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the griffin
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Dulaney High School Timonium, Maryland
Volume 55, Issue 3
December 19, 2014
Alluring or distracting? Social media surely tempts
SCORING
Most popular social media among students
Race still matters christine condon, deputy editor and liz gillum, associate editor wouldn’t say two societies; I would say two different cultures. Dulaney has two different cultures, but they intermingle. They are not two completely isolated societies,” junior Haneyah Johnson said when asked about racial divide here. Recent cases in Missouri, New York and Cleveland have resonated with the school’s community and sparked controversy regarding race. Junior Malik Debow said racial stereotypes have taken a toll on him, in that he must carefully consider his appearance. “Even if I’m walking to a school concert or walking home because football practice ran late, I won’t wear a hoodie,” he said. Debow said he also takes precautions when it comes to police officers. “If I see a police officer on the sidewalk, I’ll walk on the other side to avoid altercation,” he said. Johnson added that she has experienced being racially stereotyped with her friends. One night, Johnson and her four other black friends were walking back to her house after getting ice cream, when Johnson saw her white neighbor getting into her car.
“I
see page 8
# TO KNOW
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junior Eric Walz’s time at the Nike Cross Nationals 5K see our website WINNING
JUNIOR HANEYAH JOHNSON, the only black female in most of her classes, says she has encountered racism but remains positive.
see our website
INDEX 2-3 4-5 6-7 8-12
news opinion sports features
photo by lucia tarantino
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25 17 Yik Yak
CHANGING
photo from Barmer’s Facebook
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tumblr
see page 4
“We wanted to show that Duke is standing in solidarity and that we all feel that this injustice is wrong,” Barmer said.
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Vine
for related story,
Joined by dozens of other Duke students, they staged a “die-in” to rally against recent decisions not to file charges against police officers for the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. and for the choking death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, N.Y.
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dollar amount raised for Ebola relief by the Red Cross Club
DUKE UNIVERSITY FRESHMEN ORGANIZE PROTEST. Alumnus Tionne Barmer (third from left) is flanked by fellow Duke University students Olivia Bowles and Taylor Jones (left) and Chandler Phillips (right) during a Dec. 5 protest over rulings on white police officers’ treatment of black suspects.
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Percentage of students
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Snapchat
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sophie golden, katie nanasi and danielle zarachowitz, associate editors early half of students here admit to using social media for an hour of more, and nearly a third of them admit to being at least moderately distracted by it, an October survey finds. Students, such as junior Sky Moroz, can relate. “Instead of doing homework, I’m on Twitter. It’s really bad. I literally could be doing so much more, but I lie there on my phone for hours,” said Moroz. What’s more, 75 percent of students said social media is overused, and 65 percent said it makes teens more anti-social in face-to-face interactions. “It’s too hard, because it’s like a self-esteem fix,” guidance counselor Emanda Lenet said of students not being able to put their phones down. “They know they’re checking too often, but they can’t help themselves. They’re addicted to their phones.” Lenet added that she knows students who have received lower grades because of study and work time lost to social media. Senior Anna Johnson is not one of them. She maintains a Facebook only for National Honor Society updates, and she uses her dog Daisy for her profile shot. “I don’t want my picture all over the Internet. If I know you well enough, you will know what I look like.” But senior Vincent Song takes a different tack. He estimates that he’s on Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram (in that order of preference) one to two hours nightly. “It’s on and off. I just get notifications and react to them and go back to work. It’s distracting, but if I didn’t have them, I’d find another way to distract myself.” The pen-and-paper questionnaire, administered to 256 total students from each grade and instructional level of English classes in October, also found only 2 percent of students don’t or have never used social media. The Pew Internet Project’s website
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Sophomore Malik Debow discusses the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases Dec. 12, saying he was hurt by grand jury decisions against filing charges. photo by christine mckinnie
But when Johnson went to greet her, she was ignored. Her neighbor quickly shut and locked her car door. Johnson said she was shocked that her neighbor would stereotype her and her friends. “It made me feel like when I’m with those friends, she labels me as a bad black girl but when I’m by myself, I am the nice neighbor girl that waters her garden sometimes,” Johnson said. One alumnus has demonstrated his concern for recent events. Duke University freshman Tionne Barmer helped organize peaceful protests on campus to support justice and equality. Dozens of students and faculty members met at the Bryan Center Plaza at Duke University Dec. 5 to participate in a march and a “die-in,” the Raleigh News and Observer reported. Students laid on the ground for 4.5 minutes to represent not only the 4.5 hours Michael Brown was left on the ground dead, but also the 450 years that people of African heritage have been oppressed. The group strives to promote a world where everyone can live without fear of racial prejudice. Regardless of recent events, Johnson said she is hopeful. “As long as we can all bond in some kind of sport, event or hobby, things will be different,” Johnson said.
see SOCIAL MEDIA, page 3
FYI: Winter break ends Jan. 5
Open Mic Night Jan. 15 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Satellite Cafeteria
Martin Luther King Day Jan. 19 school closed
Sequel submission deadline Jan. 23
Visit us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
Professional development Jan. 26 school closed
Report cards distributed Feb. 5
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the griffin
news
december 19, 2014
Ebola learning applied in class G
randhika aturaliya and amanda musolf, staff writers overnment teacher Julie Marx’s Gifted and Talented classes know which level of government should handle the Ebola crisis. Last month they created Ebola action plans to map it out. “We learned about the national, local and state governments, how federalism works together and what powers each of them have, while tying in Ebola, which is a present day issue,� sophomore Mary Charlotte Gitlin said. Freshman Patrick Dochat agreed that the activity yielded benefits. “I learned what governments nationally and locally can do to prevent an Ebola outbreak,� he said. Ebola hasn’t only reached government classes; it’s found its way into science teacher Amy Chilinguerian’s Gifted and Talented Biology classes. “We did a jigsaw activity and one group was responsible for learning about the structure, transition and treatments for Ebola,� she said. The Ebola discussion doesn’t stop there. The newly formed Red Cross Club had a fundraiser for Ebola relief from Nov. 17 to Dec. 3 in which they sold red crosses to be hung up by the classic cafeteria during all lunch shifts. So, why is learning about Ebola beneficial? “It’s important to know what is happening around you in terms of maintaining good health, but also so you can be informed when people are talking about it,� Chilinguerian said.
Left to right: Freshmen Christy Reid and Patrick Dochat, sophomore Mary Charlotte Gitlin and freshmen Carly Baker and Brendan O’Brien work together Nov. 7 to create an Ebola action plan during government teacher Julie Marx’s period 2A Gifted and Talented American Government class. photo by ben merenbloom
“I
maya lapinski, deputy editor want you to know what happened to me so you know how lucky you are. Freedom is something we must protect with everything we’ve got,� Holocaust survivor Rubin Sztajer said, concluding his emotional story shared at a History Club meeting Dec. 3. Students and teachers jammed into room 114 to hear Sztajer’s nearly hourlong account of his life-changing experience during the 1940s, when Nazis tore him from his family in a Polish ghetto. “They took my family, they took my freedom, they even took my clothes,� SENIOR EMMA BARTELS-JONES speaks with Holocaust survivor Rubin Szatjer Sztajer said. after his speech to the history club Dec. 3. The two discussed the benefit Stzajer was sent to two different conof not harboring hate. centration camps, where he fought for photo by kalie paranzino his life, learning to do things like stuff
Magical
ŠDisney
Available at: Towson Town Center 3rd and 4th Floors p PANDORATOWSON COM
BANNER RETURNING The WR1 banner that hung near the gym was damaged and had to be removed, assistant principal Tom Dugas said. A new banner is being designed and will be paid for by the school. There was a police report filed over the damage.
