Our mission: to enlighten and to entertain http://dulaneygriffin.org
the griffin Dulaney High School Timonium, Maryland
Volume 54, Issue 3 SPEAKING OUT
#
TO KNOW
4
December 18, 2013
Drug, alcohol picture changes slightly
“T see page 3
A Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medal Winner
gina lee, projects manager hings are moving in the right direction, in a positive direction,” principal Lyn Whitlock said. An October survey of 287 students in all grades and academic levels of English classes shows alcohol and drug use have decreased slightly. Still, figures for use here still exceed national numbers. Some 60 percent of students here admit to ever having a drink. That’s roughly twice the national figure, according to a survey by the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, which shows that 32 percent of Americans 12 to 17 years old admit to ever taking a drink. Similarly, roughly twice as many here – 32 percent – admit to trying marijuana. Nationally, about 17 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds have tried pot, NIDA reports. But, there has been a decrease in percentages of driving after consuming alcohol. This year’s data shows that 5 percent of students here have driven after consuming alcohol; last year’s figure was 7 percent.
Percentage of students in each grade who have tried alcohol 91
Seniors 59
Juniors Sophomores
53
Freshmen 37
see survey, page 2
Honor society decks the halls with wreaths
the number of the school’s seven robotics teams that qualified for the state competition
wreath sale. Senior Taylor Liu finalizes adjustments to the wreaths assembled by the National Honor Society in the auditorium lobby Dec. 5. The group sold 162 wreaths this year, raising money for a scholarship fund.
WINNING SENIOR
photo by becca king
video on website
# TO KNOW
6,000
pounds of food collected during the Can Food drive.
ADDICTING FAD
see page 12
INDEX 2-3 4-5 6-8 9-12
news opinion sports features
Tech advances begin early
T
jackie andrews, staff writer The Wi-Fi here just got an impromptu upgrade. The reason? Demand for an additional town hall meeting about the districting of the new Mays Chapel Elementary School. “You guys are a special case,” technician Richard Malisenski said as he pulled bundles of purple wiring from the ceiling outside room 212 Dec. 4. Most high schools must wait until all elementary schools’ Wi-Fi is upgraded, a move taken to meet the demands of a new electronic curriculum. The Baltimore County Public Schools website says that most high schools will receive the technology upgrades in the 2017-2018 school year. In another technological development, high school students will be getting hand-
held electronic devices, such as iPads, in four years as part of the program BCPS One, according to the BCPS website. Teachers may have them earlier, the website said. “As a former teacher in a one-on-one learning environment, I know firsthand that technology is a tool, one that must be skillfully used because technology cannot replace excellent teachers,” superintendent Dallas Dance said in his state of the schools address last May. Technology committee chairman Kimberly Culbertson acknowledged that the change is a double-edged sword. “I think [having a personal device] is a great way to individualize instruction for each student,” Culbertson said. “However, I’m concerned about the sacrifices that will have to be made in other ar-
Administration nixes enrichment period option
sarah hampton & chloe messier, staff writers & jessica hung, deputy editor fter consulting with students, parents, and teachers, principal Lyn Whitlock announced at a Dec. 2 staff meeting that the new block schedule won’t feature an enrichment period. She said it was simply too much change. That means, students will attend four 85-minute classes minutes daily with a lunch period of 30 minutes. An enrichment period would have paired lunch with time for students to tend to clubs and tutoring, providing a break of about an hour. Some teachers opposed enrichment. The Advanced Placement Committee, for example, argued against it. Without extending the school day by a few minutes, an enrichment schedule would have provided 320 minutes of instruction daily. The straight block schedule will provide 340 minutes. While students like sophomore Calloway Norris backed enrichment as a boost for busy students, some said it would be too rowdy and confusing.
A
TECH UPGRADE. Technician Richard Malisenski draws wires for installation on Dec. 4. photo by jen siegel
eas of education to pay for this new initiative.” Staff writer Sydney Parker contributed to this report.
For more reactions, see our website.
FYI: Student Forum: Winter break hybrid classes ends Dec. 19 2:30 p.m. Auditorium
Jan. 2
Open Mic Night Jan. 9 6 p.m. Auditorium
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
Jan. 20
Schools closed for students Jan. 21
Sequel submission deadline
sequelmagazine.org Feb. 7
2
the griffin
news
december 18, 2013
Drug, alcohol picture changes slightly survey, continued from page 1
With age comes more substance use. Among freshmen here, 37 percent say they’ve consumed alcohol. For seniors, the figure is 91 percent. Again, local stats outpace national figures. NIDA data shows that 69 percent of seniors nationwide have admitted to have ever consumed alcohol. The difference is striking for marijuana use. Some 11 percent of freshmen surveyed admit to trying pot. For seniors it’s 47 percent. None of this is surprising, according to senior
Mindy Cheng, president of the National Honor Society. “I’m surrounded by people who are growing up,” she said. “You learn that rules aren’t black and white. As you get older, you learn that things can go different ways.” More Standard English students than Advanced Placement and Gifted and Talented students use marijuana, the survey shows. In AP and GT classes, 22 percent of people have tried marijuana; in Standard classes, 41 percent have. The difference for alcohol use between the
student opinion on marijuana
two groups is much slimmer. Among AP and GT students, 60 percent have consumed alcohol compared to 65 percent of Standard students. But is the nickname Druglaney deserved? An anonymous junior said he sells drugs to students in and out of school. “It’s easy if you have common sense,” he said. For more on what students think of the Druglaney moniker, and to weigh in yourself, see our website.
Ages students first consumed alcohol 15% 11 or younger
44% 29%
39%
For more content on drug and alcohol attitudes here, see our website: http://dulaneygriffin.org.
15 to 17 never
22% about the survey: The anonymous, pen-and-paper survey of 259 students was conducted in Standard, Honors and Gifted and Talented or Advanced Placement English class for each grade level. Students were asked 27 multiple choice questions.
Weighing the case for pot
M
53%
12 to 14
jessica hung, deputy editor arijuana. Weed. In the past year, Colorado and Washington have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes. Should it be legalized here? The student body reaction is divided. Some believe marijuana should be legalized and not considered a crime. Senior Alex Vecchioni says that by legalizing marijuana, the leaf may no longer be seen as a drug but considered a recreational smoking leaf like tobacco. “Once you’ve broken the law, it desensitizes the idea of breaking the law,” Vecchioni said. He also says that if weed is legalized, it should be heavily taxed. Others believe that legalizing marijuana
would not be a good idea. Legalizing marijuana may only make it more of a gateway drug says freshman Sami Sunday. “People need to know that they won’t just stop at weed, they’ll keep going, wanting to try other drugs,” Sunday said. When asked whether or not legalizing marijuana and using the profits to benefit education would change their decisions, Vecchioni and junior Wendy Shu disagreed with justification. “You can say that it is a logical fallacy,” Vecchioni said. Shu says that the idea of using the profits sends a message against what students have been taught. “It is ironic. We spend years teaching kids the message not to do drugs,” Shu said.
Past the five-year mark, hybrids continue to draw mixed reviews avalon bonlie, liz gillum and alise collins, staff writers ou can’t put a beginner in music class and ask them to play a symphony,” French teacher Bella Nabutovsky said. Hybrid classes were introduced around eight years ago, mixing students of different academic levels into one classroom. Some of these classes include English, social studies and fine arts. The administration’s goal was to push standard level students to perform better. The standard and honors curriculum is the same, but the grading rubrics are different.
“Y
Sophomore Jake Bellinger said that his hybrid classes were able to successfully meld the different academic levels, especially in his English class, where standard and honors students can’t be differentiated without the teacher pointing it out. Forum on hybrid classes: 2:30 p.m., Dec. 19, auditorium “In my social studies class, one kid wasn’t doing anything but then when he sat at a table with all honor students and saw us doing work, he started doing it too,” Bellinger said.
Assistant principal Randolph Rothschild shares this optimism. When asked of the positive outcomes of hybrid classes, he said that there are more students taking higher level classes by grade 11 than in previous years, and there has been a decline in disciplinary referrals. “As in many situations in life, it is always wisest to focus on the positive,” art chairman Jim Kuhlman said. Kuhlman added that every student is on their own level, and that he “[looks] to each individual and [tries] to mentor each of them towards their unique value.” Junior Jordan Clark said
C
period was used to finish lengthier labs that couldn’t get done in a single 45-minute period. But this year the chemistry double period was eliminated for Gifted and Talented and Honors classes; it was eliminated for Standard classes in the 2011-2012 school year. “It’s a numbers issue,” Shaw said. “Teachers who are teaching a sixperiod day can’t teach as many students.” Honors and Gifted and Talented Chemistry classes were scheduled back-to-back with students’ world history classes in hopes of having students miss history eight times a year for a two-period lab day. Students were to make up the history class the next day during their chemistry class. Teachers said they were still interested in having the lab day if the
DEADLINES COMING Two deadlines loom for creative writers, photographers, graphic artists, as well as painters and illustrators. Those who wish to compete in the next round of Sequel Magazine’s art and literature contests must submit by Jan. 24. Submissions for the literary magazine’s print publication – due out in the spring – are due Feb. 7. Submissions may be made via the link at sequelmagazine.org or by email to sequelmagazine@ bcps.org. For more information, contact creative writing teacher and Sequel sponsor Meekah Hopkins at mhopkins@bcps.org.
