is the same reason why people drive across town to get the lowest gas prices, or they cherry pick items on sale in grocery stores. Many of these people probably did not need an extra bottle of lotion, but today, it is better to have a surplus. On Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, people took this opportunity to receive free products, something that has been especially sought after since the declining of our economy. It reflects how important money has been to us, especially if many of us decided to rush to the stores instead of experience a historical inauguration.

an interview with CNN, noted “The decree sends a terrible message to Catholics around the world that there is room in the church for those who would undermine the church's teaching and would foster disdain and contempt for other religions, particularly Judaism.” He continued, “Given the centuries-long history of anti-Semitism in the church, this is a most troubling setback.” “The Pope, of course, is free to do whatever he pleases within his church,” noted Rabbi Herman Blumberg of Temple Tiffereth Israel in an interview. “But for the Pope to elevate Bishop Williamson to a

favored status, knowing of his outspoken denial of the Holocaust is to show honor a man of whom he should be ashamed. His decision reflects poorly on him. And to say the least, it is a painful, anger provoking act for all decent people who condone any expression of prejudice against any human being.” Even in Malden criticism to Williamson’s comments have been widespread. Williamson’s comments however have not been without personal effect; he lost his position as head of Argentine seminary on Feb. 9, 2009.

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Hot Rod Blagojevich’s Streak Ends

stimulus, continued from page 1

Ayoub Kourikchi Head Copy Editor

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President Barack Obama signs SCHIP legislation with Congressional delegation at the podium in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, February 4, 2009. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/MCT) Another proposal made by the city of Malden calls for the $4.4 million renovation of MacDonald Stadium. The planned renovation of the stadium includes replacing the grass surface with synthetic turf, replacing the existing running track with a “new 6-lane quadrant resilient track”, replacing the lighting system, and constructing new bleachers along with a new press box. If the plans were to follow through, 48 construction jobs would be created. The expected date of completion is December 2010. The stimulus package may come at an important time for Malden, whose aid from the state of Massachusetts will be cut by $1.5 million in the coming year. “Change”, which has been Obama’s motto for the past year, is certainly reflected in Washington with this new stimulus package. Democrats, who now hold control over the legislative and executive branches, are making changes that they were unable to do before the elections. However, what remains to be seen is how this change will affect the rest of America.

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OLLOWING AN OUTLANDISH media campaign where Illinois Senator Rod Blagojevich accused The Illinois House of Representatives of false allegations “because I’ve done things to fight for families”; the house routed Blagojevich from Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich waves to supporters outside his office after a 114-1 home on Thursday, January 29, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois. Gov. Pat vote to impeach Quinn was sworn in after the Senate voted 59-0 to remove Blagojevhim. His impeachich from office Thursday. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/ ment follows an inMCT) vestigation where he was caught on wiretapped phone calls allegedly sell- sociated press, going as far as mussing ing President-elect Obama’s Senate seat. his often-mocked hair. Additionally, Prior to his hearing, he attended the women pressed him to impersona series of televised interviews, which ate President Richard Nixon, and state ranged from an appearance on Larry the infamous line, “I am not a crook.” King Live, to an interview with Geraldo Subsequently, the mood changed as Rivera in the parking lot of The View, Barbara Walters, a seasoned journalwhere he continuously reiterated that ist pressed him to come to terms with the overwhelming evidence pitted he was innocent. On The View the women taunted against him. However, cohost Whoopi Blagojevich and, according to the ascontinued pg 11

Highlights of a Gallup poll asking if Congress should pass the proposed economic stimulus plan. MCT 2009

Graphic shows the total 2007 compensation for Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein; President Obama has capped executive pay at $500,000 for banks receiving taxpayer bailout funds. MCT 2009

Charts showing 2007 total compensation for CEO’s at some of the banks that received federal assistance and amount of assistance bank received; with information on pay curb guidelines. MCT 2009

The Blue and Gold February 2009

blagojevich continued from pg 9 Goldberg immediately came to his defense exclaiming “where the hell’s the supreme court,” as she embraced Blagojevich. During NBC’s Today Show, he continued to advocate his innocence as he stated “you can conceivably bring in 15 angels and 20 saints, led by mother Teresa, to come in and testify to my good character and my integrity and all the rest; it wouldn’t matter.” Several of his other interviews were taped in similar fashion, including his stint on famed talk show host Oprah Winfrey where he considered naming Winfrey to his Senate position.