REVAMP COMING
Holocaust survivor’s view: carpe diem
Make the night
NEWS LINE
paper between his clothes to keep himself warm. Without even basic necessities like socks, toilet paper and winter coats, the prisoners were subjected to harsh conditions. After Liberation, Sztajer fell ill and was left for dead, naked in the snow. If not for his sister finding him, Sztajer said he doubts that he would have survived. He was liberated in 1945 at 19 years old. When he was 23 years old, he traveled to America, where he’s lived ever since. The Holocaust cost him five members of his family, his youth and nearly his life, but he said his story does not end in total tragedy. “It was up to me to be where I am today. In this country, anyone can make it. Don’t let that slip you by,� he said, before taking the audience’s questions.
Seniors aim for multiple schools
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chloe messier and erin miller, associate editors ith the college application process in full swing, seniors this year are applying to more colleges than ever before. According to a New York Times article, for the class of 2015, applying to 10 colleges is now the norm, 20 is very popular and 30 is still possible. That wide range begs the question: how do seniors decide how many colleges to apply to? “It’s kind of like a game. If you stick your name in more than one hat, hopefully it will get picked at least once,� senior Michael McClelland said. He has applied to 15 schools, also citing finances as a reason for his multitude of applications. “College is your parents giving you the biggest gift of your life, so I feel like you have an obligation to them to make it as affordable as possible,� he said. “Applying to more schools gives you greater options in terms of financial packages.� All but three of the colleges to which he has applied are on the Common Application, which he said is why the application process was not as much of a hassle as some might think. But others see little reason to apply to so many schools. Rather than spreading themselves thin, many feel they are better off focusing on their top choices and waiting for an early response before applying to other schools. Senior Annie Brantigan applied to a few school but knew all along what her number one was. “I wanted to get some early action applications done,� Brantigan said. “But I felt I needed to commit myself more to my dream school in order to pour my heart and soul into the application.� Still, other students apply to fewer schools than that. Senior Brady Widener only applied to one college: American University. “I have my mind set on this one. And hopefully Manifest Destiny will help me out and I do go there,� Widener said. Guidance counselor Katie Owens puts it bluntly: “Every story is different and every student is different, but it all leads up to the inevitable,� Owens said. “You do have to decide.� For a related story, see page 9. Visit us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
The newly formed Friends of Dulaney Steering Committee has launched visits to the school to learn more about the need for renovation. The committee aims to visit three times and to organize the community to advocate for renovation of the school in fiscal year 2017. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/ FriendsofDulaney.
LABS DISPLACED PARCC testing in the spring will be taken online, displacing classes in computer labs during the testing window. Efforts are being made to dodge trouble in publications’, deadlines. “I think we’re sacrificing the success of some programs at large in the name of technology,� Sequel adviser Meekah Hopkins said.
HONORS CHANGING Standard classes will no longer be separated from Honors classes next year. Plans for the change continue, administrators said.
STUDENTS AWARDED Seniors Mandy Bilger and Anna Steuerman and juniors Daniel Morthole, Sahana Raju, Sarah Ruehle and Louis Witt were selected to represent the school in the All-State Choral Festival. Senior Xaria Crawford, sophomore Eunbin Choi and juniors Adam Meltzer, Colin Miller and Jane Song have been selected for the Senior All-State Band. Senior Ben Lee, juniors Michelle Wu and Angela Zhang and sophomores Jessica Yan and Alexandra Ng were selected for the Senior All-State Orchestra. Seniors Ginny Bush, Amanda Hodgetts, Grace Landefeld, Taylor Wenzl and juniors Noelle Li and Sarah Morrison have been selected as members of the All-County Honors Dance Ensemble.
SENIOR WINS Senior Rhaj Gooden received the Alexander Hamilton Scholarship Award granting him enrollment into the Hamilton Leaders Academy. The scholarship offers financial aid in different areas specific to each of the program’s scholars.
BAND DEPARTS The marching band will march in this year’s London New Year’s Day Parade for the second time. They also appeared in the 2011 parade. The wind ensemble will also perform at Cadogan Hall Dec. 30, where the Royal Philharmonic performs. They will depart Dec. 27.
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news
december 19, 2014
the griffin
Social media surely tempts SOCIAL MEDIA, continued from page 1
reports that as of 2012, 95 percent of teens nationwide used some form of social media. Freshmen are using social media significantly more than seniors, notably the platforms Vine and YikYak, with 34 percent more using Vine and 12 percent more using YikYak than seniors. But students aren’t the only ones using social media. 69 percent of students say that, if teachers were more accessible on social media, they’d take advantage of it. Teachers have responded accordingly. Science Department chairman Stephen Shaw runs the Dulaney Science Twitter account. “It’s a way to showcase and send out information,” he said. Shaw has used Twitter to post science-related news such as the National Aquarium Program, the Spend a Day with an Engineer event and information about astronaut Reid Wiseman. “There’s a lot of pride in this community,” he said, “I try to convey excitement.” AP English 12 teacher and Sequel sponsor Meekah Hopkins agrees that social media should provide students with information. “For schools, it’s a way to reach out to people,” she said. But Hopkins said she thinks that social media is often ineffective for individual teacher accounts. “I don’t think that students are necessarily benefitting from teachers personally having Twitters,” Hopkins said. “I started a Twitter last year to help my Honors English 11 students remember their homework. Response was minimal.” Besides occasional lack of enthusiasm, there are other detriments to the increased use of social media. “I think that you see more cyberbullying of younger students. The worst is YikYak and other apps that let you text and post anonymously,” Lenet said. About a fifth of students here have reported being cyberbullied or harassed in some form. Nationally, according to InternetSafety101.org, 33 percent of teenagers have been victims of cyberbullying. An anonymous source elaborates on their personal experience with the harmful nature of cyberbullying. The source said the cyberbully changed their Facebook profile name to theirs, and then proceeded to
post weird comments on other people’s profiles under the fake alias. In an attempt to remedy the problem, the source tried to make their own legitimate profile but was thwarted when the cyberbully managed to have the profile banned. It appeared that the victim was the cyberbully. “I tried talking to him about it but he was completely unreasonable. I stopped following the profile and stopped using Facebook altogether, and that definitely helped me feel better and recover. I don’t even know if the account is up anymore, I don’t concern myself with it and it doesn’t matter to me anymore,” the source said. This type of situation has become all too familiar. The survey shows 46 percent of students find their self esteem to be negatively affected through the use of social media. Lenet said she has had students come into the guidance office upset over things they have read about themselves on social media. “I don’t know how students hold their head up high and keep going after reading what’s posted about them in certain situations, but they do,” Lenet said.
MATH TEACHER LYNNETTE ROLLER, science chairman Steve Shaw, science teacher Ned Lyons and history teacher Rachel Baikauskas participate in Naviance training, earning each one point toward the 12 they need by the end of the school year. photo by alex goldberg
Staff mixed on new professional development
“I
sarah feustle, deputy editor ’m all about getting better at what I do, but can’t we do something where it’s not about the points? Where it’s not about putting me in a chart?” an anonymous humanities teacher said in response to the professional development evaluation system instituted here this year. The new academy, known as The Pride: Dulaney Professional Development Community is “a job-embedded professional development approach,” according to its website. Teachers must complete 12 Dulaney PD credits over the course of the year. These credits can be earned through activities like contributing to a school-wide blog, observing a colleague’s class instruction For more on how teachers use social media, see our web- or attending an in-school workshop. “Teachers can now choose the areas in which they need professionsite. al development,” assistant principal John Billingslea said. “[It gives] teachers the opportunity to direct their own professional developTime spent on social media per day ment so that it is meaningful to them.” The academy comes in the wake of last year’s artifact binders, and in response to the domains of teaching outlined by educational professional Charlotte Danielson. The four domains include planning 0-30 min and preparation, classroom environment, instruction and professional responsibilities. more than 0 to 30 min A teacher from another department is doubtful that all teachers are 60 min 30 to 60 min going to get 12 points, and said that teachers would be better served more than 60 min 30-60 min if faculty meetings were brought back. “I teach many preps (courses). I’d love to go on a learning walk, see what others are doing, but I don’t have time, because I’m preparing for my other classes,” the source said. Faculty council representative Maureen Burke confirmed no faculty member has issued a formal complaint against the new system. This anonymous, pen-and-paper survey of 256 students STAT teacher Kimberly Culbertson, who organizes professional dewas conducted in Standard, Honors and Gifted and Tal- velopment opportunities for teachers, is upbeat about the program. ented or Advanced Placement classes for each grade level. “The ultimate measure will be an increase in student achievement,” Students were asked 14 multiple choice questions. she said.
