The WarriorNiskayuna High School October 26, 2016 Volume 43, Issue 2

a student-run publication since 1974

Inside this issue...Girl’s soccer is undefeated, pg. 7

Beyoncé’s sister releases new album, pg. 6

Trump should not be president, Pg. 5

Students feel at home at homecomingby Nadia NugeNt

News

Homecoming has always signi-

fied the true beginning of the school year, a time when the term “school spirit” regains meaning. People from all corners of the student body take time out of their busy schedules to support the Silver Warriors. Stu-

dents, teachers, and parents wait in anticipation of our potential victories.

The same anticipation was nearly tangible in the buzzing mass of stu-

dents waiting for the doors of our homecoming dance to finally open. A bright sign emblazoned with the words “Las Vegas Casino” across it greeted students as they entered the gym. The theme served as a bittersweet reminder for the newly christened eighteen-year-olds in the crowd. This was their last high school homecoming, and adult-

Photo Credit/Kalyana DuggalPOSING IN A HALL: Seniors Rebekah Orr (left) and Sasha Towe (right) strike a pose at homecoming.

hood would be fast approaching.The dance itself was much like any

other school function - a fun loving DJ and tables of candies - though the Wheel of Candy was a special touch. The music, from Beyonce to early two thousand’s dance songs, suited a wide variety of tastes. What made the evening so successful was the attention to detail. The theme was carried throughout the space, and decorations were set the stage nicely. Bright lights, both decoration and camera flash alike, could be seen throughout the night. However long it did take, eventually people began to loosen up and dance with their peers. Small dance circles broke out occa-

sionally, and at one point or another

various people ended up piggyback-

ing others. Within an hour, lines of glittery high heels lined the floor.

Niskayuna does homecoming unlike any school in the area. It sheds its sense of formality-- you can buy your tickets at the door--and allows students to dictate the flow of the event. The DJ is all ears and takes most requests. Voting for homecoming court takes place dur-

ing the span of the dance instead of weeks before. Chenelle Darby and Ismail Stewart were crowned homecoming princess and prince, respectively. Attires ranged from jeans to suits, and neither feel out of place. It doesn’t masquerade as a sit-down type of affair but rather more

closely resembles the social clubs of debutantes in the 50’s. The attitude is a nice blend of excitement and relaxation, something much needed in the season of standardized testing and college applications. It provides a space for even a short amount of time where students are allowed not to take themselves seriously. It also serves as a great backdrop for the Snapchats stories that will inevita-

bly be posted throughout the night.The real fun of homecoming can

be found immediately afterwards; students often trickle into the plaza and can be found sipping frappuc-

cinos, buying copious amounts of snacks from Shoprite, or planning ahead for next year’s event. It’s the little things. In the end, everyone leaves the event glad they had gone, or at the very least wearing a smile.

Photo Credit/Kalyana DuggalFLASHING A SMILE: Senior Alayna Griffiths (far-left), and Juniors Owen Laflamme (center-left), Grace Nolan (center), Isabel Pelaez (center-right), and Analese Myers (far-right) smile for a group photo.

Photo Credit/Anil DuggalPRE-HOMECOMING: Senior Kalyana Duggal (left) and Ellie Lee (right) get ready for the homecoming dance.

2October 26, 2016The Warrior News

Spanish exchange changes livesby bijan Moore

news

The Spanish exchange is a glowing example of cultural diffusion at the high school. Students from Almeria, Spain stayed with students for a week. The exchange students and their partners did a myriad of activi-ties around the Capital Region. War-rior writer, Bijan Moore, was able to interview Senora Christou, one of the Spanish teachers at the high school and a coordinator of the exchange.

Bijan Moore: When did Niskayu-na start doing the Spanish Exchange?

Lainie Christou: Here at Niskayu-na we have had a Spanish Exchange for the past 25 years. Previously it was with our sister school in Tu-lancingo, Mexico for 20 years. Then we changed the program to travel to our new sister school “Colegio Agave” in Almería, Spain. We will be traveling this April there for the 4th time.

BM: How did the exchange help with the fluency of language of some of the Spanish students?

LC: The Exchange provides the platform for our American students to begin communicating initially with their host students in Spain in May or June before their arrival in October. They are matched with their host siblings carefully accord-ing to preferences and interests. This provides ample topics about which to text, email, skype or facetime. They try to use the target language as much as possible. In addition, many of the parents in Spain do not speak English in which case our American students have real life situations whereby speaking Spanish exclusively is necessary. This forces them to put all their knowledge of Spanish to practical and contextual use.

BM: Do you think that the Nis-kayuna students learned a lot about Spanish culture from the exchange?

LC: Anytime you have youth from different cultures together in daily life activities they always learn about each other’s culture. It is impossible not to. Our everyday activities that we take for granted could be very dif-ferent from those of another country. The Spaniards come in October and

enjoy our Halloween customs and Fall activities in Northern New York.

BM: What is something you want all the students on the exchange to take away from this experience?

LC: The most important thing that they should understand through this experience is the acceptance of all cultures and differences in societies. In addition, a lifelong friend and new family from another culture and country can begin in high school. Many of our students from past Exchanges still maintain a close relationship with their Host families.

