October 2015

Our mission: to enlighten and to entertain

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TO KNOW

51

the number of seniors named Commended and Semifinalist National Merit Scholars

October 23, 2015

New principal, style debut christine condon, editor-inchief tudents roaming the halls in the next few weeks may be in for a surprise.

New principal Sam Wynkoop, who came from Sparrows Point High School to take the job after former Principal Lyn Whitlock retired last spring, is planning on travelling around the building during the school day with what he calls a “mobile office,” a desk on wheels featuring his computer, nameplate and even a potted plant.

Wynkoop has other changes in store for the building as

S see page #3

http://dulaneygriffin.org

Dulaney High School Timonium, Maryland 21093

Volume 55, Issue 1 LAB CHANGE

the griffin well. He intends to focus his efforts on promoting both aesthetics and workplace efficiency, among other goals, he said.

“I really want, when people walk in, for them to know that they are in a place of greatness,” he said, adding that he hopes to showcase student talent, potentially with photography, in the office lobby.

Wynkoop has also led “ghost walks,” assessments of classrooms done without any learning or teaching taking place.

“We want to make sure that our spaces are conducive to

allowing students to interact, and help have choice in their learning,” he said.

Wynkoop introduced the new cell phone policy allowing students to use their devices in the hallways at an Aug. 21 faculty meeting, which the faculty voted in favor of adopting shortly thereafter.

Beyond that, Wynkoop has eliminated meetings of the entire faculty. Instead, he meets with select groups of faculty members every Monday, such that teachers and staff only have one faculty

PRINCIPAL SAM WYNKOOP sings “Drive” by Incubus at the senior breakfast Oct. 14.

Senior Brady Sack, among those who performed with him, was impressed.

“He looked at our set list, said ‘Man, we used to play all these songs,’ and then an hour later he was on stage performing with us,” Sack said.

see WYNKOOP, page 2

photo by sarah feustle

Celebrating homecoming with flair

WINNING

photo by hannah milan

Left: Junior Teagan Bowen twirls her color guard flag to the Lion’s Roar Marching Band’s performance of “I Know you Want Me” at their Oct. 10 homecoming halftime show.

Right: Seniors Amori Allen and Ymani Brown sport sashes and crowns upon being named homecoming king and queen at pep rally Oct. 9. Also named to the homecoming court during the Oct. 9 pep rally were freshmen Anna Boland and Scott Geng, sophomores Hayley Garcia and James Pentikis and juniors Alexis Lenhart and Joey Wenzl.

see page #6

# TO KNOW

91

the percentage of students auditioning who earned All-County Honors Chorus membership

photo from andrew johnson

Pair works to regroup post-shooting

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(for more, see our website)

ALUM SURPRISE

photo from dochat

Above: Sophomore Patrick Dochat recovers in a hospital room.

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INDEX 2-3 news 4-5 opinion 6-7 sports 8-12 features

stephanie rountree, editor-in-chief and greg zapas, staff writer ross country runners sophomore Patrick Dochat and junior Alix Williams, who were struck by pellets from a pellet gun Sept. 4, are almost fully recovered and running again.

“I’m in no pain whatsoever. I still have a scab from where it went in but it’s kind of a small mark,” Dochat said.

The pellets penetrated both runners’ skin and are expected to stay there. The runners were hit in different places and neither sustained season-ending injuries. The pellet hit Dochat in his hip and Williams in her back.

Timonium resident Christopher Sawyer-Schweigman, 25-years-old, was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment in connection with the incident, according to a Sept. 5 Baltimore Sun article.

Williams’ injury was nearly life-threatening because the pellet came close to striking her lung, but didn’t hit or damage any major organs, she said. Both run-

photo from heritage yearbook

Left: Christopher Sawyer-Schweigman’s yearbook photo from 2007.

ners report being initially confused when they were shot, adding that they didn’t feel much pain.

“Actually, I thought it was an acorn for a few seconds because I’ve been hit by an acorn before, but I obviously realized it wasn’t an acorn when it went in.

I just didn’t know what it was,” Williams said.

The runners’ season became more of a struggle after missing nearly a week and a half of running due to their injuries.

“It really ruined my entire life for a week and a half.

Coming back into the season was really hard, and I was a lot slower than a lot of the people I was faster than before,” Dochat said.

“It made me feel really bad about myself and it took a while to get my legs used to it because I wasn’t able to do anything at all except sit around.”

The shooting affected the entire team, varsity cross country coach Chad Boyle said, adding that they handled it with poise, even when several runners were asked by the police to provide testimony. see SHOOTING, page 2

FYI: Book Club Oct. 26 After School Library

Griffin Chipotle Night

Oct. 27 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

1830 York Rd, Timonium, MD 21093

Fall Band Concert Oct. 28 7:30 p.m.

Auditorium

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

End of Quarter Oct. 30

Grad Gala Committee Nov. 3 7:30 p.m.

Library

Sports Booster Bull Roast Nov. 13 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Oregon Ridge Lodge

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october 23, 2015

the griffin

news

New principal, style debut WYNKOOP, continued from page 1 meeting per month.

Economics teacher Phil Bressler acknowledged the need for smaller meetings like these, but also saw the importance of meeting with the whole faculty to discuss particular issues, like the cell phone policy discussion in August that yielded a concrete change in school rules.

“I think it’s hard to do anything with the entire faculty, because it’s a really big group.” he

photo from wynkoop PRINCIPAL SAM WYNKOOP shows off a mahi-mahi he caught off the Florida coast earlier this year.

WYNKOOP’S PAST POSTITIONS

1999-2003

NEWS LINE REGISTER EARLY

Lansdowne Middle School

Eighth-Grade Science Teacher

2003-2006

Sparrows Point High School

Science Department Chairman

2006-2012

Sparrows Point High School

Assistant Principal

2012-2015

Sparrows Point High School

Principal

said. “But I think there would be certain things that maybe talking to the group as a whole would be beneficial.”

This idea stemmed from Wynkoop’s belief in the importance of one-on-one interactions in strengthening the dynamic here.

“I try to be very big on personal relationships. I think that’s the best way to lead a building and it’s been a challenge because there’s upwards of 1900 kids and 150 staff,” he said To his Sparrows Point colleagues, this comes as no surprise.

“Our faculty misses his school spirit – his sense of humor, his devotion to the school, students and staff and his way of making all faculty feeling like family,” Sparrows Point High School STAT teacher Aleah Wolfe said.

Wolfe couldn’t help but reflect fondly on Wynkoop’s performance as “the plant” in the school’s production of “The Little Shop of Hor-

rors” and his catwalk appearance in its Trashy Fashion Show, where he wore a student-made vest that captured his love of fishing, among other memories.

“I find that I like to involve myself in what goes on in a school. It gives me an opportunity to get to know the students and community,” Wynkoop said.

At first, Wynkoop intended to become a physician’s assistant. Then came middle school science, and later high school teaching.

As for hobbies, music is a big one.

“If you can’t find me, I’ll be in the chorus, band, or guitar room hiding out with my walkie-talkie turned down so no one can find me,” Wynkoop said.

See a video of Wynkoop’s performance of Pearl Jam’s “Hearts and Thoughts” at Open Mic Night on our website: DULANEYGRIFFIN.ORG

Policy yields mixed reactions from students, faculty DO YOU LIKE THE NEW CELL PHONE POLICY?

This unscientific survey was conducted during all lunches Oct. 13. Reporters asked 467 randomly selected students whether or not they like the new policy.

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maya lapinski, managing editor eaction to the new cell phone policy that was enacted earlier this year has been generally positive – though some have found accompanying challenges.

The policy extends permissible cell phone use past the cafeteria and into the hallways. It was officially approved at a staff meet-

ing this summer, during which 87 percent of teachers voted in favor of it.

Now that it’s in action, many students find the effects negligible.

“I think because everybody in the past used their phones in the hallways, even now that it’s technically allowed, it doesn’t make a difference,” senior Jessica Liu said.

Students and teachers, on the other hand, cited inconveniences resulting from the increased cell phone use.

“The pace in the hallway has slowed down, and I feel like I’ve seen a little more jostling back and forth because you’ve got divided attention,” psychology teacher Kendra Swam said.

Even teachers who originally supported the policy have begun to reevaluate their decision.

“Kids are looking at their cell phones—that slows up traffic in a pretty congested building,” Advanced Placement Economics teacher Phil Bressler said, suggesting that staff rethink the change.

Some have noticed further change in hallway dynamics, ob-

serving that the added distraction of the cell phones has decreased the overall noise level.

“Everybody’s just on their phone and nobody is talking to each other,” English teacher Kathy Roeder said. “It is nice that there’s quiet, but at the same time, people need to communicate with each other, with actual words.”

The impacts of the policy reach beyond the hallway. Teachers, have noticed that cell phone use in the classroom has mirrored the more frequent use in the halls.

“In the past, it wasn’t so much of an issue with keeping the phones away. Now students really struggle, especially those ones who are wedded to their phones. It’s bled into the classroom,” biology teacher Marty Stranathan said.

To prevent these problems and improve the effectiveness of the policy, Stranathan suggested allowing the students themselves to construct a policy that suits their needs.

“I’d let students make the call and see what we end up with. Do you want to use the cell phone all

SHOOTING, continued from page 1 The close-knit cross country team remained supportive of each other, as the two injured runners attended the Barnhart Invitational Sept. 12 just after the shooting. The team also gave back to the runners.

“I know many people sent them messages while they sat in the emergency room that night, and both Alix and Patrick received a rousing applause at the team meeting the following day,” Boyle said.

The team chipped in money to purchase Dochat a new pair of his signature shorts, a pair of which was ruined by the pellet, Boyle added.

