In a recently conducted survey by The Spoke, it was found that seven out of ten Conestoga students get less than eight hours of sleep every night, even though 56 percent of Conestoga students think that getting more sleep is “very important.” Despite their concern, the problem is increasing in scope and is becoming more prominent in schools. Sleep deprivation is no longer just a result of indifference—it’s become an active decision.

By Erin O’Neil, Sports Editor

On Nov. 6, 2007, Newsweek magazine celebrated the release of Amazon’s new Kindle with a cover page emblazoned with the boldly-scripted statement “Books Aren’t Dead.” What most Americans didn’t realize at the time was that Newsweek was lying to them.

By then, I had already braced myself for an onslaught of e-reader commercialism, but when I first saw the Barnes & Noble nook, my heart sank. I walked into the store, only to be greeted at the door by a large and obnoxious kiosk. So I turned around and walked right back out. I had never expected my favorite literary vendor to betray my trust so quickly, and I felt somehow violated.  

To be fair, Newsweek wasn’t lying outright—it was more of an artful fudge. But no amount of waffling on behalf of advertisers with well-lined pockets can dispel the fact that books all over the world are sucking in their last few breaths of fresh air. The paperback is dying, all in the interest of readers looking to save a couple of minutes.

So, to save those minutes, I’m going to cut right to the point. To all the optimists out there: don’t deny that the book is on its way out. I’ve come to realize there’s really no point in being angry. I’ve found that skulking around the nook kiosk at Barnes & Noble and stealing pamphlets had little cathartic value. I left a supportive comment on a YouTube video bashing the iPad, but, in the end, I only felt more depressed.

Although it’s still around now, the book is just a few faltering steps behind its cousin, the compact disc. And like the compact disc, its successor, the e-reader, follows the revolutionary steps of the small and convenient iPod: easy to buy, easy to use and easy to skip through. These normally-admired qualities sour in light of the one minute detail that books are supposed to be read and scrutinized and pondered. 

As alarming as the e-reader is, I find this electronic coup far from surprising. In fact, it’s been in the making for hundreds of years. Since its creation, the written word has struggled to survive in a world determined to truncate its very existence. 

Who would dare call an unruly crowd by its original name, “mobile volgus” or remember the abbreviating apostrophe in ’cello? No one, and only for the simple reason that it’s easier not to. 

The shortening and omitting of words has wrought even more dramatic changes to the world of literature. In James Fenimore Cooper’s day, a book was supposed to spin a visual for its readers down to the last leaf. It was the style, until people decided that reading took up too much time.

As we spiral deeper and deeper into an overwhelming state of attention deficiency, everything we do, invent and use is intended to save us time, no matter the cost.  Our society’s manufactured ideology that time spent is time wasted inherently opposes the book and all it has to offer. Reading isn’t just another tedious chore to be endured as quickly as possible. Books provide us with a multitude of alternative worlds—parallel universes in which we can vacation for however long we choose.

That is precisely why we, as the human race, need to resist the devious HAL’s and other dangerous technologies we come across. As helpful as it is, technology can only save us a certain amount of time without severely siphoning information that feeds the mind, a stronghold of imaginative potential that grows increasingly vulnerable with every new e-reader released Some things are worth the time they consume, and reading is one of them. 

So, even as the world accelerates around me, I will continue to give books as birthday gifts and I will continue to carry a library card in my wallet. I suggest you do the same. I suggest you carry around the paperback version, even though the corners curl sometimes. I suggest you read Goldstein’s book inside of “1984,” even though it’s easier just to skip the chapter. And I suggest you join me in giving the nook salesman dirty looks while entering the Barnes & Noble because the freedom to slow down and enjoy a world different from ours, even for just five minutes, is a privilege worth preserving. 

Erin O’Neil can be reached at eoneil@stoganews.com.

This article originally appeared on p.8 of the June 7, 2010 issue of The Spoke.

By Pooja Ghosh, Op/Ed Editor

The grade above is the one I’m closest to, other than my own.

It is the one I struggled against during Battle of the Bulldogs in seventh grade. It is also the one that was most approachable upon arrival at the Big “C,” which as a freshman seemed quite big indeed. However, I quickly learned they were not always the most reliable when asked for directions (I have yet to locate the pool on the third floor).