MAKE A MATCH DHarmony, the Key Club’s match-making service and fundraiser for charity, will return this Valentine’s Day season. Questionnaires designed to help determine students’ perfect dates will be distributed during January, club sponsor Karen Turek said. Students will be able to buy information about their matches for $5 during the days before Valentine’s Day. Money raised will fund programs such as Eliminate, which aims to rid the world of neonatal tetanus. For information, see Dharmony committee members: sophomores Jessica Bishai, Steve Zhou and Sai Alur as well as senior Iris Zhou or junior Steven Zhang.
TAPING TUTORS
hybrid class. Sophomores Jake Bellinger (left), Destiny Evans (right) and Nicole Sharpe (behind) read “Things Fall Apart” in their period six hybrid English class.
photo by lucia tarantino
she liked her hybrid English 10 class. She said it challenged honors students and helped her grasp the material when she had the opportunity to help other students. Sophomore Guosheng Wang had a similar opinion for his piano class. With a mixed
piano 1 and 2 class, he said that it gave students examples to look up to and chances to help each other. For more, see our website.
New plan for chemistry labs alternating with world history struggles andrew bank & arianna graham, staff writers ommunication and scheduling problems have stymied a plan to extend chemistry periods for occasional lab days. While logistics make it improbable, science teachers say they’d like to make it happen. “It’s hard to wrap up in a nice 45minute period,” science department chairman Steve Shaw said. “And if we do wrap it up in a nice little 45minute period, you start to think, ‘Well how in depth did we really go?’” Before last year, physical education and health classes were scheduled with chemistry classes to enable students to have a two-period lab day once a week. Last year, six periods of science a week with a designated lab day was still an option. The double
NEWS LINE
opportunity presented itself. But among the logistics that may impede this are varying student schedules, such those of students who don’t take the same level of history and chemistry, so they don’t have their classes scheduled consecutively. Meantime, science teachers have had to adapt. “I went from having a chemistry class six periods a week to five periods a week,” chemistry teacher Karl Geckle said. “So that means I have to cut 20 percent of what we did in that class last year out of the curriculum.” In fact, the science and social studies departments agreed on Sept. 10 and 11, but the lab was canceled due to scheduling conflicts. science department chairman Steve “I think that we have gotten dis- Shaw said that scheduling lab tracted by a number of other things days has proven to be difficult. photo by sarah feustle that are new this year,” Shaw said.
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
The new club Dulaney Educates needs tutors willing to be videotaped teaching lessons. The group plans to run taped lessons online for students to access as needed, according to sophomore Guosheng Wang, the group’s founder. Organizers hope to start with geometry lessons, he said. For information on how to get involved, email thedulaneyeducates@LIVE. com.
SURVEYS DUE The online survey on how to improve technology and education in county schools ends Dec. 20. Students and parents can complete it at www.speakup4schools.org/ speakup2013. Enter 21093 and the secret word bcps.
Musicians succeed More than a dozen students made the Maryland Senior All-State Band and Chorus. They are senior first chair trumpeter Mark Hubbert, junior cellist Benjamin Lee, senior flutist Handong Park, junior percussionist Brady Sack, sophomore clarinetist Jane Song, sophomore violist Michelle Wu, sophomore alto saxophonist Hojin Yoon, sophomore flutist Angela Zhang, senior tenors Solon Miller and Cooper Ramsey, sophomore bass Louis Witt, sophomore first soprano Sarah Ruehl, senior second soprano Natalie Giordana and junior alto Amanda Bilger.
3
news
Teacher speaks out at forum
P
History teachers Kathleen Skelton and John Wagner note the historical significance of Pope Francis. photos by alex wright
Pope intrigues locals danielle darachowicz, staff writer ptimistically progressive and passionate are a few ways locals describe Pope Francis, Time magazine’s person of the year. “He focuses on the church of today,” senior and Catholic Isabel Garcia said. “He is aware that there are changes that have been happening in our world. We’re not living in the past, we’re living in the now.” Garcia referred to the pope’s tendency to address changing attitudes among Catholics, over issues such as divorce and same-sex marriage. Eschewing the formal trappings of the papacy (He reportedly ditched the papal Mercedes and rides in a Ford Focus, Time reports), Francis has also made news for calling on followers to re-evaluate some of the church’s long held traditions. That resonates, history teacher Kathleen Skel-
O
december 18, 2013
the griffin
ton said. “He’s someone young people have a lot of hope for.” This more human pontiff actually surveyed Catholics on how the church should approach some social concerns. Skelton, who was raised Catholic, notes that this marks a change from the Vatican’s historically authoritarian style. Both Skelton and fellow history teacher John Wagner point out that past popes, like Pope Pius IX and Pope Paul VI, also attempted to shake things up and set new precedents for the church. Will Francis’s efforts take hold? “Although this particular set of issues is unique, it depends on him personally, and the next guy that comes in might not do anything about it,” Wagner said. In the meantime, Garcia remains inspired by what she called the perfect quote from Francis appearing on a T-shirt at a Catholic youth conference – “Humility.”
becca king, co-editor hysics and astronomy teacher Cristina Reitmeyer joined about 100 educators who expressed their frustration over mandated changes at the school superintendent’s Dec. 5 teacher town hall meeting. “We’re rushing into these changes without proper preparation, and it’s a shame,” Reitmeyer said. She cited her concern not only as a teacher, but also as a mother of a first-grade daughter whose teacher is struggling to keep up with the demands of the new Common Core Curriculum. Reitmeyer said that she is frustrated on a variety of levels and that she’s not alone.
“Every day I don’t want to leave my classroom, because all I hear are complaints from the other teachers,” she said.
“We’re rushing these changes without proper preparation.” Reitmeyer said she knows colleagues looking to leave the profession because of what is happening. She also expressed concern about
the potential efficacy of curriculum changes. “If we cannot change society’s view on education, we are not going to change education,” she said. Following Reitmeyer’s 15-minute stint at the microphone, superintendent Dallas Dance addressed her and the rest of the audience at New Town High School, saying that he recognized the passion behind her voice. He could relate to it, he said, and he added that county school superintendents have shared concerns about state and federal requirements. The meeting was designed to allow teachers to communicate directly with Dance about any concerns about the county’s 173 schools.
Trans fat unnecessary?
andres arbelaez, staff writer t’s not natural. It’s not normal,” so said food and nutrition teacher Belinda Knott on trans fats. Through the FDA’s Nov. 7 proposal, these “not normal” trans fats could effectively be banned from use in all food products. Trans fat, a type of artificial unsaturated fat, is known to raise bad cholesterol, LDL, and lower good cholesterol, HDL. Poor cholesterol levels lead to poor health. According to a November New York Times article,
“I
a complete ban on these fats could potentially prevent 7,000 deaths and 20,000 heart attacks in the United States each year. Despite health consequences, trans fat has remained in the American diet for decades because of its logistical benefits. “The only benefit to having trans fats is that it extends shelf life, but anything that is going to be on a shelf for an extended amount of time,you don’t want in your body,” Knott said. Critics of the proposal are quick to point out that getting rid of trans fat in
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
all products would have a negative effect on those products’ tastes, and that finding a substitute for these trans fats would be expensive. “I think there probably wouldn’t be a huge taste difference,” Knott said on the proposed switch. In 2006 Mayor Michael Bloomberg made all New York City restaurants drop trans fat from their cooking. Restaurants there had no complaints about taste changes or the use of trans fat substitutes, the Times reports. Knott acknowledged that a small amount of
Belinda Knott
photo by alex wright
saturated and unsaturated fat should be a part of a balanced diet, but what most Americans are lacking, she said, is a balance. “You want a good balance between Omega-6, Omega-3 and monounsaturated fats and then a reduction of your saturated fats,” Knott said.
4
the griffin
opinion
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editors, The most recent issue of The Griffin featured an article that I was not happy with at all. I did not appreciate or agree with the way I was represented in Finn Hasson’s column. I would have been more comfortable if Finn had interviewed me, asked me, or talked to Mrs. Whitlock about the student opinion that was addressed in the article regarding the schedule change. I know that it is Finn’s job as a columnist to write his opinion on certain issues and share them with the rest of Dulaney, but this particular piece was not factual or even close to the correct information and painted the SGO and myself in a bad light. This is clearly evident to me because the middle three paragraphs do not contain the whole truth and could be misconstrued by readers. We as a student body, SGO included, staff, parents, etc, all learned about the schedule change at the same time. No one was included in the process, therefore the SGO could not have intervened sooner, as Finn suggests we should have. When word got out and students became upset and Mrs. Whitlock was approached, she came to me to gather some students simply for a discussion— not a committee—to make a decision. I pulled students I know and some I didn’t know in order to gain different perspectives and opinions. We sat down on only one afternoon together and discussed the pros and cons. We were not asked to make a choice. It all happened very quickly as the administration needed to decide what schedule type to choose. Had there been more time or even more knowledge that it was coming, I can assure you that the SGO and the student leaders in the building would have tried to be included, but that was not a choice we were given by Dr. Dance or Baltimore County. The article made it appear as though this is a school decision when in fact even the teachers and administration didn’t have say in it. If Finn had asked me about the process in order to have a better understanding instead of publishing the wrong idea, then the column would not have come off as negatively towards me and the SGO. - Mark Moody, senior
columnist finn hasson’s response: I believe Mark Moody misunderstood the fundamental purpose of my article. The main point of my argument was that the student body was not adequately included in the decision-making process. I did not blame Moody or the SGO in any way. The reason I was concerned in the first place was that the SGO was not asked to be involved. Furthermore, in no way did I suggest that the SGO should have intervened sooner. I pointed out that administration made no attempt to include the SGO, so my criticism is of the administration, not of Moody or the SGO. Under the circumstances, I thought Moody did a good job of organizing the committee. The only two pieces of substantive information in my article were that junior Avalon Bonlie contacted Ms. Whitlock about forming a student committee and that Moody was selected to choose all of the committee’s members. Both of these statements are accurate and factual. Moody said that he chose the other members of the committee, and I have a copy of Bonlie’s e-mail to confirm the same. Although we agree on some issues, I take exception to Moody’s claims about the accuracy of my information. I did not paint him or the SGO in a negative light in any way. For Finn Hasson’s original column, see our website.
