1. D a y fro m ,
ne’s
pp y V alent i
Ha
Y
Y
Y
Smoke Signals
Y
Y
Y
PTHS
February 2008
Volume 39, Issue 4
Wanted: Money for College
Photo By Melanie Hoffman
Senior NatALIE nITCHMANn researches financial aid during study hall in the Career Resource Center. Nitchmann college choices are between Penn State and Allegheny College.
Grant Burkhardt
News Editor
T
he common misconception among high school students
and parents is that if they don’t have the right family
demographic, they cannot receive much financial aid for
college. This is not true. Last year, over $4 million
was given to high school seniors in the form of federal aid and
scholarships. To get money, however, a prospective college student
must know where to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
First, the best place to look for financial aid is through the
government. The biggest chunk of college aid is found in this way.
Parents use their tax returns from the previous year to fill out the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. After mailing the
forms, a student can expect to receive at least few thousand dollars
in aid. The only problem with the FAFSA is that it is based primarily
on family makeup and income. Essentially, an only child of a wealthy
family shouldn’t be counting on the FAFSA to put him through school.
The next place a student should look is through the school
they are applying to. Don’t wait until after acceptance to start looking
for money inside the school. Every school has some money to give
to incoming freshmen, and they are willing to give it to even the most
mediocre students. Many application-based scholarships exist so
incoming freshman can get more money to fund their education.
Colleges, especially state schools, have many non-application
scholarships where a student is placed into a pool of students based on
high school GPA and standardized test scores. Senior CJ McAllister
used this avenue explaining how, “right after I was accepted, they
sent me a letter saying I had qualified to be one of their freshman
scholars. The money is renewable for all four years I’m there.” All
a student has to do is find out where the money is located. Most
schools have parts of their website that deal with financial aid. In that
section of the website, most of the money appears as scholarships.
When all the money is added up, the collegiate financial burden
seems slightly more affordable. The biggest resource a college student
has is the federal reserve using the FAFSA, but a student can expect
to get the majority of his financial aid through his particular school
using scholarships and grants from different school departments.

2. Peters Township Reference
PTHS
February 2008
February 2008
Smoke Signals
Sunday
Tuesday
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Hey Seniors!
We’re Half Way
there!!!!
Friday
1
Boys Varsity Basketball
VS. Canon McMillan
7:30
New Year’s Day!
HAPPY 2008!
2
Saturday
2
Boys Varsity Basketball
VS. Thomas Jefferson
2:30
Ground Hog Day!
3 Endangered Species 4
Act was enacted 1 73
9
5
Apollo 14 - the third US manned
Moon expedition. Alan Shepard &
Edward Mitchell walk on Moon
for 4 hours in 1971
6
10
11
French & Indian War The Beatles’ first US
Ended, 1763
concert in
Washington DC,
1964
12
13
17
18
19
President’s Day!
U. S. Marines landed on Iwo
Jima, 1945
Girls Varsity Basketball
VS. Greater Latrobe
7:30
Superbowl
Sunday
Blondie &
Dagwood were
married in 1933
NO SCHOOL!
24
25
180
a r e ex ch a n g e d o n
Day
Va l e n t i n e ’s
Day
National Black
HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day
14
Valent ine’s
Day
Boys Varsity Wrestling
- Montour - Senior Rec
7:30
15
Galileo Galilei’s
Birthday
9
Snowball
16
NO SCHOOL!
20
Kurt Cobain’s Bithday
21
Alka Seltzer was introduced in 1931
22
27
28
M*A*S*H” TV Series final
episode airs February 28,
1983
29
National Polar Bear Day
Million heart-shaped
boxes are chocolate
are sold for Valentine’s Day each year
are
Roses
Drew Barrymore &
George Washington’s
Birthday!
23
Pie Day
Leap Day!
Valentine’s Maze
2
Places in the United
send
States are named
themsevlves flowers
Va l e n t i n e : Va l e n -
on Valentine’s Day.
tine, Nebraska &
Of
women
Va l e n t i n e ,
Smoke Signals
Smoke Signals is produced eight times during
a school year by the students of Media II, III,
IV Journalism and extracurricular staff at Peters Towship High School, 264 E. McMurray
Road, McMurray PA 15317. Telephone: 724941-6250 x.5379. E-mail: sitlern@pt-sd.org.
Dream of Your
Sweetheart Day
8
Of flowers bought
on
15%
Coed Varsity Swimming
& Diving - Canon MacSenior Rec 6:00
36
48%
Millon greeting cards
Va l e n t i n e ’s
Boys Varsity Wrestling
VS. Avella 7:30
26
World Trade Center
bombing, February 26,
1993
Operation Desert
Storm Ground
Campaign began,
1991
7
Commentaries, reviews, and opinion col-
umns are the expressed opinion of the author
and not of Smoke Signals, its advisor or the
Peters Township School District. Member of
the Pennsylvania School Press Association.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Ashley Czajkowski
Renée Wunderlich
LAYOUT EDITOR
Katie Gavlick
NEWS EDITOR
Grant Burkhardt
FEATURES EDITOR
Angelina Nepa
OPINION EDITORS
Alex Egan
Brian Lewis
SPORTS EDITOR
Bill Berry
Jordan Dent
Te x a s
MARKETING EDITORS
Brianna Lutes
Shelby Miller
STAFF WRITERS
Andrea Briggs, Emily Estep,
Gina Nepa,
Taylor Relich, Bridget
Stasenko, Katie Ellis,
Averi Clements, Paige Burris, Mady Dietrich, Stephanie Nitschmann, Stephanie
Cotugno, Ian Jackson, Dana
Hoelle, Melanie Hoffman,
Brendan Sikora
LAYOUT TEAM
Katie Gavlick, Kaylin Zawicki, Emily Correal, Shelby
Miller, Brianna Lutes
ADVISER
Mrs. Sitler
http://www.astrolog.org/labyrnth/art.htm

3. News
PTHS
February 2008
Smoke Signals
Super Efforts for the Souper Bowl
Melanie Hoffman
Staff Writer
Cities around the world are not only
looking forward to the biggest football game
of the year – the Super Bowl taking place
in Miami, Florida- but also a huge volunteer
effort:the
Souper
Bowl.
This event
utilizes Super Bowl
weekend to mobilize
youth to fight hunger
and poverty in their
local communities.
Local
schools,
churches,
and
organizations raise
money for a nonprofit organization
of
their
choice.
Charities such as
The American Red
Cross, Kids Against
Hunger, and Meals on Wheels benefit
from the hard work of the communities
volunteers.
The Souper Bowl of Caring was started in
Columbia, South Carolina in 1990. There, twenty-two
churchgoers raised $5,700. There has been a great
increase in popularity of the event, and in 2007 the
participants raised over $8,165,644.
The bar is set high for this year due to the
large amount of money raised last year. Volunteers
are always needed to collect money, food, and
much more. Local
participants
are
All Saints Greek
Orthodox Church,
St. Patrick’s Catholic
Church, and Our
Redeemer Lutheran
Church. Junior Wes
Schimd-Broome,
an active member
of Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church’s
fundraising,
explained,
“The
day
before
the
Super Bowl, our
church holds a 24 hour fast sponsored by different
organizations by the hour. Most of our proceeds go
to non-profit Lutheran organizations. In my opinion,
those charities are among the most proficient and
productive, and any leftovers going to the Peters
Township Food Pantry.” If interested in participating,
you can go to www.souperbowl.org for more details.
Sweet Summer Seasons:
Thespian Troupe Presents Dandelion Wine
Renée Wunderlich
Co-Editor-In-Chief
Dandelion Wine,
a tale depicting the many
stages of life, love, and
summer vacation, will
be hitting the stage
February 21-23. Director
Mr. Wood will be weaving
together two styles of
theatre
performance:
presentational
(facing
the
audience)
and
representational
(character
facing
character). “Combining
these
techniques
provides for a more
unusual
and
imaginative
production than
other high school
shows thus far,”
said Wood, “With
Dandelion, the
audience needs
to play an active
role in ‘seeing’
the
adventure
play out within their own
minds.”
c o m m e n t e d
McIntyre,
“There
is no set, there are
no costumes, but
it’s not a complete
Reader’s
Theatre
experience. There
are some scenes
where
characters
are talking directly
to each other, and
stools and ladders
are used as scenery.
