The Southerner Volume 66, Issue 4

the Southerner S I N C E

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HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA

thesoutherneronline.com VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 4

DEC. 9, 2011

Transformation comes at a cost

By Carson Shadwell n the 2010-2011 school year, APS spent $569,000 on the salaries of six Grady administrators—the principal, assistant principal and four academy leaders. This marks a sharp increase from the $309,000 in salaries paid to the Grady principal, assistant principal and communications magnet coordinator before the small learning communities were implemented.

Grady began the transition to small learning communities in 2009, first phasing in the freshman class that year. By 2014, all classes will be integrated into small learning communities.

“All high schools in Atlanta Public Schools were required to divide into small learning communities or separate schools,” Principal Vincent Murray said.

“This requires that there be academy leaders or different principals.”

At Grady, a different administrator heads each of the four academies: communications and journalism, biomedical science and engineering, business and entrepreneurship, and public policy and justice. This represents a substantial increase in the number of administrators from before the academies were created.

“As most high schools under the transformation have three or four small schools [or] small learning communities, the number of principals per high school has increased three- and four-fold on average, depending on the individual high school,” said Keith Bromery, director of media relations for APS. Communications and journalism academy leader Carrie MacBrien said there are benefits to having more administrators.

“These added administrative jobs have allowed students to receive more individual attention,” MacBrien said. “I am more involved in the student life as a whole [as a result of the academies.] It’s a very similar experience to the magnet program.”

Joe Martin, who ran for State School Superintendent last year and served 20 years on the school board, also believes the small school model offers benefits.

“There can be significant advantages from having see SALARIES, page 10

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LUCY LEONARD

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Parents crowd around a demographer at a redistricting meeting at Parkside Elementary School on Dec. 1. APS held the meeting to explain plans to rezone elementary, middle and high schools in the School Reform Team-3 zone to relieve overcrowding at Grady and its feeder schools.

ZONING PLANS CREATE BIG STIR P

By Elizabeth McGlamry and Rachel Citrin acked like sardines, more than 700 concerned APS students, parents and administrators filled the auditorium at Parkside Elementary School on Dec. 1 to hear demographers explain their plans to rezone APS elementary, middle and high schools for the School Reform Team-3 zone. People still streamed into the overcrowded room half an hour after the meeting started, lining the back and sides of the auditorium, sitting on stray chairs or tables or even the floor, all eager to hear what the demographers had to say about their controversial plans.

The McKibben Demographics Research group, based in South Carolina, compiled four sets of maps, each representing four different proposals for each school level. Each group of maps changes the zoning lines and feeder patterns for some schools and includes plans to build a new “Midtown Middle School” on the current North Atlanta High School campus. According to the demographic report, the redistricting is necessary because many APS schools face extreme overcrowding while some schools are operating at 30-

50 percent capacity. The insufficient use of resources is a drain on the APS budget, according to the demographics group.

The demographers also anticipate an enrollment “bubble,” a large group of young pre-K and elementary school children, that will tax the capacity of existing middle and high schools in the next few years. The demographic group reported that if nothing is changed, Grady feeder school Inman Middle School would rise to 184 percent capacity at the peak of this “bubble,” and Grady would balloon to 127 percent capacity.

Sharon Bray is a parent of three kids at Grady, Inman and Morningside—three schools directly affected by all four of the proposed redistricting plans. Bray believes redistricting had to happen but that it may come at a cost. “[Redistricting] is hard, but overcrowding has reached a point in which we have to do something,” Bray said. “But it causes more problems than it solves.”

At the meeting, the demographics group stressed that these see SHIFTING, page 10

Botanical Garden lights up neighborhood with LED holiday wonderland

By Lindsey Leonard he Botanical Garden’s newest exhibit, Garden Lights Holiday Lights, illuminates a section of Piedmont Park for people all around the neighborhood to see. The few lights seen from the street, however, are only a fraction of what is inside the garden.

Nearly one million energy-efficient LED lights illuminate the garden as families, friends and couples enjoy caroling, hot chocolate, dining, a lit fireplace with “Make-Your-Own S’mores” kits and more.

Rain or shine, the exhibit is open after 5 p.m. until Jan. 7.

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Every morning, dozens of tardy students line up to receive passes to class. Next semester, however, the policies for tardiness will be stricter.

Jason Diem, visitor experience manager, explained that years ago, the idea of an on-foot holiday lights show was brought to the attention of the Botanical Garden staff.

Diem said employees immediately contacted gardens from around the country, gathering as much information, advice and suggestions as they could to put together an outdoor exhibit.

“Some lights are custom, so you won’t see them anywhere else, ever,” Diem said.

Since the beginning of set-up in July, volunteers, staff, engineers and hired companies worked day and night put-

12 people

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the Center for Puppetry Arts gives kids the chance to enjoy a holiday puppet show while adults relive the timeless tale.

ting the show together. Diem said he does not know how long it will take to remove the 85 miles of lights.

Alice Pugh, who has volunteered at the Botanical Garden as a tour guide since 2000, attended a lesson along with approximately 20 other volunteers during which a Savannah College of Art and Design designer taught Pugh and other volunteers how to put together lights for the garden exhibit.

“I would have never believed this exhibit would have involved so many people,” Pugh said. “They also took into see GARDEN, page 12

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Local photographer Chip Simone was featured in an exhibit at the High Museum of Art from June 18 to Nov. 6 and is now looking to future exhibitions.

The Southerner revisits the turning point of the 2011 football season, the Knights’ 49-16 loss to archrival and eventual region champ, St. Pius.

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Dec. 9, 2011

Editorial Board

the Southerner

Taylor Allen Jasmine Burnett Shaun Kleber LeJoi Lane Lucy Leonard Gabrielle Siegel

Fence fails to guard Before Thanksgiving break, workmen buzzed around the trailers. Their materials were scattered throughout the upper field, and sounds of construction and tinkering resonated throughout the instructional suites. Little did we know, the workers were setting up an almost 8-foot fence encircling the trailers, transforming the upper field into something resembling a zoo.

Some of you may be thinking that’s a little extreme, but if you go and stand against the fence looking out to Charles Allen Drive, the first thought to pop into your head may be, “Wow, this is what the tigers and gorillas must feel like.” If you aren’t an animal lover, maybe it would be more appropriate to like the metal-wire structure to that of a prison fence in the movies. It is just as tall and ominous as the ones you see on Prison Break.

Administrative assistant David Propst said the school erected the fence to ensure the “safety and security of students and equipment.” Rumors, however, have permeated the school, with students saying the fence was put up to trap skippers, ward off Atlanta’s homeless at night and keep vagabonds from coming and terrorizing trailer students. Whatever the real reason, we have to question if this fence is really all that effective and worth whatever money was spent to erect it.

First, Grady is an open campus. Try as it might, the administration will always fail in its efforts to secure the campus—unless, of course, they build another fence around the entire campus. Then we would really be a zoo.

The point is, there will always be routes through which skippers can leave.

Now they just need to walk a few extra feet. There will always be areas of campus where homeless people can wander, and there will always be the threat of unwanted visitors. So the answer to our problems isn’t a fence around a fifth of Grady’s acreage. The answer is increased security. You could put up tons of tiny fences in the attempt to keep Grady safer, but the real solution is real, live people guarding the students and functional cameras ensuring safety.

But who knows? Maybe the real reason for the fence is so APS can sell tickets to the Grady High School Zoo. We are in a budget crisis, after all. p

Finals week flawed At every school, finals week is one of the most stressful times of the year.

Many schools, however, have figured out a system to make the testing week more manageable. Students go to school, take the test or tests scheduled for that day and go home after that—around midday—to study for their upcoming tests.

At Grady, however, we are kept in school all day, every day. For the last couple days of the semester, we have to sit through every class, regardless of whether it has a final exam.

That may sound like a reasonable system. We’re supposed to be in school, right? By the end of the semester, however, our classes are drawing to a close, and teachers tend to dedicate the last few days to giving students time to catch up with makeup work, study for finals or relax by watching a movie. Let’s face it: other than final exams, the last week of school before we get out for winter break is a waste of time.

We could catch up on our makeup work at home. We could study for finals at home—and would probably do a better job without the distraction of our friends. And if we wanted to watch a movie, we could do that at home too.

Although we understand there would be complications with this privilege, there’s nothing that can’t be easily worked out. The school is required to serve lunch because many students qualify for free or reduced lunch and need to eat at school. Administrators, however, could simply allow those who don’t to eat school lunch to leave.

We may still be young, but we’re in high school and deserve the freedom to decide where we would be most productive. It should be acceptable for students to take their exams in the morning and leave afterward to work and study at home. We would all have more holiday cheer if we weren’t held captive on a campus without meaningful work to do. p

C O R R E C T I O N S In “Anonymous threat starts second soft lockdown” (Nov. 11, page 7), chemistry teacher Rachel Obeidin was misquoted regarding what she heard over the announcements during the second soft lockdown. She really said she thought she heard the word “assault” not “salt” as originally reported.

In “Veteran teachers tell tales of their experienced past” (Oct. 24, page 17), English teacher’s given name is Mary Elisabeth Willoughby, but she goes by Lisa.

Fans also provide stimulus for fights I agree with much of what was said in “Sports figures forget we play for enjoyment” (Nov. 11, page 16). Violence and bad sportsmanship really do take away from the experience of the game. Of course, that’s just my opinion. I think Gabrielle Siegel neglected to address the fact that fans may be a stimulus for overthe-top sports rivalries.

Fans encourage fights between teams and players. Friends have told me before that people go to hockey games to see fights. I feel like fights were initiated for publicity or rating. As that progressed, it has grown into something bigger between the teams and players.

Orli Hendler sophomore

Rumors about soft lockdown comical “Anonymous threats start second soft lockdown” (Nov. 11, page 7) was very enlightening.

There are many rumors about what exactly was going on, and

hopefully this has helped to dispel most of them.

I find it amusing how many rumors were started about the lockdown, from homeless people in the school to mass murderers in the area.

I do, however, disagree with comments that drama students were locked out. The attempts to ratchet up the school’s security were admirable, but we had no problem getting back into the school.

Zoe Schneider sophomore

Displeasure with Infinite Campus I would like to respond to the article “Infinite Campus fails to calculate grades accurately” (Nov. 11, page 7). I love this article! My mom checks my brother’s and my Infinite Campus status regularly. The grades that I keep up with and the ones on Infinite Campus are different. To be more specific, the Infinite Campus grades are worse than my actual grades. This article was great for explaining to my mom that even though she believes Infinite Campus is right, in fact it is wrong.

Taylor Cox junior

uestion

I enjoyed “Student lot conveniences all but students” (Nov. 11, page 2) because parking for students in the student parking lot is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Administrators stand on Eighth Street and direct the students getting off the bus, but there is no one in the student parking lot.

To add to that problem, there are teachers who park in the lot, taking up spaces that should be reserved for students. Seeing as many students are new drivers, administrators should make sure there are enough parking spots to avoid accidents like the author’s.

This piece addresses these situations and so many others that need to be handled, since most students don’t want to say anything.

Talore Williams

senior

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 winterworks@aol.com.

f the month

What do you think about the new fence around the trailers?

“

I definitely think that the fences around the trailers will stop people from skipping.”

“

The fencing should be around the whole school because just having it around the trailers doesn’t make any sense.”

Teryn Brielle Patrick junior

Connor Loveless freshman

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I feel that the fences make our school feel less inviting and less attractive for visitors.”

“

It’s strange because we never had fences where I come from. The meaning of the fence is scary.”

Moritz Jung sophomore

Immanuel Brown senior

Southerner Staff 2011-2012 Managing Editors: Jasmine Burnett, Shaun Kleber Associate Managing Editors: LeJoi Lane, Lucy Leonard Design Editor: Elizabeth McGlamry Photo Editor: Audrey Vaughn A&E Editors: Lindsey Leonard, Alix Youngblood Comment Editors: Taylor Allen, Gabrielle Siegel Doubletruck Editors: Molly Daniel, Lauren Harper News Editors: Kenny Cochran, Nile Kendall People Editors: Steve Terry, Lauren Scott Sports Editors: Nally Kinnane, Phillip Suitts

Student lot causes problems for all

Staff: Emma Aberle-Grasse, Ollie Aberle-Grasse, Konadu Amoakuh, Mac Barrineau, Rachel Citrin, Miles Clark, Thomas Cox, Sammi Dean, Kate de Give, Anna Fuller, Jolie Jones, Tatiana Johnson, Olivia Kleinman, Troy Kleber, Joe Lavine, Ciena Leshley, Simon McLane, Lauren Ogg, Grace Power, Diana Powers, Megan Prendergast, Jordan Ross, Hunter Rust, Carson Shadwell, Will Staples, Alex Stearns-Bernhart, Isabelle Taft, Olivia Veira, Gracie White

An upbeat paper for a downtown school Advisers: Kate Carter, Dave Winter

To our readers,

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

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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Dec. 9, 2011

Innovation can cheapen holiday gifts

e with r u t a N

ALEX Laziness leads to discomfort in wilderness Axel Olson

The holidays—a season that, according to Urban Dictionary, is “generally accepted to be both the best part of the year (for people under the age of 14) and the worst Molly Daniel part of the year (for people over the age of 14).”

The seasonal panic has been especially visible for the past few years due to the economic downtown. Now that most of us are over the age of 14 and expected to give our parents more than a macaroni necklace or popsicle picture frame, the pressure of the holidays are ever-present.

The main source of holiday stress is the large sum of money we are expected to spend. Be it Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza, we are sure to spend a lot of money on some sort of gift, decoration or holiday party.

To avoid stress and save pennies, my family decided that, for Christmas, multiple gifts for each person in the family was just too much.

A few years ago, we decided to have a mini Secret Santa. Each family member was in charge of stuffing another’s stocking. Besides that, we wouldn’t give any other gifts.

As we got into the spirit of minimalism, we began getting creative and decided to use our classic stockings as a house decoration and buy cheap stockings to decorate for each person.

My mother, a florist, got a stocking decorated with a snowman made out of fake flowers. I made my sister, a New Yorker, a stocking that depicted a felt skyline with a checkered taxi driving through it.

My friends and I have also begun a large Secret Santa celebration ourselves. We are given a friend’s name and told a price limit for our gift.

Before the holiday break, we hold a small party to give the gifts and ring in our holiday cheer.

The holidays have also been marked as a time to help those in need. Commercials, movies and songs fill us with the idea of “giving back this holiday season.” We are expected to be more generous during these two months. The idea of “giving back” has become dishing out money for those who are less fortunate, which is a wonderful thing. But as a soon-to-be college students, many of us seniors have to save every penny that we can.

If you don’t have the funds to make a donation, visit a homeless shelter and bring a steaming thermos of eggnog or hot cocoa. The smiles you will get are enough to light up a Christmas tree for a week. No time to visit a homeless shelter? Carry some candy canes with you and hand them out, or at the very least, say “happy holidays” to anyone that will listen. These simple acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day.

This holiday season doesn’t need to be marred by the commercial bells and whistles now associated with the holidays. We can stop ourselves from becoming Grinches by remembering the old traditions. Turn on some holiday tunes and sit by the fire. Take the time to rock around the Christmas tree or light a menorah with your family. Go caroling with your friends for kicks and giggles. Deck your halls with boughs of holly, or just gaze at the twinkling lights of your neighbor’s house. p

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Republicans’ campaigns lack personalized ideas Remember that day in elementary school when we all sat in the gym eagerly awaiting the fifth-grade presidential candidates’ speeches? I do. I reLauren Harper member everything about it. I remember being promised longer recess and better cafeteria food. At the time, I thought all my wishes would come true.

