For just $7, you can be the owner of these white and navy blue Ray Ban styled shades that are sure to hold up through all of your beach wear and tear. Designed with top-of-the-line hard plastic composite, these slick shades sport the word “Knights” as well as the helmet of our beloved mascot on both sides.

SGA class advisor, Mr. Berger praised the new design and upgraded material adding that “they are definitely a higher quality product than what we’ve had in the past.”

Junior SGA member Jonah Kim was responsible for the idea to sell the Ray Ban style glasses again this year.

 “This year we decided to find a company that would provide North Penn the quality its student body deserves…these sunglasses will be perfect when you want to go out and show your North Penn spirit like at the baseball and softball playoff games. I guarantee there are no sunglasses like these in the entire world,” said Kim.

These sporty specs will be available during all lunch periods in the Senior Cafeteria for $7 starting Wednesday, May 22nd. The sale will run for 2 weeks until Wednesday, June 5^th, so go and get your “Knight Vision” today!

Candidate Preview Article originally published May 5:

Without attack ads and pundits’ speculations and commentaries, you may not have noticed that it is primary election season again. However, local elections are the simple, yet the most  fundamental reflections of the democratic process, and this year four seats on the North Penn Board of School Directors are open for election.

While several candidates will cross file for the primary (having their name appear on both the Democrat and Republican ballots), there are, unofficially, two sets of candidates running: the incumbent School Board Members, and a group of challengers. Tim Kerr, Frank O’Donnell, and Vince Sherpinsky seek to retain their seats on the board, while Murali Balaji, Josie Charnock, Paul Edelman Jr., Alex Ryabin, and Tina Stoll challenge for those seats. Charnock, who is running with the incumbents has also previously served on the board. Balaji, Edelman, Ryabin, and Stoll are running as the “Next S.T.E.P” candidates.

With the May 21st primary election approaching, the Knight Crier asked all eight of the candidates questions about the state of the North Penn School District and their prospective agendas as candidates for the upcoming term. Here are their responses:

Murali Balaji

What do you believe to be the most pressing issues facing NP families today?

The most pressing issues are maintaining the quality of education at a time of state cuts and growing class sizes, maintaining the same level of services so many generations of NP families have been accustomed to, and embracing the demographic changes that have made the district such a source of cultural wealth. I think we must redouble our effort to invest in the school district as we seek to bring in new families in the area, and that the quality of our school matches with the reputation that we have had for so many years.

What do you believe to be the best ways for NPSD to balance the budget without compromising the quality of NP’s programs and offerings?

There are other ways to invest in public education than just taxes. While taxes are important to all of us, including those with children and those without children in the district, I believe the school district the school district needs to be more proactive in generating revenues through grants while making sure that budget decisions are viewed in long-term impacts. The district can and should do better in terms of finding new ways to fund programs, especially the programs that help us stand out. I thinking finding alternative and creative ways to get new revenue is a must, and that is something that district has not done.

Why should residents of the NPSD vote for you?

As a North Penn alum, I believe strongly that our district has the potential to be a model for a world-class, diverse public education. Edelman, Ryabin, Stoll and I are seeking to return the school district and the school board its respect and transparency. This means creating our teachers and staff as assets and encourage students for success. and respect . I’ve seen changes in every aspects of the school and I can say that we, as North Penn taxpayers and residents want to see the school board encourage the district’s transformation into a gold standard for learning.

Josie Charnock

What do you believe to be the most pressing issues facing NP families today?

As a parent of a NP student and in talking to other parents and residents of our community, I think the most critical challenges facing our NP families today are the everyday economic challenges as families we confront and the growing future economic liabilities we will need to tackle as a community.

I have spoken to a number of residents in our community that have lost their jobs and either they haven’t found work yet or are working multiple jobs to make ends meet. They make difficult choices everyday in order to ensure that they provide for the needs of their families.

There is also a growing concern about our children’s future and the well being of our community as a whole due to the debt and deficits incurred by our state and federal governments.  Residents are concerned about the looming costs in public education such as an excise healthcare tax due in 2017 as a result of Obamacare, growing unfunded pension liabilities that puts estimates as high as $100B and other unfunded mandates brought on by state and federal legislation.

All of these issues come together to form a perfect storm of economic challenges that will result in making difficult decisions affecting everyone in the NP family.

