The Southerner Volume 66, Issue 3

HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA

VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 3

Nov. 7, 2012

By Archie Kinnane and Axel Olson n Friday, Oct. 5, North Atlanta got an unexpected facelift.

Two APS officials, accompanied by security personnel, removed interim principal Mark MyGrant from North Atlanta and abruptly reassigned the high school’s entire leadership team. MyGrant, asked to return from retirement on an interim basis when a new principal could not be found over the summer, was just weeks from his planned retirement at the end of October.

Four administrators were reassigned to other schools, while MyGrant and one additional administrator were forced into retirement.

North Atlanta teachers were assembled in the theater and introduced to a new interim administrative team chosen by interim superintendent Erroll Davis while the principal and administration were informed that they had to leave immediately.

axel olson

UPROAR FOLLOWS CHANGES AT NORTH ATLANTA O

DAVIS’S DECISION

ERROL’S ERROR?: Interim superintendent Davis defends his move to replace North Atlanta administrators.

In an interview with The Southerner, Davis said he made the administrative switch to aid the new principal and MyGrant’s replacement, Howard Taylor. Sid Baker filled in as principal from Oct. 5 until Taylor arrived at the school on Monday, Oct. 29.

“I decided it would be best for [Taylor] to choose his own team and hit the ground running without taking a year or so to evaluate the existing team,” Davis said.

Nancy Meister, North Atlanta’s representative on the APS Board of Education, said Superintendent Davis offered her several conflicting reasons for the administrative changes.

“I was first led to believe changes were necessary so that the new principal could hire his

own team and be accountable for his team,” Meister said. “I then learned it was around personnel hiring processes within the school, and finally I was told that the school was a failing school that if nothing changed would have been taken over by the state.”

Meister was not convinced by any of the reasons Davis offered.

Not only does Meister not support Davis’s decision, but she said she was not consulted by Davis before the changes were implemented.

“I had absolutely no idea that these changes were being considered,” Meister said. “I received a voicemail from Mr. Davis at 2:48 [on Oct. 5]. He said he was calling to touch base with me as the district representative about steps he had taken that afternoon at NAHS.”

In response to the overwhelmingly negative community response, Davis held a community meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. Before the meeting, there was an organized protest at 5 p.m.

Robin Washington, parent of a senior at North Atlanta and eighth-grader who will be there next year, attended the meeting.

“The explanation that they gave was that because of the potential that North Atlanta had, [and] because of the amount of parental involvement and the community that it’s in, it is underperforming in graduation rates, [and] it had been at risk of being taken

over by the state because of the performance against the [Adequate Yearly Progress] standards, which actually are not even being used anymore,” Washington said.

Davis’s claim that North Atlanta would be “seized” by the state due to failure to meet AYP standards has been refuted by Georgia Department of Education officials.

Although Davis admitted Georgia had obtained a waiver from AYP and wasn’t held to its standards, he has defended his use of the word “seized.”

“I never said it would be run by the state, and you can go back and play the tapes,” Davis said.

Davis said the confusion regarding his statement could be due to differing definitions of the word “seized.”

“If your definition of seized is that [state officials] come in and take over the school and run the school, that is different from mine,” Davis said. “Mine is that if all of a sudden I’m a state-directed school, if I lose managerial flexibility, if I have a monitor assigned to my school that participates in my managerial decisions, and if I lose control and flexibility, I feel as if I’ve been seized.”

Recently, North Atlanta has been investigated by see NORTH, page 12

Student cleared for takeoff to receive pilot’s license, prepares to slice the sky solo

By Rebecca Martin At age 14, Grady freshman Hank Persons is on his way to receiving his pilot’s license. It has been a tradition for the Persons family to be in the air, and he always knew it would be a part of his life. It was not unexpected for Persons to engage in flying lessons this summer.

The inspiration to acquire a pilot’s license came from his family. Person’s maternal great-

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grandfather, Ben T. Epps, was the first pilot in the state of Georgia in 1907. His children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps, so it was only a matter of time before Persons started taking flying lessons.

Persons’s grandfather, Pat Epps, founded Epps Aviation in 1969 and has greatly inspired Persons in flying. Epps has dedicated his life to flying for the military, for fun and for his family, Persons said.

12 a&e

During the first pep rally of the school year, held on Oct. 12 in Grady’s football stadium, Senior boys tell underclassmen to “Bow Down.”

“My grandfather is a major source of my inspiration,” Persons said. “His achievments are very numerous, and it would be very fulfilling to reach his level of flying.”

On July 18 this year, Persons flew for the first time with his instructor in a glider. It was already a familiar feeling to be in an aircraft, so the experience was not unusual for Persons, but it was unforgettable. It was quiet, and the speed of the glider was relaxed, which

14 lifestyle

Atlanta offers up a wide variety of bakeries, from vegan to traditional.

Treats include cookies-and-cream cupcakes, Danishes and cheese straws.

allowed Persons to enjoy the scenery, he said.

“It was pretty extraordinary,” Persons said.

When he first flew a glider, his instructor landed it, but Persons is now working on landing the glider.

It is a major obstacle to master.

“Just looking out the window and it’s a 360-degree canopy, and you can just look out completely, so that is the really neat part about [landing],” Persons said.

FLYING HIGH: Freshman Hank Persons flies in gliders frequently and is planning to receive his pilot’s license soon.

Persons can remember being in the cockpit of an airplane as a young boy, messing and playing with the controls. He began lessons on flying a glider with an instructor this summer in Concord, Ga., although planes were never unfamiliar to him.

“I actually feel I have been in planes more than I have been in see FRESHMAN, page 17

16 thesoutherneronline.com

The Westminster Schools welcomed a Southerner reporter to determine whether commonly held beliefs about its wealth and elitism are accurate.

Seniors James Moy and Elen Pease appeared in a video explaining the potential harms of Georgia’s charter school constitutional amendment.

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Nov. 7, 2012

Editorial Board

the Southerner

Rachel Citrin Sammi Dean Troy Kleber Diana Powers Alex Stearns-Bernhart Isabelle Taft

Farewell to Bromery Over the past three years, one man has been quoted in this paper more than any other person. If the story dealt with Atlanta Public Schools, whether it was about the CRCT cheating scandal, leadership changes, personnel issues at Grady or something else entirely, it invariably included quotes from Keith Bromery.

Bromery served as director of media relations for APS from August 2009 until October 2012; throughout his tenure, he willingly and consistently offered his time to Southerner staffers desperate for quotes. Bromery dealt with a “perfect storm” of problems facing the district: the cheating scandal; the resignation of Superintendent Beverly Hall and subsequent hiring of Superintendent Erroll B. Davis; redistricting; and budget woes. As The Southerner reported on these issues, we found a great ally in Keith Bromery.

Many of our stories have cast a harsh light on the district, but Bromery, the official with whom we most often interacted, presented a helpful and effective face that strongly contrasted with APS’s trademark reticence. While other officials (from APS and other organizations) failed to return our calls or treated student journalists with condescension or outright hostility, Bromery was always available for a phone interview. If he missed a call, he’d return it within two days. By treating us as “real” journalists, Bromery increased our commitment to producing “real” journalism: stories that were fair, accurate, comprehensive and reflected the potential he had seen in us.

In October, those of us reporting stories about the district dialed Bromery’s number and were greeted with an unfamiliar sound— a secretary’s voice. We discovered that Bromery is no longer employed by APS and has been replaced by Stephen Alford, a Grady parent and one-time Grady teacher with whom we look forward to working. In an interview after his departure from APS, Bromery said he is not authorized to discuss his next career move. The Southerner thanks him for three fantastic years and wishes him the best in his future efforts. p

Wall art creativity wrongly critiqued After reading Riley Erickson’s piece, “The wall formally alive with scandal, now deceased” (Oct. 3, page 12), I felt a deep sense of frustration with some of the residents of my city. That such a beautiful mural was painted over because people found the nude woman to be “pornographic” baffles me. There are worse things one could see when driving through Atlanta, like obnoxious billboards or rampant litter. Art like this was made to inspire and improve our city and shouldn’t be condemned by fearful conservatives wishing to shield the public from creativity.

Eliza Renner junior

BeltLine art great creative addition I really enjoyed the article by Hunter Rust, “Art on the BeltLine: Overgrown railroad turned community footpath meets functional and cultural desires with accessible art” (Oct. 3, page 10).

I enjoyed it because I like the way

Not too late to stop “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, you’re left behind,” chants Dr. Propst in the morning as students drag themselves to class. While some students hurry to beat the bell, others lag behind. What many are not aware of, however, is Grady’s new and more stringent attendance policy.

The attendance policy was recently implemented when administration started to notice increasing numbers of students lying about their identity when getting a tardy pass. Students were filling in celebrity names, such as Tupac and Beyoncé, instead of their real names to avoid being punished for being tardy.

To eliminate this loophole, the administration now requires late students to provide their name, the time, their homeroom number and photo identification before they can receive a tardy pass to proceed to class.

Toward the end of October, Grady administrators started to implement the new attendance policy. The extra steps in the process, however, caused students to be even more late to class than before due to long lines of 40 students or more in the cafeteria waiting to get a tardy pass. Students who did not have any photo ID had to wait in the cafeteria, some for more than 20 minutes.

So far, the new policy seems to be ineffective. It is causing students to be even later to class, which means students are missing more instructional time. Students are walking in late to class, but this time, students cannot fully be blamed for their tardiness. Understandably, students sometimes forget their photo ID, but they should not be punished for both this thoughtlessness and tardiness.

The Grady administration should abandon this policy before even longer lines ensue. Perhaps instead, tardiness should be handled at the class level.

Teachers can give tardy students detention or other forms of punishment they deem appropriate. This would be a more efficient system and would help prevent further tardiness. p

C O R R E C T I O N S In Aman Bilal’s Oct. 3 “Question of the month” quote, “Skateraid” was mispelled.

In the picture used with “Staff reveals range of reactions to ‘no intern’ policy” the word “standards” was cut off from the end of the caption.

it was written with very descriptive words. It had a great amount of imagery. I think it was great how she interviewed someone who had helped make the BeltLine what it is today, along with a normal Grady student who has a different point of view from most of the school. It was an all-around great article.

Violet Conway sophomore

Voting on charter schools important I was very impressed by Caroline Morris’s “Voters to face charter school amendment on ballot” (Oct. 3, page 6). I think it’s important that Grady students be aware of this potential amendment because it affects us. After reading the article, I felt more informed about what voters will be casting ballots for on Nov. 6. I had some background information on this topic, and I’m sure many students do, but her article filled in the gaps for me.

I did think, however, the article was a bit one-sided for a news article.

I feel like if I were for this amendment to pass, I wouldn’t appreciate it as much, but the article works for

uestion

Sports Editors: Kate de Give, Joe Lavine Web Master: Simon McLane Office Manager: Gracie White Photo Editor: Ciena Leshley Cartoonist: Will Staples Staff: Emma Aberle-Grasse, Ryan Bolton, J.D. Capelouto, Zac Carter, Darriea Clark, Mary Condolora, Riley Erickson, Declan Farrisee, Zac Garrett, Deborah Harris, Orli Hendler, Archie Kinnane, Eli Mansbach, Ansley Marks, Rebecca

Lucy Lombardo sophomore

Unequal funding for sports not fair After reading “Not all sports team dues are created equal” by J.D. Capelouto (Oct. 3, page 20), I realized the fact that some teams receive more money than others begs the question, “How does APS decide which sports to fund?” I realized that whoever chooses what sports to fund, and how they make that decision, not all sports are created equal.

As a member of a non-mainstream sport, I feel it’s unfair. Sports should be funded on the size of the team.

Griffin Kish sophomore

We want to know what you think!

Love an article? Hate one? Find an error? Tell us about it! The Southerner welcomes letters from any and all of our readers. Contact us at www.facebook.com/gradysoutherner

f the month

What are your plans for the Thanksgiving Break?

“

I’m inviting family friends over to our house and am cooking all day before.”

Ellen Ericson, junior

“

It’s actually my birthday. I’m flying out to Detroit and then we are going to New York.”

“

I’m going back down to New Orleans.”

Michael Branzeale, sophomore

“

Chris Jackson, sophomore

Southerner Staff 2012-2013 Editor-in-Chief: Isabelle Taft Managing Editors: Sammi Dean, Troy Kleber Associate Managing Editor: Diana Powers Design Editors: Lauren Ogg, Gracie White News Editors: Olivia Kleinman, Olivia Veira Comment Editors: Rachel Citrin, Alex Stearns-Bernhart Double-truck Editor: Carson Shadwell Lifestyle Editors: Jolie Jones, Hunter Rust A+E Editors: Grace Power, Megan Prendergast

me, and I think it was written well.

Spend time with my family up in Ellijay, cook, watch football, relax and stay away from teenagers.”

Larry McCurdy, English teacher

An upbeat paper for a downtown school Martin, Caroline Morris, Quinn Mulholland, Axel Olson, Ben Searles, Ryan Switzer, Olivia Volkert, Josh Weinstock, Alex Wolfe Advisers: Kate Carter, Dave Winter The Southerner, a member of GSPA, SIPA, CSPA and NSPA, is a monthly student publication of: Henry W. Grady High School 929 Charles Allen Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

To our readers, The Southerner welcomes submissions, which may be edited for grammar, inappropriate language and length. Please place submissions in Mr. Winter or Ms. Carter's box in the main office. Subscriptions are also available. For more information, please contact Mr. Winter, Ms. Carter or a member of the staff.

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Nov. 7, 2012

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When asked whether or not I was going to the fall musical, my response was “what’s the name of it again?” My view of the theatre department was pretty much set until I became a part of it just over two weeks ago. A small part, yet still a significant one.

Hunter Rust It was just like any other day in my 4A theatre tech class. Art teacher John Brandhorst had given us a list of tasks that needed to be completed and once again, I found myself walking around the room picking up trash, not really knowing what to do with myself. So when drama teacher Jake Dreiling came in asking for a volunteer to help with triple threat, I was all ears.

I slyly walked by the two teachers as they were contemplating who could be a volunteer. My plan to be selected was successful. It was then, however, that I realized I might not have been qualified. A knot suddenly formed in my stomach. I asked if I should be nervous, and Dreiling answered “absolutely not.”

Brandhorst proceeded to say as long as I knew how to spell syzygy, I would be fine. I didn’t know how to spell syzygy; the knot in my stomach tightened.

I timidly followed Dreiling onto the stage next to a couple of students sitting at a prop desk. They asked for my name, Dreiling told me what to say when I was called up to the mic, and I was then instructed to sit in the audience and wait for further instructions. I looked out into the audience and saw one of my friends had an empty seat next to her, so I gladly took it not knowing what would happen next.

She informed me that during this class period, the understudies were conducting a run-through of the musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. I acted as if I knew what she was talking about, but I truly did not. Maybe I had seen a flyer for the musical but I could not recall. Everyone soon took their places, and the musical began. About 10 or so minutes into the show, they called out my name. My friend instructed me to go onto the stage. All I had to do, along with the other three volunteers, was follow the instructions of the characters in the play.

All of us slowly walked onto the stage and took our places at the chairs of the other “contestants.” When I first sat down, all I could do was smile. The atmosphere of the whole thing made me laugh. I laughed not only because of the butterflies in my stomach from being on stage, but also because all of the actors seemed incredibly confident in what they were doing. This wasn’t just a class in which you tried to meet the minimum requirements to pass and move on. This class was comprised of people that had a passion for what they were doing, and this passion showed.

Every other volunteer and participant had been called up to the microphone to spell a word, and now, it was my turn. My name was announced, and I nervously walked up to the mic, squeezing my hands together in anticipation. They asked me

Olivia Kleinman

Can you spell fall musical? P-U-T-N-A-M C-O-U-N-T-Y

SPELLING COUNTS: Morgan Jackson, playing contestant Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, steps up to the mic to spell a word in the fall musical. to spell the word “fandango.” I followed my instructions.

“May I have the definition?”

“Fandango, a lively Spanish dance performed by a man and a woman.”

“Can you use it in a sentence?”

“Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango?”

I laughed and attempted to spell the word. F-a-n-d-a-n-g-o.

Whether or not I spelled the word correctly, I will never know.

Regardless, they told me I was out, and I suddenly found myself not knowing what to do. I hadn’t planned for this moment. I was the first person to be eliminated and had no prior knowledge of what to do. For what seemed like eternity I blindly stood on stage like a deer in the headlights. Eventually, I proceeded back toward my chair along with the other contestants on stage.

Thinking back on it now, I cannot figure out why I thought going back to my seat after I had gotten kicked out was the correct decision, but it was not. Any normal contestant would have left the stage, not returned to it.

As I approached the chair, the actors began to sing me a goodbye song. It was the song that gave me the hint I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. I slowly turned around and went to sit in the first row of auditorium seats. As I walked away, a chorus of

high schoolers serenaded me with this goodbye song.

Awkward is the closest word I can use to describe how I felt.

Nonetheless, I was thoroughly intrigued. At first I stayed because I wasn’t entirely sure if I was going to be put to use again.

Before I knew it, it was 2:45 p.m., and I still didn’t want to go back to class (sorry Mr. Brandhorst). The last 30 minutes were spent laughing and chuckling along with the rest of the students in the audience. Here I was, watching the run-through of a show that I had never intended to see in the first place, and I didn’t want to leave.

Gathering from my fellow Grady students, our perception of the theatre department is not necessarily negative, just indifferent. While we may hear announcements about upcoming plays or musicals, we have no incentive to go unless we have a friend or some connection to the play. I mean, it’s a high school cast. How good can it really be?

Those were my thoughts four weeks ago. And although it took direct involvement for me to see the true art and commitment of these students, it doesn’t have to be that way for everyone else. The theatre department has set the stage for all of us to see terrific performances filled with drama, comedy and a touch of the unexpected. All we have to do is find a seat in the audience. p

Time spent alone in wilderness leads to revelations

By Alex Stearns-Bernhart I sat crouched, bow in hand, in a small thicket of white pines, processing all of the different noises of the forest: rustling leaves rushed down the valley by the wind; the chittering of the squirrels high up in the tops of the hickories and oaks, deshelling nuts as they prepared for winter; and the clear water of the stream singing its own music as it flowed over the smooth sandy bottom.

These were the noises to which I had become accustomed after spending the last day tucked away deep in the hills of north Georgia on a beautiful weekend in September. I had intentionally stayed away from trails, roads or any areas where I was likely to encounter anyone. I was putting myself to the ultimate test of survival­­ —being alone.

Some of you might not think this is worthy of the title “the ultimate test,” but

re with u t a N

ALEX think, when was the last time you were alone? I don’t mean when you were at your house watching TV, but alone without any of the unnatural noises of the city, alone with nothing but your own thoughts. It’s hard to think of a time.

This isolation is something many do not consider when in a survival situation. It is usually underappreciated by many who call themselves survivalists, but in my opinion an understanding of the impact of solitude is key in the

wilderness. When you are alone for an indefinite amount of time, you can begin to go crazy if you don’t pull yourself together mentally.

Whenever I go into the woods alone, whether it is just a pleasant stroll through the woods for an hour or a multiday trek across country, I take a minute or two to make sure my mind is in the right place.

When you are truly trying to survive, on your own, it is natural to be frightened and overwhelmed in the beginning, so it is essential to take a minute to acknowledge that emotion and conquer it. Once this is done, you are in for a much more pleasant experience in the wilderness.

Becoming comfortable with being alone is not something that comes naturally.

Most people can’t stay in solitude for very long (some can’t even deal with it for an hour). It has taken numerous hours and days spent alone with my own thoughts to arrive at this place of comfort and peace.

This inner peace isn’t just reassuring; it can become useful. Typically when you go on a solo, you go into the woods with some specific things you want to think about and ponder. I have found you can’t force these thoughts, but instead, you must let them come of their own accord. It is usually a very productive experience. I would recommend this meditative isolation to everyone, especially for those who have some big decisions to make.

Some word of warning and safety. Do this gradually; start off with six hours.

Then slowly work your way up to longer periods of time. It is good to have someone come check on you to make sure you are alright, but they must be very stealthy so that you can remain alone. It is sometimes good to know there is someone out there watching over you.

Now, ask yourself, are you ready for the ultimate test of survival? p

EXCLUSIVELY @ theSoutherneronline.com Heavy tensions in Middle East play a big part in presidential election

Mock trial team gains experience from international competition despite early evacuation

Throughout the 2012 Presidential campaign, whether during the debates or in the media coverage of the candidates, the Iran-Israel conflict was a heavily featured foreign-policy topic. Unfortunately, many people remain unaware of the current situation in the Middle ...