Mistreatment demands response
A
lucia tarantino, staff writer man sits, drives a nail through his scrotum, into the pavement and stays, naked, in Red Square, Moscow. Why did I just tell you that? It happened last month in Russia, where, according to new anti-gay laws, it’s illegal to be gay or show any affection in a non-traditional relationship publically. Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially regarding race, age, sex or sexual orientation. This is a prime example. There is a huge uproar regarding the upcoming Winter Olympics: how can they be held in a country upholding discrimination? According to the Baltimore Sun, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled that Russia’s antigay law does not violate the Olympic charter’s anti-discrimination clause. I took it upon myself to read parts of
the Olympic charter regarding discrimination. Clause four of “Fundamental Principles of Olympism” states that “every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport without discrimination of any kind.”
erwise; they just don’t want to deal with it. Regardless of your views, the charter’s prohibition of bigotry is purely fact. Should the winter Olympics for 2014 be canceled? No, that would be simply be absurd. But I do believe that either the location of the Olympics should be moved, or Russia should be forced to veto their anti-gay law. The IOC needs to defend their oath to “to fight op-art: maddy brancati against all forms of According to discriminamultiple sections, the anti- tion” and take a stand. If gay law in Russia complete- they don’t, what forms of ly violates the discrimina- injustice will be allowed in tory rules of the Olympic subsequent Olympics? charter. There is no way Maybe in our next Olymthat the IOC believes oth- pics we could discriminate
Administration should give enrichment trial run
T
oo much change. That’s the reasoning principal Lyn Whitlock used when she told teachers that there won’t be an enrichment period with the block schedule next year. If the staff and administration find an enrichment period needed later, she said, there will be plenty of years to make it happen. But once something’s in place, it’s tough to alter. Realistically, if we don’t begin with an enrichment period, it’s doubtful that we ever will. We concede that the administration and teachers would need to invest time to manage an enrichment period, but that responsibility could be divided among many without burdening any in particular. Midday club meetings and tutoring sessions make sense—especially with an eight-course schedule that many here will fill with too many Advanced Placement courses. Enrichment is a change we should try.
the griffin Dulaney High School 255 E. Padonia Rd. Timonium, Maryland (410) 887-7633 co-editors Franny Brancati, Becca King, Kyra Twohy deputy editors Jessica Hung, Andrew Oh, Thea Zurek business manager Kyra Twohy adviser Maria Hiaasen project managers Audrey Fanshaw, Gina Lee
op-art: maddy brancati
Weigh in on the issue. Tweet the editors (@
DulaneyGriffin) with #enrichment.
L @dulaneygriffin
against African Americans, or maybe Christians or hey, we could just throw women in the mix. Discrimination is discrimination. It doesn’t matter what you believe. Just because you aren’t gay or you don’t know someone who is gay doesn’t make it acceptable to segregate against gay people. We cannot hold the Olympics in a country that allows such idiocracy, and our country has the power to prevent that. You might tell me that a more reasonable solution would be to simply have Russia grant diplomatic immunity from their discriminatory laws for any visiting athletes or fans for the duration of the Olympics, and I hear you. That’s reasonable. But does it truly adhere to the principle that applies? I know that what I am asking for is a reach. But in this case, we should stand on a principle, not settle for less.
EDITORIAL:
Keeping school clean, classy
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
december 18, 2013
becca king, co-editor ast month, athletic director Richard Reed and principal Lyn Whitlock appeared on the announcements to apologize for the song choice in a Student Athletic Leadership Board commercial for the rivalry cup with Towson High School. The song was reported because of its use of profanity, particularly the Nword. We are constantly told that we are one. So, why aren’t all students being condemned for actions like this? I hear the N-word in addition to a plethora
of pretentious profanities nearly every single day in the prestigious hallways of our blue ribbon school. No matter your gender, race, ethnicity or IQ, you shouldn’t be carelessly throwing the N-word around like it’s a casual “haha” in a text message. But it spreads beyond just this. Why should students be allowed to bellow obscene phrases from the opposite end of the school? It’s disrespectful. Not to mention the constant exchange of bumps, tussles and shoves. We all know what personal space is; not all of us choose to respect it. I am not saying we should have the rigidity of a religious school, but even a public school should have some
news editors Franny Brancati, Becca King, Meghan Reinhardt features editors Kalie Paranzino, Thea Zurek opinion editors Alex Goldberg, Ben Merenbloom sports editors Joe Pezzula, Drew Van Wagner chief technician Andrew Oh deputy technician Sarah Feustle photography/art editors Jen Siegel, Katie Walters copy editors Tyler Beckey, Christine Condon, Liz Gillum, Sophie Golden, Yusuf Mahmood, Daniela Rice deputy sports editor Andrew Sugarman Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
basic sense of decorum. The administration needs to crack down more on the behavior of students between classes. A shake of the head or rinkle of the eyebrow just isn’t going to cut it—there needs to be a chain of consequences. Luckily, there is a handful of staff members who make a point to address the rambunctious behavior, and I commend them. I also commend the students who maintain a politically correct vocabulary and mildly civilized demeanor; after all, shouldn’t students be responsible for our own actions? Life is like a coloring book. Feel free to keep it colorful, but please, PLEASE, keep it classy.
The Griffin welcomes story ideas, commentaries and letters to the editor. These may be brought to room 115, placed in Maria Hiaasen’s mailbox in the office or emailed to dulaneygriffin@ bcps.org. All submissions are subject to editing and must be signed. The Griffin Editorial Board makes all final decisions regarding content. Interested in advertising in The Griffin or purchasing any photos seen in this issue? Use the same contact information. The Griffin is printed seven times a year and is distributed in homerooms.
5
the griffin
opinion
Waitstaff truly need your tips
Y
sarah feustle, deputy technician ou’re at your favorite restaurant, and your waiter seems a little frazzled. Your food comes out later than you’d hoped, you don’t get a drink refill right away and as a result, you don’t give your waiter the tip you normally would have given him. That doesn’t sound like too big of a deal, right? Wrong. You just cut a significant amount of money out of what your waiter is earning every week. Commercial restaurants (think Olive Garden and Applebee’s) use the federal minimum wage for tipped workers – a measly sum of $2.13 per hour – which means the tips restaurant workers get are supposed to make up the op-art: jiayang shi difference between their wage and the standard federal minimum wage of $7.25. But often, they don’t. The tips you give to your waiter actually are split between your waiter, the runner who brings out your food and the person who busses your table, explains Saru Jayaraman, cofounder of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, in her new book, “Behind the Kitchen Door”. And the problems in commercial restaurant extend beyond that. Tip theft among employees and managers runs rampant, waiters, cooks and busboys don’t have paid sick days or other benefits and there’s little to no opportunity for advancement, so the workers stay in the position they start in. Jayaraman tells us that 13 percent of restaurant workers nationwide have had their tips stolen by their managers. Other times, tips are stolen by other workers, or they aren’t distributed fairly. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
reported that almost 12 percent of restaurant workers said they’d continued working while suffering from symptoms of severe illness, including vomiting and diarrhea, on two or more shifts in the last year. You may not realize how many hands touch your food – there are hands that prepare it, cook it, plate it and serve it. If just one pair of those hands belongs to someone who’s ill, it could mean food poisoning, illness – or worse – for you. Conditions like these – no sick days, no advancement opportunities, and very little pay – are especially concentrated in restaurants such as Red Lobster, Olive Garden and Bahama Breeze, owned by a company called Darden, says Jayaraman. Darden complains that they make only a 4 to 5 percent profit margin, so they can’t pay workers much, she adds. But Walmart, one of the biggest companies in America, makes only a 1 percent profit margin, and their workers earn the federal minimum wage of $7.25. People may argue that the only people working at restaurants are young and only looking to support themselves, or they’re just working part time for a little extra money. But plenty of people working in restaurants have big families to support – and it’s nearly impossible to do that if they’re making the minimum wage, or even less. If you’re like most people, you go to restaurants because you’re celebrating something or you want to have a good time. But sadly, the people making and giving you food don’t have it so easy. The best way to get involved is to talk to management at restaurants where you eat about the changes you’d like to see. To learn more and find out how to help, visit rocunited.org.