What do you believe to be the best ways for NPSD to balance the budget without compromising the quality of NP’s programs and offerings?

In order to protect NP’s quality programs while balancing the budget requires a three prong approach: we need to continue to seek out innovative ideas to provide revenue to help sustain these vital programs, we need to hold costs in line with our budget constraints and we need to effectively communicate to all stakeholders what we are doing and why we are doing it. Using this approach, we can overcome all challenges and turn them into opportunities beneficial to our students while ensuring that we are holding everyone accountable and responsible to those affected by our decisions and simultaneously providing transparency in the entire process.

In order to achieve this, we as a community including staff and students must work together.  I truly believe, despite all obstacles, that if everyone works together, we can meet any and all challenges.

Why should residents of the NPSD vote for you?

One of the most important components needed when facing challenges of the magnitude I mentioned here is having the right leadership.  Good, quality, experienced leadership matters because the right people will make decisions based on what is best for the entire community and most importantly our students not for their own self-interests.

I believe I have the right leadership qualifications due to my extensive private sector experience, my public service record as a volunteer and specifically as a NP School Board member.  And as a parent of a NP student, I feel the direct impact of the decisions I make.

If elected, I will use my extensive professional private sector experience to be a voice for all stakeholders. I know what it takes to be an effective member of a team and a leader. I know how to raise the bar for students and staff. I know how to meet the challenges of tomorrow. I believe these experiences will help North Penn in the future.

Also, in 2012, I chaired the Alternative Revenue Committee (ARC).  The ARC set out with the goals of initiating alternative revenue options to lessen the tax burden placed on our residents. I am proud of what these efforts will mean to North Penn in the future and to be a part of these exciting efforts.  In addition, since 2012, I am a Board of Trustee Member of the North Penn Educational Foundation.

I will balance common sense with the needs of all our stakeholders while striving to achieve the best results possible. I ask for your vote on Primary Day, May 21^st. Thank you.

Paul Edelman, Jr.

What do you believe to be the most pressing issues facing NP families today?

Since the campaign began, I have heard two main concerns:  education and taxes.  We have two distinct types of families, those with children, and those without.  Of those with children, students either attend public school, private school, or other alternatives.  Regardless of where their children are educated, education is a priority.  For those families with children, many do care about the state of education today, because they realize the direct relationship to a world class, quality education and their home value.  For other families without children, their priority is their tax base.  I fall under both childbearing family and homeowner.  So I have a personal, vested interest in both supporting education as a top priority, while protecting my home value and responsible tax levels.

What do you believe to be the best ways for NPSD to balance the budget without compromising the quality of NP’s programs and offerings?

Programs and curriculum are the last thing that should be considered to balance the budget.  I don’t believe in balancing the budget on the backs of the students. For decades, our district has earned accolade after accolade, not just in sports, music, and arts, but also in humanity, business, and of course, education.  Only when the budget has been gone through line item by line item, and all ideas of generating revenue have been exhausted, can this even be a consideration.  I do not believe that this effort has been accomplished in recent years.  As a regular attendee of school board and subcommittee meetings, sitting on the public side of the school board tables make it nearly impossible to tell the possible considerations that need to be reduced or eliminated.

Why should residents of the NPSD vote for you?

I am a proud husband and father of two young daughters who attend school in the NPSD.  I want them to have the same opportunities and education that so many great alumni of the NPSD have received to prepare them for their future in our community, our state, our country, or possibly the world.  The interest and support that my daughters have from me in their education, can only benefit everyone else’s children.  I am a homeowner and taxpayer of the NPSD.  I do care about protecting my home value, as well as protecting one of the lowest tax rates in the county, because I pay those taxes too.  No one understands more that the position of school board director is a volunteer position than I do.  For several years, I have committed to attending district meetings, and during the campaign season, have spent an endless amount of time away from my family, giving voters an opportunity to meet me, knocking on doors, attending events, and make an informed decision about who the voters want their voice to be on the NPSB.

Timothy Kerr

What do you believe to be the most pressing issues facing NP families today?

North Penn families are not much different than the many other families in similar communities struggling with unemployment, underemployment and lost wealth from depressed property values.  While their income remains stagnant, costs continue to rise.  That reality requires me, as an elected official entrusted with the public’s money, to be ever more vigilant in taxing and spending.

