closed campus

Closed Campus: What’s Up With That?!
By Jordan Brickman

Having a brother that is five years older, I have always heard stories from Hen Hud alumni about what has affectionately become known as the school’s “Glory Days”. Part of those days was the ability for students to enjoy the various restaurants that surround the Hen Hud campus, such as: “The Mexican Café”, “Two Brothers Pizzeria”, “Dunkin Donuts”, “Subway”, as well as other restaurants that are easily within a five minute drive of the school.

I would often fantasize, while eating Blue Mountain Middle School’s less than spectacular entrées, about one day being able to eat Two Brother’s Pizza and Mexican food every day. However, when I first came to Hen Hud I learned that I was at the beginning of a phasing out of the school’s open campus policy. As a freshman in 2004 the upper-classmen were allowed to leave campus, a privilege they would often gloat about, however, I usually shook off the upper-classmen telling myself that I would one day be able to enjoy the same privileges that my elders enjoyed. Although, my dreams would once again be crushed once I learned that by the time I was an upper-classmen the high school would become a completely closed campus. Meaning I could not enjoy “real” pizza whenever my freshman heart desired.

I recently sat down with our Sailor spirited principal, Mr. Mackin, to discuss the reasons why the campus was closed and if the campus could ever be re-opened. Mr. Mackin explained that, although he agrees with the policy, Mr. McCarthy was the principal whom originally devised the plan for a closed campus. When the school did have an open campus our current cafeteria did not exist, and the prior cafeteria consisted of only two small “eating rooms” that could not hold every student who had lunch at that time.

Therefore, once the district decided to build a new cafeteria they always had in mind a closed campus, partially because the students who had lunch could actually fit into their cafeteria. Another reason the campus was closed was because of the safety issue. According to Mr. Mackin, students would arrange fights to take place across the street from the high school, to avoid being suspended. In addition, the school is responsible for the students during the time they are in class (yes, lunch is technically a class) and should a student get hit by a car, or get into a car accident the school would be held responsible. A third reason the campus was closed was the obvious reason of, students leaving and not returning to finish the day.

On the flip side, students couldn’t disagree more with the school’s policy. Senior Andrew Bell felt that the closed campus was wrong. He feels that the school should respect our responsibilities as young adults, and that we are more than capable of going to get food and returning to the school within 40 minutes. Another senior, Noah Portes Chaikin, had a slightly more sophisticated look at the situation: “they are doing a poor job of completely eliminating it [the closed campus], mostly because they're creating a pseudo-black market by completely closing the campus. What they should do is take off the shackles but protect themselves from liability, which is seemingly the largest hurdle.” Although Noah believes that the campus being closed is wrong, he also sympathizes with the tough decision that the district is forced to make.

Not only does the closed campus force the students to eat the mediocre cafeteria food, but it also involves a greater impact in the community. The Nextel store across the street used to be an incredibly popular hangout known as “the candy store”. As a friend of the owner, I learned that once the campus was closed he lost over $200 on a daily basis. That is $1000 during the school week, and $4000 a month. Clearly, the closed campus affected the store’s profits, and likely caused the store to close. I have also heard from a reliable source that other stores, such as “Two Brother’s Pizzeria” have struggled to make money the past few years. When I asked Mr. Mackin for his take on the situation he sympathized with the store owners, but reiterated that the school has to focus on safety, it is the main concern for any school, behind education.

When I asked our principal if the campus would eventually re-open he encouraged the students to take the initiative and create a system where the students can be trusted to leave. He would like for discussion to be created and for a group of students, similar to what happened with the student lounge, where an open campus could easily be watched. Although he acknowledged the possibility for an open campus he also admitted that it is a “tough road to climb” because students are battling the safety issue, which is a major part of school.

