KATE KELLEY and MIA COONEY, CLASS OF 2017 When Girls Soccer Senior Captains Mia Cooney and Lucy Mahoney suggested the idea of kneeling during the National Anthem, they certainly did not expect to generate such a buzz around the school. Earlier in the NFL season, when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt for the national anthem, he created a national stir with his protest, meant to highlight the racial oppression and police brutality prevalent in our nation. His intention of raising awareness of social injustice has largely succeeded on a national. Since then, other players have followed suit, some altering the protest to raising a fist. Kaepernick’s silence protest has even spread to high school teams, most recently football teams in Colorado and Washington. The movement has gained such traction that it has been discussed by President Obama. Despite the clear effectiveness of the movement, many are angered with the delivery method of the protest. After becoming informed on the issue and movement, Mia Cooney brought the idea to the team, stressing that “I am in no way shape or form requiring anyone to kneel beside me but I just want to make sure I am not offending anyone on the team before I actually do it, but I believe we should shed light on police brutality using this platform.” The suggestion was met with varying reactions, with many thinking it was “distracting or offensive in some ways.” Upon seeing all of the drama the suggestion created, the team opted out of partaking.
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JOHN AUER, CLASS OF 2019 Not even three months into his first year at FHS, new Athletic Director, James Coffey, wants to make some big changes to the athletic program, a couple of which he has already completed.
“We created the scheduling website,” Coffey said. “And Mr. Sullivan and I have been cranking up the social media stuff so you guys can be more involved and know what's going on in the athletic department.” Coffey also said he’s planning on doing new, fun things in the school to improve school spirit and to support each other more. For example, “Wouldn’t it be cool,” Coffey said, “if the cross country team came to say, a field hockey game? And then the field hockey came came to a cross country meet? I especially want to get more people to sports that don’t draw big crowds.” Over the next few years, Mr. Coffey has even bigger goals. “The top of my list is to get the weight room done and over with and implement the new strength and conditioning plan.” Coffey plans on having the weight room redesigned to be more effective so “whether you play football, or hockey, or indoor track, or whatever, you would have the same workout program.” Previously as an athletic director, Coffey has found success with a strength program because “the number of injuries you have as a whole goes down dramatically.” Coffey added “Rob is amazing. He’s a magician. But we want to get to the point where he doesn’t have to deal with so many injuries.” The strength program will also improve “performance and endurance and make you a better player overall.” As many student athletes know, Mr. Coffey has also created a new Student- Athlete Leadership Council. “This Council really has two goals. First, to give student athletes a voice. Since I don’t coach a team anymore, this Council is like my team and I’m hear to listen to what they have to say.” Secondly, the Council offers a great opportunity to bring all the teams together as one program. “I really want to the Leadership Council to bring the school together so we can have great school spirit,” Coffey said. For the upcoming season, Mr. Coffey has one word: excited. “The indoor seasons are louder and have more people. It’s a great atmosphere. I can’t wait!” WILL LARSON, CLASS OF 2017 Among the rush of activities at Falmouth High School in spring, few would have thought that political activism would be included between exam week and graduation. An increasing number of students are getting involved in the presidential campaign, attending and protesting rallies, volunteering for candidates, and writing commentary on social media. No presidential candidates have received more attention than Donald Trump, who consistently finds himself embroiled in political tension. In April, an incident at Emory University prompted protests after students woke to “Trump 2016” written in chalk across campus. Closer to home, a sophomore at South Portland High School was reprimanded for wearing a Trump hat in school. Such events and their reactions, both by the academic institutions and media coverage, have highlighted contemporary issues of political tolerance, race, and free speech. Is there a conflict between anti-racist activism and free speech on college campuses? Can Trump’s ideals be considered political opinion, or do they constitute larger moral beliefs of race, class, and gender? JOEY HAN, CLASS OF 2017 When interrogated, library staff will tell you “The library's limit is 35 people. We can’t take any more.”