Remember the days in 2007 when President Obama made speech after speech promising the country better health care and better national security? I do. I remember watching people on television chanting “Yes We Can” for minutes at a time. I remember walking into school Nov. 3, 2008 to a hall of people chanting “Obama! Obama!” Spirits were high.

Over the past three years, American’s hopes and expectations for President Obama have faded. It is expected that Republican candidates will focus on criticism of the president. After all, they are trying to win the election. Complimenting the current president isn’t the best strategy.

But I have a new game plan to suggest to Rick, Newt and Michelle: How about focusing on what you will bring to the table instead of how Obama has failed.

I’m no expert on the history of the United States and its political challenges, but I know Obama didn’t step into a thriving economy. It is common knowledge that the job losses and unemployment rate have not been this bad since the Great Depression.

I have heard wellknown economists, newscasters and professors come

up with different solutions to the current economic situation. So obviously, the solution is far from simple. I also know that filtering through Obama’s every action is not helpful.

Last Tuesday night, I sat around with my family watching the Republican debate on national security. Boy, was that fun. When asked about their strategies for improving our national security, they redirected their answers to what Obama had failed to do.

If only I could refresh their memory of a few months ago when our president successfully led an operation to kill one of the biggest terrorists in the world. That, of course, is never mentioned. Neither are his plans to bring home servicemen from Iraq by the end of the year.

With only months to go until the first Republican primary, candidates should be distinguishing themselves from the others, to allow Republican voters to make more informed choices and provide relief from the bullying of Obama.

No one is perfect. People don’t always keep every promise that they make.

Obama should be held to higher standards than the rest of us, but he should also be respected for what he has done. He has provided relief to the victims of numerous natural disasters around the world, given everyone the opportunity to access affordable health care and worked to put a greater importance on our public school system.

These accomplishments deserve some praise.

We are not in fifthgrade anymore and we cannot naively expect all campaign promises to come true. Let’s be big girls and boys and start thinking more Elizabeth McGlamry realistically. p

By Alex Stearns-Bernhart I sat under my tarp listening to the sounds of rain pattering against the thin sheet of polycoated nylon I would call my home for what appeared to be a long night. As the night went on, a small river developed in the middle of my shelter, and I was lying in the middle of it. I began to develop the first signs of hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering and a lack of sound judgment. I reached into my backpack to find another layer, but everything was soaked.

I decided I needed some other way to stay warm, so I started the long process of making a bow drill fire, a type of friction fire when you rub two sticks together fast enough that you get a coal. I struggled to make this fire in the rain, but eventually I got it going. As I sat around the fire, I could feel my body temperature rise. I have never loved fire as much as I did then.

I learned many lessons during this frightening experience, but the most important was that there are no shortcuts in the wilderness. In our society, we are always looking for shortcuts through life, and often think, “How little effort can I put into this and still get the job done?”

I realized this difficult night could have been prevented if I had just taken the time to make a decent shelter. It only would have taken five or 10 extra minutes to make sure that my tarp was secure and watertight.

Instead, I sloppily strung my tarp between a pair of trees, which did not work out very well for me in the long run. Yes, I did save some initial time setting up the tarp, but I lost even more time making the fire and having to make constant adjustments to the tarp.

As if this night alone was not enough to teach me to avoid the uncomfortable by-products of laziness, another embarrassing situation reinforced that lesson.

I was demonstrating how to make a bow drill fire for a group of children. I did not have the most ideal materials for the fire, but I assumed that I could make it work. No matter how hard I tried, I could not make a fire with that particular kit. I went at it for about an hour until I just couldn’t go anymore. Not only was I embarrassed in front of all these little kids, but we still didn’t have a fire.

Again, if I had just taken the time to gather the proper materials, I would have made a great fire and blown those kids’ minds. I even knew where the proper materials were; I just didn’t want to go out of my way to get them. I was being lazy.

I would truly love to say this was the last unpleasant night I have spent sleeping in a puddle due to my lack of preparation, but I would be lying if I did. Curbing my laziness is something I am still working on, but I encourage others to learn from my foolish mistakes and remember that there are no shortcuts in the woods or in our day-to-day lives. p

EXCLUSIVELY @ theSoutherneronline.com Holiday hype and consumerism confusing

Three-day plays from the eyes of an actor

Obituary: R.I.P. Ben and Jerry’s

When I asked my sister to tell me the first thing that popped into her head when I said “the holidays,” she immediately blurted out “Christmas tree.”We’re Jewish.When you type the word “December’” into Google Images, graphics of Santa and decorated trees cover ...

To write, rehearse and perform a play in three days is chaotic, let alone to do it in 24 hours as professional actors do. The 24-hour plays were started in New York City after Sept. 11, 2011 by actors and writers who wanted to do something........

May the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shop in Virginia Highland rest in peace after shutting its doors on Oct. 31 following 15 years of service at this location. This closing leaves only six Ben and Jerry’s in Georgia; two at Six Flags...

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Paterno’s discharge wrong, undeserved

Coach lacks morals; punishment earned

By Josiah Garrett

By Jeffrey Cox The venerable head football coach for Penn State University, Joe Paterno, was fired on Nov. 9 due to his handling of the allegations of child molestation by his former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky. When informed by an eyewitness of one particular incident approximately 10 years ago, Paterno immediately reported it to the university’s athletic director and the head of campus police, as mandated by law.

Unfortunately, his superiors did virtually nothing about the incident and, by not reporting the allegation to the police, committed a crime.

Many argue that although Paterno did what the law required him to do, report the incident to his superiors, he should have done more. There is no question that he did not do as much as he could have, nor probably as much as he should have, but is that something that warrants a wellrespected coach to be fired?

Over the course of Sandusky’s career with Penn State and as a retired physical education teacher with full access to the football facilities, he allegedly molested dozens of children he met through a charity he started for underprivileged children. Despite the atrocities Sandusky appears to have committed, one should ask themselves if, in Paterno’s situation, they would not have done the same thing.

Sandusky was a close friend and work colleague of Paterno’s throughout his career at the university. Not only that, but when Paterno found out about Sandusky’s actions, Sandusky was no longer a member of the coaching staff and therefore could not have been fired or suspended by Paterno. In that case, he did the right thing in reporting the incident to the Penn State athletic director Tim Curley, who did have the power to do something about Sandusky’s job. Paterno was clearly trying to protect a personal relationship he had while still following the law and being a good citizen.

It is easy for us to watch on the sidelines and say Paterno should have done more in order to stop the abuse he knew was going on, but the reality is that most people probably would have done just as much as he did, if not less. Sandusky was a friend of Paterno’s, and they had known each other for a long time. It is understandable he didn’t report directly to the police. The fact that he has been so heavily scrutinized by the general populace is probably because they don’t want to admit they would be as imperfect as he was.

It is human nature to want to protect friendships, and he should not have been fired because of it. p

e h T

Dec. 9, 2011

Joe Paterno’s tenure as head football coach at Penn State ended on a sour note. After the news of the child molestation scandal at Penn State broke, Paterno announced he would be stepping down at the end of the season and said there was no need to fire him since he would leave of his own free will. Because of the horrific atrocities committed at Penn State and Paterno’s inaction involving them, the Board of Trustees decided that his employment shouldn’t last until the end of the season and fired him immediately.

Firing Paterno promptly was the right choice. Now, let’s not sugar-coat this. Paterno knew there was reason to believe children were being raped, molested and assaulted by his longtime friend.

Paterno brought that information to his “boss” (in all honesty, Paterno was the most powerful man on the entire campus, which makes his inaction all the more disturbing). He then did nothing more and never involved the police.

Paterno continued to be just as inactive in the situation as his “bosses” were. That unforgivable inaction allowed the assaults, rapes and molestations to continue. His inaction led to more innocent lives being damaged. Any person who allows such heinous atrocities to occur severely lacks any moral judgment.

Part of Paterno’s job is to supervise the growth and maturation of the players entrusted to his care. Didn’t he prove himself unfit to fulfill those responsibilities by demonstrating his lack of moral judgment when he didn’t act more aggressively?

It is obvious Paterno should have been fired, but would it have been acceptable to wait until the end of the season? Unfortunately, no. Paterno did not deserve the privilege of being able to retire on his own terms.

Paterno owes everything to the children he could have saved from their own personal hells but didn’t. Even though Paterno had no physical part in the horrific things that happened regarding the molestation of children, his offense was immoral in nature. Paterno needed to be fired in order to appease a sense of public outrage and free the university from nationwide scrutiny.

His decision to do nothing is just as bad as actually having committed the unlawful crime. He tarnished the golden reputation of Penn State and its football program.

Regardless of the fact that he had devoted a lot of his life to the Penn State program, his failure to act cannot be excused.

By not making sure the police were alerted of the possible crimes, he was enabling the violation, molestation and rape of children.

Paterno was partially responsible.

When all things are said and done, Paterno’s firing is final and deserved. p

STUDENT

Stance

Should Joe Paterno have been fired?

Everyone escapes the Cain train, including Herman All aboard the Cain Train! Or not.

The Cain Train has finally been derailed, although the former presidential hopeful didn’t let it stop O livia V eira and without a final “I think I can, I think Sammi Dean I can.”

Well actually no, he can’t, and despite his weeks of grasping at straws, he shouldn’t.

On Dec. 3, former Republican presidential runner Herman Cain announced the end of his campaign. The announcement came amid a tangle of sexual harassment and infidelity accusations, which Cain had spent the past month addressing without much apparent success.

Cain ended his farewell speech with a beautiful quote from a Pokémon movie theme song: “Life can be a challenge. Life can seem impossible. It’s never easy when there’s so much on the line, but you and I can make a difference. There’s a mission just for you and me.”

The mission he may be referring to is to capture the hearts—and underwear—of

women across America. We can only imagine his womanizing ways.

Enter Cain.

Cain: Are you a Pokémon?

Woman looks puzzled.

Cain: ‘Cause I want to Pikachu!

A real ladies man, right?

Four women have publicly accused Cain of sexual harassment. The first two were employed at the National Restaurant Association when Cain worked there from 1996 to 1999, and each allegedly received $45,000 payoffs before leaving the company. Cain’s responses to his accusers have varied. Originally, he said the story had been planted by Perry’s campaign, then later said he did not really remember the incident.

In the political world, this is old news.

Nothing could be more atrocious than Anthony Weiner sending sex pictures, but Cain allegedly outdid his horny political predecessors with a 13-year affair. At least we know he can have a long-term commitment.

In early November, a single mother named Sharon Bialek accused Cain of groping her and threatening not to write her a letter of recommendation for a new job if she did not comply. What’s disturbing about Cain is not

that he thought he could exchange sexual favors for employment but that he thought he could sweep the allegations under the rug.

There’s nothing Americans love more than sex scandals. He had to know we wouldn’t let that one slide. But it’s all politics, right?

Throughout his campaign, he proudly presented a bizarre shifting mix of humor and ignorance. Cain did not seem to understand the seriousness of the presidency and the responsibilities that accompany it. In an interview, he referred to Uzbekistan as “Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan” and claimed he did not need to know the president by name. He also (jokingly) proposed building an alligator-filled moat on the Mexican-American border. Cain used jokes to cover up his incompetence and lack of knowledge about the political world, but he could only trick Americans into thinking he was a legitimate candidate for so long.

When he wasn’t explaining how knowing foreign policy isn’t a job requirement for a presidential nominee or trying to feel up coworkers, Cain liked to play the race card.

“People who oppose Obama are said to be racists—so I guess I’m a racist,” Cain said. Well

at least there’s one thing Cain is willing to admit.

Obama’s race and upbringing were a major part of his campaign, whether he wanted it to be or not. Cain used his own race more as an offensive maneuver, bringing it up more often than anyone else did.

He’s like a small child crying out for the attention of America. “Wait, don’t forget me! I’m black, too!”

Yes, we noticed.

No offense, but we’re not impressed.

Maybe if he knew where Libya was on a map or could come up with a tax policy better suited for our complicated and struggling economy, he would have been able to survive without depending on his race to set him apart.

“Becoming president was Plan A. As of today, with a lot of prayer and soul searching, I am suspending my presidential campaign,” Cain said, sharing his first good idea since he announced the start of his campaign for presidency.

It seems that the Republicans are running out of Pokemon to release from their fanny packs. Hopefully, Newt Gingrich will not be the legendary Pokemon they’re looking for. p

News Briefs

the Southerner

Dec. 9, 2011

news

5

Cobb celebrated as young future leader

Seniors find new Work Ready Test useless

Sophomore Kyle Cobb was chosen as one of Georgia’s 20 Under 20 by the 21st Century Leaders on Oct. 24. Twenty Under 20 celebrates Georgia’s top 20 future leaders. Cobb was awarded for his work in bringing awareness to organ transplants and creating his own foundation called Kyle’s Kids to address the issue.

By Troy Kleber Morning announcements echoed throughout Grady, calling all seniors to take a Georgia Work Ready Test in the theater. Only about half of the senior class showed up, and most believe the test had little value.

Seniors took the Georgia Work Ready Test on Nov. 10 as a way to determine whether students’ skills meet the needs of local employers, though many seniors either took the test unwillingly or took steps to avoid the test altogether.

The Work Ready Test assessed students in three areas: applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information. The results of the test will be given to students on Work Ready Certificates.

According to the Georgia Work Ready website, the purpose of the test is to give students better career opportunities. The website reports that more than 175 Georgia companies recognize, prefer or require Work Ready Certificates when hiring individuals, and more than 245,000 Georgians currently have certificates.

The state government and Georgia Chamber of Commerce launched Georgia Work Ready in August 2006 as an initiative to drive future economic growth in the state.

“The Work Ready program follows on college and career readiness,” said Daisy Duncan-Grant, the Georgia Work Ready coordinator for Grady.

“The emphasis is that students are basically jobready, college-ready and career-ready before they graduate from high school.”

Russell Plasczyk, the Public Policy and Justice Academy Leader, believes the purpose of the assessment is redundant.

“The test confirms that you can basically read and basically write, which I thought was the purpose of a high school diploma,” Plasczyk said.

Some seniors already have jobs, including senior Maragh Girvan, who works in the concession stand at the Piedmont Park pool.

“I didn’t understand why I had to take this test if I already had a job, and I’ve had this job for three years,” Girvan said. “I’m already in the work force, so why do I have to take a test to tell me that I can work?”

Senior Abena Amoakuh learned about the test during advisement the day before it was administered. Amoakuh said seniors were told very little about the test and its purpose.

On Nov. 10, both Grady News Now and The Southerner won Pacemakers at the National Scholastic Press Association convention. NSPA awarded Pacemakers to the top six broadcast programs and top 26 newspapers in the nation. This is the first year since 2005 that both programs have achieved Pacemakers in the same year.

Jesters place highly in national tourney Junior Isabelle Taft won both the round-robin and open tournaments for extemporaneous speaking at a national circuit tournament on Dec. 2-4. The George Mason University Patriot Games Classic took place in Fairfax, Va. Junior Rachel Citrin placed in the top 32 students for Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Two students make All-State Jazz Band Juniors Jeffrey Cox and Jordan Holiman qualified for the Georgia Music Educators Association AllState Jazz Band after auditions on Dec. 3. They will perform on Jan. 26-28 in Savannah. Holiman will be first-chair drummer, and Cox will be fifth-chair trumpeteer.