“It’s our duty to clean up the mess and stop the freak show that’s become Illinois government.” David Lettermen along with numerous other comics targeted him as the butt of their jokes. Letterman, famous for his hilarious top ten lists, reserved one especially for Blagojevich; the senator’s number one quote stood as “well, let me say two things: One, that’s the truth; and two, I’m glad you’re not going to sit on that jury in Illinois.” Blagojevich is the first governor impeached in Illinois and had become only the eight governors to be impeached and removed from office. During his 90 minute trial only Representative Milton Patterson of Chicago voted against impeachment. “It’s our duty to clean up the mess and stop the freak show that’s become Illinois government,” said Representative Jack Franks.

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gaza begins reconstruction 1.5 million citizens struggle to rebuild their cities and lives

Map of Gaza Strip locates a neighborhood near Gaza City that was destroyed by Israeli military forces. MCT 2009 Halima Badwan stands before the ruins of the Ezbt Abed Rabbo apartment building, January 24, 2009, where he found his wife’s body after Israel’s Gaza Strip military campaign. (Dion Nissenbaum/MCT) Omar Khoshafa Reporter

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HE GAZA STRIP, an area of land located in southwest Israel, is home to about 1.5 million Palestinians. Recently, due to the 22-day Israeli offensive strike that began on Dec. 27, 2008, 1,300 Palestinian lives have been claimed, compared to the 13 Israeli civilians killed. More than 20,000 homes have been destroyed and the Palestinian infrastructure is deteriorating. It is estimated that about two billion dollars will be needed to rebuild Gaza, and with Israel blockading the Gaza border, not enough humanitarian aid has been able to reach the civilians in need. Hamas is a political organization voted for by the Palestinian people and the majority of the world defines them as a “terrorist organization.” The battles between Israel and Hamas have been known to be violent, and most of the causalities

in these battles have been innocent civilians. During the 22-day-long Israeli offensive, later named Operation “Cast Lead,” Hamas insurgents have been located all throughout the Gaza Strip. Israel's United Nations Ambassador, Gabriela Shalev, has blamed Hamas for all the civilian deaths, saying, “Hamas has operated out of mosques, schools and private homes while using civilians as human shields.” As Israel and Hamas exchange gun fire, the global community is not playing a productive role in achieving an immediate ceasefire. Both sides said that they would not stop firing until the enemy ceases to fire. The failure to reach an immediate ceasefire caused the death of 1,300 Palestinians, a large majority of them civilians. As a large part of Gaza lays in ruins, the Palestinians know that reconstruction will not be

easy.

Recently, Israel has blockaded the border of Gaza based on weapons being smuggled to Hamas militants. The problem of blockading the border of weapons prevents food and supplies from entering. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes lists three requirements for a successful relief operation, first of which is a long, durable ceasefire between both sides instead of a temporary one. Secondly, he says that “all the crossing points into Gaza (must) be opened so humanitarian and commercial goods can get through.” Lastly, he wants to conduct this operation without “any political interference.” He firmly believes that politics should not get in the way of the humanitarian aid from reaching a people in a dire crisis.

Torture Ban and Guantanamo Bay Closure Alexandra Mathieu Reporter

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URING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR presidency, President Barack Hussein Obama promised many things, most prominently his vow for change. One of his first acts emphasizing this change took place on Jan. 22, 2009, just two days after his inauguration. Obama issued an Executive Order that contained a review, or report, that will ban torture and other degrading techniques used on prisoners and close down the infamous Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp (GBDC) in Cuba. The facility holds about 260 detainees, most of whom are either involved with or are suspected of being connected to terrorism. Speculation over the treatment of GBDC detain-

ees has circulated since the center opened. Heavy suspicion of illegal interrogation methods surfaced during the years after the September 11 attacks. On many occasions, Bush and his administration rejected ever using such techniques; however reports have been found that suggest the opposite. In 2002, leaked White House memos illustrated a correspondence between former United States Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and commanders at Guantánamo, where Rumsfeld approves of harsher interrogation techniques for al-Qaeda and Taliban members. Obama’s Executive Order will hopefully put an end to all of the speculation and any unlawful torture methods as it states that all detainees at the GBDC are protected by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions.

Despite expressing sentiments to close the detention center, former President George W. Bush never did. To him, the political and legal risks that would follow the endeavor would be too great. Also, former Vice President Dick Cheney believed that the United States needed a separate prison to interrogate possible terrorists. However, human rights groups have criticized the Bush administration for keeping the detainees in the center for such a prolonged period of time, saying that the extensive imprisonment itself was a form of torture. President Obama shares a similar opinion. His Executive Order while protecting the treatment of detainees also contains a review process that outlines what will happen to the prisoners when the facility is closed. First the review will determine if it

is possible to transfer detainees to agreeable countries including Portugal, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, and Germany. If it is not possible, then another review will determine if prosecution of some of the prisoners will be possible. If neither proves applicable then the review will consider displacing prisoners to US prisons. President Barack Obama understands the gravity of his decision but decided that the closure was necessary. “The message we are sending around the world is that the United States intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism,” Obama said in an interview with the Boston Globe. “[W]e are going to do so in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals.”