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the griffin
opinion
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editors, By this point, everyone recognizes the flaws of the block schedule. Don’t believe anyone who says teachers can fit more in the 90-minute periods—because they can’t. All that chemistry poor Mr. Geckle tries so hard to teach me disappears over the four days I often don’t see him. It’s difficult for teachers to keep track of the material each of their classes cover, which sometimes means that topics are left untouched, even though Mrs. Skelton, for one, spends a portion of class trying to figure out what she taught us last class. It’s hard for students to keep track of when our assignments are due, and BCPSOne doesn’t help at all. I know it. You know it. Every mom in the PTA knows it. And Dr. Dance probably knows it by now. I’m not the only one who has these issues, or most of October’s Griffin would not exist. But we should consider ourselves lucky. Why? Because the alternative to the block is the eight-period day. Has anyone asked students at Franklin High School, the only high school in the county with the eight-period day, how they’re dealing? If you didn’t, it’s okay—because I did. “We never get anything done in any period because we have absolutely no time in any class,” an anonymous junior from Franklin said. “And on days that I have math tests, we never have enough time to finish. I run to class, then grab my test and start writing as fast as I can. I really would enjoy more time in math class!” Okay, so she’s kind of a nerd, but still. Her sister, a senior, also complained about the lack of time they have to complete tests. “My AP Statistics teacher had to redesign all of her quizzes. We usually don’t finish our tests in one day and have to carry them over.” And if you have to complete the test next class, then you have even less time to go through that day’s lesson, and so you end up with a load of extra homework. “When you have any sort of after-school activity, it’s awful because you come home at four or five o’clock and you’re exhausted and you have homework in five or six different areas,” she said. She said she knows someone who does track and has a job, and often ends up getting home at midnight. The teachers deserved recognition for trying their best to adjust, she said. “My teachers are willing to dedicate their time after school if anybody needs to come.” But she pointed out that teachers don’t usually coordinate with one another unless they know each other well, “so you might end up having three or four tests in one day.” We’re all aware of how much our schedule makes everyone want to tear their hair out, but count your blessings, kids. Believe it or not, it seems that we may have actually gotten the better deal this time around. —Tirza Khan, sophomore
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the griffin Dulaney High School 255 E. Padonia Rd. Timonium, Maryland (410) 887-7633 managing editors alex goldberg, henry harsel, maya hoke, ben merenbloom, kalie paranzino deputy editors christine condon, sarah feustle, maya lapinski, sumin woo adviser maria hiaasen
december 19, 2014
Primer on Ebola needed: Distance no reason to ignore deadly disease
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meher hans, staff writer he Ebola virus, spreading most recently in Liberia, has affected thousands in West Africa. Rather than panic over the deadly disease’s potential to spread, people should arm themselves with accurate information about the disease, where it’s spreading and what policies for fighting it work. How does it spread? he Ebola virus is transmitted through contact with diseased bodily fluids like blood, feces and vomit in humans. The New York Times cites traditions like kissing as a form of greeting as a factor reason in the rapid spread of the disease. As of Dec. 9, confirmed cases have a 57 percent fatality rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
These airports have the resources to handle the mandated passenger temperature checks for flights from the West African nations. The Times also reported that a screening process has been implemented in African airports, and
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What’s the government doing? ongress voted to pass a $1.1 trillion spending package Dec. 13, $5.4 billion of which is to be spent combating the virus, which the President has labeled a national security concern. As a preventative measure, international flights from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have now been routed to five major national airports, according to the New York Times.
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What’s the latest news? ime Magazine named Ebola fighters, doctors and nurses as their Person of the Year. According to the article, Dr. Kent Brantly and his assistant Nancy Writebol, American aide workers who were treated for Ebola in Atlanta, were motivated by God, the affected countries and, as Time editor Nancy Gibbs put it, “the instinct to run into the fire, not away.” Despite the doctors’ and nurses’ efforts, the number of people with Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone has risen to 11,000 with 20 cases treated in the U.S. and Europe. The World Health Organization has met with health and finance ministers to strengthen the health systems of the Ebolastricken nations.
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What is our responsiOP-ART: tori vandervest bility regarding Ebola? he Red Cross Club’s $40 raised via a New York and New Jersey have implemented mandatory quaran- fundraiser this month must be tines for health workers returning only the start of our efforts. If stories of orphaned children sufferfrom affected areas. Locally, during doctor vis- ing in Western Africa don’t compel its, your physician should ask if us to act, perhaps concern for our you’ve been to West Africa in the own safety will. The Times reports past three weeks, or if you’ve been that Ebola can spread if a sick perin contact with infected people. son coughs saliva on another. In Additionally, hospitals are re- this age of quick flights across the quired to follow an Ebola protocol, globe, we too have a stake in researchers’ efforts to develop an according to the Times. Ebola vaccine.
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staff editorial: rankings aren’t reality
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ranking of the best high schools in the nation conducted by the U.S. News & World Report did not include our school. Should it have? One aspect that the U.S. News considers for placement in its ranking is how a particular high school compares to other schools in the same state. This is based on upon schools’ algebra and
“Are we ranked below over 1,353 schools in the country?” English proficiency, college preparedness and student-teacher ratios. Both Towson and Loch Raven High Schools made the national ranking. Towson was ranked 273 in the nation and eighth in the state while Loch Raven was 1,353 in the nation and 35 in the state. Are we ranked below 1,353 schools in the country? Another factor of the national ranking is how prepared for college a school’s students are based on their Advanced
Placement test scores. U.S. News reported that 61 percent of our students participated in AP exams last year, and 86 percent of them passed. While 65 percent of Towson’s students took APs, 81 percent of them passed. A greater percentage of our AP testers passed than Towson’s testers, yet we find ourselves not even cracking the list for a top school in Maryland, let alone the whole country. U.S. News also takes student-teacher ratios into account when it determines where high schools should be placed on its ranking. Our student-teacher ratio is 18 to 1. Towson’s is 17 to 1. Even though we enroll 400 more students than Towson does, our ratio is still comparable. Non-academic categories such as overall student happiness and career readiness, two areas that our school does better than most, should be included in the consideration for how schools are ranked. The freedom to participate in extracurricular activities ranging from Dulanians to D-Rockas brings a diversity that sets us apart from the rest of the country, even schools as highly ranked as Towson. Our thriving internship program
associate editors jackie andrews, andres arbelaez, avalon bonlie, audrey fanshaw, justin fitzgerald, liz gillum, olivia golden, sophie golden, finn hasson, adam hemmeter, kristin meek, chloe messier, erin miller, katie nanasi, sierra prior, kira stiers, andrew sugarman, danielle zarachowicz photography editors jood ali, lucia tarantino web editor harrison bartlett Visit us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
also makes us shine. No one is saying we are a perfect school. There is clearly room for improvement in areas such as school spirit, but recently enacted initiatives such as spirit games have helped. There’s even more to look forward to as we enter the new year. A new school committee, the Friends of Dulaney, has been formed to advocate renovation in the school building. And, during a dinner with more than a dozen of the school’s teachers Dec. 9, school superintendent Dallas Dance reiterated long-term plans to cultivate student-staff relationships, in part, with more guidance counselors. So how much credence should we really place in our subpar spot on the U.S. News & World Report’s national ranking? Very little.
photo from www.usnews.com
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.