The injured runners were affected psychologically as well.

“I’m always watching all the windows,” Dochat said, adding that going down to the fields gives him a rush.

Dochat and Williams are continuing to run cross country and plan to run indoor and outdoor track for the coming seasons.

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photo by hannah gouger

Left to right: Senior Jamal Willis, freshman Jaylen Wiggins and junior Xavier Engleton use their cell phones in the halls Oct. 7.

day long? Then prove to me that you actually teach yourself in the classroom,” he said.

Senior Xavier Engleton held a similar view. Students should have even more freedom, he said.

“Basically we have small computers at our fingertips and we’re not allowed to use them in school, it’s crazy to me,” he said.

“The survey doesn’t have a lot of journalistic integrity” will probably be done in an insert or a booklet form, but we haven’t decided on that yet,” Korrow said.

Concerns have been raised about the representative value of the superlatives, according to Korrow. The superlatives are also considered unprofessional by judging organizations, discounting Heritage from winning awards.

“The survey doesn’t have a lot of journalistic integrity,” Korrow said.

Though superlatives will still exist, Heritage is seeking to promote inclusivity in the publication.

“We want it to be representative of the entire school,” she said.

Westminster event randhika aturaliya, staff writer and cameron

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berhardt, web editor lthough they won big at their season’s opening tournament last month, robotics team 1727B sees room for improvement as they head to the Northwest Maryland VEX Robotics Competition in Westminster Oct. 24.

The team consists of senior and captain Matt Levis, juniors Sean Herrin and Collin Stiers, sophomore Josh Norr and freshman Alexandra Kallaur.

Their first competition of the school year was held in the classic cafeteria Sept. 26. The team won with a final score of 122.

The team received a Tournament Champion Award for their triumph as well as a Design Award. By winning these, the team has double-qualified for the Maryland State Championship March 11.

The team has plans for how they’ll improve their robot before the next competition, Stiers said.

“We’re going to make our shooter more accurate. We’re going to work on our ‘autonomous’ – there is a period of each match where the robot must operate on its own, so we’re going to make it better at that,” he said.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

TEDX POSTPONED The second TedX event here has been indefinitely postponed, according to computer science teacher and sponsor Amanda Lattimore. The school has not won approval from the TedX organization because the student board wanted to have Sen. Ben Cardin appear as a speaker, but the organization deemed it too political. The student board is reassessing plans.

CLUB LAUNCHED A new club focusing on hiphop, R&B and poetry called the Pro Vibe Club has been approved by the Student Government Organization.

The club, founded by senior Bill Kinara, will hold its first meeting Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in room 116. The club hopes to help students harness their talents, Kinara said.

Those with questions can see advisor Tami Moon or Kinara.

FIFTH GOLD WON

Superlatives changing Robotics aims for Runners second win at make recovery maya lapinski, managing editor yearbook without senior superlatives isn’t new, and it’s part of a strategy to bolster Heritage’s quality, yearbook sponsor Kristi Korrow said.

Until three years ago, superlatives weren’t in the yearbook. Instead, they were handled by the senior class or the school newspaper. They’ve since been passed on to the Heritage team, who will still organize them but with a new presentation.

“We’ll still have an avenue for senior superlatives. It

Registration for next year’s classes will occur sooner this year. Counselors will visit classes before Thanksgiving break, guidance department chairman John Komosa said, and students will meet with counselors just after break. Everyone will be registered before winter break, he said.

The Griffin’s publication has been awarded a Gold Medal by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. This is the fifth year in a row that it has recieved this award.

SEQUEL RANKS Sequel, the creative arts magazine, has been named a Crown Award Finalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The magazine is one of only seven publications in the country to receive this status in the self-nominated competition.

The staff will learn whether they earned silver or gold status this spring.

SCHOLARS NAMED Seniors Jessica Bishai, Gustavo Encarnación, Maya Lapinski, Noelle Li, Sean Lim, Jessica Liu, Will Paranzino, Anton Pozharskiy, Jiayang Shi, Kevin Wang, Sumin Woo and Hojin Yoon were chosen as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists based on their PSAT scores from last fall. The 12 have the opportunity to advance to the finalist tier, based on academic records, recommendations and SAT scores, in early February 2016.

NEHS INDUCTS An Oct. 14 ceremony in the library welcomed 59 students to the school’s new chapter of the National English Honors Society, named in honor of late English teacher Susan Lev. The plan is to organize poetry readings at nursing homes and to sell limericks as a fundraiser, club sponsor and grade 10 English teacher Britta Schaffmeyer said.

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october 23, 2015

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Mirroring BCPS trend, number of laptop labs rises

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sumin woo, managing editor omputer science teacher Amanda Lattimore’s classroom has no desks, or desktop computers. Instead, bean bags, rolling chairs and circular tables fill her room, allowing students to move around with their individual laptops.

A laptop cart, holding 33 devices, is stationed in Lattimore’s room, as are three kept in the library. The 80 laptops shared between them are available to all teachers to sign out.

The laptops have been praised for their mobility and efficiency.

“Just for teachers to grab the cart and have it in their classrooms, they have all their resources at hand, and they don’t have to move their whole class,” Lattimore said. “They allow for more collaboration. Kids can work together instead of being stuck in rows.”

Freshman and Advanced Placement computer science student Zach Dua agrees.

“If you’re stuck on a project, you can take it to someone who understands the concept more, and get help from that student, or even to the teacher to correct the problem hands-on,” Dua said.

Laptops help eliminate some inconveniences with computer labs, such as when a student kicks cords or cables, unplugging machines, Lattimore said. The laptops are

Students weigh in on new PSAT

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amanda musolf, staff writer tudents’ reactions to the new PSAT vary.

A student panel that convened in room 115 after taking the new PSAT Oct. 14 deemed the reading and writing sections less tedious than the math section.

“It was hard to find the question,” junior Abby Fanshaw said as she reflected on what was worst about

photo by stephanie rountree

SENIORS PAUL BANEGURA and Amila Kulatilaka (left to right) collaborate in their 1A Gifted and Talented Computer Science C++ class in a new laptop lab in room 312 Sept. 29, while senior Chris Solorzano Castillo (far right) works independently. The room has been converted from a work space with cubicles for floating teachers to the school’s second laptop lab.

also supported by faster processers, which make them faster than traditional computers.

“The laptops make for a less cluttered work space,” senior and Gifted and Talented computer science C++ stu-

the math section. “In class, we don’t have word problems that are six sentences long.”

Junior Aliyah Walls agreed.

“There was so much information,” Walls said.

The panel was made up of underclassmen from a creative writing class, five juniors and one sophomore. They, along with 1A journalism students, took the PSAT in room 115. Nearly two-thirds of the group indicated the math section was more difficult in a vote taken by raising their hands.

Advanced Placement Calculus AB student Davis McClellan, a junior, had a different view.

“Nobody agrees with me,” he said, “but I feel like the English

was hard and the math was really easy.”

The math portion of the new PSAT was more algebra-based than geometry-based, he added.

The panel found the organization of the test as whole as confusing and lacking flow.

“Last year’s test was a lot more comprehensive,” Fanshaw said.

Both Walls and junior Amanda Campoverde commented on the math section’s shortcomings.

“They can’t keep changing what math is required for the PSAT year by year,” Walls said. “Not everybody is on the same level.”

While junior Jennifer Medrano liked the English section’s redesign, Campoverde found it tedious.

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dent Paul Banegura said.

But the laptops don’t come without problems. Teachers cite various problems including faulty Wi-Fi and limited battery life.

“I’ve had a couple laptops that forgot to get plugged in overnight and the next day they’re dead,” Lattimore said, which can inconvenience her largest class of 31 students, who have few laptops to spare.

Business teacher Pat Holt, who uses his laptop cart for all of his classes, reports persisting Wi-Fi problems.

“We do have trouble with the network itself from time to time,” Holt said. “When we have issues, it’s the entire network, whether you’re through the Ethernet or wireless network, as opposed to being a wireless issue.”

The increasing use of laptops in schools is inevitable: According to the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore County Public Schools aims to distribute laptops to every student and teacher in the school system by the 2017-2018 school year.

The county has spent $13.6 million to purchase laptops for select elementary and middle school students, the August article reported. Holt sees the growing prevalence of technology in the classroom.

“A couple years down the road, everyone will have a laptop and it will be just as normal as a student carrying a calculator,” he said.

“It was so boring, my brain couldn’t process it. I read the same thing over and over,” Campoverde said, adding that she wished the stories were more creative.

Medrano agreed that the new PSAT’s English section resembles that of the PARCC test taken last spring. Campoverde said she liked PARCC better due to its creativity and structure.

“You could refer back to the multiple choice to use in your writing,” she said.

Sophomore Amanda Molino agreed, saying that the new PSAT was repetitive.

“It was just exhausting – mentally, physically and emotionally, she said.

Is the new PSAT 123 easier than the NO old one?

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YES

This unscientific survey was conducted during A, B and C lunches Oct. 19.

Reporters asked 196 randomly selected students,”Is the new PSAT easier than the old one?”. Students could choose yes or no.

4 opinion

Analyzing new PSAT T

ruminations

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Preparing for the ‘Roombacalypse’

jason mcclellan, columnist he end of the world just doesn’t seem complete without a giant metal humanoid stomping on cars and shooting lasers out of its eyeballs.

When it comes to an exciting doomsday (from an observer’s perspective, at least), it may even beat out nuclear warfare and the Contagious Disease That Kills Everyone. But alas, the robot apocalypse – if or when it happens – will arrive with much less pizzazz.