“Coastal Areas, Evacuation, Tonight.” This is what the sign on the highway read as the Grady Mock Trial team sped down the road in taxis toward JFK airport in New York City.

We were leaving. After three months of preparing for an international mock trial ...

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4

Q&A

with APS superintendent Erroll Davis

Interview By Archie Kinnane

Axel olson

When did you make the decision to remove North Atlanta administrators?

I made the decision after we decided on a new principal. ... I decided it would be best for him to choose his own team and hit the ground running without taking a year or so to evaluate the existing team. Understand also that this should have taken place prior to the beginning of the school year, but we had an additional candidate to whom we made an offer and that candidate for a variety of reasons wasn’t inclined to take the job.

Had you consulted people about this beforehand?

We are talking about assignments of administrators and about involving public with that; we don’t involve the public in personnel decisions. ... We certainly reserve the right to assign employees where we wish.

Why did you decide to take this action?

I think with a new leader, a new team would be better because again, there is obvious room for improvement here and I want to put a new team in place to do that. ... The bottom line is all schools have room for improvement. We want this to be a premier high school and we are putting in what we believe to be an excellent leader in place and we want that new leader to be able to choose a team in the short term and start running and not lose a year evaluating the people that are there.

Do you still stand by your statement that North Atlanta would have been seized by the state?

I never said it would be run by the state. ... It gets down to what is your definition of seized, what is my definition of seized. If your definition of seized is that they come in and take over the school and run the school, that is different from mine. Mine is that if all of a sudden I’m a state directed school, if I lose managerial flexibility, if I have a monitor assigned to my school that participates in my managerial decisions, and if I lose control or flexibility, I feel as if I’ve been seized. But the real issue here is not whether someone said seized. The point here is why on earth are people focusing on the nuances of the word seized?

In a hypothetical situation because I made it also clear that this is not going to happen, there has been a waiver ... but that’s where we were headed, if the law had been effect.

Did allegations of racism motivate the decision?

Absolutely not.

Were you surprised by the community’s reaction?

I can’t say that I’m surprised. It’s a community that feels intensely about a lot of things.

What were the allegations against the administrators?

I felt that to give the new principal the best chance of success as early as possible, a new team should be put in place. Quite frankly, based on the performance I had seen over the years, we could take the risk of putting in a new team. I reassigned four people. ... They did a job as a team. ... I gave them meaningful jobs elsewhere. ... Quite frankly, moving out an entire administrative team is not that unusual. We’ve done it several times this year, but in less vocal communities. p

Nov. 7, 2012

Despite ‘tactless’ APS meddling, North Atlanta to grow stronger

By Elizabeth Ray, Editor-in-chief of thenortherneronline.com

North Atlanta High School has recently endured a plethora of dramatic administration changes. Following interim superintendent Erroll Davis’s sudden decision to relocate all of the administrators to schools across APS, North Atlanta remains in turmoil.

Since Friday, Oct. 5, when the administrators were ousted from their offices, students have protested, parents have organized meetings and the school has been in a state of shock.

Administrators Laura Brazil (Global Broadcasting and Journalism Academy leader), John Denine (International Studies Academy leader), Reginald Colbert (Center for Performing Arts interim Academy leader), Melissa Gautreaux (assistant principal) and Mark MyGrant (interim principal), were escorted off campus with a security team. They were either relocated or released from their duties.

In a letter on the North Atlanta High School website, Davis cited the need for a transitional program with the new principal as the basis for this change. “Our principal mentor program is part of an improved process for introducing new school leaders to schools, utilizing a site-specific transition program,” Davis wrote.

Davis held a meeting in the North Atlanta gym Oct. 8 in an attempt to quell the complaints of the community. During Davis’s prepared speech, some underlying motives for this change were revealed. North Atlanta’s graduation rate is 62 percent; Davis claimed North Atlanta, given the resources of its community, should be the No. 1 high school in the district.

While the meeting did help answer the logistics of the upcoming changes, it also served to fan the flame of parents, students and teachers through its inclusion of inaccurate and misquoted facts.

Davis’s statement that the “school would be taken by the state and all of the administration fired” is simply incorrect. The state Department of Education has confirmed this multiple times.

Mr. Davis appears to feel that North Atlanta High School’s prestigious location should be in some way reflected in the performance of its student body.

Analyst Jarod Apperson wrote on Maureen Downey’s “Get Schooled” Blog, published by the Atlanta JournalConstitution, “North Atlanta is, by and large, not made up of privileged, wealthy students. It is unreasonable to hold the school to a standard based upon

the ‘resources’ of the area when wealthy kids and their resources go to private schools.”

As details emerge, the issue becomes increasingly complex. In addition to these facts, accusations of “institutional racism” have surfaced. Ousted interim principal Mark MyGrant said in an interview with 11 Alive News, “I truly believe that it [the allegations] stems from the very highest up; there might be even board involvement and that it’s just political greed gone wild.”

English teacher Amy Durham, who was accused of racist actions, was told that there were “outstanding questions” regarding her employment at North Atlanta. She resigned under duress from said allegations.

Ms. Durham’s class now has a permanent sub.

Nancy Meister, our district’s Board of Education member, recently sent out an email clarifying her opinions on the matter: “Without a clear understanding of North Atlanta’s history and an objective view of its outcomes, it is impossible to accurately measure success or failure. This community has been misled. Great gains have been made though the hard work of our cluster principals, administrators, teachers, business partners, parents and most of all students.

These have gone unrecognized and have been buried beneath allegations and innuendo.”

The allegations of racism surfaced a few hours after the removal of the administrators on Oct. 5. Allegations of grade-changing and cheating were revealed in the media.

As a student, I would say that regardless of the integrity of the numerous allegations, the way in which the issues were handled was unprofessional and done with no tact.

I hope this issue serves to improve the way in which other APS schools are treated. The North Atlanta High School community will emerge stronger. We have matters to look forward to as well: a new gorgeous campus and a new principal, Dr. Gene Taylor.

Life at North Atlanta High School goes on. p

STUDENT e

Th

Stance

Girl’s $75 can be spent on much cuter pair of boots I will never forget Aug. 29, 2012.

On that day, I walked out to my car in a downtown parking lot, and saw that it was accessorized with a fresh pair of boots and a friendly little notice. “DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE THIS CAR” was big and bold on a neon orange sticker stuck to my window. I looked around me Ciena Leshley and saw exactly what I saw when I parked in the parking lot a few hours earlier: a pay machine with a nasty trash bag over it. As I surveyed the scene, I did observe one difference: there was an attendant collecting money.

When I arrived at the parking lot at 3:40 that day, there had been no sign of life. Plenty of cars were parked there, sure, but there was no working pay machine and no attendant. I stood outside of my car looking for a sign of what to do for 10 minutes, but with no luck, I left my car under the assumption that any reasonable person would realize I had been unable to pay.

Unfortunately, the ability to reason is not an essential quality for a parking attendant.

Instead, the case was that I was a 17-year-old girl, stranded downtown at 8:30 p.m., and my phone had just enough battery life to call my mom and the boot company. The boot man arrived in less than 10 minutes and told me to pay my ransom.

I explained to him the situation, but either from a lack of understanding due to my frantic crying or from a lack of a heart, this man abducted my $75 and then generously allowed me to drive my own car. Luckily enough, after many phone calls, the boot company realized that I was wrongly booted and refunded my money, but most people don’t encounter such generosity.

Private companies that own the parking lot or parking deck hire the mercenary companies who patrol the parking spaces and boot cars. The city receives no revenue from these private parking companies and has no power to regulate them, which has caused some people to believe booting has gotten out of hand and become predatory.

After talking to people about my own booting experience, I

learned I’m not the only one whose car has been wrongly booted. Many people face the boot man even after paying for their parking (their ticket didn’t print, wasn’t facing the right way, etc.), and some people have even been booted because the boot man believed they left and came back without buying a new ticket, regardless of whether or not they actually did.

The funny thing about booting in Atlanta is that no Georgia law covers it. This lack of legislation makes it difficult for citizens to fight the boot in court. Websites urging people to call the cops if your car has been wrongly booted are popping up left and right. Fighttheboot.blogspot.com is a forum that allows people to provide advice about dealing with these boots.

People who are against car booting argue that by immobilizing an individual’s car, you are withholding a person’s property.

According to article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property. On that night, I was a 17-year-old girl stranded in downtown because I couldn’t pay a parking fee. Would you consider those $5 arbitrary? I sure would. p

Nov. 7, 2012

comment

5

Friendly game of basketball warms chilly relationship

Will Staples

GMO MUST GO: Protestors march in front of GMO-selling stores on Ponce to persuade authorities to label GMO foods and outlaw Monstanto’s activities.

GMOs not the answer; changes needed In May 1992 Dan Quayle, vice president under George H.W. Bush, announced the anticonsumer right-toknow policy which allowed genetically Will Staples modified organisms to be released into the market. GMO refers to any organism that has undergone genetic engineering in order to alter it. The process of genetically engineering produce is a worthwhile scientific pursuit, but our knowledge of genetic engineering doesn’t make up for our expectations of its potential applications.

Currently, a wide variety of the produce we eat is grown with GMO seed which is regulated and sold almost exclusively by one corporation, Monsanto. Monsanto has been the corporate entity responsible for chemicals such as Agent Orange, a chemical used in herbicidal warfare that killed hundreds of thousands in Vietnam and led to more than 500,000 birth defects, and DDT, a chemi-

cal insecticide that travels through the food web potentially poisoning all involved. Both chemicals are now illegal.

Monsanto’s deeply interconnected relationship with the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. regulatory and judicial bodies makes it possible for it to corner the market and get legislation passed requiring farmers to grow produce using their seed for a potentially unlimited profit.

On Sept. 17, a protest took place in Atlanta orchestrated by Millions Against Monsanto, a group which aims to require labeling of GMOs and to eventually have Monsanto’s activities outlawed. The protest was run in front of various GMO-peddling institutions on Ponce, including McDonalds, Kroger, Whole Foods, Publix and Home Depot.

Grady student Aeron Attwooll first informed me about Monsanto’s business practices. I was skeptical until I reviewed the overwhelming evidence presented by former Monsanto scientists and in studies produced by the United Nations and the European Union. Currently 93 percent of all soybeans,

86 percent of all corn and 90 percent of all canola on the U.S. market is genetically modified because regulation of GMO products forces farmers to buy GMO seeds or face Monsanto’s patent lawyers if their non-GMO crop became pollinated naturally. As a result, Monsanto’s crops spread like wildfire.

What exactly is so harmful about genetically modified food? GMOs contain unstable genetic alterations that can embody a variety of characteristics from beneficial to downright awful.

French scientists and former GMO employees Arpad Pusztai and Gilles-Eric Seralini revealed that rats fed GMO corn sold by Monsanto suffered tumors, kidney and liver damage, sterility and shorter lives. They attempted to share this discovery and Monsanto terminated their contracts and attempted to silence them under threat of legal action.

GMOs are not the answer. Organic farming, permaculture and vertical farms can be implemented to better conserve land and to stimulate small farmers in the U.S. and developing nations. p

13-year-old thief can’t steal a new life I heard the distinct sound of my mom’s dark blue 2005 Honda Accord start up.

Feelings of confusion and nervous suspicion clouded my mind. I drove here, so it couldn’t be my mom or dad. It’s definitely not me.

I’m not in the driver’s seat. I didn’t turn the keys. I couldn’t have; I’m not even close to being done playing basketball.

Joe Lavine All these thoughts occurred in the milliseconds it took me to turn from the Candler Park basketball court and peer up through the trees toward the source of the noise. My eyes confirmed my worst fears: my mom’s car speeding out of the parking lot like a gerbil nervously scurrying away from the grips of its anxious owner and into the safety of its connecting tubes.

With the car speeding out of my grasp, I didn’t have time to think, so naturally, I just ran. I sprinted up the hill to the park entrance and then down McLendon toward Fellini’s. It ends up that on an open road, cars can travel faster than humans, even angry ones. It beat me to Clifton Road, turned right and went bye-bye. Hunched over on the side of the road, disgusted anger consumed me.

Within a week, we heard that the car was totaled, crashed into a tree. The thief was 13-year-old Torin Johnson. My wallet, iPod, our new GPS and even my mom’s collection of maps were nowhere to be found. Our insurance paid for what the car was worth, but it didn’t pay for even half of the Prius we bought as a replacement.

For a little while, I was upset about losing some carefully thoughtout playlists and my gym membership card, and I still feel a little guilty for costing my parents thousands of dollars. But after I had more time to think, my focus changed. I forgot about a few songs and gym passes and started thinking about the eighth-grader going to juvenile court for car theft. When I was in eighth grade, I was dreaming about going to the NBA and worrying about silly projects and acne.

Let me take you to the juvenile court hearing on Sept. 25 to give you a peek of Torin’s eighth-grade experience. The almighty chief judge Belinda Edwards sat on her enormous throne facing the rest of us, and she spoke to Torin’s guardian, his grandmother, who was

seated next to Torin. She asked her what she wanted for Torin. The grandmother’s face was tired and strained. She took a long pause and painstakingly told the judge she wanted Torin to get help before he comes home. She then explained how difficult it has been for her, how Torin rarely comes home or goes to school.

In the end, Torin would be going home with two years of probation and promises that he would go to school, follow his grandmother’s 8 p.m. curfew and not take anything that didn’t belong to him.

Though these promises seemed sincere, two police officers involved in the case told me the grim, depressing truth as we rode the elevator. Torin is “a runner,” and by the next day, he would be gone again.

They expected to see him on the streets for years to come.

What a life for a 13-year-old. It seems like he’s set on a path: a narrow path with tall, solid surrounding walls trapping him, funneling him in one direction. Dreams are left behind. Values and morals are kicked up in the dirt. There are lots of police, but not much help.

And how did Torin get on this path? He didn’t spit out the pacifier and decide he wanted to steal a car. More than likely, he grew up in a rough environment with terrible role models, resulting in plummeting self-expectations. Torin is old enough to be responsible for his actions and deserves some blame, but if no one instilled good values in him at a young age, it is unfair to expect him to develop good values on his own.

We all know there are many others out there like Torin struggling to survive in our society, but for the most part, we do nothing about it. I think this is because many of us are so wrapped up in our own problems that we don’t have time to consider others’. Try looking around once in a while. Try to understand that other people have more problems, problems a lot more extreme than college applications.

Personally, I’ve understood that there are many less fortunate people out there, but I’m ashamed to say that it took a stolen car for me to independently pursue helping one. Better late than never, though.

I contacted five juvenile-court associates, and I’m one phone number closer to contacting Torin. I’m not done yet. If you know Torin, let me know because I think he needs someone to tell him he has a future, and if it’s in racecar driving, he needs some more practice. p

BEER SHEVA, Israel— “B’emtzah, b’emtzah,” screamed Asif. “Middle middle.” We are playing the Israeli students in basketball on what is a typical night for the Eshel Hanassi Alexander Eli Mansbach Muss High School students in the Israel program.

Unfortunately for me, I’m the one guarding Asif, who is a good six inches taller than I and is the best Israeli on the team. It gets worse when he gets the ball and starts to drive in.

There is nothing I can do to stop him. He drives right around me and scores an easy layup to which I curse and get yelled at by my teammates. But it’s OK because we beat them 28-20 and afterwards we shake hands and go to our respective dorms.

Ever since our group of 17 students arrived at our new home, located near Beer Sheva, a huge part of our lives has been getting to know the Israeli students on campus.

The Eshel Hanassi campus, where we are staying, is a combination of a farm, a village and a school. The school has about 1,500 kids attending it, but only 220 live on campus while the rest go to their homes at the end of the school day. The kids who stay on campus see each other every day, at meals, the farm or just walking around campus.

For the most part, when we first arrived, the Israeli kids didn’t talk to us, but observed us from a distance. When we ate meals, especially lunch, we would occupy three tables and they would put a barrier table between them and us and would proceed to watch us from a distance.

Every now and then I could make out the word “Americanit” in their conversation.

The same phenomenon was also a common occurrence on the farm. The second time my block had a farming period, we showed up at the office with the other Israeli who had farming. When the head of farming asked us what animal we would prefer to work with, the Israeli students started screaming out, “parah,” or cow in Hebrew.

Working with the cows might be the worst job on the farm because they are smelly, gross and milking them looks far from easy or fun to say the least. I know a few animal names in Hebrew, so I was able to translate them into English for my friends, who were more than willing to agree with the Israelis since they don’t know Hebrew. But after hearing this, they decided to disagree with the Israelis and asked to work with the sheep instead.

These awkward interactions and observances ended when we found out about the basketball and soccer courts located on campus. These simple sports fields helped us get past our cultural differences and interact with one another.

One night, we took a basketball and walked over to the Israeli side of the campus and started playing. During the game, we got to know each other much better.

We won the game, which we always do because Israelis are not that good at basketball. After the game, we went back with them to their dorms and hung out for two hours.

In the days that followed, we started eating meals with each other and participating in activities with them at night.

Now, whenever we have farming or toran duty (kitchen duty in which you have to stack very hot plates) we talk to them, learn Hebrew and get to know their way of life. This also holds true when we travel around Israel. Wherever we go, we always find Israeli kids and go talk to them.

Now that I think about it, my friends and I aren’t really tourists anymore. Now, we are just some kids living a normal life in Israel. p

news

the Southerner

6

Nov. 7, 2012

News Briefs

‘Beyoncés’ ring the adminstration’s alarm

State Rep. aims for parent trigger law

By Grace Power Recently, attendance officials noticed multiple “Beyoncés” had started signing in to get tardy passes from the attendance office, despite the fact that no one named Beyoncé attends Grady. “Tupac” has also signed in, a clear indicator that students are lying about their identity to get a tardy pass with impunity. This enforcement loophole is one of the problems the new tardy policy will remedy, said Assistant Principal David Propst.

On Nov. 1, students who arrived at school late waited in the cafeteria for the slip of paper that would permit them to go to class. Tardy passes have always been given to late students, but recently Grady has made its attendance policy more restrictive. Rather than simply reporting their name, the time and their homeroom number, students are now required to provide photo identification in order to receive a tardy pass. This additional step has caused students to get to class later than usual.

“You [have to] have an ID,” freshman Jonquavious Tate said while waiting in a line of about 10 people to receive his tardy pass.

“I got to school 10 minutes late,” Tate said. “I’ve been waiting for about 20 minutes [in the cafeteria].

[The administration] told us to sit and wait in the cafeteria if we don’t have an ID.” Tate was among approximately 40 students sitting in the cafeteria without photo identification. The administration was waiting for students with photo identification to be checked in first.

While Tate stood in the line of students waiting for passes around 8:45 a.m., other people who were also waiting to get a pass sat at the tables in the cafeteria. Freshman Madeline Wootten and sophomore Nadia Jackson chose to sit at a cafeteria table to wait for the line to subside.

Wootten said she arrived at school at 8:15 a.m. Assistant Principal Rodney Howard, however, told her to go

Republican state representative and party whip Edward Lindsey recently announced his goal of passing a parent trigger law next legislative session. Such a law would allow parents at failing schools to form petitions for the schools to be independently run.

Inman MS qualifies as a Reward school

Grace Power

The Georgia Department of Education named Inman Middle School a Reward school as one of the 79 highest performing middle schools in the state. A school’s test scores and graduation rates must rank in the top 5 percent among Title I schools for three consecutive years in order to be classified as such.

DON’T BE TARDY FOR THE PARTY: Tardy students can spend around 30 minutes waiting for a late pass to class after arriving at school. This situation, although not new to this year, is being enforced with new rules requiring students to show their ID when entering the building. get a pass since she was not in class a piece of graded work or quizzes they were there to enroll as stuby the time the late bell rang. Woot- them on their birthday or middle dents at Grady. ten waited for at least 20 minutes to initial to confirm their identity.

“I knew [the trespassers’ claim] obtain a tardy pass. “[The requirement to have photo was not true,” Howard said, point“School begins at 8; it’s always identification] teaches social respon- ing out that any student wishing to been like that,” Propst said. sibility, you should always have your enroll must have a parent or guardHe, along with Business and En- ID on you,” Vincent said. ian present with them. “Once I trepreneurship Academy leader WilStudents’ social responsibility is found out they were trespassers, I let lie Vincent, believes the new system not the only thing at stake. the police handle it.” may encourage more students to ar“It’s a safety issue,” Propst said.