My initial reaction to hearing this was, like many, “What a silly rule! There are plenty of empty seats and my study hall teacher knows I’m here! I’m quietly doing my work, what should be the issue?” So I asked, naive as I was... “Why?” “We just can’t. I’m sorry.” Confused, and very frustrated, I walked past three empty tables and out the library door. I didn’t show it, but a single tear ran down my cheek. My next best bet was to just work quietly in the commons, so I decided to cry privately alone in one of the downstairs commons tables. Of course, as many of you have likely experienced, I was promptly berated for working in what is now “the tutoring center” (AKA “the unofficial, unmarked semi-circular region in the majority of the downstairs commons.”) Warded off by icy glares, I shuffled away. Needless to say, I was humiliated and upset. So, being a writer for the Mast, I took it upon myself to do some research. When I got to my P5, study hall I headed to the back with Ben Simonds and Brock Welch, prepared to study for Psych together. I had made certain that there were precisely 35 people signed up for the library, and that I was the 36th to enter. And that’s all I remember before I blacked out. As it turns out, once the library’s student limit is exceeded, the likelihood of spontaneous combustion in students skyrockets. As I witnessed before going unconscious, a deadly combination of tornadoes, floods and earthquakes tear through the library’s walls and packs of rabid wolves rush in through the windows. The last thing I saw before blacking out was Brock being attacked by bats coming through the air-ducts, and Ben’s backpack bursting into flames. When I woke up, I had a terrible rash, and giant venomous snakes were coiled around my numbed arms, strapping me to the library chair. So lesson learned? The seemingly absurd rules of FHS are there for an extremely good reason. Next time you go complaining about the convoluted schedule of a CX day, stop yourself. You might just be avoiding the apocalypse. BLAIR LEGERE, CLASS OF 2016 No one, after reading this article, will know where I stand on gun control, abortion or U.S. refugee policies. This is not a persuasive column attempting to indoctrinate you, criticize you or convince you of the legitimacy of a particular political opinion. That is your business. I have complete and utter faith in you to accomplish that on your own.
Instead, I would like to address a curious finding of mine. In the wake of the Paris attacks and the San Bernadino massacre, hundreds of people have lost their lives. Families have been torn apart. Lives have been ruined. And what, I ask, does America have to say for itself? The answer is: nothing. Or at least nothing good. Within the past month, I have seen more hateful posts directed at opposite political parties than I have seen in my entire life. Conservatives can't understand why all liberals walk around smoking their legal weed, driving Priuses and handing out welcome mats to ISIS refugees. Liberals can't seem to comprehend why all conservatives keep eight handguns under their pillow at night, despise all minorities, and think the best answer to homosexuality is to pray the gay away. These gruesome caricatures have become ingrained within our society and our perception of one another. They are the first images that appear when we consider relevant political issues, and they are the standards we use to define ourselves. And what is the most important thing about them that seems to have been forgotten? They are inaccurate. The polarization of opinions has led to a point where two parties that, in essence, have existed for less than 100 years have torn apart an entire nation built upon freedom. Every time you denounce an opinion differing from yours as wrong and idiotic, YOU are taking away your right as a citizen of this country to express your opinion freely. When your political opinion defines who you are as a person, when it controls who you will give the time of day to, when it prevents you from even listening to another side that just might have an insightful, novel idea beneficial for both sides, it has failed you. More importantly, you have failed yourself. Political opinions exist not as ammunition against others, or as barriers to be driven between friends and family, or as ways to form in-crowds or cliques that ostracize all other forms of life. They exist as a side effect of free and intelligent thinking by aware and active individuals all possessing the equal right to have them. Partisanship is not intelligence. It is, quite frankly, a means of pontificating to the world that you have closed your mind to all other possibilities other than the ones you see fit to be considered. Is that any way to be perceived? Furthermore, is that any way to view life? "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." So said President Abraham Lincoln. I live for the debate of current issues; it is of upmost importance for us all to be aware of the world around us. But I am tired of listening to people, some of whom I respect more than anyone in the world, bicker with one another. In the wake of these horrifically frequent tragedies, the only thing that should increase on the media is love and support. Instead, hatred and ignorance have manifested. Where is this getting us? How can we complain that Congress can't stop arguing when we, the future members of Congress, can't do that ourselves? If you don't agree, disagree. But remember above all else: in every person's mind, they are just as right to themselves as you perceive yourself to be. SETAREH JALALI, CLASS OF 2016 On the evening of November 13, 2015, following the violent attacks on Paris, Facebook implemented a safety check tool that allowed users in Paris to notify others of their safety status. The thought was that people would be able to easily gather information on loved ones and their whereabouts during the chaos. In addition, Facebook decided to add a feature that would allow users to add a French flag to their profile picture in order to stand in solidarity. Though these thoughts may have been well-intended, both systems seemed to leave people with many questions.