Military technology – and the new Star Wars droid – are currently hogging the spotlight in the robot world, but that doesn’t mean that we can forget the rest of our mechanical friends. And when I say “mechanical friends”, I don’t just mean a handful of Mars rovers, either. A robot doesn’t have to look like a human, although they sometimes do, and it most certainly does not have to blow things up. Even simple things — like remote helicopters and even fancy electric toothbrushes — are robots. So the real question here is not whether you are ready for the Terminator, but whether you are ready for the Roombacalypse.

You needn’t fear that robots will gain sentience in a few years, either. For example, let’s take the “Berkeley Robot for the Elimination of Tedious Tasks” (BRETT for short), on which professor Pieter Abbeel and team, according to a Sept. NPR article, have spent seven years working. What impossible feats can this robot accomplish? It folds laundry. Or maybe instead we’ll look at the Dartmouth College’s Mobile Virtual Player, also examined by NPR, which is a headless, rolling mannequin made for the express purpose of being pummeled by football players. If the robot apocalypse culminates with me playing a game of tag with what is essentially a rolling pillow, I may actually start to look forward to it.

Robots also won’t make humans obsolete, and if you ask me why, I’m going to point you right back to the laundry bot in the last paragraph. Folding clothes isn’t pleasant, but it doesn’t take long to master. In any case, it certainly doesn’t take seven entire years.

The thing about simple human tasks is that they can be anything but simple to program. BRETT has to create a three-dimensional model of a pile of laundry by overlapping a multitude of images, recognizing corners to which it can grab hold of, analyzing the piece of laundry in question, be it a shirt, sock, blanket, et cetera, and finally, of course, actually folding it.

If it takes seven years to learn how to do that, how long will it take to learn how to be human? I hesitate to make any guarantees, but my bet is that I will be having a grand old time rotting away in a casket when that finally comes about.

I think of myself as a believer in chance. There’s no law, so far as I am aware, that says robots will open the pod bay doors when we ask. As a matter of fact, given enough time, there may actually be an event where robots start to control a nuclear arsenal or something of the like. If we consider the more immediate future, though, we may find our arch nemesis to be a microwave. Or perhaps a fruit blender. Oh, yes – the robot apocalypse will be terrifying indeed.

the griffin

meera rothman, deputy editor apping my pencil nervously against the edge of my desk, I try in vain to prepare myself for the test I had no way to prepare for. We are the test-run, the trial, the guinea pigs of this new PSAT. Stress, nerves and a fear of the unknown consumed me as I sat in my assigned classroom Oct. 14. But as I soon found out, the test was nowhere near the monstrosity I expected it to be. It was actually easier than its predecessor.

The writing section was structured as multiple passages containing questions about how to correct and alter the text. Because all of the sentences were in context, this was less difficult than the isolated sentence correction questions on the previous PSAT. The structure and questioning in the math and critical reading sections were similar to those in previous version, but there was more overlap between these sections. A substantial number of math questions were word problems and there were actually graph interpretation questions in the reading sections, which was strange. But the most monumental change for me was the lack of vocabulary questions in the reading section. I was mentally cheering

when I realized I wouldn’t be grilled on words like “obsequious” and “diaphanous.”

Another major change to the critical reading section was questions requiring test takers to select a phrase in a passage that best justifies their answer to the previous question. This type of question was also prevalent throughout the PARCC test students took last year. Unfortunately, these ‘justify’ questions were extremely stressful: if my answer to the previous question was incorrect, surely my justification would be too.

Overall though, one of the biggest issues for me was time. I managed to finish all of the sections, but I had barely any time to check my answers.

For one of the math sections, I had to bubble in an answer just as the timer beeped — thank goodness there was no deduction for incorrect answers on this version. And with only two five-minute breaks, I was struggling to keep my eyes open.

Fortunately, the chocolate I smuggled into the test gave me the caffeine rush I needed to stay awake.

The day would actually have been tolerable if I wasn’t forced to return to class afterwards. Bring on the days of MSA when the end of testing meant snacks, movies and a break.

“The test was nowhere near the monstrosity I expected it to be.”

Testing transforms education

illustration by sarah ruehle

STAFF EDITORIAL:

New policy brings new responsibilities

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emindMe messages from teachers.

Work-related texts from an employer.

Snapchats from friends.

Instantaneous messages have become ubiquitous. So much so, that under the old cell phone policy, which banned student use of phones during the school day except during lunch or as directed by teachers for instruction, students often texted on the sly. Policing the plethora who texted anyway became overwhelming and downright impossible.

Those are major reasons why we stand with the 87 percent of the faculty who voted to permit phone use in the halls between classes and why we applaud the principal for permitting teachers to weigh in on the matter. True, before the vote, a teacher complained about Wi-Fi interruptions to third period classes when students used their phones at

Dulaney High School, 255 E. Padonia Rd. Timonium, MD 21093 dulaneygriffin@bcps.org (410) 887-7633

Student population: 1,804 Staff population: 123 The Griffin prints 1,500 to 2,000 copies of each edition. These are distributed during homeroom on the fourth Friday of October, November, December, February, March, April and May. Extras may be found in the library or room 115.

A Columbia Scholastic Press Association member The Griffin’s mission is to enlighten and entertain.

Oct. 23, 2015 Volume 55, Issue 1 http://dulaneygriffin.org

october 23, 2015

the griffin

lunch last year. But in a building where Wi-Fi connections fluctuate anyway, that wasn’t enough to halt progress.

Still, even a positive change can bring problems. Hallway traffic stalls behind students focused more on texting or choosing songs than walking. And there have been reports of students unwilling to put away their phones upon entering class until they finish texting.

Our new freedom calls for responsibility. Students must be mindful of others making their way to class and must not permit phone use to impede traffic flow.

And, considering a Sept. New York Times article on cell phones’ potential to diminish our ability to empathize, perhaps we should try to remember to look up and actually talk to classmates once in a while.

editors-in-chief christine condon, sarah feustle, stephanie rountree managing editors maya lapinski, sumin woo deputy editors grace knotts, meera rothman adviser maria hiaasen sports editor kristin meek deputy sports editor patrick fitzgerald web editors cameron bernhardt, jason mcclellan deputy technician natalie mozoki photography editor cristina lopez multimedia editor alex tuerk

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

illustration by whitney vong

The Griffin welcomes story ideas, commentaries and letters to the editor. These may be brought to room 115, placed in Maria Hiaasen’s mailbox in the office or emailed to dulaneygriffin@ bcps.org. All submissions are subject to editing and must be signed. The Griffin Editorial Board makes all final decisions regarding content.

The staff editorial reflects the thoughts of the Griffin staff, but all other opinon pieces reflect individuals’ views, not the paper’s.

Interested in advertising in The Griffin or purchasing any photos seen in this issue? Use the same contact information.

5 opinion

the griffin

october 23, 2015

Showmanship trumps substance

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alex tuerk, multimedia editor e don’t call them snake oil salesmen any more, but our culture does breed a new variety of salesman, one big on entertainment. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is such a salesman.

As his scheduled hosting of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” Nov. 7 illustrates, he knows the value of satire – and air time.

That he trademarked his slogan—“Make America Great Again” – shows that he’s more interested in building a brand than in designing policy.

Showmanship has its place in American culture, among Hollywood stars and Kardashians. But it doesn’t belong in politics, and no man has capitalized on transferring Hollywood-style expectations to politics than Trump, still the front runner in the Republican presidential lineup. (Oct. 14 CNN polls report he leads Ben Carson by 18 points in South Carolina and by 16 points in Nevada.)

Trump’s brand of showmanship shocks.

Witness his memorable performances: saying that permitting Syrian refugees to come here would lead to an ISIS coup (Oct. 3), calling Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly a bimbo after she questioned him about his sexist behavior during the Republican debate (Aug. 6) and comparing Latinos to rapists when he announced his candidacy (June 16).

Let’s make one thing clear. Donald Trump is an intelligent

man - somewhat. To have earned billions as a real estate developer and as the previous host of the show “The Apprentice,” he needed at least some wits and acumen. But politics requires a temperate disposition, a willingness to compromise personal views in favor of national interests – and a verbal filter.

Trump persists at his showy, attention-grabbing statements despite setbacks they’ve caused. He was fired, ironically, from “The Apprentice” after making “derogatory statements regarding immigrants,” as the official NBC statement said when it was released June 29.

Still not convinced he’s a showman and not a politician? He capitalizes on being famous, collecting $1.75 million in speaker’s fees from May 2014 through March 2015, according to a CNN analysis of wealth disclosure forms released in July. And, he names so many of his businesses after himself (Trump Productions, Trump Tower Chicago and Trump National illustration by vesi mineva Golf Club in Bedford, New Jersey).

We’re so familiar with news and politics being mixed with entertainment in programs like “The Daily Show” that when real news coverage becomes a clown show, we fall for it.

What we should do is turn away and look not for reality TV stars but for politicians with real platforms and real policy proposals.

Planned Parenthood deserves better

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sarah feustle, editor-in-chief epublicans are using Planned Parenthood as a target.

Lots of misleading and false claims that seek to demonize the non-profit are being tossed around. The organization, which provides affordable gynecological and obstetrical health services, isn’t getting the defense it deserves.

A bill to defund the organization was passed by the House of Representatives Sept.

18. If passed by the Senate, it would defund Planned Parenthood for one year.

The recent debacle can be traced back to the release of deceptively and heavily edited videos of Planned Parenthood employees talking off the record about aborted fetuses. As edited, these videos suggest that the organization sells fetal tissues and organs for profit. But that statement is taken out of context. Just as people can choose to be organ donors, women can choose to have tissue from their aborted fetuses donated to research facilities.

