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the griffin
A Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medal Winner
Dulaney High School Timonium, Maryland
Volume 54, Issue 5
March 19, 2014
Revamp to come?
LIMITING AGE
Sports Complex. This illustration from athletic director Richard Reed depicts the proposed renovation of the stadium, part of a three-phase plan to improve sports facilities here. Included in the $15-million price tag are turf fields, which could be installed by the fall. For the full story, see page 6.
see page 3
Survey shows mixed picture $205 #
TO KNOW
million the amount of the approved BCPS technology contract SIZING UP
see page 5
# TO KNOW
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kira stiers, staff writer & audrey fanshaw, projects manager n some aspects of their sexual habits, students here are more conservative than the national average. In others, they appear much more cavalier. A pen-and-paper survey of 294 students in all grades finds 31 percent of females and 28 percent of males here have had sex by 18. Nationally, according to last year’s figures from the Guttmacher Institute – an organization that promotes sexual health through research and education – 61 percent of teens have had sex by that age. The multiple-choice survey, given second quarter, found that 65 percent of students had not had sex. Of students who have, the most common age for their initial experience is 15 (29 percent of respondents). That’s more liberal than the national average. Guttmacher reports that nationally, most teens have sex for the first time at about 17.
Junior Sam Coulson said she wasn’t particularly surprised or alarmed by the figure. “Sex should mean something,” she said. “You shouldn’t just have sex to just to have sex, but there isn’t necessarily a right age to do it.” Still, 13 percent of stu-
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dents here report having felt being pressured to sexual activity. Nationwide, students have been waiting longer to have their first sexual encounter; students here appear to be ahead of the curve. Guttmacher figures for 2006-2008 show 11 percent of unmarried 15- to 19-yearold girls had sex before age 15. For girls surveyed here it’s 5 percent.
the number of students being inducted into the National Honor Society LEADING ON
Changes to sweep SAT soon
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jessica hung, deputy editor ptional essay, limited calculators on math, increased analysis for critical reading. The College Board’s changes
to the nationwide aptitude test— slated for 2016 – surprised some, but not English department chairman Jason Bowman. The College Board may have received a jolt when more students took the ACT over the SAT across the nation last year, he said. Of the graduating class last year, 61 students took the ACT and 408 took the SAT. “That was their Sputnik moment,” Bowman said. “That’s when they realized they needed to make a change.” Bowman added that the College Board is changing the SAT from an aptitude test to an achievement
see page 11
INDEX 2-3 4-5 6-7 8-12
news opinion sports features
The national figure for boys is 14 percent;
they have participated in unprotected sex at least once. On the other hand, fewer than 2 percent report that they have contracted a sexually transmitted disease or infection. As for cont r a c e p t i ve s , habits regarding photos by jen siegel protection resemble the national picture. Nationwide, teens use condoms more than any other birth control method. Here 32 percent of girls report that condoms are the preferred birth control method while 27 percent favor the birth control pill. A majority of students said both partners take responsibility for birth control. Nearly 60 percent of students said contraceptives are readily available f o r to teens, but some said they should boys here be available in school. it’s 14 per“If there are kids that are doing it, cent. they should have protection availSome students here able to them easily,” junior Abbey are less than prudent Cool said. when it comes to unprotected sex. Some 18 percent of teens here say see sex survey, on page 2 test. “The test will match more closely to actual school curriculum which is what the ACT does,” Bowman said. “The goal, I believe, is to make the SAT scores less determined by social class.” Other changes include changing the scoring back to what it had been nine years ago: 1600 points. In addition, points will no longer be taken off for wrong answers and essays will now test students’ ability to analyze a passage. According to ABC News, the critical reading section will
see SAT, page 3
lettering and photo by becca king
FYI: Into The Woods
March 20-22 7:30 p.m. Auditorium
NHS Induction March 25 7:30 p.m. Auditorium
NHS Blood Drive March 30 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cafeteria
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
Winter Athletic Awards Night April 1 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Auditorium
Junior Prom April 5 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Cafeteria
Spring Vacation Begins April 11 End of the school day
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news
Health teacher explains rationale on sex ed
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yan Wolfshiemer, a veteran health and physical education teacher, sees positives and negatives in the way sex ed is taught in the Baltimore County Public Schools. He answered questions from staff writer Honor Bowerman.
Some say the health class sex ed unit is too little too late. What are your thoughts? “Agree… definitely agree. I feel like health should be taken as a freshman or sophomore. It seems that the age for being sexually active is around 16.” What are the goals of the health sex-ed program? “Provide students with all the necessary info to make smart or better, however you want to say it, choices. Educated choices in regard to their sexual activity.”
photo from yearbook
What do you want students to walk away with? “A lot. Mostly what I want is for them to walk away with the
Sex survey results show 38 mixed picture percentage of students who have participated in oral sex
sex survey, continued from page 1
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female
male
The survey also found that oral sex is fairly common among students here. Around 38 percent of males have had oral sex compared to only 22 percent of females. “It’s a lot better than actually having sex and losing your virginity,” a sophomore said. A junior agreed, saying “sometimes at a party it just happens, but I don’t see any risk.” Regarding attitudes, 60 percent of males and 50
knowing and understanding of the decisions they can or will make in regards to their sexual activity. I want them to know the goods, the bads, and the uglies.” Is it hard to talk about or teach such difficult topics? “For me I don’t find it too hard. I’m an open book. I don’t mind talking about it. It’s getting students to open up and talk about it.” Do you have any funny or interesting stories from your years teaching this class? “I made a sex question box my first year for anyone who wanted to ask questions who didn’t want to ask them in class. It backfired. The questions were out of control.”
In terms of abstinence, should we teach more about it? “I don’t teach just abstinence; I teach a lot of prevention, like birth control and safe sex. I’m a realistic person. People are going to experiment with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex. Instead of being blind to it and pretending it doesn’t happen, you have to prepare them for all the effects.” Anything else? “When I was in high school, we had a day care for students with kids. The pregnancy rate was high. I have to commend the students here [for a low pregnancy rate] whether they practice safe sex or choose better things.”
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freshmen sophomores
percentage of students in each grade that have had sexual intercourse
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percent of females said 51 that teen- juniors agers are too sexually active. seniors 47 Most students said about the survey: that religion The anonymous, pen-and-paper survey of 294 students was conducted in should not Standard, Honors and Gifted and Talented or Advanced Placement English be the ulti- classes for each grade level. Students were asked 28 multiple choice questions mate factor in determinJunior Sam Coulson of- sica Symanski said many ing when to have sex. And fered parents advice. kids come to class with a students prefer the media “They need to be realis- mindset of “Oh, we already or Internet (34 percent) and tic,” she said. know this,” to which she friends or peers (31 percent) Students are divided al- offers a standard line. to health class (25 percent) most evenly on the effec“I’m here to give you or parents (17 percent) for tiveness of sex education in information, but it’s your information about sex. school. Health teacher Jes- choice to use it,” she said.
New test nudges way in even as HSA preparation continues
“I
sydney parker, staff writer t’s coming in May,” English and special education teacher Kelly Fleishman told the period two sophomore English class she co-teaches with English teacher Kathy Roeder. The “it” in this case is the English HSA (High School Assessment). Roeder began her March 12 class with a drill comprised of two HSA styled questions. They’ll repeat such drills as the weeks count down to the HSA test on May 22. In January, grade 10 English classes took released
scene
English HSAs. English department chairman Jason Bowman said that students who failed to meet certain standards on these practice tests would receive additional help after school or during class. Even as sophomores prepare for the English HSA, other English classes will soon pilot a new style of test, the PARCC test (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers). Eventually, all grades and all levels of English will take this style of test annually. Bowman said some of Jodi
Wicks’s and Donna Lund’s English nine classes will be piloting the written portion of the PARCC over several days this month. Some of Deborah Hamilton’s AP English 11 and Meekah Hopkins’ Honors English 11 classes will be selected to do the same with the multiple choice portion of the exam over multiple class periods in May. Much of PARCC testing will take place on computers, Bowman said. That’s just one of the differences between PARCC and the HSA. “PARCC is much more
challenging. Students will need to find textual support for all answers. They will also need to write several essays that demonstrate higher order thinking,” Bowman said. Bowman said a PARCClike county final exam could be coming within a few years. PARCC testing will affect a variety of subjects beginning next year. Geometry teacher Ken Nwocha attended a PARCC conference and said a PARCC test is just different. “It forces you to use a
dulaney
lot of thinking and not just writing. Understanding really matters and that is assessed on the PARCC.”