Howard does not know why the rive early. Vincent said he has been Two weeks prior to the instate- students came to Grady. seeing fewer students arrive late each ment of the new policy, three people “We knew we had a broken sysday since the policy began. entered Grady off the streets as if tem,” Vincent said. “We aren’t sure “When school buses get [here] they were students. who we are letting loose in the buildlate, it changes the whole mind set,” “A bus came in late and [while ing. We had to do something.”

Propst said. “When the bell rings at students were checking in] three The new identification require8:15, that doesn’t mean go to class; it people checked in who weren’t Gra- ment for tardy passes is just part means you’re late.” dy students,” Vincent said. of the plan to prevent these inciMany mornings Propst can be After they checked in with fake dents, Howard said. heard using the microphone in the names, they wandered the school “There will be consequences cafeteria reminding students exactly until Howard spotted them. [for not having a photo identificawhen school begins and what time “They blended in with the reg- tion],” Howard said. “When we the late bell will ring. ular students,” Howard said. “I start this policy, we will send no“I realize that this is not an im- apprehended them in the second tices home detailing consequences mediate fix,” Vincent said. “The floor [of the] Charles Allen build- and what will happen if students students are abusing our trust.” ing. ... After further questioning, lose their IDs.” Vincent watches as students sign they mentioned that they were “[The policy] is for the betterin each morning. If they do not have students from South Atlanta.” ment of the safety of the students identification, he either requires The three trespassers then claimed and faculty,” Howard said. p

NAHS grade system change investigated Less than a month after the removal and reassignment of North Atlanta’s administrative staff, the school’s woes have continued.

On Oct. 25, APS Office of Internal Compliance confirmed that students’ grades are now being examined for unwarranted adjustments. Superintendent Erroll Davis has officially stated the two events are unrelated.

Mock Trial escapes NYC before Sandy On Oct. 28, the Grady Mock Trial team was forced to withdraw from the Empire VI International Invitational in Brooklyn, New York to return to Atlanta before airports closed due to Hurricane Sandy. Thirty-six teams gathered to participate but several were forced to evacuate. The Atlanta International School and Jonesboro HS stayed for the competition and placed fifth and fourth, respectively. They were stranded in New York until Oct. 31, when they took a bus back to Atlanta.

Woodward to test students, teachers for drug usage

By Ryan Bolton Woodward Academy is known as one of the most elite schools in Atlanta. It is also the largest private school in the nation with more than 2,700 students. Many parents see the school as one of the safest and most prestigious options around the metro Atlanta area. Starting next fall, however, Woodward will join the ranks of many other schools around the nation in testing both students and administrators for drugs.

Due to a rise in drug abuse, officials at Woodward have decided to randomly test approximately 40 percent of the school population over the course of the 2013-2014 school year. The school also felt it had to take action because of a “large number of anecdotal accounts of drug use not just at Woodward, but throughout metro Atlanta,” said Stuart Gulley, president of Woodward Academy, in a statement released on the school’s website.

Recent studies conducted by Columbia University have shown that the amount of drug abuse in private high schools has increased substantially over the past decade.

Some Woodward Academy parents are split on the idea of drug testing. Angela Watkins, mother of Woodward sophomore Farris Watkins, seemed to doubt the principles behind the plan.

“It just doesn’t seem right to me, “ Watkins said. “Testing students for drugs at school with no evidence of criminal ac-

tivity seems a little over the top.”

But Clarestine Pinckney, mother of Eric Pinckney, stands behind the plan.

“I support the testing 100 percent,” Pinckney said. “If it will eliminate some of the drug culture from the school, then I’m all for it.”

Junior Justin Clark, however, finds the drug tests invasive.

“Just knowing that [Woodward] is testing students for drugs makes me feel a little violated,” he said.

This perception of being violated seemed to be a common feeling amongst many Woodward students as was a fear of not knowing what to expect.

SPEC Group, Inc., a private organization, will conduct the testing. SPEC has conducted tests at schools such as the Wesleyan School in Norcross and the Lovett School in Atlanta. Tests will occur about once every two weeks to a group of randomly selected students and administrators. The test is able to detect both illegal substances and prescription drugs.

Gulley and other Woodward officials have predetermined consequences for failed drug tests. Students on their first offense will be disciplined either by taking a medical exam or by participating in community service, while students on their second offense will be given the choice to withdraw or be expelled from the school.

A former Woodward student who asked to remain anonymous was asked to leave his freshman year when he was caught with other students who were using drugs on the school’s campus. The student, now a junior, was not using drugs with the students; therefore he was allowed to complete the school year. His parents, however, decided to transfer him to Grady in 2011 to complete his sophomore year.

“It was kind of a shock to both me and my parents because I had never been accused for a problem with drugs before,” the student said. “It was a huge misunderstanding, but still a disappointment.”

He said his time at Grady has changed him as a person.

“I wasn’t a drug user, but I had started experimenting with drugs and I wasn’t on the right path. Coming to Grady made me realize that most kids [at Woodward] used drugs to fit in more than anything, and I didn’t need that here [at Grady]. I fit in well enough already that drugs have no purpose in my life anymore.”

The student has mixed feelings about the new policies Woodward plans to implement on drug usage.

“I don’t know how to feel about them yet,” he said. “As much as I hate the concept of it, I feel that they are doing what they can to get the students back on track and improve the school overall.” p

news

Nov. 7, 2012

7

Old fire-drill plan up in flames; new policy ignited

Olivia Kleinman

Courtesy of David Propst

ALL FIRED UP: Communications and Journalism Academy leader Carrie MacBrien (top left) checks in with English teacher Reginald Buchanan during the fire drill on Oct. 10 to ensure that all of his students are present. Teachers and students gather in Piedmont Park (left) in locations assigned to each classroom (above). For the first time in recent Grady history, students and teachers assembled in the park instead of on Eighth Street and Charles Allen Drive.

Olivia Kleinman

By Olivia Kleinman An ear-splitting noise echoed throughout the school during advisement on Oct. 10.

For some students, it signaled temporary relief from classes. For others, it was a dreaded call for a “pointless” exertion of energy. Grady’s administration, however, did not take the sound of this alarm quite as lightly.

“We need to know procedures in the event of a fire,” Assistant Principal David Propst said. “We have to be ready for an emergency.

We have to take every drill seriously.”

A fire marshal observes the actions of administrators during the drill to ensure they follow protocol and take the necessary precautions. Propst said the marshal can fire administrators based on their behavior during the drill.

Returning students and teachers noticed major changes in the evacuation procedure from last year. Propst said the changes were enacted, in part, because of a new rule that requires students to be at least 300 feet away from the school.

According to the new plan, teachers and students in the Charles Allen building, instructional suites and main gym walk across 10th Street to Piedmont Park where they have individually assigned locations, and teachers and students in the Eighth Street building, black box theater, practice gym, theater and music wing go to the football stadium to their assigned locations.

If a fire drill or emergency evacuation occurs during lunch, students at lunch are to meet up with the teacher of their previous class on Eighth Street. If it occurs during the change between classes, students are to evacuate via the nearest exit and reconnect with the teacher of their previous class outside.

Additionally, teachers must take their class roll book with them during the evacuation.

Once teachers reach their spots, they must take attendance, report the number of students present to the administrator at the evacuation site and raise a colored card: red if students are missing or green if all are present. Teachers must remain at the evacuation site with their students until given the “all clear” by an administrator.

“I think teachers did a good job and worked together, but we need a better accountability system,” Propst said. “It took a long time for an administrator to go to each classroom.”

A more organized, less time-consuming solution he suggested was sending a class representative to a point to meet with administrators.

While Communications Academy leader Carrie MacBrien believes the fire drill went well, she said there is always room for improvement.

“We were working two times as hard as we needed to,” MacBrien said. “Dr. Propst and Mr. Howard communicated details very well including maps, evacuation and procedures, so it went smoothly.”

Although MacBrien believes teachers were well-informed regarding the new procedure, senior Tamara Mason believes students were not.

“I didn’t even know the policy changed,” Mason said. “They didn’t tell us anything. I didn’t know about it. I think it would have been more successful if we knew there was a policy change.”

The new plan is being greeted with both criticism and praise from teachers, students and administrators.

“I do think we need to be more organized and systematic,” literature teacher Larry Mc-

Curdy said. “This fire drill was a step in the right direction.”

While Mason believes the new plan is safer because students are farther away from the building, she also believes there are drawbacks.

“It is a little bit unrealistic,” Mason said.

“If there was an actual fire, the chance of a person actually finding their teacher is slim to none. I didn’t know where my line was; I just happened to be standing in the right line.”

Another problem Propst identified is crossing the street to get to Piedmont Park. Senior Mezmure Dargie, however, does not agree.

“Crossing the street wasn’t as dangerous as everyone made it sound,” Dargie said.

“There were security guards.”

Sophomore Crystal Dorta said when it came to crossing streets, the former plan, in which students stood along the side of Eighth Street during evacuations, was worse.

“It was really unorganized and crowded,

and everyone was standing in the street when we were on the side of Eighth Street,” Dorta said. “[The new plan] is better because everyone fits in the space, and we aren’t disrupting [households].”

Both Mason and senior Jakara Griffin attribute the disorganized execution of the fire drill to the lack of attention students paid to teachers.

“A group of people were playing duckduck-goose during the drill,” Mason said.

MacBrien said other options were considered when determining the new policy. She said students could not go to Eighth Street since it is not 300 feet away from the building, nor could they all go to one place.

“It would have caused too much congestion if we were all going to the stadium or all to the park, so I think it was wise to split students between the locations,” she said. “In case of a real disaster, [the new plan] ensures safety by getting farther away from the building.” p

Euphemism creates anomaly in discipline reporting This single ISS in 2011 is recorded on the school’s Discipline

By Ryan Switzer After leaving Grady’s campus to get lunch in 2011, senior Comparison Report, which tracks items such as violent altercations, sexual offenses and drug use occurring on campus.

Claire* received three days of “School of Opportunity.”

After a disciplinary infraction, a Grady student can receive Parents, community members and APS officials refer to this anywhere from one to three days of “In-School Suspension/ report in order to gauge Grady’s safety.

Assistant principal Rodney Howard said he thought the School of Opportunity.” These students spend their designated time in a silent room between the C200 and E200 hallways Discipline Comparison Report, which showed only one ISS in 2011, was inaccurate, and he said it where they must work on the The School of Opportunity was should be changed. school work provided to them by just a name we gave [in-school Howard said in 2010 the ISS their teachers. program became jointly known as “I was told that I couldn’t go suspension], so it would have the School of Opportunity under to my classes and my teachers less of a negative connotation in the direction of now-retired assistant would bring me my work,” Claire principal Roosevelt Foreman. said. “I honestly don’t know the parent’s minds.”

School of Opportunity was difference [between ISS and David Propst just“The a name we gave it, so it would School of Opportunity].”

Assistant principal have less of a negative connotation This dual naming has confused in parent’s minds,” Assistant students as well as administrators and has distorted the discipline statistics that Grady is required principal David Propst said.

Though Howard was teaching health and physical education to report to APS. In 2011, Grady reported only one ISS to APS, as compared to in the 2010-2011 school year, he said he has basic knowledge of the 136 instances reported in 2010 prior to the implementation the program. He said that SOP and ISS are synonymous, but of the School of Opportunity. (It is unclear whether 2010 and also indicated there are differences between the two.

2011 refer to two calendar years or two semesters in the same “School of Opportunity is for students committing less school year. Kent Johnson, open records specialist, did not serious offenses, such as skipping detention,” said Howard, return calls or an email asking to clarify the report.) who added in a subsequent interview that the School of

“

Opportunity no longer exists.

“As of right now we don’t use School of Opportunity,” Howard said. “We had to change it in reference to a situation last year or the year before. It’s just what sticks in everyone’s minds.”

Grady discipline office administrative assistant Nicole Rozier, who inputs disciplinary infractions into the data collection system, confirmed that when entering disciplinary data, SOP and ISS are separate options.

She said she is told by Propst or Howard which to input. This data is then sent to APS’s Office of Open Records and included in the annual Discipline Comparison Report.

School of Opportunity, unlike ISS, is not included in the Discipline Comparison Report. Because ISS was so rare in 2011, APS was unaware that Grady even implemented ISS during the 2010-2011 school year.

“Neither school [referring also to Maynard Jackson] had in-school suspension for 2010-2011,” said Chantel Mullen, dean of student discipline and student relations administrator.

“Schools are not required to have in-school suspension nor, to my understanding, is it a funded position.”

Though it is not a funded position, Sgt. Maj. John Dillard has been in charge of monitoring students in ISS since 2005.

“On average there’s probably 10 to 14 students in ISS every day [this year],” Dillard said. “In 2011, there were less, more like eight to 10 a day.” p *name has been changed at the source’s request

news

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Nov. 7, 2012

Registrar turned detective locates missing students Graduation rates calculated with leaver formula (2010) and cohort formula (2011) 100

Graduation Rate

rates were just inflated.”

The formula change caused graduation rates statewide to plunge. According to the Georgia DOE website, Grady’s graduation rate for the class of 2010 was 91.6 percent; for the class of 2011, it was 73.3 percent.

Holland said prior to last year, when graduation rates were still calculated using the leaver formula, the only documentation needed for a student to withdraw was a parental consent form. The form asked parents to list their intended location and the name of the school their child would attend. Under the new system, that form is not proof a student enrolled elsewhere; if Holland cannot obtain a transcript or tuition receipt from the new school, the student is counted as a dropout.

Holland has now changed the withdrawal procedure so that students who transfer from Grady must send her proof of their enrollment at a new school. Students from the class (or cohort) of 2013 who transferred before last year, however, will be counted as dropouts if Holland cannot establish proof of re-enrollment.

Campbell said if a student enrolls in another Georgia public school, the Statewide Longitudinal Data System tracks the student’s whereabouts, allowing administrators to confirm the student did not drop out. If a student enrolled in a private school or a school in another state, however, Holland and Campbell must use what Campbell terms “people-finding tools.”

Holland said she begins by looking at the withdrawal form the student provided when he or she left Grady. If the parent indicated the name of the school at which the student intended to enroll, Holland calls the school and requests a transcript. Often, however, students moving out of state do not know which school they will be

Isabelle Taft

By Isabelle Taft Social studies teacher James Campbell frequently jokes to his students that he “has people everywhere.” Recently, Campbell undertook a task that made him wish he wasn’t joking.

Beginning at the end of the last school year and continuing over the summer until the end of September, Campbell and registrar Chinaester Holland attempted to locate students who left Grady before they graduated, starting with students who would have graduated in 2011.

Some of those students departed two or three years ago, Holland said.

Holland and Campbell were required to undertake this search for students because of a change in the way Georgia schools calculate graduation rates.

Prior to the 2010-2011 school year, Georgia and several other states used the leaver formula to calculate school graduation rates, Georgia Department of Education spokesman Matt Cardoza said. Beginning with the class of 2011, the U.S. Department of Education required all states to calculate graduation rates using the cohort formula.

The leaver formula allowed schools to count students who took up to six years to complete their coursework as graduates, and to assume that students who withdrew graduated from a different school. Under the cohort formula, if a school cannot prove that a student who withdrew later enrolled in another school, that student is counted as a dropout.

Sean Mulvenon, a professor of educational statistics at the University of Arkansas and director of the National Office for Research on Measurement and Evaluation Systems, said the cohort formula is considered more accurate, but many states previously used the leaver rate.

“This is a systemic problem that they’re having across the country,” Mulvenon said. “The graduation

80

91.6% 80.8% 73.3%

67.5%

66.3%

60

52% Leaver (2010) Cohort (2011)

40 20 0

Grady

APS

Georgia

Statistics from Georgia Department of Education website

attending. Then, Holland turns to the information on a student’s Infinite Campus profile. In some cases it has been years since the student attended Grady, so the phone numbers may no longer be in use.

If the contact information is incorrect, she turns to the Internet.

Holland said she searches students and their relatives on Facebook, hoping to track down someone who can lead her to the student.

Sometimes, Holland and Campbell find information about students by asking teachers and current students for leads.

“I turn into a detective,” Holland said. “Some kids you know … they’re like in orchestra or ROTC. You kind of know what they did when they were here.”

Holland has found students in Russia and Spain. She worked through the list until the deadline, Friday, Sept. 28, but estimated she was unable to find half the students.

Some of the missing students may have already graduated or be on track to graduate—but if they can’t be located, they will be counted as dropouts, reducing Grady’s reported graduation rate for the classes of 2012 and 2013, Holland said.

Grady’s graduation rate is particularly important since Georgia began implementing its Race to the Top reform plan last year. Based on graduation rate, test scores and other performance measures, schools may be designated Priority, Focus, Alert or Reward Schools by the Georgia DOE. Reward schools are the highestperforming Title I schools, while Priority Schools are the lowestperforming. Focus Schools have gaps in achievement between subgroups, and Alert Schools may perform poorly on some metrics but are deemed stronger overall than Focus and Priority Schools.

Because of the wide dispar-

ity in graduation rates between the highest-achieving subgroup—white students—and the lowest-achieving subgroup—students with disabilities—Grady was named a Focus School in March 2012.

Grady is the only APS high school on the Focus list, although many APS high schools are Priority Schools.

Campbell said it is unfair to single out Grady when other schools may have a smaller achievement gap but lower performance across the board.

He also believes the system is flawed because many subgroups overlap.

Mulvenon, the University of Arkansas professor, said the overlap of subgroups does not mean the data are incorrect or illegitimate. “[Teachers] have complained about that since the beginning of No Child Left Behind,” Mulvenon said. “That’s all you ever hear, ‘it’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair.’

I think it’s not fair that these kids don’t graduate.” p

By Quinn Mulholland Biology and forensics teacher Anquinette Jones rarely stays at school late into the evening. But one day near the end of August, Jones was in her classroom at night, and she saw that the evening custodial staff had emptied her classroom recycling bin into the larger trash receptacle in the hall.

“I said, ‘Maybe that is a recycle trash can, where they’re dumping all the recycling stuff into one trash can,’” Jones said.

Jones stayed late the next night to test her suspicion, and saw her recycling bin and trash can emptied into one receptacle.

Jones approached environmental science teacher and recycling coordinator Korri Ellis with her observations. Ellis was also approached by biology and forensics science teacher Torin Kaletsky about similar problems regarding the recycling disposal.

“I was here after school one day preparing for the next day,” Kaletsky said. “And the janitorial staff came in, and I saw them empty my trash can into a large trash can, and then they emptied my recycling bin into the same trash can.”

Ellis said recycling bins near the dumpster on Eighth Street have been sitting there since the second week of school. She is worried the waste in the recycling bins is not being recycled.

“My concern is just the environmental impact that it’s having,” Ellis said. “There’s so much stuff leaving this school that could be diverted from the landfill, and I just think it’s a shame.”

Philip Scardina, Grady’s operations manager, said his job is to pick up in the morning what the evening custodial staff did not get and report whether they did their work. Scardina said he does not know the protocol for the recycling program, as APS has recently implemented a new program.

Yvonne Douglas, the project manager for energy and envi-

Quinn Mulholland

It’s not easy being green: recyclables being trashed?

GARBAGE IN, NOT OUT: Recycling bins have sat in the parking lot behind the music wing since the second week of school, science teacher Korri Ellis said. ronmental services for APS, said the system began contracting a company called Waste Pro, the largest recycler in Georgia, this past July to handle the school system’s recycling. She said schools had their own programs before that.

Ellis said Grady’s recycling program, which she established 10 years ago, was student-run and relied on the services of a recycling company called Go Green Recycling. The students were responsible for taking the bins outside and bringing them back

in after Go Green picked up the recycling.

She said she was initially happy when she got an email from Douglas in July of this year saying APS was implementing a new recycling program at all of its schools.

“I told Go Green that we didn’t need their services anymore and was actually happy that the custodians were going to take it over because sometimes we get behind in recycling with just the students and myself running it,” Ellis said.

But Ellis said she is not happy with the program now because she thinks that recyclables are not actually being recycled. Ellis thinks the issue with Grady’s recycling program is not with Waste Pro, but with the evening custodial staff, who she says are not following protocol. Ellis said she has contacted Douglas and called the manager of the evening custodians, but to no avail.

