The Southerner Volume 66, Issue 5

HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA

VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 5

Feb. 8, 2013

MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED

By Isabelle Taft fter his friend Lee Lowery III was murdered on Nov. 12, Oliver Blalock watched security camera footage of Lowery’s final moments.The clip, released to the public by the Atlanta Police Department, shows Lowery waiting to be buzzed in to the Ford Factory Lofts on Ponce de Leon Avenue. A tall, thin man with short dreadlocks, wearing camouflage pants and a sweatshirt, approaches and grabs the package Lowery holds. The segment abruptly ends as Lowery turns toward his assailant.

“I thought I didn’t know the guy who did it,” said Blalock, a junior at Georgia State and member of Grady’s INMAN TO INMATE: Antonio Johnson was a seventh-grader at Class of 2009.

Inman Middle School (left) when Lee Lowery was a sixth-grader.

When Antonio Johnson was arrested on Dec. 24 and Johnson was charged with Lowery’s murder Dec. 24 (right). charged with the murder of Lee Lowery, Class of 2010, Blalock realized he had been wrong. Johnson was Blal- a patrol officer apprehended Johnson while responding ock’s classmate at Inman Middle School and Grady. to a vehicle theft in the Old Fourth Ward, according to “He never had hair like that, so I didn’t recognize an incident report filed with the APD. It was Christmas him,” Blalock said. “But then I saw the mugshot, and he Eve and Officer D. Smith II was called to the scene of a had cut his hair I guess, and he looked like the same.” car accident; the driver had abandoned the wreck. MoJohnson walked Grady’s halls from 2005 until at ments later, Smith received a dispatch that the owner of least the fall of 2007—Lowery’s sophomore year. The the vehicle was reporting his car stolen—apparently, the Fulton County jail inmate information website shows car thief wrecked the vehicle and then fled the scene. he was charged with burglary in 2008; disorderly conWhen Smith arrived at the corner of North Avenue duct in 2009; and armed robbery, aggravated assault and Parkway Drive, he found the vehicle owner accomand possession of a firearm during the commission of panied by Antonio Johnson. After searching for Johna felony in February 2011. After 10 months in jail, son’s name in the police database, Smith realized there Johnson was released on a $40,000 bond. On Nov. was a warrant for Johnson’s arrest for murder.

12, the date of Lowery’s murder, Johnson was awaitJohnson is currently being held in the Fulton County ing sentencing for those charges. see JOHNSON, page 9 Forty-two days after the shooting, around 3:30 p.m.,

JD CAPELOUTO

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STUDENT INJURED IN SHOOTING AT APS MIDDLE SCHOOL In the wake of the shooting of 20 students and six teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School (see story about APS’s response to Sandy Hook, page 7), APS’s Price Middle School became the scene of another shooting. At 1:50 p.m. on Jan. 31, Telvis Davis, 14, was shot in the back of the neck, allegedly by another student with a handgun. Davis was rushed to the hospital and released the same day. The suspect, whose name has not been released because he is a juvenile, was arrested by an off-duty police officer in the area. More information concerning the shooting can be found at thesoutherneronline.com.

Brandhorst plans to VANS-dalize school with mural

By Allison Rapoport lost stranger walking along a Grady hallway might wonder where they were. A school? A prison? An office building? Hoping to change the first impressions of Grady, art teacher John Brandhorst was prompted to apply for grants to finance the decoration of the school.

In November, Brandhorst got word that the shoe company Vans was offering a $2,000 grant to promote the arts in schools. He quickly drafted a proposal and sent it in just before the deadline. A few days later, he received an email congratulating him on winning the grant, which he plans to use to create a mural.

Vans is working with Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to “serve, advance, and lead the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain and support the arts in America,” according to its website.

“Vans is partnering with my organization, Americans for the Arts, because Vans really wants to promote art in schools as a way to cultivate everyone’s creativity,” said Kristen

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news

Engebretsen, arts education program man- this magnitude was right after the school’s renager for Americans for the Arts. She said ovation was finished in 2004, when the shields they put out a select call to 10 cities across in the courtyard were painted and the collage near the library was created, Brandhorst said. the country to gather submissions.

A panel of five evaluators made up of one Now that Grady has a grant to pay for the new mural, Brandhorst said the scope of the project Vans representative, one will expand. The Americans for the Arts money representative and three independent panelists judged the applications and chose 10 winners from the 30 or so proposals submitted.

“The panel felt that the student samples were really strong from Grady,” Engebretsen said. Brandhorst submitted pictures of OUT OF the artwork outside of the library and a piece of art from former THIS WORLD: Junior Preston Choi designs a Grady student Perrin Turner.

The last time Grady did a project of Vans shoe with a galaxy theme.

8 dining

Grady’s award-winning mock trial team serves as one of the subjects of an upcoming documentary. The film aims to give insight into the activity.

14 lifestyle

The newest addition to Ansley Mall, Bantam + Biddy gives customers a southern experience by serving a plethora of chicken dishes and classic sides.

will go towards supplies, and possibly to pay for professional artists’ assistance.

Brandhorst believes it is important to give students the opportunity to change their school for the better.

“You guys move through the space,” he said. “You should be able to leave your mark in a way that’s permanent and beneficial.”

Student artists Alex Loomis and Nara Smith seem to agree with him.

“I want to add my own piece to Grady,” Smith said. “It’s just something see VANS, page 12

16 thesoutherneronline.com

Math teacher Jermaine Ross (not pictured) gives a voice to the “average Joe” in his play Slum Beautiful. Ross held a reading in the Black Box Theater.

Senior Kivon Taylor’s family surrounded him as he signed with the University of Connecticut. Six other students committed to play college football.

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Feb. 8, 2013

Editorial Board

the Southerner

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

To arm an educator In light of the Sandy Hook shooting, there has been talk about giving firearms to teachers and the right to carry and conceal these weapons while in school. This is a truly absurd idea. There are already so many guntoting Americans, why would we ever need more and why in schools?

The biggest argument that has been presented in favor of teachers carrying guns is that this will increase safety for students and faculty.

The opposite would occur. In high schools, the issue would be that a student would try to take the gun to use it as a weapon. In elementary schools, there is the possibility that a student would get hold of the gun and would accidently hurt themselves or another student.

Because teachers are accidentally assigned an endless number of jobs, they are often spread thin. This leads to unwanted side effects such as losing assignments. Well, if a gun is placed in their hands, another responsibility would be added to the inexhaustible list but the misplacement of a gun could result in a situation far more serious than the loss of a test or paper.

Another issue that comes to mind is your average teacher doesn’t have any training with a firearm. So not only would we be placing a gun in the hands of an overworked teacher, we would be placing a gun in the hands of an untrained teacher.

Hopefully, if this plan were to be implemented, all teachers would have to go through training to use a firearm. Let’s be honest: APS doesn’t have it in the budget to put all of its teachers through proper firearm training.

This would result in one of two things: the teachers simply are not trained or shortcuts are taken with the training, so the teachers will still be virtually untrained. We are now back to where we started.

There are better options than arming teachers. A good alternative would be to put an armed guard in schools. This would solve the problem of training teachers and would decrease the potential for accidents. In a shooting at Price Middle School on Jan. 31, just 7 miles from Grady, a student resource officer was responsible for stopping and arresting the student responsible. While schools do need to be made safer, giving guns to teachers is not the answer. p

Baton Bob brings smiles to students I greatly enjoyed your article, “Baton Bob brings mirth to Midtown” (Dec. 11, page 1) on Baton Bob. I walk to school every day and see him most days. He always brings a smile to my face and makes early mornings not so bad. I enjoyed reading the article about him and learning more about what he does.

Molly Looman freshman

Counselors useful advisors, mentors

Ujima Rivers, senior

Dear editor, I feel that I can personally relate to the article, “Grady fails to build counselorstudent relationships” (Dec. 11, page 4), in various ways. For example, within my four years at Grady, I only became close with my counselor during my senior year. This was because I actually needed her (Ms. Oliver’s) service to aid me in my college

Insight into other schools interesting Dear Lifestyle Editors (and Southerner editors in general), I really like Orli Hendler’s article series about traveling to different schools. She writes the experience well and it’s interesting to hear her perspective on some schools

uestion

Everyone’s a cheater This issue, we are running an article which addresses the ever-present issue of cheating among high school students. We administered a survey to accompany the article in which we asked whether or not people cheated. Not only did the overwhelming majority of respondents reply that they did indeed copy, but one interview subject, implying that copying was universal, posited that all our survey found out was how many people lied about whether or not they cheated.

Even our esteemed advisor, David Winter, noticed students have become more comfortable with cheating. People used to be outraged by copying. We know there is massive social pressure to cheat, both because it is such a norm and to make the grades. But despite this, the Honor Council has so far tried a grand total of one case this year. It seems as the problem grows, the repercussions shrink.

That copying has become the status quo and is often done without a second thought is not undeserving of notice. Yet there is only so much teachers or administrators can do to combat this. And what they are capable of clearly lacks deterrent power.

When faced with this grim reality, we have to ask: is cheating wrong?

And the answer is undoubtably yes. Yes, it is immoral to pass off others’ academic work as your own; yes, it is wrong to deceive teachers and classmates; and yes, consequences for cheating are justified. But these are better accepted in theory than in practice. This is especially hard to reconcile with the widespread nature of the cheating epidemic.

If the copying craze doesn’t mean our generation is morally bankrupt, then what does it mean?

But even if we can’t trace the source of this phenomenon, we can predict how it will end.

This is not a sustainable crutch. People are expelled from universities for much less than what goes on daily in the halls of Grady and, we suspect, most other high schools. Furthermore, there is nothing to stop this weakness of mind and dearth of integrity from expanding into other parts of people’s lives.

It is important for all of us to acknowledge this developing culture of cheating in school and realize its repercussions. p

application process with getting transcripts, fee waivers and also scholarship information. I feel, however, that incoming freshmen should be able to develop a closeknit relationship with their counselors and not have to wait until their senior year. Just as North Atlanta students have monthly meetings with their counselors, Grady should also do the same, so we can start to develop a relationship with our counselors even though we have such a large student-to-counselor ratio. Hopefully, Grady’s relationship with its counselors can become better, and it would benefit both the students and the counselors.

Jenni Rogan, sophomore

Incorrect name causes distraction Dear Sir or Madam: The Issue 4 profile on Grady’s Model UN team used the headline, “Grady flaunts Yemenese side, school pride.” A catchy rhyme, but the correct demonym for Yemen is Yemeni, not Yemenese. Maybe the term is evolving, though, at least in the Americanese language.

Benjamin Simonds-Malamud, 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

Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions?

If so, what were they?

“

I want to read more books.”

Justin Williams, senior

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I don’t really have any because I never keep them.”

Molly Gray, 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

that I have friends at. Even my mom likes to read those articles!

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, Hanna Brown, J.D. Capelouto, Zac Carter, Darriea Clark, Mary Condolora, Riley Erickson, Declan Farrisee, Zac Garrett, Deborah Harris, Orli Hendler, Archie Kinnane, Eli Mansbach, Ansley

“

My New Year’s Resolution was to try to remain happy all year.”

JaTavia Butler, junior

“

I want to get my finnancial house in order.”

Paul Nicolson, Graphics Design Instructor

An upbeat paper for a downtown school Marks, Rebecca Martin, Caroline Morris, Quinn Mulholland, Axel Olson, Allison Rapoport 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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Feb. 8, 2013

‘Leaf’ Erickson eats greens for a week Clutching to my veggies, I could only hope to survive my self-imposed week as a vegan.

A vegan diet contains no animal byproducts. No eggs. No milk. No honey. No ice cream. No pizza. Not much of anything.

It’s more of an obstacle course than a main course as I found out almost immediately.

The Saturday I started my culinary excurRiley Erickson sion coincided with the Grady debate tournament. I drove from my house to get coffee around 6:30 a.m. and then continued to Grady. After reaching the school, I realized my half-empty mocha tasted so delicious because of the cream infused by the barista. Strike one.

I spent the rest of the day running around Grady to help out with the tournament we were hosting. The only thing I ate that day was an amazing bread laid out for parents in the theater. Remembering my vegan pact, I asked what was in the bread. Low and behold, the bread contained cheese. Strike two.

After the long day I went with some others to the famous Majestic Diner on Ponce de Leon Avenue. Starved from the sparse diet of cheesy bread, I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu. It was only after gulping down an entire egg and cheese bagel that I realized the error of my ways. Strike three.

One day into my week as a vegan, and I had already struck out.

Undeterred by my initial failure, I rededicated myself to veganism and redoubled my efforts to avoid animal products.

The next day I went out with my mom for a breakfast of buckwheat pancakes at Radial Cafe. Buckwheat pancakes are, perhaps expectedly, a poor substitute for their fluffy buttermilk counterparts,

and I was forced to drown my meal in a deluge of maple syrup.

After shopping for a weeks’ worth of vegan supplies, I was ready to continue on my journey.

I was also surprised that a good amount of what I already ate was entirely vegan. Chex Mix was a constant companion on my voyage into veganism as was spaghetti with tomato sauce.

Not all my meals, however, were so cut and dry. I also tried to experiment with new foods like the “wheat meat,” Seitan. Seitan is a replacement for meat that uses no animal products. Not to be confused with tofu, Seitan has a chicken-ish texture and smells like a chicken might if it had been seeped in water then confined to a can.

Another proxy meat I used during the week was Tempeh. After artificially flavoring my artificial meat with barbecue sauce and putting it into a taco, the flavor was masked enough to be tasty. The meal was more lively than the seitan and it taught me an important life lesson: to avoid fake meat.

Through the trials of veganism, I discovered food is genuinely better with a little animal in it. Butter makes everything taste better.

But the bliss of a vegan diet is about more than how the food tastes. No one would consider converting to veganhood so they could gorge on buckwheat pancakes. The beauty of the diet lies in its simplicity.

In today’s society of rampant obesity, vegans avoid all unnatural foods and the health consequences that accompany them. As a result of my vegan diet, for example, cholesterol vanished from my diet.

It may have been inconvenient, but veganism pushed nutrition to the front of my mind. So even in my more carnivorous future, my week as a vegan will make me consider more carefully what I eat, leaving me healthier and happier in the long run. p

Weave pats down on girls’ self-esteem

Will Staples

Almost every time I go to the bathroom, it’s there.

In the sinks, in the toilet, on the floor or in the trash can.

Sometimes, I’ll see it while walking Olivia Veira on campus; tied to a pole, rolling around with the breeze or clumped in the back of a classroom.

It may be a lesser-known pest at Grady, but it is an ever-present fiend lurking in the halls: weave.

If you know me, you might be wondering, “What’s this short, long-haired, ‘Oreo’ doing making judgements about weave?”

I know a lot about weave. Believe it or not, I’ve had it.

My mom didn’t want to deal with my hair for the summer, so she decided that my sister and I would go to the hairdresser to add two feet of expensive, Indian hair to our heads.

It was the longest, most painful experience I’ve ever endured.

My hairdresser, Daisy, meticulously braided my hair, adding pieces of weave in as she went. Two hours later, when she was almost done, I tried to lift my head to test out my new do and barely could. After summoning the strength in my neck to lift my head, I caught a glimpse of my new hairstyle.

I immediately thought of Medusa.

If having snakes on my head wasn’t horrible enough, Daisy took the tips of my hair into a boiling substance. Now, the braids were sealed and the weave wouldn’t come undone. It looked like she had wound hot glue around the bottoms of my hair.

Though I didn’t have to go through the annoying process of straightening my hair, I had a new problem to deal with.

When I went swimming, my hair would curl around my neck, strangling me with its unforgiving hold.

I’ve never had weave since. Yet, I can barely go anywhere without someone asking: “Is that your real hair?”

My mental reaction is always, “Why, is it because I’m black?”

But my spoken reply is always, “Yes.” “You must be mixed with something,” they say.

Or, “Oh wow, you have such nice, thick hair.”

I feel like a unicorn or a strange animal in a zoo. A black girl with long hair!? Let me pet it!

God forbid I, or any other black girl with long hair, wants to cut their hair. There’ll be an uproar in the black community.

“Are you sure!? But it’s so long! And it’ll take so long to grow back!”

It’s just hair. Dead cells. Why do we value it so much?

I bet if we took all the weave at Grady and got someone to estimate its value, we could buy Grady a year’s worth of paper towels for the bathroom and copy paper for the teachers. Girls spend so much

money to look good. Weave can cost upwards of $400.

My mom used to help sustain families in Nigeria for $40 per month through an organization called Women for Women International. The group provides job training to the mother of the household, pays for some bills and provides food for the family. What some girls pay for weave for a few weeks, could sustain a family for almost a year.

It’s not unusual for girls to spend outrageous amounts of money on ridiculous beauty products, but the cost of beauty is even more egregious than a dollar figure. The real cost is human—the ability to look in the mirror, stripped of cosmetic enhancements, and be happy with what you see. Make-up in moderation is ok. It’s when you can’t walk out of the house without your cosmetic treatment that the cost of beautification becomes too great. It’s not allowing those closest to you to see what you really look like. It’s accepting yourself for who you are and believing that the real you, and your real hair, is beautiful. p

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e with r u t a N

ALEX When spit hits the fan, make sure you have a stellar plan

By Alex Stearns-Bernhart As my friend Harrison and I unloaded the boats at the put-in of the Upper Chattahoochee, I started to rethink my plan of paddling. The river itself is a straightforward run, but the water level was borderline flood stage and the temperature with the windchill was in the teens if not the single digits. These adverse conditions usually aren’t a big issue for us, but neither one of us had any cold-water paddling gear, and Harrison had forgotten his spray skirt (a cover that goes over the cockpit of the kayak).

We both ignored our better judgment and paddled the river anyway. Harrison quickly realized he had made a big mistake trying to paddle the river without a spray skirt. By the time we finished the first rapid, we both decided we had to get him off of the river before hypothermia began to set in.

As we continued down river, Harrison’s condition quickly moved from a mild state of hypothermia to a more serious form. We eventually managed to find a way off of the river by crisscrossing our way through private Department of National Resources land on an old gravel road until we got to a house. The man who lived there was very nice and understanding about our plight. He agreed to give Harrison a ride back to the car while I finished paddling the river.

Looking back on that day, I realize we got lucky.