If you took the test, how valuable did you find it?

TROY KLEBER AND ELIZABETH MCGLAMRY

GNN, Southerner receive Pacemakers

STUDENTS’ OPINIONS ON THE TEST a ) no value

32%

b ) little value

32%

c ) valuable

13%

d ) very valuable

2%

e ) no opinion

21%

If you did not take the test, why not? a ) thought it would be pointless

64%

b ) had other activities to do

11%

c ) absent that day

15%

d ) other

10%

The Southerner survey of 173 seniors

“I didn’t see what I was gaining from it at all,” Amoakuh said. “We knew nothing about it, and we still learned nothing after taking it.”

The state does not require seniors to take the test before graduation, but at Grady, the administration made announcements that all seniors needed to report to the theater.

According a survey of 173 seniors done by The Southerner, only 51 percent of the respondees took the test. Several seniors commented on the survey that the test was easy, pointless and a waste of time.

Seniors took the test for three hours and missed all or part of the first three periods of the day.

Amoakuh said the administration and environment of the test made the test seem insignificant.

“Nobody was taking it seriously,” Amoakuh said. “People were talking, fake coughing and fake sneezing, and we were literally sitting next to each other. There was no reason to cheat on the test, but you could see the next person’s paper. There was nothing serious about the testing environment, so we couldn’t take the test seriously.”

Both Girvan and Amoakuh agreed the Work Ready Test should not be forced on seniors. Plasczyk, however, believes the test was useful.

“It was an opportunity,” he said. “Those that didn’t want the opportunity didn’t get it.”

Plasczyk, however, maintained a neutral stance on whether the Work Ready Test should have been implemented at Grady.

“If [the test] makes businesses more comfortable hiring Grady graduates, I’m all for it,” he said. “If businesses don’t buy into it, I would say it’s irrelevant.”

Duncan-Grant said the test was mostly compiled by employers and organizations and therefore reflected the skills employers look for when hiring people.

“An individual may not understand that there are skill sets for every job that you have, and they are not the same [for each job],” Duncan-Grant said. “Once they take this test, they’ll understand the difference between looking for a job just to be looking and looking for a job that fits the skill sets that they have. That’s just one of the positive aspects of this test.”

Duncan-Grant said the test is also helpful to employers. The results of the test are compiled in a database employers can access to identify individuals who have been certified.

The future of the Work Ready Test at Grady and throughout Georgia remains uncertain. DuncanGrant said that due to budget constraints, on Nov. 16, the state tabled a law that allowed all seniors to take the assessment for free.

Duncan-Grant said the test is important for students despite their belief that the test is valueless.

“It’s something that each person should take, whether you’re a high school student or whether you’re an adult,” she said. “It is very important because it helps you have a competitive edge.” p

By Taylor Allen and Tatiana Johnson Tardy students form a line across the length of the cafeteria, skirt around teachers in the halls and stroll nonchalantly into class—it is a typical morning after 8:15 a.m.

Starting in January, Grady will implement and practice stricter tardy policies. The administration is increasing repercussions for tardiness in hopes of motivating students to get to school on time.

The new policy only allows students to receive unexcused tardy slips between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Those arriving at school after 8:30 a.m. without an excuse have to stay in morning detention until the end of first period and attend an additional detention the following Wednesday.

“Between [8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.], I process between 90 and 100 students,” attendance specialist Amy Boles said. “I feel like this could significantly go down.”

After students acquire three unexcused tardies, they will receive a detention and a discipline con-

tract, and their parents will be notified. After five unexcused tardies, students will be required to attend a Saturday detention and a parent conference. If students are late 10 times without an excuse, they will be assigned a day in the School of Opportunity, which is an inschool suspension, along with an informal hearing.

“I feel like the administration really does try to enforce the attendance policy,” senior Aja Blair said.

“Faculty members like [business teacher Marlon] Pilson and [assistant principal Rodney] Howard do their best to get us all in class on time, but we as students are not respectful of authority.”

Currently, APS has mandated regulations concerning attendance, and on Sept. 9, Principal Vincent Murray sent a letter to students and their parents or guardians to remind them of the existing APS attendance regulations and requirements.

According to the letter, students aged 14-18 who have 10 unexcused absences may be charged with “various legal or disciplinary actions,”

which Murray did not specify. The letter also states that 10 absences in any academic course, unexcused or not, violates APS policy and may result in credit denial and ineligibility to obtain a driver’s permit or license. Seniors may also be ineligible to retake a class in any failed subject area.

The APS Student Handbook for this school year lists additional attendance policies that are not mentioned in Murray’s letter. After being denied credit in a course due to excessive absences, a student can file an appeal with the Student Attendance Committee. Comprised of nurse Kim Carr, graduation coach Charmaine Gray, social worker Elesha Williams, administrative assistant David Propst and the counselors, the SAC meets monthly with students for the appeal process and makes recommendations, which they then send to Murray to make the final decisions.

“Our goal is to ensure coordination and cooperation among students involved in attendance issues,” Propst said.

Taylor Allen

New tardy policy enacts punishment for late arrival

TARDY FOR THE PARTY: Attendance specialist Amy Boles hands a student a late pass.

While Murray’s letter warned students of the current policies and disciplinary actions, Propst is taking separate actions to alert students of the stricter policies that are soon to come. Before winter break, Propst plans to hold mandatory conferences with students who have five or more unexcused tardies and will also be verifying their proofs of residency.

“It is a red flag that you’re probably out of zone if you are late every day,” he said.

Boles explained that, while the perception is that many tardy students are coming from out of zone, she has found that many are in the Grady zone.

Despite this discrepancy, Propst is aiming to encourage habits that will positively impact students’ habits in the future.

“These are life skills,” Propst said.

“If you were late to work five times, you’d be fired. In order to succeed, all we ask is that you’re attentive, on time and respectful.” p

news

6

Dec. 9, 2011

Teachers encounter ‘growing pains’ with APS laptops work at all [since installing the new laptop],” Abbott said.

Brian Montero, a media specialist who also provides teachers with technology support, said the Promethean boards came to Grady in three waves; each successive wave featured updated software and improved features such as larger screens. The older Promethean boards distributed during the first and second waves are not fully compatible with the new Promethean software loaded onto the laptops, so many teachers have been unable to fully utilize their boards since they received new laptops.

Abbott uses her Promethean board primarily as a projector, a function which was unimpeded by the technology switch. Cramer, however, uses his Promethean pen nearly every class period to draw graphs and diagrams on his board. After hearing of Abbott’s issues with the new laptops, he decided to keep his old laptop instead of swapping it out.

“The biggest issue for me was the fact that the Promethean software on the laptops was apparently designed for new boards and wasn’t compatible with old boards,” Cramer said.

APS director of media relations Keith Bromery defended what he termed the “growing pains” in the adoption of new technology.

“Information technology isn’t an exact science,” he said. “It’s definitely not going to work without making certain adjustments.”

Adjustments, though, are often difficult to implement. Anderson-Johnson said every time teachers want to load new software or drivers they must put in a request for a technology support worker, with a special administrative key from the district, to come to school and load the materials. She guesses that it’s due to concerns that teachers will inadvertently infect their computers

“My teachers rely on Promethean boards and laptops.” Please evaluate this statement.

No Opinion 10%

Agree 48% Strongly Agree 37%

ELizabeth Mcglamry and isabelle taft

By Isabelle Taft Physics teacher Jeff Cramer still remembers the first email he ever sent, a message to a fellow physics teacher in a different part of the country. The simple white text of their exchange came over the plain black screen of the 1980s Apple II. “It was wonderful and exciting, but it was nothing compared to what we have now,” Cramer said.

Technology has advanced. In Grady classrooms there are Promethean boards, Mac computers, thin client computers and, most recently, new APS-issued laptops for teachers. The laptops were distributed to coresubject teachers free of charge during October. They replace laptops that were five to six years old and, Cramer said, starting to slow down. The new laptops, however, are not perfect, as teachers noticed problems with the new equipment.

Not every teacher received a new laptop. Teachers hired three or fewer years ago are still using their first laptops. Teachers of non-core subjects have not even been issued laptops.

Math teacher Eboni AndersonJohnson said her old laptop became so slow it was barely usable. She decided to purchase a Mac laptop because her old APS-issued laptop couldn’t effectively run some of the software she uses, such as the graphing calculator software package that allows her to display the calculator interface on her Promethean board.

Some teachers encountered difficulties in using their new APS laptops with their Promethean boards.

Literature and journalism teacher Deedee Abbott said APS handled the distribution of the new laptops well, notifying teachers by email to come to the central office to pick up their new machines. But when she installed her new laptop at school, she noticed a problem.

“The Promethean pen doesn’t

Based on a Southerner survey of 92 students

with viruses while downloading software and programs.

“You have different levels of security, and we’re at the maximum,” Anderson-Johnson said. “I think they could lower security so we can install things more easily.”

Bromery said that in addition to security problems, APS wants to prevent teachers from downloading software without the proper licenses.

“If there’s an audit of software equipment, and there’s software on district computers that isn’t licensed, we could get fined,” he said.

Montero said the centralization of the district’s technology support

Disagree 5%

“I am unable to Strongly Disagree teach effectively 15% without technology Disagree such as Promethean 21% boards and laptops.”

Please evaluate this statement. No Opinion 8%

Strongly Agree 31% Agree 25%

Based on a Southerner survey of 52 teachers

Have you ever been in a class in which the teacher was unable to complete the planned lesson due to difficulties with technology?

services seems excessive. He said it can be frustrating when he wants to perform a relatively simple task but must call someone from the district with the proper authorization.

Montero said the district does not announce the rollout of new technology in advance. When he received a Promethean board, workers sent from APS showed up unexpectedly with the technology.

“Shrouding everything in secrecy, whether they mean to or not, is confusing,” Montero said.

History teacher Lee Pope has worked at Grady for six years, but his laptop was stolen three years ago

NoNo 31%

Yes Yes 69% 69%

Based on a Southerner survey of 92 students

from the Grady theater during Honors Night. He reported the theft to the district within 24 hours, and according to the agreement teachers sign when they receive laptops, this step should absolve him from personal responsibility for the laptop.

“When [the laptop] died I contacted APS [to get a new laptop] and they couldn’t find the police report,” Pope said.

The district has refused to issue Pope a new laptop until he pays for the old one.

“I expect they’ll claw it from my last paycheck when I finally retire,” Pope said. p

APS budget cuts force school to scrounge for funds

By Shaun Kleber For more than a decade, social studies teacher Lou Sartor has walked around school with a little piece of plastic, sometimes loaded with enough money to buy a small house. This year, the school credit card started with less than a fifth of the value it had in previous years.

Every year, Atlanta Public Schools issues each school in the system a credit card loaded with money to be used for supplies and other teacher and department expenditures. This system has been used since 1999, and since its inception, social studies teacher Lou Sartor has been the keeper of the card, entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring Grady’s credit card and placing orders with it. Sartor explained that several years ago, it was common for APS to put as much as $100,000 on the card. This year, however, they started the school year with $15,000, and after just a few months, it is down to $4,000.

“The real concern for me is not where we start at the beginning of the school year but how much money we have left as we get to the end of the second semester,” Sartor said.

“I’ve been getting kind of concerned that we’re going to run out of money in February or something.”

The credit card is used for teachers to buy necessary supplies at the beginning of each school year, when each teacher gets a stipend for purchases, Sartor explained. He added that faculty members such as counselors and the

registrar can make purchases throughout the year, and teachers can also make special, emergency purchases. For the most part, however, teachers only have their initial stipend to use.

“We used to say to teachers at the beginning of the school year, ‘You can purchase $150 worth of stuff to kind of start off, and if there’s any money left over in the second semester, maybe you’ll get some more too,’” Sartor said.

“And then it went down to $100. And this year it’s down to $50, and that’s not much. A couple printer cartridges.”

Sartor added that purchases made for the whole school, such as paper and Scantron forms, also “deplete the card in a big way.”

Art teacher John Brandhorst said he cannot get the “critical things” he needs because of the budget. Every department in the school— including science, social studies, the arts and others—have suffered budget cuts, he said.

“Our art budget is lower than it has been, especially for the purchase and repair of musical instruments, which is of dire need,” Brandhorst said. “There are people who want to play, but they don’t have an instrument to play ... It chops us off at the knees a little bit when we’re trying to buy the necessary materials to do our jobs.”

Brandhorst added that he also tried to buy patch cords to work the speakers and microphones during school shows because the cords have been broken or stolen over the past few years, but the school didn’t approve the order.

“We have very, very few to throw even a basic show,” Brandhorst said. “We’re really in a shortage ... and we can’t get them.”

Brandhorst said it is maddening that the system is making budget cuts across the board while continuing to purchase and implement new technology, such as Promethean ActivBoards in every classroom, iPads for the academy leaders and many computers and printers.

Sartor is especially concerned about depleting the credit card because there are certain things that need to be done next semester to close out the school year. He is hesitant to place new orders until he knows what the budget will be for next semester. He won’t know that, however, until the beginning of second semester.

He is hopeful more money will be allocated to the card, but he does not know how much it will be. Sartor said he needs between $15,000 and $25,000 to get through next semester.

Sartor explained that administrative assistant Quinnette Rhodes-Igherighe helped determine how much money to allocate to the credit card at the beginning of this school year, but Brandhorst believes the card is controlled solely by Principal Vincent Murray. Murray, however, explained the card is loaded by APS officials.

“They load it for us [downtown],” Murray said. “I think when we get down to it, Ms. Rhodes-Igherige can transfer funds from other accounts if we have it, but we try to be frugal.

We try to not be too extravagant.”

Rhodes-Igherighe said she is unsure about

how much money, if any, will be allocated to the credit card next semester.

If no money is added to the credit card, only essentials will be covered next semester, Sartor said. He added, however, that federal Title I funds will help pay for supplies, even if the credit card is not replenished.

“I’m not sure how much [Title I funds there are] right now, but it’s a lot more than what we have,” Sartor said. “That’s the big saver for us. That’s how we’re going to have paper in the second semester.”

Project Success coordinator Kaye Myles, who has been in charge of managing the Title I funds for the past two years, explained that the money is given to the school based on the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. This year, the federal government gave Grady $352,000.

The funds can be used to supplement the school credit card but cannot pay for everything because the federal government limits how the money can be spent, Myles said. The money can only be used for specific things, such as buying supplies and books and paying some salaries, and can only go to core classes, which excludes art, music and foreign language.

“The Title I money is here to supplement.

That means to help,” Myles said. “But we cannot take the whole slack. There are some things we won’t be able to buy. If the card runs out, I guess we’ll just have to supplement as much as we can.” p

news

Dec. 9, 2011

7

Accessibility difficulties handicap disabled students building was in the back to an art things are the really hot-ticket room with a sign on the door items, what has to be done now, that said ‘Classroom, please go what can be done with the availaround,’” Just said. “No buzzer, able personnel [and] what do they no video camera, so no way to re- have money to outsource,” Brandally get in to go to the front office, horst said. “It’s rocket science.” to sign in, to be in the school.”

Another reason may be that the She said that after she com- location of the school makes it difplained, the school relocated the ficult to make the school more acmain office so that its entrance cessible, he said. was at ground level. She is cur“It could be technical and fearently involved in legal mediasibility issues, where tions with APS regarding its you have tough geoaccommodations for students graphic changes that with disabilities. are difficult to deal Bromley said accommodating disabled students is a constant process.