Higher wages aren’t necessarily the answer
I
harrison bartlett, staff writer f you’re working, you’re probably very familiar with the current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Even for high school students, it can be difficult to get by on that much money. On Black Friday, protestors gathered at 1,400 Wal-Mart locations across the country, demanding that federal minimum wage be raised to $15 per hour. On December 5, fast food workers gathered in a union-backed “day of action” for higher wages. It’s a nice thought. A single person working a full time, minimum wage job can expect to make only $3,000 more than the current U.S. poverty line, $11,945 for an individual. That same person attempting to support a family of four would fall nearly $10,000 below the poverty line. Is this a serious problem that needs to be fixed? Yes. Is doubling the minimum wage the answer? Absolutely not. Venture capitalist Nick Hanauer said that increasing the minimum wage will stimulate the economy by promoting spending. Hanauer told Bloomberg. com that increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour would inject over $450 billion in additional spending into the
economy each year. This conclusion can only be reached, however, on the false assumption that employers will have the money to employ the same amount of low wage workers after their wages double. The problem with doubling the mini-
op-art: becca king
mum wage stems from the nature of most low wage jobs – the food service industry. The largest employers in this division, think your McDonald’s and Burger Kings, all operate on a franchise system. The large corporation, McDon-
ald’s of America, employs thousands of franchisees, who each operate a handful of individual McDonald’s locations. These franchises allow the large corporation to turn substantial profits, but the franchises themselves operate on much thinner margins. “The average restaurant in the United States makes a 4.6% profit,” former McDonald’s USA CEO Ed Rensi told Fox News. “The labor cost is over 30%.” Low wage employees are hired by these franchises, not by the large corporations, so franchises would feel most of the effects of a minimum wage increase. In an industry with such a slim profit margin, there’s only one way to cope with doubling one of their largest expenses – by cutting jobs. Anyone whose labor is worth less than $15 an hour will no longer be employed. Where will these cuts come from, you ask? Well let me give you a hint, it won’t be the managers or the franchise owners who will take the hit. The only one that’s left is you. It’s tough to justify firing a shift manager that you have employed for over 10 years. But the high school senior that just got hired a couple months ago. You’re expendable. Resist the temptation to demand a higher minimum wage. Your job depends on it. op-art: ben gienow
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
december 18, 2013
10 percent sanity
Wintery weather causes dose of aggravation, relief
I
thea zurek, deputy editor t’s white. Powdery. Rare. Valuable. And capable of turning even the most level-headed student into a spastic sludge of anxiety and obsession. No, I’m not talking about heroin or cocaine or former vice president Dick Cheney. I am speaking of a substance even more addicting, even more aggravating, even more chaotic and manipulative and tempting and potent - the humble snowflake. “Oh but,” I can hear you saying, “snowflakes are so wintery and magical!” But don’t let their innocent appearance fool you. They’re crystallized conspirators, blanched Benedict Arnolds, pernicious pieces of poisonous precipitation and for one simple reason: it never, ever snows when you need it to. Winter break? Blizzard. Weekend? Snowstorm. 2: 16 p.m. on a Friday? Snow will cascade from the sky as liberally as drool from a Labradoodle. Butsuper hard test coming up in Biology? 10,000 page paper you cleverly decided to start the day before it was due? Your GPA, psychological stability, and very academic future depending on your getting tomorrow off? Not one measly snowflake. That cannot be coincidence. And even on the once-in-a-million occasion it actually snows on a day you need off, there’s yet another obstacle standing between you and snow day bliss-BCPS. Not that I’m criticizing BCPS’s snow-predicting methodology: after all, we’ve
” BCPS are effective meteorologists like kittens are effective linebackers,”
come a long way. Back in the olden days, people used to forecast snow by counting the number of brown segments on a wooly bear caterpillar’s backthe fewer segments, the more snow they thought would fall that winter. Nowadays, of course, BCPS owns a wide variety of advanced meteorological technology: atomic barometers, Pulse-Doppler weather radar detectors, and 3-D, real-time, laseroperated global climate models. They use them to distract Dallas Dance while two aides tackle him and quickly count the number of wooly segments on his back. Of course, there are downsides to this method. For one thing, this county’s budget for cocoon leaves is ridiculous. For another-and I mean this in the nicest, most loving way possible- BCPS are about as effective meteorologists as kittens are effective linebackers. Their declaring of a snow day has zero connection with the amount of snow actually present on the ground. 99% of the time, they call school when it snows very little, or not at all, or it’s June etc. But every once in a while, there comes a day when it really snows- cars-spinning, wind-roaring, visibility-annihilating, woolymammoths-charging-the-classic-cafeteria-asjanitors-frantically-throw-salt-on-them snows- and we only get a two hour delay. It’d almost be funny if it weren’t so frustratingly absurd. And yet… a part of me sort of likes our crazy snow day system. Sure it’s unpredictable and irrational, but isn’t that kind of the point? I take the same bus to the same school to take the same classes taught by the same teachers every day. Snow days insert some much-needed mystery, excitement, change, and uncertainty into an otherwise monotonous year. So despite all the angst it causes me, I guess I still love snow. But if it snows on a Saturday one more time, I am so switching to heroin.
the griffin
6 sports
athletes
month
Varsity
Captain carries on legacy henry harsel, staff writer eader. That’s the word that comes to coach Gary Persinger’s mind in describing boys varsity wrestling captain, junior Sean Hoffman. “He’s definitely a great inspirer and sets an example on and off the mat, day in and sean hoffman day out,” Persinger said. photo by jen siegel Persinger was also quick to point out Hoffman’s standout performance in the classroom, which he credits as a main reason for Hoffman’s appointment as captain. Hoffman said that academic success is part of being a respected leader on the team. “Sean really thrives in helping other students when they are in need,” physics department chairman Steve Shaw said. “He has some wonderful intellectual gifts and he’s using them.” Hoffman’s two years of varsity experience also factored into his captain appointment. “He has slowly progressed as a wrestler every year since he has been a freshman, and we are definitely looking for big things this year from him,” Persinger said. As a freshman, Hoffman finished the season with a win-loss record of 29-11 in matches. He improved his sophomore season with a record of 34-9. Hoffman placed fourth in the region and qualified for the state wrestling competition both years. He looks to advance farther in the state tournament this year. Hoffman comes to the matches with his own unique formula for success. “I’m not the most aggressive wrestler,” Hoffman said, “I’m much more technical in what I do; I’m not gonna go out there and rip someone’s head off. Hoffman, who has been wrestling since third grade, admitted that he couldn’t imagine his high school experience without wrestling. “It kind of runs in the family,” Hoffman said. “My brother wrestled all four years before me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Junior Fabrizio Scotto, Hoffman’s teammate, lauded Hoffman’s ability to get the team ready for each match. “Sean makes sure everyone is at their best and doesn’t settle for anything less,” Scotto said.
L
december 18, 2013
Boys set for new line-up, style justin fitzgerald, staff writer oming off a 21-3 season, many questions surround varsity boys basketball head coach Matt Lochte in his ninth season of coaching. Here are three things you need to know about the team this season.
C
as they will be playing 10 to 11 players instead of seven to eight. Lochte says success will be determined by how they gel as a team and their mental toughness. “Our motto this year is no excuses,” Lochte said. “And we have to live by that every day.”
Who will make up for the loss of four starting seniors from last year?
What are the goals for this year’s team?
“By no means is the cupboard bare,” Lochte said. Starting point guard senior Jason Lawson and guards junior Scott Harrelson and senior Stewart German will return, with both Harrelson and German expected to start this season. The Lions also have three new transfer players this year. 6-feet, 4-inch junior guard Isaiah Lamb from Calvert Hall High School, 6-foot senior guard Mike Sheridan, who Lochte calls a “lights out shooter” and 6-feet, 8-inch senior forward Jon Sims will join the team. Sheridan and Sims are adopted brothers who moved here from Arizona.
Even after tough losses, Lochte has set high standards for this year’s team. Lochte said they want to be number one in the class 4A North region, which would mean they have to have the best record of any team in their region. He also wants the team to win the region and get to the state semifinals. Lochte said he hopes to win the county championship, something they were one win away from last season. The home opener, Lochte said, against Boys’ Latin School of Maryland on Dec. 13 would be a critical game that would set the tone for this season.
Will your style of play change with a smaller, more athletic lineup?
7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Goucher College against Towson High School
“People who come to the games are going to see an exciting brand of basketball,” Lochte said. This means a fast-paced full court game with “a lot of pressure.” This is a change from last year’s half court, motion offense. According to Lochte, the team has to be deeper than last year,
UPCOMING HOME GAMES
7 p.m. Jan. 3 Friends School 7 p.m. Jan. 10 Sparrows Point High School
boys basketball coach Matt Lochte photo by alex wright
5:30 p.m. Jan. 15 Franklin High School
Coach’s hero represents at national level
junior Varsity
Junkin leads on offense andres arbelaez, staff writer n the first game of his freshman year, sophomore Paul Junkin came off the bench and scored six points. “When I first went in, I was definitely nervous; I was shaking,” said Junkin, recalling his first few seconds of high school playing time. paul junkin By the end of his freshman photo by jen siegel season, Junkin was a starter, averaging seven points and six rebounds per game. This season Junkin will continue to play on the junior varsity basketball team as a captain of the squad. “He has demonstrated great leadership early on this season taking charge of drills and helping the younger players out,” junior varsity boys basketball coach John Noonan said on his decision to name Junkin a captain. And that tenacity shows. Junkin scored 12 points in a single game last season, and he makes a solid 75 percent of his free throws. This season Junkin hopes to increase that average to 85 percent. Outside of basketball Junkin packs his schedule with early morning BFS and a variety of sports. In the fall Junkin was on the junior varsity cross country team. Last spring, he was on the junior varsity lacrosse team and got pulled up to varsity at the end of the season. He plans to continue playing lacrosse next spring. “Cross country really helps my endurance for lacrosse and basketball. The coordination needed in lacrosse helps me in basketball,” Junkin said. “And BFS just helps me get stronger.” Fellow captain sophomore Shane Grogan acknowledges Junkin’s determination to improve. “On the court, he’s a tough cookie.” In addition to heavy year-round athletic involvement, Junkin has been a part of the Boy Scouts organization and is working to become an Eagle Scout. Instead of feeling overcharged by his abundance of extracurricular activities, Junkin embraces it. “Everything I do helps me to become a better student, athlete and person in general,” Junkin said.