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Paul Blart: Mall Cop steals views Alex Gennigiorgis Reporter

“Safety Never Takes a Holiday”

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HOT DIRECTLY in the Burlington Mall, Paul Blart: Mall Cop earned the number one spot in the box office on its’ opening weekend. It grossed at almost $10 million from 3,144 theaters with an opening-day average of $3,105 per theater. During the entire Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, the film grossed almost $40 million and each theater paid an average amount $12,479. It was the secondbest opening of all time for the MLK weekend behind 2008’s Cloverfield. The film stood at number one in its second weekend, grossing another $21+ million, boosting the 10-day total to $64,923,380. The film begins at the New Jersey State Police Academy, where Paul Blart (Kevin James) has been training to become Blart attempts to catch a speeding criminal. a policeman for ten years. Due to his hypoglycemia, he cannot pass the necessary drills Amy and his daughter drive him to to become a police officer, and in- persevere and save the day. stead became a mall security guard. James did an excellent job actAlthough he takes his job very seri- ing in the film. His well-executed ously, he receives no respect from his performance was due to his expericoworkers, except for new security ence as a comedian; the veteran is guard Veck Sims (Keir O’Donnell), also known for his performances in whom he takes under his wing. Hitch, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and The high point of the movie oc- Larry, Barnyard, and 50 First Dates, as curs when the mall is taken over by a well as in the hit television show The group of robbers led by his comrade King of Queens. He performed very Sims. During the rest of the movie, well as Blart and impressed the auBlart is on a quest to save not only dience in how well he did without the mall, but his love interest Amy, other comedians like Adam Sandler. his daughter Maya (Raini RodriO’Donnell has not shown himguez), and other civilians from Sims self to be an established actor yet, powerful group of criminals. Blart’s but he has done very well in movies enduring motto, “Safety never takes such as The Break-Up and The Weda holiday,” along with his love for ding Crashers. He also has also made

Revolutionary Road Review

Frank and April admire each other over coffee. Haley Defilippis Reporter

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AVE YOU EVER wondered if two people are capable of breaking away from the ordinary lost dreams of the nuclear family,

without breaking apart? American families everywhere want to get away from reality and find their own escape. In Sam Mendes’ movie adaptation of Richard Yates’ novel Revolutionary Road, former Titanic stars Leonardo DiCaprio, a three-

a few appearances on the television series Lost and CSI. Although he is not so well established, he has proven himself a rising star due to his outstanding performance as Sims in Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Mays is best known for her appearance in Epic Movie, where she played Lucy, the main character. She is also known for her appearances off the big screen in shows such as Ugly Betty, Entourage, House M.D., and Six Feet Under. She was great at her part as Amy overall and really made the audience believe that she was the right person for the role of Amy. The film was directed by Steve Carr, who is also known for other popular films such as Are We Done

Yet, Rebound, Daddy Day Care, and Dr. Dolittle 2. Between the talented actors, seasoned director, and original plot line, Paul Blart: Mall Cop was a hilarious movie that kept the audience laughing almost the entire time. James put brilliant effort into his role, and the rest of the cast did a top-notch job as well, despite their lack of experience. This movie was excellently pulled off and had a perfect balance of comedic outings and dramatic scenes. Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a recommended must-see for all people for its exciting, humorous and overall great quality.

time Academy Award nominee, plays Frank, and Kate Winslet, a five-time Academy Award nominee, plays April; a couple who see themselves as deviating and adventurous people, willing to take on new journeys life throws at them. In the 1950s, Frank and April Wheeler are convinced there is more to life than having an accustomed office job and being a stay-at-home mom with two kids. So when the couple leaves the city and moves into a suburban home, they refuse to settle into daily-basis habits. Soon enough, Frank is working ten hours a day, having an affair, while April is pregnant and stressed. Aprils’ hunger for a real life, and feeling things such as passion from her husband, cause her to be restless with a highly explosive temper. When the two realize they want out of the cookie-cutter, ideal town, April comes up with an undaunted idea to

move to Paris. However, as soon as they start talking to a nonconformist realtor who has just been released from a mental hospital, the unexpected happens and their lives start to crumble. The destruction of their marriage tears their once irrevocable love into pitiful shreds. Revolutionary Road has been nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Actress (Kate Winslet), and Best Director (Sam Mendes). Revolutionary Road had incredible acting. The movie drew in a gross of $16,038,000 on its opening day. In comparison to their roles in Titanic, DiCaprio and Winslet were young adults madly in love, while in Revolutionary Road they transform into an unhappy couple. DiCaprio and Winslet reunite in this hopeless love story to give their audience yet another highly recommended and outstanding performance.