It’s all about how
the actors inspire
the
audience’s
memories and the songs
of yesteryear, Dandelion
Wine recalls the many
whimsical elements of
childhood, as well as
the simple magic of a
summer day.
While the joys
and celebrations of life
are highlighted during
each day during the
summer of 1928, so are
the darker qualities of
existence, such as death
and the feeling of loss.
The play includes a cast
The boys and
their friends Lucy (senior
Sara Taylor) and John
(junior Drew Caliguri)
also meet shop keeper
Sanderson,
played
by sophomore James
Northrop,
and
civil
war veteran Colonel
Freeleigh, played by
senior Sam RodgersMelnick (who doubles as
a symbolic guitar player).
Ben Pritz and Dan
DeLuca play Freeleigh’s
old friends Pawnee Bill
and Miguel.
Jess
Ward
plays
the
nurse.
The
disembodied
voices of the
town chorus
will be played
by:
Carly
A d a m s ,
Lindsay
Bayer, Olivia Bayer,
Alexa
Baxendell,
Kelsey Boze, Kaitlyn
Corbett, Julia Devine,
Breanna
Ferchak,
Keliegh Fitzgerald, Kyle
Gramling,
Annemarie
hall, Katy Hartenbach,
Hannah Hobbs, Lauren
Hobbs, Kara Hunter, Ali
Jacobs, Melissa Jarrett,
Sarah
Leech,
Carl
Mitchell, Angelina Nepa,
Natalie
Palamides,
Monica Paterra, Becky
Rosky, Stephanie Shultz,
Lauren
Spinabelli,
Madison
Squeglia,
MarliAnn Thinges, Ben
West, Renée Wunderlich,
and Laura Zini.
“Combining these techniques provides for a more
unusual and imaginative production than other
high school shows thus far,”
Wood
will
also be integrating
many songs typical
of the 1920’s, and
will be aided by
sophomores Evan
McIntyre (assistant
director) and Linsey
VanNewKirk (stage
manager).
Ticket
sales will be reported
over the morning
announcements and
can be purchased
during all lunch
periods, as well as
on show nights. “This
performance is going
to be really different,”
imagination.”
Written in 1975,
Dandelion Wine is a
semi-autobiographical
drama of its author,
Ray Bradbury. The plot
centers on 12-yearold Douglas Spaulding
(who is presumably
a version of young
Bradbury), played by
sophomore Tom Norton.
The title itself refers to
the beverage bottled
from dandelions found
on the Spauldings’ front
lawn. This homemade
dandelion wine is also
a tangible symbol for
the
blissful
months
of its brewing. Sewn
together by summertime
of characters that sprawl
the emotional palate,
an infinite supply of
symbolism, and a route
to happiness.
Douglas and his
brother, Tom (sophomore
Harry Buzzatto) embark
on adventures of all
sorts, running into trouble
and learning about the
world around them. The
Spaulding family serves
as the heart of the play,
featuring
sophomore
Justin Gaab as the
boy’s father, senior Jess
Rothaar as their mother,
and senior Gina Wagner
and freshman Hardy
Kern and great grandma
and grandpa.
3
NHS Sponsors Annual Dodge
Ball Tournament
The PTHS National Honor Society is sponsoring the
4th Annual Dodge Ball Tournament for the Make-AWish Scholarship Fund. It will be held on Tuesday,
February 19th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the high school
gym. Each school in the district will organize a faculty
team. These faculty teams will compete against each
other to have an ultimate champion. Admission will be
$4.00. Beginning Feb 12th, advanced tickets will be
sold in some of the district schools and in the athletic
office at the high school during school hours. Please
contact your school for specific information. Tickets
will also be sold at the door on February 19th. Please
make checks payable to Peters Township National
Honor Society.
Any parent willing to donate baked goods for this
event please drop them off at the Peters Township
High School labeled Mrs. Kendrick room A306 on
Tuesday February 19th during school hours or bring
them directly to the event. Please have them wrapped
for individual sale. Thank you for all of your help!
What In The
World?
We’ve all heard of arrests involving cars and
pedestrians, but this one is truly unique: Tasos
Pouliasis of Athens, Greece has been charged
for damaging property after walking over a
car that was parked illegally on the sidewalk.
The car was allegedly blocking the walkway,
making it impossible for anyone to go around it.
Pouliasis is now facing a fine, while the owner
of the vehicle was not even given a ticket.
Tired of trying to decipher the annoying
slang of American Idol’s Randy Jackson?
Well, look no further, boys and girls! Lucy
van Amerongen of Box in Gloucestershire,
England has written a guide to teenage
slang after her parents complained that they
couldn’t understand anything that she said.
The guide has over 300 unique words and
includes three of her own personal agendas:
“never make eye contact when talking to a
‘mouldie’ (parent), always mumble inaudibly,
and try to include ‘like’ in every sentence.”
“Till death do us part” is probably one of the
most ignored vows in American history – we
have one of the highest divorce rates in the
world, if not the highest. What you may not
be aware of, however, is that January 7th is
the most popular day for couples to file for
divorce. Why? “Over Christmas, people spend
more time together than they usually would,”
family lawyer Suzanne Kingston of Dawsons
Solicitors stated. “And at New Year’s people
often make resolutions and think about what
they want for the future.” Which, unfortunately,
may not include their current significant other.
When you lose something, it’s always in the last
place you look. Kristy Brittain of Magra, Tasmania
had long given up finding her nose ring after
it fell out when she was kneeboarding. To her
surprise, she did find it again – inside of one of
the fish her fiancé, Darren Triffett, had intended
for that night’s dinner. I guess this proves that
the old saying is true: there are plenty of fish
in the sea – you just have to find the right one.
I was under the impression that the expression
was “taking candy from a baby”, not money.
Thirty-year-old Ryan A. Mueller of Sheboygan,
Wisconsin has been charged with sneaking
into the bedroom of a two-year-old and
stealing twenty dollars from a piggy bank.
Mueller’s bond was set for $10,000 and he
faces up to nine and a half years in prison.
Compiled by Katie Ellis, Staff Writer

4. 4
Features
PTHS
February 2008
Smoke Signals
Future
of Online
Schooling
Paige Burris
Staff Writer
Online schooling can
leave children and teenagers
with bad communication skills.
Sure, it’s fun to sleep in, but
communication
skills
are
needed to build character. Some
parents think sheltering kids for
their entire lives is going to help,
but in the long run it will only hurt
them. People learn from making
mistakes, and social interaction
is how teens discover their
identity. Imagine how different
someone’s life could be if they
did online schooling instead
of public or private school? If
a student participates online
schooling only for some classes
and comes to public school for
the rest of the time that would be
ideal. They would get to teach
themselves and learn how to
study on their own, but also get the
whole experience of elementary
school through high school.
“Online schooling would
be a great idea.” Sophomore
Kelsey Boze suggested. Others
also agree, because high school
is not the best at all times, and
some would rather sit at home
and do the school work. Classes
should be online, but not totally
taught on the computer. If
someone goes on a trip or is
missing a lot of school, it would
be a lot better for them to just
go online and take the class
on the computer instead of
waiting until they get back to
make everything up. If the plan
is just to take online classes
for college, that’s not a bad
idea because college students
typically have a job, and it would
be a lot more convenient than
having to go to campus every
day. Also, if people want to go
back to college have a full time
job and family, online schooling
would be the better idea. Online
classes can be a great thing,
but not the full experience
of actually being at school.