I
Senior Isabel Griffith races toward a 52nd place finish amid a field of 198 at the Nike Cross Country Nationals in Portland, Ore. Dec. 7. Griffith, who finished with a time of 18:28, said she was happy to place in the top fourth of runners at the race and noted the effects of chilly weather. “The cold made my hands and arms freeze, which made racing a little more difficult,” Griffith said. “I had to remember that everyone was facing the cold as well.” “Isabel’s achievement was certainly not a result of this season’s training,” Boyle said. “It was the result of three years of consistent hard work.” To help Griffith prepare for the race, Boyle said he got hay bales for Griffith to hurdle over. To combat the 22 degree temperatures and wind chill of below 20 degrees, Griffith said she coated her legs with olive oil, sealing in the warmth. After an indoor meet this month, she said she would take a short break to close out what became a six month season. photo from facebook
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org
7
sports
the griffin
Girls adapt to offseason changes drew van wagner, sports editor oming off a 16-6 season and a loss in the regional semifinals to Catonsville High School, many questions face head coach Jessica Szymanski and this year’s 20132014 squad as they look to capture their first state championship since 1988.
C
they can each focus on individual girls instead of the whole team. Barton will incorporate new offensive plays to help break a press. “Overall, [Barton] is going to make the program grow and make not only us as coaches better, but the team as a whole definitely a lot better,” Szymanski said.
How will the team recover from the loss of guard Sarah Dorl?
What aspects of your game desire the most attention?
In past seasons, class of 2013 guard Sarah Dorl was recognized by Szymanski for leadership on and off the court. Now she’s playing Division-I basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs. This year junior Ellie Mathey will lead the guards. Szymanski said she hopes Mathey keeps the intensity that Dorl brought to the team. “She’s a smart player. She sees the floor really well and can create opportunities,” Szymanski said. For now, it seems the majority of the opportunities will come from within the paint. But look out for Mathey who will continue to look to create opportunities and orchestrate the offense.
Free throws and turnovers. Last season two losses against Catonsville by less than five points were heightened by the amount of missed free throws. On the first day of practice, each player shot 10 free throws. The amount of shots each player made dictated their individual goals for the season; their team goal is 60 percent. As for turnovers, coaches were not impressed last year. For Dorl, Szymanski and staff began to chart how many turnovers and how many points scored.
With a new assistant coach, what’s going to change? Girls basketball coach Jessica Szymanski photo by alex wright
behind the plate
Team name Redskins should go
W
andrew sugarman, sports columnist hat if in a predominantly Native American society, there is a basketball team with the name “Whiteskins,” a soccer team with the name “Blackskins,” and a football squad labeled the “Yellowskins”. Now, according to the transitive property of equality, these would all be perfectly acceptable in said universe, would they not? Based on today’s standards, they would. And even if the aforementioned teams had no inclination whatsoever of changing their names, wouldn’t it be the proper course of action to take to at least address the opinions of those who take offense? This is something that we have the opportunity to do with the current controversy over the name “Redskins.” “A unifying force that stands for strength, courage, pride and respect,” is what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said of Washington’s team
Math teacher Nicole Barton joins the coaching staff this year as assistant coach. Szymanski envisions the intensity of practice to increase. Barton and Szymanski frequently split up and take two opposing teams where
name and mascot in a New York Times article addressing the controversy surrounding the football team. Allegedly, “Redskins” is racist, as it is supposedly an “offensive racial slur.” This is hard to imagine, considering it clearly makes no reference whatsoever to skin color or indicates a specific ethnic group. The word racist is defined as discrimination or prejudice based on race. The name Redskin is widely renowned as a discriminative term, and obviously matches the criteria of referring to a specific race. Therefore those who claim that the word is not racist are wrong, as explicitly stated in the definition of the respective adjective.
“The bottom line is that the name is undeniably racist,”
Native Americans do in fact represent a very small portion of our demographic, around 1.2 percent. So, therefore, we should completely disregard a title that demeans them as a race and as a nation. How could that possibly be politically incorrect? How could that possibly be racially insensitive? Whether or not the issue will ever be resolved, and whether or not a revision of the team’s name is plausible (or actually a solution) in this case is irrelevant. The bottom line is that the name is undeniably racist. The history of the term Redskin is one of casual usage as a racial slur, and regardless of its intent now, some still resent its
UPCOMING HOME GAMES 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at Goucher College against Towson High School 5:30 p.m. Jan. 8 Overlea High School 7 p.m. Jan. 17 Parkville High School 5:30 p.m. Jan. 29 New Town High School
meaning. The Oneida Indians sent a letter opposing the team name to the chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Maria Cantwell. It is insane to think that a national icon, such as a football team could be named after a racial slur in today’s seemingly impartial, undeniably fair, equitable society. As a sports fan, it infuriates me to see a group of people take such serious offense over something that should solely be a source of enjoyment and friendly fandom in America. The bottom line is that, no matter what it takes, it is only right for us to go back to everyone being able to enjoy football, football that isn’t surrounded by racial controversy. Football itself is a diverse sport, and any racial confrontations should be immediately removed from its environment. For instance, the recent controversy regarding Richie Incognito of the Miami Dolphins, who was suspended indefinitely from the team for harassing a teammate for his race. Why not apply this attitude to the name? The name “Redskins” should be suspended from the sport, and other sports, indefinitely, on accounts of its racial transgressions. In sports there are officials, referees and umpires who work to keep games fair. Is it not our duty as fans to work in the same fashion? The Oneida Indian nation representative Ray Halbritter perhaps put it best, invoking our country’s rich history of change, “History is littered with people who have vowed never to change something – slavery, immigration, women’s rights,” he said to CNN, “One thing that’s really great about this country is when many people speak out, change can happen.”
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org
december 18, 2013
athletes
month Varsity
She adds oomph, laughs to court erin briggs, staff writer love the game and the contact. It’s better than anything I’ve ever played,” senior post player Armani Graves said about basketball. Graves is excited for the season ahead because of the new additions to the team and upcoming events, which include a spirit game, a think armani Graves pink game and an Applebee’s photo by jen siegel pancake breakfast fundraiser. “I think we’ll do great this season. With all of the hard work we put in and our time in the weight room, we’re stronger and more prepared,” Graves said. Girls varsity basketball coach Jessica Szymanski said that Graves works hard and isn’t afraid to take the ball to the basket. “Her fearless and aggressive style of play is an asset to the team,” Szymanski said. As a senior on the team, Graves is a menacing force in both offensive and defensive aspects of the game. “Defense is just something you know; you might have to set up a certain way, but you know you have to get the ball,” Graves said. According to Szymanski, Graves brings energy, excitement and laughter to the court every day. A memorable moment from last year was during the team’s first game against Hereford High School. The team was down by four, Armani was about to take two foul shots and the Hereford coach called a time out. “We huddled up and I began talking to the team,” Szymanski said. “I looked over at Armani and she’s literally daydreaming, staring at the ceiling. I said to her, ‘Armani are you listening?’ and she replied, ‘Yes coach, I’m just thinking about ponies.’ The whole team burst out laughing.” “You never know what you’re going to get from her each day,” junior post player Klarissa Harvey said. Graves has been playing club basketball since she was 10, and says she hopes to continue playing next fall for Towson University. “I just want to play forever,” Graves said.
“I
junior Varsity Work ethic boosts her speed daniela rice & justin fitzgerald, staff writers achel is a model Dulaney athlete,” cross country coach Chad Boyle said about junior varsity runner sophomore Rachel Clark. Last year Clark finished 22nd in the junior varsity cross country championships Rachel clark photo by jen siegel by finishing the 5K with a time of 24:41. This year she finished in fourth place, with a tremendously improved time of 22:01, Clark’s fastest time yet. She was also the team’s highest finishing runner this year and helped lead the team to their second place finish. The improvement in her running has not been due to luck. “She’s hard working and dedicated and passionate,” teammate junior Kelsey Talley said. “She puts the work in every single day.” Clark admits that she was reluctant to begin her running career at first. “I thought that I would hate cross country when I started, but it ended up becoming my favorite season out of the year,” Clark said. “Rachel’s improvement is a result of the best kept secret in the sport: consistent hard work,” Boyle said. Her fellow teammates also described her as being very hardworking, determined and passionate about running. “She works hard and does everything to the fullest extent,” freshman Julia Clark said. Along with being a devoted runner, she is also a role model for her teammates. “She is really helpful,” Julia Clark said. “She calms me down before races.” Rachel Clark will continue to run in the indoor track season. She is a mid-distance runner and says she hopes to break a time of 6:20 in the mile before the end of the winter season.
“R
8
sports
december 18, 2013
the griffin
Concussion numbers change with awareness
T
kelli goetz, staff writer he focus-impairing predicament that causes athletes is dropping due to greater knowledge on the prevention of concussions. Concussion numbers are larger in schools with athletic trainers because they are more capable of spotting concussion symptoms that could otherwise go unnoticed. Athletic trainer Brian Reed spotted five concussions this fall season, a drop from last fall’s eight. Reed is very careful about diagnosing someone with a concussion. “I typically wait 72 hours post injury before calling it a concussion,� said Reed. Reed sends injured athletes for more tests with a specialist, then helps them make minor adjustments to their daily routine towards recovery. Varsity field hockey player senior Katie Boltz endured three concussions before she was diagnosed with occipital neuralgia. She has pinched nerves which were aggravated with each impact to the head. Boltz discovered the problem after a concussion during a field hockey tournament.