Throughout the last three years, the grade above is the one I’ve seen around the most. I’ve slowly learned their names through mutual friends, classes and extracurricular activities. They have carefully  maintained seniority for 11 years, but have now moved into the real world, away from eight-minute bells and the duty of dragging themselves to school at 7:20 a.m.

Come graduation, the grade above is leaving me and my fellow juniors on top, before the class of 2012 will take our place. In the middle of graduation party season, I realize now that the class of 2011 must fill the grade above’s shoes, in an attempt to continue the cyclic traditions of guiding the grade below. 

Every grade has its grade above, which means that we all act as role models for younger students. The job constitutes anything from holding the door open for others to not being the kid who tells a lost freshman about that elusive third floor pool. 

As you form bonds with older students, realize that you too will soon be in their place, thinking about college and offering rides to school in the morning, allowing underclassmen just a few more moments of sleep. Remember that gossip spread at Conestoga is generally about those in higher grades, about those who seem untouchable in their older, more experienced ways. Stories about the actions you take now will trickle down to the eager ears of future freshmen, sophomores and juniors. The relationship you form with the grade above is reflective of the one you form with the grade below you. 

The school feels emptier, as it always does after the second week of May. Between periods, Conestoga just doesn’t seem itself without the panic-inducing, claustrophobic traffic jam in the language hallway. However, the relative quiet that pervades the hallways is only a temporary phase until the start of next year, when the school will be teeming with new students, wide-eyed at the massiveness that is Conestoga’s student body. 

The grade above will be missed, but the grade below is ready to take its place. 

Pooja Ghosh can be reached at pghosh@stoganews.com.

This article originally appeared on p.10 of the June 7, 2010 issue of The Spoke.

By Reshma Gouravajhala, Managing Editor

Consider this scenario: you look out at the ocean from your favorite New Jersey beach and see something drastically different from the usual blue waves: a dark, slick substance coating the water as far as you can see—crude oil.

While  this situation remains thankfully hypothetical, the probability of such an event occurring is growing. Although the decision is not official, the government wants to allow the construction of several offshore oil rigs along the East coast, specifically near Maryland and Virginia. These rigs could provide Maryland with approximately $94 million, according to Americans for Tax Reform, a conservative organization. However, this economic boon must not be the priority for companies, who, as obvious as it sounds, should instead place more focus on safety. 

Given the recent oil spill fiasco, it’s in our best interest (especially as we’re a mere two hours from the coast) to ensure that we do not fall victim to another oil spill disaster. Our country has had its fair share of oil-related accidents, most notably, the Exxon Valdez incident and the recent Deepwater Horizon spill. This current spill has a circumference of 960 miles, so imagine what would happen if something went wrong near Maryland.  

Accidents like these sometimes happen in the highly complex oil industry, but one would assume that companies would learn from prior mistakes and enact safeguards, especially considering that they’re working with toxic compounds. 

Yet, as company higher-ups, like chief executive of British Petroleum Tony Hayward, hide behind statements like “Mistakes were made in the early stages of the crisis,” we’re left to wonder why, in this day and age, we can’t trust companies to react quickly during a crisis

Despite recent technological advancements, a dearth in safety devices that protect against underwater accidents remains. Due to such safety failures and BP’s slow reaction, 11 people tragically lost their lives and irreversible damage marks the Gulf of Mexico. 

Though it is unfair to fault companies for accidents, it is ultimately their responsibility to ensure that proper safety nets are in place to avert ecological disasters—even at the risk of incurring monetary losses. Instead of a curative approach, companies would be best served if they took a preventative approach, designing effective (and fool-proof) methods to stop wayward spills.

We must realize that BP’s actions have large repercussions and can drastically alter the state of our ecosystem. A massive oil spill is not only a hazard in the immediate vicinity, but also threatens ecosystems far away.

With the possibility of future offshore drilling sites near Maryland and the Jersey shore, we need to make sure that companies have safety precautions in place that will prevent large-scale damage. We must guarantee that history does not repeat itself a third time. 

Reshma Gouravajhala can be reached at rgouravajhala@stoganews.com.

This article originally appeared on p.9 of the June 7, 2010 issue of The Spoke.

By K.C. McConnell, Centerspread Editor 

For the last few years of my life, summer vacation has meant waking up at lunch time, watching TV for hours on end, staring blankly at a headache-inducing computer screen and lazily lounging about with my friends. I was sure this summer would hold the same kind of monotonous bliss until my mom uttered those two horrible words: summer job. 