What do you believe to be the best ways for NPSD to balance the budget without compromising the quality of NP’s programs and offerings?

With a flat revenue stream and expected, significant increases for the employee retirement contribution and medical costs, it will be very difficult to maintain the diverse programs that the District now provides.  With the assistance and cooperation of all North Penn stakeholders, the District has been able to decrease costs across the board without compromising quality.  Most of those savings, however, were one time cuts that will not be available in the future.  To further address the budget pressure, we must foster a partnership with the District staff, professional and otherwise, to develop long-term solutions.

Why should residents of the NPSD vote for you?

I strongly believe in giving back to the community and that serves as my principal reason for seeking re-election.  I am an effective listener, a quick study on the issues and I am unafraid to share my concerns with the District administration without micromanaging the educational process.  Most importantly, I bring over a decade of experience.  In these difficult economic times, experience does matter.

Frank O’Donnell

What do you believe to be the most pressing issues facing NP families today?

Although there are many issues, I believe the most pressing issues parents face are making sure their children are safe in school; getting a quality education from the best teachers; and holding the line on taxes.

What do you believe to be the best ways for NPSD to balance the budget without compromising the quality of NP’s programs and offerings?

·        Keep pushing our state representatives for increased state aid.

·        Publicizing the new advertising policies for vendors that could generate several hundred thousand dollars.

·        Look for more one-time saving items although most of those items have been exhausted.

·        Seeking labor concessions.

·        Continue our Energy Star savings program, to date we have saved over $3 million. On April 22nd, NPTV gave a live demonstration of the savings to be had in the high school just by turning off the lights and computers.

·        Changing the start times for the elementary schools to save on transportation costs. There is a significant opportunity for savings by just changing half the elementary schools and HS start times by as little as 10 minutes.

·        Pushing the State for Plan Con reimbursement for completed projects and those just started.

·        Changing the Charter School student funding calculation to something more equitable. Some school districts pay as much as $5,000 less than North Penn.

·        Continuing and expanding the enhancements on E-learning. Last year we had an “E-Summit” with the Koreans and gained valuable insight on e-learning and savings.

Why should residents of the NPSD vote for you?

I have a proven record of fighting for quality education at an affordable price. As a current school board member with sixteen years of service, I understand the impact that laws and policies have on the day-to-day operations of our schools, the quality of our schools, and especially their impact on staff, students, and taxpayers. I believe we need proven and experienced leadership to keep North Penn moving in the right direction.

Most people understand that our property values are directly affected by the quality of our schools. I am proud that we delivered high-quality education at a low cost to taxpayers. The district’s tax burden for 2012-13 ranked as the 4th lowest tax rate out of 21 school districts and our cost per student is the 3rd lowest in Montgomery County. All this was accomplished while North Penn Schools and students achieved record success.

Alex Ryabin  

What do you believe to be the most pressing issues facing NP families today?

The issues North Penn families find most important vary on what their role is as a stakeholder in public education. I believe that those that are parents of North Penn students-or future students-are most interested in a comprehensive education. I also believe they want that education delivered by experienced, qualified, caring teachers that focus on success of each and every student. Today’s students face a challenging landscape of changing careers choices across a global economy. The NPSD needs to effectively deliver the foundation each North Penn student needs.

Those without children or whose children have graduated from NPSD are likely to be most interested in protecting the value of their homes and ensuring that their tax dollars are spent wisely. The quality of education received by our students and their academic and athletic achievements are a reflection of the NPSD. Elevating NPSD’s standing with respect to neighboring school districts makes our community as a whole more desirable for prospective residents, increasing our property values.

What do you believe to be the best ways for NPSD to balance the budget without compromising the quality of NP’s programs and offerings?

There are a number of effective mechanisms for balancing a budget including cost savings, cost avoidance, additional sources of revenue, and various funding models for certain programs/activities. Arguably, the NPSD has attempted most of the above but, it appears, without optimal outcomes. As a result, the district continues to struggle with financial pressure each year which, inevitably, seems to lead to reduction of educational programs.

I believe that an effective solution would consist of a combination of all the mechanisms above. Doing so would require a systematic approach for review of every financial opportunity and rigorous governance process to review and assess impact of all decisions.