“Slowly but surely [the school] should be improving access,” Bromley said. “There’s never a point, I would say, where you’re ever really finished making things accessible.”

As head of the student support team at Grady, business and entrepreneurship academy leader Willie Vincent is responsible for making sure students with disabilities have everything they need to get to their classes. He works with the special-education department to serve students with special needs and physical disabilities.

“We make sure that we meet with that student and parent, and they’ll generally bring us something from the doctor that says these are the kinds of accommodations we should make,” Vincent said.

Vincent believes parents are satBROKEN: isfied with Grady’s progress.

Sophomore “We overall, the special educaOscar Prioleau tion and the SST, don’t get many navigates complaints,” Vincent said.

Grady’s campus Brandhorst explained that budas he attempts get concerns may have made it to get to class more difficult for the school to on time. Grady is address accessibility problems.

“There are budget cuts across trying to improve public the entire system, and so they access for students with have to carefully scrutinize which walking disabilities.

with, then you have an excuse,” Bromley said.

But an excuse didn’t help senior Madeleine Girardot get to class after she broke her foot last April.

“Getting to school was difficult because I either had to go up the huge flight of stairs by the gym or on the hill, or walk all the way through the courtyard and to the elevator by the library, even if my class was over by Charles Allen on the fourth floor,” Girardot said. “[Getting to the elevator] took so long that I ended up always taking the stairs outside.”

Brandhorst said students in wheelchairs have no simple way to get to the old gym.

“The only way to get there in a wheelchair, by simply rolling, is to go in the 10th Street side of the new gym, through the [new] gym, down that ramp and then straight in,” Brandhorst said.

Girardot said she had physical education while she was injured and found it very difficult to get to the gym.

“Getting to the gym was hard, and I had PE that semester,” Girardot said. “Everything was pretty challenging to do on crutches, but all the stairs

and long hallways at Grady made it all the more sucky, especially when it would rain.”

Despite her difficulties, however, Girardot believes the school does its best to help injured students.

“I think Grady has done the best it can working with the existing structure to make it handicapaccessible,” Girardot said.

Brandhorst said if a student in a wheelchair were in the old gym during a serious situation, his or her safety would be at risk.

“You can roll into the atrium, [and] you can roll to the upper level, but the old gym is very, very difficult,” Brandhorst said. “From there, if something were to occur, if something were to happen and you’re in a wheelchair, it’s a very long process to get out. What are you going to do? Roll down the steps? Roll up the steps? Go down the steps to that alleyway that goes between the gym?

You’re kind of trapped unless you have some very strong people who can lift you up and out of the way.”

Assistant principal Rodney Howard and administrative assistant David Propst devise the plans for fire drills and evacuations and issue elevator keys. Howard said there are academy leaders on every floor who have an elevator key if a student needs to use one.

“All of our teachers have elevator keys,” Murray said. “The nurse has five that she uses for students; of course the problem is our students need to be more responsible. They don’t give them back. Then we have to order them again, and it takes six to eight weeks for them to come to us, so that’s a problem.”

Howard said there are special accommodations for students in wheelchairs during fire drills since elevators can’t be used.

“If it comes down to it, the child will probably have to be removed from the wheelchair and carried if that’s feasible.” p

Lejoi Lane

Wheelchair route to old gym from student parking lot Campus Distances

Konadu Amoakuh and Jasmine burnett

By Konadu Amoakuh and Jasmine Burnett After breaking both legs skateboarding, junior Chuncey Haliburton was in the hospital for more than two weeks and was out of school for almost four months. Upon returning, he found it difficult to navigate the hills around campus.

“Going down the hills to get to the trailers pushes my limit for my leg movements, so I tend to walk around the school to get on flat ground [and] then walk towards them,” Haliburton said.

Haliburton said that to find an accessible route to the trailers, he had to circumnavigate the school.

“At first I had to walk around the school to get there, [so] I wouldn’t have to walk down that steep hill,” Haliburton said.

Art teacher John Brandhorst believes the administration needs to do more to help people with disabilities navigate the school and ensure the school is complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which sets specific guidelines for public buildings.

“There are certain building codes, and in those codes there are things about appropriate signage,” Brandhorst said. “So in a public building like this there needs to be signs that are like, ‘You are here,’ with a little red dot so that you can get your orientation.”

He believes handicap access is a fundamental safety issue for the school to address.

“Heat, climate control, escape routes [and] foundational stuff have to be handled and flawless long before we can feel comfortable talking about [calculus] BC and SAT scores,” Brandhorst said. “If one thing happens, if one thing happens, one kid gets hurt in some kind of way that could have been prevented for a 50cent lock, for a $2 key, for something … I have a hard time bearing that. It keeps me awake at night.”

Senior ADA architect for Georgia Tim Bromley explained the specific protocol that schools have to follow to assess their accessibility. He said first a school system would inspect its campuses and make a self-evaluation plan. A self-evaluation plan identifies all architectural barriers to access and all the discriminatory policies. Bromley said schools should then follow up with a transition plan–an assessment of problems found.

Principal Vincent Murray, however, said school administrators don’t initiate a building review.

“I’m not that involved in that process. That is a facilities matter,” said Murray, who added that the facilities department will notify the school if it finds it is not in compliance.

“As long as we’re in compliance with the federal guidelines, we’re OK,” Murray said. “[If not] they will come and tell us that we have to make these kinds of improvements.”

Civil engineer and parent Sharon Just has a child with disabilities and said her zoned elementary school, Springdale Park, had issues accommodating handicapped students. She said there was no ramp that allowed access to places like the front office.

“The only ramp in that whole

A place to call their own Overlooked share homeless tales in The Overlook

said. goal is to pay writers for their work, starting at $1 for each submission, he

By Isabelle Taft and Jolie Jones temof means offering and papers vending is “Part of the model for the paper or in In December 2010, Jeremy Godfrey, Ph.D. candidate and adjunct instruct wn porary employment,” Godfrey said.

Rhetoric and Composition at Georgia State University, was walking in downto microWallbanger saw the chance to write for a newspaper as more than just a s?” homeles look I Atlanta when a man stopped him and posed this question: “Do economic opportunity.

“What does homelessness look like?” Godfrey retorted. your “Having a job to do gives you a routine of being respectable, proud of Godfrey which in This incident reignited his interest in homelessness, an issue said. ger Wallban again,” do to able be never ing ability to do what you thought you’d said he has always been involved. That night, he went home and began research nities “It gives you an identity.” street newspapers—newspapers written and distributed by homeless commu the Maggie Leonard, one of the pastors at the Mercy Community Church, said in cities across the country. a as serve to strives which church, the of ethos Mercy street newspaper model fit with the After months of searching for a community partner, he discovered the and services church study, Bible to addition In Ponce de community for the city’s homeless.

Community Church, a kind of homeless community center located on meals three days a week, Mercy offers writing classes. er. newspap street Leon Avenue, and established The Atlanta Overlook, Atlanta’s first where “We also do art and music, so we saw the paper as another way to do that, of the “The model of Mercy Community Church fits very closely with the model rthy,” notewo is tive perspec their that show people can proclaim their worth and said. paper, which is allowing homeless people to speak for themselves,” Godfrey Leonard said. said.

The two goals of the newspaper are writing and empowerment, Godfrey Kat As part of its partnership with The Overlook, Mercy has begun hosting called who staffer, “The Atlanta Overlook has been a gift from God,” said a journalteach to le, Chronic Business he has Greene, a journalist at the Atlanta himself Harvey Wallbanger. He described himself as “houseless” and said spot, ism classes every Thursday. Two low very a in enjoyed contributing to the newspaper. “If you’re winding up of Godfrey’s colleagues at Georgia the paper reminds you how high up you can go again.”

State, Bill Taft and Sarah Hughes, about stories news Volume 1, Issue III, published in November 2011, includes have taught creative writing classes section. ntary Occupy Atlanta, other local news stories and a creative/comme to members of the Overlook staff. / creative The tive.

Many of the stories address local issues from a homeless perspec Currently, the Atlanta Overa of life the about commentary section includes poems and other creative works circulation is at 1,000 coplook’s on white, and black homeless person. Readers can find pictures, both in color and Godfrey hopes to though ies, of es address and s every page, and the back of the paper lists the phone number 150,000. That reach lly eventua shelters and homeless organizations in Atlanta. ion of the circulat the is r numbe pride of sense real a “People have been super excited [about the paper]. There’s nation’s the utor, Contrib le Nashvil “Peo. Church nity and ownership,” said Chad Hyatt, founder of Mercy Commu per. newspa street largest say, writing the ple are saying ‘Hey, I wrote that!’ Even people who aren’t doing “Across the U.S. mainstream, ‘Hey, this is us! I know that guy!’’’ per sales are declining, but newspa in School High Bishop Calhoun, who graduated from Booker T. Washington ewspaper sales are increasstreet-n k, Overloo The to 1979, is a frequent visitor of Mercy. Although not a contributor y said.

Godfre ing,” it nity opportu the he said he appreciates the paper’s focus on homeless issues and Godfrey and several ber, Novem In gives homeless writers to share their work. k traveled to Overloo The of vendors people] ss [homele “The newspaper is like a voice,” Calhoun said. “It’s one place Columbus to participate in a peace can speak and nobody will cut them off.” march and sell copies of the paper. and s writing The homeless writers handwrite their stories, poems and creative “We got a lot of plaudits,” said submisthe s give them to Godfrey, who types and edits them. He then compile Shapiro, a non-homeless conAdam The e challeng sions and executes the layout of the paper. Godfrey said the greatest to The Overlook. “It’s just retributor tion. publica a on Overlook faces is one familiar to anyone who has ever worked said. ally heartwarming.”

“Just as with any news organization, it’s hard to keep people on task,” Godfrey ss Although The Overlook has been extremely well-received among the homele The paper is a relatively low-cost production. ng restricti laws city of form the in ge challen else and non-homeless alike, it faces a “Printing is the only cost we have to cover,” Godfrey said. “Everything this year, vendors who seek to sell their wares in the downtown area. Beginning pretty much comes from my pocket.” and $500 between for kiosk a rent to 1,000 the city is requiring downtown vendors Godfrey located a printing company in Cape Girardeau, Mo., which prints . untable insurmo is fee a such , grants $1,600 a month. For homeless vendors copies of the paper for $300. The money to pay the printer comes strictly from face,” “One of our missions is to spread to downtown, and that’s a huge challenge we grants received and from religious-based foundations. Thus far, Godfrey has applied for memas that, ensure to now right lawyer a with Godfrey said. “I’m actually working . from the Episcopal Charities Foundation and the Presbyterian Hunger Program tion.” bers of the press, we can sell as vendors, just like the Atlanta Journal-Constitu are e deadlin by in The Overlook comes out once a month, and all stories turned Atlanta’s of rs membe and staff k Overloo The , Despite the challenges, Godfrey The published. Ten copies are given to vendors to sell on the streets for $1each. future. paper’s the about but don’t homeless community remain excited roles of writer and vendor are not mutually exclusive; some people write of “What’s so great about the newspaper is that it’s teaching people to fish instead y, GodRecentl vend, some vend but don’t write, and others perform both tasks. p nt.” importa feel to want ten. The fishing for them,” Godfrey said. “People frey has started to charge vendors 25 cents for each copy over their initial

Jolie Jones

By Isabelle Taft and Jolie Jones It’s 6 a.m. on Monday morning, and senio r Michelle* is already awake. Over the next 41 minutes, she will prepare both herself and her 5-year-old brother for scho ol. At 6:41 a.m. she will catch MARTA bus #73 to the Hamilton E. Holmes station. From there, she will get on a train that will take her to the Five Points station by 7:15 a.m. Yet another train will take her station. Finally, MARTA bus #99 will drop to the Midtown her off at Grady by 8 a.m., giving her just enough time to get to her first period class she will complete the entire process in reve . This afternoon, rse.

“It’s still dark when I get on the train and dark when I go home,” Michelle said.

Michelle’s challenging commute is a prod uct of a difficult situation: for five years she and her family have been homeless in the eighth grade, she, her mother and . When Michelle was her brother were evicted from their apar tmen t on Boulevard because the family fell behi ments. They began moving from home nd on rental payto home, staying with relatives and frien ds.

“It was horrible,” Michelle said. “Nothin g’s ever your own when you’re in someone else’s house.”

At one point the family stayed with a grea t aunt, whom Michelle described as bipo lar, in a home on Centennial Olympic Park “She told my mom she hated me and didn Drive. ’t want me in her house anymore,” Mic helle said.

After the disagreement, a different aunt helped the family find its current residence in a hotel on Fulton Industrial Boulevar chelle said they pay $210 for each week d in May 2011. Mithey spend in the suite, which consists of two room s with a kitchenette and a bathroom. Mic works with a temp agency that provides helle’s mother her with eight to 10 hours of work per week, for total pay of about $70, which groceries. They live with an aunt who pays she spends on rent and the rest of the rent.

“I just make the best out of the worst situation,” Michelle said. “I just feel like God puts you through things he knows Although living in the hotel can be difficult, you can handle.”

Michelle and her family like having their own space. They feel secure because their threatened to evict them if they are late landlord has never on payments and because the hotel emp loys security guards.

“It’s all about how you act on the residence ,” Michelle said. “[My mom] was really paying [the landlord] nightly at one poin a problem with it because she never mad t, and he didn’t have e problems.”

Michelle said her family relies on food stam ps for groceries, but sometimes they don’ t have enough stamps to buy all the food “Sometimes we went days without eatin they need. g because we didn’t have food,” Michelle said.

“It’s just something you have to get used As she moved from house to house, Mic to.” helle also changed schools frequently. In sixth grade, after being written up for 132 she was kicked out of Inman Middle Scho disciplinary offenses, ol. She said she spent the next three year s transferring between an alternative scho Academy and Inman, frequently being ol called Forest Hill punished for disciplinary offenses.

After one particularly serious fight at Fore st Hill, Michelle said she was expelled and transferred to Therrell High School.

“At Therrell, every time you turn around, there are people who are pregnant or fight ing,” Michelle said. “I didn’t feel successful.”

She decided to come to Grady at the begi nning of her junior year.

Elesha Williams, a social worker at Grad y, said APS is one of the best districts in the state for homeless students because in any school in the district. Williams said it allows them to enroll most students choose to come to Grady.

Williams said a federal law called the McK inney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requ ires public schools to provide free lunch, clothes and transportation for their hom school supplies, eless students. For transportation, Grad y offers MARTA Breeze cards to homeless “It’s hard to say [how many homeless stud students. ents there are], because if the parent does n’t say they need transportation, I don’t know Williams said. “We’ve had at least 21 stud that they’re here,” ents who need transportation this year.”

At Grady, Michelle has formed close relat ionships with several faculty members, inclu ding Williams and math teacher Eboni and has had no disciplinary problems.

Anderson-Johnson, “Last year and this year have been the mos t positive years of my life,” Michelle said.

“No one has said anything bad about me, in-school suspension or detention.” and I haven’t had Despite her overall positive experience at Grady, Michelle feels that, in some case s, she hasn’t received the same opportunitie “Sometimes I feel like I’m not getting enou s as other students. gh because of my background or where I stayed,” she said. “My classmates main I grew up with in the hood.” ly consist of people Michelle is on track to graduate with the class of 2012 in May. She would like to go to a four-year college to get a degree the resulting debt would be too large for in nursing but worries her family to handle. For now, even a twoyear school is too expensive. She plans graduation and go to college as soon as to start working after possible.