GO
figure
Valentine’s Day
Speak
The History of Valentine’s Day
Andrea Briggs
Valentine’s Day
conjures up images
of candy and flowers,
hearts and little cherubs
wielding bows, but no
February
fourteenth
would
be
complete
without an exchange
of valentine cards. This
tradition dates back to
the fifteenth century
with Charles, the Duke
of Orleans, who wrote
what many consider the
“first” valentine.
The
holiday
itself is more ancient
than that, starting with
a pagan holiday called
Lupercalia, celebrating
the god Lupercus and
serving as coming-ofage ceremony for men.
The ceremony involved
a lottery in which each
man randomly drew the
name of a woman that he
would be partnered with
for the rest of the year.
When the Catholic Church
started rising to power,
Pope Gelasius changed
the pagan practice to
reflect Catholicism but
wanted to preserve the
aspects of love that
surrounded the day. Pope
Gelasius was faced with
the challenge of renaming
this holiday, and decided
that the Saint “Valentine”
would be an appropriate
namesake.
Valentine was the
name of a man who was
imprisoned during the
third century for marrying
couples during a time
when the Roman Emperor
had banned marriage.
While in prison, Valentine
fell in love with the jailer’s
daughter, and he would
pass notes to her through
the bars of his cell. These
notes were signed “from
your Valentine”, and this
phrase is still used to
sign modern valentines
today.
Couples today
still use St. Valentine’s
Day to express their
love for one another. At
first, in the Middle Ages,
handwritten notes of
love were exchanged
between pairs. During
the
1500’s,
flowers
became popular after
a daughter of France’s
Henry the IV held a
party in which each
lady received a bouquet
as a valentine. Today,
Valentine’s Day ranks
as the number one
holiday for florists,
with more fresh flowers
purchased that day than
any other holiday. The
Postal Service finds
Valentine’s Day as their
number two holiday for
sending cards, second
only to Christmas.
Your Own Personal Primary
Angelina Nepa
OUT
Syntax Editor
Who Is Your Favorite Celebrity
Crush?
“Hilary Clinton”
Senior Nate Meyers
“Zac Efron”
Junior Emily Grisnik
Features Editor
Primary elections are in full swing
as the major parties poll the first states.
Decisions are upon us, and the seniors
finally get to cast their votes as adults for
the first time. As this paper goes to print,
Iowa, Wyoming, New Hampshire, and
Michigan have already been decided, while
the Pennsylvania primary is scheduled to
take place on April 22. How many students
will be voting? Says senior Carl Mitchell,” I
just got my voter registration card, and it’s
really exciting to know I can use it.” Most
of the senior class will be 18 by the time
the PA primary rolls around, but it’s doubtful
that many students will make it out to the
polls. Every adult should make it his or
her responsibility to get to the voting booth
especially for a first ballot.
It’s easier than ever for anyone
to get registered. The League of Women
Voters allows people to do it online.
Facebook’s Rock the Vote group helps you
register as well. There really is no excuse
anymore, except perhaps not knowing
about the candidates (and only a few are
likely to stick around for Pennsylvania).
Democrats:
Barack
ObamaCharismatic Illinois state senator, and
renowned for his public speaking. Wants
to end the war, have diplomatic relations
with Iran and Syria, and establish a
national health care system. Says that his
inexperience as a new senator will foster
changes that those in Washington have
been unable to make.
180 Million
Valentines Day cards
are sold every year.
Hillary Clinton- a very strong
advocate of national health care and
unwaveringly pro-choice.
Wants to
end the war as well as support energy
conservation.
Says her experience
of years in Washington will make her
effective as a leader.
Republicans:
Mitt
RomneyFormer governor of Massachusetts, has
executive experience, adamantly pro-life,
does not believe in same-sex marriage,
supports some gun control legislation,
and wants to carry out the war in Iraq.
John McCain- Called a “maverick”
by the media for his remarkable nonpartisanship, willing to compromise with
members of the Democratic Party, prolife, and opposes national health care.
The decision is up to each
individual voter, and anyone can vote in
either the Republican or the Democratic
primary in this state. Just register with
either major party by April 22 of this year.
It’s no hindrance to register for a certain
party because registration does not
matter for the final vote for the General
Election in November. Regardless of
what one believes, it’s important that you
make a decision. As John F. Kennedy
once said, “Political action is the highest
responsibility of a citizen.” It just might be
the responsibility of students as well.
Americans spent
13.7 Billion
dollars on
Valentine’s Day in
2006.
“Jessica Simpson”
Sophomore Vince Courtney
“Johnny Depp”
Freshman Lexi Quarter
“Queen Latifa”
Junior Ben Roberson
The Average
male
plans on spending
$135.67.
36 million
heart shaped
boxes are sold for
Valentine’s Day.
Valentine,s Day
is celebrated
by
of
Canadians.
86%

5. PTHS
February 2008
Emily Estep
Staff Writer
And The Winner Is…
The votes will be cast, and in
February, the major movie award events
will be held. This season is sure to be
filled with questions. One arises due to
the current writer’s strike, but an even
bigger question is ‘what will win the major
awards’? Will the ‘picture of the year’
awards go to the dramatic romance,
Atonement, the Coen brothers’ No
Country For Old Men, or the musical,
Sweeney Todd? Which actors will take
home individual awards: George Clooney,
Denzel Washington, or Tom Hanks? Will
Keira Knightley, Ellen Page, or Cate
Blanchett be named ‘best actress’?
Some things are for certain. No
matter what happens with the strike,
celebrities will be there to congratulate
themselves and receive awards, the
same movies will be nominated for
similar awards, and there will be plenty
of boastful thank you speeches. The
most coveted award of every show is
without question the ‘best picture’ award.
No Country For Old Men appears to be
this year’s frontrunner. This crime thriller,
directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, has
critics beaming, and it has already won
29 awards, including 7 ‘best pictures’.
No Country For Old Men seems to be
destined to win it all. Supposedly, the
closest competition to this film is There
Bridget Stasenko
Staff Writer
Will Be Blood, which has already won
the National Society of Film Critics’ Best
Picture of the Year award. Despite these
promising titles, a few underdogs are
gathering a lot of support. One film is
Juno, starring little known breakthrough
actors such as Ellen Page and Michael
Cera. Freshman Carlee Schneider
remarked, “I was surprised at how good
Juno was. I think it has a chance to win
some big awards.” Critics are calling it this
year’s Little Miss Sunshine. Other popular
nominees are Into The Wild, The Diving
Bell and The Butterfly, Michael Clayton,
American Gangster, The Kite Runner, and
many more. “I thought American Gangster
was a good movie, but not all that it’s
cracked up to be,” added sophomore
Mike Lehn.
Due to the Writer’s Guild of America
strike, many celebrities are boycotting
these award shows. Some of the key
actors from this year’s movies, such as
Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington, Keira
Knightley, and Jodi Foster have said that
they will not be crossing picket lines any
time soon. And yet the show must go
on. Despite the lack of celebrities, even
if shows are postponed or reduced, the
winners will be announced, so decide
your favorite movies of the year and clear
some space on your DVR.
Here’s the Tip
PTHS has provided its students, staff, and parents with the opportunity to report
any unsafe activities. This valuable resource, called the Tip Line, is a toll-free number
that is easy to call, anonymous, and nationwide. One can report anything, such as
violence, theft, sexual harassment, weapons and drug or alcohol abuse. The tip line
is available for use 24/7. It is very easy to use: you simply dial the number, and an
operator immediately asks what is being reported. No names or personal information
is necessary, just report and hang up. The operator will then take the information and
act appropriately to solve the problem. It is sponsored by the K9 Resource Center, who
also started conducting random drug sweeps with the use of dogs in PTHS last year.
The goal of all these new security tactics is to keep the school and community safe.