An evening custodial staff member who wished to remain anonymous said the evening staff does not manage recycling. He said they leave the bins for daytime custodial staff to handle.

Douglas said, to her knowledge, a school has never failed to put their recyclables outside for Waste Pro to pick up.

“I have tonnage reports for all schools, and every school has had recycling,” Douglas said.

Even so, Grady’s new recycling program has only existed for four months, and whether or not it is flawed is still uncertain.

Until Jones is convinced her recyclables are in fact being recycled, she will keep her empty bottles.

“I try to drink three bottles of water a day, so at the end of the week, that’s quite a lot of bottles to be going in the trash can,” Jones said. “And I just started keeping certain things myself because I know whatever goes in the recycling bin is being thrown in the trash.” p

news

Nov. 7, 2012

9

Most teachers are quick to dismiss mandated SLOs SLO Assessment Teacher Survey Grady teachers share their opinions on the effectiveness and importance of the SLO assessments

Name _________________ Date _________________ Period _________________

1. Do you think the SLO will be 2. Did you feel comfortable 3. Did the questions on your class’s SLO correspond with indicative of your teacher grading the SLOs? this school year’s objectives? effectiveness?

TROY KLEBER AND LAUREN OGG

By Olivia Veira Throughout October, dozens of teachers had to stop their lesson plans to administer the two-day Student Learning Objectives assessment.

SLOs are a new statemandated way to measure teacher effectiveness.

“My department all took two days so that left [teachers] with two or three day long tests and a four-day span in which to administer them,” Literature teacher Suzie Mercer said.

“Never mind if you had anything else planned.”

SLOs are an element of the Teacher Keys Evaluation System, a part of the Race to the Top initiative implemented by President Obama.

Georgia piloted the TKES in 26 districts. Grants range from $20 million to $700 million and were allotted based on the budgetary requests made by the state as well as the quality of the state’s proposal for spending money. Susan White, program manager in the Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Division at the Georgia Department of Education, said the Governor’s office created the proposal.

Georgia received nearly $400 million of Race to the Top grant money from the U.S. In Georgia, only classes that do not culminate with an End of Course Test must take the SLO assessments.

Both the EOCTs and SLOs measure teacher effectiveness.

Communications and journalism academy leader Carrie MacBrien said each district creates its own SLOs as part of the TKES. APS chose to implement the TKES system this year and will be awarded $10 million each year in order to implement the program.

In spite of efforts by the state and district to increase teacher leadership and effectiveness, there has been backlash against the new system. Al-

A. YES B. NO

6% 94%

A. YES B. NO

From a Southerner Survey of 24 TEACHERS

though many teachers understood the idea of testing students’ knowledge, they felt the tests are invalid for several reasons.

“To me, there was no forethought,” Mercer said. “How do you give a pretest in the seventh week of school?”

James Campbell, AP World History and AP Comparative Government and Politics teacher, agrees with Mercer.

“Some of these tests were terrible,” Campbell said. “One of the geography teachers showed me a geography test, and it said ‘label the following countries.’ The countries were the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, Antarctica and Australia.”

Campbell said he believes the test makers were capable of creating accurate tests, but the tests were probably rushed and not thoroughly inspected.

Campbell was asked to write an SLO assessment for AP Comparative Government and Politics. With three days notice, Campbell was told to leave three days worth of plans

for a substitute. Then, he worked with another APS AP Comparative Government and Politics teacher to create a test, answer sheet, rubric and answer key. He never received the AP Comparative Government and Politics SLO assessment. When Campbell was ready to administer the AP World History SLO Assessment, he noticed that there were not enough test booklets for his classes.

“I asked about the books when we first got them and again about two days later,” Campbell said. “I’ve never received them. My 3B class has never taken the SLO.” Students had varying opinions of the assesments. Sophomore Christopher Brown took SLOs in two subjects, physics and advanced composition.

“I was supposed to take three,” Brown said. “I just never took it for [AP Statistics]. Mr. Nichols told me to take it. I just never went to his class, and he never asked me again.”

Brown found the tests to be fairly easy. “[It was] like any other standardized test that we’ve taken,” he said.

20% 80%

A. YES B. NO C. SOMEWHAT

“Kind of like the CRCT.” In light of the recent CRCT cheating scandal in APS, many teachers feel uncomfortable grading assessments that will be used to evaluate their own effectiveness as a teacher.

“We just got over a cheating scandal that involved teachers trying to make themselves look better by altering test scores,” Campbell said. “I would like almost the additional protection of being able to say ‘I could not have altered these scores. I didn’t have access to them.’

Not only do I have access, I’m the one who’s grading it. Some of the more paranoid and conspiracyminded instructors—not here but that I’ve talked to at other schools­ —feel like they’re being set up.

Like if anything goes wrong with these scores, the district is going to be able to look at them and say ‘Oh, you’re cheating.’”

AP Language and Composition teacher Lisa Willoughby felt similarly about grading the SLOs. “I was hyper consciensious to give kids maximum credit because I didn’t want anyone to be

27% 13% 60%

able to say ‘oh you gave them bad grades first time around so that next time...,” Willoughby said.

“It was very uncomfortable. I don’t think teachers should gave something that is then the basis for their evaluations. I just don’t think that’s appropriate.”

In addition to feelings uncomfortable about grading the SLOs, many teachers found grading the SLOs very time consuming.

“I estimated like 50 or 60 hours because there were three short answer that were a paragraph each,” Willoughby said. “Out of my classes there are about a hundred students so a hundred times those three short paragraph essays and then there was another big essay question for everyone. So, it took a long time to grade.”

Teachers hope problems such as these will be ironed out before the tests are issued again. MacBrien said APS plans for SLO assessments to be given again at the end of second semester unless the class also has an EOCT, but results will not impact teacher evaluations this year. p

AT&T wheels out anti-texting and driving initiative

apelouto j.D. C

By J.D. Capelouto frequency with which drivers continue to When Jessica* got into the car with her text has sprouted multiple national and friend five months ago, she did not know how local campaigns to warn drivers about distracted a driver he would prove to be. the dangerous activity. One of these is “He was texting, he was looking at his AT&T’s No Texting While Driving: It Can phone a lot, and he was a new driver,” Jessica Wait campaign, which visits schools and said. “He was just basically a really airs television advertisements in order to distracted driver.” prevent young people from getting disBecause the novice driver tracted behind the wheel. was texting as he sped “The purpose of this camthrough a flashing red paign is to focus on light on Amsterdam getting people to Avenue, he did not understand not to notice another car text while driving,” trying to make a left AT&T regional diturn in front of him, rector for external and T-boned the othaffairs Dennis Boyer car as a result. den said. “We “It was honestly understand one of the most jarhow imporring experiences for tant ‘smart me,” Jessica said. “It devices’ are, really opens your eyes how much when you have a really people depend close experience to being on them, and injured. My life flashed bewe realize how much fore my eyes.” time people spend in veJessica’s near-death situa- IT CAN WAIT: AT&T’s campaign came to hicles. But texting while tion is one of many nation- Grady on Sept. 19 and handed out these driving can wait.” wide that have contributed stickers to student drivers to spread the word Boyden said texting to the increasing activism about the dangers of texting and driving. while driving is dangeragainst texting and driving. ous because it creates a While texting and driving is illegal for all hazard not only for the distracted driver and drivers in 35 states, including Georgia, the the passengers in the car, but also for the oth-

er drivers and pedestrians on the road.

On Sept. 19, AT&T’s campaign visited Grady. Boyden worked with assistant principal David Propst to organize presentations for students. To prevent disturbing the flow of a Grady advisement day, AT&T representatives talked to students in health and personal fitness classes and handed out stickers between classes. Representatives also brought an electronic simulator that showed students how dangerous it is to text and drive. Propst said he was impressed with the device in that it opened students’ eyes about distracted driving.

“The simulator showed what actually happens when you drive, so it made students aware of [the dangers of ] texting and driving,” he said. “Every one of them crashed.”

For some Grady students like Jessica, the simulator wasn’t their only experience with distracted driving. Bridget* said she only texts while driving when she needs to get into quick contact with someone and is stopped at a red light.

“It’s dangerous to be moving while you’re not paying attention to the road,” Bridget said.

Bridget said another driver honked at her when she did not notice the light had changed because she was texting; this is the only negative experience that has resulted because of her texting and driving.

Another Grady student, however, has dealt with worse consequences as a result of

texting and driving.

Last spring, senior Malcolm Partridge got into an accident while texting.

“I was by Centennial Park, and it was a four-way stop, and I didn’t see the stop sign because I was texting,” Partridge said.

Partridge’s car was hit on the right side, but he said no one involved in the crash was hurt.

Boyden said teenagers can influence their peers and parents not to text and drive if they are aware of the risks.

“If you are a driver, you can make sure that when you’re with friends, the driver will not be texting while driving,” Boyden said.

This lesson applies to Jessica. “[The crash] makes me want to make sure that other people aren’t texting and driving, so I can be safe,” she said.

Partridge also learned a lesson. He said he does not text while driving anymore and urges others to stay focused on the road, too.

Boyden hopes the No Texting While Driving: It Can Wait campaign will make students reconsider whether to text and drive, in order to prevent them from getting into an accident or getting pulled over and fined.

“Bad things can happen if you text and drive,” he said. “[We hope that students] serve as ambassadors to one, not text and drive themselves, and two, to make sure that their friends don’t text and drive.” p *name has been changed at the source’s request

10

Carson Shadwell

Grady Goes To The Polls

11

Students study candidates, experience voting for first time; Grady, nation back Obama for another four years Title and Registration Students who were 18 by Election Day and wished to vote were required to register by Oct. 8. Students met this deadline in different ways. Lowring was sent voter registration information and forms in the mail in August, shortly after his 18th birthday. Despite its promising beginning, Lowring’s registration process was not seamless.

“I had to re-fax things twice, so I mean it made it a little difficult,” Lowring said.

He considered this a minor difficulty and sourced it to an information backlog in the Fulton County voter-registration offices.

Lowring considered the overall process to be relatively manageable.

“They were on top of getting me the information way before election time so I had plenty of time to get it in,” he said.

Others students experienced similar difficulties. Senior Patrick Wise tried to register twice, both times at a booth outside the cafeteria. He tried to register a second time because he did not receive a voter registration card or other confirmation after his first try. Although he never received such confirmation even after his second attempt, he was able to cast his vote for Democratic incumbent Barack Obama.

Senior Sam Tomaka had no problems with his registration.

“It was pretty much the most efficient Georgia state gov-

“

Media Coverage In the weeks leading up to the election, all forms of news media disseminated campaign propaganda and political commentary. Prior to the election, Wise received his news

How many eligible 18 year olds are registered to vote?

What do you think is the biggest issue in the election?

Education

13%

50% 50% 18 and 18 and not registered registered

survey of 167 students in all Grades

11% Healthcare

Tax Policy 10% 9% Other 5% Foreign Policy

Which Candidate do you support?

Rom 8% ney

ernment shenanigan that I’ve ever had to deal with,” Tomaka said. “I was pretty impressed at its efficiency.”

Recent Grady graduates from the class of 2012, such as Quameiha Grandoit, had to choose between registering to vote in Georgia or the state where they attend college, if they attend an out-of-state college or university. In Grandoit’s case this was New York.

“When I first decided to vote in New York, at the time I thought that Obama had no chance of winning Georgia due to the history behind Georgia and how it votes in presidential elections,” Grandoit said. “Then, as I talked to other peers of mine that were from Grady and went to out-ofstate [colleges and universities], they sort of persuaded me to [want to] have my vote count for Georgia, but by the time I decided to switch back it was too late to take out an absentee ballot.”

A Southerner survey of 167 students found only 50 percent of students eligible to vote in the Nov. 6 election actually registered to vote.

Sophomore Ben SimondsMalamud has participated Somebody has just got to [get in several voter registrathe economy back on track] betion drives as a member cause if nothing gets done either of Democratic Youth of we are going to be screwed or our Grady. He said he was not surprised by Grady’s low kids are going to be screwed.”

Patrick Wise, voter turnout.

“A lot of people did not senior seem to care too much about registering [to vote in the election], and I think a lot of it is about self-drive,” Simonds-Malamud said.

52% Economy

92% Obama

Inforgraphs by Gracie White and Sammi Dean

By Sammi Dean Tuesday, Nov. 6 started off like any other weekday for senior Regan Lowring. He woke up around 7 a.m., got dressed and ate breakfast. But instead of being driven to school, he rode to his polling station, Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church, to complete a process that began months ago.

view of things, but it does have some truth to it.” fix from the National Public Radio and CNN. “It feels like the media is treating the whole thing like a Super Bowl or something,” Wise said. “They’re really milk- Electoral Issues ing it.”

Lowring learned about the candidates through television, Economic policy dominated much of the political discourse as well as having conversations with AP Government teacher preceding the election, be it on radio, television, onlline or in James Campbell. newspapers. More than half of the Tomaka used the online students surveyed—52 percent— tool factcheck.org to form considered economic issues to be the I don’t like [Obama’s] and then validate his politimost important of those focused on Obamacare. ... you don’t cal opinions. Tomaka said this in this election. Both Wise and Lowget to choose your own website checks statements of ring shared this view. doctor. That’s kind of candidates against their past “Romney wants to lower taxes on the actions, speeches and staterich and cut the budget, and there is no controlling. ments. He believes this allows possible way to cut the budget and low Gracie Bray, voters to form a more “comer taxes and then get rid of the deficit,”

senior prehensive view of what the Lowring said. “You’re going to have to candidates truly support and increase taxes at some point in time.” will ultimately do in office.

Wise viewed economic issues as an “To a certain degree, somebody running for president will say essential problem not only for current voters but also for future anything to get elected,” Tomaka said. “Of course it’s a cynical voters and members of future generations.

“

“Somebody has just got to [get the economy back on track] The Voting Experience because if nothing gets done either we are going to be screwed or our kids are going to be screwed,” Wise said.

Lowring’s “nerve-wracking” experience began after a wait Senior Gracie Bray, who was not eligible to vote in the re- of approximately 10 minutes when he was finally given the cent election, also considered economics the most important initial paperwork in order to vote. issue. Unlike Wise and Lowring, however, Bray supported “I didn’t know which parts to fill out, so I just kept looking at Mitt Romney. my dad to see if I was filling it out right,” Lowring said.

“I don’t like Obamacare. ... I don’t like that a company, After successfully filling out the form, he handed it to one if you don’t have 50 employees or more, you get penalized,” of the poll officers manning the tables.

Bray said. “And you don’t get to choose your own doctor.

“At that point I was getting a little excited because I’m That’s kind of controlling, like, ‘I’m actually about to go when you don’t get to choose vote,’” Lowring said. your own doctor.”

After that, his voting experiThere’s no one answer to [fiscal Bray was also in opposition ence went smoothly. policy], whereas social policy to the position Obama holds “It was just pretty exciting to there generally is one answer concerning abortion. say that I have actually voted and it’s more about figuring Tomaka, although initially and put in my 2 cents about a supporter of Obama, voted out what that answer is.” how this country should be for Liberatrian candidate Sam Tomaka, run,” Lowring said.

Gary Johnson because of the Third-party voters are often senior candidate’s platform on socriticized for squandering their cial issues.

“2 cents” on a candidate that “He’s a very classically Libertarian candidate, so his social has a low chance of winning. Tomaka rejects this argument platform revolves mainly on a removal of government involve- as invalid. ment in personal affairs,” Tomaka said. “So for instance, while “I think that to throw away your vote would really more generally he skews to a more conservative candidate, he sup- accurately be to vote for a candidate other than the candiports gay marriage.” date you believe stands for your beliefs the most,” he said.

Additionally, Tomaka mentioned Johnson’s support for the “It would be more of a waste of my vote if I were to vote for legalization of marijuana as a way to free up space in prisons Obama or Romney.” and lessen the cost of incarcerated citizens. He also expressed Tomaka cast his vote at the Fire Station No. 19 polling area. support for Johnson’s antiwar policies and for his belief in very “There was no line. … I actually think the July elections limited American involvement in foreign affairs and relations. were longer and more boring,” he said.

Despite his overall support of the candidate, Tomaka did Wise believes the country made the right decision by not fully agree with all of Johnson’s economic policies, plans choosing to elect Obama. and statements.

“Historically and logically it makes sense that a second“There’s no one answer to [fiscal policy], whereas social term president is going to get more done than a first-term policy there generally is one answer, and it’s more about fig- president,” Wise said. “I’m hopeful and curious to see what uring out what that answer is,” he said.

Barack Obama will put forth this term.” p

“

Voters approve state-run charter schools, multiyear leases Despite complications, civic participation gratifies voter

By Grace Power On Tuesday Nov. 6, Georgia voters cast their ballots not only to elect the president and other state officials but also to vote on two amendments to the Georgia constitution, both of which were selected to be included on the ballot through a vote in the state legislature. Amendment No. 1 appeared on the ballot as follows: “Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options.”

Under this prompt, voters answered yes or no to the question, “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?”

With 158 out of 159 counties reporting as of Nov. 7, amendment No. 1 received

58.5 percent of the unofficial vote according to the Georgia Election Results website, a website run by Secretary of State Brian P. Kemp. These results did not take into account provisional ballots. This amendment will create a state-appointed commission that is able to create and fund state-run charter schools, whereas previously that decision would be left to locally elected boards.

“I voted yes for charter schools because in a lot of ways, I honestly think our schools should be separated ... by who cares more [about their education],” senior Katherine Avery said.

Avery said if she were given the option to go to a charter school, she would do so because of the overcrowding at Grady. Senior Regan Lowring, who attended Atlanta

Charter Middle School, cast his vote against the amendment.

“Because [amendment No. 1 is] more bureaucratic red tape, it will just create another unnecessary committee,” Lowring said. “It will cost taxpayers more, and it’s possible it could turn into a crony committee, with one guy hiring all his buddies. It won’t create more charter schools.”

In addition, amendment No. 2 appeared on the ballot as “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for a reduction in the state’s operating costs by allowing the General Assembly to authorize certain state agencies to enter into multiyear rental agreements?”

According to the Georgia Elections Results website, constitutional amendment No. 2 re-

ceived 63.73 percent of the unofficial results from the 138 out 139 counties reporting.

“I voted yes [to amendment No. 2],” Lowring said. “[The amendment] saves the government money because they can create longterm leases. They can get a cheaper price.”

Amendment No. 2 was the lesser contested of the two, because of support from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and no organized opposition, according to a Nov. 7 report by the Morris News Service. The State Properties Commission, headed by Gov. Nathan Deal, estimated possible savings due to this bill to be $66 million over the next 10 years, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle wrote in a column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Official results are not yet available for anything on the ballot. p

Visit thesoutherneronline.com for additional narratives about student voting experiences and evaluations

The rain pitter-pattered off my jacket as I walked down the sidewalk, but I was too excited to dwell on it. As I walked into my polling place, I was thrilled to see the line was very short; it didn’t even reach the door yet. It was 6:25 in the morning, so I didn’t really expect one.

The minutes crept by, raising my excitement to an alAlex Stearns-Bernhart most uncontrollable level.

After 30 minutes of waiting, I found myself in front of a desk with a man on a computer sitting behind it. He asked me for my ID and a form I had filled out while waiting in line. I proudly handed both over to him. He scanned my license and started punching information into his computer.

My excitement was halted when a puzzled look came across his face and he said, “I can’t seem to find you in the database.”

I was stunned; I had registered on time, and I checked the Geor-

gia Secretary of State website to make sure I was registered. While still in my startled state, I was asked to go stand in a corner while the manager attempted to figure this peculiar situation.

I shuffled over to the area, three small square floor tiles, and waited. I didn’t mind much at first; I didn’t have any real plans for the day. A few hours passed, and I began to get agitated.

The manager tried to call some people downtown to verify that I was in fact registered and eligible to vote. We all know how disorganized our public service offices can be, so the manager had trouble reaching anyone on the phone.

While the manager was on the phone, I let my mind wander and complete simple little mental tasks to keep myself busy, such as counting the ceiling tiles in the room (520), the number of holes in each of the ceiling tiles (290) and the number of people that voted while I waited (I stopped counting at 200).

At around the three-hour mark, it sounded like the manager was making some progress with the mystery person downtown.