The Blue and Gold February 2009

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snap out of it, he’s just not that into you

Bride Wars

Paula Suarez Salamanca Reporter

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ANY TIMES, women worry about how men do not pay enough attention to them. The best-selling book, He’s Just Not That Into You, written by former writer and consultant Greg Behrendt and executive story editor Liz Tucillo, educates women to stop, evaluate, think, and dump. He’s Just Not That Into You is based on a popular episode of the television show, Sex and the City and became a full-length feature film that was released on Feb. 6, 2009 When the book came out in 2004, thousands of women across this country had one thing in common: whether they were in a café discussing it with their friends or curled up on couches, they were all reading He’s Just Not That Into You. The 165 page book contains an introduction by Tucillo and Behrendt, a section titled “You are all dating the same guy,” and 16 chapters. Tucillo’s introduction begins with the day that the idea of He’s Just Not That Into You popped in her head. She tells about how Behrendt was sitting in the writer’s room of Sex and the City when an actress started talking about her relationship. The women around her started to ask Behrendt for advice on what to do with this guy and how their relationship can improve, when it was revealed by Behrendt that the guy just was not into her and that women often make excuses to overlook this fact. Behrendt’s introduction begins similarly but goes on to say that when a guy is into you he calls, comes over, wants to meet your friends, etc. He also goes on to say that men are not complicated at all and that, “a man [would] rather be trampled by elephants that are on fire than tell you that he’s just not into you.” The first 11 chapters have titles that begin with the phrase, “He’s Just Not That Into You If” and end with things such as “He’s Not Asking You Out”, “He’s Not Calling You”, “He’s Breaking Up With You”, “He’s Disappeared on You”, “He’s a Selfish Jerk, a Bully, or a Really Big Freak,” etc. Each of the 11 chapters follow the same pattern. They all begin with a small description of the problem followed by a women’s question in letter format which Behrendt answers. After many examples of women’s problems, the authors continues with other sections such as, “It’s So Simple”, “Here’s Why This One is Hard”, “This is What It Should Look Like,” and “Greg, I Get It.” Although the subtitles may seem funny, they provide the reader with good advice. Throughout the small sections the author discusses how a situation should appear and provides an example of a when a woman took his advice and how her life is now better than how it was before. After that, three items end each chapter: “If You Don’t Believe Greg,” which always has “20 out of 20” or “100% of polled men” giving advice that stands by the chapter’s rule, a list under “What You Should Have Learned in This Chapter,” and a “Our Super-Good Really Workbook” where the authors make up an activity that will help the reader understand the main topic of that chapter. Other chapters include other sections such as, “Don’t Listen to These stories”, “Now What Do You Do?”, “Q&A with Greg”, “Closing Remarks from Greg,” and “Closing Remarks from Liz.” He’s Just Not That Into You is attracting, hilarious, and above all liberating. It is the kind of book that every woman, young or old, should own; the kind of book that knows that the readers behind them are smart, funny, beautiful and most of all that they deserve better. The next time a women starts to “figure him out” they should just consider the fact that maybe he is just not that into them and that they should let him go, move on, and find their true love.

Liv and Emma bond despite their conflicts. Brittany McFeeley Reporter

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T IS COMMON FOR little girls to have that one best friend that was promised a significant role in their wedding. It is a cute thought, but what happens when their weddings both fall on the same day? Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) have been best friends since they first met at the Plaza Hotel at a young age. There, the two girls saw the most beautiful wedding and ever since, they have been planning their own June wedding at the Plaza. At the age of 26, Liv is a successful lawyer who strives to be perfect while Emma is a school teacher who cares about everyone else and sometimes forgets about herself. One day, Emma calls Liv ecstatically to tell her that she is now engaged. Secretly jealous, Liv runs down to her office and asks her boyfriend to get married only to have him pull out a ring that he was saving for later that day.

The two go to a wedding coordinator and plan their wedding dates. In a strange turn of events, their weddings were both planned on the same day, and chaos ensues. Both Liv and Emma had the same dream of being married in the Plaza and they will fight for their dream even if that means risking the survival of their own friendship. Only one bride gets what she has always dreamed of, and the other bride might not. Directed by Gary Winick, and produced by Hudson, Julie Yorn, and Alan Rich, the movie has a funny if somewhat serious tone. Hudson’s portrayal the perfectionist Liv, was extremely realistic and Hathaway’s performance of Emma was extremely hilarious and nobody would have guessed that such a laid back person could be so evil. The movie has its flaws such as over reaching the plot, but it is impossible to not find humor in Emma and Liv’s situation.