“I see my mom’s life, and it’s hard,” she said. “I know that to be better I have to graduate high school and get a career.”

Anderson-Johnson, who has gotten to know Michelle while teaching her Math IV, said she is an extremely bright student but som attitude get in the way of her academics. etimes lets her “She’s not at school all the time, but her performance on quizzes and tests compared to students who are here tional,” Anderson-Johnson said. ever yday is excepAnderson-Johnson believes Michelle will be able to graduate from high school and college.

“If I won the lottery, I would definitely be willing to pay for her to go to school,” And erson-Johnson said. “She is the kind of help if I could.” p student I’d want to *These names used in the story have been changed to protect their privacy.

TURNING A NEW PAGE: A staffer who calls himself Harvey Wallbanger (below) cracks open an issue of The Overlook. He has been a part of the newspaper staff since the first issue in August.

Jolie Jones

PUTTING PEN TO PAPER: Founder Jeremy Godfrey and staffer Adam Shapiro (left) work together on a story for The Overlook.

Jolie Jones

MEALS FROM MERCY: Stephen Smith and Chad Hyatt (left) sit on the curb by the Home Depot on Ponce de Leon Ave. Hyatt often hands out lunches to migrant workers in this shopping complex. A homeless member of the creative writing class (right) who wishes to remain anonymous poses for a picture in the church.

Student loses home, keeps hope

Jolie Jones

8

9

A place to call their own Overlooked share homeless tales in The Overlook

said. goal is to pay writers for their work, starting at $1 for each submission, he

By Isabelle Taft and Jolie Jones temof means offering and papers vending is “Part of the model for the paper or in In December 2010, Jeremy Godfrey, Ph.D. candidate and adjunct instruct wn porary employment,” Godfrey said.

Rhetoric and Composition at Georgia State University, was walking in downto microWallbanger saw the chance to write for a newspaper as more than just a s?” homeles look I Atlanta when a man stopped him and posed this question: “Do economic opportunity.

“What does homelessness look like?” Godfrey retorted. your “Having a job to do gives you a routine of being respectable, proud of Godfrey which in This incident reignited his interest in homelessness, an issue said. ger Wallban again,” do to able be never ing ability to do what you thought you’d said he has always been involved. That night, he went home and began research nities “It gives you an identity.” street newspapers—newspapers written and distributed by homeless commu the Maggie Leonard, one of the pastors at the Mercy Community Church, said in cities across the country. a as serve to strives which church, the of ethos Mercy street newspaper model fit with the After months of searching for a community partner, he discovered the and services church study, Bible to addition In Ponce de community for the city’s homeless.

Community Church, a kind of homeless community center located on meals three days a week, Mercy offers writing classes. er. newspap street Leon Avenue, and established The Atlanta Overlook, Atlanta’s first where “We also do art and music, so we saw the paper as another way to do that, of the “The model of Mercy Community Church fits very closely with the model rthy,” notewo is tive perspec their that show people can proclaim their worth and said. paper, which is allowing homeless people to speak for themselves,” Godfrey Leonard said. said.

The two goals of the newspaper are writing and empowerment, Godfrey Kat As part of its partnership with The Overlook, Mercy has begun hosting called who staffer, “The Atlanta Overlook has been a gift from God,” said a journalteach to le, Chronic Business he has Greene, a journalist at the Atlanta himself Harvey Wallbanger. He described himself as “houseless” and said spot, ism classes every Thursday. Two low very a in enjoyed contributing to the newspaper. “If you’re winding up of Godfrey’s colleagues at Georgia the paper reminds you how high up you can go again.”

State, Bill Taft and Sarah Hughes, about stories news Volume 1, Issue III, published in November 2011, includes have taught creative writing classes section. ntary Occupy Atlanta, other local news stories and a creative/comme to members of the Overlook staff. / creative The tive.

Many of the stories address local issues from a homeless perspec Currently, the Atlanta Overa of life the about commentary section includes poems and other creative works circulation is at 1,000 coplook’s on white, and black homeless person. Readers can find pictures, both in color and Godfrey hopes to though ies, of es address and s every page, and the back of the paper lists the phone number 150,000. That reach lly eventua shelters and homeless organizations in Atlanta. ion of the circulat the is r numbe pride of sense real a “People have been super excited [about the paper]. There’s nation’s the utor, Contrib le Nashvil “Peo. Church nity and ownership,” said Chad Hyatt, founder of Mercy Commu per. newspa street largest say, writing the ple are saying ‘Hey, I wrote that!’ Even people who aren’t doing “Across the U.S. mainstream, ‘Hey, this is us! I know that guy!’’’ per sales are declining, but newspa in School High Bishop Calhoun, who graduated from Booker T. Washington ewspaper sales are increasstreet-n k, Overloo The to 1979, is a frequent visitor of Mercy. Although not a contributor y said.

Godfre ing,” it nity opportu the he said he appreciates the paper’s focus on homeless issues and Godfrey and several ber, Novem In gives homeless writers to share their work. k traveled to Overloo The of vendors people] ss [homele “The newspaper is like a voice,” Calhoun said. “It’s one place Columbus to participate in a peace can speak and nobody will cut them off.” march and sell copies of the paper. and s writing The homeless writers handwrite their stories, poems and creative “We got a lot of plaudits,” said submisthe s give them to Godfrey, who types and edits them. He then compile Shapiro, a non-homeless conAdam The e challeng sions and executes the layout of the paper. Godfrey said the greatest to The Overlook. “It’s just retributor tion. publica a on Overlook faces is one familiar to anyone who has ever worked said. ally heartwarming.”

“Just as with any news organization, it’s hard to keep people on task,” Godfrey ss Although The Overlook has been extremely well-received among the homele The paper is a relatively low-cost production. ng restricti laws city of form the in ge challen else and non-homeless alike, it faces a “Printing is the only cost we have to cover,” Godfrey said. “Everything this year, vendors who seek to sell their wares in the downtown area. Beginning pretty much comes from my pocket.” and $500 between for kiosk a rent to 1,000 the city is requiring downtown vendors Godfrey located a printing company in Cape Girardeau, Mo., which prints . untable insurmo is fee a such , grants $1,600 a month. For homeless vendors copies of the paper for $300. The money to pay the printer comes strictly from face,” “One of our missions is to spread to downtown, and that’s a huge challenge we grants received and from religious-based foundations. Thus far, Godfrey has applied for memas that, ensure to now right lawyer a with Godfrey said. “I’m actually working . from the Episcopal Charities Foundation and the Presbyterian Hunger Program tion.” bers of the press, we can sell as vendors, just like the Atlanta Journal-Constitu are e deadlin by in The Overlook comes out once a month, and all stories turned Atlanta’s of rs membe and staff k Overloo The , Despite the challenges, Godfrey The published. Ten copies are given to vendors to sell on the streets for $1each. future. paper’s the about but don’t homeless community remain excited roles of writer and vendor are not mutually exclusive; some people write of “What’s so great about the newspaper is that it’s teaching people to fish instead y, GodRecentl vend, some vend but don’t write, and others perform both tasks. p nt.” importa feel to want ten. The fishing for them,” Godfrey said. “People frey has started to charge vendors 25 cents for each copy over their initial

Jolie Jones

By Isabelle Taft and Jolie Jones It’s 6 a.m. on Monday morning, and senio r Michelle* is already awake. Over the next 41 minutes, she will prepare both herself and her 5-year-old brother for scho ol. At 6:41 a.m. she will catch MARTA bus #73 to the Hamilton E. Holmes station. From there, she will get on a train that will take her to the Five Points station by 7:15 a.m. Yet another train will take her station. Finally, MARTA bus #99 will drop to the Midtown her off at Grady by 8 a.m., giving her just enough time to get to her first period class she will complete the entire process in reve . This afternoon, rse.

“It’s still dark when I get on the train and dark when I go home,” Michelle said.

Michelle’s challenging commute is a prod uct of a difficult situation: for five years she and her family have been homeless in the eighth grade, she, her mother and . When Michelle was her brother were evicted from their apar tmen t on Boulevard because the family fell behi ments. They began moving from home nd on rental payto home, staying with relatives and frien ds.

“It was horrible,” Michelle said. “Nothin g’s ever your own when you’re in someone else’s house.”

At one point the family stayed with a grea t aunt, whom Michelle described as bipo lar, in a home on Centennial Olympic Park “She told my mom she hated me and didn Drive. ’t want me in her house anymore,” Mic helle said.

After the disagreement, a different aunt helped the family find its current residence in a hotel on Fulton Industrial Boulevar chelle said they pay $210 for each week d in May 2011. Mithey spend in the suite, which consists of two room s with a kitchenette and a bathroom. Mic works with a temp agency that provides helle’s mother her with eight to 10 hours of work per week, for total pay of about $70, which groceries. They live with an aunt who pays she spends on rent and the rest of the rent.

“I just make the best out of the worst situation,” Michelle said. “I just feel like God puts you through things he knows Although living in the hotel can be difficult, you can handle.”

Michelle and her family like having their own space. They feel secure because their threatened to evict them if they are late landlord has never on payments and because the hotel emp loys security guards.

“It’s all about how you act on the residence ,” Michelle said. “[My mom] was really paying [the landlord] nightly at one poin a problem with it because she never mad t, and he didn’t have e problems.”

Michelle said her family relies on food stam ps for groceries, but sometimes they don’ t have enough stamps to buy all the food “Sometimes we went days without eatin they need. g because we didn’t have food,” Michelle said.

“It’s just something you have to get used As she moved from house to house, Mic to.” helle also changed schools frequently. In sixth grade, after being written up for 132 she was kicked out of Inman Middle Scho disciplinary offenses, ol. She said she spent the next three year s transferring between an alternative scho Academy and Inman, frequently being ol called Forest Hill punished for disciplinary offenses.

After one particularly serious fight at Fore st Hill, Michelle said she was expelled and transferred to Therrell High School.

“At Therrell, every time you turn around, there are people who are pregnant or fight ing,” Michelle said. “I didn’t feel successful.”

She decided to come to Grady at the begi nning of her junior year.

Elesha Williams, a social worker at Grad y, said APS is one of the best districts in the state for homeless students because in any school in the district. Williams said it allows them to enroll most students choose to come to Grady.

Williams said a federal law called the McK inney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requ ires public schools to provide free lunch, clothes and transportation for their hom school supplies, eless students. For transportation, Grad y offers MARTA Breeze cards to homeless “It’s hard to say [how many homeless stud students. ents there are], because if the parent does n’t say they need transportation, I don’t know Williams said. “We’ve had at least 21 stud that they’re here,” ents who need transportation this year.”

At Grady, Michelle has formed close relat ionships with several faculty members, inclu ding Williams and math teacher Eboni and has had no disciplinary problems.

Anderson-Johnson, “Last year and this year have been the mos t positive years of my life,” Michelle said.

“No one has said anything bad about me, in-school suspension or detention.” and I haven’t had Despite her overall positive experience at Grady, Michelle feels that, in some case s, she hasn’t received the same opportunitie “Sometimes I feel like I’m not getting enou s as other students. gh because of my background or where I stayed,” she said. “My classmates main I grew up with in the hood.” ly consist of people Michelle is on track to graduate with the class of 2012 in May. She would like to go to a four-year college to get a degree the resulting debt would be too large for in nursing but worries her family to handle. For now, even a twoyear school is too expensive. She plans graduation and go to college as soon as to start working after possible.

“I see my mom’s life, and it’s hard,” she said. “I know that to be better I have to graduate high school and get a career.”

Anderson-Johnson, who has gotten to know Michelle while teaching her Math IV, said she is an extremely bright student but som attitude get in the way of her academics. etimes lets her “She’s not at school all the time, but her performance on quizzes and tests compared to students who are here tional,” Anderson-Johnson said. ever yday is excepAnderson-Johnson believes Michelle will be able to graduate from high school and college.

“If I won the lottery, I would definitely be willing to pay for her to go to school,” And erson-Johnson said. “She is the kind of help if I could.” p student I’d want to *These names used in the story have been changed to protect their privacy.

TURNING A NEW PAGE: A staffer who calls himself Harvey Wallbanger (below) cracks open an issue of The Overlook. He has been a part of the newspaper staff since the first issue in August.

Jolie Jones

PUTTING PEN TO PAPER: Founder Jeremy Godfrey and staffer Adam Shapiro (left) work together on a story for The Overlook.

Jolie Jones

MEALS FROM MERCY: Stephen Smith and Chad Hyatt (left) sit on the curb by the Home Depot on Ponce de Leon Ave. Hyatt often hands out lunches to migrant workers in this shopping complex. A homeless member of the creative writing class (right) who wishes to remain anonymous poses for a picture in the church.

Student loses home, keeps hope

Jolie Jones

8

9

news

10

Dec. 9, 2011

SPLOST triumphs, voters hope to move past scandal

By Nile Kendall Atlanta citizens voted “yes” to a 1 percent special-purpose, local-option sales tax for education on Nov. 8 which will fund school improvement projects at dozens of APS schools, including $12.1 million for classroom additions and renovations at Grady feeder school Mary Lin Elementary.

The referendum passed by a margin of 64-36 percent and is expected to raise a total of $513 million for the school system.

APS Superintendent Erroll Davis Jr. said he is looking forward to using the funds to provide students a world-class education.

“On behalf of our students, I thank local voters for their commitment to education and for providing the resources needed through their approval of the SPLOST extension for new school construction, refurbishments and expansion, including IT and security upgrades,” Davis said in a statement to Talk Up APS. “Their decision will result in a continuation of the ongoing effort started a decade and a half ago to provide quality, up-to-date facilities that enhance the learning environment for the children of Atlanta.”

The school board threatened homeowners in Atlanta, who didn’t support the education SPLOST, with property tax rate increases if the bill did not pass. With the bill now passed, however, people who do not own property in Atlanta, but who buy

ture. We have to keep the issues separate, and keep what’s best for the kids in mind.”

Donald Walker, who ran for the now-vacant Atlanta School Board District No. 2, said he was very disappointed in the voter turnout. The turnout was estimated at around 10 percent across Atlanta.

“When you have 42,000 voters in the district but only 1,800 showed up, it says something about the value of education,” Walker said.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who is also the chairman of the Transportation and Communications Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Chairman of the Regional Transit Committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission, is pushing for the passage of next summer’s transportation SPLOST. With the E-SPLOST now approved, however, passing the T-SPLOST would increase the sales tax to nine cents on the dollar in Atlanta, making it one of the highest sales tax percentages in the nation.

The education SPLOST will fund additions and renovations of schools systemwide, however, the school board has decided to wait on carrying out these actions until all redistricting maps are finalized, which board member Cecily Harsch-Kinnane estimates will be in April. p

products in Atlanta, will still be picking up part of the tab.

“In this economy and anti-tax environment, I was more worried than I was five years ago,” said Julie Salisbury, co-founder of the Step Up or Step Down organization, a parents group that monitors the Atlanta school board. “I’m pleased and thrilled as a parent and property owner and taxpayer that it passed. The beautiful thing is that it shares the cost, as opposed to feeling it as an additional burden on property taxes.”

Willie Bernard, who has two kids in the APS system, voted against the education SPLOST because he thinks citizens are already overtaxed.