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the griffin
opinion
december 19, 2014
Smartphones squash social skills A
meera rothman, staff writer s I climb onto the bus packed to the brim with high school students, I know exactly what I’ll hear: dead silence. Everybody stares down, hypnotized, at tiny screens the size of playing cards, tapping incessantly. Nobody looks up. Nobody says a word. Nobody notices the thirty other people sitting less than a foot away from them. Smartphones are becoming increasingly widespread and are dominating every part of our waking hours. They wake us up every morning and they accompany us to school, to lunch, to dinner, to friends’ houses, even to the bathroom. While the benefits of smartphones are substantive, smartphones are leading to the deterioration of key social interactions and conversations. Researchers at Virginia Tech conducted a study in July 2014 measuring the effect of mobile devices on the quality of face-to-face social interactions. The study found that people who had conversations in the absence of mobile devices reported higher levels of empathy. Smartphones lead to an increase in isolation and seclusion, which decreases people’s ability to understand the complex emotions of others. A decrease in empathy prevents people from forming deep friendships and relationships. Our social skills are slowly and surely degrading, leaving us stranded and alone in a world of people, clinging to our smartphones for dear life. The smartphone epidemic also has a massive impact on familial interactions. A March 2014 study published in the journal Pediatrics
observed 55 caregivers with their children in Boston fast food restaurants. 40 caregivers used a smartphone at some point during the meal, and 16 caregivers used a smartphone throughout the entire meal. Family meal time conversations allow children to express their feelings and get advice from parents, both of which are critical to a healthy relationship and mental state. Many people argue that being on their phone allows them to keep in touch with friends. But, interacting with people through social media cannot replace the intimacy of real life conversations. Being able to see someone’s facial expressions and hear the tone in their voice is crucial to forming connections and cannot be achieved in emotionless messages. So what do we do? Are we all doomed and destined to become antisocial people? Of course not. The key is balance. We have to find the happy medium between being addicted to our phones and not connected to social media. The best method is to be conscious of those around us. Notice opportunities to meet new people. Look up from your phone at op-art: tori vandervest dinner. Interact with your friends at lunch. And if you see someone next to you on the bus, break the silence.
For staff writers Will Battle, Anastasia Strouboulis and Julie Chotivatanapong’s thoughts on this issue, see our website.
T’was the night to post status update
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sarah ruehle, staff writer was the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house, No creature was stirring, no clicking of a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that a brand name Burberry scarf they would bear. The brother was nestled all snug in his bed, While visions of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare danc’d in his head, And Mom in her cheesy reindeer pajamas, and Dad in his boxers Had just settled down to make loud, cold-induced snores When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, The daughter rose from the bed to see what was the matter. Stumbling to the window she felt around like a mime, To draw back the curtains and pull up the blinds. When she looked out the window, she saw not a sleigh But a big, loud snow plow, scraping ice away With a little old driver, so heavy and hairy She thought he looked like her great, great aunt Mary. She said, “No, wait a minute, he looks like St. Nick.” So she pulled out her iPhone to take a quick pic. “Now! Snapchat, and Facebook, and Tumblr and Twitter, and Instagram, and to Tiffany, my co-babysitter; To the top of my feed page! to the top of my wall! Now, like, repost and follow them all!” When she looked up, he was gone, and she heard on the roof The scratching and banging and a great, big, loud “OOF!” She grabbed her bro’s bat, and ran down the stairs When the driver crawled out the chimney with mumbles and swears. His pants were all burnt from the fire and soot And his clothes were all tarnish’d from his hat to his boot. But these clothes were not the overalls he was wearing before. He was dressed all in red like the costume in a store. He was thinner than normal, the result of his wife Who put him on Atkins to lengthen his life. He huffed and he puffed as he cracked his old back; And with a great thump, he dropped his sac. The girl heard a soft crack and ran to the bag to find the bent iPhone 6+ she had asked of her dad. She got mad and demanded, spitting with spite: “If you’re the real thing, how do you get around all in one night?” he laughed and said, “a Prius. I traded the carriage, I get radio, and heat, and great gas mileage.” “You know,” she said slyly, “my brother would freak if I got a selfie with you. It’d go viral in a week!” So they took a quick selfie, with duck lips and a pose. And texting a screenshot, up the chimney he rose. And she heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight“Happy holidays to all,” ‘cause Merry Christmas isn’t politically right.
op-art: sarah ruehle
Visit us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
TRUTHS
Student refuses silence stephanie rountree, columnist
The writer, who just completed a semester at a school in Manhattan, wrote this after attending a race protest there, one that was organized in response to the lack of charges filed agaisnt white police officers involved in violence against black suspects.
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can’t breathe. Take a minute to think about this sentence. When do you find yourself saying it? Following an especially strenuous run? Laughing intensely at a joke? While both of these can be valid, we never consider the circumstances under which this phrase has serious meaning. I’ll give an example: Saying ‘I can’t breathe’ eight times as police officers restrain you because of the color of your skin is something that should never be considered as a possibility for anyone, yet this is the society we are faced with in the wake of Eric Garner’s wrongful death July 17, 2014. The injustice of these actions is further magnified by the fact that Daniel Pantaleo, the New York Police Department officer administering the illegal chokehold, was acquitted of all charges, even with film evidence. Hands up, don’t shoot! I am often faced with feeling as if I don’t have a right to be an American. In the wake of these horrific crimes that result in the unnecessary death of people like Michael Brown, I feel as if my voice, along with that of the deceased, is silenced. My existence is no longer valid. Those who are not as informed might express that police harassment against minorities is not as common as the media paints it to be, but it is easy to forget how close things can hit home until it happens to someone you love. You may never know how many people around you have actually been followed, searched or
“I will shout. I will march. I will do everything necessary to have my rights as a human recognized.” arrested for something they didn’t do because of race. I feel suffocated. Eric Garner, Michael Brown! Shut the whole system down! My voice roars through the midnight sky as I lead hundreds in a chant a few feet away from city hall the day after the grand jury’s verdict in the Garner case. I, along with many affected people, have decided to stop being silent. I choose to be among those masses, holding up signs, taking to the streets of New York City, the capital of social activism. Black lives matter, and the fact that we have to use protests and die-ins to prove so absolutely infuriates me. I will shout. I will march. I will do everything necessary to have my rights as a human recognized. People who are still able to say that racism is dead are sadly mistaken. Instead of denying its existence, acknowledge that it’s there and work to end it. Stop saying that this isn’t a race problem when it clearly is. Black lives matter. What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? NOW!
the griffin
6 sports
athletes
december 19, 2014
A little
month
Varsity basketball
Quiet leader soars patrick fitzgerald, staff writer enior forward Scott Harrelson, standing 6-foot-4, jumped to the rim following senior guard Gary Bernardez’s miss during the varisty boys basketball team’s game against Perry Hall High School Dec. 12. As Harrelson reached for the ball SCott harrelson he caught it in one hand and photo by lucia tarantino simultaneously dunked it in, all without touching his feet to the ground. Those are the plays that have attracted half a dozen Division I universities to Harrelson, and established him as a leader on the team. “He’s not much of a talking guy; he talks with his actions. It’s one of the qualities of a great leader,” junior and teammate Javon Smith said. “I really expect some big things from Scott this year,” varisty basketball coach Matt Lochte said. “We’re going to push him hard.” Lochte said that he anticipates Harrelson averaging a double-double this year (10 or more points and rebounds per game). The team is shooting for county, regional and state championships, with Harrelson expected to play a huge role in working towards that. Last season, the Lions’ season ended in the 4A North regional championship 7646 against Springbrook High School March 7. Harrelson feels that the weakest part of his game is ball handling. To improve, he practices dribbling with two balls or with a tennis ball around school. As far as the mental aspect of the game goes, both coach and player have seen some improvements. “He’s matured throughout the years, allowing him to become a more coachable player. As he’s grown up as a young man, our relationship, player to coach, has allowed me to be a better coach, and I believe [Scott], a better player,” Lochte said. When speaking about what his coach has taught him over the past three years, Harrelson had succinct but meaningful remarks. “Just be humble; let everything come to you.”
