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The Tusker Tribune
The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School
Issue Number 16 http://somersschools.org/domain/995 Winter 2019
NCAA Crown Goes to Cast Your Vote for the 2019
Clemson NBA All-Star Game!
By Arjun Ojha By Benji Cutler
Tusker Tribune Staff Tusker Tribune Staff
On January 7th, 2019, the #2 The NBA All-
ranked Clemson Tigers led by Dabo Star Game is a game
Swinney faced the #1 ranked Ala- where fans get to pick
bama Crimson Tide led by Nick Saban. the starters from each confer-
They played each other in Levi’s Stadium ence and all NBA head coaches
in San Fransisco, California. select the reserves. This year, the voting is presented
The ticket prices went down be- by Google either on a device or on any Google Assistant
cause not many people were interested in your home.
since it was the 4th year in a row that Through a device, you can click here: https://
these 2 teams have played each other. The vote.nba.com/?cid=asv18_nbadrd#/
3rd meeting was a semifinal, not a national to easily get to a completely simple way of voting, or
championship. you can vote using the NBA app. It allows you to vote
Both Clemson and Alabama had for two guards and three frontcourt players from each
young QB’s (Quarterbacks). conference, the Eastern Conference and the West.
Continued on Page 7
The Hottest Producers of 2018
By Noah Volkman College and scored his very first
Tusker Tribune Staff #1 hit that same week. In July, he
As 2018 came to an end, I decided spoke about what’s made him so
to look at the best producers of the year by successful. “I’d say my sound is
gathering the most popular songs and kinda like that Memphis original
their producers. down South bounce sound mixed
At #10, we have with the new sound, too.”
Louis Bell, who produced songs For #6 we have Illa-
like Halsey’s “Without Me”, and DaProducer, who crafted
Post Malone’s “Better Now” and Eminem’s MGK response track,
“Psycho.” “Killshot.” And according to Il-
At #9 is la, the song wasn’t originally
Atlanta’s Mike for Eminem. “But when Slim
WiLL Made-It, came calling, he answered. So
who crafted a slew of tracks when I originally started the
last year, including Jay Rock, beat for “Killshot” it was actually for Giggs. He
Kendrick Lamar and Future’s always asked me for these horror movie beats.
“King’s Dead.” That’s what I was thinking when I made the
At #8 we have New Jer- “Killshot” beat was just something mean, gritty,
sey’s Ronny J for his work on grimey.”
Kanye At #5 we have Canada’s
West and Lil Pump’s “I Love Frank Dukes, the man behind
It” as well as Machine Gun The Weeknd’s “Call Out My
Kelly’s withering Eminem diss Name,” which may’ve been
track, “Rap Devil.” about Abel’s ex, Selena Gomez.
Coming in at #7, is Dukes executive produced The
Memphis’ Tay Keith who had Weeknd’s somber March 2018
3 Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 hits, on of them being co EP, My Dear Melancholy.
-production on Travis Scott’s “SICKO MODE.” Not
only that, Keith graduated from Middle Tennessee Continued on Page 5
The Tusker Tribune
Page 2 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School
By Kaeleigh Picco
Tusker Tribune Staff
Have you ever wondered what happened today-
ten years ago? Twenty years ago? Thirty? In This Week
in History I will tell you about the events that hap-
pened that particular week that could have impacted
our everyday lives, or are just really interesting to learn
about.
January 10th, 1776
Thomas Paine, one of the major social figures leading up to the Revolu-
tionary War, published his charismatic and controversial book, Common Sense
on this date. Common Sense played a major role in convincing the American
colonists to rebel from Great Britain. It openly challenged the English monarch
and proposed a new, democratic republic.
January 11th, 1755
I’m sure most of you have heard of the musical
Hamilton, and this date marks the birthday of the man
himself. Alexander Hamilton was everything from a
Founding Father in the early days of America, to the
first Secretary of the Treasury, to being a Senior Officer in the military. This
man truly did it all.
January 13th, 1990
A proud day for the long fought civil rights movement
across the U.S., Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the first African-American
governor in America as he took his oath of office in Richmond (the capital of Vir-
ginia).