State-released tests were used for HSA practice last semester. photo by hannah milan
march 19, 2014
NEWS LINE STAFF CHANGES
English teacher Jodi Wicks has accepted a position as a resource teacher for the county schools secondary English office. Her last day was March 14. Science teacher Kim Culbertson will become the school’s S.T.A.T. teacher next year, meaning she will help teachers integrate technology effectively. She will no longer teach science.
FUNDRAISER SET The athletic department will team with Towson High School for the Jimmy V Faculty Game March 27, raising money for cancer research. Athletic director Richard Reed is looking for student volunteers to help with administration and aims to sell 450 tickets (pre-sold only).
OPTION APPROVED Next year agendas will only be supplied to students in grades 9 and 10 as well as new students. Upperclassmen will have the opportunity to purchase them but from a limited supply. The change is due to a recent survey conducted by the administration, which found that only 57 percent of juniors use their agenda for uses besides hall passes.
Senior awarded Senior Franny Brancati will receive the Young Woman of The Year award by the Baltimore County Government Commission for Women March 27. She is being recognized for her leadership and outstanding contributions to the community.
SCHOLARS NAMED Juniors Maya Hoke and P.D. Stein have been honored by the Carson Scholarship Fund for their grades and service to the community. Hoke, who volunteers regularly at the Saturday Morning Science Program for elementary and middle school students at Towson University, has been named a 2014 Carson Scholarship recipient and will receive $1,000 for college as a result. Stein qualified for repeat recognition as she has for several of the past few years.
ROBOTICS WINS Robotics Team 1727C— juniors Mandy Bilger and Elijah Boswell, seniors Amy Shapiro and Alex Vecchioni and sophomore John Sutley — have qualified for the world robotics championship in Anaheim, Calif. this spring. They took the Amaze Award at the countywide robotics competition March 8. Team 1727A — senior Rashid Taleb, junior Iman Kaini, sophomores Anton Pozhiarsky and Xinyu Jiang as well as freshmen Daniel Sun and Victor Yang won the Sportsmanship Award. Team 1727B — sophomore Jordan Stafford and juniors Sandor Tapolyai, Brian Levis, Matt Carbaugh and Michael Chen — won the Build Award.
musical practice. (from left to right) Senior Solon Miller cast as Jack from “Jack and the Bean Stalk,” sophomore Lisa McCullough cast as Little Red and senior Lindsay Edwards, cast as Cinderella, rehearse the spring musical, “Into the Woods,” earlier this month. The musical runs March 20-22 in the audtitorium. Tickets are $10 and will be sold outside the classic cafeteria. photo by alex reilly
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news
march 19, 2014
the griffin
Changes to sweep SAT soon SAT, continued from page 1 remove words considered not seen in everyday life and replace them with words that are used more often in classrooms and workplaces like “synthesis� and “empirical.� The math section will be adjusted to focus more on areas that are deemed most useful for the future like algebra. Counselor John Komosa said that such changes are necessary, but it may still take a few years to determine whether or not the SAT has become more beneficial. “There are several reasons [for changing the SAT]. Most have to do with the equity related to socioeconomic status and others related to emotional intelligence,� Komosa said. English teacher Meekah Hopkins said making the essay optional is fair. “It is difficult to write a great essay in 25 minutes,� Hopkins said. Currently, the 11th grade honors English curriculum includes teaching students how to approach the SAT essay. Hopkins said that teaching the four paragraph essay created confusion for students after learning the five paragraph essay structure. The changes to the SAT will align with the changes in the new common core curriculum, Komosa said. There may be slight changes, but the SAT is mainly making adaptations. “One of the points in changing the test is to reflect what teachers are already doing in the classrooms,� Komosa said. Senior Taylor Liu said she didn’t favor the essay portion because the topic often asks test takers to give an opinion on a topic they may not have prior knowledge about. Liu said that the change benefits students by letting them deviate from the structured essay that the College Board lays out.
GOT ENERGY? Sophomore Vesi Mineva (left) and junior Viktoriya Gospodinova (right) pause from their energy-drink -powered walk through the halls before school March 7. photo by alex wright
Energy drinks debated
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noelle li, staff writer s the General Assembly considers a bill that would prohibit the sale and possession of energy drinks to those under 18 and ban energy drinks from vending machines, students are less than enthusiastic. The bill is aimed to protect children from cardiac arrest caused by caffeinated energy drinks. Michelle Minton’s Baltimore Sun article said that although the ban is to protect kids, ultimately it is up to parents and teachers to instill good decision making. Sophomore Jules Albritton-King said he believes the ban to be unfair. “It’s not going to alter your mood or your physical health that much unless you go completely overboard,� he said. Albritton-King added that as long as people practice self-control, energy drinks aren’t dangerous.
However, chemistry teacher Ned Lyons has seen the negative impact energy drinks can have on students. Lyons recalled an incident two years ago, where a student began to shake during class. The student asked what the cause was, and Lyons replied by pointing to the tall can of monster on the student’s desk and said, “Yea, that.� Lyons added that the caffeine in the drink was the most likely culprit. Other students, like sophomore Veselina Mineva, regulate their energy drink intake. Mineva has reduced the amount of energy drinks she consumes. She agreed with Albritton-King that the bill is unnecessary, and added that the bill would most likely prove futile. “Minors would still figure out ways to get energy drinks even after the bill passes; it would be like weed and alcohol,� she said.
“The fact that they are making you correct someone else’s writing shows your knowledge of writing and what a mistake in writing is,� Liu said. Komosa agrees and said several people may find current SAT essays too “formulaic and lacking.� Junior P.D. Stein said she feels cheated that she had to learn how to write the essay, but believes certain changes are “amazing.� “I like the idea that important American documents are going to be included,� Stein said. Other students like juniors Will Battle-McDonald and Adolfo Carvalho disagree. Carvalho said that these changes are an “appeal to the bottom 40 percent.� “They’re just weakening America’s future,� Carvalho said. “They are another example of government reaching its goals and showing off facts and figures by lowering expectations.� “The essay shouldn’t be optional because it’s a better indicator of writing skill than the questions in the same section,� Battle-McDonald said. Although the essay is optional, selected schools may make the essay portion mandatory, senior Amicia Phillips said. “It sounds like they are making the SAT like the ACT,� Phillips said.