In fact, they have traveled back to Mexico and Spain or their host siblings have come again to visit them here in America. In addition, I want them to embrace their confidence in speaking the Spanish language more after this experience.

BM: Do you recommend studying abroad to students?

LC: I recommend this program 100%! If the students are able to it is an unforgettable experience that could change your life. Having a friend in Spain, Germany or France is very special and rewarding.

Photo Credit / Devin MassariBIENVENIDOS: The exchange hosts pose for a group picture with their exchange students from Almeria, Spain. Senora Christou (right) and Senore Malkis (far left) and their Spanish counterparts sit in front of them.

Photo Credit / Ellen DavieroFUN AT THE FARM: Megan Daviero(left) is seen pictured with her Spanish ex-change student, Estela Cabrera(right).

3October 26, 2016The Warrior News

Spanish students arrive at Niskayunaby Rhiannon GayloRd

news

This past week, Niskayuna High School became a true crossroads of cultures as it hosted a new group of Spanish exchange students. Niska-yuna’s partner school is located in Almería, Spain. During the exchange, students travel between the two countries to stay with local families. This provides an opportunity for students to test their language skills and experience first-hand the coun-tries they’ve been studying for years.

Lainie Christou and Shana Malkis, two Spanish teachers in the district, run the exchange every other year. This year, for their fourth exchange, they welcomed 27 students and three teachers from Agave Colegio, Spain to Niskayuna. They organized activi-ties for the students such as a trip to the Great Escape, bowling at Lucky Strike in Crossgates, and a Haunted Hayride. Spanish students were also able to spend three days in the high school, travel on their own to Boston for a day, and spent three days in New York City before returning to Spain. Along with these group activities, students had plenty of opportunities to experience American culture with their host families.

“The first weekend we went to a fair in Massachusetts called the Big E. We also went to Lucky Strike in Crossgates Mall, and then ate at Capi-

tal City diner. We carved pumpkins, we went hiking in the Adirondacks, we baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and apple donuts. We went to the home football game aswell… We went shopping at the Outlets near the Great Escape, and we went laser tagging,” said Zoe Lynds, a who hosted Spanish student María. “María really liked everything we did. She was ready to try all kinds of foods and liked most of them, such as corn on the cob, baked doughnuts, peanut butter, and maple syrup.”

These activities, and the exchange as a whole, are an incredible op-portunity for both the Spanish and American students, allowing them to learn and grow in ways that they never could otherwise.

“I see it as the most valuable experience that we are able to offer our students in the World Language department,” said Senorita Malkis of the exchange. “The exchange allows for our students to have a real world, practical application for the vocabu-lary and skills that they learn in class.”

This isn’t just talk either. Zoe Lynds offers living proof of the affect the ex-change has had on her Spanish skills.

“I’ve been practicing my Spanish, especially my listening skills, because the exchange students’accents are hard to understand, and they speak very fast. Over their stay here I’ve gotten a lot better at understanding them. I can probably pick up on about 80% of what they say,” she said.

During the exchange, students not only broaden their foreign language skills and their cultural understand-ing, but they also make personal connections with others, even across the divides of nationality and tongue.

“Throughout the course of the week both Spanish and American students build relationships that have the potential to last a lifetime,” said Senorita Malkis. “They always say they don’t want to leave at both ends of the exchange.”

The trip, of course, cannot last forever, but this once-in-a-lifetime experience holds a value that will never fade. María, one of the students from Spain, perhaps summed it up best when she said, “Every time you travel, you learn. With an exchange you learn not only about tourist things, but even about the daily life. American life is completely different than Spanish life, but I like it! I’m re-ally glad I took part in this exchange.”

Photo Credit / Rhiannon Gaylord BONDiNG TIME: Students pose with their exchange students while enjoying nature.

Photo Credit / Praise CanoGREAT ESCAPE: Spanish students and their hosts pose for a photo at the Great Escape

Your vote matters more in the US4 The WarriorOpinion October 26, 2016

by Rebekah ORROpiniOn

If you’re voting this November, you are not voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. You’re not voting for Gary Johnson or Jill Stein either. If you mark a ballot for one of these presidential candidates, you are actually voting for an elector who may be selected to vote for a spe-cific presidential candidate. It seems strange that in the United States, with a form of democratic government, the candidate who wins the presidential election is not necessarily the winner of the popular vote. The popular vote is the choice expressed through the votes cast by the electorate.

The election of 2000 upset many people because a candidate who lost the popular vote ended up winning the election. George W. Bush was elected president even though Al Gore had a plurality of the popular vote. This means Gore had a higher percentage of the vote than Bush (by less than 0.5%) but he did not have a majority (over 50%) of the vote. Some wonder if this is a fair system. Why can’t we have a direct general

election so that each person’s vote makes as much a difference as the next? Contrary to popular belief, the electoral college system actually gives more power to the voter than a direct election would.

The power of one vote increases the likelihood that it will change the outcome of the election. If we voted directly in the general election, each person’s vote would hold very little weight. This is because your vote really only makes a difference when it breaks a tie and the probability of there being a tie decreases as the number of people voting increases. For example, if you are the only person voting, obviously, your vote determines the outcome with 100% certainty. If there are three people voting, there is a 50% chance that your vote will determine the out-come, since there is a 50% chance that the other two voters will choose opposing sides. When the number of voters reaches 150 million, the chance of your vote making a difference is infinitesimal. This is why we vote by state, which still gives each voter a pretty small chance of making a

difference, but a much larger chance than if we voted country-wide.