As bad as this day went, it could have been far worse.

It could have ended with me putting Harrison in a hypowrap, instead of hiking out. What if no one would give him a ride out? What if we had not seen the DNR road? What if…?

All of our problems of the day were a result of poor planning. If we had simply followed the simple motto of the seven P’s—proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance—we probably would have had a nice paddle on the river.

The key to having a fun and safe backcountry adventure comes down to simply going by that short seven-word phrase. Planning ahead allows you to anticipate and avoid the many things that can go wrong. For example, if Harrison and I had planned ahead, we would have had an evacuation plan in place, and we would have done a full gear checklist.

Proper planning includes some things such as checking the weather, creating a gear checklist, giving someone your flow plan, setting up an evacuation plan and knowing the experience necessary for the trip and gauging the experience levels of those going with you. This planning doesn’t always require a formal process, but you should at the minimum run down a mental checklist before venturing off on your adventure.

Although I have only applied the seven P’s to wilderness situations, I imagine they can be used in a number of situations in school or during family vacations. The main difference is that the consequences of poor planning in a wilderness setting can be lifethreatening, not just annoying or uncomfortable.

For anyone thinking about going on a backcountry trip, take my advice and start the trip off right with proper prior planning to prevent piss poor performance. p

EXCLUSIVELY @ theSoutherneronline.com Year in (P)review, 2012, 2013

Dead Beat Moves To Its Own Beat

In almost all aspects, 2012 was a big year. Most importantly, we survived (or disproved?) the Mayan Apocalypse, and thankfully we are all here today to experience 2013. It was the year that Facebook not only went public but purchased Instagram for $1 billion ...

My cell phone woke me at 5 a.m. on July 5. I answered the phone and a half-asleep Ben Searles responded to my weary hello.

“We are in the driveway,” Ben said. I realized what was going on as I slipped into ...

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Media overemphasis increases shootings

Concealing shooter doesn’t resolve issue

BY Sammi dean

By bilal vaughn

Adam Lanza, James Holmes and Eric Harris. Charlotte Bacon, Rebecca Ann Wingo and Steve Curnow. If one of the first three names were whispered in a busy area, at least one person would recognize the infamous name. The next three names, however, are unrecognizable to the common man. Most know the shooter’s name in the Newton, Conn. massacre, the shooting at the Batman premiere in Aurora, Colo. and in the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., but nobody really knows the victims in those shootings, and I believe the media should change the way they cover such tragedies.

In the span of 20 years, there have been numerous shootings by deranged people. In 2007 at Virginia Tech, Seung Hui-Cho killed 32 and injured 17 before committing suicide. In Red Lake, Minn., 2005, Jeffrey Weise killed seven people before committing suicide. Once the incident has occurred, the names of the shooters are broadcasted across media outlets such as CNN, Fox and ABC, no matter if the shooter is alive or dead. While the shooter gains fame and distinction, others in a similar state of mind look on and see the attention mass murderers can get.

For mass shooters, killing is not the primary concern.

Rather, it is the infamy that results from killing. In 90 percent of cases, the shooters don’t know or care about those they are about to kill. They mainly do it for the fame and recognition that goes along with the crime. In many cases, mass murder also constitutes a death wish.

While the media goes on and on about who shot up this school and that school, the victims are the ones the media should pay attention to. Focusing on the victims sheds a brighter light on the situation. It shows that instead of focusing on all the wrongdoing in the world, innocent souls are being taken by those interested in notoriety.

Charlotte Bacon was six years old and attended Sandy Hook Elementary School. She had her whole life ahead of her, but it was cut short because of a shooter with no will to live. Rebecca Ann Wingo was 32 when she was killed by a shooter in Aurora, Colo. She left behind two young children, one who had just started kindergarten. Steve Curnow was 14 years old when he was shot in the Columbine massacre of 1999. Curnow was an aspiring Navy top gun pilot, but his dream vanished when a dangerously violent student shot him. Focusing on the victims in these instances takes attention away from the shooters.

I believe if the media didn’t plaster Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold all over the news, the Virginia Tech shooting would not have happened. If Virginia Tech had never happened, the Aurora, Colo. and Newton, Conn. shootings wouldn’t have happened. I believe the shooters would have committed suicide, but without killing as many, if any at all, innocent people. In my opinion, plastering the names of the shooters all over the media makes others want to out do their predecessors. Shedding light on the victims rather than on the shooters helps future mad men see that people are more than just a face. p

e h T

Feb. 8, 2013

It seems that the last decade especially has been full of horrific acts of violence. The escalation, or at least escalation in media coverage, of crime, namely gun violence and mass shootings, culminated in the tragic Aurora and Sandy Hook shootings of the past few months. With these tragedies comes renewed discussion on issues concerning guns. One discussion recently risen to prominence is whether or not shooters’ names should be published by media sources.

From a legal standpoint, there is no reason not to publish the names of shooters. Tragedy does not justify violating our long-standing principle regarding the freedom of the press. In fact, some of the press’s finest moments have been in aftermaths of tragedies, when they have been able to provide much-needed information and in some cases comfort to Americans. This is doubly true if the perpetrators are over 18, as were those in almost all of this century’s mass shootings. Not disclosing all available facts gives crimes another dimension of fear and mystery.

In fact, there may be benefits to the publication of names.

It seems unlikely that the families of victims would be allowed to know this information if it were kept from the general public. Knowing the identity of killers brings a certain amount of closure to relatives. Knowing details about the shooter may help answer questions about the reason their loved one died. In a world where the names of shooters are not allowed to be published, the families of victims are left without a sense of closure, knowledge of how the tragedy could have been prevented, and in some cases the exact manner of their victims’ deaths.

Not publicizing shooters’ names does not take away the power they hold. Their power lies in the lives they took, often including their own. Keeping their names secret does not bring back the victims they killed. I do not think this decreases the horror of the crimes they committed and I do not think it stop sfuture crimes from happening.

Furthermore, there is no reason to believe that not publishing these killers’ names would be effective as a preventive measure.

Other people aspiring to be household names pursue careers in acting, reality TV or in many cases extensive charity work or philanthropy. That the path to fame chosen by mass shooters is violence already indicates they are slightly if not completely disturbed.

There is no reason their actions would be less heinous if media coverage were lessened.

If an individual is willing to kill dozens of people, it seems unlikely that notoriety is their only motivation.

Publishing shooters’ names does not mean the media cannot also focus on the victims. In the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, I saw vastly more coverage of the victims than the criminal. We can all agree that mass shootings are tragic and entirely undesirable. But hiding killers’ names is the wrong solution to a very serious problem. We should focus on carrying out justice and effective preventive measures rather than suppressing people’s freedoms with tenuous links to results. p

STUDENT

Stance

Should the identity of gunmen in shootings be revealed?

Small learning communities resegregate classrooms April 2010: I was an eighth grader looking forward to starting high school—until I found out Grady High School would no longer have the Communications Magnet program. I learned Grady would be instituting a new program called small learning communities. I assumed the sole reaAllison Rapoport son was to improve the school, but I soon discovered APS was instituting the program because it received a large grant.

On April 18, 2007, APS announced its decision to accept a $13.6 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that would help “build the necessary capacity, processes, and tools that will lay a strong foundation to accelerate the district’s human capital reform work,” the foundation’s website said. This is the day GHS took a turn for the worse.

These “communities” did not build anything. They in fact destroyed something that was great about Grady: its diversity.

The Magnet program allowed highly qualified out-of-district students to attend Grady. This diversified the classes because those out-of-district students were often black. Those students are now not permitted to attend Grady.

Instead of diversity, the SLC’s promote segregation. I have noticed this segregation and the statistics support my impressions. Out of all the students at Grady, 61 percent are black and 29 percent are white. But in the Communications and Journalism Academy, the percentages are reversed—64 percent of students in the Academy are white and 26 percent are black. The percentages are even more skewed in the Law and Leadership Academy, where 82 percent of the students are black and only 8 percent are white. Grady boasts diversity, but this no longer exists.

Now that the SLC’s have destroyed something that was unique to Grady, the APS school board is considering pulling

the plug on the program. This makes it seem as though APS only instituted the communities to get the Gates Foundation money, and now that they have it, they are abandoning what they started.

The ‘purpose’ of the academies was to help schools keep track of the progress of their students. There may very well have been a need for this at Grady, particularly for students not in Magnet. So, in theory, the academies may have been a good idea, but in practice they have not accomplished these goals.

The initial intent of converting Grady into small communities was to improve the overall grades of all four academies. That has not happened.

There are other schools that have benefited from creating small learning communities, for example, Carver. Maybe if the academies had been instituted in a different way, they could have been more successful, but as it stands, the negatives of the academies far outweigh the positives. p

Feb. 8, 2013

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Whenever the administration enacts a new policy or behaves in a manner that provokes criticism among students and teachers, most of the time I can rationalize the administration’s actions and understand the purpose behind them.

When the frenzy of cell-phone confiscations occurred, even during the lunch Troy Kleber periods, I understood the necessity for the administration to enforce the no-electronic-devices rule in the student handbook. When the school’s evacuation routes were modified last semester, I understood the importance of keeping students a safe distance from school during emergencies. This time, however, I just cannot wrap my head around the administration’s reasoning for its most recent decision.

Why force a fire drill during the last few minutes of the last period of the semester, when students are completing final exams during the assigned period?

Certainly, it is possible the administration had good intentions when they allowed this fire drill to take place. The school may have wanted to prepare us for emergency exits even in the worst of circumstances. It’s also possible the administration simply failed to take into consideration the students taking finals when they decided to meet the Georgia requirement of holding monthly fire drills.

But regardless of whether the timing was intentional or just the result of oversight, the administration’s unfortunate decision sends an unintended but crystal clear message to students and teachers that administrators either don’t understand or don’t care about the academic productivity necessary on the last day of school.

Consider the perspective of the students. Many of us are in the midst of finishing up a final exam (which should not come as a surprise to anyone since the administration assigned this last period of the semester to be used for final exams). Others are gathering together completed assignments to be turned in right after the bell rings, before teachers leave for the break. To our surprise, a fire drill takes place, and to make matters worse, no one was allowed back into the building afterwards. We are forced to stop testing mid-question. We have assignments to turn in and no opportunity to do so. The natural next question we need to ask is … why?

The most drastic consequence of the fire drill was not that students lost a few minutes at the end of the exam or were unable to turn in an assignment because I’m sure teachers did not penalize anyone as a result. The worst consequence is that teachers felt disrespected.

Physics teacher Jeff Cramer was holding a final exam for his students when his class was interrupted at 3 p.m. by an an-

Axel olson

Last-minute drill fires up students

nouncement. It discussed the possibility of maybe having a fire drill and how students and teachers should react if said “drill” were to happen.

“It was worded in such a way that it was almost as if it was a very condescending, coded message to say to us, ‘Watch out.

We’re going to have a fire drill,’” Cramer said.

Teachers had been given no prior notice, and almost immediately after the announcement, the fire drill began. Although Cramer didn’t leave himself, he thought it important to have his students evacuate during the drill since that was what he had been told to do. Cramer even had to pull tests away from students, who were in the midst of completing an answer and who had no desire to leave the room. “[The fire drill] was inappropriate on the last day,” Cramer said. “All students should have a time to tie up personal and academic loose ends. ... Never should it be given during an exam.”

The opinion we walk away with—the school doesn’t care.

I’ll be the first to admit this is not the case, and I know the school’s primary concern is education. But the underlying message we received is that students are not Grady High School’s top priority.

To be clear, I’m not blaming the entire administration for this incident. It most likely occurred as a result of a mistake, an impulsive decision or a staff as anxious to leave as we were. But never again should a fire drill take place during a period reserved for final exams when it is so easy to prevent it from happening. p

Playoff curse broken, if only for a day I don’t normally get nervous. I’ve sung and spoken for thousands of people at a time on many occasions, and never broken a sweat. The NFL Ryan Bolton Divisional playoff game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks, however, had me singing a different tune.

To be honest, I have never been as nervous as I was on Jan. 13, not even in the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers (which had a very different outcome, I should mention.) At halftime, the Falcons led 20-0 — a seemingly insurmountable lead. This excitement and confidence continued as the Falcons led 27-7 going into the fourth quarter, and I was sure the fate of the game was sealed. Man, was I wrong.

My excitement was soon cut short as Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seahawks, ran all over the field, picking apart the Falcons’ defense, in a 20-point comeback to make the score 28-27 with 31 seconds to go.

I sat and watched in utter horror and disbelief as the Georgia Dome fell eerily silent.

We had just been beaten yet again in the playoffs. My mind continued to drift in and out between our past disappointments in the playoffs over the past five years.

Let’s rewind for a second to where the playoff struggles first began: Matt Ryan’s rookie season in 2008. Ryan led the Falcons to an 11-5 season, one of the best in recent history and would be named NFL Rookie of the Year, but in Ryan’s inaugural playoff game, the Cardinals took a late lead that would never be overcome, and the Falcons went on to lose the game 30-24.

Fast forward a couple years to the 2010 season. The Falcons finished the season with a record of 13-3, making them the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home team advantage in the playoffs. But again, they were beaten by the Super Bowl-bound Packers.

Fans’ hopes were crushed once again. Just as we all believed the playoff disappointments could not possibly get any worse, the 2011 season proved differently.

Almost exactly one year later, the Dirty Birds faced the Giants at the Meadowlands.

The game would not even be a competition as the Falcons’ defense scored more points than their offense, leading to a 24-2 loss to the New York Giants, who, like the Packers, went on to win the Super Bowl. It

seemed like the Falcons were stuck in an endless cycle of failure.

Coming back to the reality of the moment, the Falcons were still one point behind after receiving the ball with only 25 seconds left.

It came down to two passes. Harry Douglas catches the ball. Timeout. Nineteen seconds left. Tony Gonzalez catches a strike down the middle within filed goal range. Matt Bryant kicks it immediately … and initially misses.

Luckily, a timeout is called, and Bryant slices the uprights.

As glad as I am to finally have seen Matt Ryan win a playoff game, the journey wasn’t over. There was only one game to win before the Falcons reached the Super Bowl. Then, déjà vu struck.

In the NFC Championship on Jan. 20, the Falcons had taken an early 17-0 lead, and went into halftime leading 24-14. But in typical Falcons fashion, the entire fate of the season came down to a fourth-down play with 4 yards to go — a pass to Roddy White that fell to the ground, ending the Falcons’ season. Despite my depression, I could not have asked for more from my team. The Falcons truly proved that they were one of the best in the NFL to me and to football fans around the world. p For more Falcons coverage, see page 19.

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Django’s unchained word selection has dark consequences In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, landed in America and brought racism with him. It’s safe to say that this prejudice has been a detrimental force in American history. Any instance of human oppression cripples Ryan Switzer any country. Discrimination stunts the growth of nations as well as individuals.

That’s probably why I enjoyed Django Unchained so much. In the Tarantino film, a freed slave in antebellum America seeks vengeance on his wife’s white owners in spectacular, macabre fashion. I couldn’t help but be delighted at the sight of an oppressed individual filling his oppressors with lead.

I’ve seen most of Tarantino’s films, and the over-the-top violence in this one was a little more than I could handle. But as I left the theater, other patrons seemed to be concerned with another aspect of the film.

The term: “the n-word” seemed to be the phrase on the lips of the primarily white audience (who would never dare say the actual word.) And they weren’t the only ones concerned with the 109 uses of the most abhorred word in America.

The film’s content drew controversy when legendary black filmmaker Spike Lee publicly stated that he would not see the film and instigated a national conversation on the slur.

So should I be worried that the word didn’t seem to bother me? Of course it was excessively used and I’m completely aware of its horrifying historical context, but I wasn’t particularly vexed by it.

Oprah, though, is quite vexed. In an interview with rapper Jay-Z, the female black icon famously stated, “When I hear the n-word, I still think about every black man who was lynched ... and the n-word was the last thing he heard.”

With this logic in mind, no one should ever say the n-word.

But through its notoriety, has the word gained more power? Would using the word diffuse it’s explosive power? In a stand-up special, Atlanta comedian Donald Glover argues that everyone (including white people) should start using the n-word.

“Like, everybody’s got to start saying it. Everyone, like, white people, you guys have got to start saying the ‘n-word.’ You guys got to start saying it,” Glover quipped. “We will lose some of you in the process.

Not all of you will make it home. But you’ll be dying for a good cause. It’ll be great.”

Though he’s clearly just being facetious, it’s a legitimate idea. I’d call it the “Voldemort Logic,” the more tabooed the word, the more powerful and hateful in nature it becomes.

Simultaneously, everyone should say the n-word and no one should say it. But that doesn’t work.

So what now?

The manner in which the “n-word conundrum” can be solved is similar to that of how the issue of race in America should be handled.

The double-standard of “whom can say that word” must be abolished. The presence of the disgusting word must of course be acknowledged, in the manner Oprah described, but for an entirely different reason.

Words assigned to different groups of people, particularly slurs, must be removed from modern language. Not because they offend people. The true consequence of their use is their ability to naturally segregate and this is the essence of racial prejudice.

There can be no separation: intentional or unintentional, good-natured or bad.

As long as there is controversy over a film using a word in historical context, there will be racism.

But hey, I’m a middle-class white kid. What do I know about race relations? It’s a tough sell.

At this point in our history, if all people — regardless of status or race — can’t have a discussion on a word that has affected the course of our nation, then what can we do? pB 2012, the idea of

news

the Southerner

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Feb. 8, 2013

News Briefs

APS investigates board member McDaniel

Mongolian teachers visit Atlanta, Grady

By Archie Kinnane The APS Ethics Commission investigated Atlanta Board of Education chair Reuben McDaniel for inappropriate involvement in personnel changes at North Atlanta, specifically the nonrenewal of the contract of Amy Durham, an ex-North Atlanta volunteer and teacher, starting Jan. 11.

On Feb. 8, the Commission found McDaniel to have committed no violation.

Durham volunteered in North Atlanta’s College and Career Counseling Center during the 2011-2012 school year. APS offered her a job as a language arts teacher at North Atlanta, tentative to approval by the Atlanta Board of Education.

After her contract was never renewed for contested reasons, Durham resigned because of her lack of job security.