Through this option, Planned Parenthood essentially kills two birds with one stone: they provide a needed service to women, and are able to donate fetal tissue to research. And, according to a Sept. 29 NPR article, fetal tissue is especially useful in research: it grows fast, lives a long time and has been used to study early brain development, create vaccines, prevent birth defects and find new ways to treat a host of deadly diseases.

Planned Parenthood charges a reimbursement fee to cover the costs of transporting the tissue, but those heavily edited videos misrepresent that fee as a profit maker. Republicans took those videos at their word and began preaching the evils of Planned Parenthood.

The organization has attempted to placate conservative critics. An Oct. 13 Yahoo News article reports Planned Parenthood will no longer charge reimbursement fees at clinics where fetal tissue is made available for research, and will instead cover the costs themselves. The Republicans have lost their rallying cry.

It’s also important to remember that Planned Parenthood offers a lot more than abortion services. The group screens men and women for cancer, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. They serve 2.7 million Americans annually, according to their website.

Many Republicans seem to be forgetting this. According to a September New York Times article, Republican presidential candidate and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal cut off $730,000 in reimbursements to the state’s two Planned Parenthood clinics – neither of which offered abortions. illustration by jarrin jacobs That’s a fairly significant loss to the thousands of people who rely on those clinics for their healthcare – healthcare that they can’t afford anywhere else.

The anti-abortion crowd is allowed to be anti-abortion for religious reasons. But separation of church and state exists, and it means that those religious views are not allowed to influence the law. These politicians are ignoring the fact that they swore to uphold that principle – and now, the health of a large number of Americans is in jeopardy. Are personal beliefs really more important than well-being and freedom of choice for others?

For Republicans, the answer is clear.

Deliberating strategy on air-conditioning cut answer, but must be dealt with, before the students melt. tirzah khan, staff writer, grace knotts, deputy editor, While demolishing the current building and constructing maya lapinski and sumin woo, managing editors a new one seems like an enormous, even wasteful, task, it here’s a reason that politishouldn’t be discounted. cians have been inspecting This school building was the school lately. 2018 guberHERE’S WHAT WE KNOW: erected more than 50 years natorial hopefuls Lieutenant Gov• Hogan is reluctant about giving schools funding ago. Floor tiles in the new ernor Boyd Rutherford, Baltimore after giving money to the underfunded pension wing are buckling, classroom County Executive Kevin Kamenetz program instead (Baltimore Sun) temperatures are erratic and and Maryland Democratic Comp• 48 schools in BCPS don’t have AC (ABC News) just last month, a pipe leak troller Peter Franchot know a hot • BCPS has $1.6 billion budget, with $1.1 billion for displaced government teachpolitical issue when they see it. repairs (BCPS budget plan for 2015-16 fiscal year) er Sean Bowmaster from his They’ve come to inspect our • Hogan called our lack of AC a “disgrace” (Balroom for a week. Improvecrumbling infrastructure and sweltimore Sun) ments must come, whether tering classrooms. The Friends of • The school has requested $42 million from the through partial or complete Dulaney, proposing that we tear state to use for improvements including, but not renovations. our current building down and relimited to, AC, plumbing repairs, etc. (principal Fixing the building seems build the school from the ground Sam Wynkoop) daunting, but it may not be up, have seized the opportunity to • Franchot hosted a town hall meeting to recruit impossible. Facts are key to lobby for complete renovation. support for AC in BCPS (Friends of Dulaney) the decision making.

The issue of AC in schools tran• Kamenetz has asked for accelerated funding Students need to get inscends politics. The renovations from the state (Baltimore Sun) formed. They should also would force a relocation of the stuconsider attending town hall dent body during construction, as meetings on this matter. After well as require substantial funding from the state. It’s a complex issue that doesn’t have a clear all, we’re the stakeholders facing these conditions every day.

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Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

truths Finding X

Knee-deep in college applications, seniors have tired of standard essay prompts. The University of Chicago challenges applicants to respond to creative, refreshing queries. In honor of the school’s 125th anniversary, columnist Stephanie Rountree answered their famous prompt, “Find X.”

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stephanie rountree, editor-in-chief his isn’t a love letter to the multitudes of equations I’ve completed over the course of my nearly 13-year academic career. I haven’t penned an ode to Euclid, Pythagoras or Ada Lovelace. You aren’t about to read a nauseatingly saccharine account of my awe-inspiring algebraic adventure to X. I’ve never considered myself a connoisseur of mathematics. The unit circle gives me hives, and I’m sure that my brain would emit an array of sparks if I had to find the area between two curves with a pair of integrals. Despite lacking in all things arithmetic, I was surprised to realize the most valuable advice I’ve received is rooted in the very subject I despise.

In my early days of volunteering with Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, I received an email from a staff member calling for individuals interested in a higher-level position. I’d been debating whether I, a 17-year-old lacking prior campaign experience, should bother offering my services. I turned to my father for a second opinion.

“Don’t ever take yourself out of the equation,” he said. “Other people can tell you that you’re perfect for their needs, or they can tell you that you’re not an ideal candidate. It’s impossible to predict—the only way you’ll know for sure is if you put yourself out there.”

Later that hour, I replied to the email: “While I might not be what I’m assuming is your

“Without me, without my drive, there is no equation.” ‘ideal age,’ I think I could assist you with this new role…”

I got a response 18 minutes later: “All ages are ideal for me!”

Something awakened within me that had long been dormant—confidence.

If I were to ask others to define X in a theoretical equation of success, the most common responses would be that X represents possession of certain skills or blessings from above.

These aren’t the final factors. It’s easy to assume that shortcomings prevent achievement. It takes one whisper of self-discouragement to extinguish possibilities like candles atop a cake. We sell ourselves short, which prevents us from reaching our highest potential. Rather than allowing what’s absent dissuade you from your dreams, acknowledge the presence of your determination.

I didn’t have to look further than the sage of the senior class, Advanced Placement Economics teacher Phil Bressler, to confirm this.

Bressler presents his students each year with a clip of actor Will Smith to help them foster grit.

“I won’t be outworked,” Smith said. “You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me… but if we get on a treadmill together, there’s two things: you’re getting off first, or I’m going to die.”

I might not perceive myself to be “qualified,” but my passion eclipses any assumptions. I’m willing to go the extra mile for my beliefs.

Whenever I reflected on my life, I’d think my success was up to X, a variant god that held the key to my achievements or the lock on the door representing my failures.

It took me 17 years to realize that I alone decide my fate. I’m X. Without me, without my drive, there is no equation. There is no success.

the griffin

6 sports

athletes

watch

VARSITY

Southpaw setter steers squad emma o’grady, staff writer hat started as a casual interest in pick-up sand volleyball turned into a thriving passion for the sport for senior varsity captain, Mallory Svoboda.

“I was told that as a tall, left-handed person volleyball would be a good sport for me to excel in, so I went at it,” Svoboda said, adding that she joined photo by cristina lopez the Masters Volleyball AcadeMALLORY SVOBODA my in the seventh grade after watching her sister and alumna Darla Svoboda play here.

As setter, Svoboda’s main job is to distribute the ball to the hitters. There are also moments when Svoboda moves to the front of the court to receive the ball from the team’s second setter, junior Sophie Sun. Svoboda then spikes it across the net.

“That’s where I take my kills,” Svoboda said.

Senior co-captain Olivia Finckel said that Svoboda’s experience is unparalleled to her teammates and useful in both games and practices.

“Mallory is a silent leader; she only says what she needs to during games and leads with her strong play and skill set,” Finckel said of Svoboda’s style of play, citing her as a role model for the younger athletes.

Svoboda looks forward to upholding the team’s strong reputation by leading the team to the state championships again this year.

“We’re such a strong team. Not only do we trust ourselves, we trust each other. Sometimes we put more confidence in other players than we do in ourselves,” Svoboda said, “It’s such a symbiotic relationship. You really got to push and pull.”

Varsity head coach Cary Lyons said that Svoboda brings leadership and spirit to the team. Lyons also commended Svoboda for her skill in serving the ball.

Svoboda will go on to play volleyball at the next level for Towson University, a strong program that has 18 wins and just two losses so far this season.

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october 23, 2015

Varsity football scores wins W

daniel krugman, staff writer hen the varsity football team discovered they would be bumped to Baltimore County’s formidable division I, varsity coach Daron Reid was up for the shift.

“I was excited for the change. It gives us the opportunity to play against kids that are higher caliber. It lets us step up and truly see what we are made of,” Reid said.

The Lions’ 7-6 homecoming win against Woodlawn marked the team’s third win of the season, surprising cynics.

“Woodlawn’s great, they were 4-1 coming in. Their one loss, their only loss was to two-time state champ Franklin,” Athletic Director Reed said.

But the team, which finished 5-5 last year in division II, was 3-4 as of press time. Towson, Patapsco, Catonsville, Kenwood, and Lansdowne also moved up.

So far, the team has lost against two teams that defeated them last season – Patapsco 20-13 Sept. 12 and Catonsville 44-13 Sept. 18.

Also like last year, the Lions beat Kenwood 28-24 Sept. 26. They have yet to play Lansdowne or Towson, which have won in the last two matchups with the Lions.

“All those guys want to do is talk trash on Twitter. I’m looking at the games they played though, and they’re not that good,” senior Andrew Bank said.

As of Oct. 19, the team holds a 3-4 record. The upset of Woodlawn marks an important milestone for them.

Stronger competition has forced the team to adapt.

“I think our biggest foe is us,” Reid said.”It doesn’t matter who’s in front of us, an NFL team or a record team, we still have to make the plays.”