In the electoral college system, each state has a certain number of electors that usually all have to vote for the same candidate. This is true for all states except Nebraska and

Maine. The electors of each state are sometimes bound to vote for whom the majority of that state chose, but in some states, the electors can go against the majority vote of their state. However, such a scenario is very unlikely. There are 538 total electors that vote in the presidential election. In the unlikely event that no candidate wins a majority of the electoral votes, the House of Repre-sentatives makes the decision. There is a catch even to this process: each state casts one vote, as determined by the majority of the members of its House delegation.

This happened in 1824 when John Quincy Adams was elected president. This outcome was ultimately deter-mined by the single vote of Stephen

Van Rensselaer of New York. In that election, there were four candidates: Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford and Henry Clay. None of them received a majority of the electoral votes, so it was taken to the House. After many states had voted,

Adams needed just one more state to win the election. Rensselaer would end up resting the winning vote for Adams to break the 17-17 gridlock in the New York delegation. This is just one famous example of the power of a single vote. The situation came about because the other relevant votes were tied.

This year, as has been the case for over a decade, the most state delega-tions in the House of Representatives have a majority of Republicans. Thus, if neither major-party candidate ends up with a majority of the electoral votes, the House will most likely choose a Republican to be our next president. Ideally, whomever they choose, if it comes to that point, it will be neither Clinton nor Trump.

EDITORIAL POLICIESLetters to the editor are welcome from all members of the school

community, and can be delivered toWarrior staff or sent via email to: thewarrioropinion@gmail.com. The Warrior reserves

the right to edit letters for grammar, length, and content.Signed opinion articles express the opinions of their creators.

Unsigned editorials represent the consensus of the paper’s edito-rial board, consisting of the Opinion section and the Editor-in-

Chief. The op-ed pages are a forum for students’ opinions and ideas.

DISTRIBUTION PROCESS1,500 issues printed and distributed to student body and faculty

bi-weekly by Niskayuna High School Print Shop

The WarriorVolume XL, Issue XV

Niskayuna High School, 1626 Balltown Road, Niskayuna, NY, 12309http://www.nisk.k12.ny.us/nhs/warrior

For a one-year subscription to The Warrior, please send a check for $25.00 to: The Warrior, c/o Niskayuna High School, 1626 Balltown Road, Niskayuna, NY 12309.

Editor-in-Chief:Michael ZhouZoë LochteNews (Pages 1-3):Jackie Yao, EditorDevin Massari, EditorPraise Cano, EditorCecelia Cain, Asst.

Opinion (Pages 4-5):John Hess, EditorIsabel Kim, EditorM.J. Lee, Asst.Entertainment (Page 6):Mitchell Famulare, EditorJeffrey Kemp, Editor.

Sports (Pages 7-8):Amelia Kokernak, EditorOlivia Hilt, EditorCharlotte Kokernak, Asst.Magazine (Pages 9-12):Elisa Abraham, EditorSuzie Davis, EditorElizabeth Chillrud, EditorElaine Lipkin, Asst.

Additional Staff:Avanti Khara, Copy EditorAdvisor: James Edgar

The candidaTe who wins The presidenTial elecTion is noT nec-essarily The winner of The popular voTe.

conTrary To popular belief, The elecToral college sysTem acTu-ally gives more power To The voTer Than a direcT elecTion would.

5October 26th, 2016The Warrior Opinion

ALL OPINIONS expressed on

the op-ed pages represent the indi-

vidual viewpoints of their authors.

The content does not necessarily

represent the views of The War-

rior, the high school, the school

district, or the Board of Education.

Voting for Trump is unacceptableBy John hess

opinion

Americans across the country will walk into voting booth on November 8th and face the biggest choice of their lives. Though they have spent months deciding who they will vote for, the choice should be easy.

One candidate has served as a First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State. She has negotiated deals in every corner of the world and helped the nation heal after national crises like 9/11. She has worked for the Children’s Defense Fund and advocated equal rights for women, children, and minorities throughout her life. She even formally declared in front of the United Nations that “Hu-man rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.” However, while she was Secretary of State, she used a private email server, potentially jeopardizing the security of classified information. Many hold her responsible for the death of 4 Americans in the tragic attacks of the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Americans across the country have been chanting “Lock her up, lock her up” and even more are convinced that she is a criminal.

The other candidate claims to have received a “small” loan of one million dollars from his father and to have built a multi-billion dollar real estate empire. While building that empire, he was sued multiple times by the United States Department of Justice for not renting to black people. John O’Donnell, a former President of one of his casinos recalls the casino owner describing his black employees as “lazy.” In 1995, his tax returns show that he lost 915 million dollars. His companies which he brags so much about have gone bankrupt on four separate occasions. There are over 21 women accusing him of heinous acts ranging from verbal sexual ha-rassment to raping a woman when she was just thirteen years old. The allegations are supported by his own statements bragging about grabbing women by the genitals and promot-ing other forms of sexual assault.