CHANGES TO SAT: 1.Optional Essay 2.Limited use of calculators on the math section. 3.Math section will focus on more commonly used forms of math, like algebra 4.Replacing obscure words with vocabulary used in classrooms. 5.Changing SAT scoring from 2,400 back to 1,600. 6.Length reduced to three hours
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opinion
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Russia should rethink Dear editors, The Russian law prohibiting propaganda regarding sexual orientations of a “non-traditional background” targets homosexuality. The law is fundamentally wrong and morally vapid. A report in The Guardian says that in July, Russia passed its law introducing fines for individuals who have used the media or Internet to promote nontraditional relations. Also, a published report says that a Russian poll found 88 percent of Russians surveyed supported this anti-gay law. Yet the Olympic Charter states that every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit. The law is awful. A basic principle of first-world civil rights is the freedom of speech, meaning a person of any sexual orientation should be able to publicly display his or her views without any legal trouble. Yet, athletes, or any foreign visitor for that matter, must respect the laws of the country they visit. For that reason—despite this unjust, backwards and idiotic Russian law—I’m glad the Anti-Gay law did not prevent our athletes from competing in the Winter Olympics in Russia. -Jack Schuster, junior
College process overwhelms Dear editors, College application time is pretty stressful, or so I’ve heard. I thought there was plenty to worry about already with three AP classes, dance and rehearsal for the plays every day after school, but I seem to be mistaken. When all time is spent obsessing over the future, it’s difficult to focus on anything but SATs and essays in the present. I know there’s still a year for me, but I’m already feeling the stress of next fall. How will anyone survive when balancing everything seems like such an impossible task? The to-do list is so long; get a perfect SAT score, write a beautifully eloquent essay that will lock in my spot at my dream school, get scholarships so my parents don’t break bank, maintain every extracurricular activity so that I am well rounded and get A’s in all my AP classes. And to really tip it over the edge, get eight hours of sleep a night and see friends every now and again. For me, I know some things are going to have to take a backseat. I have already decided to quit my job and cut down on activities like theater to make more time for studying and crying. I am still waiting for someone to figure out how to slow Earth’s rotation and give me more hours in a day, but in the meantime, taking a good listen to the Animal Collective song “College” certainly helps. -Ginny Bush, junior CORRECTION to february edition: An editing error may have caused confusion over the concluding thoughts in Alex Goldberg’s opinion piece on legalization of marijuana (page 5). Following a satirical news report fabricating a number of deaths from marijuana, the article’s last paragraphs should have read: Well, not exactly. Although the satirical newspaper makes light of the potential harm from marijuana use with fake figures like this, there are real numbers supporting my concern. Consider the recent New York Times article that cites independent researchers’ finding that drivers with THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) in their bloodstreams are twice as likely to be involved in an accident. Clearly there are real issues with marijuana that will only increase with its legalization.
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the griffin Dulaney High School 255 E. Padonia Rd. Timonium, Maryland (410) 887-7633 co-editors Franny Brancati, Becca King, Kyra Twohy deputy editors Jessica Hung, Andrew Oh, Thea Zurek business manager Kyra Twohy adviser Maria Hiaasen project managers Audrey Fanshaw, Gina Lee
march 19, 2014
Consider earlier sex ed T maddy brancati, staff writer hink back to your required middle school health class: a room full of hormonal, pubescent pre-teens thinly veiling their discomfort with soft giggles as a teacher awkwardly explains a slide containing a diagram of the human reproductive system. Now think of how much you actually learned from that class: maybe one or two names of sexually transmitted diseases that provided the most disgusting visuals and the phrase “abstinence is the best birth control.” The good intention is there, but trying to get 30 plus 13-year-olds to partake in a serious discussion about sex is impractical. Well, what about the half-semester health course required of you usually in your senior year? Granted, an additional four years of life experience would add a certain level of maturity, but in many cases, it’s too little too late. Assuming that the majority of high school students will abstain from sex through their senior year is a laughable concept. Sex education is purposed to teach teenagers about how to practice safe sex, so why is the class provided after the fact? “There are students who are sexually active that don’t know about STDs or the risks of having sex,” senior Isabel
Lopez said. Lopez completed the mandatory health course last semester. She went on to add that before taking the class, she was unaware that there are STDs that can be cured through medical treatment. “It is really important to our health, and a lot of people are misinformed,” junior Laura Hillard said about sex education. Hillard opted to take health class her sophomore year and said that 10th grade is a good time to educate teens about sex. She added that more emphasis should be put on sex education in health classes. It’s a more probable solution to encourage high school students to take a health class their freshman or sophomore year, as is the custom in Baltimore City schools. Teenagers op-art: maddy brancati are more likely to be sexually active at age 16 than at 13, and are more likely to take the class seriously. Teens need some messages early and often. They conveniently forget about pregnancy and STDs. Health is important. That’s why regardless of personal beliefs, teens need to be educated about sex thoroughly. A change in the timing of sex ed could truly make a difference. Important future decisions depend on it.
Hybrid board merits approval ben merenbloom, opinion editor hough parents speak out at board of education meetings against mandates like the block schedule, their opinions are often dismissed. Parents wouldn’t need to speak out against these changes if they weren’t mandates. With an elected board, the people will be heard. The schedule edict and other programs like Common Core are huge changes, poorly communicated to the public. The people’s voice must gain an influence. Demonstrations like the ones Feb. 11 and March 11 at the Baltimore County Board of Education meetings will only become more frequent if concerns of those directly affected are not addressed. Parents, students and PTSA members pro-
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tested the schedule change for Loch Raven and Hereford high schools at the demonstrations. But hope remains: stakeholders may soon hold board members accountable. There are 11 adults and
General Assembly session proposing that half the Baltimore County board be elected directly by county residents. The Baltimore County House and Senate delegations voted unanimously to endorse creation of a hybrid board March
“They wouldn’t need to speak out against these if they weren’t mandates. ” one student on the board. The adult members serve five-year terms and are appointed by the governor, according to bcps.org. The student member serves for one year. Maryland Senator Jim Brochin is sponsoring a bill in the current Maryland
13, though no official action has been taken yet. According to Brochin, some members think their only duty is to hire or fire the superintendent. Others say they should consult only. “If half of the school board were elected, they
would have questioned Dr. Dance,” he said. Baltimore County League of Women Voters education committee member Yara Cheikh said 86 percent of Maryland school boards have some elected members. With this bill, those involved in the school system would run for the board and hold the superintendent more accountable for his actions, Brochin said. But Dance didn’t have to tell the board about the block schedule. And therein lies the problem. The board doesn’t use its power. If half its members were elected, the group would question the superintendent. That’s why this legislation must pass. If Dance’s decisions are questioned, the interests of those affected will be addressed.
EDITORIAL:
SAT Revamp: moving in the right direction
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oquacious is to mordant as lachrymose is to…uh….Don’t know? Well now you don’t have to. The College Board has just announced its plans to do a complete revamp of the SATs. With changes such as more practical vocabulary, an optional essay and no penalties for wrong answers, the shift may be just the change this stress-inducing test needs. College Board president David Coleman said the changes aim to more closely reflect students’ school work, as well as to limit the amount of tutoring that gives some students major advantages. The new SAT won’t come without
its difficulties. The College Board will have to be careful to avoid “dumbing down” the test. But while some think the change will just make the test easier, others hope the change will help to shift the favor from those with the best test-taking skills to a better reflection of school-based knowledge. Cutting the essay as a requirement has also taken its share of criticism, as some see writing as a universal skill that all students should be assessed on. However, making the essay optional gives student the chance to decide for themselves what is best. For those who are strong writers and find the essay a good way to showcase that talent, the essay is a good option to
news editors Franny Brancati, Becca King, Meghan Reinhardt features editors Kalie Paranzino, Thea Zurek opinion editors Alex Goldberg, Ben Merenbloom sports editors Joe Pezzulla, Drew Van Wagner chief technician Andrew Oh deputy technician Sarah Feustle photography/art editors Jen Siegel, Katie Walters copy editors Tyler Beckey, Christine Condon, Liz Gillum, Sophie Golden, Yusuf Mahmood, Daniela Rice deputy sports editor Andrew Sugarman Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
have. But for those who struggle with writing within such a limited time or with such broad topics, or just don’t have any wish to go into a writing based career, the essay is a waste of time. The SATs have long been criticized for being a poor representation of high school learning. Although the changes will take some getting used to, it’s worth it to have a test that is fair to all, the kind of test the new SAT might just prove to be.
Weigh in on the issue.
