February 2012 by Dulaney Griffin

Our mission: to enlighten and to entertain

Dulaney High School Timonium, Maryland

Volume 52, Issue 4 SOME LABS CUT

the griffin

See even more content on our Web site: http:///my.hsj.org/md/timonium/griffin

February 16, 2012

Campaigning against crowding

see page 3 # TO KNOW

the percentage of foreign language classes that have more than 30 students WRESTLERS WIN

Senior Sylvia Chigbo volunteers to answer a question in Dirk Frey’s second-period Honors English 12 class in January. With 34 students in class, Frey has been forced to seat students in rows, at a computer table behind his desk, and at a supplementary table under the front board. photo by jen siegel

see page 7

# TO KNOW

4.2

the number of reams of paper used by the school per student per year

WHO’S THAT?

Parent appeals for staff ratio change countywide

Crowded class makes for creative seating

emily xie, staff writer hirty-four students. Thirty-two desks. This is the situation of English teacher Dirk Frey’s second period Honors English class. In the 11.5 feet by 9 feet classroom, students sit not only in rows but at a table beneath the front chalkboard and one holding a computer behind the teacher’s desk. Seniors Leroy Sharpe and Katie Russo sat at the computer table last quarter. “This table, it wobbles!” Sharpe said as he shifted the table, moving his books.

sara mahmood, co-editor arent and PTSA member Jean Suda puts it bluntly. “My primary purpose is to speak the truth to power.” Suda has spent much of this month going before the county board of education, the PTSA, school administrators, the School Improvement Team and more to make her case: that tweaking the county’s student-teacher ratio will reduce class crowding. At a Board of Education meeting in Feb. 7, Suda, along with Dulaney PTSA president Andrea Olsen

T PTSA member Jean Suda displays data she spent 20 hours gathering prior to her appearance at the January School Improvement Team meeting. staff photo

continued on page 2

Homework’s usefulness and duration questioned time spent on homework

2 -3 4-5 6-7 8-12

news opinion sports features

Survey shows concern

Examining homework

yon je kim, staff writer Griffin survey of 309 students shows that most believe the bulk of their homework is busywork. It also shows that most students find homework limits their ability to participate in extracurricular activities and more often than not doesn’t reinforce material learned in class. Assistant principal John Billingslea said that it was concerning that so many students believe their assigned homework to be busywork. “As a school, we need to examine the quality,” Billingslea said.

see page 10

INDEX

continued on page 2

continued on page 3

yon je kim, staff writer hat should homework achieve and what should it really be? It depends on who you ask. Teachers agree that homework should be meaningful. “Meaningful homework includes some repetition of the practice done in class and possibly an extension or a little twist,” physics teacher Steve Shaw said. In essence, it should be a follow-up of that day’s lesson or a preview of the next day. Assistant principal John Billingslea has a similar idea. continued on page 3

FYI: President’s Day Feb. 20 Schools closed

Yearbook prices rise to $90 Feb. 24

Interims Distributed Feb. 24

AP Exam Registration Due

http://myhsj.org/md/timonium/griffin

March 1 Guidance

Meet the Coaches Night March 13 Auditorium 7 p.m.

SGO Sports Night March 13 Gym 7 p.m.

news

february 16, 2012

the griffin

Parent appeals continued from page 1 and Loch Raven PTSA president Julie Sugar, presented statistics on the increase in class sizes countywide. “This is why data is so important,” she said as she eyed two hand-made graphs comparing the number of classes with more than 30 students this year and last. Decreasing that ratio by .75 or as much as 1.0 (from 20.9 to 20.15 or 19.9) would restore up to five teachers, Suda said. “The board has to understand the consequences of the policy decision it endorsed as a cost-saving strategy. Without this knowledge, the board and the superintendent might think that it is acceptable to take such actions in the future,” Suda said. Allies of Suda include concerned parents. She sent out an email regarding the issue, and 18 parents responded, saying that their children are having difficulty learning because of the larger classes. Some said that they have to supplement their children’s learning with tutoring. According to Suda, the problem with increasing class sizes due to reduced staff is that teacher specialization is high. Teachers have to be trained in a certain discipline, which results in a larger increase in some class sizes compared to others. “If we do not find a way to reduce class sizes, teachers will burn out and student learning will suffer,” she said.

Crowded class makes for creative seating continued from page 1 “I can’t go a day without getting mad.” Russo agrees. “My class participation definitely went down since I’ve sat there. I’m hidden behind the computer and I can barely hear him,” Russo said. “You can tell Frey is doing the best he can though with the situation.” Frey acknowledges the difficulty of making the space work. He said he arranged his room before he got his class roster and though expecting big classes, wanted to still have room for materials. “I don’t like having my room in orthodox rows or clusters. I tried to set up a space that would be best for students and me,” Frey said. When students are absent, others like senior Tina Esnaashari, move rapidly for better seats. Esnaashari normally sits at a desk against the chalkboard. “When I first got my seat, I almost thought it was a joke,” Esnaashari said. “It’s completely impossible to read the board because I’m basically parallel to it.” When all the students are present, Esnaashari grabs a book to use as a clipboard for her drill paper and stands in the back of the room. Frey is lenient about the shifting. As he walks around, he tries to engage the class, pausing to check in with individual students.

Instead of separate desks, seniors Leroy Sharpe, Keirah Curry and Katie Russo share a table. photo by malcolm peacock

“I have to be like ‘I haven’t talked to so and so all week, let me talk to her when she comes in’,” Frey said. Ideally he says, he would love a class with 25 students, but he knows the implausibility of this and instead deals with this year’s reality. “I go home, get all my home work done and then sleep on the couch sitting up with papers around me,” he said. “I don’t want to give fewer assignments but sometimes instead of requiring an essay for one thing, I’ll make it a group project and they collaborate on a research paper.”

Scene at Dulaney

Few like proposed gas tax hike

Sophomores Hunter Cawley, Armando Gayleard and Brandon Longest perform their arrangment of the dubstep song “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” during Open Mic Night in Jan. 12. The event raised $285 for the music program in a local, less affluent school. photo by mindy cheng

sam miller, staff writer he proposed 6 percent hike in the state gas tax has few fans here. “I am very disturbed and alarmed by this tax,” English teacher Dirk Frey said. “The government needs to do less and let the people do more.” While Frey’s opinion was based on principle, most others cited economic factors. “Gas is already so expensive,” junior Beebe Rose said. “Putting a tax on it really would hurt my wallet.” Librarian Chris Senft agreed. “I think it’s awful for people who are having tough times and struggling now.” If this gas tax becomes concrete, science teacher John Enders said he’ll start getting gas in Pennsylvania, where he resides. The state’s gas tax has not changed in 20 years and is the state’s largest source of transportation revenue. Governor Martin O’Malley’s proposal would phase in an increase over the next three years. According to the Washington Post, gas prices would climb about 21 cents per gallon by 2015. Tax hike supporters note construction costs have risen and the state has not kept pace with the growth of traffic or development.

Superintendent may permit cell phones in school

jenny park, deputy editor altimore County Public Schools superintendant Joe Hairston will receive feedback on a proposal to permit cell phones in school—for academic use only—during a meeting March 1. Students on the Superintendant’s Advisory Board brought up the idea at their December meeting. Since then, Hairston has solicited feedback from students, parents and teachers. The plan draws mixed reactions from students and staff. “It causes inattention in class, especially with smart phones where you can cheat and watch YouTube,” freshman Yusuf Mahmood said, but he conceded that cell phones could be useful for organizing data in science classes. Other students agreed with Mahmood and said cell phones would be too tempting and would divert from learning. But some argued that cell phones could be useful for alleviating the annoyance of asking administrators just to make a phone call. “If something changes in your schedule, you can call your parents. It’s so much easier,” freshman Andrew Wall said. Sophomore Madeline Fontinell added that

teachers would be more aware of what their students were doing if cell phones were out. Librarian Christine Senft has already allowed some of her students to use their cell phones under teacher supervision when library servers were down. She also noted that there were apps for smart phones to make students’ time in the library more productive. “The Destiny App allows the kids to see if their book is in the library from anywhere,” Senft said. Senft’s main concern is that not all students have smart phones to use. Jodi Wicks, an English teacher, stressed the added workload for Sophomore Meghan Reinhardt uses her cell phone to time the perforteachers. mance of a classmates speech as sophomore Sarah Fisher looks on. “Now we have to make sure students staff photo are using the phones productively on Raveesh but seemed to support her concern. top of class instructions,” Wicks said. “If we could use cell phones, I would look up Sophomore Aishu Raveesh was completely against allowing cell phones in school. She said answers,” Morrison said, “I mean, what other its only use would be for cheating and it would purpose would there be for cell phones?” Jenny Park is on the Superintendant’s Advisory cause a distraction for other students. Board. Sophomore Drew Morrison disagreed with Find us on Edline under clubs.