I am of course talking about Hill-ary Clinton and Donald Trump, two of the most hated candidates

in electoral history. Though both can-didates have made mistakes over their lives, it is time to stop pretending that they are equally as bad.

For the past 30 years Hillary has been heavily scruti-nized by the Ameri-can people. Every aspect of her life has been picked apart from her haircut, to her wardrobe, to her elitist demeanor. Ev-ery decision she has made has been ques-tioned and she has been blamed for everything from the Iraq War to her husband’s affairs. Clinton has been the subject of eight Congressional investigations about Benghazi, none of which have implicated her for any wrongdoing. On the campaign trail, she has apologized for the mistakes in her past. However, she is still held to a higher standard than any other poli-tician. This is understandable given that she is running for the highest of-fice in the land. So why do we not hold her opponent to that same standard?

On June 16, 2015 Trump classified Mexican immigrants as rapists. On July 17, 2015, Trump, who claimed he had bad feet to avoid going to Vietnam attacked war hero John McCain claiming “I like people who weren’t captured.” On December 7, 2015 Trump called for all Muslims to be banned from entering the United States, and later doubled down on those policies when he proposed expanding that ban to immigrants from any nation that he deemed “compromised by terrorism.” On July 30, 2016, Trump attacked Khizr Khan, a Gold Star parent and speaker at the Democratic National Conven-tion by comparing his sacrifices of employing workers to Khan’s son making the ultimate sacrifice for the United States. He also insinuated that Khan did not let his wife speak at the convention due to the beliefs of Islam. On October 19, 2016, he dismissed his degrading comments about women as “locker room talk”

that every man uses. I can say that I have never heard such remarks in a locker room and athletes around the country have made statements saying they have not heard them either. The President of the United States serves as the representation of America to the entire world. Do we really want such an unethical and pompous person in that position?

If Hillary Clinton had made any of the comments that Donald Trump made, she would be ostracized im-mediately. In fact, if she had singled out any race, religion, or social class, the calls for her to drop out of the race would ring from sea to shining sea. For example, when she classi-fied Trump’s supporters, many of whom support his destructive and disparaging language, as a “basket of deplorables” she was heavily criticized. She quickly apologized the next day. Donald Trump has failed to wholly apologize for any of his statements or actions, painting himself as the victim of the “liberal media.” He has even verbally at-tacked a disabled journalist and his Twitter account is full of conspiracies that this election is rigged. Time and time again Trump has shown that he does not possess the tempera-ment to serve as the President. How can we allow this man to have the nuclear launch codes? How can we allow this man to have the power to give executive orders and nomi-nate justices to the Supreme Court? The answer is simple, we cannot.

It is unfathomable how the “party of Lincoln” has nominated a man who has incited violence against Black Lives Matter protestors and described supporters who beat up a homeless immigrant as “pas-sionate.” A vote for Donald Trump condones his offensive rhetoric and supports a candidate who has proposed “bombing the s*** out of ISIS” and locking up his political op-ponent. Simply put,Donald Trump’s behavior is unacceptable not only for presidential candidate, but also for a member of the human race. A vote for him will allow the move-ment of hatred he has started to continue to plague the United States.

I ask you to cast a vote for Hillary Clinton not because you agree with her policies, but because her policies do not discriminate against members of a certain race, class, or creed. I ask you to vote for Hillary Clinton not because you respect her, but because her opponent respects almost no one. Finally, I ask you to vote for Hillary Clinton not because I am a Demo-crat, but because I am an American.

This November ,Americans across this country face a simple choice. Let us all hope they make the right one.

Simply put, DonalD trump’S behavior iS un-

acceptable not only for preSiDential canDiDate,

but alSo for a member of the human race.

6 October 26, 2016 The WarriorEntertainment

by Maya Prebish

entertainMent

Solange Knowles’ bold new al-bum, A Seat at the Table, documents the facets of life that are distinctly unique to black people, specifi-cally black women living in the US today. The album’s nostalgic tone and often metaphorical lyrics let the listener peer into the soul of an American black woman, observing her struggles, her despairs, and her joys. Throughout the album, Knowles sings about her struggles with her lifestyle and the way others treat her while also expressing her passion for the black community and the beauty she sees within it.

In the album’s fourth track, “Cranes in the Sky,” Knowles mixes her feelings of despair with a sense of wanting to escape; especially in the line “I tried to work it away / but that just made me even sadder.” After this track comes the second of seven dialogue interludes which fea-ture friends and family of Knowles,

including Matthew, Tina Knowles, and rapper Master P, who express their personal experiences growing up black in the United States. “I was just lost in this vacuum between in-tegration and segregation and, and racism. That was my childhood,” is the last line of Matthew Knowles’ dialogue in Interlude 5: “Dad was Mad.” These interludes serve as a reminder of what this album and its metaphors are about. In tracks six, seven and nine, Knowles explores some of the frustrations she faces as a black woman, including having her accomplishments claimed by

white men who came back looking for “temporary nothings” once she became successful (7. “Don’t You Wait”) , her inability to be mad with-out receiving criticism despite having “a lot to be mad about,” (6. “Mad”) and the obnoxious chore of having to remind others not to touch her hair; a representation of her soul and her black pride, not just what grows on her head (9. “Don’t Touch My Hair”).