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opinion
Note to merchants: get real A
sarah hampton, staff writer s she casually strolled down the catwalk wearing a $10 million dollar bra, I was wondering how many women gazed at this “angel” enviously. But Candice Swanepoel is not your average lady. Yahoo News captured a picture of her glittery breasts and orange tanned, stick body, that look great on the catwalk, but if you saw Candice walking down the street like an everyday person, she would be another one of those Jersey Shore girls who tans too much, doesn’t wear enough clothes and doesn’t eat enough carbs. Swanepoel, a Victoria Secret model and a size two, is among the minority in America, where most women average a size 14. But if that’s true, then why are clothes usually modeled on women sizes two and below? Clothes that designers expect the average person to wear. It’s illogical. Models, whose sizes are seven times smaller than the average women, are displaying clothes that size 14 women are supposed to
buy. In Britain, a large department store called Debenhams realized this discrepancy. According to NBC News, instead of using mannequins that don’t represent the majority of customers, Debenhams has opted to use larger
Equalities Minister, Jo Swinson, is an outspoken promoter of body confidence among women. She said that images in fashion magazines imply “there is only one way of being beautiful.” But consumer research shows that nine out of 10 shoppers want to see a
op-art: maddy brancati
ones, after research revealed that women are three times more likely to buy clothes when the fashion models are their size. The response to these mannequins was universally positive. The United Kingdom
wider range of body sizes in advertisements. Take this scenario: Jane Doe, a size 14, peruses outfits at Macy’s in Towson. She spies a cute black dress that she might possibly wear on her next date night. But
jeez, unlike that mannequin, Jane Doe’s thighs touch and her curves might look differently in that dress, so Jane Doe keeps walking through Macy’s and doesn’t purchase anything. But if Jane Doe flew across the Atlantic and was strolling through Debenhams, she might coincidentally see the same dress. And wow! That looks good on that mannequin. Jane Doe quickly snatches up the dress and heads to the fitting room. Now Jane Doe is going to look marvelous on her next date. Jane Doe is happy, and so is Debenhams. Using real-life proportions will boost sales for Debenhams and improve the attitudes of larger women toward fashionable clothes. Instead of being embarrassed for needing a larger size, they will delight in seeing their size displayed. The British are setting the new standard for modeling clothes in stores, while simultaneously destroying a practice that had previously never been questioned.
Lack of rights in Middle East degrades women
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sara glasser, staff writer leep-deprived and overworked, it’s sometimes hard to put every piece of heart and soul into 5th period Advanced Placement World History. It’s nearly impossible to pull any meaning out of the textbook mumbojumbo, which then completely wash away come next unit. Seclusion of women, patriarchy, veils, harems—the
“Women in America need to realize how darn lucky they are” worth of my chapter seven vocabulary words is approximately nothing. What you have to realize though is this: these aren’t just facts to memorize for an A on the next test. These words of patriarchy and discrimination are all too real for the people that live with them. As a middle-class girl from suburbia, it’s hard to imagine any woman living in inferiority outside of the context of my textbook. America, with all of its flaws, gives women ample opportunity to succeed. In others, however,
women are second-rate. Take Saudi Arabia for example, where women aren’t allowed to drive. Government officials fear that women could damage their ovaries driving, or so Sheikh Saleh Al-Loheidan says. In reality, the health of ovaries does not correlate with driving. The traditional thinkers in Saudi Arabia simply don’t want their women to leave the house unnecessarily. Heaven forbid they may gain a small bit of independence! A woman’s role in Saudi Arabia is domestic: maintain the household, raise the kids and listen to their male guardians. A man essentially owns his women—they can do almost nothing without him.They’re afraid to speak out against the patriarchal figure in their life, because they are afraid of him and bringing dishonor to the family. “A difficult irony for women in Pakistan is that, should a victim speak up about physical or sexual abuse, she is seen as having lost her and her family’s dignity,” Jamal said. “Many rapes go unreported as the victim fears she will become worthless in Pakistani society.” If a woman wishes to travel, attend school or marry in Saudi Arabia she must get permission from her male guardian first, according to internations.org, a website devoted to documenting world humanitarian issues. When I get my permit this winter, it’ll be quite the wakeup call for me. No 15-
march 19, 2014
10 percent sanity
Travelling through an exotic land: the halls
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thea zurek, deputy editor very candy bar has a wrapper, every movie has previews and every spring break has a March. In other words, every desirable object has something less than desirable preceding it. To access the creamy, chocolaty goodness of a Butterfinger, you have to tear through its flavorless packaging. To watch a cinematic masterpiece with glowing reviews, you have to sit through commercials for movies like “Lemming-Man” and “The History of Moss.” And to experience Spring Break—seven glistening days of freedom, relaxation and fun—you have to survive March: 31 days of routine, stress and boredom. The obvious solution to this issue is to infuse a little bit of Spring Break into March. While you’re anxiously waiting to travel the world, why not travel the school? From the old wing to the new wing, the gym to the library, the school offers a range of sights to see and activities to do that rival any vacation spots. For example, tourists often enjoy visiting places like Stonehenge or the Great Pyramids because it gives them a chance to imagine what these mysterious structures were once used for. Luckily, you don’t even have to leave the school building to similarly test your deductive skills. Every other week, some students kindly drop their food and beverages in
“Being stuck behind someone going the speed of an arthritic slug will teach you a ton about patience” op-art: jackie andrews
year-old girl in Saudi Arabia is getting pumped for her chance to drive; the average girl there is being trained to be a good wife, seeing as she’ll be married off within a few years. Education, driving, working— no Saudi Arabian girl has these things to look forward to: all they have is a life spent secluded with the other women, enslaved to their male guardians. Women in America need to realize how darn lucky they are to be part of a society that values them, that gives the same freedoms and opportunities that men have. There’s no standard of subservience to uphold. I’m not a servant to my boyfriend; I’m not a slave to my dad. I’m like any other teenage American girl, and for that, I’m thankful. Ovaries or not, we can drive wherever we want to go.
op-art: ben gienow
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
the hallways and where they sit, like historical artifacts to intrigue and mystify passing students. Studying, for example, the stark beauty of a single rotting apple core glistening in a pool of lukewarm chocolate milk, you can’t help but ponder some of life’s pressing questions like, “How is it that one of U.S. News and World Report’s Best High Schools, which boasted eight National Merit Scholars last year, produces students who don’t know what a trash can is?” Maybe you’re looking forward to spring break because it’ll be a chance to get your blood pumpingto go bungee jumping or just take a nice spring jog around the park. Well then, you’re also in luck! Head to the nearest hallway to a neat little phenomenon called People Screaming for No Reason. As the name would suggest, this is when you’re walking peacefully through the hallways, and all of the sudden a small group of students begin speaking extremely loudly and indistinguishably, while gesturing wildly. Why are they screaming? Who knows? Who cares? The important thing is when you heard the commotion and nearly had a heart attack flailing around trying to find its source, you got an excellent aerobic workout. The possibilities for in-school vacations are endless. Planning to go to a spa over spring break? Simply head to the main stairwell, where being knocked around mercilessly by your fellow students will exfoliate your skin and give it a lovely purple color. Looking forward to spring break primarily for its relaxation opportunities? Being stuck behind a student going approximately the speed of an arthritic sea slug will teach you a ton about patience and calmness. In fact, the only way my brilliant “treat traveling the school hallways like journeying through an exotic land” plan could possibly fail is if students started walking through the school like normal people. But what are the chances of that?
the griffin
6 sports
athletes
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Varsity
march 19, 2014
Lions ousted in regionals
Diligence drives outfielder lucia tarantino, staff writer f they’d had a lacrosse team in Singapore seven years ago, senior David Chong might never have started playing baseball. Wanting something different from soccer, Chong started playing baseball at age 10. “Learning baseball in Singapore was definitely david chong harder than it would have photo by jen siegel been here,” Chong said. Baseball really became prominent for Chong when he returned to America after fifth grade. Chong made varsity his sophomore year and since then has been a starter. He is dedicated and models what a Dulaney baseball player should be, according to varsity baseball coach Ryan Wolfsheimer. He also said that Chong takes his work ethic to another level. “The amount of hours he puts into his craft is very humbling.” His teammates can attest to his work ethic too. Senior pitcher Kurtis Ewers said that in a practice Chong made a poor throw to his cut-off at first base, and without saying a word went back and did it again, perfectly. “He just doesn’t settle for anything less than perfect, and won’t let anyone outwork him,” Ewers said. Hard work is key, and he does anything he can do to get better. This includes recognizing and strengthening his weakness, his arm. “I’m throwing almost every day,” Chong said. But baseball isn’t solely phyiscal, he said that he loves the mental aspect of the game. “You have to think of every play,” he said. “You can only control how you hit or how you play defense, but as a team you need to gel in order to have that chemistry.” Despite Chong’s work ethic and dedication, he still has his superstitions. “Every time I score I swipe the plate with my hand,” Chong said. “The next player should start fresh, so that our team can continue the rally.”