The Number for the Tip Line is: 1-866-TIP-LINE
Chocoholic
Heavenly
Hershey
Stephanie Nitschmann
Emily Correal
Layout
Valentine’s Day is right around the
corner and it’s time to find something special
for your sweetheart. Nothing says “I love
you” like a traditional box of chocolates,
but what brand is the most legit? Hershey
chocolate is the least expensive, but it is
not of the highest quality. It is dull, and
has a weird after-taste. Sarris chocolate is
always good. The milky chocolate melts in
your mouth instantly. Not only does it taste
good, but it looks good as well. You can
get it in almost any shape or form. There
are even bars that say “I love you” on
the wrapper. But it’s Sarris; and everyone
gives and receives Sarris chocolate during
Christmas time. So for Valentines Day, you
need to switch it up. Godiva chocolate
tastes amazing and is romantic. It has a
rich chocolaty taste that would make any
chocoholic go crazy. There are more than
twenty
different
types of chocolates
and there are even
mousses. You can
also
go
online
and get your ‘box
personalized.
So
this
year,
give
your
valentine
Staff Writer
Sometimes just by looking at a chocolate bar, you
can tell what delicious flavor will hit you taste buds. After
unwrapping the Hershey, Sarris, and Godiva bar, their
differences could immediately be seen. The Hershey bar
looked very dark and you could already tell it was going
to taste great. The Godiva bar appeared to be the darkest
and the richest, and the Sarris bar had its typical milk
chocolate look. Even with three different looks and tastes,
picking a favorite chocolate bar is always at struggle.
My favorite chocolate bar was the Hershey’s. It
seemed to have the best balance of milk and chocolate.
I could eat at least one more bar and not get that ‘wowI-just-ate-way-too-much-chocolate’ feeling people always
seem to get while they keep munching away. It had
the right amount of the chocolate flavor to satisfy, but it
wasn’t over the-top-rich. It was also apparent that the
milk leveled the taste out. Hershey’s was able to make
the perfect chocolate bar. My second favorite was the
Godiva chocolate. It was the first time I’ve ever tried this
chocolate and the richness of it was apparent even to a
newcomer. The moment the chocolate hits my tongue,
the overwhelming richness of it seems to melt all over my
taste buds. I’m a big fan of chocolate, so this big flavor
blast wasn’t a problem for me.
For those who like milk chocolate more, Godiva
would probably not be the right way to go. Sarris was my
least favorite chocolate. It was a little milkier but it still
had a good amount of the chocolate taste. The reason I
liked it less than Hershey and Godiva was because I didn’t
feel that I could eat anymore after the one bar. For one
sitting, the milk chocolate taste was nice, but if I were to
eat another one, I think the extent of the milk chocolate
taste would make me feel sick.
The right blend of the chocolaty flavor and milk is
hard to capture. Chocolate should be rich, but not overthe-top rich, and the milk taste should be apparent but not
overbearing. With the proper blend of chocolate and milk,
Hershey has managed to make the perfect chocolate
bar.
Mad About Fashion By Mady Dietrich
Features
Bring Back Patent
Leather
5
Two words radiating through
fashion week this year are patent leather.
Thanks to designers like Marc Jacobs,
Gucci, and Chanel, they have brought the
patent leather look from the past and back
into the fashion world. Patent leather is a
hard, smooth, glossy leather that has been
used on shoes and purses since the 1800’ s.
Some helpful hints when you’re
shopping for this new bag is: get a
bag that matches your personality.
For example, bright pink is fitting if you
have an expressive personality. Size
doesn’t matter, but usually the bigger the
better. If you are going to buy one, you
might as well get a larger one. Pleats
on the bag are also a must, according
to Elle magazine. You can use this bag
at any type of event because patent
leather is both formal and informal.
Seth Boyden, who wanted to make
a material that is durable, invented patent
leather in the early 19th
century. Patent leather
won’t tear like some
types of leather might.
Boyden then started
making clothing out of it,
such as dresses, work
boots, and jackets that,
all lead to the famous
bag that we have today.
If patent leather isn’t for you, the
once popular bag, Lesportsac might be
your thing. Lesportsac has many bag
styles that come in a different patterns
and colors. Lesportsac makes bags out
of material that is just as durable as
patent leather, and are made out of many
environmentally safe products. If one
designer can be shown to have brought this
brand back, it would be Stella McCartney.
McCartney’s non-leather, PETA friendly
rucksack bag is the new Lesportsac bag
this year. It is in the shape of a bunny,
Photo courtesy of www.bagstotesandbeyond.com
Sarris Soars
Above All
Gina Nepa
Staff Writer
The mystery of the chocolate industry
unfolded itself right in front of my eyes.
Unwrapping the white and red seal of the
Sarris bar presented me with a light brown
chocolate, featuring a crispy outer layer. Next,
Godiva had a darker, almost black color.
Hershey had that all-too-familiar milky brown
shade with a creamy taste. On a chilly morning
in January, my opinion on chocolate changed
forever. By far, I was magnetized towards the
Sarris bar. Trying that candy first, the taste was
lingering in my mouth for moments afterward.
It seemed as if the bar melted on my tongue
almost immediately, but did not leave a watery
aftertaste. Still, after trying various samples
of Hershey and Godiva, Sarris stuck with me.
Hershey had a more informal, less altered
taste. The scent reminded me of butter, and
a sweet milkiness was captured on the first
bite. However, I soon got sick of Hershey after
about three small squares. Sticking a thin slice
of a Godiva bar into my mouth, I experienced
immediate displeasure, because of the extreme
richness. I find it of no comparison to the likes
of Sarris or Hershey after finishing up the
three sampling experiments, I still stick to my
conclusion that Sarris makes the expectations
too high for the other chocolate. Taste and
appearance play a prominent role towards my
liking of a product, and Sarris provided just that.

6. Y
oF
Ge
ua
YLanG
PT
Y
Stephanie Cotugno
Love
Y
The Language Of Love
News Writer
Evaluating a relationship can be difficult and identifying one’s emotions can be
challenging especially in high school relationships. As one begins to face unfamiliar, new,
and exciting feelings, it may seem like an impossible task in determining what exactly he
or she is experiencing. Here are some symptoms that help you determine if what you are
feeling a crush or is true love:
Y
Crush?
1. Heart races
2. weaty palms
S
3. lushing around him/her
B
4. ncontrolled happiness
U
5. Thinking about him/her all the time
6. Always seem to mention his/her name
in conversations with your friends
7. Look forward to being around him/her
and spending time with each other
Y
1. You feel yourself and comfortable with one another, as if you
have known each other longer than you actually have.
2. You can be anywhere with him/her, and always have a good
time.
3. You tend to agree with one another on most issues especially
on your personal beliefs, values, philosophies, and life goals.
4. You are involved in one another’s daily affairs, and put their
needs before your own.
5. The conversations between the two or you are always
personably and lively.
6. You joke around with each other a lot.
7. You trust him or her and feel secure when you are together.
8. If problems arise, you work through the problems and forgive
each other easily.
9. You are flexible, and expect the best from one another.
10.You know you can always count on each other.
Love
?

7. Y
Y
How do you know that you’re
attracted to someone?
“When I think about him
all day - day and night.”
Sara Weaver ‘08
“I know for sure that I
like someone when our
personalities click.”
Shane Pruitt ‘08
“I feel warm inside like
hot chocolate in my
belly.”
David Brown ‘09
“When she makes me
smile for no reason.”
Kyle Falbo ‘10
“You know you are attracted to
someone when you find yourself
caring about their personal
issues.”
Maddie Miller ‘09
“I know I like someone
when I look forward to
seeing him and he makes
me laugh.”
Carly Hancherick ‘10
“When I blush and talk a
lot.”
Antra Burgman ‘11
“When I want to impress
her.”
Kyle Sossi ‘11
Mind Racing
Tongue Tied
Y
Heart Pounding
Sweaty Palms
Y
Lovesick Symptoms
?
Butterflies in Stomach
Our senior model, Jason Chiappino,
demonstrates.
Y
Weak Knees
Visit
Y
http://ezinearticles.com/ to be introduced to more signs
and have your questions clarified by author Christina Akiteng.

8. 8
Opinion
February 2008
PTHS
Smoke Signals
More Tissues, Please
4.