January 15th, 1559
Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of infamous Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was
crowned Queen of England on this date; she would go on to become the long-
est reigning ruler until Queen Elizabeth II and never married nor had any
children.
The Tusker Tribune Staff
Co-Editors Photography Editor Reporters
Noah Volkman Allison O’Connor Kaeleigh Picco
Joseph Melillo Ian Cohen
Copy Editors Alex Susca
Feature Editor William Underkoffler Noah Volkman
Samuel Sanz Andre Possante Anastasia Fiorella
Michael Aiello Jeanne Manteau
Sports Editor Arjun Ojha
Jesse Manginelli Allison O’Connor
Benji Cutler
Olivia Soto
Jesse Manginelli
Mikayla Haran
The Tusker Tribune
Page 3 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School
Hulk Roller Coaster Lives Up to Expectations
By Ian Cohen The rollercoast-
Tusker Tribune Staff er went around on flips,
Over break my family and I went corkscrews, and over
to Universal Studios in Florida. When we the lake upside down.
went to Island of Adventure, we were In 45 seconds,
looking for crazy rollercoasters to ride the ride was over. I
The second we stepped foot inside, there it thought to myself, that
was the “Incredible Hulk” ride. We waited on the was the best ride ever.
line and when we got inside it was like a science
laboratory inside. Hulk Roller Coaster
When we were up, we went inside a tube Facts
with all
LED Top speed: 67 mph
lights Number of inver-
inside. sions (loops, etc.): 7
We Refurbished in 2015
moved and reopened in
very 2016
slowly, Total length: 3,700
then, in feet
the Maximum Height: 110 feet
blink of First drop: 105 feet
an eye, Total time of ride: 1 minute, 30 seconds
we shot Number of passengers per train: 32
out of Number of subterranean dives: 2
the tube Manufacturer: Bolliger and Mabillard, a Swiss
at crazy company.
speed.
‘Wicked’ Does Not Disappoint
By Alexander Susca voices. Just to take it off the
Tusker Tribune table, there isn’t much I can
Staff say about the acting itself be-
“Wicked” is a sides that there were no mess
musical about the ori- -ups and they played their
gins of the wicked parts fantastically.
witch from The Wizard of Oz. On to the final part,
It follows a girl who is an out- the sets. The outline of the
cast because of her green skin. stage was a bunch of gears
She later becomes the wicked turning. I thought that was
witch. really cool. My favorite set
I would rate this show was the Emerald City. That
a 9/10 for many reasons. First set was perfect, and the lights
off, the story. The story was made it really look like emer-
amazingly written with no ald. All the other sets were a
plot gaps. The perfect balance little bland, and that’s the one
of story and music. Which point off.
brings us to our next part, the Overall, it was an
music/singing. The music is amazing musical. I would rec-
outstanding with intense ommend it to anyone who
songs, calm songs, songs that liked the Wizard of Oz or if
you would think were sung by you just need an entertaining
someone on the radio. play to see. Oh, and look out
All the actors knew the for the dragon.
music by heart and had great
The Tusker Tribune
Page 4 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School
Life After Death: Who Controls Lil Peep &
XXXTENTACION’s Posthumous Music?
By Noah Volkman er by labels and stuff like that. I just want to have
Tusker Tribune Staff my friends featured on the album and my friends
In the last two months of 2018, making the beats so that it becomes its own enti-
there were two posthumous (post-death) ty.” At the time, Makonnen insisted that the record
releases – the late Lil Peep’s Come Over was meant to bring people together. “I think it’ll be
When You’re Sober, Pt. 2 and XXXTENTACION’s good for everybody. Both legacies, all that.” He
SKINS. While both released filled fans’ yearning said. Still there is no way to know what Peep
for new music, they weren’t without their missteps would’ve wanted – and therein lies the moral quan-
and bigger questions. dary with these posthumous releases – do you add
Lil Peep, known to many as a visionary due to his features when the artist isn’t alive to approve it?
fusion of mid-aughts emo with today’s trap sound, As for X, his album SKINS was released
was fresh off the release of his de- with only one feature – Kanye West.