News in Brief POLICE An incident of harassment via text message is being investigated, school resource officer Jen Berg said. She declined to release further details. In other news from Berg, an individual was found possesing a deadly weapon on school grounds. The Jan. 4 incident resulted in criminal charges and school disciplinary action. Additionally, three students were charged with a crime and received school discipline for possession of narcotics in December.

FBLA WINS Many members of the Future Business Leaders of America took honors at a regional conference last month. Seniors Chris Flower, Danny Iachan, Tom Ko, Vel Lian, Oladele Ojo, Arjun Rao, LC Tao and David Tian won first place in their respective events. Seniors Cindy Liu, Shoutik Mukherjee and Lulu Sun and sophomore Teja Mulpuri won second place in theirs. In a separate event, senior Ethan Levy won third place. These students qualified for the FBLA State Leadership Conference April 19-21 in Hunt Valley.

CHINESE EXCHANGE A record number of BCPS Chinese Cultural Exchange students are visiting this year, 45 countywide and 13 here. Some families are housing multiple guests as a result. Students traveling to China later this spring are sophomores Natalie Baker, Alexandra Delanois, Sarah Fisher, Jenny Ingliss, Joseph Pezzulla, Aishyu Ravish, Kyra Twohy and Elena Konstant.

WRITERS WIN Four sophomores have won the PTSA Reflections contest at the school level. The sophomores chosen to advance on to the regional level were Jahia Knocloch (“Of the Colors”), Mary Cook (“After the Hike”), Alex Vecchioni (“Down the Street”) and Michelle Njau (“At the Cookout”). This year’s contest theme was “Diversity means…” The students wrote free verse poetry based on their own experiences for the competition and incorporated imagery and similes in their poems.

TEAM TRIUMPHS Having won debates at last month’s Model UN conference in Hershey, Penn. last month, four members are preparing for another conference next month. Juniors Amanda Olsen and Becca Katzen along with sophomores Hangdong Park and Sam Kamran were elected chairmen of their respective committees. That’s twice as many as last year’s total. Model UN members debate global issues such as overpopulation and deforestation.

the griffin

3 news

february 16, 2012

Teachers report to day-long boot camp for staff development

drew vanwagner, deputy sports editor t their staff development meeting last month, 43 teachers spent the day in the classic cafeteria engaged in activities like a Hula Hoop challenge, a silent grid, and cow activity. No cardiovascular workout, this was AP Boot Camp, led by California Advanced Placement Economics teacher and consultant Jacob Clifford. Assistant principal John Billingslea, who recruited teachers for the six-hour boot camp, said it was designed to help increase team building, communication and cooperative problem-solving in classes. Most recruits were connected to ninthgrade or Advanced Placement classes, and Ultimately, Billingslea said, future ninth graders may be targeted with this handson style of learning. In California, it worked to bolster AP scores. Here, it could help achievement in general. “I think a lot of times, kids aren’t successful because they don’t know how to ask for help,” Billingslea said, adding that summer sessions for ninth graders are a possibility. Science teacher Steve Shaw attended the boot camp and even sported a black smear of paint under one eye for a team building activity. “It reminded me of the little nuggets I’ve used before,” Shaw said. “It reminded me to look for opportunities to use cooperative learning purposefully.” Some teachers seemed downright

energized. Among them, English teacher Jodi Wicks. “I had a renewed sense of enthusiasm about making my classroom a place where kids really want to be,” Wicks said. Like several other teachers, AP psychology teacher Phil Bressler has used one of Clifford’s techniques already. “In my 15 years of teaching, I’ve never seen so much stuff implemented the next day than what happened on Monday. Teachers received Clifford’s ideas well,” Bressler said. Bressler chose to incorporate the cowactivity, a thinking activity that resembles reading a “Where’s Waldo?” book. The teacher supplies clues to students who must find a cow in a photo teeming with distractions. But some teachers questioned scheduling the event mid-year, during a week when teachers faced deadlines for second quarter report cards. Others said it would be difficult to devote days of class time to team building techniques given the tight schedule of lessons devoted to their curricula. Billingslea declined to share the cost of staging the boot camp. He said using grant money from the Maryland Safe and Supportive Schools Initiative – a program devoted to building relationships within schools – the administration arranged to fly Clifford in from California, pay his fee and In a team building exercise, economics teacher Phil Bressler describes a figure projected on a screen as English teacher Debbie Hamilton attempts to sketch the shape without viewing it. hotel room.

Familiar orange books may get the ax

Sophomore Justin Bettencourt completes his vocabulary homework for English during C lunch n the satellite cafeteria in January. photo by emily park

staff photo

“S

ali kochesfahani, staff writer tupid vocab exercises! Everyone cheats on them!” freshman James Bonner said as his friends nodded their agreement. The English department is considering alternatives to Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Workshop, the ubiquitous orange “vocab book.” There’s talk of replacing it with vocabulary common to literature English students read. “I used these books when I was in school, so it might be time for something more innovative. I was in high school 13 years ago,” said English teacher Meekah Hopkins. Five out of nine English teachers are anti-vocab books, ready for an alternative. “We should ditch it and use vocab from books we read,” Hopkins suggested. Several English teachers are pushing for text-based vocabulary. Department

chairman Elizabeth Benzinger says there’s a slim likelihood the books will be used next year. An ideal situation for the forthcoming years would be to concentrate on “any vocabulary from literature we’re reading,” said Benzinger, such as “Pride and Prejudice.” “It’s time for a change because the vocab books have been around for so long. Students get around them,” said English teacher Susan Wachter. It’s no surprise that of 123 students informally surveyed, 106 admitted to cheating on vocabulary homework before. “They’re a joke,” said senior Stephen Papadopoulos. “Almost every student I know cheats.” He admits that he hasn’t done a single exercise in the book since freshman year. Junior Andrew Boyer sees the bright side.

“The books are useful tools for the SAT. It helps when you see words you learned from doing vocabulary exercises,” he said. Perhaps English teacher Maria Hiaasen has a better idea. “It’s a big question mark what to teach students. Truth is, they need to use and hear the words,” she said. Though she is anti-vocab book, she believes if students are tested on words they read, but don’t use the words in class with frequency, it’ll still be a waste. Hiaasen said that the best program she’s used was at Cockeysville Middle School, where she focused on 35 words the entire year, weaving them into her lessons so that students were “truly immersed” in them. “If you want to keep the book for drills, that’s handy, but with the ease of cheating, it makes no sense to assign homework in them.”

Survey shows concern

Homework examined

The survey, which questioned students in all grades and levels of English, shows a slim majority of students here believe that homework reinforces concepts introduced in class. The findings resemble some national findings. The New York Times reports that a 2008 survey found 40 percent of parents reported that some or a great deal of their children’s homework was busywork, and a third of parents surveyed rated the quality of their children’s homework assignments as fair or poor. Those findings about busywork reflect reality to a degree, senior Min Lee said. “But as you increase in grades, busywork stops,” Lee said, adding that most of her homework is actually studying. Her schedule contains many Advanced Placement classes. Some other seniors with a mix of Honors and Standard classes said they received relatively little homework. D.J. Foster said it seldom helps him learn. “We usually get it all finished in class,” Foster said. “When they give us homework, I feel like it’s because they just want to give us something to do.”

“Meaningful homework means it’s engaging and reinforcing,” Billingslea said. He added that timeconsuming routine homework has very little value in assigning, especially since research indicates that homework is less effective after a long period of time. Advanced Placement History teacher Kathleen Skelton said that homework is necessary. “All classes should have homework,” Skelton said. She admits that busywork does exist, but added that in some cases, such assignments have a purpose. They provide needed repetition. Students, on the other hand, have differing views on what homework should be and achieve. Senior Cindy Liu said that the usefulness of homework really depends on the courses. “For language classes, homework is very important;

continued from page 1

Senior and cheerleader Destiny Thompson said homework and extracurricular activities just don’t mix. “I doze off and I fall asleep with a book on my face every night,” she said. “I never get anywhere.” Cheerleader D’asia Magginson agreed and said that she has little time for homework with her busy schedule. “I can get mine done in 10 minutes in the morning.” Senior Katie Russo said homework interferes with her athletic commitments. “By the time I’m done eating and showering after practice, it’s already 9:30,” Russo said. But varsity boys basketball coach Matt Lochte said the structure of sports practice helps students. “It requires a certain work ethic to be able to do it. What we see is that grades go up; never down,” Lochte said. Despite student attitudes, biology teacher Marty Stranathan said that homework helps students perceive important patterns of knowledge. “Finding patterns is like the abominable snowman; the students don’t believe it exists until they see it.”

photo by leroy sharpe

even though it’s tedious, it helps,” Liu said, “You need to think in that language for more than 45 minutes a day.” Senior Tony Choi said that chapter readings and note checks in AP Biology and AP History classes were the most effective types of homework. “But that’s my style—having a book and reading it. But I don’t think there is a universally effective method for teachers,” Choi said. Homework should be meaningful, engaging and reinforce concepts and materials taught in class. Homework preferences do differ by students’ personal tastes, but teachers say that they are assigning homework with a purpose. “As a teacher, I know that my primary responsibility is to provide opportunities for students to grow. The next step is up to the student,” English teacher Elizabeth Garrott said.