Titanic. This classic love story has already gone into the books as one
of the highest grossing films of all time, and understandably so. The tragic tale
is one that everyone has seen, knows, and loves.
Alex Egan
Opinion Editor
Valentine’s Day is only a few weeks away, which means it’s the season
of love. Those of you who are lucky enough to have valentines, your evening will
hopefully be happily spent giving or receiving a heart-shaped box of chocolate
and a thoughtful card while enjoying a nice meal with your significant other. As for
those of us who are not as fortunate, have no fear. For the past however-many
years of my life, I have been stuck at home on Valentine’s Day, while the majority
of my friends were out with their loved ones enjoying the holiday. However,
take it from the master of sweetheart-less Valentine’s Days that it’s really not
so bad. All you need are your fellow lonely-hearted friends and a few romantic
DVDs, and you’re set for a fantastic Valentine’s Day. I’ve complied a list of the
ten best romantic movies out there (in no particular order), because I believe that
no matter if you have a Valentine or not, you should always get the romance you
deserve on Valentine’s Day.
1.
When Harry Met Sally. Being a personal top favorite of mine, When
Harry Met Sally is the classic tale of two best friends who travel down a long
road of friendship, awkwardness, hatred, and falling in love. This romantic
comedy will have you cracking up the entire time, while swooning over the
happy ending and romance.
2.
Serendipity. Serendipity is the story of two people who randomly meet
in New York City, have the best night of their lives together, and vow never to
see each other again unless by chance, leaving fate to reunite them. Although
fairly unrealistic, this intriguing love story will be sure to make you wish this
could actually happen in real life.
3.
The Notebook. Of course, no romantic movie list would be complete
without The Notebook. It is a challenge to find any girl who didn’t cry her eyes
out during this movie, and impossible to find one who hasn’t seen it. Based
on the creative writings of Nicholas Sparks, this film is a flawless tearjerker for
romance lovers.
5.
Love Story. As I’m sure that not many people in our generation have
seen it, Love Story is known as The Notebook of our parents’ generation. With
the classic boy-meets-girl storyline, the end of this tale of everlasting love and
romance will have you reaching for the tissues and a new coat of mascara.
6.
Romeo and Juliet. As we all know, this is the love story of loves stories.
This romantic, tragedy written by the infamous William Shakespeare is the one
that started them all, and will be sure to leave you weeping in awe.
7.
A Walk to Remember. The story of two classmates who couldn’t have
less in common snowballs into a romance so strong that not even death can
destroy it. Also based on a novel by romantic genius Nicholas Sparks, A Walk
to Remember will leave you with a desire for romance and a waterfall of tears.
8.
Beauty and the Beast. I know, I know, it’s a Disney movie. But who
can resist the timeless love tale of a barbaric beast winning over the heart of a
kind and generous beauty? The enchanting story is pure proof that love takes
patience, and is a truly romantic fairy tale that will warm your heart.
9.
Dirty Dancing. For some reason, this movie has always been a favorite
of mine. When a professional dance instructor, Johnny, teaches a left-footed
girl nicknamed “Baby” how to dance, sparks automatically begin to fly. This
flick will not only steal your heart away, but it will make you want to get up and
dance. After all, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
10. Casablanca. Known as one of the best American films of all time,
Casablanca is a passionate story of two old lovers who are brought together
again in the dangers of World War II. Although bitter at first, the two manage to
fall back in love again, but the twist at the end of the movie is one that not many
can understand. Still, this amorous tale is not only a romantic favorite, but an
all-American classic in general.
Media Stinks Up Steroids
Brian Lewis
Happy SAD
Katie Ellis
Staff Writer
Opinion Editor
There is a steroid problem growing among the
national media. They have double standards about how
steroid incidents are reported regarding the NFL and MLB
In the NFL, a player can be suspended for four games like
Rodney Harrison, yet he is still in prime position to win a
Super Bowl ring. In Major League Baseball, a player is
crucified the second his name pops up in a report. Maybe
someone should ask Rafael Palmero what the media does
when a player tests positive for steroids in baseball.
The worst part of this is how the national media
treats steroids. For the NFL, steroids seem to be no big
deal. If a guy gets suspended for any length of time, the
general question is how the team will cope with the loss of
an important star. Instead of railing against how the player in
question is in fact a cheater, the media just seems to kick dirt
over the fact that players in the NFL constantly test positive
for steroids.
While the media is busy sweeping the NFL’s
problems under the rug, their attack dogs are busy tearing
into the MLB for their steroid use. Nowadays, anytime that
a baseball player is even linked to a known steroid supplier,
the warning bells come out blaring about how horrible
steroids are for baseball. The hard part to believe about all
of this hoopla is that the media believes steroids are a bigger
destruction to baseball (a sport that requires more skill than
any other) than to the NFL (where power and muscle rule
the day). It seems to me that this is an unwarranted double
standard.
Then of course, there is the Mitchell Report that
just keeps adding to the bias. Released by former senator
George Mitchell, the Mitchell Report was an attempt by
Major League Baseball to find out just how deep the steroid
scar had spread. Unfortunately, the report was short on
evidence, and long on speculation. This did not stop the
media from jumping on the biggest name in the report, exNew York Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens. Despite nothing
except the testimony of a man with questionable ethics, the
national media has repeatedly attacked Clemens for his
alleged steroid use. Now don’t get me wrong, all steroid
users should be banned from their respective sport as soon
as they test positive for steroids, but the evidence against
Clemens is circumstantial at best, and the media should not
presume that he is guilty before the evidence is analyzed
beyond a reasonable doubt.
Fishtank: How Romantic
By Renée Wunderlich
Extra! Extra! Read all about it:
Thursday, February 14 is Valentine’s
Day. Buy your overpriced candy and
half-dead flowers now before the
costs skyrocket. Or you could just wait
for the holiday that falls the day after
Valentine’s Day. What, you may ask,
is this obscure and under-publicized
holiday? Why, it’s Singles Awareness
Day, appropriately called SAD. It is
on this day that the uncoupled people
of America throw parties and send
flowers to their other single friends
and themselves. It is a day that you
will frequently hear the phrase “Happy
SAD” shouted through hallways, as
there are literally dozens of people
that celebrate this holiday each year.
Many of you have come to
believe that Singles Awareness Day
falls on the same day as Valentine’s
Day. Yes, SAD and Valentine’s Day
did originally fall upon the same date,
but in recent years SAD was moved
to the fifteenth so that the holiday
would become more of a celebration
of single life than a festival of self-pity.
“Valentine’s Day is a nice concept,”
sophomore Cathy Kaecher stated, “but
it’s become a Hallmark Holiday rather
than a day of love and friendship.
Singles Awareness Day provides an
escape for those of us that dislike the
commercialization of it all.” It’s also a
refreshing change of pace to know that
after we’ve survived the horrors of VDay, we can move on to a special day
reserved for us: the singles of the world.
If you’re happy to be single,
then February 15 is your day to
shout it from the rooftops. For those
of you who aren’t, keep in mind that
Valentine’s Day is a commercialized
holiday – to the retailers, it’s all
about plush hearts, fragrant flowers,
and, most importantly, dollar signs.
Consider yourself lucky if you don’t
have to participate in the madness.

9. February 2008
PTHS
Opinion
Let’s Rock with Guitar Hero III
9
Dana Hoelle
Staff Writer
Guitar Hero III: Legends
of Rock is a newly released video
game, published by Activision and
RedOctane, in the Guitar Hero series.
This game is available on all major
gaming systems, including PlayStation
2 & 3, Wii consoles, and Xbox 360.
To play this game, you use a
guitar-shaped controller to replicate the
playing of varying genres of rock music.
You play notes as they scroll in time
with the music. There are four different
levels of difficulty: easy, medium, hard,
and expert. The game features famous
rock stars Tom Morello and Slash as
in-game characters. Guitar Hero III:
Legends of Rock features over 60
total song choices, such as “Sabotage”
by the Beastie Boys, “The Metal” by
Tenacious D, and “Knights of Cydonia”
game in the series to feature online
play and mobile play. The mobile play
has recently been added and is only
available for Verizon Wireless users.