Senior Katie Boltz shoots during a warm-up drill before the Sept. 26 field hockey spirit game against Catonsville High School. photo by maddy brancati
She has been forced to surrender her hopes of playing for a Division I college. “I had a reality check and realized it wasn’t good for my health,� Boltz said. Senior Abby Cahalan suffered from a major concussion Feb. 17, 2008 playing futsal, a game like soccer played on a basketball court with a heavier ball. As two defenders split away, Cahalan was open to receive
a pass from a teammate. The ball hit her in the head leaving her with a bloody nose, blurry vision and whip lash. At the time, not many doctors knew how to deal with a concussion of such severity. Cahalan had no baseline test to measure how she was before the concussion, so the screening test was useless. After two and a half years of continuous
tests and physical therapists, Cahalan was diagnosed with severe post concussion syndrome. The incident left her unable to play contact sports. She now runs cross country and track and assists in coaching a local club soccer team. Cahalan’s experience brought her to Capitol Hill to speak to Maryland state legislators about passing the 2011 Maryland Youth Concussion Legislation. The bill requires student athletes with concussions to remain out of practice until cleared by a medical professional. Concussion awareness programs and information sheets must be provided before students can play school sports. Cahalan advises that student athletes not be afraid to tell someone when they are hit to prevent any worse problems. “It’s way better to sit out for a few games than to sit out for an entire season, or even forever.� For more stories on senior Savannah Hardisky and junior Nicole Widener by Livvy Klunk and Audrey Stenersen, see our website
Fever for fantasy football seizes students, staff alike
I
justin fitzgerald, staff writer t’s approaching crunch time in fantasy football; just ask physical education department chairman Matt Lochte, who has been playing in the same league he created with his high school friends for the past 20 years. “After all these years, I still love it,� Lochte said. Lochte remembers checking the Washington Post every Tuesday when he was younger to see how Physical education department his team did. chairman Matt Lochte checks The popularity stems from its comhis phone for score updates petitive nature said freshman Paton his fantasy draft picks. rick Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald likes that photo by alex wright
playing fantasy football keeps him up to date on events in the National Football League. Leagues usually include 12-14 teams and last the whole regular season of the NFL. A team usually includes a quarterback, at least two running backs and two wide receivers, a tight end, a defense and a kicker. Each team can earn points based on their chosen player’s performance every week. Two teams in the league compete against each other each week, and whoever accumulates the most points wins. “I’m all about the stats,� Lochte
said. Even though his team is “awful� this year due to both of his starting running backs being injured, Lochte is still a fan. For freshman Matt Marino, fantasy football is “go hard or go home.� He picked up the hobby on Fitzgerald’s recommendation and now plays in five leagues. Marino, who was struggling earlier this year due to lack of wide receivers, has caught fire and has won his last nine games, including one over Fitzgerald’s team. Fitzgerald on the other hand has a 10-3 record this year and won his league last year. He attributes this to stellar performances
by his players when he needed major points. For example one weekend he needed 40 points from Saints running back Darren Sproles and tight end Jimmy Graham to win his matchup and they pulled through. Sophomore Demetri Garcia joined fantasy football because his dad plays and is 9-0 this year. His strategy for fantasy football is “go with your gut�. He tends to ignore the weekly projections that the website provides. Garcia is in two leagues, but knows people with a fantasy football addiction. “If you get addicted, it could take over your life,� Garcia said.
SAT/ACT/PSAT ¡ AP/IB Exams ¡ SSAT/ISEE ¡ College Admissions ¡ Subject Tutoring Study Skills ¡ State Testing ¡ Summer Programs
Better Grades & Test Scores Start Here. The C2 Difference
Smyth Ad
Unlike other programs, which tend to be one-size-fits-all, C2's programs build foundational skills that will last, and our personalized tutoring provides support and engagement. • 85% of C2 students are accepted at a top 50 college • 90% of C2 students see grade improvement in 3 months, and 100% see improvement within one year • On average, C2 students increase their SAT scores by 362 points*
“C2 has always been a place full of warmth, inspiration, and joy for me. I’d go in with worries, feeling like I wouldn’t do well on a test or finish an essay in time, but I’d always leave with excitement and confidence.� -Joanne J. Attending Stanford University SAT Score: 2360
$100 off
PANDORA PAVÉ GIFT SET* Available Now While Supplies Last *Purchase a PavĂŠ Gift Set for $200, featuring a PANDORA Clasp Bracelet or Bangle, two “You’re a Starâ€? clips and one pavĂŠ charm of your choice up to $65 (Retail value $240). While supplies last. See store for details.
C2’s Academic Assessment testing and in-person review of the results.
ÂŽ
Pay only $20 when you present this ad**.
TOWSON TOWN CENTER RD TH Ă› OORS p ANNAPOLIS MALL PANDORATOWSON.COM
C2 Timonium
2080 York Rd. Timonium, MD 21093 410.308.1100
www.c2educate.com
*Applies to students with initial scores below 2000. **New students only. Participating centers only. Expires 2/28/14.
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
TIMONIUM p ANNAPOLIS TOWNE CENTRE AT PAROLE ELLICOTT CITY p NEW LOCATION! TURF VALLEY TOWNE SQUARE
9
features
Teaching kids grit, character kristin meek & stephanie rountree, staff writers orty-eight percent of our kids graduate college in six years, and that’s unacceptable.” Social studies teacher Phil Bressler said that students here are not lacking in education, but something else. Character. Bressler introduced the character education initiative last May, with the idea that improving student’s grit, self-control and integrity will assist them in the future. He meets with other teachers monthly to discuss how
“F
the griffin they can incorporate these values into their classes without taking away from education. Their plans aren’t set in stone, but Bressler has a few ideas on how to improve success rates in students. “Hopefully we’ll come up with, by the end of the year, some easy things that teachers could do. I just ask students each day to write down three good things that happened to them in the last 24 hours, and if someone doesn’t want to do it, I’m not making them,” Bressler said. Thus far, Bressler said, both the meetings and the implementation of the ideas shared at the meetings are optional. There were an estimated 14 teachers present at the Oct. 2 meeting. Bressler held a Socratic discussion, and a positive attitude was evident as the educators deliberated about how students should be able to develop the traits needed for a flourishing future. Among the ideas shared, social studies teacher
character education meeting. From left to right: social studies teacher Kathy Skelton, English teacher Debbie Hamilton, social studies teachers Karen Turek and Pete Merani and art department chairman Jim Kuhlman discuss the importance of teaching students how to learn.
photo by franny brancati
John Wagner stressed the importance of self discipline. According to Wagner, once students unplug from distractions, such as music or the internet, their productivity will increase rapidly. Students, he said, are surprised with their accomplishments when they use a system of sustained effort with breaks while completing assignments. Wagner also added that his students are not confident in their test-taking abilities. “Some kids say,‘I’m not good at tests’, but I tell them they need to modify their statement to say ‘I’m not good at tests yet,’” Wagner said. At the meeting, English teacher Alicia Drechsler also shared a story of her students looking up the definition of the word grit. The students wanted to define it as pieces of sand, but Drechsler differed with them and asked for the definition of the characteristic. Fellow English teacher Dirk Frey chimed in, saying that the concrete definition of grit is applicable. Like sand at the beach stays with you, grit does as well. Frey expressed the hardships of applying character education on a more personal level. One of Frey’s struggling seniors wrote their college essay on always being a D student. Since then, he has attempted to assist the student with their grades and self esteem, but mentions that it’s hard to find the opportunities. Art department chairman Jim Kuhlman contributed his opinion on the necessity of good character. “Teaching kids facts in curriculum is not a service to students. It’s just so short term. Students need to learn how to learn.”
december 18, 2013
Key club mans kettle drive
Sophomore Sunny kim solicits donations during a Key Club Salvation Army bell ringing event Dec. 7 at Hunt Valley Giant. Other Key Club events this season include gift wrapping at St. Vincent’s Villa and Santagrams. photo by sumin woo
TEACHER? LAWYER? ENGINEER? NURSE? Start College Now! It’s never too soon to start thinking about your future. The Community College of Baltimore County offers high school students the opportunity to get a jump start on their college education and career training with our Parallel Enrollment Program (PEP). Juniors and Seniors can enroll in college courses while still in high school. Talk to your parents and guidance counselors to see how you can start getting ready now.
Get Started at CCBC!
Request more information and get your own customized web page at ccbcmd.edu/requestinfo
The incredible value of education.
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
www.ccbcmd.edu
the griffin
10 features
post DONNA WEBER, a math teacher and sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, graduated from some Townson University with
a degree in mathematics and a concentration in secondary education. Staff writer Olivia Golden sat down with Weber, notorious for the ubiquitous hearts in her classroom and her peppy demeanor, to answer a few questions. Reading?
Eating?
Nothing. I hate to read. I really hate to read. I lose track of what I read and it takes me forever to read a book. I would much rather crochet or do something with my hands.
I love Bella Vita crackers. And I love eating these little granola things with peanut butter in the middle. I love those. They’re really good. Those are my snacks of choice during the day. At home, we eat chicken a lot. I don’t like red meat too much. We eat a lot of salad at home, too. I’m a snacker. I’m not a meal person. I don’t enjoy sitting down and having a big meal. I like to eat little stuff during the day. I’m a carbohydrate freak. If I had to give up carbs and gluten, I think I would be really sad. I love pasta. I eat it whole wheat, but it still has gluten in it. I could just live on carbs and I would be so happy, and probably really fat. But I wouldn’t care cause I love all that stuff.