Cutting labs for more schedule options dan golden, staff writer ust why are most six-day lab science courses disappearing? Principal Lyn Whitlock said doing so will give students options, such as more electives or one gym class. The change may also shrink class sizes. Officials were cautious in making this decision, she said. “I’m a former science teacher, so I was inclined to compromise on chemistry,” Whitlock said, noting that she once taught a five-period science course. “I really recognize the value of

Sophomores Danielle Szoke, Nick Delgado, Daniela Rice and Natalie Giordana complete a lab in Honors Chemistry class.

continued from page 1

extended lab periods.” Extra lab periods will be dropped in Gifted and Talented and Honors Biology and Physics but will remain in GT Chemistry. Six-day science will remain an option for Honors Chemistry, and Advanced Placement Environmental Science will feature a double period first semester only. Chemistry teacher Ned Lyons said chemistry labs definitely need the extra time. “In a chemistry experiment, things have to be heated, cooled, and dried.”

Find us on Edline under clubs.

Science department chairman Tim Hester said most biology or physics labs could be done in 45 minutes and that those lasting longer run the danger of becoming teacher-led demonstrations. At least one student welcomes the change. “It’s about time,” senior Oladele Ojo said. Still, he conceded labs had some merit. “The labs taught us a lot, especially when teachers were lacking.”

the griffin

4 opinion

Sleep depraved Valentine’s Day too cloying for comfort

Gay marriage just makes sense Two committees in the House of Delegates have taken up legislation to legalize gay marriage in Maryland. As the governor seeks Republican support, an underclassman shares his thoughts.

T anna jensen, chief copy editor

There once was a columnist for The Griffin, Who often scorned the world she lived in. With Valentine’s Day in the week, It was obvious, she would speak To ridicule those who give in: Valentine’s Day is just an excuse To boast that your “one” is a “two.” We haven’t a recollection Of wanting to view your affection, Should you think otherwise, you’re obtuse.

february 16, 2012

malik peacock, contributing writer en percent. That’s the amount of people born attracted to the same sex. And yet, that would be the percent that isn’t allowed to marry. Marriage is traditionally defined as the union between one man and one woman, but with an always-evolving society, America should be adapting to the changes. Same-sex marriage needs to be legalized via the Maryland General Assembly by its next session. The opposition of same-sex marriage often argues that the legalization of this practice would destroy the sanctity of marriage. Yet in the 2005 study Gay Marriage Facts & Statistics Tips, it was reported that 60 percent of heterosexual marriages ended in divorce. If this is what Americans call the sanctity of marriage, how could the permitting of same-sex couples marrying destroy that any farther? The opposing side is making excuses because they fear a changing society. The legal definition of marriage was established during a primitive time period. Since then, society has evolved and homosexuality has become widely

accepted in the United States. According to a CNN research poll in early 2011, 51 percent of Americans agreed marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law. If two consenting parties in a same-sex marriage, who would they be affecting? A lot of opposing perspectives on same-sex marriage argue that homosexuality is a sin and against the Holy Bible, yet the United States is not allowed to have an established religion. Why should a holy book constitute our society? It’s ridiculous how some Americans believe that we should govern our society via religion; picking and choosing what we wish to follow. It’s equivalent to football, an American sport, being banned because of the use of pigskin in the equipment. I’m sure you’ve once dreamt of your wedding day before: heaps of friends and family there to support you, your maid of honor or best man grinning at you. With only six states in the nation granting marriage licenses to gay couples, few homosexuals can experience this. Why should any couple that contains two consenting American citizens be denied their right to marry? It just seems to make sense. The love that the Maryland General Assembly recognizes should not be limited to that of the social norm.

SNAPSHOT SURVEYS

OP-ART: emily park

Below are the results of spot surveys conducted during January in C and A lunches, respectively.

What is your opinion on the new legislation regarding gay marriage in Maryland?

All those gifts, chocolates, novelties, Are tools to revive economies. How could you possibly doubt That when you’re out and about That you’re buying cliché commodities?

For: 63 Against: 55

Yes, some roses are red; violets, blue. But that doesn’t make Dulaney a zoo. We don’t want your balloons, Or cards with joyful cartoons, Because it makes some of us want to spew. Saint Valentine, for whom the day’s named, Is actually famous for being maimed. So remember the martyr When gifts you do barter, Whose beheading was widely ordained. And candy? Oh, don’t get us started! You give Sweethearts to look so bighearted. But in truth, they’re pretty gross, And the big boxes, grandiose. Quickly, the gift will be disregarded. We hope you’ll remember our rhyme, So that you will not waste a dime. We’re just trying to help, So you won’t cry or yelp When it seems you’ve just wasted your time.

Which subject assigned the most homework last night?

Looking for more political opinions?

Visit our Web site to read opposing pieces by Jesse Siegel and Kyle Bowers. You can find us on Edline under Clubs.

Correction:

An article on page 3 of the December Opinion section contains an attribution error. Sean Brower assisted Jesse Siegel, and Kyle Bowers wrote the opposing piece. We regret and apologize for the error.

Editorial: New budget brings mixed feelings

fter months of cramped classrooms, Baltimore County Public schools seemed to be catching a break in terms of class size. Superintendant Joe Hairston’s Jan. 10 report announced that the county budget for next year would leave room for hiring 123 new teachers. To make this possible, 45 administrative positions are being eliminated through attrition, the majority of which being central office staff. It was good to see Hairston getting his priorities straight. After all, the closer a position is to students, the more it should be valued. But look closely. The Feb. 7 Baltimore County school board vote approved a 2013 budget that will add teaching positions where enrollment is projected to grow. But it won’t put teachers back in high schools, according to a report in the Baltimore Sun. Next year’s budget clearly has room for improvement. Hairston also said that he

allotted funds for the further development of the use of technology in schools, including wireless Internet access in classrooms. Considering that most students don’t bring laptops to school, and teachers

“

It is important to keep an eye on some of the details that seem frivolous or impractical.

”

have Internet access on their desktop computers, wireless routers seem unnecessary. In addition, he said that he plans to expand online grade programs like Edline to all schools. As useful as checking your grade and downloading additional study content online may be, it would be wiser to use

that money to fund more teaching positions instead of contracting out private companies. Edline, Stars, AssessTrax – these programs all cost the county. But perhaps the biggest flaw is that Hairston plans on paying only the minimum amount of funding required for the county level and relying on state and federal money taking care of the rest. After the significant cuts in state funding last year, why is the county planning on relying on their funds for next year? According to the Baltimore Sun, Governor Martin O’Malley is already planning on leaving the responsibility of teacher pensions to the county due to the state’s $1 billion budget shortage. Although the news of next year’s budget is generally positive, it is important to keep an eye on some of the details that seem frivolous or impractical. We hold out hope that parent Jean Suda’s plan to cut the student-teacher ratio will succeed. Find us on Edline under clubs.

English: 38 Math: 48 Science: 51 History: 62 Foreign Language: 15

Griffin Staff 255 E. Padonia Rd. Timonium, Maryland (410)-887-7633 Management.............................................................................. Sara Mahmood, Amna Zehra........................................co-editors Jenny Park..............................................................deputy editor Erin Brock, Lorrie Sinibaldi.....................................news editors Aysha Khan, Emily Xie..........................arts and features editors Kathy Albornoz, Anna Jensen.................................sports editors Drew Van Wagner.........................................deputy sports editor Erin Brock, Jenna DePasquale..............................opinion editors Ben Gelman........................................................chief technician Keval Patel......................................................deputy technician Ethan Levy.......................................................business manager Emily Park.....................................................photography editor Aysha Khan, Anna Jensen................................chief copy editors Drew Van Wagner, Thea Zurek......................online coordinators Maria Hiaasen..................................................................adviser

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. The Griffin editorial board makes all final decisions regarding content. Want to advertise in The Griffin or purchase any photos seen in this issue? Use the same contact information. The Griffin’s mission is to enlighten and entertain Dulaney’s diverse community.

the griffin

opinion

february 16, 2012

Is homework worth the effort or a mindless waste of time?