REMAINING FOOTBALL SCHEDULE VARSITY:

JUNIOR VARSITY:

Oct. 24 Towson Away

Oct. 24 Towson Away

Oct. 30 Franklin Away

Oct. 29 Franklin Away

Nov. 7 Lansdowne Home

Nov. 5 Lansdowne Home

QUARTERBACK MARCO VOGLE (10), a junior, prepares to throw the ba Wide receiver and junior Dominic Yarbaugh (not pictured) ca down pass. Woodlawn remained scoreless until the fourth qu

Celebrating sweet victories over archrival Hereford The Lions faced off against rivals the Hereford Bulls in regular season games. The matches were competitive, but the Lions found success on many occasions.

JUNIOR VARSITY

Gritty runner perseveres dorrie gaeng, staff writer fter a long summer of training, sophomore Meghan Robinson has found her stride on the cross country team. With encouragement from her father and a friend, last year Robinson decided to join cross country.

It was not until this season that she truly felt that she had found her passion.

“She had a really good sumphoto by cristina lopez mer of training which is really MEGHAN ROBINSON really important and I think that’s probably the number one factor that’s allowed her to rise to a new level,” cross country and track coach Chad Boyle said.

Robinson ran about 300 miles this summer, which included hill repeats that her father piloted.

“In a word, they were torturous,” Robison said.

Robinson struggled with a hip injury that restrained her 2014 outdoor track season. After having to take off for a month, she knew that she had to come out strong for summer training. Robinson encountered difficulty restarting her training, with the constant feeling that she was not reaching her fullest potential.

“Running is telling yourself that you can keep going, especially on a hot day, or just any day that you don’t feel your best, just keep going,” Robinson said.

At this year’s Barnhart invitational Robinson ran a time of 21:59, for the 5K, a three-minute and nine second improvement from last year, and was able to capture third place in the junior varsity race. With that, she ranked number one on the junior varsity team.

Robinson now leads her JV team into the rest of the season, hoping to break 21:00. Coach Boyle believes that the key to unlocking Robinson’s new success will be trust in her training.

“Now she’s a lot more confident which makes her race more aggressively. That’s a really critical factor of being an elite runner,” he said.

For Robinson, running is not only an outlet to strive for self improvement, but a way for her to relax.

“It’s rewarding and I just feel free. There are no restraints,” she said.

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photo by ellie jackson

Above left: Cheered on by members of the cross country team, allied soccer midfielder Chase Douglass (2) intercepts a pass. The Oct. 7 match was the team’s spirit game, and many other fall sports programs came to support them.

Right: Allied soccer team members forward Sierra Ayers-Mutchler (4) and Douglass (2) shake hands with the opposing Hereford Bulls following their game, which ended in a 2-2 tie after the Lions took an early 2-0 lead.

photo by ellie jackson

photo by haneyah carter-johnson

HEREFORD CALENDAR photo by haneyah carter-johnson

Above left: Senior defender Maddie Cohee (5) crosses the ball into the circle during the Lions’ September 24 game against the Hereford Bulls.

The Lions went on to win the game 2-1 in overtime.

Above right: Following the winning overtime goal scored by Emma Klein (5), the Lions celebrate their victory while Hereford teammates accept defeat. The Lions and Bulls met again on October 6 in a game that ended with the Lions winning 2-0.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

September 11: Varsity Volleyball wins 3-0 September 24: Varsity Field Hockey wins 2-1 in overtime September 30: Varsity Girls Golf wins 201-230 October 6: Varsity Field Hockey wins 2-0 October 7: Allied Soccer ties 2-2 October 15: Varsity Boys Soccer wins 5-1 October 16: Varsity Girls Soccer loses 2-1 in overtime

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the griffin

sports

october 23, 2015

s in new, tougher division

athletes

watch

VARSITY

Captain leads with spirit sean lim, staff writer and kristin meek, sports editor enior Hojin Yoon taught himself badminton by playing in the street in front of his house, and he never looked back.

“I didn’t take lessons. I learned how to play from hitting with my dad. Once you start playing with better people you start getting better,” photo by cristina lopez Yoon said.

HOJIN YOON As captain his final year, Yoon plays mixed doubles with partner, senior Michelle Wu. Last season, Yoon and Wu claimed the county title and are looking to repeat this October. Fellow senior captain Will Paranzino said that Yoon’s ability to surprise his opponents gives him an edge on the court.

“He always knows the best shot to catch his opponent off guard,” Paranzino said, “He constantly makes all kinds of crazy angles that are nearly impossible to predict.”

Besides his skill on the court, Paranzino said Yoon leads with his enthusiasm.

“He brings tons of energy and constantly makes everyone laugh. He also organized a senior appreciation party as a sophomore,” Paranzino said.

Badminton coach Sharon Spangenberg said she admires Yoon’s positivity.

“He always has fun,” Spangenberg said, “He is supportive and respected.”

Although Yoon and his partner haven’t lost a match as of press time, Yoon said he still has room to perfect his smash.

“I’m weak at pressuring the other person with really fast shots. I don’t smash it well enough so that it’s impossible for the other person to hit,” Yoon said.

The challenge pays off when Yoon wins an extra-long rally, a feeling he calls “euphoric.”

“It’s really satisfying to hit a birdie with a racket. On the court, what matters most is how ready you are for each shot,” Yoon said. “Skill matters a lot.”

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photo by haneyah carter-johnson

all as wide receiver Jaylin Byers, also a junior, runs for a pass during the first quarter of the homecoming game against Woodlawn Oct. 10. aught the pass, but the Lions did not score on this drive. Vogle connected with senior Jay Nash during the second quarter, throwing a touchuarter, but the Warriors missed the extra point, and the Lions won 7-6.

lions notebook:

This information was gathered Oct. 19.

Varsity golf will advance to the district championships Oct. 20 after winning county championships Oct. 14.

Varsity volleyball (11-0) will face Woodlawn at home Oct. 20. They defeated Dundalk 3-0 during their last away game Oct. 14.

Varsity badminton (9 -0) will face Hereford in their next away game Oct. 21. They defeated opponent Dundalk 11-0 at home Oct. 14.

Varsity cross country is poised to compete in the Baltimore County Championships this Saturday here. Boys are ranked 24th nationally by DyeStat and first in the state by MileSplit, and girls are ranked first in the county by the Baltimore Sun and fourth in the state by MileSplit.

Varsity field hockey (11-1) is preparing for their county championship game against Hereford Oct. 22 at press time after beating Loch Raven 5-1 at home Oct. 15.

Girls varsity soccer (7-1) prepares to play Perry Hall during their Oct. 20 home game after losing 2-1 against Hereford in their Oct. 16 away game.

Allied soccer (1-2-1) will travel to Milford Mill Oct. 21 for their next

matchup. The team beat Franklin 8-1 during their Oct. 12 away game.

Varsity football (3-4) plays archrival Towson in their home game Oct. 24. They lost to Perry Hall 12-56 in their last away game Oct. 16.

Boys varsity soccer (3-9-1) prepares to play Perry Hall in their next away game Oct. 20. They beat challenger Hereford 5-1 at home Oct. 15.

JV field hockey (11-4) ended their season after their Oct. 15 7-0 home win against Loch Raven.

JV volleyball (8-3) will compete against Woodlawn at home Oct. 20.

Recently, they beat Dundalk 2-0 on the opponent’s home court Oct. 14.

Boys JV soccer (6-3) will move on to play Perry Hall in their Oct. 20 away game. The team won 2-1 at home against foe Hereford Oct. 15.

Girls JV soccer (5-3-1) will match up against Perry Hall at home Oct. 20.

JV football (1-4) will butt heads with adversary Towson at home Oct. 24. Their most recent match was a 0-42 away defeat against Perry Hall Oct. 16.

For more coverage, please visit our website.

Officials make right call; parade inspires

on the mound patrick fitzgerald, deputy sports editor JV Counties Brought Back ll junior varsity championship games were set to be removed beginning this fall season. But protests from principals and athletic directors caused the Baltimore County Office of Athletics to reverse their decision.

“The Office of Athletics in conjunction with the High School Superintendents and the Superintendents Cabinet are still reviewing the proposal and as of this moment no decisions have been made,” BCPS Director of Athletics Michael Sye said about the debate process, indicating the delib-

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eration has not yet ended.

Although the decision was made to keep the championships, the fact remains that the athletics office made a motion to dispose of the very games that junior varsity teams look forward to most.

Why would they take that away?

JV athletes are the future of our ultra-competitive varsity programs. We must inspire them to step up to that level of intensity with county championships as the focal point. This will give our teams the chance to continue their championship legacies.

Pending the final decision, our teams will continue to push toward that ultimate goal. I’m all for the competition.

Parade Sparks Spirit Spirit week. Hallway wars. Pep rally.

Football game. Dance.

It was time to change the monotony of homecoming week.

The celebration was finally bolstered with the addition of the homecoming parade and related activities as a response to the lack of spirit.

The Lion’s Roar Marching Band led athletes, teachers, principal Samuel

Wynkoop, selected clubs, and homecoming kings and queens in a loop around the school Oct. 10. Parents, siblings, and nearby community members attended, lining the sidewalks outside of their homes. Many of them could be seen collecting the candy that flew from team trucks.

Following the parade and a marching band performance, the varsity boys soccer team then took to the stadium field in a 2-1 loss against Eastern Tech.

Fans stuck around to enjoy the barbecue and watch the 7-6 Lions football victory against Woodlawn.

Homecoming isn’t just about fall sports and a dance anymore. It’s about showing support for all of the facets of our school: athletics, clubs and faculty. We have something to be proud of here, and it’s important that we share our pride and spirit with future students, parents and the community.