but album, Come Over When Longtime X collaborator John Cun-
You’re Sober, Pt. 1, when in No- ningham explained why West was in-
vember 2017, tragedy struck. The cluded on the album, saying “because
20-year-old X was loved by fans for he was always talked about Kanye’s
his raw and emotive lyrics. He al- work and was actively wanting to do a
so had a dark side though. In June song with him up until the day he
2018, the months of his death, X passed. Also, Scarlxrd was never on
was awaiting trial for charges for that song but we love him too. Cun-
domestic abuse and false imprison- ningham also said that he and X be-
ment regarding his ex-girlfriend. gan work on this project not long after
He was killed in an altercation out- X’s ? album, saying, "the songs and the
side of a motorcycle shop that ideas and the vision of it all was done
same month. The charges against or very close to being done.” Knowing
X were dropped after his death. that John and X were close should put
Both him and Peep left behind many fan worries to rest – but feasibly
plenty of unfinished songs – with there could still be controversy on the
no real direction for what to do horizon.
with them. This is a unique conun- X reportedly signed a $10 mil-
drum for today’s generation of art- lion deal shortly before his death,
ists as the New Yorker’s Carrie Battan writes, “… which may mean more posthumous albums are on
there exists a mountain of unreleased music by de- the way that were not approved by X while he was
ceased young stars to be sifted and pumped out in- alive. Issues over releases like these aren’t any-
to the world. It’s a minefield of commercial poten- thing new. In fact, in June Drake took some flack
tial. In an interview with Lil Peep’s parents, his for using dated Michael Jackson vocals on his 5th
mother, Liza Womack, said, “We gotta do what Gus studio album, Scorpion. Michael Jackson’s nephew
would have wanted, and Gus had very strong feel- raised some concerns. Austin Brown, MJ’s nephew
ings about his work.” said, “I feel like, if he didn’t finish it, then you
After Peep’s brother urged her to get in- shouldn’t use it.”
volved, she started to take more control over Come But Drake’s been here before – in 2014 he
Over When You’re Sober Pt. 2. “He said to me, had to abandon a posthumous album of Aaliyah’s
‘Mama, you gotta start to get involved with what’s music after her frequent collaborator Timbaland
going to happen with Gus’ music,” Liza said. She objected. “Aaliyah music only work with it’s soul-
believes Pt. 2 is the perfect sequel to Peep’s debut. mate…which is me.” Timbaland said. As for MJ,
“You can see how it went from Come Over When there’s a lawsuit alleging that Sony’s 2010 album
You’re Sober 1 to Come Over When You’re Sober 2,” Michael – the first release after his death in 2009 –
she said. included three fake records. And if we look at rap
But the process wasn’t always so smooth. In history – notably the numerous releases from 2Pac
September 2018, a Peep & X collab called “Falling and the Notorious B.I.G. after they died – we
Down” dropped. Originally “Falling Down,” was might see more from X and Peep. 2Pac and Biggie
titled “Sunlight On Your Skin” and featured iLo- even posthumously appeared on a song together in
veMakonnen. The addition of X caused quite a stir 2003. As fans we’ll just have to hope that those in
amongst Peep’s friends and fans. “He explicitly re- control of these artists legacies stay true to what
jected XXX for his abuse of women, spent time and they wanted. And when it comes to Lil Peep, we
money getting XXX’s songs removed from his may not have to worry at all. “There’s a lot of mu-
Spotify playlist, and wouldn’t have co-signed that sic, and I’m going to be a very busy mom, because I
song.” A fan said. And in one of his final inter- gotta go around and make it happen the right
views, Peep said, “I hate features that were togeth- way,” Womack said.
The Tusker Tribune
Page 5 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School
MISS KNOW-IT-ALL
Dear Miss Know-It-All:
Wwhat should I do? This Friday I must make the decision on
what sport I should play. I have 3 choices. The first sport my dad re-
ally wants me to play. He played it when he was younger. The sec-
ond my friends really want me to play; they’re all on the team al-
ready. And the third, I really want to play. I’m worried that if I
choose the sport, I like then my dad will be disappointed in me and
my friends won’t think I’m cool. What’s the right choice?