“On Wednesday, Sept. 5, I was informed that the issue of my employment was in fact not presented for action to the board at the August 2012 meeting ... and that it would not be presented for action at the September 2012 meeting either,” Durham said in her letter of resignation to interim principal Sid Baker.

Durham said she also learned she had been accused of racial discrimination during her time at the College and Career Counseling Center.

Mark MyGrant, the former North Atlanta principal who supervised Durham, thought the claims of racism against her were ridiculous.

“Nothing could be further from what has been apparent in her work ethics and her practices, both personally and professionally, that I’ve ever viewed,” MyGrant told The Southerner.

According to the Code of Ethics for Members of the Atlanta

Twenty-three English teachers and administrators from Mongolia visited Grady on Jan. 24. The teachers were invited by former Grady literature teacher Scott Stephens and escorted by students.

Debaters find keys to success at Emory The Grady Jesters attended the Barkley Forum, a prestigious national tournament, at Emory University Jan. 25-27. Sophomore Ben SimondsMalamud advanced to quarterfinals in extemporaneous speaking, juniors Eliza Renner and Ryan Switzer advanced to quarterfinals in duo interpretation, and senior Isabelle Taft took second place overall in extemporaneous speaking.

J.D. CaPELOUTO

Alumnus returns to help with workshop AN ETHICAL QUESTION: Amy Durham awaits her questioning by the APS Ethics Commission during its first hearing on Jan. 11.

Board of Education, board memMcDaniel felt the actions he removed from the Board Approval bers will “not undermine the took were justified.

Docs last Monday, Aug. 13.” authority of the local superin“If a parent told me there is a In response, Davis said he was tendent or intrude into respon- bad teacher, I tell the administra- surprised MyGrant had not been sibilities that properly belong tion there is a bad teacher,” Mc- informed of why Durham had been to the local superintendent or Daniel said. “If parents tell me taken off the list. school administration, including there is racial profiling, I talk to “I pulled all of the [North Atlanta such functions as hiring, transfer- the administration and tell them High School] and [Maynard Jackring or dismissing employees.” there is racial profiling.” son High School] hiring to make McDaniel told The Southerner An open records request filed by sure that we have an adequate prohe merely acted as a messenger of The Southerner of McDaniel’s emails cess for the area [executives] to reparents’ concerns. from June 2012 to the present re- view the hiring decisions of people “Well, basically a bunch of parents vealed no emails from North At- who are going to be in their posicame and gave me a lot of informa- lanta parents or anyone else calling tion for 90 days (or less than 45 at tion about a lot of things going on at Durham a bad teacher or accusing this point),” Davis wrote, referring North Atlanta High School, about her of racial profiling. to MyGrant’s imminent departure racial segregation, and I reported it In an email dated Aug. 18, from North Atlanta. to the administration so they could 2012, which McDaniel was copMyGrant, scheduled to resign at investigate it,” he said. “I didn’t in- ied on, MyGrant asked interim the end of October, was controvervestigate it; I just gave them the in- superintendent Davis why Dur- sially ousted in North Atlanta’s adformation from the parents.” ham’s contract was “mysteriously ministrative shakeup on Oct. 5. p

On Jan. 26, Megan Cramer, a Grady alumnus, headed a playwriting workshop, in which up-and-coming student writers worked with Cramer and other playwriting experts to create their own scripts. Later, professional actors performed the original plays. Cramer is the daughter of physics teacher Jeff Cramer and currently works as a community theater playwrite in New York City.

Starbucks sponsors community service Starbucks Coffee Company is working with Kids & Pros, a local organization that hosts community athletic events, to oversee a service project at Grady. On April 27, outside designers will work with students to improve the look of the campus.

APS proposes new calendar for 2013-14 school year

By Quinn Mulholland dropping off elementary school students Two significant scheduling changes may and high school students. Lyles also said if be in the works for the 2013-2014 school things remain as they are, APS would have year. Grady’s daily beginning and ending to buy 50 new buses for high schools at time may move 15 minutes forward, and about $100,000 each.

APS may implement a new calendar for The new bus schedule was proposed to the all schools that has more week-long breaks Atlanta Board of Education on Feb. 4. throughout the year.

Additionally, APS has discussed changing At a safety and transportation meeting held the calendar to have fewer day-long breaks on Jan. 9 at Grady, APS director of transpor- from school and more week-long breaks. tation John Lyles Currently, three proposed a new It feels very early, coming back APS elementary bus schedule that schools adhere to a that first week in August.” would result in all year-round schedAPS high schools’ ule, in which the start and end times year starts

Cecily Harsch-Kinnane school being shifted back July 10 and ends APS board member, Grady parent May 31. The othto 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., respecer 82 APS schools, tively. Lyles said the reason for this change including Grady, operate on the traditional is the infamous Atlanta traffic that causes calendar. At a district calendar meeting for many school buses to be late. community feedback held on Jan. 28, Re“It’s horrendous—one of the worst becca Kaye, the director of policy for APS, commutes in the country,” Lyles said at explained the district would like to move all the meeting. “So just imagine if you had schools to the same calendar for the 2013to drive a 72-passenger bus with 72 stu- 14 and 2014-15 school years. dents in that traffic on a daily basis. It is Kaye said one reason for consolidating extremely, extremely difficult.” the APS calendar is high student mobility Lyles said right now, buses have to between schools that operate on different transport 40,000 students per day, which calendars. The inconsistent scheduling remeans 7 million student trips per year, and sults in transfer students finding themselves bus drivers only have 15 minutes between behind at their new schools.

“

The results of a community-wide survey conducted by APS of 6,000 respondents indicated overwhelming support for implementing a balanced or traditional calendar, rather than a year-round calendar.

According to the results, 87.6 percent of community members listed the balanced or traditional calendar as their first choice, while only 12.4 percent listed a year-round calendar as their first choice.

The start date for the 2013-14 school year under the current proposed calendar is Aug. 5. Kaye, however, said the survey indicated community members want the school year to start later, and several parents at the meeting voiced this desire, pointing out that few other school systems start their school year as early as APS schools do.

“It feels very early, coming back that first week in August,” Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, school board member and Grady parent, said.

“So if I had to choose, you know, I’d go later in the summer and have fewer breaks.”

The biggest difference between the proposed calendar and the calendar to which Grady currently adheres is that there are fewer one-day breaks from school, and more week-long breaks from school. In the proposed new calendar, there would be four week-long breaks throughout the school year (fall break, Thanksgiving

break, winter break and spring break) in addition to a two-week semester break and a nine-week summer break.

Kaye said these longer breaks are intended to improve student and teacher morale.

“There [will be] a break on the horizon when students are starting to get stressed out,” Kaye said.

Some parents, however, expressed concern that the frequent breaks would pose a problem for parents who couldn’t afford child care.

“Most people in America get two weeks of vacation,” a parent said at the meeting at Inman. “What do [the parents who can’t afford child care] do?”

Another point of concern for many parents at the meeting was the ambiguity of some items on the survey. Harsch-Kinnane, however, said the survey may still have been executed as well as it possibly could have.

“I think surveys are hard to ever get perfect,” Harsch-Kinnane said. Furthermore, HarschKinnane said the rate of participation in the survey was encouraging.

Ultimately, Harsch-Kinnane said, the proposed calendar doesn’t differ significantly from Grady’s current calendar.

The new calendar was proposed to the APS board members on Feb. 4, with another public comment period from Feb. 5 to March 1.

The final vote on the calendar by the APS board of education will be on March 4. p

news

Feb. 8, 2013

7

By J.D. Capelouto Two minutes after America learned of a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in which 20 children and six adults were killed, Atlanta Public Schools director of security Marquenta Sands began to take action.

“I immediately worked with our communications department to send out an alert to the schools to provide them with information,” Sands said. “And to ask that they remain vigilant.”

Following this shooting, gun control, school security and safety policies have become topics of national debate. Schools nationwide have revised their safety policies to prevent a recurrence of Newtown. For Grady and other APS schools, the Jan. 31 shooting at Price Middle School provided a reminder that gun violence could happen in the district.

Sands’ actions are only the beginning of changes that are taking place within APS. Sands said because of the shootings, APS is updating lockdown procedures throughout the district to ensure student safety. Sands also said APS is increasing the frequency of full-scale emergency drills.

Junior Cate Matthews does not think more drills will increase safety at Grady.

“We have a hard time taking fire drills seriously, and I don’t see [more lockdown drills] working,” Matthews said. “As a whole, Grady is kind of numb to emergency drills.”

Senior Courtney Marshall believes the new lockdown drills would only help in certain circumstances. She said they would not prevent people from coming into the school.

J.D. CaPELOUTO

School shooting stuns nation, inspires APS changes

FIGHTING FIRE WITH FEEDBACK: An APS parent directs positive comments to director of security Marquenta Sands at a School Safety Forum.

Assistant Principal David Propst said there have been no proposed changes in security policies for Grady specifically as a result of the Sandy Hook shooting. Rather, Propst said Grady security changes every day.

“You’ve always got to re-evaluate what you’re doing,” Propst said. “We don’t take a reactive approach; we take a proactive approach.”

Academy leader Willie Vincent said Grady is currently working on a succinct plan that outlines what teachers must do in emergencies.

“We have to give something in writing that says in the event of a real emergency, teachers should do this and this and this,” Vincent said.

“We’re trying to figure out what that actually is.”

Matthews believes stopping an intruder from coming into Grady would be difficult.

“We’re an open campus and the whole ‘hide in case of an intruder’ won’t work because classrooms are so overcrowded and the classroom doors are mostly windows,” Matthews said.

Brian Mitchell, the principal of Mary Lin Elementary School, is more confident about the security at his school, due to the school’s established safety plan.

“We conduct monthly drills, and each time we do a drill ... we re-

view what could be done better, so our safety plan has already been approved by the district,” Mitchell said.

“And if [a] school has a comprehensive safety plan that is practiced and reviewed, then that school should be deemed safe.”

Mitchell said following the shooting in Connecticut, minor changes to individual classrooms have occurred, but nothing new has been implemented throughout the school.

“Some teachers asked if they could teach with their doors locked,” Mitchell said. “And I gave them permission to do that.”

Sands and Mitchell said right now, no elementary schools have armed

resource officers on campus. Mitchell believes a resource officer is not needed at all times at Mary Lin. “I would never turn down an opportunity to increase security,” Mitchell said. “But you have to balance that with not causing great alarm to the community by having an armed police officer on an elementary campus.”

All APS high schools and middle schools have armed Atlanta Police Department resource officers on site around the clock. Marquenta Sands and Willie Vincent both believe those officers are needed.

“People with guns who want to do harm are more likely to come into places where they know they won’t get their brains blown out,” Vincent said.

On Jan. 9, Grady hosted one of four APS School Safety Forums, in which Sands discussed changes in security. During these meetings, Sands introduced proposed changes to the resource officer program.

The Department of Security plans to create a police force of APS-only officers to work full-time, always at the same schools. Sands believes this will create a stronger bond between the security force and the community. Vincent agrees that in theory, this is a strong plan.

Despite these new security measures, Marshall said she does not feel safe at Grady and does not have confidence in the lockdown procedures.

“If [a shooter] was already in the building, there were already classes being attacked, so me being under a desk isn’t gonna save the kid next to me,” she said. p

Students’ disinterest in electives aggravates teachers with their elective classes.

“Maybe that’s idealistic to think [students] want to be in the electives they’re taking,” Winter said. “That’s the paradigm of American public education.”

Winter is among several elective teachers who have changed their lesson plans in an attempt to captivate disinterested or misplaced students. He experienced this with Sports Writing, a class he initially hoped would attract sports lovers who could practice writing about what they love.

Winter said in the fall 2012 semester, his students were not working and were not interested in what he had them reading and writing.

“A major project was to do a game story, and nobody did it,” he said. “There were four or five people who were willing to do it out of the 25 people [in the class].”

Focusing on benefiting the class as a whole, Winter said he had to turn the course into a more all-purpose writing class. “[I realized] it’s a bad idea to keep pushing the idea on people who didn’t want that experience,” Winter said. “It’s sad because two or three people were totally into it.”

This semester, several seniors are enrolled in Deedee Abbott’s freshman oral and written communication class. Some already received credit for the class but were placed in it again because they had nowhere else to go, she said.

Abbott expected the class to be very chaotic, but she found the opposite of her prediction.

“To be perfectly honest, [the class is] not too bad,” Abbott said. “I was predicting the seniors would be a bad influence on the freshmen because [the freshmen] are innocent and still care.”

Despite the class’s composure, Abbott still

2012-2013 Henry W. Grady High School

John Doe’s Schedule

Did you request the electives you Do you enjoy the electives you have on your schedule? are taking this school year?

08:15 AM-09:48 AM

Troy Kleber and Olivia Kleinman

By Olivia Kleinman Senior Mercedes Ringer walked into her new marketing elective on Jan. 8 expecting a fresh start to the spring semester. Upon discovering she had been placed in a year-long course and, therefore, could not earn full credit for it, her schedule change request form added to the large stack in counselor Sheila Oliver’s office.

“I didn’t want to be in the class if I couldn’t get full credit for it,” Ringer said. “I was confused as to why I was put in a year-long class for one semester.”

Ringer said she did not select marketing as one of her elective choices when building her schedule at the end of last year.

“I was just thrown in there,” Ringer said. “I was very lost because everyone already had the class for a semester.”

Ringer is among many students dissatisfied with their electives. Some teachers found students’ discontent causes them to lose interest and not pay attention during these classes.

Ringer believes this problem may be due to initial scheduling issues.

“It’s very time-consuming and very challenging,” said Oliver, who has been through the scheduling process for nine years at Grady. “That’s why I have carpal tunnel syndrome. I do it all by hand, clicking and selecting courses.”

Oliver said the possibility of fulfilling students’ elective requests depends on a variety of factors, such as classroom size. “[I fill slots] based on availability,” she said.

“It’s not always something a student likes or is agreeable to, but we have to fill eight periods in their schedule. It gets to be very challenging.”

Journalism teacher Dave Winter acknowledges the likelihood of student dissatisfaction

01

35.3% - YES

39.0% - YES

09:55 AM-11:23 AM

09:55 AM-11:23 AM

Rm: E209

02

Rm: C231

21.8% - NO

15.8% - NO

11:30 AM-01:33 PM

11:30 AM-01:33 PM

Rm: IS 3

Rm: Gym

Rm: C222

03

08:15 AM-09:48 AM

Rm: C408

42.9% - SOME OF THEM 45.2% - SOMEWHAT

had to adjust her lesson plan.

Speech and forensics teacher Mario Herrera experienced a similar situation. He intended to have a class period only for students who chose to compete on the debate team.

“There are many factors that prevented that from happening,” Herrera said. “The four-by-eight schedule is very difficult; [it] needs a lot of electives. The reality of financial budgets, teacher allocations and classroom size make it difficult.”

Herrera has faced dilemmas when trying to incorporate into his class students not in speech and debate. He said he has not worked with these students as much as he would like to because he also has to help competitive speech and debate students prepare for tournaments.

“The structure for the class is the biggest situation because everyone is at different levels,” Herrera said. “It has been a struggle for me [since] I’m a perfectionist ... I have to set the bar for individual students and not the class.”

BASED ON A SOUTHERNER SURVEY OF 147 STUDENTS

While Herrera has faced unexpected hardships with his class, he believes misplaced students are affected more severely.

“It’s difficult I think more so for students than teachers for classes with a specific purpose in mind,” he said. “They may feel detached, frustrated, angry.”

If students are in the right mindset during their electives, however, Herrera believes they can discover a new interest. Herrera also sees the practicality in placing students in elective classes blind to their interests.

“If I’m a counselor, and I see empty seats, why wouldn’t I put [students] in there?” Herrera said. “It’s like a bureaucracy ‘let’s see how we can make it work’ game.”

Oliver said core classes and graduation requirements are the top priority.

“I like having happy students, and I try to accommodate [them] as best as I can,” Oliver said. “Sometimes that’s doable; sometimes it’s not.” p

news

8

Feb. 8, 2013

By Alex Wolfe Evening practice for Grady mock trial practice was unfolding as usual: student attorney Olivia Volkert was interrogating Orli Hendler, who was portraying the witness Glenn Miller in the mock civil case.

Unlike ordinary practices, however, cameras and lights beamed down on Hendler and Volkert, as a production crew stood in the back observing the scene.

Peachtree and 5th, an Atlanta-based multimedia production company, is filming a documentary about mock trial. Led by producer Melissa Ewing, the production crew has attended multiple Grady mock trial practices and recorded the students as they prepare for their regional competition on Feb. 5 and 7.

“We want to really show the commitment and hard work that goes into this particular activity, and we’re using Grady’s team as a vehicle to show that,” Ewing said.

Ewing is an attorney, and she was first approached with the idea for the documentary project by Carl Gebo, one of Grady’s mock trial coaches.

“Clearly he was very passionate about his work with the team,” Ewing said. “He wanted to do a project that shared his passion and let other people know what goes into putting together a case for mock trial.”

Showing what really goes into mock trial has been the motivating force for everyone involved with the documentary. Brian Leahy, who has been a Grady mock trial coach for four years, acknowledges that few people at the school truly know what the activity involves.

“I know that there’s this belief through Grady that we are some sort of a cult, and we’re hoping to kind of dispel those rumors,” Leahy said.

Ewing and her crew want to publicize the documentary as much as possible to also help show the “journey and benefits” of the extracurricular activity. The filmmakers will decide how to disseminate the film after they finish it.

Mock trial students and parents held a meeting to decide whether the team was ready to embrace the project. Ewing and Gebo ex-

Alex Wolfe

Documentary aims to capture essence of mock trial

MOCK-UMENTARY: Sophomore Griffin Kish interrogates the witness Glenn Miller, portrayed at this time by his coach Carl Gebo, while cameraman Brent Cook records. plained more about the film and what it would members have not found the filming to other schools that compete against Grady. entail and tried to assuage concerns. Most team be too disruptive, sophomore Jenni Rogan Ewing and her team also have been fomembers, like senior Miller Lansing, were ex- has had to go out of her way to accommo- cusing on team members’ extracurricular cited about the prospects of the documentary, date the needs of the documentary. activities other than mock trial. She atbut a few people remained unsure.