November 13th was not a day of tragedy for only Paris. Though not as widely covered in the media, two suicide bombings by ISIS took place on this same day in Beirut, Lebanon. 43 individuals were killed and more than 200 were injured. As tragic as the event was, it somehow did not find it’s way into Western media in the same way that the Paris attacks did. There were no safety checks for the Lebanese, no red, white, and green flags to show solidarity, and comparatively little public outcry from most. So here’s the simple question: Why? Some people argued that Paris is close to home and we of course have close ties to them. This seems like a valid point, (I mean they gave us the Statue of Liberty didn’t they?) but maybe this idea is the issue. Of course there is value in supporting other countries through horrific tragedies, but why are we stopping here, at Paris? This ethnocentrism is completely closing our eyes to the rest of the world, and to other countries that desperately need prayers and solidarity as well. And while it may be easy to believe that this is some isolated incident, recent history has proven this is not true. In January 2015, Paris was the victim of another tragic attack over Charlie Hebdo’s controversial depictions of the Islamic Prophet Muhammed. The world instantly came together over the 12 deaths and #JeSuisCharlie was born. During this amazing outpouring of support, however, another tragedy that would go largely ignored was taking place more than 3,000 miles south in Nigeria. The attacks took place over the course of 4 days and more than 2,000 died at the hands of Boko Haram. Despite the stunning fatalities and the fact that 3 days of the attack occurred before those in Paris, the event took up little space in most news outlets. This event is still only one of the many unfortunate examples of the narrow-minded ethnocentric thinking that has become so common today. Surely people could compare these attacks, but that’s not the point. This isn’t some competition to see who’s suffered more, it’s simply a call for humanity. Few rational thinkers are suggesting that we stop praying for Paris and do away with the safety checks; solidarity and safety are of utmost important. But the disparity between our care for certain countries and certain races is too great to be ignored anymore. Let us of course pray for Paris, but let’s not stop there. JOEY HAN, CLASS OF 2017 We’ve all seen them, standing in front of the lockers next to Ms. Hjorts room or huddling in random sections of the upstairs commons. Studies show that Falmouth’s new class of Freshmen, (like many animals), are particularly reliant on traveling in herds and packs. Similar to penguins, the boys form tight circles, in which they stand facing inwards (hands in pockets), with backpacks creating a protective shell/outside ring. This formation, called “toes in, backpacks out” serves to provide both warmth and security, more importantly the latter. Little is known about what they discuss, but freshman Reilly Tucker reports that conversation is limited to the Boat Dance and Bosco Sticks. He continued, admitting that many don’t say actual words, but instead resort to shouting bouts of nonsensical gibberish.
Thus, not surprisingly, the boys have become so reliant on groups that they begin to break and lose control when separated. According to bus drivers, when individuals leave the group to go to their respective buses, they begin to crumble. In order to analyze these reactions, I ventured down to the buses after school to see for myself. The reality was shocking to say the least. A freshmen lay on the floor of the bus, curled in a fetal position and whimpering softly to himself. When I attempted to interview him, he shuddered, whispered something about fantasy football and broke down into tears. “I’M AFRAID, OK?!”, he screamed at me. I was stunned. When I talked to the bus-driver, she said that it happened everyday. “Tantrums are regular around here,” she said. “It’s a shame.” Supposedly, this anxiety continues until AFT the following day, when the security-huddle is reunited outside Mr. Casey’s door. As one anonymous individual among the nameless rabble described it, “As soon as I see the ring of salmon pants, nike shirts and low-hanging backpacks, I can take a deep breath. I wipe away my tears, because I know everything is going to be OK.” BROOKE BAZARIAN - CLASS OF 2016 Hey there human beans! Do you ever feel like you have a lot on your plate? Not like peas or sushi or cranberries. I’m talking just a crap-ton of stuff to do and it keeps piling up and up until it’s literally surrounding you in a massive fort of homework and to-do lists which you kind of want to play in but you CAN’T because you have to GET IT ALL DONE?! I feel you! Do you ever feel like your day-to-day stress has reached abnormal levels compared to everyone else’s and you just can’t handle it? Of course you do! I’m here to help. GINA PARDI - CLASS OF 2016 The month of May is a busy yet exciting one. School is winding down, the seniors are in their last few weeks of high school, and the warmer weather is slowly, but steadily, emerging. Overall, the mentality of students is transitioning from one centered on school and studying to one more focused on summer. However, if you are a junior at Falmouth