The Tusker Tribune is the
Sincerely, online Somers Middle
School Student Newspaper.
MR. SUPERFAN It is published weekly
(except during school vaca-
tions) on the Somers Mid-
Dear MR. SUPERFAN: dle School Website.
The minute read I read your question I knew this issue would be a It is entirely student-
tough one. As a student myself, I've struggled with plenty of drama and written by 6th, 7th and 8th
school/home related problems. I think that the most positive and reliable grade students from:
choice would to be choosing what you want. If
MISS KNOW-IT-ALL Somers Middle School
you choose to do anything else, we both know 250 Route 202
you would be very unhappy. Even though you're Somers, NY, USA.
scared that your dad might be disappointed in
you, I’m sure you're just worrying too much. He Any SMS student is eligi-
will understand the decision you make, and if he ble to write stories. If inter-
doesn’t explain to him why you made that choice. ested, please e-mail
And as for your friends, they are obviously not Advisor Dean Pappas at
that cool if they make fun of you for doing a different sport. And if they DPappas
do make comments to you about your choice then you show them how cool @somersschools.org
your sport is and that you’re an amazing player. Be confident! Remember
you do what you want and enjoy it.
Best Regards,
Miss Know-It-All
Producers the production of five albums, released over the
span of 5 weeks in May and June. But
From Page 1 his biggest hit was with Lil Pump (“I
At #4 we have the German Love It”).
twins CuBeatz, who also co-produced Finally, at #1 is Canada’s oth-
Travis Scott’s “SICKO MODE,” along er golden boy, Boi-1da, who produced
with Nicki Minaj and 6ix9ine’s and co-produced a
“FEFE” with Murda Beatz. slew of songs last
#3 is John year, including
Cunningham, the Drake’s tear-jerker,
late XXXTENTACION collabora- “God’s Plan.” Boi-1da and Drake
tor and executive producer for go way back, and he also
SKINS. In October 2018, Cun- worked with Drizzy on another
ningham spoke in an interview early 2018 track, “Diplomatic
ahead of the release of X’s first Immunity.” “You just know
posthumous album about the pro- what you’re getting with him.
cess and he said, “We basically You just know that it’s gonna be
started making this next album right after ? came a hit song, you know it’s gonna be a moment, you
out. The songs and the ideas and the vision of it all know
stops
any time Drake drops something, everybody
to hear it so you just know it’ll be something
was done or very close to being done.” great.”
Coming in at #2 is Kanye West, who led So who’s your favorite producer of 2018?
The Tusker Tribune
Page 6 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School
Historic Philadelphia Keeps the Past Alive
By Anastasia Fiorella I also went to go see the American
Tusker Tribune Staff Revolution museum. There
A couple of weeks ago were things from the war
my Dad and I went to Phila- like the little guns and ri-
delphia PA. We went to go fles they used in their bat-
see a pop artist concert that tles! When you would walk
evening, but before the show, we around there were little
went to see the historic district. videos being projected onto the
In The National Constitution wall and they would talk about
Center, they had statues of all the Con- the battles of the American
gressional representatives from each Revolution and what the sol-
state that made the laws. Another cool diers went through.
thing that I saw was the actual room As you went along the
where they signed the Declaration of museum there was also a president section and
Independence, at Independence Hall in in there they had all the presidents’ pictures and
the heart of Philadelphia. The room their own little section with their picture and
itself was small as people back then what they did for our country. There was also a
were not as tall as little voting station where you would go in the
we are today. ‘’voting’’ booth and simulate that you’re voting,
It was cool to see the and on the screen they had a little trivia on the
same room that I saw in some screen and you got to pick which president did
videos I watched. It was amaz- what.
ing they kept everything the Overall the experience was amazing and
same as it was back when they there was so much to see and I couldn’t get to all.
signed the Declaration! It’s definitely a two day trip!