For first-time job-seekers (myself included), the mere thought of such a disturbance to the next peaceful three months of sedentary living is enough to cringe at every “help wanted” sign that rears its ugly head in our direction. Nevertheless, in the last few months, as I’ve thought about joining the work force, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is nothing to fear. 

If anything makes working worthwhile, it’s the payoff. Many of us have reached a certain point in our lives where we realize that the money needed for a new swimsuit or a new video game isn’t going to appear out of thin air. Working over the summer not only provides money for such desired items, but a stronger sense of waste-not want-not as well. Nothing will make you understand the value of a dollar more than laboring several hours behind a cash register for minimum wage. 

Besides the paycheck, summer jobs also provide a wealth of experience to use later on in life. Washing dishes in the backroom of a restaurant or resisting the temptation to steal a spoonful of water ice from a customer’s cup may seem like a pain at the time, but it’s these small events that teach us life lessons, like learning to serve others and sacrificing your needs for someone else’s. What we take away from our first jobs carries with us into our adult careers.

Colleges also see the benefits from working over the summer and will look for students who have such working experience. When you fill out your college application, what will you say you have done over the summer? Stayed home and spent an entire three months attached to Facebook? Colleges would much rather see that you’ve put your free time to good use by working the day shift. 

Maybe you’ll even find that your foray into the working world is actually fun. You never know who will be clocking in with you—perhaps you’ll become friends with your new coworkers. With the right people, even a summer spent bound to the monotonous cycle of work can become one of the most unforgettable times your life.

Though it may disturb your tradition of a sluggish summer, getting a job is one of the best ways to spend those three sweet school-free months of vacation. The next time you see a “help wanted” sign staring back at you from behind the store window, leave your preconceived notions about working at the door, and walk on into a summer of possibilities.

K.C. McConnell can be reached at kmcconnell@stoganews.com.

This article originally appeared on p.9 of the June 7, 2010 issue of The Spoke.

By Liz Bravacos, Co-editor-in-chief

One of my favorite quotes about leadership is: “The three most powerful words for building credibility are ‘I don’t know.’” Said by John Ousterhout, a computer sciences professor at Stanford University, the quote’s real beauty stems from its pure honesty. Ousterhout points to the fact that many leaders are afraid of showing weakness and resort to making up answers to questions that they don’t understand.

After surviving my first issue as co-editor of The Spoke, I can say with certainty that those three words, “I don’t know,” make up what is perhaps the most useful phrase in the English language.

As my fellow reporters and editors can attest, my use of those three words has been fairly frequent throughout the past month. Uttered during late-night phone conversations or at lunch breaks in the courtyard, they’re generally followed by a reassuring “But I’ll find out for you.” Though there are very many things I do not yet know, there are several things that I do know for sure.

I know that tomorrow, an amazing senior class will walk across the stage at the Villanova Pavilion. This class, which I tried so diligently to avoid for fear of becoming too attached, has impacted the lives of many at the Big “C.” This year’s senior class taught us all that it’s never too late to write college essays and proved that working diligently is no substitute for having fun. They showed us how to simultaneously dance and walk in the hallways between classes on Friday mornings and that, unfortunately, the library is closed for midday raves. These important lessons will be remembered next fall, long after those learned about Le Chatelier’s principle or the difference between similies and metaphors are forgotten.

I also know that life will roll on here at Conestoga. With one short week before the start of finals, those of us left know that the school year is not yet complete. As usual, we struggle with pangs of jealousy for those away on internship, knowing that at some point, in the far too distant future, our time will come. Just nowhere near soon enough.

I know that saying goodbye is rarely easy and that change is usually terrifying.

I know that the Class of 2010’s absence can be felt in classrooms and hallways.

Most of all, I know that the seniors have earned a sincere thank you for the many lessons that they have taught us. Now, having lost all credibility by stating the little that I know, I’ll gladly return to my three favorite words.

Liz Bravacos can be reached at lbravacos@stoganews.com.

This article originally appeared on p.7 of the June 7, 2010 issue of The Spoke. 

By Seth Zweifler, Editor-in-Chief

I’ve been keeping the countdown going for quite some time now. Six months, four months, two months, three weeks, nineteen days. And now, with just one week to go before the bulk of college decisions come rolling in, that giant red circle on my calendar—a marking that once seemed an eternity away—looms large and near. 