isabel griffith, contributing writer chool isn’t just homework, but homework must be part of school. Homework is meant to increase understanding. If students have more practice, they feel confident in the material they learn and become better problem solvers. Homework mends gaps in understanding and provides preparation. So despite all its problems, it shouldn’t be eliminated -- only modified. Why is it that after listening to a teacher lecture about a concept for 45 minutes, you leave the class recalling nothing? The brain can’t absorb all this information without practice. Gaps in understanding occur when the brain isn’t retrieving all of the information it was exposed to. As Salman Khan of the online Khan Academy notes, students usually have a 5 percent gap. “C” students can have up to a 30 percent gap. Not understanding the basics makes more advanced concepts harder to grasp. If homework is assigned improperly and the concept is not understood, then homework only increases anxiety and further decreases understanding. This is how “A” students become “C” students. Studies show that when students feel they lack preparation on a subject, they become more physically and mentally stressed. Anxiety results when the brain continuously receives incomprehensible information. Only homework proven to advance and reinforce understanding should be used in schools. Every time something is reinforced in the brain, the memory becomes stronger. Some teachers use retrieval practice, a method focused on repetition to help students retain information. 80 percent of students taught using this method remember the material more effectively. Some think that if you easily absorb information, you’ve learned it well, but the opposite is true. When someone works hard to learn information, it signals to the brain that this information is worth keeping. The preparation needed for a student to feel satisfied and be able to understand is crucial. Homework provides this preparation, but only if it signals that it is important and beneficial. So teachers should aim to assign homework that convinces students’ brains that the lessons are important. Some argue that since homework has become just about getting the right answers, it should be eradicated in order to eliminate cheating. This problem only exists because homework isn’t given properly. If it focuses solely on providing an opportunity to practice, then students will be more inclined to complete it, and therefore understand better. A teacher’s goal should be to use homework to increase students’ performance in a subject, not to fill more points in a quarter.

yejin yoon, staff writer ou’re sitting at your desk at two in the morning, furiously “annotating” the latest English book and you’re down to your last Red Bull. Sure you’ve procrastinated, but you still wonder how underlining sentences is going to help you in class. While the amount of homework increases, students are wasting more time, cheating more and learning less. According to Time magazine, a 2004 national survey of 2,900 American children conducted by the University of Michigan shows that the amount of time spent on homework is up 51% since 1981. With the growing amounts of homework, students are being overwhelmed. The eye bags, the number of coffee mugs, and the sheer anxiety of the poor teens are the proof. They’re losing sleep mindlessly filling in blanks, underlining anything with a comma and coloring in maps. Are these things necessary? Are these things helping you in class? Well, they’re sure not helping me. What good does filling in blanks do me when I can just make flash cards? What good does annotating a book do as long as I read it? As long as I know the content of the lesson, I don’t see a problem. In a survey taken in 2008 from the New York Times, one third of parents polled rated the quality of their children’s homework assignments as either fair or poor of the choices superior, good, fair and poor. Of those parents, 40% said that they believed a large portion of homework was merely busywork. And busywork is just that: work that keeps you busy. It’s the kind of work that makes you think, “why the heck am I doing this?” It just eats up time and gives the teacher something to grade. But there is such a thing as helpful homework. Subjects involving math require practice and most other subjects require a good amount of reading. According to a 2004 survey by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), students that always or even sometimes did mathematics homework had higher scores in mathematics than those who did not. If an assignment gives adequate practice to a student, it is undoubtedly productive. Although there is such thing as good homework, a large portion of what we’re getting right now is only taking up time. The quality homework is getting less attention because we’re swamped with so much of the busywork. Quality homework is concise, reviews what we learned in class and, in some cases, stretches the range of thought a bit more to “exercise” our brains. So this is how homework should be: consistent, concise and thoughtful enough to help us. No more sleepless nights of annotating random punctuation.

OP-ART: peter foltz

Letters to the editor Dear high schoolers, For the past two days now, I have had the privilege of being greeted at my 4th period class to a pair of some very hungry freshman/sophomores/underclassmen that I dislike. I don’t know what makes them so hungry, or why they think that they’re going to find any sort of food in each other’s mouths, but they search nonetheless, without shame. And I would say, as a general rule of thumb, not to make out in the hallways so that I can go about my business without feeling like I need to throw up. I’m not trying to persuade anyone to stop groping their boyfriends and girlfriends in the hallway, because I know that as some of you read this, your short wired, self involved, and not to mention horny teenage brain is telling you to flip me off and explain how your love can’t be described with words. But let me save you the time and effort while I save myself the inevitable gag reflex from that chain of events. No, with this letter, I’m going to try to embarrass the hell out of anyone who has ever displayed an outrageous amount of affection in public. I’m going to try to make you all feel as uncomfortable as those of us who watch you. So sit tight, and try not to blog about this later when you get home. First of all, do none of you realize how silly you look while making out? Furthermore, do any of you realize that everyone can see you while you are doing so? Because I feel like your train of thought is this “ok, I’m going to stand right in the middle of the entrance to the main stairwell, because no one ever uses that, and I’m going to get my girlfriend/ boyfriend, and then I’m going to shove my tongue down his/her throat until he/she can’t breathe.” Not only that you guys, but your eyes are closed while you make out. Your eyes are closed. There is nothing funnier than seeing a fifteen year old, yet still pre pubescent, guy craning his neck forward with his eyes closed kissing a girl. I swear to god, you all look like birds trying to feed your little babies. This article isn’t just about the weirdos who make out in the hallways, it’s also about the weirdos who hug each other goodbye before each and every new class. I mean goodness, you guys, do I really even have to explain how ridiculous that is? And honestly, there is no way anyone enjoys that. Maybe the first week is fun and exciting...... ....but after that... And the lap sitters, haven’t forgotten you guys. The problem with you all is that you watch too much TV. You think, because you saw someone on TV sit on their loved one’s lap that it’s definitely an ok thing for you. But let me break it down for you. People on TV are good looking. Most of you are not.

Much love, Chloe Adler, senior

Find us on Edline under clubs.

OP-ART: katie walters

the griffin

6 sports

february 16, 2012

JV Athletes of the Month Anderson commands court

amanda bank, staff writer he JV basketball team has found a leader — sophomore and co-captain, Maribeth Anderson. Anderson plays starting pointguard and has helped lead the team to their 6-3 record. She is one of three returning sophomores to the JV team and her presence on the court has

photo by jen siegel

made a big difference. “She works hard to do what she has to do,” sophomore Sage Johnson said. Johnson is playing with Anderson for the second season in a row. Anderson brings a lot of experience to a team that is made up of mostly freshman. She started playing when she was five years old. She went on to play for several teams including rec league, Hereford travel, and the Cockeysville Middle team. All of these teams have helped her become the player she is today. Lori Ryan, the JV basketball coach, had only good things to say about her. “She keeps calm out there and keeps everyone else calm,” Ryan said. Varsity player and sophomore Erin Briggs played with Anderson last season on the JV team. Briggs said her game has definitely gotten better over the past year. “Her ball handling has definitely improved from last year from what I remember,” Briggs said,” She works harder and has more hustle.” Sophomore and other co-captain, Franny Brancati claims that Anderson’s biggest strength is her shot. This strength was evident on the court when she scored 13 points during the game against Loch Raven and 10 points against both Overlea and Pikesville. Like all athletes, Anderson said that she has room for improvement. “I need to work on left hand and fouling,” she said. Anderson’s experience and skills have been a great asset and will continue to help the team forge their way towards counties. In the words of Sarah Sprinkle, a sophomore on the varsity team and teammate from last season, “She’s a true baller.”

Bond chases county title kayla young & shirley caslin, staff writers hen it comes to fledgling runners, Bond maintains that motivation is essential. “A lot of it is mental – you have to have passion and discipline,” he said. Sophomore Nick Bond, who runs the 4x800meter, the 800 meter and the mile runs, joined cross country his freshman year. He started running photo by jen siegel because he was inspired by his brother, who was also on the team last year. Junior Varsity coach Julie Kramer attributed Bond’s commitment to the team as his greatest strength. “He is extremely dedicated to his training,” Kramer said. “And he’s always asking how he can improve.” To prepare for the meets, the team practices long runs and lifts weights. Bond said he works mostly on his abs. As he trains, Bond says he gets nervous before his events. But that nervousness translates into adrenaline. “I’m thinking about how much I need to win,” Bond said. Kramer pushes the team to set their personal goals and records. Freshman year, Bond reached his best time of five minutes and 17 seconds for a mile. This year, his best time was 18 minutes and 30 seconds during a 5K, equivalent to a little more than three miles. Bond’s coach has high expectations for him in the future. “It’s exciting to think about what kind of runner he will be when he’s a senior,” said Kramer. With the team and coaches’ support, Bond is motivated to push himself. He is inspired by many people, including his teammate, senior Malcolm Peacock. “The other runners’ determination and support propel me forward,” said Bond.

For a look at a hurdler’s triumph this season, see our Web site.

Left to right: Junior Anthony Rhodes and seniors Nick Benhoff and Jake Calder spot senior Andy Gillan as he executes a parallel squat. during a morning BFS session in January. These and other varsity lacrosse members condition all winter.