“My favorite part about Guitar Hero is that
you get to play the game with an actual toy
guitar. It makes the game seem more real.”
by Muse. “My favorite song to play is
‘Miss Murder’ by AFI. I’m almost done
mastering it on the highest level,” said
sophomore Rachel Sunday. Guitar
Hero III: Legends of Rock is the first
AP Exams: Are Uniform
They Worth It?
As with previous Guitar Hero
games, a player progresses through
multiple selections of songs, unlocking
new songs along the way. Guitar Hero
III: Legends of Rock is the first game in
the series to feature a storyline for the
Career mode. The band starts out as
a neighborhood sensation, and if you
succeed, it can lead to playing bigger
shows, getting a producer, etc. “My
favorite part about Guitar Hero is that
you get to play the game with an actual
toy guitar. It makes the game seem
more real,” said junior Brooke Wilson.
Guitar Hero has been the latest
video game craze this year. It has by far
been one of my favorite video games of
all times, and I guarantee you will have
fun playing this game. So get ready,
grab your guitar, and rock on!
Averi Clements
Ashley Czajkowski
Co-Editor-in- Chief
With spring just around
the corner, testing soon becomes
inevitable. SAT’s, PSSA’s, and finals
are among the many exams high
school students will encounter during
the upcoming season. In addition,
with many AP classes over halfway
completed with their curriculum, the
AP exams are also approaching.
Furthermore, although they are often
less emphasized in importance than
tests such as the SAT’s, the AP exams
can be just as crucial to a future college
applicant. Obtaining credits to test out
of freshmen college courses can help
students enormously by allowing them
to take other courses more geared
toward their future career. However,
some colleges will not even accept
these credits. Therefore, the question
of whether AP exams, or AP courses
themselves, are worth taking arises.
AP courses do substantially
prepare those who wish to further
their education in college. It provides
harder testing and a more rigorous
curriculum (plus, in some classes, the
homework load seems to decrease
immensely). However, AP exams
seem to be increasing in their difficulty.
In anticipation of these rigorous
exams, teachers focus on preparing
their students throughout the entire
year. “I have high expectations for my
students and focus on preparing them
for the directions and format they will
encounter on the exam,” stated AP
Calculus AB teacher Mrs. Canfield, “In
class we do actual exam questions,
with an intense review in and out of
class three weeks before the exam.”
However, although this intense
prepping takes place in the majority
of AP classes, as more students sign
up for AP courses and strive to take
the exam at the end of the year, the
grading has become more competitive.
In 2006, over one million high school
students took over two million AP
exams (College Board). Consequently,
students are finding it more difficult
to achieve higher than a 3 out of
the 5 points they can attain. This is
especially concerning considering only
a small amount of schools will accept
3’s, whereas more competitive schools
will not accept anything less than a 4.
Nonetheless, AP exams do provide
an obvious way to expand learning
in certain areas a student may have
excessive interest in, and even though
the student may not receive the credit
he/she desires, the class will at least
prepare him/her for future courses.
Staff Writer
Over the years, female students have fumed at the
very idea of a school uniform. So why is it that we have set
our own standards for dress among the student body? Girls
in every grade get their hair dyed a raven-black or bleachblonde, wear narrow strips of fabric around their waist and
call it a ‘skirt’, and walk in boots with various amounts of faux
fur. Sure, everyone wants to
look their best, but when you
look the same as everybody
else, it’s impossible to be
noticed.
The fabrics aren’t
the only clothing articles
being overused; the shoes
are just as much to blame. Flip-flops were cute…until they
were the only footwear that tread upon the ground. Now the
same thing is happening with furry boots and ballet flats.
Surely there are more important things in life than
being “with it” in the fashion world. Many girls are tired
throughout the day because they wake up extra early in
order to do their hair and makeup. “I can’t stand it when girls
complain how they’re so tired because they woke up at five
o’clock to do their make-up. I just think, ‘If you’re so tired,
then why are you getting up that early just to look good for
one day?’” said senior Noelle Kartik. Even the differences in
hairstyles and makeup application are being blurred. Heavy
black eyeliner seems to be a necessity among female
students, even though it can make the wearer resemble a
raccoon. The same is true for the hailed flat iron: the primary
styling tool for hair across the high school, even for girls
with naturally straight hair. In terms of color, many girls seem
to be following in the footsteps of Lindsay Lohan, changing
their hair from dark
to light and back
again. Of course,
no hair would be
complete without
painfully
obvious
highlights.
Even skin
color is becoming more and more monotonous. Once
glorified as beautiful and unique, tan skin is now the norm
for “anybody who’s anybody”. Even though common sense
tells us that nobody gets a decent natural tan in the middle
of January, many girls still find it imperative to make a trip to
the tanning salon every so often. The threat of skin cancer
is a mere side note to the importance of looking like you just
came back from a long Malibu vacation.
Because everyone looks the same in their own
“unique” way, we have spared the administration the
trouble of constructing a school uniform by creating it for
ourselves.
“Everyone wants to look their best, but when
you look the same as everybody else, it’s
impossible to be noticed.”
HE SAID
Brian Lewis
SHE SAID
Alex Egan
Valentine’s Day
What’s your ideal Valentine’s Day?
Dinner, movie and a show.
Is Valentine’s Day a
Being swept off my feet by the man of my
dreams. (a.k.a. George Clooney)
Hallmark Holiday?
Nope, it’s just like any other holiday that most No, but Hallmark has definitely made
Americans celebrate. Why do you think there Valentine’s Day what it is. But I love
are so many November birthdays?
Valentine’s Day anyways!
What’s better, a traditional
Traditional gift - you can’t go wrong with
chocolate.
How do you
gift or a non-traditional gift?
I like it when people get creative and do
something original, although chocolate
and flowers are classic. But even if you do
something different, chocolate is still a must.
celebrate Valentine’s Day without a Valentine?
Just treat it like it is any normal day.
See my article on page 8.

10. 10
02
IAN
IAN
JACKSON
Sports
Extra
Point
Smoke Signals
01
TAYLOR
RELICH
Who is your NBA dream team?
IJ: If I could have my dream starting five in the
NBA, it would be a very tough decision to make,
but the line up would be as follows: Chauncey
Billups (point guard), Kobe Bryant (shooting
guard), Carmelo Anthony (small forward),
Rashard Lewis (power forward), and Yao Ming
(center).
TR: My All-NBA team would be made up of
a mix of scorers and lock down defenders.
Steve Nash would be my point guard, I put
Michael Redd in as a shooting guard, and
my small forward will definitely be LeBron
James. At power forward would be Amare
Stoudemire, and at center Dwight Howard.
This team has a great passer, a three-point
specialist, a versatile small forward, and two
big men who are great defenders and can
pound the ball inside.
IJ: Although I like your team a lot, I think both of
our lineups are very balanced. With all the tools
to be a dominant team, I still think that my lineup
is superior. Everyone on my team can score the
rock. My team has the edge when it comes to
outside scoring, however.
TR: Everyone on my team can score the rock,
too. The bottom line is that these are all allstars and it is hard to find large contrasts. My
team has a clear advantage on the boards,
and can play better on the defensive end as
well.
IJ: Your team may be good on D, but my guys
would still score on them. Anthony might slack
off on D sometimes, but there isn’t a better oneon-one defender than Kobe. Ming can block any
shot down low, while Lewis also has long arms
and can block shots down low or up top.
TR: It’s not a matter of having long arms;
it’s a matter of playing sound man-to-man
defense. Ming is too slow to play good
defense against the likes of Amare and
Dwight Howard. Michael Redd and LeBron
will be outside knocking down threes all
day. My team is superior on both ends of the
floor.