FOR MORE FROM COLUMNIST PATRICK FITZGERALD, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, DULANEYGRIFFIN.ORG

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

JUNIOR VARSITY

Quarterback unites team jon comaromi, staff writer unior varsity quarterback sophomore Danny Beard has impressed with his attitude.

“He keeps his head up high,” teammate and sophomore Matthew Schmuff said.

“He never gets depressed or feels bad. He just makes everyone else want to win.”

Beard first began playing photo by cristina lopez football his freshman year, DANNY BEARD but has been a fan since he was 5-years-old.

After enjoying watching football and having a successful baseball career, Beard felt that his throws would be strong enough to try out for football.

Once on the team, Beard noticed the importance of trust when learning from his coaches.

“We all trust each other. Trust for my receivers to get open even if they’re not. You have to trust one another in order to make a tackle,” Beard said.

Offensive coordinator and coach Brian Tanner said that he’s most fascinated by Beard’s risk-taking attitude and throwing accuracy.

“I’m most impressed with his willingness to take chances,” Tanner said. “Beard takes shots down the field and to the interior of the field few JV quarterbacks can or will.”

Tanner hopes Beard will improve his consistency by participating in the Bigger Faster Stronger training program here and practicing in simulated game scenarios.

Beard intends to develop more chemistry with his wide receivers and running backs and work to read the defense.

He also wants to improve his ball vision and plans to watch more defensive footage to memorize the coverages of his opponents, as well as improve his ability to see an open receiver on offense.

Beard plans to continue playing football in high school for his teammates and for his love of the game.

“I love the game of football mainly because of the family that a football team creates,” Beard said.

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8 features

october 23, 2015

the griffin

an artist among us:

Fluehr flourishes on trumpet

photos from fluehr, dulaney marching band boosters

Left: Senior Joey Fluehr teaches an elementary school student the song “Let’s Go Band” on the trumpet during the Rhapsody Club’s Music Effect Night last February. Right: Fluehr plays “I Know You Want Me,” part of the Lion’s Roar Marching Band’s Field Show, El Sabor Latino, alongside fellow trumpeters sophomore Anna Garman and freshman George Harney during summer band camp.

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sophie bates, staff writer enior Joey Fluehr remembers the first time his talent on the trumpet was recognized. He performed a scale test for Ridgely Middle School band teacher Susan Wilson, and she took notice of his skills. Since then, Fluehr has developed a passion for music that extends far into his daily life.

“He’s the kind of guy who’d rather go to the symphony than the movies,” senior and marching band cohead captain Jessica Bishai said.

Fluehr now plays for a number of school and extracurricular bands. He was recently named the first chair trumpeter of the All-County Orchestra, and will audition for the All-State Band Nov. 21.

Following Wilson’s recommenda-

tion, Fluehr has met private tutor Todd Butler for weekly lessons since sixth grade.

“Joey has a great sense of humor and wonderful work ethic. He enjoys music and has made it a big part of his life,” Butler said.

Fluehr’s favorite musical artists include Vampire Weekend and Childish Gambino. But his favorite song to listen and “geek out” to is 20th century Italian composer Ottorino Respighi’s “Pines of Rome.”

When he’s not playing or listening to music, Fluehr can be found frequenting Chipotle and Jason’s Deli, or even thrift shopping with senior and fellow Wind Ensemble trumpeter Henrique Carvalho.

“We went thrift shopping a couple of weeks ago, and I found a yellow suit

jacket at Goodwill, and the matching pants at the Salvation Army,” Fluehr said.

Band teacher and marching band director Barry Chesky lauded Fluehr’s leadership.

“He is truly somebody which sets the example for others to follow,”he said.

FLUEHR’S 2015 MUSIC RESUME

• Wind Ensemble • Advanced Jazz Band • Lion’s Roar Marching Band CoHead Captain • Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Side-by-Side • Baltimore County Honors Orchestra • Peabody Youth Orchestra • Peabody Preparatory Wind Orchestra

scene

photo by sarah feustle

dulaney

SENIORS HUNTER STILL (left) and Rodney Mitchell (right) flank junior Grace Schneider during the Oct. 15 Act I rehearsal of the fall play, “She Kills Monsters,” on the auditorium stage.

Schneider plays Agnes, the protagonist who finds herself within a Dungeons & Dragons game, and Still and Mitchell play Bugbears, large, hairy monsters with weapons and large teeth. They attack Agnes in Act I of the play.

Theater teacher Tami Moon, as well a guest instructor, have given drama students lessons on the basics of sword fighting this month.

“We haven’t choreographed the fight scenes yet, but even just playing with the swords is a lot of fun,” Schneider said. “I’m really excited to learn how to actually fight. It’s going to look really cool.”

“She Kills Monsters” runs from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5 in the auditorium. Show times are at 7:30 p.m.

LOOK FOR OUR PROFILE OF ENGLISH AND THEATER TEACHER TAMI MOON IN THE NOVEMBER EDITION

Freshman takes chance, scores one-on-one backstage with British singing sensation

“I

natalie mozoki, staff writer t was just absolutely incredible,” freshman Shannon Trageser said of her experience meeting singer Rita Ora Sept. 15.

Ora played at Washington, D.C.’s U Street Music Hall as part of her 2015 United States tour, promoting the second single for her next studio album “Body on Me,” her second solo album. The British singer is best known in America for her 2014 duet with Iggy Azalea, “Black Widow.”

Trageser began the night just expecting to see Ora live and buy a tour T-shirt, she said. But when Ora started singing her new song “Us,” written by Ed Sheeran, Trageser seized the day.

A woman nearby told Trageser to reach out to Ora so that the singer would come near her, Trageser recalled. photo from trageser FRESHMAN SHANNON TRAGESER gets a hug from with singer Rita Ora after a She did. Ora then took her hand, sang to her and afterbackstage chat at her Sept. 15 concert in Washington, D.C. Ora posted the wards gave Trageser her towel to wipe her tears.

After her last song, Ora told Trageser she was comphoto to her Instagram.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

ing back for her. Trageser waited a few minutes by the stage anxiously, she said, and soon one of the security guards told her to come backstage. There, she got to talk to her idol.

“Your music inspires me,” Trageser told the singer.

Ora’s response seemed genuine, according to Trageser.

“Thank you so much,” Trageser recalled Ora saying.

“That makes me feel so good.”

During the 20 minutes that they talked, Trageser showed Ora the lock screen on her phone (a picture of Ora). She also told her about how she loves watching Ora and Grimmy (Nick Grimshaw) on “X Factor.”

“I’ll have to tell him,” Trageser recalled Ora saying.

The freshman’s brush with fame ended in the limelight. Ora posted a picture of herself and Trageser on her Instagram with the caption, “After show fun @ukisaok you inspire me.”

9 features

the griffin

Something’s rotten outside T

sophie bates, staff writer and doria diacogiannis, staff writer wo students put on latex gloves and lead their classes outside into the courtyard, where they lift a rotting pork-chop and measure the size of the maggots within it. Pockets of students pinching their noses gather around, taking photos and pulling out rulers.

The occasional gag is not uncommon.

For the fourth year in a row, forensics teacher Marci Phillips leads her classes in an experiment featuring raw pork chops exposed to the elements in the courtyard. The activity aims to show students some of what forensic scientists examine when making inferences about human corpses.

On the 15th day of data collection, junior Kayla Michael was repulsed from the sight and smell of the decaying meat.

“It’s still disgusting even if you’re not holding it,” she said.

The conclusion of the investigation sends students back indoors, ridding them of the smell junior Megan Taylor called “absolutely disgusting,” to transcribe their data on temperature, weather and length of the maggots.

“Meat can turn hard pretty fast. Also, flies really do a number on anything,” senior Matrix Slowinski said.

Phillips said the project continues to provide a hands-on experience that allows students to observe the way that temperature and climate change the life cycle of a fly. The blowflies present in the pork chops over time mirror the decomposition of bodies.

“They can reverse calculate when the flies arrived at the meat by observing life cycles and different stages of decomposition,” she said.

Junior Arielle Williams wasn’t all too pleased when Phillips recently told her class that they would measure the maggots again at the start of class.

“At this point, I’m just over it because in the beginning it was really hard to go out and look at it and be around it because the smell is so overwhelming,” Williams said.

As soon as the maggots were measured, she rushed back into the school with the rest of the crowd, uttering a hyperbole expressing her disgust.

“I feel nothing,” Williams said. “I feel pain.”

october 23, 2015

photo by ellie jackson

SENIORS MATRIX SLOWINSKI and Gabbie Hunter react to the sights and smells of rotting meat in their 1B Forsenics class Oct. 5. “I didn’t think it was that bad, everybody else was gagging so hard,” Slowinski said. “It was pretty rotten to them, but I’ve smelled worse.”

Hallway wars tradition evolves Right: The sophomore class of 2018 decorated their hallway on Oct. 12 to fit this year’s “Out of This World” homecoming theme.

Far right: Class of 2012 alumna Nia Miller looks on while her classmates decorate during Hallway Wars in 2009.

BACK STORY

Below: The Class of 2012 displayed their class pride during the 2009 Hallway Wars.

This recurring feature will examine past and present here.

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pirit week kicked off with Hallway Wars, a seven-year school spirit tradition of decorating, according to Student Government Organization adviser Stacy Herring.

While a popular tradition among class councils, students are calling for change.

“I think if there was more emphasis put on it, like greater reward in the end, people would get more into it,” senior Anthony Schaffer said.

For a look at hallway wars past and present, see the photo gallery on our website. photos from dulaney griffin

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

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the griffin

10 features

october 23, 2015

post: henrique carvalho A senior known for his bowtie collection and his trademark red trumpet, Henrique Carvalho sat down with staff writer Hannah Bauer to discuss these things and more.