As the album continues, Knowles broadens her discussion of black culture, expressing the fears any black person has to experience just living their daily life and the ways

in which one overcomes those fears. An example is the line, “When you driving in your tinted car, / And you’re criminal, just who you are, / But you know you’re gonna make it far.” from “F.U.B.U.,” a song dedicated to black community and black pride. In “Borderline” and “Don’t Wish Me Well,” Knowles discusses coping mechanisms: letting go, taking a day off, leaving behind what hurts; in effect, talking about what helps her stay sane despite everything that makes her feel crazy.

A Seat at the Table closes with a pow-erful commentary by Master P which ends with the statement that “Now, we come as slaves, but we going out as royalty, and able to show that we are truly the chosen ones.” This powerful last line showcases what the black community has been forced to go through throughout history and that their struggles will not stop them from succeeding. “Our great-great-grandfathers and grandmothers...they kept rhythm, no matter what.”

by JaMes KeMP

entertainMent

I had the opportunity to see the lo-fi indie quartet, LVL UP at the BSP Lounge in Kingston, New York on September 30. This was my first taste of seeing up and coming indie bands in a small club setting. Due to the close proximity to the New York City Metro area, there are many chances to see similar bands in small venues. LVL UP played a sold out show at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan, which attracted fans of indie favorite, Bear vs. Shark. To play with bands like Bear vs. Shark is a very important opportunity to spread their music to a wider audience.

LVL UP formed in 2011 at SUNY Purchase and was originally signed to record label Double Double Whammy, which they founded in 2011 and lead to bands like Mitski and Frankie Cosmos to rise in popularity. Recently, they got signed to the renowned record label Sub Pop, known best for bands Nirvana

and Beach House. This has allowed the band to go on a large tour in support of the release of their third studio album Return to Love.

At the BSP Lounge, LVL UP played alongside bands Fraternal Twin, and Battle Ave. Brooklyn’s Fraternal Twin, an up and coming shoegaze trio well started out the night. Fraternal Twin’s fourth studio album Home-

worlding dropped on October 14, and they, too, begin a tour supporting the release of the new album. They also have an upcoming gig at The Low Beat in Albany on November 7. Battle Ave., a local Kingston based band that rose in popularity thanks to nearby Bard College, played an astounding set with multiple guitars blaring, two different breeds of percussion, and extraordinary vocals. Previously not having heard of them, Battle Ave. was a pleasant surprise, and I left the concert a fan. Playing alongside bands like LVL UP is very beneficial to many of the mostly unknown indie bands. They find new listeners, and

also the possibility to be noticed by a larger indie label like Sub Pop.

The highlight of the evening was LVL UP’s performance. I was lucky enough to push my way to the front row, and have an unbelievable view of the band up close. They opened with “The Closing Door,” which was the fourth single released and also made into a music video. I was surprised by the bass riff which I assumed was produced by a guitar, but bassist Nick Corbo created a lo-fi aesthetic by using noise distortion pedals to create a bass riff unlike

anything I had ever heard. The crowd went wild when the band played the headliner for their album “Hidden Driver.” This was the third track released on August 18, and is a fast song that moves throughout by having new lyrics and riffs at every turn. It’s one of my favorite songs on the album so naturally I was so excited to hear it live. I loved the concert, it was an experience I’ll never forget. I am definitely looking forward to seeing other indie bands perform in or near the Capital Dis-trict and their forthcoming album.

Knowles brings race to the table

LVL UP concert excites Upstate NY

Photo Credit / rollingstone.com

Photo Credit / lvlup.bandcamp.com

7October 26, 2016The Warrior Sports

Boys volleyball is stronger than everby Liam meachem

SportS

The Niskayuna boys volleyball team has enjoyed a lot of success so far this year, as they have a solid record of 7-5. Led by new head coach Thaddeus Sipe, the team of all seniors implemented a new offensive phi-losophy, and stressed the importance of team defense and ball control. Since joining the team, Coach Sipe has made practices more productive to get ready for tough suburban council play. The team has established itself as a top team in the Suburban Council, with huge wins over Guilderland, and extremely competitive games versus Bethlehem and Shenende-howa. The team’s star is All-Star right side Damien Whittemore who is someone who the team can give the ball to in clutch situations. He has also established himself as a top-notch passer. Kyle Fletcher is

someone on the team who has been extremely versatile and learned to play multiple positions, but has seen most of his action as a right side and a defensive specialist. As right sides, Kyle and Damien have combined for 146 kills, 93 digs, 27 blocks. Other hit-ters on the team include middles Matt Wilson, Eoghan Stoffer and Brendan Weingarten who provide a strong presence at the net and are extremely effective with blocking and providing much needed offense. The middles have provided 10 aces, 45 blocks and 126 kills. The outside hitters on the team are Liam Christie, Michael Zhou, Evan Pritchard, and Angeeras Ramanath, who are all extremely con-sistent hitters who can each provide big blocks or hits anytime the team needs it. The outsides have combined for 104 kills, 51 digs, 10 blocks and 9 aces. The defensive specialists on the team are John Hess, Jack Connelly

and Liam Meachem. They anchored the load on the defensive side and made some great plays against high -quality opponents. The defensive specialists have provided 211 digs, passed to a 2.47 passer rating, out of a possible 3.0, with 20 aces. The team is rounded out by setter Jim Cesare who paces the offense, while finding

ways to keep all hitters involved and provides great leadership, as the only setter on the team Jim has totaled 246 assists, 14 aces and 86 digs. The team has two more games left in the season. One is an away game against Bethle-hem, and the other at home for senior night versus Guilderland. After that, the boys will head to sectionals.