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junior Varsity BASKETBALL
Applying know-how to win doria diacogiannis, staff writer sk junior varsity basketball coach Steve Labbe what makes sophomore Patrick Fitzgerald so awesome and he’ll put it simply. “He leads by example. He does what we tell him.” Teammates laud his knowlPatrick fitzgerald edge of the game. He uses photo by lucia tarantino this intelligence to constantly anticipate other teams’ plays. “He’s smart and knows the game,” sophomore and teammate Nico Yarbough said. “He makes certain moves that your opponents wouldn’t think you’d do and makes your opponent over-anticipate.” Yarbough, who has been playing basketball with Fitzgerald for three years, said that Fitzgerald often fakes a pass and then shoots the ball, leaving him open for a shot. He might go in for a bad layup and pass it out to another player. His smarts on the court transfer over to the classroom, with Fitzgerald taking two Advanced Placement classes and four additional Gifted and Talented classes. Fitzgerald plays sports year round, swimming in the summer, playing soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring. He noted swimming’s contribution. “Swimming gets you in shape and it’s the best physical activity to do,” he said. With a brand new coach and a brand new team, Fitzgerald is excited to start the season. He is confident that they will unite as a team and perform as well as they did last year. “We only have three returners from last year, which means we have a lot of potential,” he said. No matter the experience on the team, Fitzgerald’s goal remains unchanged. “I think the goal is always to win the county championship, and that’s what we’re shooting for this year.”
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Senior pins 100th win SENIOR WRESTLER SEAN HOFFMAN secures a headlock on his opponent from the Calvert School, earning his 100th wrestling victory Dec. 5 in the Scorpion Duals wresting tournament at Oakland Mills High School in Howard County. Afterward, Hoffman noted his achievement but emphasized other concerns, saying, “I am more focused on the end of the season and placing.” As of press time, the team’s record was 1-1. photo by kim hoffman
Freshman standout arrives: wins result LIONS’ Freshman center Liam Snow and senior defender and teammate, right, Tim Morrison from Franklin High School, eye the puck as a Loyola Blakefield defender passes it out of the corner of the rink. Snow scored three goals during the team’s 7-4 win in a scrimmage against Loyola Blakefield Nov. 7. The team was 0-1 in their conference as of press time. photo by karen snow
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Staff writer Matthew Ellis contributed to this report. Visit us at http://dulaneygriffin.org
SENIOR FORWARD JAIR WILLIAMS scores on a free ketball home opener against St. Paul’s Sc Lions, who were 2-0 as of press time, edge “I was focused on the free throw because said. “It’s important to follow up and mak Williams scored 10 points, had four assis six on the free throw line. photos by kira stiers
Student por no average joe
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justin fitzgerald, associate editor nother week, another scand prestigious university. According to the Raleigh server, 3,100 students over 18 years were athletes, took paper classes in Afro-American studies department a of North Carolina. The only grade was a term paper, a graded extremely leniently, according Heel, UNC’s student newspaper. The Wainstein Report, a 136- page d mer federal prosecutor Kenneth Wai vealed that athletes were steered tow
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the griffin
sports
e shot that’s worth a lot S
e throw in the first quarter of the varsity boys baschool for Boys Dec. 5. Before a packed gym, the ed past the Gators 62-60 despite 28 turnovers. e I missed the layup when I got fouled,” Williams ke the free throws so you still get two points.” sts and swept up eight rebounds. He was four for
kristin meek, associate editor enior guard James Bonner knows all too well the importance of an accurate free throw. “We were down by two with two seconds left in the game,” he said, “and Loch Raven had a technical foul called against them. So, a senior at the time, Zach Hill, was taking the shots, and he drained both of them. We ended up winning the game in overtime.” Bonner smiled at his freshman year recollection. Two free throws, unimpeded shots from the foul line, helped win the game. According to the New Yorker Magazine, the ability to complete free throws under game-day pressure is one of the few sports skills that has not improved over the last 35 years, even though games often boil down to minor point differences that free throw efficiency would solve. Boys varsity basketball coach Matt Lochte said he has a strong shooting team this year and aims for an 80 percent average, compared to last year’s 72 percent. At their Dec. 5 game against St. Paul’s School for Boys, the team took eight free throw shots and averaged 50 percent, which leaves room for improvement. The only thing that would get in their way is lack of mental preparation. “It’s not a physical skill, it’s more of a mental toughness, to get up there, in front of a crowd, and make free throws,” Lochte said. “It becomes a routine, and it’s a skill that’s not practiced enough.” Girls varsity basketball coach Jess Szymanski said her team recreates high pressure situations in practices to simulate game day intensity. Four or five times every practice, Lochte sends his team through a quick drill he calls six basket shooting, where each player shoots two free throws at each of the six baskets in the gym. If a player misses the shot they get one clap, if they make it they get two. “We try to pump them up, so everyone knows they made that free throw,” Lochte said, adding that he is constantly encouraging his players to practice outside of school. “The really good free throw shooters in history shot hundreds of thousands of free throws in the off season daily.” Even with constant practice, consistency is still hard to achieve with the distractions from the crowd, but senior captain Ellie Mathey has found a way to ensure her success. “It’s muscle memory. I just keep my eyes on the rim,” Mathey said.
Guidance counselor John Komosa, who played small forward in high school, said that after learning solid technique, athletes eventually find their free throw peak and stabalize their percentage. Like others, Komosa has his own specific ritual for free throws. “It is the same every time,” he said. “Catch the ball, place my feet, spin the ball, three dribbles, breath, shoot.” Staff writers Drew Persinger and Andrew Abell contributed to this report.
Senior Scott Harrelson streches for a dunk with less than two minutes left in the St. Paul’s School game Dec. 5, putting the Lions on top by six.
Free throw rituals:
“Big time athletics is a business, one that doesn’t have time for student athletes.”
dal at a so called
h News and Obs, half of whom the African and at the University
and athletes were g to the Daily Tar
document by forinstein, which reward these classes
win. It’s insulting that many of my friends have worked tirelessly to get into such prestigious universities while a select group of students just cruise through, never attending class. Big-time college athletics is a business, one that doesn’t have time for student athletes. USA Today surveyed over 2,000 Division I football and basketball players in 2008 and almost two out of every three admitted to spending more time on sports than academics.
athletes
month
Varsity BASKETBALL
Discipline reaps rewards michael zimmerman, staff writer practice regimen that amounts to 1,500 shots taken in three hours. This is what girls varsity basketball player junior Imani Halley was exposed to as a kid by her father. “My dad would take me in the backyard or the gym, Imani Halley and we would just play,” photo by lucia tarantino Halley said. With such discipline, Halley has been able to adapt quickly to a new team for the third time in the past three years, taking on both new positions and meeting new players. Heading into the season, Halley’s most comfortable position was shooting guard, but girls varsity basketball coach Jessica Szymanski plays her at point guard as well. “She brings a quiet intensity to the team,” Szymanski said. “She is not overly vocal but she brings a strong competitive attitude to the team.” Junior and teammate Nicole Sharpe praised Halley’s will to win on the court. “She brings a lot of strengths. She goes right to the basket without any hesitation,” Sharpe said, commending Halley’s ability to follow and complete every play. Senior and teammate Kayla Wheeler cites Halley’s aggressiveness and leadership on the court as assets, adding that with few aggressive players last year, her power and drive are especially appreciated. “If we’re doing plays and people don’t understand it, but she does, she tries to help them and she directs people on what to do and how to do things,” Wheeler said. But the defining aspect of Halley’s career has been what she learned from her time on the court. “Basketball has taught me a lot about having to step down in a role when the coach is, or somebody is, better than you, and it’s parallel to life,” she said. “It’s just taught me a lot about becoming a very disciplined, understanding person.”