READING: The last thing I read for fun was “Dune” by Frank Herbert. It’s basically like the “Lord of the Rings” of sci-fi because it has a lot of the same concepts.

The setting is in its own world, its own universe with its whole history and everything.

I don’t really like a specific genre. If it appeals to me, I’ll read it. I read “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” really liked that one. Then there’s the Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini, I liked that.

WATCHING: I like watching Psych with James Roday and Dulé Hill. I’ve seen all the ones on Netflix. I watch it every so often. I like watching Lord of the Rings.

LISTENING: Queen. Straight Queen.

Queen, Freddie Mercury, Queen. I like the song “River of Dreams” by Billy Joel, I’ve been listening to that one lately. I like older music.

FOLLOWING: I follow Dulaney cross country. I’m on the team, so I try to follow how the team is doing. During meets, I try to keep track of where each person is.

I’m currently helping a friend in an operation to sell [senior] Jack Franz jerseys. Who is Jack Franz? That’s the question of the century. I like to believe there’s a little bit of Jack Franz in everybody. He may not be the best on the soccer team, which he is, and he may not get the best grades, which he does, but he’s more of a symbol. He’s a person and a symbol, like Superman, except he’s real. We’re selling the tee shirts to celebrate the symbol that is Jack Franz.

EATING: I have a Nutella sandwich at lunch. Dinner is rice, beans, meat. I don’t really eat anything special.

I go for the big American breakfast sometimes with pancakes or toast. I’ll also have a piece of cake in the morning. I don’t drink soda.

CHANGING: I’m trying to get my time down for running, trying to get my 5K into the 17s so I can be a bit more competitive for the team. I’m not currently. I’m trying to work on some music for college so I can audition. I got into Peabody Preparatory Wind Orchestra so that’s fun. We’re doing a bunch of Russian compositions. That concert will be around Christmas time but probably my favorite song that we’re doing is “Salvation is Created”

by Chesnakov. I like that one because I have the trumpet one part. It’s high and hard, but it’s fun. We have to have it memorized but it’s a short piece so it’s photo by not too difficult. It cristina lopez builds and then backs away.

DRESSING: I always did like to dress nicely when I was younger. I liked going to occasions that required a suit and tie. I just loved it. My family tells me I got that from my grandfather. He would always wear ties and suits, so I got it from him. I just like looking my best, it makes me feel good. I model how I dress after my favorite artists.

‘70s and ‘80s style.

SUPERHEROING: I’m a superhero guy. Specifically Superman, he’s my favorite. I’ve always wanted to own a red cape ever since I was a little kid, because of Superman. So when the opportunity arose to make a red cape, inspiration struck.

Monday - Friday

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

Humans of Dulaney, which is based on the Humans of New York photo blog, exhibits the diversity of the student body with unique stories from the lives of random individuals.

Staff writer Emma Walz spoke to freshman Jackson Parra (right) about his most pleasant experiences as freshman Chan Park (left) stood by.

E: ”What was the happiest memory of your life?”

J: “Of my life?”

E: “That you can remember.”

J: “Umm… When I didn’t die of quicksand.”

E: “Can you give me some background on that story?”

J: “I fell into quicksand and I got pulled out.”

E: “Where were you when this happened?”

J: “I was near a reservoir, and there was a dry riverbed with mud and stuff, so I decided to walk on it, ‘cause I thought it looked dry, and I fell in and it was quicksand.”

FOR THE VIDEO FEATURING THE REST OF THIS STORY, SEE OUR WEBSITE.

the griffin

11 features

october 23, 2015

REVIEWS:

Yet another iPhone - but this one impresses

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cameron bernhardt, web editor ear after year, a new iPhone is released from within the mysterious walls of Apple headquarters.

Whether the new phone has a slightly improved camera or a completely new design, it always meets claims of brilliance and cries of failure. The iPhone 6s, released Sept. 25, is no different.

The iPhone 6s packs more new hardware than typical “s” releases, phones that follow major design changes in Apple’s iPhone upgrade pattern. It includes a new Taptic Engine that lets the phone sense different levels of pressure on the display, along with a 12 megapixel back camera that can also take 4K (ultra highresolution) video and an improved fingerprint sensor. It’s made out of a stronger 7000 Series aluminum material to avoid bending, which was an issue for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus last year.

The phone’s new pressure-sensing technology, which Apple dubbed 3D Touch, enables shortcuts and interaction with apps. You can now press the screen with a little extra

force to pull up a list of quick actions that you can jump into inside the app.

For the most part, 3D Touch is an interesting addition. It’s completely unprecedented. But it’s often unclear where it

FIVE REASONS TO LOVE THE IPHONE 6S

1. Different levels of pressure detectable with 3D Touch 2. Better pictures and video with improved cameras 3. Increased speed due to new processor 4. New “rose gold” color option 5. Stronger aluminum design is actually available, and there’s no way to find out whether an app has shortcuts without actually attempting to use them.

Even when showing the feature to people, I have to prompt them to press harder or remind them that it doesn’t work for all apps.

The internal improvements are immediately noticeable. photo by sarah feustle

Transitioning between apps is smooth and snappy, particularly with those 3D Touch shortcuts. Overall, it’s a great addition to the iPhone arsenal that Apple has been building over the past eight years.

If you have an older iPhone, the 6s is the best choice for your next device, as it will provide you with the easiest transition and the best interface for your exphoto by bernhardt isting apps, music and services. If you don’t have an iPhone – and you’re willing to cough up the money for monthly carrier plans – it’s still an excellent choice. The 6s’ premium hardware and software combine to provide Apple’s renowned, seamless experience.

OVERALL RATING:

‘Scream Queens’ captivates, confuses with hybrid genre

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jason fontelieu, staff writer he producers of “Glee” and “American Horror Story” have decided that they love their fans enough to mix the unique elements of each show into a deliciously cheesy horror-comedy chock full of moments destined to become relatable Tumblr posts.

“Scream Queens” centers on the girls of the Kappa Kappa Tau sorority, or the “Chanels,” of the fictional Wallace University.

A crazed serial killer with a grudge against the Chanels and anyone who dares to associate with them also stalks the campus in the university’s Red Devil mascot costume.

Emma Roberts stars as the head Chanel and president of the sorority, a near-perfect recreation of her ruthless character Madison Montgomery from “American Horror Story: Coven.” All of her minions in the sorority are referred to numerically, as Chanel #2, Chanel #3 and so on.

Her thirst for popularity and an internship on “Good Morning America” prevents anything or anyone from getting in her way – certainly not the new pledges she’s forced to accept into her cult.

Everyone’s favorite yogurt spokeswoman Jamie Lee Curtis plays Cathy Munsch, the dean of the university, who insists that all pledges to Kappa Kappa Tau must be accepted no matter what, in an attempt

to combat the previous exclusivity of the sorority to only the preppy, popular girls on campus.

Curtis’s delightfully sassy banter with the younger cast members brings a sense of confident, audacious appeal to the show. Her various antics, like inviting herself for an extended sleepover in the Kappa house, and then again on someone’s date, never fail to liven things up.

Things get a little messy with the Red Devil plotline. One character is found hiding a chainsaw under her bed. Another has a disturbingly blatant fascination with knives and dead bodies.

Yet another is actually a descendant of the notorious Charles Manson. The result? Suspicions are thrown from suspect to suspect, leading viewers to reproduced by permission of FOX conclude that any of the characters could be the killer.

I adore almost everything about this show.

I love how brain-numbingly comedic it is, making fun of everything—nauseatinglyprecise coffee drink orders, the obnoxious antics of a neighboring fraternity. My only concern lies with the excessive twists and turns of the plot. I just don’t want to feel like I have to take notes to keep up.

“Scream Queens” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX.

OVERALL RATING:

reproduced by permission of 20th Century FOX

New sci-fi flick proves gripping, surprisingly realistic

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jordan nicolette, staff writer n a desolate planet 141 million miles away, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) must survive using his dwindling supply of goods only meant to last a little over a month after being stranded by his crew. And all the music he has is from “Happy Days” and disco.

From these disparate elements, director Ridley Scott masterfully crafts “The Martian,” by balancing action-adventure, science fiction and comedy.

On sol (short for solar day) 18 of the Ares 3 manned Mars mission, a deadly storm approaches and the crew is forced to abandon their station and start an immediate escape home. During the scramble to the rocket, Watney is struck by a communication dish receiver and knocked back. The crew tries to search for him, but needs to evacuate immediately, leaving Watney for dead.

After being left alone on the planet, Damon’s character began to develop bril-

liantly. He proved to the audience that anything is possible by “sciencing the sh**” out of his situation. Keeping viewers on their toes, he grasped their emotion by executing surgery on himself and carefully performing dangerous experiments to make water. Yet in an instant, Damon’s witty humor would underscore the severity of the situation.

Shocked to see his survival, Earth and NASA immediately respond, focusing all efforts on getting him home, no matter the cost. This coalition includes Annie Montrose (Kristin Wiig) and Rich Purnell (Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino), both introducing much needed comedy in spurts. Other notable characters include Vincent Kapoor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) and Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels), each of whom is forced to work together to bring Watney home.

Scott showed serious growth from “Prometheus” to now. He produced a film as thrilling as “Alien,” but still incorporated lighthearted comedy. There were clear traces of “Apollo 13,” making the film seem more of a true tale of escape, rather than purely fiction.

The pieces just appeared to fit together: water on Mars and an accurate depiction of a mission there. Coincidence? I think not.

“The Martian” proved to me that a mission to Mars should be more than a childhood dream.