“We have enough taxes,” Bernard said. “Just like every household is having to scale back in this economy, the government also needs to scale back on its spending.”

Sheryl Halyard, an involved parent at Benjamin E. Mays High School, said she voted “yes” because she is hoping that with the scandal in the past, the system can now move forward.

A.J. Joiner, an entrepreneur and resident of the Edgewood Park community, said the mistakes of adults and administrators should not harm students.

“Although the cheating scandal was a black eye for the Atlanta Public Schools, the kids still need the best facilities,” Joiner said.

“It’s our responsibility, in my opinion, to look at the bigger pic-

SALARIES transformed; administrators’ wages limit school’s budget continued from front page

LUCY LEONARD

MOVING PAINS: President of McKibben Demophraphics Research Group Jerome McKibben points parents in the direction of where their schools will meet to discuss the four new redistricting options and have their questions answered. McKibben explained to Morningside and Mary Lin parents how none of the plans were final and how the demographers would take new parameters suggested by parents to create the two new, different drafts expected in January and listened to their concerns with some proposed changes. Morningside, Mary Lin and Springdale Park Elementary were the only three schools specifically addressed at the SRT-3 meeting at Parkside Elementary School’s auditorium on Dec. 1.

SHIFTING zones angers parents continued from front page reports were preliminary and open to community revision, starting with a ranking sheet of the options given at the beginning of the meeting. People could rank the options for each school level in the four proposals or write that they didn’t agree. The demographers encouraged people to fill them out even if they didn’t support any of the options.

APS plans to release the survey data three weeks after all of the meetings have been conducted, sometime in late December or early January.

Ken Bleakly, president of Bleakly Advisory Group, chosen by APS to counsel the demographers, stressed that the plans were still going through edits and won’t be final until the end of the year.

“We will come back with a new set of scenarios in January,” Bleakly said.

“We will have another set of public meetings; everyone will come and give us comments. My guess is we will then revise it one more time, and then we will make a recommendation to the superintendent. The superintendent may accept or not accept our recommendations. If he does accept them, he then turns to the school board, and they may accept it or not accept it. So there are like, four steps left in the process.”

APS board member Reuben McDaniel specified that after considering community input to these four solutions, two newer, more comprehensive resolutions would be presented for consideration.

“We will create two new options

based on feedback and information that we will get out of this, based on review of board members and [their] recommendations. Then we will come up with two new plans,” McDaniel said.

“That is when people really can say, ‘How upset am I really about this?’”

Bray said she will continue to send her kids to their current public school.

If the redistricting plans changes where her kids go to school, however, she may consider moving out of her re-zoned district.

“We will always send our kids to public school. I do not know if we will stay here because it is logistically not feasible,” she said. “We chose the area because of the diversity and walking benefits. I feel like we will lose some of this, so we may have to move.” p

more personal relationships among the students and faculty as well as the parents,” he said.

Grady parent Cathie Power agrees.

“If our four academy leaders can provide support for our students, this is a reasonable way to spend money.”

Bromery admitted that the added administrative jobs associated with the four academies have come with hefty tabs.

“Principal salaries have remained within a consistent range,” Bromery said. “The number of principals needed to lead the individual small schools [or] small learning communities resulted in an overall increase in administrative costs for high schools over the traditional single principal model.”

At Grady, for instance, roughly $360,000 is spent on the salaries of the four academy administrators alone, which range from around $85,000 to $96,000, according to information produced by APS in response to an Open Records Request filed by The Southerner. At North Atlanta High School, salaries range as high as $100,000 for an academy leader.

Carver High School, which has been divided into four schools with four separate principals, has a total principal salary cost of around $485,000 not including assistant principals, with some salaries as high as $128,000.

“The small learning communities in high schools are very expensive on a per-student basis if the administrator for each section of the school is paid on the same basis as a principal as is the case in some of Atlanta’s high schools,” Martin said. “Whether this is a wise expenditure depends on the best use of these funds within the available resources for the school system.”

According to the Georgia Department of Education website, Atlanta area counties have general administration expenditures that range from $157 per student up to $589 per student. APS on the other hand, spends just over $3,045 in general administration cost per student.

“Some of the differences in per-student expenditures, especially in terms of general administration, are startling,” Martin said.

At Grady, Murray plans to save on hiring costs by sharing core teachers between multiple academies.

“As we move each year forward, resources will be reassigned,” Murray said. “Core teachers will be shared between academies to save money.”

Sophomore Tucker Lancaster, a student in the communications and journalism academy, agrees.

“I think [the small learning communities] have the potential to work well, but there need to be more options,” he said.

“We’re a long way from them being worth it.”

Interim biomedical science and engineering leader Raymond Dawson said it’s too soon to tell how effective the small learning communities are.

“Two years from now we can see if people pursue their academy careers,” he said. p

a&e

Dec. 9, 2011

11

Developers to turn landmark into Ponce City Market

By Lauren Ogg and Grace Power In the spring of 2014, a center for commerce, retail and housing will emerge out of the old City Hall East building, located on Ponce de Leon Avenue just a few blocks from Grady.

Jamestown Properties and Green Street Properties are spearheading the transformation of this Sears buildingturned City Hall and transitioning it into a mixed use business and residential complex.

In the early 1900s, before the building was constructed as a Sears Roebuck store. the Ponce de Leon Amusement Park covered the ground. Currently, the site houses an antique building with dozens of broken windows. The huge brick structure is full of large, vacated levels with original hardwood floors and equipment. Above each old workstation, a label on fading paper bears the handwritten names of the Sears employee who once worked there. To the right hangs the employee’s weekly work schedule.

The view from inside the building stretches from downtown to Virginia Highland. Back in the late 1920s and early 1930s, the building overlooked Ponce de Leon Park, the old baseball field that was home to the Atlanta Crackers and the Atlanta Black Crackers.

PONCE UPON A TIME: The former Sears building and City Hall East will reopen as a mixed business and residential complex in spring 2014.

The current building’s condition now is a stark comparison to its busy days as a Sears Roebuck Store. Opened in 1926, the building carried everything from fishing gear to kitchen appliances. The store was nine stories of Sears merchandise, complete with what is now the train track running inside the store to deliver all of the goods.

In 1991, the city of Atlanta bought the building from the Sears Roebuck Company to use as an office building.

After nine years, the City sold it to Jamestown Properties, a real estate investment and management company, for $27 million. Jamestown Properties partnered with Green Street Properties to create Ponce City Market.

The two companies compare their goals for the Ponce City Market to Chelsea Market in New York City, a building containing a shopping mall, food court and office space. Ponce City Market is expected to enhance the surrounding community by refurbishing the previously abandoned building, said Sandi Parker, Jamestown Properties project manager.

“Right now that building is a blockade to Old Fourth Ward,” she said. “[It is an] unsafe space that prevents physical activities. Right now there is no incentive for people to walk on the street.”

Parker expects that to change. The building is being restored, and the train track underneath the structure is also in the process of being restored as part of the BeltLine project.

The BeltLine was first built on the backside of the original section of the building, but when the building expanded in 1929, the 1940s and the 1960s, the tracks were new expansions covered the tracks.

Sophomore Eli Mansbach attended the Party at Ponce, a benefit to gain public attention for the renovation project, on Oct. 1 and was pleased with the potential of the building. “[It] seems like something to

benefit the economy of Atlanta,” Mansbach said.

He was enthused about the project and said the collection and collaboration of all the different organizations coming together for the project will do great things for the community.

John Jameson, an Atlanta Downtown Authority associate who works with the BeltLine district, said the development should attract young families and single-family households. It will feature apartments, condominiums, restaurants, retail and office space. There will be an event hall and a restaurant on the lower levels, as well as a retail area with specialized food markets.

The office and residential spaces will be on the higher floors, and each level will contain a parking lot. With the new parking lots on each level, the old lot on the North Avenue side of the building will no longer be needed and will be knocked down, Jameson said.

Jameson expects the BeltLine to open along the same time frame as the Market, which will bring more modes of transportation to the building and the whole Atlanta area.

All of this construction will not damage the building’s historical presence, Parker said.

City Hall East currently has 2.1 million square feet. The complex will have 1.2 million square feet available after leveling the ground, moving the parking lots and remodeling the spaces.­ The building is currently the largest building in the Southeast, and even after the renovation, it will keep its title.

Instead of losing its antique feel, Parker said that this huge addition and renovation will actually bring parts of the building closer to its original design than before the city took over.

“You’ll feel the old structure more,” Parker said. p

Annual talent show gives students chance to shine

By LeJoi Lane Students wove by the concession stand, past the ticket tables, juggling bags of chips and drinks. Hands stamped, they searched for the perfect seats. Some students fiddled with the lenses of their cameras as they prepared to take pictures of the show.

The curtain rippled as someone rushed by backstage. A group of students stood in the back trying to find the perfect seat. They decided the second row of the middle section suited them best and they sat down just as the lights flickered.

Hosted by seniors Daniel Gilstrap and Iman Kialeuka, the talent show took place on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in the theater.

“I think the show went pretty well [for] it being my first time,” Kialeuka said. “The audience was extremely encouraging, and my co-host Daniel made me feel comfortable.”

She said, however, that hosting was as equally daunting and explained as the audience plays a role in both the host’s confidence and insecurity.

“Hosting is a huge responsibility,” Kialeu-

Lejoi Lane

From French and jazz songs to conscience rap, eclectic evening offers something for everyone

GRADY’S GOT TALENT: Senior Lily Zintak performs in her fourth talent show, singing Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” ka said. “You’re dealing with pressure from the audience, [chorus teacher Kevin] Hill and mainly yourself. I rehearsed all of these different things to say about every performer, but I ended up winging it and just going with the flow of the show.”

The show included 12 acts, all of which went through two auditions and a dress rehearsal in preparation for the show.

Performances ranged from renditions of chart-topping French songs and jazz band and choral performances to a guitar-strumming foreign-exchange student.

Sophomore Ryan Bolton performed in this year’s talent show in three different acts. This was his second year performing in the talent show, and he said he truly loves performing.

“I performed because it gave me the opportunity to do what I love in front of my peers as well as for the fun of just being in a great show,” Bolton said.

The night’s performances were heavy with male performers and acts. One of these was junior Remond Mathis, who presented one of his own original conscience raps called “Life, Liberty, Love.” He made references to problems in today’s society, including racism and the Troy Davis execution. “[The audience] shows me if what I’m saying has the power to at least have people listen and think,” Mathis said.

Seniors Caitlin Wade and Rayzon Evans, closed the show with a rendition of Gym Class Heroes’s “Stereo Hearts” together.

Wade sung the chorus while Evans, whose stage name is Shadow, wrote his own lyrics for the verses.

Together they had the audience roaring and on their feet with applause. Rayzon attributed his popularity with the crowd to his talents and ability to give audiences what they want.

“I know what people like to hear, and I try to incorporate that every time I write something,” Evans said.

Senior Aja Blair said she enjoyed all of the performances.

“The talent show was a great sample of [what] all the talent Grady has to offer,” Blair said. p

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Dec. 9, 2011

By Gracie White As the puppet show came to a close, the music started and the audience lightly hummed the melody of the song they had loved and knew, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” At first, it just was a soft murmur of sounds coming from a few spectators; when the opening lyrics began to play, however, the crowd came alive.

People belted out the words until their voices could go no higher. The audience swayed left and right, and younger family members curled their arms around their moms’, dads’, and grandparents’ sides as they sang and danced. “‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, you’ll go down in history.’” After singing the last line, the crowd quieted, but not for long.

When the puppeteers entered the stage, the audience erupted into a frenzy of applause for the puppet operators’ performance.

After taking their bows, the puppeteers remained on stage to demonstrate how they maneuver the puppets, and the children were riveted as they watched the puppeteers bring the puppets to life once more.

The puppets, however, were not the only highlight of the show at Midtown’s Center for Puppetry Arts. The kids were equally excited about the story itself—the timeless tale of an outcast reindeer who ultimately earns acceptance among his peers despite his supposed handicap, and the unique friendships he forms along the way.

“I like when Rudolph gets to go in the cave and talk to his mom and his nose lights up,” said Mia Scheller, a 7-year-old who attended the performance.

Though the story is centered around Rudolph and his struggle to fit in, the tale also incorporates smaller plots including the elf, Hermey, who became a dentist though it was outside the social norm, and the moral reformation of “Bumble,” the abominable snow monster.

“My favorite part of the show was when Bumble put the shiny star on the tree,” said Carlisle Bilbo, a 4-year-old girl who attended the show on Nov. 23.

From the lifelike scenery to the singing and dancing experience, the show has captivated thousands. Carlisle’s 3-year-old sister, Reese Bilbo, accompanied her to the performance, and said singing the Rudolph song along with the entire audience was the best part.

Carlisle and Reese Bilbo’s grandmother

Courtesy of Clay Walker

Puppet show displays Christmas spirit for all to see

NOT JUST A NITWIT: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is performed during the holiday season at the Center for Puppetry Arts located in Midotwn. The puppet show runs through Dec. 31. The show (top) is filled with suspense as Rudolph and his friends attempt to escape the abominable snow monster; the story attracts viewers of all age groups. In his quest for acceptance and, Rudolph (above) acquires an elf friend, Hermy. was a ballerina for a company that mainly put on performances for children, including seasonal shows such as The Nutcracker.

She said watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer brought back the excitement of Christmastime and memories of her time as a ballerina.

While the sing-song feel to the show helps attract the young audience, many people, especially educators, think it’s the underlying themes throughout the story that really grab kids’ attention and keep them interested.

“Coming from a teacher’s perspective,

there’s a lot of bullying in school these days, and because Rudolph is subject to this type of behavior, many children can associate with him, making him a very relatable character,” said Barbara Ramps, a teacher who attended the show with her sister.

Jim Lancaster, the father of Grady, sophomore Tucker Lancaster, said the theme of overcoming the odds and the overall fun feel to the show are reasons why it appeals to children.

“Rudolph is also suitable for an older audience because of the story’s plot,” Lancaster

said. “It is adventurous and has a suspenseful quality that intrigues many adults.”

For many, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, whether it’s seen as a puppet show or as a movie, has become a holiday tradition.

“I watch it every few years; it’s like a flashback to my childhood memories,” senior Maragh Girvan said. “I used to want to fly with Rudolph and Santa when I was young; I wished my nose glowed as well.”

Even if one does not experience the story in the form of a live puppet show, the stopanimation film of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer supplies enough holiday cheer for many families.

For some adults, this show is a blast to the past, to when they would watch the seasonal movie with their loved ones and friends. “[Watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer] is a holiday tradition for me; I’ve seen it every year since I was little,” Lancaster said. “It brings back memories of watching it with my mom; we really loved the elf who wanted to be a dentist.”

His wife, Erica Lancaster, agrees, but had a slightly different childhood memory.

“It came before you could watch cartoons all the time, so my family would all come together at a specific hour to watch it,” she said. “It was great because it meant Christmas was coming.”

For many teenagers, the show is a reminder of their elementary school days, and some find themselves dreaming about being young again.

“Seeing it now, it reminds me of how magical Christmas was when I was little,” junior Sophie Maschinot said. “It’s a good story for families to watch together.”

Sometimes, it is the imperfections and the old-timey feel to the Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer movie that people love most.

“I like the stop-motion animation style of it and how it’s sort of choppy,” Lancaster said. “They don’t make stuff like that anymore; everything flows perfectly in most movies now.”