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Gentle giant finds his role franny brancati, co-editor efender Ben Calvarese may be known as that quiet guy in class to many, but he transforms on the lacrosse field. Just ask team captain and fellow sophomore Jordan Nicolette, who calls Calvarese one of the team’s best defenders. ben calvArese “He hustles to every ball and photo by jen siegel takes every opportunity that is given to him,” Nicolette said. “He may look like a gentle giant, but he is anything but.” At 6 feet, 3 inches and 220 pounds, Calvarese casts an imposing figure among other 15- and 16-year-olds. His hope is that workouts off season have enhanced his speed. He and his whole family have completed runs and drills together near their home in Jacksonville, Calvarese said. There, he and his brother appear to have something of a symbiotic relationship. “He wants to be better than me, so I work hard so he has to work harder,” Calvarese said. During this year, his second year on the JV team, Calvarese has set a goal to be the team’s best defender, which, he said, will require not just increased speed and continued pressure on opponents, but also improved communication with fellow players, in particular the goalie and other defenders. He rates himself average to slightly above average on such skills thus far but added that with only a handful of practices under his belt, there are plenty of opportunities to push himself. An ever present goal, he said, is to play smart, which includes strategic field positioning, ball awareness and, of course, communication. “You have to tell when the other team has the ball and they’re trying to go to the goal,” Calvarese said. “If they beat their man, you have to slide and you have to call out whose slide it is.” Managing his size is another of Calvarese’s concerns, he said. “I usually can see over everyone, but I also get in the way of the goalie sometimes, so I try to avoid that.”
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Staff writer Elijah Boswell contributed to this report.
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Hopes Halted. Top left: Junior guard Isaiah Lamb lines up for a free-throw in the March 7 regional finals game against Springbrook High School. Lamb led the Lions in scoring with 10 points. Top right: Lamb leads the team in a pregame round of the Nae-Nae— a popular dance that has been a yearlong tradtion— before the game. Right: Head coach Matt Lochte looks on during the second half of the same game.
fter back-to-back 20-win seasons, the boys varsity basketball team eyed a run to the state finals at the Comcast Center in College Park. Springbrook High School (23-2) ended their playoff run in a 76-46 victory over the Lions (20-5) in the regional semi-finals game March 7. At the start, the Lions missed 13 of their first 15 shots. After falling behind early, they were never able to catch the strong-shooting Blue Devils. The Blue Devils made seven of 15 three-point attempts while the Lions shot 20.8 percent from the field. Foul trouble eventually caught up to the team and in the final quarter junior guards Scott Harrellson and Isaiah Lamb fouled out. Lamb and Harrelson each finished with 10 points. Senior guard Jason Lawson scored 9 points. photos by kyra twohy
Complex to get revamp? A
kira stiers, staff writer fter months of planning, athletic director Richard Reed has launched a campaign for a $15-million complete renovation of the stadium and athletic fields, a project that could be completed in a year and a half, he said. Among the specifics for the stadium are artificial turf, stands for visiting teams’ fans and a larger track, making the site eligible for college exhibition play. School board approval is still pending, Reed said, but he added that he hopes to obtain it by June. There are roughly a dozen Baltimore County Public School personnel who must sign the paperwork for the project before it makes its way to the school board. While Reed declined to share exactly how much money has been raised already, he said he hopes to meet the $2.1 million mark by next month, setting the stage for phase one of construction. “If we get everything
passed by June and we have a dry summer, then the fields will be in by August,” Reed said. Installing turf should enhance athletes’ performance against other athletes from schools that already have turf, leading to a drastic improvement here, Reed said. “Teachers should be glad because we won’t be running in the hallways anymore,” he added. The revamp is planned in phases so that as enough money is raised, another of the three phases can begin. Phase one calls for two new turf fields by fall, one in the stadium, the other on the football practice field just east of the stadium, including the baseball diamond located there. Phase two proposes a new $6.8-million building at the stadium, one with new weight rooms, game day locker rooms, coach and athletic trainer offices, a 40yard indoor turf field for BFS, press and media rooms and a theatre room
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for viewing game footage. Targeted for completion next spring, this phase would also include new stands, a track expansion, lights for night games, moving the tennis courts to the fields near the upper parking lot, adding a college-like quad near the stadium and adding a parking lot closer to the stadium. Phase three includes equipping the rooms in the stadium complex, painting and moving items from
their former locations. Architectural plans continue to be revised based on input from coaches, Reed said, and a media firm has been hired to oversee fundraising in the community, especially among alumni. Athletes are already talking about the turf fields in particular. Sophomore and girls varsity soccer and lacrosse player Mackenzie Crotty said practicing on the turf will be crucial. “Sports like soc-
cer and field hockey are totally different games on turf,” she said. Junior and boys varsity lacrosse player Connor Benhoff agreed that practice on turf will be an asset to the school’s athletes. “The turf allows a lower risk of getting injured,” he said. “Performance will be enhanced because there won’t be patches of grass.”
proposed plan. A rough outline of the new complex being pursued by Reed. graphic from reed
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sports
Students excel at state meet
Below are some of the swimmers here who competed in the 2014 Maryland LSC Swimming Championships March 8 at the United States Naval Academy. Their results were compiled by staff writer Justin Fitzgerald. Junior Jason Ewart Swam backstroke leg on the winning 400 meter medley relay 1st in 100 meter back 3rd in 200 meter back Sophomore Hannah Gouger Led off in winning 800 meter freestyle relay Swam freestyle leg in 400 meter medley relay where her team finished third 2nd in 100 meter backstroke, 3rd in 200 meter backstroke 3rd in 200 meter individual medley
Junior Grace Hansen 5th in 200 meter fly 7th in 400 meter IM Swam the consolation final in the 200 meter IM Swam preliminaries of the 100 meter breast, 100 meter fly and 100 meter and 200 meter back
graphic from mdswim.org
Sophomore Raphael Bechtold 6th in 200 meter Breast Swam preliminaries in 100 meter fly, 200 meter individual medley, 500 meter free and 200 meter fly
Fans eagerly await Oriole’s season justin fitzgerald, staff writer ith the Baltimore Orioles opening day coming the 31st against the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox, orange fever has returned. Chemistry teacher Karl Geckle expects the team to do well but doesn’t see the road to the playoffs being an easy one, especially because they play in the American League East, which is always Junior Sean Hoffman sports his Bal- the toughest division in baseball. timore Orioles t-shirt March 5. photo by alex wright “The AL East is a meat grinder of a division,” Geckle said, but he still thinks the team should be able to compete in the division, as long as certain players step up and fill the holes in the roster. One of the holes the Orioles needed to fill was starting pitcher, and they signed former Cleveland Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez on Feb. 17. Geckle says Jimenez has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in baseball but is quite erratic, and the Orioles could get a fantastic or horrendous effort from Jimenez from game-to-game. “I expect at least 90 wins,” junior Sean Hoffman said. He expects the pitching staff to drive the team as well as a power-driven lineup which includes first baseman Chris Davis and newly acquired outfielder and designated hitter
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Unions threaten college athletics
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andrew sugarman, sports columnist orthwestern University quarterback Kain Colter has started a movement for the unionization of college athletes in order to guarantee them more rights and protect them from “the man.” Except in this case, “the man” is not a corrupt, monopolistic corporate big wig. “The man” happens to be one of the top colleges in America. An’ Colter’s gon’ fight ‘em. Now, Colter may have his heart in the right place with all the talk of guaranteed medical care and a voice for the players, but his head most cer-
Nelson Cruz. Hoffman usually attends five to 10 games each year. Freshman Casey Drechsler expects a great offense, including many homeruns from Davis, who led the American League with 53 last year. He predicts the team will make a long playoff run. Junior Chris Fozard is looking forward to the season, especially taking his girlfriend to a couple of games. He loves third baseman Manny Machado and Davis, calling Davis a player who “always comes in and does what he has to do.” Brittany Deise, a 2013 graduate who plays club softball now as a freshman at Towson University, agrees that the O’s are poised for success this year. “It’s about time that management started to make valuable investments in the team,” she said, adding that she’s pumped to watch the O’s, having just made the cut following tryouts to become a ball girl.