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1. “I relax my shoulders and keep my eye on the rim.”- senior Scott Harrelson
junior Varsity BASKETBALL
2. “I know it’s weird, but I lick my lips and keep my tongue out when I shoot.”sophomore Ali Hill
Freshman takes charge on court
3. “I focus and visualize the ball going through the hoop, and on what I need to do.”- sophomore AJ Richardson 4. “I spin the ball in my hand then take three dribbles then spin the ball in my hand again and then shoot it.”- junior Joey O’Dwyer For more see our website http://dulaneygriffin.org
rtion of student-athlete disappearing in order to remain eligible. Yet some administrators at the university still maintain that the scandal was a result of “academic impropriety,” not pressure from the athletic department. I find this hard to believe. Coaches probably told players to take these classes due to the pressure to
december 19, 2014
If players are spending more time on their sport, how much of the student remains in the NCAA developed term student-athlete? The student part is fading away, especially for big time athletes. Athletes are brought on campus for one job, to win. If that’s the objective, it wouldn’t surprise me if academic fraud occurred at other NCAA schools, possibly on a bigger scale than what occurred at North Carolina. The only way to solve the problem of constant violations is to make sure athletic department officials don’t manipulate university administrators, which won’t happen if these sports keep providing obscene amounts of revenue. The money generated by events such as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has reached incredible highs, with CBS and Turner Sports agreeing to pay nearly 11 billion dollars for rights to the tournament in 2010, a 41 percent increase over the old deal, according to USA Today. The NCAA tried to curb academic problems by installing an Academic Progress Rate (APR) in 2003. This set a minimum rate for all Division One sports, and teams had to meet a certain rate to be eligible for postseason play, according to the NCAA. Rates have increased in the 10 years since the APR was established, but football and basketball still have the two lowest APRs.
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garrett day, staff writer eight isn’t everything, especially for freshman and junior varsity girls basketball player Mikaela Romero. Standing at just 5-foot-3, Romero uses her petite stature to her advantage. “She can get around most defenders and knock down MIkaela Romero photo by lucia tarantino her layups when she gets in position,” sophomore and teammate Ali Hill said. In a height-dominated sport, Romero doesn’t let her size set her back; she is determined to succeed. This determination can be seen as a once-reluctant Romero now runs three miles every day. “At the beginning my mom had to push me to do it,” she said. “Now, when I get home, I just run without thinking about it, and I’m back in the house before she even gets home,” she said. The running has increased her overall speed, giving her the ability to get to the hoop quickly and take shots. Her strength is bolstered by playing all-girls rugby with the Seminary Avenue Rec League in the fall. Romero lists determination and motivation as her biggest strengths as a player, adding that those assets help her maintain a solid work ethic. She said her grandfather motivates her. “He played sports in high school but has heart problems now, so I just do it all for him,” she said. This season Romero said she wants to focus on improving her outside shooting. Countless drills during the offseason helped her achieve her goal. “I went to the Pot Spring courts. I had cones set up around the 3-point line, and I shot at every single cone until I made it,” she said, adding that it would take her up to 45 minutes to finish the drill. Romero has aspirations to take college classes at The University of Baltimore next year, and plans on majoring in law or forensic science in college, along with playing basketball with a scholarship.
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december 19, 2014
Q&A: Librarian talks adjustments New librarian Angela Sofinowski transferred here from Battle Monument, a school with a fraction of the population here. She and staff writer Sarah Ruehle discussed the challenges of a larger school and Sofinowski’s effort to make the library learning-centered during an interview this quarter. What school did you come from? I’ve come from Battle Monument, which is a severe special needs school for students ages three to 21 that are medically fragile and cognitively low. I was the first librarian there in over 15 years and I was there for three years, but the eight years previous I was a middle school health teacher.
What do you do when you’re not reading, not working? I have two girls so we’re all wrapped up in Frozen right now and we have a Disney trip coming up. But at school, the health teachers here ask me, ‘Oh, you’ve taught health? What are some things I can do to excite and change things up?’ So usually my free time is spent looking at the databases and trying to find new resources.
How big is Battle Monument? When I started, there were about 85 kids and then we got down to about 78. Unfortunately, in my three years there, we did lose a student. But we knew a lot of our kids’ health is just not going to get better; it’s not just their cognitive level. The students here are so different, obviously. I had a student say to me, ‘We’re just your average student.’ Please don’t sell yourselves short. You are not average. I really feel blessed that if I had to leave the place I thought I would never leave, that I would come to a school that is so positive.
What challenges you about being here? I think a big challenge is to get the students to see who I am. The other big challenge is learning the resources, looking at what’s appropriate for high school because as the elementary librarian, it was using Tumblebooks or BrainPOP and now it’s this reference book that I need a forklift to pull off the shelf. Is the technology working? No. I like to say I’m magical and some people say this isn’t working and I come over and poof, it works! Sometimes that happens. But there’s still the problem where you click something and it says, ‘Webpage not available.’ So, is everything working? No. I have a lot of students that are asking for the net books and the laptops from last year and the issue is, my Wi-Fi’s not letting them connect. So I say, ‘I’m not going to hand them out. It’s wasting your time.’ The thing we say whenever we have a class in here, ‘please turn the Wi-Fi off of your phone.’ I understand you don’t want to turn your phones off, but just turn the Wi-Fi off.
Where did you teach health? Deep Creek Middle in the southeast area in Essex. I was the only health teacher for seven of my eight years and I taught the entire student body, which is what made me want to go into the library. I wanted to be able to have access to every student. I liked To address the closing of the library, what making that connection with every student goes into the decision? LIBRARIAN ANGELA SOFINOWSKI talks Nov. 5 about adjusting to the environment here and about the changand the idea of different subjects coming in. es she is implementing to the library. “I think a big challenge is to get the students to see I’m bringing it back to a learning-centered So the health background, as weird as area. I have been told by multiple staff memwho I am,” she said. it sounds made me want to go to the library. bers that last year during lunch it was crazy in photo by hannah milan here and I don’t think that’s fair to the teacher What do you like to read? or student who’s trying to learn in that environment. So we’re closed for lunch to give It sounds funny but I pretty much love any young adult genre because I like to feel con- that teacher that classroom back and give the same privilege that they would have in their nected with the students. And they’re good books and there are authors that are really classroom. So where we’re not open during lunch, I am open every day; 30 minutes in the amazing! This summer I read everything that John Green has written. My favorite book of morning and almost an hour in the afternoon. I really want this to get back to a place of all is “Go Ask Alice” which I used in my health class. I feel like that’s another way I get to learning and not a place to just hang out and chill. My vision is to give that fairness to the connect with the students. If you want to read something, then I want to read it. teacher.