Though the TV special was created more than 45 years ago, viewers believe Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will stand the test of time, and that its popularity will not fade.

“I think it’s a holiday movie that never gets old,” junior Sophia Buscaglia said. “I know I’ll continue to enjoy watching Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer throughout my entire life.” p

GARDEN Lights brighten Atlanta’s holiday season continued from front page consideration making it green.”

The LED lights on display at the garden consume up to 80 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent lights and have a life span of five years or more.

Exhibits in the garden include the galaxy of stars in The Woodlands; the bees, butterflies and plants in The Edible Garden; and the color-changing orbs in the Great Lawn.

Junior Nara Smith attended the Garden Lights show with a friend.

“I’ve been to the Botanical Garden plenty of times in the past, and they have never put on a show as great as this one,” Smith said.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration also helped set up the exhibit.

A NASA rocket scientist helped sync the 200 choreographed orbs to holiday music, showing 16 million different colors.

“I loved that there was such a variety of people there,” Smith said. “I saw different types of families, couples and friends … and everyone was happy.”

On opening night, 5,700 visitors showed up, and it was the first time the Botanical Garden has had to deny visitors entrance because they reached maximum capacity.

Even on the busiest day of the year—Mother’s Day—that did not happen.

“Mother’s Day is usually our most popular day with

DECK THE GARDENS: Two-hundred color-changing orbs choreographed to holiday music play on the Great Lawn at Atlanta’s Botanical Garden.

Garden Lights showcases nearly 1 million LED lights, is open daily through Jan. 7 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. The exhibit has attracted many viewers. over 10,000 visitors throughout the day,” Diem said. “But that was within 10 hours, and the Garden Lights sold out in a matter of five hours.”

Diem said it is different than other light shows because it is a walking tour rather than a driving one, which makes

it more intimate and brings a wider variety of visitors.

“In the past, we [Botanical Garden] spread holiday spirit by having puppet shows, trains, decorations and more, but this special event is a new tradition that will be set up annually,” Diem said. r

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Dardens spend Turkey Day in Mexico, tackle Ironman

By Lauren Scott If you ask George Darden about his journey to his first full Ironman, he’ll tell you it’s a good story.

As most families wined and dined this Thanksgiving, AP World History George Darden and his wife Kacie Darden were running a marathon in downtown Cozumel.

And swimming 2.4 miles in the San Miguel. And biking 112 miles down Juarez Avenue. Needless to say, their holiday was an adventure far beyond the traditions of turkey and dressing.

The switch from cobbler to Cozumel made sense to the competing couple. George Darden, an avid cyclist, felt he was moving in the direction of triathlons after cycling for several years. Kacie Darden had been competing in Ironmans since 2008.

“My wife and I did a decathlon in 2008,” George Darden said.

After that, she decided to start doing triathlons, and I started cycling competitively. She started all three— swimming, biking and cycling—at the same time, no background in any sports. It’s pretty incredible if you ask me.”

PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL: George Darden (above) rushes to complete the biking portion of the Ironman Triathlon in Cozumel. The race consisted of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.4-mile run. Darden finished the race in 10.5 hours—just 30 minutes longer than his target time. Despite Darden’s relatively slow start in swimming, he was able was able to excel in the biking portion of the race and passed more than 1,000 racers in that section. His wife Kacie Darden (left) beat her target time of 12 hours, clocking in at 11 hours and 30 minutes. Kacie Darden is now preparing to participate in a double Ironman in late February.

The Road to the Race George Darden ran competitively in high school and college, but learned to swim in June only a week before competing in his first triathlon. He could float in water but was unable to do formal strokes, such as freestyle.

The road to the race required more than just refining his strong suits—cycling and running—and revving up the strokes. The couple spent countless weekends and weekdays training and changed their diets to prepare for the race.

Darden explained that many people are under the impression triathletes “eat what they want,” but they are mistaken. The couple hired a nutritionist who specializes in advising Ironman competitors on how to eat.

“We eat a lot of lean meats and fish and grains, like brown rice and keanwah, as well as Greek yogurt

and fruit,” Darden said.

Since the duo already abstained from fatty foods and excessive desserts, making a few alterations to their diets was not the challenge.

Their workout schedule, however, took some getting used to.

“Let’s put it this way,” Darden said in September. “Between the time I signed up in March [and now], seven months later, I’ve put in 400 hours of foot work. Just for this Ironman.”

That’s nearly 17 days of being on your feet.

The Dardens work out nine times a week, which includes two

5 a.m. workouts. They space it out evenly, resting one day, working out the next. On weekends, they plan longer workouts, sometimes combining two days of training to accomplish in three days.

For Kacie, there’s extra motivation. She’s training for a double Ironman in February.

On regular workout days, they meet with their personal trainer, “Coach” Will Dillard. For lifting weights, they look to various LA Fitness locations around Atlanta.

To get in a few good runs, they have several go-tos: the Piedmont Park active oval, several Midtown

neighborhoods and Kennesaw.

In addition, the couple bikes just about everywhere.

One of their workouts was a half Ironman a few months ago, which was a trial run for the real thing in Cozumel, George Darden said.

“Leading up to the half, [we did] an hour swim, a five-hour bike ride and a one-hour run,” he said. “I swam about a mile and a half, rode my bike for about 90 miles and ran about eight miles. That same day, Kacie did a three-hour run. That was a memorably rough one.”

In the weeks leading up to the race, training grew difficult, as he

had to manage finalizing his dissertation to receive his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, which meant taking regular trips to and from Athens. That was the most difficult part of the process, he said.

“Trying to find a balance while I’m working full time, coaching and working on my dissertation ... it gets rough,” he said.

There was one factor of the adventure, however, that kept him steady to the finish. Spending time with his wife was by far his favorite part of the whole experience, he said.

“The fact that [Kacie] is doing it too ... it makes all the difference,” Darden said. “I keep her accountable; she keeps me accountable. It goes both ways.”

What happens in Mexico...

The Dardens arrived in Cozumel Wednesday night, Nov. 23 with a lot on their minds but managed to settle pre race jitters by making friends with other triathletes, watching TV, relaxing and spending time in the city.

The pair had two goals going into the big race: for Kacie to clock a personal best time of 12 hours or less and for George to cross the finish line just under 10 hours.

Kacie crossed the finish at 11 hours and 35 minutes, beating her personal goal by an unexpected 25 minutes.

After being stung by jellyfish during the swim, passing over 1,000 people on the cycling portion but slowing down more than planned during the run, George Darden crossed the finish line at 10 hours and 15 minutes, barely missing his personal goal. He said the journey didn’t end the way he had pictured it.

“It wasn’t quite as exciting as I had hoped,” Darden said. “I was down on myself because I screwed up the execution of the race, so crossing the finish line wasn’t this big ‘Yes!’ moment ... I didn’t really have that feeling, but if I have a better race in June, you bet I will.” p

Students’ skills and studies earn college scholarships

By Ciena Leshley and Emma Aberle-Grasse Seniors have spent countless hours crafting the perfect applications to their dream colleges. While many are putting the final touches on their applications, some have already received acceptance letters. And others have not only been accepted to colleges but are also being recruited by top-tier universities.

Senior Madeleine Girardot is one of those students. Three different schools have offered her money for her fencing skills. The Air Force Academy, Temple University and Duke University recruiters have all approached Girardot with official or potential scholarship offers to their schools.

“Everyone that goes to the [Air Force] Academy gets a $400,000 scholarship,” Girardot said. “The Academy is really hard to get into, so the recruitment just guarantees that I will get a congressional nomination, medical waiver and anything else I need to get in.”

The Air Force has had its eyes on Girardot for a long time.

They have been interested in her for two years, while Duke and Temple University have approached her within the last few months. After talking to them about their schools and fencing teams, she knew the offers were coming.

“I didn’t have to compete with others in the process to get the recruitment, because they recruit you based on your past results [of fencing competitions], so everyone kind of already knows

where they’re going to get offers from,” Girardot said.

Girardot’s top pick out of the three schools is the Air Force Academy, and she is the fencing team’s top recruit. The Air Force Academy is offering Girardot the largest scholarship of all three schools and will also give her special perks and privileges if she chooses to join their fencing team.

Though Girardot plans to continue fencing in college, she does not plan to pursue fencing as a career.

“I don’t think I will fence my whole life, at least not competitively,” Girardot said. “Only a small amount of people compete professionally, and they’ve known that was what they were going to do since they were 10, and they have the money to do it.”

Senior Margaret McDonald, like Girardot, is an accomplished fencer. She is being courted by St. John’s University.

While Girardot has not made her final decision, six students have received scholarships to the colleges they will attend.

Seniors Quameeha Grandoit, Marius Jackson, Eve Brown, Queen White, Jacob Friesen and Jamil Williams all won the Posse Scholarship. Grandoit, Jackson and Friesen are going to Syracuse University, Williams is going to Boston University, White is going to Brandeis University, and Brown will attend Bard College—all with a full-tuition scholarship.

To earn Posse, students must first be nominated. Those chosen

to continue face an interview panel, and if they move beyond the first interview, they have a second, more formal interview and then a final group interview.

“It was rather strenuous,” Grandoit said. “There were multiple rounds, and in each round you had to put your best foot forward and make a great impression.”

The final interview is a group affair, with all of the finalists for each participating school interviewed together.

“Everyone who is nominated for Posse has great extracurriculars, grades and test scores,” Williams said. “The way to really differentiate yourself from everyone else is to have a booming personality.”

Williams and Grandoit agree that, to get the Posse Scholarship, students have to show academic and leadership potential.

“I possess the academic qualities and leadership skills that a Posse Scholar must have,” Grandoit said. “Each Posse member has something unique about them, and I think I did a great job of showing that unique quality in myself.”

After the final interview, the students were called and told that they had been selected as Posse Scholars.

“I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” Williams said. “It’s a real blessing to be able to say that you know where you’re going in December of your senior year, and it’s a good school, and it’s mostly paid for.” p

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Dec. 9, 2011

By Lucy Leonard We stood in the corner of the photography exhibit, alternating between standing on our toes and on our heels.

“Click, click,” said Chip Simone, the photographer featured in the exhibit, as he reached the apex of his step. “That’s how I taught myself to take a picture while walking.”

People wandered around the room on the bottom floor of the High Museum of Art, stopping sporadically to lean in and admire Chip’s pictures, creating breath marks on the glass cases. They didn’t pay any attention to the two people pretending to take photos while bouncing around on their toes.

I mimicked his movements, grasping my real camera just as he did his imaginary one.

Finally, someone looked at us. Chip walked over and stood next to them as they intensely examined his picture.

“Let me know if you have any questions about the exhibit,” Chip said.

The man smiled as Chip asked him about the camera he was holding.

“Oh, my name is Chip Simone, by the way,” he added in a nonchalant manner.

The man smiled again, a bit taken aback.

“Wow, your work is amazing,” the man said.

As Chip walked toward me, I watched the man turn to his companion excitedly, his bewildered expression never faltering.

“That’s Chip Simone,” he said. “This is his work!”

This was not a strange occurrence at Chip’s photography exhibit at the High Museum, The Resonant Image, which lasted from June 18 to Nov. 6. Any person who visited the exhibit while Chip was there was sure to get this special treatment.

While I was there, Chip introduced me to Cynthia Hall, one of the security guards at the exhibit, telling her not to worry that I was taking pictures because he had gotten me special permission. Hall said Chip and his exhibition were a main attraction at the museum.

“This is what everybody comes down here to see,” Hall said. “‘Chip Simone. Where’s Chip Simone?’ they ask.”

Chip spent enough time at the High to befriend many of the museum’s employees.

“The director of the museum asked me recently, ‘What are you going to do now that the show’s coming down, Chip?

What are you going to do with your life since you can’t come here all the time?’” Chip said as he watched two of the security guards laughing idly in the doorway. “I started laughing, and I said, ‘Well, I’m fine with it. But everyone’s been so nice to me that I definitely will miss it.’”

People at the High are sad to see him go, too.

“We’re going to really, really miss him,” Hall said.

When I asked him how he felt on the last day of the show, he gave me a rather surprising answer.

“I’m very excited,” Chip said. “Whatever happens next is going to be the next chapter, and there are all kinds of indica-

Lucy Leonard

Local photographer focuses on future after exhibit

PHIELDING PHOTOGRAPHY QUESTIONS PHROM PHANS: Chip Simone answers questions from visitors at his exhibit, The Resonant Image, on the bottom floor of the High Museum. Simone was often present at the High and frequently discussed his work with the people who visited his show. tions that it is going to be a very exciting time.”

There are definitely signs that the next chapter will be another pinnacle in his narrative. A week earlier, as we sat on Chip’s front porch and rested in the throws of the shade provided by the Yoshino Cherry tree that held court in his front yard, the occasional car zoomed by, and Chip’s panting white shepherd Bianca rested her snout on my knee. And then Chip’s phone rang.

“You’re going to have to sit through this,” he said. “Sorry, but it’s important.”

That’s the thing about Chip. Every conversation is important. Anything that someone has to say is the grand opening for the Conversation of the Year.

He laughed into the phone. He was speaking to the director of photography at Sotheby’s, a major art auctioneer, about his upcoming trip to New York City.

When he hung up, after a slight coughing fit and a cool glass of water, we discussed his impending projects. In

January, Chip will have a show at Jackson Fine Art, one of Atlanta’s leading photography galleries, featuring work from his book Chroma.

A gallery in New York City also courted him to give a spring show at the Steven Kasher Gallery, which specializes in fine-art photography and which Chip called “the top of the heap.”

“If you show in New York, then you can show any place,” he said.

A week later, back in the museum, I sat with Chip during the final day of the exhibit.

He stared, surprisingly silent, at the “cover wall” that touted his name and achievements, and that is when I realized, maybe for the first time, how much Chip’s work means to him.

“Maybe you can take a picture of me in front of my title wall?” he said to me, as he stood up and posed in front of the red background. Apparently, even photographers like to have their pictures taken. p

By Megan Prendergast ’Tis the season for Christmas trees, so many Midtown residents are returning to the Barefoot Mountain Farms lot by Inman Middle School to buy their holiday shrubbery.

Twenty-three years ago, Hal and Tina Hollcroft purchased 80 acres of land in Laurel Springs, N.C., the middle of christmas-tree country. With hopes of becoming farmers, the two began planting Fraser fir trees— Christmas trees.

Eight years later, the couple harvested their first trees, Tina Hollcroft said. Within years, they fulfilled their dream of providing Christmas trees to families across the nation.

The couple originally named their farm Hal’s Hill, but they rechristened it Barefoot Mountain Farms in honor of Hal Hollcroft’s love of walking around barefoot.

Their Atlanta Christmas tree lot, located in the field next to Inman Middle School, employs Grady students—from sophomores to seniors.

“The reason I hire students is because, today, it’s about the only place that they can work,” manager Hal Hollcroft said. “It used to be that students in high school could throw newspapers, work at gas stations pumping gas, work at a grocery store as a bag boy or cut grass, but all of those jobs are gone today either because grown-ups do the jobs or the

Megan Prendergast

Season for giving: Christmas-tree lot provides jobs

‘TIS THE SEASON: Senior Larson Collier helps move a Christmas tree for a customer at the Barefoot Mountain Farms lot in Inman Middle School’s field. The lot has provided part-time jobs for numerous Grady students. jobs no longer exist, like pumping gas. They have no other place to work now.”

Among the Hollcrofts’ employees is senior Larson Collier, who has been working at the lot each holiday season since 2009.