Watching? I love watching talent shows like “The Voice” or “America’s Got Talent.” And I love “The Black List.” I also enjoy watching “Project Runway.” I’m not a big movie person. More of my movies are because my daughter likes them. Like we’ll be seeing “Catching Fire”. And I had just recently watched all the Harry Potter movies because she’s way into that. I loved them. They’re awesome. Listening? Right now I love Maroon 5. I went to see them over the summer; that was fun. Everything else is what my daughter likes. For a while it was Barney, but now it’s all about One Direction. But I still like the old stuff. I love The Eagles. Love them. And I like old Elton John, like 70s Elton John. I was of the time of The Partidge Family and The Osmond Brothers and Bobby Sherman, and that dates me… it’s embarrassing. I was all into that pop thing. I had posters on my wall and everything. Following? This social media thing makes me nervous. I will not do Facebook. And I think Twitter is dangerous because you never know what you’re going to say to offend someone. So I don’t do any of that and I won’t do any of it while I’m a teacher. I will not be on Facebook, I’m just afraid.
Changing? I think that hobbies that I used to have are coming back because my daughter’s older now so I have more time. I started crocheting things again because it chills me out at night and gets everything out of my head. I find that I’ve been doing that a lot more lately. It’s sort of come full circle. I used to do it a lot, like fifteen years ago, and now it’s all coming back again. And I’m getting more involved in school again. I’m starting to be on tons of committees. I used to do that before I got married. I coached and was on every committee and did every single thing. But when I had my daughter, I would only want to do things with her. But now that she’s older and I have more time, I find myself getting into it again.
an among us: Melodious flutist shines on national stage
photo by kyra twohy
H
avalon bonlie, staff writer andong Park is a bit of an anomaly. After nine years of flute playing, his daily practice and lessons at the Peabody institute were rewarded with a first chair position in the National Association for Music Education All-National Concert Band. He traveled to Nashville this October and played a medley of classical music and marches. “I love being able to pour my passion into music,” he said. Born in South Korea, he moved
to America when he was 6 months old and was playing the flute by fourth grade. Among his many quirks, Park listens to Taylor Swift (his favorite Swift song is “Mean”) and is a massive fan of Jennifer Lawrence and the “Hunger Games”. Fellow senior Mindy Cheng said he is a “conglomerate of passions.” In addition to his musical success, he is the president of both Model U.N. and Dulaney Rhapsody, a National Merit Semifinalist, the senior class council treasurer
Tweeting with purpose— or not sophie golden & hannah milan, staff writers ne hundred and forty characters. That’s the limit for posts on one of the most popular networking sites in America. From businesses advertising their products to students ranting about their homework loads, those 140 characters have established Twitter as an integral part of society. According to a “Business Insider” study, Twitter has surpassed Facebook as the most popular networking site for teens, with 26 percent naming it as their “most important” site in fall 2013 as opposed to Facebook’s 23 percent. Aside from its popularity among teens, Twitter is used among a wide variety of age groups for a variety of purposes, including updating friends and family, promoting companies’ merchandise, keeping up with current events, and following specific celebrities. Students and teachers here are equally varied in their use of Twitter. From freshman to senior and athlete to actor, the diversity of students using this website is striking. When asked the purpose of Twitter, students gave varying answers. Senior Julian Sheppy said he uses it to see what famous people say while junior Colin Miller uses it primarily to communicate and socialize with friends. Others, such as senior Katy Trosch, use it to share their opinions. “I use Twitter to rant and complain about things that nobody cares about” she said. Twitter is also used widely in the athletic department. Among the coaches using Twitter is athletic director Richard Reed. “I use Twitter as a newsfeed. I think it is extremely helpful for us in the athletic world to get a message out” he said. Reed also uses Twitter to gain recognition for the school’s athletic teams and events . One memorable moment for him was a tweet from Gatorade saying “Go Lions!” “It was nice to see that a national corporate company was following Dulaney and wishing us luck.”
O
Recent tweets by students and staff Cross country coach Chad Boyle: “My hero @iwgriffith002 finishes 52nd in the #NXN Nationals. #DulaneyXC #RunWithPassion.” Senior Sam Coulson: “First college acceptance letter came today!” Senior Hannah Cummings: “Please ignore the 17 year old coloring in the middle of Old Navy.” Junior Ida SchianoDicola: Funny picture of her brother with “What a hunk.”
photo by jen siegal
Senior flutists Handong Park, Monica Kuo and Taylor Liu (right to left) practice “Sleigh Ride” during the seventh period wind ensemble class.
december 18, 2013
and a varsity tennis team captain. He has also been forecasting on a fairly accurate blog since eighth grade called Snomania at snowmania.wordpress.com. He went to a Penn State weather camp to expand his skills. Despite his full schedule, he still takes time to watch a variety of shows anywhere from political satire to reality TV including “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and the “Colbert Report” for laughs. Senior Amicia Philips said that Park puts 100 percent effort into everything he does, whether it is flute playing, tennis or school work in one of the 13 AP classes he has taken. Social studies teacher John Wagner, who met Park through It’s Academic, describes him as one of the most intense people he has met, possibly surpassing himself. AP Physics teacher Stephen Shaw, Parks homeroom teacher last year, said he has an “altruistic impression of [Park’s] heart.” “He has a real joy in learning and is able to explain to anyone. He puts things into context,” Shaw said.
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
Sophomore Nina Gayleard: “Twitter name changes to pay tribute to the 75th Annual Hunger Games #puncompletelyintended @PANEM_ma @catcHANg_fire @katnissGAyLEard.” Junior Kira Stiers: “Never EVER google how hyenas give birthno matter how bored you are in 7th period.” Dulaney High School: “Congrats to Mrs. Turek for being named the outstanding Key Club faculty adviser of the Capital Key Club district for 2013!”
Evil knight turned teacher
For Erin Miller and Evan Gutierrez’s profile on English teacher Martin Lopez, see our website: http://dulaneygriffin.org photo by jen siegel
the griffin
11 features
december18, 2013
REVIEW:
Narration impedes series end
Memoir works overall
F
christine condon, staff writer e’ve all heard about her. She is the youngest ever nominee for a Nobel Peace Prize, a worldwide activist for education and she was shot by the Taliban for standing up for her rights. In her memoir, “I am Malala,” 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai tells her story. Published in 2013, the book chronicles Malala’s life as an advocate for widespread education. The prologue of the novel drew me in with the description of the climax of Malala’s story- her shooting. But then the novel began with a grueling account of Malala’s life as well as the life of pretty much her entire country up until the present. It read like a history textbook at times, and often Malala’s voice was lost behind the facts and the voice of her co-author, Christina Lamb. Although this history was arguably necessary for a full understanding of Malala’s past and current situation, I found myself eager for lack of a better word for the high point of the novel – Malala’s shooting. The first 200-or-so pages of the novel were tedious, but there were certainly flashes of brilliance. For example, Malala’s loving characterization of her father at the beginning of her novel demonstrated the strong relationship between them that led Malala to speak out against the wrongdoings of her countrymen. She wrote, “My father, Ziauddin, is different from most Pashtun men. He took the [family] tree, drew a line like a lollipop from his name and at the end of it he wrote, ‘Malala.’” Malala is just like any regular teenage girl aside from the fact that she was shot
jessica hung, deputy editor ast paced and dramatic, “Allegiant” by Veronica Roth, released on Nov. 5, closed the praised Divergent series with a bang. Roth provided yet another choice for strong-willed protagonist Tris Prior to wrap her mind around. After yet another revolution, the city of Chicago is left in ruins, people turning against one another in an effort to overthrow the current dictator, Evelyn. The five factions have been disbanded, equality so prominent it is suppressive. Determined and stubborn, Tris Prior leaves the disintegrated compound with her paramour Tobias in an effort to discover what lies beyond the fence that encloses their people in. But not for naught, it’s to start another insurrection, under the name of Allegiant. What she finds takes her breath away. Beyond the walls of Chicago, Tris uncovers yet another startling secret that shatters what she thought she knew about her life, her faction, her city. Sadly, despite the risks to end the book at a peak, Roth flops. If Roth had been aiming to shock her readers, she accomplished her goal. Perhaps in an effort to distance her novel from another popular dystopian series, “The Hunger Games,” Roth kills off one of her main characters yet again. Allegiant’s plotline is not the problem. The way it’s written is. The constant change in the point of view doesn’t help the flow of the novel. Roth switches consistently between Tris and Tobias’ thoughts, but the voices are so similar, it may serve better to confuse the reader rather than open a few windows.