I stopped my mindless tasks and strained to hear the conversation taking place about me. Once the manager was finished with her conversation, she came over and informed me I was indeed registered. I was immediately thrilled by this news. I was going

to be able to vote but only by provisional ballot. I would be denied access to the voting machine.

All of my previous excitement disappeared. A provisional ballot just sounds so bad because it makes my vote seem, well, provisional, conditional and in jeopardy of not counting at all. I proceeded to fill out my provisional ballot. Seeing the obvious anger and confusion in my face, the manager explained to me that I would receive a call later in the day to verify some things so that my vote would count. I took my “Georgia voter” sticker and walked out of the building in a fit of rage.

This anger did not subside until after I talked to two different people, who asked me to verify various information about myself. Eventually, I was informed that the three hours and 21 minutes I had spent waiting were worth it. My ballot would be counted.

Thinking back on my experience, the time was indeed worth the outcome. Hopefully, reading this does not deter anyone from voting in the future because the feeling of satisfaction after it is all done is worth it in the end. I feel proud in saying that “I am a Georgia Voter.” p

10

Carson Shadwell

Grady Goes To The Polls

11

Students study candidates, experience voting for first time; Grady, nation back Obama for another four years Title and Registration Students who were 18 by Election Day and wished to vote were required to register by Oct. 8. Students met this deadline in different ways. Lowring was sent voter registration information and forms in the mail in August, shortly after his 18th birthday. Despite its promising beginning, Lowring’s registration process was not seamless.

“I had to re-fax things twice, so I mean it made it a little difficult,” Lowring said.

He considered this a minor difficulty and sourced it to an information backlog in the Fulton County voter-registration offices.

Lowring considered the overall process to be relatively manageable.

“They were on top of getting me the information way before election time so I had plenty of time to get it in,” he said.

Others students experienced similar difficulties. Senior Patrick Wise tried to register twice, both times at a booth outside the cafeteria. He tried to register a second time because he did not receive a voter registration card or other confirmation after his first try. Although he never received such confirmation even after his second attempt, he was able to cast his vote for Democratic incumbent Barack Obama.

Senior Sam Tomaka had no problems with his registration.

“It was pretty much the most efficient Georgia state gov-

“

Media Coverage In the weeks leading up to the election, all forms of news media disseminated campaign propaganda and political commentary. Prior to the election, Wise received his news

How many eligible 18 year olds are registered to vote?

What do you think is the biggest issue in the election?

Education

13%

50% 50% 18 and 18 and not registered registered

survey of 167 students in all Grades

11% Healthcare

Tax Policy 10% 9% Other 5% Foreign Policy

Which Candidate do you support?

Rom 8% ney

ernment shenanigan that I’ve ever had to deal with,” Tomaka said. “I was pretty impressed at its efficiency.”

Recent Grady graduates from the class of 2012, such as Quameiha Grandoit, had to choose between registering to vote in Georgia or the state where they attend college, if they attend an out-of-state college or university. In Grandoit’s case this was New York.

“When I first decided to vote in New York, at the time I thought that Obama had no chance of winning Georgia due to the history behind Georgia and how it votes in presidential elections,” Grandoit said. “Then, as I talked to other peers of mine that were from Grady and went to out-ofstate [colleges and universities], they sort of persuaded me to [want to] have my vote count for Georgia, but by the time I decided to switch back it was too late to take out an absentee ballot.”

A Southerner survey of 167 students found only 50 percent of students eligible to vote in the Nov. 6 election actually registered to vote.

Sophomore Ben SimondsMalamud has participated Somebody has just got to [get in several voter registrathe economy back on track] betion drives as a member cause if nothing gets done either of Democratic Youth of we are going to be screwed or our Grady. He said he was not surprised by Grady’s low kids are going to be screwed.”

Patrick Wise, voter turnout.

“A lot of people did not senior seem to care too much about registering [to vote in the election], and I think a lot of it is about self-drive,” Simonds-Malamud said.

52% Economy

92% Obama

Inforgraphs by Gracie White and Sammi Dean

By Sammi Dean Tuesday, Nov. 6 started off like any other weekday for senior Regan Lowring. He woke up around 7 a.m., got dressed and ate breakfast. But instead of being driven to school, he rode to his polling station, Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church, to complete a process that began months ago.

view of things, but it does have some truth to it.” fix from the National Public Radio and CNN. “It feels like the media is treating the whole thing like a Super Bowl or something,” Wise said. “They’re really milk- Electoral Issues ing it.”

Lowring learned about the candidates through television, Economic policy dominated much of the political discourse as well as having conversations with AP Government teacher preceding the election, be it on radio, television, onlline or in James Campbell. newspapers. More than half of the Tomaka used the online students surveyed—52 percent— tool factcheck.org to form considered economic issues to be the I don’t like [Obama’s] and then validate his politimost important of those focused on Obamacare. ... you don’t cal opinions. Tomaka said this in this election. Both Wise and Lowget to choose your own website checks statements of ring shared this view. doctor. That’s kind of candidates against their past “Romney wants to lower taxes on the actions, speeches and staterich and cut the budget, and there is no controlling. ments. He believes this allows possible way to cut the budget and low Gracie Bray, voters to form a more “comer taxes and then get rid of the deficit,”

senior prehensive view of what the Lowring said. “You’re going to have to candidates truly support and increase taxes at some point in time.” will ultimately do in office.

Wise viewed economic issues as an “To a certain degree, somebody running for president will say essential problem not only for current voters but also for future anything to get elected,” Tomaka said. “Of course it’s a cynical voters and members of future generations.

“

“Somebody has just got to [get the economy back on track] The Voting Experience because if nothing gets done either we are going to be screwed or our kids are going to be screwed,” Wise said.

Lowring’s “nerve-wracking” experience began after a wait Senior Gracie Bray, who was not eligible to vote in the re- of approximately 10 minutes when he was finally given the cent election, also considered economics the most important initial paperwork in order to vote. issue. Unlike Wise and Lowring, however, Bray supported “I didn’t know which parts to fill out, so I just kept looking at Mitt Romney. my dad to see if I was filling it out right,” Lowring said.

“I don’t like Obamacare. ... I don’t like that a company, After successfully filling out the form, he handed it to one if you don’t have 50 employees or more, you get penalized,” of the poll officers manning the tables.

Bray said. “And you don’t get to choose your own doctor.

“At that point I was getting a little excited because I’m That’s kind of controlling, like, ‘I’m actually about to go when you don’t get to choose vote,’” Lowring said. your own doctor.”

After that, his voting experiThere’s no one answer to [fiscal Bray was also in opposition ence went smoothly. policy], whereas social policy to the position Obama holds “It was just pretty exciting to there generally is one answer concerning abortion. say that I have actually voted and it’s more about figuring Tomaka, although initially and put in my 2 cents about a supporter of Obama, voted out what that answer is.” how this country should be for Liberatrian candidate Sam Tomaka, run,” Lowring said.

Gary Johnson because of the Third-party voters are often senior candidate’s platform on socriticized for squandering their cial issues.

“2 cents” on a candidate that “He’s a very classically Libertarian candidate, so his social has a low chance of winning. Tomaka rejects this argument platform revolves mainly on a removal of government involve- as invalid. ment in personal affairs,” Tomaka said. “So for instance, while “I think that to throw away your vote would really more generally he skews to a more conservative candidate, he sup- accurately be to vote for a candidate other than the candiports gay marriage.” date you believe stands for your beliefs the most,” he said.

Additionally, Tomaka mentioned Johnson’s support for the “It would be more of a waste of my vote if I were to vote for legalization of marijuana as a way to free up space in prisons Obama or Romney.” and lessen the cost of incarcerated citizens. He also expressed Tomaka cast his vote at the Fire Station No. 19 polling area. support for Johnson’s antiwar policies and for his belief in very “There was no line. … I actually think the July elections limited American involvement in foreign affairs and relations. were longer and more boring,” he said.

Despite his overall support of the candidate, Tomaka did Wise believes the country made the right decision by not fully agree with all of Johnson’s economic policies, plans choosing to elect Obama. and statements.

“Historically and logically it makes sense that a second“There’s no one answer to [fiscal policy], whereas social term president is going to get more done than a first-term policy there generally is one answer, and it’s more about fig- president,” Wise said. “I’m hopeful and curious to see what uring out what that answer is,” he said.

Barack Obama will put forth this term.” p

“

Voters approve state-run charter schools, multiyear leases Despite complications, civic participation gratifies voter

By Grace Power On Tuesday Nov. 6, Georgia voters cast their ballots not only to elect the president and other state officials but also to vote on two amendments to the Georgia constitution, both of which were selected to be included on the ballot through a vote in the state legislature. Amendment No. 1 appeared on the ballot as follows: “Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options.”

Under this prompt, voters answered yes or no to the question, “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?”

With 158 out of 159 counties reporting as of Nov. 7, amendment No. 1 received

58.5 percent of the unofficial vote according to the Georgia Election Results website, a website run by Secretary of State Brian P. Kemp. These results did not take into account provisional ballots. This amendment will create a state-appointed commission that is able to create and fund state-run charter schools, whereas previously that decision would be left to locally elected boards.

“I voted yes for charter schools because in a lot of ways, I honestly think our schools should be separated ... by who cares more [about their education],” senior Katherine Avery said.

Avery said if she were given the option to go to a charter school, she would do so because of the overcrowding at Grady. Senior Regan Lowring, who attended Atlanta

Charter Middle School, cast his vote against the amendment.

“Because [amendment No. 1 is] more bureaucratic red tape, it will just create another unnecessary committee,” Lowring said. “It will cost taxpayers more, and it’s possible it could turn into a crony committee, with one guy hiring all his buddies. It won’t create more charter schools.”

In addition, amendment No. 2 appeared on the ballot as “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for a reduction in the state’s operating costs by allowing the General Assembly to authorize certain state agencies to enter into multiyear rental agreements?”

According to the Georgia Elections Results website, constitutional amendment No. 2 re-

ceived 63.73 percent of the unofficial results from the 138 out 139 counties reporting.

“I voted yes [to amendment No. 2],” Lowring said. “[The amendment] saves the government money because they can create longterm leases. They can get a cheaper price.”

Amendment No. 2 was the lesser contested of the two, because of support from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and no organized opposition, according to a Nov. 7 report by the Morris News Service. The State Properties Commission, headed by Gov. Nathan Deal, estimated possible savings due to this bill to be $66 million over the next 10 years, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle wrote in a column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Official results are not yet available for anything on the ballot. p

Visit thesoutherneronline.com for additional narratives about student voting experiences and evaluations

The rain pitter-pattered off my jacket as I walked down the sidewalk, but I was too excited to dwell on it. As I walked into my polling place, I was thrilled to see the line was very short; it didn’t even reach the door yet. It was 6:25 in the morning, so I didn’t really expect one.

The minutes crept by, raising my excitement to an alAlex Stearns-Bernhart most uncontrollable level.

After 30 minutes of waiting, I found myself in front of a desk with a man on a computer sitting behind it. He asked me for my ID and a form I had filled out while waiting in line. I proudly handed both over to him. He scanned my license and started punching information into his computer.

My excitement was halted when a puzzled look came across his face and he said, “I can’t seem to find you in the database.”

I was stunned; I had registered on time, and I checked the Geor-

gia Secretary of State website to make sure I was registered. While still in my startled state, I was asked to go stand in a corner while the manager attempted to figure this peculiar situation.

I shuffled over to the area, three small square floor tiles, and waited. I didn’t mind much at first; I didn’t have any real plans for the day. A few hours passed, and I began to get agitated.

The manager tried to call some people downtown to verify that I was in fact registered and eligible to vote. We all know how disorganized our public service offices can be, so the manager had trouble reaching anyone on the phone.

While the manager was on the phone, I let my mind wander and complete simple little mental tasks to keep myself busy, such as counting the ceiling tiles in the room (520), the number of holes in each of the ceiling tiles (290) and the number of people that voted while I waited (I stopped counting at 200).

At around the three-hour mark, it sounded like the manager was making some progress with the mystery person downtown.

I stopped my mindless tasks and strained to hear the conversation taking place about me. Once the manager was finished with her conversation, she came over and informed me I was indeed registered. I was immediately thrilled by this news. I was going

to be able to vote but only by provisional ballot. I would be denied access to the voting machine.

All of my previous excitement disappeared. A provisional ballot just sounds so bad because it makes my vote seem, well, provisional, conditional and in jeopardy of not counting at all. I proceeded to fill out my provisional ballot. Seeing the obvious anger and confusion in my face, the manager explained to me that I would receive a call later in the day to verify some things so that my vote would count. I took my “Georgia voter” sticker and walked out of the building in a fit of rage.

This anger did not subside until after I talked to two different people, who asked me to verify various information about myself. Eventually, I was informed that the three hours and 21 minutes I had spent waiting were worth it. My ballot would be counted.

Thinking back on my experience, the time was indeed worth the outcome. Hopefully, reading this does not deter anyone from voting in the future because the feeling of satisfaction after it is all done is worth it in the end. I feel proud in saying that “I am a Georgia Voter.” p

news

12

Nov. 7, 2012

By Troy Kleber The Grady homecoming pep rally on Oct. 12 began with students shuffling into the school’s football stadium and spreading to all corners of the bleachers. Assistant principal David Propst then attempted to persuade students to move to their respective grade sections by yelling into the microphone, “You are wrong.” As teachers and faculty members worked to organize the student body before the program could begin, instructional coach and pep rally coordinator Brandi Sabb gestured to the stands and said, “See what I mean.”

The previous day, Sabb had described the process of organizing pep rallies in the stadium as a “logistical nightmare.”

Pep rallies used to be held in the school’s basketball gym. Last year, however, Grady’s student enrollment surpassed the capacity of the gym, and the location for pep rallies switched to the football stadium. As a result of both the increased student body and change of venue, Sabb said it has been difficult for her to coordinate a spirited, effective pep rally.

Sabb estimated the student population has increased by 300 students since pep rallies were held in the gym.

“It’s very hard to find events that engage and really capture the attention of almost 1,450 teenagers,” Sabb said.

Sabb described the first pep rally last year, the pioneer stadium pep rally, as a “disaster” because it was difficult for her to figure out how to format the program. Since then, however, Sabb has made improvements.

Before Oct. 12, Sabb outlined a list of the activities and presentations that would be made during the homecoming pep rally. Sabb set up tug-of-war competitions and relay races and reserved time for music performances. Although the pep rally was not carried out exactly according to this list—Sabb had intended to include a flag football competition that did not take place—senior Luke Paddock still believed the Oct. 12 pep rally was formatted fairly well.

“I thought it was organized OK, but there definitely could have been some im-

Troy kleber

Pep rallies in stadium cause student spirit to fumble

UPSTAGED: Seniors bombard the stage during the homecoming pep rally while teacher Paul Nicolson and instructional coach Brandi Sabb (left) attempt to regain order. provements,” Paddock said. “But overall, I Junior Kylah Clark, a dancer who perDue to the change of venue, Sabb altered the thought it was fun. … They did a good job formed during the Oct. 12 pep rally, ex- format of pep rallies. of making sure everything was secure and pressed her concern that all students in the This year, Sabb is planning to have only one safe. The organization, however, was a little stadium cannot see her or other students’ pep rally per semester, though in past years, bit on the loose side.” performances on the field. there were two during the fall semester. Sabb Sabb agrees it is difficult for faculty to super“It should be in the gym,” Clark said. said this change was made to ensure both that vise students at stadium pep rallies.

“You can't see everybody in the stadium. It's cold weather would not be an issue and that all “It was a little bit easier when we were in lame and boring.” extracurricular activities and athletics would be the gym because that’s a confined space,” Sabb In addition, Paddock said the size of the sta- recognized during the pep rallies. said. “The supervision was a little bit easier. It dium removes energy from the environment.

Also, Sabb plans to have more activities availwas more intimate, so it’s not as much space as “In the gym, it’s a lot more intense due able during stadium pep rallies. With the space the outside poses for distractions, but it’s just a to the illusion that it’s more packed inside,” available, Sabb intends to organize various logistical nightmare to get all 1,400 students in Paddock said. “Sounds reverberate off the games and competitions in order to capture all the stadium and entertain them.” walls. That can add to the intensity of the interests of Grady’s diverse student body.

Supervision is not the only aspect of pep ral- pep rally.”

“Because there’s so many students and belies that has suffered because of the change of Propst agreed there were several positive fea- cause there’s so many interests, there’s going venue. In the gym, actions were held directly in tures to pep rallies in the gym that are now lost to be a variation of things going on,” Sabb the middle of all the students. In the stadium, in the stadium. said. “We’re hoping that it’s a more enriched this is not the case since students are seated “Everybody likes the gym,” Propst said. “Lo- Grady spirited event, with a whole bunch of along only one side of the football stadium. gistically we can't do that.” things going on.” p

NORTH Atlanta shake-up angers students, parents continued from front page APS’s Office of Internal Compliance for anonymous tips alleging improper grade-changing. Davis said he was not aware of these allegations when he made his decision to uproot the administration, and this had no impact on his decision.

calaureate program at North Atlanta. Neel finds the claims of racism against Durham ridiculous.

“First of all, this boy was one of her son’s best friends and in no way was she being racist,” Neel said. “She didn’t throw a party for the white girl who got into Harvard either because it’s against school policy.”

RUMORS OF RACISM

A CONCERNED COMMUNITY

Rumors have circulated that allegations of racism contributed to Davis’ decision to reassign the administrators.

An anonymous letter dated Feb. 6 uncovered by the Buckhead Reporter accused the school’s International Baccalaureate of institutional racism. It also alleged that black students were given lower grades than whites for work of the same qualiy.

“There was a charge of racism leveled against, I believe, the principal and several teachers or associates of the principal,” Davis said.

Since the accusation of racism was unsigned, Davis said an investigation was not launched. Even so, MyGrant was notified.

“Most principals say ‘Fine, thank you,’” Davis said. “Most do not decide to mount a public defense against an unsigned allegation, and deliver us a packet of material when we never made the allegation in the first place.”

MyGrant hired attorney Glenn Delk, and on Oct. 31, Delk sent a request to APS for a public hearing in an attempt to clear MyGrant’s name from charges of racism.

Davis said allegations of racism “absolutely [did] not” have anything to do with his decision.

Claims of racism did cause Amy Durham, a longtime North Atlanta College and Career Counseling Center volunteer and first-year teacher, to resign on Oct. 12. With her contract not approved because of the racism allegations, Durham felt that she could be fired at any moment.

Durham was anonymously accused of racism because she did not throw a party for an African-American male accepted to Harvard, said Maggie Neel, a junior in the International Bac-

Meister believes the administrative shake-up was based on inadequate reasoning, but she also finds the manner in which the administration was ousted inappropriate.

“This situation ... could have been handled differently and achieved the same outcome without disrupting students, teachers, administrators and communities,” Meister said.

Students immediately protested the sudden reassignments.

Emma Peterson, a North Atlanta junior who finds the leadership change “extremely disrespectful,” said as soon as the word was out, students used social media to spread the news.

“After that it was like a snowball effect,” Peterson said.

“The more students that learned about the transition, the more the anger grew.”

Peterson is especially concerned that without Global Broadcast and Journalism academy leader, Laura Brazil, her academy’s growth will halt.

“We had a very slow development, but this year we really hit the ground running with new programs such as our news show, newspaper and more journalism classes,” Peterson said.

“My academy leader Ms. Brazil was responsible for all of this and now that she is gone, I am worried that our academy won’t continue to progress as it has, or worse,[we] will lose the funding that we gained.”

North Atlanta parent Robin Washington thinks the biggest problem with the administrative reassignments was the way the students were treated.

“There was a lack of respect for the students in this situation to toss their word out when these statistics existed in the sum-

mer and this could’ve happened before school started or after the new principal arrived,” Washington said.

Meister said North Atlanta teachers she has seen are “devastated and want answers.” Teachers who were contacted, though, chose not to comment because of concerns about job safety.

Davis said no teacher could be punished for speaking out, as long as they did not cross the line into insubordination and did not speak on inappropriate forums. Davis did not give specifics on what constituted insubordination.

THE WALKOUT On Oct. 9, at noon, the football field became cluttered with hundreds of protesting students who had left their third-period classes, North Atlanta junior Adelaide Henderson said.

“We, as a school, wanted to show that we would not let this break us,” Henderson said.