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december 19, 2014
among us:
Musician’s work pays off “M taylor wenzl, staff writer y parents freaked out more than I did. They jumped out of their seats.” That’s how junior Colin Miller described his parents’ reaction to the news that he received fourth chair in the Senior All-State band. Miller had to practice the excerpts studiously to grasp the difficult tempo. This accomplishment is one indicator of how far Miller has come since first picking up his French horn six years ago. Along the way, Miller has made a name for himself: a name that he says would never have been possible to create without the guidance and support from his parents and private teacher. Over the years he has excelled in multiple musicoriented activities, including Marching Band, AllCounty Band Ensemble and the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra. But at times, this intense dedication has come with a price. Miller remembers when he played the most he ever had in a week: 50 hours. “It was a hard time where I barely had any time to do school work. I had to talk to my teachers about
making it up late,” Miller said. And Miller’s practice time has paid off. “A normal French horn has a range of about two octaves, but through lip slurs and a few other things I’ve gotten up to three octaves and even four octaves with some different notes,” he said. Band teacher Matt Benner notes his demeanor in class. “He’s always ready to go, as far as playing-wise. I don’t have to worry about him,” Benner said. When asked about his favorite part of being in band, Miller couldn’t choose one. “It’s more about the community with people. Everyone who’s pretty good at music tends to be really nice and funny; they’re all just great people,” he said. One such community is the Lion’s Roar Marching Band. Miller plays the mellophone for the band. “It’s more trumpet than it is a French horn, but since I played trumpet I have a little bit more of an advantage going to it for marching band,” Miller said. But don’t let the French horn and wind ensemble experience fool you. Miller’s musical tastes extend beyond classical pieces and marching band tunes. “It kind of goes through phases, but I really like CAKE,” he said, citing the California alternative band. ”It’s a really good band from the ‘90s. It’s always funny because it’s kind of sarcastic. It’s a little bit experimental, a little bit like Radiohead.” Muse is another band he enjoys. And, yes, it’s possible to play Muse on the French horn. Left to right: Juniors Colin Miller and Brandon Clement record in the auditorium. The recordings will be sent to Grammy in the Schools, entering the band into a competion for a grant for the music department. photo lucia tarantino
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Goucher college introduced a video application option this fall. The option is designed to permit students to showcase their creativity. photo from goucher.edu
Exploring alternative applications
olivia golden, associate editor and ashley forthuber, staff writer espite the stress her peers experience over college applications, senior Sarah Hampton has no complaints. “I am happy to hide behind a screen and submit my thoughts on paper,” she said. Others find this systematic, lengthy method outdated. They’ve called for new procedures for applying to college. “A lot of the colleges now, they’re looking for more outgoing students. They’re not focusing as much on those numbers,” senior Grace Landefeld said. Goucher College has designed an application in which grace landefeld a student may send in a personphoto by sarah alized YouTube feustle video showcasing his creative talent. Another proposed alternative application is the creation of assessment centers that would provide students with the opportunity to spend a day completing tasks, group activities and interviews. Evaluators would rate each
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student’s performance and the results would then be sent to the colleges of a student’s choosing. Seniors have had mixed reactions to these new procedures. “I like the video idea because I’m a performer, and I don’t get nervous when I have to perform,” senior Ben ben freiert Freiert said. While asphoto by christine s e s s m e n t mckinnie centers could benefit outgoing students, they could threaten introverts. “The assessment center sounds way too stressful,” Hampton said. Guidance counselor Emanda Lenet questions how this method would impact more reticent students. “I have to ask: what about the academically successful student who leans towards being introverted and does not fare well in an interview format or group activity?” Lenet said. Staff writer Jack Shuster contributed to this report.
10 features
the griffin
december 19, 2014
reviews:
Predictable plot redeemed by earth-shattering effects
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I also felt the theme that “love transcends andrew king, staff writer nce again, director Christopher No- dimensions” could have been removed. lan bends our brains with this ‘2001: Nolan’s combination of CGI and practiA Space Oddessy’-esque blockbust- cal effects makes the film appear that much er. Interstellar presents a thought-provoking more realistic. If my opinion was based on concept to viewers, but is bogged down by a visuals alone, Interstellar would be a clear few avoidable clichés. 10/10. More times than I care to admit I The movie is set on earth in the not-too- found my jaw hanging open at what I was distant future where a series of plagues and watching. dust storms have terI recommend that any rorized crops everyfan of cinematography where. or heavy thinking go Matthew McConsee this movie, but make aughey, playing the sure to watch it in a home role of retired NASA theatre, now that it’s left pilot Cooper recruited commercial venues. to pilot a mission exMuch of the atmosphere amining planets suitcreated by ground shakable for human life, ing music contrasted and Anne Hathaway, with absolute silence playing current NASA will be lost on anything researcher Dr. Brand, but the apex of surround carry the cast. sound systems. Their performances The problems I found are able to make up were minor enough that for some of the less they had little impact impressive characters on my enjoyment, and played by Mackensome people might even zie Foy and Jessica prefer them. Chastain. By the end I became Matt Damon makes very emotionally inan unexpected but vested in the characters, photo from flicksandbits.com welcomed appearto the point that, while ance, and as always, Michael Caine and his it’s hard to admit, I had to hide my tears at captivating voice fill his supporting role ex- some parts in the packed theater. cellently, making this a well-casted movie overall. overall rating: There were a few cases of cheesy plot. I counted four instances of characters having sudden epiphanies that greatly influenced For staff writer Jason Fontelieu’s review of Inthe plot. These flashes of insight hurt the le- terstellar, see our website: gitimacy of the story because most of them http://dulaneygriffin.org. don’t follow from any normal path of logic.
photo from skyhdwallpaper.com
Prequel stands out, entertains
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matthew ellis, staff writer his fall included an overwhelming influx of television shows, with more than 10 new shows premiering. I can’t say I’ve seen them all, but I can say that FOX’s new hit show, Gotham, has emerged as one of the best. The show, a prequel to Batman, follows young Detective James Gordon and his partner, the hotheaded Harvey Bullock. The first episode starts with a bang, as it begins the series with the murders of Bruce and Martha Wayne. Not only does he have to find the murderer, but he has to help Bruce Wayne overcome the grief of witnessing the murder of his parents. There are some classic Batman references in Gotham. In the first episode, we meet a young Catwoman and a young Poison Ivy. Edward Nigma, who is usually a villain in the Batman movies, works as the medical examiner for the police, and shows no signs of being evil. Although this show may be perfect for the occasional viewer, the Batman fanatics
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out there may have spotted a few flaws. The Halloween special was a perfect time to introduce the Scarecrow into the series. Not only is the Scarecrow a classic Batman villain, it is one of the most iconic Halloween figures as well. Instead, they introduce a new villain named the Spirit of the Goat. Now, I’m not saying that episode was bad, but they missed an opportunity that would have made the Halloween special much more memorable. Overall, I highly recommend this show to Batman fans and the ordinary viewer alike. It’s entertaining to watch Gordon try to balance his life at home with his life as a cop. There is a new case every episode, with an underlying serial plot following Wayne’s and Gordon’s relationship. The show airs Mondays on FOX at 8 p.m, and is available OnDemand and on Netflix. It will return from a midseason hiatus Jan. 15.
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The Kooks: indie band rocks in one of last U.S. shows
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yasmin asadi, staff writer otential hearing loss has never sounded so insignificant. When I was in the front row at The Kooks’ concert, nothing could put a damper on my mood— even music at 120 decibels. As I waited for the British indie rock band to appear in the crowded Rams Head Live Sept. 8, chills electrified my body. The time waiting for them to start seemed much longer than it actually was—the disadvantage of standing tickets. The moment The Kooks stepped onto the stage, everyone went crazy. A strum of the guitar. A hit of the drum. A note played on the piano. Silence. Then I knew I was about to be blown away by the first song, “Bad Habit.” The vigor and zest never died down. From the first song to the last, I was intrigued. It was almost as if The Kooks had subliminal messages interwoven into their songs that captured my attention. Main singer Luke Pritchard jumped off walls in euphoria. He constantly engaged the crowd, tossing guitar picks and touching the hands of fans. The band performed a range of music styles, including fast-paced rock n’ roll and slow acoustic. That’s the eclectic
the kooks’ frontman Luke Pritchard sings the band’s song “Naive” during the encore at the Sept. 8 concert at Rams Head Live.
style that encompasses this group. And when they transitioned to their slow paced songs, you could feel the deeper emotions conveyed. This specific concert was remarkable because The Kooks had a perfect ratio of songs from their new album, “Listen,” to songs from their older albums. Their playlist satisfied shouts from the crowd requesting Kooks’ classics and contemporary songs. Throughout the show, I secretly prayed they would play their most famous song, “Naïve.” I remember the first time I heard it. It was on a “One Tree Hill” episode when I fell in love with it, along with the band’s other music. They finally played it, after an encore. It was 100 times better live than I had ever imagined it would be. Afterwards, post-concert depression set in. I debated buying tickets to another concert and driving a far distance just to see them again. But their final U.S. concert before thier return to Europe was in New York. The Kooks have only performed nine times in the U.S. I was one of those lucky souls who had a chance to be enlightened by their music.