With spring break rapidly approaching, however, we stand at a crossroads. For us seniors, our days spent at Conestoga have nearly run their course. The finish line for the college process is, dare I even say it, now clearly visible just beyond the horizon. For you juniors, this marks the beginning of a new chapter—a chapter defined by family roadtrips, mounds of paperwork and just a bit of stress. 

So, in light of the famed “transition time” that we’re about to enter, here’s some application advice for those just about to delve into the magic we like to call the college crunch. 

• It never stops. Think that Jan. 1 signals the end of it all? Think again. In fact, for some, it only gets worse once you take the great leap forward and hit that “submit” button. You have interviews to deal with, financial aid forms to fill out (thanks, Mom and Dad), update letters to write. Oh, and that thing called high school? Yeah, it still matters. At least until the end of midterms.  

• Space it out. Not even Superman can save everything until the last week in December and still do a good job. It is, after all, a tall task to dumb down your personality into a 500-word essay. And that’s exactly what the schools want. Plus, it’s kind of nice to be able to say that you had a winter break during your senior year. 

• Go with your gut. In all seriousness, a good college is like finding that perfect shoe. Looks are not enough. It needs to feel absolutely perfect for you on the inside, like a match made in heaven. That Ivy League seal certainly does look nice on a resume down the road, but it’s not meant for everyone. Your parents, teachers and counselors are great resources, but always remember: only you can know what’s best for your future. 

Seth Zweifler can be reached at szweifler@stoganews.com.

Printed originally on p. 7 of The Spoke’s March 25, 2010 issue.

By Pooja Ghosh, Staff Reporter 

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” 

Using my newly-learned, chopstick-style pencil grip, I carefully formed the letters ‘h’, ‘a’, ‘p’, ‘y’, when presented with this question in my kindergarten class. At the age of 5, my goal for the future was to be happy. 

Since then, I’ve gotten off course at times. While education is meant to prepare us for the real world, so many of us feel bogged down right now. We stress about the future: AP exams, college and then what? 

We’re steadily losing sight of the string of possibilities that make up the great, unknown future. The childhood dreams we once had are even closer than before but we just have to remember what they are. 

To keep with this sentiment, I recently dug out my bucket list and typed it up, adding and subtracting items as I read through my list. Currently, it has 107 items, ranging from “see a movie at a drive-in theater” (number 1) to “go cliff-jumping” (number 42) to “build a tree house” (number 107). 

My list reminds me of four guys and their list, which many have actively followed for the past few weeks, every Monday at 10 p.m. on MTV. I’m talking about “The Buried Life,” a show that follows these four twenty-somethings around the country as they try to cross off goals like “Make a toast at a stranger’s wedding” and “Play basketball with Obama.” 

The carpe diem theme of the show inspires me to take my own bucket list seriously because I’ve realized that I myself have an obligation to pursue my goals. 

After all, making my list has been the most therapeutic activity I’ve partaken in recently. The act of wracking my  brain for what I really want, and then definitively writing it down as a goal, motivates me to stay positive as I look ahead to the future. Although I don’t have an international corporation funding me, or even my driver’s license, I am determined to accomplish at least some of the items.

I’ve decided that the upcoming summer is exactly for this purpose. In between visiting colleges and completing summer homework, you’ll be able to find me at the Renaissance Faire (number 11) or at my computer, furiously Googling in order to learn how basic household appliances work (number 103). 

So pull out a sheet of paper or open up a blank Word document. Anything you’ve ever wanted to do, see or be—write it down. Personally, I’m enlisting the help of my friends who have mastered the art of parallel parking, and trusting in my ability to make lots of money or hit the jackpot in frequent flier miles. 

Remember that even if you don’t get something done now or don’t even know how to go about it, you’ll figure it out as you go. Keep the list around, easily accessible for those moments when you feel lost or without any kind of direction. Even if you can’t think of anything right now, there’s your number 1: make a list. 

Pooja Ghosh can be reached at pghosh@stoganews.com.

Printed originally on p. 9 of The Spoke’s March 25, 2010 issue.

Guest Commentary by Leah Rusenko

Pennsylvania school districts have been making national news recently, but for all the wrong reasons. Instead of being recognized for top-ranking SAT scores or high graduation rates, school leaders in our area have been cited in the press for neglecting their responsibilities and for invading student privacy.