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LGBT Dance at SLA!

January 26, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Sean Morris

Staff writer

With February just around the corner, SLA is proud to be hosting its second LGBT Valentine’s Day Dance. The idea came to me last year when observing that typically SLA has many dances, but that gay people, like myself, may not feel comfortable dancing with fellow gay people. With Valentine’s day coming up, I thought it might be nice to have a dance for people in not only our GSA (gay/ straight alliance) but also GSA’s across the city. While the dance wasn’t attended by as many people as we originally hoped, a fun time was had by all. This year, we are expanding our publicity by handing out flyers at the Mazzoni Center and reaching out to our friends at other schools via social media.

Now before anyone asks, allow me to clarify something: Yes, straight people/ couples can come. It is our hope, at least in terms of ratio, that more people in the LGBT community shall be able to attend. However, straight people and couples are more than welcome to come in a way to show support to the community. Additionally it is something that SLAers can be proud of as I can’t think of any other school in the city that has a yearly tradition of hosting an LGBT- specific- dance.

It will start at 7pm and go on till 10, make sure to bring a High school I.D and music will be performed by our own talented D.J Phazze. All of your friends at the GSA are encouraging those who can to come, and to ask any who you know that might like to come, perhaps a gay friend or something of the like. In any case take pride in our local community and come to our LGBT dance!

2014 changes of SLA

January 26, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Angelica Owens

Staff Writer

Within the last year, there has been some changes around the school. Community members outside the school may not be aware that we lost three teachers last year– in the summer Ms. Dunn, the english teacher for freshmen and seniors and Mr. Sherif, the BioChemistry teacher for freshmen and sophomores left to go somewhere else and then Ms. Giknis and Ms. Sessa took their places.

Mr. VK left during the winter break and will not be returning. He went to teach at Drexel. The students that have had VK during their time at this school knows that he loved the school very much and he always spoke to his students in the hallway when he saw them. We never would have thought he would have left us since he lives across the street from the school but he wanted to go and teach people how to teach within the STEM (science technology engineering and math) fields.

To come back in September of 2014 and to not see them was devastating. My personal experience with these teachers since I had both of them freshman year and then had Mr. Sherif again sophomore year is that they were both amazing people. Mr. Sherif called himself “doctor smiley” which made his students get to know that he was very happy to teach his students. Ms. Dunn was such a great teacher as well. Her energy lit up the room and she was very willing to help any student that needed extra help. Not only was Ms. Dunn a phenomenal teacher but she was really good at talking to students on a personal level so that you knew you could trust her with things. I’m sure both of these teachers will be missed by the whole student body.

“I was disappointed to hear Ms. Dunn left. She was an amazing English teacher and adult in the building to talk to. However, I’m really looking forward to having Ms. Giknis as a teacher for Reel Reading. I know she’s going to be a great teacher and make the class really interesting” – Nikki Adeli

However, despite the change, Sessa and Giknis are getting used to their new roles in the school.

“SLA is a bit different from the school I was at before. That school wasn’t labeled a “project-based” school, but science lends itself to projects and experimentations, so in that way it wasn’t that different. Though the content is a bit different, since biology and chemistry weren’t integrated there. I think the biggest change was the use of the laptops (which is awesome!) The teachers here have helped me with utilizing them to make projects.”- Sessa

The school also saw several changes in appearance. The library which used to be painted mint green is now a bright red color, which had the music room there. Also, the study skills class which used to be in room 206 relocated to the library with a lot more space. When study skills moved to the library to get rid of the loud noise of the music room, it moved to the 3rd floor.

The biggest change is one that isn’t definitely happening — the possibility of SLA moving locations to the central office of the School District, at 440 N. Broad Street.

Who Was Leelah Alcorn?

January 26, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

by Calamity Jung-Allen Staff Writer

Leelah Alcorn was an American transgender girl who committed suicide on December 18, 2014 at the age of 17. The note she left behind on her Tumblr blog blaming her parents for their enforcement of damaging societal standards has received national attention and sparked a movement in support of transgender youth.