“They had me come in on a different tended the musical Footloose at First Pres“[After the meeting] the parents left, the day than my scheduled practice just to film byterian Church to see Lansing and junior coaches left, Ms. Melissa [Ewing] left and just [my interview] that they could have filmed J.D. Capelouto perform. the students met,” Lansing said. As a group, the day before had they been a bit more on As filming continues, some members of they talked through their concerns until every- top of things,” Rogan said. the team are reserving judgment on the final one was either in support of the film or amRogan also said the crew would sometimes product but are optimistic about the results. bivalent towards the idea. ask her and others to repeat a comment or “It’s a risk we’re all taking,” Leahy said.

Once the team agreed to be in the film, Le- ask them to move to a certain spot in order “We’re hoping this risk is going to pay off ahy said it took a little while for the team to to better hear and see them on camera. for us, as far as explaining what we do and adjust to the distraction of the cameras.

“We are purely capturing what is happen- what goes into it.”

“It’s a little shocking at first when we walk ing,” Ewing said. “There’s nothing that’s staged Ewing believes the end product will be into our practice space and see all this video or manufactured. But there are occasions where well worth all the time and effort spent equipment and sound recording devices we have to act really fast to respond as practices producing the film. and all this stuff all over the place,” Leahy are happening in front of us, and sometimes it’s “I think it’s a very positive project, and I’m said. “But once we get to work it kind of purely a sound issue.” so glad to be part of it,” she said. “I’m honored falls into the background, and we just kind Along with filming the group’s practices, the that Carl [Gebo] came to me and that we have of do what we do.” production team is planning on filming rounds the opportunity to witness these students doWhile Lansing and some other team of the mock trial competition and interviewing ing such an amazing thing.” p

By Deborah Harris The DeKalb County School Board requested three months.; instead, they received 35 days.

On Jan. 17, the Georgia Board of Education held a hearing to determine whether or not to suspend the DeKalb County Board of Education. Instead of approving a consent agreement, which would have given the DeKalb board three months to address the 11 “required actions” demanded by AdvancED, the parent agency of the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, the state board delayed voting until Feb. 21.

Meanwhile, the board is experiencing leadership turmoil, as it voted Feb. 8 to appoint Michael Thurmond interim superintendent, replacing Cheryl Atkinson. Atkinson had not been seen in public since her father died Jan. 23.

The hearing followed SACS’s decision to place DeKalb County schools on probation on Dec. 31. Following an investigation of the DeKalb board conducted by the AdvancED special review team, from Oct. 17-19, AdvancED found the board failed to “effectively govern the system.” In a 20-page report, the special review team condemned the board for nepotism, inappropriate behavior and

fiscal mismanagement.

“There is significant and irrefutable evidence that the DeKalb County School District is in a state of conflict and chaos,” Mark Elgart, the president and CEO of AdvancED, said at a press conference.

The report alleged, among its many findings, that the board had driven the district into a $24.5 million budget deficit, in addition to taking out a $12 million loan for textbooks that have yet to arrive to DeKalb system schools. The report also claimed that school board members harassed school officials in zone schools, cultivating a “culture of fear” and playing turf politics.

“The focus on education has been skewed,” Chamblee Charter High School senior James Hanley said. “When you have administrators making six figures, while students have six-year-old textbooks on their desks—the focus isn’t on education.”

DeKalb County Schools are on probation until Dec. 31. The system must show progress on the special review team’s 11 “required actions” by May 31. These include enrolling all students in Parent Portal, conducting an internal audit, implementing fiscally responsible policies and en-

suring the DeKalb County School Board understands and follows the “chain of command.”

“To have 11 or 12 required actions is a tremendous number,” said AdvancED chief officer of accreditation Annette Bohling. “It’s been a constant problem that we’ve seen—there shouldn’t be such a splintered voice to represent one school district.”

If the district and board cannot accomplish these actions, SACS will revoke DeKalb’s accreditation, jeopardizing the 98,000 students held in the third-largest school system in Georgia. Besides rendering thousands of seniors’ diplomas effectively meaningless, loss of accreditation can cause property values to plummet.

This was the case in Clayton County in 2008, when Clayton became the first Georgia system to lose its accreditation.

“I am disappointed, angry and embarrassed,” board member Pamela Speaks said in her opening statement at the hearing. “Students shouldn’t have to take a backseat to adult issues.”

A new law may determine the DeKalb County Board of Education’s fate sooner than the end of the year. O.C.G.A § 20-2-73 allows Gov.

Deborah Harris

DeKalb board must change its tune to avoid ruin

ON THE STAND: Marshall Orson, a DeKalb County board member, testifies to the Georgia Board of Education at a hearing.

Nathan Deal to remove the board of a school district placed on probation, following a recommendation by the Georgia Board of Education. Without showing progress on the 11 “required actions” over the next month, the Georgia Board of Education will recommend removal of the DeKalb County School Board, which has faced several years of warning from SACS. State Board of Education members expressed frustration with DeKalb County board members for the continuous problems.

“Why has it taken a hearing and

SACS to give [board problems] a sense of urgency?” state Board of Education member Mike Royal said at the hearing.

In January 2011, AdvancED assigned the DeKalb County School District Accreditation with Advisement status. Since then, AdvancED staff have sent four teams to meet with DeKalb school officials, providing training and guidance to the school board. After receiving many complaints from teachers, parents, students and administrators after a special review team visit in March 2012, AdvancED lowered DeKalb’s accreditation level, skipping the Accreditation with Warning status.

“The [state board] has lost patience with the school board,” said David Schutten, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators.

Some DeKalb residents are skeptical about the effectiveness of the procedure allowed by the new law. Marcia Coward, president of the DeKalb County Council of PTAs, believes government intervention won’t mitigate the board’s problems.

“I fully believe in local control,” Coward said. “It should be up to the people of DeKalb [County] to recognize a dysfunctional board and vote [the members] out.” p

news

Feb. 8, 2013

9

COURTESTY OF FULTON COUNTY JAIL INMATE INFORMATION WEBSITE

JOHNSON charged with murder of former schoolmate

July 30, 2008

Dec. 24, 2012

Feb. 4, 2011

March 11, 2009

TRIGGER SLIM: Antonio Johnson, who attended Grady from 2005 until 2007 or 2008, was arrested in 2008 for burglary, 2009 for disorderly conduct, 2011 for armed robbery, and 2012 for the murder of Lee Lowery, Grady Class of 2010. continued from the front page jail on charges of felony murder, murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. APD public affairs officer Sgt. Greg Lyon declined comment saying he cannot discuss an ongoing investigation.

‘I NEVER NEED A PISTOL ‘CAUSE SLIM RIDE WITH ME’ Still mourning the loss of Lowery, faculty and former students had to wrack their brains to recall Johnson. Registrar Chinaester Holland said federal privacy regulations prevent her from disclosing whether and when Johnson attended Grady. Former teacher Janet Milton, however, said she taught Johnson in an 11thgrade American literature course in 2007.

“I recall that he was not the loud, rambunctious type of student,” Milton said. “Actually, he was quiet and unassuming. He often appeared to have been troubled.”

Milton did not recall Johnson returning to the class for the second semester of the 20072008 school year.

Sage Adams, who graduated in 2009 with Blalock, spent time with Johnson at Inman and Grady and believes Johnson attended Grady from 2005 to 2007 or 2008. Adams never saw Johnson as violent or disruptive.

“We had classes together in eighth grade, and we both liked video games,” Adams said.

Adams rarely saw Johnson after he left Grady.

But in 2010, during Adams’s sophomore year at Georgia State, the two reconnected. Johnson had joined the Grady rap group Rebel Gang and taken the name “Trigger Slim.”

“People like to be hard for rap,” said Adams, who discounted the significance of Johnson’s new moniker. “That’s what I kind of thought of it as.”

Later Adams realized “Trigger Slim” was more accurate than he had thought. In January 2011, Adams and Johnson hung out regularly during Adams’s winter break. One day, Adams said Johnson brought a friend to his house to play video games. Adams said the friend pulled out a pistol and stole his video game console.

Adams believes Johnson led the friend to his house with the intention of robbing him.

“He planned it, but they couldn’t ever actually put the charges on him for being an accessory to it,” Adams said.

That same month, Johnson was accused of robbing a MARTA commuter at gunpoint on Jan. 25. Johnson was indicted Feb. 18 for armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, according to documents obtained from the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Fulton County.

Transcripts of hearing proceedings show that assistant district attorney Stephanie Graham, who was prosecuting Johnson for the MARTA robbery, believed the case was strong. Graham said Johnson was looking at up to 20 years in prison—but the case did not lead to a quick sentencing.

During Johnson’s 10 months in jail for the MARTA robbery, Rebel Gang released a music video for their song “Heartbreak Collision.” In a monologue at the beginning of the song, Jordan “Chip” Holt-May, Grady Class of 2011, says “Free that boy Trigger Slim. We all we got.” Later in “Heartbreak Collision,” Rebel Gang members rap, “I never need a pistol though ‘cause Slim ride with me.”

ONE YEAR OUT ON BOND Transcripts from Johnson’s second bond hearing for the January armed robbery, held in November 2011, reveal the judge in the case, Marvin Arrington, was initially skeptical about granting Johnson bond. Johnson had already been denied bond in the summer of 2011.

“I think if he’s released he’s going to be a threat to the community,” Arrington said.

“He’s going to commit additional crimes.”

Johnson’s defense attorney, public defender Derek Rouse, brought Johnson and Johnson’s mother, whose name was not recorded because she was not sworn in, before the court.

“First of all, I want to know how you doing, sir,” Johnson said.

Johnson claimed the case against him was the result of “a misunderstanding” and told Arrington he graduated from Grady in 2009, although a copy of the 2009 graduation program obtained by The Southerner did not include Johnson’s name.

Johnson’s mother described the difficulty she had visiting her son, who had been moved to a jail in Hall County.

“He’s not on the bus line; that’s why we are trying to see [if he can be moved to the Fulton County jail],” Johnson’s mother said.

“We don’t have a car.”

Rouse said additional conditions, such as ankle bracelet monitoring, could be imposed on the defendant, but Arrington’s bond motion did not require those restrictions.

“When you see so many of these young people, particularly Afro persons, get in trouble, and they don’t have no money, [the justice system] don’t care,” Arrington said at the bond hearing.

Atlanta criminal defense attorney Patrick Deering said it is common for suspects awaiting conviction to be released from jail in Georgia, particularly when the county gets overloaded with cases and inmates. Overcrowding in Fulton County spurred Johnson’s transfer to the Hall County facility, according to the bond hearing transcript. Johnson was released from jail on Dec. 24, 2011—one year before he would be arrested for Lowery’s murder.

Two weeks after Lowery’s murder, the lead investigator in the case, Detective Dwayne Sutton, signed an affidavit issuing a warrant for Johnson’s arrest. Police reports show Johnson became a suspect after a witness to the murder picked him out of a photo lineup. A second person called the APD after he watched the security footage of Lowery’s final moments; he said he attended high school with Johnson.

Deering said homicide investigators usually turn a case over to the fugitive squad if they cannot find a suspect within 48 hours. After the fugitive squad stops pursuing the suspect, a warrant remains on the books in the hopes that an officer will apprehend the suspect—exactly what happened in Johnson’s case.

“They’ll find notorious criminals just on a traffic ticket,” Deering said. “That happens quite often. You can’t have a homicide detective doing nothing but looking for this guy.”

‘SHOCKED ON BOTH ENDS’ As Johnson headed back to the Fulton County jail on Dec. 24, 2012, exactly a year

July 2008: Johnson arrested for burglary

Fall 2005: Johnson enrolls in Grady

GRADY

March 2009: Johnson arrested for disorderly conduct

Nov. 26, 2012: Warrant issued for Johnson’s arrest Feb. 4, 2011: Johnson arrested for MARTA robbery

Jan. 25, 2011: Johnson commits armed robbery on MARTA

Nov. 30, 2011: Judge Marvin Arrington signs bond order to allow Johnson’s release

Dec. 24, 2011: Johnson released from Fulton County jail

Dec. 24, 2012: Johnson arrested for Lowery’s murder

Feb. 1, 2013: Johnson pleads Nov. 12, 2012: Lee Lowery shot not guilty to on Ponce de Leon MARTA robbery Ave. outside Ford Factory Lofts

FULTON COUNTY JAIL

Isabelle Taft and Allison Raappapaort

Between 2007 &2008: Johnson leaves Grady

after being released on bond, many who knew him were shocked at the news of his arrest— mainly because they never expected a friend or acquaintance to be accused of murder.

“He was never like a good kid,” Blalock said.

“But I didn’t think he would kill someone.”

Oliver Blalock said Johnson was not a great student and got in fights at Inman.

“He was really small and skinny, but he wasn’t afraid to fight people frequently,” Blalock said.

Adams recalled Johnson was known for borrowing things and never returning them. But there was nothing extraordinary about Johnson’s middle school unruliness, Adams said.

“All kids jone a little bit and all of that, so he wasn’t like famous for joning,” Adams said.

Blalock ascribed Johnson’s discipline issues to his upbringing in a rough neighborhood near Centennial Olympic Park. “[At Grady] there’s a lot of kids like coming from rough neighborhoods,” Blalock said.

“Part of their whole mentality is to not do what they’re told. I guess as [Johnson] got older it became more serious.”

Tasha Kendrick, the mother of Diamonte Kendrick, a member of Rebel Gang and Grady’s Class of 2011, said she had invited Johnson into her home and considered him a “nice, quiet young man.

“Tony would be the one that would be laidback,” Kendrick said. “He’s a good listener.”

Kendrick said she knew Lowery as well from brief interactions in the halls of Grady when Diamonte was a student. She said she was shocked by the news of Lowery’s murder, and even more disturbed when she learned Johnson had been arrested and charged with the crime.

“I was shocked on both ends,” Kendrick said. “Shocked that it was Lee, and of course when I found out that Antonio was arrested for the crime.”

Blalock said it was hard to understand how the middle-schooler who loved video games and pranks could become an alleged killer.

"It’s weird, hanging out with someone that young and then them transforming so greatly into a monster,” Blalock said. "I think he was too far in to back out. The way his mind thought, he did what he had to do.” p

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word of mouth

What test information have you shared or received?

No 21%

50

Yes 79%

40

30

20

10

Difficulty

Test Concepts

Specific Questions

0

Data suggests cheating occurs between A day and B day classes

By Archie Kinnane Weinstock AP English Language and Composition teacher Lisa Willoughby used to give the same test to her Aday and B-day classes. But then, she noticed a pattern in the grade distributions.

“I observed that the group that had the second day always did better [on the test] than the group that had the [test the] first day,” Willoughby said. “So initially I thought that maybe that class was stronger, and I didn’t act on it immediately.”

One day, Willoughby said she witnessed two students sharing information about the reading passage on a quiz. After confronting the students, she realized they did not think sharing information was really cheating.

“My policy now is to make changes to the [tests for different days] so that the benefit is diminished for anyone who shares information,” Willoughby said.

For those unfamiliar with Grady’s schedule, four classes are taken on an A day and four different classes and Josh

are offered on a B day. Most core classes have sec- because students who take tests on the second tions that meet on both A and B days. day have more time to study.

In order to determine whether the difference in In order to discern the true cause of the differscores Willoughby noticed was widespread, The ence, The Southerner conducted a survey of 165 Southerner conducted a schoolwide investigation students asking them if they have shared or recomparing scores for tests that were administered ceived information on tests in the past. to both A and B days.

The survey showed 79 A study was conducted “This is evidence that under certain percent of students surveyed on 13 assessments from circumstances, it does seem that the had received information seven teachers. The results following day does seem to have an from other students about revealed that of the 693 advantage over the leading day class” the contents of a test or quiz test scores, the tests ad- AP Statistics teacher Andrew Nichols they had yet to take. Of the ministered on the second students surveyed, 72 perday had scores 4.48 points cent said they had revealed higher than that of the classes taking the assess- the contents of a test or quiz to other students. ment the first day.

When asked what information they shared or AP Statistics teacher Andrew Nichols com- received, specific questions (27.9 percent) and mented on what the study suggests for classes test concepts (26.7 percent) were the most comat Grady. mon answers from student respondents.

“This is evidence that under certain circumSenior Sam Holder said that based on his stances, it does seem that the following day does personal experience, he believes the percentage seem to have an advantage over the leading day of students who share or receive information class,” Nichols said. between classes is actually higher than the surWhile the analysis confirms statistically sig- vey revealed. nificant increases in second-day test scores when “It is rampant,” Holder said. “I am sure that compared to first-day test scores, the analysis by there is a clear sharing of information across the itself cannot conclude that the reason for the days. A days will tell the kids on B days; B days difference in test scores is communication be- will tell the kids on A days.” tween students. It is possible that any number Senior Jeffrey Cox, who shares this opinion, of lurking variables could be the reason for the thinks all students at Grady have shared or rehigher scores. For example, higher test scores on ceived information about a test at one point in the second day a test is administered may occur their high school career.

“If you don’t want to be involved, you have to actively try to not be involved,” Cox said.

Sophomore Chris Brown said he has seen information sharing on every test he has taken.

“Typically [I see the sharing of information] in AP classes and in math and science classes,” Brown said. “I see that more because those are the harder tests.”

Physics teacher Jeff Cramer does not believe that information sharing contributed to higher test scores.

“I found that even if I give an open book test where everyone in the class can help each other, I get the same distribution of grades,” Cramer said.

“The same people still make high grades; the same people make lower grades, so I never worry about [communication between students] too much.”

Cramer said he has a clear way to see if students who took the test on the first day spoke to those who had yet to take it.

“The way that you can tell that happens is when the B class, for example, comes in and asks you a question before the test starts,” Cramer said. “[The student would say something similar to] ‘Oh I had one thing I wanted to clarify,’ and it happens to be exactly a question that’s on the test.

And that has happened before.”

Latin teacher Scott Allen has witnessed students sharing information on several occasions.

“I hear students asking, ‘What was on the test in such and such class?’” Allen said. “I mean, I hear that. I hear people asking in the hallway.”