The Tusker Tribune Commentary: All Star
School Uniforms Have Advantages From Page 1
By Jeanne Manteau TNT will reveal the
Tusker Tribune Staff NBA All-Star starters re-
We often hear complaints about sults, including the two cap-
having school uniforms or even just a tains (which I will explain in
simple dress code. an article I will be writing
However, it seems obvious that sometime in February) on Thursday, January 24
having a school uniform would be a good impro- during NBA Tip-Off. TNT will also be announc-
vement for many schools throughout the coun- ing the reserves, which are selected by the head
try. School uniforms are helpful in so many coaches, on Thursday, January 31. Throughout
ways, yet not many people seem to like them! the voting period, fans are
School uniforms prevent allowed to submit one full
people from being left out. Nobo- ballot every single day.
dy gets criticized because of For the third
their clothes or mocked because straight year, NBA players
they are not following some and media along with fans
trend or other style that just select the NBA All-Star
happens to be popular. starters. Fans will account
Also, kids in the morning as 50% of the vote, while NBA players and media
can spend time stressing about panel will count as 25% each. Players and media
their clothes, wondering if they’ll fit in or if their have the same rules for voting, and are allowed o
clothes are too flashy, too bland, etc. Well, ha- vote for themselves or their teammates.
ving a school uniform solves all of those pro- You have until Martin Luther King Jr.
blems! You only can wear one item, so nobody Day, Monday, January 21 to vote, just letting you
can get teased because of their clothing. And no all know, if you are interested in voting, once
need to hesitate in the morning, because you ei- again, you can go through https://vote.nba.com/?
ther wear your uniform, or you wear your uni- cid=asv18_nbadrd#/ through Google or vote
form! through the NBA app. I will be making another
So, before dismissing the thought of ha- article on how the All-Star Game itself works and
ving a uniform, think about all it gives you, and will be sharing the results of all the starters and
hopefully it’ll change YOUR opinion! reserves, so stay tuned!
The Tusker Tribune
Page 7 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School
The Highest Paid Athletes of 2018
By Jesse Manginelli Speaking of Ronaldo, he is next on
Tusker Tribune Staff the list. Ronaldo is also a profes-
Many professional sional soccer player. Ronaldo made
athletes make a lot of $108 million this year which is just
money, but these athletes under Messi, who made $111 mil-
were the highest paid ath- lion.
letes of 2018. Connor McGregor is fourth on this
Floyd Mayweather, list at $99 million. McGregor made
a retired boxer holds 1st place as $3 million from his fight against
the highest paid athlete. He Mayweather. Many people specu-
earned $285 million. Most of this late that McGregor didn’t make as
money came from his high- much money as Mayweather
ly publicized fight against because he lost the fight.
Connor McGregor. May-
weather has been the high- Number 5 on the list is Ney-
est paid athlete 4 times in mar at $90 million. Neymar is
7 years. a professional soccer player.
The second highest He plays for the Brazil Na-
paid athlete this year is tional Team and Paris Saint-
Lionel Messi, a profession- Germain F.C.
al soccer player for Barce- Sixth on the list is star bas-
lona and the Argentine na- ketball player LeBron James.
tional team. Messi made James has played for multiple
$111 million which is just NBA organizations including
over Christiano Ronaldo’s the Lakers, Cavaliers, and the
earnings. Heat. Last year he made a
whopping $85.5 million.
What Makes a ‘Good Student’?
By Allison O’Connor A good student is someone
Tusker Tribune Staff who is helpful, kind, and friendly,
A good student is but the one thing that makes some-
somebody who has a keen one a good student is the way they
interest and a desire to behave. When you behave you don’t
learn and a willingness to want to be screaming, shouting out
work hard. bad things. You don’t want to give
What makes a good stu- up before you even try. You don’t
dent is perseverance and discipline. want to be rude and pick on people.
A good student is not someone who You don’t want to scream in the
thinks they are perfect and gets perfect grades. A halls and make ruckus.
good student is someone who tries hard, who never Remember you want to be a good student,
gives up, and doesn’t leave someone out. not the bad one.
Clemson points. Alabama scored
none. In the 4th quarter no
From Page 1 one scored. In the end,
Their names are Trevor Clemson won the national
Lawrence (19) and Tua Tagovai- championship by a score of
loa (20). In the 1st quarter, both 44 to 16.
teams scored 27 points combined. After college ends, Clemson
Clemson scored 14 and Alabama will be losing all their start-
scored 13. ing Defensive Linemen.