Alcorn was born Joshua Ryan on November 15, 1997 in a conservative Christian household in Ohio. Her family attended the Northeast Church of Christ in Cincinnati, and had been featured in a profile published in a 2011 issue of The Christian Chronicle. When she was 14, she came out to an unsupportive family, and at 16, they denied her request to undergo transition treatment. She writes in her letter left behind that, “I immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn’t make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don’t tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don’t ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won’t do anything but make them hate them self. That’s exactly what it did to me.” Soon after, she was forced into conversion therapy, removed from school, revoked access to social media, and isolated from her friends. They also enrolled her in an online school, Ohio Virtual Academy, in place of Kings High School. After five months, Alcorn states that they returned her phone and let her contact her friends, but her relationships had become strained and she still felt extremely isolated.

Alcorn writes, “They felt like I was attacking their image, and that I was an embarrassment to them. They wanted me to be their perfect little straight Christian boy, and that’s obviously not what I wanted.” Two months prior to her suicide, Alcorn reached out on Reddit, asking whether her parents’ treatments toward her would be considered abuse. She explained that her parents often verbally abused her to a violent degree, but never physically assaulted her.

Alcorn posted her suicide note on Tumblr as a queued post to appear at 5:30 PM. At 2:20 AM on December 28, 2014, Alcorn stepped in front of a truck on Interstate 71. Her suicide note expressed hope that her death would spur dialogue about transgender discrimination and abuse. It also called for major societal reform: “Fix society, please.” She asked for all of her belongings and money to be donated to trans advocacy groups.

Later that day at 2:55 PM, her mother, Carla Alcorn, posted a Facebook post that read, “My sweet 16-year-old, Joshua Ryan Alcorn, went home to Heaven this morning. He went out for an early morning walk and was hit by a truck. Thank you for the messages and kindness and concern you have sent our way.” Leelah Alcorn was 17 at the time of her death.

Recently, her suicide has received international attention in news and social media. Within 48 hours of posting, it had 82,272 views and had 200,000 notes on Tumblr by December 31st. It was described as passionate and heartbreaking by the Boston Globe and the Daily Mail. Subsequently, Leelah Alcorn’s post was deleted and her Facebook account made private.

A petition is calling for “Leelah’s Law”, a ban on conversion therapy created by the Transgender Human Rights Institute. On January 3rd, it had more than 230,000 signatures. Carla Alcorn appeared on CNN later and stated that she and her family, “don’t support that, religiously.” Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, commented that, “Despite the great cultural and policy advances transgender people have made, there is still a lot of disrespect, discrimination and violence aimed at us. And being a child or a teenager of any kind today is very difficult.”

The New Year’s Resolutions of Philly Sports Teams

January 22, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Benjamin Simon

Staff Writer

Courtesy of http://www.athletepromotions.com/ — Image courtesy of http://www.athletepromotions.com/

As New Year’s rolls around, people often create resolutions that they want to commit themselves to for that year. Here at SLAMedia, we decided to break down the New Years Resolutions for some of our Philadelphia sports teams.

Eagles: Increase the amount of quality and necessary signings

The Eagles have time and time again made head scratching decisions regarding the signing and drafting of players over the last years. Last year, the Eagles drafted an unproven outside linebacker, Marcus Smith II from Ohio State, with their first pick. Not only was this a position that was already solid at with Brandon Graham, Trent Cole, and pro-bowler Connor Barwin but Smith did not make a tackle the entire season.

The Eagles also stole the money to sign backup running back Darren Sproles. There’s no denying that the speedster was great in special teams and throughout the first couple games, but he slowly tapered off, finishing the last five game with thirteen rushes and just forty seven yards.

This move always baffled me. The Eagles already had the best speedy running back in the game, LeSean McCoy. Why get another that played exactly like him? This was a move that was unnecessary and they could live without.

This new year, the Eagles should strive to making more quality pick ups at positions that they need, such as cornerback and wide receiver. These are two spots where the Eagles lack the talent to contend against some of the best in the league. These examples are only few of many questioning moves that this team has made over the past year.

Sixers: Don’t trade for any more draft picks

As the Sixers have tanked, they have proceeded to stock piles of draft picks. Now is the time to stop. The time has come where they have found their core of the future: Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, and whoever they take this upcoming draft. They finally have a group of guys who, in many years, could bring a banner home to Broad Street. However, they still need more pieces. But that doesn’t come by trading away players who are assets for unproven draft picks.