Take-Out-Menu 781.333.3990 www.massimositalian.com

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hotel for dogs? caroline (Caroline Linden, a senior, is a two year Media student, who through the generosity of Paramount and DreamWorks Studios, was given the opportunity to interview teen actress Emma Roberts on her newest major motion picture, Hotel For Dogs, currently in theaters.)

Caroline Linden Guest Writer

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URRENTLY IN MOVIE theaters, the new Paramount/DreamWorks film Hotel for Dogs starring Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin and featuring Lisa Kudrow, and Don Cheadle tells the story of two foster kids, and their Guest writer Caroline Linden. dog Friday on the streets of Photo by L. Tran New York City. Roberts and Austin depict siblings Andi and always ready to cause a giggle, or Bruce; Andi the street savvy elder in many cases full out laughter. The sister, and Bruce, brilliant yet mis- dogs themselves are the true stars of understood younger brother, whose the film. The dogs’ antics take over quirky inventions for his dog Friday most if not the entire climax of the (and later other dogs) are part of the film; the human actors find themcharm of the film. His inventions selves eclipsed by the end of the bring an old abandoned building movie, which features one particuthat the two foster kids, with the lar sequence that star Emma Roberts help of new friends found along the was a bit frightened by, only because way, from an old decrepit shack, all the canines end up chasing after into a literal ‘doggie paradise,’ com- her as “one large pack.” Roberts plete with automatic food dispens- mentioned in our conversation that ers, self automated fetching system, she and Austin, among others from and even to the relief of the kids, an the movie, also met and visited real automatic pooper scooper. Interest- foster kids from the streets of NYC ingly enough, I learned through a just to get a “real feel” for what both recent phone interview with Roberts of their characters would be going that most, if not all of the inventions through. Nonetheless, Hotel for Dogs is a you’ll see on screen are “nothing film that will entertain any kid and more than CGI effects.” What starts out as a simple even any adult too! The ever crazier hideaway for Friday turns into an all antics both in and out of the hotel out crusade to save all the local stray will leave a lasting impression. It’s a dogs from the cruel practices of the heart warming enjoyable story, with local pound. The movie features great acting, fantastic special effects, over thirty different dogs, all with and great comic relief. It’s recomdistinctive habits and personalities, mended for all ages. MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2010 The 69TH ANNUAL JUNIOR VARIETIES - BUY A LINE On behalf of the class of 2010, I would like to invite you to support our Annual Junior Varieties. Here is an affordable way to send a well wish to a student performer or act participating in this year’s show. For just $2.00, you can purchase a line in our program. We accept cash or checks, payable to Malden High School Class of 2010. The Class of 2010 would like to thank the MHS staff, department heads, and administrators for their support. It is their dedication in the field of education that makes Malden High School a place to be proud of! See you at the show! March 6th & 7th, 2009 – 7:00 PM Malden High School – Jenkins Auditorium Thank you for your support! Ms. Robin Doherty, Ms. Jen Eby, and the Class of 2010 Please return to Ms. Eby (A108) no later than Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Malden High School c/o Jennifer Eby 77 Salem Street Malden, Ma. 02148

The Blue and Gold February 2009

The Blue and Gold February 2009

Entertainment

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Assisted by narrating-goddess Athena, played by Sarah Fraas, Odysseus begins his tale by giving his account of the Trojan War, noting how he and his battalion helped to steal back Helen using the legendary Trojan horse. Upon their triumph, Odysseus and his men begin their voyage back to Ithaca. Running low on supplies, the crew stops on an island to restock their food and water. Two shipmates, Fob, played by Carla Castillo, and Gob, played by Keith Newman, stumble upon some peculiar berries, which they decide to try before going back to the ship, misreading the warning sign nearby. The berries are in fact lotus seeds, which cause the two to lose their memories. Walking their separate ways through the forest, they meet each other several times, thinking it is a new encounter. Odysseus and the rest of the crew search for the two missing men, but find no trace of them, and depart from the island. From there, they reach a new island where they are pleasantly surprised to find a flock of sheep. The sheep however, seem to be gravitating around a cave, which Odysseus finds suspicious. Though his crew wants to feast on the sheep, Odysseus commands them to leave them alone, suspecting that the sheep belong to someone on the island. One crew member, Pete, played by Alexandra Mathieu, decides that he simply cannot resist the sheep, and follows the flock into the cave. Noticing Pete’s absence, Odysseus pursues Pete into the cave, where the two stumble upon Polyphemus the Cyclops, (a.k.a. Polly) played by Geneva DeCobert. Consistently pestered by her mother, played by Kerry Dapaz, (who mysteriously has a New York accent) Polly is told to round up the sheep. Disheartened at her apparent inability to attract a boyfriend, Polly’s mood brightens when she finds the two men in her cave. Characteristically using his brains over his brawn, Odysseus sweet-talks Polly and steals her glasses, allowing them to sneak out of the cave. Polly’s father, Posiedon, played by Lucas Roy, destroys Odysseus’