High School, the month of May means testing, testing and more testing. Constant, various testing is preventing juniors from experiencing the lackadaisical, relaxed state of mind most students feel towards the end of the school year. SETAREH JALALI - CLASS OF 2016 April 24th marked an incredible day for the transgender community when, after 65 years of struggling with gender dysphoria, Bruce Jenner officially came out to the world as a transgender woman in an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer. Jenner, who is currently requesting the male pronouns of he/him, stated, “For all intents and purposes, I’m a woman.” BECCA FOLEY - CLASS OF 2015 Icy roads, a few feet of snow, and below zero temperatures have made this winter one of the best Falmouth has seen in recent years. Every night from December until March, the FHS student body consulted the Snow Day Calculator to decide whether or not to do their homework, and the results were always correct. Every time a snow day came around, the administration effectively alerted parents to changes in the schedule for the week, sending emails using the terms "CX Day" and "shortened AFT", knowing the parents would understand these acronyms, and pass along the message, without fail, to their children. MAX BRAUTIGAM - CLASS OF 2016 Excluding any unpredictable disaster that demands coverage, this will be the most important article I will ever write. This piece covers an idea integral to everyday life. It’s about how to live life happily and productively. It’s about how to overcome challenges that feel impossible. It’s about how to raise any children you may someday have. It’s about how to teach, it’s about how to learn, and it’s about how to become a better person. My only goal is to convey information I have learned as clearly and effectively as possible. SETAREH JALALI & GINA PARDI - CLASS OF 2016 As most people know, March 8th was International Women’s “Day.” This “day” was marked by numerous events, such as celebrations, parades, and demonstrations. Multiple celebrities also tweeted to celebrate the occasion while also reminding people how far we still have to go for gender equality. However, it just so happened that this “day” fell on daylight savings, meaning there were only 23 hours to celebrate women. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a “day” is defined as a period of 24 hours as a unit of time. With that being said, it appears that International Women’s “Day” was not really a day, but merely a 23 hour celebration. SETAREH JALALI - CLASS OF 2016 On February 10, 2015, Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha were killed in their home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The alleged shooter, their neighbor, Craig Stephen Hicks, has now been indicted on three counts of first-degree murder. Though news outlets have stated that the shooting was over a parking spot conflict, many, including the victims’ families, feel sure that this was a religion-based hate crime (the victims were Palestinian and Syrian Muslims). Most agree that claiming that it was simply a parking conflict is seen as disrespectful to the memories of these three incredibly talented young people. ISABEL WOLFE - CLASS OF 2015 If a casual passerby walked in front of Falmouth High on Thursday, March 12, between 12:15 and 12:30 PM, or on Friday, March 20, between 12:15 and 12:30 PM, he or she would be shocked to see a huge mass of students standing outside the school. These students, it turns out, had flooded out of the building after the screams of a fire alarm had pierced the previously peaceful morning. The first time, students were unprepared for the frigid March temperatures. Many were wearing shoes without socks, and few had their coats. They waited for what seemed like an eternity, staring at the conspicuously non-burning building and almost wishing it would erupt in flames like a huge bonfire. At least then the school grounds would be warm. The only non-shivering stoic was Jorma Kurry, who admitted to taking daily ice baths for his constitution. Fortunately for the rest of the crowd, the Falmouth Fire Department, only a few miles away, mobilized at light speed ‒ fire trucks arrived on the scene only 15 minutes later! When all was said and done, life returned to normal… or so FHS thought. MEGHAN CHAREST - CLASS OF 2016 An explosive debate developed in the South Portland school system recently, ignited by senior class president Lily San Giovanni's, who added the clause “If you’d like to” at the end of her invitation for students to rise to say the Pledge of Allegiance. The addition sparked controversy in the community and on Facebook, raising questions about free speech and the role of the pledge in schools. MAX BRAUTIGAM - CLASS OF 2016 A quick disclaimer – you see movies like The Imitation Game, Selma, and Interstellar all getting high grades from me because they are all movies worthy of high grades. I try not to watch movies that don’t look like they’re good. Next time I go to theaters and accidentally see a piece of crap, I’ll be sure to let you all know. Now back on topic. SCOTT LAMBERT - CLASS OF 2015 College Board has released a series of videos on its website with "stunning quality and far-reaching implications," according to the Oscars awards committee. |