Where Scott succeeded the most was in the authenticity. Not only did the film visibly look real, but it felt real. The science was backed up where it was needed, whether it was in botany or aerospace trajectory. Combining all these elements, the audience leaves with the feeling that Mars doesn’t seem as far away as it is.

OVERALL RATING:

Peruvian poultry tempts with authenticity and flavor

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alexis mejia, staff writer outh American restaurants are hard to come by in the Baltimore area. Mexican restaurants abound, Salvadoran galore and a handful of Honduran – but Baltimore comes up short when it comes to South American cuisine. Panka’s Peruvian Cuisine, nestled in the shopping center off Cranbrook Road next to Food Lion, is the exception.

A family-owned restaurant that advertises its use of authentic family recipes, Panka’s is a hidden gem. Upon entering, you’re immediately hit with the smell of pollo a la brasa (charcoal chicken) and greeted by a welcoming employee at the counter.

For this trip to Panka’s, I ordered carryout. I got a chicken burrito ($7.99, comes with fries) and a medium side of plantains ($1.95). Being completely honest, this was the best burrito I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. After eating Panka’s, you’ll question why you ever settled for Chipotle. They also offer a steak burrito if chicken isn’t your thing.

The burrito is a soft flour tortilla stuffed with your choice of meat, black beans, Spanish rice, shredded lettuce and cheese, and after taking a bite, there was a creamy textured sauce that leaked out; I’m not entirely sure what it was, but it tasted great. The plantains were satisfyingly sweet and a little crunchy.

Panka’s offers a plethora of other food options if burritos aren’t

your favorite. Offering a mixed selection of pollo a la brasa, sandwiches and Peruvian specialties (the prices ranging from $5.99 to $33.99), Panka’s has something for everyone. After seeing some photos on Yelp!, their bistec a lo pobre (tender steak with rice, sweet plantains, French fries and fried eggs, $14.95), looks especially appetizing, and is something I’ll have to try on my next visit.

I was pleasantly surprised by Panka’s and how great their food is, and if you’re looking for authentic South American fare just down the street, it’s definitely the place to go. The only complaint I have is that the burrito was too large for me to finish – but who in their right mind would object to leftovers?

I look forward to returning and enjoying a dine-in experience next time, and I’m excited to try the other items on their menu.

OVERALL RATING: Panka’s Peruvian Cuisine 112 Cranbrook Rd, Cockeysville Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Top: A chicken burrito with plantains from Panka’s.

Bottom: Panka’s exterior features a unique logo, and the restaurant boasts a warm and welcoming interior. photos by mejia

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

the griffin

12 features

october 23, 2015

Rocks ring in new era for alumni couple T

the Watson’s Christmas Party. While this stephanie rountree, editor-in-chief might appear to be the beginning of a typihey’ve set a date.

John Gogoll and Debbie Gill, the cal high school sweetheart scenario, it was Class of 1971 alumni who held their not to be— the two don’t recall speaking proposal at the senior rocks Aug. 30, have after that night.

But after reconnecting a few months ago, chosen June 25, the one year anniversary of their reconnection, as the date for they’re the two became inseparable.

Gill had already accepted Gogoll’s prowedding.

In a sea of teal names painted by the Class posal, but when it was time to present her of 2016 at the Oct. 2 senior barbecue, there with the ring, he knew that the rocks, a are two white ones, distinctly different landmark still important to the two nearly 45 years after graduation, was the perfect from the rest.

Though they had left the landmark be- location to create this memory.

With assistance from assistant principal hind nearly 45 years ago, Gill and Gogoll returned three days before the annual Robert Murray, childhood friends, class of ‘71 alumni and musievent to carry on the cians Warren Cherry rocks’ tradition of and Doug Roberts commencement, and “I think the engagement and assorted famadded their story to the tapestry of Duwent better than I could ily members, Gogoll orchestrated the surlaney in 2015. have ever hoped“ prise presentation of During the weekend Gill’s engagement following the Senior ring.

Barbecue, Gill and GoCherry and Roberts goll paid a visit to the rocks and were delighted to find that their performed “Love Will Keep Us Alive” by the Eagles, “You’ve Got a Friend” by James additions remained intact.

“Debbie started to tear up when she saw Taylor, and “Have I Told You Lately That I that your classmates had allowed our ini- Love You” by Rod Stewart.

Gogoll still has warm memories of the tials to remain and that the class accepted us to remain on your rocks with you,” day, even over a month later.

“I think the engagement went better than Gogoll wrote in an email. “I can’t thank the senior class enough for giving us that I could have ever hoped,” he said. “My friends, family, and the school had equal honor.”

The two were in the same homeroom parts in making the day wonderful. Debduring sophomore year of 1969. That win- bie is still talking about it and tells me it photos by stephanie rountree Top: Gogoll helps Gill put the ring on her finger shortly after the proposal Aug. 30. Left: Class of ‘71 ter, Gogoll, who recalled himself as be- was absolutely the best day of her life.” alumni Warren Cherry and Doug Roberts perform a selection of songs for the couple. Right: Gogoll ing quite shy, asked Gill to be his date to SEE THE VIDEO: DULANEYGRIFFIN.ORG paints his initials onto the rocks to commemorate his engagement to Gill.

Teacher to marry on stage here

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meera rothman, deputy editor nstead of shrieks and trick-or-treats, anyone near the school will hear silver bells chiming this Halloween. photo from schein Technology teacher David Schein is holding TECH ED TEACHER Dave Schein, his wedding in the auditorium here Oct. 31. pictured here with his fiance, Jes “I have an extensive history of theatre. I work Quinton, in an engagement photo, here—I bled here. I bled on that stage. It’s my won approval for a wedding in the home. As Mr. Sherman would say, I’m married auditorium Oct. 31.

to the school already,” Schein said.

Schein and his fiancé, Jes Quinton, a pre-press print clerk at Independent Can Company, both have a passion for theatre. Schein is also heavily connected to many different areas here, including the technology department, morning announcements and theater.

“The idea of doing it in a theater is the most comforting background,” Schein said.

The wedding will have a masquerade theme, and will also incorporate Halloween elements.

“It’s a fall wedding with heritage and harvest, but kids under 11 or 12-years-old can come in costume if they want,” Schein said.

Schein and Quinton initially tried to avoid having the wedding on Halloween, because it is also the day Quinton’s father died. But getting married on Halloween has acquired a symbolic meaning.

“The universe seemed to be pointing us toward Halloween. For Jes, the way we are inter-

preting that is this is a way for her dad to be there,” Schein said.

Schein and Quinton plan to integrate the entire community in the wedding, which will be an adaptation of the immersive play “Tony and Tina’s Wedding.” The ceremony will be open to anyone, although the reception will be held privately at the Padonia Park Club.

Schein will also involve students in executing the wedding. Junior Esha Vangara, who is in Advanced Placement Photography, will work with the wedding’s professional photographer.

Dulaney alum Jood Ali will be the stage manager.

“I’m so excited to actually do this. I find it so cute how they have the craziest ideas but they agree on them all! I’ve seen what they will be wearing, and I know of an object that will be exchanged…sorry, I’ve said too much!” Ali said.

Teachers mark summer’s end with parachute plunge

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hannah milan, staff writer lummeting through the sky at speeds up to 133 feet per second wasn’t an adventure that math teachers Stacy Herring and Vicki Bracken had planned for their annual vacation to Nags Head, North Carolina Aug. 15. They didn’t decide until the night before their very last day of the trip.

“We went to bed, woke up, drove there and then it hit us that we were going skydiving,” Herring said.

Until moments prior, no one had known about their plan. They sent a photo to Bracken’s husband before entering the plane, but he didn’t believe them.

“My husband said I would eat crabs, which I don’t like, and Chinese food, which I obviously don’t like, before I ever jumped out of a plane. He was wrong,” she said.

The process of preparation was simple. There were waivers to sign, cautioning them of the dangers, and a $250 fee to pay for the jump.

The two were able to back out up until the moment they suited up. The guides told them that no one has ever backed out before jumping.

“When you’re up there ‘no, no, no’

sounds like ‘go, go, go.’ ‘I don’t want to go’ sounds like ‘Geronimo,’” Herring said.

Once they reached the drop zone, both were attached to a dive instructor. In the final moments, they stood on a bar attached to the wing of the plane and then dove off, flipping into the air. Bracken was the first to go, followed by Herring 15 seconds

“My husband said I would eat crabs, which I don’t like, and Chinese food, which I obviously don’t like, before I ever jumped out of a plane. He was wrong.” later.

“When you step out onto the ledge of a plane that’s moving 9,000 feet in the air and you’re literally standing on the bar of the wing waiting for somebody to push you off it’s like, ‘What’s wrong with me?’” she said.

The free fall lasted about 30 seconds until the guide pulled the para-

chute, which both agreed was the worst part.

“Have you ever had a dog on a chain? And the dog goes running, running on the chain and then the chain gets tight and the dog comes flying back. That’s what it’s like,” Herring said.

Fifteen minutes later, the pair had returned to solid ground.

“My instructor asked how it was.

I said it was better than being at the Super Bowl,” Bracken said.

According to Herring, the duo intends to make skydiving an annual tradition.

“It’s like the greatest roller coaster at that speed that you can’t even imagine and you don’t want it to end,” Bracken said.

For Herring, the experience could be encapsulated in one word.

“Exhilarating,” she said.

For more photos like these, check out our gallery of summer shots from students and staff at:

DULANEYGRIFFIN.ORG

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

photos from herring

MATH TEACHERS Stacy Herring (above) and Vicki Bracken (below) take an impromptu parachute jump in Nags Head, N.C. Aug. 15. “I don’t think I was ever scared as much as I was like, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing?’” Herring said.