ship. Assisted by Aeolus, played by Mary Stathos, the god of the winds, Odysseus is given a bag containing all of the winds but the west. His men, however, thinking it was some treasure which he wished to keep for himself, opened the bag, again leaving them shipwrecked on the island of Circe, played by Analu Da Silva. After being turned into pigs for trying to steal Circe’s gold, Odysseus sets off to convince the witch to change his men back. Along the way, Hermes, played by Taf Khan, gives him the ability to resist Circe’s magic, and thusly Odysseus strikes a deal with Circe: that he and his men well stay on the island for one year. She helps them to rebuild their ship, and after one year, she makes good on her promise and the men leave. As they sail away, they confront the sea monster Scylla, played by Bridget Mutabi, and must pass through the whirlpool of Charybdis, played by Maya Rogers. The imposing visage of the two toy monsters leaves Odysseus too frightened to act, but Pete, luckily finds them safe passage through the obstacles. Exhausted from their journey, they rest on an island inhabited by herds of cattle. Again unable to resist the presence of meat, Pete eats one of the cows, only to find that the herd belongs to Zeus, played by Sam Zeiberg. Zeus then curses Pete for his impiety, flinging him into the ocean. Odysseus laments the loss of his companion, but takes to the sea one last time, having his return foiled again by Poseidon, and landing him on the island of Arete and Alicinous.

Mathieu as Pete with the cast in the background.

Mathieu as Pete complainning about wanting to eat the sheep.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Odysseus’ story, the king and queen decide to send him home to Ithaca, pleased with his moral fortitude and intelligence. By the close of the play, most of the audience had been left crying from the hilarious dialogue. Of all the characters, Pete seemed to be the audience favorite, leaving them gasping for breath with a barrage of jokes, modern diction, and happy-go-lucky tone. “I absolutely

loved the play, but Pete was by far my favorite character,” play production member Martin Doan stated. “The club did a great job of making the story accessible to everyone in the audience…I had a blast.” Although “the humor may have taken away from the seriousness of the story line,” commented audience member Michael Meneses, “it definitely made it a lot more entertaining.”

Members of the cast as a a Trojan horse.

Photos by L. Tran

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Cristina Peters, Joe Cirnigliaro, Kevin Chan, and Xavier Leo running different events at a meet.

Tsang makes states; others hope to follow Barbara Jerome-Athis Reporter

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HE MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL boys’ and girls’ track team have not been as successful as they had hoped to be, however, they have shown efforts on the indoor track field. Junior captain Ariel Hurts stated, “We don’t have the best team but everyone is putting efforts into the team and that is all that matters.” With a record of 1-2 for the boys and 0-3 for the girls, they plan on working hard during practices to get themselves ready for the upcom-

ing meets with the help of coaches David Londino, Mitch Abatessa, senior captains Joe Cirnigliaro, Huy Nguyen, and junior captains Ariel Hurts and Thanh Nguyen. They will compete against Everett on Feb. 11, 2009 and attend the Greater Boston League (GBL) Championship meet on Feb. 14, 2009. The team is proud of sophomore Kelvin Tsang who was the first one to be qualified for states so far this season. At 5’8”, Tsang was able

to jump a 5’10” high jump. With his success, Tsang gives the team hope to succeed for the rest of the season.

Sam Warton, Huy Nguyen, Cynthia Antenor, and Trisha Cornet running various events at a meet.

Photos by L. Tran

Sports

The Blue and Gold February 2009

MHS SWIMMING

Emily Chiavelli Head Photographer

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OR THE FIRST TIME IN two years, and only the second time in three, on Feb. 3, 2009, the Malden High School Swim Team lost a meet. Although the team remained undefeated during the regular season, winning nine meets, they lost against the Mystic Valley Charter School with a final score of 78-82. Since this was not an official league meet, the blemish on their perfect record will not affect their standing as Greater Boston League Champions, a title they have held for two years in a row. Last season, the Charter School team challenged MHS to a post-season meet, a practice that has now become somewhat of a tradition for the two teams. Although MHS won the race last year, this year the close competition between the two undefeated teams ended in a disappointing defeat for MHS. “[The Charter School has] a talented group of kids, but we