Why should residents of the NPSD vote for you?

I have a personal passion for public education.  I attended the Philadelphia Public School System and had the good fortune to benefit from talented and dedicated teachers.  The high quality of education I received opened the doors to an Ivy League university.  I fully appreciate that my public education is largely responsible for the success I enjoy today.

Over more than twenty years, I have worked for both non-profit organizations and companies of various sizes.  I have experience in technology, business process, finance, and governance.  Through personal experience with results of both good and bad decision making, I have developed a systematic approach to decision making enabling me to consider multiple perspectives and outcomes.

Vincent Sherpinsky

What do you believe to be the most pressing issues facing NP families today?

The most challenging problems facing our NP families today are the poor economy and growing debt. Both issues directly affect residents and our school district. The school district collects revenue to support education through property and earned income taxes. As our economy continues to perform below potential, many of our residents can’t find gainful employment, end up taking lesser positions than they are qualified for, which often translates into lower wages, and some are even choosing to relocate. This translates into lower revenues for families and eventually even impacts the school district. Coupled with the economic challenges is the cost of attending college for North Penn families. Today, more than ever, having a college education is a necessity for future financial success. For many families the only way to afford the cost of college is to take on greater personal debt which means less money for essentials. Unfortunately, these choices make paying for college difficult, if not impossible for many North Penn families. The school district faces similar challenges. As the cost of public education continues to rise due to higher salaries, rising pension costs, and increasing healthcare costs, difficult choices will have to be made which could impact our students and community.

What do you believe to be the best ways for NPSD to balance the budget without compromising the quality of NP’s programs and offerings?

First, I believe the best way to balance the budget and protect the quality of education in North Penn is to continue to live within our means. Doing so will keep programs intact and helps maintain the quality of education we can offer in North Penn. Second, everyone including our staff, students, and stakeholders needs to work together to meet the challenges we face moving forward. If we work together, we can develop viable and sustainable long-term responses to the challenges North Penn faces while protecting the quality of education for North Penn students. Third, we must continue to build greater trust among all North Penn’s stakeholders. Trust is widely recognized as a key element to organizational success because it can foster commitment and innovation. Trust also helps build confidence and supports creativity, both of which will be needed to solve the problems facing North Penn. I truly believe living within our means, working together, and building trust is the best way to maintain quality education at an affordable price.

Why should residents of the NPSD vote for you?

I’m running for the Board of School Directors in North Penn because I know that I can continue to be an effective advocate for taxpayers and education in the North Penn region. I truly believe we need proven and experienced leadership to keep North Penn moving in the right direction. I need your help to continue this important fight. I recognize the need to maintain the quality of our public schools in order to be successful as a community. Our property values are directly affected by the quality of our schools.  As an educator and school board member I have a unique perspective of the challenges and rewards that teachers, administrators, and school boards face in providing a quality education for our kids. As a board member, I understand and have experienced the weight my decisions have made on the community, the District, and especially the kids. As a volunteer, I know the hours and the ownership one feels in their District when they give of their time and talents to make our District better. As a father, I understand the anxiety parents feel about how the school their child goes to will impact that child’s life. Over the past 15 years the school board, under strong, proven leadership, has been able to provide a high quality education and ample opportunities for all of North Penn’s students. I feel it is important to ensure that we are providing the leadership needed to continue the progress that has been made. I ask for your consideration for North Penn School Board in the Primary Election on May 21, 2013

Tina Stoll

What do you believe to be the most pressing issues facing NP families today?

I believe that NP families want to have a school district that provides a high quality education in a safe environment, while at the same time, maintaining fiscal discipline with our school taxes. Theses two items are not mutually exclusive. We have to strive to balance both with introducing more transparency into the school board’s decision making process. We can advocate to have a stronger voice in Harrisburg to promote public education. A good school district is the most valuable asset a community can have – for those with children in the schools, obviously a top-notch education that will enable their children to compete in the world is a priority. As for those without children currently in the district, the quality of the school district directly impacts the value of their homes.

What do you believe to be the best ways for NPSD to balance the budget without compromising the quality of NP’s programs and offerings?