School takes national BFS title photo by kyle fiat

cara henning & laura for one thing, Fiat says, mayhew, staff writers something essential rriving at to excelling against school four opponents on the days a week at field, Fiat told BFS 6:30 a.m. all fall and Magazine. winter isn’t plausible Varsity girls’ lacrosse for most students. But coach Kristi Korrow talk to athletes who called BFS a confidence participate in Bigger, builder for the girls. Faster, Stronger and “They realize with the they’ll argue that the encouragement of their commitment pays teammates that they are off – in accolades as capable of more than well as strength and they imagine.” conditioning. Athletes said they The school has been experienced a variety named the Bigger of benefits from BFS. Faster Stronger high “The weight lifting school of the year, a gets me stronger so that title announced in I can hit girls harder the weight training on defense,” varsity company’s corporate lacrosse player senior magazine this month. Summer Wassel said The group praises the Juniors and lacrosse players Mattie Gibbons (left) and Natalie Tinkham (right) Senior runner Alex BFS program, run by spot Allison Kennelly as she does the box squat in January. Freas said she feels photo by kristi korrow physical education and happier after each varsity lacrosse coach workout. benefit similarly collected focus on consistency Kyle Fiat, for widespread use “Everyone is really nice and “You beat the guy next to of the workouts. Players of the total BFS program here you in a game because of all know that no one should encourages each other, even at school and in all county the pre-season work you put expect Fiat’s BFS session to when they are at different weight training classes. skill levels,” she said. in,” senior varsity lacrosse be cancelled. Fiat first tried BFS – a player Louie Bafford said. Senior varsity baseball “They know it is not combination wof weight He credits a system of goal something that is optional, players Tyler Marvel training and cardiovascular setting and tracking personal and the kids have really and Sheridan Doan said workouts – at his high records with helping responded well to that the weight lifting in BFS school in Salt Lake City. The everyone improve. improves their muscle expectation” said Fiat. workouts prepared him for A Fiat attributes the What do athletes get from memory and allows their football and lacrosse seasons. program’s success to the BFS? Proper body alignment, bodies to endure a season Now, his lacrosse players with less fatigue.

Workouts may boost esteem of females cara henning, staff writers irls are getting bigger, faster, stronger—and happier. School psychologist David Schlenoff ran a study that showed a positive correlation between girls’ BFS participation and high happiness and self-confidence. “I have always been in the gym with guys, and I noticed it was a totally different scene with girls,” Schlenoff said. He decided to conduct a study after finding no other research on the topic. The study included 21 girls from BFS. Before

and after completing the program, they filled out a norm-referenced questionnaire measuring several elements of selfesteem. Schlenoff, a former bodybuilder, had always assisted with the boys’ BFS program, but was paired with the girls’ session last year. He said he initially thought that many girls would drop out and that it would be too strenuous for them, but was quickly proven wrong. “They are really into it and there is a sense of enthusiasm and there is much more social interac-

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tion,” Schlenoff said, surprised though he has four daughters himself. Schlenoff noticed they were encouraging each other and breaking records. “When a group of people engages in a demanding activity together, they tend to develop cohesiveness. Kids in BFS have the opportunity to bolster the sense of ‘us’ as well as the sense of ‘me’,” Schlenoff said. “You see 30 girls in a circle doing their calf raises. The enthusiasm and camaraderie with the girls far surpasses what I saw with the guys.”

A study run by school psychologist David Schlenoff confirms a connection between girls’ participation in Bigger Faster Stronger. photo by aysha khan

7 sports

february 16, 2012

the griffin

Wrestlers pin opponents for a win

Athletes of the Month

Jantzen steps up, aims high

aaron thomas, staff writer enior Courtney Jantzen, the varsity girls’ basketball starting point guard, considers versatility part of her job. “I feel that my role is more of ball-handling and setting up the tempo, but I feel I can score as well if I have to,” she photo by jen siegel said. Jantzen has upgraded the number of assists greatly this year as she took over the role as the team’s starting point guard. Jantzen attributes her experience to her upgrade in play this year. She was on varsity but played mostly as a role player. This year her first year as a starter she has taken on more of a leadership role as one of the few returning players from last year’s team. “A lot of the other girls on the team are young and they get timid or nervous before the game, I was there last year. This year I don’t get nervous before games.” In the off-season Jantzen plays AAU basketball in a competitive girl’s league to stay in game shape. Her coach for the Maryland Grizzlies was one of the many coaches who had a big influence on her playing career. “My favorite coach was Coach Carter. He was intense. We started practice by having to do 15 laps around the gym in 5 minutes, and we had to do these stupid little ball handling drills that were actually really helpful.” Sophomore Sara Sprinkel said about Courtney “She always tries hard and makes a big difference when she’s on the court, and she’s fast! Fast as lighting.” Senior Shannon McKew described Jantzen as determined, competitive and quick. “She hates to lose, when we’re not doing well, she’ll go, ‘You need to do this and not that,” such instructions can be off putting but they are for the good of the team and appreciated in the long run. She has high hopes for the season.

Above: Junior Anthony Apicella performs a deep waist against a Kenwood High School wrestler during a tournament at Overlea High School Jan. 28. The Lions tied for seventh in the tournament. photo by kim hoffman

Left: At the same tournament, freshman Sean Hoffman looks to turn a wrestler from Millford Mill High in double arm bars. The team’s regular season record is 9-5. The tournament record is 7-7. photo by kim hoffman

Trevor’s Turn: A change will pay off trevor morgenwestrick, staff writer sk any wrestler about the sport and it’s a safe bet that they will ramble on and on about the every detail of the sport no matter how well they actually know the sport. Every April, wrestling coaches, referees and athletic directors form a committee for the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) charged with which rules to change The only rule change that affected every wrestler, team, and coach nationwide, was the overhaul of the weight classes. Not since 1988 has there been such a sweeping change to the weight classes. But after several years of analysis of nationwide statistics, it was determined that changes were needed. The changes effectively di-

lute the number of wrestlers in the three weight classes between 170 and 220 pounds. Another weight class was added around 150 pounds because on average, most teams that have only a few subs will have subs between 138 and 160 pounds. Finally, the lowest class was moved up from 103 to 106 pounds. To most, these rule changes sound inconsequential. But the reactions of wrestlers and coaches nationwide have been overwhelmingly negative and a bit hysterical, so much so it seems to border on apoplexy. And as a wrestler, I see a few problems with the changes especially up top. But I’m willing to bet that after a few years the majority of the naysayers will accept the new system as the norm. Numerous female wrestlers, nationwide, are claiming that the shift from 103 to 106 is sexist in nature. This claim comes from the assertion that girls are naturally smaller. And in moving the 103 class up three pounds, the girls would face boys

who are naturally bigger and therefore more competitive because they are cutting from greater weights. What these girls fail to realize is that with around 300,000 male high school wrestlers, the just over 5000 participating females are the vast minority. While sexism may be the cry, statistically, 1.5 percent won’t affect the data-analysis based rule changes. In fact, it would be sexist to revert back to the previous rules based on the complaints of sexism by girls who are participating in a maledominated sport. Wrestling is inherently violent. Wrestlers are taught to put up or shut up and face any opponent no matter how strong. Wrestlers pride themselves in how hard they work, and if wrestling is made easier for a select few, then those few are not true wrestlers. In the words of wrestler Dan Gable, “Once you’ve wrestled, everything in life is easy.”

Short of goal, hockey team closes season keaton myers, staff writer 3-7 conference record denied the ice hockey team a berth in the league playoffs. The team, which includes players from several area high schools, had hoped to reach a .500 winning percentage, junior and captain Cameron Snow said. “We play mostly for fun, but we’re still competitive.” Opponents ,from private schools, had an advantage, Snow said. “We only practice once

or twice a month. Teams like Calvert Hall practice just about every day.” Senior forward Brien Haigley agreed. “Because of our lack of practice, we are poorly conditioned,” Haigley said. “But our biggest problem is that we needed to play more as a team.” Still the season had its bright spots. Snow scored three goals in a game against Fallston High School Jan. 17. In addition to that hat trick, Snow scored nine goals and had five assists all Junior Cameron Snow fights for the puck in a 5-3 win against South River High School last month at the Resiterstown Sportsplex. year. photo by karen snow Find us on Edline under clubs.

Hill electrifies the crowd jenny park, deputy editor arsity basketball coach Matt Lochte puts it simply: junior Zachary Hill is “explosive.” Moving up to the varsity team at the end of freshman year, Hill is part of the “Fab Five” – a name that has caught on rapidly, referring to him and photo by leroy sharpe the four other starters of the team, who have started at least 10 consecutive games together. “At first basketball was fun to do. Now it’s a job,” said Hill. Hill, who began playing basketball when he was seven in the recreational league, is now the the varsity team’s starting forward. Teammate senior Will Darley calls Hill a naturally gifted athlete and a high flier on the court. “Zach alters shots, posts feeds, and gets the offensive rebounds,” said Darley. He is commended by Lotche on his ability to play around the basketball and to rebound for his size. “He finishes above the rim and rebounds as well as any 6-foot guard I’ve coached,” said Lochte. Hill’s inspiration on the court is Kobe Bryant. While he doesn’t aspire to play professionally as Bryant does, he does have goals to play college basketball. For now, his focus is here. “For the team this year, I want us to finish top three in the region,” said Hill. As of early February, the team has a 9-7 record. Not only is Hill the leading rebounder, but he’s a “cool kid,” according to Lochte. Hill’s Twitter account with over 400 followers proves just that. Teammate and senior Chris Conway also notes Hill’s sense of style on the court. “Before every game, he puts court grip on like a superstition,” said Conway, “On top of that, his outfits down to his Jordans are always matching.”