NGS optimistic for sectionalsby cheShta praSad

SportS

It is no surprise that the Niskayuna girls’ varsity soccer team has been undeniably strong this season. With an undefeated record of 13 wins and 3 ties, they are looking ahead to the rest of their season with great promise and confidence. The team started their season strong with their first win against Ballston Spa. The team gradually improved and defeated other teams such as Mohonasen and Columbia. Even with their great wins, the girls’ came into some of their games not knowing what to expect from the opposing team. For example, Averill Park, who has had an impressive record this season, was an unexpected test for the girls’ soc-cer team. Ultimately, Niskayuna still came out with the win. Regardless of these unexpected records from other teams, the Niskayuna girls were able to adapt well, work together and fight their way to the top of the league.

Other highlights from the team’s season so far were at two non-league games against Washingtonville and Baldwinsville. Despite the fact that they are non-league games,

Niskayuna tied Baldwinsville 0-0 in overtime, and also tied Washing-tonville 1-1 in overtime. These two games became a test for what kinds of teams Niskayuna will be facing in Sectionals later in their season.

The girls also had a great win against Shenendehowa on Senior Night, which occurred on Thursday, October 13. The team’s standout re-cord seemed to intimidate Shenende-howa. In addition, the girls came into the game with determination, energy and vigor, which ultimately trans-lated into a 2-0 win for Niskayuna.

As the scheduled season ends, the Niskayuna girls’ varsity soccer team stands as the undefeated champion in the league. The team has been so im-pressive over these past two months, that the hashtag “ngsordie” was coined. However, the season is still not done for these talented players.

By winning the league, they are now placed in the first seed for playoffs, in hopes to win Sectionals again, as they did last year in 2015. It looks promising they will do so, based off their undefeated record. The team also seems confident they will win in the playoffs. Goalkeeper

Erin Doyle states, “Going into sec-tionals, NGS is focused on keeping their faith and realizing that with each game, there’s always going to be another mountain that we’ll have to climb, but with each other’s help, we know we will be able to.”

All in all, NGS has accomplished a

lot so far. Even with their redundant skill, they are a close-knit team: always supporting each other, on and off the field. They will work together to achieve their goals for the rest of the season, and hope-fully achieve the title of being the repeat 2016 Section 2 Champions.

Photo Credit / Bruce WoolleyGIRLS’ SOCCER: The Niskayuna girls’ varsity soccer team huddles prior to a game. The team hopes to repeat as section two champions this year.

Photo Credit / Jim CesareCONSUMMATE CAPTAINS: From left to right, Seniors Michael Zhou, John Hess, and Liam Meachem celebrate a successful season together.

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sAthlete of the monthby Natalie Metzger

SportS

School athletes have started their season and are currently training hard for their respective sport teams. Elaine Lipkin, a soft spoken 11th grader, is one of those athletes. She is a part of the Niskayuna Girls Varsity Swim and Dive team. She has shown great strength in the water and in her classes, and thus her selection to be the War-rior’s Project’s September Athlete of the Month is no surprise. Her involvement in French, Math, Key, and Chem Demos club shows her diverse knowledge and in interests. She is also an editor for The Warrior newspaper and writes for them regularly. Not only does she participate in various clubs, but she also volunteers at Sunny View Reha-bilitation where she is a Junior Volunteer Leader.

With her involvement in many clubs, volunteer-ing three hours a week, and competing at a high level for swim, she still works hard in the classroom as exemplified by her 3.93 GPA. Along with her amazing academic work, she has been on varsity since 8th grade and has been a State Qualifier all four years. Aside from the school swim team, she has been a part of her swim club since 2010 where she has has competed at Speedo cut, Futures cut, and at the Junior National Championships.

Her coach, Colleen Goodspeed, said Elaine is “...a true athlete at its finest. It has been a pleasure working and getting to know her this season.” She has made an impact on her coach, team, and community. Elaine is a hard-working person who has all the characteristics an athlete should have. She is kind to everyone, applies herself to school, shows her support through clubs and volunteering, and is a drug-free athlete who competes to the very best of her ability. Elaine Lipkin is a great role model for all athletes at the high school and that is why she has been selected to be September’s Athlete of the Month.

Photo Credit / Beca PiascikATHLETE OF THE MONTH: Elaine Lipkin poses in front of the Niskayuna High School Pool.

Girls Swimming

11/03 @ Shenendehowa

11/04 @ Shenendehowa

11/05 @ Shenendehowa

Cross Country

10/29 @ Suburbans

11/4 @ Sectionals

NVFH has strong start to seasonby eMMa SkuMurSki

SportS

When the field hockey team had their first of-ficial practice in August, all of the varsity athletes had a feeling this year was going to be a different one than before. After much hardwork in the off season, everyone came back mentally and physi-cally prepared for the 2016 season. Tryouts were very competitive due to everyone’s dedication to lead the varsity squad made up of twenty-two athletes. The team welcomed ten new players, including two freshmen onto the squad, and all of these players helped the varsity atmosphere grow into an intense and dedicated place. After two challenging rebuilding years, the team had grew into a stronger team offensively and defensively. This would help the team accomplish a winning regular season record and third seed in the upcom-ing sectional tournament.