Allen said he has noticed a distinct pattern in the nificant difference] at all,” students who are most likely to share information. AP Statistics teacher Andrew “Really super high-achieving students do it, Nichols said. “But once you start seeI feel like, at a higher rate than students who ing it in, well this is now a majority achieve averagely,” Allen said. of the cases you looked at, it becomes The Southerner’s study of nearly 700 test scores something where maybe this is a trend, on 13 different examinations could not determine maybe it’s not a universal fact, but maybe whether information sharing is more common in it’s a trend.”

AP and honors classes.

For statistical analysis to be valid, howThe investigation was approved by the Di- ever, several conditions must be met. The rector of Research and Evaluation for School samples of test scores for the two days Improvement, Rubye Sullivan, and Sue Swan- must be representative, independent and son. Sullivan and Swanson provided assistance large enough in order to statistically anathroughout the investigation. lyze the data.

When the test scores of teachers who ofBut Nichols believes that, in this case, the fered retakes on their tests are removed from statistical analysis is valid. the sample, the difference “All the conditions are of test score averages be- “It is rampant. I am sure that there is met,” Nichols said. tween the two days rises a clear sharing of information across Allen said all of his the days. A days will tell the kids on B classes are the same to 5.63 points.

The data showed the days, B days will tell the kids on A days.” course on the same difference for seven of the - senior Sam Holder day. For example, 13 assessments as statistiboth Latin 3 classes cally significant through are on B days. Because a two sample t-test, a statistical analysis used of this, he is not concerned about students to determine whether the means of two popu- sharing information as much. But if he lations differ. were in a situation to have to worry about For something to be “statistically signifi- communication between students? cant,” the probability of a difference as large or “Four points or higher,” Allen said. larger than the difference observed must be less “That’s when I would have to seriously conthan 5 percent. sider writing a separate exam for the B day “It is significant if you saw [a statistically sig- kids as opposed to the A day kids.” p

10

11

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word of mouth

What test information have you shared or received?

No 21%

50

Yes 79%

40

30

20

10

Difficulty

Test Concepts

Specific Questions

0

Data suggests cheating occurs between A day and B day classes

By Archie Kinnane Weinstock AP English Language and Composition teacher Lisa Willoughby used to give the same test to her Aday and B-day classes. But then, she noticed a pattern in the grade distributions.

“I observed that the group that had the second day always did better [on the test] than the group that had the [test the] first day,” Willoughby said. “So initially I thought that maybe that class was stronger, and I didn’t act on it immediately.”

One day, Willoughby said she witnessed two students sharing information about the reading passage on a quiz. After confronting the students, she realized they did not think sharing information was really cheating.

“My policy now is to make changes to the [tests for different days] so that the benefit is diminished for anyone who shares information,” Willoughby said.

For those unfamiliar with Grady’s schedule, four classes are taken on an A day and four different classes and Josh

are offered on a B day. Most core classes have sec- because students who take tests on the second tions that meet on both A and B days. day have more time to study.

In order to determine whether the difference in In order to discern the true cause of the differscores Willoughby noticed was widespread, The ence, The Southerner conducted a survey of 165 Southerner conducted a schoolwide investigation students asking them if they have shared or recomparing scores for tests that were administered ceived information on tests in the past. to both A and B days.

The survey showed 79 A study was conducted “This is evidence that under certain percent of students surveyed on 13 assessments from circumstances, it does seem that the had received information seven teachers. The results following day does seem to have an from other students about revealed that of the 693 advantage over the leading day class” the contents of a test or quiz test scores, the tests ad- AP Statistics teacher Andrew Nichols they had yet to take. Of the ministered on the second students surveyed, 72 perday had scores 4.48 points cent said they had revealed higher than that of the classes taking the assess- the contents of a test or quiz to other students. ment the first day.

When asked what information they shared or AP Statistics teacher Andrew Nichols com- received, specific questions (27.9 percent) and mented on what the study suggests for classes test concepts (26.7 percent) were the most comat Grady. mon answers from student respondents.

“This is evidence that under certain circumSenior Sam Holder said that based on his stances, it does seem that the following day does personal experience, he believes the percentage seem to have an advantage over the leading day of students who share or receive information class,” Nichols said. between classes is actually higher than the surWhile the analysis confirms statistically sig- vey revealed. nificant increases in second-day test scores when “It is rampant,” Holder said. “I am sure that compared to first-day test scores, the analysis by there is a clear sharing of information across the itself cannot conclude that the reason for the days. A days will tell the kids on B days; B days difference in test scores is communication be- will tell the kids on A days.” tween students. It is possible that any number Senior Jeffrey Cox, who shares this opinion, of lurking variables could be the reason for the thinks all students at Grady have shared or rehigher scores. For example, higher test scores on ceived information about a test at one point in the second day a test is administered may occur their high school career.

“If you don’t want to be involved, you have to actively try to not be involved,” Cox said.

Sophomore Chris Brown said he has seen information sharing on every test he has taken.

“Typically [I see the sharing of information] in AP classes and in math and science classes,” Brown said. “I see that more because those are the harder tests.”

Physics teacher Jeff Cramer does not believe that information sharing contributed to higher test scores.

“I found that even if I give an open book test where everyone in the class can help each other, I get the same distribution of grades,” Cramer said.

“The same people still make high grades; the same people make lower grades, so I never worry about [communication between students] too much.”

Cramer said he has a clear way to see if students who took the test on the first day spoke to those who had yet to take it.

“The way that you can tell that happens is when the B class, for example, comes in and asks you a question before the test starts,” Cramer said. “[The student would say something similar to] ‘Oh I had one thing I wanted to clarify,’ and it happens to be exactly a question that’s on the test.

And that has happened before.”

Latin teacher Scott Allen has witnessed students sharing information on several occasions.

“I hear students asking, ‘What was on the test in such and such class?’” Allen said. “I mean, I hear that. I hear people asking in the hallway.”

Allen said he has noticed a distinct pattern in the nificant difference] at all,” students who are most likely to share information. AP Statistics teacher Andrew “Really super high-achieving students do it, Nichols said. “But once you start seeI feel like, at a higher rate than students who ing it in, well this is now a majority achieve averagely,” Allen said. of the cases you looked at, it becomes The Southerner’s study of nearly 700 test scores something where maybe this is a trend, on 13 different examinations could not determine maybe it’s not a universal fact, but maybe whether information sharing is more common in it’s a trend.”

AP and honors classes.

For statistical analysis to be valid, howThe investigation was approved by the Di- ever, several conditions must be met. The rector of Research and Evaluation for School samples of test scores for the two days Improvement, Rubye Sullivan, and Sue Swan- must be representative, independent and son. Sullivan and Swanson provided assistance large enough in order to statistically anathroughout the investigation. lyze the data.

When the test scores of teachers who ofBut Nichols believes that, in this case, the fered retakes on their tests are removed from statistical analysis is valid. the sample, the difference “All the conditions are of test score averages be- “It is rampant. I am sure that there is met,” Nichols said. tween the two days rises a clear sharing of information across Allen said all of his the days. A days will tell the kids on B classes are the same to 5.63 points.

The data showed the days, B days will tell the kids on A days.” course on the same difference for seven of the - senior Sam Holder day. For example, 13 assessments as statistiboth Latin 3 classes cally significant through are on B days. Because a two sample t-test, a statistical analysis used of this, he is not concerned about students to determine whether the means of two popu- sharing information as much. But if he lations differ. were in a situation to have to worry about For something to be “statistically signifi- communication between students? cant,” the probability of a difference as large or “Four points or higher,” Allen said. larger than the difference observed must be less “That’s when I would have to seriously conthan 5 percent. sider writing a separate exam for the B day “It is significant if you saw [a statistically sig- kids as opposed to the A day kids.” p

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Feb. 8, 2013

Kate DeGive

Courtesy of EVereman

Celebs: more than just Warm Bodies

Courtesy of EVereman

EVEREWHERE: The ar tist, a Falcons fanatic, filled an empty street sign by the Georgia Dome with a spirited form of his art (top left).

While in his workshop, the artist points to an Evereman slogan,“Evereman 4U” (above).

Evereman was there to greet President Obama when Air Force One landed at HartsfieldJackson Intl. Airport (left).

Little face makes big impression

By Kate de Give The artist who created Evereman (pronounced ev-ree man) has two rules: no trash cans or bathrooms.

Any other space is fair game for his magnets, stickers and large interactive pieces that feature a “right angled skull face.” His pieces are placed on New York City cabs, hung on the fence next to Air Force One at Hartsfield Jackson Airport, projected onto the wall of both The Georgia Archives Building and The High Museum of Art, stuck to a sign in Beijing and plastered on the door of Grady’s art room.

“He wants the art to go beyond him,” said Mark Bashore, co-owner of Beep Beep Gallery, a local gallery that exhibits art by local emerging artists and frequently features Evereman pieces. “He thinks about how to apply his art to the public and how to make the public interact with it.”

The artist, who wishes to remain anonymous, came up with the idea for Evereman while with his 11year-old son in 2003.

While thinking of ideas for the stencil in his workshop, the artist recalled a “cool little face” he had used for a previous piece of art.

From there, the artist and his son began spray painting the face on scrap wood pieces, then gluing them to signs and walls around Atlanta.

“It was a family affair,” the artist said. “[My son, my wife and I] would

go out on Sunday mornings when it was quiet, and we’d just put Evereman faces around neighborhoods.”

After about a year, the artist began putting the name, Evereman, along with the face. He also created a website so people who found the pieces could learn more about them. The website encourages people to take the art and relocate it so others can enjoy it.

“I like the idea of art for all,” he said. “Evereman is about sharing and giving as opposed to taking.”

Before long, the artist began getting e-mails through the website from people with pictures of “their” Evereman.

As the amount of emails proliferated so did the glue stains from the pieces after people took them.

To counteract the problem, the artist developed a “leave no trace” method of installing his art. He attached magnets to the backs of the pieces, so they would leave no mark when removed.

The artist’s son believes this transition benefited them when they finally decided to reveal their identities as the creators of Evereman to the art community of Atlanta.

“When we decided to let people know, the city was pretty used to Evereman and the transition we had made didn’t cause property damage,” the son said.

The artist kept his identity a secret for seven years because the art wasn’t supposed to be about him. He want-

ed the art to be for everyone.

“If I wanted to get my message across, it had to come out,” the artist said. The artist was invited to speak at a Living Walls Conference, an annual conference on street art and urbanism and at Atlanta Pecha Kucha, an informal forum for creative work. He never broadcasted his name at these talks, but people did put a face to the creator. He believes these talks helped get him more publicly sourced funding. “[Evereman’s] been out of pocket,” the artist said. “Any money that comes in just goes right back to it.”

The artist is working towards the ultimate goal of making Evereman self-sustainable.

The artist said Evereman’s rise in popularity has developed a close community of good people. He and his family advertise production parties on his website. Anyone can come to his workshop to make Evereman pieces.

“There’s always at least one little kid and one person that’s older than [my wife and I],” the artist said. “All ages like it.”

The artist believes these workshops help convey the goals of Evereman.

“I want people to stop when they find a piece and think ‘I could pass this along and make somebody else feel good,”’ the artist said. “I want people to focus on getting beyond possessing and more to giving— cooperation vs. competition and the power of giving.” p

Although we were in a luxury suite in the W Hotel, multiple stories above the busy afternoon traffic, accompanied by a dozen reporters, actors Thomas Mann and Zoey Deutch and I were able to relate in a curious way.

Meeting four celebrities in two days can be an overwhelmingly exciting experience, especially when the actors are close to your Axel Olson age. I stumbled across the opportunity to go to press screenings for the upcoming film adaptations of two teen novels, Beautiful Creatures and Warm Bodies, and couldn’t pass it up.

After all, who doesn’t like free movies?

After attending the private screening for Beautiful Creatures, I felt like I had known the characters my entire life. The leading castmembers are a spritely group of young actors whose performances outshone those of many actors you see on Disney Channel and the like.

The leading male character, Ethan Wate, played by Alden Ehrenreich, is a young man who finds himself drawn to the mysterious new girl, played by Alice Englert. It’s a bit of a stereotypical “young adult” novel synopsis but hey, it works in grabbing the attention of readers and viewers alike.

Both Thomas Mann, who plays Ethan’s friend Link, and Zoey Deutch, who plays Emily, began acting at an early age.

“I got started just doing theater in school, which is how I fell in love with it, and wanted to kind of see what else was out there,” Mann said.

I noticed Mann seemed hesitant to look me in the eye when I questioned him. That was what really told me he was just a kid like me; he was more than some celebrity face you see on the big screen. Deutch even asked where I went to school. The two were more than eager to answer questions that came from someone closer to their age, as I was the youngest reporter in a room full of middle-aged bloggers.

With the film set to release on Feb. 14, the two actors claimed they are not prepared for any “fandemonium” associated with films of this scale. Although Phipps Plaza was filled with fans of the novel, most of whom were teenage girls, I enjoyed the film and believe it will appeal to a wider demographic than expected.

The next morning I left school to interview actors Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer of Warm Bodies. The drive back to the W Hotel was well worth the opportunity of shaking hands with the star of the hit U.K. television show, Skins, which I followed in its entirety.

Warm Bodies is based on the novel of the same name by Isaac Marion and follows the romance between an undead boy and a human girl during the zombie apocalypse. The movie pokes fun at the stereotypes of the “supernatural lovers” craze associated with Twilight, and its light-hearted, comedic tone partners perfectly with dramatic, romantic and action-packed scenes.

After they shook my hands and sat down, the actors explained a little game they liked to play with the reporters. Over the course of the interview, Hoult would draw a picture and at the end give it to the interviewer with the best question. This announcement relaxed the reporters in the room and reassured us that we were all there to have fun.

After they described how the fake brains tasted and answered other questions, a secretary notified the actors there was time for only one more question. I had been so wrapped up in the conversation that I hadn’t even asked a question yet. I quickly inquired about the film’s many references to Romeo and Juliet. Hoult then shoved his sketch into my hand and announced I had asked the most original question.

I was at a loss for words as the other reporters collected their papers, stopped their recorders and stood up to leave. I had to ask for a picture with the two stars considering I would most likely never meet them again. They were more than happy to oblige, and I quickly threw my arms around Palmer and a towering Hoult. Beaming, I headed back to school to finish my day, still in a state of disbelief. p

VANS brings design competition, beautification to Grady continued from front page I can do for the school, being involved in the arts program.”

Both she and Loomis were encouraged by Brandhorst to participate in the project.

“It’s something that he always said I would be good at, and so I thought it would be a really good idea to contribute to the school,” said Loomis, who hopes to be a leader in the design and implementation of the mural.

While both Smith and Loomis know they want to be involved, neither has a definite plan for the design yet.

“Mr. Brandhorst envisions it as reflecting possible somewhere else. street art trends, so I think we’re just going to “Instead of just having it be a picture on a play with that,” wall, it should The panel [of evaluators] felt that be something Smith said.

Loomis has the student samples were really that’s more dyconsidered posnamic than that,” strong from Grady.” sible locations Loomis said. She and believes that says she hasn’t yet the large space out how Kristen Engebretsen figured in front of the to achieve this Arts Education Program Manager dynamism. library would be a good place. She To move the thinks the columns there would add a struc- project forward, Brandhorst held an interest tural element to the piece that wouldn’t be meeting in the art room on Jan. 23. He hopes

“

to have a core group that will control production of the mural, and a larger group of other students who wish to be involved.

This isn’t the only partnership with Vans Brandhorst has in mind. He hopes to enter another grant competition sponsored by Vans with a grand prize of $50,000. To win the prize, a school must register to be sent four pairs of black canvas shoes, which students will decorate. The creators of the top five designs will be flown to New York, where the competition winner will be announced. That grand-prize winning design, possibly from a Grady student, will be put into production by Vans. p

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Feb. 8, 2013

13

By Gracie White Grady teacher John Brandhorst recalled the numerous stares he got as he pushed his cart in the grocery store. Clad in a blooddrenched T-shirt and dirty pants, he captured the attention of the surrounding shoppers as he made his way though the aisles.

Unbeknownst to the people around him, minutes earlier, Brandhorst had just acted in a movie produced by two Grady students. This was just his costume.

What began as a hobby for juniors Ben Searles and Axel Olson quickly morphed into a fullfledged passion for filmmaking two years ago.

“In ninth grade, I made a ton of short videos on my iPod touch of my friends goofin’ around,” Searles said.

“Then, in 10th grade, it got more serious, and that’s when Axel and I created a video series chronicling the adventures of an imaginary character, Obo Williams.”

But Obo Williams didn’t mark the end of their interest in filmmaking.

Searles credits “Film Riot,” a YouTube channel known for its short films, with inspiring him to make a longer feature film of his own. Olson credits Bad is Bad, a movie made by two college kids, with sparking his aspiration.

Searles and Olson were desperate to find an outlet for their honed technique and skill. From this desire, Dead Beat, the first serious film project each of them had ever undertaken, was born.

The plot details the escapades of three students who skip school after missing the bus and eventually stumble upon a dead body thereby entangling themselves in a chilling murder mystery.

Although the film itself lasts for approximately 55 minutes, Dead Beat took about three months to write, film, edit and produce, a pro-

cess that, in reality, spanned over two years with breaks between the writing of the script and the actual filming.

It aired Feb. 1 in a locally owned theater called 489 Edgewood.

Proving to be a more extensive process than either of them had expected, the movie posed several hurdles. Searles and Olson were able to clear all of them, however, to create a movie in the end.

“We had a boom operator, someone who holds the microphone over the actor speaking, and we were going to use live audio from the scene,” Olson said. “We couldn’t, however, control the outside sounds like airplanes, lawn mowers or dogs barking, things interfered with our audio track, so we decided to use the camera audio as a reference and re-record audio on a studio mic, so the actor’s words and all our sound effects would come out clear. It was very time-consuming.”

Aside from recording the audio twice, both Searles and Olson also commented on the difficulty of scheduling once school began and the effect this had on filming.

“Everyone was busy when we came back [to school] in the fall, so finding a time when we were all free to meet and film was hard,” Olson said. “It’s kind of funny actually; we had to shoot some scenes out of order due to scheduling problems, so the trees in one scene in the movie will have green leaves, then the scene after will have multicolored leaves because the season had changed to fall, and the next will be back to summer green. It’s subtle though.

I don’t think anyone will notice …

Well, I guess now they might.”