IJ: I highly doubt that your team is superior on
the offensive end. We both have great outside
shooting, but my players have more ability to
attack the hole. Carmelo and Kobe can score at
will. Kobe would shut down Lebron, and Billups
would at prevent Redd from scoring many
points. I do think you’d have the edge down low
with Howard overpowering Rashard, and Amare
much quicker than Ming. That being said, my
team would win in a real NBA game.
TR: Attack the hole? Your team couldn’t
attack their way out of a paper bag! Your
team has zero chemistry because you have
a bunch of guys that can’t share the ball. I
think three of the five players on your team
struggle with the concept of a team a little
bit. My team has the edge, no doubt.
February 2008
Outdoor Hockey: A Possible Tradition
Jordan Dent
Sports Editor
Considering the 2008 Winter Classic
received the highest rating of any NHL game in
over ten years (even surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s
final NHL game), the idea of outdoor hockey games
being played and broadcasted more often will
be considered by both the team owners and the
league.
Sporting events are nothing new to New
Years Day, as the traditional Rose Bowl Game
made its annual broadcast from sunny Pasadena,
California on the same day it has done so ever
since 1916. However, this was a different game,
in a contradictory city, beginning a new tradition.
The NHL Winter Classic match-up that was held
on January 1 between the Buffalo Sabres and our
Pittsburgh Penguins will hopefully begin a new
sports tradition.
Penguins fans knew about the game for
months. They were on Ticketmaster.com the
second tickets hit cyberspace on September 18
and have bought nothing but retro blue Penguins
attire in honor of the team’s decision to wear the
throwback jerseys for the Winter Classic. They
even held a tailgate, though they were nowhere
Dukes Keep on Rolling
near Buffalo, New York on this very chilly New Year’s
Day. No matter who the favorite was going into the
game, every fan packed into Ralph Wilson Stadium
was there for something much more than just a normal
game, they were there for the hockey.
The game didn’t just count as a win for the
Pens; it was as big of a deal for the 71,000 in attendance
as it was for the players. With both “O Canada” and
“God Bless America” sung before the first face-off, the
game was both emotional and exciting. The Pens
scored early with a shot from Colby Armstrong, then
Buffalo came back in the second period to tie the
game at 1-1. As if it weren’t exhilarating enough, the
game went into a shootout. The entire stadium was on
their feet as Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning
goal.
Although outdoor hockey is nothing new to
the NHL, this year’s game has the potential to open
up many more opportunities for future games played
in outdoor facilities. There are currently talks between
the Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers of an
outdoor series that would consist of games played in
both Pittsburgh and Philly. The series would be a very
smart marketing move on the sides of both teams, not
to mention what it could do for the NHL.
Ian Jackson
Staff Writer
Duquesne Basketball teams
have struggled the past two decades.
After years of success and winning
teams, the last twenty years have
been a total disaster. They sported an
abysmal 65-166 record from 19982006, under coach Danny Nee. The
“Dark Years” from 1983-2006 have
caused many people to forget the
dominant Duquesne teams of the
60’s and 70’s. The current generation
of young people may not even know
that until the 80’s, the Dukes owned
Pitt in the city game every year, and
they were an automatic top twentyfive team year in and year out.
The tide began to turn in late
2006 with the hiring of coach Ron
Everhart. After turning around two
Division One programs (McNeese
State and Northeastern) in the past
five years and getting them each into
the NCAA Tournament, he brought
his coaching skills to Pittsburgh to
coach the Dukes, but then tragedy
struck. After the best Duquesne
recruiting class in seventeen years,
their four top recruits, and one starter,
were involved in a tragic shooting on
campus. The players shot were all
key players and the 2006 season
was derailed. The team was followed
by a nation and city that rallied
behind them, and made the 2006
season their most fun and action
packed year in decades. They
finished with a 10-19 record
and solidified themselves as a
quality team. Fans expected
that with the entire team back
for 2007, the time was to be now
for the Dukes.
“No one’s head was
down,” said Kieron Achara. “We
just kept on working and knew
that what happened was out of
our control. Looking around the
locker room you would never
have known what happened.
We knew there was light at the
end of the tunnel.”
Through thirteen games
this season the Dukes have
a 10-3 record, their best start
since the 1976 season. They are
currently fifth in the unusually
deep Atlantic 10 Conference;
they are fifty-sixth in the RPI, out
of 332 teams. Two of their three
losses have come at the hands
of West Virginia and a fivepoint loss to Pitt, both from the
powerful Big East Conference.
The 2007 Dukes have a
very unique system to the way
they play. They have two five man
lines and the lines substitute in
for each other every four to eight
minutes. This helps keep the whole
bench fresh and leaves two extra
players to come in if a player from
a line gets in foul trouble or injured.
They play an up-tempo; fast break
style of basketball that helps them
rack up points in bunches, including
a school record 129 points in a win
over the Howard University Bison.
The Dukes are led by
senior center Kieron Achara, who
is averaging twelve points and
five rebounds per contest. Helping
Achara, are juniors Kojo Mensah
and Shawn James. Mensah is a
slashing guard who is averaging
fourteen points and four assists per
game. James is a dominant seven
footer, who is averaging a team
high fifteen points, eight rebounds,
and nearly five blocks per game.
James is also considered one of
the top NBA prospects among the
country’s big men.
“I like the way our team is
playing right now,” Coach Everhart
stated. “We haven’t played as
consistently as I’d like at times, but
we are starting to play well. We have
lost a couple games we should’ve
won, but I am confident heading
into the Atlantic Ten schedule. We
will compete”.
Concussions: a Major Issue in the NFL
Bill Berry
Sports Editor
Concussions have always been a part of sports,
but no other injury is as common or as mysterious.
Many great athletes, such as Steve Young and Troy
Aikman, have been forced into early retirement by the
head injury.
The long-term effects of concussions are
unknown. Aikman suffered as many as ten concussions
throughout his career, and is believed to live a normal
life. While others such as Young, who suffered seven
concussions, had to deal with post-concussive
syndrome, or PCS. PCS can be classified as a set of
symptoms that a player may experience for a few days
or up to several years. Former New England Patriots
linebacker Ted Johnson claims to be suffering from an
amphetamine addiction, depression, and PCS caused
by the concussions he sustained throughout his career.
Johnson blamed head coach Bill Belichick for forcing
him to participate in full contact drills just three days
after getting a concussion in 2002.
In a study by the University of North Carolina
on 2,488 retired NFL players, 61% reported that they
had sustained at least one concussion during their
career. Of that 61%, 16% claimed concussions have
had a permanent effect on their thinking and memory
skills.
Former Steeler Merill Hoge was awarded a
$1.55 million lawsuit against a Chicago Bears doctor
after he failed to warn him of the risks of playing with a
concussion. Hoge’s career was ended after sustaining
his second major concussion in four weeks.
Football’s concussion problem has made
many helmet manufacturers look for a solution. Riddell
introduced their concussion preventative helmet, the
Revolution, in 2002. It has grown in popularity over the
past couple of seasons in both the NFL and NCAA.
Prominent players such as Colt Peyton Manning
and Steeler Casey Hampton are known to wear the
Revolution.

11. Getting Pinned Not an Option
Averi Clements
February 2008
Sports
Staff Writer
After going completely
winless in the 2006-2007
season, the wrestling team
is hoping to pull a reversal
on their record. Although
the team is having a
difficult time so far, they
managed to achieve a win
against Bridgeport during
a two-day tournament in
Wheeling, West Virginia on
December 28. The victory
gave a morale boost to
many of the wrestlers, and
they are hoping that it is
an indication of the future.
“This is something that
Coach Murdock has been
working towards as well,
so this was just as big of a
win for him as it was for us,”
said senior J.B. Almnaizel.
The team added another
victory to their record on
January 22 against Thomas
Jefferson.
Many
factors,
including injuries, unfilled
weight classes (which
gives the opposing team an
automatic six points), and
inexperience among the
Photo by Katie Gavelick
Junior Nick Ceccarelli fights to gain control over his Baldwin
opponent. Ceccarelli went on to lose the match by a regular
decision.
newer wrestlers account
for the team’s lessthan-impressive
record.