So far the team has come a long way this season. Senior captain Natalie Metzger commented that the team has been much stronger with their shots in the circle and that the team has been playing a smarter game by making better decisions. Their season started out strong contending with the section one powerhouses in Saratoga and Shenen-dehowa. The team also learned many lessons from

a hard-fought game against Shaker. After going into double overtime and then double one-v-ones (when a field player has ten seconds to try and score on the opposite team’s goalie in the circle), the Nis-kayuna varsity team was set on not repeating their hard fought victory. The second time around, the team created more offensive power and learned to never underestimate their opponent, which led to a much easier victory in only the normal regulation period. To further discuss the team’s initial goals and season this year, the Warrior sat down with Captain and midfielder Natalie Metzger.

NM: I would say we have been applying our goals to our game and will continue to hold those goals during sectionals. Our chemistry on the team is great which really helps us accomplish these goals. We are all close friends and want to win together as a team.

ES: What has been a team highlight so far this season?

NM: When we took on Shen for the first time on their turf, being able to score on them first was huge. We then held them for the half 0-1, but ended up taking the loss. The game really showed our abilities and how we really work well as a team.

ES: Does the team have any additional goals for sectionals?

NM: Each practice, our coach makes an effort to have us practice offensive and defensive corners, so we are really looking to execute offensively and protect the cage defensively. Also offensively we are looking to get the second and third shot off of the goalie’s pads.

After a hard working regular season full of some nail biting games against Shaker and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, the team is looking to play a consistent and high-intensity game to make this season a successful one.

“We are all close friends and want to win together as a team.”

October 26, 2016

Emma Skumurski: What were the team’s goals for this upcoming season?

Natalie Metzger: Our coach really stressed the importance of coming into preseason well condi-tioned, so during the summer our team goal was to be prepared for the conditioning we would face at practice and during games. During the season our goal is to always work together through commu-nicating and having strong passing and receiving.

ES: Has the team been taking strides towards those goals?

Editors:

Elisa Abraham

Liz Chillrud

Suzie Davis

Asst. Editor:

Elaine Lipkin

Volume 43, Issue 2 October 26, 2016

SilverThe Warrior Magazine

Inside Look at Nisky’s Clubs

The Warrior Magazine October 25, 2016Silver

Dear Readers,

In this issue, we

hope you find out more about some

new and interest-

ing clubs around

the school. May-

be you’ll want to

join them!

Love,

The Editors

by Amanda SteinMagainze

The high school is proud

to boast a large number of

active clubs and activities

available to students. Stu-

dents are told from an early

age to join clubs because

of how it will look good on

college applications. But is

that all clubs are good for?

A closer look shows that, In

actuality, clubs provide a lot

more than a nod of approval

from an admissions officer.It is not news that stu-

dents, especially those in

high school, are under a

lot of stress. The pressures

of school work, personal

lives, and other factors can

be overwhelming at times.

Doing extracurricular ac-

tivities can oftentimes be

a way to relieve stress. By

doing something you enjoy

in the midst of hard work

and stress, whether it is

building rockets, baking deli-

cious treats, acting on stage,

or writing for your school

newspaper, you will give your

mind a well-deserved break.

Being a part of a club also

provides an opportunity to

participate in new roles.

The leadership roles that are

available in clubs provide a

valuable experience that is

not generally available to

teenagers. You’ll be pre-

sented with opportunities

to improve in public speak-

ing and will gain confidence in yourself as an individual.

Other roles, such as being a

volunteer in a service club,

a soloist in a music club, or

an artist making scenery in a

drama club, allow for identity

exploration. By being a mem-

ber of a club, you have the

opportunity to understand

what kind of person you are

and what you enjoy doing.

Clubs can also help you

develop skills for your future,

such as soft skills. Soft skills

are essentially people skills.

They’re the skills that allow

us to effectively interact with

others, like communication,

attitude, and work ethic. Par-

ticipating in a student orga-

nization not only teaches you

these skills, but also helps you

broaden and improve those

you already have. You’ll learn

the best way to communicate

with both individuals and

large groups, and you’ll gain

emotional intelligence as you

develop new relationships.

Knowing how to work well

with a team is also an essen-

tial skill for any career. Being

in a student organization

teaches you how to do this

by putting you in situations

where you are required to

take advice from others,

as well as give your own.

Clubs also allow you to

make new friends and come

into contact with people you

may not have met through

your regular school routine.

Your classes do not always

consist of people who share

the same interests as you.

Joining a club gives you the

opportunity to bump into

people who enjoy the same

things that you do and hope-

fully create strong friend-

ships that, without the ex-

istence of the club, possibly

would not have been made.

Many student organizations

provide opportunities to

give back to the community,

whether through acts of ser-

vice or fundraising. Not only

is this good for society, but it

will teach you how a future

business can give back, too.

Of course, another simple

reason to join a club is

to have fun. Meeting new

people, making new friends,

and participating in activi-

tiesthat you enjoy will help

you make the most of your

high school experience.