Though there were stressful moments, actor Derek Bruno, sibling of Grady students Alec and Grayton Bruno, enjoyed witnessing the transformation of the mood on set.

“On set, it was always jokes, al-

Photos by Ben Searles

Creators receive upbeat response to Dead Beat film

MURDER IN MORNINGSIDE:Grady art teacher John Brandhorst (top) plays killer Vice Principal Morton in Dead Beat, a movie created and produced by juniors Ben Searles and Axel Olson. Students Ryan Switzer (left) and Decker D’ Alesio (above) are actors in the 55-minute film.

ways fun,” Bruno said. “It was cool to see how serious the production got over time.”

Olson said he and Searles were able to raise $1,600 for the movie through a website called Indie GoGo that funds small projects.

He said the money was able to cover costs of their “Dolly System,” the sliding device that allows the camera to smoothly glide from location to location while filming.

Several actors were cast in the creation of the movie, including Grady students Ryan Switzer, Decker D’alesio, Aaron Carter, Declan Farrisee, Lauren Meadows, Bailey Kish, Dominic Romeo,

Grady teachers Brandhorst and Lee Pope, and family friends Derek Bruno and Ryan O’Neill.

Searles and Olson said each actor’s role was completely unique, adding variety to the overall movie.

“I was definitely the antagonist in the movie,” Brandhorst said.

“Axel must see me as a potential psycho, so he wanted to bring out that inner beast.”

Both Searles and Olson are considering further pursuits in filmmaking during and after college.

“I’m trying to decide between full-out film school or a liberal arts college with a focus on film,” Searles said. “Ultimately, I want

to be involved in the movie production business, but for now, my goal in high school is to make one more feature film and a handful of short videos.”

Word of the movie has spread around Grady. Around 110 tickets were sold for the opening night, and Searles believes an audience of similar size will attend the second showing. The date has not been finalized.

“It’s an extraordinary task,” Brandhorst said. “Almost no one knows how much work goes into creating a short film, let alone an entire movie.

It’s an impressive accomplishment for [Searles and Olson].” p

Misery associated with musicals not found in Les Mis working mother, Fantine, played by Anne Hathaway, turns to prostitution to support her child, Cosette. Jean will end up agreeing to take care of Cosette after Fantine’s death, a decision that will change their lives forever. Director Tom Hooper was able to expand into areas of the story that made the complexity of the history and the plot clear and comprehensive.

Because the story was told through songs, Hooper made the decision to film the singing live, instead of having the actors lip sync pre-recorded songs.

The live recording allows actors to create passionate performances on set, rather than sanitized performances in the recording studio.

“By doing the singing live, the movie allowed the actors freedom of expression. It

created an opportunity of greater emotion.

That’s how we got people who don’t like musicals to connect,” said Josh Goldstine, president of marketing at Universal Studios, the company responsible for distributing Les Mis, told The Southerner in an exclusive interview.

As a former hater of musicals, I was able to connect. It is easy to tell the difference between the familiar singing style of Susan Boyle and Anne Hathaway’s version of the most recognizable song in the musical, “I Dreamed a Dream.”

Because Hathaway’s character Fantine had hit rock bottom, Hathaway chose to sing it like Fantine felt. Her voice shook and she would sometimes scream, but that made her acting much more impactful. The performance was raw yet captivating, something that wouldn’t have been captured as well through lip Illustration by axel olson

I vividly remember when I first watched the Les Miserables trailer with my sister about a year ago.

My sister thought it was so beautiful she Mary Condolora had tears rolling down her cheeks, literally. A year later, on Christmas day, she dragged me to see Les Mis. Before seeing the movie, I didn’t have much in mind besides the knowledge that it was predicted to get many Oscar nominations and that I am not fond of musicals. After seeing the movie, I realized I was right about the first thing — for Les Mis clocked in at eight Oscar nominations — and wrong about the second.

Les Miserables almost flawlessly weaves the ageless tale of passion, sacrifice and love of God and country through empowering songs set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. The story follows the main character, Jean Valjean, played by Hugh Jackman, as he is released from prison and breaks his parole to build a new life, while being haunted by the persistent policeman Javert (Russel Crowe). Meanwhile, a factory-

syncing. Hooper’s decision is not only unique but yielded many benefits.

The plot and songs were accompanied by unique cinematography that helped tell the story. The camera often got very close to the actors’ faces. Some critics called the extreme close-ups unnecessary, but they captured the raw emotion of the characters. I found that overall the choice shots and cinematic quality were breathtaking.

Les Mis also threw some pleasant surprises.

Russell Crowe can sing, Amanda Seyfried is no longer Karen from Mean Girls and Sasha Baron Cohen can be serious. These surprises made the film refreshing, and the cast even more appealing, specifically to teens.

“By casting Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, we felt that we had an actress teen girls could relate with,” Goldstine said. “I think that we chose people that were best for the roles’ ability to act, and ability to sing. We chose people who would shine brightly on the big screen.”

Les Mis was well-balanced; it had almost every aspect captured perfectly. It provided the viewer with many themes, so people who love music, history, action, love, cinematography, fashion, acting and even people who hate musicals can all easily enjoy and appreciate this movie. p

dining

Feb. 4, 2013

14

Brunch packs a delicious punch

Megan Prendergast

PECKING ORDER: New Ansley Mall chicken joint serves a quarter Carolina chicken with sautéed broccolini and garlic, a fruit cup and a slice of jalapeño bread.

Chicken rotisserie dishes out flavor

By Megan Prendergast Bantam (\ˈban-təm\): noun any of numerous small domestic fowls that are often miniatures of members of the standard breeds. Biddy (\ˈbi-dē\): noun a young chicken.

“Bantam and biddy are both words that describe small chickens,” said co-owner Lance Gummere. “So two small chickens is kind of like me and Shaun.”

Co-owners Shaun Doty and Gummere, opened Bantam + Biddy in Ansley Mall. The restaurant offers Southern classics such as duck-fat fries, spicy turnip greens and pork pchnitzels, made using products from local sources.

The team chose to use products from locally known producers and farmers to preserve the freshness and flavor of the food.

“Produce from California, for example, has gone through a long process of getting picked, weighed, distributed, bought and trucked to get to a supermarket,” Gummere said. “This is a long process that can take several days, and during this time, the produce is deteriorating and losing nutrients and quality.”

Gummere and Doty’s friendship has been an even longer process, spanning the past 20 years. Almost a year and a half ago, Doty contacted Gummere to share his latest restaurant proposal.

“Shaun got this idea for doing a chicken restaurant, and he called me,” Gummere said. “It just seemed like the perfect time for us to work on something together.”

Once they made a plan, the own-

ers carried out the process relatively quickly. Within six months, the eatery was complete.

Gummere covers the day-to-day operations of the restaurant.

Doty, executive chef, has prepared food in countries such as France and Belgium and opened up two restaurants in Atlanta, Shaun’s and YEAH! Burger. Despite Doty’s previous experience, he found this particular venture tough.

“This was the hardest restaurant opening ever,” Doty said. “It’s very chef-driven, and there’s a lot of scratch cooking. The sheer volume combined with the nuances of all the ingredients and production is challenging.”

The spot initially opened up with counter service, where customers would order at the counter and then take a seat and wait for their food. This system, however, did not work. Gummere said customers grew impatient looking at empty tables as they stood in line. Within a couple of weeks, Bantam + Biddy transitioned to table service. Despite the hiccups, the duo has pulled through stronger.

“It’s kind of like building a muscle,” Doty said. “When you start doing something, you’re a little weak, but after you do it for awhile, you build that muscle and get stronger.”

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the joint caters to early birds and night owls. On weekdays, breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For breakfast, Gummere recommends ei-

ther the fried chicken and waffles or the pastured three-egg burrito.

“We do a really awesome burrito, the bean burrito,” Gummere said. “It’s so good. The eggs come from about five minutes away from here on a little farm.”

The combined lunch and dinner menu begins service at 11:30 a.m., seven days a week. The menu focuses on chicken but gives diners choices such as pork, meatloaf and salads. The sandwich choices include rotisserie chicken, chicken salad Banh Mi and organic egg salad, among others, and are served with a choice of any side dish. Bantam + Biddy’s selection ranges from Carolina red peas and rice to a scoop of chopped liver and from aged cheddar mac-andcheese to sautéed broccolini and garlic, the menu’s most popular side item.

“The marinated beets are an absolute must try,” Gummere said. “So good.”

Doty and Gummere worked together on creating the menu. With the collaboration of their previous culinary experiences, the menu’s creation took no time at all.

“You know you might laugh,” Gummere said with a smile, “[The creation of the menu took] about six minutes. We sat down and banged that out so fast.”

“I would describe [Bantam + Biddy] as a contemporary Southerner diner rotisserie,” Doty said. “It’s a place where families, young people, old people can come in with the expectation of getting good, solid Southern-inspired food at affordable prices.” p

Atlanta has no shortage of good restaurants. Lunch, dinner and even a midnight meal are just a hop, skip and jump away from any neighborhood in the city.

But when Saturday and Sunday morning brunch are calling your name, the pickings become slim really quickly.

Ciena Leshley One great brunch go-to is The Flying Biscuit Café. An Atlanta classic, The Flying Biscuit has been serving up organic, healthy breakfasts and brunches since 1993. The restaurant serves anything from a traditional meal of two organic eggs, organic chicken sausage and creamy dreamy grits, to a more innovative “pasta, sausage, and eggs,” which has eggs scrambled with organic chicken sausage, mushrooms and cheddar cheese over penne pasta. If you’re feeling a lighter meal, you can treat yourself to a soysage, egg and cheese bagel or a plate of “moon dusted” rosemary potatoes. The biggest staple of the Flying Biscuit is its namesake, the “flying” biscuits.

Fluffy and topped with sugar, you don’t even need to use the cranberry apple butter that accompanies it (though it’s even better if you do), and you can take a dozen home to have breakfast all week. The Flying Biscuit has 10 locations throughout Georgia so anywhere you go, you can get your organic brunch fix.

There is no shortage of brunch on North Highland Avenue; from Alon’s to Atkins Park, there is brunch everywhere you turn. Keep traveling, though, and down at the corner of Sampson Street and North Highland Avenue, you’ll find a banging brunch waiting for you at Highland Bakery. You enter to a view of the restaurant’s full pastry case, and you can’t help but ignore the hour wait and the line out of the door. If your hunger survives the giant, fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and strawberry croissants, the menu is full of brunch classics as well as original brunch creations. It’s not just boring pancakes and your choice of fruit at the Highland Bakery; instead, you get to choose between ricotta pancakes, sweet-potato pancakes and cilantro corn pancakes. And eggs benedict is old news; here it’s all about the fried-chicken benedict topped with jalapeno cheddar cheese. Highland Bakery offers up fun, fresh food for everyone.

If you’re feeling very adventurous when you wake up on Sunday morning, journey over to East Atlanta Village for a feisty brunch at Holy Taco. Known for its tasty tacos and spicy tortas, this restaurant has mastered a savory breakfast. You can grab a plate of sunny-side-up quail eggs served with hot sauce and cheese toast. There’s also a Mexican classic: chilaquiles, which is a delicious mash of tortillas, chicken and cheese. The more traditional of the dishes still has its own Holy Taco twist. The “bacon egg and cheese” is a full plate of pork belly, fried egg and spiced cheese sauce with a side of toast.

Atlanta is a haven of good food, and while the options may be limited, Atlanta restaurants serve up some quality brunch. No matter whether you are an adventurous eater or a cautious one, you can find the breakfast that suits you all throughout the city and beyond. p

Hand-crafted boutique satisfies this chocoholic’s sweet tooth is the “key principle” in its chocolates. Cacao turns chocolate-making into an art. The pure nature of the chocolate makes it healthier than a Hershey’s bar, and it is worth the extra cost. I couldn’t argue against the $2.50 price tag for a truffle because I could taste every cent. Customers seem to value the time put into Cacao’s chocolate.

“I respect it and want to support it,” English teacher Deedee Abbott said.

Cacao has garnered positive reviews, and with a total of three boutiques—Buckhead, Inman Park and Virginia-Highland—the company has prospered.

“Once people do have the chocolate, Martin

in a kitchen in Inman Park, and in 2008 a factory and boutique grew out of the little shop. The company produces every chocolate product from the cocoa bean, and Hard is recognized as the first “bean to bar” chocolate maker in the Southeast, and the first female in the United States to use the complicated technique.

The “bean to bar” process includes roasting the beans, breaking them into small pieces and removing the shells, grinding the pieces to form a chocolate paste, and then kneading the paste forcefully. The chocolate is thinned and poured into molds. This rare and delicate process creates scrumptious results.

Cacao imports its beans from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. The chocolates are hand-crafted, and Cacao advertises that love

REBecca

A chocolate craving is unlike any other. It is a craving that will not rest, that creates a bitter feeling and deepens into desperation.

The sweet satisfaction of rich chocoRebecca Martin late is timeless.

Cacao offers a fix for Atlanta chocolate lovers. It is a unique chocolate company that has recently opened a boutique in Virginia-Highland. Cacao is one of only 20 chocolate makers across the United States, according to the company’s website.

The company was established by artisan chocolate maker Kristen Hard in 2004

they’re like ‘this isn’t like anything I’ve ever had,’” employee Natalie Graves said. “We have regulars.”

The boutique’s creativity makes the chocolate taste even better. Cacao has made chocolate into an experience.

Chocolate is endless, and will always be treasured, but Cacao has made it a trend. A chocolate boutique is unusual, so most people do not know about it until they walk in, Graves said.

“It’s a fad right now,” says senior Hannah Meachin, a former employee of the boutique.

Cacao is a unique experience, and the exquisite chocolates makes it that much sweeter. p

15

lifestyle

Feb. 8, 2013

Paideia is a school for hippies. All the students and teachers recline on couches d u r i n g Orli Hendler classes. They walk around barefoot and leave their stuff everywhere. They even call their teachers by their first names.

The Paideia stereotypes are about 50 percent true. Students did seem laid-back, they did leave their stuff everywhere and they do call their teachers by their first names. None of the students I saw, however, fit the stereotype of a “hippie,” and none of the classes had a sofa in sight. All the students were wearing shoes. Then again, it was the middle of winter.

The school is made up of 14 different buildings stretching down Ponce de Leon with two libraries, two gyms, a theater, and black box theater, and classrooms for all ages.

Tuition seems high, but Paideia is granting $2.1 million in financial aid to 141 of the 1,000 or so students enrolled this year.

As I turned into Paideia’s parking lot, Jennifer Hill, the high school director of communications, pulled up next to me, so I didn’t have to go looking for her. She had set everything up and would introduce me to my guide.

We met senior Malea Berry just as she was walking out of the library, and she was very enthusiastic about showing me around for the day. She led me out of one building and into the one next door. We headed down a narrow flight of stairs, passing lockers shoved onto each landing. The stairwell ended in a simple door, which Malea pushed through into a brightly lit, windowless classroom.

“Hi Jack,” Malea said as we walked in the door.

She was talking to the teacher Jack Bross, addressing him by his first name. The class was called Music of

Faith, a short-term class that was part of a special schedule Paideia students enjoy at the beginning and end of the second semester. Short term seemed like a way to get back into the routine of school, without buckling down on hard, long-term classes.

Jack began his lecture by talking about composers of the past and using music from his iPod to supplement his lecture. It went on until, suddenly, I heard the rustling of papers that, at Grady, accompanies the ringing of the bell. Jack wrapped up the lecture and by the time I stood, most were headed toward the door. I couldn’t place what was weird about this until I realized: no bells. Students just knew when class ended.

We went into the building next door, and I followed Malea up the stairs. Students’ belongings were scattered under and around the staircase. I looked down from the landing at the sea of trusting students’ bags, thinking, “This would never happen at Grady.”

When I walked through the door at the top of the steps, I saw another demonstration of the faith and trust everyone at Paideia has for one another: no locks on lockers.

Sharon Radford taught the next class: Biology Ethics. Sharon passed out an article along with questions about the debate over genetically modified crops. While Malea focused part of her attention on the worksheet, she explained how short term works.

Students choose their preferred short-term classes. Most Advanced Placement classes carry into short term and are mandatory for those in the class. Biology Ethics is a class for those who don’t have a required class second period, and it also supplies academic credit (unlike, I assume, bowling class, bridge class, or understanding dogs class).

This class seemed to pass just as quickly as the last, and once again, I was caught off guard by the students packing up and leaving without a

photos by J.D. capelouto

Trip to Paideia sheds new light on progressive ways

bell. The schedule includes breaks between every two classes. During break, people hung out in the library and on the couches in the lobby area.

There were also vending machines in a small alcove, which attracted a constant flow of students.

We headed back outside where the rain had not stopped. The building we headed towards looked a lot like a house. The door to the next classroom was glass-paneled, also more like a house door than a school’s. The fan I saw in the room reinforced the image.

The relationship to a house ended there, unless it was a teenager’s bedroom … a teenager who loved history and literature. Posters plastered the walls and projects covered most of the surrounding flat surfaces.

This poetry class was taught by Clark Cloyd. Clark had an animated style of teaching, with elaborate

SLICE OF PAIDEIA: Restored after delinquents set fire to it in 2009, the Mother Goose building (bottom left) houses classes such as high school math and history. Other classes consist of rehearsal for the spring musical, The Secret Garden, (upper left) and history of poetry with teachers such as Clark Cloyd (right). hand gestures and frank jokes, so by the end of the first period I was involved in the class discussion about 18th-century sonnets.

During a short break, I was left in the classroom with Clark and a couple of his students. He prompted them to talk about how easy short term was, but they were unwilling to admit it. Eventually, one student consented there weren’t as many tests and quizzes and the homework load was lighter. Despite most of their denials, they all groaned when Clark reminded them short term ended the next week.

Lunch finally arrived when poetry class ended. The literary magazine held a pizza sale that day, but on other days of the week, local restaurants bring pre-ordered meals for students, or students bring their own lunches.

Many were crammed inside, sitting on the couches in the high school

common area (since they don’t have anything closer to a cafeteria), but everyone I talked to said had it not been raining outside, they would be eating in the park across the street.

After an hour of lunch, all that remained for Malea was orchestra. They were working on learning the score for the upcoming school musical, The Secret Garden.