REVIEW:
W
photo from amazon.com
Also, Roth focuses too much on the love story between Tobias and Tris. Unlike her previous novels, Roth takes a tumble as she tries to pull emotion from the distance that separates the two due to lies and past rifts. The emotion doesn’t come through the pages, and in several areas lacks verisimilitude. And as Roth tries to tell Tobias’s side of the story, she successfully cracks the rough exterior but overdoes the man’s soft, guilt-ridden side, portraying the once strong character as a man easily manipulated. The few things Roth does do well is surprising her readers with a dramatic ending coupled with a well thought out plot. But even with a dramatic ending and an interesting plotline, it doesn’t save the novel from being yet another well-sculpted series that just didn’t make it. You have one choice that can potentially change everything. Be dauntless, explore Allegiant for your own, but beware, it diverges with three stars instead of five.
overall rating:
photo by christine condon
by the Taliban in her native country of Pakistan for standing up or her right to an education, which enhanced the relatability of the novel. Malala wrote of reading the “Twilight” books, dreading waking up early for school, and enjoying school field trips-all of which helped younger readers to relate to her life. Malala also creatively used the symbol of a tree to convey the idea of hope. She mentions the tree that she planted in the garden of her home in the Swat Valley before her shooting when she writes, “I wonder what happened to the mango seed in our garden at Ramadan. I wonder if anyone is watering it so that future generations of daughters and sons can enjoy its fruit.” Overall, Malala’s story was incredibly inspiring, enlightening, and powerful. Once I was able to power through the novel’s tedious beginnings, I couldn’t put it down. I can certainly say that Malala’s story, and her courage, moved me in a way that I didn’t necessarily expect.
overall rating:
REVIEW:
Local barbecue joint pleases tastebuds, student budget
S
daniel andrews, staff writer crumptious. Luscious. Succulent. The palate-pleasing pulled pork greeted my eager taste buds as the smell of smoky barbecue sauce caressed my nostrils. As the pork and my taste buds grew closer they became taste bros. The credit for this union goes to Andy Nelson’s Barbeque. This restaurant and catering service offers a tasty tradition that produces quality service and smokehouse craftsmanship. If you’re looking for authentic southern barbeque, you’ve arrived at the right place. I recommend the jumbo pulled pork sandwich. Hardy and robust, and overloaded with meat, it’s pure masculinity on a bun. At $6.49 for a regular size and $2 more for a jumbo size, the price range is manageable. The menu includes ribs, wings, pulled pork, pulled turkey, chicken legs and beef briskets as well as sides like coleslaw, cornbread, barbecue potato wedges and collard greens priced from $1.65 for 5 ounces to $7.65 for a quart. Also worth trying are the ribs, which are fall-off-the-
bone and delicious. Ordering options include the ribs only Ribs Sampler ($7.89), a half-slab dinner ($17.24) a full slab dinner ($24.45) or a 3-Bone Platter ($10.65). As far as sides go, I’d recommend the potato wedges which are large and crispy as well as the pickle slices which provide a crunch that compliments the tenderness of the meat. The walls were lined with an array of Andy Nelson’s Baltimore Colts football memorabilia and “Baltimore’s Best Barbeque” awards. The dining room’s floor boards are welcomingly rustic and squeaky. A pleasing playlist of 50’s rock’n’roll and country classics enhances the restaurant’s charm. A drawback, however, is that while Andy Nelson’s does reuse their trays, which is an environmentally sound method, they do not have recycling of any sort available to customers. Andy Nelson’s 11007 York Road (410)-527-0708
photo by daniel andrews
Yamato Sushi 51 W. Aylesbury Road, Timonium Fairgrounds Plaza
Follow us on twitter @dulaneypodcast
(410) 560-0024 http://yamatosushionline.com/
Hours: “It shook the very foundation of my sushieating identity.” ~ Baltimore Magazine
Mon.-Thurs.11a.m.-10p.m. Fri. 11am-10:30 p.m. Sat. noon-10:30 p.m. Sun. noon-10 p.m.
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
overall rating:
the griffin
12 features
december 18, 2013
scene
Faux pas make for funny memories
dulaney
Freshmen, like everybody else, have nearly made it through half a year. While their freshman moments may be behind them, the evidence below suggests the memories will linger. “My most embarrassing memory in freshman year was taking a mirror selfie in the bathroom and a teacher walked in, smiled and walked away. I was bright red and embarrassed.” Mona Saff, Class of 2013 “During the second week of school, we had to do the mile run for gym. After gym around third period I puked in the breezeway. Then I went to see the nurse and she asked me where I threw up. I had no idea what it was called!” Anonymous, Senior “One of my classes is basically all juniors and seniors except for me. One day in class, everyone was really quiet and I got out of my chair, but the chair flipped. I fell out of the chair and almost pulled a computer with me. When I got back up to sit in my chair, the chair flipped again! Everyone was staring at me and it was so embarrassing!” Anonymous, Freshman Compiled by Noelle Li and Meredith Bromley
Sophomore Daniel Morthole, senior Cooper Ramsey and sophomore Louis Witt (left to right) rehearse for the winter concert performance in room 122 earlier this month. Among other selections, Acapoco was set to perform “75th Cantata,” “Erev Shel Sho Shanim” and “Baba Yetu.” photo by jen siegal
MEMOIR:
Turns out, there are reasons Candy Crush is so addicting
Candy Crushers sophomores Claire Emerick, Katie Cavanaugh and Jules Allbritton-King gather in the satellite cafeteria during C-lunch to relax through playing levels on the app. photo by noelle li
O
noelle li, staff writer H MY GOSH. I JUST PASSED ANOTHER LEVEL! LEVEL 486 HERE I COME! Don’t give me that look. I don’t have a Candy Crush addiction. I just happen to play it every day and everywhere I go. And I’m not the only one. According to a November article from Time magazine, Candy Crush has been played 151 billion times since it launched as an app and it’s the first game to ever be No. 1 on iOS, Android and Facebook at the same time. For me, it started when I was on Facebook
after last year’s AP exams. I kept seeing the same thing: Candy Crush this, Candy Crush that. And I thought: how fun is this game? I had seen it before and it looked unappealing and childish. But I wanted to see why it was so popular so I downloaded the app and started playing. Man oh man, did I have a blast with Candy Crush. It’s a simple game really. It’s all about finding patterns of same colored candies. You make matches of threes, fours and fives to make candies with special powers just like Bejeweled, but with a twist: you
can mix special candies to make even cooler candies. And as you progress through the levels, new features are added, giving a renewed sense of challenge that never ends since new levels are added every two weeks. So just what makes Candy Crush so fudging addicting? Eliana Dockterman, in the aforementioned Time article, interviewed a host of psychology experts, game designers and real life players to crack the case. She discovered that the candy motif is essential to the game’s popularity; since many people have a positive memory of candy dating back to their childhood, the game summons up powerful waves of nostalgia that are almost impossible to withstand. That strategy certainly works on me. Everything about this game appeals to my sweet tooth. Another thing I love about the game is that it soothes and relieves all my stress. If I’m feeling bored or anxious, I immediately whip out my phone and start crushing candies. And I’m not alone, according to gaming addiction expert Dr. Kimberly Young, who says many people use games to “distract themselves from something in their lives.” This game even cheers me up when I’m feeling down, and the article suggests that’s by design— when you reach the end of a level, a voice says “Sweet” or “Delicious,” providing addictively positive reinforcement. “When you play the game, you feel better about yourself,” Young said.
A warning to any prospective players: it consumes your life. But if you do decide to continue, here are some tips from fellow Candy Crushers: “Play Candy Crush on multiple devices. You get 5 lives per device.” Senior Monica Kuo (level 375) “If you run out of lives, set your phone time forward to get more.” Sophomore Angela Zhang (level 491) “If you look at the candies and you don’t like the setup, start it over again until you have something you can start with.” Math teacher Victoria Bracken (level 450) “Remember the objective. Don’t get greedy with combos if you can make a smarter move.” Sophomore Jules Allbritton-King (level 266) “There’s gonna be a point [where] nothing works but if you play enough, the Candy Crush gods will let you pass.” Sophomore Ni Tial (level 260)
Counter-culture evolves into pop culture
A
maddy brancati, staff writer lmost every generation of the twentieth century has been labeled with a defining trait: the flappers of the 20s, mods of the 60s, hippies of the 70s and grunge of the 90s to name a few. Now it’s hipsters. “I don’t try, I just be,” said senior Julia Bowden, sporting a red-checked flannel and black skinny jeans. There is a fine line between true hipsters and the wanna-bees.“It just comes naturally,” Senior Peter Foltz said, hipster extraordinaire. “It isn’t something I try to force, like all of the posers out there.” So what distinguishes a true hipster? Irony. It is extremely important for a hipster to keep people guessing and never mean exactly what they say. “I am an ironic Republican,” Bowden said, noting that she states her “republican” views bluntly and sarcastically. “I was born ironic,” Foltz said, rocking his big-faced cat sweatshirt. “I don’t even have a cat.” Obscure Music. If any “main-stream” person has heard of your favorite band, you are not a hipster. Bowden said her favorite band is called “Sleeper Agent” and characterizes their music as “kind of indie-alternative, kind of grunge-punk” (whatever that means). Foltz threw around
band names like “Sonic Meow,” “The Moldy Peaches” and “Trampled by Turtles,” names that could easily have been phrases shouted out by a schizophrenic. Quirky style. Skinny jeans and ironic T-shirts characterize the classic hipster get-up. Anything vintage will do along with v-necks, hooded sweatshirts and concert tees. Perfect vision shouldn’t stop you from rocking the chunkiest-framed glasses you can find. “My glasses are very low prescription. I wouldn’t wear them if they weren’t so bigframed,” said Foltz. However if you’re lucky, your vision is naturally impaired like English teacher Meekah Hopkins. “I’ve had glasses since I was ten,” she said. “Take that, hipsters.” Originality. Possibly the most important feature of a genuine hipster. Hipsters can meet their originality quota by mastering a creative activity, receiving bonus points if that activity is at all obscure or ironic (see numbers 1 and 2). For example, Foltz meets the originality criteria through musical expression: “I’m a big fan of the Cajun drum box,” he said. “It’s literally a box you sit on and bang.” Taking these steps not only makes you hipster, it makes you part of a world-wide trend. “Hipster” has become so broadly defined that anyone who values individualism could be considered one. Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
Senior Peter Foltz who wears his hipster cat sweater routinely, wore it to seventh period Advanced Placement Studio Two art class earlier this month. photo by maddy brancati
What is truly ironic is that what is by definition unpopular has become popular. Like in the other decades of the past century, counter-culture has become just plain culture.