Henderson was concerned the message of the walkout would be lost if students behaved rambunctionsly, “kicking trashcans over, talking to friends, hopping fences and running wild.” She and others organized the students to sit down as a group. “[We] talked to everyone and got them to make signs, have a moment of silence and show respect,” Henderson said. “I was very proud of us.”

Henderson wore a white T-shirt on which she had written “APS Customer Satisfaction 0%.”

The new administrators understood the students’ frustration and allowed the protest, as long as they did not leave campus.

“After an hour, the students moved back inside,” Peterson said. “To my knowledge no one has been punished. Most teachers didn’t make a big deal out of it either.”

Davis was not surprised by the uproar in the North Atlanta community, although he said the situation is not as unique as the community believes.

“Quite frankly moving out an entire administrative team is not that unusual,” Davis said. “We’ve done it several times this year, but in less vocal communities.” p

a & e Freshman actor beats odds; cast in Opening Number

13

By Alex Wolfe Freshman James Winer has plenty of exposure to the realm of theater. He has performed in four major productions outside of school, in addition to being cast in two shows at Grady already. He has seen a multitude of plays and musicals at the Fox Theater and on Broadway and possesses close to 100 playbills. He has met and received autographs from Dee Roscioli, Aaron Tveit and Harvey Feinstein, leading actors in the Broadway musicals Wicked, Catch Me If You Can and La Cage Au Folles, respectively.

Winer can now add one more feat to his list; he was cast in the 2013 Georgia Thespian Conference Opening Number, an All-State Showcase comprised of a medley of singing and dancing performed at the Thespian Conference (Thes-Con), which is performed in front of thousands of high school thespians.

The magnitude of this accomplishment becomes more apparent by looking at the odds stacked against Winer when he auditioned for Opening Number. In order to even have the opportunity to audition, Winer had to earn at least 10 thespian points, which corresponded to approximately 100 hours of theater work. Winer was among 112 of the best theater students in the state who auditioned for the show, and one of only 33 boys who were cast.

Winer learned of Opening Number after arriving at Grady and being placed in Jake Dreiling’s Theater Fundamentals class. Dreiling was the first to urge Winer to audition.

“He was very much interested and dedicated in being a performer,” Dreiling said. “He also said that he was into musical theater, and that was one of the main reasons why I suggested that he might want to do this Opening Number thing.”

Dreiling has had some experience with Opening Number; he helped set up a program that allows high school students to run all the technical aspects for the show.

Additionally, in 2010 Dreiling assisted Jonathan Ward, then a senior at Grady, when Ward was cast in Opening Number.

Winer took Dreiling’s advice to heart and decided to prepare an audition piece despite being somewhat skeptical about whether or not he would be cast.

“I didn’t really think that I was probably going

Alex Wolfe

Nov. 7, 2012

NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS: Freshman James Winer serenades senior Darriea Clark during “Too Late for Happiness,” their scene in The Good Doctor, one of Grady’s fall productions. Winer, a Broadway enthusiast, was one of 33 boys cast for Opening Number, a song and dance medley performed at the Georgia Thespian Conference. to get in because I’m not a great dancer, but I went to audition anyway,” Winer said. “I mainly thought it would be a good experience for dancing and singing and auditioning in general.”

On Sept. 15, Winer, Dreiling and other Grady students who were participating in differentThesCon activities drove to Warner Robins High School for the audition. After arriving slightly late, Winer turned in his contract and headshots and was given a number to distinguish himself from the other 111 high school actors.

After handing in his paperwork, he was immediately sent to vocal warm-ups. Winer and the other students then learned a short dance combination, and with only 10 minutes of practice, the thespians performed the dance in groups of four.

“I felt pretty good about it,” Winer said, “but I’m not a dancer, so I wasn’t as confident about that as the singing.”

When the dance section of the audition was over, Winer and about 10 other people were asked to sing in front of the judges.

Winer was called up, and he began to sing; after a couple lines, however, he was stopped by the judges.

Afterwards, he was requested to sing “King of New York” from Newsies for a callback, indicating that he was being considered for a solo part. Winer only had an hour to prepare for this callback with Dreiling, but luckily he was familiar with the song.

After finishing singing for a second time, Winer felt optimistic, but he did not want to get his hopes up.

“I thought I did well, but there was a lot of other talented people there,” Winer said.

When the cast list for Opening Number was announced, Winer was delighted to find out that although he was not cast for the solo, he

had made the chorus. He quickly called his mom who tried to hold back her screams.

“I was surprised, not because I didn’t think he could do it, just surprised because he was one of the younger ones,” Anna Winer said.

“I just hadn’t expected it, and that made it more exciting.”

James Winer had very little time to celebrate, however, because he had to go straight to his first rehearsal for the show, which lasted from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. that same day. The next practice session is scheduled for Nov. 17 and will last for almost seven hours.

Ward was able to offer Winer some words of advice from his own experience.

“Rehearse hard and network hard,” Ward said. “Also, just have fun and don’t worry too much about it. It’s gonna be an awesome experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.” p

‘Visionary’ program increases activity in music, art

By Deborah Harris At Washington High School, new orchestra director Claud Graham awaits the shipment of string instruments, which were promised to him a few weeks ago. In the meantime, he teaches music theory to students who barely remember lessons from middle school or have never been enrolled in a music program before.

“Pull up your pants!” Graham is interrupted in his review of low pitch instruments by a student who walks in late, his pants sagging. With sudden inspiration, Graham addresses his students, “How many of you have seen 2 Chainz perform on T.V.?”

He repeats the same question, this time about T.I., causing several students to look up. Graham then asks, “How many of you have seen the philharmonic orchestra?” Taking in the silence, Graham smiles and promises to bring the philharmonic orchestra to their class. “Cause guess what—they can get down just like [rappers].”

Graham is a component of the APS reform effort to transform the arts program in schools.

Under the leadership of Raymond Veon, interim director of Fine and Performing Arts for APS and transition arts academy leader for North Atlanta High School, APS has mandated an orchestra, band, chorus and art program in every high school and middle school.

“What Veon is going for is visionary,” John

Now the policy has changed, and all schools Brandhorst, Grady art teacher, said. “He is trying to accommodate state and federal mandates must staff a teacher in each fine arts area. Art while simultaneously preserving the passion teachers receive salaries not from the budgets of and creativity inherent to the arts.” individual schools but from the district.

As a stipulation for the funding of the For the past six years, Veon has worked closely with faculty such as Brandhorst, Depu- program, arts students must take standardized ty Superintendent Karen Waldon and Assistant tests in their performing arts program.These Superintendent Linda Anderson to transform districts won’t be rolling out the assessments completely until the arts within APS. He has backed programs such as the the 2013-2014 Imagine performing a duet school year.

Cultural Experience Project, which sent 3,000 eighth “These aren’t for a standardized test.” graders to watch The King dumbed down and I earlier this year, created tests,” Veon new “Common Core” stanJohn Brandhorst said. Instead, the dards, and changed the arts performing Art Teacher new program to be based on the arts SLO assessdata-driven, standardized ments are based testing model, the trend in education across on what Veon said is a “three-pronged apthe nation. This year, Veon convinced APS to proach,” which includes a multiple choice either create or maintain fine arts programs in test, a performance-based assessment and a schools with the compelling case that arts are “visual thinking strategies and critical thinkstrongly linked to academic success and that it ing music” component. is important to ensure all students have equal “Imagine performing a duet for your standardized test,” Brandhorst said. access to the arts.

While most schools within APS already have Veon said in the past decade, high schools had to pay for art teachers out of their budget, an established band, chorus and art program, schools such as Booker T. Washington High an allotted amount of pay for all teachers.

“Invariably then, [the schools] all came to a School, Benjamin E. Mays High Schools and crunch, because they didn’t have enough teach- Maynard H. Jackson High School are developers for all students,” Veon said. ing their first orchestra programs.

“

“This is the first time that many of our students are playing,” said Lea Ervin, fine arts academy leader at Maynard Jackson.

Like the other schools, Maynard Jackson received funds from APS to hire a new director and order music instruments at the beginning of this school year. While orders have been put in place, several of the schools have not yet received instruments, which were promised to arrive four to six weeks into the school year. At Mays High School, students are either using old instruments left over from the old orchestra years ago or sharing owned instruments.

Principal Libra Royster said Therrell High School has not received an orchestra director and must use a substitute for now. Some orchestra directors have expressed concern about the implementation of the arts program.

Sergio Rodriguez, Grady’s orchestra teacher, said funding going to schools for new orchestras is preventing money from being allocated for the repair of instruments at Grady. At Mays High School, new orchestra director Chainey Cherry sits on the opposite side. Cherry grew up in southside Atlanta, where Mays is located and, though excited to launch the program, is frustrated by the lack of certain components, such as instruments.

“You can’t just say, ‘I want this,’” Cherry said, “but not have all the necessary things in place.” p

14

dining

Nov. 7, 2012

Local bakeries make the cake, and take it too

By Megan Prendergast From Inman Park to Decatur, neighborhoods across Atlanta have a variety of sweets to offer the city.

Rhodes Family Bakery To make ends meet once the Great Depression hit, Magdaline Rhodes began selling her baked goods from home. Within a couple of years, she had made a name for herself; the demand for her cookies and cakes was so great, Rhodes needed a bigger space. She opened up Rhodes Family Bakery’s first location at Piedmont and Monroe in 1934. In 1953 the bakery moved to its current location on Cheshire Bridge Road, where it became the Southeast’s first freestanding bakery. The family opened the bakery’s second location in Roswell in 1997. Throughout its 78year history, the bakery has stayed within the family.

Brothers George Rhodes III and Thomas Rhodes co-own the Cheshire Bridge location. George Rhodes’ son, George Rhodes IV, owns the Roswell location.

“The thing I enjoy most is I get the chance to work with my dad and uncle every day,” George Rhodes IV said. “It is still a family-owned operation. It is pretty cool to have customers come in that have been with us for 40, 50 or 60 years. [It is] always fun to see little kids’ face light up when they pick up their birthday cakes.”

Rhodes Family Bakery offers a wide selection of cakes, including custom orders such as birthday cakes, wedding cakes, baptism cakes and many more. Rhodes is most known for its caramel cake. The bakery also sells cookies, brownies, Danishes,

SWEET SUCCESS: Brittany Butterfield ices a cake at Cake Cafe during an afternoon shift. Rhodes Family Bakery (right) and Sweet Cheats (above) offer their own flavor and flair to bakery goers. To read about Sweet Cheats and other Atlantan bakeries visit www.thesoutherneronline.com.

BYLINE

Located in Poncey-Highland, The Atlanta Cupcake Factory has made a name for itself. Since opening in July of 1997, the bakery has garnered much recognition, including acknowledgement from The Wall Street Journal, Creative Loafing, Southern Living and Atlanta Magazine.

The sudden beginning of the bakery came as a surprise, even to owner Jamie Fahey, a Grady parent.

“I made some cupcakes for a friend of mine’s book club meeting, and there was a writer from Daily Candy [at the meeting],” Fahey said. “They liked them so much they ended up doing a dedicated email blast on it. It launched this business before I had even made up my mind that I was going to have a business.”

The following morning, Fahey’s phone started ringing with orders from places such as Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and The Coca-Cola Company. After those initial high-profile clients, her bakery business took off.

The small retail space is decorated with numerous works of art. The glass display case houses a large selection of cupcakes.

Every week the cupcake selection rotates, with a few permanent flavors such as chocolate with chocolate frosting, red velvet with cream-cheese frosting and the bakery’s best selling item, the sugar cookie cupcake with salted caramel frosting.

Fahey thought up the recipe for the sugar cookie salted caramel cupcake while reading a novel.

“They were talking about caramel in one part of [the novel], and then they were talking about sea salt in another,” Fahey said.

“I just kind of had this lightbulb moment where I was like ‘I’m going to do that on a cupcake!’”

Fahey’s favorite part of her job is pleasing her customers. Her upbeat, enthusiastic attitude makes her business sucessful and also satisfying. “I really enjoy feeding people!”

Megan Prendergast

The Atlanta Cupcake Factory

éclairs and its famous cheese straws.

“We’ve been doing cheese straws for 60 years, way before the supermarkets,” Thomas Rhodes said. “I think it’s just a Southern tradition.”

The Rhodes family commits to providing customers with the highest quality of baked goods available and the highest degree of customer satisfaction.

“People, when they’re eating sweets, are happy,” Thomas Rhodes said with a smile.

Cake Café Located on Candler Road, Cake Café caters to cake lovers across the city. Owner and Grady parent Ardra Tippett opened up the bakery in Feb. 2009, and since then, the bakery has created a wide selection of treats outside of its regular product line.

“I definitely have a very open mind about my products, whereas a lot of other bakeries only do what they want [to do],” Tippett said. “People bring me recipes, and I try different recipes for them. I’m really open to trying new things.”

Her two most memorable requests turned out to be successes: a cookies-and-cream cupcake and a Reese’s cupcake.

Their signature and most popular item, the caramel cake, draws customers from all over Atlanta. In addition to typical baked goods, Cake Café offers 165 different flavors of gourmet popcorn, with cheddar being their best-selling flavor.

The vibrant yellow, red and purple building housing Cake Café hosts bakers starting at 4 a.m. The first baker bakes until the shop opens up at 10 a.m. The next baker then comes in and bakes until 4 p.m. Throughout the day, goods are being baked, iced and decorated.

“Being able to employ people and provide a source of revenue

for people is very fulfilling for me,” Tippett said.

Tippett believes that giving back to the community is an essential part of being a business owner. Tippett sponsors youth development and high school athletic programs and donates cakes through the Taste of Love Foundation.

“We feel like this is the place where desserts are created,” Tippett exclaimed with a smile on her face.

Dough Bakery In the heart of Inman Park sits Dough Bakery, the neighborhood’s very own all-vegan bakery. CFO and baker Laura Nunemaker begins the day’s work at 5 a.m. with breakfast items such as cinnamon rolls, muffins and scones. After the breakfast sweets are done, Nunemaker turns to baking bread; cookies, cakes and special orders are baked throughout the day until about 5 p.m.

Nunemaker, vegan herself, began her baking career at home.

Her baking escalated from baking for friends to baking for bake sales and finally for paying customers.

“A city the size of Atlanta should have more vegan options,” Nunemaker said.

Most of Dough’s recipes are originally nonvegan recipes that Nunemaker “veganizes.” At times “veganizing” is a simple substitution, but other times she has to make multiple changes to perfect the recipe.

“We enjoy making vegan food that appeals to vegans and nonvegans alike,” Nunemaker said. “All the owners are vegan.

I’m vegan because there’s no need for animals to suffer for me to eat tasty food.”

The bakery’s signature baked good is the whoopee pie, which Nunemaker describes as “cream-filled rounds, perfect for when you can’t decide between cake or a cookie.” p

Restaurants deceive people with hydroponic lettuce Around Atlanta a new restaurant trend is taking over, and customers are quite literally eating it up.

The past few years have seen a drastic increase in places ofCarson Shadwell fering meals similar to those found at fast-food restaurants, but incorporating a gourmet twist. With the opening (and sudden closing) of Waffold, a North Highland establishment offering everything from the traditional Belgian waffle to seasoned waffle fries, however, I have begun to question the legitimacy of these onesize-fits-all restaurants.

Places like OMG Taco, HD1 and Yogli Mogli have experienced enormous success by attracting consumers looking for a healthy, gourmet substitute to the traditional grease and mystery meat of fast

food. These new age restaurants typically offer a single genre such as hot dogs, top them off with golden raisins and radicchio slaw and ring up a whopping $7 price tag.

Don’t forget the sweet potato fries!

Living quite close to Yeah! Burger myself, I have visited a few times and been surprised by the experience. The building is sleek and inviting, but the line out the door is enough to make me want to turn and run. If I decide to brave the crowd, I can peruse the laminated menu that proudly boasts grass-fed beef and hydroponic lettuce, which sounds highly scientific if not slightly Frankenstein-y.

Once I reach the cash register, I can finally order my “all natural turkey burger,” which, if I read the fine print, was raised in Pennsylvania. I am surprised a detailed list of the turkey’s hopes and dreams is not included as well. By opting for some sauce and cheese on my prize turkey with a kale side salad I push my bill to an alarming $15.

While I understand the price of organic meat and produce far exceeds the alternative, I cannot help but be skeptical that the high prices are due to the cost of the ingredients.

After all, no matter how many “organics” or “hydroponics” you smatter across a page, it doesn’t change the fact that this is fast food.

Underneath the southern white bun lies a mound of oily meat smothered in cheese and served next to deep fried pickle slices. This isn’t a four-star service kind of restaurant either. It is a stand-in-line, take-a-number kind of restaurant.

More alarmingly, others have followed Yeah! Burger’s lead and opened pseudogourmet restaurants, adding on the high prices but leaving off the organic meat and produce.

HD1 offers the “Eastbound and Down” hotdog of Carolina pulled pork, country slaw and mop sauce for $6.25 with $5 chili cheese fries.

Or you can opt for some heart-stopping pork, cheese and onion gravy-covered poutine waf-

fle fries for $7. There is no mention of “hormone free” or “grass-fed” here.

If you’re feeling even more casual, you can venture to the North Highland food trucks on Wednesday night for a quesadilla and a drink amounting to $10. Eat these seated on the luxurious asphalt of the parking lot under a street light. You can even top off your meal with some $5 frozen yogurt.

Glancing around any of these restaurants paints a similar picture of 20-to-30-year-olds dressed in plaid flannel, maybe accompanied by a couple of small children, but I remain unsure why these customers are so eager to empty their wallets for Asian fusion tacos and whip cream-covered waffles. Perhaps they believe themselves to be prime examples of a healthy, environmentally conscious lifestyle.

More likely they feel they are above eating Taco Bell and I-Hop. What I am sure of, however, is that this trend has remained hard for me to swallow let alone afford. p

Nov. 7, 2012

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By Olivia Veira Assistant Principal David Propst’s school day begins at 7 a.m., when he gets settled in his office, unlocks the facilities, greets the janitors and makes sure that substitute teachers have arrived.

7:40: Propst eats breakfast, which includes milk, orange juice and medication.

“I’m getting old,” Propst says.

7:50: Propst walks to the courtyard and student parking lot to make sure they are tidy.

“How’d all this paper get out here?” Propst says. “This was from last night.” He speaks into the walkie talkie. “Come in Mr. Scardina. Hey, they trashed this place on the stairs last night at the talent show. It just looks bad when the parents drive up.”

After inspecting the facilities and making sure that buses arrive on time, Propst heads to the cafeteria, where he screams his infamous phrases into his bullhorn.

8:08: “Let’s move, let’s move,” Propst says to students.

The bullhorn breaks. “It’s embarrassing, but I got my [megaphone],” he says. He begins to yell again. “Students keep moving.

Ladies! This ain’t Walmart. I don’t give a flying flip. Let’s go. Have a nice day. YOU ARE WRONG!” 8:15: The bell rings for first period. Propst goes to the attendance office to help deal with late students. He has noticed many students sign in but use an alias, so they are able to get to class late without being penalized. Although he doesn’t know how to solve the problem, he said something must change so students face repercussions. After discussing this with the attendance secretary, Propst heads toward the gym, where he meets health instructor Tamara Aldridge.

8:47: “I have a student who is never in class,” Aldridge says. “He’s getting close to 10 absences.” Propst

says he will take care of the situation, then goes downstairs.

8:49: Propst looks at the gym bleachers. Four students sit on them, not dressed out, while the rest play on the gym floor. The students have left their belongings in the bleachers.

“This is how stuff gets stolen,” Propst says.

9:05: On the way to his office, Propst confiscates a hat from a student in the C200 hall.

9:08: He goes to his office to pick up a coffee cup then goes to teacher workroom to fill up on coffee.

9:12: Propst heads back to his office. While snacking on Combos, Propst checks his email then watches the security cameras for loitering students. He calls into the walkie talkie.

“Activity on the third floor,” Propst says. He tells Russell Plascyk to clear the students.

9:30: A student comes into the discipline office asking for snacks.

Propst gives her a Fruit Punch CapriSun, Sun Chips and a banana.

After inspecting the hallways, Propst begins to call students with more than 10 absences into his office.

9:38: Propst calls the first student in. Propst says he previously lent the student money. “I’m going to say this one time,” Propst says.

“Where is my money?” The student pulls out $20, and Propst gives him $13 in change, then hands him a detention for skipping.

9:42: A late student signs into the attendance office, but does not write down his full name. Propst does not notice until after he leaves.