march 19, 2014
athletes
month Varsity
She leads with strength audrey fanshaw, staff writer he most challenging thing about softball is the mental aspect. You always have to stay focused and never get down on yourself,” senior varsity softball captain Brooke Wall said. Wall started playing softball when she was six years old, and started on a club team brooke wall photo by jen siegel when she was 12. She said she loves every aspect of the game, especially playing shortstop. Wall is the starting shortstop and provides the team with a solid defense in the middle infield position. Her strength powers the offense. “My most memorable moment was hitting a homerun at Nationals,” Wall said. Wall’s enthusiasm for the sport extends even beyond regular practices and games. During the pre-season, she ran informal practices at a softball and baseball facility called Extra Innings in Baltimore. Teammate Emma Bevard, a sophomore, commended Wall’s ability to lead the group, and her willingness to help teammates. “Brooke is able to coach her teammates in a way that we respect her but still see her as another teammate, not as a coach,” Bevard said. Wall is determined to get the varsity team deep into the playoffs this year after a shaky start last year and an unexpected elimination early in the playoffs. She said she eagerly awaits the game against Eastern Technical High School April 30. Even after about half of the starting lineup graduated last year, Wall is prepared to take on the responsibility of leading the team this spring season. Adding to her busy schedule, Wall also plays on the varsity basketball team, and athletics remain one of her strengths. She hopes to pursue softball even further and play on the club team at Towson University.
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junior Varsity Aggresiveness bolsters defense 2013 graduate Brittany Deise celebrates making the cut to become an Oriole’s ball girl at Camden Yards earlier this month. photo from deise
tainly is not. A union is definitely not the way to go. A) The athletes wouldn’t qualify for one even if they wanted one. B) It would completely shift the paradigm of college athletics which may not actually be as beneficial as these players may think. According to Joe Nocera of the New York Times, the NCAA is responsible for student unions
“Sorry Joe, but the NCAA might be right. Though they bring in large amounts of revenue for the school, students are not employees.” sounding far-fetched, as they have “done such a good job…of convincing America that because athletes are students, they can’t also be employees.” Sorry Joe, but the NCAA might be right. Though they bring in large amounts of revenue for the school, students are not employees. They don’t get a paycheck, and though they are required to practice and go to study hall, they don’t clock in from
nine to five. These athletes devote obscene amounts of time to their craft, but unions would cross the fine line between student and professional athletes. Some argue that athletes’ receiving scholarship money counts as compensation, making them de facto employees. True, some of these athletes even get such compensation at some of the nation’s finest universities. But the fact remains they’re students— not workers. Neither football players nor Rhodes Scholars are technically employees of colleges, even though they both receive “payment” from a university and provide some benefit to the school. In the case of scholars, it’s a less tangible benefit, an intellectual level of discussion and rigorous competition that they bring to class. The motive for unionization is heartfelt, and I get it. People worry about long-term effects of concussions and want to ensure that athletes get covered for expensive care should they require it down the road. But I’m hopeful that increased awareness and safety guidelines combined with technology will prevent most concussions all together. Just this month, the New York Times reported on new impact sensors in football helmets. They warn coaches when a player has received a potentially dangerous hit. No union required for players to benefit there.
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sanjana neerumalla, staff writer er teammates admire her ferocity. “She’ll kill you,” sophomore and teammate Mackenzie Crotty said. Hardisky started playing lacrosse when she was 6-years-old. Her experience emma hardisky from playing club lacrosse photo by jen siegel and practicing with friends made a resonating impression on the junior varsity lacrosse time and now, she is considered an invaluable asset to the team. “Her checks are on point,” Crotty said, adding that her modesty is apparent. “She won’t brag at all about her skills in the classroom or out.” Hardisky’s defensive skills contributed to the team’s advancement to the County Championships in May of 2013. Although her team ultimately loss, she was encouraged to work harder. Teammates describe Hardisky as a rock: unmovable and sturdy and at the same time inspiring. “She really motivates the team to work harder and have fun,” Crotty said. “I love practicing with her and I’ve definitely seen her improve.” The first time sophomore Marisa Clare saw Hardisky play, she was in awe. “She’s so awesome; she goes full-on,” Clare said. “It’s like she’s in the mode to win as soon as she gets on the field.” Quick footwork and communication prevents attackers from getting past Hardisky’s strong defense. “As a defender, you need to be aggressive, because if you’re not, you’re just a person standing in front of a train coming at you full speed,” Hardisky said. With a busy schedule filled with practices and schoolwork, Hardisky learned how to effectively manage her time. Her ability to balance school and extracurriculars has brought praise from peers and other athletes. Though her skills are impressive, Hardisky still sees areas in her game that she hopes to make progress in. “I see what my friends do and I want to push myself to be better,” Hardisky said. “There’s always room for improvement.”
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the griffin
REVIEW:
REVIEW:
Sid Yoga deserves try Young the Giant
photo by ali collie
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ali collie, staff writer ou may be intimidated by the unnatural twisting and bending traditionally associated with yoga, but the stress relief and relaxation are worth the attempt,
and Sid Yoga in Towson is a great place begin. My lacrosse trainer, who is also the trainer for the Loyola University women’s lacrosse team, recommended it to me. The entire Loyola team goes there so I thought, why not try it out? Best decision ever. Although it is located in a somewhat sketchy building in Towson where the parking is horrific, upon entering you are immediately succumbed to the intensely relaxing smell of incense, and the beautiful interior of the studio. Most classes are an hour long, and the room is heated to a toasty 95 degrees. (It’s a nice escape from the frigid winter weather we have been having lately.) You spend the class going through a “flow” which is a series of continuous poses. You leave feeling completely relaxed and healthy. The instructors and students are all welcoming and helpful.
There is a wide range of skill levels, ranging from amateurs to highly-skilled yogis, and don’t worry guys, men do yoga too. Seeing yourself advance in every session is really encouraging. I bought the beginners deal which is thirty dollars for thirty days of unlimited yoga. The drop-in classes are a little pricey at fifteen dollars but they offer community classes once a day which are only six dollars. Monthly membership deals are also available. If you’re looking for a break from your typical workout routine or you are in search for a new yoga place, Sid Yoga is definitely worth looking into. Sid Yoga Center 321 York Rd. Towson (410)-321-9642
overall rating:
see movie reviews on our website: Hannah Milan’s take on “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” Mark Luciw’s review of “The Lego Movie” and Sophie Golden’s prounouncement on “Frozen” http://dulaneygriffin.org
photo from facebook
melds familiar, new
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gina lee, projects manager fter about three years of making fans play “My Body” and “Apartment” on repeat until their next album, Young the Giant finally released “Mind Over Matter” Jan. 21. This album is filled with their familiar west coast-style, indie sound. But, they also seem to be exploring new territories to fully establish their identity as a band. The first song on the album is called “Slow Dive” and sounds exactly what it’s titled as. It’s a sparkly instrumental tune that starts off delicately soft, slowly lifts you into the fantasy land of Young the Giant and then drops off. “Anagram,” the next song on the album, is the best one because it has the usual sound of the band: the catchy guitar, simple drumbeat and effortless singing. Lead singer Sameer Gadhia is talented with a voice that has a unique tone. He has a butter-like smooth voice in the verses, dreamy high notes in the pre-chorus and an established, powerful voice in the chorus. Their first released single from this album, “It’s About Time,” titled appropriately, is a new sound from them. Deviating from their usual happy indie tunes, they explore a more edgy rocker vibe. The song has an angry tone, produced by the stronger electric guitar. Gadhia also has a darker tone in his voice. The highlights of his voice are when he reaches the higher notes in the lines, “Lights low, Go on baby go.” He’s almost whispering it to you, adding a creepy touch.