In the 2nd quarter, both Those names include Dexter
teams scored 20 points combined. Lawrence (21), Christian
Clemson scored 17 points and Alabama scored 3 Wilkins (23), Clelin Ferrell
points. In the 3rd quarter, Clemson scored 13 (21), Austin Bryant (22). They will also be losing
their Wide Receiver Hunter Renfrow (23).
The Tusker Tribune
Page 8 The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School
7th Graders Don’t Need Cell Phones
By Mikayla Haran cell phones lose sleep because of talking at night or
Tusker Tribune Staff because of being anxious that they do not miss a
These days, everyone's on their call, and as a result suffer from headaches and
phones and I'm not going to lie but I’m al- sleepiness during the day, which interferes with
ways on mine, too. learning at school."
But I find my phone as a dis- This was recently stated by
traction for getting good grades. David O. Carpenter, Director, Insti-
Studies show that people with tute for Health and the Environ-
phones get worse grades then people ment & Professor of Environmental
without them. I could live without Health Sciences, University at Alba-
my phone for a day. Why don’t you ny.
try see if studies are right? See if not Additionally, Georgia S.
having a phone improves your Thompson, Vice President of the
grades! Another thing is we Programs and Affiliate Network,
all wonder why we have so many car crashes in the National Black Child Development Institute,
world. Could you guess why? If you guessed “cell notes, “Kids should not have cell phones. I may be
phone”, then you’re right. These car crashes hap- alone on this, but I don’t see a real need for them,
pen 1.6 million times a year. and I certainly don’t see the benefits for young
"There are several reasons why kids should children. I actually know of a five-year-old child
not have cell phones. Kids with cell phones are who owns a cell phone. Children’s excessive use of
likely to spend too much time on them, keeping cell phones can lead to issues with both
them from doing more productive things, like exer- health and safety."
cising and reading. There is increasing evidence of The experts seem to be of one mind, and
addiction to electronic devices, which like any oth- they support my claim that 7h graders would prob-
er kind of addiction is destructive. Many kids with ably be better off without cell phones.
Why is Everyone Rappng Offbeat?
By Noah Volkman fia. And then there’s
Tusker Tribune Staff YBN Nahmir, who’s
Today, in hip-hop from Ala-
there are a few popular flows bama.
and you know exactly where Hon-
they came from. estly, as
There’s the Migos’ rap, rap, 2018 moved
rap and pause flow, Young Thug, along, more
Gunna and Lil Baby’s sanging flow. and more
Valee’s bored, run-on sentence flow… rappers be-
Sheck Wes, Rico Nasty and 6ix9ine’s gan to sound like Vallejo, California’s
“I AM YELLING AT YOU” rager flow. SOB X RBE. Coming together in 2015,
Gucci Mane, Kodak Black and BbyMutha’s slow SOB X RBE has released three projects, and were
drawl flow and Drake and Tierra Whack’s sing- hit up personally by Kendrick Lamar to join 2018’s
song flow… and we can’t forget Eminem, Joyner Black Panther soundtrack. But their flow is em-
Lucas and MGK’s speed rap. And then, blematic of Northern California’s overall style of
there’s another one that keeps popping up. rap that was born in the late 80s and ear-
Blueface, the Los Angeles living, breath- ly 1990s. And, of course, another Vallejo
ing In- vet E-40, whose linguistic twists and
ternet turns are sometimes on but mostly off-
meme, beat, on purpose. Elsewhere in the Bay is
has got- Oakland’s gruff-voiced, Yaddaamean
ten a lot King, Keak Da Sneak.
of at- This 90s flow has even influenced
tention underground scenes across the country,
for his like Detriot’s Tee Grizzley and Chicago’s
offbeat flow G Herbo. So there you have it, the tradition of fast-
along with paced offbeat creative flows can be traced back to
Shoreline Ma- at least these West Coast forefathers—and appar-
ently, anybody can get it.
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