When he notices, Propst chases the student down and brings him into the attendance office. Propst says he will refer the student to the social worker.

9:46: Propst calls another student with more than 10 absences into his office. Propst gives her detention. As she leaves, Propst said, “Peace out.

Power to the people. Bling Bling.”

Olivia Veira

Assistant principal props up school with enthusiasm

EAGLE EYE: Propst watches for students lingering in the hallway using the security cameras placed throughout the school.

9:50: The bell rings, marking the where he begins to talk to senior class “I’m good,” he says. “I’m ready end of first period. faculty advisor Willie Vincent. “[An to go.”

9:54: Propst runs to patrol “five assistant principal’s] day is spent When the bell rings at the end of points,” the area between the C200 handling crises,” Vincent says. “Bless the school day, Propst continues to and E200 hallways. their hearts.” work. After making sure students get 10:05-11:30: Propst leaves cam1:35: Bell rings, marking the end on their buses, Propst and Howard pus for a meeting. of third lunch. go to Starbucks “to protect the GraWhen Propst returns, he works in 1:36: “Let’s go,” Propst says. “Let’s dy reputation” from being tarnished his office. go! Move it out! You can’t be on the by loud student patrons.

12:19 p.m.: Propst receives an phone. It’s against the law. Keep 3:42: Propst and Howard order email from a Starbucks customer moving! Keep moving! Watch your their drinks. Propst gets a grande complaining about disruptive stu- mouth. Keeping moving. Let’s go. latte and pours five packs of Splendents. Propst says he will go to Star- This ain’t Walmart. Walk slowly.” da into his cup. Before leaving, bucks after school to investigate.

2:47: Propst goes back to his of- he tells the Starbucks manager to 12:27: “Today’s my wife’s birth- fice. Again, he begins to call stu- call him if there are problems with day,” Propst says. “No wonder she dents into his office to address their Grady students. was looking at me frowning this absences. The first student has 21 “We like it when you come,” morning. Here you remember absences, the second 34, and the the manager says. “[the students everything, but you forget your third 30 absences. “[You’ve all] gotta are] quiet.” wife’s birthday.” go to another school,” Propst says.

Although most students have 12:42: Propst goes to inspect trail- “[This] means you won’t get a driv- left campus, Propst remains. He ers for skippers. er's license.” He gives all three girls stays at campus until midnight “It’s Friday,” Propst says. “Things mandatory parent conferences. to oversee the coronation and happen on Fridays.”

3:05: Propst drinks an entire Diet homecoming dance, which he 1:13: Propst heads to the cafeteria, Coke and a bottle of water. said went over smoothly. p

By Diana Powers In the 1970s when female lawyers were especially uncommon, alumna Virgina Taylor decided she wanted to go to Emory Law School to “challenge herself.” Recently, Taylor was named one of the world’s leading women in business law by Who’s Who Legal. She has worked extensively in Europe and serves as the only American law firm representative on the Council of MARQUES, the association of European brand owners. She has represented major brands such as Journey, Budweiser, Cabbage Patch Kids and Reebok.

Following her graduation from Grady in 1957, Taylor attended Smith College in northern Massachusetts and several years later continued her education at Emory to earn her law degree. Taylor said she didn’t attend graduate school right away because she “didn’t think of it—it was uncommon for girls to want to be lawyers at the time.”

It was 13 years later, when her two children, Thomas and Anne, were in elementary school, that she realized she wanted to go back to school. Taylor realized then what she wanted for a career and decided she needed to challenge herself.

“I didn’t have the science background to get into medical school, but I could go to law school with a liberal arts degree,” Taylor said. “I had always enjoyed public policy and seeing both sides of an issue, which is extremely useful in law.”

She credits Grady for allowing her to have the necessary drive and knowledge necessary to pursue her post-high school education.

“There was a very strong emphasis placed on preparation for college and academics,” Taylor said. “I don’t think other schools were this supportive of their students.”

Taylor said she loved the social aspects of high school but

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCKENZIE TAYLOR

Super lawyer, super grandmom, alumnus represents

TAYLOR-MADE: Virginia Taylor (second from right) often spends time with her grandchildren Grant, Mckenzie, Isabella and Sarah (from left to right). also learned to approach academics seriously.

“The counselors greatly helped me with pursuing a further education,” Taylor said. “Nearly all of my classmates went on to college because of our counselors’ support.”

In 1977, the year of her graduation from Emory, the law firm Kilpatrick Townsend Stockton conducted interviews on campus and offered her a job. She has been a partner for 25 years and is now a senior counselor. She is a trademark lawyer, advising people when choosing new brands, brand strategy, licensing and trademark infringement.

She has been recognized with many accolades ranging from The Best Lawyers in America to "Atlanta Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Trademark Law by The Best Lawyers in America.

“I’m most proud of being named one of the top 100 business lawyers in the world,” Taylor said. “It is very satisfying

to know that clients have identified me as someone who has helped their business.”

She also has been counsel in more than 100 U.S. federal court matters relating to trademarks, personality rights, copyright, unfair competition and antitrust issues and is admitted to the bars of the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Eleventh and Federal Circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court.

When Taylor was in law school, there was no specific coursework on trademarks. It was after she joined the firm that she started working in that specific area.

“I learned on the job, which was normal in the 70s,” Taylor said.

Her granddaughter, senior Mckenzie Taylor, said Taylor’s constant positive influence has been an inspiration to her.

“Her work ethic is admirable,” she said. “She’s always committed and traveling for work.”

Mckenzie Taylor said her grandmother didn’t initially go to school with the goal of becoming a lawyer, but she “definitely found what she loves" while in law school.

Taylor said her favorite part of her job is helping clients launch new brands and expand to other parts of the world. “[But] it can be hard when clients don’t like your advice or you have to give them bad news,” Taylor said.

Her granddaughter said Taylor has guided her through high school by encouraging her to not give up and to pursue her own passions.

“It’s important that students take all the opportunities that are available,” Taylor said. “It opens lots of doors to things you may not realize right away and want to do later in life.” p

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Nov. 7, 2012

Pillars and paw prints: Westminster more than rumors

HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE?: Westminster features a weight room called the Ellis Fitness Center (upper left), Pressly Hall (upper right), which houses classrooms as well as Westminster's dining hall, chapel and library, and the Madeline D.Adams Gate (bottom), which marks the entrance to the pedestrian mall. Westminster is the second largest private school in the country, with 1,846 students.

photos by Quinn mulholland

Rumors about Westminster: preppy, rich, Christian, beautiful campus and amazing athletic fields. Pretty much all of these are true, but that’s not all there is to this school. The school and the students are organized, studious and extremely friendly.

Westminster is the second largest Orli Hendler private school in the country with 1,846 students enrolled in elementary through high school in the 2011-2012 school year. They have 13 buildings and nine athletic fields for a total of 180 acres of school campus.

They offer 27 AP classes and have a 92 percent pass rate (three or higher) on the AP exams. But Westminster students are not all work, no play. I guess Westminster provides a way to succeed, exceed and enjoy themselves, too.

I arrived on the Westminster campus around 8:55 a.m., pulled into a parking space and walked up the hill to the building called Askew. Mr. Justice, the assistant principal, was waiting at the door. He shook my hand and ushered me inside, directing me to the principal’s office. Mrs. Cooke sat at a desk across the room and introduced me to Mark Alar, the junior who would be my tour guide. It was clear immediately that Mark already knew my name, my school and my reason for being there. I found out later that he had even read my article about shadowing a Crim student. I was surprised to see Mark was not wearing a uniform. Westminster, I realized, actually doesn’t have uniforms with plaid skirts and polos. I shook Mark’s hand and introduced myself, then we hurried upstairs to European history.

I would like to point out that we did not miss any morning services or prayers. Though the school is religiously affiliated, and the head of the school is an Episcopal priest, Westminster is not centered around Christianity. Turns out, the school only has three services during the school year: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter; bible study classes are only taken freshman year (Old Testament) and senior year (New Testament).

The Euro teacher, Mr. Hudson, welcomed us in, and Mark quickly introduced me. He took his seat in the front row and opened his school-issued Mac laptop to take notes, so I slid into the empty back row and took a seat. There were 10 students in the class, not including me. Mr. Hudson said that class period was a little smaller than normal and most are around 12 students, though they ranged from eight to 19 students per class.

The class was starting a new unit that day, so we played a game on the ActivBoard in which we tried to identify the influential people projected onto the board.

After an engaging lesson about change in trade during the 17th century, we headed across the lawn and down some steps to Broyles Art Center where Mark had band. We walked up the steps and along the balcony to the band room. On the way, Mark told me they had a concert last Monday night, so they might have a free period. I figured that meant not playing instruments and hanging out in the band room. We did have a free period, but it was not what I had expected.

Mark decided to take the free period to give me a short tour of the campus. We started in the arts building, since we were already there. He took us into the theater and showed us the stage. We also peeked in the Westminster bookstore, which looked like an actual college bookstore, school paraphernalia

and all. Then we went down the path to Turner Gym. On the way, Mark explained that each building housed a different subject and that they were all named after the rich people who donated money to build them. Not only did Westminster name their buildings after donors, but they also named their rock climbing wall, their pool, their weight room, their basketball and volleyball courts, their baseball fields, their football/soccer stadium and their gate. Besides naming everything, Westminster also has a thing for paw prints. From the moment I turned onto the campus, it was obvious that an extremely large wildcat with paws as big as me had marched through some green paint then wandered down the streets of Westminster and passed all the athletic fields. I guess he got the same tour I did.

I walked back toward Pressly Hall because Mark’s next class started in 15 minutes.

As I walked up, a guy jumped off a bench where he was talking to his friends and ran up to me. He introduced himself as Sam and asked if I was the one from Grady. I said I was. He asked me how I was liking Westminster and offered to introduce me to some more people. We walked across the lawn to where Mark was sitting on the steps with a couple other people. Sam introduced me to everyone there, including Mark, but by that time we had to head up to third period.

Precalculus was with Mrs. McGreaham. Once again, Mark introduced me to his teacher, and I took a seat in the empty back row. The first part of class was dedicated to taking a quiz, so I contented myself with reading the witty poster on the wall next to me. It was covered in math puns, things like “Smoking is the leading cause of statistics” and “πr2, or are they round?” (if you don’t get it, say it out loud). The rest of the class was spent learning about polynomials and practicing problems as a class.

They used TI Inspire calculator software on their Macs, which Ms. McGreaham also used and projected on the board.

As we left math, Mark informed me that we had double bio next. Both fourth and fifth period were biology class. By now, our routine had become flawless. We walked into the classroom, Mark introduced me to his teacher, Ms. Harper, then I took the empty seat in the back of the room. This class was completely full with 19 students so I sat at the lab table in the back. Sam was in biology with us, and he came to sit at the lab table too. They did a warm-up quiz where they sent answers anonymously from their Macs and their responses would appear on the board. After that, everyone pulled up the same PowerPoint that Ms. Harper had put on the board, and they started going over notes. We went through a couple slides before we were dismissed for lunch.

I followed Mark outside, through a door and into an underground passage. As we walked, Mark told me that they called their lunch period “awkward lunch” since it wasn’t lunch one, two or three. Ms. Harper just let them go and told them to be back at a certain time.

Lunch that day was tacos. There was a choice of beef or pulled pork as well as options for vegetarians and vegans. Once you had a tortilla and your choice of meat, you could go to the bar which contained all the ingredients to make a perfect taco. I had a taco, but there was also a salad bar and a sandwich bar.

We returned back through the tunnel and took our seats in the classroom. Everyone pulled out their Macs and pulled up the PowerPoint again. At 2:40, the bell rang to announce the end of school, and the beginning of “back work,” time dedicated to tutorial-like teaching.

By the end of the day, I was pretty good at finding my way around the buildings, and I thought I had learned Westminster well, until I realized that this was only a piece of the large campus. I got in my car, and followed the paw prints backwards to the main gate. I made a right past the large Westminster sign and headed home. p

Moe's and Joe's celebrates 65 years, looks to future

By Gracie White The buzzing neon lights flickered from the store windows and the song playing inside floated onto the patio and into the street, providing a lively tune the entire neighborhood could enjoy.

The door was propped open, offering a warm welcome to anyone looking for a relaxed night of fun and, of course, a good meal.

Virginia-Highland bar and restaurant Moe’s and Joe’s opened its doors to Atlanta residents in 1947. World War II veterans and brothers Moe and Joe Krinksy set up shop a year after the war ended near the corner of Virginia Avenue and North Highland Avenue. It has retained its allure for 65 years. For many, like senior Jared McCannon, it has become somewhat of an iconic eatery for Virginia-Highland, giving the area a distinct personality.

“It was and remains an easy-going bar with good food and good people,” said co-owner Tracey Crowley. “The servers are attentive, and we have a good-natured staff overall who are friendly and fun to be around.”

“I love the staff there; the service is always Attracting mostly teens and adults, Moe’s and Joe’s quickly became a local favorite, really good, and the waiters and waitresses are all specializing in ice-cold beer, juicy burgers and pretty chill,” junior Maegan Carnely said. “I’m spicy wings. The classic bar feel is one of the always craving something from there whenever I’m in the Highlands, and the food is reasonably restaurant’s most popular attributes. priced, so I go there “The neon The writing on the walls, the almost every week, lights and the dim lighting, the music all make sometimes more. The cigarette smoke both add to the it a great place to wind down." writing on the walls, the dim lighting, the music bar atmosphere;

Maegan Carnley all make it a great place it’s not exactly the most family junior to wind down.” friendly place, but Although its main that doesn’t bother me at all,” said junior staple items are burgers and wings, Moe’s and Tucker Lancaster, a longtime customer of Joe’s offers a variety of options ranging from Moe’s and Joe’s. “I think this actually adds quesadillas to fish. These selections have caught to the attractiveness of the restaurant and the eye of many long-term patrons since the makes the restaurant appealing to all kinds restaurant’s opening. of people from the old guys who just want “The black bean quesadilla is my favorite to drink in peace to the young firefighters for sure,” Lancaster said. “The food is all great; working down the street.” the wings beat those of other restaurants in But it’s not just the atmosphere that keeps the the neighborhood any day, and the Moe’s customers coming back for more. and Joe’s quesadillas are my go-to when I’m

“

looking for a good, cheap meal.”

With the opening of George’s in 1961 and Yeah! Burger in 2010, Moe’s and Joe’s has faced competing burger joints in Virginia-Highland from both sides.

“Moe’s and Joe’s has been able to stay open because it’s good at its main attraction, which is burgers and the great atmosphere and service," McCannon said. "My dad started taking me there a long time ago; we've been going ever since.”

Crowley has high hopes for the future of the bar and believes it will continue to prosper and thrive even with the possible emergence of additional competing businesses.

“Relationships have been formed over the years between staff and customers which is why Moe’s and Joe’s has so many regulars,” Crowley said. “Longevity has helped keep this restaurant alive and allowed it to sustain its neighborhood atmosphere. Moe’s and Joe’s has been open for 65 years now, and I hope that it’s still going 10, 20, even 50 years in the future.” p

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Nov. 7, 2012

By Jolie Jones Huge black plumes of exhaust and pollution fill the air, pouring out the back of the billions of gas-powered vehicles that people around the world drive every day. A white car, gleaming on Charles Allen Drive, stands out at first glance with its sleek and unconventional design, but it has a secret underneath its metallic exterior— it’s powered by electricity.

Raymond Dawson, head of the Biomedical and Science Engineering Academy, considers himself a “techie,” and says this trait and the fact that electric cars produce no emissions prompted him to buy an electric-powered car. “[The electric car] requires little to no maintenance, except for the tires and breaks,” Dawson said.

After seeing an ad for the Nissan Leaf, the most popular brand of electric car, Dawson began reading blogs and customer feedback on electric cars over the course of five months. A movie made by GM titled Who Killed the Electric Car? documents the start of the electric car industry and how oil companies tried to prevent them from being sold. Dawson said its contents and the many flaws it revealed about oil companies influenced his decision to purchase an electric-powered car.

Dawson claimed that after 9/11 he became interested in becoming independent from foreign oil. After five months of research and anticipation, Dawson traded his Honda Civic for a Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Dawson wasn’t the only one excited about

Diana Powers

It’s electric: teacher goes green with innovative car

ELECTRIC RIDE: Teacher Raymond Dawson drives to school every day in his electric car, cutting his gas bills. the new addition to their household. Raymond Dawson Jr., his 9-year-old son, was eager to take a ride in his dad’s new battery-powered car.

“I was surprised when he drove to [the car dealership],” Ray Jr. said. “I was looking at all the other cars, and I saw our car being charged.

I [also] like that it’s so roomy.”

Biology teacher Candace Spearman and Public Policy and Justice Academy leader Russell Plasczyk rode in Dawson’s new electric car.

“I admire his pioneering spirit toward purchasing nonmainstream transportation technology,” Plasczyk said. “I immediately noticed that in an electric car, there are no engine noises; the ride was smooth.”

STUDY BREAK: Word Search

Plasczyk, like Ray Jr., was pleasantly surprised with the size of Dawson’s car.

“From the outside, you would think there was little space in Mr. Dawson’s electric car,” Plasczyk said. “Once inside, however, you definitely do not feel cramped. [It] reminded me of the Mercedes Smart Car; it looks tiny, but there’s plenty of space inside.”

Even though Plasczyk enjoyed his ride in Dawson’s car, he said he would not make the switch from gas-powered to electric.

“The battery for an affordable longrange electric car cannot go as far as a regular gas engine car between refills or charging,” Plasczyk said. “If you have two This Month’s Theme:

November

Directions: Find the November-themed words in the word search and use the numbers to answer the riddle.

Word Bank:

Megan pendergrast

6

e

e

cars, an electric car is nice as a second car for city travel or short distances.”

Plasczyk believes the price as well as the lack of versatility account for more people not owning electric cars.

“You do not see electric NASCAR race cars or pickups for Georgia drivers,” Plasczyk joked.

Dawson, however, believes the price shouldn’t discourage potential buyers. Although the initial sticker of his car was $29,000, he did not pay that amount in the end.

“The government gives you a $7,500 rebate and the state of Georgia gives you a tax rebate,” Dawson said. “I actually paid around $18,000 for my electric car, but you have to wait until tax time [to get reimbursed.]”

As far as other expenses go, his electric car has only added around $20 to his monthly electric bill, which adds up to $240 a year.

“This is in comparison to about $4,500 a year in fuel; not bad, huh?” Dawson said.

In the end, Dawson believes the benefits outweigh the negatives, and he would recommend the electric car to anyone willing to try something new, especially the Mitsubishi iMiEV because it offers an eight-year warranty on the battery.

The affordability and positive environmental impact sold Dawson on his Mitsubishi, and he hopes in the future more of the population will switch over to electric-powered cars.

“Who wouldn’t want air free of pollutants?” Dawson said. p

Local skateboarding event supports cause

By Zac Garrett Every September since 2005, i hundreds of people have been 1 gathering at the Decatur Station o parking lot on College Avenue for 2 e the event called Skater Aid. City lo8 cals and Skater Aid veterans gather i at the event where talented artists 11 from around the city perform live i 5 music, showcase and sell local art u and watch skateboarding contests.

4 The purpose of this festivity is to o 7 celebrate the life of a beloved Dei catur local, Ian Wochatz. Wochatz 3 was a son and brother whose hobby e was skateboarding with his friends 9 around Decatur.

Wochatz passed away from brain 1 3 11 8 2 10 5 9 1 7 6 4 cancer on July 4, 2005, at the age of 15. The tragic passing prompted Answers online at thesoutherneronline.com many of his family and friends to help other families supporting their loved ones who suffer from cancer.

With support from children’s health organizations and the skatecontinued from front page “It can only be a hobby right now because of school board store in Little Five Points, and other commitments, but I’m glad to have it as a card Stratosphere Skateboards, Skater on the table,” Persons said.

Aid was born. All of the money cars,” Persons said.

Persons is enjoying learning how to fly.

His flights made from Skater Aid is donated Person’s 11-year-old brother, Jack, has shown interest range between 20 and 90 minutes. to pediatric cancer organizations, in military planes, so Persons believes he will pursue fly“It has a thrill to it that you can only get from such as Children’s Healthcare ing as well. Person’s father, Gus, does not fly but plays flying,” Persons said. of Atlanta and the Brain Tumor “co-pilot and presses buttons,” Persons said.