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Along with these strong songs, the album has calmer ones too. “Mind Over Matter” is a song that’s instantly relaxing. The drumbeat isn’t too harsh. The singing is mixed with an invigorating sound and soothing “oohs.” In “Firelight,” another calming song, I valued the harmonies. The mixture of Gadhia’s voice and the soft, but powerful harmonies was beautiful and begging to be praised. Young the Giant successfully satisfied the three year wait by bringing back their original style, but also incorporating a new one.
overall rating:
hipster hit. “Camera” by Young the Giant displayed on an iPhone playlist. photo by alex wright
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post English teacher, varsity girls lacrosse coach and newly named varsity girls soccer coach Kristi Korrow sat down with news editor Meghan Reinhardt and covered topics such as her love for Chipotle and plans for her wedding. Reading? “I’m actually in the middle of the Divergent series because that movie is coming out in March and it was recommended to me and I love it. It’s kind of like “The Hunger Games,” a dystopian society, so that’s a lot of fun. It keeps me on the edge of my seat. I recently read “The Old Man in the Sea” and loved it. I hadn’t ever read it and I don’t know why. It’s a fisherman who goes out by himself and it’s kind of like his battle with this beast of a fish. It’s pretty cool. It’s a good metaphor for a lot of things. I love all things horror. Steven King, love. Love, love, love. I started reading him in fifth grade. Watching? Okay, so I’m a sucker for TV. Bad TV, good TV. I do love TV. I can go on a “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” marathon for probably days. You would not see me for days. I love it. It is disturbing, but it’s fascinating. Olivia Benson is just amazing. I love the whole cast. Anything crime drama. I love the “Black List, “ I love “The Following” with Kevin Bacon, that one’s interesting. Right now, I was very excited because, well, I watched a lot of the Olympics, especially the hockey. That was really exciting. But “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Parenthood” just came back on. I was happy about that. But I love food shows, I love HGTV and house shows. I do like “The Walking Dead.” I’m a fan.
the griffin Listenting? I really have a pretty electic taste, I listen to a little bit of everything. I like pop, I like listening to things that are current. But, I also love classic stuff. I’m a sucker for anything that played while I was ice skating at Mt. Pleasant in 5th, 6th grade. Classic Whitney Housten, Mariah Carey. Yeah. Good stuff like that. I love anything with a good beat and interesting lyrics. I like Eminem because he plays with words.
march 19, 2014
versity the other night. Anyway, I do check sports scores and I try to keep up to date on the college game and what’s going on there. Eating? Guilty pleasure: Chipotle. Love Chipotle. I think the flavors are better than Qdoba and Baja Fresh. Pales in comparison. I really enjoy sushi. I actually just went last night to a place in Mt. Vernon called Manato Sushi, and loved it. Delicious. But, locally I’ll go to Sushi Hana. And there’s a little gem that I never knew about, the Nordstrom Café. I get the French Dip. The food is really good. The menu is small but the food is excellent. And I never even knew really that it exsisted in there, but I love it.
Following? I’m brand new to Twitter. And I only really started that because as a coach, they wanted us to get on there. But, you know, I’m finding it interesting, but because my persona on there is “Coach Korrow,” it’s mostly all sports related. ESPNW, Coach K, my fellow colleagues here. But nothing too exciting, I guess,
right now. It’s all sports related. We’ll see, I’m sure I’ll get a little more into it as I learn to navigate. I’m still kind of a Facebook person too. Oh, I do check the college scores. I’m a Loyola University alumn so I get on there and check and see what they’ve done. I’m angry they lost to Johns Hopkins Uni-
Changing?
photo by chloe messier
Well, I recently got engaged so we are planning a wedding and right now we are in the middle of a venue search. We’re looking all around the place, all around Maryland. Eastern Shore, Baltimore, so we’ll see. I’m also possibly moving in the next couple months and I’m also the new girls varsity soccer head coach. You know, not many changes. But, I’m excited about all those things. Especially about getting married; new adventures, something I, you know, love. What’s more adventurous than that, right? So, I’m very excited about that, and the new soccer position. You know, being a head coach of two teams here, two strong women’s programs, I’m very excited about that.
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Braniac brings it
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darian gim, staff writer ame one of the most efficient gene transfer vectors.” “Lentivirus,” junior Aishu Jayapal answered. With that, Jayapal eked out second place instead of third in the Baltimore Brain Bee, a question-answer competition about neuroscience at John Hopkins University Feb. 9. She said she discovered the competition as she was looking for an internship back in January. Aspiring to become a doctor, she decided to give it a go. That gave her only a month to prepare. She went straight to the Internet. “I basically made these really elaborate charts and memorized each one, one by one,” Jayapal said. The experience reaped more of a chance to show off her knowledge of the cerebral cortex and such. It also enabled her to make valuable contacts through ice breakers with Hopkins undergraduates, Jayapal said. And, there was a $100 cash prize. But Jayapal thinks big. She doesn’t want to keep neurology to herself. “I’m formulating a general idea to get a club started to prep kids for these competitions,” she said.
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march 19, 2014
11 features
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among us: Hubbert
march 19, 2014
guides others on, off stage
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lexi dorety, staff writer enior trumpet player Mark Hubbert is no stranger to the spotlight, but his motives for constant practices and rigorous academics extend beyond personal gain. “I want to lead by example,” Hubbert said about his leadership in the marching band. Hubbert is described as one of the most influential members in his wind-ensemble band. He offers private lessons to his fellow band mates, as well as to other trumpet players outside of school. “He has been called upon on several occasions to work with students who need attention,” band teacher Barry Chesky said. With a myriad of accomplishments under his belt, including the honor of playing first chair alongside members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, there is no doubting his skill. He is a member of the Maryland AllState Orchestra, head section leader for the Lion’s Roar Marching Band and lead trumpet player in the wind ensemble and the jazz band here. But Hubbert’s musical talents don’t stop at the trumpet; he is also a skilled piano player.
Student wins, boosts esteem
“Some of the pieces I’ve listened to Mark play on the piano are seriously some of the best I’ve heard,” senior Beka Stem said. But his good example extends beyond his music. In his free time Hubbert is an active member in his church, doing volunteer work and playing trumpet accompaniment. He also tutors groups of middle school students, acting as a friend as well as a teacher. His charitable tendencies are consistent with what Chesky had to say about him. “Mark is a very kind person who always puts the needs of others ahead of his own,” Chesky said. Hubbert plans to pursue a career in physics or engineering, already having been accepted into University of Maryland and University of Virginia. He said that music will not be his main career focus in the future, but he will continue expanding on his talent. “Music is not going away anytime soon, trust me on that,” Hubbert said. Staff writer Stephanie Rountree contributed to this report
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photo by becca king
Right: Musical Practice. (left to right) Seniors Aaron Gladstone, Mackenzie Forbes and Mark Hubbert practice the Act 2 finale for the musical “Into the Woods” in the auditorium pit March 4. photo by jood ali
MEMOIR:
Buying equals bonding for exchange students
holly sutley, staff writer ophomore Kat Spillane stands on stage with 85 other teenage girls awaiting the judges’ final decision. With her six inch sophomore kat spillane (right) smiles next heels forgotten and left to Olivia DeVinci (left), last year’s pageant behind in the dressing winner, shortly after winning the Maryland room, she steps to the division of the 2014 Princess America pagfront of the stage in a eant Feb. 22. daze as her name is photo from facebook called. She kneels down as her friend Olivia DeVinci, last year’s pageant winner, delicately places a crown onto her head. Months of preparation led to this unanticipated moment, and Spillane said she could hardly believe she’d won the Maryland division of the Princess America Pageant. The pageant, Feb. 21-22, was Spillane’s second pageant entry and her first win. In November, she had participated in the Miss Teen USA Pageant and placed in the top 15 of the 98 participants. Spillane said she was hopeful going into the pageant but didn’t expect to win. She entered the competition with pageant and modeling experience, along with the help of a few previous pageant winners, but her main reason for entering the pageant was because she enjoys the performance. “Pageants are really about finding the right balance in what you do,” Spillane said.