“The lot is a really great enviroment to work in,” Collier said. “You get a lot of handson time and do a lot of lifting, so it’s pretty good exercise.”

Senior Jordan Loveless has held the job for the last three years. Loveless is fond of work-

ing with others and being active.

“The work is tough, but I would not want it any other way,” Loveless said. “I love getting paid to do hands-on work.”

For senior Nate James, this season is his first time on the job.

“I heard from a couple of people that it is pretty fun, and you make good money, so I called them up and they were able to give me a couple of shifts,” James said.

Sophomores Declan Farrisee and Ben Sear-

les, two other first-year workers, jumped at the chance to make some money and experience the crisp winter weather.

“Working here gives me a rare opportunity to express my love for nature,” Farrisee said.

“Spending time in the open air this time of year is always enjoyable for me.”

Searles began his first day of work unloading an immense amount of Christmas trees from the 18-wheeler.

“There was a huge pile of trees, and every time we looked back [at the truck], it looked like we hadn’t done anything,” Searles said.

“But by the end of the day, we had managed to empty the entire truck.”

A few workers, Collier, James and Searles, have designated a couple pairs of jeans and shirts as work clothes that they are not bothered about getting covered in sap.

Junior employee Patrick Wise recommends wearing long pants and long sleeves that you are not expecting to wear elsewhere.

“People usually wear long sleeves, because otherwise the tree’s pine needles will cut up your arms while you’re carrying,” Wise said.

Hollcroft is pleased to be working with students again this holiday season.

“It gives us such great pleasure hiring them to help us out during the holiday season,” Hollcroft said. “It’s a fun time, and they come back year after year.” p

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Attitude, absence of leader account for abrupt ending

By Joe Lavine the most critical juncture in the season.

The final whistle blew, and the football sea“We were tired and lazy toward the end,” son was over. It was quiet on the sideline. Some Berry said. “Everyone else was working, and players threw their helmets down. Some buried we weren’t.” their faces in their hands. Junior Taylor agreed the team’s attiquarterback Kivon Taylor and jutude was a problem. nior wide receiver Patrick Carroll “Everyone acted like they didn’t remember the scene. care during the season,” he said.

“Tears,” Taylor recalled. “A lot Carroll believed another problem of tears.” was the lack of leadership to bring “It was emotional,” Carroll said. the players together.

“For a lot of [seniors], it was their Points per game allowed “[We] didn’t have as much veterby Grady’s defense before an leadership as [we did] last [year],” last time playing football.”

Senior nose guard Marion Berry, Dix’s season-ending injury he said. “Individual players would who plans on playing football in show up, but not the team. Against college, said he was heavy-hearted as Pius, you have to play as a unit.” the final game came to a close.

Taylor agreed the team had a lot “I’m not gonna lie. I cried,” of talented veterans, but he said they Berry said. “[It was] my last high didn’t have any senior leaders. He Points per game allowed school game.” believes a void was left in the defense

by Grady’s defense after when senior linebacker Patrick Dix After losing 35-7 to Columbia High School on Nov. 4, the Knights Dix’s season-ending injury was injured in the second half of the finished the season in fifth place in North Atlanta game, causing him region 5A in class AAA and were to miss the remainder of the season. out of the 3A state playoffs for the first time since Millen explained the impact of Dix’s injury.

2008. The season’s sudden end was particularly “It was big missing Pat,” Millen said. “He was devastating because the team aspired to exceed last definitely one of our defensive leaders.” year’s quarterfinal appearance.

Millen also gave credit to Taylor for responding Head coach Ronnie Millen said there wasn’t well to having 10 new starters on offense. anything wrong with the team but that the “For a kid that never took a varsity snap, he did team was just very young with 14 very well,” Millen said. “If he can EXCLUSIVELY @ continue to work I think he’ll be a new starters.

Carroll said their end-of-season theSoutherneronline very good player.” struggles had something to do with The disappointing end to a oncePIUS LOSS A TURNING POINT the way the team played. promising season has had some posiThe season soured on “We were a big momentum team,” tive effects on the players. Both CarOct. 21 when the thenhe said. “When things didn’t go our roll and Taylor are using this season undefeated Grady fell to way, it was hard for us to come toas an inspiration for next season. archrival Pius 49-16. gether and fight back.” “[I expect us to] try to take this Carroll said the loss to St. Pius caused a pivotal season and think about how we felt and use it to reversal of momentum. Both Carroll and Taylor motivate us for next year,” Carroll said. believe that a win against St. Pius would have proTaylor expects more effort from his teammates pelled the team to more wins. next year.

“We would have felt like we were the best team “I expect everybody to give it their all,” Tayin the state,” Taylor said. lor said. “You never know when your last down Players also believe the team lacked discipline at of football is.” p

The Dix Difference

13.4

32.0

Ciena Leshley

LADY KNIGHTS FALL TO WARRIORS, BOYS WIN TO STAY UNDEFEATED

Ciena Leshley

On Dec. 6, the boys and girls basketball teams took on the Warriors of North Atlanta High School. While the girls came up a little short with a score of 47-41, the boys pulled out a 56-49 win after getting off to a slow start. The North Atlanta basketball rivalry has intensified over the past couple years.

The win marks a huge accomplishment for the boys team, which lost decisively in last year’s contest. The boys remain undefeated and hope to attend the playoffs again this year. The Warriors gave the Lady Knights, now 2-1, their first loss of the season. The girls hope to rebound on Dec. 9 against Riverwood. (see story, thesoutherneronline.com)

Stewart’s disciplinary style builds bonds with team After a few years, Stewart landed a volunteer coaching position at Grady assisting the varsity and junior-varsity basketball teams.

This past summer, Stewart coached an Amateur Athletics Union team in order to prepare players for the upcoming season.

Several Grady basketball players were on the AAU team, among them freshman point guard and shooting guard Tyrius Walker. Stewart said he has taken Walker under his wing along with a few of the other players.

Walker said he owes Stewart his position on the team.

“Coach G got me on varsity,” he said.

“My skill helped, but Coach G really talked to the other coaches and got me there.”

Though Walker said he and a few others are Stewart’s “favorites,” Stewart said he tries to connect with all of his players.

“I try to teach the kids life skills and tell them to stay in school,” he said. “Basketball is just like studying in school. If you study hard, you do well; if you work hard on the court, you play well.”

Stewart also tries to remain a student. He said he learns from the other coaches every day and has a good relationship with them.

“I think the others appreciate me a lot,” Stewart said. “It almost feels like we’ve been together longer than two years.”

Stewart may have a good connection

COACHES

fourth in a series Ciena Leshley

By Kate De Give When basketball season begins, the gym reverberates with the pounding of feet on the wood court and the yelling of basketball coaches. Basketball players say one of the most vocal coaches on staff is Gerald Stewart, a 2001 Grady alumnus who returned to basketball after a football career at Morris Brown College. Though players say Stewart is the toughest coach, he said he’s the happiest.

“I’m happy because there’s nothing for me to be upset about,” Stewart said. “I’m blessed with a beautiful family, and I’m doing what I love.”

Stewart has been coaching for Grady since 2009 as a volunteer coach, so to earn a living, he also works for Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy.

“I’ve been working for Jeezy basically since I got out of high school,” Stewart said. “I do advertising, marketing and videography.”

Stewart said he enjoys working with Young Jeezy but that coaching Grady basketball is also a big part of his life.

During high school, Stewart helped train his cousin Brandon Smith, a former Grady point guard, from 2001 to 2002.

In 2007, Stewart moved on to coaching the Atlanta Select Association, located in Morningside, with Grady Athletic Director Douglass Slade.

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON: Assistant basketball coach Gerald Stewart, known as Coach G to his players (shown here during the Nov. 6 North Atlanta-Grady game), began coaching after the death of his father, who told him he should pursue what he loves. Stewart now has a child of his own, who has a “coaching career,” consisting of blowing a whistle at Grady practices. “The boys really take him under their wing,” Stewart said. with the other coaches, but he is different from the others because he focuses more on discipline, his players said.

Even though Stewart remains cordial, when practice starts, his players said he is extremely demanding.

“We [are] always running,” Walker said. “Sometimes he tries to coach like an NCAA coach.”

Senior center and forward Ryan Bishop agrees with Walker.

“He does not hold back, and sometimes he gets out of hand,” Bishop said. “But he has a lot of passion and a lot of drive. He wants us to reach our full potential.”

Stewart said he understands his players’ complaints, but he pushes them hard for a reason.

“That’s just how I am,” he said. “I don’t want anyone on this team who isn’t serious, and in the long run, the players [will] appreciate what I do.” p

the Sports section thesoutherneronline.com

DEC. 9, 2011

HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA

VOLUME LXV, NUMBER 4

By Nally Kinnane our days a week, senior Lora Paine drives up the steep hill on Houston Mill Drive and takes a slight turn at the Vogt Riding Academy sign. She then follows the slowly descending gravel path until she comes across 11 acres of pastures tucked away in the Toco Hills neighborhood, a part of the neighborhood so secluded that few people even know it’s there. But for Paine and senior Lukas Olson, these pastures are a second home.

While most kids outgrow their childhood interests, Olson and Paine are still living theirs. They have both spent a good portion of their childhoods at The Vogt Riding Academy, where they do what they truly love—horseback riding.

“I absolutely adored horses when I was little.” Paine said. “I would gallop around pretending to be one until my mom finally took me to a riding lesson on my fifth birthday, and I’ve been riding ever since.”

Olson became interested in horseback riding after reading about it.

“When I was little I read The Black Stallion, and I really, really liked it and I wanted to have a horse, so I was like ‘I want to ride,’” Olson said. “My mom had ridden when she was little, and she wanted to get back into it too, so we signed up.”

The Vogt Riding Academy isn’t your average horse barn, and Paine and Olson aren’t your average riders.

At Vogt, both practice an uncommon form of riding called dressage.

“At our barn we don’t really do competitions unless you go off on your own and do them, but most people don’t,” Paine said. “We have our own barn competitions, and you either ride dressage or jump.”

Olson and Paine, however, both ride dressage and jump.

Paine described dressage as being similar to a Spanish style of riding.

“The horse and the rider are supposed to create a harmony together, and you work in that harmony and do a whole bunch of lateral movements,” Paine said. “It is like a balancing act.”

Dressage competitions consist of riding for two to three minutes and performing all the required movements. Judges then score the rider on a scale from one to 10. Even though Olson and Paine practice at the same barn, they have different training schedules.

Olson is taking the year off but said that generally he would go into the barn once a week to practice. He would have a one-hour lesson but would end up spending about four hours at the barn due to preparation and clean-up.

“I stopped because of all the school work I had,” Olson said. “I want to pick up riding again soon though, maybe next semester, but it’s probably more likely that it will be over the summer.”

Paine said she practices Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays with a trainer for about two hours each day. Paine said she used to only train one or two days a week but started coming more often after she turned 15. To help pay for the expense of frequent training, Paine set up an arrangement with The Vogt Riding Academy in which they pay for two of her three lessons if she works for them in the stables.

“Mostly I work during the day after my lessons, and I will take care of the owner’s horse on Saturdays,” Paine said. “I feed them and clean out their stalls.”

Even though Paine visits the barn regularly, she said she still finds consistency to be one of the most challenging parts about riding.

“It is really hard because of course you’re with an animal so your emotions react off their emotions, and it’s really difficult to keep that part

Jennifer Waddy

seniors trot through horseback careers F

HORSING AROUND: Senior Lora Paine practices dressage, a form of riding in which the rider and the horse create a balancing act. of riding consistent,” Paine said. more difficult horses.

“It was awful, definitely the worst Olson agrees that dealing with Olson had one particularly diffi- experience in the world. I couldn’t the horse’s emotions is difficult. cult run-in with one of the horses. ride for two years, and I had to lift “At our stable we often get the “The horse was just ridiculous spoons as weights during my recovcheapest horses, so a lot of the time and a couple of times riding him he ery time.” we end up with really bad horses was just really, really hard and crazy Paine still managed to return to that will buck and rear like crazy,” and ungraceful,” Olson said. “I fell riding and said she wasn’t scared.

Olson said. off him once, and he just reared and Both Paine and Olson said they To help keep the riders versatile bucked like crazy.” wish to keep riding a part of their and ready for anything, the trainers Paine also had a horse-riding ac- lives through college-- if not for at Vogt require that the riders prac- cident that resulted in two surgeries training then definitely for pleasure. tice on a different horse every day. and a two-year break from riding.

“I love the fact that you get to “This way we get to ride differ“I was racing friends through pas- know the horses and see that they ent horses, and you really become a tures, and I fell over the horse’s neck each have their own personality,” well-rounded rider,” Paine said. and broke the very top part of my Olson said. “It’s really cool to get With this setup the riders face arm right where it meets my shoul- to know them, ride with them and frequent obstacles from some of the der and dislocated it,” Paine said. deal with them.” p

Nothing to gain by playing through concussion pain When I was younger, I believed athletes needed to “play through the pain.” That all changed on a scalding hot spring day in 2010.

During a Phillip Suitts Grady soccer game during my sophomore year, I came out of the net to collect a ball and was kicked in the head by the opposing forward. I blacked out and awoke to two of my teammates and the referee standing over me, prompting me to ask, “Where am I?” As I came off the field, my coach said, “Phillip, you got to shake this off. We need you.”

Sadly, my experience is all too common for many athletes across the country.

Every season, about 10 percent of athletes

who participate in contact sports suffer a concussion. Most people, however, still don’t know anything about concussions. That’s not just sad—it’s dangerous.

Concussions increase a person’s chances of long-term memory loss, permanent brain damage, mental disorders, depression, emotional disturbances and much, much more.

A concussion isn’t a broken bone or a twisted ankle. You can’t just “shake it off.”

Many times, athletes start playing again too soon due to their ignorance. Too many athletes know next to nothing about concussions.

Many Grady students can’t even identify basic concussion symptoms.

After a survey of 147 Grady students 60 percent said they wouldn’t have known they had a concussion if they received a blow to the head that didn’t knock them out but left them tired and with little energy.

Ignorance, however, is only part of the prob-

lem. Our national sports culture creates a warrior mentality that encourages athletes to play hurt. With most injuries, playing while hurt does not cause much or any long-term damage.

This is certainly not true for concussions.

Coaches also have a role and responsibility in determining whether an athlete can continue. At Grady, in sports like soccer and basketball, injured athletes are left to diagnose themselves. What would have happened if there hadn’t been a trainer on site when I suffered a concussion? Would my coach have forced me to keep playing?

That’s why all youth sports leagues and high schools across the country should have an on-site trainer.

Many coaches, like athletes, can’t recognize concussions. In a study published in 2007 in Pubmed, 156 youth coaches answered more than six questions incorrectly on average on a 16-question quiz about concussion symptoms.

Most of the time coaches are the only ones determining whether a kid should keep playing.

Something has to be done to prepare coaches to better handle this responsibility. Unfortunately, Georgia isn’t doing anything.

Some states, like Alabama and Louisiana, are requiring coaches to complete an education course on concussions every year.

Athletes and their parents also must sign a concussion information sheet before every season in order to play.

It shouldn’t stop at information sheets though.

Youth leagues in all 50 states should be required to hold concussion clinics where medical experts inform young athletes about concussions and the dangers of playing through them.

“Playing through the pain” after suffering a concussion isn’t courageous or brave—it’s just plain dumb. p