Although things have improved somewhat over the last several years, we are still in some difficult economic times. This however, cannot be used as an excuse to let the quality of our schools deteriorate. We must continue to provide a quality, well rounded education to our students while balancing the needs of the community. I would go through the budget line by line, to see if there were any programs that may be redundant. I would also encourage alternate sources of revenue – such as hiring a grant writer, or working with local businesses to become more involved in our district. Also, I wouldn’t focus so much on hiring consultants, but rather getting our own staff and employees involved because they have much more of a personal stake than consultants from out of state. Part of what makes North Penn exceptional, are the wide array of programs and offerings it has -everything from AP courses, foreign language courses, outstanding music programs, and highly successful sports teams- so every effort must be made to assure these programs continue to be available for our students.

Why should residents of the NPSD vote for you?

It is important to serve the community and be involved in any way that you can. I believe the role of the School Board Director requires a person with personal ties to the district. Growing up in the NPSD and raising my family here in the district for over 20 years, I am grateful for the education and experiences that my children received. The opportunities that were available to them need to continue to be available to the students coming up. Volunteering in the schools extensively while my children were growing up, in particular with the Booster Club, allowed me to gain hands-on experience working with students, athletes, teachers, administrators, and support staff. The financial bottom line is also an important aspect of running the district so we must be fiscally responsible, have increased accountability and straightforward policy-making while at the same time striving to maintain the excellent level of education our children deserve.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE CANDIDATES:

 http://www.sherpinsky.com/

http://www.josiecharnock.com/

http://odonnell4northpenn.com/

http://www.nextstepfornpsd.com/

Many high expectations were anticipated from the ardent Gatsby fans as they waited for the premiere last Thursday night.  But were these expectations met? Of course, old sport! However, this is a movie one cannot look at as just another drama, or action movie whose purpose is solely to entertain its audience with jokes and unexpected, mind-blowing endings. The Great Gatsby is a movie that must be looked at from an aesthetic standpoint in order to see the masterpiece Buz Luhrmann has created.

One of the many innovative facets of Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby is his deviation from the use of regular film cameras.  By going digital, Luhrmann gives the movie a new outlook by producing better special effects that, although conflicting and aberrant to the way one is used to seeing movies, successfully recreate all of the essential scenes of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. Moreover, the novel’s plot, though somewhat altered, still kept most events in the chronological order as they appear in the novel, which is rare to see in films.

Naturally, one must not forget about Damien Drew, Ian Gracie, and Michael Turner, the art directors who also made this movie such a success. The flamboyant Prada costumes, with the eccentric, yet majestic makeup of all the characters, set up the aesthetically beautiful and alluring scenes of this movie. In addition to that, the use of colors and the way in which the setting was decorated further illustrates the magnificent work of this trio. Not only did they capture the essence of the 1920s, but also they were able to make the settings talk to the audience, as if to tell the mood of each scene, especially the obnoxious, lustful reds seen in Myrtle’s apartment. Moreover, one must not forget the elaborate ways in which the film grasps the main details and the essence of the novel, as well as its themes like the green light symbolizing Gatsby’s hope, the hollowness of the upper class, and the decline of the American Dream.

The incorporation of songs from modern singers like Fergie, Lana Del Rey, and Jay-Z in a setting with speakeasies and parties full of obnoxious, gamboling flappers also give an extraordinary twist to this film. But even the music could not compete with the actors and actresses’ performance, specifically Leonardo Dicaprio’s performance. He submerges so well into his character that one can almost feel his desire and love for Daisy, as well as his agony and rage when confronting Tom.

A movie that deviates from the norm and experiments with other ways to convey a story should not be rated as being bad just because it is different than what one is accustomed to watching. Therefore, it is crucial to rate this film from an artistic point of view in order to contemplate the creativity and beauty of The Great Gatsby. For this very reason, this film deserves a 4 out 5.

“I thought I always wanted to be a teacher. Then when I got to La Salle, I had a math professor who basically said I shouldn’t waste my time or my talents, basically saying I’m too smart to be a teacher. At that time my mom had taken ill and I rerouted my career to pre medical and I really loved the sciences. I applied to medical school and got in. Everybody was excited to go to medical school and quite frankly I didn’t care. I still loved the sciences but I just didn’t care too much,” said Scott.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Scott attended Little Flower Catholic High School for girls, an all girls’ catholic high school. Scott then earned a scholarship to LaSalle University where she got a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Scott then decided to go back for her master’s in education. During that time she worked as a lab technician but teaching remained first.