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Members of the MHS swim team as they cheer on their fellow teammates. Photos by E. Chiavelli

did a terrific job and I’m proud of our effort,” says head coach Paul DeVincentis. Despite the one loss, this year

times in the 500 yard freestyle, 200 yard individual medley, and the 100 yard backstroke. Junior Jeff Almonacid beat his personal record, swim-

has been one of personal bests for the MHS swimmers; freshman Hao Luong broke three school records, swimming the fastest recorded

ming the 50 yard freestyle in 24:10 seconds, and senior cocaptain Matthew Zunich achieved his best time in the 100 yard freestyle, beating the

Charter School’s fastest swimmer with a time of 54:01 seconds. On Feb. 6, 2009, the team competed in the GBL League Meet, hosted by Somerville; in addition to breaking their previous record for the 400 meter freestyle relay by roughly five seconds, several individual swimmers were recognized. Luong, Almonoacid, Zunitch, Wen Jie, Greg DeAngelis, Ramilo Santana, Kayla Bryant, Cristina Valente, Kristina Dyer, Samuel McNary, Tayla Damon were all awarded medals. “Losing the meet this year will give the younger kids on the team incentive to practice harder next year,” says Zunitch about the Charter School’s victory. Evidence to Zunitch’s theory comes from sophomore swimmer Elizabeth McNary, who jokes, “Malden doesn’t know how to lose! We have never lost before and I’m sure we will not next year.”

Boys basketball prepares for states Linda Nguyen Reporter

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HE MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL boys’ basketball team currently has a record of 13-3. So far the season has been a success; the team has gotten off to one of the fastest starts in school history and has already qualified for the state tournament. Team building activities play an important role in the game of basketball, since each individual’s performance affects the team’s outcome. All of the drills and activities are based on the concept of the team

helping each individual player. Their usual practice consists of a meeting at the beginning, following with stretching, drills, game planning, scrimmages, and closing the practice with more drills. The one challenge that they face most this season is keeping the team focused on one game at a time. The players have received praise from both the press and their classmates during the season. After a loss, coaches Donald Nally and Mark Ruelle set goals for themselves as the year progresses.

The starting team this year consists of seven seniors and tri-captains Marcus Armstrong, Travis Nally and Stephen Siuda. As for Egi Gjikondis, he proved himself once again by bouncing back from his one game suspension. As a sophomore, he goes through many of the typical highs and lows associated with younger players. With such high expectations for him, he has done a great job staying grounded. For this season, Everett was easily their biggest basketball ri-

val and most difficult opponent. They unfortunately lost two tightly contested games against Everett. Both games were played in front of packed crowds with enthusiastic student bodies. Although they were not able to take either game, they built on the experiences as the season progresses. “We constantly stress that, while wins are important, the most important things they can take from their athletic careers are the life lessons, structure and friendships they have developed,” stated Ruelle.

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Important date: Wrestling- All States in Salem MA, Feb. 28, 2009

COMING SPORTS IN THE SPRING: Boys’ & Girls’ Outdoor Track Boys’ & Girls’ Tennis Boys’ & Girls’ Lacrosse Crew Baseball Softball Cheerleading

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229 center st. malden, ma 02150 781-321-3000

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781.322.3424

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Red Sox & Yankees Active In Off Season Alfonse Femino Assistant Sports Writer

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OTH THE NEW YORK Yankees and Boston Red Sox have made key steps in preparing their rosters for the upcoming season. With only a few months until spring training, the teams have been more active than ever. To no ones surprise, The Yankees owner George Steinbrenner have continued acquiring all-star players from all around the league. First basemen Mark Teixeira, after being heavily prospected by the Red Sox as well as the Baltimore Orioles, were signed by the Yankees this past December for an eight year, 180 million dollar contract. Alongside Teixeira, the Yankees front office signed all-star C.C. Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians to a seven year, 161 million dollar contract, as well as A.J. Burnett from the Toronto Blue Jays for five years and 82 million. Both of the aces will play alongside veteran Andy Pettitte, and Joba Chamberlin, creating

on of the leagues most soon-to-be feared rotations, which could be bad news for the Sox. The Yankees front office is not the only successful one this season, as the Red Sox have also made some important acquisitions and signings. Theo Epstein recently acquired out fielder Rocco Baldelli from the Tampa Bay Rays. Last season Baldelli patrolled the outfield well for the Rays, and had a batting average of .281. Besides signing Baldelli, the Sox recently signed veteran catcher and team captain Jason Varitek to a one year 5 million dollar contract, as well as ace Brad Penny from the Los Angeles Dodgers to a three year deal. With all of these new and old players being signed between Boston and New York, the teams and fans alike are looking forward to a dynamic competition between the age old rivals this season.

Mark Teixeira at Yankee Stadium.

