stentorian
vol. XXXIII, issue 6
north Carolina school of science and mathematics
Latin America Fest to
kick-ofF third trimester
By Evan Brooks
march 2014
stentorianl23@gmail.com
SG
update
As the second trimester
ended and the third trimester
began, students made finishing
touches for this year’s
Latin America Fest.
Sponsored annually
by the Hispanic Cultures
Club, Latin America Fest
is completely student run
and produced. Seniors
Alexandria Thompson
and Isabella Hernandez,
along with Spanish
instructor Rosemary
Munroe, began planning
the event in July and have
coordinated practices
since November.
Hernandez said that
the theme this year is
“Latin America’s Got
Talent” and that Junior
Erick Aguilar will be
hosting. She was focused
on adding a modem twist
to Latin America Fest this year
by using more contemporary
songs.
“This year, I am focusing
on a surprise song by Jennifer
Lopez and the Spanish version
of Rack City. These two songs
are supposed to add to Latin
America Test’s modem twist
that Alexandria and I wanted.”
Hernandez said that she was
thrilled about all of the acts,
especially a duet by seniors
Isabel Reid and Chase Hicks
and is looking forward to
Hernandez’s reggaeton act and
the March of the Flags.
Senior Gerardo Alvarado
Dancers from last year’s LAtin America Fest perform the March of the Flags.
and the bachata'act, tyhich she
said was going to be killer.
When asked about hosting,
Aguilar jokingly stated, “You
know my hosting will be the
major act of the show if I do
say so myself.” On a more
serious note, he said that the
NCSSM commimity should
be excited for the production
as a parody of the old Spanish
men, who were descendants
of the Conquistadors,” said
Alvarado.
He is adding a
twist by mixing
modem music with
traditional music.
“I’m pretty sure
it is the first time
this dance has
been done in Latin
America Fest, so
I’m pretty excited.”
Junior Mary
Clarke Worthington
is eager for her
first cultural fest at
NCSSM and will be
performing in the
bachata act.
“I’ve enjoyed
learning bachata
because I feel like
it will be a chance
to learn a new skill
Tsin xrfratge of-**Danza-de4os'- tbom~a -cahiirc—that-F Jove.-
Viejitos” or Dance of the Old I’m actually really excited for
Men.
“It is a traditional dance
from the state of Michoacan,
Mexico. It is a humorous dance
where the dancers wear masks
of old people along with their
typical “campesino,” or peasant
clothing. The dance originated
Latin America Fest and I hope
it is a success so we can have
something to live up to next
year.”
Latin America Fest is
scheduled to take place on
Saturday, March 8th at 7pm in
the ETC Auditorium.
The Debate Rages:
Science vs. Religion
By Sierra Dunne
One of this year’s most
talked about events in the
world of science was the
debate on Creationism vs.
Evolution that occurred on
Feb. 4 at the Creation Museum
in Petersburg, KY. The debate
was between the museum’s
president Ken Ham and
television personality Bill Nye
the Science Guy.
The argument between the
two, which lasted over two
hours, remained calm and
respectful.
While Ham argued in favor
of Biblical Creationism, Nye
argued that evolution was
much more plausible. “There
are billions of stars. Mr. Ham,
how could there be billions of
stars more distant than 6,000
years if the world’s only 6,000
years old?” Most people who
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Bill Nye and Ken Ham debate evolution at the Creation
Museum,
saw the debate agree that Nye
was the obvious winner, but
both men brought intellectual
conversation and valid ideas to
the event.
The same week as the
debate. Dr. Neil Shenvi, a
research chemist at Duke, gave
a lecture at NCSSM on the
relationship between science
and religion. The lecture took
a different approach to the
subject than the debate did in
that it focused on how religion
and science do work together,
rather than having two sides to
the issue.
It was not on the topic of
Creationism vs. Evolution,
but instead was on how
religion and its lack of worldly
evidence^ can still work with
science, which relies heavily
on known truth and evidence.
“I feel that it was timed well,
offering a different perspective
on the interaction between
science and religion that was
absent in the Bill Nye debate
that occurred the previous
week,” said Senior Mary Sims.
Dr. Shenvi included many
points on why religion and
science could work together,
and he backed them with
intellectual reasoning and
scientific facts.
However, many students
felt like the lecture was one
sided and a bit narrow-minded.
“I didn’t enjoy the lecture
because I found the speaker
biased, but the idea was an
interesting one,” said Junior
Nina Sannes.
Many other students agreed.
By the end, some students
commented that it seemed less
like a scientific lecture and
more like a church sermon,
where Dr. Shenvi discussed
the importance of faith in
God rather than sticking to
his theme of how science and
religion work together. •
“As an atheist, I expected
the lecture to attempt to
compromise the disparity of
opinions between Christians
and scientists; however, forme,
the lecture actually furthered
this divide. The lecture didn’t
resolve the conflicts between
religion and science but rather
deepened them,” junior Grant
Miller commented.
By Christian Joseph
Student Government
President Parth Thakker
and Senators Erick Aguilar,
Ebube Chuba, and Christian
Joseph traveled to North
Carolina State University to
the Association of Student
Governments Meeting - that
occurs every month.
During this meeting,
legislation was passed that
consolidated the committees
in the Association of Student
Governments from six to
four. Also, a grant proposed
and presented by Aguilar was
approved. Aguilar’s grant
funds the purchase of ten noise-
cancelling headphones for the
library to loan to students.
Aguilar said his reasoning
behind this purchase has to
do with the fact that the noise
level in the library can be very
high jiuring. certain .moments
of the trimester.
To allow collaboration to
still occur in the library, the
individuals who need peace
and quiet to concentrate on
their work could use the noise
cancelling headphones.
The headphones are
expected to arrive in the library
in the next month.
Joseph is currently working
on legislation to amend the
bylaws of NCSSM’s Student
Government Association. The
amendment will require every
bill to be accompanied by a
concise summary that will
detail the bill’s purpose and
effects.
He believes that this amend
ment will help passed legisla
tion be e'asily communicated to
the student body through me
diums like Facebook, Twitter
and YouTube, while helping
SGA’s constituents be aware of
the activities of their represen
tatives.
Lastly, Student Government
hosted its second trimester/
Miniterm Lock-In. According
to many students, the Lock-In
was a great success- a favorite
aspect was the various snacks
and food that were handed out.
The Lock-In also had a
mixer, which was DJ-ed by
Senators Isaiah Bryant and
Joseph.
The Lock-In also hosted
a volleyball tournament
that seemed to bring out the
competitive sides of many
students.
The month ahead will be
busy with the election of the
new President and Treasurer
for the 2014-2015 school
year and the beginnings of
Powderpuff football.