However, Coach Murdock
believes that these are
obstacles that can be
overcome. “We have a
great team this year. A
January Madness
lot of them show up
for every practice,
even when it means
getting up early in the
morning. They really
dedicate themselves,
and you can see the
improvement
from
match to match,” said
Murdock.
One beacon of hope
lies in the potential of the
multiple new additions to the
team. “The adrenaline rush
that you get when you step
out onto the mat is great,”
said
sophomore
Taylor
DiBart, who is participating
in his first wrestling season.
Among the new varsity
wrestlers are freshmen Sean
Woodrow, Matt Mauer, and
Matt Smith. Once on the
junior high team, these three
athletes exemplified enough
skill to be promoted to the
varsity team at the beginning
of the season. “[Varsity
wrestling] is more physical
than it was in junior high.
It’s a lot more demanding,”
said Mauer. The wrestlers
endure long practices almost
every day, and usually have
a match or two each week.
They also have to work hard
to keep their weight below
the limit for their designated
weight class. Ultimately, it will
be this dedication that will
enable this wrestling team to
beat the odds.
11
Sports
Briefs
Boys Basketball
Current Record is
(14-6, 6-4), Fourth Place in
Section 4, qualified for AAAA
Playoffs
Girls Basketball
Current Record is
(13-6, 5-5), Fourth Place in
Section 4, need to win one
more section game to make
AAAA playoffs.
Wrestling
Taylor Relich
Staff Writer
If you are a college basketball fanatic like me,
continue reading this article. If not, just tuck this article
away somewhere and pull it out in March when you are
looking for the teams that have been solid performers all
season to put in your bracket. Before I reveal who will win
the six major conferences in college basketball, I remind
you that I am not saying that any of these teams will be the
same in March as they are now, but these teams sure have
great chances to go far come tournament time.
The Atlantic Coast Conference is the best
conference this year, and you could make a case for every
team in the ACC to go to the big dance. In this powerhouse
of a conference, the clear favorite is North Carolina. The
Tar Heels have four players that average in double figures,
including Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson,
and Danny Green. It also helps that UNC is coached by the
best coach in the country: Roy Williams.
The second best conference has to be the Pacific10 Conference. There are also a myriad of respectable
teams in this conference, but two teams will duke it out for
the PAC-10 Championship. The PAC-10 champ could be
one of two teams, UCLA, coached by Ben Howland and
loaded with experienced talent, or Washington State, a
team who has played a weak non-conference schedule.
Washington State is very solid, based on their one-loss
record and their big wins against Gonzaga and USC. Most
analysts would pick UCLA if they had to choose between
the two, but I am going to have to give WSU the nod. UCLA
is a great team, but they have not played well against
opponents of their caliber, such as when the Bruins lost
to the then #8 ranked Texas Longhorns. Other contenders
in this conference include Stanford, Oregon, and Arizona
State.
Let’s not forget about the Big East Conference,
which is still good, but has a few ranked teams that are
struggling. In the Big East, #8 Georgetown is king. The
Hoyas are playing great basketball right now, with only one
loss to #2 Memphis. Roy Hibbert and company will have
no easy task in defending their ranking with the alwaysgrueling Big East schedule coming up. Teams such as
Marquette,
Pittsburgh, Louisville, and WVU are all contenders
in the Big East right now, but Louisville’s stock could drop
tremendously if they keep playing the way they have been.
If there is one weakness in Georgetown, it might be their
very mediocre guard play. This was especially emphasized
in Pitt’s big win at home against the Hoyas. Georgetown
will ultimately come out on top in the Big East though,
because no matter how marginal their guards are, nobody
but Pitt’s DeJuan Blair has been able to stop their forwards
under the basket.
Moving on to the Big 12 Conference, there are
three standout teams: Kansas, Texas, and Texas A&M.
Despite this being a very competitive conference, these
teams are the most tournament-tested, and will top the
conference standings at the end of the season. Although
I prefer Kansas in this one, I won’t say that any of these
three teams are really a lock for the Big 12 crown.
The Big Ten Conference, commonly known as a
dominant football conference, could be looking at some
major respect points in basketball this year. This conference
has three teams that stick out, the Wisconsin Badgers,
the Indiana Hoosiers, and the Michigan State Spartans.
I like Indiana here, simply because they average around
83 points per game, which is a pretty impressive number.
Guard Eric Gordon and forward D.J. White, who average a
combined 40 points per game, lead this dynamic offense.
Michigan State is not to be overlooked, however with its
genius coach, Tom Izzo, and big wins against Texas and
BYU. The Spartans are the most popular choice for winner
of the Big Ten, but I would like to see Indiana pull it out.
The Southeastern Conference is probably the
weakest major conference this year, with only four teams
that are capable of doing much in the tournament. These
teams are Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida.
The experts think that the Tennessee Volunteers will be
this year’s SEC winner, and I completely agree. After
getting knocked out early in last year’s tournament, Chris
Lofton and the Volunteers are poised for a fabulous
season. Tennessee already has knocked off previously
undefeated Ole Miss. The Volunteers will be tested by #12
Vanderbilt early this year, a team that is fairly new to such
a high ranking. It will be interesting to see if Vandy and
Ole Miss can live up to all the hype this year. Florida is a
major sleeper this year, but don’t be surprised if Coach Billy
Donovan makes some noise with his young Gators lineup.
Current Record is
(2-15, 1-8), Wins against
Bridgeport and Thomas
Jefferson, season continues
into February
Swimming
Current Record is (2-0), Wins
against Upper St. Clair and
Moon, meets against Bethel
Park, Mount Lebanon and
Chartiers Valley to close the
season.
Hockey
Current Record is
(10-6, 20pts), First Place in
AA Section 2, plays against
second-place
Thomas
Jefferson (8-7, 16pts) twice
in final month of the season

12. Voices in the Hall
What is your idea of a perfect Valentine’s gift?
Dan Hinson ‘08
Zac Chavel ‘10
Kristina Gaudy ‘09
“A Shelby Miller.”
“A big kiss.”
“’A big teddy bear.”
Rebecca Berardino ‘11
“A box of chocolates.”
What is your ideal Valentine’s date?
Rebekah Paul &
GabrielleGoodzich‘08
Casey Dunleavy ‘09
“Wearing party dresses, hav-
ing a tea party, and eating lots of
chocolate.”
Liz Hammell ‘10
“Going to a romantic dinner and a
movie with my girlfriend.”
“Going to see a romantic movie
with a cute boy.”
Jason Lewis ‘11
“Eating food.”
What the teachers have to say...
Mr. Loretto
“Dowe’s on 9th – good food and
good jazz.”
P
T
Mrs. Deliere
“Dinner at a great restaurant and a
romantic card.”
Mr. Redilla
“What’s Valentine’s Day?”
Minute
the
Mrs. Pinto
“Gifts that are thoughtful and
personal, like a poem.”
Jeana
Denardo
‘08
Describe the best Valentines Day you’ve ever had
When I decorated my best Valentine’s day box in third grade.
Imagine a perfect Valentine’s Day. Who would you be with?
Where would you go? What would you do?
I would go to Panera to study for bio with Steve Peranteau.
Who is your Valentine this year?
Michael Francis Divella.
What are you getting your Valentine?
The gift of having me as their valentine.
What do you hope to receive from your Valentine?
A big smooch
Maura
Lacey
‘08
Describe the best Valentine’s Day you ever had.
When we celebrated Valentines day all day instead of having class
in elementary school.
Imagine a perfect Valentine’s Day. Who would you be with?
Where would you go? What would you do?
Val, because it’s the first 3 letters of Valentines Day. We’d go to
Wet Pets.
Who is your Valentine this year?
Peanut Butter, my pet locker mouse.
What are you getting your Valentine?
I gave him my locker and some Sarris chocolate.
What do you hope to receive from your Valentine?
A mouse trap