AP PHOTO

MHS WRESTLING STAYS POSITIVE Jacqui Dillon Reporter

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HE MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL wrestling team’s season may be disappointing to some, but the teammates and fans are trying to remain optimistic. Although this is only junior Matt Rizzo’s second season, he claims that wrestling is by far the toughest and most physically demanding sport he has participated in. Coach Jeremiah Smith also agrees that this is a very physically demanding sport. “It’s such a hard sport that most people quit before the season is over; the ones who remain have developed friendships that will last forever.” The season record for the team is 1-9-1 and Rizzo, along with others, copes with the loss by trying to improve on what went wrong, and think of ways to improve. “Coaches have been extremely helpful with showing us what we did wrong and making us better,” stated Rizzo on a more positive note. When asked what it takes to be a captain, Smith believes that “a captain is someone who leads by example, not words, works hard in practice and shows good sportsmanship,” along with “a lot of yelling and bossing around of younger athletes,” he joked. According to Rizzo, during their first week of practice, Smith has all of the wrestlers memorize a quote for inspiration, “the successful person has the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do, they don’t like doing them necessarily either, but their disliking it is subordinate to the strength of their purpose.” “He wants all of us to be successful at wrestling and in our lives,” Rizzo asserts. With aspirations to become a future captain, Rizzo tries to be a leader to other inexperienced wrestlers, showing sportsmanship and setting a good example for future wrestlers.

Jason Varitek signs to the Boston Red Sox. AP PHOTO

Andy Pettitt, Boston Red Sox veteran. AP PHOTO

58 Pleasant St. Malden, MA 02148 Phone: 781.324.0900

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mhs girls’ basketball hope for gbl tournament bid Nidale Zouhir Copy Editor

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ITH AN UNDIVIDED team that works as a unit, Malden High School's girls' basketball team has dribbled its way to a record of 7-8. Their ultimate goal for the rest of the season is to qualify for the state tournament, but in order for this to happen, they need to win at least three out of their next five games. The team is led by head coach Joe Levine and assistant coach Dana Brown, as well as senior tri-captains Annie Abber, Annie Wilcox, and Alison MacDonald. Abber stated, "The team works well as a unit, and...I wouldn't say there are just one or two key players. We play as a team and every player is important and has a role.” The highlight of the season for her has been being a part of the team. "Ev-

eryone gets along really well, and we work hard and have a lot of fun," she explained. "We feel that we're getting better as the season goes on," Levine added. The girls’ basketball team must improve on their shooting, according to both Abber and Levine, as well as on rebounding. However, changes that will take place next season are still a mystery for sophomore Fillette Lovaincy, as the team will have six new players to fill the spots of graduating seniors. According to Levine, it will be tough to find six girls to replace them. MHS' girls' basketball team is hopeful about concluding the season strongly, winning several more games, and qualifying for the state tournament.

GYMNASTICS ‘FULLING’ THIER WAY TO MIT Kimberly Lombard Head of Business

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MHS girls’ basketball versus Somerville



Photo by L. Tran

LACK OF ALL-AROUND gymnasts and injuries have been inhibiting the flipping and flying of the Malden High School gymnastics team, but despite the hardship, they fought their way to the Greater Boston League (GBL) Championship on Feb. 7, 2009. The lone all-around gymnast for the 2008-2009 season in freshman Alana Casey, former level 9 competitor for the Melrose YMCA gymnastics program. Senior and all-around competitor Molly Brickman’s knee injury stopped her from competing this season, leaving Casey as the only member of the team to practice and compete on all four events: bars, floor, balance beam, and vault. This 15-year-old has done gymnastics since she was two years old, and after a two year break, she came back for the high school gymnastics season in full force. Just like Brickman, Casey currently has an injured knee, but is prolonging her surgery until the gymnastics season is over. “My doctor said I needed knee surgery, but I really wanted to try gymnastics because I was really looking for ward to it,” she cautiously explained. “I was always worrying about hurting it even more so I’ve had to be pretty careful, but I’ve made it through.” Despite the injury, Casey hoped to reach a new level in her gymnastics by the GBL. Before the competition, Casey commented “I’m setting high standards for myself for the GBL. I really want a back handspring, and at least an 8.5 on bars, but floor will be my biggest challenge.” The young gymnast certainly achieved her goal at the biggest competition of the season for the MHS gymnastics team by winning the all-around competition with a score of 33.05. The team currently has a record of 2-6 but is keeping its’ hopes high. “If we don’t win, we don’t let it bring us down,” Casey commented. Head coach Katie Bowdridge and captains Amanda Dipietrantonio, Kethia Mathieu, and Jessica Fox have continued to encourage the team through both wins and losses. “They always come to practice with a smile and encourage people to do better,” Casey noticed. “They’re what makes the team a team.” The team practiced five days a week throughout the entire season at the Salemwood school to prepare themselves for the GBL competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and feel as though they ended their season strongly.