“I was that dorky little kid when I was six years old that played school in the basement, so this is where I was meant to be,” said Scott.

Scott began teaching in 1996 at North Catholic, an all boy’s Catholic high school in the city, and while at North Catholic, Scott was involved with many activities. She did Student Council, National Honor Society, Community Service Core, Senior Class Advisor, helped with the sophomore dance, and coordinated every year a battle of the sexes between North Catholic and their sister school. Then, Scott decided to try out public school; it just so happened that the timing was right and she applied at North Penn and got accepted. Scott started working here in 2005 at that time  up on second floor C pod and had 5 classes of 4.0/5.0 biology, until she picked up an AP course a few school years later.

“So when I got here I was excited to get back to my roots of teaching but that only lasted 3 years. Then I really wanted to get involved with the kids outside of class. Getting involved puts you in a very different perspective with the kids. For example, if you taught special education maybe the only time you get to deal with other groups of kids is being an advisor. Maybe if I only deal with AP kids I’m missing a huge part of the other population of kids, so getting involved is a great opportunity to get to know more people and to be known by the kids. That’s important to me because when the kids see you are making an investment in them, their future gets brighter. I definitely think you should become involved. Its fun, it’s great to get to know a whole bunch of kids you normally wouldn’t encounter,” said Scott.

Here at North Penn Scott became a class advisor along with Mr. King for the class of 2011. She had a great time and decided to do it again, this time working with Mr. Hertz advising for the class of 2014.

“I think it’s the interactions with the students that I cherish the most, getting to know them from an academic level, then a personal level getting to see that proverbial light bulb go off.  What’s nice about teaching AP Bio, with loving the sciences as much as I do and feeding off the motivation of students who generally take AP courses, I’m effectively teaching the future researchers, and doctors and nurses and so on and it’s really exciting to be a part of knowing that 10-15 years from now one of my kids can cure cancer. Part of that passion comes from in addition to class advising, I am also an advisor for the Future Health Occupations club and that was actually started in my time here so that’s kind of cool. Part of the reason it’s such a good deal here is because we have such a supporting department and overall the kids are just great, it’s easy to feed of off their enthusiasm. It’s a nice supportive environment and bottom line everybody in this building is doing to for the kids and that’s nice to be around,” said Scott.

Below is the full content of the article originally published in The Knight Crier in  February.

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month accross the country, and in an effort to build awareness of this serious issue facing teens today, Knight Crier staff writer Carly Loper examines the complexities of this issue through several realistic, and for some, all too familiar scenarios.  

Picture yourself in class – it’s you, the teacher, and twenty-five of your classmates.  The scary reality is statistically speaking, nine of your peers (possibly even you) have experienced physical or sexual abuse from a either a boyfriend or girlfriend.  The horror continues:  one out of four women is sexually abused while one out of six men is also the victim of sexual assault all before their eighteenth birthday. These statistics are not sexist, racist, or prejudiced – anyone can be the victim just as anyone can be the abuser.

But how does one identify an abuser? With kids becoming involved in “dating” relationships as early as eleven and twelve years of age the characteristics of the oppressed and the oppressor vary drastically. From the twelve year old navigating a new school,to the fourteen year old taking part in extracurricular activities, to the sixteen year old driving for the first time, to the eighteen year old making plans for after graduation – each one is susceptible to the violence and each one is capable of committing the violence; therefore, there is no clear indicator of who is and who is not capable of abuse.

But what defines that the relationship is not healthy? Dating violence is dominating power or commanding control over a partner through abusive behavior. But what is considered abusive behavior? Abusive behavior is not one single act but can rather take multiple forms all of which end up with the same result: malcontent, low self-esteem, and depression of the victim. It can be verbal, sexual, physical, or emotional. Once a boyfriend or girlfriend shows signs of disregard for the other’s feelings and emotions, the relationship can turn abusive and usually conditions deteriorate over time.

Scenario 1: Ridicule and Belittlement

“John Chasten, you’re such a dork!” exclaims one of his girlfriend’s unwanted and uninvited friends.