hip hop

Richard Thomlinson
Mrs. Difabio
English 12
28 December 2007

“What is this trash your listening to?” My mom constantly screams at me as my favorite hip-hop song blasts from my computer stereo. “It is not trash, mom. It is music!” I yell back. She actually used a less flattering adjective to describe my beloved hip-hop music, but she was expressing her beliefs on what hip-hop music culture represents. Hip-hop culture stereotypically is considered a thug and gangster lifestyle, but does hip-hop culture actually have a positive effect on some of the weak financial areas in the America?
When one sees a person dressed in hip-hop clothing, with a flat-brimmed baseball cap, a baggy t-shirt, baggy jeans, complete with matching “fresh” shoes multiple ideals jump into their mind. Right away the person is considered a “thug” and a “player” with the opposite sex. The idea of the person actually being an intellectual is instantly thrown out the window, and the person is guilty until proven innocent. Is this really, what society has become; an entire culture, categorized into one mind state?
One of my favorite hip-hop artists, Joe Budden, described hip-hop culture in a verse from his song “My Life”:
I Love Hip Hop culture./Helps me get through my Fans./We buy clothes too big./ It made us feel little for years./Yeah, they tried to underhand us./We speak in our own slang/So only our friends can understand us/And nah, I ain't pulling my pants up./Don't cross the street when you see me, man up./We trying to do everything they said we couldn't/Wear my hat to the side cause society say I shouldn't
I took the liberty of bolding various aspects of his verse (Joe Budden.org). Clearly, Budden feels that hip-hop culture is a way to express himself. American society is built so that the average citizen is not a robot, and thinks for him/herself. In some societies hip-hop is a way for a person to express themselves, whether it be in a positive or a negative manner. Fact is, hip-hop helps the youth think for themselves.
While it is true that hip-hop does cause many problems in lower class neighborhoods, it is also true that many prominent figures are working to change the negatives in their “hoods”. For example, hip-hop underground artist, Saigon, has begun the “In Arms Reach/Abandoned Nation ‘The Movement’”. The movement encourages positive actions, a program that nurtures self-confidence and creative skills. They hope to prepare each child for college so that they can lead productive, crime-free lives. They encourage prison officials and parents to volunteer to explain the effect incarceration has on children. Saigon, who was placed in jail at age 15, would have no power in his community if it wasn’t for his music, and hip-hop culture. Although it could be argued that without hip-hop culture in the ghetto’s no problems would exist to begin with; such an argument is invalid because the people would still be poor. When a large number of citizens struggle to earn a living, they will rebel, it just happens to be that they rebel via hip-hop. However, since America has embraced hip-hop it leads for rappers like Saigon to have a positive impact on society.
The unique part about Saigon is that by simply learning his story people can become motivated to better themselves. As aforementioned Saigon, age 30, was in jail by age 15, after two charges of attempted murder. Clearly, the negative aspects of hip-hop molded Saigon, who became mixed with gangs, who felt that the glamorized gangster lifestyle was worth living. In jail, Saigon began to rap, but he was without a stage name. The influential Vietnam War novel, Bloods, by Wallace Terry, inspired Saigon to create his stage name after the city in Vietnam. When an underprivileged person hears how Saigon earned his stage name, they will become motivated to go to a library, or bookstore, and read books. After all, if a book can change a person’s life to the point where they name themselves after a part of the book than perhaps other books can help change an underprivileged child’s life.
Saigon not only promotes change throughout his actions, but he also has multiple songs where he preaches for people to stop gang fights. Most notably, in his song “The Color Purple” he begs for the popular gangs “The Bloods (Blue)” and “The Crips (Red)” to stop their fighting and to mix together for good (blue and red make purple). Saigon raps “sweep that s*** under the rug, and give each other a hug/red and blue make purple, the color of love.” Clearly, Saigon is trying to help society. However, he is not the only one fighting for the cause. A more notable name, Snoop Dogg, known for his P.I.M.P lifestyle, started a youth football league to help promote teamwork and to keep children out of the streets. Others, like Diddy, promoted people to go out and vote during the 2004 election, even creating the cheer of “Vote or Die”.
Obviously hip-hop culture creates many negatives, but it is not without many positive affects. The artists I mentioned are only a few of the many musicians who give back to their communities. Hip-hop culture as a whole needs to change it’s reputation, and the handful of artists who try and create a better society are recognized for their contributions. In conclusion, what my mom calls trash, helps many survive, and pulls them out of their everyday struggles. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.