I slipped into the theater where rehearsal for the musical was already under way. I sat in a back corner, and watched the cast rehearse for the rest of the school day.

When the teacher dismissed everyone, I headed out and back down the street to the other side of campus. All in all, my day of shortterm classes was quite relaxing and fun. It seemed like a good way to get back into the work of school without loading all the hard classes on from the beginning. p

By Rachel Citrin Seven casually dressed reporters and producers gather in a sitting room with comfy chairs arranged in a semicircle around a coffee table holding a speakerphone. Across the top of the walls, seven flat-screen TVs play news coverage from various stations.

Circling the room are offices filled with sound equipment and computers. In front of the group of people, Susanna Capelouto guides the meeting and writes ideas on a dry-erase board.

Capelouto, the mother of junior Southerner staff member J.D. Capelouto, is an editor for CNN Radio.

The purpose of the meeting was to decide what to run on that day’s CNN Radio News, a daily podcast Capelouto helped launch.

As an editor, Capelouto juggles a lot of responsibilities.

“I have to make sure that what we produce is coherent and sounds good,” Capelouto said. “There is a lot of development through a fluid process.”

Her husband, Gary Capelouto, says CNN provides a good working environment. “[Her work at] CNN is more of a producer job,” he said.

“From what I understand, it’s a really good organization and is really professional. She works with a lot of top journalists, and they keep their integrity.”

Susanna Capelouto, who was born in Stadtlohm, Germany, says she has always loved the spoken word.

“Growing up, I always loved listening to the radio,” Capelouto said. “And in college, I actually worked on a radio show on campus. I was a DJ.” Her German background is one of the factors Capelouto’s

Rachel Citrin

Mother broadcasts growth of love for radio show job

A DAY AT WORK:As editor,Capelouto spends part of her day interviewing and selecting potential journalists to appear on CNN Radio News broadcast. husband says makes her unique for her job.

“Part of it is due to the fact that she was not born in the United States,” he said. “[When] she came to the United States, she really didn’t speak very good English. It is interesting that she now makes her profession working with the English language.”

Her co-worker, Pat St. Claire, agrees Capelouto’s background makes her unique.

“She has a really good grasp of the world and how it relates to the U.S., especially since she is European,” St. Claire said.

“She is good at putting stories in context and seeing how they relate to the world.”

After moving to the United States at 19, Capelouto graduated from Georgia State with a major in journalism. Capelouto

worked for ZDF Television in Germany and in college, interned for CNN. Prior to working permanently for CNN, she served as the news director for Georgia Public Broadcasting, covering Georgia and state Capitol news. Capelouto has worked on a range of stories but says her favorite stories feature the state government clashing against the federal government.

Capelouto says she has found her true love in working with audio.

“I like listening to things because to me, it is one dimensional,” Capelouto said. “You can’t be distracted. On TV, you don’t always hear what people are saying because you are occupied with the pictures, but in radio, you have to be careful with the words, describe scenes and spur imagination. By now, I view it as an art form. There is a lot of creativity in it.”

Her husband recognizes Capelouto’s deep interest.

“Radio is her passion,” Gary Capelouto said. “She reports news in an honest way.”

“She’s always prepared and is always thinking,” St. Claire said.

“She’s innovative.”

Capelouto says she enjoys her job, even though sometimes it can be tough balancing a family at the same time.

“It’s not a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job,” Capelouto said. “I always have to be ready because news happens at any time.”

Her husband finds the job a good fit for his wife because it allows her “to pursue her interests on stories that she thinks are important.”

Capelouto sees a strong future in CNN’s Radio section.

“CNN Radio is a rather small part, but a growing part,” Capelouto said. p

lifestyle

Feb. 8, 2013

Eli mansbach

16

END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: The actors converse amongst themselves as they wait for the reading to start. Throughout the play, the characters experience strange weather like excessive thunder and raining frogs.

Ross brings Armaggedon to stage in new production

By Eli Mansbach As the lights rise on the stage, thunder booms through the speakers signifying the beginning of the last week on Earth. That is how the play, written by Grady teacher Jermaine Quincy Ross, Slum Beautiful, starts.

On Jan. 12, Ross held a reading of his play at Grady’s Black Box Theatre. He invited people to come and listen and give feedback. The reading consisted of nine actors sitting at stands with scripts. Ross describes the process that a play goes through from brainstorming to production as similar to the process a comedian goes through when preparing for a segment.

“Before Chris Rock goes out in front of 70,000 people, he would spend lots of hours going to some country club in Atlanta with 100 people there and just try those jokes out,” Ross said. “Then he would develop and mature the routine he’s going to do. He knows what people will like and what they will laugh at. No one hears all those bad jokes that came out originally.”

Ross asked Gabangaye Gcabashe, a chemistry teacher at Grady, to read the part of Mr. Muhammad, the pizza joint owner. This reading was Gcabashe’s first acting role since high school.

“You always come to things, and they are

polished, but a lot of work goes into them,” Gcabashe said.

All that hard work included multiple readings between Ross and the actors in the morning and another one in the afternoon before the public reading took place. The actors would read through the script, and Ross would make things clear and make edits when necessary.

Senior Charlie Denton was among the 20-25 people who attended the reading on Jan. 12.

“Mr. Ross did a good job in that there needs to be flaws in the characters but also redeeming qualities,” Denton said.

The reading, which started at 7:30 p.m., lasted about 3 hours.

“I wanted people to come in, laugh a while and walk out smiling,” Ross said.

“And that’s what happened."

A couple of things that Ross is planning on changing include using the n-word less, adding length to Act 2 and letting the audience deepen the understanding of the characters.

The next reading will be held on Feb. 23 at Grady in the Black Box Theatre.

Ross, who started teaching math at Grady this year, grew up in a town south of Memphis and played football throughout high school and for the first two years of college.

Ross acted in the spring musical every year

in high school and, in addition, wrote and directed plays, which he continued to do during and after college.

“I won first place in the 1999 and 2000 Mississippi Community College Creative Writing Association's contest for playwriting and short story,” Ross said. “I directed plays when I was a senior in college. I started an acting group with a group of students my junior year. After I graduated college, I worked at a community theater, and I did plays like Dream Girls.”

Ross completed the master of fine arts program at Kennesaw and independently studied the curriculum that makes up the Yale master of fine arts degree. This meant that Ross received the Yale curriculum, bought the necessary books, and read through everything himself without a teacher. Ross also directed a play at Carver High School last year, where he taught math.

After all that studying and directing, in 2012, Ross sat down and wrote Slum Beautiful over the course of eight months.

“I could have finished it faster, but there were moments when I would stop and still try to get to know the characters,” Ross said.

“I would stop writing for a month and just think about who the characters are and what they would do or say in such a situation. It took about eight months to really know who the characters were and set an idea of who I

wanted the characters to be.”

Slum Beautiful follows the lives of five friends who work at a dead-end pizza joint in East Point. When President Obama announces that the world is to end in seven days, the friends decide to shoot for their dreams. Over the week that the story takes place, strange occurrences start happening like huge storms, and at one point, it starts to rain frogs.

“It’s a comedy, but it’s also a really intense drama, too,” Ross said.

Before writing Slum Beautiful, Ross spent a while living in East Point.

“I liked the community, and so I wanted to write a story about it,” Ross said. “It had it’s own swag so to speak. It had its own way of doing things. The people there really like it, and it’s a great community to be in.”

In order to get a feel for the community, Ross would ride the buses and trains, and he based a couple of the characters in the play on stories that he heard. Ross’ favorite playwright, August Wilson, inspired Ross to give a voice to the people of East Point.

“He writes a lot about African-American experiences,” Ross said. “He tries to give a voice to the people that people don’t like writing stories about. He gives a voice to the janitor or the guy that drives the bus or the cab driver. He writes stories about those simple, everyday people of our world.” p

By Caroline Morris The application process can be extremely stressful because of all of the different components: essays, recommendation letters and the application. While some students can turn to their parents, who have gone through the same process, for advice, there are many students at Grady and nationwide who are the first in their family to apply.

Recently, volunteers at the College and Career Center have been helping students who are the first college-bound members of their family to go to college with the application process.

“That's one of the main reasons Grady's CCC was formed: to give our many first-generation students a better chance at getting information and assistance in applying to college,” explained Jennifer Buyens, one of the CCC's co-directors.

In order to get first-generation students, and all students for that matter, interested in going to college and thinking about the application process, the CCC encourages teachers to bring their classes in and hosts a college fair each spring called “College in the Courtyard.”

The fair gives Grady’s juniors and seniors an opportunity to meet with recruiters and pick up information about various schools in a friendly and fun environment.

Buyens says there are two things that often intimidate or overwhelm first-generation students when looking at applying to college: planning and money. If a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, however, which often is the case for first-generation students, there are waivers for SAT, ACT and application fees.

“You shouldn’t let the money stop you,” Buyens said.

Buyens explained the process of planning is also key for a first-generation student to successfully complete the application process successfully.

A student’s choices of where to apply are significantly

narrowed if they begin the process their senior year.

When helping a first-generation student apply to college, volunteers first help the student determine what kind of school he or she would like to apply to by looking at size, type and location. From there, they can help find financial aid and scholarships schools offer, especially for first-generation students.

“There isn't one way to work with a student—we consider each individual situation, and then pull out all the stops helping them apply,” Buyens said.

Dawn Killenberg, another volunteer in the CCC, recommends first-generation students tour local colleges, even if a student is not necessarily interested in applying to local schools. “Being on a college campus and learning about their curriculum will help you and your parents understand the difference between schools and programs,” she said.

She also suggests first-generation students ask colleges if they offer programs or resources specifically for firstgeneration students and if they can do anything to help build a network for future jobs and mentoring. Many colleges have programs such as study groups and advising for first-generation students to help them feel comfortable at college and succeed while they’re there.

“First-generation-to-college students may not have the network for future opportunities that other students have,” Killenberg said. She suggests that first-generation students ask the school how they can help build a network for internships, alumni mentoring, job shadowing, research positions and career counseling.

“Once we get the student to understand that there’s plenty of opportunity, usually we just step out of the way and the student will come back,” Buyens said. “They just don’t take no for an answer, and that’s a unique trait for Grady students I think. We have so many students who know how

caroline morris

CCC helps first-generation students apply to colleges

SURFING TO SUCCESS: Susan Muntzing (left) helps Olatunde Richardson (front) and Ezequiel Soto (back) look for colleges at the CCC in room C224. to get what they want and the recruiters appreciate that.”

“We want them to dream big because there’s a lot out there,” Buyens said.

When first-generation students take advantage of everything the CCC has to offer, they will find that college can be affordable and is not far out of reach. Volunteers in the CCC help many first-generation students realize that just because they are first generation doesn’t mean that they have to limit their goals.

Natasha Wilson, a senior and first generation student at Grady, used resources offered by the CCC to complete college applications, find scholarships and financial aid, and meet with college recruiters.

"If there was no such thing as a college and career center here at Grady there would be no future for me to be honest," Wilson said. p

lifestyle

17

Feb. 8, 2013

By Ryan Bolton Nov. 6, 2012. It was said the presidential race between incumbent Barack Obama and Mitt Romney was too close to call. As election results came in, many observers focused only on the presidential election. There were many other political races around the nation, however, including the race for the Fulton County district attorney. On this day, Paul L. Howard, Jr., a parent of two Grady students, was re-elected for his fifth consecutive term as the Fulton County district attorney.

Howard was born and raised in Midville, Ga. While growing up, he was very dedicated to attaining an education.

“Coming from a small area, my school ended in eighth grade,” Howard said. “You had to travel 23 miles to the next closest city, but I had a desire to achieve, and nothing could take that from me.”

It was in high school when Howard witnessed an unfair trial against an African-American defendant. From this experience, Howard decided that he wanted to become a lawyer.

“I visited the courthouse in Burke County, and I saw how unfair the trial was,” Howard said. “It was saddening. That was the day I made a commitment to ensure fairness in the legal justice system and make sure that people were not treated in such a terrible manner.”

Howard completed high school and continued his

education by attending Morehouse College, from which he graduated cum laude, having a GPA higher than 3.0, with a degree in political science. He earned an academic scholarship to the Emory University’s School of Law, where he was elected president of the Black American Law Students’ Association and later vice president of the Student Bar Association.

Howard continued to pursue a career in law, beginning as assistant solicitor in 1976, working his way up to the deputy solicitor of the city of Atlanta. He held the position for four years, eventually becoming the assistant district attorney to Lewis Slaton, who was district attorney for 31 years. Howard served as assistant district attorney for eight years before leaving the office to work for a local law firm and later becoming the solicitor general of Fulton County.

Howard was elected district attorney in January of 1997, becoming the first African-American elected as district attorney in the state of Georgia. Since then, he has transformed the position and the criminal justice system overall.

“The office had fallen into somewhat of a recession, and required a lot of modernization,” Howard said. “I wanted to make it a very cutting-edge establishment to serve the community in the best way possible.”

Howard continued to reform the office into what it is today.

His work led to the creation of many specialized prosecution units, also known as SPUs. These units are divided into the categories of major felony, crimes against women and children, white-collar Cou rte sy

of ff joe vis da

BREAKING BARRIERS: Howard was the first African-American District Attorney in Georgia and has been in office since he was first elected in 1997.

crime, the multiagency cold case squad, public integrity and trial division.

Howard’s typical day includes meetings with his lawyers, discussions about SPUs, talking with criminal justice partners and sentencing criminals. Howard has strong feelings about the different aspects of his job, both negative and positive.

“What I enjoy most about my job is helping people who are victims bring closure to their lives and also getting the opportunity to work with partners and lawyers to help the youth,” Howard said. “The worst part, however, is seeing so many young people make bad decisions and mistakes that lead to jail time. It’s very frustrating.”

Two of Howard’s three children, senior Paul Howard III and sophomore Simone Howard, currently attend Grady and are both very proud of their father and his accomplishments.

“I can tell he really enjoys what he does,” his daughter said. “It’s good to see my dad helping out the community. He makes me want to be the best I can be for myself and him as well.”

Howard continues to work to help the community as an advocate for community service and as a member of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, a prestigious group of African-American men who work towards inspiring the youth of the community.

Howard still has many goals that he aspires to achieve in the near and far future.

“My main goal is to make Atlanta more like Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show,” Howard said. “I want to make the community much safer for people to live in. I’m also trying to become a better golfer, so if you know any experts, let me know,” he said with a laugh. p

STUDY BREAK: DWINDLE Directions: Each turn eliminate a letter to form a new word. You may rearrange the letters with each successive turn. At the end of every turn, a new word must be formed.

PARTIED

COARSER

PANCAKES

PRANKED

SWITCHES

STARRING

STAMPEDE

D E PAR T TA P ED TA P E TA P A T A

Megan Prendergast

PLASTERS

carson Shadwell

Paul Howard re-elected as DA

I’VE GOT MY ION YOU: Senior Jenny Moody works in the biochemistry department of Georgia Tech, assisting in the process of trapping calcium ions and creating simulations.

Senior Jenny Moody and her ‘mega’ not bummer semester

By Carson Shadwell Ranked eighth in her class, senior Jenny Moody appears similar to many other motivated students. Outside of school, however, she has a life of which few are aware and even fewer understand.

Moody’s average weekday starts at 8 a.m.

“Actually, I think my alarm is set to 7:57 a.m.,” Moody recalled with a laugh.

She begins her morning with a daily online Calculus Three lecture, then she pulls her blue-dyed hair into a ponytail and hops on her bike, arriving at school just in time for second period.

“My Grady classes are really easy,” Moody said.

After third period, she embarks on her second bike ride of the day to the Georgia Institute of Technology, better known as Georgia Tech. Once there, she works alongside several undergraduate students as a paid intern in the chemistry and biochemistry department.

“On a daily basis, I’m working on theoretical quantum physics applications using programming languages,” Moody said. “Recently I’ve been working on an ion trap simulation.”

Most of her work is theoretical, meaning she creates simulations using a computer as opposed to the experimental lab nearby, which physically traps the ions for experimentation. By doing simulated experiments, she can test basic theories of quantum mechanics.

Moody began her internship in May after participating in the coincidentally named Moody’s Mega Math Challenge, a 14-hour applied mathematics competition open to high school students along the East Coast.

Her team, which consisted of seniors Alex Munger, Justin Williams, Troy Kleber and Mezmure Dargie, made it to the semifinals. The team’s performance at the competition so impressed her teammate’s father that he offered the team summer internships, which they accepted.

After the start of the school year, Moody continued her internship through Grady’s work co-op program.

“She’s probably the most diligent of the theorists,” her co-worker John Addison said. “You have to be self-motivated to work here.”

“My co-workers are very nice,” Moody said. “They’ll help me if I have a bug in my code even though I mainly work on lower priority projects.”

Moody attends lectures and meetings in addition to her work in the lab.

She leaves Georgia Tech at 5 or 5:30 p.m. each day.

“I don’t really hang out with people,” she said. “My main social interaction is during school.”

Moody spends her free time biking around the neighborhood and reading postmodern literature.

“I’ve been working feverishly on a paint-by-number hot air balloon picture over the past few days,” Moody said. “I’ve made at least 20 percent progress on it.”

She will usually make dinner for herself and her father as well as clean up around her house.

“I’m getting really into cleaning lately,” Moody said. “Afterwards, my dad and I watch House Hunters.”

On the weekends, Moody works as a server at The All American Roadhouse in Virginia Highland.

“When Jenny first got here, she was very shy and timid,” said Venesha McDaniel, one of Moody’s co-workers. “After six months, we broke her out of her shell. She has this dry sense of humor and is very kind-hearted.”

Moody is conflicted about her future. She hasn’t yet decided if she wants to major in physics or genetic engineering. She does know, however, that she would like to receive a masters or doctorate in whatever area of study she decides to pursue. She also must decide between attending a liberal arts college or a college of math and technology, both of which she has applied to.

“It all depends if I can make it through high school first,” Moody said. p

18

sports

Feb. 8, 2013

HAMMERS, SCOOBERS, THUMBERS AND PUSH PASSES

Photos by Joe Lavine

Junior Ultimate co-captain Sebbi Di Francesco and the rest of Grady Gauntlet launch their season in Charlotte at the Queen City tournament on Feb. 9-10. Below, Di Francesco explains a variety of advanced throws for anyone seeking to become a more complete ultimate player.