“Why is she here anyways?” John thinks to himself. John can feel his palms accruing moisture at the mere appearance of Suzy’s friends as they approach unannounced. He becomes, as always, uneasy and rather nervous as the girls giggle and criticize him. This time is no different, even if “dork” isn’t that offensive of an insult. Even so, John feigns haste looking at his watch and remarking that he and Suzy need to get moving if they want to be on time for the movie.

“Don’t be stupid, the movie doesn’t start for another half-hour,” Suzy quickly retorts. John has been annoying Suzy lately and she feels at the end of her rope; she can’t take his pestering quirkiness anymore. She loves her boyfriend, but sometimes he really knows how to get on her nerves. She finds pleasure in her friends’ comments to John secretly hoping that it will make him change to be less “dorky.”

Since John can’t evade Suzy’s and her friends’ belittlement of him, he starts to tune them out as Suzy continues to jeer at him. He keeps his mouth shut knowing that whatever he says Suzy will contradict him making him feel stupid and inferior. It’s not until Suzy drops a remark about his rejection from the school of his dreams that he is drawn back into the conversation.

“He was sure he was going to get in, but even UNC knew he was too good to be true.” At that, John becomes flushed with anger. He had told her that in confidence! His rejection from UNC had been a big blow to him, and Suzy knows the topic is still sensitive. She looks at him with a taunting gaze, yet he feels his anger subside. That’s just Suzy being Suzy and it’s nothing to make a scene about. “I’ve known her long enough to know that she didn’t really mean it,” he rationalizes to himself. Or did she mean it?

Scenario 2: Physical Violence

“I-I-I I’m sorry, Christy,” Nick stammers.  He stands there shocked, frozen in place. His body is numb. The only sensation he can register is the tingling in his right hand as his blood pulses through it. What has he done?

Christy lay on the ground, whimpering.  She too is numb but only in her jaw. She is unaware of the damage done as she can’t feel the blood pooling under the skin transforming her plush pale cheek from rosy to blue. The metallic taste of blood in her mouth activates her senses. She looks up at Nick, the movement triggering a throbbing pain that shoots through the right side of her face.

Normally she would have been overcome with fear, waiting for the next blow. But this episode was rather quick. Nick is already drained of his aggression, and she can vividly see guilt overwhelming him. 

This isn’t the first time Nick has hit Christy, but other times, it has been easier to hide the bruises under her clothing. Based on the numbness of her face, Christy realizes the excuse, “oh I just bruise easily,” won’t suffice when confronted by her parents, friends and peers.  What will she say? How will she hide this?  She doesn’t need to feel the hot flow of tears sliding down her tender cheeks to know she is crying, and the salty stream becomes stained black as it carries her eye makeup with it. This can be overlooked, she decides. “He didn’t mean to hurt me; he said he was sorry and that he loved me; it’s ok,” Christy hesitantly assures herself that it won’t happen again.

Scenario 3: Aggressive Possession

*Phone vibrates*

Alex instinctively throws his hand over his pocket pressing down on his phone to muffle the repetitive tone. He knows its Camille from science class, but this is the third time in a row his phone has gone off; what could be so important? Their lab isn’t due for another two days…

“Who’s that?” Sarah demands already fishing into his pocket for his phone.  Personal bubbles don’t exist with her as she finds what she’s looking for and taps in the code unlocking his iPhone and accessing his messages. Here we go.

“Who’s Camille?” The jealousy in her voice is unmistakable as she becomes defensive all the while oppressive and demanding.

Alex nonchalantly shrugs it off as he conveys the truth: it’s just a girl from science class. But Sarah has already clammed up, and his story is regarded with suspicion. He tries changing the subject, offering up a new topic, asking about the current drama about her best friend, complimenting her even – anything to get her mind off his phone. It works temporarily, however a twinge of resentment lingers in her stature accentuating the color of her shirt: dark green.

Alex deems the plan a success and an argument has been avoided as he slyly puts his arm around Sarah.  Then just as he slowly reaches for his phone to silence the ringer, the signal of a new text message triggers a full throttle of jealousy.

“I forbid you to talk to her, find a new science partner,” Sarah concludes her tantrum, and Alex knows better than to object. He knows Sarah’s capability and regarding what happened last time when she threatened to cut herself if he did not opt out of a family trip in order to stay in town for the weekend, he wasn’t going to take chances. “She needs me and that’s what I am here for – that’s the role of a boyfriend. Plus I don’t care about Camille, right? It’s no big deal,” he decides. Whatever it takes, just as long as Sarah doesn’t get upset….