For updated winter sports records, visit our Web site

8 features

the griffin

february 16, 2012

Johnson held conferences on the toilet. Really.

anna jensen, chief copy editor his year, President’s Day (also known as Washington’s Birthday) falls on Feb. 20. Instead of watching automobile and Macy’s sale commercials until your eyes glaze over like Dunkin Donuts, consider a bit of presidential trivia, courtesy of Advanced Placement history teacher John Wagner, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Teddy Rosevelt.

Q: Who is your favorite president? A: Now that depends. I’m a huge Lincoln fan. Part of that is my Gettysburg background;

you can’t get away from it. No president has ever faced that kind of a challenge before or since and handled it in such a skillful way. And that’s the thing. Lincoln, the more you learn about him, you appreciate how smart and shrewd he was politically. There is so much mythology around presidents like Lincoln and Washington. It’s hard to step away from that. Q: Any others? A: As people, I love Jefferson. And Madison, but not for what he did as president. I’m a big admirer of John Quincy Adams; I like FDR and Truman a lot. And I like Theodore Roosevelt a lot, too. I think the most underrated president in American history is William McKinley—he’s the guy who oversaw America’s stepping out onto the stage as a major world power. And that wasn’t an easy thing to manage, but he did it very well. I think the most overrated [president] is Jackson. Q: Which president is/was the friendliest? A: Lincoln, number one. But from what I understand, the nicest human being to ever be president was McKinley. He was just genuinely a wonderful human being. Q: The smartest? A: Lincoln. Jefferson! Just to have a conversation with the guy... He was so multitalented. Jimmy Carter. And James A. Garfield was brilliant. He supposedly could do what Leonardo da Vinci could do: take a pen in each hand and write two different sentences. One in Greek, one in Latin. He was very intelligent. Q: The weirdest? A: Lyndon Johnson! He used to do things like have a staff meeting while he was on the can. He would sit there, doing his business on the toilet, and he made people come in and have a meeting. He humiliated them. And the thing in “Forrest Gump” was real. He was at a press conference and he had had gallbladder surgery. They asked him how he was,

and he was like “want to see?” He pulled scars. Like, oh my God, who does that? Q: Looking at the time line, are there A: If you start with William Henry president from him up until Kennedy in a year ending in zero died in 1840, Harrison—dies in office. 1860, Lincoln—assassinated. 1880, Garfield— assassinated. 1900, McKinley, assassinated. 1920, Harding—dies in office. 1940, FDR—dies in office. 1960, Kennedy—

up his shirt, showed the any weird patterns? Harrison,every elected office.

assassinated. 1980, Reagan— almost assassinated by Hinckley. It ended with Reagan. It was a close shave. And of course, nothing happened to Bush, unless you count having shoes thrown at him. Q: What’s the funniest presidential story you can think of? A: The Gouverneur Morris story. Seriously! It was Madison’s fault—he bet Morris [one of the more outspoken delegates from Pennsylvania] at the Constitutional Convention. He said, “I dare you to go up and slap Washington on the shoulder and say, ‘how’s it going my good friend?’” Morris did, and supposedly Washington turned and glared at him. Glared at him. You know, you don’t do that! Morris just sort of slunk away. Q: Do you believe that David Rice Atchison was actually president on March 4, 1949 when Taylor delayed his inauguration? A: Technically, he was. He was president pro tempore of the Senate. It’s in the Constitution. The president was unable to perform his duty, so in a sense, he was. But not really. Atchison was a huge organizer of the border ruffians in Missouri. Not a very likeable guy. Q: Do you think presidents should seek to follow Washington’s model and transcend party politics? A: I think in an ideal world a president should transcend partisan squabbles, but I think in our system, it’s not possible. If you’re not a politician, you’re going to have a hard time getting things done. Some of our greatest presidents were great because of their political skill—Lincoln, FDR. They have to strike a balance. I think you almost have to be politically savvy. You also have to remember to look at the big picture and keep the interests of the country in mind. Q: And should Millard Fillmore “fill more” pages of our history books? A: There’s actually a Millard Fillmore society. It’s dedicated to publicizing his memory in history. It’s headquartered in New York. I remember, a couple years ago, they had a big meeting.

Find us on Edline under clubs.

the griffin

features

Resolution no. 1: try it (yet) again

alex calder, staff writer ne month after New Year’s, most have given up or are struggling with their resolutions. Psychology teachers and administers offer advice to help students stick to their goals. “Resolutions are about starting fresh, anew. Our lives are rarely measured by what we have done, but rather by what we do from that point on,” assistant principal John Billingslea said. Billingslea said resolutions teach people to live by restraint and moderation. He said that resolutions allow individuals to look back on the previous year and reflect on life. For those who have the willpower to stick to their New Year’s resolution thus far congratulations! But, a majority may need to make a plan to stick it out for the rest of the year. “You have to keep your goal in the front of your mind and you have to keep it all in your focus,” psychology teacher Phil Bressler said, “Focus and determination are the key components of sticking to a resolution.”

“

Guidance counselor Donna Fritz shared Bressler’s sentiments. “Never give up or use excuses, move ahead and get off the dime,” Fritz said, “Be patient and understanding with yourself. Just keep trying and do your best.” Kendra Swam, p s y c h o l o g y teacher, suggested getting friends and family involved in order to maintain resolutions. “Friends and family can encourage and remind you during the year,” Swam said. Advice for those struggling with keeping their resolutions be patient and realize that sometimes, there may be slip ups. “Change is a process. That said, there will be easy times and hard times in realizing and maintaining a different lifestyle behavior,” Billingslea said. He and Bressler agree that people have a better chance of sticking to their resolutions if they only make one. “If you make more than three then you’ve made so many that you are going to do none of them.” Bressler said.

february 16, 2012

Chinese club stages cook-off

Our lives are rarely measured by what we have done, but rather by what we do from that point on.

”

Sophomore Kathy Chen, freshman Steven Zhang and senior William Chen pan sear vegetables for their dish in the Chinese Club’s fried rice cook-off in early January. The trio participated on one of the two teams in the competition, which the other team won. The club, sponsored by Peggy Kopp, meets two Mondays a month, often in the foods lab, since a mission of the club is to immerse members in Chinese culture, which includes preparation of Chinese food. For more information, email chineseclub2011@hotmail.com or find their Facebook page. photo by emily park

After eight years, Facebook still appeals It’s about time: leap birthdays arrive at last

taylor roberts, staff writer ome people are celebrating their birthday for the first time in four years. It’s leap year, after all, and they were born on Feb. 29. For sophomore Amy Shapiro, a robotics team member, it’s no big deal. “Well, it’s interesting astronomically. Every year is 365 and a quarter days,” Shapiro said. “Every four years its quarters add up, and we have to have an extra day, so there’s not Christmas in July. That’s my birthday.” Shapiro, who said she learned about her leap birthday in first grade, tends to choose an alternate date in late February in non leap years. Occasionally

she celebrates in early March, but that’s not optimal, she said. Like everybody else, the robotics enthusiast celebrates with cake and the occasional skating party. Shapiro said she likes to play jokes on her birthday. “On Feb. 28, I tell everyone my birthday is tomorrow,” she said. “Then on March 1, I complain that everyone forgot my birthday because it was yesterday.” Fellow leap birthday celebrant and sophomore Jacob Asher tends to view a leap birthday like any other. “When it comes around, it comes around,” he said. Students who attended Cockeysville middle school may recall a sixth-grade science teacher there who enjoyed celebrating his leap birthday. Glenn Segal revels in his quadrennial birthday. “I joke with my students all of the time that they have had more birthdays than I have.”

Sophomore Amy Shapiro is only 4 years old. photo by amna zehra

“L

anjali cornish, staff writer ike” this, Dulaney. Facebook, the popular social networking site, celebrated its eighth anniversary earlier this month. The website, created in 2004 and intended for college students, boasts over 500 million users ranging from school children to grandparents today. It is worth a considerable amount, too: an initial public offering in the works seeks to increase its value to upwards of $100 billion. The widespread appeal perhaps stems from the variety of available activities; from games to status updates to memorial pages, there’s something for old and young alike. “When I first joined, I played a lot of games. Now I use it to communicate with friends,” senior Natalie Tsottles said. Various clubs find it convenient to use the site, too. Key Club officers, for example, can post reminders about what events are going on and where. Many students were cajoled by friends to join so they could communicate with them. “I had just moved from Texas,” freshman Xaria Crawford said. “I wanted to talk to my friends.” In its eight years of service, Facebook has undergone many changes. Some have annoyed students. “I like the timeline, but the other [changes] have been pointless,” junior Ryan Simkins said. Crawford also had negative things to say about the modifications. She believes the chat feature is more confusing, and she spends less time on the site due to the alterations. Despite the frustration from its many transformations, Facebook remains popular. In Find us on Edline under clubs.

fact, it is so established that it has introduced “to Facebook” and “to friend” into our vocabulary. It may be difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes Facebook so successful, but there is no denying that it’s become nearly universal. “I would say most of the people I interact with on a daily basis have a Facebook account,” said Tsottles. Sophomore Kyra Twohy has actually stopped using her Facebook account regularly, which saves a tremendous amount of time. “I get all my work done, I have some down time, I have my dinner, and I’m in bed by 8:30, and the next day I’m not tired at all.”