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Top: Senior mark hubbert marches on the football field with the Lion’s Roar Marching Band during the homecoming field show performance, James Bond 007, Nov. 2.
ellie jackson, staff writer sophomore Ellie Jackson reflects on her time with the Chinese exchange students that visited here from Feb. 11 to March 13. Students who will travel to China from May 17 to July 5.
Mall, the security alarms blared. My stomach dropped. I worried that something had fallen into my shopping bag. As I looked around, I discovered it was not my bag but my friend Christian’s bags that had set it off. s our mob of When I looked up at American and him, his mouth opened Chinese ex- wide and his glasses change students entered nearly flew off. the empty Coach Store I thought he was going in the Towson Town to have a heart attack, but the rest of the group and I just laughed at his befuddlement. After many attempts to enter the store without sounding the alarm, Christian tried sprinting through the store as if he was going through a laser maze at full speed. It wasn’t working. A clerk removed a sensor lingering from one of Christian’s prior purchases. More laughter and shopping ensued. As I look back on our time together, I find our shopping trips rank as sophomore ellie jackson sent this some of our most memselfie of her and her exchange orable times shared. student via Instagram. Most American teenphoto from jackson agers hope to buy a sin-
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gle shirt, but Cloris, another exchange student, bought a pair of UGGs, an iPad and a North Face jacket in that single outing to the mall. Letty, my own exchange student, shares this purchasing passion. On the way to Ocean City weeks ago, we stopped at the outlets near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. We spent about three hours there with the other 11 American students who will be going to China. We tried to limit our time in each store and were successful until Letty and Cloris saw the Coach Outlet, which was like nothing they’d seen in China. Every wall was filled with the distinctive Coach logo on tan, black, brown, green, pink, purple, orange or blue purses of every size. Wristlets, handbags and every type of purse and wallet design known to man overflowed the countertops. Cloris’s eyes lit up. “ SHAAA…” or something like that is what Cloris said. Judging from her gaping eyes, I think it
means WHAT?! or something close to it. She wanted to buy a bag to take back home for her mom and aunt, and she wouldn’t stop her search until she found just the right style. She eventually narrowed it down to three bags. After another 15 pain-staking minutes, she chose the two bags suitable for her mom and aunt – a tan and purple bag covered with the Coach logo and a much smaller florescent orange, cross-body purse, also plastered with the Coach logo. Soon, we were paying up and heading out with shopping bags brimming. True, this all seems superficial, but something hit me that day at the outlets. These recreational retail missions obliterated language barriers and melted the awkwardness of unfamiliarity. Oh, and it turns out, shopping appeals to capitalist and communist teens alike.
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12 features
Senior launches mini-doc series
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sumin woo, staff writer t started with a passion, a passion that spiraled into hours of interviewing and editing, all culminating into a production aptly titled “The Feminist Diaries.” Senior Malik Peacock, under the YouTube name mpeaks1014, has made three episodes of the minidocumentary series exploring the lives of high school girls. He conducts interviews with girls from different backgrounds, ranging from models to athletes. He even asks teachers about a variety of topics such as body image and gender roles. An average video takes about four hours to import, edit, export and upload online., Peacock said. “It is time consuming, but it is time well spent,” Peacock said. His first video discussed the way that girls see their bodies and often compare themselves to the people
around them, drawing a unique perception from two track runners. “I never thought about how some kids can be really adversely affected by other teammates with ‘amazing bodies’ and then, in turn, how they perceive their own bodies,” Peacock said. It was the second installment in the series that drew more attention, some of it negative, as girls sat down to talk about double standards and gender roles prevalent in society. An interviewee had shared an upsetting experience with a Cinderella performer at Walt Disney World, in which the princess claimed that all little girls needed to learn how to “clean the chimney and mop the floors in order to marry their prince charming.” The specific anecdote roused feedback from male students. “They thought, ‘oh, Cin-
derella’s just a character.’ I don’t think they realize that what we put in the media and into our girls’ heads can actually have a huge impact,” Peacock said. Peacock plans to major in speech pathology after graduating but also wants to keep filming and creating videos. “I didn’t want to pursue film in college because I feel like when I’m forced to do something with deadlines, I really just start to hate that kind of environment,” Peacock said. “I want to keep film as an interest and keep it alive.”
Teacher calls for media awareness
senior malik peacock (above left) interviews senior Ashley Schwanebeck (below left) last month regarding women’s roles in careers in the fields of science and technology. Schwanebeck touched on her own plan to enter such fields and encouraged young women to do the same if that is their passion. Senior Sarah Schaeffler (above right) and English teacher Jodi Wicks (below right) were also featured in separate episodes of Peacock’s Youtube series regarding body image, gender roles and double standards. photos and images by becca king
New club rises from friendly exchange
“F
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kyra twohy, co-editor here is more than one thing in common between pop songs “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke and “Timber” by Pitbull. While both inundated the radio, they also are perfect examples of the media’s portrayal of rape culture: women are “asking for it” based on how they dress and act. The lyrics “She say she won't, but I bet she will” and “I know you want it/But you're a good girl” that millions have been singing epitomizes the normalization of rape and rape culture. This was something that forensics and biology teacher Marci Phillips was quick to point out. “When you look at the lyrics of the song, it’s really promoting the idea that there are these “blurred lines” of consent,” Phillips said. “It is a dangerous message to send to girls and boys.” “Blurred Lines,” which broke multiple records for sales including the longest reign as the top song on Billboard’s Hot R&B-Hip Hop Sing Charts, also drew attention from students for its questionable lyrics. “My interpretation of it is the blurred lines between a good girl and a bad girl or the blurred lines between consensual and nonconsensual sex—there should not be a blurred line. It should be a clear cut yes or no,” junior and co-founder of the Gender Equality club P.D. Stein said. The club brought the subject up for de-
march 19, 2014
Forensics and biology teacher Marci Phillips checks emails in November. photo by jen siegel
bate at a first semester meeting and has helped publicize awareness about rape culture with signs baring bold statements such as “Consent is Sexy.” But that by no means signifies that the public and specifically the student body here recognize the seriousness of the subject. Phillips suggests that students become more educated on the subject through avenues such as Project Unbreakable, a photojournalist’s project to document victims of rape along with a quote from their attacker, and books, including the novel “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin de Becker. “I believe that if we want our boys to become good men, we need to teach them that a girl is not a conquest. We need to teach our girls that you can say no without being a bitch, and that you can say yes without being a whore,” Phillips said. Staff writers Ellie Jackson and Sumin Woo contributed to this report.
sumin woo & ellie jackson, staff writers eminism is beautiful.” “Consent is sexy.” “A woman is a human. Equality is a given.” You might have seen these slogans in the hallways, gracing posters created by the Gender Equality Club in an effort to increase feminism awareness. Co-founded by juniors Avalon Bonlie and PD Stein, the Gender Equality Club originated from conversations between the two, concerning feminism and gender roles. “We realized that we’re really passionate about this and we could make a difference if we had a club,” Bonlie said. The club, sponsored by English and journalism teacher Maria Hiaasen, eventually formed and continues to meet at least once a month. “We want to educate the population
Spreading the message through posters was on the club’s agenda during its Feb. 18 meeting. photo by alex wright
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here and hopefully outside of school, so we can change the attitudes toward women,” Stein said. Meetings, which are open to all students, typically begin with snacks and a short presentation on the topic of discussion. The club strives to create a safe environment for students to comfortably share their opinions on seemingly taboo and sensitive topics, such as abortion and rape culture. “We try and get everyone to ask each other questions and come up with intellectual conversation,” Bonlie said. Girls aren’t the only ones involved. A cluster of boys often sit in the back, participating in discussions. “I was actually surprised at how many guys were there,” Stein said. Discussions can sometimes teeter on the line of controversy. “When we talked about safe sex and slut shaming, a lot of people there had extremely different views,” Bonlie said. “That was one of the more heated meetings.” “I agree with a lot of what others say, but sometimes I just provide a different perspective,” junior Ben Huang said of his participation in the club. And don’t worry if you aren’t a hardcore feminist. “We want people who aren’t feminists so we can try to convince them and experience a whole room of different viewpoints,” Stein said.