Currently, Persons is almost able to solo in a glider, and Foundation for Children.

While learning to fly is Persons’ top-flight priority, he communicate via radio in the air.

If he continues and ac“My dad, Volkmar Wochatz, maintains a significant involvement in other activities. complishes all the requirements, by age 15 he could receive started it with the help of a lot of His friends say his methodical mind helps him fly planes a glider license, and at age 16 solo a powered airplane.

By his friends,” said Asa Wochatz, Ian’s and succeed in all he does.

17, he could receive a powered airplane license. brother.

“Some were Brick Store Pub “He looks at things with a logical point of view,” friend “I just want to continue doing this because it is inemployees, and some were just local and fellow freshman Molly Looman said. credible,” Persons said. community members.”

Persons dedicates his weekends to flying, spending Elaine Persons, his mother, said he has learned Volkmar Wochatz and his friends about six hours in the cockpit each Saturday and Sunfrom his instructor and has stretched to meet his wanted to create an event in his son’s day. When he isn’t in the air, he is juggling Grady varinstructor’s expectations. honor that had something to do with sity cross country, JROTC and classwork as a student Persons will join his mother and many other family what he loved, skateboarding. in the Biomedical Sciences & Engineering small learnmembers when he earns his pilot’s license.

It appears just “I really used to love skating and ing community. Since he has other interests, Persons is natural for the Persons to spend their time in the air. chilling with Ian,” said local skatenot sure he wants to be a pilot when he grows up, but “For us, it is just a way of life,” Elaine Persons said. p boarder and old friend, Andrew he is keeping it as an option.

10

Riddle: What kind of music did the Pilgrims like?

FRESHMAN just plane amazing

Edge. “He was a really cool person.”

With a large selection of activities, including games, prizes, scavenger hunts, food and music, Skater Aid has the potential to keep an audience busy all day. Tents are set up selling many unique items, such as Deck Specks, which are sunglasses made of recycled skateboards, along with skateboard decks painted over by local artists.

There is a best trick and kickflip contest hosted by Thomas Taylor, the owner of Stratosphere Skateboards. Kids of any age can compete in these contests to win prize packs, containing free Skateboard decks, Nixon watches, and Deck Specks, all from Stratosphere.

This past year, the sixth annual Skater Aid fell on a rainy day, causing some of the stands and events to disappear, but most people who attended continued skating and having a good time. During Skater Aid 2010 all-day rain forced the event into a building located blocks away, but despite the storm, the event was still a success.

“I honestly think anybody could have fun at Skater Aid,” said junior Malik Mason, who spent his third year at Skater Aid this past September. “Knowing that every donation made goes to a greater cause gives people a feeling of fulfillment, plus they get to listen to awesome music and watch people skate.”

Skater Aid still had a greater goal of keeping Wochatz’s memory alive.

“We wanted the event to be about what my brother was into, and that was skateboarding,” Asa Wochatz said. “The art auction just went really well with it, but it’s all about the skateboarding.” p

sports

18

Nov. 7, 2012

America gaining weight, losing physical education During our four years at Grady, required fitness courses account for about 5 percent of our classes; math classes add up to 13 percent.

It is not surprising that we deal with exponents almost three times more than we deal with exercise.

In our world, math, science and Kate de Give literacy are becoming increasingly important, but personal health is unfortunately being treated as less important. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of the United States’ adult population is obese (35.7 percent). In Georgia, 28 percent of adults are obese. These increasingly high rates are a result of a trend away from healthy lifestyles.

APS contributes to this disturbing trend as our policies of physical education just make the problem bigger. There are ways to improve our P.E. policies, however, that could easily be implemented.

The issues with our current P.E. policies boil down to three fundamental problems: the P.E. exemption for varsity athletes, the lack of time students spend in P.E. and the complete apathy students have for the subject.

It bothers me that students who play varsity sports can exempt one of their half-units of P.E. In theory, it makes sense to let varsity athletes exempt physical education, but in practice, the policy is unfair and denies students the benefits of physical education. After playing multiple varsity sports, I am able to say there are vast differences in the amount of rigorous exercise from sport to sport. In cross country, we practice five to six days a week and are expected to run and take practice seriously. Swim team practices, though challenging if you want them to be, can

often end in splash fights—hardly the exercise needed to Although some Grady teachers such as Kori Ellis, environsubstitute for a P.E. class. Tamara Aldridge, one of Grady’s mental science teacher, incorporate outside activities into health and P.E. teachers, said the varsity exemption is also class time, most do not. I will acknowledge many students unfair because students on junior varsity teams or club do not behave well enough to go outside, but perhaps they teams work just as hard as those on varsity teams, but they would behave better if they had regularly scheduled exerare not allowed to exempt a P.E. unit. The quick solution cise where they could unwind and relax on a walk. would be to eliminate this unfair proRelaxing, not exercising, is what gram and require all students to take seems to go on in actual P.E. classI don’t do anything but both P.E. units. I have played more es. If you don’t play basketball, listen to music and stay than one varsity sport, but still took you end up sitting in the bleachevery required P.E. credit. ers listening to your iPod. P.E. just bored for the rest of the The fact that students only have interesting like it was when we time remaining in class. P.E. isn’t two half-units of P.E. is also a major were younger. Aldridge is trying to is not for all students at all.” combat this by teaching engaging problem. Two half-units is just not enough time in P.E. The CDC recomsports such as ultimate Frisbee; her mends high school students get 225 students, however, have resisted Kennedi Sylvester her efforts. Anderson suggested minutes of exercise each week or 45 minutes a day for a normal five-day freshman exercise videos such as Zumba or school week. Clearly, Grady students P90X. She said they are very cheap do not get this exercise daily if they only have the physi- and could even be donated by parents. If projected on cal education and health classes for three semesters out of the wall, the videos could be seen by the entire class, and eight. There are many ways to bring more exercise into the everyone could participate. school day. Paula Anderson, chair of Emory University’s There would be trial and error to find out what types Department of Physical Education, said we could take 30 of exercise Grady students like, but that is where you all, minutes out of the day or about eight minutes before each the students, come in. You need to voice your concerns class period to play a game or activity before class starts. and ideas about what to do in P.E., so we can make it a Do we have the time you might ask? Yes, in fact, we do. worthwhile class that helps us get in shape and teaches us Studies from the California Department of Education how to live healthy lives. suggest that when a substantial amount of school time is It’s up to all of us—students, teachers and administradedicated to physical activity, students’ academic perfor- tors—to make physical education classes serve their real mance meets and may even exceed that of students not purpose. The problem is too weighty for us to settle for receiving additional physical activity. the status quo. Get off the proverbial couch and help Anderson also suggested we take walks during classes. make P.E. part of the solution. p

“

By Olivia Volkert Winner of three NCAA Division I-AA national championships, Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame member and American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year. What do all of these have in common? They are accolades earned by Erksine “Erk” Russell, the late former Grady head football coach who went on to serve as University of Georgia defensive coordinator and Georgia Southern head coach.

Two Georgia Southern University graduates, James Kicklighter and Beau Turpin, recently announced they are directing a biographical film about Russell. Kicklighter and Turpin plan to begin production in summer of 2013 and release the film in 2014.

Turpin and Kicklighter met in college and in January, drew up the plan for the film.

“Beau and I were catching up with a big film producer at Starbucks in Beverly Hills this past February when we both mentioned that we would like to do a film about Erk Russell,” Kicklighter said.

Kicklighter said he has wanted to make the film for six years now, but he wanted to do it when “the time was right and the proper resources were in place to do it correctly.”

The movie will be a full-length biopic of Russell that focuses on the later years of Russell’s career.

The film will span from the end of his tenure as the defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia into the mid-1980s, culminating in the three NCAA I-AA championships he won with the GSU Eagles before retiring in 1989. Turpin said the movie will be similiar to The Blind Side and We are Marshall.

“This film is meant to inspire people, to prove that it is possible for the underdog to succeed with

courtesy of beau turpin and james kicklighter

Inspirational film celebrates former Grady coach ‘Erk’

A GRADY LEGEND: James Kicklighter, Jay and Rusty Russell and Beau Turpin pose beside an honorary bust of Erk Russell at Georgia Southern. Kicklighter and Turpin are directing a movie in 2013 that will chronicle Russell’s coaching career, which began at Grady. the right attitude, to show that no man being. I am pleased to learn named USA Today’s Georgia matter the situation,” Turpin said. of a film about the late, one-and- Coach of the Year and Coach of “If you work extremely hard you only Erk Russell. It is a fitting the Decade, the Chevrolet-CBS can turn something poor or average tribute to a longtime friend and Sports I-AA Coach of the Year, into something great.” coaching associate.” and Eddie Robinson Award reTurpin and Kicklighter are colTurpin also explained the im- cipient. He also carried a torch in laborating with a wide range of pact that Russell had on the town the 1996 Summer Olympics. people who knew Russell well, of Statesboro.

Alumni and coaches alike are such as the GSU and UGA alum“Four years upon his arrival, eagerly anticipating the release of ni networks, the Russell family, the population doubled,” Turpin the film. Don Baxter, Grady class other coaches and members of the said. “He put Statesboro on the of 1961 and former football player Statesboro, Athens, Atlanta and map. Erk was one of a kind and under Russell, fondly remembers Savannah communities. They are everyone that knew him will say the days of Russell’s career when he collecting memorable anecdotes to the same. If Erk had not come to would chase the players back to the incorporate into their script.

GSU, the football team, the town, old gym from Piedmont Park after “Between our time at Auburn school and community would have practice, sprinkle Atlanta creek water and Georgia, we were together had nowhere near the growth it has on each of the fields before playing some 20 years,” former UGA head seen in the past 31 years.” an away game and dress up as Santa coach Vince Dooley told the GSU In addition to the accomplish- Claus each year at Christmas. He Office of Marketing and Commu- ments mentioned above, Russell hopes Russell’s career at Grady can nications on Sept. 3. “His incred- was also inducted into the Geor- be included in the film as well. ible record as a coach speaks for gia Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 “I think it is an honor for a foritself. Equally as important is his and the Alabama Sports Hall of mer Grady coach to have a movie splendid reputation as a great hu- Fame in 1991. In 1989, he was made about him,” Baxter said. “I

mean, he started at Grady. I think it will be refreshing for people in sports to see a coach of that caliber.

It’s very rare.”

Baxter also recalled when Russell came to his house in his freshman year to recruit him to play football.

Russell dubbed him “Bones” due to his skinny stature and would oftentimes play catch in the classroom or one-on-one basketball pickup games. Baxter said that because Russell pays homage to the State Championship he won at Grady in 1953 in his book Erk: Football, Friends, and Fans, including his accomplishments at Grady in the film is important.

Because the film is in the early stages of development, however, Turpin is uncertain whether he and Kicklighter have time to include Russell’s Grady years in the film but said they would love to somehow incorporate Grady or use the stadium for filming.

Kicklighter said he has always been drawn to these kinds of tales, especially Russell’s.

“Erk’s life is a classic underdog story,” Kicklighter said. “Every time someone thought they could count him out, he always triumphed.”

Kicklighter is now in Rajasthan, India directing Desires of the Heart, a film that stars Val Lauren, Alicia Minshew and Gulshen Grover, while Turpin just finished filming Devil’s Knot, starring Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon. In 2013, Lionsgate will distribute Turpin’s film Counterpunch, which stars Danny Trejo and Steven Bauer.

Both Turpin and Kicklighter expressed similar sentiments of the late Russell and are excited to capture his legacy on film.

“Erk is a legend in the South, and we are excited to expose his story to millions of people across the country,” Kicklighter said. p

Nov. 7, 2012

sports

19

HOW TO DROP-STEP DUNK WITH BRANDON WATKINS Senior and varsity starting center Brandon Watkins, who is committed to play at West Virginia, explains how to perform a drop-step dunk

4

1

POSTING UP ON THE BLOCK: “Knees bent. Feet shoulder-width apart,” Watkins said. “Chin the ball tightly with your elbows out. That’s it right there.”

2

PIVOT TOWARDS THE HOOP: “Drop your foot that’s closest to the goal down towards the goal,” Watkins said.

3

TURN TOWARDS THE RIM AND FLEX THE CALVES: “Step through. Prepare yourself to jump,” Watkins said. “Keep eyes on the rim. Good posture.”

IT’S BOOM TIME, TWO POINTS: Watkins then uses his 6-foot-9 frame to finish the drop-step dunk.

“Finish strong. Jump as high as you can,” Watkins said.“If you can’t dunk, lay the ball on the square.”

CALL causes confusion; fans question league rules continued from back page by an infielder with ordinary effort, the umpire will call “infield fly” while the ball is in the air and immediately when he determines that the ball is catchable by an infielder with ordinary effort. After reviewing videotapes of what happened, I think catching the fly ball required more than ordinary effort by Kozma. He ran quickly to the outfield, and for whatever reason (maybe he was blinded by the sun or thought Holliday would catch it), he didn’t end up catching the ball. Whether he was able to catch the ball is

irrelevant. What’s important is whether the catch required ordinary effort, and I don’t think it did.

Now that the game is over, of course, my opinion, or anyone’s for that matter, holds no weight. The umpires, with years of experience, should be the ones making calls during these games. But should a split-second call based on a single umpire’s judgment be the deciding factor in such a big game as it was on Oct. 5?

I’m not saying the umpire’s bad call was the sole reason the Braves lost that game, but there’s a good possibility it could have ended differently had the infield fly rule not been invoked.

Furthermore, there are not enough opportunities to challenge, review or change controversial calls. In other sports, such as football, coaches can challenge calls they think are incorrect. The plays are then extensively reviewed, and the play is taken back or changed if necessary. I think this policy should be implemented in Major League Baseball. That way, entire games don’t come down to one umpire’s quick decision, and, unlike the 2012 National League wild-card playoff game, the fate of a team will be decided by the players’ skill rather than the umpires’ bad calls and the league’s bad policies. p

the Sports section

thesoutherneronline.com

HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA

Nov. 7, 2012

VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 3

By Mary Condolora at, learn, kayak. Repeat. Junior Alec Bruno is experiencing literal wildlife this fall semester in the exhilarating rivers of Idaho while he attends the Alzar School.

The Alzar School is a semester program that focuses on leadership and outdoor adventure.

Bruno’s passion for kayaking was sparked at Camp Mondamin, a whitewater kayaking camp in North Carolina that Bruno attended during his freshman year.

Junior Graham Ruder, a friend of Bruno’s, remembers when Bruno first started kayaking.

“Mid-freshman year he went kayaking every other weekend in North Georgia,” Ruder said. “He takes it very seriously. He owns three boats.”

Over the past years, Bruno has dedicated great time and energy to improving and testing his kayaking abilities.

“When I got a boat and gear, I drove up to different rivers around the Southeast every weekend,” Bruno said.

He slowly progressed to increasingly competitive whitewater, and now he travels all around the American West (California, Washington, Idaho) and has even kayaked in Chile.

Bruno’s developing interest in kayaking made him pursue the Alzar School, where he is seeking to improve his kayaking and leadership skills.

“My motivations for coming to [the] Alzar School were just kayaking when I heard about it a few years ago, but as I looked more in depth to it, I found out that it was an actual leadership school that hones in on developing student leaders in the outdoor community,” Bruno said.

During Bruno’s semester at Alzar School,

E

he will have the opportunity to take an extensive six-week expedition to Chile, where he will be able to kayak challenging rivers and enhance his Spanish speaking skills. Sandra Spoon, Bruno’s mother, is enthusiastic about the curriculum.

“The opportunity to whitewater kayak every day with great instructors and the leadership program and Spanish immersion in Chile is great,” Spoon said.

Bruno shares a similar sentiment.

“I know that a lot of that time will be outdoor leadership on the rivers and surfing on the coast,” Bruno said. “We have normal classes, but a lot of our time will be spent dropping waterfalls, surfing in the ocean and working at the local orphanages helping with the earthquake reconstruction.”

So far, Bruno has been enjoying his experiences at the Alzar School. He said the school’s ability to combine education and outdoor activities is invigorating.

“My favorite part of the school so far has been the amount of time we spend outdoors doing some activity rather than just going home and doing nothing after school,” Bruno said.

Although Bruno is only at the Alzar School for a single semester, both Spoon and Ruder agree that will not stop him from kayaking in the years to come.

“Alec definitely will keep pursuing it when he gets back from Idaho and throughout college,” Ruder said.

Bruno left for Chile on Oct. 19 and will have limited communication for the remainder of his expedition. He is expecting to become an expert in Spanish and further master his kayaking abilities.

“I have learned so much, and I am ready to go to Chile,” Bruno said. p

COURTESY OF SANDRA SPOON

BRUNO RIDES RAPIDS TO CHILE, IMPROVES KAYAKING

JUST KEEP PADDLING: Bruno jokes with fellow kayakers (bottom left) before a trip down the Chattooga River.

Bruno kayaks down Bull Sluice, a class IV rapid on the Chattooga River (top) and down Surfers Rapid, (bottom right) a class III rapid on the Chattooga. Both rapids require a wide range of sophisticated kayaking skills.

Bad call reflects negatively on umpires and baseball I

t was Friday, Oct. 5. The Braves were down 6-3, with only one out in the eighth inning. As rookie shortstop Andrelton Simmons stepped up to the plate, David Ross stood on first base and Dan Uggla was on second.

Meanwhile, five of my friends and I sat up in the cheap seats of Turner Field, J.D. Capelouto praying that a big play by the Braves would catapult them to victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the one-game wild card playoff, allowing them to move on to the Divisional Series.

I watched in anticipation. My head was squeezed tightly to my foam tomahawk as Simmons hit a 3-2 pitch from Cardinals reliever Michael Boggs. As the ball rose, it looked like a weak pop fly to the shallow left field.

“Shoot,” I thought. “Easy out. Now we only have one left.”

Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma sprinted back to catch the ball, and he waved his arm to signal he had the catch. At the same time, left fielder Matt Holliday charged in to back up Kosma. Then 52,631 Braves fans watched in awe as, due to what looked like a communication error, the ball dropped between the two Cardinals players, and Ross, Uggla and Simmons all advanced one base.

It would be an understatement to say we were pleasantly surprised. My friends and I screamed our lungs out, highfived random fans in celebration and laughed at the lame Cardinals fans around us. We had the bases loaded with one out and Brian McCann at bat! It was great to know that the Braves could come back from a three-run deficit and end up winning the wild card game.

It would also be an understatement to say we were shocked to

learn, for a reason unknown to the fans at the time, Simmons was actually called out and Ross and Uggla had to return to first and second base. We remember what happened next. After Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez walked out to argue with the umps, enraged Braves fans littered the field with what seemed like hundreds of cans, tomahawks, trash and nachos for 15 minutes. Eventually, word traveled around the fans at Turner Field that Simmons’ out occurred because of what is called an infield fly. At first, I was confused. I had never heard of an infield fly, and it did not make sense that it would be called if the ball landed so far in the outfield. Since Oct. 5, however, I’ve had time to research the controversial call.

First, let me explain why the umpire’s call was wrong.

The infield fly rule states that if a fair fly ball is catchable see CALL, page 19

Grady Sports Score Central: October Football Oct. 5 Grady 36, Therrell 0

Oct. 13 Grady 42, Washington 22

Oct. 19 Grady 21, Banneker 6

Oct. 26 Grady 45, South Atlanta 19

Softball Region Tournament (Oct. 2) Chamblee 15, Grady 2 “I know we fought to the end, and I couldn’t have ended my senior season with a better group of girls,” senior first baseman Retonjah Burdette said.

Volleyball Oct. 2 Grady 2, Douglass 0 Grady 2, Jackson 0 State Playoffs (Oct. 22) River Ridge 3, Grady 0

Cross Country Boys team City Meet (Oct. 17) Placed first Regional Meet Placed fifth State Meet Did not place

Girls team City Meet (Oct. 17) Placed second Regional Meet Placed second (advanced to state meet, Nov. 10)

Water Polo APS team Oct. 6 North Springs 10, APS 6 Collins Hill A 11, APS 5 Oct. 8 APS 13, St. Pius B 6 State Championship (Oct. 12) APS finished 1st in

Girls team Oct. 4 Girls 10, Pope 4 State Championship (Oct. 7) Lakeside 12, Girls 6 (Semifinals) Girls 17, Pope 4 (Consolation game) Girls finished 3rd overall

See complete coverage of games on thesoutherneronline.com and on The Southerner Facebook page.