Scenario 4: Sexual Abuse

The lighting was dim and the room was deserted: everyone had conveniently cleared out and Connor couldn’t help but to take advantage of the ideal opportunity.  He found himself lip-locked with Kate as he slowly lowered her down forcing her horizontal on the couch. Sensations overwhelmed his body and he could feel his instincts overcoming his thoughts and controlling his movements. He dominantly pressed his body onto hers as he felt her hands push against his chest in opposition. As he glided his hand up her shirt, Kate pulled back confirming his expectations:

“No,” she said.

No – that simple little two letter word; the word that even infants come to master; the word that can bring everything to an end; the word with the universally clear definition: stop, don’t -The word that had no effect on Connor.  Persuasion, adamancy, and force worked in his favor as someone from the party recalled hearing a distant cry but didn’t think twice about it.

Kate found herself debating morality that night. As tears trickled down her cheeks she tried to suppress the memory, but it persistently continued to replay in her mind, haunting her.  She found herself drowning in a mix of emotions as she was overwhelmed with a concoction of fear, depression, uncertainty, shame, and discomfort. “How did this happen? What am I supposed to do now? Should I tell someone? But what if they judge me? Blame me? I mean, maybe it is my fault. He is my boyfriend after all and we love each other, so it’s ok, right? This is what people do when they’re in love, is it not?” Kate thought to herself. Why save myself for someone else?

How does this end?

Dating violence can lead to dire consequences in which the victim’s emotional, physical, and mental states are impaired, and ongoing abuse can cause severe, irreversible, and even fatal damage if the victim is not helped. A significant other should build you up, not tear you down. As you grow as a person and as a couple, you should find yourself enjoying the moments shared together. You, nor the people you know, should not be living in fear, regret, or despair due to an abusive partner. The best cure for an illness is to rid oneself of the disease and the best way to end the abuse is to end the relationship. If you or someone you know are victim to assault confide in a friend and make your voice heard. Help is here.

National Dating Abuse Helpline: 866-331-9474 // 866-331-8453 (TTY)

Text Hotline: text “loveis” to 77054

And for more information or signs and tips on dating violence visit:

http://www.loveisrespect.org/

http://www.nomore.org/

 Maher threw a mere 81 pitches in his Senior Night shutout, as he helped the Knights improve to  10-6 on the year (9-4 league). 

 “It was a heck of a gutsy effort by Brian tonight. What a great job for him on Senior Night to come out and throw a complete game shutout,” said head coach Kevin Manero. “Our defense stepped up and made some big-time plays late in the game when they were starting to square the ball up a little bit.” 

 Knights catcher Eddie Posavec felt the same way.

 “Brian pitched really well. He had high velocity and good off-speed,” said Posavec. “He pretty much only needed his fastball, they weren’t really catching up to it. He was just hitting his spots and getting ground balls. The defense was playing well.”

 The Knights’ first two batters had been retired to begin their half of the first when Posavec sparked a two-out rally as he belted a triple down the right field line. After Chris Kersey worked a walk, sophomore first baseman Jared Melone slapped the ball back up the middle for an RBI single, giving the Knights an early 1-0 advantage — and that’s all Maher would need. But Bobby Scott didn’t think one run was a big enough cushion, as he delivered a two-run double to extend the Knights lead to 3. 

 “You want to get on them early because you don’t want them to have too much confidence, especially on a night like tonight. The lights are on, it’s a Friday night; everybody gets a little extra energy,” Manero said. “You gotta score first, you gotta put your foot on their throat and leave it there.”

 After given a comfortable lead in the first inning, it was key that Maher shut down the Bucks in the second inning — and that’s exactly what he did, retiring CB West in order. While the Knights managed just two more hits the rest of the way, Maher, and the solid gloves behind him, made sure to prevent the Bucks from starting any type of rally. 

 This win could go a long way in determining the Knights’ seed in the playoffs, as they have just one game remaining on their regular season schedule.

 “Coming down to these last three games, we had to win two of three league games to make it into the playoffs,” said Posavec. “We beat [Central Bucks] West and we beat Hatboro earlier in the week, so now we pretty much control our own destiny.”