Clubs prove to be vital

Photo Credit/Elisa Abraham

PROMOTING POSITIVITY: S. A. P. E. is one club that works to creates a better community

The Warrior Magazine October 25, 2016Silver

Astronomy club successfully launchesby Jack Grossman

MagazineAre you curious about the cosmos?

Baffled by black holes? Pondering pro-

toplanetary disks? Inquisitive about qua-

sars? Then the newly founded Niskayuna High School Astronomy Club is for you!

Founders, Dudley Observatory intern and triple Space Camp alumnus Jack Grossman along with miSci and Dudley Observatory volunteers and space en-

thusiasts Preethi Kumaran and Sanya Mittal started the club, not only to share their passion with like-minded fellow amateur astronomers, but also to compel newcomers to discover what wonders the night sky has to offer.

In addition to holding regular meet-ings to discuss general astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology, and keep-

ing members informed of astronomical

happenings and events involving local astronomical facilities, the club also organizes “star party” observing ses-sions, utilizing their Orion Sky Quest XT6 Classic Dobsonian telescope. Expe-

rienced and beginner stargazers alike can practice finding constellations, see planets, and identify astronomical objects like Saturn’s rings, the moons of Jupiter, binary stars and lunar craters.

Astronomy is the key to finding out how the universe works and why. In words of the famous astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, “We are part of this universe; we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts, is that the universe is in us.”

If you’re interested in joining the club and reaching for the stars, you can find them on both Facebook and Twit-ter, or email at groj11235@gmail.com.

Warrior Photo Credit / Jack Grossman

ABOVE: SkyQuest Telescope.

Wednesdays are the new MUNdaysby Skylar Litz

MagazineModel United Nations may be just one

of the many clubs in the school, but it is one of the most exciting and engaging!

While only two meetings in, the club is off to a great start. So far there has been a debate about space debris and how to manage it, lots of talk about current world events, and tons of excitement about one of the flagship events of the club: ILMUNC.

ILMUNC stands for “Ivy League Model United Nations Conference” and it takes place over four days at the end of January in Philadelphia. There are delegates from all around the world and everyone spends the weekend advocating their country’s position in committees, while having a ton of fun. There is also lots of fun to be had outside of committee, whether it be at the Delegate Dance to dance away all the worries about committees or at the

nearby cookie shop to pick up some warm treats on the walk back to the hotel.

Model UN is more than just ILMUNC however; this year we hope to host our own conference at Niskayuna High

School! Because we set everything up for “NiskMUN,” as the conference has been named, members get to choose which committees and topics to debate. Not only that, but club members also get to chair committees themselves! It is ex-

pected to be a really fun day with schools from all around the area attending!

If ILMUNC or NiskMUN interest you, stop by a meeting! In addition to

these two events, there are frequent debates on real world issues during which everyone gets to choose which country to represent, and debate committee or topic suggestions en-

couraged! Can’t come now because of a sport? Stop by later in the year, as new members are always welcome!

Meetings are held every Wednesday af-ter school in Mrs. Netoskie’s room D308.

Warrior Photo Credit / Ari Levine

THROWBACK: Members of Model UN smile after ILMUNC 2016.

The Warrior Magazine October 26, 2016Silver

L e a n i n g i n t o a n e w y e a rBy Roma Kulbida

MagazineLean In Together Club, commonly

referred to as LIT Club, is dedicated

to fighting against gender inequality. This club was created by myself, Roma

Kulbida, at the end of 2015. The Co-presidents are Praise Cano and myself,

the co-VPs are Rosa Mesbahi and Cassidy Beauchemin, our secretary is Mariah

Mizbani, and our treasurer is Soja Moore. The name “Lean In Together” comes

from the Lean In Together organization

that encourages everyone to to “lean

in” and fight for gender equality. Our goals for this club include spreading

awareness of the feminist movement,

educating our members on important

issues, and raising money for organi-zations that will help women around

the world. We hope to raise money for organizations such as Days For Girls,

Girls Not Brides, and United Nations

Women, to just to name a few! These

organizations are committed to educat-ing and providing rights to women and

girls throughout the world, particularly

in developing nations. Our club has many plans for this year and we would

love to share them with any interested

members, as well as the entire school

community. A lot of people get scared away from the club when they hear the

term “feminism” and immediately say,

“Oh sorry, I don’t believe in that stuff. I’m not a feminist.” Feminism is defined as the social, political, and economic

equality of the sexes, and by declar-ing you don’t believe in it is another

way of saying that you choose to ignore

oppression that women face daily. By not identifying as a feminist or a supporter of

the feminist movement, you are standing

in the way of gender equality, and that is all that feminism is! It’s about everyone,

no matter your gender, having equal rights and opportunities. These equal rights and opportunities are currently not af-forded by everybody, thus it is important

to pave the way for change. This is the reason our club exists and we encourage everyone to attend our meetings, no mat-ter who you are. We welcome everyone to come join us and help with our fight! Email me at romakatk@gmail.com to be added to our email list or to find out more information about what our club can do.

Courtesy of leanin.orgADVERTISING: Basketball star Dwyane Wade showing his support of the Lean In Together Movement.