THE HAMMER: To throw the hammer, use the same grip used for a forehand throw. The disc should start high and curve right for a right-handed thrower.

“Basically, you use a hammer when you want to throw over your opponents, if there’s no space to the side,” Di Francesco said.“Make sure there’s not a lot of wind.”

THE SCOOBER: The scoober is also thrown using a forehand grip, but it differs from the hammer because the Frisbee is held upside-down and below the head.

Scoobers are used for short, high passes.“You only want to throw the scoober when the enemy is in a zone defense, and there’s no other option,” Di Francesco said.

THE THUMBER: Hold the Frisbee between your thumb and the rest of your fingers with your thumb on the inside. The disc should start out high and then flatten out. The hammer requires an unusual grip, so Di Francesco does not advise throwing it in a game.“You never want to throw the thumber. Only outside of games.”

THE PUSH PASS: Using a backhand grip with a forehand stance, bend your forearm out to the side and push the Frisbee forward, allowing it to roll off your index finger. “You want to throw the push pass when you’re trying to pass to a teammate that’s super close to you,” Di Francesco said. “Make sure your grip is tight.”

NHL lockout melts away; fans think it’s thaw-some This winter has been full of all those activities that make the season great: ornaments hung, lights lit, dreidels spun, slopes skied and carols sung. But pucks were not dropped. This winter lacked my favorite form of seasonal entertainment: the National Hockey League.

The NHL’s third lockout in the last DECLAN FARRISEE 20 years left me and millions of fans with a sports deficiency. All of us who cheer for every hit, gasp at every save and celebrate every goal were silenced by the failure of two organizations that make professional hockey possible. The long winter nights seemed that much longer without those 60 minutes of fast-paced intensity. Hockey, however, is back!

The NHL lockout is finally over. After 113 days, the National Hockey League Players’ Association and the team owners have reached an agreement, ending the turmoil that caused the loss of 510 games and millions of dollars. Hockey has returned, but of course not in Atlanta.

For the majority of Grady students and Atlantans in general, hockey is a minor speck on their sports radar, taking a backseat to football, basketball and baseball. This led to Atlanta losing its second NHL hockey club, the Thrashers, after the 2010-2011 season. Thrashers fans suffered through their own lockout during the 2004-2005 season, which led to the cancellation of the entire season. Thankfully, this year’s lockout was not as severe.

The NHL lockout officially began on Sept. 15, shortly after the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, or CBA, a contract between the owners and NHLPA that deals with various revenue and contract policies. The main issues that the owners and NHLPA were unable to agree upon were the players’ share of hockey-related revenue, the length of entry-level and new players’ contracts, limitations on signing bonuses and the length of time needed to qualify for unrestricted free agency.

During the three-plus months it took to create a new CBA, the two groups exchanged various proposals. They negotiated on and off as fans stood by waiting for their sport to

return. Many players moved to various European leagues to stay in shape while awaiting a solution.

The lockout harmed countless businesses in teams’ hometowns. From Buffalo to San Jose, businesses that rely on hockey fans struggled without their main source of revenue.

Owners and players lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the employees hired by stadiums suffered.

Fans like me waited impatiently for our favorite sport to return. The small amount of college hockey games on television could not replace the gaping hole in our lives that the lockout created. I was deeply concerned that the entire season may be called off as more and more games were canceled.

Luckily, the two parties reached an agreement on Jan. 6. Hockey returned after a grand total of 510 games were canceled. A new CBA was created and agreed upon, and the NHL resumed with a shortened 48-game schedule, just over half of a normal 82-game season. This new contract will last until the 2021-22 season, so all of us hockey fans will be able to enjoy years of hockey without worry. p

Feb. 8, 2013

sports

19

Second playoff win eludes Falcons’ grip

How dirty of a bird are you?

1. Who is the general manager of the Falcons? a. Arthur Blank b. Thomas Dimitroff c. Mike Smith d. Jerry Jones

2. What was the Falcons’ regular season record this year? a. 12-4 b. 13-3 c. 14-2 d. 15-1

3. How many times did the Falcons pick off Peyton Manning during the first quarter against the Broncos in Week 2?

a. 0

b. 1

c. 2

d. 3

4. What current Falcons player co-hosted a football skills camp held at Grady on July 14?

a. Drew Davis

b. Sean Weatherspoon

c. Jonathan Babineaux

d. Mike Peterson 5. WHAT DO FALCONS DO?

a. Sit down

b. Lose in the playoffs

c. Hunt from above and, after sighting their prey, drop into a steep, swift

dive that can top 200 miles an hour

d. RISE UP!

Photos courtesy of Jennifer steckl

By Ansley Marks Fourth and four yards. One minute and 13 seconds remain. No timeouts left. Everyone in the stadium is watching; hearts in their throats; hands clenched waiting for the do-or-die moment that will determine the Atlanta Falcons’ fate. Heavy hopes lie on the shoulders of Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez. And the pressure is on Matt Ryan to make the perfect pass. Fourth and four more to go. They snap the ball and for a split second the dome falls silent as the ball slips from wide receiver Roddy White’s grasp.

“Everyone was on their feet and praying,” said junior Emily Ferris, who attended the NFC Championship game at the Dome.

Ferris described the atmosphere at that time as desperate yet optimistic.

“Some people had left [during the last few plays of the game] but my section was still crazy,” Ferris said.

The four-point lead the San Francisco 49ers enjoyed during the NFC championship on Jan. 20 proved insurmountable to the Falcons. Until that pivotal moment, Ryan’s mistakes and the 49ers’ missed opportunities canceled each other out, but once the 49er’s running back Frank Gore slipped in the end zone for their final score, Ryan’s slip-ups proved fatal for the Falcons.

The final score was 28-24 in the 49ers’ favor.

One game short of the Super Bowl, the Falcons’ playoff fortunes went south after that fourth-down failure, but only one NFL team gets to end its season with a win. The other 31 end with failure. The question is: did the Falcons’ 2012 regular season and playoff run leave the team prepared for a better future? Grady’s Dirty Birds believe the answer is an emphatic yes.

“I think the Falcons will have another good season next year,” senior Alex Munger said. “The only real impact the off-season will have is losing Tony Gonzalez, but other than that all of their core players are in their prime.”

Dejected yet faithful Grady fans remain hopeful for next season and beyond. The Falcons have made it to the playoffs four out of the past five years, and this year they got a much-needed playoff win that legitimized the moves of owner Arthur Blank and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Some believe next year the Falcons will make it to the Super Bowl. Others share the same hopes as Munger. Scollard is very optimistic about next season.

“We have a solid team,” senior Patrick Scollard said. “Even though we will probably be losing Tony Gonzalez this year, we have a good number of young guys. Matt Ryan will be here for a long time, and he’s still on the uprise. Julio Jones is one of the best receivers in the NFL and he in tandem with Roddy White [make] an awesome duo. I don’t think you could get a better set of wide receivers for next year.”

Many hope that Tony Gonzalez, who is considered one of the top tightends in NFL history, will stay with the Falcons despite Gonzalez’s statement that he is 95 percent sure of retirement. The Falcons will maintain the highly respected trio of Jones, White and Harry Douglas, who are highly ranked offensive players, as well as most of the unheralded yet effective defensive unit.

Despite the upset for many fans at the end to a successful season, Grady Dirty Birds say they will still rise up for coming seasons. “Before [the Falcons] were just a wishy-washy team,” Scollard said. “But after the playoff, the Falcons have proved that we are good enough.” p For more Falcons coverage, see page 5.

TEAM PLAYER: Sophomore Lia Pett (center) enjoys a moment with her team before the Atlanta Public Schools Championship Meet on Dec. 11 at the Washington Park Natatorium. In addition to qualifying for the state championship swim meet in three individual events, Pett qualified for state on a relay team with seniors Lily Trapkin, Barri Jones and Kate de Give in the 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay. The girls will compete on Feb. 8 at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Pett practices her dive before the start of the APS Championship Meet. The new Grady swim coaches, parent Linda Pozner and math teacher John Rives, stress the importance of a swimmer’s warm-up and stretching at each meet.

Q&A

with varsity swimmer, sophomore Lia Pett

How old were you when you started competition swimming? Why did you start?

Pett: I was 6 when I started swimming on a summerleague team. I started because my friends from school like [sophomore] Brandon Kleber were doing it. Our parents talked and decided I should do it, too.

When did you discover your talent for swimming?

Pett: When I was about 11 because I hit my growth spurt. I was going to state regularly, and I was really close to making AAA, which is the second highest ranking for your swim times that range from BB to AAAA. What was your best stroke when you were younger? Is that still your best stroke?

Pett: When I was little, it was definitely freestyle, but in the last few years I’ve switched to butterfly.

When I switched from the City of Atlanta Dolphins [or CAD] to The DeKalb Aquatics Tiger Sharks [or DAQ], the coaches saw potential in my butterfly and started working with me.

How many teams have you been on? Why did you switch teams?

Pett: I’ve only been on CAD and DAQ. My first team was really great relationship-wise, but the coaching wasn’t good. Also, our team was falling apart, and no one was coming to practice. It was so hard to switch.

How did switching teams affect your swimming?

Pett: My swimming got a little bit better in the be-

ginning. I really liked my first coach, but then I got moved up to the top-level group. [The top-level group] had a bunch of senior guys and only a few girls. Now a lot more people have been moved up, so I like it better.

What do you enjoy most about swimming? Why do you keep doing it?

Pett: It’s one of the only sports that works all of your muscles simultaneously, and my friends are on the team. It’s also just a great way to relieve your stress and release energy. I’m very hyper, so I need to do something physical every day.

In which events have you qualified for the Georgia High School State Swimming Championships?

Pett: I’ve made it in the 100-yard freestyle, 200yard individual medley, 100-yard butterfly, 200yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay.

I almost made in the 100-yard backstroke, but I’m milliseconds off.

What other sports are you involved in besides swimming?

Pett: I do cross country, triathlons and some cycling. I like triathlons a lot because [competing in triathalons] is a totally different feeling from other sports.

What are your future swimming plans?

Pett: I want to keep swimming throughout high school, but I want to do different stuff in college.

I’ve been competing in triathlons since I was 9, and I really like them. It’s fun because you’re doing three different things, so it doesn’t get boring.

ANSWERS: 1) b 2) b 3)d 4) c 5) d

the Sports section

thesoutherneronline.com

HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA

Feb. 8, 2012

VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 5

SPORTS ELICIT LOVE, SERVE AS ‘MICROCOSM OF LIFE’ I was cooking tortellini the first time I actually racked my brain for the reasons as to why I love sports.

Now, cooking frozen all natural Celantano cheese tortellini is a delicate process, and I take it very seriously. If the pasta isn’t strained quickly, it starts to stick together. If the butter is not placed

I love sports because Chris Bosh looks so funny sometimes. and after he crosses the finish line, still breaking records I love sports because we Falcons fans sure know how to in the process. celebrate a big win.

I love sports because I love sports because they bring my friends a no-name D-LeaguDAMIEN SWANN and me together. er named Lin can I love sports because Hank Aaron has class, UGA SOPHOMORE DB inexplicably domiand he remains the true home-run king. nate his sport for I love sports because Coach Millen is a two weeks and capJoe Lavine “I love sports cause it’s ture the attention of great guy to talk to. in the pot immedisomething I’ve been doing my the world.

I love sports because ately after the pasta Reggie Miller can score I love sports beentire life. I love sports because I COACH BRIAN WEEDEN is dumped into the eight points in 9 seconds, cause Marshawn Lynch love to win. I love sports because of how VARSITY BASKETBALL strainer, it will take and because Spike Lee is a showed the Saints who’s excited the fans get. I love sports longer to melt. very animated fan. boss, and because Jacquizz “I’ve been involved with because of the money you Rodgers showed the SeaAnd after the butI love sports because when I it all my life ... baseball, ter is mixed with can make if you’re mess up, it’s only going to make me hawks who’s boss. football, basketball. I love to the pasta, you can’t work harder to make you mess up.

I love sports because of the good at it.” be around kids [and] watch forget to sprinkle on I love sports because of how athletes George Mason’s and the VCU’s, the shredded Parmesan show what they’re made of after having a and because Butler can make it to them be able to succeed. If you and the basil. bad game.

After getting beat for the winthe national championship. Twice. play a sport, it’ll be a life long But as my mind startning touchdown against Alabama in the I love sports because, as Kevin Garnett lesson. I like being around it. ed shuffling through sports SEC championship game, Grady’s own Dami- knows as well as anyone, “Anything is posssssibbbllllleeee!”

It’s all I watch on TV.” memories, my column began to an Swann responded with two interceptions in I love sports because the king of the world floats like a kindle, and my Celantano cooled Georgia’s 45-31 win over Nebraska in the Capitol butterfly and stings like a bee. down. Before I knew it, the notes One Bowl.

I love sports because I can look back at a bloody shirt app in my iPod contained 26 furiously I love sports because Boise State ran a hook and lateral and say, “Damn, I played hard.” typed (and frequently auto-corrected) reaand a Statue of Liberty play in the same game and because I love sports because joning contests on the bus and in the sons. The tasty pockets of cheese clumped running back Ian Johnson’s proposal was successful. locker room quickly transition to brotherhood in the huddle. together in the strainer, and the Earth Balance I love sports because a football is thrown in a beautiful I love sports because of Coach Thomas, Coach Brown, natural buttery spread melted ever so slowly. If I spiral, a basketball is dribbled between the legs or behind the Coach Weeden, Coach Hooley, Dylan Tunnell, Ms. Mercer had been willing to completely ruin my lunch, my back, a baseball splits, sinks or curves, a soccer ball bends, a and Ms. Taylor, but especially because of Coach Slade. list would have far surpassed 26 reasons, and as I continue tennis ball slices and a Frisbee floats long enough for me to I love sports because if anyone’s going to win not four, not to play sports, my final list of 39 will be as shallow as the run the length of the field to catch it. five, not six, not seven, it’s Lebron, and if anyone’s going to tub of butter.

I love sports because new ones can develop, stop him, it’s Kevin Durant.

The reasons below mean a lot to me, and I hope you with new attitudes of play. Ultimate is I love sports because will be able to identify with some, whether you’re an ath- known for its strong spirit of sportsmiracles haplete, an aspiring scientist or my dad. So, without further manship and respect, which is cerCOACH CRAMER pen, whether ado, these are the reasons #whyIlovesports. tainly necessary when the players they’re on ice, CROSS COUNTRY I love sports because of the sweet sound of a swoosh. are the ones calling grass, wood or I love sports bethe fouls. artificial turf.

“One thing is I like the competitive aspect cause after a COACH MILLEN I love sports I love sports of spor ts. I think it’s fun to compete. I don’t long pracLL because there because MiBA OT FO tice, water really care whether I win or not. It’s fun to feel are trainers like chael Jordan really Peter Dreisbach tastes like was once Mike as if you’re going head to head with someon ts because spor ts is or sp e lik “I e, heaven. who use science to Jordan, a 5-footof t in any spor t. The second thing I like about spor of life. It ’s a lo I love ts is make my body able 10 sophomore like a microcosm to that your body responds physiologically and sports ben you compare it to run faster, jump who was cut from he W s. on ss le e lif . is cause I love ts or higher and cut faster. his high school varsity sp ay chemically so that you just feel better. at ’s the w to win. the real world, th I love sports because minbasketball team.

Wh en you ’re par tici pat ing ant something w u yo if I love sports rd ha utes after I got a concussion, I I love sports because afk or You gotta w r fo d ar h because it’s not k in or any could laugh with teammates on the ter the game in which I scored acti w ve a spor t, all in li fe . Yo u go tt about what you can sideline about not knowing what month it the only four points of my high in day long, you just be good what you wanna say. It’s about what you is, but afterwards my brain can still recall laughschool varsity basketball career, s you feel bet ter. ” can do. ing with them on the sideline. my teammates and coaches clapped spor ts. It just give .”

I love sports because it’s et tl ou I love sports because of how severely Roberto Carit up for me in the locker room. a tr that ex acceptable to eat a ton of wings los’ free kick in 1997 bamboozled Fabien Barthez, and I love sports because once you get while you watch them. because of Higuita’s extremely unnecessary but extraordiout on the field or court, you can leave I love sports because I can push my narily athletic heroics. everything behind you and just play. body to its physical limits.

I love sports because you can play them outside, and if I love sports because they give me something I love sports because Magic Johnson smiled it’s freezing, you’ll warm up. to write about. p a lot ... and keeps on smiling.

I love sports because it’s more fun going fast than going slow, Why do you love sports? Let us know on the Southerner FaI love sports because of all the different people I’ve met and it’s more fun being high in the air than on the ground. cebook page, tweet it with #whyIlovesports or post a comment in pickup games that I would have never met otherwise.

I love sports because of Usain Bolt’s celebrations, before our website.

Grady Sports Score Central: January Boys and Girls Basketball Jan. 3 Grady 65, SW DeKalb 61 Jan. 4 Grady 54, Morrow 53 Jan. 5 Wenonah 69, Grady 65 Jan. 8 Grady 47, Washington 35

Grady 61, Washington 20

Jan. 11 Grady 69, Therrell 57 Grady 55, Therrell 27 Jan. 12 Grady 55, N. Atlanta 51 Grady 57, N. Atlanta 50 Jan. 15 Grady 72, S. Atlanta 70

Grady 47, S. Atlanta 44

Jan. 18 Grady 56, Lithonia 50 Grady 73, Lithonia 23 Jan. 22 Columbia 70, Grady 53 Columbia 70, Grady 39 Jan. 25 Grady 71, Redan 55 Redan 60, Grady 33

Swimming Jan. 26 Grady 75, Carver 55 Grady 58, Carver 46 Jan. 29 Washington 47, Grady 46 Grady 55, Washington 28 p Boys p Girls

Jan. 19: Riverwood Invitational Meet (12 schools competing) @ Marist High School Grady placed seventh overall.

The girls swam a 4:04 400-yard freestyle relay to qualify for state.

Jan. 25: Metro Championship Meet (36 schools competing) @ Westminister Grady did not place because they did not compete in the finals.

See complete coverage of games on thesoutherneronline.com and on The Southerner Facebook page.