Facebook Chronology •

•

Feb. 4, 2004- Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg officially launches website at Harvard University Sept. 26, 2006- Facebook is opened to everyone aged 13 and over, and with a valid email address Oct. 1, 2010- “The Social Network,” a film about the beginnings of Facebook directed by David Fincher, is released Dec. 22, 2011- Facebook launches its new profile user interface, Facebook Timeline Feb. 3, 2012- The Wall Street Journal reports that Facebook is looking to raise as much as $10 billion when it starts selling shares.

features

february 16, 2012

the griďŹ&#x192;n

An artist among us: King keeps time and more anna jensen, chief copy editor get a burst of energy when I get these opportunities. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I thrive on.â&#x20AC;? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how junior Christine King described performing at Savinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the Musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oct. 6 Open Mic Night, playing guitar and singing to Plain White Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rhythm of Loveâ&#x20AC;? and Macy Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Tryâ&#x20AC;? for an audience of about 100 people. King hails from a musical family. Her mother, a former music teacher, heavily influenced Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of music, playing the piano and singing around her daughter. Slowly but surely, an intrigued King learned to play for herself. When fifth grade rolled around, students were told to choose their instruments. She hovered to the drum set. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My uncle played them,â&#x20AC;? King said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my big thing.â&#x20AC;? She fell in love with percussion. She joined concert band in middle school, started seeing a tutor when she was 11, bought herself a drum set and joined the Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roar drum line in tenth grade. In addition to marching band, King also played in jazz band, Dulaney Rhapsody and wind ensemble. Vocally, King was a member of both elementary and middle school audition-

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I

Dressed up in the uniform, junior percussionist Christine King gathers with the rest of the Lions Roar marching band in London during their winter 2010-2011 trip. King is working with the cast of Urinetown as an orchestra pit percussionist. photo from king

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Fans of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Doctor Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; weigh in on their favorite Doctor malcolm peacock, staďŹ&#x20AC; writer standing one. All of the actors have their tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about a guy who moves through quirks, but he developed his best of all,â&#x20AC;? time in a police box. And somehow said Siegel. manages to solve everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problems. Sophomore Morgan Berman describes And make the occasional clever quip. the doctor as clever and non-violent. His Armed with a cleverness comes sonic screwdriver from his ability to and control over hold knowledge â&#x20AC;&#x153;wibbly-wobbly from all walks of life timey-wimeyâ&#x20AC;Ś and diďŹ&#x20AC;erent time stuďŹ&#x20AC;,â&#x20AC;? Doctor Who periods. is an alien who Gienow agreed. traverses the timeâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Normally he space continuum. He helps resolve has an indefinite life problems. He once span, so every time went to a space he comes to a near station on a planet death experienceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; that was orbiting poof! A new actor a black hole. He takes the title role, helped the people and the next episode there. He likes to begins. think of himself as The showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a peacemaker,â&#x20AC;? he popularity has been said. spreading so much But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not all that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hunky-dory. Doctor (above) Sophomore Ben Gienow brand new. Yet, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s displays his Dr. Who shirt, which he Who has enemiesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; anything but recent. ordered oďŹ&#x20AC; of the Internet. Daleks and cyber men. The pilot episode aired (below)Actors Matt Smith and Karen Senior Biz SchaeďŹ&#x201E;er Gillan appear in a promotion for this on November 23, 1963. yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of the series. describes the Daleks And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not hard to photo above by anna jensen as little machines with photo below from amazon.co.uk spot a fan. people inside. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Doctor Who â&#x20AC;&#x153;The cyber men devotee in sophomore are machine men. Ben Gienow. He Basically, they just kill regularly dons a you,â&#x20AC;? said SchaeďŹ&#x201E;er. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tardisâ&#x20AC;? t-shirt. Currently, the Doctor â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Tardisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stands is actor Matt Smith, for time and relative who has graced the dimension in space. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role since 2010. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a time machine, a blue most often recognized police box,â&#x20AC;? Gienow as the one in the fez explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The doctor and bow tie. steps in and controls it. Junior Lisa Ann It can travel anywhere, Tang acknowledged but he normally prefers that picking a favorite to travel on Earth. Doctor is a tough call. Sometimes, he goes to â&#x20AC;&#x153;David Tennant was the future.â&#x20AC;? my first doctor, so I Senior Jesse Siegel has have to stick by him. been watching the show for his entire life. But even though Smith is the youngest, â&#x20AC;&#x153;My favorite doctor is one of the actors you can see all of the Doctors in his eyes,â&#x20AC;? from the original series, Tom Baker. He she said. was the fourth doctor. He was the longest-

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only musical groups, even performing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love in Every Languageâ&#x20AC;? at the 2004 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. for a group known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Special Singers.â&#x20AC;? Recently, she has been working as the orchestra pit percussionist for the spring production of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Urinetown.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s challengingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;crowded with instruments. There are a million things going on at once. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m getting used to it. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much fun!â&#x20AC;? King said of working at rehearsals. King takes AP courses, plays soccer and runs track as well, so where does she find the time to do all of this? â&#x20AC;&#x153;This year, I was determined to make time for it. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something you want to do, you have to find time. All that matters is having fun,â&#x20AC;? King said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Multi-talentedâ&#x20AC;? is how music teacher Caitlin Cavanaugh describes King. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pleasure to hear perform from percussion, to voice, to guitar, to piano. She has a beautiful vocal quality.â&#x20AC;? When asked what she would like to do next, King immediately exclaimed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Grease!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? She proudly identifies herself as a rabid fan of the 1970s musical. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to do it at Dulaney! We need to!â&#x20AC;?

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11 features

the griffin

february 16, 2012

Beyond the Lions’ Den: Alum hits Hollywood

Above: Jamie Wozny poses for her senior portrait. Left: Wozny poses in a photo from her modeling portfolio. photos from Wozny.

jenna depasquale, opinion editor he’s not a serial killer; she just plays one in movies. Jamie Wozny, Class of 2001 alumnus and library specialist Christine Senft’s daughter, has become an active member in the Los Angeles independent film scene. Although she earned a degree from Towson University in communications, she felt a career in journalism and broadcasting wasn’t for her. That’s when she decided at age 21 to pick up her life and move it to California in order to pursue a more creative outlet – acting. “I’m still starting out, and I’ve been here for six years,” said Wozny. “I take whatever roles I can get my hands on.” Wozny has been thrust into various jobs to make ends meet, from promotional modeling to dogwalking. But despite the hardships in the industry, Wozny has met some success. Her latest project is a role as a knife-wielding member of a serial killer family in a series of vignettes entitled “Barrio Tales.” She has also landed spots in national commercials, Internet shorts, indie films and TV shows, like Spike’s “1000 Ways to Die” and Discovery Health’s “I Didn’t Know I was Pregnant” “My role [in “I Didn’t Know I was Pregnant”] was interesting because the number one role in

acting is to not judge your character. You must try and find something relatable in them,” Wozny said. “After the birth scene I thought I was going to pass out from screaming and breathing so hard. It’s so crazy, but the stories are true.” The actress also met success in the halls of high school as the first member of the color guard to become one of the drum majors of the marching band. “It was the most powerful position I’ve ever held,” Wozny said. Ironically, she didn’t feel like she’d fit in with the Dulaney Thespians, so she opted for summer drama workshops as a teenager instead. In addition, she would take roles as extras in films being shot in Baltimore in order to get real-life acting experience. By and large, Senft was content upon hearing her daughter’s West Coast plans and was happy she was going while she was still young. “I was proud of her for following a passion,” Senft said. Senft also considers acting a respectable profession and a healthy form of escape for many people. “I see how truly happy she is when she’s filming. I can hear it in her voice.”