overall rating:
photo from asadi
Familial antics entice and intrigue readers
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sarah feustle, deputy editor t may be time to bug a junior for their summer reading. Jeanette Walls’ “The Glass Castle,” a nonfiction choice offered to Advanced Plancement English 11 students last summer, is actually a winner. Walls is a magnificent storyteller. Her memoir chronicles her unconventional childhood—from her mom and dad’s offhanded parenting style to spontaneously moving from one desolate town to the next—while sharing subtle messages about both the importance of family and of independence. The story begins with Walls’ earliest memory—being on fire. As the cooking mishapturned-emergency-room visit is further explained, it becomes clear that the author’s family is anything but ordinary. The begin-
ning is quick to hook the reader; it almost feels like fiction. Walls’ memories are so specific and her experiences so bizarre that the pace of the book
“The story begins with Walls’ earliest memory-being on fire.” never slows down. There’s the time that she and her siblings—at the encouragement of their father—pet a cheetah at the zoo. On the very next page, she tells of how she and her
brother ate moldy chocolates from a dumpster when money was tight and the family couldn’t afford food. One thing is made clear: the anecdotes she shares resonate with the reader. As the memoir nears its end, Walls recounts a conversation with her father shortly before his death about the past and the glass castle he always promised to build for the family. It’s nearly impossible not to shed a tear as her irresponsible and often thankless father tells her that he’s proud of her. Walls graduated from Columbia University and became a journalist, fled her parents, yet despite their many faults, she reveals that they’re an integral part of her.
overall rating:
THE GLASS CASTLE is readily available in paper and hardback, in bookstrores and the public library. photo from feustle
Visit us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
the griffin
12 features
Juxtaposition, a conversation between differing individuals
december 19, 2014
post rob bushman, an earth science and biotechnology teacher, along with a second-degree blackbelt in Tang Soo Do and a first-degree blackbelt in Taekwondo, transferred here this year. He sat down with staff writer Eric Walz to talk about his move. Reading? I just finished reading the original six books in the “Dune” series. I reread the “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit.” I reread a lot of things. I reread my favorite books like 60 times. It annoys my wife so much. I just started “Game of Thrones.” Then I went back and started reading “Moby Dick” again. Watching?
photo by lucia tarantino
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I don’t watch a ton of TV. I tend to watch whatever my wife watches; I’ll sit there because usually I’m sitting on my computer. We just started watching “How to Get Away with Murder” so that’s been pretty interesting. We watch the “Blacklist”. The shows we actually watch together that are planned are the “Walking Dead” and “Madmen.”
eniors Michael McClelland and Brady Widener debated over the importance of submitting multiple college applications. McClelland said he plans to send 15 applications, whereas Widener plans to send only one. The two discussed their main struggles with the application process (“My main struggle was the word count,” Widener said), as well as major deciding factors (“The only requirements I had for my school was that it couldn’t be farther south of North Carolina,” McClelland said.) Other parts of the process were discussed as well. While Widener procrastinated on his essay until the week before (“I just had like 12 people edit it”), McClelland prioritized this portion of the application. (“I wrote while I was backpacking in New Mexico this summer.”) For the full discussion, photos and highlights on the college application process and writing college essays, see our website: http://dulaneygriffin.org.
Listening?
Staff writer Casey Proefrock transformed this conversation into the Juxtaposition blog.
I have a Twitter and Facebook. I don’t use them that much anymore. I follow Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse
Teacher awaits word on LOTR spin-off
Eating? I like a lot of different foods. I love Indian food, I love Mexican food, and Thai food, I mean anything, but I still love things like mac and cheese and pastas. We try to go out once or twice a month. There was a really good sushi place, which was crazy because it was in the middle of a mall. It was one of those places where you sat down and all the food was on a conveyer belt. We’ve been to a lot of sushi places, and it is just crazy that that is one of the best ones. We would find special trips to go out to this mall just to go there. It was funny, my wife was a very picky eater until we actually met and moved in, and for probably the first six months I was cooking separate meals because she would only eat certain things. So eventually I just started to get her to try a bunch of different things, now she likes sushi and stuff like that. I eat constantly. We went to the Renaissance Festival this fall with all of my friends and all of her friends and I just ate the whole time. They just laughed at me, because I’m not a huge person.“Every time we see you, you just eat. Constantly. How are you not bigger?” I have no idea. Changing?
photo by chloe messier
Following?
I just moved from southern Maryland, which has been different but it is the same. Just some things to adjust to. One of the nice things is we live in the Shrewsberry area, which is where we both grew up. I went to Susquehanna High School and she went to York Catholic, which is funny because we grew up in towns five minutes apart from each other, and we never met until I was in college. It’s just been different trying to learn a new school and a new set of rules. A lot of things are the same, as far as schools go, there are certain things you can expect to be the same. We’re maybe going to buy a house sometime this spring, we’re hoping, so we’re trying to get all that squared away. We’re having a baby. The due date is June 21. We’ll know whether it’s a boy or a girl Jan. 21.
club spotlight:
Computer programming club What they do
Computer Programming Club offers a place for students to learn how to code in a casual setting. Started last year by juniors Cameron Bernhardt and Jonah Langlieb, it also serves as extra help for those taking Advanced Placement Computer Science.
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kati ilieva, staff writer his summer, while everyone was sitting by the pool and enjoying the sun, English teacher Martin Lopez was in the northern Appalachian Mountains shooting a TV show. The production, called “The Rangers,” is a spinoff of the “The Lord of the Rings.” Lopez plays Soren Fell, the newest and youngest member of the Rangers. The show is now in post-production, but no release date has been set. “They picked me up because I am incredibly fast with the sword,” he said. His other project, “When Life Gives You Lemons,” a TV show in which he plays a mafia boss, is currently on hold. “I care about teaching more than I care about acting. My passion is teaching. I try to put [it] first,” he explained. With “The Rangers” and “When Life Gives You Lemons” just beginning, Lopez said he believes the shows will benefit his acting career. “In the context of my acting career, ‘The Rangers’ is a big deal. I like the role, it’s the type of project I want to do, and it’s a high quality production.”
I listen to a little bit of everything, pretty much anything but country and rap. But I mean I’ll listen to about everything in between. So my mp3 player is pretty crazy. I like Weezer; I’ve liked them since high school, so you know it’s a ‘90s child thing.
Tyson and those kinds of guys on Twitter. Oh, I follow Anthony Bourdain. I like Anthony Bourdain, so I will watch those shows. And Andrew Zimmern. My wife hates that one.
Recently
Above: A promotional poster for English teacher Martin Lopez’s new show “The Rangers.” He plays the youngest member of the Rangers, Soren Fell. photo from Lopez
Below: Lopez explains the recent development in his career during an October interview.
Students paraded past a snack table, and packed room 318 Dec. 10. Occupying every seat in the room, with some students standing in the back and the sidelines, they munched fruit snacks and brownies amid an array of Moravian stars dangling from the ceiling. To celebrate the hour of code, members of the Computer Programming Club assembled to eat, drink, watch a video and listen to professional coders talk about career opportunities.
On the horizon
The club is working on projects to aid other school clubs. They are developing an app for Key Club, one that will allow members to sign up for Key Club events directly through the app. As it stands, members must sign up at meetings or contact students overseeing events.
photos by lucia tarantino
Co-founder and junior Cameron Bernhardt checks the computer’s system processes before he presents one of his programs to the club at a meeting last month. photos by alexis mejia
One member’s view
After seeing a classmate use programming in her Advanced Placement Biology class, Cait Battle-McDonald realized it was a valuable skill to learn. She was surprised that an opportunity to learn programming for free was not taken advantage of by more people, but said this is not due to a lack of interest, but rather lack of awareness. To Battle-McDonald, the best part about programming is “having a better control of a computer,” even if all that consists of is “having the basics down.”
A leader’ s take
“We want a place where people can come to learn programming without having to take a class and are able to explore beyond the class if they’re already taking it.” – Cameron Bernhardt, junior Left to right: Junior Jonah Langlieb teaches junior Cait Battle-McDonald how to code at a club meeting last month. Visit us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
Time and place
Every Wednesday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in room 318