This new year, the Sixers should relax with their core, and begin to slowly build around it. This idea hit me when it was released that Carter-Williams would be placed on the trading block. Why mess more with the kids head? What’s the best they could get for: another draft pick and unproven player? The Sixers need to stop thinking of 2021, and begin to focus on 2017. Who are the players to keep? Who are the proven pieces to bring in to better fit the young, talented players? It is time to think about now, winning, and our core, rather than draft picks and tanking.

Phillies: Have more young guys play

Last year, the Phillies had a frustrating season. Amidst constant losing, the management refused to switch around the order as the season grew on. Every day, we saw the same old names, past their prime and selfishly taking a valuable spot. Ryan Howard. Kyle Kendrick. Jimmy Rollins. As the season wore on, die hard Phillies fans begged to see the upcoming talent, yet it didn’t come. Cesar Hernandez played only sixty games (less than half of the Phillies total regular season games). Maikel Franco barely saw sixteen. JP Crawford didn’t even touch Citizens Bank Park. Yeah there were exceptions: Cody Asche and Ken Giles, but I just wish we would have seen more. As the young talent bloomed in the minor league system. We never got to witness them.

This new year, the Phillies must make it a priority to get more at bats and pitching opportunities for the young guns of the system. Therefore, they will not only give them a chance to prove themselves, but an opportunity to release the jitters and soothe into the big leagues. This is a must do if the Phillies struggle to win once again this season.

**JP Crawford (above)** Image courtesy of blogs.app.com

Temple Basketball: Shoot the ball better

The Temple basketball team has shot a scary 37% during their first nineteen games this season. That ranks them 339th in shooting percentage in the NCAA. Ouch. Not only that, but they are shooting an atrocious 30% from three-point range. There is absolutely no way a team can win, while shooting that bad during games.

It also hurts that your three best and most relientent scorers (Will Cummings, Jessie Morgan, and Quenton Decosy) are shooting a combined 34% from the field.

This new year, the Owls must shoot better to give them a chance to compete. They hustle and work hard on defense, but you can only go so far, without shooting the ball consistently.

Penn Basketball: Fire head coach Jerome Allen

Since Jerome Allen took over as head coach for Glen Miller in 2009, the Quakers have gone 56-85. But it isn’t like Allen hasn’t followed up with some strong recruits. Miles Cartwright was rated a 90 by ESPN when he came out of high school. Patrick Lucas-Perry was rated an 87. Tony Hicks was also an 87. Allen has had strong cores. In 2013, Penn was projected to finish to finish second by NBC Sports. Instead, they landed an 8-20 mark and sixth place in the Ivy League. But despite the losses of many key players from the previous year, the Quakers looked like they had some potential. With a flat out scorer in Tony Hicks (15 points per game last season), big man Darien Nelson-Henry (6’11), and a bunch of bench players flowering with talent, they looked like they might have a shot. Yet again, Penn has started the season 4 and 9.

That leaves one option for their New Year’s Resolution: fire head coach Jerome Allen. Despite his great demeanor and recruiting skills, Allen has yet to find a way to win games on a consistent basis. With only one winning season throughout his five previous ones, Allen has to go. It is time to give another person the keys to the blooming potential here at Penn.

SLA fashion

January 22, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Corinthia Bell

Staff writer

Where did you buy your clothes from?

I “buy” my clothes from my dad’s closet and I mostly shop at thrift stores.

What made you decide on them?

Well usually, like during the school day i think about what i’m going to wear to school tomorrow and then i like think about one piece first and then like work around it. Like this shirt– i wanted to wear this shirt today and i was like “what will go with this shirt?” and then i just put this scarf on today.

Who’s your fave fashion designer/company?

I have a lot. I don’t like specific stores because this is thrifted like my shoes and stuff but my fave designer is Thierry Mugler like circa 1997. It’s like the best thing ever. And Christian Dior like 2007.

What’s your particular taste in clothes?

I don’t think I have a particular taste. Sometimes i just like to be preppy and sometimes i like to dress casual. But i never, ever, wear sweatpants outside of my house. That is a no no. Or Flip Flops. Omigod, they should be like banned from the US. Like, no.

“Fashion Fades only style remains the same”. What does that mean to you?

I don’t think fashion actually fades, like how people used to dress like in the 1990s and its like coming back… it just like goes to the back of the burner or something and then makes another appearance, so i don’t think it can fade.

~Enthony chhin