Spectrum members promote an end to intolerance at school

thea zurek, online coordinator utside Room 238, three posters hang. They’re letter-sized and display a plainspoken message: “No Bullying.” In Dulaney’s chaotic hallways, they’re easy to miss. But these posters aren’t the typical fliers advertising pancake breakfasts or outdoor track. They’re part of Spectrum’s new “Safe Zone” campaign and Spectrum co-sponsor Jason Slanga says they have the power to make Dulaney safer for all. Spectrum devised the “Safe Zone” campaign at a recent meeting when students expressed their discomfort at hearing homophobic language during class and frustration that teachers didn’t address it. At a meeting in January, two anonymous Spectrum members stressed that teachers need to actively promote a safe learning

environment and that ignoring homophobia harms gay and transgender students. The initiative snowballed to include antibullying, pro-safety posters located near pro-Spectrum teachers’ classrooms. One meeting and some posters might seem ineffective, but Spectrum co-sponsor David Schein says sweeping changes aren’t the goal. “The point is to make those students recognize the fact that we are as tolerant or intolerant as we are,” Schein said. “It’s also about creating a safe learning environment for all students.” Slanga agrees and adds that while one faculty meeting doesn’t seem like it would produce particularly impressive results, it could create a ripple effect that will spread to students. “I think students do look to adults for

guidance, not only in the example that they provide, but in how they expect and allow students to conduct themselves,” Slanga said. Both he and Schein say there are many ways for students to make a difference. Schein suggests students speak up any time they encounter intolerance. “Words or actions against any real or perceived trait are bullying and should not be accepted by or from anyone,” Schein said. Slanga adds that students should find trustworthy adults who can support them if they run into intolerance. But Schein cautions that although adults can be supportive, making Dulaney more tolerant is ultimately up to the students. “We set examples,” Schein said. “But students save the world.”

Jason Slanga said that students look up to adults for guidance and should speak out for what they believe. photo by sara mahmood

Anonymous teenager describes the difficulties of coming out

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amna zehra, co-editor choolwork.” The hardest part of this anonymous underclassman’s day is the same as any other high school student’s. She goes through the same trials and tribulations as classmates go through, but recently, things have changed. The hardest part since coming out has been mending her relationship with her parents. “It’s this awkward silence because I don’t know what to say or what to do.” After a near-death experience last year, she decided it was time to come out. “I realized that I wouldn’t be okay with myself if I died and never really figured out who I really was,” she said. She originally came out to her father, stepmother and mentor. In the beginning of the year, she had only talked to her mother and stepfather, with whom she lives, about joining Spectrum. “They were not so enthused about it,” she said. Despite the lack of support, she still attended Spectrum meetings and has been very involved with the club. She admitted that she only recently came out to her mother and stepfather who have been ordained as pastor and profligate in a fundamentalist Christian church. “My mom was like she already knew and she said it’s not me so she thinks it’s a spirit and it’s a sin but she says she loves me all the same and she’ll pray for me,” she said Find us on Edline under clubs.

about her mother’s reaction. She said that her relationship with her mother has not always been “normal” and she wanted to explain how difficult it has been for her. She also recalls coming clean to her mother about the relationship advice she used to seek. “I told her when I was talking about Jack I was really talking about Jill.” Her mother and stepfather still don’t know about her involvement in Spectrum. She said that many people in the club, which has only two male members, use Key Club as an excuse to attend the meetings. As an advocate for the club, she also shared her topics on many issues such as bullying and gay marriage. She said that the first time she had ever been bullied was when she had moved to a new elementary school in fourth grade and a girl had called her a lesbian because the girl’s best friend started hanging out with her. She had been completely appalled because she didn’t even know what a lesbian was. She has recently been confronted by fellow classmates, both males who seem to be more audacious in their bullying. “Girls don’t say anything. They look at me weird in the hallway and stuff.” She has taken an active part in Spectrum’s campaign against bullying and slurs. She said, “The words that you say could be the last words someone hears or the last words that matter.”

12 features

the griffin

february 16, 2012

Moravian stars displayed in room 210. photos by jen siegel

Math students bedazzle second floor with Moravian stars

erin brock & rayna robinson, opinion editor & staff writer ake a step in room 210 and you’ll see a plethora of colorful pointed objects hanging from the ceilings, topping bookshelves, lining the wallseach adorned with the designs of freshman Gifted and Talented Geometry students. Moravian stars originated in Germany and are often used as Christmas decorations. Made with paper and compasses, these stars are meant to help geometry students perfect their construction skills. “It’s hands on, gives them an opportunity to be creative, and it’s always a good application of skills,” said geometry teacher Lynley Smith. Freshman Yusuf Mahmood agrees. “The purpose of this project is to show the importance of making accurate geometric measurements because if

the measurements are not accurate, then it would change everything…not only the structural integrity of the star, but also the aesthetics,” Mahmood said. How did students construct this project? “We had to incorporate what we learned in class to construct a 26-point star made of manila paper. We were supposed to also add our own little twist to it like a math and art project,” said freshman Aishu Jayapal. Freshman Swati Guin admits that it was challenging initially. “At first I had no idea what I was doing,” Guin said. “But in the end it got better than I thought.” Mahmood emphasized that the challenge came from the tediousness of the project. “It took several days and about 8 hours to make.” Mahmood said.

Warm weather alters conditions on slopes

“I

ethan levy, business manager t just ruins everything! In some parts it’s icy and in others it’s slushy. I have to slow down and be a lot more careful, which takes all the fun out of it,” senior Hunter Mazza said. The warmth and lack of snow has posed problems for snow club members. The average high temperature for January in Timonium has been around 44, but on Jan. 27, when snow club went on a trip to Roundtop in Pennsylvania, highs reached 64 and lows only dropped to 45. The low for the day was greater than the average high for the month! During four out of the club’s five trips, members dealt with loud machines blowing artificial snow. “It really messes up your vision. I bought goggles to help but it’s still pretty bad out there,” senior Saif Sheikh said. Sophomore Mazen Knio said lifts have been closed, blocking off half of the mountain. Mountain resorts have tried to

The students were assigned this project the week before winter break and worked on it in class every day but never felt bored. “It was a lot fun compared to a lot of other projects that we’re usually assigned,” freshman Kayla Wheeler said. Most students claimed to enjoy the project, but many admit that it was very time consuming. “It wasn’t hard to do; it was just tedious. It took a long time to do and you had to do the same thing over again.” Jayapal said. Jayapal and Wheeler agreed that their favorite part of the assignment was the decoration. “I colored it purple, put glitter on it and also added stars shooting out the end of each point,” Jayapal said. “It looks like a piñata.”

Wonderkid wows with Web site

compensate by pumping snow daily, but still, they haven’t been able to cover all ground. “You can see the dirt on the slopes. My ski sparked because I must have hit a rock,” sophomore Kyra Twohy said. Twohy said that the resort would have been nearly empty if it weren’t for snow club’s three filled buses. But sophomore Mac McShane sees some benefits. He describes the snow as nice and wet, and much less dangerous than ice. “People really don’t think about skiing when it’s shorts weather,” McShane said. “It doesn’t take as long to get up the mountain…there’s never a line.” McShane’s love for going out on the slopes runs through the whole family. His mother started the Lutherville Timonium Recreation Council Snow Club and his grandparents, who are 80 and 85, respectively, still ski every weekend.

After traveling to Vermont over President’s day weekend to ride on better northern slopes, juniors Tyler Gray (Left), Patrick Burke (Middle, from Calvert Hall), and Nick Kirby (Right) ride up a ski lift at Sugarbush Mountain. photo from gray

jenny park & alexis graves, deputy editor & “Whenever I can’t look on the local news staff writer station, I always look on his Web site for the ook out Tom Tasselmyer. There’s a weather right before I get dressed,” freshnew weatherman in town. Freshman man Matthew Seidenman said. Matthew Giordano has been gaining The high school weatherman’s Web site a reputation as the doesn’t branch out to school’s weatherjust students. Even man because of biology teacher, Kathhis weather Web erine Maddox, has site. His source for been browsing Matt’s weather updates weather Web site. She comes from a comadmires his determiputer model with nation and effort. two long ranges “I think it would be – European and cool to have a meteoGlobal Forecast rologist like Matt on System. Giordano Live on Five,” Madsaid his forecasts dox said. “It would are somewhere in be a great experience between. if he wants to pursue “I use the modmeteorology as a maels for temperajor in college.” Matthew Giordano updates his weather page (above). ture, cloud cover, Freshman Miguel Radar that Giordano uses for his forecasts (below). precipitation, you photo by alexis graves, radar from Giordano’s Mendoza also praises name it,” said Gior- Web site (mattsforecast.org) Giordano’s Web site, dano. not only for its attracRecently, he made tiveness, but also for a new app for the its precision. iPod Touch, along“Matt’s Web site side new weather is awesome, intericons. When he upnational, and very dates the rest of his precise,” he said. site, Giordano will “Every time I look add new pictures, at his weather prea new layout, and dictions, they are eight-day forecasts always correct.” instead of five-day Although the forecasts. weather has been “My Web site unusually warm will be better this recently, Giordano year because I will be able to upload more says that winter is not yet over. What is his actual pictures due to the new technology I prediction for the upcoming months? received for Christmas,” Giordano said. “I am predicting more snow in early Giordano has many close friends who vis- March. This February has some warm it his Web site daily and vote on how much shots, but there have been instances where they enjoy it on his weather poll. warm weather in the 50s led to snow.”

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